Los Angeles, U.S.A. — nuvoTV will air a groundbreaking town hall-style television special, “We Decide: Latinos and the 2012 Election,” on Sunday, August 19 at 8:00PM (ET/PT), moderated by NBC News’s award-winning journalist Natalie Morales, news anchor of TODAY.

This historic hour-long original program will be the first to explore how this year’s presidential candidates are addressing crucial issues facing America’s Latinos and represents the first of its kind partnership between nuvoTV and NBC News’s Peacock Production.

“We Decide: Latinos and the 2012 Election” delves into the issues that matter most, and nothing is off-limits as the panel of experts and audience participants engage in a passionate discussion on the impact of the Dream Act, immigration reform, the economy, job creation and other vital topics.

“Latinos in America are a crucial component for presidential candidates in this year’s election, and could well be the deciding factor in determining who is our next president,” said Michael Schwimmer, CEO of nuvoTV, “Mainstream media has not adequately addressed the issues facing America’s Latino community in the context of this election. nuvoTV’s town hall will provide a unique venue for Latinos to amplify their voice across the country in English, so that the widest possible audience can appreciate Latinos’ perspectives on the issues.”

“We Decide: Latinos and the 2012 Election” experts represent a diverse panel of political thought-leaders, including:

• Governor Bill Richardson (D), the former two-term Governor of New Mexico, Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary in the Clinton Administration.
• Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D), now in his tenth term as the U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 4th congressional district, is a tireless champion of the causes of the Latino and immigrant communities across the U.S. He is the first Latino to be elected to Congress from the Midwest.
• Janet Murguia is President and CEO National Council of La Raza, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. She has been widely recognized for her work, including honors on numerous lists that include People en Espanol’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics,” Hispanic Business’ “100 Most Influential Hispanics,” Latino Leaders’ “101 Top Leaders of the Hispanic Community” and twice on Washingtonian’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Washington.”
• Jennifer Korn is the Executive Director at the American Action Network in Washington, D.C., a leading conservative advocacy group. She has 16 years experience managing candidate and issue campaigns both in and outside the White House. She has served on three presidential campaigns.
• Paul Rodriguez , a popular comedian for nearly three decades, was voted one of the most influential Hispanics in America and awarded the Ruben Salazar Award by the National Council of La Raza. He is widely recognized as an influential member of the Latino community.
• Thomas A. Saenz , CEO of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization.
• Arturo Vargas is the Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), a national membership organization of Latino policymakers. He also serves as Executive Director of the NALEO Educational Fund, an affiliated national nonprofit organization that promotes the full participation of Latinos in civic life.
• Rudy Fernandez serves on Mitt Romney’s National Hispanic Steering Committee. A seasoned political advisor, Fernandez has held positions in the White House, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Republican National Committee.

The article Groundbreaking New Show will Analyze the Latino Vote appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Newark, U.S.A. — The Street League Skateboarding DC Pro Tour Fueled by Monster Energy (SLS) will cap off an amazing 2012 season with its winner-takes-all Championship. The historical event features the top eight Street League pros battling for $200,000 – the largest first place prize purse in skateboarding history, an all new 2012 Chevy Sonic, plus the highly coveted Nixon Championship watch and ring set. The Street League pros qualified into the Championship are as follows:

• Nyjah Huston
• Chaz Ortiz
• Paul Rodriguez
• Luan Oliveira
• Sean Malto
• Bastien Salabanzi
• Chris Cole
• Ryan Sheckler

2011 Street League Champion Sean Malto is back to defend his title against an all-star lineup including Paul Rodriguez, Nyjah Huston, Ryan Sheckler, Chaz Ortiz and Chris Cole. The eighteen-year-old Ortiz and the thirty-year-old Cole have multiple second place finishes between them, but each has yet to win a Street League contest. With an impressive second place finish earlier this season, European Selection winner Bastien Salabanzi is the lone Street League rookie to earn a spot in the final eight.

Ryan Shecklerand Paul Rodriguez are veteran contest skaters and fan favorites, both coming off of incredible recent performances including P-Rod’s first league win at Stop Three in Arizona last month. Come August 26th, it could be anyone’s day to take the most elite title in professional street skateboarding.

Last year’s final event left fans on the edge of their seats as Nyjah Huston was ultimately denied a season sweep by Sean Malto who put a stop to Huston’s historical win streak. The seventeen-year-old Huston has yet to win a Street League championship since the league added the winner-take-all finale as the Championship instead of a season-long point system that was in place in its inaugural year.

“We’ve had an amazing year so far and there is no better way to end it than our winner-take-all Championship” says Street League creator Rob Dyrdek. “We know each one of these 8 pros has what it takes to win. On August 26th we’ll see who can rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest to become Street League Champion.

The stage is set for our best Street League ever.” “Most of the guys that are usually in the top spots—Chris Cole, Malto, P Rod—will make it an incredible Championship,” said winner of this season’s first two stops Nyjah Huston. “P Rod has been killing it lately. Got to look out for him. All those guys…This is pretty much the top of all the dudes in skateboarding and Street League, so it’s going to be interesting.”

The 2012 season has been one for the history books, with record-breaking crowds for skateboarding, and undeniable excitement with each event ending with the top three skaters within one or two points of each other in the final attempt. Nyjah Huston and Paul Rodriguez are the only skaters to win Street League events this season, but the victories have not come easily.

Bastien Salabanzi was a single trick away from winning in Kansas City, as was Chaz Ortiz in Ontario, and Chris Cole in Arizona who suffered the same fate after missing their final attempts.Street League’s $1.6 million purse is the largest in skateboarding history and almost double the combined winnings for all other skate contests. The SLS tour culminates in a winner-takes-all Championship inNewark, NJ at the Prudential Center on August 26.

The SLS Championship will feature the Golden Ticket winners of the first three stops of the 2012 tour along with the remaining top six qualifiers who will compete for $200,000 as well as the title of Street League Champion. The Championship will air LIVE on ESPN2 on August 26 at 5pm ET. Check www.streetleague.com for the complete pre-show and Chevrolet Overdrive webcast schedule.

The article Street League Skateboarding Championship Coming to Newark appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

As if there is not already too many Republicans cooks in the kitchen, former New York governor George Pataki may be considering entering the fray. Although earlier in the year, Pataki dismissed the idea that he would run for the White House, the Republican just can’t seem to help himself when looking at the crazy field out there.

The New York Daily News reports that close advisors to the former governor expect him to make his announcement but no date has been set. Despite his earlier denial, Pataki has been hinting of a possible run.

In June, Pataki told reporters that he would jump in if no one else with a credible chance of winning comes along. Clearly, televangelist Rick Perry, hypnotic Michele Bachmann and the man with a health care problem Mitt Romney are not credible chances. Pataki has relatively liberal social views which make his chance of winning his party’s nomination a degree above nil.

Meanwhile, Republicans voters are still begging for another candidate to enter the race. However, the name Pataki has never been mentioned. Despite Rep. Paul Ryan’s repeat announcement that he will not run for president, it seems his fan base is still encouraging him. Pressure is also mounting on New Jersey governor Chris Christie and Sarah Palin allegedly has not made up her mind yet.

“Do I think the field is complete yet? I would have thought so, but I’ve got to be honest. I think there could be a few more surprises,” said New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Jack Kimball. According to the Wall Street Journal, former Reagan administration official William Bennett has urged Rep. Ryan to consider a presidential bid.

Christie has stated he has no plans to enter the presidential race either. “The intensity of the recruitment efforts has certainly increased to a new level, but nothing has changed in terms of the governor’s plans,” said Christie adviser Mike Du Haime.

Although many thought Perry would be the lifesaver of the party, it only took days for many party insiders to realize that Perry is not going to beat Obama in the general election.

Many big dollar donors are waiting on the sidelines before backing a candidate. Even with the potential of Sarah Palin jumping in and the former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani considering a run, time is running out.

“To develop a national campaign, you have to have been in a serious planning mode for months by now,” said Phil Musser, a Pawlenty adviser.

Image Courtesy of christopherleonard

The article The Overcrowded, yet Unenthusiastic Republican Presidential Field appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Count Paul Ryan out of the presidential race, this time. Rep. Ryan (R-WI) has been floated as a possible presidential contender in an already overcrowded and strange field. But, the congressman says it isn’t happening.

Ryan issued a statement on Monday stating he appreciates supporters urging him to seek the 2012 nomination, but he hasn’t changed his mind about staying out of the race. Ryan is perhaps best known for his budget plan that would slash federal spending on various programs, including Medicare.

Ryan chairs the House Budget Committee. In his statement, he says he hopes the GOP will nominate a candidate committed to an agenda that “restores the promise and prosperity of our exceptional nation.”

Although it still appears that the GOP is searching for the one favorite candidate that could be the “savior.” Many thought Texas Governor Rick Perry would be that candidate but his new campaign has already run into a series of problems. Rumors last week surfaced stating that New Jersey governor Chris Christie would jump into the fold, but Christie’s camp has denied any plants to enter the race.

Meanwhile Rep. Ryan is trying to create more tax loopholes for his largest donors. For months, Ryan has argued that closing tax loopholes would help to pay for his proposed tax cuts in his budget plan.

“We’re talking about keeping revenues where they are, but having a better tax system to collect those revenues with an eye on economic growth and job creation,” he said during an April interview on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”

He added, “You have to remember, the people in the top tax brackets are the ones who enjoy most of the loopholes and deductions.”

But, his record reflects a different attitude in general. Since Ryan was elected to Congress in 1998, he has tried to create an array of special loopholes specific for his top contributors. For example, S.C. Johnson & Son is one of Ryan’s biggest donors.

Ryan introduced two bills in May 2005 that would have granted the company special exemptions from tariffs. Specifically, his bills sought to suspend duties for imported components of “unique air freshener products … assembled by S.C. Johnson in the United States,” Ryan said during floor remarks at the time. Neither bill advanced.

A year later, Ryan put forward another bill to reduce the duty on S.C. Johnson cleaning appliances “capable of dispensing cleaning solution into a tub or shower enclosure using a button-activated, battery-powered piston pump controlled by a microchip.” That bill didn’t move.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Ryan/89309491492

The article Paul Ryan Not Running for President, Still Kissing Up to Donors appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.