Rachel Maddow Rises! Sean Hannity Falls!

Rachel Maddow has improved in ratings. 

I state this prediction that in late 2013, Rachel Maddow, the liberal agitator of MSNBC will surpass the conservative agitator Sean Hannity of Fox News in ratings.

Last year, when I looked at the Mediabistro daily ratings count, I seen some things that got me thinking that the mighty Fox News is failing in ratings. Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren have been anchors of the primetime lineup on Fox News. They're seeing drops in their ratings!

Fox News continues to be America's most watch cable news channel, but it's starting to show cracks! The network was hoping that President Barack Obama was going to lose the election. It didn't turn that way! So of course, Fox News will now have four more years of their sworn enemy!

The post-election hangover seems to subside. And the causalities of the election are getting stomped on hard. Karl Rove and Dick Morris were benched by Roger Ailes this year. Rove threw a temper tantrum on November 6, 2012 when Fox News declared that Ohio and the presidency went to Barack Obama.

Dick Morris on the other hand, went on The O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly and Hannity's program. That turd of a man told Hannity's gullible audience that perennial loser Mitt Romney would get 325 electoral votes against President Barack Obama. That proved to be wrong.

Now the ratings are in and the conservative agitators over at Fox News are starting to notice the rise of liberal MSNBC.

When listening to Sean Hannity's daily radio program, he constantly mentions NBC News, Chris Matthews by name when attacking the network. Hannity refuses to acknowledge the actual channel MSNBC, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O'Donnell, Al Sharpton and Rachel Maddow by name. He is aware of the rising ratings of his competitors. That's why he loops the angry rhetoric of Ed Schultz every time he goes into the rants of media bias against politicians.

Hannity's losing big time.

Earlier, I stated that Sean Hannity needed President Barack Obama to stay relevant!

Sean Hannity's ratings took a nosedive after the election. Hannity openly boosted that President Barack Obama will lose in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election. He is responsible for the president winning reelection.

It's proven true, because now in this second term, Hannity needs to continue agitating his gullible audience into believing that the president is a radical, Jeremiah Wright is still damning America and Bill Ayers is plotting revenge against the government.

According to Nielsen numbers, Hannity lost around half of his audience in the weeks after the election, while his Fox News colleague Bill O’Reilly — who steadfastly refuses to identify himself politically as a conservative — retained around 70% of his audience.

The New York Daily News' Dan Kaplan reports that the going wisdom is that viewers who basked in his preelection anti-Obama rhetoric tuned him out when they were stunned to wake up on November 7 and discover that the President had won a second term — a scenario that Hannity had all but promised could never happen.

Before the election, Hannity was riding high in the ratings and topped thought leaders on the right, like Dick Morris, Ann Coulter, Peggy Noonan and talk radio bulldog Mark Levin, who predicted Obama would lose in a landslide.

Those voices — and many others like them — all but drove the political coverage on Fox News, talk radio and conservative blogs.

But as Conor Friedersdorf wrote in The Atlantic just after the election, “Outside the conservative media, the narrative was completely different.”

Because in reality, statistics proved the presidential race was in fact never even close — despite the lopsided picture delivered to faithful viewers by Hannity and those who shared his opinions.

Wrote Friedersdorf: “The right-leaning outlets like Fox News and Rush Limbaugh’s show are far more intellectually closed than CNN or public radio. If you’re a rank-and-file conservative, you’re probably ready to acknowledge that ideologically friendly media didn't accurately inform you about Election 2012.

Some pundits engaged in wishful thinking; others feigned confidence in hopes that it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy; still others decided it was smart to keep telling right-leaning audiences what they wanted to hear.”

And when the dust settled, it turns out Hannity’s viewers opted to vote again — with their remotes.

Adding insult to injury, two of Hannity’s rivals on MSNBC, Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow, held onto huge chunks of their audiences, while at CNN, far less politically polarizing host Anderson Cooper lost almost none of his viewers postelection.

It got even worse for Hannity in the “money demo” of viewers 25-54, who are prized by advertisers.

So in other words, Hannity is..... Well you know!

Rachel Maddow is an American television host, political commentator, and author. She hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program of the same name aired on Air America Radio. Maddow was the first openly gay anchor of a major prime-time news program in the United States.

As a protege of Keith Olbermann, Maddow filled-in for Countdown with Keith Olbermann, her first time hosting a program on MSNBC. Maddow described herself on air as "nervous." Keith Olbermann complimented her work, and she was brought back to host Countdown the next month. The show she hosted was the highest rated news program among people aged 25 to 54, a key demographic in ratings.

For her success, the next Monday, Olbermann ranked Maddow third in his show's segment "World's Best Persons". In July 2008, while Olbermann was on vacation, Maddow filled in again for several broadcasts and, on July 21, for half the show. Maddow also filled in for David Gregory as host of Race for the White House.

Olbermann began to push for Maddow to get her own show at MSNBC, and he was eventually able to persuade Phil Griffin to give her Dan Abrams' time slot. A fan and friend of Maddow's, Olbermann was able to use his influence, which had become greater as his ratings rose.

Since 2008, Maddow seen a strong rise in her ratings! Her rise comes at a price! The strong criticism along with it. Once you're on the top, they'll be many trying to take you down. Proof positive that Sean Hannity seen his lumps and he's taking them hard!

GOP: You Sandy Degenerates Ain't Getting Relief!

Even Hurricane Sandy is a partisan event!

That's not what the Republicans are saying, but that's how they're reacting to the proposals that gives relief to those who suffered devastating since Hurricane Sandy hit the Atlantic coast in October.

We're beginning 2013 with the same bunch of stupidity and gridlock caused by the Tea Party who stood up for their "principles" against big spending.

Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) stalling hurricane relief.

Conservatives are so fucking stupid. They are stalling progress only to piss off President Barack Obama.

The Republicans are infighting with one another over relief! Republicans who represent areas hit by Hurricane Sandy are angry with members of the Tea Party stalling passage of the relief bill that the U.S. Senate passed December.

Most Americans want higher taxes on the upper income, Republicans to work with President Barack Obama, reasonable spending cuts, reasonable gun control, relief to disaster victims, responsible immigration reform, no cuts to defense, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, food stamps and farm aid.

How come this stuff fails to sponge inside the heads of Republicans?

They fear the repercussions of the conservative base. Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, The Drudge Report, Grover Norquist, The National Rifle Association, The Club For Growth, and The Heritage Foundation are powerful forces in the Republican Party. They've been weaken after the president won reelection. So in order to gain ground, the conservatives want an all out purge of moderate Republicans.

Congressman Pete King (R-New York) is angry at members of the Republican House for stalling Hurricane Sandy relief. King is a controversial politician. A notorious Islamophobe, King sponsored bills that discriminated against Muslims. 

Over eight weeks since Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey, New York and New England, many Americans held back on spending. The East Coast represents 1/3 of the economy. Those living on the Atlantic coast control most of the spending in retail. Retail spending went down and that impacted economy.

Even though many entertainers and charity organizations managed to obtain donations, the need is great.

Republicans can't spare the funds to repair those who were hurt by such destruction.

Many members of New York's U.S. Congressional Delegation slammed Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and many other Republicans for killing the vote on Hurricane Sandy relief.

"This is absolutely indefensible," said Republican Congressman Peter King of New York on the House floor Tuesday night. "We have a moral obligation to hold this vote."

The fiscal cliff votes show a strong rift within the Republican Party.

As the 113th Congress begins, Republicans are going to decide on the fate of House Speaker John Boehner, the Republican Ohio Congressman who managed to vote in favor of the proposal that raised taxes on those who make over $400,000.

Boehner who rose to the top spot after defeating Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-California), America's first female Speaker of The House. He and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) rank very poorly among the American public.

President Barack Obama was ranked the most admired politician by Gallup. His job approval is averaged at 54% at the close of the 112th Session of Congress.

Cliffhanger!

Turd pies were served to the Republicans. President Barack Obama wins the battle. Closing out the 112th Congress, the lawmakers passed the fiscal cliff bill with pouting and bickering among leaders in the Republican Party.

The Republicans are fighting within their ranks. Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Virginia, Majority Leader) is coming out against the Senate proposal that starves off extreme tax hikes and spending cuts. He voted with a slight majority of Republican members against the fiscal cliff bill passed by the Senate.

The U.S. Senate passed a proposal that assures that the tax cuts for the middle class stay permanent and the rate of tax hikes go up for those making over $400,000. Spending cuts goes off the table for two months.

The House Republicans are once again jeopardizing their majority. The public supports higher taxes on the rich. The people voted for President Barack Obama to handle the economy. It's unfortunate that the Republicans played this all the way to the very end. Bitterly fought and now it's over!

The next controversy will be the debt ceiling. Another gridlock fight with new members of the 113th Congress.

It's just confirmed by the Associated Press that the House of Representatives passed the bill.

Republicans were upset the deal did not have cuts.

"We not only need to grow the economy but we also have to address the fundamental causes of our debts and deficits and that's out-of-control spending, obligations that we have not got the financial wherewithal the meet," said Congressman Dave Camp, (R-Michigan) the top Republicans on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

"So this is a first step -- permanent tax policy that then sets the stage for comprehensive and fundamental tax reform and then addressing out- of-control spending. So this will be several steps. This an an important one."

Liberals were unhappy Democrats left out a number of their goals for the bill, and that they did not push for setting the upper limit for retaining the old tax rates at $250,000 -- a promise Obama campaigned and won on. Obama had hoped to raise $1.6 trillion in revenue over 10 years. The bill only raises $620 billion, suggesting to many Democrats that future deficit reduction could come from cutting cherished programs.

"We're going to look back on this night and regret it," said Congressman Jim Moran (D-Virginia).

Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-New York) said passing the legislation was as if, "someone stopped hitting you in the head with a hammer, and you're supposed to say 'Thanks so much!'"

Yet most Democrats were willing to back the measure.

"Yes, to all of those who say all the other things that don't happen in the bill -- I don't know any piece of legislation I've ever voted for that did everything that I thought it should do," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) said. "While this bill doesn't accomplish all that we need to do … it is a good way for us to have a happy start to a new year by taking this first step."

Democrats also were pleased that for the first time in decades Republicans signed onto a measure that leaves taxes higher this year than the the year before.

"This legislation breaks the iron barrier that for far too long has prevented additional tax revenues from the very wealthiest," said Congressman Sander Levin (D-Michigan) "It raises $620 billion in revenue by achieving the president's goal of asking the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans to pay more while protecting 98 percent of families. That's right -- that's what it does. I want to emphasize this contrary to propaganda coming from the other side -- it prevents 98 percent of businesses from another tax increase."

Despite the general unhappiness with the measure, which President Barack Obama has said he'll sign, it does achieve some major policy changes, chief among them making permanent the Bush-era tax cuts for couples earning under $450,000 and individuals earning under $400,000.

The bill also keeps the estate tax threshold at $5 million, extends emergency federal unemployment benefits for one more year, and delays for two months the "sequester" that made up the spending cut portion of the cliff. It also extends the stimulus-boosted child tax credit and the college tuition credit for five years, individual and business tax breaks for two years, and the Medicare "doc fix" for one year, preventing a 27 percent payment cut for physicians. The Alternative Minimum Tax will be permanently fixed, and the the farm bill will be extended for one year.

Republicans in the House spent much of Tuesday threatening to blow up the bill over the the lack of spending cuts. They went so far as to propose amending the measure with a $328 billion package of budget reductions, but facing the likelihood that a revised measure would fail muster with Democrats, caved in after two lengthy meetings behind closed doors.

Having lost a battle that many of them fought for years, the GOP was looking forward to future chances to extract cuts, likely setting up more last-second showdowns in March. That's because the two-month delay of the sequester ends March 3, right around the time the nation is expected to reach its borrowing limit -- which Congress has to extend to pay the bills. Funding for the federal government also runs out on March 27.

The GOP sees each of those as leverage points.

"We still have more opportunities. We've got the debt ceiling coming, sequestration," said Congressman John Fleming (R-Louisiana) among the first in his party to acknowledge that with the Bush tax cuts having expired at midnight, there was little else the GOP could do beyond take the senate deal.

"So we're going to get taxes off the table," Fleming said. "The president can't say, 'We've go to raise taxes first before we get to spending cuts.' We will have already done that. Now the topic will be spending cuts, from this point out."

The disarray on the Republican side had many wondering if House Speaker John Boehner's job was in danger, but most members said it was not, and that Boehner ably managed the eruption of discontent in his ranks.

"I think he showed he's trying to listen to the conference in regards to giving everybody an equal shot at moving something forward," said Congressman Richard Nugent (R-Florida), who opposed the bill. "But you also have to be pragmatic about what's going to pass."

Happy New Year!

We begin 2013 with belief and strength.

I want to say that I am proud to contribute to Journal de la Reyna. I appreciate the LaReyna giving me the opportunity to contribute to her blog and give you my honest take of my community, the government, and the media.

I will continue to publish many articles that inspire and influence you the reader.

I will do all I can to get the message out there for all who are willing to understand the plight of the America.

We're here to serve and we'll continue to do so in 2013.

To all the readers, thank you!

Over The Cliff!

Vice President Biden steps in.

Much work is to do to improve the image of Congress. The Senate has passed a deal, that extends the tax rate for upper income earners making over $450 million and hold off spending cuts for two months. The House of Representatives will vote on the package later.

We're over the fiscal cliff! And on top of that, we've reached the debt ceiling. Two whammies!

President Barack Obama will fight another battle with Republicans during the 113th Session.

Under the deal brokered by Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Congress would permanently extend the Bush income tax cuts at $400,000 and below, keep the estate tax threshold at $5 million and extend unemployment benefits for one year.

It would also temporarily delay the sequester -- i.e., billions of dollars in across-the-board spending cuts -- for another two months. The cost of continuing current spending levels will be paid for through an even mix of tax revenue increases and later spending cuts. Half of those cuts will come from defense spending; half will come from non-defense spending.

The deal includes other tax provisions as well: It extends the child tax credit and the college tuition credit for five years, individual and business tax extenders for two years, and the Medicare "doc fix" for one year. The Alternative Minimum Tax will be permanently fixed. The agreement also extends the farm bill for one year.

Notably, the fiscal package does nothing to address the debt ceiling, which the government just hit Monday. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sent a letter to congressional leaders earlier in the day outlining emergency measures he can take to prevent the government from defaulting on the debt, but those measures will only delay default for a matter of weeks, until right around the time when lawmakers will have to address the sequester again. That sets up another major fiscal fight between the White House and Congress.

The deal still requires buy-in from members of both parties, and Biden was set to meet with Senate Democrats Monday night to try to sell them on the package. That could prove challenging given that key progressive groups, including the AFL-CIO, made it clear earlier Monday that they would oppose any deal that raised the income limit for extending the Bush tax cuts above $250,000.

Still, both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) gave the deal their blessing Monday night in a phone call with President Barack Obama, sources confirmed.

A Pelosi aide suggested that while the House Democratic leader backs the proposal on the table, she isn't completely wedded to it.

"She's been supportive all along," said the aide. "Though if House Dems have serious problems, that could move her."

Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson said Senate Democrats would have preferred to push off the sequester for longer than two months, but Republicans wouldn't agree to that. The deal on the table is "what we could get," he said.

Jentleson lamented that the sequester and the debt ceiling will now need to be addressed at the same time, in a matter of months. "It's a lot to deal with," he said.

UPDATE: Tuesday, 12:39 a.m. -- Vice President Biden's principal argument to Democrats on Monday night appeared to be that this deal was the best that could be negotiated on a bipartisan basis and that while it might not be popular, it was better than going over the cliff.

Coming out of the meeting with the vice president late Monday night, many Senate Democrats conceded they were displeased with aspects of the deal but agreed with the vice president's larger point.

"The disagreement on this provision and that provision and other provisions are large and wide, but the number of people who believe that we should go over the cliff rather than vote for this is very small," said Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York). "It's not that this proposal is regarded as great or is loved in any way, but it's regarded as better than going over the cliff."

Schumer added that Biden essentially argued that going over the cliff "would be devastating," and he "was very persuasive, but he did not have to do much convincing."

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) sang a similar tune with respect to Biden's message.

"The argument is that this is the best that we could put together at this time on a bipartisan basis," Feinstein told reporters. "We need a bipartisan basis to get this done so that means compromises on both sides."

Some lawmakers sounded more positive notes. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) said the deal was good for both her state and the country.

"My main concern here is keeping this economic recovery going, and I think this package does that," she said.

The House GOP leadership also broke its silence on the deal, although Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) stopped short of making any pledges to bring the bill to the House floor if it were to pass in the Senate.

"The House will honor its commitment to consider the Senate agreement if it is passed," read a joint statement issued by Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia), Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-California) and Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington). "Decisions about whether the House will seek to accept or promptly amend the measure will not be made until House members -- and the American people -- have been able to review the legislation."

Hillary's Illness Sparks Conservative Outrage!

Republicans' old foe returns to the limelight as she is recovering from an illness.

We wish Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a speedy recovery. The end of the year bring us to the final days.

It looks like we're going over the fiscal cliff. The Republicans and their conservative allies have finally proven that they're not willing to work with President Barack Obama whatsoever. The effects will be great come Wednesday January 2, 2013.

The U.S. consulate attacks, three months and conservative are still harping their heads over the situation in Benghazi, Libya. The attacks in September 2012 were a hallmark for conservative agitation. The situation that occurred on September 11, 2012, brought the nation to grips with the death of four Americans. One being an ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens.

The conservative outrage machine has been ongoing and relentless in their quest to unearth the situation that unfolded. They dismiss the notion that an American bigoted movie mocking the Prophet Mohammad sparked global unrest in the Muslim world.

They point the finger at President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice as the culprits of a murder. Instead of blaming those who committed the act, the finger Republicans and conservatives have our own fellow Americans.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is stepping down soon. Her replacement is Massachusetts Democratic senator John Kerry. Kerry was going to be an easy confirmation. But all that was thrown out the window when conservative Republicans threaten to gridlock nominations. They're going to filibuster nominations until Clinton speaks on the situation in Benghazi.

It was revealed that Clinton has a blood clot from an incident in which she was injured. The injuries resulted a bump on the head, and dehydration from a food illness or the flu. The secretary was accompanied by her husband former president Bill Clinton. They're in New York at a local hospital.

She is going to make an appearance at Congress the start of the new session to testify.

Conservatives don't want none of the wait. They believe that it's another "CLINTONSQUE" plot to hide knowledge. A growing conspiracy among conservatives is that Clinton is ducking Congress so she won't incriminate herself or President Barack Obama.

The notion is also floating around that she looking forward to run for president again!

Hillary Clinton was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947. She is a lawyer, writer, former First Lady of the United States, former U.S. Senator, former Democratic candidate for president and mother.

Clinton is ranked favorably among most Americans. She is more popular than her boss President Barack Obama. Her husband William Jefferson Clinton was the 42nd President of The United States. Faced with the same type of obstruction Bill Clinton managed to raise the tax rates on upper income workers, passed welfare reform, championed for better schools, and reasonable gun control. Bill Clinton won reelection and survived a partisan impeachment trial spurred by Republicans going after him for admitting to having an affair with an intern named Monica Lewinsky.

There's no confirmation that she'll run for 2016, but given the atmosphere of Republicans, it's likely she'll test the waters.

Kanye West And Kim Kardashian: Making A Reality Star!

End of the year news: Realty stars announced they're going to be parents.

Kanye West said something that shocked the hip-hop world?

At a performance in Atlantic City, the rapper said that you can "stop the music", then announced "make noise for my baby mama [Kim Kardashian] right here," with a wide smile. It was confirmed by the reality star that she is pregnant.

Kanye West is a famous producer, rapper, media mogul and fashion designer. Also he's a controversial figure in hip-hop. The rapper appears under Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam. West is closely associated with his mentor Jay-Z. Earlier this year, he and pop signer Beyonce became proud parents of their first child.

The daughter of Robert Kardashian, the man who saved O.J. Simpson from prison, Kim Kardashian is an American socialite, television personality, businesswoman, fashion designer, model, author, and actress. In 2006, she gained notoriety as the subject of a sex tape with entertainer Ray J that subsequently resulted in a court awarding her $5 million.

West upstaged Taylor Swift in 2009 at MTV's VMAs.

In 2007, she and her family rose to prominence with their E! reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its subsequent spin-offs, including Kourtney and Kim Take New York. In 2010, Kardashian was the highest-earning reality star, with estimated earnings of $6 million.

In August 2011, Kardashian married basketball player Kris Humphries in a widely publicized ceremony. That October, Kardashian filed for divorce following 72 days of marriage. The move garnered significant backlash from the media, who labeled it a "publicity stunt".

West for his part has been no stranger to controversy.

West has had several controversies throughout his career. The two famous controversies involved the reaction to President George W. Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina and him embarrassing pop star Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

On September 2, 2005, during a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina relief on NBC, A Concert for Hurricane Relief, West was a featured speaker. When West was presenting alongside actor Mike Myers, he deviated from the prepared script.

Myers spoke next and continued to read the script. Once it was West's turn to speak again, he said "George Bush doesn't care about black people." 

Kardashian with Kris Humphries. Media slam her for sham marriage.

At this point, telethon producer Rick Kaplan cut off the microphone and then cut away to Chris Tucker, who was unaware of the cut for a few seconds.

Still, West's comment reached much of the United States. Bush stated in an interview that the comment was "one of the most disgusting moments” of his presidency.

On September 13, 2009, during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards while Taylor Swift was accepting her award for Best Female Video for "You Belong with Me", West went on stage and grabbed the microphone to proclaim that Beyoncé's video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", nominated for the same award, was "one of the best videos of all time".

He was subsequently removed from the remainder of the show for his actions. When Beyoncé later won the award for Best Video of the Year for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", she called Swift up on stage so that she could finish her acceptance speech. West was criticized by various celebrities for the outburst, and by President Barack Obama, who called West a "jackass".

In addition, West's VMA disruption sparked a large influx of Internet photo memes with blogs, forums and "tweets" with the "Let you finish" photo-jokes. Subsequently, West posted two apologies for the outburst on his personal blog; one on the night of the incident, and the other the following day, when he also apologized during an appearance on The Jay Leno Show. After Swift appeared on The View two days after the outburst, partly to discuss the matter, West called her to apologize personally. Swift said she accepted his apology.

In September 2010, West wrote a series of apologetic tweets addressed to Swift including "Beyonce didn't need that. MTV didn't need that and Taylor and her family friends and fans definitely didn't want or need that" and concluding with "I'm sorry Taylor." West also revealed he had written a song for Swift and if she did not accept the song, he would perform it himself.

However in an interview with a Minnesota radio station, West seemed to recant a bit of his past apologies by attempting to describe the act at the 2009 awards show as "selfless" and downgrade the perception of disrespect it created.

While we wish them well on the first child, I think that West wanted to upstage rival Wiz Khalifa. The Pittsburgh rapper confirmed that reality star Amber Rose (West's ex-girlfriend) is pregnant with their first child. They plan on getting married.

Drake: You Owe Me The YOLO™!

YOLO is the name of my motto! - Drake

Canadian entertainer Aubrey Graham who goes by the name of Drake wants a piece of the YOLO! The Cash Money Records singer brought to fame by his crafty wordplay secured the third hottest selling album this year according to Billboard.

Drake signed to Cash Money Records through Lil' Wayne's Young Money Records. Cash Money Records is a label that falls under Universal Republic Records. His own label October's Very Own is credited to the two albums Thank Me Later and Take Care. They went on to sell over four million copies.

Drake, Lil' Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Future, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Rihanna and Jay-Z are the most sought after entertainers in rap music.

Off the Take Care album the single "The Motto" became the latter of for popularizing the widely used acronym YOLO. The word meaning "you only live once" and that's Drake's motto!

Tupac Shakur inspired wordplay by the song N.I.G.G.A. (Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished)!

Many rappers have crafted catchphrases to the American pop culture.

• Eminem brought out the ego Slim Shady! 
• Snoop Dogg brought out the "Dizzle". 
• Jay-Z throws up two hands and forms a "diamond". 
• Lil' Wayne throws up the red banter for the gang sign of Blood. 
• T-Pain made autotune catchy for rapper Future. 
• Rihanna talked that talk.
• Notorious B.I.G. crafted the Frank White and Biggie Smalls ego.
• Rick Ross made everyone a "bawes!"
• 50 Cent gave the stutttering GGGG-Unit!
• Run DMC made Adidas look cool.
• Game throw on them Chuck Taylor All Star Converse shoes!
• Tupac Shakur said it was Westsyde and morphed himself into the rebellious Makaveli.

Wikipedia explains that the word was popularized by rappers Drake and Rick Ross, who planned to name a joint mixtape YOLO. To promote this mixtape, "Yolo" was mentioned prominently on several of their tracks such as "The Motto", with the aim of promoting the tape. This use has elevated the word into prominence and common colloquial use. Hip-hop magazine Da South reported that the rapper Lecrae has deconstructed YOLO in his song "No Regrets".

The phrase has achieved currency in youth culture. For example, a high school prank in Chicago, Illinois involved high school students chanting "YOLO". Some people have grafittied YOLO on walls. It has become a popular Twitter hashtag. Some youth have said that it is their motto, and actor Zac Efron has a tattoo with the acronym.

Online media including the Washington Post and the Huffington Post describe YOLO as the "newest acronym you'll love to hate" and "dumb". The word has been criticized for its use in conjunction with reckless behavior, most notably in a Twitter post by aspiring rapper Ervin McKinness just prior to his death that described driving drunk at 120 mph (190 kph): "Drunk af going 120 drifting corners #F***It YOLO."

Catchphrase YOLO spreads into retail.

The phrase "you only live once" is commonly attributed to Mae West, but variations of the phrase have been in use for over 100 years,  including as far back as (the German equivalent of) "one lives but once in the world" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in his 1774 play Clavigo and as the title of a waltz, "Man lebt nur einmal!" ("You Only Live Once!") by Johann Strauss II in 1855.

The 26-year-old recording artist, who reportedly has a net worth of $25 million, posted two images on the photo-sharing website Instagram depicting clothing emblazoned with the acronym YOLO, which stands for ‘you only live once.’

The first picture uploaded on Christmas Eve shows baseball caps in a variety of colors being sold for $12 for a pair at Walgreen's,  accompanied by the comment: 'Walgreens…you gotta either chill or cut the cheque,' Gawker reported.

The second photo shows a powder-blue T-shirt featuring the children's characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy which reads 'YOLO is my motto,’ along with a post: 'Macy's...same goes for you.'

YOLO, which has been around since 2004, turned into a viral sensation this year thanks to Drake's hit song The Motto, which includes the lyrics: 'Now she want a photo, you already know, though/ You only live once: that's the motto n***a, YOLO.'

It remains unknown whether Drake has trademarked the slogan. However, his legal claim appears weak considering the fact that according to the site KnowYourMeme.com, the acronym allegedly was first uttered by Adam Mesh on the third season of NBC's reality show Average Joe.

In July 2006, the band The Strokes came out with a single called You Only Live Once, and launched Operation YOLO asking fans to request the song on the radio.

Drake jumped on the YOLO bandwagon in October 2011, when he tweeted 'You only live once...YOLO' along with a picture of him standing on a balcony overlooking a city.

The now-ubiquitous abbreviation has since appeared in the form of a tattoo on Zac Efron's hand and was even shortlisted for the 2012 English Word of the Year by the Oxford American Dictionary.

Keep Screaming!

President Barack Obama's growing frustration with Congress eases with an executive order giving them and federal workers a slight increase in pay. The fiscal cliff/debt ceiling debate continues and it's likely they'll come up with a compromise.

The phony outrage machine is cranked up once again for the agitators of the online world. Conservatives and some liberals are scoffing the idea of the president issuing an executive order giving Vice President Joe Biden, all federal workers and members of Congress a pay raise.

By the way, many states are going to raise their minimum wage rates as January 2013 begins.

Conservatives are screaming that federal workers shouldn't be entitled to any raises whatsoever!

Shame though, these same individuals would punish the mail carrier, the FBI agent, a member of the military, the TSA worker, the IRS agent, the National Park ranger, a member of National Archives and numerous others for getting a pay raise.

The 112th Congress by far was the least productive. Republicans and the Tea Party have "stuck" to their principles and ended up sinking their job approval into the low.

As of March 27, 2013, federal employees will see a half-percent to one percent pay increase, marking the end of a pay freeze that has been in place since late 2010. Congress hasn't seen a pay raise since 2009.

This Executive Order will make Vice President Joe Biden's pay increase from $225,521 to $231,900 a year, before taxes. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will see his salary increased to $224,500 and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) will take home an annual pay of $194,400 after his raise.

Congressmen and senators make $174,000 a year and will see an extra $900 in their annual pay packages before taxes next year.

The Hill Reports that the order is issued as President Barack Obama and Congress work to reach a deal on the "fiscal cliff" of tax hikes and spending cuts set to begin in January.

Unless Congress acts within the next few days, more than $500 billion in tax increases and spending cuts will take effect in January, and the fiscal shock would likely cause a new recession.

By law, Congress cannot get a larger increase in salary than the adjustment given to federal workers.

President Barack Obama proposed that workers get a 0.5 percent pay increase last year and wanted it to take effect on January 1. In September, the president agreed with Congress to delay the pay increase at least until the expiration of a continuing resolution funding the government at the end of March.

Federal workers have been laboring under a two-year pay freeze ordered by President Barack Obama in December 2010 to try to reduce spending. Congress has not seen a pay increase since 2009.

Here's a solution to all these agitators concerns: How about you fools stop wasting your energy keystroking on the internet! Take action and run for Congress. I mean if you so tired of Washington, DC, and the antics of both political parties, vote them out or run for the office.

I mean you can't do nothing if you're sitting on your lazy ass complaining about how it's "all Obama's fault" and never yours!

My Honest Opinion Of The Tea Party And Republicans!

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), House Speaker, Congressman John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) are scorned by the public according to most polls. The Republican Party's stubborness and bitterness (likely racist) campaign against President Barack Obama has caught up and people are tired of it! 

As the sequester (fiscal cliff/debt ceiling) debate continues with neither side willing to sacrifice for the sake of the nation, we here at Journal de la Reyna continue to keep you informed! The nation is gripping for a tax hike and possible spending cuts that may eventually take our country into another recession. Gun control is front and center as a result of the Sandy Hook shooting. Each of these important issues are taking either the backseat or thrown inside of the trunk when it comes to Republicans. I want to share my honest opinion of the Republicans and their allies in the conservative movement in general.

I can't stand them. I am very frustrated with Republicans, conservative agitating and the extremism.

By far this 112th Congress is the least productive in history. This is also the first Congress since 1947 in which a member of the Kennedy family has not served, as well as the most politically polarized Congress since Reconstruction, with record low approval ratings. This ties the 80th Congress of 1947 when Republicans took control during the times of President Harry Truman. The 80th Congress was nicknamed the "Do Nothing Congress" by President Harry Truman. The Congress opposed many of the bills passed during the Franklin Roosevelt administration. They also opposed most of Truman's Fair Deal bills. Yet they passed many pro-business bills. During the 1948 election Truman campaigned as much against the "Do Nothing Congress" as against his formal opponent, Thomas Dewey.

The very same thing only 63 years later. The Republicans gridlock Congress in order to sabotage President Barack Obama. When the 2012 election came forth President Barack Obama was at low job approval ratings, but by the end of his term, he ended up winning reelection against perennial loser Mitt Romney.

GRIDLOCK EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICANS LOST!

It doesn't sink in their empty heads that they've lost the presidential election. It doesn't sink in their empty heads that they barely hold control of the House of Representatives and the Senate is still in Democrat control. The Republican leaders are looking even more worse. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky, Minority Leader) and Congressman John Boehner (R-Ohio, Speaker of The House) are now ranked unfavorably by a majority of Americans. It doesn't sink in their empty heads that most Americans want higher taxes on the rich, Mitt Romney to go away, and the Republicans to work with the president.

The Republicans are more Whiter and less moderate.

As the president wraps up his first term, his second term will begin with the very same idiots who screwed up the country. The president will continue to have his policies or nominees stalled or blocked by constant obstruction. Republicans agitate this debate that it's our current president's fault for the economy tanking.

Clearly wiping away the history of a two termed president who allowed the country to go into two wars. A president who allowed tax cuts for the rich go forth without paying for them. A president who raised the debt ceiling more than 8 times without much obstruction. A president who took us into The Great Recession.

That allow a Democratic senator become the President Of The United States. And during his first term, Republicans seemed willing to work with the new president. This new president allowed members of the House and Senate come to the White House to eat with him, watch movies and travel on his plane. This new president allowed Republicans come to the table on issues to jump start the economy. It took a conservative agitator and a cable news channel determined to see that this new president fails.

They didn't want no part of this new president's agenda.

So what do these Republicans do?

They create this Tea Party movement. This movement is based off of phony patriotism, bitterness and a strong hatred of the first Black president.

Now of course, not all Republicans are racists. There are reasonable members of the national party. But as of today and for the majority of this new 113th Congress, Republicans are by far the most extreme!

This week alone brings us to the finale of the debate.

It's now at least 25% chance of Congress passing a law that stops the fiscal crisis that may loom in the coming month.

As far as the Republicans are concerned, they've stood up for their principles! Their principles will destroy the nation and President Barack Obama is willing to tarnish them for sabotaging the economy.

Republicans aren't willing to support their own ideas. The Tea Party bucked Speaker Boehner last week.

They're trying to invoke fear in the Democrats. The Republicans and their allies are targeting Democrats and Republican members who support gun rights but support legislation that offers reasonable gun control. They are already focused on taking Democrats in politically Republican states.

They want to line up political novices such as Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former governor Jeb Bush and others as the 2016 Republican presidential nominee.

They want to blame President Barack Obama for the mess he inherited from the Bush Administration.

They couldn't give him four years to get things done. Most of his agenda was stalled or caught in gridlock.

Although historical laws were passed and signed by President Barack Obama, the Republicans wasted no time trying to repeal them. They've wasted taxpayer money passing symbolic legislature repealing Obamacare. They've spent a majority of Congressional funds to defend the Defense Of Marriage Act, a controversial law that defines marriage between man and woman, slightly outlawing gay marriage.

There were many reactions to the possible government shutdown with some saying the economy could be hurt during a fragile recovery and others saying the lack of an unnecessary bureaucracy would not be noticed. There was also criticism that while senators and representatives would continue to get paid others such as the police and military personnel would either not be paid for their work or have their payments deferred.

VALUES MATTERED!

Again I personally don't care what these people do in their private lives. But since these guys promote themselves a family values and upright citizens, one is to believe these guys are serious about family values!

No. Not one bit!

These so-called "family values" members of the Republican Party were partying like rock stars. Recently Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Virginia. Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-Tennessee) admitted he had an affair on his second wife and the mistress had an abortion after he learned the woman was pregnant. Congressman Ben Quayle (R-Arizona) was defeated in a primary by Congressman David Schweikert (R-Arizona). Quayle and Congressman Kevin Yoder (R-Kansas) have took their clothes off and dived into the Dead Sea in Israel. They created a sex scandal. Republican Arizona sheriff Paul Babeu was caught in a gay scandal with his former boyfriend being an illegal and the sheriff being a hardline extremist on border security.

Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich both natives of Georgia ran for president. Cain, a perennial candidate for higher office and talk show host once ran restaurants. Cain brags about turned around struggling Godfather's Pizza. Gingrich, a former Congressman and later House Speaker now does speaking tours and promoting books. Both are not family value candidates. They've both had numerous affairs on their wives. Gingrich dumping two wives to be with his current wife Republican operative Calista. Cain, a married man himself, kept his wife out the spotlight. His wife is a life-long Democrat and was likely to vote for the president. He had admitted to having an affair with three women, one filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against him.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, a famous actor ran for governor in 2003 as a Republican. Many conservatives and even some Democrats wanted the actor to win. And he won easily. He served the remainder of Democrat Gray Davis' term and easily won reelection. During his time as governor it was revealed that he had an affair with the nanny of Schwarzenagger and wife Maria Shriver's children. The former governor father a child who is about the age of his youngest son. Shriver, a news reporter and reality television celebrity. She is a decedent of the Kennedy family by mother Eunice (nee Kennedy). The couple recently had a divorce.

Mark Sanford, then governor of South Carolina was a hard line family values politician. It was revealed in 2009 that the governor left the United States to have an affair with an Argentina news reporter. His wife, Jenny is trying to rebuilt her tarnished image by running for political office. Sanford, himself wants to claim the seat that Tim Scott held before he was appointed as a senator.

Joe Walsh, an outgoing Illinois congressman is a deadbeat parent. He has the nerve to attack single women such as Sandra Fluke. He speaks ill of Black voters and their overwhelming support of the president. Walsh had the nerve to attack a veteran who is disabled. His opponent Tammy Duckworth is a double amputee combat veteran and Walsh treated her as a some degenerate! He was handed a defeat. He was a defiant in defeat. John Ensign was a Nevada senator. He resigns because he was caught in an affair and had his parents bail him out!

TOKENS PLEASE!

Republicans prop up Black, South Asian and Hispanic members like trophies. Republicans flex their color card with Tim Scott, senator from South Carolina, Herman Cain, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, Allen West, outgoing congressman from Florida, Marco Rubio, senator from Florida, New Mexico governor Susana Martinez, Raúl Labrador, congressman from Idaho and Ted Cruz, the new senator from Texas.

These extremists prop themselves as "freed" slaves off the "Democrat Plantation".

Republicans online and sometimes in the general public make ridiculous assertions about being the party of Civil Rights legislation in the 1960s. The Republicans were a minority in Congress during the 1960s and they managed to court the conservative Moral Majority! They constantly bothered President John F. Kennedy for being too liberal and meddling in the affairs of White people. After President Kennedy was assassinated, his successor President Lyndon B. Johnson took control of the agenda. They nominated extremist Berry Goldwater, a senator from Arizona to take the helms of the Republican Party. They push forth this narrative that the New Deal was a failure, the Great Society is "big government" run amuck, and the Black Civil Rights leaders were trouble makers!

Republicans didn't want part of Johnson's agenda. In their distorted minds, they claim that without their help, they wouldn't have passed historic laws that ended segregation.  They continue to beat up on former Vice President/media mogul Al Gore's father and the late senator Robert Byrd for stalling Civil Rights laws of the past.

This current Congress managed to stall Civil Rights legislation for Hispanics by refusing to pass the DREAM Act. The Republicans look at Blacks as dependent on welfare, entitlements and vote only on race! Instead of wondering why these growing minorities are supporting Democrats, the Republicans are trying to pass laws that restrict minorities and the poor from voting.

THE GREAT CULTURE WAR!

The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in the 1990s after the Republicans pressured President Bill Clinton into signing the law. The law was pushed in with tax increases. The laws is discrimination against same sex couples. The law is on the docket in the Supreme Court.

The Republicans want NPR and PBS to lose public funds. The Republicans want Planned Parenthood to lose funding and women to not have preventive healthcare.

The Republicans want to end labor unions by passing legislation that restrict collective bargaining rights. They want to maintain legislation that keep wages low and productive activity high.

The conservative agenda spreads into businesses like Chick-Fil-A, Hobby Lobby, Papa John's and Denny's want to punish the working class for supporting President Barack Obama.

Fox News, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, The Drudge Report, and Andrew Breitbart worked overtime on culture war issues. They rallied against the Obama administration and had people fired. These ridiculous conservatives grabbed their cameras and ran into the poor neighborhoods of America to find a Black person to make the case against the president. They interviewed a woman in Ohio and she says "I get a Obama phone!" This lit up the internet of hate and Republicans wanted to have this become a rally cry for ending the safety net for poorer Americans.

They were up in arms over Fast & Furious and Benghazi incidents. They tried to damage Attorney General Eric Holder and United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice. They want them marched out of Washington, DC in handcuffs. They want to see the president impeached for tragedies such as these since firearms were used in these tragedies. But when real tragedies occur such as Sandy Hook and Aurora movie shootings, the Republicans rather allow this continue because these infringe on "their rights" as Americans to own firearms.

Even though most want issues to be solved, Republicans are the only ones standing in the way of progress!

SUMMARY!

The Republicans would rather see the economy tank in order to blame President Barack Obama for the crisis.

The Republicans wrapped their asses around American flag in defense of these silly culture wars.

The Republicans and their allies in the conservative movement are reactionary bigots. These bigots harbor hatred of minorities, the lower class, the middle class, the working class, independent women, and the LGBT community.

The Republicans and their allies in the conservative movement have issues a person's with race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, political and economic standings.

The Republicans are determined to defeat the president at any cost.

The Republicans and their conservative allies are the racist, sexist, Islamophobic, homophobic, condescending, pain inducing morons that the Democrats and liberals paint them out to be.

And today and probably for the most part, I will no longer support Republicans and their conservative allies.

I hope you understand that this time it's personal!

Chi-Town 500+

Chicago reached a grim milestone.

Say what?

Yeah, Chicago, Illinois has lost over 500 members of its beautiful city this year. The city has reached its infamous milestone. Over 500 murders or homicides this year alone.

We're experiencing an epidemic of tragedy because of the rapid gun violence in the third largest city in the nation.

Mayor Rahm Emmanuel can't control the ongoing feuds within infamous street gangs.  

The president has to deal with this domestic terrorism in our communities. 

Gang violence is a danger to young Black and Latino males. Once you become a member of a street gang, you live by their rule or die by their rule. You gotta survive to eat! You got to make it in before you get in!

The Chicago Tribune reports that metro police confirmed that homicides were up 17 percent over last year in Chicago and shootings had increased by 11 percent, according to police statistics. Earlier this fall, Chicago already exceeded the number of homicides that occurred last year, but this is the first time the city has had 500 or more murders since the 512 in 2008.

Largely contributing to the spike was the unusual number of homicides that occurred during the early part of the year, when the city experienced unseasonable warmth. In the first three months of the year, homicides ran about 60 percent ahead of the 2011 rate.

Police stated that gang violence reduction strategies the department adopted this year have slowed the increase in violence.

Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy are trying to curb gang violence.

There's been too much violence by firearms. The Democrats are proposing legislation that may curb high power firearms. The National Rifle Association dismisses this as a threat upon the freedoms of law abiding firearm owners. 

In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, many are calling for reasonable gun control. Although the House of Representatives will never allow passage of this bill, President Barack Obama and the Democratic control senate will continue to push the message that Republicans are obstructionists to progress. In the wake of a tragedy, Republicans would rather continue to allow dangerous firearms in the hands of individuals who may capable of carrying out mass shootings.

When things happen in Chicago, Illinois, Republicans and their conservative allies are rooting for Blacks and Hispanics to kill each other off! The Republicans attack President Barack Obama for ignoring a crisis in one of America's cities. They'll find reason to say that this reminds them of the president saying that these gang members are like "[Trayvon Martin] being was one of his sons!'

Gun rights for White people and gun control for Blacks, Hispanics and Muslims. They want control over us, but never control over them. You see how Republicans act when it comes to serious issues like taxes, the sequester and debt ceiling. They portray themselves as the condescending idiots most Americans see them as! And it's not pretty. Republicans aren't focused on issues such as gun control. They worship the ground walked on by assholes like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Grover Norquist, Matt Drudge. They want to get good fitting on Fox News or standings with the National Rifle Association. 

Territory.

Conservatives can't understand that the people of Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta are just as American as they are! They rather react to gun violence when it happens in the suburbs not the cities.

That's probably why it's a long way til we get to the promise land. 

A reminder to those reading, violent street gangs are domestic terrorist. They're no different from the White extremist who contributes to a mass shooting or racially-theme rant on the changing demogrpahics of our nation.

Fashion Bug Closes!

Women's clothing apparel store closing up shop!

Women may find dismay in this story. The nation's low price women's clothing store is going out of business. In 2013, a new company took over and their vision is to stomp on Fashion Bug.

Ascena Retail Group Inc. has completed its buyout of Charming Shoppes Inc., which owns the chain, and now plans to close the remaining several hundred Fashion Bug stores by early next year.

Fashion Bug will join Catherine's, Lane Bryant, Justice and Dress Barn in the new wave of consolidation.

No telling how many jobs will be lost in the acquisition of this retail store.

The New York based firm will begin immediate closing of all stores by early 2013. Fashion Bug is a women's fashion apparel retailer located in strip shopping centers. Fashion Bug offers fashion apparel and accessories in plus and misses.

The Charming Shoppes is a specialty and plus size clothing retail holding company based in Bensalem, Pennsylvania; a suburb of Philadelphia. Its subsidiaries are Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Cacique and Catherines Plus. Clothes are sold from over 2300 retail stores in the United States, as well as numerous catalogs and online sites. Charming Shoppes was founded in 1940, went public in 1971, and was ranked 810th on the 2010 Fortune 1000.