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Your Two Cents: Do You Care About Our President's Net Worth?

SavvySugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:46:16 -0800

When I first came across this CNN article "Millionaires-in-Chief" I felt like I was reading something I shouldn't - like when someone instant messages you about yourself. It outlines each presidential candidates' net worth, how they got rich, and how their money is invested. I'll admit, I found myself caring more and more as I scrolled through the candidates' net-worth profiles.

They're all loaded. The figures shouldn't be too surprising considering most of their old-money families, but they're still difficult to absorb - especially the one who is worth more than $200 million! Would you have guessed that it's Mitt Romney?!

Candidates Broke Late-Night Show Appearance Records

CitizenSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:30:32 -0800

The Presidential candidates worked the late-night talk show circuit during the 2008 campaign, making more than four times the number of appearances with Letterman, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, and the likes than the 2004 lineup did, according to new research.

Candidates showed off their face-to-face skills with 110 appearances on late-night comedy shows, a sharp shoot up from 25 in 2004, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs. Fifty of those spots occurred before the primary votes were even cast, offering the chance for candidates to show their comedic chops and create ideal YouTube or cable news sound bites. And, as a former Hillary Clinton adviser said, "It's a lot more risky, as Sarah Palin will attest, to do an interview with Katie Couric than it is with Jay Leno".

John McCain made 17 guest appearances and created quite a hullabaloo when he canceled on Letterman. President-elect Barack Obama clocked 15 appearances, third behind Republican Mike Huckabee, who now has his own show on Fox News Channel and was promoting his book. Do you think the late-night appearances helped you get to know the candidates?

Photo courtesy of NBC

Are You Sad to See Howard Dean Leave Public Life?

LibertySugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:00:38 -0800

Howard Dean is leaving his post as Democratic National Committee Chairman with great successes under his belt - he helped propel Democrats to victories across the country in 2006 and 2008 with technological and fundraising innovations. Dean's resume, which includes family doctor in Vermont, Governor of Vermont, and a once-front running presidential candidate, was not enough to get him a spot in the Obama administration. And in his current job as head of the Democratic Party, Dean will be replaced by VA Gov. Tim Kaine.

When asked by the AP about not being asked to join the team, Dean said:

Obviously, it would have been great. But it's not happening and the president has the right to name his own Cabinet, so I'm not going to work in the government it looks like.

Instead, Dean will hit the speech and consulting circuit, sharing his successful ideas. Do you wish Dean would keep working in politics?

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Biggest Headlines of 2008: Barack Obama Defeats Hillary Clinton For Nomination

CitizenSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:30:29 -0800

Hillary Clinton had the name, the experience, the money, the contacts, and the tenacity - yet her momentum of inevitability couldn't stop Barack Obama. Before he upset Hillary in the Iowa primary, few people took the two-year senator's chances of beating the front-runner seriously. His victorious finish in the the marathon Democratic primary proved to be one of the most shocking headlines of 2008, and of American political history.

Obama's ability to persevere through dozens of debates with such a policy-expert as Hillary, and his skill in dodging the kitchen sink lobbed his way from Camp Clinton proved to make him a stronger general election candidate. The early airing of potential scandals (like Rev. Wright or the Obama in Muslim garb pictures) and Obama's demonstration of executive prowess in running a capable campaign most likely got Americans more confident in his presidential abilities.

And, of course, the storyline for these two Democrats is far from over. Perhaps something they accomplish together as president and secretary of state will make the cut for biggest headline of 2009! As for this past year, stay tuned because we'll be looking back on all the biggest news from 2008!

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What Politician Would You Like as a Neighbor?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:00:51 -0800

Former Republican vice presidential candidate (and new grandma) Sarah Palin recently won a poll on the most desirable celebrity neighbors with 14 percent, closely followed by Oprah Winfrey.

The 2008 campaign gave us an up close look at the lives of Palin, John McCain, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, but I suspect being neighbors with Condoleezza Rice, Eliot Spitzer or Rod R. Blagojevich would be pretty entertaining as well. What politician do you wish you could borrow eggs and sugar from?

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More Than 200 Million People Are Hungry in India

CitizenSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:00:54 -0700

There's no sugar coating this: India has more people suffering from hunger than any other country in the world. More than 200 million don't get enough to eat, and according to the 2008 Global Hunger Index just released, not one of India's 17 states rank in the low- or moderate-hunger categories - and 12 states have rank "alarming." India is 66th out of 88 countries surveyed (a stat in itself that makes you think of those 22 other countries that are worse.)

Kids bear a lot of the brunt of the hunger crisis - numbers released two years ago showed that even then, more than half of the children in India were malnourished. The rise in global food prices not mirrored in rising incomes has made the problem worse. As grim as this news sounds, there are people doing work to help. To find out which former presidential candidates just won an award for their work on hunger, read more.

Former candidates Bob Dole and George McGovern have just been awarded the World Food Prize for their work to alleviate global hunger. The Republican/Democrat duo created the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food For Education and Nutrition Program. The prize president says, "There's a significant message that's included by having them both honored, one Democrat, one Republican."

Despite efforts, more work is needed. The World Health Organization just warned that the life expectancy between rich and poor countries varies by as much as 40 years. Let's hope increased bipartisan efforts will do the world some more good.

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What to Watch This Week: Political TV and Movies Abound

CitizenSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:45:53 -0700

OK, OK I'm going to directly contradict every time your mother said, "read a book" or "go outside and play," because this week it's all about gripping TV. Here's what I mean:

Monday - It's not light TV, but sounds compelling:

Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery - On HBO tonight at 9 p.m. this documentary tells the story of the section that serves as the burial ground of US military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a look at the honor and cost of war from a human perspective.
The Last Lynching - The Discovery Channel tonight (at 10 p.m. so you could catch some of both programs) has Ted Koppel investigating America's recent history of racial violence, including a lynching that happened in Alabama as recently as 1981.

To see the rest of the week, read more.

Tuesday - All about the candidates:

Frontline: The Choice 2008 - On PBS at 9 p.m., this two-hour broadcast promises to tell the story of "two journeys, one destination," and serve up a biography and personal history from those who know them best.

Wednesday - The final showdown:

The Final Presidential Debate - Bob Schieffer is hosting the final debate at 9 p.m. EDT and he's promising details. He says, “It will not embarrass me, if they go off in a different direction, to say, ‘Excuse me, could you focus on the question that I just asked?’ ” In this debate the candidates will be at the same table.

Thursday - Laughs or. . .?:

The Late Show - McCain will be back on Letterman after he missed his last appearance and felt the wrath of Dave. Will they kiss and make up?

Friday - Movie night?:

W Opens - Oliver Stone's newest offering W based on the presidency of Bush-know-who opens tonight. Are you checking it out?

Phew! That's a lineup! What are you setting your Tivo for - and what are you skipping?

Biggest News Story: Tech Takes Over the Election

GeekSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:07:13 -0800

Technology and the Internet played an unprecedented role in the 2008 presidential campaign. Blogs and media followed every move, speech, rally and poll while the candidates integrated streaming video and text messages into their campaign strategies. Here's a look back at some of the revolutionary ways technology took over the election.

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Who Is Your Favorite Political Comedian?

CitizenSugar — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:00:35 -0800

This year's presidential campaign offered enough material to skyrocket ratings of shows like SNL and reminded most of us why we love late night TV. Tina Fey poofed her hair and turned out a dead-on impression of Sarah Palin, while John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Bill Maher delivered cutting and comedic insight on the candidates, news, and general state of the world night after night on their prospective programs. Which of these political comedians had you LOLing through the very best moments of 2008?

Hug It Out: Top 20 Embraces From the Presidential Campaign

CitizenSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:02:43 -0800

The 2008 Presidential campaign is over, and while it wasn't all champagne kisses and caviar dreams, there were some pretty phenomenal embraces from the candidates and their families and friends. Some squeezes showed honest and sweet support, while others seemed to be manufactured for the camera. Here's a look back at the best of the best.

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