Your call

It was an attempted lynching on live television. That’s what it was. But were they successful? I doubt it. We’ll see…

OK. Now that the drugs have worn off, I have a better idea of what’s going on. That, plus one of the agents guarding me is Opus Dei (you’d think the Americans would have checked about that sort of thing) and he’s spilling his guts to me - as the saying goes. I’m being kept in an undisclosed location in Pennsylvania, just across the border from Maryland. (Those guys did drive fast for 45 minutes to get this far from the airport.) I’m being kept in this bunker for protection. Apparently, the hand gun/”deranged lunatic being denied mental health care” ratio is much higher than the government is comfortable admitting and this was the only way to guarantee my protection. One of the six body doubles the Vatican supplies each Pope with, is standing in for me at all the public gatherings. These body doubles are rather interesting, by the way. These are priest who share a close body type with the current Pope, who volunteer to undergo plastic surgery and all other indignities needed to make them look just like me. This trip to America is the first time the Vatican felt that the threat level was in the red and so they sprang into Operation Pope-a-Dope. Being sealed up in a concrete bunker is no way to spend a birthday, I tell you. Plus, there’s no cake!

I think that if there were even a lingering whiff of integrity in the MSM, George Stephanopoulis, a former member of the Bill Clinton administration, would not have been a part of this debate. That may explain some of the piling on.

I guess I’ll try again without the html tags:

I don’t have cable, and haven’t watched teevee since before 9/11, except for movies on DVD. Why are we surprised? The news division of any media outlet is required to show a profit, just like the entertainment division. If, in fact, they are still separate divisions–in many cases, they aren’t. A handful of megacorporations own all our media outlets.

Newspapers and, by extension, all news outlets, are the only non-governmental entities explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. (Dave vE can correct me if I’m wrong.) They have/had a unique role in our democracy, but they have sold it for a mess of porridge.

Tim Robbins recently had some choice words for the National Association of Broadcasters. I wonder if anyone at the NAB really listened?

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/82510/

I’ll try again without the html tags or the paragraphs.

I don’t have cable, and haven’t watched teevee since before 9/11, except for movies on DVD. Why are we surprised? The news division of any media outlet is required to show a profit, just like the entertainment division. If, in fact, they are still separate divisions–in many cases, they aren’t. A handful of megacorporations own all our media outlets. Newspapers and, by extension, all news outlets, are the only non-governmental entities explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. (Dave vE can correct me if I’m wrong.) They have/had a unique role in our democracy, but they have sold it for a mess of porridge. Tim Robbins recently had some choice words for the National Association of Broadcasters. I wonder if anyone at the NAB really listened?

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/82510/

And I’m sure it’s a good comment, dear. Please try again later. (Heh, heh, heh)

The infotainment division of most media outlets abdicated its Constitutionally ordained responsibility a long time ago. Tim Robbins recently had some choice words to say about this in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters. I’ll let you find it yourselves, in case that’s what Fanny is objecting to. It was published on alternet [dot] org a day or two ago.

My take is BHO is waiting to see how the PA primary goes. He doesn’t want to torch HRC if he doesn’t have to - I think he wants to wait this out and see if he can focus on McBush. I would much rather BHO start acting as the preemptive nominee and push back hard.
Having wrote that, I also think the MSM is doing a disservice by allowing HRC to somehow appear as above the fray when she is causing the fray.
I’m with Dee - the Dems need to focus on the critical issues and stop being involved worrying about crap like lapel pins.

Adam, you watched that thing twice? woof. Were you sober?

cooper beat me to the most glaring pile of dogpoop in the way of anyone’s attempt to claim impartiality.

If I hear another word about lapel pins, I swear…

You know, if this election does not go to Obama, as it righteously should, there will be a whole new tribe of bitter folk, clinging to their, I don’t know, keyboards and booze, I guess.

Honestly? I haven’t paid attention to the debates since they started being run by the media instead of the League of Women Voters.

What I can’t figure out is why the candidates don’t have enough balls to simply declare any particular event a farce, and walk out.

I didn’t watch it (I can’t stand to look at these things). I read the summary in the paper this morning. It interests me how Barack Obama keeps coming back to the real issues, and nobody is listening to him - except maybe the voters? You think? The outcome in Pennsylvania will be really interesting.

Dave vE, I stand by my stated position that I will vote for the Democratic nominee even, if it’s Satan running under his own name. But if that nominee isn’t BHO, I’ll be holding my nose with one hand, which will make it hard to fill out the ballot…

Piglet, you say “clinging to their … keyboards and booze” like it’s a bad thing. That’s how I spend most of my days.

And Hedera, I’m with you.

I take it back. There are computers at the McCain HQ - 3 Packard Bell 386 museum pieces, grinding out data, running DOS, and smoking badly. Just for grins, I drove up to a scenic overlook in Maryland on my lunch break the other day, fired up my laptop and lifted the lid off of computer security at the home office. Remarkably easy. And then ….. I got an idea!!!

The McCain for President campaign does have a website that they’ve out sourced to a Russian Mafia gang in Irkutsk Oblast. I thought, “Why not hack into the website and have some fun?” As you may know, there is a section of the website dedicated to his wife (and sugar momma), Cindy Hensley McCain. She has all sorts of interesting things to look at there, such as Cindy’s Travelogue, her long resume of volunteer works and good deeds, and, until yesterday, a link to some of her favorite recipes, “handed down from the many generations of homespun Hensley cooks”. I replaced them verbatim with a few recipes from the Food Network site, the back of a Quaker Oats box and a Rachel Ray signature dish. Somehow (wink, wink!) the press found out about the stolen recipes and had a field day with it. Of course, the campaign blamed it all on an incompetent intern, who was roundly booed, shunned, and thrown into stocks by the other campaign workers. Too bad for him. He seemed like a halfway decent guy to me, but that’s probably why they framed him and then dropped him off a cliff - being somewhat kind, smart, and funny, he just didn’t fit in with the rest of the crew. I hate that happened to him, but, as Mr. DeLay is fond of saying, “Damn ain’t politics fun!!”

Much ado about nothing. What the dems, it seems, are failing to realize is these sideshows don’t matter, yet they put all their emotional investment in it as if it does.
Kudo’s to Obama not going after Hillary. I think he DOES have a clue that sniping at her over that issue would just further undermine the whole party more than it has already.
I think his decision not to partake disqualifies it as a complete clusterfuck.
This debate business, the punditry, is nothing but middlemen parasites who live off the self-created media process, preaching to their own choirs.
Hannity and Combs does’t make anyone change their minds. John Stewart doesn’t make a right winger turn left. I think Tina Fey was right about him. He’s gone from being a “voice of reason” into a little twaddling, audience-pandering turd on a stick. I never thought he’d start taking himself seriously. The Daily Show really died when he arrived.
Anyway, all this crap doesn’t matter insofar as changing anyone’s minds. They’re made up.
Unfortunately, dems seem to be undermining themselves, while republicans just sit back and bask in their good fortune. It should be the other way around, but… I dunno what happened!
I don’t like ANY of the candidates, but I’ll probably go with McCain since he’s the best overall representative of the democratic party available.
Yes. I know he’s a registered republican. I don’t like it either. : (

I’ve been getting emails from friends who watched the whole freaking “debate.” One columnist pointed out that the first commercial came 3 minutes into the show. THREE minutes. Charlie and George and ABC “News” rubbed our faces into the realization that we are no longer entitled to be called Citizens. Our rightful role is Consumer, and has since even since before our MBA president told us to go out and shop after 9/11.

Sharon, it was even worse than your friends may have indicated. I tried livestreaming the debate from a link offered at C&L after work. The stream consisted of two screens. One smaller one that broadcast the actual debate, and one twice as large that tracked the focus group approval of the statements of the candidates. I shut it down after about 5 minutes because it was unwatchable, and watched the debate later at home (Pacific time).

One item I found truly shameful, is that ABC News broke the story about the top level administation discussions of torture, but ABC “News” didn’t bother to pose a question to the candidates about what steps they might take, or even what they might have thought about such discussions.

Actually, I thought that it was more honest that most debates, on the part of the media.

The media doesn’t really care about policy, especially not the details of minor policy issues. In the fall, they won’t cover it. And when major legislation is offered, they certainly won’t delve into i.

They care about controversy, so much that they are willing to gin it up themselves.

Travelgate. Filegate. Vince Foster. Lots of coverage. NAFTA and Hillarycare, rather little meaningful, substantive, honest coverage.

If Obama — and we all know that he is going to be the nominee, right? — wants to talk about to the American people about real policy and important issues, he is going to have to do through a media that will do everything they can to shift the story to scandal, gossip and…well, you get the idea. If Obama couldn’t do it during the debate, then how is he going to do it as president?

Before we hit the road to Beantown, I offer you this cartoon and it would be darned funny if it weren’t so darned true.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_ main.html?name=Toles&date=04182008&type=c

Have a good weekend everyone.

Eh. Obama had better get used to it.

The stupid questions weren’t only aimed at Obama, although he did get the lion’s share. The whole sniper fire in Tuzla is a non-issue for Clinton as far as I’m concerned.

And I don’t object to tough questioning, but for Lobster’s sake let’s have some tough questions about things that matter. How are you going to pay for your proposed health care programs? How can have a relationship with China and ignore Cuba? Would you sign on to the Kyoto agreement on carbon emissions? Do you really believe that the manufacturing jobs that have been outsourced overseas will really come back and if not, just what is the American work force supposed to do? How can we regain “honest broker” status in the Middle East?

Those are tough questions and those are issues that matter. And those are the kind of questions that I hope somebody will ask McCain, too. Because if this kind of nonsense continues, it better be even-handed so we can all hear the details of Cindy’s drug addiction and her stealing from the non-profit she headed.

What Dee said. But with one question that she left out, but which I am sure is burning a hole in her heart as it is mine….”What the hell are you going to do about the Tigers?” Please, let´s keep the overpaid one step forward, eight step back disasters to the Middle East!

Steve,

Bill Mahr is just an entertainer, and an apology is just more entertainment.
I’m sure the Catholic church doesn’t honestly care about some semi-retired comedian with a private pointed predelection for beautiful-african american prostitutes, although he might make for a great episode on Dr. Phil.

Dave v E: You just need to know what to mutter over you Raisin Bran, and then it does it all for you.

It was sad hearing about Danny Federici. Nice video on your page. Nice article, too. I got to see the Boss and the E Street Band at the Santa Barbara Bowl just after they released Born To Run. It went on for hours and hours and was hands down the best concert I have ever attended.

(Somehow, I knew my last comment wouldn’t make it past the censors, so I’ll try again using symbols in the appropriate places. Fanny, you’re an evil rodent.)

Steve, thanks for the link and I must hasten to point out that, if anyone on the planet knows “bigotry”, it’s Bill Donohue.

And I’m sure that after all the columnists listed in that article had taken their shots at Bill Maher, Bill O’Reilly came sneaking in from the right for a late hit and the traditional p@nis/t@sticl@ twist in the pile when no one is looking. He probably marveled at the fact that Maher has two b*lls and a d!ck longer and thicker than a useless pencil stub. That must have crushed O’Reilly. The upside for Falafel Boy? - he won’t be able to bring himself to once again get into a situation where he’ll have to pay out another multi million dollar settlement for s@xual harassment. The down side for us? - he’ll still have his show on Fixed News, where he’ll continue to yammer and to bar anyone from uttering the name “Keith Olbermann” over an open microphone.

just plain Jack sez

Steve, thanks for the link and I must hasten to point out that, if anyone on the planet knows “bigotry”, it’s Bill Donohue.

No kidding.

Just for the record, I was doing nothing more than just razzing Mr Felber.

Personally, as a Recovering Catholic myself, I’m in total agreement with Mr Maher’s original statement and am disappointed that he was forced to make an apology.

Just remember, Bill Donohue represents the views and beliefs of Catholics in the same way that Osama bin Laden represents the views and beliefs of Muslims.

Still no WWDTM! Well, maybe the Peabody did go to their heads, or maybe they’ve made comments so cutting that the lawyers are involved, or maybe 4/20 came a little early this year for someone in the posting chain. Who knows. I’ll tune in tomorrow.

Funny, my Raisin Bran told me that Bush had picked out Dubai as the site of his Presidential library. I’d assumed, on selling the ranch, that he would just be moving there.

Chris H. … Too bad I had cold pizza and black coffee for breakfast this morning (widely known as The Breakfast of Champions). I’ll try the muttering thing with my raisin bran tomorrow morning.

Yeah, Danny Federici was a peach, as are all the E-Streeters. I saw them the first time on tour for The River in, I wanna say, 1981 or 82; then in 1984, and in 2000. Each show was great, I have to say. That sound is just unbelievable. Thanks for the kind words.

Anyway, as for all this Pope stuff … just remember that while this “Benedict” dude (f/k/a the Vatican’s Dick Cheney) was in the Hitler Youth (involuntarily, according to Donohue, which may be true), his predecessor was doing what he could to hide Jewish friends from the Nazis in Poland. And while then-Bishop Ratzenberger was boning up (you’ll pardon the expression) on, ahem, doctrine, his predecessor was staring down the Communist Party in Warsaw. Now, believe me, I’m well aware of JPII’s flaws; still, he was a genuine religious leader, whereas this dude, who I presume is just warming the seat for the next guy, is a dogmatic, hard-nosed, unpleasant cuss.

And I say that with, ahem, all due respect, know what I’m sayin’?

And if der Papst doesn’t like it, he can kiss my royal Irish arse. Well, it’s half Irish anyway.

Here’s a preview of my letter-to-the-editor:

Opinion on ABC’s debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seems to be divided into two camps (of unequal size): one group says that the debate was a travesty and the purest example of all that is wrong with politics now, focussing on trivial gotcha issues while ignoring the monumental challenges facing the US in the coming years; the other group says that it was a display of character and an insight into the candidate’s soul.

Fine. We all have our own reasons for why we vote the way we do.

However, if you are in the second group - the “character” group - you are never again allowed to criticize Obama for being “all nice talk with no specifics”. NEVER. He came prepared to talk policy, to talk specifics, to talk real issues and you wanted flag pins. You had your chance to ask real questions, and you asked about flag love.

Do I make myself clear?

Whoa, that woman can write!!!

You think she has red hair like Ann?

I don’t know, but she definitely is fierce like Ann. That’s interesting in a woman, don’t you think?

Wait a minute - isn’t she that Bird Lady from near Alcatraz?

Oh, yeah, I think you’re right about that, Chatsworth. It had to happen some day - your being right about something, I mean.

I sure have been missing Siobhan. Glad to see she hasn’t lost her touch. Remember that Tahoe web ad she did? I think GM decided to remove the power from the hands of the little people right after that one was posted to the website.

Yes, I remember that one - true comedic genius wrapped in steaming, demonic irony. Kind of like Harvey, yes?

Yeah, like Harvey. BTW, he’s doing a great job on the new hovering camera drone. Looks like next Saturday morning will be H-hour for the first flight. I can hardly wait!

The retro “Encounters of the Third Kind” stylings are sweet! I bet the rash of 911 UFO calls in the Pacific Northwest spikes like never before.

Yeah, but it doesn’t take much to get the rabble up there roused.

Hey, hold on - my sister lives there! Hmmm….on second thought…I guess you’re right.

I must say, as trips to foreign countries go, this journey to America was a rather large disappointment. Trent’s friends showed up three hours late this afternoon and during a heavy rain shower. So we stood around outside the bunker under some trees and picnicked on what they brought. Yet another crushing disappointment - the convenience store down the road from here had absolutely no ice cream and was temporarily out of Ho Ho’s - the land of plenty indeed! Roger, the driver of the car, had a supply of RC colas and a box of Moon Pies from his trip 3 months ago to the Carolina. He dug them out of the trunk and handed them around. The RC colas are an acquired taste, but the Moon Pies were amazing, even though Roger had a flat on the way up here and had carelessly dropped the blown out tire on the box.

The party over, I got into the back of the van and Trent drove us back to Dulles Airport, where an Aeroflot puddle jumper was waiting and I began the 17 hour flight back to Italy. No food service and a broken toilet. I’ve had better vacations.

Dee, apparently the part about locking in a 7-2 majority for a generation or two.

Now we know: 26% of Pennsylvania supporters of Clinton and 19% of Pennsylvania supporters of Obama are idiots. At least my group, the Obama supporters, has 7% fewer idiots than does the other group, which means we Obama supporters as a group have a bit more sense than the Clinton supporters. Any Democrat who would vote for McCain is genuinely clueless (as were the “Reagan” Democrats). Mostly it is a commentary on how politically ignorant, dazed and confused, and petulant approximately one in five or four Pennsylvania Democrats is It ain’t the campaign, it’s the voters.

I will miss the America I used to think I knew.

From the article linked by Sancha:

“When I’d see that the shades were up next door, I knew he [Joseph Ratzinger] was home,” Chico writes. “Then I’d race over and rub up against his legs. What wonderful times we’ve spent together!”

So, Chico is a *cat*? That was the best the Vatican spin machine could come with? (How did Larry Craig’s staff miss that one?)

Rub on, Benny.

Obama fans, I’m so sorry. Today, I shifted 2% in his direction, so my brain is now Obama-owned 51%, with only 49% left for Clinton. Please don’t tell my daughter. The problem is, historically, my vote shifting seems to have the oracular precision of a dead canary. With a very few exceptions the candidate I switch to is pretty much doomed. And, generally, quickly. I wouldn’t expect concession speeches tomorrow night, but still…

Happy Earth Day all. Walk, bike, or take mass transit if you can. Plant a tree, buy biodegradable, fill in a hole.

A good friend of mine was born the day after Earth Day so he refers to his age as one day younger than dirt.

Jim, Earth Day is not such a good yardstick to measure age. That would make me about 2 decades older than dirt. Do I have a witness Boomer?

An interesting sounding magazine article in Rolling Stone this time: “Jesus Made Me Puke” by Matt Taibbi. I’m tired of the shouting heads on MSNBC trying to explain the nuances of the PA primary. I’m particularly tired of Pat Buchanon’s falsetto spinning everything political as an advantage for conservatives. Hell, I’m just tire. Goodnight.

So I didn’t win the Boston Marathon this year. OK, so I didn’t register and I didn’t run. It was still a great time to be in Boston! But now that we’re back, there’s work to do.

http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2008/04/21/tomo/

Whew! I’m glad that’s finished. Now what will I do for the rest of the day?