It’s been ‘forever’ according to most since I last posted a ‘meaningful’ Blog.
I suppose it’s true. With Twitter, it’s become far easier to post a quirky comment on a story rather than gathering the top stories and commenting on each of them. But as Dawn wrote to me last week…”I miss the way you infuse movie and TV quotes into your commentary. Your Tweets don’t do that most of the time.”
I hear ya…so here goes. Let’s hope I don’t disappoint.
{Quotes, references and people mentioned – Clairee Belcher (Steel Magnolia's), James Greer and Jack Ryan (Hunt for Red October), David Shultz (professional wrestler), The West Wing and Obi–Wan Kenobi}
Foot in Mouth Disease
Last week’s victory by Dr. Rand Paul in the Kentucky Republican primary for a seat in the United States Senate wasn’t only a big victory for the Tea Party movement…it was also a victory for those of us who love watching idiots implode once they reach the “mainstream.”
Fresh of his victory, Paul, son of libertarian Republican and former Presidential candidate Ron Paul, kicked off his fall campaign by taking a victory lap of sorts on several cable news programs. And to the delight of those of use who are engaged in daily political conversation and dialogue, Dr. Paul made it known – in a big way – that he suffers from the dreaded (and delightful) foot in mouth disease.
Paul, whose tainted views on Civil Rights have long been known and documented, made the delightful mistake of expressing them during interviews on NPR and MSNBC.
In short, in case you live in a bubble and have yet to hear what he said, Paul reinforced his view that the federal government should not have the power to force integration on private businesses – which of course was part of the landmark Civil Right’s Act of 1964 that essentially ended segregation…essentially. This wasn’t the first time Paul had made this claim – the editorial board of Louisville's Courier-Journal, ripped Paul a new one back in April after meeting with the Senatorial candidate.
In its editorial, the Courier-Journal stated, “despite his independent thinking, much of what he stands for is repulsive to people in the mainstream.” In addition, when outlining his views on a woman’s choice, they say, “Dr. Paul wouldn't even permit exceptions in the case of rape or incest. He says the mother and the unborn zygote have equal rights.”
Now far be it for me to gloat…especially since the people of Kentucky may actually send this racist idiot to the US Senate, but when is the media going to get back to REPORTING? How is it possible that Rand’s views on Civil Rights are just NOW coming to light?
Since we no longer have reporters like Woodward and Bernstein to do the work for use, I think we would be best served by people like [Steel Magnolia’s] Ms. Clairee Belcher, who’s motto, “If you don't have anything nice to say come sit by me” could very well go a long way in bringing back investigative journalism.
To be fair, after this story blew up, Paul has since said he has changed his view on the issue and has stated if elected he would not call for a repeal of the Act.
Meanwhile, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the other idiot that has surfaced on this issue, reporter John Stossel of, wait for it…, Fox News. If that name is familiar to you, it means you’re old enough to remember this is the same idiot who made the mistake of angering a professional wrestler during an interview and had his bell rung by said wrestler.
On Thursday, during Fox News’ attempt to cover the Rand Paul debate on Civil Rights, Stossel called for the repeal of the very section in the Civil Rights Act that Paul is against, saying, “It's time now to repeal the Public Accommodation section, because private businesses ought to get to discriminate. And I won't ever go to a place that's racist and I will tell everybody else not to and I'll speak against them. But it should be their right to be racist."
As James Greer (James Earl Jones) said to Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) at the conclusion of a White House briefing, “I told you to speak your mind Jack, but Jesus.”
Can’t get much more Fair and Balanced reporting than that. Maybe it’s time Stossel got another CAT scan. Clearly the slap to the head he took from David Schultz is finally starting to show some effects.
[Oh, and if you never saw Stossel’s now infamous 20/20 report that resulted in his kissing the floor – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrX9Ca7LSyQ]
Cap it, Zip it…Whatever…Just Shut Up!
It’s been a month since the tragic explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that claim the lives of 11 workers and subsequently has become the biggest modern day environmental catastrophe.
The blame game has been fast and furious almost since day one. The Obama administration blames BP, BP blames everyone but themselves and Republicans, to the surprise of…no one, blame the administration because afterall isn’t everything the fault of the not naturally born United States citizen…known to the rest of us as the President of the United States. But I digress.
While yes, there is plenty of blame to go around here, the bottom line is the mouth’s doing all the yapping need to be capped as bad as the pipe line that is spilling millions of gallons of oil into the ocean.
Meanwhile, if there were ever a time for some Jedi magic….this is it! Help us Obi–Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope….
Elena Kagan vs. The West Wing
As a fan of The West Wing, it’s hard not to make comparisons between fictional President Jed Bartlett and President Obama.
As Elena Kagan, President Obama’s second nominee to the US Supreme Court, gears up for her confirmation hearings this summer, I can not help but think back to several West Wing episodes that dealt with the issue of President Bartlett having the opportunity to replace THE liberal member of the bench.
On the show, the liberal justice was the long serving Chief Justice Roy Ashland, who according to the show’s math (“he faced six administrations and 22 congresses") served some 44 years as a member of the Court. Ashland wanted to be replaced on by a liberal such as himself and when he meets with Bartlett about his possible retirement says, “I want Brandeis, Blackmun, Douglas, but you can't get them, can you? Because it's all compromises now, the ones who have no record of scholarship, no body of opinions, nothing you can hold them to. That's who they'll confirm — raging mediocrities."
In the end, Bartlett finds a way to grant the Chief Justice his wish…nominating a liberal woman to replace Ashland (after striking a deal with Republicans not to oppose the nomination by also nominating a super Conservative judge to replace a Supreme Court Justice who dies suddenly).
Sadly, life is NOT mirroring fiction with President Obama’s nomination of Elena Kagan to replace Justice John Paul Stevens. While there is still much to learn about Ms. Kagan, it appears to be safe to say she will not be in the mold of Justice Stevens because as the fictional Justice Ashland said, “…it's all compromises now, the ones who have no record of scholarship, no body of opinions, nothing you can hold them to. That's who they'll confirm — raging mediocrities."
Betty White
It’s been almost three weeks since Betty White’s historic guest hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, but people are still talking (and laughing) about her comedic genius.
To say she did a fantastic job is the understatement of the century. The muffin skit alone was priceless, but she (and lets be fair, the writers) gave us skit after skit to laugh and talk about.
The success of her stint has prompted a new campaign to get another “oldie” to guest host an episode, the legendary Carol Burnett. Imagine if SNL devoted one show a year to letter a true living legend (other than Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin) to host the show? It would be fantastic. While SNL stayed away from poking fun at Betty’s hit shows, how funny would a Mama’s Family skit be? Classic I tell ya!! [And while we’re speaking of classics, if you’ve never seen the Tim Conway ‘Elephant Story’ outtake from Mama’s Family, you’ve never laughed hard – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqE_WmagjY]
Sadly, the success of Betty’s stint on SNL has also prompted new campaigns for her to host the Emmy’s and Academy Awards. Seriously people, you can go to the well but so many times. While I certainly don’t want Betty to fade off into the sunset, I don’t want to see too much of her. Let’s not ruin a good thing.
I’m just sayin…
And from the Files of You Can’t Make this Shit Up if You tried…
The Associated Press reports that someone staying in a local Washington State motel was trying to place a room-to-room call to someone in room 119.
Unfortunately the person somehow dial 911 instead, which lead police to make a routine check — to make sure the person in room 119 was OK.
When they arrived they discovered that the 29-year old occupying room 119 was wanted on an outstanding warrant and promptly arrested him and seized heroin and other drugs.
Sometimes you just can’t beat dumb luck.
Thanks as always for reading. I hope I don’t disappoint.
And now to quote the great Porky Pig, “That’s all folks!”
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