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"Pete Sessions: I don't think that lobbyists in and of themselves are deceptive or deceitful people. I don't have any problem with people going and doing things whether it's at a pool or horse racing. What bothers me is if you say one thing and do something else."

"Sessions: That's right, we do a Las Vegas fundraiser every year and not only raise money, but see Las Vegas. It's a beautiful town."

"Henn: Forty Deuce is a strip club."

"Sessions: You know, I've never seen that. It is what I would call a burlesque show where there's a woman who comes out and has a dress on... Uh, she never get's naked. There's no nudity, there's no nudity in there."

"Ivan Kane: The key component would be to have girls who were dancers taking their clothes off, not just girls taking their clothes off."

Entertainment - Political - Humor - Corporate - Government - Military - Halliburton - Blackwater - Foreign - Law - Noteworthy - Women - Journalists - Writers - US - Iraq - "John Cusack: Outsourced Warfare Represents a "Radical, Dangerous, Disgusting Ideology": An interview with Cusack about his latest film, War Inc., which takes the outsourcing of military operations to the absurd." ...

-AlterNet.org

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Oregon - 2008 Election - Music - Entertainers - "Steve Novick: The One-Handed Progressive Candidate Pearl Jam, R.E.M. & Death Cab Want You to Know About." ... "[2008 Election Oregon Democratic Senatorial Candidate] Steve Novick is a 4'9" populist with no time for Big Money, a hook for a hand, and a beer named for his hook hand. And in this charming campaign ad [WATCH], he happily opens a brew for a pal…using his hook! Oh wait, did we mention that half of all of indie rock is backing the man’s Senate run?" ... "Novick is a Democrat running for Senate from Oregon. His supporters include R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard, Krist Novoselic, Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, Corin Tucker, the Decemberists‘ Colin Meloy, and Rufus Wainwright." ... "If Novick wins the primary, Pearl Jam will play four east coast shows and donate the proceeds to Steve’s campaign." -MTV.com 

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Barack Obama - Music - Entertainer - Politics - Military - Economic - Racial - Justice - Environment - Illinois - 2008 Election - "Dear Friends and Fans [Bruce Springsteen endorses Barack Obama for President]:" ... "LIke most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and Illinois] Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest." ... "He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."" ... "At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams From My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment." ... "After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans." ... "Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President." -By Bruce Springsteen 

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Entertainment - Writers - Television - Internet - Business - Advertising - "Hollywood writers strike ends." ... "Hollywood's costly 100-day walkout came to a widely welcomed end Tuesday after members of the Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly to go back to work." ... "On Feb. [February] 25, writers are expected to ratify a new three-year contract that ensures them a stake in the revenue generated when their movies, television shows and other creative works are distributed on the Internet." ... "The walkout, which began Nov. [November] 5, proved to be far more economically damaging than the studios had expected, shutting down more than 60 TV shows, hampering ratings and depriving the networks of tens of millions in advertising dollars." ... "Labor experts said the crippling effect of the strike helped writers achieve gains they might not have otherwise attained." ... "The new contract gives them residual payments for shows streamed over the Internet and secures the union's jurisdiction for programming created for the Web." ... "Writers were unsuccessful, however, in their efforts to shorten the 17-to-24-day window that studios have to stream their shows for promotional purposes without paying residuals. Many writers complained that most viewers watched repeats online within days after a program was initially broadcast." -By Claudia Eller and Richard Verrier -LAtimes 

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China - Sudan - Sports - Politics - US - Entertainer - Human - Human Rights - Oil - Military - "China loses Spielberg over Darfur." ... "Scott Jagow: Steven Spielberg will have nothing to do with the Summer Olympics in Beijing [China]. Yesterday, Spielberg withdrew as an artistic advisor for the opening and closing ceremonies. The director says he can't be associated with China's policies toward an African nation in conflict." ... "Bill Marcus: China's a big oil customer of Sudan. China also supplies Sudan with weapons. That's why Spielberg says he quit. He said China should do more to help end the human suffering in Sudan's Darfur region." ... "Human rights activists say Spielberg's move sets a moral standard." -By Scott Jagow and Bill Marcus -Marketplace via -PublicRadio.org

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John Edwards - Entertainment - TV - Politics - 2008 Election - North Carolina - "John Edwards, Funny Guy." ... "Former Senator [of North Carolina and 2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] John Edwards did not receive an endorsement from David Letterman on CBS’s “The Late Show” Tuesday night, but he did receive eight valuable minutes to woo voters." ... "Mr. Edwards’ jokes earned several rounds of applause from an approving audience." ... "Mr. Letterman, who had a long feud and subsequent truce with Ms. [Oprah] Winfrey, extolled the talk show’s virtues, saying: “She’s admired and she’s beloved and she’s a role model for men and women all over the world now.” With the timing of a stand-up comedian, Mr. Edwards interrupted: “You think you’re not?”" ... "The line gave Mr. Letterman an uproarious laugh and a nod of approval. “Oh my God,” the host said, “he’s a funny guy, isn’t he?”" -By Brian Stelter -NYTimes 

Watch: John Edwards on the Dave Letterman Show via YouTube.

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Stephen Colbert - Hillary Clinton - Barack Obama - Civil Rights - History - Humor -  - Writers - Union - Entertainment - Song - Religion - Medical - University - South Carolina - Business - 2008 Election - Politics - "Colbert's Civil Rights MLK Day Writer's Strike-Busting Writerless Show — In Song." ... "[Stephen Colbert,] After paying his respects to Monday's debate and busting out a pretty darn good Tom Cruise imitation, Colbert made a segue which, in retrospect, was brilliant: Moving from [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary] Clinton and [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack] Obama's bickering over who loved Reagan more to the evidence provided by Tom Brokaw's book, Boom! Voices of the Sixties, which, in addition to quoting Hillary Clinton discussing how [former Republican President] Ronald Reagan finessed the balance of his role "beautifully" on page 404, contains an early segment devoted to the Reverend Andrew Young, the "last surviving member of Martin Luther King's inner circle at the Southern Christian Leadership Council," and lifelong, steadfast civil rights activist. Colbert got to that — eventually — after first introducing a documentary-style segment (in the style of Brokaw's "1968" documentary, complete with soundtrack) about the Charleston Hospital workers union strike of 1969, which was settled by the young, er, Young, who negotiated with a vice president of the associated Medical University of South Carolina — "the only administrator willing to meet with Young was the newly-appointed vice-president of the medical college, who had taken up the position just days before the strike was called." The two worked behind the scenes to finally end the strike — and on the hundredth day, they came to an agreement, awarding raises to the striking workers." ... "That administrator? James Colbert — Stephen's father." -By Rachel Sklar -HuffingtonPost.com

Fred Thompson - South Carolina - Tennessee - Actor - 2008 Election - "Fred Thompson Bows Out Of '08 Presidential Race: Actor and former [Tennessee Republican] senator announces his withdrawal following third-place finish in South Carolina." ... "Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, who is perhaps best known for his work on "Law & Order," has pulled his name out of the proverbial hat, announcing Tuesday (January 22) through his Web site that he won't be seeking the Republican nomination for president." ... "The 65-year-old thespian was an early favorite for his party's nomination, but his campaign floundered from the outset, and Thompson never quite garnered the support he needed to carry on. He was one of the last candidates to enter the race, after months of speculation that he'd take a stab at the White House." -By Chris Harris -MTV.com 

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Entertainment - Television - Writers - Internet - "Actors refuse to cross Golden Globe picket line." ... "The Screen Actors Guild on Friday said nearly all its members will refuse to cross striking writers' picket lines at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards, throwing Hollywood's award season deeper into doubt." ... "The Writers Guild of America, which represents the writers, also has barred its members from writing for the Oscars, but SAG's Friday announcement pertained only to the Golden Globe Awards." ... "Some 10,500 WGA members went on strike against major U.S. film studios and television networks in early November over issues that included increased fees for their work when it appears on DVDs and on the Internet." ... "Talk show host David Letterman reached its own "interim agreement" with the WGA that allowed "The Late Show with David Letterman" to return to the air with WGA working writers because Letterman's company, Worldwide Pants, is an independent producer." (1, 2) -By Bob Tourtellotte -Reuters 

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Barack Obama - TV - Woman - Politics - 2008 Election - Illinois - "Oprah's star appeal boosts Obama campaign." ... "Oprah Winfrey, who has already used her celebrity power to raise millions for [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate] Barack Obama, is stepping up her support for the Democratic presidential candidate by vowing to begin campaigning for her "favourite guy"." ... "Winfrey, ranked 21 in the Forbes list of the world's most powerful women, is scheduled to appear at campaign hustings for the Illinois senator in the first contests in the 2008 race for the White House." ... "Obama will hope that Winfrey's enormous popularity translates into actual votes. Her eponymous show, stressing spirituality and reinvention, has topped the daytime talk show ratings for 21 years, pulling in 48 million viewers a week in the US." -By Mark Tran -Guardian.co.uk 

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US - Iraq - Military - Religion - Terrorism - Computer - Entertainment - Games - "DOD Stops Plan to Send Christian Video Game to Troops in Iraq." ... "Plans by a Christian group to send an evangelical video game to U.S. troops in Iraq were abruptly halted yesterday by the Department of Defense after ABC News inquired about the program." ... "Operation Start Up (OSU) Tour, an evangelical entertainment troupe that actively proselytizes among soldiers, will not be sending the "apocryphal" video game in care packages as planned, according to the department." ... ""Left Behind: Eternal Forces" was inspired by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' best-selling book series about the battle of Armageddon, in which believers of Jesus Christ fight the Antichrist." ... "The game has inspired controversy among freedom of religion advocates since it was released last year." ... ""It's a horrible game," said the Rev. Timothy Simpson of the Christians Alliance for Progress. "You either kill or covert the other side. This is exactly what the Osama bin Ladens of the world have portrayed us."" -By Anna Schecter -ABCNEWS.com

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