VIDEO- Little boy: "...Very 1st time I saw a husband & husband! That means you love each other!"

By GottaLaff

This is absolutely fantastic:



This little boy gets it. Why are there so many others who don't?

This is all that really matters. Husband + husband = Love.

H/t: MissShuganah

The saddest story Jeremy Scahill has ever written

By GottaLaff

Just go. I won't even provide excerpts. It wouldn't do the story justice.

Blackwater's Youngest Victim

I'm speechless. And in tears.

5-year-old VIDEO shows Romanian president hitting boy

By GottaLaff



See for yourself (above):

Romania's government "has collapsed and its economy is in shambles but its presidential campaign has been dominated in recent days by a video that appears to show the president striking a 10-year-old boy in the face," the AP reports.

The five year old footage "appeared just over a week ahead of a Dec. 6 runoff vote and has been top news ever since. [...]

Traian Basescu's campaign says the film is a dirty trick and the footage was "seriously altered."

What do you think?

TPC EXCLUSIVE: Army mom still facing Afghanistan deployment, court martial

By GottaLaff

U.S. Army Specialist Alexis
Hutchinson holding her son, Kamani. (Photo: Courtesy of Alexis Hutchinson)

If you've been following the heart wrenching story about U.S. Army Specialist Alexis Hutchinson, you will be interested in this update. If you haven't, here's a brief refresher...

Dahr Jamail's original piece is a must-read:

US Army Specialist Alexis Hutchinson, a single mother, is being threatened with a military court-martial if she does not agree to deploy to Afghanistan, despite having been told she would be granted extra time to find someone to care for her 11-month-old son while she is overseas. [...]

She has been attempting to find someone to take care of her child, Kamani, while she is deployed overseas, but to no avail. [...]

In late October, Angelique Hughes [her mother] told Hutchinson and her commander that she would be unable to care for Kamani after all. The Army then gave Hutchinson an extension of time to allow her to find someone else to care for Kamani. Meanwhile, Hughes brought Kamani back to Georgia to be with his mother.

However, only a few days before Hutchinson's original deployment date, she was told by the Army she would not get the time extension after all, and would have to deploy, despite not having found anyone to care for her child.

Faced with this choice, Hutchinson chose not to show up for her plane to Afghanistan. The military arrested her and placed her child in the county foster care system.

Please read the whole thing to get a fuller picture of what has been going on. To keep up on the latest news, please go here. An excerpt:

In response to a public outcry, growing media attention, and congressional inquiries, the Army backed off of their pledge to deploy Alexis last night, November 15. Alexis’ lawyer Rai Sue Sussman of San Francisco notes that “The Army maintains that she may still be sent to Afghanistan for a court martial.” That has left Ms. Sussman contemplating travel to Afghanistan to represent her client.

This story made the rounds on Twitter, and many of us were going back and forth trying to figure out a solution.

Then I got a private message from a wonderful Twitter pal of mine, Davidgs, who I introduced to you back in September. He told me he lived within driving distance of the child and would offer his home and care to the family. At this point, all we knew is that Alexis was frantically trying to find someone who she could trust to care for Kamani.

Davidgs and I immediately began to dig for contacts. David sent e-mails to Dahr and Jeff Paterson, a Marine who is Courage to Resist project director. While he was doing that, I fell into a happy coincidence: My friend Jason Leopold works with Dahr and gave me his phone number. I called Dahr, who gave me his blessing to pick up the story where he left off, and then he gave me Jeff's phone number.

I'll be receiving updates from Jeff as soon as he is able to give them, but at the moment, he is overwhelmed with this undertaking. However, I do have an e-mail exchange between Jeff and David that was enlightening, heartwarming, and somewhat encouraging.

First, from David to Jeff (exclusive to TPC):

I know that I am a random person from the internet, volunteering for a serious commitment, and you don't know me from Adam, but I can assure you that I am serious.

My wife, 2 1/5 year old daughter and I live in a nice neighborhood in Cary, NC. I work from home, and my wife is a full-time stay at home mom, so we're BOTH here all the time. I also have 2 boys -- one is a special needs, wheelchair-bound child -- from a previous marriage that are here part time.

We are a stable, loving, happy, normal home and would be honored to help this soldier out in her time of need.

Best Regards,
dg

Forgive the stock phrasing, but his generosity restores my faith in mankind.

Now Jeff's reply:

Hi David. Thank you so very much for your generosity. I've pasted a section of an article I just published (http://couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/792/1/) after working with the family for the last week or so. It sort of outlines what they are currently thinking about Kamani's care.

Thanks again!

Offers to care for infant

Since Courage to Resist helped break news of this outrage--which has now been covered by NPR, AP, USA Today, and The NY Times-two dozen very generous and caring individuals and couples from across the country have come forward with offers to care for Kamani. Alexis and her family want to share their gratitude for this generosity.

Without time to even evaluate these offers, however, this situation is too similar to that of Kamani being placed back into a county foster care system-which of course also has some amazing caregivers. If Alexis is deployed, it's understandable that the family will try very hard to find a way to keep Kamani near them in the San Francisco Bay Area.

While Kamani was in county foster care in Georgia, he was fed a dairy product that the 11-month old had an allergic reaction to. He has been "very clingy" since explains his grandmother. The family hopes that Alexis and Kamani can be reunited as soon as possible.

Dahr had filled me in earlier about offers that were coming in. He noted that one came from a lance corporal in the Marine Corp Reserves named Jeff Key. He and his gay partner live in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Dahr told his story (along with others') in a post called "Resisting Homophobia in the Military". Please give it a read.

And finally, here is a quick update I got this morning from Jeff:

Kamani is with grandma for now. She can handle him, with a lot of help from friends, for a few days. We’re all hoping for some kind of resolution quickly.

[...] [T]he family and lawyer are overwhelmed at the moment with press. They are scheduled to be on The Today Show Wednesday, for example.

Jeff

With the likes of people like David reaching out, and with Jeff and company on the case, I am feeling more hopeful by the day. Along with Alexis and her family, I want to express my deepest gratitude.

And thank you Dahr, for telling Alexis' story.

VIDEO- 10-year-old: Pledge of Allegiance leaves out gays, lesbians; tells teacher "go jump off a bridge"

By GottaLaff

I love this kid! He's got moxie:



What a brainiac... with heart. I know a few adults who could take lessons. Very impressive, to say the least, especially because he's on the right side of the issues. Go Will!

H/t: Hippie_Cyndi

Balloon Boy Dad "put on a very good show for us, and we bought it”

By GottaLaff

Barry Blitt

Frank Rich, making a point I've been trying to make for years, only he does it so, so much better:

[Y]ou can’t grant blanket absolution to those in the American audience who smugly blame Heene and television exclusively for the entire embarrassing episode. [...]

“They put on a very good show for us, and we bought it,” the local sheriff, Jim Alderden, said last weekend, when he alleged that “balloon boy” was a hoax. His words could stand as the epitaph for an era. [...]

[A]s usual, the news media nursed it along, enlisting as sales reps for the smoke and mirrors.[...]

Next to the other hoaxes and fantasies that have been abetted by the news media in recent years, both the “balloon boy” and Chamber of Commerce ruses are benign. The Colorado balloon may have led to the rerouting of flights and the wasteful deployment of law enforcement resources. But at least it didn’t lead the country into fiasco the way George W. Bush’s flyboy spectacle on an aircraft carrier helped beguile most of the Beltway press and too much of the public into believing that the mission had been accomplished in Iraq. The Chamber of Commerce stunt was a blip of a business news hoax next to the constant parade of carnival barkers who flogged empty stocks on cable during the speculative Wall Street orgies of the dot-com and housing booms. [...]

Richard Heene is the inevitable product of this reigning culture, where “news,” “reality” television and reality itself are hopelessly scrambled and the warp-speed imperatives of cable-Internet competition allow no time for fact checking. Norman Lear, about the only prominent American to express any empathy for little Falcon’s father, vented on The Huffington Post, calling out CNN, MSNBC, Fox, NBC, ABC and CBS alike for their role in “creating a climate that mistakes entertainment for news.” [...]

That circus is among the country’s last dependable job engines. More than a quarter of prime-time broadcast television is devoted to reality programs. [...]

If Heene’s balloon was empty, so were the toxic financial instruments, inflated by the thin air of unsupported debt, that cratered the economy he inhabits. The press hyped both scams, and the public eagerly bought both. But between the bogus balloon and the banks’ bubble, there’s no contest as to which did the most damage to the country. The ultimate joke is that Heene, unlike the reckless gamblers at the top of Citigroup and A.I.G., may be the one with a serious shot at ending up behind bars.

Please go read the whole thing here. Rich nails it.

VIDEO- Countdown: Balloon Boy hoax family "Aristocratic"?

By GottaLaff

Via my pal Izzy, who knows people who have videos:

Countdown's Keith Olbermann identifies another famous family story that comes to mind as details of the infamous balloon boy hoax come to light.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

VIDEO: SNL mocks Balloon Boy story

By GottaLaff



I still hate this story. I will continue to hate this story. But if SNL mocks it, I'm more than happy to support them.

Balloon Boy watch: A hoax, we were manipulated, conspiracy charges to be filed

By GottaLaff

I am so sick and tired of the Balloon Boy story, but here he is, the Colorado sheriff on the Tee Vee Machine. Liveblog (update... some of this reporting seems contradictory... is it me?Blog title changed to reflect updates):

"It's become known as the balloon boy hoax... It has been determined this was a hoax, a publicity stunt to ... get on a reality show in the future."

"Insufficent evidence for a criminal prosecution." [Note: I think he means right now, not until after further investigation]

"We now know it was not capable of lifting off... "

"It was plausible to believe that this event occurred.... the family granted us free access to house, to children.... to talk to him... suggested that it was a real deal."

"After the fact, we learned that these people were actors... they met in acting school in Hollywood. They put on a very good show... for us..."

"On Larry King Show... we had the 'aha' moment... the "put on a show" quote. It became clear to us that they were lying. We had to develop a strategy to get to the bottom of this. The only way... was if we got a confession. We had to get somebody talking... "

"It was important that they maintain their trust for us... that they believe that we were on their side still... so we could get them in here voluntarily... to conduct an interview on our turf...."

"We [had] to separate them, interview them separately... take a polygraph... to get the media frenzy off their back.... ultimately with the goal of getting a confession..."

"Had we run a polygraph under these circumstances [with them stressed out] would have been invalid... so we waited..." [paraphrased]

"While he was here, we had investigators go to the house to talk to [his wife]. She volunteered to come to sheriff's office for more interviews..."

"One thing you're not gonna like: There's a rule in Colorado... called Rule 3.6 and 3.8.... We are not allowed to talk about the results of the scientific evidence.... whether the polygraph was administered, and if it was, whether truthful or deceptive... or if anyone confessed."

"We did get enough probable cause for a search... [he lists what was covered in search]."

"At this point we have not filed charges. We need to regroup."

"Still an ongoing investigation... have to look at all the documents... We believe we will at some point... recommend conspiracy, contributing to delinquency of minor, false reporting.. influence a public servant. " [Some are felonies] And one about endangering public transportation, we don't have enough for that.

Talking to FBI, FAA about federal charges... if appropriate."

"Restitution, because we should have viable criminal case: We will seek restitution, but no dollar amount for man hours."

Conspiracy charges to be filed... contributing to delinquency of minor...

"The Heenes considered a flight risk, but felony warrants will follow them.

On bizarre meter,this rates a 10."

Children will likely face no criminal charges.

It was a planned event for at least 2 weeks, to launch craft to get publicity. Plan: To create situation that made it look like his life was in jeopardy... to get notoriety, further career, get reality TV show...

We have serious doubts that he spent time in the garage... That's the story still presented to us, that he was in the attic. For all we know he could have been 2 blocks down the road at the park.

They're investigating whether children's services will remove children from home.

Class 4 felony, 2-6 years, up to $500K... per count. That's the highest count they're looking at. Attempting to influence a public official is a Class 4. Decision for courts.

Sources: Edwards to admit paternity of ex-mistress' child

By GottaLaff

I wasn't even going to bother with this story, but it's one of those that everyone's buzzing about, and it is news, so...

Sources have told WRAL News that they expect former U.S. Sen. John Edwards to admit that he is the father of his former mistress' 18-month-old daughter.

So when does the news story start? Oh. That was it? But we already knew that.

He has denied fathering her daughter, saying his relationship with Hunter ended before the child was conceived.

It's always the cover-up.... How can someone so smart be so stupid? With judgment like that, it's a good thing he quit the 2008 race. Boy, did we dodge a bullet with that one.

A federal grand jury is investigating whether Edwards' campaign funds were illegally paid to Hunter to keep quiet about the affair. [...]

Sources said Edwards' public admission could come before the end of the criminal investigation.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to shower off.

H/t: Taegan

VIDEO: "100 percent John Edwards is the father...They definitely communicate."

By GottaLaff



Next thing you know, we'll find out he moved to C Street:

In an interview on Entertainment Tonight, the sister of John Edwards' former mistress says the former presidential candidate is the father of her niece.

Said Roxanne Druck: "I personally have not seen any results for the DNA test, but I can tell you 100 percent John Edwards is the father of my sister's child."

As for whether or not the two are in contact, Druck said, "They definitely communicate. They have a daughter. They definitely communicate."

So much promise, such lousy judgment. See, trolls? We write about Democratic idiots, too.

Obama Note Girl Denied Fox Interview?

By GottaLaff

Remember Kennedy, the fourth-grader who got an excuse note from the president his very own self? Apparently Faux Noise would rather forget about her. Consider yourself lucky, Kennedy:

Well now Kennedy Corpus (and her dad, John, who brought her) is enjoying a bit of a spotlight, and will appear on NBC's Weekend Today show tomorrow morning.

They also have made the cable rounds: MSNBC at 11:54amET, CNN at 1:33pmET...but no Fox News.

Sources tell TVNewser the Corpus family was told by NBC they were not allowed to do the FNC interview, which was slated to take place during "Happening Now" (11am-1pmET). The interview with Fox News had to be canceled at the last minute.

An NBC spokesperson tells TVNewser: "We agreed that she could honor any interviews she scheduled prior to the Weekend Today booking."

Party poopers. Maybe Obama should write a note on their behalf, too, saying there is absolutely no excuse for these dufi.

VIDEO: Fourth grader reacts to President Obama writing her a doctor's note

By GottaLaff

The note (original post/video here):

Can you even imagine? I'd rather take my lumps at school and hang on to, frame, and cherish this most unique doctor's note.

Here's the video of Kennedy, the lucky recipient who has the best excuse note evahhh!

Pablo chose Barack Obama because "he is young and not senile" and "dum as mud bricks" Palin won't get in if "he somehow dies"

By GottaLaff

Many kids are smarter than many adults:

(click on image to enlarge)

Best piece of writing I've seen all election season.

And Pablo, you rock. I'm done with this, too.

H/t: Kerry

VIDEO: Obama's Yes We Can Speech... by an 8-year-old!

By GottaLaff

This is so cute, and at the same time, so cool:


H/t: Kerry was it? I'm losing track.