Wingnuts

(Newser) - Republican Michele Bachmann is now trailing the Democratic challenger for her House seat, Minnesota Public Radio reports, with Elwyn Tinklenberg up 45%-43%. Bachmann’s recent comments about “anti-American” sentiment in Congress appear partly to blame; 40% of respondents said her remarks had made them less likely to vote for her, compared to 8% who were encouraged. More »

(Newser) - Bill O'Reilly has signed up for 4 more years of controversy at Fox News, the New York Daily News reports. The outspoken host of top-rated cable news show The O'Reilly Factor says he’s staying on because "the good outweighed the bad"—despite the security entourage he must maintain. The pundit’s daily radio show will probably get the axe though, to make time for an “upgraded” Factor . More »

(Newser) - Right-wing mouth Rush Limbaugh stood by his comments Sunday that Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama was about the color of his skin, CNN reports. "This was all about Powell and race, nothing about the nation and its welfare," Limbaugh said on his radio show yesterday. He chided the media for taking issue with his statement. "So what if it's race? Why is it so hard to admit that it's race?" More »

(Newser) - Going so far as to call him a “pig,” Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell has launched a full-on war of words with Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh called Mitchell a "racist nutball" and ridiculed her and other “drive-by journalists” for saying Sarah Palin and John McCain should restrain supporters at their rallies, some of whom have shouted "kill him" and "terrorist." More »

(Newser) - Bill O’Reilly has called for the resignation of House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, so it was a predictably tense situation when the Massachusetts Democrat appeared on his show last night. A remarkable shouting match ensued, even by O’Reilly’s standards. The Fox host quickly began screaming at Frank over comments that the situation at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would improve. More »

(Newser) - Rush Limbaugh may be John McCain’s best friend in the fight against Barack Obama, writes Zev Chafets in the LA Times . Vociferously anti-McCain during primary season, Limbaugh is now on board and can't be underestimated. "A lot of Limbaugh's critics dismiss him as a buffoon or a fanatic," Chafets writes. "These are people who don''t listen to his show." More »

(Newser) - Police in New Mexico have removed three children from the compound of an apocalyptic church, AP reports. The action followed allegations of inappropriate contact by the 66-year-old leader of Lord Our Righteousness church, who believes he's the "messiah," and has admitting having sex with adult church members, including his daughter-in-law. He denied sexual contact with minors and warned that God had been angered. More »

(Newser) - A 42-year-old Austrian woman missing since 1984 has been found—in her father’s cellar, where she says he kept her prisoner for 24 years. Elisabeth F. told police her father, Josef F., began sexually abusing her at age 11, and locked her in the cellar when she turned 18,  fathering her 7 children over the next two and a half decades. One child died days after birth because of improper care; Elisabeth says her father burned the corpse. More »

(Newser) - Amy Winehouse spent the night behind bars after showing up 3 hours late for questioning yesterday on Tuesday's head-butting and punching assault on two men outside a London bar, the Times reports. The visibly distressed singer was arrested and held overnight because a doctor deemed her “unfit to be interviewed.” This morning she was questioned and released with a "caution." More »

(Newser) - A Seattle woman allegedly attacked an acquaintance who refused to stop talking loudly over an airing of America's Next Top Model , the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. The ensuing scuffle got bloody when the upset attacker pulled a paring knife from an apple and stabbed the 42-year-old victim in the chest and neck, police say. The suspect remains at large. More »

(Newser) - "Get over it," Justice Antonin Scalia tells critics who accuse the Supreme Court of letting political motivations affect its 2000 decision in Bush v. Gore. Plus, Al Gore was responsible for pushing the Florida recount through the courts, Scalia points out in an upcoming 60 Minutes interview. And while he's a self-confessed social conservative, "it does not affect my views on cases," he says. More »

(Newser) - Amy Winehouse will be arrested, sources tell the Sun , after assaulting two men during a booze- and drug-induced rampage last night in London. The 24-year-old singer allegedly headbutted a man who was trying to hail a cab for her, and earlier punched a man for refusing to give up his pool table.  More »

(Newser) - Britain is having a Statute of Liberty-esque effect on B-list US celebs, as Hollywood's tired, poor, huddled stars revive their fame across the pond, Tom Teodorczuk writes in Radar . Model Janice Dickinson, director Woody Allen, and music producer David Gest are just a few such celebs soaking in what one Brit calls "a warm bath for American stars." More »

(Newser) - After years of courting controversy but shunning publicity, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is about to go on a media offensive, reports USA Today. The conservative Scalia, who has notoriously kept the press away from his public appearances, allowed C-SPAN recently to broadcast a question-and-answer session with students. He'll also appear on 60 Minutes this month. Why? He's plugging a book he co-authored on legal arguments. More »

(Newser) - Though he maintains “reservations,” Mohamed al Fayed won’t fight the verdict in the inquest into the death of his son and Princess Diana, the Daily Telegraph reports. “I’ve done everything for 10 years,” he said. “Enough is enough.” He said he accepts the inquest’s ruling “for the sake of the two princes” and was “leaving the rest for God to get my revenge.” More »

(Newser) - A better punishment might have been a lifetime sentence to coach: Supermodel Naomi Campbell, who was hauled off a British Airways flight last week and arrested for spitting on a Heathrow Airport officer in a row over an overweight suitcase, has been permanently grounded by her favorite airline, the Mirror reports. More »

(Newser) - Formula One Racing chief Max Mosley has denied that the videotaped sado-masochistic orgy he participated in with five prostitutes was Nazi-themed. Mosley claims he spoke German during the orgy simply because several of the call-girls were German, not as a part of Nazi role playing, as the News of the World had reported. Mosley is taking legal action against the paper for the story, reports the Times of London. More »