Bush Wows Heartland Holiday Crowd

Federal spending is rising at slowest rate since '50s, report finds

(NEWSER) - Republicans are trying to fool the country into believing that they are the party of fiscal responsibility, President Obama told a fundraiser yesterday. "I’m running to pay down our debt in a way that’s balanced and responsible. After inheriting a $1 trillion deficit, I signed $2 trillion of spending cuts into law,” he told donors in Denver. "My opponent won’t admit it, but it’s starting to appear in places, like real liberal outlets, like the Wall Street Journal," he quipped. "Since I’ve been president, federal spending has risen at the lowest pace in nearly 60 years. Think about that.” More»

Actor reveals inspiration to Ellen DeGeneres

(NEWSER) - We all know Keith Richards inspired Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean character, and yesterday on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Depp revealed the inspiration behind his version of Willy Wonka. “I imagined what George Bush would be like incredibly stoned,” he said. “And thus was born my version of Willy Wonka." He also noted that Edward Scissorhands was inspired in part by a dog he once owned. See the video at the Huffington Post . More»

Nazir Ahmed denies comments

(NEWSER) - A British lord has allegedly offered $16 million to anyone who can capture President Obama and George W. Bush, prompting his suspension from the Labour party "pending investigation." The comments—which Nazir Ahmed denies making—followed a US offer of $10 million for the capture of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who Washington believes was behind 2008's Mumbai attacks. "If the US can announce a reward of $10 million for the (capture) of Hafiz Saeed, I can announce a bounty of £10 million (for the capture of) President Obama and his predecessor," Lord Ahmed reportedly said last week in Pakistan. More»

Former president speaks at conference

(NEWSER) - George W. Bush has a problem with the Bush tax cuts: Namely, he doesn't appreciate the fact that they're called the Bush tax cuts. Speaking at the New York Historical Society for his own presidential center's conference on tax policies this morning, Bush noted, "If you raise taxes, in other words if you let the—I wish they weren't called the 'Bush tax cuts.' If they were called some-other-body's tax cuts, they're probably less likely to be raised. But if you raise taxes, you're taking money out of the pockets of consumers." More»

Yes, Samuel L. Jackson is among them

(NEWSER) - Cheerleading may be predominantly made up of females now, but it started as a male sport, and the Huffington Post found 10 male college cheerleaders who went on to quite a bit of prominence in Hollywood and DC:

• Jimmy Stewart: He cheered at Princeton University as a junior and senior.
• Samuel L. Jackson: Cheered at Morehouse College.