Bill Clinton

DNC 2012: Who Had The Best Speech? Hint: Not The One Last Night

Three completely different emotions and narratives of the United States unfolded in each of the keynote addresses this week at the Democratic National Convention by two presidents and one first lady. In a way, all the speeches were spectacular displays of poise, command of the issues, and sheer lika ... More >>

Giving Head: What Wine for Head Cheese?

Of all the salacious nuggets that still thrill Babbo sycophants, the one that I regrettably can't erase from my memory is the tale of President Clinton and Mario Batali's testa, boiled pig's head. Evidently, in a celebration of the fratboy-sexist-misogynist mindset that drives the great brain (read ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Other Bad Singing Politicians

We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning or afternoon from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula i ... More >>

Politicians Singing: Where Does Colin Powell's "Call Me Maybe" Rank?

In what was a surprising move, at least to us, former Secretary of State Colin Powell broke into a bit of this year's song of the summer, "Call Me Maybe," today on whatever CBS is calling its morning show these days. Let's just say he didn't nail it. But was it the worst stab at singing by a moder ... More >>

Who Should Induct Axl Rose And Guns N' Roses Into The Rock Hall?

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is coming up quick on April 14, and the presenters for the event have been announced, except for one artist. Just who will speak about and induct Guns N' Roses? Who is even qualified? Rapper Chuck D will induct the Beastie Boys, while funnyman Ch ... More >>

Executive Entertainers: America's Most Musical Presidents

Big-money supporters were treated to the first indelible moment in Barack Obama's reelection campaign last Thursday when the President crooned the opening lyric from Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" from the stage of the Apollo Theater in Harlem. It was just the sort of off-the-cuff instance that c ... More >>

Miley Cyrus Has Company: Some Surprising Pot Smokers

​Miley Cyrus' 19th birthday party was taped and the video revealed her admission that she is a stoner. On her 18th birthday, Cyrus was filmed smoking salvia. This upset fans, but it especially upset parents. No parent wants to see their child's Disney idol bragging about puffing the magic dr ... More >>

The Song Stylings Of The Modern Presidents

For reasons better not gone into, Rocks Off has been running around YouTube searching for presidents singing, rapping, and otherwise making music, and YouTube delivered as usual. It's like the Web site is a kind of third-rate God that answers every prayer, but only with penis jokes and Rick Astley, ... More >>

8 Memories from Congressional Page Land: Sandwiches with the Speaker, Shaking Bill Clinton's Hand and Stealing KFC Decals

Qui-Gon in your room?​Today, it was announced that the House of Representatives Page Program, a program both steeped in history and marred by scandal, is coming to an end. According to USA Today, House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi cited the $5 million annual expenditu ... More >>

Five Disastrous Modern-Day Presidential Decisions Not Involving Iraq or Vietnam

Ronald and Nancy Reagan face the consequences.​Making tough decisions is what being a president is all about. But sometimes those decisions backfire. Sometimes the backfire hurts only the president who made the decision; sometimes it hurts a whole lot of other people. Here are five most disas ... More >>

Top 10 Musical U.S. Presidents

"The future of our nation depends on providing our children with a complete education that includes music." - Gerald Ford gwu.eduWhen else are we going to use this picture?​Today is President's Day, and if you'll think back to high-school U.S. History, you'll remember that potential Commande ... More >>

Kay Bailey Hutchison Retires: Five Career Highlights

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has announced she will not seek re-election to the Senate, probably a wise move after conservatives sensed blood in the water after her disastrous gubernatorial campaign. KBH's three terms in the Senate were somewhat odd in that she never made all that much of an impres ... More >>

Soweto Gospel Choir

Let the spirit move you

Things to Do This Weekend If You're (Almost) Broke

Rocks Off knows it's hard to have fun without spending money. Trust us, like Bill Clinton, we feel your pain. But we've been combing the club listings and put together a list of shows and other music-related happenings that won't set you back too any more than $10. You can thank us later, because yo ... More >>

The Web Conducts Yet Another Calm, Reasonable Discussion

The Houston Chronicle reported today that the burgeoning problem of jail overcrowding may be dealt with by releasing low-risk offenders. They are also, as we mentioned today, eventually creating a mental-health court that will aim to treat the ill instead of simply repeatedly sending them to jai ... More >>

Local Gays Marching For Obama On Inauguration Day

The gays haven't exactly been pleased by Barack Obama since he chose Christian conservative Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. But Obama's inauguration parade will be the first to have an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group -- the Lesbian and Gay Band Association ... More >>

Five Other Rock-Star Presidents

Bill Clinton Coming to Town for Chris Bell

The John Edwards Effect: As We Become Less Prudish, We Freak Out More About Politicians Having Affairs

Definitely, Maybe is Absolutely, Positively Rewarding

Can't get enough of Bill Clinton? Have we got a movie for you.

Drenched in Blog: Haddaway Go Away

A Woman in Charge author Carl Bernstein

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist tells all in a Hillary Clinton biography

Command Performance

Bill Clinton wakes 'em up, for a while, at Rice

Mr. Saturday Night

Darrell Hammond makes a good impression at the Laff Stop

Best Identity Crisis

Is This Guy Too Smart to Be Mayor?

Bill White hopes brains and big bucks will get him elected

Tales of Rail

Metro's incoming chairman loves to tell stories. Can Houstonians cotton to his next one?

Racket

Cedric Turner ventures into an abyss far deeper than ones traveled by most bluesmen

Mid-Summer Daydreams

The Democratic Party chief is full of promises -- and attitude

Spring Time for Ben and Betti?

Time's running out on commutation efforts

The Talking Penis

Basic Instinct author crawls up Bill Clinton's pants and hangs on tight

Billie's Last Convention Summer

The queen of Texas liberals hands over her reign

Tray Magnifique

Cafeterias don't get any better than Cedars

News of the Weird

The Wooden Indian Ticket?

A Gore vote in 2000 could send Brown back to D.C.

Which Bug Gets the Gas?

Will the next house DeLay fumigates be that big White one or his own?

The Party Boys

Politics pulls out the hard "soft" cash, Houston-style

The Insider

Spin Out

A Family Affair

Roland Garcia has the political backing to be the U.S. Attorney for South Texas. He also has a brother imprisoned for murder and drug trafficking -- a fact he somehow forgot to tell his congressional sponsors. That may not be enough to disqualify him, but

Going Down

Air Force One nose-dives into an ocean of ennui

Cozy Ties

In the battle to privatize welfare services in Texas, corporate bidders have enlisted some inside help

The Insider

The Insider

The Insider

The Insider

Letters

Echo Chamber

Talk radio talks to itself for argument's sake

Turkeys (and Other Creatures) On the Ballot

Quick! It's almost Election Day!! Do you know who your candidates are? Check this guide to the mother of all ballots!

Scary Tales from the Tapes

Cisneros and Medlar conduct a seminar on realpolitik