LONDON (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tried Monday to patch back together a conference with Syrian opposition leaders that was to be the centerpiece of his debut overseas trip, urging Syrian rebel leaders not to boycott the meeting and insisting that more help is on the way in their fight against President Bashar Assad.

Kerry not only made a public plea at a joint news conference Monday with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, he also called Moaz Khatib, leader of the Syrian Opposition Council, “to encourage him to come to Rome,” a senior U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter. (more…)

“And with that, what I want to do is clear out the press, so we can take some questions.”

OK, that’s a word I had never heard before, “hobbyist”.   To find out what it means, read the Daily Caller Article.

WASHINGTON DC – A professional escort who travels the East Coast seeing clients in cities  from Miami to Boston has identified a photo of Senator Bob Menendez as a man who paid her for sex. The  woman, in her late 30s, told The Daily Caller prior to seeing Menendez’s photo  that she had been paid to provide sexual favors to several U.S. senators,  including a New Jersey Democrat and other politicians who are no longer  living.

The escort, who earns money having sex with men in upscale hotel rooms, said  during an in-person interview that many of her wealthy and powerful customers  use pseudonyms when arranging for her services, and when meeting her in  person.

TheDC showed the woman a photo of Menendez, however, and she identified him  as a former client.  (continue reading)

HOLLYWOOD – Ben Affleck’s “Argo,” a film about a fake movie, has earned a very real prize: best picture at the Academy Awards.

From the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama joined Jack Nicholson to help present the final prize.  “There are eight great films that have every right, as much a right to be up here as we do,” Affleck said of the other best-picture nominees.

In share-the-wealth mode, Oscar voters spread Sunday’s honors among a range of films, with “Argo” winning three trophies but “Life of Pi” leading with four. (more…)

(Hat Tip Ottawa925) – FOX News host Judge Jeanine Pirro delivers a powerful message to Chicago’s Superintendent of Police, Garry McCarthy, after he’s gone on record stating that legal gun owners are corrupt and endanger public safety, as well as federal gun laws are ‘racist’:

So far it really seems  that Freshman Senator Ted Cruz not only understands the problem, but refreshingly he also appears to understand the opposition, and how to effectively fight back against their Alinsky tactics.

MSNBC is shocked — shocked — to discover that there are Marxists on the Harvard faculty… http://t.co/fDrErEzCmt

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 23, 2013

Ted Cruz
Creating Coast to Coast Liberal Splodey Heads – One Prog At A Time

NEW YORK – Take a big gulp, New York: Hizzoner is about to give you a pop.

Nanny Bloomberg unleashes his ban on large sodas on March 12 — and there are some nasty surprises lurking for hardworking families.

Say goodbye to that 2-liter bottle of Coke with your pizza delivery, pitchers of soft drinks at your kid’s birthday party and some bottle-service mixers at your favorite nightclub.

They’d violate Mayor Bloomberg’s new rules, which prohibit eateries from serving or selling sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces.

Bloomberg’s soda smackdown follows his attacks on salt, sugar, trans fat, smoking and even baby formula.

The city Health Department last week began sending brochures to businesses that would be affected by the latest ban, including restaurants, bars and any “food service” establishment subject to letter grades.

And merchants were shocked to see the broad sweep of the new rules.

“It’s not fair. If you’re gonna tell me what to do, it’s no good,” said Steve DiMaggio of Caruso’s in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. “It’s gonna cost a lot more.” (more…)

Last year we wrote several articles about Darden Restuarants owners of Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Longhorn Steakhouse.  Specifically, how their progressive ideology disconnects them from business sense.   At the time we spotlighted a few specific examples from their ideological organization, and flawed business model.  We penned:

[…] You see the point is, Progs believe in their progressive ideology with such core reverence, they are constitutionally incapable of seeing how detached they are from the rest of us.  It is an emotion over logic thing for them.

That’s why they look at each other cross-eyed, whether in the Olive Garden board room, or the MSNBC punditry round table following the Wisconsin Election.

Same-Same.  (link)

The problem really began in 2011 when they decided to join Michelle Obama: (more…)

RUSH LIMBAUGH:  Now, here’s this ABC story: “57 Terrible Consequences of Sequester.” Now, I wish I had time, I wish I had the ability to go through all 57. I’m not gonna bore you. But I want you to listen to some of them. This is ABC News, the same place Jonathan Karl works. They’re not even on the same page. Jonathan Karl is out there saying, “Well, we’re gonna spend $15 billion more.

“The public isn’t gonna really feel this.” Over here, elsewhere at ABC, the full monty, babe, full scare tactic, 100% fearmonger, 57 terrible consequences. “Air travel disruption. Longer security lines at airports. Slower extreme weather forecasts.” Slower extreme weather forecasts? “Greater risk of wildfires.” A greater risk of wildfires because the federal government is only spending $15 billion more than it spent last year? Do you realize how absurd this has gotten now? (more…)