Maddow: What If the Left Stood Up for Itself

MSNBC political commentator Rachel Maddow asked viewers to consider what it would look like if liberals stood up for themselves. Last Friday, Maddow aired political ads produced by liberals challenging conservative Democrats to tow the progressive party line or risk losing re-election.

Olbermann: Greatest Threat To USA is Willful Stupidity

And finally, as promised, a Special Comment about the shout of “You Lie” during the presidential address to the joint session of Congress last night on the matter of health care reform.

The 43rd president of the United States lied the nation into the war, lied 4,343 of his fellow citizens to death in that war, lied about upholding the constitution, and lied about weapons of mass destruction.

He lied about how he reacted to al-Qaida before 9/11 and he lied about how he reacted to al-Qaida after 9/11. He lied about getting Bin Laden, and he lied about not getting Bin Laden.

He lied about nation-building in Iraq, lied about the appearance of new buildings in the nation of Iraq, and lied about embassy buildings in nations like Iraq. He lied about trailers with mobile weapons labs in them, and he lied about trailers with Cuban prostitutes in them.

He and his administration lied — by the counting of one non-profit group — 532 times about links between al-Qaida and Iraq. Only 28 of those were by that President, but he made up for that by lying 231 times about WMD.

And yet not once did an elected Democratic official shout out during one of George W. Bush’s speeches and call him a “liar.” Even when the president was George W. Bush, even when he was assailed from sidelines like mine, even when the lies came down so thick the nation needed a hat he was still the President and if he didn’t earn any respect, the office he held demanded respect.

More over, that President and his Congressional tools like Congressman Addison Graves “Joe” Wilson of South Carolina insisted not just unquestioned respect for the office; they wanted unanimous lock-step compliance with the man.

Time Magazine Marks Glenn Beck a Mad Man

Fox News Channel entertainer and political commentator Glenn Beck graces the cover of this week’s Time Magazine. The divisive talk show host, thought to be a racist by many liberals because of his unique opinion that President Obama ‘hates white people,’ makes Time Magazine’s cover because trades in fear and anger. Beck is ‘[a] gifted entrepreneur of angst in a white-hot market. A man with his ear uniquely tuned to the precise frequency at which anger, suspicion and the fear that no one’s listening all converge,” says David Von Drehle, writer for Time.

“He is afraid that Obama “has a deep-seated hatred for white people” — which doesn’t mean, he hastens to add, that he actually thinks ‘Obama doesn’t like white people.’ He is afraid that both Democrats and Republicans in Washington are deeply corrupt and that their corruption is spreading like a plague.’

I’m not sure when being a rabble-rouser became the measure for talent, but it seems that Time Magazine thinks it is as far as Glenn Beck is concerned. Will another wealthy, controversial, proven talent and occasional political opinion-maker, Kanye West, grace the covers of Time Magazine any time soon to discuss what some see as his ‘racist’ attitude? He made the cover in 2005 when Time saw him as a ‘class act.’ Does Time Magazine still see him as such?

Jay-Z: Kanye West Incident Blown out of Proportion

Rapper Jay-Z defended fellow entertainer Kanye West on BBC Radio for interrupting country singer Taylor Swift at MTV’s Video Music Awards last week. He says everyone’s blowing the incident out of proportion.

“Of course it was rude, because it was her moment, but that’s the way he really felt,” Jay-Z said. “I think it was rude, but the way they’re treating him… He’s on the cover of every paper. He didn’t kill anybody. No one got harmed.”

Indeed, the call for South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson’s reprimand did not appear as vitriolic, even though it was a far more serious transgression with potentially significant consequences to the security of the President and the cohesiveness of this Country. This Kanye West brouhaha is merely an entertainment sideshow, and for some, an invitation to discuss race in America.

FCC Chairman to Push for Net Neutrality at Brookings Institute

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will propose new rules designed to ensure the free flow of information and applications over the Internet. Multiple sources report that he will make the proposals in a speech Monday at the Brookings Institution.

NASA Assigns Crew for Space Shuttle Mission: STS 133

Veteran shuttle commander and retired Air Force Col. Steven W. Lindsey will command the eight-day mission, designated STS-133. Air Force Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot; it will be his second flight as a shuttle pilot. Mission Specialists are shuttle mission veteran Air Force Col. Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr., and long-duration spaceflight veterans Michael R. Barratt, Army Col. Timothy L. Kopra and Nicole P. Stott.

Lionel Richie Honored at 31st UNCF Evening of Stars Show

Lionel Richie was honored at UNCF’s 31st annual television special, ‘An Evening of Stars’ this weekend. UNCF, with the aid of an all-star lineup of performers and presenters, gave Richie the Award of Excellence for his successful career and longtime support for education. Richie is a graduate of the prestigious UNCF member school, Tuskegee University. ‘An Evening of Stars Tribute to Lionel Richie’ was taped before a live audience at the Pasadena Civic in Pasadena, California and will air nationwide on January 23rd and 24th, 2010 on BET Networks and WGN and on more than 40 stations in major cities.

This year’s roster of performers include nine-time Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole, Akon, Jesse McCartney, Grammy-Award winner, Chrisette Michele, Boney James, Katharine McPhee, Ledisi, Johnny Gill, James Ingram, Brian McKnight, Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell and 25-time Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder.

A parade of celebrities joined UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax and performers in celebrating Richie. Presenters included Tom Joyner, Shemar Moore, Terrence Howard, Romeo, Cedric The Entertainer, Justin Chambers, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Gina Ravera, Tracie Thoms, Regina King, Lauren Velez, Paige Hurd, Terri Crews, Suzanne de Passe, Merri Dee, Extra’s AJ Calloway and Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson.

Lady Gaga, Kanye West Announce Fame Kills Tour Dates

Kanye West and Lady Gaga yesterday officially announced dates for what could be one of the most controversial tours of the year in light of Kanye West’s antics at the MTV VMAs. The tour is called “Fame Kills: Starring Kanye West & Lady Gaga.”

The two multiplatinum artists will unite for 34 shows in 34 cities that will ‘stretch musical boundaries with their distinctive performance styles and production,’ according to Live Nation, the tour’s producer. Tickets go on sale to the general public in select markets beginning September 25th at www.LiveNation.com.

“Fame Kills: Starring Kanye West & Lady Gaga” launches at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, AZ on November 10 and runs through January 24 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Kanye West fan club members will have the first opportunity to buy tickets in select markets, beginning Tuesday, September 22nd.

In just five years, Kanye West has sold over 15 million albums worldwide, and garnered 30 Grammy nominations and 12 Grammy wins. His celebrated tours, including ’07′s groundbreaking and critically lauded ‘Glow in the Dark Tour,’ have played to more than one million fans the world over and have proven him to be a major touring force.

Lady Gaga follows up her sold-out and wildly popular “Fame Ball” with her joint shows with West. Her album, “The Fame,” has sold more than four million copies worldwide, and her singles have sold over 25 million digital copies. Lady Gaga is only the third artist in history to have three #1 songs (“Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “LoveGame”) from a debut album.

Warehouse 13 Ep.11 Nevermore: Review [Spoilers]

What does Edgar Allan Poe want with Myka’s dad, and what does either have to do with McPherson? Apparently, he sent an artifact to Myka’s dad, a Poe book, and he is now infected by it. Pete and Myka can’t neutralize it because it must be reunited with Poe’s pen, the other half of the artifact. Meanwhile, Bobby, a kid in Portland, Oregon is channeling Poe through the pen. Pete must retrieve the pen to save Myka’s dad (Michael Hogan).

Myka (Joanne Kelly) and her dad grow closer after she and Pete (Eddie McClintock) save his life. He doesn’t care that she’s no longer on the President’s security detail. And Artie (Saul Rubinek) learns with Mrs. Frederic’s (CCH Pounder) help that that McPherson is behind the disturbance. He uses the team to gain the artifacts for himself.

Nevermore is a quick-moving, dark chapter of “Warehouse 13,” packed with some neat action and surprises. It’s a nice build up to next week’s finale, which is rumored to leave viewers on the edge of their seats.

SyFy’s ‘Warehouse 13’ hauled in 2.9 million viewers Tuesday, earning a 2.2 rating.