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Colbert Super PAC's 'Parry' ads
-Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:42 PM EDT
No caption necessary, really
During last night's Rewrite we showed you the first of Stephen Colbert's ads made with his dirty, filthy Super PAC cash. An ad that we have indeed confirmed with WHO-TV, our NBC affiliate in Des Moines, is really, actually, totally for reals and for serious running on Iowa TV stations. As promised in tonight's Rewrite, you can watch it below. You can also see the second ad that Colbert has made with his dirty, filthy Super PAC cash.
The ads are strange, hilarious, and thanks to this 5-4 Supreme Court decision... completely legal.
YouTube/Colbert Super PACGOP winners, by the corn kernels
-Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:54 PM EDT
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Fun with corn kernels at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday.
Ahead of the debate and straw poll, Iowa voters let their choice for the Republican nominee be known…with corn. Visitors to the Iowa State fair placed single kernels into jars representing their favorite GOP candidate. So far, Michele Bachmann and Willard M. Romney seem to be the corniest — zing!
(Forgive me. As a former resident of both Iowa and Illinois, I take pride in dorky jokes involving corn and/or soybeans).
Romney faces off with Iowa hecklers
-Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:17 PM EDTThe days of hiding under the Mittness Protection Program are over. Willard M. Romney faced off with an unruly crowd today at the Iowa State Fair.
One heckler repeatedly shouted at the former Massachusetts governor, demanding to know how he would strengthen programs like Social Security and Medicare. Once Romney could get a word in, he finally yelled, "If you don’t like my answer, you can go vote for someone else!"
In the same speech, he also told the crowd "corporations are people, my friend" — a soundbite destined to haunt his campaign.
Rick Perry running for president
-Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:57 PM EDT
Erika Rich/AP
Texas Gov. Rick Perry at his prayer rally Saturday in Houston.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is running for president, NBC News can confirm. Perry (and that’s Perry with an 'E' not an 'A') plans to make the formal announcement this Saturday. He's making visits to early primary states South Carolina and New Hampshire.
Fellow GOP hopefuls made the pilgrimage to Iowa for tonight's big debate and the Ames Straw Poll on Saturday. Though, Sarah Palin just schlepped it to the Hawkeye State for the fried food at the state fair. (And can we blame her? Fried butter-on-a-stick, people).
So just who is Perry? Even before news of his 2012 bid, Perry grabbed headlines forhosting controversial prayer rally. Think Progress also assembled a top 10 list of things Perry doesn’t want you to know about his tenure as governor.
How will his candidacy shake up the GOP field? Tweet me your thoughts or leave a comment in the section below.
First Word: August 11, 2011
-Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:19 PM EDTLots of headlines coming out of Iowa today, as Republican presidential hopefuls are gathering for a debate and straw poll. Check out some of the stories we're following now and tell us what you're clicking on in the comment section below.
- Mitt Romney heckled in Iowa, say 'corporations are people'
- Romney dodges S&P question
- Four storylines to watch in the GOP debate
- Nancy Pelosi names Clyburn, Van Hollen and Becerra to deficit super committee
- Michele Bachmann's inaccurate recounting of the debt-ceiling saga
- Flashback: In 1990 campaign ad, Sen. McConnell said ‘Everyone should pay their fair share, including the rich’
- UK may disrupt social networks during unrest
- Tribute to the fallen SEALs: Complete list released
— Filed under: headlinesColbert rewrites Rick 'Parry'
-Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:33 PM EDTStephen Colbert's Super PAC is throwing its money behind Rick Parry. Illegal, you say? Not if you misspell Perry. MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell has more in the Rewrite.
Palin to eat fried butter in Iowa
-Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:12 PM EDTThe Sarah Palin “One Nation”
publicitybus tour rolls into Iowa later in the week. While not running for president, she plans to join fellow Republicans who have descended upon The Hawkeye state for a visit to the Iowa State Fair (I’m sure actual candidates will love that).Team Palin released a teaser trailer of sorts today on her travel plans, tossing out Midwestern imagery like Abe Lincoln, corn fields and combines. In an email to SarahPAC supporters and on her Facebook page, she confirmed it.
“We are very happy to jump back on the bus for another leg of our "One Nation Tour"! We accept with gratefulness an invitation to meet folks at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines this week. The heartland is perfect territory for more of the One Nation Tour as we put forth efforts to revitalize the fundamental restoration of America by highlighting our nation's heart, history, and founding principles," read the Palin note.
Many GOP presidential hopefuls are scheduled to take part in a formal debate on Thursday and Iowa's straw poll on Saturday. She's not in it to win it. Palin's just there for the deep fried offerings on sticks, or so she says.
“State fairs hold a special place in our nation's history and heritage, so my family is honored to highlight one of them on one stop along the One Nation Tour route America's historic Iowa State Fair! (I'm also excited to try some of that famous fried butter-on-a-stick, fried cheesecake-on-a-stick, fried twinkies, etc. I'll enjoy them in honor of those who'd rather make us just ‘eat our peas’!)”
Palin, the former governor of Alaska, also visited Iowa as the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008.
What happens if Rush got his way
-Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:53 PM EDT
MSNBC
Rush Limbaugh made a wish today on his radio show, which if true, would completelyrewrite American history. While discussing the Wisconsin recall elections, Limbaugh made an appeal to his listeners, saying "we should be able to role back the whole democratic agenda over the last 65 years, yes we can!" Limbaugh said this after calling the Republican Wisconsin state senators "heroic" and claiming that they successfully "turned back" the democratic attempt to recall lawmakers.
If Rush were to get his way, some of the greatest and most socially conscious legislation of the past century would have to be repealed. One such piece of legislation is the Voting Rights Act of 1965, giving equal voting rights to all Americans regardless of race. Democrat Mike Mansfield of Montana helped bring this piece of legislation to the Senate floor and President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, signed it into law. If Rush got his wish, the American voting process may still be racially segregated.
Rush's wish may also destroy one of the foundations of American life: the family. In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act which permitted employees to take up to 12 weeks of leave for family matters such as child-birth, illness, or adoption. The act requires that employees maintain their benefits while gone, and retain their job upon return from leave. Because this piece of legislation was passed within the past 65 years, and because it was passed by a democratic president and a democratic congress, Rush simply wants it gone.
Rush wants to repeal democratic legislation of the past 65 years because it was passed by a party with which he has fundamental differences. He doesn't seem to mind the much needed benefits and civil liberties will be repealed, too.
— By Peter Carril
Debt super committee takes shape
-Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:24 PM EDT
Elaine Thompson/AP; Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Super committee co-chairs Sen. Patty Murray (file) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (file)
Congressional leaders appointed nearly all of the members on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. We're still waiting on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's three appointees. Those are expected to come in soon.
Comprised of 12 members, the bi-partisan committee is equally divided between Democrats and Republicans and each chamber. They've got until Thanksgiving to figure out at least $1.5 trillion dollars in government savings.
Today, House Majority Leader John Boehner appointed Rep. Jeb Hensarling to serve as a co-chair. He's also the Republican Conference Chairman. Congressmen Dave Camp, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, and Fred Upton, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, will join as well.
Rounding out the GOP field, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced his three appointments today: Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, who's on the Finance Committee. Sen. Rob Portman and tea party fave Patrick Toomey, who both serve on the Budget committee.
I should note, all of these guys signed Grover Norquist's pledge, promising to never ever raise taxes under any circumstances.
Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced his picks to so the so-called debt super committee. He tapped Sen. Patty Murray to serve as co-chair. She leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry were also selected to join the JSC.
Reid came up with the JSC idea during the debt ceiling negotiations, and the creation of the super committee was mandated in the final deal.
Will these lawmakers be able to avoid gridlock if half of the members refuse to raise revenues going into these talks? Please tweet me your opinion.
First Word: August 10, 2011
-Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:16 PM EDTMore names are starting to trickle in on the debt super committee. Plus, we'll have more on the Wisconsin recall election results tonight. Here's a look at stories shaping the Wednesday rundown so far.
- Boehner, McConnell announce picks for deficit super committee
- For Tim Pawlenty, it's Ames or bust
- Michele Bachmann repeatedly sought stimulus, EPA, other government funds
- Democrats fall short in Wisconsin recall elections
- Poll: Record low inclined to reelect congressional representatives
- Overriding a key education law
— Filed under: headlines
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