No soup, no sweets, no shoes and no God Hates Fags

  How big was the scandal that was the Bell, Ca, government is beginning to be revealed to the shocked residents who spontaneously broke out in a tea party when they realized what happened. One wonders how long it will take for the state of California to realize that the same thing has happened to their entire state. Yahoo.
  So say you're speaking (using teleprompters) in a place that is not home and you realize that one of your listeners has become enthralled with you. You are the most powerful person in the world; you have everything you want. Where you go, your feet don't even touch the ground, but rather red carpet. People worship every word you speak, and men drop in the street on their knees when you pass. The enthralled listener approaches, takes from his neck a necklace of gold and pearls and hands it to you, the most powerful person in the world whose feet rarely touch the soil. Teachers are not allowed to accept gifts of monetary value, state employees are allowed to accept gifts worth no more than $20, and it's pretty standard rich people don't take gifts from the "lesser" folk. What do you, the most powerful man in the world, do? Why, you take it, of course! It is owed you, after all. Read at NDTV.
  Have you ever dropped by a local school, regardless the grade level? As in any office, you will see desks piled with coffee cups, sweet rolls, cakes, homemade goodies to get through the day. Now, the state of Pennsylvania is about to make a funding offense the bringing of any sweets from home to the classroom. What's a parent's option for a treat for their child's class? A nutritious "treat" that you can buy from the school cafeteria. And what would that be. Carrot sticks? Pittsburgh Live.
  The latest demon, according to Mayor Bloomberg of NYC? Soup. Salt. Even though he loves salt himself. (Because the rules are for others, not for the ones who make them.) Now he's spending taxpayer money admonishing people to be careful of their sodium intake in soup. At one point, V8, which happens to be a favored drink in this household, tried making their drink with low sodium. It was undrinkable, like swallowing spit. First they came after the trans fats, then they came after the sweets, now they're coming after the salt. Trying prying my salt shaker from my cold dead fingers. Just try it. NY Post.
  Given the way Olbermann approached the camera on his Tuesday night show, do YOU think it was a stunt? Huh. The Blaze.
  Continuing their trip bowing to Muslim countries around the world, Michelle O visits Indonesia, wearing her usual pleasant smile and flattering pea soup bag lady pantsuit. Oh, and a veil. Cuz you noticed her walking behind The One in India, didn't you? HindustanTimes.

  The Telegraph refers to her as the picture of "modest elegance." What am I missing? As always, H/T Weasel Zippers, who notices everything, I guess.
  So Republicans ran as sheep in wolves' clothing. Well, I'd say most of the democrats governed as wolves in wolves' clothing. About to show their true colors? I certainly hope so, Jesse. Chicago Sun Times.
  What do I think it was? Maybe the same thing as happened to the TWA 800 flight.
  Here's the way to handle bullies. Semper Fi.
  And RIP, brave fellows.