Clinton and Stephanopoulos... Cousins?

Yep, that's right... George Stephanopoulos has learned that he may be genetically linked to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Stephanopoulos submitted a swab sample for the DNA company 23andMe for a segment on Good Morning America to promote "Faces of America With Henry Louis Gates Jr.," a four-part series on family histories premiering Feb. 10 on PBS. Gates told him this: "According to 23andMe, George, you most likely share an ancestor with a very prominent American woman, a person who, like your haplotype, is an intrepid traveler yourself."

Here is the full transcript of the conversation:

HENRY LOUIS GATES: According to 23andMe, George, you most likely share an ancestor with a very prominent American woman, a person who, like your haplotype, is an intrepid traveler yourself. Now, for five dollars, and we’ve been friends for a long time, five bucks, I’ll give you five bucks if you can guess who this person is?

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: An intrepid traveler. Amelia Earhart?

GATES: Okay, Amelia Earhart. Is that your best guess?

STEPHANOPOULOS: You’re going to string this out, aren’t you?

GATES: Okay. Amelia Earhart, absolutely not. I'm going to read you a statement from 23andme, by their lead geneticists, Joanna Mountain [PH]. She says, "There is one intrepid, traveling famous woman who genealogists claim also has George's haplo-group, Haplo-group X. You are very likely a maternal cousin with Hillary Clinton.

STEPHANOPOULOS: You’re putting me on.

GATES: And you know, the more I look at you, the more you look like Hillary.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Sorry, Secretary Clinton, I did not set this up.

GATES: Now, George, we have to stress-

STEPHANOPOULOS: Cousin Hillary, right there.

GATES: Now, George, we have to stress, it's very likely, because, as far as we know, the Secretary of State hasn't been tested. We hope she does get tested.

STEPHANOPOULOS: She may not get tested now.

GATES: According to genealogists, she ascends from a woman who lived in France the 17th century and all of the female descendants have the X Haplotype. So, 23andme says it’s a very likely match. Now, how does that make you feel, good brother?

STEPHANOPOULOS: I feel fantastic to have a cousin Hillary. Thanks very much, Skip Gates. You can see Faces of America on PBS on Wednesdays from February 10 to March 3.

Hmmm..... not so sure I see any resemblance...... Read entire post

Ann Curry reeeally wants Hillary Clinton to feel "marginalized"

While Secretary Hillary Clinton was in Zurich, she found time to sit down with Ann Curry of ABC for an interview. However, in my own opinion, instead of asking worthwhile questions, Curry brings up a stupid op-ed written in the Washington Post about the "marginalization of Hillary Clinton". Haven't we gone over this here, and here and here, many, many times before??

Can someone please tell me WHO wrote these questions for our Secretary? ALL of them completely irrelevant to ANYTHING that she is embarking on. Get ready, I'm stepping up on my soapbox... How about instead of asking the "highest ranking women in the United States" how she feels about being "marginalized", you ask her about the plight of all women across the nation and the world? Or how about asking what she is planning to do in Europe and Russia in the upcoming days? Hmmm, didn't uh cross your mind there?? No? What about asking about the marginalization of women in Afghanistan and what Hillary thinks about that? If you really want to know what she thinks, and create some headlines in the meantime, you can at least ask her about health care!

Let me know if I am freaking out over nothing here. I did enjoy the interview simply because I love how Hillary just gives this look like "are you kidding me?" It's pretty great, worth the watch!

Oh yea, and she also said she wouldn't run for President again... I'm just pretending that I didn't hear that part. Ignorance is bliss sometimes. La, la, la, la, laaaa...

Read her full remarks here or watch the video below:

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Hillary ends feud between Conan O'Brien and Newark Mayor, receives Nobel Peace Prize

A recent feud between a politician and a media figure has gotten so heated that only Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could squash it. And no, she DIDN'T receive the Nobel Peace Prize (although these days I wouldn't be surprised!!) but she did create some peace between the two feuders, for now...

On Thursday's "Tonight Show," Secretary Clinton delivered a videotaped message to host Conan O'Brien and Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker, who have been taking shots at each other for the past couple of weeks.

During the video she said this:

"As secretary of state, my job is to strengthen ties and improve relations, whether it be between nations around the world or between the mayor of a midsized American city and the host of a mildly amusing late-night talk show... Let's just chalk it up to Conan's head injury and be done with this whole mess."

She was refering to a concussion O'Brien recently got after falling during a sketch.

Watch the video below:

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Hillary Cracksdown on US Embassy frat boys in Afghanistan

Hillary Clinton is not pleased. I'm talking about the newest reports that private contracted guards at the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan held drunken frat-like parties, hired prostitutes and threatened and hazed subordinates.

She has ordered an investigation into these allegations against the private contractors empolyed by the ArmorGroup, part of the Florida-based Wackenhut group, one of the biggest private security organizations in the US.

The decision to launch this investigation came after a 10-page dossier appeared yesterday on her desk claiming that the security guards at the embassy had been engaged in drunken parties involving prostitutes and the kind of ritual humiliation associated with gang initiation. The dossier contained pictures, emails and video footage as evidence of the misconduct.

The letter came from the independent investigative group Project on Government Oversight, or POGO. Here is an excerpt:

After extensive interviews with eyewitnesses, and examination of documents, photographs, videos, and emails, POGO believes that the management of the contract to protect the U.S. Embassy Kabul is grossly deficient, posing a significant threat to the security of the Embassy and its personnel—and thereby to the diplomatic mission in Afghanistan.

Busted! The dossier goes on to state that the guards were "engaging in near-weekly deviant hazing and humiliation of subordinates" claiming that some guards had barricaded themselves in their rooms out of fear that the alleged hazing might harm them physically.

There are also claims of prostitution. Saying that guard force supervisors "made no secret that, to celebrate a birthday, they brought prostitutes into Camp Sullivan, which maintains a sign-in log." The dossier does go into detail of why this is harmful to the US, not only because the pictures could be picked up by the Taliban and used as propaganda but because the general breakdown in discipline poses a threat to the security of the embassy.

I've been waiting for an official statement from Hillary to be release but until then, Ian Kelly has been filling us in. Saying that the reports of wild, anarchic partying are "very serious allegations, and we are treating them that way"... Secretary Clinton has "zero tolerance" for the behavior described and has directed a review of the whole system for farming out security to private contractors that may have threatened the safety of embassy personnel.

Watch Kelly's full response below:

The embassy gave this statement: "Nothing is more important to us than the safety and security of all embassy personnel - Americans and Afghan - and respect for the cultural and religious values of all Afghans... We have taken immediate steps to review all local guard force policies and procedures and have taken all possible measures to ensure our security is sound."

I couldn't decide whether or not to post the lewd photo evidence here, so I will just link to it. Check out all the photos over at Gawker!

If you want to read the letter written to Secretary Clinton by POGO, click here! Read entire post

BREAKING: Hurricane Billary heading towards Bermuda!

The Bermuda Sun is reporting (not so sure how reliable of a source) that the most famous power couple in the world, the Clinton's, are NOT going to be in Martha's Vineyard this weekend, like we all thought, but in Bermuda!

Reporting from both this newspaper and on CNN, the Clintons planned a four-day stay in Bermuda this weekend. The couple plans to fly by private jet to the island today Wednesday to take a trip down memory lane to the island where Bill and Hillary conceived Chelsea at Horizons cottage colony in Paget in the summer of 1979. Is it creepy that I know this? Let me answer... yes, yes it is.

Apparently, Bill and Hillary sought to stay in the same cottage they did three decades ago where Chelsea was conceived, but due to privacy and security issues the venue was unable to meet their needs.

Instead the word is that the Clintons will stay at the Cambridge Beaches Resort and Spa, an "adults only" facility that "caters to couples." This plush, resort has a "clothing optional" sky deck and occasionally hosts sex seminars to improve couples' relationships. Wow, am I really reading this?

If this is indeed true, their vacation plans might be hampered by the fast moving Hurricane Bill, a Category 3 storm that is currently on track to pass near the island at the end of the week. Coincidental name huh?

The State Department had no comment on reports of the trip, and a spokeswoman for the resort said there is no reservation for the Clintons this weekend but made sure to add in:"Even if they did have a reservation, we wouldn't say."

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Bill Clinton wishes President Obama a Waxy Birthday!

Well, it looks like President Obama got the birthday party of his dreams. Or maybe of his nightmares, this IS pretty creepy.

At Madame Tussauds in New York City, all of Obama's bffs, including a wax President Bill Clinton, wax George W. Bush, wax Oprah Winfrey, and a wax Colin Powell, wished a wax Obama a Happy Birthday as enthusiastically as wax figures can... which is not much. Hey, at least they look good!

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I <3 Maddow's Snark

HRC vs. DPRK? Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the government of North Korea have been engaged in what seems to be a war of words this week. On Monday, the Secretary likened the North Korean regime to attention-starved children, saying on Good Morning America:

"And maybe it's the mother in me or the experience that I've had with small children and unruly teenagers and people who are demanding attention -- don't give it to them, they don't deserve it, they are acting out."

Now, today, the New York Times put out an interesting article saying that North Korea has returned with..... the.exact.same.insult.

A North Korean official apparently referred to Secretary Clinton as an impolite "schoolgirl".

"We cannot but regard Mrs. Clinton as a funny lady as she likes to utter such rhetoric, unaware of the elementary etiquette in the international community. Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping."

Oh they also added that Clinton is "by no means intelligent." Yea... my response was almost exactly the same as Maddow's in a clip from tonight below. Oh how I love the snark... (fast forward to 6:15)

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Also, it was reported that Hillary may have miffed some other North Korean officials that were attending the ASEAN conference in Thailand. The story goes that the officials showed up at a news conference set up for Clinton, who was running late and although the North Koreans had a booked space, they left the conference area to meet with reporters and talk bad about Secretary Clinton and the United States.

Curious as to your thoughts. Is this a case of a silly "I know you are but what am I?" argument or is very scary to be getting involved in a war of words with North Korea? Read entire post

Hillary Clinton target of ridiculous lawsuit. Justice Dept wants the case thrown out

On January 29, 2009, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against newly confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on the ground that she is constitutionally ineligible to serve as Secretary of State under an obscure part of the Constitution called the Ineligibility Clause.

This clause states no member of Congress can be appointed to a government post if the pay was increased during the lawmaker's current term.

The salary of the U.S. Secretary of State under Condi Rice increased at least three times during Hillary's most recent U.S. Senate term.

The last time it was raised to $191,300. Congress lowered the salary back to $186,600 so she could take the post.

They are somehow claiming that her Senate term, which began on January 4, 2007, does not expire until January 2013, regardless of Mrs. Clinton's recent resignation.

Judicial Watch's lawsuit is on behalf of Foreign Service Officer and State Department employee David Rodearmel. Mr. Rodearmel claims he cannot serve under Secretary of State Clinton as it would force him to violate an oath he took as a Foreign Service Officer in 1991 to "support and defend" and "bear true faith and allegiance" to the Constitution of the United States.

Recently, the Justice Department is asking a judge to throw out this case saying the lawsuit calling for Secretary Clinton's removal from office, has no merit. The Justice Department says Rodearmel does not have the legal right to sue because he has not been personally harmed by Clinton taking the position.

If the Justice Department is against you, I think you know you have some problems. Apparently Mr. Rodearmel has nothing better to do with his time and sees no cause greater to fight for than to try holding back a person who is fighting for right and just causes. Clearly, this isn't gonna go any further than this. Read entire post

Jezebel RePost: Curious about Hillary's little Sasha Baron-Cohen-esque friend?? I sure am!

Perhaps you're asking: So who is this guy in the chocolate suit?

Mutassim Billah Qadhafi is 34 years old and the National Security Advisor to Libya, a job given to him by this dad, the uh, legendary Moammar Qadhafi. According to Spiegel, "Officially, Qadhafi has eight children, although there is speculation that there may be more."

Mutassim — pictured above with Secretary Clinton — is the youngest son. His big brother Mohammed is chairman of the Libyan Olympic Committee. The second son, Saif, is rumored to be the one who will succeed his father. When Saif showed up at University in Geneva, he arrived with four bodyguards and two Bengali tigers, and was like "what?"

Third son Saadi (above) is a failed football player who flunked a drug test. Spiegel says, "Today he invests in European football clubs and the film industry, and occasionally launches into a public tirade against Israel."

Mutassim has a little sister, Aisha, "known at home by her nickname 'Libya's Claudia Schiffer.'"

Aisha is a lawyer and was on the defense team when Saddam Hussein was in court.

No one seems to know much about the other kids.

Anyway, back to Mutassim — also known as "Hannibal." He and his heavily pregnant wife were arrested in Geneva, Switzerland in 2008 on charges of making threats and assaulting their domestic staff. In 2005, he was in a "scuffle" at a hotel in Paris where he reportedly "beat a woman and brandished a handgun."

According to this blog which follows "Hannibal" closely, he also had a "violent incident" in Copenhagen in 2005; in 2004 in Paris, Mutassim "drove down the Champs Elysees at 140kph in his black Porsche in the middle of the night. Once stopped, his thuggish bodyguards attacked French police & destroyed a police transmitter."

In 2003 Mutassim was involved in a brawl in Rome which sent 6 photographers to the hospital. In Rome in 2001, he was "escorted to the airport" after a hotel fight in which he "attacked Italian police with a fire extinguisher." Oh, and in 2001 in Sardinia, Mutassim was thrown out of a club for yelling at the waiters, so he "blocked the entrance to a disco with his Lamborghini." Later, he blasted music aboard his 70-ft yacht the Che Guevara.

All in all, as seen wearing a bright red shirt in this 2005 picture with his brother Saadi and an Italian movie producer, Mutassim seems like an exciting guy with whom you'd rather be friends than enemies.

Read more crazy articles on this guy: Diplomatic Ice Age Between Libya and Switzerland [Spiegel] Hussein Defense Will be Joined by a Qaddafi [NY Times] Government Protests Behavior Of Qaddafi's Son [NY Times] "Hannibal" Motassim Bilal Gaddafi - Another Belt and Coat Hanger [Justice Will Be Served]

Man... this family sounds like it is straight outta a North African reality tv show. Move over Kardashians, here come the... Qadhafi.. ans... hm. Doesn't quite have a ring to it...

Anyways, wtf. This family sounds crazy. I mean, two Bengali tigers?!?! wtf!

Ok... Rahm Emaneul vs Mutassim Qadhafi. Who can kick the most ass? Start placing your bets! I'll put 20 down on Qadhafi.

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For a Good Time call... 1-900-Hillary-Clinton!

Whoops! Looks like journalists located in the United States who dialed in to a White House conference call today hoping to hear the voices of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Advisor Jim Jones on the other end laying out foreign policy and security threats, instead were greeted by a phone sex operator.

"Do you have any hidden desires? If you feel like getting nasty, then you came to the right place," said a suggestive-sounding woman. Whoa there!

Reporters finally got through to the two officials in London when they gave up on the US "800" number and instead dialed an international number.

At first it was reported that The White House did not offer an explanation when asked how it sent the wrong number in an email listing both numbers - one for journalists in the US and the other for those overseas.

Their response: "Lots of important issues to cover today!" Thomas Vietor, a White House spokesman, said when asked about the mistake in an email.

When pressed further about the number, Mr Vietor replied: "I haven't dialed whatever number you're referencing. Please call such numbers on your free time!"

Haha! But later today, I read reports saying that the White House announced an aide mistyped the 800-dial in number.

A late April fools joke?? Either way it's, pretty funny! Read entire post

Dr. Carter gives a shout out to Hillary Clinton

Since I am sitting here watching the final episode of E.R. (which I NEVER watch!) I might as well post this...

Noah Wyle give a shout out (and I mean like, a 2 second shout out so don't get too excited) to Hillary Clinton this morning on the today show. Here is the clip:

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He said that E.R. got popular right around the time Hillary, as First Lady, put out the bid for universal health care.

This may be a stretch but maybe we can say Hillary Clinton is responsible for the 15 years of wonderful E.R. television... no? ok ok... We'll stick to the 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling and restoring peace in the middle east. :) Read entire post

Chelsea tying the knot?

Ok- the National Enquirer stated today that Chelsea Clinton is planning a lavish million dollar wedding to her current boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky for this summer. They are reporting that it is to be taking place on a hill somewhere overlooking the ocean. What?!

Now, normally I would dismiss anything written by the Enquirer other than for good entertainment but I duuunnnooo... If it is true that would be pretty crazy, but I would be happy for Chelsea!

It seems like Chelsea and Marc have been keeping their relationship pretty private. So here is what I dug up on the guy:

Marc Mezvinsky is the son of former Iowa congressman (oh and convicted felon!) Edward Mezvinsky and former NBC reporter and congresswoman Marjorie Margolies Mezvinsky.

Chelsea and Marc met through their parents in 1993 at Renaissance Weekend, an annual event in Hilton Head.

They both attended Stanford University. He studied finance, she studied History.

They were first spotted together publically at the restaurant TAO in Las Vegas. Nice!

They went public with their relationship in October 2007.

Chelsea is a Methodist (like her mom!) but she still attended Yom Kippur services with Marc at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2008.

Marc is currently an investment banker at Goldman Sachs.

He just recently recently forked over an impressive $4 million for a 10th floor apartment overlooking the park on lower Fifth Avenue. (note- the furniture in the image is of the seller's not Marc's... I'd imagine his would be much less chic)

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Bill Banner in Kosovo

Bill Clinton has been on huge display in Pristina, Kosovo, recently. On March 24th, a man in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, displayed a giant banner of former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

This isn't the first dedication to go up for the former President. I have heard that Kosovo has an obsession with Bill Clinton. Bill is everywhere. On the entrance to the city, there is a massive banner hanging from a large apartment building with Clinton's face on it, proclaiming "Welcome to Prishtina." There are Bill Clinton restaurants and even a Hillary restaurant!

A 2.2-mile boulevard was refurbished and renamed “Bill Clinton,” graced by a prominent 40-foot high photo of the former president. Shop owners—of corner stores, marble supply and tailor shops are naming their businesses after Clinton. There is a Hillary boutique on Bill Clinton Avenue! But I think my personal favorite is the Bill Clinton cement factory.

Kosovo also honored the 42nd President, their "savior," by erecting a 10-foot tall statue of Bill in the capital of Serbia's breakaway province.

Their fascination with Clinton comes at no surprise. They believe he and NATO saved them from being ethnically cleansed by the Serbs. He is a hero, as are Americans. Throughout Kosovo, almost every hotel and related business has an American flag and a NATO flag in addition to the Kosovo flag in front of their establishment.

The most recent poster of Bill going up marked the decade anniversary since NATO launched an air campaign against Serbia. Former President Bill Clinton backed the NATO air campaign that drove Serbian forces out of Kosovo in 1999.

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Go Team Obama!

Again U.S. News and World Report is putting out silly little articles. And of course, I am posting about them. (Don't blame me, I can't resist!)

They recently reported on "Team Obama" comprised of National Security Adviser James Jones, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, saying they have "hit it off." (Not surprisingly!)

And this time around they are reporting on a similar subject: How Hillary is fitting in her new role in the Obama administration.

According to their reports Hillary "has put the concerns of President Obama and his advisers to rest about her loyalty to the man who defeated her for the Democratic presidential nomination last year," according to senior democrats with close ties to the White House.

"They are very happy with Hillary," says an Obama administration insider, referring to members of Obama's inner circle. "She is a real team player. And with her work ethic and competence at the State Department, there's one less thing for them to worry about."

They also reported that another advantage is her popularity in many nations around the world. A popularity that has remained since she was First Lady.

"She represents America very well," the Obama insider says, adding that Secretary Clinton is expected to be on the road "a lot" in the coming months with a message that the Obama administration is far more interested in working with its allies than was the administration of Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush.

Well, to me there isn't and there was never any doubt that Hillary Clinton is a team player. All through her political career she has demonstrated that she is a team player and has always fought for what is RIGHT, no matter WHO was on the right side.

She is much to dignified, graceful, and intelligent to hold a grudge against Obama. She doesn't play childish, petty politics like her Republican counterparts.

I am so proud of her and the work she is doing as Secretary of State. Go Hil, keep making us proud!

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WTF

From the great people that brought you the "Where do women want Bill?" poll... see post here... I now present to you the: "Which Female Politician Would Run The Best Daycare" Poll. Our options: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Michelle Obama, or Nancy Pelosi? WTF.

First of all, clay Hillary is NOT wearing a pantsuit. Soooo, they fail in my eyes RIGHT there. Second, Sarah Palin's daycare is in the lead. WTF? I mean, if we're gonna go there... it's Hillary hands down. If anything, my kids would come outta daycare knowing a shit-ton about foreign policy. That's for sure!

But the real issue here is why is it assumed that since they are women they need to take care of children? All of these ladies, and yes, Sarah Palin included, have done great things in their lives and been both successful career women AND mothers. But of course we have to remind them that since they have a uterus, they must take care of babies and run a daycare, not a country.

Hmmm.... Why isn't there a poll on which male Senator you'd want to fix your car? or which male Senator can bench the most? or which male Senator is most likely to have erectile dysfunction? (1. John Kerry 2. Evan Bayh 3. Lindsay Graham)

All in all, this poll is silly and I think we all know that the best daycare would be if they ALL teamed up... afterall, it does Take a Village, right? :)

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