The Daily Gate

DREAMgate

The gate to the future for many young people in the United States has closed, at least for another two years. In a final push to pass the DREAM act before the house is led by a Republican majority, supporters of the bill were unable to raise a Senate super-majority needed to pass the legislation.

Fox news describes the event as “delivering a critical blow to Democrats and Hispanic activists” in the opening of its report title “DREAM Act Goes Down in Flames.” Despite the ship-sinking connotations such a title may carry, the DREAM act is not gone for good, although its prospects are not hopeful.

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Pinotgate

Historical Gate of the Day

Court proceedings that began in February of 2010 found several wine suppliers guilty of fraud. The crime? Selling Merlot and Syrah labeled as Pinot Noir. The wine was distributed by Sieur d’Arques and went into Gallo’s Red Bicyclette label. Constellations Brands also bought wind from the supplier.

“This mess will probably take the trophy for Schadenfreude of the Year: American wine giant gets duped by the French,” writes Jon Bonné for the San Francisco Chronicle. Bonné also appears to be responsible for coining the term “Pinotgate.”

Cablegate

Cablegate is a ripe topic for The Daily Gate, not only because it is a scandal, but also because it is a literal gate though which hundreds of thousands of diplomatic correspondences have traveled.

Reactions to the Wikileaks cables have, like all notable controversies, fallen on a vast spectrum of opinions, from the profound to the absurd. We are sure it will be headline fodder for many months to come. It’s founder, Julian Assange has been called everything from a “super villain” (Jon Stewart), “an idiot” (Esquire) and, of course, a “worldwide hero” (Rediff News).

Wikileaks itself promotes the dissemination of the cables a vanguard of transparent government and freedom of speech. They insist that all their material is vetted and redacted. “So that’s why brand is so important, just as it is with anything you have to trust,” Assange said in a Forbes interview.

Getting-to-the-Gate-Gate

Public alarm has been raised over new airport security screening, which now requires passengers to choose between a full-body pat-down or a full-body digital scan.

The media has responded to the new security measures by publishing the outcries of vocal citizens.

“But really, have we all lost our minds? In what world does frisking elderly nuns and little children make us safe?” writes Penny Young Nance for Fox News.

CNN quoted one of its readers: “Being scanned sure beats having the plane explode in mid-air.”

The Huffington Post published articles from both sides of the debate, from “Hold Firm TSA; We’re with You” to “Peel and Feel: Bad Policy Never Stops Getting Worse.”

Image via The Huffington Post.

Kate Gate: Royal Engagement

Prince William is now engaged to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton. Although Newsweek reports that “there’s no known scandal in her background,” girls around the globe hoping to be princesses are professing heartbreak.

Jill Lawless of the AP reports that the 2011 wedding was so certain that bookies have long stopped taking bets on the event. Let the Royal Wedding media madness begin.

Lokogate

The New York State Liquor authority is no longer allowing beverage distributors to ship caffeinated energy drinks. Michigan, Oklahoma and Washington have already banned the cocktails dubbed “blackout in a can.” Raphael Brion, a writer at eater.com, quoted Sarah Palin in reference to the ban, saying “Some might call this a nanny state run amock!”

Suspected Roofies Turn Out to Be Four Loko

State May Ban Four Loko After University Incident

Was Joe Sestak Obama’s Watergate?

Controversy sparked when a memo revealed that the White House offered a staff position to congressman Joe Sestak in exchange for abandoning his Senate campaign.  The incident was label “Obama’s Watergate” by a number of news sources:

The Hill:
Issa: Sestak Scandal Could Be Obama’s Watergate

RedState.com:
Obama’s Watergate

The Washington Times:
Obama’s Watergate

CNN’s coverage, however, did not carry the phrase:

Steele keeps pressure on White House over Sestak, Romanoff