Please please please, don’t let “Johnny B Goode” be the Kerry/Edwards campaign theme. I like Chuck Berry, but there are few things less inspiring than the sight of a bunch of baby boomers cheering while the words “GO JOHNNY GO” are flashed on a giant screen. Both of them are named “John”…we get it.
As a liberal, let me go down on record as saying that the uproar over Teresa Heinz Kerry’s “shove it” remark is unfair. This is America, dammit, and we can say anything that we want here. Call me crazy, but I look forward to having a first lady who’s tough and speaks her mind.
While I’m on the subject, let me also say that Arnold’s Schwartzenegger’s “girlie men” remark was vile and uncalled for. This is America, dammit, and there’s no room for that kind of filth in the public square. Call me partisan, but the governorship is no place for him to display his “tough guy” act.
Okay, so I’ve got a really low-quality stream of the senate Convention on, so I could be mistaken….but I could swear that they just cut to a shot of pro-wrestler Mick Foley in the middle of the National Anthem.
And speaking of the National Anthem, couldn’t they have found someone to sing it who could carry a tune? The Miss Teen USA or whoever they got to sing it reminded me of a ban American Idol audition. Granted, it’s a an improvement over Mr Miyagi’s performance from four years ago, but that’s not saying much.
Remember the post I did last month about the Bush campaign using a clip from the Oscars without permission? Roger Ebert’s most recent “Movie Answer Man” column has the final word on that mini-scandal :
Q. Regarding the Bush campaign’s new TV ad, “Kerry’s Coalition of the Wild-eyed”: I linked to a script of the spot, and noticed that they are using what’s described as a “video clip” from the 2003 Oscars, when Michael Moore berated George W. Bush.I’ve always understood that Academy is extremely vigilant about protecting its copyright, and permits clips from the Oscars to be rebroadcast only in very special cases (for example, when a presenter or recipient dies). If the Oscar clip really is in the Bush ad, does this mean AMPAS has relaxed its licensing/usage policy? If not, will its leaders demand that Bush & Co. cease and desist?
A. Bruce Davis, executive director of the Oscars, replies: “Your correspondent is correct that the Academy prefers that the copyrighted footage from its shows be reused — following the brief grace period immediately after each broadcast — only in the context of obituaries or definitive biographies. We are not enthusiastic about clips from our broadcast being used in political ads, whether they’re blue, red, green or any other hue, but we’ve been advised by our attorneys that the clip in the Bush ad is short enough, and oddly enough political enough, to be protected under the fair use doctrine.
“Fair use trumps copyright infringement. So while we’re not happy about what we regard as a misappropriation of our material, there doesn’t seem to be much that we can do about it beyond grousing in the columns of movie critics, when we get the chance.”
I’m still surprised the mainstrem news never picked up on this. It seems like one of those “tempest in a teapot” style scandals that they love hyping to death.
In case you were wondering why the 9/11 Report is being sold in bookstores, the first paragraph of the first chapter is a good indication of how this thing reads :
Tuesday, September 11, 2001, dawned temperate and nearly cloudless in the eastern United States. Millions of men and women readied themselves for work. Some made their way to the Twin Towers, the signature structures of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Others went to Arlington,Virginia, to the Pentagon. Across the Potomac River, the United States Congress was back in session. At the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, people began to line up for a White House tour. In Sarasota, Florida, President George W. Bush went for an early morning run.
After reading that, I couldn’t help but think “I wonder if this report has any sex scenes or car chases?” Or maybe an old detective character who’s been an alcoholic ever since his brother/partner was killed while on a case. Having skipped to the end, I see that the hero wasn’t able to get there in time to save the day.
From what I’ve read of the report so far, the examination of what went wrong can pretty much be summed up by this paragraph from the chapter “The System Was Blinking Red” :
In sum, the domestic agencies never mobilized in response to the threat. They did not have direction, and did not have a plan to institute.The borders were not hardened.Transportation systems were not fortified. Electronic surveillance was not targeted against a domestic threat.54 State and local law enforcement were not marshaled to augment the FBI?s efforts.The public was not warned.
I sure am glad the President “looks forward” to “studying” this report. Maybe later we can quiz him on it.
Just because the economy isn’t getting worse doesn’t mean it’s booming. For a good example, check out these bits from the DNC website :
Nearly the Entire Increase in Employment is Part Time. Morgan Stanley found that, “according to the household survey of the US labor market, the growth in the number at work part time - both for economic and non-economic reasons - accounted for 97% of the cumulative increase in total employment over the past four months.” [Morgan Stanley, 7/9/04]Jobs Recovery Weaker than Average Gains. Americans are currently experiencing the worst jobless recovery of the post-World War II ear. The Morgan Stanley report found, “from the trough of the last recession in November 2001 through June 2004, private nonfarm payrolls have now risen a paltry 0.2% This stands in sharp contrast to the nearly 7.5% increase recorded, on average, over the same 31-month interval of the six preceding recoveries. [Morgan Stanley, 7/9/04]
81 Percent of total Job Growth Over the Past Year Was Concentrated in Low-End Industries. The Morgan Stanley report indicates that job creation over the past year has been in low-end industries. The report shows, “it turns out that fully 81% of total job growth over the past year was concentrated in low-end occupations.” [Morgan Stanley, 7/9/04]
And if that’s not enough to convince you that Bush’s economic policies aren’t “working”, check out this map :
No that’s not the result of some election polling data (though I did use one of those interactive maps to make the chart). In the map above, the areas marked in red are states in which the unemployment rate is worse than it was when the recession began in March 2001. The three blue states are where the rate is better, and the white state in where the rate is unchanged. (Source)
With unemployment still high and new jobs being weak in terms of creation and quality, here’s what the president has to say about how we’re doing :
The economy is strong. It is getting stronger. The tax relief we passed is working
If there’s a fine line between “optimism” and “delusion”, I think the president just crossed it.
Man, that Sept. 11th Commission report is hot stuff, huh? The clip of Bush they showed this morning prior to the press conference made it look like Bush was avoiding the question about whether or not he would be following through on the Commission’s recommendations :
And the report that they are about to present to me puts out some very constructive recommendations. And I look forward to studying their recommendations and look forward to working with responsible parties within my administration to move forward on those recommendations.As well, we look forward to working with the Congress on the implementation of ways to do our duty. And the most important duty we have is the security of our fellow countrymen.
In the video at least, Bush remarks reminded me of Bush’s plans to “come up with a plan” during the 2000 debates. It also made me realize a consistent theme is Bush’s language. That he loves to answer specific questions with vague statements about what he “look[s] forward to” talking about or working on :
“I look forward to working closely with you to achieve peace and freedom.”“I look forward to talking to you about the need to have a press corps that is vibrant and free, as well as an open political process.”
“I look forward to discussing our progress in ridding the world of this great threat to civilization.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with all responsibility parties in the region, starting to insist that they work with us to stop this terror.”
“I look forward to constructive conversation today and working together constructively throughout the year.”
“I look forward to discussing that with the American people.”
“I look forward to working with you to do the right thing for our friends on the continent of Africa.”
“I look forward to a very frank and constructive dialogue about how to continue our common pursuit against terror.”
“I look forward to a good dialogue on subjects that are on the members’ minds and on my mind.”
“I look forward to working with you to get something done.”
“I look forward to continuing our dialogue in a spirit of cooperation and friendship.”
“I look forward to working with him to advance a bold initiative.”
“I look forward to talking about our need to work together to accomplish some important goals.”
“I look forward to fruitful discussions on the various issues affecting our two nations.”
“I look forward to discussing with you a wide range of issues of our — of mutual concern.”
Now that Bush is an incumbent, it’ll be interesting to see if he can still resort to his little non-answer. I’d love to see John Kerry call him on it in the debates by saying something like “Stop telling us about what you look forward to doing. I want to know what you’ve already done.” Unfortunately, the answer to that question is “not enough”.
No she doesn’t. Here’s what Cho’s got to say about Courtney Love bashers :
This is unfair. I was speaking to another feminist, whose opinion I hold in high regard. She admitted, quite casually, that she hated Courtney Love. When pressed for a reason why, she stammered over her words, not realizing that she might be taken to task for her own misogyny. She couldn’t come up with an acceptable one, other than “I just love to hate her.” But what for? Courtney Love is an incredible artist who has endured public derision and scorn for well over a decade. What man could survive that? Yet in any real way, the feminist majority has yet to come to her defense. No one has come forward with the simple statement “Why is it with such ease that I am hating another woman?”
Courtney Love is a selfish, hypocritical opportunist. That’s why. And what makes things even worse is the fact that she doesn’t seem to stand for anything.
She sued her record company ostensibly to stick up for artist’s rights, but then settled as soon as she could and left all the people whose causes she pretended to champion floundering. For all her talk about being “a smart gal with a fat bank account who is unafraid to go down in flames fighting for a principle”, those immoral record companies didn’t seem to bother her as much once UMG started waving a new contract under her nose. Her pledge to work with other artists to “look for solutions to the problems we face in the music industry” rings as hollow as O.J.’s search for the “real killers”.
She rode the wave of riot grrrl bands to success while priding herself on her individuality, but spent the last few years getting so much plastic surgery that she’s barely recognizable. She’s spent the last ten years being obnoxious and relishing in the publicity that it provides her, yet is the first person to play the “sexism” card the moment the media isn’t manipulated to her benefit. Sorry, but I can’t think of anything less feminist than using your gender as a way to shield yourself from responsibility for your actions.
So I can’t speak for the rest of the world that loathes Courtney Love, but what really drives me nuts about her is the fact that her knee jerk defense to almost every criticism is that people wouldn’t be criticizing her if she were male. I’m very open to arguments that women are held up to extra scrutiny due to sexist double-standards, but as far as I’m concerned, Courtney used up all her goodwill in the mid-90’s. Based on what I’ve seen in the media, she’s got some serious mental and substance abuse problems which should afford her a certain amount of pity, but that doesn’t mean that she’s any less accountable for her behavior than the rest of us.
The Republicans have launched a new anti-Kerry/Edwards site called DemsExtremeMakeover.com. What makes it so hilarious is that there’s a TV show with a name like that too! Isn’t that weird?! I wonder if the two are related at all….
On the TV show, people who have been told they were ugly all their lives to the point that they wanna kill themselves have their insecurities exploited by having every type of cosmetic surgery available. The website is about calling the Democrats poopoo-heads or something. The GOP sure does know how to cash in on a hit, huh? If I were Ed Gillespie, my next move would be to start a site called “Compassionate Eye For The Asshole Guy” to help Republicans who are indifferent to everyone’s problems but their own learn how to pretend to give a shit about human suffering.
Big thanks to my friend Brian for pointing me in the direction of the police auction site StealItBack.com. Browsing the listings there is like attending a really shitty garage sale. While their listings include standard garage sale crap like old jean jackets, broken VCRs (”for parts”), and videos of movies you’d never want to watch, the real gems are the random collections of stuff grouped together. Some of my favorites :
Three gun bags, a scooter, & a fishing poleCar Stereo, 6 Bungee Cords, & A Hammer
A Tori Amos CD, an Enigma CD, and a Dolphin Figurine (Okay, this one makes sense)
A foot brace, a toy helicopter, and a clock
Six car stereo faceplates and a Steve Winwood cassette
What’s even more puzzling however is that there are a lot of “horticultural” supplies for sale. So lemme get this straight. The 5-0 will throw Chong in jail for selling a glass tube, but they’re selling the equipment people need to grow a crop of marijuana in their apartment?
