Happy Tuesday, everybody, and God bless America.
President Obama nominated Pentagon official and theoretical physicist Ashton Carter to be the U.S. Secretary of Defense on Friday. He already has his hands full. The same day, the U.S. Navy stripped Bill Cosby of an honorary title, and then Cosby blasted the Navy for not waiting until he was passed out.
The Hollywood Reporter said the studios are banking on Christmas releases to make up for a lousy summer. No one’s going broke. Forbes magazine revealed that last year the three biggest money earners in Hollywood were Tyler Perry, Steven Spielberg, and Wile E. Coyote’s personal injury attorney.
NBC News reports Los Angeles County this year had over 300 cases of West Nile Virus spread to humans from mosquitoes after they’ve bitten infected birds. It’s especially dangerous out here. Any disease that causes listlessness and brain damage can go undetected for years in Los Angeles.
Forbes magazine issued its list of top-earning dead celebrities and Michael Jackson topped the list with one hundred and $40 million in earnings last year. He was unique. Michael Jackson is the only pop star of his era who didn’t snort cocaine and still wound up destroying his nose.
The White House refused to deny reports Friday that President Obama is going to slap sanctions on Israel over settlements on the West Bank. His combativeness toward Israel is reflexive. Obama never got over his boyhood horror in Indonesia when he learned that the Jews killed 6 million Nazis.
Vladimir Putin gave a defiant state of the nation speech to Russia last week in which he warned the U.S. of the importance of Ukraine to Russia. This is a region where one reckless remark could trigger a world war. That’s why defense stocks go up every time Joe Biden’s plane lands safely in Kiev.
Rolling Stone retracted its story alleging that the University of Virginia’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity members gang-raped a girl at a party in one of the rooms. Merry Christmas, Republicans. After the libel lawsuit when Rolling Stone is owned by a Southern fraternity, Richard Nixon can finally rest in peace.
John Boehner urged Congress to grant Homeland Security two months spending until the new Congress tackles the president’s amnesty edict. You’d think they’d like some provisions of it. The new rule would allow for more visas for nurses, high-tech engineers, agricultural workers and lobbyists with cash.
Hillary Clinton gave a foreign policy address Thursday and recommended the U.S. deploy smart power around the world and learn to empathize with our enemies. She lectured the Palestinians and Israelis how to live together side-by-side even though they hate each other. No one’s better qualified.
The EU parliament agreed to take up a controversial bill on illegal immigration in Europe next session in Brussels. It’s haphazard there. Last weekend, a German arrived at the French border and was asked his name, age and occupation and he said Fritz, thirty, and no, he’s just visiting.
Atlanta churches sponsored a local park festival called Beer and Hymns last week where singers led the crowd in classic Protestant hymns while ministers handed out free beer to all. To nobody’s shock, the singing got better by the hour. There is nothing quite like Rush Week in the Episcopal Church.
Trinity Episcopal Church hosted Prince William Sunday to salute the Special Relationship which began when all of America was granted to British settlers by royal charters from King James I and King Charles I back in the 17th century, land grants that extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It’s a story of progess. In 400 years we have progressed from wood to steel to graphite shafts.
Argus Hamilton is the host comedian at The Comedy Store in Hollywood and entertains groups and organizations around the country. E-mail him at Argus@ArgusHamilton.com