TresSugar

Gimme a Break: Berlusconi Treated For Scandal-Related Stress

TresSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:54 -0700

Until now, Silvio Berlusconi has sounded pretty laid-back about this whole sex scandal thing. He dismissively declared "I am not a saint" in response to recorded conversations between him and a prostitute. But now it seems the bad press is taking its toll: the Italian prime minister is leaving on a three-week holiday complete with hydrotherapy and a diet and exercise regimen designed to relieve stress and "restore the 'natural harmony' of the body."

Perhaps it's Berlusconi's daughter who deserves a break. In the latest issue of Italian Vanity Fair, 25-year-old Barbara Berlusconi says she is "astounded" by the news that her father was cavorting with an 18-year-old model. But wait! There's more.

Have You Ever Made a Sex Tape?

TresSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Perhaps John Edwards had an affair with a documentary filmmaker for a reason I never would have suspected- he wanted to document himself having sex! Rumor has it that the former presidential candidate made a sex tape with his ex-mistress Rielle Hunter. The claim comes from a former aide to Edwards, who is set to release a book on his experiences with the fallen politician.

This story most likely adds to the hurt John's wife Elizabeth is feeling and it makes me wonder if John Edwards's reckless behavior went even further than cheating on his terminally ill wife while he was running for president. But not all filmmaking in the bedroom has to be reckless. Filming, and then watching, yourself have sex with a trusted partner could be an entertaining (albeit, not original) way to spice up your sex life. Then again, it might come back to haunt you even if you're not a national politician.

What's the Best Explanation For Sanford's Disappearance?

TresSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:45:00 -0700

Update: During his emotional press conference, Gov. Sanford admitted to having an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina.

I've heard of guys up and disappearing before, but the story of South Carolina governor Mark Sanford's disappearance takes it to a whole new level. This week, the governor's staff insisted that no one had heard from him since last Thursday because he was (nude?) hiking the Appalachian Trial. That story fell apart when a local newspaper found him last night at the Atlanta airport returning from Argentina, according to the governor.

On the one hand, I'm sure I'd want to just get away from the glaring public eye if I were a politician, too. But something seems fishy considering he left without telling his wife, kids, or, staff. I'm having trouble buying that he secretly went to Argentina all by himself just to relax. There are many strange details: his wife is not shy about being pissed, his cars were reportedly found at the Columbia, SC, airport and the Atlanta airport, and his staff has been lying about knowing his whereabouts.

Many theories are spinning in my head. Was the governor taking tango lessons? Dealing with an affair gone wrong? Having a nervous breakdown? Or just taking a little solo vacation . . . for a week . . . without telling anyone . . . when he's the governor of South Carolina?

While we wait for word from the governor (apparently he's having a press conference soon) let's indulge in some idle speculation. What you think best explains this strange story?

Elizabeth Edwards People Cover Hits Newsstands Today

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:00:24 -0700

This week's People cover girl isn't as beaming as last week's Brad and Angelina lovefest - Elizabeth Edwards graces the cover - and I think "grace" is really the appropriate word. She seems to be handling the John Edwards trouble about as well as she possibly can. She's issued a statement in support of Edwards, though according to the story inside the mag, her friend says she's really having to tough it out. "There was anguish – excruciating anguish – for her in dealing with this."

She's, of course, weighing her kids, her disease, and her broken trust with her husband - and the youngest kids haven't been told yet what's going on though Elizabeth's brother says, "Children are very wise and know things." While I'm glad there wasn't a "parade the wife to the podium" shot like we saw earlier this year, somehow I feel like this mag crosses my line a bit. I'll read everything there is to read about him - he made his bed, so to speak - but I might just want to leave Elizabeth (even two-dimensional Elizabeth) in peace. What do you think? Are you picking up the issue? Are you glad that John seems to have made the story about him and less about their marriage?

Hillary Advisor Says Edwards "Cheated" Her Out of Nomination

CitizenSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:30:38 -0700

Is Hillary having a huge case of dé ja vu? The last time a popular Southern politician got caught fooling around and wrecked her life, it was admittedly closer to home - but this time it may have cost her a ticket back to that very White House. Top Clinton Aide Howard Wolfson is alleging that fancy philanderer John Edwards done Hillary wrong - and worse - cost her the nomination.

Wolfson says that had the Edwards story broken last Fall when the Enquirer first started digging into it, "I believe we would have won Iowa, and Clinton today would therefore have been the nominee." Clinton finished a squeaker third behind Edwards, with Obama getting a huge boost from having beat two more well-known candidates. Without Edwards, splitting the share, Clinton would have won Iowa the course would have been different.

After recovering from the brutal campaign and laying low, Clinton is back in the news in a cavalcade of stories. To see what else is going on, read more.

Clinton has clinched a cushy speech timeslot at the convention this month - the very convention where her supporters are thought to be making one last push to get her on the ballot in one way or another. One group called PUMA (Party Unity My Ass) claim that Hillary could still be the nominee if some Obama delegates could be persuaded to swap teams. Their pick is still saddled with debt from the fight and she may forgo repaying herself and just move on.

Should Clinton supporters follow that lead? Is the Edwards scandal delay responsible for Hillary's downfall?

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John Edwards Admits to Affair, Doesn't Claim to be Father

LibertySugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:25:40 -0700

John Edwards has admitted to having an extramarital affair with filmmaker Rielle Hunter, and lying throughout his Presidential campaign. ABC News will run the Edwards interview tonight, in which he admits to the affair, but says he never loved the woman. Although he has not taken a paternity test, Edwards says he knows he is not the father based on the timing of the affair. He also denies making payments to the woman, but says his friends or supporters may have done so without his knowledge.

The former presidential candidate says his wife Elizabeth and other family members learned of the affair in 2006.

Update: Following the news of his admission, John Edwards released a statement.

In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. . . . I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. . . . It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up - feel free.

For the rest, read his full statement.

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Convention in Jeopardy: Does Edwards Have to Come Clean?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:15:05 -0700

Usually former presidential candidates are a shoo-in for a plum speaking role at their respective conventions. Certainly John Edwards as the third-to-last man standing this year, with supposed big promises from Barack for a good time-slot in exchange for his endorsement and fiery, progressive antipoverty rhetoric that sparks the base, would be a key (if not keynote) speaker. But the matter of his alleged love child and his lack of response to the story is in the way, big time.

One former DNC chair says, "if there is not an explanation that’s satisfactory, acceptable, and meets high moral standards, the answer is 'no,' he would not be a prime candidate to make a major address to the convention."

Edward's own former strategist agrees:

He absolutely does have to (resolve it). If it's not true, he has to issue a stronger denial. It's a very damaging thing. The big media has tried to be responsible and handle this with kid gloves, but it's clearly getting ready to bust out. If it's not true, he's got to stand up and say, "This is not true. That is not my child and I'm going to take legal action against the people who are spreading these lies." It's not enough to say, "That’s tabloid trash."

After somewhat questionable photos surfaced this week of (perhaps?) Edwards holding his love child (her name is Frances) one professor says speak up or be shown the door, "it would be sort of party suicide to take someone with that kind of scandal and place them up.” Is an Edwards explanation in order?

Source

Is the John Edwards Love Child Story Newsworthy?

CitizenSugar — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:00:34 -0700

OK, I'm sure you've heard. John Edwards may or may not have a mistress and a love child. I've had my fingers crammed in my ears, doing the la-la-la-can't-hear-you song, all week. But now this weird meta story has developed from the whole affair (ahem): should the media be covering it - and if not, what does that mean?

The story was originally broken by the National Enquirer - Edwards was supposedly caught visiting his mistress and love child at an LA hotel. (The reporters have since filed criminal charges.) In the double whammy of who the source is, and the scandalous topic, some news outlets have run with it, some dropped it like a hot potato, and some have been banned from talking about it.

Fox ran an update yesterday with the hotel guard saying that when Edwards found out about the reporters, "his face just went totally white." Some at Slate are asking why the MSM isn't covering the story, citing a double standard (why Larry Craig and not Edwards). The Daily Kos says it's right not to cover it considering the source, and the LA Times issued a memo banning their bloggers from writing about the story.

Is it a cover-up or a double standard? Does the story need more investigation? Or is it just good judgment to let the story go?

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Undercover Tape Shows Meetings With Cheney, Bush For Sale

CitizenSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:00:30 -0700

What's an ex-president without a fancy presidential library? And the good ones don't come cheap - the Clinton Library cost $165 million. So it stands to reason, George W. Bush might be looking to fundraise for his - by selling time with senior officials of the Bush Administration - and maybe an endorsement from Bush himself.

According to an undercover tape of Stephen Payne, a top fundraiser and member of the homeland security advisory council, all you need is $750,000 and you’ve got a meeting with Dick Cheney. But that’s not all. If you really ante up, you can meet with George W. Bush himself and walk away with an endorsement in your pocket where your money used to be.

This pay-to-play plot was revealed in an undercover investigation by the London Sunday Times. To see how the Bush endorsement is for sale, read more.

Payne was caught on tape discussing the details to get an exiled Central Asian leader, face time with President Bush and as an added bonus, an endorsement from Bush to help with his election. In the video, you can see Payne working out the meet-up strategy as to how they can explain away the leader's human rights abuses with the excuse of, “Well, at least he’s not so and so.”

The price tag is fairly straightforward. For between $600,000 and $750,000 you can definitely meet National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, either Condoleezza Rice or Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and possibly Cheney. Of this, a third will go to the construction of the Bush Library to commemorate his legacy in office. Unlike campaign donations, library gifts don't have to be disclosed - and there are no restrictions on funds from foreigners. And the other two-thirds? It's presumed that a chunk would go to Payne’s lobbying company, Worldwide Strategic Partners - but who else?

Is this merely a case of political tit-for-tat, or startling proof that the leader of the free world is for sale?

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Four Philadelphia Cops Involved in Beating Have Been Fired

CitizenSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:00:24 -0700

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has announced that following the May 5 beating of three suspects in a drug-related triple shooting, four police officers will be fired. The beating was caught on tape by a news helicopter and shows 15 officers descending upon the car. Two of the four being fired were new recruits on probation; the other two, more experienced.

The most senior officer present has been demoted to the rank of police officer and transferred to another district for failing to stop the beating, though the tape shows he had no contact with the suspects. Three other officers were suspended for up to 15 days and and have been transferred to other districts. To see why the beating happened, the response, and the tape, read more.

At the time of the incident, emotions were running high as a fellow officer had been killed two days earlier during a robbery. The men from the car are in custody on attempted murder, assault and firearms charges. The mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, has said he was satisfied by the department’s response to the beating.

However one of the lawyers for the men in the car says, “The only reason these people are not in handcuffs is because they are police officers. They behaved like a pack of wild animals.” Adding to this, the chairwoman of the National Action Network (led by Al Sharpton) said “The position of the citizens of Philadelphia is that the response by Ramsey and Nutter was not enough. We want all the officers prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Is the response enough? Too severe? Did the known danger following the murder of the officer two days prior, inform their response - or send it out of control? Should the officers be treated like civilians, or are cases involving cops inherently different given the situations they face? Since the men in the car are being held on very serious offenses, did they earn severe treatment?

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