Free Republic

Contrary to the impression that he has so assiduously worked to cultivate, Barack Obama is not a king of either the divine-right or impotent-figurehead variety, but instead the president of a republic. Having grown up in a country that still boasts the last vestiges of a once-potent monarchy, I am reasonably familiar with the role that incumbent sovereigns play in the world’s most popular constitutional arrangement, and aware too of what it takes for a modern potentate to be regarded as a success. In modern Britain, the Queen’s likeability and personality help her no end, whereas her political talent and...

Ten black former American Idol contestants from various seasons have filed a lawsuit against the show, claiming that they were eliminated from the competition due to a racist ratings scheme, TMZ.com reports. New York attorney James H. Freeman, representing the plaintiffs, says he began investigating the show after Jermaine Jones was kicked off on March 15, 2012, because he didn't inform producers about multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest. Freeman then discovered that throughout Idol's then-11-season run, only nine other people had been publically disqualified. And as it turns out, all of them happened to be black.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A winner of the TV talent show "Latin American Idol" who was once loved by thousands in her native Dominican Republic was charged with drug smuggling after police found heroin stuffed in the heels of her platform shoes, authorities said Thursday. Martha Heredia was arrested late Wednesday as she was about to board a plane to New York, said Frank Duran, the National Drug Control Agency's director for the city of Santiago. He said police found 2.9 pounds of heroin in the heels of three pairs of shoes packed in her suitcase. Police also ordered...

The Biblical and historical evidence shows that the Moabites worshiped Baal. The pre-Islamic and Muslim sources show (a) that the Meccans took over the idol Hubal from the Moabites and (b) that Allah and Hubal are actually identical. Thus, whether the Meccans are Ishmaelites or not, the evidence is still strong and sufficient to conclude that Muhammad's Allah is actually Hubal, i.e. the Baal of the Moabites and thus not the God of the Bible. Muhammad incorporated the characteristics and names of various other gods into his new monotheistic message about Allah, but he apparently started the construction of Allah...

The ever so modest Phillip Phillips won "American Idol" Wednesday night, and while some say it was well deserved others have insisted that the show is "rigged." After the Georgia hometown boy won "American Idol" Wednesday night, many came forward and insisted that that enough was enough on the singing show, which according to some is clearly "racist." "[In the] last 3 in finals, one was black, who was the best singer, one was brown who was also great singer, one was white who was a karaoke singer; guess who won, the white one of course, when will America stop...

Contestant Elise Testone on Fox's fading pop star showcase "American Idol" sang a duet of sorts with Obama this week as part of her cover performance of the Al Green classic "Let's Stay Together."Just imagine anything of the sort being done with former President George W. Bush. Impossible, we know. But now word is out that a spiritual "Idol" wannabe has been told in no uncertain terms by the producers not to sing the praises of Jesus Christ, according to The Daily News: American Idol� producers have apparently warned Colton Dixon if he doesn’t tone down his overtly Christian...

The authorities were called when the "American Idol" runner-up and his reality star boyfriend Sauli Koskinen got into a fight outside a Helsinki gay bar. The two were released on Thursday afternoon. American Idol star Adam Lambert spent several hours in a Finnish jail Thursday after being arrested outside a Helsinki gay bar following a brawl with his Finnish boyfriend, local reality star Sauli Koskinen.

For the first time in the event's 25-year history, tickets to Burning Man have sold out. With more than a month left to go before the gates to Black Rock City open at midnight on Aug. 28, burners have already started a mad scramble for spare tickets through various message boards and online networks.

In Memory of Bahbah and Carolinamom

Good lord! Wasn't that Elizabeth Taylor herself sitting over there with her new husband, the British matinee idol Michael Wilding? Few of the diners in the smart Hollywood restaurant could resist watching the starry couple from the corners of their eyes. Moments later, however, they must have been rubbing them in disbelief. After Wilding said something that had clearly displeased her, Elizabeth swung her arm back in a wide arc. Her punch landed squarely on his jaw, and her distinguished second husband — 20 years older and the darling of British cinema-goers — fell heavily to the floor. To outsiders,...

Most singers who turn into stars on “America Idol” take months to get the attention of the national media. Carmina Salcido got the paparazzi treatment on the first day of tryouts. Hungry and exhausted, the 24-year-old Sonoma resident walked out of San Francisco's AT&T Park around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, more than 15 hours after she arrived at the stadium. Waiting for her were camera crews from local and national media, including E entertainment and ABC News 20/20, though Salcido almost seemed too tired to care. “You guys are lucky I didn't make a run for it as soon as I...

A Christian news site is making headlines by claiming Ellen DeGeneres is responsible for the ratings erosion of Fox's "American Idol." Christian Newswire director Gary McCullough says the sexual orientation of the newest "Idol" judge was the reason "Idol" ratings were down about 9% this season. McCullough said he predicted that "Idol" ratings would drop after DeGeneres was announced as a judge and says Fox has paid the price: "At this moment in entertainment history, network television is on a pro-homosexuality bender," McCullough wrote. "The producers of 'American Idol' chose to be a part of this push; it was a...

He was a teenage heartthrob upon whom all the girls had crushes and all the boys wanted to be like. I should know, heck, I dressed like him and even had my hair styled like him. Now, some odd 25 years later, you could still do worse when picking a celebrity to pattern yourself after. Fame is a tough gig, it usually chews up and spits out its childhood stars, but every once in a while there is a surprise. During the 1980s there was no bigger child star than Kirk Cameron who played Mike Seaver on television’s Growing Pains....

The President and First Lady took time out of their busy schedules on Wednesday to sit down for a taping with "American Idol" as part of the hit show's fundraising event set to air next week. "Idol Gives Back" is a two-hour charity performance that has already raised more than $140 million in contributions for global organizations.

Barack Obama was sort of obligated, of course. He had, after all, been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize because he’d said he envisioned a world without nuclear weapons. So it was only logical that Obama would push to reduce our nuclear arms drastically. The treaty was a start to Obama’s goal of making “the United States, and the world, safer and more secure.” Russian president Dmitry Medvedev echoed Obama’s sentiment, saying, “I believe that this signature . . . will create safer conditions for life here and throughout the world.” The question is, safer for whom really? As syndicated talk...

Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest joked about it during Tuesday night's "American Idol" broadcast, and rumors have been floating around the Internet for days, but now the news is official: The prickly reality-show judge is engaged. Cowell is set to marry Mezhgan Hussainy, a makeup artist he's been dating for nearly a year, the future Mrs. Cowell told RadarOnline. The 36-year-old Afghanistan-born Hussainy had been spotted with a massive diamond on her finger following a Valentine's Day dinner, setting off a stream of speculation about whether the 50-year-old Cowell had finally decided to settle down. Cowell was previously in a...

With a six year winning streak at stake American Idol kept the streak alive, easily beating out the Olympics every half hour between 8p-10p with both adults 18-49 and total viewers. Between 8pm-10pm Idol averaged a 9.1/22 rating share with adults 18-49 and 24.64 million viewers. During that same period NBC averaged a 5.1/12 rating/share with adults 18-49 and 19.74 million but for the whole night (8p-11p) NBC averaged a 5.4/14 and 20.41 million viewers

“It might be possible, we’ll see,” he said, adding: “They’d have to pay me a ton of dough because I already make a ton of dough.” Stern’s five-year, $500 million contract with Sirius expires at the end of the year. Responding to a television report speculating Fox would have to match his current annual salary, Stern replied: “A $100 million to judge a karaoke contest? Yeah, I would do that show for $100 million.”

Amid NBC’s messy late-night lineup fight, a “wired army” has used blogs, Facebook and Twitter to support embattled “Tonight Show” host Conan O’Brien. There’s little cyber backing for Jay Leno. It’s always been trendy to prefer O’Brien or David Letterman. Everyone knows they’re funny and Leno’s not. But when it came to actual viewers, Leno consistently beat Letterman while O’Brien has struggled as his replacement. (Leno has flopped at 10 o’clock.)

Japanese Pop Idol Recast as Junkie Earthquakes, tsunami tidal waves, typhoons, floods and landslides kept Japanese news gatherers busy over the Obon week when Japanese traditionally return home to pay respects to departed relatives who return briefly from the spirit world. It wasn't, however, any act of God that shocked the nation but alleged drug use by singer Noriko Sakai. Manufactured pop idols cranked out by Japan's powerful production companies have dominated Japan's music charts for decades. Sakai, who debuted at 15 in 1987 with squeaky voice, clean-cut image and cute nickname, Nori-P, was one of the most successful winning...

We all know that MSNBC has sunk to below sewer level in its disgusting, slobbering love affair with Barack Obama and its virulent and vile-mouthed hatred of Republicans and Conservatives. Less well-known is the overt racism displayed by its news affliliates in, where else, Chicago, when NBC-Chicago ran the following article by political writer, Steve Rhodes: No Senator SchakowskyLeaves field to rich white boysJune 8, 2009 North Side congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's decision - to be announced today - that she will not seek the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Roland Burris is (seemingly) at its heart about money and...

A FROG that constantly changes colour is being worshipped as a GOD in India. Hundreds of curious followers flock to Reji Kumar’s home every day to pray and ask for miracles. Now one of the country’s top zoologists plans to study the rainbow frog. But Reji, 35, who keeps the creature in a glass bottle after finding it while out watering plants, is afraid it might CROAK first. He said: “My one problem is that this frog does not appear to eat. I keep trying to feed it but it doesn’t eat anything. I don’t know what else to give...

That's the argument raging online. "It's difficult not to wonder if Lambert's sexuality played a role in Allen's victory," the Chicago Tribune's TV critic writes. "Though he never said whether he was gay, pictures of Lambert kissing other men appeared on the Internet during Season 8. "If Lambert's popularity on Idol was any indication of how tolerant and accepting America has become, his loss may indicate there's still further to go," continues the Tribune writer. Adds pro poker player (and recent Celebrity Apprentice runner-up) Annie Duke: "I seriously think Adam lost just because he is gay. Bummed. Bummed. Bummed." Blog...

Newsweek speculated that there was a Christian voting bloc that would affect the outcome of the American Idol finale -- and others pondered that there  might be an anti-gay backlash against Adam. (Although no one but he knows for sure what his true inclinations are...)I'm not going to suggest that there wasn't a whole bunch of conservative folks voting for Kris -- I'm certain there were, considering that Idol is one of the few shows that (for the most part) is family friendly and appeals to all ages. But honestly that would be a "Pro-Kris" vote, not an "Anti-Adam" vote.Adam obviously was...

MILWAUKEE — The morning after being voted off America’s most popular reality show, Milwaukee’s Danny Gokey was already planning his next steps — and they don’t involve his music. "During this competition, I have not really put my hands into Sophia’s Heart Foundation," the 29-year-old "American Idol" finalist said in a telephone conference with reporters Thursday. "Right off the bat, I’m gonna call my team, we’re gonna start having meetings. I want to define our goals. "This foundation means so much to me — it is the legacy of my wife and myself here on the Earth," he said. "I...

Simon Cowell has invited President Barack Obama and his family to appear on “American Idol.” The cantankerous chief justice of the supreme show made the invitation via a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. “We would put out an invitation on a daily basis,” Cowell said. “I’d love him [Obama] to come on, his wife to come on, kids to come on. I could only picture now what it would be like if he actually turned up.” As to why the prez should go on the reality show, Cowell crowed, “He’s a rock star.”

. For Ladyinred

“Aware of an Idol” (The Ten Commandments)As we noted, today we begin the season of Lent. In church history, and particularly in our Lutheran tradition, there are several major themes associated with Lent, which often form the basis for services within this season. For example, penitence, repentance, is certainly a Lenten theme, and especially is that so on this first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday. Another Lenten focus is the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, drawn from all four gospels or from just one gospel. Tracking the Passion narrative often is done over a series of midweek Lenten services--we...

American Idol 2009 For Ladyinred

Fox's "American Idol" scored primetime's biggest numbers Tuesday, as auds seemed to tire of inaugural coverage. Sure, ABC did solid numbers for its coverage of the inaugural balls, but news specials on CBS and NBC were not competitive with entertainment programs in their time periods. According to preliminary nationals for Nielsen, "American Idol" dominated Tuesday's opening hour with an 8.9 rating/22 share in adults 18-49 and 22.4 million viewers overall. It was down sharply from last week's two-hour premiere, as expected, but also came in more than 15% below the show's second Tuesday episode of a year ago. Still, it...

NEW DELHI: With Democrat senator Barack Obama busy in the run-up to the US presidential polls, a group of well-wishers in the capital have decided to send him a symbol of his lucky charm, Lord Hanuman, to help him emerge victorious. Obama's representative Carolyn Sauvage-Mar on Tuesday received a gold-plated two-feet-high idol which she will pass it on to the Obama after it is sanctified. The idol is being presented to Obama as he is reported to be a Lord Hanuman devotee and carries with him a locket of the monkey god along with other good luck charms. An hour-long...

"American Idol" contestant David Cook was rushed to the hospital Tuesday night after experiencing heart palpitations throughout the day, TMZ reported. FOX declined to comment on the Cook story, the "American Idol" publicity team told FOXNews.com. Show medics said Cook's blood pressure was "far too high" and urged the aspiring "Idol" to seek treatment, but he did not want to leave until the show concluded, the Web site said. Doctors gave Cook medicine to bring down his blood pressure and released him after a few hours, TMZ said. He was taken to the "Idol" apartments and was "doing fine," People...

Idol contestant, Kristy Lee Cook, brings down the American Idol House tonight with rendition of Lee Greenwood's mega hit: God Bless the USA"Simon says: "Brilliant "

Good Video

Country music star and former American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler shares the stage with Pvt. Andrea Mixon, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga., during Kellie’s hit ‘Red High Heels’. Pickler visited Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Dec. 8, to help boost Soldier morale by singing six of her songs. Photo by Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs. FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — Though she may be best known for her red high heels, country artist and former American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler traded her heels for something...

DALLAS, Texas — For the first time in "American Idol" history, a contestant went into labor while waiting with 3,500 hopefuls for her chance to become the next superstar — and auditioned anyway. On Monday, nine months' pregnant Antoria Gillon arrived at Texas Stadium with hopes of becoming the next "American Idol." However, as she waited patiently for her melodic moment, the 20-year-old hair stylist started having contractions. “I didn’t want to turn around after being there all those hours in the heat with people pushing,” said Gillon. “So my friend helped me walk through the line. I wasn’t going...

Funny commercial from an insurance company in Apeldoorn (The Netherlands), featuring Bill Clinton. E5vPDJY1xPE

'Terrorist Idol' Producers of the pop culture phenomenon "American Idol" know that they need good edgy human drama (alternating between personal achievement and total abject humiliation) to attract the tens of millions of viewers who tune in to the Fox TV show each week. Apparently, those in the "Blame America First" crowd believe that they, too, must provide fresh, new material every week in their efforts to undermine the war on terrorism. They're not just advocating surrender in Iraq. They're ready to run from the frontlines in Afghanistan waving a white flag. And don't even mention the threat from Iran...

'American Idol' says sayonara to Sanjaya NEW YORK - Sanjaya Malakar, the under-talented but unflappable singer who horrified and captivated millions in his improbable "American Idol" run, was finally voted off the show Wednesday night. When the result was announced, Malakar wiped away tears and got a big hug from LaKisha Jones, the next lowest vote-getter. "I'm fine," he told Ryan Seacrest. "It was an amazing experience." ADVERTISEMENT "I can promise you: We won't soon forget you," Seacrest replied.

BEIJING - Tears, wild hair and unhealthy songs are banned when China's latest version of "American Idol" goes on the air next month. "No weirdness, no vulgarity, no low taste," the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said Friday in a notice to the producers of "Happy Boys Voice," according to the official Xinhua News Agency. The talent show, to be broadcast beginning May 1, is a sequel to the hugely popular TV contest "Super Girls Voice" in 2005, which drew more than 400 million viewers. The woman who won that contest became a popular singer in China. But...

Do you think this chocolate Jesus Christ statue is offensive? Yes No AND If singer Sanjaya Malakar wins this year's "American Idol" competition, would it destroy the show? Yes No Don't care

For four long years, life has been brutally unkind to most Iraqis, but Friday night they had one of those rare moments to focus beyond the daily violence that is swallowing their lives. One of their own took first prize in the Arab version of American Idol. In Baghdad, a city that becomes deserted and plunges into darkness after nightfall, residents who had electricity to watch televisions celebrated with gunfire that briefly pierced the quiet just before midnight. Wearing a turquoise evening dress, Shadha Hassoun, wrapped herself with the white, red and black flag of Iraq and broke into tears...

Simon Cowell Will Quit American Idol If Sanjaya Wins By Toshiba Reynolds Mar 10, 2007 American Idol judge Simon Cowell has doomed a wannabe singer's chance of winning the reality Tv talent show contest. Cowell has revealed he'll quit the show if he wins. The acid-tongued British svengali was admittaly stunned when contestant Sanjaya Malakar beat rocker Sundance Head for a place in the final 12 on Thursday night. Cowell says he'll leave the show if the Indian-American singer is crowned the next American Idol. The Minister of Mean says, "He's not going to win. I won't be back if...

I want to hear your comments about the American Idol contestant who sang "Not Ready to Make Nice" by the dixie chicks and was axed.

'Idol' contestant puts Michigan church in spotlightBy SALLY YORK   LaKisha Jones sang in the choir and was baptized at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Mich. (Fox photo)     FLINT, Mich. — For years, LaKisha Jones' powerful voice belonged to the members of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Now, with Jones emerging as the singer to beat on this season's "American Idol,'' it belongs to the world.But echoes of her joyful noise are reverberating all the way back to Mount Zion, where Jones shone in the choir and was baptized.The church phone is ringing nonstop with calls...

Jackson to appear on American Idol? From World Entertainment News Network February 13, 2007 2:16 PM EST Pop star MICHAEL JACKSON will appear on hit reality show AMERICAN IDOL and may even mentor contestants, according to media reports in the US. Jackson is currently working on a comeback and has turned to Idol creator SIMON FULLER to help revive his career. According to RealityTVMagazine.com, the star will have his own "Idol" theme-week and may mentor the talent on the show. Producers of the show have hinted for weeks at a "big event show" during the new season and during a...