Larry //
“After a careful examination, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that unit cohesion will be negatively affected if homosexuals serve openly,’’ writes Colonel Om Prakash, who is now working in the office of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. “Based on this research, it is not time for the administration to reexamine the issue; rather it is time for the administration to examine how to implement the repeal of the ban.’’
The article, an advance copy of which was provided to the Globe, is likely to increase pressure on President Obama to fulfill his campaign pledge to work with Congress to overturn the 1993 law commonly referred to as “don’t ask, don’t tell.’’
Again, it's hard to imagine this report even being released under Bush. Part of me wants to believe that Obama can see the growing willingness in the military leadership to repeal this thing, and is just waiting till there's a bit more steam behind it. It would definitely mean more coming from the top brass than from a democratic president. But it's more likely he's just terrified of the issue, like most democratic pols, and is waiting for someone else to take the lead.
SARAH Palin is said to have pocketed a $7 million advance for the 400-page memoir she turned in four months early, but she might not have such an easy time on the lecture circuit.
After quitting as governor of Alaska in July, Palin signed with the top-notch Washington Speakers Bureau, which also reps George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Condoleezza Rice, hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger, LA Dodgers manager Joe Torre and magician David Blaine.
Palin's bookers are said to be asking for $100,000 per speech, but an industry expert tells Page Six: "The big lecture buyers in the US are paralyzed with fear about booking her, basically because they think she is a blithering idiot."
AP
Many big lecture venues are subscription series, "and they don't want to tick people off," said our source. "Palin is polarizing, and some subscribers might cancel if she's on the lineup." Other lecture buyers are universities, which have a leftist slant, and corporations, which dislike controversy.
"Palin is so uninteresting to so many groups -- unless they are interested in moose hunting," said our insider. "What does she have to say? She can't even describe what she reads."
Palin likely quit as governor just months after losing the election as John McCain's vice-presidential running mate because of money. "She knew that if she waited until her term ended in 2010, these opportunities would be gone," said a source. "She would have lost millions by staying in office."
Palin's "Going Rogue: An American Life" is described by Harper publisher John Burnham as "her words, her life, and it's all there in full and fascinating detail." Harper wouldn't discuss what Palin was paid.
Lynn Vincent, Palin's collaborator, wrote the book so fast, publication has been moved up from the spring to Nov. 17.
I like the Huffington Post's headline better:
NY Post: No One Wants To Book "Blithering Idiot" Palin For Lectures
They're kind of a tabloid, but they're my kind of tabloid.
A new era of Jimi Hendrix is upon us.
In an interview with Gibson about their new Jimi Hendrix-inspired guitar, Jimi’s sister Janie noted that there is still a decade’s worth of unreleased music and video to come from the legendary guitar player.
Janie Hendrix, the president and CEO of Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, said she wants to release new material every 12 to 18 months for the next ten years.
