On Sunday Chris Brown and Rihanna both canceled performances at the 51st Grammy Awards where he was nominated for two trophies, Best Pop Collaboration for his song "No Air" with Jordin Sparks and Best Male R&B performance for his ballad "Take You Down;" and she was nominated for Best Dance Recording "Disturbia" and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, "If I Never See Your Face Again" a song from her Good Girl Gone Bad Reloaded album featuring Maroon 5.. I first heard the news while watching CNN, where it was announced that Brown was involved in a domestic dispute. Although not yet confirmed many reliable sources are stating that the victim in this "domestic dispute" is none other than his Barbados-born girlfriend Rihanna.
At Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Award Party, minutes before incident
Photo source

The pair were seen leaving Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy party in his rented Lamborghni early Sunday morning. According to police reports around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, the R&B singer and a woman were in a vehicle in the Hancock Park section of L.A. when they became involved in an argument. After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated. The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker.

The LAPD received a 911 call reporting the disturbance. When officers arrived they found the victim, but Brown had already left the scene. He turned himself in Sunday evening, speaking with investigators and posting $50,000.00 bond. Brown has been charged with one count felony criminal threats which could mean up to 9 years in jail.

The two have been dating for more than a year and are seen as the sweetheart couple of R&B. There romance has been highly publicized and they have been photographed just about any and everywhere they have been.
Here they are at Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party last year

Performing together


Shopping in L.A

Apart from these public shots, many photographs have been taken of them in more intimate settings like when they are spending time with each other's family:


On the beach in Barbados


With his family in Virginia at Christmas time


And in their "alone" time... like what is that? you know. So I'm sure there is a lot of pressure on their relationship.

There were many rumors about tension in their relationship from the start of the year, especially when Brown was photographed with a particular female at a couple stops on his European tour. With the negative reviews she has gotten for her performances so far this year, I wonder if there was that building tension that affected her on stage. This is a terrible way to end a relationship.


The downward spiral is now in effect. Fans are now split as to who is the victim, who is at fault, etc. Many cannot believe that Chris Brown was capable of this kind of action. News Alert: ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING, UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.

Apart from tarnishing his squeaky clean image, this incident is hitting him in his pockets.
Wrigley said Monday that it will be suspending its Chris Brown ad campaign for Doublemint gum
“Wrigley is concerned by the serious allegations made against Chris Brown. We believe Mr. Brown should be afforded the same due process as any citizen. However, we have made the decision to suspend the current advertising featuring Brown and any related marketing communications until the matter is resolved.”

Sponsors are quick to disassociate themselves from artist whose actions tarnish thier image or in any way. Remember the Akon and Verizon fallout after his rough dancing ( could you really call that dancing though????) with an underage girl at a Trinidad night club. And even more recently look at the impact of a photo of Michael Phelps and a marijuana bong has had on his career.

What is really sad to me about this whole situation is the backlash that Rihanna is already getting. Some people are saying that Chris Brown blames her for giving him Herpes. Prompted by pic above where she is hiding a cold sore I don't know about that, but what ever she did or did not do DOES NOT give him the right to beat on her. The music industry is losing one of its biggest stars and I think that antagonizing Rihanna may be a way to keep Chris Brown's career afloat. He will not be the first artist who has been accused of domestic violence )Dr. Dre, Eminen, Ike Turner, Big Pun) all celebrated by fans and industry.

Brown is scheduled to go to court on March 5. Will keep u in the loop.

Rihanna MySpace
Rihanna Facebook
Chris Brown MySpace
Chris Brown Facebook

Check out these young hip, ladies out and about at pre-Grammy events doing some serious promotion!!!!!!

Here’s Christina Milian at the Radio Killa pre-Grammy party in a pink and silver Herve Leger mini (by Hollywood standars that dress is played out but she is so rockin it!) and Miu Miu sequin pumps.

With Kat Deluna doing promo at Westwood One event
Photo Source
Estelle at Pre-Grammy event
Photo source


Estelle performs at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night in New York City
Photo source


Rihanna leaving a pre-Grammy party at Boulevard 3
Photo source


rihanna and wil.i.am at the Black Eyed Peas PeaPod Benefit Concert in L.A.
Photo source


Mel B pimping her workout DVD!
Photo Source

If you don't know by now, I am a huge fan of Mr. Vegas....I think it's mostly cause I LOVE to dance (and I really can...lol). His songs just make you want to get up and shake a leg! Anyways, here's his latest release..."Soca No Linga" Enjoy!!!!! Look out for some new reggae soon!

Mr.Vegas - Soca No Linga.mp3

Another song to buss a wine...a slow one that is (smile)....reminiscent of "Mamacita"....you just want to get all sexy on de dance floor!!!!!!!

Collie Buddz_Machel Montano - Fly Away.mp3

Love it!!!!

Well I must say, her last song I posted has grown on me..."you is a stawlkah damn, you is a stawkah.....) so Here is her latest release. It's called "One Night".

Annya Li - One Night (Short Version).mp3

What do you think?

Publish Post

Wyclef performing at last year's show.

Though not one of the official performers for the show, Wyclef Jean will be performing in the finale of the BET Honors show. It will air Monday at 9PM ET/PT. This year's honorees are Mary J Blige, Tyler Perry, Magic Johnson, Judith Jamison, B. Smith and James Clyburn

Performers at this year's show: Yolanda Adams, Anthony Hamilton, Anita Baker, Joss Stone, Queen Latifah, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Keyshia Cole, Monica, Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo.

The host is Gabrielle Union.

Click HERE for show home page.

Happy birthday Bob Marley!!! Feb 6th saw the 64th anniversary of his birth. He died on May 11th 1981. Check out these videos below which are from documentary on his his with interviews with Bob himself:

The early days:


Talking about Jesus return to earth:


Talking about the curse of Ham:


Africa and ethiopia:


The legend:


To read about him, go to his OFFICIAL SITE

Congrats to cutie-pie Tamia Bobadilla-Pickering of Tortola

winner of the Miss Darling Diva Beauty Pageant held in New York at the Kumble Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The Pageant was held at the ending of January and featured contestants from across the United States, with Bobadilla-Pickering being the only foreign contestant.

According to BVI News Online, she won the overall Miss Darling Diva Crown for the three-year-old division and was the winner of the overall (44 total contestants) Miss Popularity Crown.

She also won crowns and trophies for her division in the Casual Wear, Mardi Gras Wear, Evening Wear and Miss Intellect competitions. In addition to the crowns and trophies, she won cash for her college fund and other numerous prizes.

The pageant will be featured on the TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras television show that will air sometime this month.

She was accompanied to New York by her mother, Keshia Pickering, and Chaperone/Choreographer Kareem Thomas.
All her outfits and costume were designed by Tortola's Germain Smith at the One Stop Mall in Road Town.

Click HERE for more info on the show. Toddlers and Tiaras air Tuesdays at 10/9 central on TLC.

source

Photo source

Argentine TV series "Rebelde Way" will be adapted for U.S. television by Fox Television Studios and produced by Nuyorican Productions, the production company belonging to Jennifer López and Simon Fields.

"Rebelde Way," was originally created by Argentine producer/writer Cris Morena and produced by her company, Cris Morena Group, together with RGB Entertainment. The series tells the story of a group of teens in a private school who form a pop band.

The original "Rebelde Way" spawned a hit band, Erreway, which became a top-selling group in Argentina and even starred in their own movie. "Reblede Way" has been sold to over 40 countries and the format has been licensed by a handful of markets, most notably Mexico. There, the Televisa-produced series "Rebelde" generated hit pop group RBD.

The script for the U.S. version of "Rebelde Way" will be written by Duane Adler ("Save the Last Dance" and "Step Up"). This isn't the first time a Latin American original series is adapted for the U.S. Mainstream market. Most famously, hit comedy "Ugly Betty" was an adaptation of Colombian soap opera "Betty La Fea."

SOURCE

Here is a view of the front

and the back

of a special T-Shirt by German clothing line YARD®. Funds from the sale of the shirts will go to supporting the Trench Town Reading Center (TTRC). The money received helps to employ teachers as well as new books for literacy programs.So far the line has made an initial donation of 3.000 EUR (more than 4.000 US$) to the TTRC. In the future, YARD® has pledged to help fundraise within Europe and the United States to build more Reading Centers in other inner city ghetto areas in Kingston and therefore YARD® supports the registered non-profit association HELP Jamaica! (Help Establish Library Projects in Jamaica!) www.helpjamaica.org

The YARD® style is known for its uniquely Caribbean and Dancehall flavour and is dedicated to the region and its people.

About TTRC
The TTRC is a community-based initiative founded in 1993 on lower First Street in Trench Town, Kingston. The Centre provides not only a library, but also a space for learning and improving basic literacy skills and also facilitates a variety of educational, vocational and community programs. Each day, between 30-50 children visit the TTRC to read, to practice their spelling, to get help with their homework, to draw pictures and to simply be creative.
YARD® has been proudly supporting the center for the last six months.




for more Information visit:
www.trenchtownreadingcentre.com
www.helpjamaica.org
www.myspace.com/helpjamaica
www.yard-gear.com

Here are two articles from Billboard Magazine which interested me and I hope will interest those who frequent this site, especially musicians and anyone involved in the music business. The first covers a new Act in Congress which would force radio stations in the US to pay not just songwriters, but performers and musician for works played on the radio.

The second covers webcasting royalty rates.

As expected the Performance Right Act has been reintroduced jointly to Congress today with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Corker (R-TN), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) submitting it in the Senate, while in the House by Representatives, it was sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jane Harman (D-CA), John Shadegg (R-AZ), and Paul Hodes (D-NH).

While radio already pays songwriters for songs they broadcast over the air, the bill would require royalties to also be paid the artists and musicians performing the songs and master recordings copyright owners, as well.

The latter payment is common in other countries and has already been enacted in the U.S. for Webcasters, satellite radio, cable radio services and all other non-terrestrial broadcasters.

Upon introduction of the Performance Rights Act in the Senate and House of Representatives, music FIRST executive director Jennifer Bendall, said in a statement, "Today marks the beginning of the end for corporate radio's loophole."

"It's unfair, unjustified and un-American that artists and musicians are paid absolutely nothing when their recordings are played on AM and FM radio," she added.

Grammy winner Sam Moore noted, "American broadcasters literally earn billions by playing our records. All we ask is to receive what artists in every other civilized country around the world receive when their recordings are broadcast - fair compensation for the performance of our work."

American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) urges Congress to pass the Performance Rights Act because "The overwhelming majority of performers are not rich, but hardworking men and women trying to make a living," AFM President Tom Lee said in a statement.

Besides the U.S., only a few countries do not provide a fair performance right on radio, including Iran, North Korea and China. Since the U.S. doesn't have a performance right, foreign stations do not have to pay American artists when their music is played on stations around the globe.

A2IM President Rich Bengloff labeled the bills sponsors "true friends of the music community who understand that creators of music and those that invest in its creation should be compensated for their work. As the manufacturing and service industries have moved offshore, the need to support those in the United States who create intellectual property has never been more important to our economy."

But radio station owners, with the the National Assn. of Broadcasters leading the fight, oppose the bill. "Local radio broadcasters consider this fee a 'performance tax' that will not only harm your local radio stations, but will threaten new artists trying to break into the business as well as your constituents who rely on local radio," NAB president and CEO David Rehr, said in a statment. "Although the proponents of H.R. 848 claim this bill is about compensating artists, in actuality at least half of this fee will go directly into the pockets of the big record labels, funneling billions of dollars to companies based overseas." Three of the four largest record label conglomerates -- Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and EMI -- are internationally-based. "Although the big record labels have seen their revenues decline over the last decade, local radio broadcasters are not the reason the recording industry is losing money, and it should not be the industry to fix it," he added.

NAB said a measure opposing today's Congressional action is expected to be introduced shortly.

Likewise the Radio Free Alliance said, "Congressman Conyers' re-introduction of a performance tax bill on local radio is disappointing, especially since the bill doesn't reflect the views of the majority of his colleagues. Last year, the more than 226 members of Congress stood with local radio in opposing any measure that would tax local radio to benefit the big, foreign-owned labels. Especially in the dire economic times we all face, any measure which will threaten the family-supporting jobs of more than 125,000 people employed by radio, the more than $6 billion in local community support of non-profit and service organizations, and the ability to introduce more diversity in station ownership is a short-sighted approach and bad public policy."

But the proposed legislation accommodates small broadcasters, public and religious radio stations, according to a musicFirst press release. For example, small commercial stations would pay only $5,000 per year; while noncommercial stations such as NPR and college radio stations would pay only $1,000 per year; stations that make only incidental uses of music, such as "talk radio stations, would not pay for that music; and Religious services that are broadcast on radio would be completely exempt."

The legislation also is written to ensure that a new royalty wouldn't impact songwriters and other copyright owners, the press release said. The legislation provides for the rate to be negotiated between impacted parties, or set by the Copyright Royalty Board, and paid to SoundExchange, which will distribute payments accordingly.

On the latter issue, NMPA president and CEO David Israelite said in a statement, "The National Music Publishers' Association has proposed a concept called, "One Music", urging the entire music community to be supportive of each other regarding the value of music. Therefore, we support the efforts of Chairman Leahy and Chairman Conyers in introducing this bill. We are pleased the bill introduced today includes some protections so songwriters are not harmed in the process of fairly compensating performers and record labels - a must for any such legislation.

"We will continue to work closely with lawmakers and our partners in the music industry as this legislation moves through the process to make sure songwriters are not adversely affected."

SOURCE




SOUNDEXCHANGE ROYALTY RATES

With the Feb. 15 deadline to reach a compromise on webcasting royalty rates approaching, SoundExchange has made a new settlement offer to small webcasters, Billboard.biz has learned.

Under the terms of the deal, different rates are being offered to different webcasters, depending how much revenue the company makes and how much traffic it receives, according to documents obtained by Billboard.

The deal takes a tiered approach to both the minimum per-channel fees and the royalty rates owed for music played on Internet radio. The smallest group of webcasters are defined in the agreement as "microcasters" -- those who make less than $5,000 a year, with expenses of less than $10,000 a year, and with less than 18,067 total aggregate tuning hours.

This group would pay only an annual minimum payment of $500, plus a $100 "proxy fee" in lieu of providing reporting data on which songs they play to cover SoundExchange's costs of administering the payments without such data.

Webcasters with gross revenues less than $50,000 a year are offered a $2,000 minimum payment per year, while those with gross revenues of more than $50,000 would pay $5,000 as a minimum payment. Webcasters with annual transmissions totaling less than 5 million aggregate tuning hours a month would pay either 10% of their first $250,000 in gross revenues and 12% of any revenues over that, or 7% of all expenses for the year -- whichever is greater.

Webcasters with transmissions that exceed 5 million aggregate tuning hours a month, or with annual revenues of more than $1.25 million a year, would no longer be considered a small webcaster and as such would have to pay the statutory commercial webcasting rates.

What's more, the deal is being offered through 2015, and retroactive from 2006. That would resolve both the dispute over the current rate structure handed down by the Copyright Royalty Board in March of 2007, as well as avoid renegotiating those rates for the next rate period, which begins in 2011. Webcasters agreeing to the deal would not be able to participate in any proceedings to determine rates for the next rate period or petition Congress to overturn the existing CRB decision.

The offer resembles that made in 2007 to small webcasters, which was based on the small webcaster settlement act of 2002. While SoundExchange says more than 40 small webcasters accepted the deal, many others didn't because the terms applied only to music by SoundExchange members. Although SoundExchange represents about 95% of music copyright owners, webcasters who refused the plan were concerned that it didn't cover the remaining 5%.

This new deal is being offered under last year's Webcaster Settlement Act, which makes it binding on all copyright owners.

A SoundExchange spokesperson confirmed the offer, saying, "SoundExchange is firing on all cylinders trying to get as much accomplished by the Feb. 15 deadline."

But representatives from the webcasting community are less enthused with the offer. Several pointed out that under the deal, smaller webcasters who sell their company to a larger one that does not qualify for the discounted rates would suddenly owe the full statutory rate retroactively to 2006. The buying company would have to pay those rates, which would represent a serious obstacle to any potential acquisition.

Also singled out for scorn is the 5 million cap on aggregate tuning hours a month. Several small webcasters who meet the $1.25 million revenue exemption find themselves awfully close to that traffic limit, which would make them ineligible for the deal. They would prefer a limit of closer to 10 million aggregate tuning hours a month, or none at all.

"We're disappointed with the offer," says Rusty Hodge, founder of SomaFM. "It effectively is worse that the previous [one]. Basically SoundExchange has done nothing to comprise with webcasters at all."

SOURCE

Big up to the Barbados delegation at Midem at Palais de Festivales, Cannes.

The delegation which was led by Invest Barbados' Manager, and Senior Business Development Advisor, Jannette Babb, and Modou Diagne, respectively included Chief Executive Officer of COSCAP, Erica Smith; Managing Director of CRS Music and Media, Derek Wilkie; Attorney-at-Law representing alternative music band Kite, Nick Nanton; Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director of Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc, Santia Bradshaw and Ruel Ward, respectively; Chief Executive Officer of Got Rhythm Inc, Glenn White; Chief Executive Officer of Good Vybz Inc., Kirk Browne; and Chief Executive Officer of Hit Island Music, Kristen Broome. Courtney Phillips of E-Vision Concepts assisted Invest Barbados in the co-ordination of the event.

Here are some of your favorite island guys and gals out and about! Enjoy!

Ok I know I post this pic in Opening of Real Mas post, but they looked so cute had to put here! It's 2008 Dominica Carnival Queen Marah Walter and 2008 Soca Monarch Daddy Chess at the Opening of Real Mas Dominica Carnival 2009

Photo source
Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and her twins Jax and Jaid enjoying the California sunshine

Photo source
Alexandra Burke shopping it up on Bond Street in London.

Photo source
Sheryl Lee Ralph at the 8th Annual 'Heroes In The Struggle' Gala at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA on Wednesday.

Photo source
Mel B and hubby Stephen Belafonte leaving Madison Square Gardens after Knicks /Cavs game on Wednesday.


Photo source
Zoe Kravitz at the Cinema Society, Philosophy and Stardoll screening of new movie He's just not that into you
Photo source
Rihanna and her best friend Melissa shopping at the Grove in LA on Thursday.

Pyramid Entertainment's first industry party took place at the Aqua Restaurant, Hastings, Christ Church where the who's who of the Barbadian entertainment fraternity came out in their numbers to support the company's achievements and celebrate the launch of Philip 7's hotly anticipated anad much acclaimed first album. Here are some pics from the event below. Enjoy!

Masala album cover

David Kirton

Amongst the attendees were musical stalwarts Arturo Tappin, Nicholas Brancker and Andrew Denny who rubbed shoulders with some of the islands' emerging talents such as Buggy, Ayanna John, Dwayne Husbands, (2008 winner of the Digicel Rising Stars) and Ria Borman who recently dazzled the audience at the Barbados Music Awards (BMA).

Arturo Tappin with Sophia and Paul Marshall

L-R: Statement, Wilfred Abraham, Ruel Ward, Claire Marshall, Shirley & Santia Bradshaw, Selina Philips and Tony Hoyos

The party was also used to showcase the latest additions to the growing catalogue of music videos produced by the Pyramid Music Group. Guyanese sensation Timeka Marshall's latest single "All Night" received thunderous applause as did Peter Ram's video for the single "Tight". The company also premiered the two recent videos from Philip 7 - alternative track "Space and Time" and reggae single "Looking For".

The evening climaxed with a twenty five minute performance by Philip 7 and his band Masala. log on to www.pyramidartists.com for more about Pyramid and their roster of artists!

Upload your best performance video in REGGAE's GOLDEN KRUST CARIBBEAN STAR SEARCH
Upload your video at www.Youtube.com/vprecords

USERS Watch and vote for their Favorites (so tell your friends!!!)

The organizers will pick the top rated video, that artist will have a chance have their song recorded by one of Jamaica's Premier Reggae Producers and have their song featured on VP RECORDS' REGGAE GOLD 2009!

See Rules, Entry and Contest info HERE

About Golden Krust
Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill is the brain-child of Ephraim and Mavis Hawthorne; founders of Hawthorne & Son’s Bakery in St. Andrew, Jamaica and parents of the present owners. They had no idea then that their dream would one day blossom into a now global business with over 120 stores in nine states.
In 1996 Golden Krust became the first Black-owned business in the U.S. to be granted a franchise license.

Read more about Golden Krust at their official site www.goldenkrustbakery.com

I guess with all the superstars who vacation in the Turks and Caicos islands, it wasn't too far fetched for the Preimier Micheal Misick to try a ting. After all he have to meet these stars on their level and more right??? So he got private jets on call, a Hollywood actress wife, attends Star-list events. Read part of an article in the Miami Herald on the investigation into Misiks lifestyle. Note the article calls him Prime Minister. His official title is Premier so doh make that hurt yuh head!!!

With two private jets on call and a Hollywood wife, the Turks and Caicos prime minister lived like the rich and famous who have made the Caribbean island chain one of the hottest stops for celebrities.

Michael Misick says his lifestyle allowed him to court high-end developers and helped put the British territory southeast of the Bahamas on the map.

But his financial dealings are now the focus of a British investigative commission that is wrapping up hearings this week on the main island of Providenciales.

The Turks and Caicos still answers to a London-appointed governor, who formed the commission last summer after a British Parliament report found complaints of rampant corruption on the islands. The commission could call for a criminal investigation based on what it finds.

The hearings that began Jan. 13 at the Regent Palms Hotel have included sworn testimony from Misick's estranged wife, actress LisaRaye McCoy, that she used a government-leased jet to vacation in Africa, visit her daughter in Switzerland and commute from Los Angeles. The couple also leased a Rolls-Royce and spent more than $1 million on the interior design of their home. Misick has denied abusing public funds.

Investigators said in the hearings that eastern European developer Mario Hoffman acquired resort land at a deep discount and received special tax breaks around the time one of his bankers gave the prime minister a $6 million loan - part of $20 million in personal loans that Misick has amassed from banks, a developer and political appointees.

Misick, 43, a London-educated lawyer and realty broker, testified himself that he continued to collect sales commissions after being elected prime minister.

But he makes no apologies.

When he was criticized for more than doubling his salary and earning more than British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the stocky leader with a slightly graying goatee replied: "Sir, I submit I have done more for Turks and Caicos than Gordon Brown has done for England."

Now in his second term, Misick is also the tourism minister, the Turks and Caicos' promoter-in-chief. Since he took office in 2003, the gross domestic product in the territory of 22,000 people has more than doubled to $750 million - largely through a resort-building boom.

Island aficionado Mark Amherst of privateislandsblog.com said the Turks and Caicos is "the new No. 1 holiday retreat for A-list celebrities." It's the place where Ben Affleck married, Eva Longoria honeymooned and Bruce Willis built a home.

Misick helped feed the buzz by party-hopping with McCoy, a Chicago-born actress who starred in the television series "All of Us" and appeared in the movie "Beauty Shop."

But his troubles started in July when the commission, led by former British judge Sir Robin Auld, began probing a range of allegations, including claims that Misick and other island officials profited from the sale of government-owned land.

According to the testimony, Misick spent $275,000 in a jewelry store, chartered a jet for a Paris shopping spree and charged more than $1 million to an American Express account with his wife after they married in 2006.

McCoy acknowledged she spent as much as $200,000 a month, but she said it was necessary to buy new hats, gloves and suits to fit her "first lady lifestyle."

The prime minister last month said his government "may have made mistakes," but he is confident no laws were broken.

But the prospect of criminal charges has added to a growing list of problems.

In December, leaders of Misick's own party said they had lost confidence in him. He and McCoy had an ugly breakup, with Misick accusing her of attacking him in August.

Misick urged the commission to consider his finances in the context of the territory. Across the Caribbean, he said, politicians routinely receive personal donations of tens of thousands of dollars with no strings attached.

But he does concede some excesses. Looking back, he said it would have more prudent not to keep two Gulf Stream jets on call.

Misick said he now flies commercial.

Source