TresSugar

Blagojevich to Reality TV - Yay or Nay?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00:48 -0700

Rod Blagojevich has a new job everybody! Since the whole (alleged) attempt to sell President Obama's Senate seat didn't really work out, Rod has made a deal to star in NBC's new reality show I'm a Celebrity. . . Get Me Out of Here. It's all pending court approval, of course.

The show, which is a big hit in the UK, features 10 celebrities who compete to raise money for their favorite charities. Blagojevich needs the court approval to travel to Costa Rica for filming.

Would You Read Meghan McCain's Book?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:00:42 -0700

Who knew Meghan McCain's columns on the Daily Beast were really just practice for her upcoming book? The 24-year-old daughter of John McCain has scored a six-figure book deal.

Meghan's already a published author. She penned a children's book about her father's life last year. And she was a blogette during the presidential campaign.

Meghan's been offering her perspective on a range of topics, including how the Republican Party can become relevant again and the never-ending criticism of women's bodies in the media. Will you read her latest musings?

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Does the Criminal Justice System Need Sweeping Reforms?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:00:03 -0700

Jim Webb, the former Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan and current Democratic Senator from Virginia, wants to rehabilitate America's criminal justice system. So he's proposed a crime bill!

Webb's plan starts with creating a bipartisan commission to study the system for 18 months and come up with a concrete legislative reform plan of its own.

Webb points out urgent reasons for the legislation, which include:

About 25 percent of the world's prisoners live in the US, which only has five percent of the world's population.
The number of drug offenders in prison has jumped 1,200 percent since 1980.
Four times as many mentally ill people are in prison than in mental health hospitals.
Post-prison re-entry programs are often nonexistent and threaten public safety.

The crime bill has begun gaining support from both conservatives and liberals typically afraid of being labeled soft on crime.

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Obamas Paying For White House Renovations - Right Move?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:46:24 -0700

Typically presidents receive $100,000 of taxpayer money to renovate their new, old digs. But this year isn't a typical year, and the Obamas have decided to pay for White House renovations out of their own pockets.

Since the Obamas will pay the bill themselves, the cost of the decorations won't be made public. In January, the first family chose Los Angeles-based designer Michael Smith to lead the private quarter decorations.

Even though we're not footing the bill, I hope the Obamas share photos of their newly designed digs for all of us to enjoy!

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Should Congress Ban Michelle Obama From Policy Work?

CitizenSugar — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:00:44 -0700

As first lady, Michelle Obama has brought the cameras and awareness to a variety of issues. She's promoted sustainable food, highlighted the work of nonprofits, and honored female vets.

Back in 1993 (when Hillary was mixing things up in the White House), a federal appeals court ruled that the first lady was functionally a government employee. That means she (or maybe someday he) could participate in policy debates like a member of the administration.

Now House Republicans are pushing for an amendment that would overturn that decision. The new rule would force Michelle Obama to do her policy work in public, because she would be considered an "outside advisory panel." Essentially, it would keep presidential spouses from working on policy issues within the administration.

Regardless of the legal mumbo jumbo, do you think it's right for the first lady to have a policy role?

Will You Turn Off the Lights For Earth Hour?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:02 -0700

Each year the World Wildlife Fund urges the world to turn off the lights for one hour. During Earth Hour, 2,712 cities from 83 countries turn off the lights with the hope of saving energy and promoting climate change awareness. This year, the blackout will happen Saturday, March 28, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The goal this year is to have 1 billion people turn off the lights. In my neck of the woods, the San Francisco local government is teaming up with building managers, hotels, restaurants, and others in the community to make a big darkness impact.

Will you switch to candlelight during Earth Hour?

Click on Fake Child Porn Ads Head to the Clinker - Fair?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:01:03 -0700

Think of it as RickRolling meets To Catch a Predator. The FBI now puts fake links to child porn on message boards, and then arrests people who click on them.

The tactic has been used to convict people in various states already. Since authorities use IP addresses to track clicks, defendants have argued that neighbors (or anybody!) could have tried to access the nonexistent illegal smut.

After clicking on one of these links, a PhD student had his door kicked in, and he was thrown to the floor and handcuffed by FBI agents. He's now facing charges.

Attempts to download child porn are punishable by 10 years in prison. Do you think this is a good way to catch these predators?

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Gore's Inconvenient Follow Up on Its Way - Would You Buy It?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:50:09 -0700

Climate change crusader Al Gore is back with a new book - Our Choice. The follow up to An Inconvenient Truth will spell out everything Gore has learned in the last few years, including concrete solutions to the climate issue. As the title hints at, Gore will hammer home the need to make bold choices.

And of course the book wouldn't be relevant without a tie-in to the current economic crisis (people can only handle one crisis at a time!). Our Choice explains how green policies can create new jobs and stimulate the economy.

Would you choose to buy Al Gore's new book when it's released in November?

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US to Consider Political Party For the Taliban - Victory?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:30:52 -0700

If you live in a democracy, you must accept that ideologies you disagree with often get represented in government. This may soon happen in Afghanistan. The outgoing US ambassador to Afghanistan thinks that establishing a stable government in that country might require inviting the Taliban to the election-happy party of democracy.

Ambassador Wood maintains that the Taliban should never be part of a power sharing arrangement; however, if the insurgency ends there will surely be some sort of agreement. He says: "There is room for discussions on the formation of political parties, (or) running . . . for elections."

Perhaps some of the less radical forces within the Taliban might need to participate in Afghanistan's democracy if there is to be true stability. Do you think it could work?

Source

Should TV Networks Always Move Over For Obama?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:00:47 -0700

Next Tuesday, we'll find out who's the real American Idol. See, not even 10 talented singers, four entertaining judges, or their millions of viewers, could preempt the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Obama asked the networks to reschedule programming for his latest prime-time address. He plans on holding his second prime-time news conference next Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

Fox will have to push back American Idol to Wednesday and Thursday and go up against CBS's NCAA finals. Some networks are upset saying prime-time speeches cost each company a couple million dollars a pop.

Photo courtesy of Fox and Source