Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Political Racket /Dirty Tricks:

Wisconsin Governor SCOTT WALKER is standing firm against a lot of pressure, as he introduced his budget earlier this week insisting, "We are returning to frugality."
   But someone else is standing firm on budget cuts --a Congresswoman from neighboring Minnesota. Democrat BETTY McCOLLUM is going to try again to cut Pentagon spending.
   On NASCAR.
   She tried two weeks ago with an amendment that would've cut the $7 million dollars the Army spends to support Sprint Cup driver RYAN NEWMAN. She also tried to cut the $45 million dollars in federal tax breaks awarded to NASCAR racetrack owners over the past two years aimed at helping them make improvements to their facilities. But that's where her Republican colleagues put on the brakes.
   Not only did her amendment lose badly, she also got a BUNCH of nasty calls and e-mails. (Check this one out. Warning: It contains extremely offensive language.)
   Incidentally, guess who did vote for the amendment: MICHELLE BACHMANN and KEITH ELLISON --the only two Representatives from Minnesota to do so. One Democrat and one Republican.
   So, like a certain governor, McCollum isn't about to back down either. She thinks it's crazy to give one dime to NASCAR when health care, Head Start, and programs for homeless vets are being cut. So, she'll try again, and to deflect critics who accuse her of picking on NASCAR, she has revised her bill to prohibit Pentagon sponsorship of dragsters, Indy cars, and motorcycle racing --as well as NASCAR.
   Editor's note: Yeah, that should stop the e-mails. (Maiman)

Coming of age dep't:

Warning: Note sexual content!
   A class in human sexuality at Chicago's Northwestern University may have crossed the line by staging a live sex show.
   Agence France-Presse says the 'topic of the day' in the classroom was bondage and fetishes. About a hundred students were in the auditorium when an exhibitionist couple announced their intent to 'perform'. Apparently, most of the students --and one student's mom-- stayed to watch as the man and woman undressed. Then, the couple performed a live sex act using toys.
   One student said, "It is probably something I will remember for the rest of my life. I can't say that about my (Economics) class." (Still)

Broadcast, cable and video news:

While all the hoopla has been about CHARLIE SHEEN for the last several days, it was fellow "Two and a Half Men" castmate JON CRYER who showed up yesterday on ELLEN DeGENERES' show --as a temp!
   In a segment (HERE), you see Jon answering the phones as a receptionist.
   “Hey Jon, how’s it going?” Ellen asked Jon.
   ”‘Ellen DeGeneres Show,’” Cryer answered as he picked up the phone on behalf of the show, unable to reply to the host directly. “Oh, tickets? Go to EllenTv.com.”
   “Thanks for being here, I appreciate it,” DeGeneres said.
   “I needed the work,” Cryer replied.

Grace notes from Vinny Marino:

DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES will be the guests on A&E's "Private Sessions" Sunday night. The duo is set to perform some of its biggest hits, and have a chat with host LYNN HOFFMAN. Special guests include JIMMY WAYNE, TRAVIE McCOY, THE BACON BROTHES and "Family Guy" voice actor MIKE HENRY. (Marino)

MARIAH CAREY claims she had no idea she was performing for the GADHAFI family on St. Bart's back in 2008. Yesterday she released a statement that she was "naive" and is now "embarrassed" about this. Mariah also said that artists need to pay more attention to their bookings because ultimately they are held responsible. Mariah has not revealed if she will give the money she made at that concert to charity like NELLY FURTADO did this week and BEYONCE claims to have done last year. (Marino)