Fox New right-wing extremist Sean Hannity, a known bigot, takes great job in using anti-Muslim, anti-Arab racism to attack President Barack Obama. But, his tired new show helps prove that the man is going over the deep end in his hatred of the nation’s first black president. Now, Hannity would be a hater to any Democrat president (even if he was an old white guy), but the fact that we have a new, young and black president seems to have the man especially bitter and vicious in his attacks. News Hounds has a post that documents how Hannity is trying to bring back the Obama-is-a-Muslim thing that was tried throughout the presidential campaign. Obviously, this is something that Hannity will no doubt be using over and over again throughout the next four to eight years. Hannity had to be particularly irritated that Obama gave an important interview to an Arab channel and that he has the nerve to speak to people and attempt diplomacy with those who are not Americans. This, to Hannity (who continues to attack Obama over his associations while ignoring his own associations with racists like neo-Nazi Hal Turner) it seems, is improper. Remember when all of those liberals were being so tough on poor George W. Bush and they were being labeled as “anti-American” for not supporting the president? Is it anti-American of Sean Hannity to openly criticize our president (our commander-in-chief) for trying to work to bridge gaps between our country and Arabs and Muslims from around the world? Hannity’s new show is a pathetic shell of what it was when he was paired with Alan Colmes, who put in big-time work to make oftentimes hate-driven and conflict-obsessed Hannity a success on the airwaves. It’s sad to listen to Hannity still crying about Wright, Ayers, Farrakhan and others. Too bad he doesn’t spend as much time worrying about his nefarious associations with wicked racists like Turner.
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/29/hannity_revives_suggestion_obama_may_be_muslim.php#more
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Super Bowl Prediction
As many of you know, the big game is Sunday as the Super Bowl pits the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Arizona Cardinals. I like the matchup mainly because of the contrast in styles of play. Pittsburgh is your grind-it-out team that plays with toughness and grit. Arizona is a little more of a skilled and finesse-type team that can hit the home run with a flair for the spectacular. The Cardinals probably prefer more of a high-scoring game while the Steelers probably want more of a low-scoring defensive-oriented game to play out in Tampa. I like the the toughness and defense of the Steelers and think they will get it done by putting some pressure on Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner (who has experienced and unbelievable revival of his career and is playing at a very high level). I think the Steelers will find a way to get to the quarterback and disrupt the Cardinals' offense. Arizona has to strike early and rattle the Steelers (force Pittsburgh to have to produce offensively with pressure on).
PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 17, Arizona 16
PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 17, Arizona 16
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Fox News Duo Of Bill O’Reilly And Laura Ingraham Already Attacking President Barack Obama
The Fox News twosome of Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingraham, two right wingers, love attacking President Barack Obama and praising former president George W. Bush. This is especially true when it comes to the issue of national security. O’Reilly and Ingraham come from the school of thought that Bush has kept us safe for so many years. But, through the O’Reilly Ingraham Bush-colored sunglasses, the safety is sense the terrorist attacks of 9/11. To most conservatives those attacks do not count. Many conservatives try everything in their power to blame former president Bill Clinton for those attacks. It doesn’t fly. O’Reilly and Ingraham do not count the terrorism against our troops and loss of life in Iraq … a place we should never have been.
Try this from Ingraham:
We want to understand here, Bill, if America is safer today or less safe than she was on January 19. And I think anyobjective review of what’s being done — and you’re right, he promised to do these things and he’s doing them — shutting down the military tribunals temporarily, a 120-day pause, closing Gitmo by 2010, and doing away with [scare quotes] “harsh interrogation methods” — I think you can make a pretty compelling case that we’re less safe today. And Barack Obama apparently is willing to roll the dice on that. Because he made these promises and — he campaigned on them.
President Obama has been in office for less than two weeks and Ingraham is starting to claim that the country already is less safe. Obviously, conservatives like Ingraham are not cutting President Obama the same kind of slack they were cutting Bush. To say you can “make a pretty compelling case” is a stretch and should be even by her standards. Extremist conservatives laugh at most talk of diplomacy and seem to favor torture … excuse me “harsh interrogation methods” for prisoners and other detainees (methods that have severely damaged the reputation of the United States worldwide. This is why President Obama, when he was a candidate, was so well received all over the world … particularly in Germany. People want to see the United States of America re-assume the high moral authority ground to have that complement our military and economic prowess. President Obama is taking steps to make this a far more peaceful world where we’re all working together toward a common goal: peace.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/laura-ingraham-america-already-less-
Try this from Ingraham:
We want to understand here, Bill, if America is safer today or less safe than she was on January 19. And I think anyobjective review of what’s being done — and you’re right, he promised to do these things and he’s doing them — shutting down the military tribunals temporarily, a 120-day pause, closing Gitmo by 2010, and doing away with [scare quotes] “harsh interrogation methods” — I think you can make a pretty compelling case that we’re less safe today. And Barack Obama apparently is willing to roll the dice on that. Because he made these promises and — he campaigned on them.
President Obama has been in office for less than two weeks and Ingraham is starting to claim that the country already is less safe. Obviously, conservatives like Ingraham are not cutting President Obama the same kind of slack they were cutting Bush. To say you can “make a pretty compelling case” is a stretch and should be even by her standards. Extremist conservatives laugh at most talk of diplomacy and seem to favor torture … excuse me “harsh interrogation methods” for prisoners and other detainees (methods that have severely damaged the reputation of the United States worldwide. This is why President Obama, when he was a candidate, was so well received all over the world … particularly in Germany. People want to see the United States of America re-assume the high moral authority ground to have that complement our military and economic prowess. President Obama is taking steps to make this a far more peaceful world where we’re all working together toward a common goal: peace.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/laura-ingraham-america-already-less-
Can You Say That Again?
Some things just make you shake your head and wonder. I ran across this article from Crooks and Liars about an opinion written and published in the Washington Postby Marc Thiessen, a former speechwriter for George W. Bush.
Here is a part that Crooks and Liars quotes:
President Obama has inherited a set of tools that successfully protected the country for 2,688 days — and he cannot dismantle those tools without risking catastrophic consequences. On Tuesday, George W. Bush told a cheering crowd in Midland, Tex., that his administration had left office without another terrorist attack. When Barack Obama returns to Chicago at the end of his time in office, will he be able to say the same?
OK, I get the fact that George W. Bush kept us safe for “2,688 days” as president. But, if he gets credit for that, then he must get blame for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Did Bush keep us safe after those terrorist attacks? You may be able to argue that. But, it still can’t erase the memories of 9/11. Thiessen’s last sentence is curious. He asks if Barack Obama will be able to say that he kept America safe for however many days when he returns to Chicago. Considering George W. Bush was president for the worst terrorist attack on U.S. mainland soil … that is really stretching the claim of how safe Bush kept America. You have to look at the whole picture and not cherry pick a specific period of time.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/laura-ingraham-america-already-less-
Here is a part that Crooks and Liars quotes:
President Obama has inherited a set of tools that successfully protected the country for 2,688 days — and he cannot dismantle those tools without risking catastrophic consequences. On Tuesday, George W. Bush told a cheering crowd in Midland, Tex., that his administration had left office without another terrorist attack. When Barack Obama returns to Chicago at the end of his time in office, will he be able to say the same?
OK, I get the fact that George W. Bush kept us safe for “2,688 days” as president. But, if he gets credit for that, then he must get blame for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Did Bush keep us safe after those terrorist attacks? You may be able to argue that. But, it still can’t erase the memories of 9/11. Thiessen’s last sentence is curious. He asks if Barack Obama will be able to say that he kept America safe for however many days when he returns to Chicago. Considering George W. Bush was president for the worst terrorist attack on U.S. mainland soil … that is really stretching the claim of how safe Bush kept America. You have to look at the whole picture and not cherry pick a specific period of time.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/laura-ingraham-america-already-less-
Call Jessica Alba “The Bus Driver” … Because She Took Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly To School
Fox News conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly (probably feeling like the cartoon character Charlie Brown) was upset that actress Jessica Alba referred to him as an “a-hole” recently. Being vindictive as we know O’Reilly is, he has been waiting for an opportunity to use his platform to attack the actress and exact his revenge. Of course, O’Reilly was a little too eager and mistakenly jumped the gun. He brought up Alba during his “Pinhead” segment when she asked a reporter about President Barack Obama and the reporter was reluctant to say anything positive about the new president. She then asked the reporter to say something and not be “Sweden” in an effort to be neutral. O’Reilly thought he had his opening to move in for the attack on Alba. He used his show, “The O’Reilly Factor” to attack Alba for using “Sweden” as a neutral country instead of “Switzerland.” Apparently, BillO does not realize that there is/was more than one country that embraced neutrality.
Crooks and Liars had this: Alba put it at her MySpace page:
I want to clear some things up that have been bothering me lately. I find it depressing that in the midst of perhaps the most salient time in our country’s history, individuals are taking it upon themselves to encourage negativity and stupidity. Last week, Mr. Bill O’Reilly and some really classy sites (i.e.TMZ) insinuated I was dumb by claiming Sweden was a neutral country. I appreciate the fact that he is a news anchor and that gossip sites are inundated with intelligent reporting, but seriously people…it’s so sad to me that you think the only neutral country during WWII was Switzerland. Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_during_World_War_II if you want to see what I was referring to. I appreciate the name calling and the accurate reporting. Keep it up!!
Bill O’Dummy apparently was asleep at the wheel again on “The O’Reilly Factor.” Perhaps now we can call Jessica Alba the bus driver since she clearly took Bill to school.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/whos-pinhead-bill-oreilly-pwned-jess
Crooks and Liars had this: Alba put it at her MySpace page:
I want to clear some things up that have been bothering me lately. I find it depressing that in the midst of perhaps the most salient time in our country’s history, individuals are taking it upon themselves to encourage negativity and stupidity. Last week, Mr. Bill O’Reilly and some really classy sites (i.e.TMZ) insinuated I was dumb by claiming Sweden was a neutral country. I appreciate the fact that he is a news anchor and that gossip sites are inundated with intelligent reporting, but seriously people…it’s so sad to me that you think the only neutral country during WWII was Switzerland. Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_during_World_War_II if you want to see what I was referring to. I appreciate the name calling and the accurate reporting. Keep it up!!
Bill O’Dummy apparently was asleep at the wheel again on “The O’Reilly Factor.” Perhaps now we can call Jessica Alba the bus driver since she clearly took Bill to school.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/whos-pinhead-bill-oreilly-pwned-jess
Racist E-Mails Are No Way To Respond To Coleman-Budinger Issue
University of Houston guard Aubrey Coleman has been the target of some apparently racist e-mails directed at him in the wake of his stepping on the face (I do personally believe it was intentional to step on him and I do believe he stepped on his face … the video is pretty damning evidence) of Arizona player Chase Budinger during a college basketball game recently. Apparently the FBI has gotten involved and was even present on the University of Houston campus. Racist e-mails are no way to respond to this incident. For the record, Coleman is black and Budinger is white. While Coleman was wrong for what he did, these e-mails show that racists love any opportunity to express their hatred. What has disturbed me, beyond the ugly racism apparently being experienced by Coleman, is the attitude of Houston coach Tom Penders. I realize Penders is in a position where he has to defend his player (to some extent), but he is doing everything he can to try and minimize a very ugly and unprovoked action by Coleman towards Budinger. Penders (and Coleman) have said:Coleman did not step on Budinger’s face, that Budinger had flopped, the video was edited in an unfair fashion, the video was being shown nationally, etc. Maybe Coleman was not trying to step on his face, but it sure seems like he was trying to step on him or (and this is kind of stretching it) in some other way step over him in some show of disrespect. Penders should either keep his mouth shut or admit what is obvious (like, for the most part, MSU hockey coach Rick Comley did when two of his players were involved in an ugly incident on the ice). It was bad, but it does not warrant racists coming out with racist e-mails toward the young man.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3867323
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3867323
Stephen Colbert’s Exclusive Interview With Bill O’Reilly
This is must-see television. I must commend Stephen Colbert for securing this amazing studio-to-studio interview with the Big Papa Bill O’Reilly… a man (lord of the “no-spin zone” who does not believe in reporting rumors on his show (unless it is against a Democrat). Check out Huffington Post for this interview.
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/stephen-colbert-calls-out_n_161642.html
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/stephen-colbert-calls-out_n_161642.html
Congressman Mike Pence Feels Need To Defend Rush Limbaugh Against Racism Charge That Wasn’t Really Made
I was intrigued by a Think Progress article that was published related to conservative extremist Rush Limbaugh’s words against President Barack Obama. You may recall, Limbaugh infamously uttered these nasty words as he was being interviewed by another right-wing extremist (Sean Hannity of Fix Fox News): “We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles, bend over forward, backward, whichever, because his father was black, because this is the first black president.”Limbaugh, of course, said this (defaming our new president) because I really do feel he has some anger toward the reality that we do actually have a black president of the United States of America. Limbaugh has been working to try and minimize it by emphasizing that only President Obama’s father is black. Limbaugh loves bringing up the fact that President Obama is black and screaming defiantly against those he feels wants to bridge the gap and create a mutual respect and strong working relationship between the racesparties. Limbaugh, justifiably, has come under fire for his negative comments toward the new president (who has been in office a little over a week). This all brings me to an interview between Norah O’Donnell of MSNBC and Republican Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana.
This is from Think Progress:
O’DONNELL: On that specific thing, that we have to bend over because this is the first black president, why don’t you feel that you could denounce something like that? Are you so beholden to someone like Rush Limbaugh that you can’t say —
PENCE: Oh gosh, Norah —
O’DONNELL: — that’s not the type of rhetoric when America is trying to come together to do something for the unemployment rate — in your state of Indiana it’s 8.2 percent — is that the rhetoric we need?
PENCE: I don’t believe Rush Limbaugh has a racist bone in his body. If you’re suggesting that his statement had a racist element in it, I commend you to a greater understanding of the positions he’s taken. He’s a man about opportunity of all Americans, regardless of race, creed, or color. That’s why he’s so admired and appreciated across America.
O’Donnell didn’t really say Limbaugh was racist (and apparently no one in his office is able to perform a simple Google search to look up Limbaugh’s history of racist or racially-polarizing comments). She merely pointed out Limbaugh’s words to the congressman, who almost immediately started to defend Limbaugh against charges of racism that really were not even made. Maybe Pence ought to look at Limbaugh’s record of divisiveness a little more closely before using blind loyalty to defend the right-wing commentator. I know most Republicans feel the need to kiss his butt (Congressman Gingrey), but this is ridiculous. It’s also interesting to note that he flat ignored the comment about the high unemployment rate in his home state to rush (no pun intended) to the defense of Limbaugh. Apparently, Pence felt it was more important to defend Limbaugh than to speak on his state’s unemployment rate.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/28/pence-limbaugh/
This is from Think Progress:
O’DONNELL: On that specific thing, that we have to bend over because this is the first black president, why don’t you feel that you could denounce something like that? Are you so beholden to someone like Rush Limbaugh that you can’t say —
PENCE: Oh gosh, Norah —
O’DONNELL: — that’s not the type of rhetoric when America is trying to come together to do something for the unemployment rate — in your state of Indiana it’s 8.2 percent — is that the rhetoric we need?
PENCE: I don’t believe Rush Limbaugh has a racist bone in his body. If you’re suggesting that his statement had a racist element in it, I commend you to a greater understanding of the positions he’s taken. He’s a man about opportunity of all Americans, regardless of race, creed, or color. That’s why he’s so admired and appreciated across America.
O’Donnell didn’t really say Limbaugh was racist (and apparently no one in his office is able to perform a simple Google search to look up Limbaugh’s history of racist or racially-polarizing comments). She merely pointed out Limbaugh’s words to the congressman, who almost immediately started to defend Limbaugh against charges of racism that really were not even made. Maybe Pence ought to look at Limbaugh’s record of divisiveness a little more closely before using blind loyalty to defend the right-wing commentator. I know most Republicans feel the need to kiss his butt (Congressman Gingrey), but this is ridiculous. It’s also interesting to note that he flat ignored the comment about the high unemployment rate in his home state to rush (no pun intended) to the defense of Limbaugh. Apparently, Pence felt it was more important to defend Limbaugh than to speak on his state’s unemployment rate.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/28/pence-limbaugh/
Even Some Republicans Are Beginning To Tire Of Rhetoric From Men Like Rush Limbaugh And Sean Hannity
I have to admit, I did chuckle just a little as I read a quote from Republican CongressmanPhil Gingrey as he was speaking about some controversial comments coming from the mouth of conservative extremist Rush Limbaugh. It’s clear that the Rush Limbaughs, the Sean Hannitys and the Michael Savages of the world have hijacked the the Republican Party to try and push an extremist agenda. Limbaugh recently said that he believes President Barack Obama is more afraid of him than he is of some high-ranking politicians in the Republican Party. I doubt that. I believe President Obama is sincere in his desire to pull together people from both sides of the aisle to build a true coalition. And, furthermore, I believe the president sees people like Limbaugh as people who prefer a divided America to push their own selfish agenda and feed their own bulging bank accounts by trumpeting controversy.
Here are some comments from Gingrey, as documented by Think Progress:
“I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party.You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.”
The point is well taken. Conservative mouthpieces like Limbaugh and Hannity continue to spew what many people perceive as extremist (if not hateful) rhetoric that inflames. This kind of talk clearly has served to cripple the Republican Party and strip it of (among other things) any significant degree of racial/ethnic diversity. Also, the fact that these rich (fat cat) conservative guys have high-profile talk shows (on the radio and on television) pushes them forward as the face of the Republicans and the conservative movement. This is, in a lot of ways, good for Democrats as it shows the GOP to be, quite frankly, out of touch. But, it clearly is bad for Republicans who need to pull their party in line to more closely flow with mainstream America.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/28/gop-respond-limbaugh/
Here are some comments from Gingrey, as documented by Think Progress:
“I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party.You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.”
The point is well taken. Conservative mouthpieces like Limbaugh and Hannity continue to spew what many people perceive as extremist (if not hateful) rhetoric that inflames. This kind of talk clearly has served to cripple the Republican Party and strip it of (among other things) any significant degree of racial/ethnic diversity. Also, the fact that these rich (fat cat) conservative guys have high-profile talk shows (on the radio and on television) pushes them forward as the face of the Republicans and the conservative movement. This is, in a lot of ways, good for Democrats as it shows the GOP to be, quite frankly, out of touch. But, it clearly is bad for Republicans who need to pull their party in line to more closely flow with mainstream America.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/28/gop-respond-limbaugh/
Detroit Free Press Columnist Michael Rosenberg Writes Mostly Good Column About Michigan State Hockey Attack, But …
Michael Rosenberg is a fine columnist for the Detroit Free Press and, generally speaking, is a columnist I tend to read more than some others. I was reading his column in today’s online version of the Free Press entitled “An inside look at ugly incident on and off the ice.” The column is in reference to the vicious on-ice attack of University of Michigan hockey player Steve Kampfer by a pair of Michigan State University hockey players (Corey Tropp and Andrew Conboy). Rosenberg, overall, does a nice job with the column although he does seem to attempt to play P.C. Police (writers in the state some days feel they need to in stories about U-M and MSU) and attempt to balance the incident out as much as possible (which isn’t an inherently bad thing since you should always attempt to give the other side of the story to make the overarching argument stronger). For the most part, I was kind of bobbing my head in agreement through much of the column … before I hit one minor speed bump.
Here is the small speed bump that slowed me up just a tad:
And then there is this: As wrong as Tropp was — as seriously, unequivocally wrong as he was — how come most of the media attention has been about Michigan State’s players and so little has been about the Michigan parent?
The players did what they did in the heat of the moment. Bruce Kampfer, a longtime hockey parent, had a few minutes to cool down before he got to the MSU locker room. Yet he still apparently went after Corey Tropp.
I don’t condone what Mr. Kampfer did, but I’d be lying if I didn’t confess that I might be tempted to want to do the same thing if I was in his position. But, Rosenberg’s point is that he feels the media attention has been less for the parent chasing after the MSU player. Michael, come on, of course there will be substantially more attention when you have an attack of that magnitude that is caught on tape and in a televised game. Rosenberg knows better than what he wrote in those two paragraphs. But, I do believe he was attempting to play P.C. Police to try and appease the Michigan State side of this ugly incident (a side that has to feel like it, and its reputation, is being beaten up by local and national media as a result of the incident). I would argue that Mr. Kampfer’s actions have been investigated not only by the media, but also by the police (I doubt neither Tropp nor Conboy will be investigated by the police, and I am not saying they should be). Also, unlike Tropp or Conboy (at least based on what I have seen, heard and read), Mr. Kampfer did issue an apology for his actions. I think Michael Rosenberg knows the answer (hints: YouTube, live broadcast on cable television) to his own question, and I think it’s rather obvious.
SIDE NOTE:
This was something positive about the incident that really caught my eye. I picked this up fron the Detroit News and it involves goaltender Jeff Lerg, a senior and the team captain of the Michigan State hockey squad. Lerg said that he and his teammates had signed a get-well card and sent it to Steve Kampfer. That is good to hear and hopefully the great hockey rivalry between the Wolverines and the Spartans will be back to good, clean and competitive hockey in the seasons to come.
Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/SPORTS0202/901280344/1004/SPORTS
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/COL22/901280378&s=d&page=2#pluckcomments
Here is the small speed bump that slowed me up just a tad:
And then there is this: As wrong as Tropp was — as seriously, unequivocally wrong as he was — how come most of the media attention has been about Michigan State’s players and so little has been about the Michigan parent?
The players did what they did in the heat of the moment. Bruce Kampfer, a longtime hockey parent, had a few minutes to cool down before he got to the MSU locker room. Yet he still apparently went after Corey Tropp.
I don’t condone what Mr. Kampfer did, but I’d be lying if I didn’t confess that I might be tempted to want to do the same thing if I was in his position. But, Rosenberg’s point is that he feels the media attention has been less for the parent chasing after the MSU player. Michael, come on, of course there will be substantially more attention when you have an attack of that magnitude that is caught on tape and in a televised game. Rosenberg knows better than what he wrote in those two paragraphs. But, I do believe he was attempting to play P.C. Police to try and appease the Michigan State side of this ugly incident (a side that has to feel like it, and its reputation, is being beaten up by local and national media as a result of the incident). I would argue that Mr. Kampfer’s actions have been investigated not only by the media, but also by the police (I doubt neither Tropp nor Conboy will be investigated by the police, and I am not saying they should be). Also, unlike Tropp or Conboy (at least based on what I have seen, heard and read), Mr. Kampfer did issue an apology for his actions. I think Michael Rosenberg knows the answer (hints: YouTube, live broadcast on cable television) to his own question, and I think it’s rather obvious.
SIDE NOTE:
This was something positive about the incident that really caught my eye. I picked this up fron the Detroit News and it involves goaltender Jeff Lerg, a senior and the team captain of the Michigan State hockey squad. Lerg said that he and his teammates had signed a get-well card and sent it to Steve Kampfer. That is good to hear and hopefully the great hockey rivalry between the Wolverines and the Spartans will be back to good, clean and competitive hockey in the seasons to come.
Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/SPORTS0202/901280344/1004/SPORTS
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/COL22/901280378&s=d&page=2#pluckcomments
Bernie Goldberg Is A Right Wing Hack
Bernard Goldberg, a hardcore right winger mostly likely to be seen palling around with extremists from the right (like Bill O’Reilly of Fox News) is coming out with a book (a right-wing hit piece that we can’t confirm if it is being characterized as fiction or as non-fiction) whining about President Barack Obama winning the election to become the first black president of the United States of America. This is a typical response from the most outspoken of the right wingers who still can’t get over the fact that it put up two inferior candidates against one of the most brilliant campaigners in the history of presidential elections. The Bernie Goldbergs of the world are crying because Obama wasted John McCain and almost broke a sweat sending Sarah Palin back to Alaska. Goldberg is, of course, in the pocket of the right wing (as proven by his regular appearances on Bill O’Reilly’s show), and is publishing a book of manure designed to appeal to the lowest form of human beings in the Republican Party.
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200901250008?f=h_top
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200901250008?f=h_top
As A Side Note To The Michigan State Hockey Attack
Bruce Kampfer, the angry father of injured player Steve Kampfer, apparently reached the locker room area of the Michigan State University team with a mind to confront some of the players or maybe some of the coaches. While I certainly can understand Mr. Kampfer’s anger (after watching his son attacked on the ice by two Michigan State players Corey Tropp and Andrew Conboy acting like a pair of thugs), I can’t condone any form of vigilantism because it only served to get him in trouble and didn’thelp his son’s situation. Mr. Kampfer (who according to the Ann Arbor News confronted Tropp, the guy who slashed at his son with a stick as Steve was face down and motionless on the ice) has to be better than the two young men who attacked his son. Hopefully he has learned from this unfortunate incident.
Ann Arbor News:
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/01/2_michigan_state_hockey_player.html
Ann Arbor News:
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/01/2_michigan_state_hockey_player.html
Part 2: No Place For This In Sports
I (like many other rational people) was absolutely disgusted by what I witnessed during a Central Collegiate Hockey Association game between long-time rivals Michigan and Michigan State during a contest that was played in U-M’s Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor. Michigan State hockey players Andrew Conboy and Corey Tropp assaulted Michigan player Steve Kampfer in an attack that probably would have gotten the two men charged if it had occurred on the streets (even the streets ofEast Lansing). Behaving like a gang of thugs, Conboy attacked Kampfer from behind as he clotheslined and then sucker punched him … knocking him down to the ice. If that wasn’t reprehensible enough, Tropp unbelievably comes in and, while Kampfer is face down and motionless on the ice, slashes him near the neckarea with his stick. Thankfully, MSU coach Rick Comley acted swiftly and decisively by suspending both players for the remainder of the season (hopefully he teaches these two young men what a privilege it is to play college hockey for a great school like Michigan State University). Comley is to be commended for his quick action that took place even before the CCHA could act. This is no good for the reputation of hockey (college or professional). College hockey is a sport that is growing and trying to become more mainstream in the United States. This may help get the sport attention, but it is not the kind of attention the sport should want. This is the kind of goonish behavior that has to be eradicated from college hockey. If you want revenge, lay a good clean hit on a guy. Don’t sucker-punch him from behind and then slash him while he is face down and motionless on the ice.
The Gholston Post:
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/
The Gholston Post:
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Part 1: No Place For This In Sports
It never ceases to amaze me the stupid things that people do these days in sports … in competition and outside of competition. The latest incident took place during a college basketball game between Arizona and Houston. A Houston player, Aubrey Coleman, was called for an offensive foul. He then walked over toward Arizona standout player Chase Budinger(who was on the ground) and literally stepped on his face. Budinger was understandably upset and had to be restrained by teammates and officials. Naturally, Coleman insisted it was an “accident” but I find that awfully difficult to believe. I’m not saying people should throw the book at this guy, but he should perhaps be further disciplined by his team. I don’t want to hear any excuses from coaches or administrators from Houston … what’s wrong is wrong and this young guy should be further punished. He doesn’t need to have a scholarship revoked (assuming he has one) or be kicked off the team, but he does not to truly understand what he did was wrong.
The Gholston Post:
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/part-1-no-place-for-this-in-sports/
The Gholston Post:
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/part-1-no-place-for-this-in-sports/
Step No. 1 When You Get Busted Saying/Doing Something Stupid: Blame The Media
Whenever you’re busted saying or doing something stupid, the first thing people tend to do is obvious: blame the media. Republicans always blame the “liberal” media for everything. They blame the “liberal” media for Barack Obama being elected, for John McCain losing, for Sarah Palin’s mistakes, for exaggerating the economic crisis and so on and so forth. So, most of us by now are familiar with this idiotic move by Republican National Committee chairman candidate Chip Saltsman sending out that ridiculous CD with the song “Barack the Magic Negro” on it. How do people behave so ignorantly and still find themselves in position of power and influence? It is nothing short of amazing. Saltsman, of course, did not apologize for (1) being stupid and sending it and (2) being racially insensitive and sending something that is so obviously offensive to black people and, indeed, many people of all races around the country.
So, when Saltsman was busted and called out for his stupidity, he is left with one defensive technique: blame the media.
“We’re definitely not playing on a level playing ground with the media on that issue,” said Saltsman, who was whining that the song was a parody first referred to in a 2007 Los Angeles Times column, according to a Politico article. “I mean, there was no outrage when the L.A. Times article coined that phrase.”
Saltsman may indeed be ready to run the RNC. It appears he is in line with the old-school Republican mindset that all problems are the fault of someone else. But, if the Republicans want to move in a new and positive direction, it will send human dinosaurs like Saltsman, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others (those individuals who clearly are out of touch with diversity and issues related to a diverse and inclusive society) to the back of the room.
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/18028.html
So, when Saltsman was busted and called out for his stupidity, he is left with one defensive technique: blame the media.
“We’re definitely not playing on a level playing ground with the media on that issue,” said Saltsman, who was whining that the song was a parody first referred to in a 2007 Los Angeles Times column, according to a Politico article. “I mean, there was no outrage when the L.A. Times article coined that phrase.”
Saltsman may indeed be ready to run the RNC. It appears he is in line with the old-school Republican mindset that all problems are the fault of someone else. But, if the Republicans want to move in a new and positive direction, it will send human dinosaurs like Saltsman, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others (those individuals who clearly are out of touch with diversity and issues related to a diverse and inclusive society) to the back of the room.
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/18028.html
Juan Williams, Of Fox News, Continues To Badmouth Michelle Obama
Juan Williams, who supposedly is a liberal on Fox News (yeah, right) has taken more than a few shots at first lady Michelle Obama during the last year. But, Williams really sounded like an ass during one of his time on Bill O’Reilly’s Monday evening show, The O’Reilly Factor. Now, Bill rarely misses an opportunity to throw a Democrat under a fleet of buses, but he should have been pimp slapped for letting this comment from Williams go unchallenged:
“… She’s got this Stokely Carmichael in a designer dress thing going. If she starts talking . . . her instinct is to start with this blame America, you know, I’m the victim. If that stuff starts to coming out, people will go bananas and she’ll go from being the new Jackie O. to being something of an albatross.”
Williams has been working hard to paint Michelle Obama as this radical … this angry black woman who has no control over herself. Throughout the campaign, he worked hard to take one comment she said to twist her into this unpatriotic angry black woman. And then, throughout the campaign, he hammered her with that comment … over and over again. Prior to that, during that and since that, he has been a steady critic of President Barack Obama about anything and everything he can think of. Williams, as was pointed about by media watchdog organizations, did nothing to back this statement up and simply used his platform on Fox News to smear Michelle Obama for no apparent reason. Invoking the Stokely Carmichael reference is little more than another attempt to try and paint her as an angry black radical (with nothing to back it up other than hot air/bad breath).
Here is the transcript from Media Matters:
WILLIAMS: — she’s got this Stokely Carmichael-in-a-designer-dress thing going. If she starts talking, as Mary Katharine suggested, her instinct is to start with this “blame America,” you know, “I’m the victim.” If that stuff starts to come out –
O’REILLY: Yeah, it’ll be death.
WILLIAMS: — people will go bananas –
O’REILLY: Right.
WILLIAMS: — and she’ll go from being the new Jackie O to being something of an albatross.
O’REILLY: She’s not going to do that. She’s not going to do that.
WILLIAMS: I hope not.
O’REILLY: Finally, I’m going to give you both 20 seconds –
MARY KATHARINE HAM: She’s been smarter about it lately.
Naturally, O’Reilly agrees with the assessment and gives it his stamp of approval by adding “Yeah, it’ll be death” to the mix. Although, later, O’Reilly does seem to indicate that he does not think she will do anything so radical (yes, Bill and Juan, black people … even black women … can control themselves). It was a small consolation after he and Williams already had ripped her (as both men had throughout the campaign and continue to do today even while Bill whines that people are being so hard on poor former President George W. Bush).
Richard Prince:
http://www.mije.org/richardprince/ifill-overwhelmed-response-book
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200901270002?f=s_search
“… She’s got this Stokely Carmichael in a designer dress thing going. If she starts talking . . . her instinct is to start with this blame America, you know, I’m the victim. If that stuff starts to coming out, people will go bananas and she’ll go from being the new Jackie O. to being something of an albatross.”
Williams has been working hard to paint Michelle Obama as this radical … this angry black woman who has no control over herself. Throughout the campaign, he worked hard to take one comment she said to twist her into this unpatriotic angry black woman. And then, throughout the campaign, he hammered her with that comment … over and over again. Prior to that, during that and since that, he has been a steady critic of President Barack Obama about anything and everything he can think of. Williams, as was pointed about by media watchdog organizations, did nothing to back this statement up and simply used his platform on Fox News to smear Michelle Obama for no apparent reason. Invoking the Stokely Carmichael reference is little more than another attempt to try and paint her as an angry black radical (with nothing to back it up other than hot air/bad breath).
Here is the transcript from Media Matters:
WILLIAMS: — she’s got this Stokely Carmichael-in-a-designer-dress thing going. If she starts talking, as Mary Katharine suggested, her instinct is to start with this “blame America,” you know, “I’m the victim.” If that stuff starts to come out –
O’REILLY: Yeah, it’ll be death.
WILLIAMS: — people will go bananas –
O’REILLY: Right.
WILLIAMS: — and she’ll go from being the new Jackie O to being something of an albatross.
O’REILLY: She’s not going to do that. She’s not going to do that.
WILLIAMS: I hope not.
O’REILLY: Finally, I’m going to give you both 20 seconds –
MARY KATHARINE HAM: She’s been smarter about it lately.
Naturally, O’Reilly agrees with the assessment and gives it his stamp of approval by adding “Yeah, it’ll be death” to the mix. Although, later, O’Reilly does seem to indicate that he does not think she will do anything so radical (yes, Bill and Juan, black people … even black women … can control themselves). It was a small consolation after he and Williams already had ripped her (as both men had throughout the campaign and continue to do today even while Bill whines that people are being so hard on poor former President George W. Bush).
Richard Prince:
http://www.mije.org/richardprince/ifill-overwhelmed-response-book
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200901270002?f=s_search
Coach Of Team That Won 100-0 Should Have Been Smarter
I have coached, covered (as a newspaper reporter), called (as a radio analyst), watched (as a fan) and more, but I can honestly say I have never been involved in a game where a team was beaten 100-0 in a basketball contest. I have been intrigued by this story from down in Texas of the team that was beaten 100-0. Sadly, there are no winners in a game like this and I certainly commend the girls who were beaten for playing hard and holding their heads high (in spite of the beating they absorbed on the hardwood). We can go into all of the issues: why was this game scheduled, how did it get so far out of hand, did the coach try to run up the score, were other coaches celebrating too much and so on and so forth. The coach (Micah Grimes), this week, was fired when he not only did not apologize for it (that is his choice), but when he spoke out against the apology of his school (huge mistake). Grimes apparently sent an e-mail to the Dallas Morning News disagreeing with the administrators of his school apologizing for the win and feeling bad about the win. Grimes is not going to look good in this situation (even if he did not have bad intentions). He should have recognized his situation and kept his mouth shut and his e-mail opinions to himself. But, he did not.
Here is Grimes’ response:
“In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Web site, I do not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed,” Grimes wrote in the e-mail, according to the newspaper. “We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity.”
There may be some truth to what he said in the e-mail. But, like the Gambler, you gotta know when to hold them … know when to fold them … know when to walk away … know when to run. Grimes did not and that is why he found himself fired. I’m not sure he should have been fired for the game itself, but he did not do himself any favors with his e-mail response. He should have kept his mouth shut and realized how bad he looked (fairly or unfairly). He didn’t recognize the situation and he made himself look even worse.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482825,00.html
Here is Grimes’ response:
“In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Web site, I do not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed,” Grimes wrote in the e-mail, according to the newspaper. “We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity.”
There may be some truth to what he said in the e-mail. But, like the Gambler, you gotta know when to hold them … know when to fold them … know when to walk away … know when to run. Grimes did not and that is why he found himself fired. I’m not sure he should have been fired for the game itself, but he did not do himself any favors with his e-mail response. He should have kept his mouth shut and realized how bad he looked (fairly or unfairly). He didn’t recognize the situation and he made himself look even worse.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482825,00.html
Wilson Throwing President Barack Obama Under The Bus … On Bill O’Reilly’s Show
“Sanford and Son” was one of my all-time favorite shows. I have some of the box sets and watch the reruns like it’s my job. But, I have to admit Demond Wilson, co-star of the show, had me shaking my head when he went on (of all places) Bill O’Reilly’s show on Fox News to criticize President Barack Obama for the cost of the inauguration.
Here is a transcript of O’Reilly introducing the segment (followed by the comments from Wilson):
“Recently, I spoke with Demond Wilson (the man who played Lamont Sanford, Fred G. Sanford’s son in the fantastic comedy from the 1970s) for an “Icon” segment about “Sanford & Son.” Mr. Wilson now does a lot of work with the poor and had some questions about all the money being spent on the inauguration.
DEMOND WILSON, ACTOR/ACTIVIST: “I want to know why $150 million is necessary of taxpayers’ money to have an inauguration. A hundred and fifty million dollars could have gone into the private sector and, with the condition that America is in right now, and done a lot more good than a celebration.”
I suppose that is true of you’re a Republican (or a hater … some might say those terms are synonymous, but that is another story) and the new president is a Democrat. Who knows where Wilson was when George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter were being inaugurated? But, to quote the immortal Fred G. Sanford, as he so often said to his son, “you big dummy!” I hear ya, Fred!
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481060,00.html
Here is a transcript of O’Reilly introducing the segment (followed by the comments from Wilson):
“Recently, I spoke with Demond Wilson (the man who played Lamont Sanford, Fred G. Sanford’s son in the fantastic comedy from the 1970s) for an “Icon” segment about “Sanford & Son.” Mr. Wilson now does a lot of work with the poor and had some questions about all the money being spent on the inauguration.
DEMOND WILSON, ACTOR/ACTIVIST: “I want to know why $150 million is necessary of taxpayers’ money to have an inauguration. A hundred and fifty million dollars could have gone into the private sector and, with the condition that America is in right now, and done a lot more good than a celebration.”
I suppose that is true of you’re a Republican (or a hater … some might say those terms are synonymous, but that is another story) and the new president is a Democrat. Who knows where Wilson was when George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter were being inaugurated? But, to quote the immortal Fred G. Sanford, as he so often said to his son, “you big dummy!” I hear ya, Fred!
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481060,00.html
Rush Limbaugh Is A Divider … Not A Uniter
Rush Limbaugh, who has long since pissed away any pretense of patriotism by proudly rooting for our new president (Barack Obama) and commander-in-chief to fail. What a great way for “patriots” like Limbaugh to celebrate our great nation. Limbaugh, who has spit in the face of bipartisanship throughout his life and throughout his professional career, is now mocking President Obama as not being the person to bring the nation and the two political parties together.
“Now this is the great unifier. This is the man who’s going to unify everybody and usher in a new era of bi-partisanship and love.”
The problem is, however, is that Limbaugh does not want to bring people together. He has made a living throughout his career of being a polarizing and hostile figure to those who are not conservative and to those who are not Republican.
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0109/limbaugh_strikes_back_cefb1583-6ab1-483f-9dfb-2d564b7a41c6.html
“Now this is the great unifier. This is the man who’s going to unify everybody and usher in a new era of bi-partisanship and love.”
The problem is, however, is that Limbaugh does not want to bring people together. He has made a living throughout his career of being a polarizing and hostile figure to those who are not conservative and to those who are not Republican.
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0109/limbaugh_strikes_back_cefb1583-6ab1-483f-9dfb-2d564b7a41c6.html
Rush Limbaugh’s New Song: Cry Me A River
Poor Rush Limbaugh is just having such a tough time these days. The noted “patriot” who has been openly rooting for the failure of our new president and commander-in-chief, is now accusing President Barack Obama of rooting for him to fail. Remember all of those Republicans who badmouthed Democrats who criticized former President George W. Bush?
Limbaugh said this:
“I think Obama wants me to fail,” Limbaugh said according to a Boston Herald report. “President Obama, by telling you and the elected Republicans in Washington to not listen to me because I am not how things get done in Washington, he has said that he wants me to fail.”
President Obama does not want anyone to fail that is not an enemy of the United States of America. But, he clearly encourages mainstream Americans to move away from the extremists of the right wing (men like Limbaugh, Sean Hannity Michael Savage and others). These are individuals who seek to divide us. These are individuals who are not inclusive. These are individuals who use terrorism to make people fear Muslims and Arabs and people who use illegal immigration to make us fear Latinos.
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0109/limbaugh_strikes_back_cefb1583-6ab1-483f-9dfb-2d564b7a41c6.html
Limbaugh said this:
“I think Obama wants me to fail,” Limbaugh said according to a Boston Herald report. “President Obama, by telling you and the elected Republicans in Washington to not listen to me because I am not how things get done in Washington, he has said that he wants me to fail.”
President Obama does not want anyone to fail that is not an enemy of the United States of America. But, he clearly encourages mainstream Americans to move away from the extremists of the right wing (men like Limbaugh, Sean Hannity Michael Savage and others). These are individuals who seek to divide us. These are individuals who are not inclusive. These are individuals who use terrorism to make people fear Muslims and Arabs and people who use illegal immigration to make us fear Latinos.
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0109/limbaugh_strikes_back_cefb1583-6ab1-483f-9dfb-2d564b7a41c6.html
Is Fox News Using Anti-Muslim Racism To Scare Americans?
Fox News has a long history of trying to scare Americans to fear blacks, Muslims and Latinos. But, I was taken aback by the network’s efforts to try and scare people in Pennsylvania by utilizing photos of Muslims being currently detained at the United States detention center located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Fox had a reporter walking around with a photo or photos of Muslim detainees that he showed to some people and asked them if they wanted these individuals housed in prisons in their state or in areas near their home. As many of us are now aware, President Barack Obama pledged throughout the game to close down the detention center and has followed through on that promise. The president hopes to have the detention center closed in about a year. Initially, I was not too excited about the idea of closing Gitmo, however, the detention center has sullied the reputation of the United States and carries with it the image of atrocities related to the torture of prisoners.
So, what is this all about? Well, Rep. Jack Murtha, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, recently stated that the U.S. could house these individuals in federal prisons. So, Fox News never misses an opportunity to pounce upon anything even remotely controversial said or done by a Democrat. As a result, the network sent reporters to the Murtha’s district to question residents about whether or not they would like to have these prisoners housed in prisons near them. Fox, of course, did this by using pictures of Muslim men (suspected of terrorism). They show a Muslim man in Muslim attire and ask white people if they would want this guy in a prison near them. As you might expect, most of the people looked at the men and indicated they would not be comfortable with these men being housed in federal prisons near them or other federal prisons inside of (presumably) the continental United States.
By the way, I thought it was also interesting that one of the Fox and Friends hosts took an additional opportunity to cheap shot Murtha with one of his old ill-advised comments. But, as we know, Fox never resists (or rarely resists) an opportunity to bash Democrats.
This is another instance of anti-Muslim racism being exercised by influential people who have the power to shape public opinion. This kind of bigotry is terrible for our country. I too have been conflicted about whether or not Gitmo should be closed, but I think using anti-Muslim racism to scare people into keeping the detention center open is the wrong approach to changing minds.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/26/fox-backyard-photos/
So, what is this all about? Well, Rep. Jack Murtha, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, recently stated that the U.S. could house these individuals in federal prisons. So, Fox News never misses an opportunity to pounce upon anything even remotely controversial said or done by a Democrat. As a result, the network sent reporters to the Murtha’s district to question residents about whether or not they would like to have these prisoners housed in prisons near them. Fox, of course, did this by using pictures of Muslim men (suspected of terrorism). They show a Muslim man in Muslim attire and ask white people if they would want this guy in a prison near them. As you might expect, most of the people looked at the men and indicated they would not be comfortable with these men being housed in federal prisons near them or other federal prisons inside of (presumably) the continental United States.
By the way, I thought it was also interesting that one of the Fox and Friends hosts took an additional opportunity to cheap shot Murtha with one of his old ill-advised comments. But, as we know, Fox never resists (or rarely resists) an opportunity to bash Democrats.
This is another instance of anti-Muslim racism being exercised by influential people who have the power to shape public opinion. This kind of bigotry is terrible for our country. I too have been conflicted about whether or not Gitmo should be closed, but I think using anti-Muslim racism to scare people into keeping the detention center open is the wrong approach to changing minds.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/26/fox-backyard-photos/
Bill O’Reilly And Dennis Miller Try To Use Rap Music To Attack Black People
Bill O’Reilly and Dennis Miller, two right-wing guys who spend segment after segment patting each other on the back and praising former President George W. Bush, tried to use some lyrics and other things said by two rappers to try and attack the black community. O’Reilly has a long history of saying racially offensive things about black people and other minorities. O’Reilly has a long history of hostility toward rap music and often has used it to slam black people. He worked hard to find some inflammatory words from the two men to try and smear the black community. Bill wants to scare white people into thinking the blacks are these radical and angry people. He does it over and over again. Then O’Reilly and Millerused it to bring up negative statistics about the black community (single-parent homes). This is typical stuff from O’Reilly and O’Reilly shows and O’Reilly segments. What a waste of seven minutes. Miller finishes the segment by mocking what he sees as some black sayings to counter O’Reilly’s comment about sending one of the rappers over to see him. Two clowns who think they are a lot funnier than they actually are.
News Hounds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
News Hounds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Michael Curry As Head Coach Of The Pistons Continues To Concern Me
I’ve always admired Michael Curry because he came up the hard way to turn himself into a solid NBA player for a number of years with a few different teams. I think Curry is a good man, and one way or another he was going to be a head coach in the league (whether it was sooner or later). As it turns out, thanks to Pistons’ president Joe Dumars, it was sooner rather than later as Curry is now the head coach of the Pistons. But, I fear that it has been too much too soon for Curry who may be in just a little over his head right now as head coach of the Pistons. This Pistons are still a veteran team and needs an experienced guy on the bench leading the team and making the tough decisions that have to be made (like the one Curry was confronted with when he had to decide who to bring off the bench between Allen Iverson and Richard “Rip” Hamilton). I’m not sure Curry is maximizing this team the way we saw kicked-to-the-curb coaches like Larry Brown do for years. I think it would have been wiser to bring Curry along a little faster and wait until he had a little more seasoning and the team was truly committed to developing young guys likeRodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell and others. That would have perahps been the right time to bring in Stuckey. Time will tell if Curry is a good or great coach, but right now it has been an early struggle for him. I hope he does well, but there are obviously going to be some growing pains while he makes the adjustment to coaching professional basketball at the NBA level with a team that was expected to worry teams at the top of the Eastern Conference and over in the Western Conference. Let us hope Curry’s on-the-job training progresses.
Glenn Beck Proves To Be Poorly Researched (In Addition To Bigoted As Always) At Fox News
Apparently the newest addition to the Fox News roster of “talent” either has not had his Internet access approved or is struggling to do a simple Google search. Glenn Beck, a known bigot, has had a fit because President Barack Obama’s second swearing in took place without a Bible. Beck then threw a tantrum as he insisted it was unprecedented for a president to be sworn in without a Bible. According to Beck, it simply has never been done before. As is far too often the case, Beck again proves poorly researched and just flat-out wrong. In fact, a simply Google search will reveal that Theodore Roosevelt was not sworn in with the Bible in 1901 when he took the oath. Beck may be a right winger, but clearly he is not right.
Brave New Films:
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/?p=68534
Brave New Films:
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/?p=68534
Friday, January 23, 2009
WXYT VS. WDFN Was An Intriguing Battle For Top Sports Talk Radio Slot In Detroit
For many people in Detroit, in terms of fans of sports talk radio, you’re either fans of WDFN or you’re fans of WXYT. I, of course, bucked that trend and tended to listen to a little of both. I switched back and forth depending on the topic. I tended to listen to Doug Karsch and Scott Anderson more on WXYT than Sean Baligian on WDFN. But, there were times I preferred Sean over Karsch and Anderson. Again, a lot of times it only depended on the topics being discussed. In the afternoon, I tended to run more with Stoney and Wojo (Mike Stone and Bob Wojnowski) over (Mike) Valenti and (Terry) Foster. Stoney and Wojo is an institution and is mostly peerless. All things being equal, it was just a better show than Valenti and Foster (who later were aided in the ratings, I would assume, by a switch to a much, MUCH strongerFM signal). Why do I write this? I read this blog from Terry Foster (who also is a columnist and blogger for the Detroit News):
I work for the competition, but there is still no reason for me to celebrate the demise of WDFN 1130. Less competition means fewer voices for the sports fans of Detroit.
In addition to my duties with The Detroit News, I also work for 97.1 FM The Ticket, doing the afternoon drive-time shift with my partner, Mike Valenti. Our station has been locked in combat with WDFN for years. We won, but I do not celebrate today.
The loss of WDFN means more people are out of jobs in this rough economy. Maybe they’ll find other gigs here. Maybe they’ll move and try to find jobs in other cities. The problem is, there are more companies in radio laying off than hiring. Newspapers are changing every day. Radio is, as well.
This is, of course, an excerpt of what Foster wrote. And, to be fair, Terry was mostly kind to WDFN (his now former competition). But, I am not sure I would agree WXYT “won” against WDFN in the sense that WXYT had a better product (some of the shows were better on one station and some were better on the other). WXYT does not have a show that measures up to Stoney and Wojo … it just doesn’t. If WXYT was smart, it would figure out some way to get Stoney and Wojo in there or some other radio station will to put up the bucks could hit the jackpot with this duo.
Terry Foster’s blog:
http://forums.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/terryfosterblog/index.cfm
I work for the competition, but there is still no reason for me to celebrate the demise of WDFN 1130. Less competition means fewer voices for the sports fans of Detroit.
In addition to my duties with The Detroit News, I also work for 97.1 FM The Ticket, doing the afternoon drive-time shift with my partner, Mike Valenti. Our station has been locked in combat with WDFN for years. We won, but I do not celebrate today.
The loss of WDFN means more people are out of jobs in this rough economy. Maybe they’ll find other gigs here. Maybe they’ll move and try to find jobs in other cities. The problem is, there are more companies in radio laying off than hiring. Newspapers are changing every day. Radio is, as well.
This is, of course, an excerpt of what Foster wrote. And, to be fair, Terry was mostly kind to WDFN (his now former competition). But, I am not sure I would agree WXYT “won” against WDFN in the sense that WXYT had a better product (some of the shows were better on one station and some were better on the other). WXYT does not have a show that measures up to Stoney and Wojo … it just doesn’t. If WXYT was smart, it would figure out some way to get Stoney and Wojo in there or some other radio station will to put up the bucks could hit the jackpot with this duo.
Terry Foster’s blog:
http://forums.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/terryfosterblog/index.cfm
Limbaugh Talks About Being Bent Over A Little Too Much For Me
Think Progress is the latest site to pick up on conservative commentator Rush Limbuagh’s player-hating anger toward President Barack Obama (being assisted by Fox News and equally conservative bigot Sean Hannity).
Here are some comments from Limbaugh:
- Limbaugh on support from African-Americans and gays for progressives: “Democrats will bend over, grab the ankles, and say, ‘Have your way with me.’”
- Limbaugh on Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s (R) so-called “Troopergate” scandal: “This is pure sexism in Alaska on the part of these old boys trying to get rid of Sarah Palin, and she didn’t put up with it, and she didn’t bend over and let them have their way.”
Limbaugh seemed to emphasize, over and over again, a theme of bending over and taking things. Now, I am beginning to wonder if there was some kind of a hint he was trying to give us.
I wonder what Freud would say about this?
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/22/limbaugh-ankles-obama-black/
Here are some comments from Limbaugh:
- Limbaugh on support from African-Americans and gays for progressives: “Democrats will bend over, grab the ankles, and say, ‘Have your way with me.’”
- Limbaugh on Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s (R) so-called “Troopergate” scandal: “This is pure sexism in Alaska on the part of these old boys trying to get rid of Sarah Palin, and she didn’t put up with it, and she didn’t bend over and let them have their way.”
Limbaugh seemed to emphasize, over and over again, a theme of bending over and taking things. Now, I am beginning to wonder if there was some kind of a hint he was trying to give us.
I wonder what Freud would say about this?
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/22/limbaugh-ankles-obama-black/
Using Fox News As A Platform, Rush Limbaugh Trashes President Barack Obama Emphasizing Race
Extremist right winger Rush Limbaugh again trashes President Barack Obama thanks to a platform provided to him by Fox News and fellow right-wing extremist Sean Hannity. Both Limbaugh and Hannity have documented history of saying things that are either racist or racially insensitive, and both work to appeal hard to the far right of the Republican Party. Here is a comment made by Limbaugh as he was being interviewed by Hannity: “We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles … because his father was black” Republicans, including the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity, chastised people who disagreed with the president as being unpatriotic or as haters of America or something. We were all supposed to rally together around or president and around or Commander-in-Chief. This is what Americans are supposed to do, or so we were told so often by those on the far right. Now that a Democrat is in office however, things have changed. Now, when there is a call to support the president and support the country and support the troops and to want the nation to do well … people like Limbaugh insists we only want President Obama to succeed “because his father was black.” Limbaugh never resists an opportunity to negatively slash a person using any means necessary … particularly if they’re black (ask Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb). Does this mean that Limbaugh is unpatriotic? Does this mean Limbaugh is against the troops? Does this mean Limbaugh is emboldening our enemies? Does this mean Limbaugh is being anti-American? Maybe we should have Rep. Michele Bachmann (a modern-day Joe McCarthy) get right on that.
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200901220002?f=cf_clips
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200901220002?f=cf_clips
Caroline Kennedy Out Of Running For New York Senate Seat
It appears that Caroline Kennedy is no longer in the running to fill the United States Senate seat (from New York) vacated by newly-confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This ends weeks of speculation and whining (from conservatives still whining because they feel their precious Sarah Palin was roughed up by the big-bad “mainstream media” while Kennedy was not). Hopefully, Gov. Paterson will be able to find someone to fill that important seat and I doubt he will have any shortage of qualified candidates to replace Clinton. She has only indicated that she has withdrawn her name for personal reasons. But, as we know, her uncle (Sen. Ted Kennedy) has been in poor health and had a frightening episode during an inaugural lunch on Tuesday.
Should Rod Marinelli Be Fired For His Sexist Comments To Detroit Reporters?
Rod Marinelli made what many people would consider to be sexist comments toward members of the Detroit media who tried to interview him during the Senior Bowl. After the former Lions football coach refused to talk to him, he said “goodbye ladies” as they left. Didn’t most of us leave this behind when we left elementary school and moved up to middle school? Apparently, he thinks calling them ladies is an insult of some kind. It seems that Marinelli perceives women as being less than men so that if he calls a man a woman it is a cut down. Maybe Marinelli should be fired from the Chicago Bears (where he is now working as a coach) for these sexist comments. Didn’t people call for Rob Parker to be fired after his comments (admittedly in poor taste and inappropriately timed to say the least) toward Marinelli? Yes. Many people called for Parker to be fired. I wonder if some of these same people, or others, will call for Marinelli to be fired. I’m not saying Marinelli should be fired, but it appears the disgraced former Lions coach who led the team to the first 0-16 record in the history of the National Football League, did not learn from what happened between him and Parker. Marinelli’s poorly chosen, and arguably sexist, words are indicative of perhaps bigger problems. He, granted in a different sort of way (than what he felt Parker did with an ill-timed joke about Rod’s son-in-law and daughter), degraded women.
Rod Moronelli … er Rod Marinelli
Disgraced former Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli played the victim role when Rob Parker made his in-poor-taste comment to the now assistant coach for the Chicago Bears after a press conference during the season. But, in the end, we see that Marinelli indeed has no more class than did Parker (and maybe less) in comments that he made to reporters. When members of the Detroit media tried to approach him, with questions, Marinelli brushed them aside and said “goodbye ladies.” he said that when reporters tried to get comments from him at Senior Bowl practices. This from a man who also referred to the press conference room as a room full of stink. It seems Marinelli is a hypocrite and can dish it out, but can’t take it. This is in addition to being petty and spiteful. I can’t imagine all of those reporters did one thing or another to cheapshot him. But, it seems that Marinelli chooses to lump all people into one category simply because they’re from Detroit. That too is sad. Coaches yell at players, degrade them in other ways, toss them out of practice, cut them and more. But, they expect that not to be taken personally. It’s just a business. But, when a reporter has to be tough on a coach as well as good to a coach, whiners like Marinelli take it personally and go running away crying. Another sad part about this whole episode is that he called them “ladies” as if that was some kind of a put down. So, he essentially spit in the face of hard-working women all across the country. He tried some cheap trick to rehabilitate himself, but the damage was done. Marinelli is not irreversibly damaged by this, but he certainly could be if he refuses to learn from his failures and shortcomings (like we all should strive to do) - as a coach and as a person.
Detroit Lions Blog/MLive:
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/01/rod_marinelli_apologizes_for_l.html#more
Detroit Lions Blog/MLive:
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/01/rod_marinelli_apologizes_for_l.html#more
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Glenn Beck, Representing The Far Right Wing, Has Fit Over President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Benediction
Our friends on the far right are up in arms over the benediction given by the Rev. Joseph Lowery during inauguration day for President Barack Obama.
Here is a transcript published by Crooks and Liars:
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.
Just take a wild guess as to what part has those on the right wing, led by the obnoxious Glenn Beck who has moved over to Fox News from CNN, practically screaming bloody murder. Rev. Lowery was working hard (using a little bit of humor) to show that so many people - of all backgrounds - are coming together and have come together to make Barack Obama our 44th president of the United States of America. But, conservative like Beck are having a predictable fit feeling that Rev. Lowery was attempting to say whites are racist. Only someone reading for the most sinister possible motive could find something like that on a day like that. It’s another case of Beck and other extremist conservatives that are too paranoid to truly heal the racial divide.
Also, for Glenn Beck to use the funeral of Coretta Scott King to take a cheap shot at Democrats, liberals, Rev. Lowery and others is shameful.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/tale-two-prayers
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/21/while_invoking_martin_luther_king_glenn_beck_attacked_obama_for_being_antiwhite.php
Here is a transcript published by Crooks and Liars:
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.
Just take a wild guess as to what part has those on the right wing, led by the obnoxious Glenn Beck who has moved over to Fox News from CNN, practically screaming bloody murder. Rev. Lowery was working hard (using a little bit of humor) to show that so many people - of all backgrounds - are coming together and have come together to make Barack Obama our 44th president of the United States of America. But, conservative like Beck are having a predictable fit feeling that Rev. Lowery was attempting to say whites are racist. Only someone reading for the most sinister possible motive could find something like that on a day like that. It’s another case of Beck and other extremist conservatives that are too paranoid to truly heal the racial divide.
Also, for Glenn Beck to use the funeral of Coretta Scott King to take a cheap shot at Democrats, liberals, Rev. Lowery and others is shameful.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/tale-two-prayers
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/21/while_invoking_martin_luther_king_glenn_beck_attacked_obama_for_being_antiwhite.php
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
It's A Sad Day In Detroit Sports Talk Radio: WDFN Is Dead As We Knew It
For many years, almost from the beginning, I was a fan of WDFN, a sports talk radio station in my hometown of Detroit. I was an avid listener who could never tune into 1130 AM enough during my younger days in the Motor City. That is part of the reason it saddens me so much that the station I used to like so much has apparently perished under the control of Clear Channel (a major corporation that was the holder of WDFN). The announcement was made on Tuesday and it became a sad, sad day for many fans of sports talk radio in the city (even though a lot of people knew it was coming or strongly suspected that it was coming. It sounds as if there were some management issues that may have contributed to the demise of the station as it continued to compete with the newer sports talk station that I had begun to listen to a little more, WXYT. It is a sad day, but I am sure life will go on in the business. I am sad for the Stoney and Wojo Show; it was one of the most popular sports talk radio shows in Detroit history. Mike Stone will bounce back somewhere and Bob Wojnowski will continue to do a solid job at the Detroit News as one of the papers top sports columnist. Hopefully Wojo will be able to get back into sports talk radio. Only time will tell. Hopefully, as Gregg Henson mentions, someday local ownership will take hold again and people who understand the business will be allowed to do their job. We'll see, but for now it stings.
WXYZ:
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Clear-Channel-Fires-WDFN-AM-On-air-Staff/ShQbv9lgs0CDnxWcJ4ayKA.cspx
Gregg Henson:
http://gregghenson.typepad.com/gregg_hensoncom/2009/01/some-thoughts-about-wdfn-and-clear-channel.html
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090120/SPORTS18/90120095/1048/sports/Mike+Stone++others+from+WDFN+react+to+layoffs
WXYZ:
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Clear-Channel-Fires-WDFN-AM-On-air-Staff/ShQbv9lgs0CDnxWcJ4ayKA.cspx
Gregg Henson:
http://gregghenson.typepad.com/gregg_hensoncom/2009/01/some-thoughts-about-wdfn-and-clear-channel.html
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090120/SPORTS18/90120095/1048/sports/Mike+Stone++others+from+WDFN+react+to+layoffs
Jessica Alba On Bill O’Reilly: He Is Kind Of An A-hole
Jessica Alba, with a breathtaking smile on her face, probably broke Bill O’Reilly’s heart when she said that the conservative Fox News host is kind of an “a-hole” - ironically enough, she said that to one of O’Reilly’s drive-by producer hacks.
Here is the exchange from Crooks and Liars:
Reporter: Bill O’Reilly says hi. You wanna give him a Factor Inauguration Shout Out?
Alba: No. He’s kind of — [Laughs] He’s kind of an a-hole.
I am not sure if Bill was more hurt because she called him an “a-hole” or because she said what she said later about how closely she follows his nightly program:
Reporter: How so?
Alba? I don’t know how he does it. I guess he was just born that way, for some reason.
Reporter: Can you give me an example? Come on.
Alba: No, because that means admitting that I actually have watched Fox.
It is hard to admit.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/kind-hole-jessica-alba-tells-truth-a
Here is the exchange from Crooks and Liars:
Reporter: Bill O’Reilly says hi. You wanna give him a Factor Inauguration Shout Out?
Alba: No. He’s kind of — [Laughs] He’s kind of an a-hole.
I am not sure if Bill was more hurt because she called him an “a-hole” or because she said what she said later about how closely she follows his nightly program:
Reporter: How so?
Alba? I don’t know how he does it. I guess he was just born that way, for some reason.
Reporter: Can you give me an example? Come on.
Alba: No, because that means admitting that I actually have watched Fox.
It is hard to admit.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/kind-hole-jessica-alba-tells-truth-a
Conservative Talk Show Host/Scrub Rush Limbaugh Rooting For President Barack Obama To Fail
Conservative talk show host/scrub Rush Limbaugh showing just how truly American he is as he is wishing for the new leader of his country, President Barack Obama, to fail. Wishing for President Obama to fail is akin to wishing for the United States of America to fail. It shows the hypocrisy of conservatives who whined about making sure that people were supportive of the country, while George W. Bush was president, but now idiots like Limbaugh are openly rooting for the president of the United States of America to fail. Limbaugh is a disgrace to the airwaves. But, then again, that is nothing new.
Here is the comment:
"So I’m thinking of replying to the guy, “Okay, I’ll send you a response, but I don’t need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails.” (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here’s the point. Everybody thinks it’s outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, “Oh, you can’t do that.” Why not? Why is it any different, what’s new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what’s gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don’t care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: “Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails.” Somebody’s gotta say it."
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/20/limbaugh-obama-fail/
Here is the comment:
"So I’m thinking of replying to the guy, “Okay, I’ll send you a response, but I don’t need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails.” (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here’s the point. Everybody thinks it’s outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, “Oh, you can’t do that.” Why not? Why is it any different, what’s new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what’s gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don’t care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: “Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails.” Somebody’s gotta say it."
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/20/limbaugh-obama-fail/
Hopefully Former President George W. Bush Atones For One Of His Mistakes As President
Former President George W. Bush has a chance to fix something now, in the wake of his presidency, that he did not fix well enough during his presidency. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the Gulf Coast region … particularly tearing up the large city of New Orleans. Bush was criticized, and perhaps deservedly so to some degree, for a slow response and an inadequate response. Now, in this post-presidency period, we can hope that Mr. Bush will use his influence and abilities to raise money to do something positive to assist in the rebuilding process down in New Orleans and elsewhere around the Gulf Coast region. Mr Bush has a chance to perhaps atone for one of his shortcomings as president of the United States of America. I really believe that Mr. Bush is a good man who made some mistakes (including surrounding himself with some shady individuals). Now he can begin to do some positive things that truly will help some of the people who really needed help four years ago, but can still use some help right now. Hopefully George W. Bush will step up and take on this challenge.
Sen. Ted Kennedy Has An Apparent Seizure, Is Hospitalized
Sen. Ted Kennedy had an apparent seizure and collapsed during the inaugural luncheon. Reports from fellow Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry says that Sen. Kennedy may be up and doing OK. Let us hope that Sen. Kennedy is recovering and still has time to continue his hard work. Get well Ted.
Chris Wallace Of Fox News Tries To Imply Barack Obama Might Not Be President
Chris Wallace, a right wing-leaning commentator and anchor, is quoted in the Los Angeles Times implying that Barack Obama might not be president of the United States of America because the oath of office (between Chief Justice John Roberts and Obama) was stumbled over a bit.
Here is the first comment from Wallace about an hour after the oath was administered:
“Well, again, we’re wondering here whether or not Barack Obama in fact is the president of the United States.”
Here is the second comment from Wallace:“It’s just conceivable that this will end up going to the courts.”
Chris, come on man!
Los Angeles Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/01/fox-news-chris.html
Here is the first comment from Wallace about an hour after the oath was administered:
“Well, again, we’re wondering here whether or not Barack Obama in fact is the president of the United States.”
Here is the second comment from Wallace:“It’s just conceivable that this will end up going to the courts.”
Chris, come on man!
Los Angeles Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/01/fox-news-chris.html
It Has Been 41 Years Since The Assassination Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. … Look How Far We’ve Come
We may not be all the way there, yet. But there is no doubt this nation has made tremendous progress toward equality and fulfilling the tremendous promise of greatness the United States of America has. Today, we formally swore in Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America. We do this a little more than 40 years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man many people consider to be one of the greatest human beings ever to walk the face of the Earth. This day, this historic time, is a part of the vision that Dr. King had for the United States of America. You wonder just how realistically Dr. King could have imagined that one day we would have a black president of the United States of America. How many people, people far younger than Dr. King would be today, could have imagined a black president of these United States of America? I never thought it was possible and I am in my mid 30s. This is truly a historic time and I have to imagine Dr. King would swell with pride. I imagine that somewhere up there, taking a rest from all the hard work he and so many others alongside him did, the good doctor has a smile on his face. Continue your rest Dr. King and thanks for everything you did to make moments like we witnessed today possible.
What A Magnificent Moment For This Nation: President Barack Obama
What an awesome moment to witness Barack Obama be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. He is the 44th president, but he is the first black president of the United States of America; that alone is nothing short of a monumental achievement. All of us, as Americans, can feel a sense of pride as we were there to enjoy history in the making as we’ve watched him go from Sen. Barack Obama to President-elect Barack Obama to President Barack Obama in a relatively short period of time. It’s an awesome responsibility he is tasked with, but he has proved himself worthy of this position and I hope all of us, as Americans before Democrats and Republicans, will join forces to support the person who has been duly elected president of the United States of America. Obviously, now is a time for an almost euphoric sense of pride, but we know hard work is ahead of the new president. Our economy is damaged, our position in the world is damaged, and people are suffering under the enormous weight of debt (credit card, student loan, etc.), but many things about our nation remains unbreakable: our will and our determination to succeed against all odds and all obstacles we’ve faced to become the greatest nation in the history of the world. The United States of America has faced tough times in the past, and each time has risen to the challenge. I expect, I hope, that once again that will prove to be true. It will not be easy for the new president, but has proved resilient, determined, driven, a builder of consensus, a uniter and the right person for this job at this time in our nation’s rich history.
Martin Luther King Day … A Day Of Reflection
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson has often referred to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr as the greatest American who ever lived. He has said it in at least a couple of different venues and in at least a couple of different ways. But, the message is absolutely unmistakable. Monday, Martin Luther King Day in the United States, I took some time (as we all should have) to reflect on so many of the great things that Dr. King did to make he lives of all of us better today. In January, we celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and we celebrate the day that is dedicated to his remembrance (a day that had to be fought for against vigorous opposition from the forces of hate). Dr. King gave us everything he had to give and he fought for us in a time where he literally put his life in danger. In the end, in 1968 when he was just 39 years old, Dr. King was forced to pay the ultimate price for so many of the freedoms that we enjoy today. With all that Dr. King gave us, there seems no way we can give him back even close to what he gave us.
Student Loan Forgiveness: A Good Idea To Spark Economy?
In this era of enormous corporate bailouts for operations run by fat cats making six-and seven-figure salaries, why not a more practical bailout that could help regular working-class people strengthen the economy? If we really are about firing this economy up, and we’re serious about putting resources into education, then why not embrace student loan forgiveness? As you will see in the video that accompanies this post, from Brave New Films, it is a very real and a very serious issue for a lot of hard-working Americans. Many hard-working Americans are suffering from the housing crisis, credit card debt and outrageous payments requested by student loan-issuing banks and the government. Money that is going here could be used to help business survive while also helping everyday Americans purchase the kinds of things they need to support themselves and their children. Many banks are making a killing by breaking the backs of working class people. Banking executives are standing on the backs of working-class people (fighting every day and living check to check while trying to make ends meet … that oftentimes simply do not meet) while asking for (and getting) billions in bailout money. Are we serious abouot getting this economy going or are we more focused on doing what we can to hook up the rich bankers (even if it is at the expense of the people who can afford to be exploited the least).
Brave New Films:
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/67788-student-loan-forgiveness-now
Brave New Films:
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/67788-student-loan-forgiveness-now
Monday, January 19, 2009
Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity Partially Blames Sen. Chuck Schmuer For New York Plane Crash
Fox News channel’s Sean Hannity, now with an almost daily one hour of hate on his new solo show, decided to use one of his hours to try and sort of blame New York Sen. Charles Schumer (obviously a Democrat if Hannity is blaming him) for the crash of the airplane (which had an engine allegedly damaged by geese caught inside) in New York.
This from News Hounds:
Sean Hannity, ever on the lookout for new ways to smear Democrats, achieved a creative breakthrough last night (1/17/09) on a special weekend edition of his new solo show. Without bothering to investigate any other facts beyond Senator Charles Schumer’s 2004 earmark for a group called GeesePeace, Hannity and FOX News were ready to allege that Schumer is to blame for the crash of the US Airways flight last week. Later in the program, Hannity warned that if it happens again, Schumer would be responsible for any ensuing deaths. In concert with Hannity’s smear, a banner on the screen read, “Buck stops at Chuck?”
The words are disturbing enough, but the video puts it into even more of an obsessive context. Even as Hannity tries to blame any Democrat he can get his hands on for anything that goes wrong, his fellow show panelists start laughing as if they’re watching a television sit com. Reprehensible. Hannity then (as you can see in the News Hounds excerpt) implies Schumer could or should be held responsible for any future plane crashes that involve geese. I know that we are a blame society, but this is bad for even the likes of Sean Hannity (exposing a near catastrophic situation to score political points).
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/18/hannity_blames_sen_charles_schumer_for_us_airways_crash.php#more
This from News Hounds:
Sean Hannity, ever on the lookout for new ways to smear Democrats, achieved a creative breakthrough last night (1/17/09) on a special weekend edition of his new solo show. Without bothering to investigate any other facts beyond Senator Charles Schumer’s 2004 earmark for a group called GeesePeace, Hannity and FOX News were ready to allege that Schumer is to blame for the crash of the US Airways flight last week. Later in the program, Hannity warned that if it happens again, Schumer would be responsible for any ensuing deaths. In concert with Hannity’s smear, a banner on the screen read, “Buck stops at Chuck?”
The words are disturbing enough, but the video puts it into even more of an obsessive context. Even as Hannity tries to blame any Democrat he can get his hands on for anything that goes wrong, his fellow show panelists start laughing as if they’re watching a television sit com. Reprehensible. Hannity then (as you can see in the News Hounds excerpt) implies Schumer could or should be held responsible for any future plane crashes that involve geese. I know that we are a blame society, but this is bad for even the likes of Sean Hannity (exposing a near catastrophic situation to score political points).
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/18/hannity_blames_sen_charles_schumer_for_us_airways_crash.php#more
Wendell Goler Of Fox News Says President George W. Bush Inherited 9/11 Attacks From Former President Bill Clinton
Fox News anchor Wendell Goler, doing his best revisionist history impersonation, has decided to declarethe events of Sept. 11, 2001 really can not be blamed on President George W. Bush (even though it happened early on his watch). Instead, Goler is trying to insist that this was an inherited attack from the previous administration (the administration of President Bill Clinton). Goler also tried to say he inherited a recession and some tough times on Wall Street … along with the budget surplus. So, apparently Goler has gotten the Fox News memo that George W. Bush must be protected at all costs. I think Bush is a good man, and I’ve said that before, but it’s hard to deny the area’s where he has failed (unless your Wendell Goler or just about anyone else on Fox News).
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/16/fox_news_reports_bush_inherited_the_911_attacks.php
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/16/fox_news_reports_bush_inherited_the_911_attacks.php
Fred Barnes Hears Obama Called “Monkey Boy” And Is Not Particularly Bothered By Obvious Racism
Fred Barnes, most noted for his work on Fox News, seemed to have no problem when a caller referred to President-elect Barack Obama as “monkey boy” in an obvious racist cheap shot. Barnes said absolutely nothing about it and merely nodded in approval at the overall tone of what the caller was saying to him. It was the height of irresponsibility for Barnes to not at least check the caller on his racist language (even though Barnes (who was being interviewed on CSPAN) obviously agreed with the conservative pro-Bush tone of the ignorant caller’s statement.
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/17/fred_barnes_has_no_problem_with_caller_describing_barack_obama_as_monkey_boy.php#more
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/17/fred_barnes_has_no_problem_with_caller_describing_barack_obama_as_monkey_boy.php#more
So Much For Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin Zone
Whenever the name Al Franken comes up, conservative Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly loses his mind and throws out even the act of being unbiased (we know he is far from biased and is a sort of deputy minister of propaganda for the right wing behind the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh). O’Reilly’s anti-Franken bias has sent him spiraling to the point of television madness. As evidenced by a couple of conservative hacks he brought on to join with him (for three conservatives bashing Franken, Hollywood and anything on the left wing with unrestrained hatred). News Hounds brought us the following report you can visit on their Web site:
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/18/bill_oreilly_has_fair_and_balanced_discussion_of_al_franken_hollywood_franken_contributors_and_george_soros_just_kidding.php#more
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/01/18/bill_oreilly_has_fair_and_balanced_discussion_of_al_franken_hollywood_franken_contributors_and_george_soros_just_kidding.php#more
CNN’s Howard Kurtz Pushing Media Bias In Favor Of Barack Obama
CNN’s Howard Kurtz, host of the Sunday morning show Reliable Sources has constantly been pushing the theme of media bias in favor of President-elect Barack Obama. Today, Kurtz is on CNN ramming through the notion that even the coverage of the election is akin to cheer leading for Obama (as if so many people are supposedly in the tank for the president-elect). Kurtz has been mostly fair during his career, but I think that he is coming across as pushing an agenda that he feels strongly about on a show that is dedicated to exposing biases in the news. In other words, Kurtz is obsessivelycontradicting his own show’s purpose by attempting to impress upon people the coverage has been liberally biased. This is a historic moment and the job of the newspaper is to not only report all sides of the issue, but to appeal to the interests of readers. This is why the media (particularly big-city newspapers and big-city television stations) reporton sensationalistic stories and avoid stories about school board meetings, city commission meetings and county commission meetings. Are you more interested in Barack Obama and George W. Bush or who was just elected drain commissioner?
Republicans: Playing Politics, Stupid Or Both With Obama Middle Name Issue
Iowa Congressman Steve King, who said some hateful things toward President-elect Barack Obama during the campaign for the presidency (including proclaiming that terrorists would be “dancing in the streets” if Obama was elected), now has shifted focus (as politicians so often do) to start to criticize Obama for the plan to use his middle name during his swearing in on Jan. 20.
t is not “clearly a double standard” as King puts it. In fact, I would ask Rep. King how many times he has used the middle name of Sen. John McCain? I would ask all Republicans how many times they used the middle name of McCain throughout the presidential campaign. As a matter of fact, I don’t even know what McCain’s middle name is or whether or not he has a middle name. I can guarantee you this, not a single Republican would be trying to use his middle name if it was Harry or Howard. But, because it is Hussein, it was seen as a way to use anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism as a weapon against Obama. When Obama has his middle name used, when he takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, I doubt he will be using it as many conservatives were using it (to try and scare Americans with racism).
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17506.html
This is from a Politico story:
After telling the Associated Press last year that Obama’s middle name was among he reasons Islamic terrorists would rejoice over his election, King says he’s since been careful to avoid using it. Thus he found Obama’s decision to allow it be mentioned on the steps of the Capitol “bizarre” and “a double-standard.”
“Is that reserved just for him, not his critics?” King asked.
The congressman says he doubts Obama’s sincerity when he explained that he chose to use his middle name so as to be historically consistent with past inaugurations, when America has heard the full names of its presidents echo from the inaugural stand.
“Whatever his reasons are,” King said, “the one he gave us could not be the reason.”
He continued: “The society is a little strange about this. If you’re speaking the truth and in an effort to be objective, there should be nothing off limits in a free society,[but] there are many biases building and clearly a double-standard.”
t is not “clearly a double standard” as King puts it. In fact, I would ask Rep. King how many times he has used the middle name of Sen. John McCain? I would ask all Republicans how many times they used the middle name of McCain throughout the presidential campaign. As a matter of fact, I don’t even know what McCain’s middle name is or whether or not he has a middle name. I can guarantee you this, not a single Republican would be trying to use his middle name if it was Harry or Howard. But, because it is Hussein, it was seen as a way to use anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism as a weapon against Obama. When Obama has his middle name used, when he takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, I doubt he will be using it as many conservatives were using it (to try and scare Americans with racism).
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17506.html
ESPN: Jim Schwartz To Coach The Lions
After becoming the first National Football League team to finish with an 0-16 record, the Detroit Lions have rightly cleaned house. The front office is mostly in place (not very impressive to some people) and now, it appears, the head coach is in place, Jim Schwartz, now formerly of the Tennessee Titans (where he was defensive coordinator).
From ESPN:
The Detroit Lions have reached an agreement in principle with Jim Schwartz to become their next head coach, several sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Schwartz, the Tennessee Titans‘ defensive coordinator for the past eight seasons, has agreed in principle to a four-year contract.
On Tuesday, after a second interview with the Lions, Schwartz said the chance to coach the NFL’s first 0-16 team motivated him to tackle it and succeed in it.
“I don’t shy away from a challenge,” Schwartz said earlier this week.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3835911
From ESPN:
The Detroit Lions have reached an agreement in principle with Jim Schwartz to become their next head coach, several sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Schwartz, the Tennessee Titans‘ defensive coordinator for the past eight seasons, has agreed in principle to a four-year contract.
On Tuesday, after a second interview with the Lions, Schwartz said the chance to coach the NFL’s first 0-16 team motivated him to tackle it and succeed in it.
“I don’t shy away from a challenge,” Schwartz said earlier this week.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3835911
Fox News/New York Post Cheap Shot Filmmaker Michael Moore
Fox News and New York Post oftentimes walk hand in hand (with ownership and oftentimes with their conservative philosophy). But, even I was taken aback by some of what I read from a New York Post article that was posted fairly prominently on the Fox News Web site (one that blurs the line between objective news and opinion).
Here is a portion:
Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore may wind up in court with a prize-winning journalist who claims the mountain-size moviemaker ripped off his most famous photo to use in a George W. Bush-bashing rant.
Last year, to illustrate one of his anti-administration bombasts, the portly polemicistposted on his michaelmoore.com Web site a heartbreaking photo from Iraq of an American soldier carrying the blood-spattered body of a child.
Once again, Fox News proves to be anything but fair and balanced. It’s fine to disagree with Moore, but it is in poor taste to use such a high-profile platform to take cheap shots at the man’s physique.
Fox News:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480027,00.html
Here is a portion:
Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore may wind up in court with a prize-winning journalist who claims the mountain-size moviemaker ripped off his most famous photo to use in a George W. Bush-bashing rant.
Last year, to illustrate one of his anti-administration bombasts, the portly polemicistposted on his michaelmoore.com Web site a heartbreaking photo from Iraq of an American soldier carrying the blood-spattered body of a child.
Once again, Fox News proves to be anything but fair and balanced. It’s fine to disagree with Moore, but it is in poor taste to use such a high-profile platform to take cheap shots at the man’s physique.
Fox News:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480027,00.html
Revisionist Historian/President George W. Bush Trying To Repackage Hurricane Katrina Response Catastrophe
President Bush has come under fire for the federal government’s slow response (yeah, I said “slow”) to the catastrophe that was Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. The president was largely viewed as insensitive and out of touch as people suffered in New Orleans and elsewhere from the devastating effects of the hurricane. Watch this video as President Bush becomes ridiculously defensive and probably paranoid about what many people feel as largely hislegacy of failure/inadequacy as president of the United States of America. But, CNN’s Campbell Brown checks the president on his strange contention that the government was now slow in its response to Hurricane Katrina.
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/revisionist-historianpresident-george-w-bush-trying-to-repackage-hurricane-katrina-response-catastrophe/
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/revisionist-historianpresident-george-w-bush-trying-to-repackage-hurricane-katrina-response-catastrophe/
Eddy Curry Sexual Harassment Suit … Just When You Think You’ve Seen It All
NBA player Eddy Curry, of the New York Knicks, is in the middle of one of the most bizarre sexual harassment suits that I’ve ever heard of … seriously bizarre. Apparently, Curry was involved in something with a man - yes, a guy - who was his chauffeur and some of the allegations are so out there it’s almost unbelievable (including forcing the driver to perform some humiliating tasks that, if true, clearly went beyond the scope of his duties as a chauffeur). On top of the sexual harassment, Curry is also being accused of using racist language against the former chauffeur that help to make the whole episode all the more crazy. But, in the end you’ll have to judge for yourself. In this case, reading is believing, but go in with caution.
New York Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01122009/news/regionalnews/knicks_sex_scandal_shock_149861.htm
New York Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01122009/news/regionalnews/knicks_sex_scandal_shock_149861.htm
Politico’s Comparison Of Roland Burris Situation To Caroline Kennedy Situation Is Ridiculous
You know, some days it just amazes me how people work hard to write controversial articles (nothing wrong with that) without thinking their argument through fully (something wrong with that). Politico has an article running on its Web site that is titled “In politics, does race trump gender?” As is the case with a number of people, the issue of race generally gets people fired up (as does gender … so imagine when you combine the two) and certainly creates a level of interest different and higher than most other topics. In other words, great headline. The first sentence, however, made my jaw drop and nearly bust a hole through the top of my desk, “How come Roland Burris has had such an easy time getting to the U.S. Senate while Caroline Kennedyhas had such a hard time?” I’m thinking it would be news to Roland Burris that he has had an “easy time” getting into the U.S. Senate. President-elect Barack Obama came out against him, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came out against him, most Democrats were against him (and he is in their party), he was being unfairly linked to disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, he had people trying to dig up dirt on him, the Illinois Secretary of State did not want to certify him, he had to go to the courts and get a ruling, he was turned away from the U.S. Senate in the rain while being hounded by reporters and photographers … etc. You get the picture. Apparently, according to Politico, that was easy. Smooth sailing into the U.S. Senate for Roland Burris. Is Kennedy getting the harder time? Who knows? To my knowledge, she has not even officially been nominated (by New York Gov. David Paterson) to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. In fact, I believe she is still just one of many potential candidates (obviously, she is the most high profile of the individuals in the running to replace Hillary). And, Kennedy is probably the front runner in this race to fill that seat. Here is a strange statement from the Politico article, “Once supporters of Roland Burris made his appointment to the Senate all about race, the deal was done, though it took a few days for Senate leaders to wake up to the fact.” Not everyone made it about race. Rep. Bobby Rush did bring race into the issue, but not all Burris supporters linked this to race. In fact, I would argue that most supporters of Burris’ nomination supported him because they believed there was no legal reason to deny him. But, I understand it makes for a better and more controversial article to make the issue about race rather than the legalese of the appointment. I would not have a problem with Caroline Kennedy being appointed to replace Hillary Clinton … if that is what the governor chooses. Burris’ political credentials are strong while Caroline Kennedy must be asked questions since she has not been involved in politics. It does not mean she should be excluded due to a lack of experience, but it does mean that people have a right to ask some tough questions of her. So far, she has been pretty solid under the media spotlight. The article asks why Kennedy has been asked tough questions about foreign and domestic issues, but Burris has not been asked those same questions. I’m not sure he has not been asked those questions. And, if he has not been asked those questions, perhaps it’s because he has been asked more questions about the person appointing him (Blagojevich) in a bizarre and almost unbelievable scandal that has the media largely obsessed. Maybe Kennedy has had to deal with things that Burris has not had to deal with, but clearly Burris has had to deal with things that Kennedy has not had to deal with in trying to gain a seat in the U.S. Senate. But, I think it’s almost premature to talk much about Kennedy going to the U.S. Senate when I am not sure she has been formally nominated by Gov. Paterson.
Yahoo/Politico:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090113/pl_politico/17399
Yahoo/Politico:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090113/pl_politico/17399
Hannity’s Hour Of Hate Doomed To Ultimate Failure
Now that Sean Hannity has essentially been granted his own full 60-minute block of television hate, his new exclusive show on Fox News, he has to be feeling pretty good about himself. Now, the extremist right-wing host will be able to (now completely unchallenged) spew all kinds of hatred toward anything that is either middle of the road or liberal. But, I concur with a popular opinion I’ve already been hearing among many liberals … the show will fast become tired. There is only so much Hannity that most mainstream people (not even just those on the left) can stomach before they will become nauseous (first) and bored (later). This show will eventually pale in comparison to Hannity and Colmes as people will see how talented Colmes was (even if he was much more of a moderate than a liberal and he was far too classy and soft spoken to truly contrast the far more arrogant, extremist right wing and outspoken Hannity). Just as Hannity’s America was a show that made you think it was nap time … Hannity’s new weekday hour will be more of the same.
Roland Burris Finally Being Allowed To Take His Rightful Place In U.S. Senate
Senator-elect Roland Burris is finally getting his rightful place in the United States and, quite frankly, it should have happened a lot sooner. People from both sides of the aisle, inside and outside of the state of Illinois, have worked (to a greater or lesser degree) to stall or outright stop the appointment of Burris by embattled and controversial Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But, this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois senior senator and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin essentially called off the dogs and will allow Burris to be seated. Said Burris, Tuesday on CNN, “My whole purpose in life, as I see it, is to be a public servant.” Burris has credentials that had not really been questioned by anyone and he appears to have no connection to the scandal involving Blagojevich. Now, Blagojevich may have used this appointment (stirring up the racial controversy) to take the heat off of him and to put it on Reid and other high-ranking Democrats. In some ways, the strategy was highly successful. But, whether it was a strategy or not, Burris’ appointment should not have been hindered in any way. In this case, justice delayed is better than justice denied.
CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/13/burris.senate/index.html
CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/13/burris.senate/index.html
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Sarah Palin Still Holds Bitter Feelings About Sounding Bad In Katie Couric Interview
Apparently, Gov. Sarah Palin still holds feelings of bitterness and resentment toward NBC’s Katie Couric. And, as is the case with Palin and her supporters, they blame everyone else (mainstream media, Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, liberals, bloggers, John McCain, McCain campaign people, etc.) for Palin’s missteps and failures.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/09/palin-lays-media-coverage-campaign-web-video/
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/09/palin-lays-media-coverage-campaign-web-video/
BCS Is About Money … Sorry To Those Who Believe Utah Should Be National Champion With Florida Or Instead Of The Gators
The Bowl Championship Series hosted its national championship game on Thursday night and Florida emerged as the winner of Oklahoma, 24-14. Many people across the nation (including legions of BCS haters) are still plenty steamed that Utah was not allowed to play in the national championship game - in spite of the fact it finished its season undefeated at 13-0 (including a decisive Sugar Bowl beatdown of an Alabama team that was No. 1 in the nation for a good chunk of the season). Not saying Utah was the best team, but what more could it have done? Could it change conferences? That is not realistic. Could it schedule tougher non-conference games? That is sometimes easier said than done (plus, playing in Ann Arbor at Michigan was supposed to be a big non-conference game for the Utes, but who knew U-M was going to turn out that bad when the game was scheduled?). It’s all almost irrelevant. Whether it’s the current system or the old system, Utah was never going to have much of a chance of playing for or winning the national championship. If memory serves me, Utah was seventh in the Associated Press poll and sixth in the BCS poll. So, no national championship party was in the cards for the Utes (a team that is more impressive than a lot of people think). I really think that the only answer the non-BCS schools might have against the BCS schools is to refuse to play them during the regular season. Now, this won’t happen for the same reason the BCS schools want to keep their party exclusive: MONEY! The non-BCS schools want the paydays they get for going to Florida, USC, Michigan, Texas or Ohio State and getting stomped into the ground for a payday (sure, there is the occasional upset here and there, but for the most part we know what happens in these types of games). But, if the non-BCS schools said we’re not going to dance in the regular season then the BCS member institutions would have to play against each other and many of them might pick up an extra loss or two as a result. Again, it won’t happen because of money. Non-BCS schools want the money. As far as the BCS bowls are concerned, there are truckloads of money and BCS member schools are not willing to share those considerable riches with schools like Central Michigan, Air Force, Ohio, Western Michigan, Fresno State and Eastern Michigan. Part of it, I’m sure, is the fact that the BCS doesn’t want to have a BCS bowl where, say, Central Michigan is playing Fresno State (I know such a matchup is a long shot, but don’t think it isn’t a fear … consider the uninspiring Cincinnati-Virginia Tech game that drew a poor television rating). But, it all comes back to money … plain and simple.
CNN Runs Story On Racism And Some People Badly Miss The Point
It amazes me how anything related to race makes some people feel so uptight and defensive. CNN has a story today (Jan. 9) on its Web site related to a race-based experiment conducted by Science, a professional journal. The CNN article was titled, “You may be more racist than you think, study says.” The study was designed to take a closer look at the racist feelings that exist inside of some people and how people react to something that is subtly racist more than overtly racist. It was an interesting story, to some extent, but there was nothing groundbreaking in the story or the study. I doubt there was much of anything in the article or study surprising except some of the conclusions about how many people the study indicated have, show or tolerate things that are racist. Here is the passage, “More recent work by Greenwald and colleagues shows that most people — between 75 and 80 percent — have implicit, non-overt prejudices against blacks.” That surprised me and I would want to see more information in regard to the study about what is and is not considered racist. But, with the experiment described in the study, I think the racism was fairly obvious, yet a large number of the people who participated in the study were not so bothered by the racist language and behavior. Now, as is the case with many online stories I read, I was interested in the reader comments. I knew that a number of people would go immediately on the defensive with regard to the story. A large number of respondents criticized the fact that there was no study of black-on-white racism. Some went hysterical and said the conclusion was that all whites are apparently racist, according to the study. It amazed me that some people could read that article and be more bothered by the fact they saw no study of black-on-white racism or some other form of racism. Apparently, some people were more bothered by that than the use of the N-word. It seems you have to be pretty moved by an item or items you’ve read to post something on a message board (even though you are mostly anonymous). Why were some people more bothered by the lack of different studies than the use of racist slurs? That, quite frankly, is puzzling to me. The article should make all of us think about the prejudices that may exist inside of us. It may be prejudices against blacks, Latinos, Asians, whites, immigrants (sometimes code for Latinos), gays, lesbians, trans gender and more that may exist inside of us. We need to examine those feelings without going nuclear and becoming uptight and defensive.
CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/07/racism.study/index.html
CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/07/racism.study/index.html
Sarah Palin Watching Caroline Kennedy Treatment, But Still Doesn’t Get It
Gov. Sarah Palin (apparently we can’t sue her for going well above and beyond her 15 minutes of fame) is watching closely the treatment of Caroline Kennedy, who is being considered for the soon-to-be vacant United States Senate seat of Hillary Clinton, who is on her way to being named the U.S. Secretary of State.
Said Palin:“I’ve been interested to see how Caroline Kennedy will be handled and if she will be handled with kid gloves or if she will be under such a microscope. … It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out and I think that as we watch that we will perhaps be able to prove that there is a class issue here also that was such a factor in the scrutiny of my candidacy versus, say, the scrutiny of what her candidacy may be.”
Palin still does not get how badly she tripped herself up by bombing so badly two high-profile interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric. And, it’s not like either Gibson or Couric peppered her with these hard questions. Couric actually soft-tossed a bunch of softballs at her that she could not have hit if Katie had set it up on a tee. Even Couric could not be as soft as Fox News conservative Sean Hannity was on Palin. Sarah, who was last seen standing in front of a turkey in the process of being slaughtered (perhaps symbolic of the McCain-Palin campaign), still simply does not get it, and maybe she never will. Hopefully the Republicans will be dumb enough to nominate her once again.
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/08/palin-caroline-kennedy-ge_n_156335.html
Said Palin:“I’ve been interested to see how Caroline Kennedy will be handled and if she will be handled with kid gloves or if she will be under such a microscope. … It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out and I think that as we watch that we will perhaps be able to prove that there is a class issue here also that was such a factor in the scrutiny of my candidacy versus, say, the scrutiny of what her candidacy may be.”
Palin still does not get how badly she tripped herself up by bombing so badly two high-profile interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric. And, it’s not like either Gibson or Couric peppered her with these hard questions. Couric actually soft-tossed a bunch of softballs at her that she could not have hit if Katie had set it up on a tee. Even Couric could not be as soft as Fox News conservative Sean Hannity was on Palin. Sarah, who was last seen standing in front of a turkey in the process of being slaughtered (perhaps symbolic of the McCain-Palin campaign), still simply does not get it, and maybe she never will. Hopefully the Republicans will be dumb enough to nominate her once again.
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/08/palin-caroline-kennedy-ge_n_156335.html
Bill O’Reilly Continues His Sarah Palin, Pro-Republican Lovefest
Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly spent the beginning of his Thursday night Fox News show, The O’Reilly Factor kissing Gov. Sarah Palin’s rear, blaming Sen. John McCain for Palin’s failures and allowing former Republican senator Rick Santorum to continually bash President-elect Barack Obama without being challenged. With a panel loaded with conservatives, O’Reilly once again leaves little doubt about his pro-Republican bias. O’Reilly has a mental love affair going withPalin (even though he knows the governor is married) and it shows. Then he brings conservative extremist Laura Ingraham on to spend a segment together whining and crying about the justifiable bashing of President Bush. O’Reilly is just about in tears whining about the Bush bashing.
How Much Of A Hypocrite Will Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo Be?
Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo warned Jeff Jagodzinski not to interview for the vacant New York Jets job. Jagodzinski went through with the interview and was fired. I realize that college football and college sports in general increasingly has become a cutthroat business, but this is almost to the point of being ridiculous. It makes me wonder if perhaps there is some other hidden issue that we’ve not seen that pushed both men into this ugly football divorce. In a lot of ways, it has been a shame that such dirty laundry has been aired publicly. It will be interesting to see if this AD sticks to his own standard/principles.
Said DeFilippo, “We’re really good friends and this is a very difficult thing to do. We will find somebody who really wants to be at Boston College and will be here for the length of their contract.”
OK, surely DeFilippo will stick by his own standard/principles and NOT interview coaches who currently are under contract with other schools or professional teams. He doesn’t want a person at BC that would look at another job, but he probably will be willing to take someone who will do the same thing to another school. Just as he did not want his coach to violate that agreement he should not ask another coach to violate such an agreement. DeFilippo should only interview candidates who are not under contract with another school or a professional team. Jagodzinski did not seem to be depressed or heartbroken by his experience, and maybe he knows the AD (he says they’ve been friends for years) better than most people and felt like it was no longer a situation positive enough for him. I’m sure DeFilippo will try to “get permission (to interview under-contract coaches)” and that will be his excuse for violating the trust he felt he had with his now former coach.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3816644
Said DeFilippo, “We’re really good friends and this is a very difficult thing to do. We will find somebody who really wants to be at Boston College and will be here for the length of their contract.”
OK, surely DeFilippo will stick by his own standard/principles and NOT interview coaches who currently are under contract with other schools or professional teams. He doesn’t want a person at BC that would look at another job, but he probably will be willing to take someone who will do the same thing to another school. Just as he did not want his coach to violate that agreement he should not ask another coach to violate such an agreement. DeFilippo should only interview candidates who are not under contract with another school or a professional team. Jagodzinski did not seem to be depressed or heartbroken by his experience, and maybe he knows the AD (he says they’ve been friends for years) better than most people and felt like it was no longer a situation positive enough for him. I’m sure DeFilippo will try to “get permission (to interview under-contract coaches)” and that will be his excuse for violating the trust he felt he had with his now former coach.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3816644
Utah Attorney General Going After The BCS … Go For It!
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is beginning to take a little bit of heat for having the audacity to stand up to the BCS (Bowl Championship Series). The BCS, supposedly, is designed to get the “two best teams” in the national championship teams and to get the rest of the “best” teams in the other BCS bowl games. But, the problem (or among the problems) is that teams that are not involved in the BCS clique find themselves sort of athletically-ostracized from playing in some of the premier bowls and all but eliminated from any possibility of playing in the BCS National Championship game. The undefeated Utah college football team that won 31-17 in convincing fashion over No. 4 Alabama (a team that was on top of the rankings for a good chunk of the 2008 campaign), in the Sugar Bowl, finished its season with an undefeated record at 13-0. Utah, in spite of its unbeaten record, was ranked just sixth in the BCS standings and only seventh in the AP Top 25. The BCS conferences have a powerful monopoly that allows member schools to recruit and hoard the nation’s top recruits/players, carefully pick and choose non-BCS schools to play to ensure continued success and dominate spots in the top bowl games year after year (thereby raking in all kinds of money for themselves and for their conferences). It’s all part of the cycle that spins and spins. I can hear it now, from people bashing Shurtleff … doesn’t he have something better to do, shouldn’t he be solving crimes, he must not be too busy and so on and so forth. Shurtleff, I believe, should be commended for going after what he feels is an unjust system as long as he is doing so professionally. The BCS is a system rigged for the power conferences. Although, the uninspiring Cincinnati-Virginia Tech game that drew a horrible television viewership rating … does probably give some pause for concern on the part of BCS officials who want teams that can bring fans to the stadium and to the television screen. It’s complicated, but I still applaud Shurtleff for at least having the guts to look into the situation and challenge the establishment.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3814472
Sports Media Watch:
http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2009/01/measly-54-for-orange-bowl.html
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3814472
Sports Media Watch:
http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2009/01/measly-54-for-orange-bowl.html
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