Monday, April 12, 2004
STERN II
Just a quick update on Stern- or a qualification if you like. I support Stern in fighting what I feel is a wrong headed attempt to dictate what you and I can watch and listen to.......and it is starting to get scary. I don't want the government telling me what me or my children can watch or listen to- I'll decide that for myself. Having said that, Stern is way over the line in his constant tin-hat-brigade diatribes against the Bush administration and I think he risks actually undermining his cause with it. Today he and Robin both said that anyone that actaully thinks about voting for Bush is stupid. How does that get people to see his side ? I think you can support Bush and Stern and not be intellectually dishonest.
Just a quick update on Stern- or a qualification if you like. I support Stern in fighting what I feel is a wrong headed attempt to dictate what you and I can watch and listen to.......and it is starting to get scary. I don't want the government telling me what me or my children can watch or listen to- I'll decide that for myself. Having said that, Stern is way over the line in his constant tin-hat-brigade diatribes against the Bush administration and I think he risks actually undermining his cause with it. Today he and Robin both said that anyone that actaully thinks about voting for Bush is stupid. How does that get people to see his side ? I think you can support Bush and Stern and not be intellectually dishonest.
I might as well weigh in on Howard Stern. I've been listening to him almost every day since my Stay at Home Dad duties started. I've also been trying to follow what's been going on with the FCC, Clear Channel , et al.
I take a somwhat narrower view of all of this than Stern does. I do think that what is happening here is ludicrous and extra-legal. the thing to remember is that the FCC is a federal bureacracy just like the DMV or the Post Office. These people need to justify theri existance and their budget every year. While the commisioners come and go, the staffers are lifers. Some of these people have had a bug up their ass for Howard for over ten years. The other irony is that the guy leading the charge on this is Michael Copps, a Democrat appointed by Clinton.
I think it's a concern that the FCC can fine someone for violating rules that aren't spelled out and that there does appear to be a double standard targeting Stern. But this has nothing to with President Bush and to suggest that it does is laughable. Stern has every incentive to play this to the hilt and drive up ratings while looking like a martyr but this is not a free speech issue. Let's get this straight- Howard Stern does not have the right to say whatever he wants on the radio. No one does. If he thinks he should have that right, fine. He should be able to litigate that ( he doesn't now and that's also a concern). But he acts like this is out of the blue and that he hans't been complicit in making himself a target.
I take a somwhat narrower view of all of this than Stern does. I do think that what is happening here is ludicrous and extra-legal. the thing to remember is that the FCC is a federal bureacracy just like the DMV or the Post Office. These people need to justify theri existance and their budget every year. While the commisioners come and go, the staffers are lifers. Some of these people have had a bug up their ass for Howard for over ten years. The other irony is that the guy leading the charge on this is Michael Copps, a Democrat appointed by Clinton.
I think it's a concern that the FCC can fine someone for violating rules that aren't spelled out and that there does appear to be a double standard targeting Stern. But this has nothing to with President Bush and to suggest that it does is laughable. Stern has every incentive to play this to the hilt and drive up ratings while looking like a martyr but this is not a free speech issue. Let's get this straight- Howard Stern does not have the right to say whatever he wants on the radio. No one does. If he thinks he should have that right, fine. He should be able to litigate that ( he doesn't now and that's also a concern). But he acts like this is out of the blue and that he hans't been complicit in making himself a target.
PRESS TO PLAY
Good Morning !
You know, I have to hand it to Bill Press. He's amazingly consistent. He never undermines my faith in him. He always comes through in the clutch. He's the biggest IGNORANT ASS working as a syndicated columinst today.
His most recent syndie is entitled: " Don't let preacher decide your vote" ( ed. - actually I don't even know if that's what it's entitled or what the Snooze-Urinal called it ) Fair enough- not much to argue with yet. Just wait.
Press starts his diatribe with this sentence " Kerry has to overcome the intolerance of Catholic bishops toward a candidate who doesn't follow every teaching of the church" . Not ony is that not true but he clearly means the big A- abortion.
He comes right out and says it in the next sentence" We're ( the bishops) afraid you won't take orders from the pope once you get to the White House, on one single isses- abortion". Hey, Bill , it isn't about taking orders - the church has deemed abortion a sin and said that you cannot be a good practicing Catholic and support abortion. What is so hard to understand about that ?
And the idiocy continues " The Catholic Church also opposes the death penalty and the pope opposed the war in Iraq. Yet there are no threats against politicians who endorse capital punishment or supported the invasion of Iraq." This is like talking to my four year old. Yes, Bill , that's because the Church has issued an official doctrine regarding abortion while it has not regarding capital punishment; the pope's opinion regarding Iraq is clearly not official Church policy. A reasearch assistant would really help a lot in getting your facts straight. Or maybe that's not on your agenda just now. Here's the money quote: The truth is good Catholics disagree on choice.........Vatican II, in fact, recognized what it called "" Freedom of Conscience"" among Catholics." There isn't one true sentence in there. The Church has offically stated that you cant' be a " good " Catholic and support abortion and " freedom of conscience" applies only to specific circumstances - in this case, not abortion. There's more- " John Kerry can be pro-choice and still be a practicing Catholic". It's nice to know Bill Press has elected himself to the College of Cardinals. Yes, John Kerry can be pro-abortion and go to church but according to Catholic doctrine he will not be in good standing. Maybe Bill can fix that when he gets to Vatican City. He then goes on to say that bishops, or any clergy , have no right to tell their flocks how to vote and that's it's an " outrageous " violation of church and state.
The point of all of this isn't about John Kerry. I'm not a church official and I don't deign to decide whether he should attend Mass or not. In fact, I don't care if he attends Mass or not. That's between him and God. This about Bill Press and his continual assault on common sense and the intellect of the people who read his columns. He's been a working journalist for over twent years so I refuse to believe that he is incapable of writing a factual column on this issue. This is inside the Beltway laziness, pure and simple , with the added curse of a vitrrolic opposition to anything that doesn't conform to his liberal viewpoint. All it would have taken was a phone call to a priest or the press office at his local Catholic diocese to understand the differances between Church doctrine and the pope's opinion and the concept of " freedomg of conscience " as layed out by Vatican II. But that's too much to expect to expect from Bill Press. He has demonstrated time and time again that he is lazy, incompetant, and an ignorant ass.
Good Morning !
You know, I have to hand it to Bill Press. He's amazingly consistent. He never undermines my faith in him. He always comes through in the clutch. He's the biggest IGNORANT ASS working as a syndicated columinst today.
His most recent syndie is entitled: " Don't let preacher decide your vote" ( ed. - actually I don't even know if that's what it's entitled or what the Snooze-Urinal called it ) Fair enough- not much to argue with yet. Just wait.
Press starts his diatribe with this sentence " Kerry has to overcome the intolerance of Catholic bishops toward a candidate who doesn't follow every teaching of the church" . Not ony is that not true but he clearly means the big A- abortion.
He comes right out and says it in the next sentence" We're ( the bishops) afraid you won't take orders from the pope once you get to the White House, on one single isses- abortion". Hey, Bill , it isn't about taking orders - the church has deemed abortion a sin and said that you cannot be a good practicing Catholic and support abortion. What is so hard to understand about that ?
And the idiocy continues " The Catholic Church also opposes the death penalty and the pope opposed the war in Iraq. Yet there are no threats against politicians who endorse capital punishment or supported the invasion of Iraq." This is like talking to my four year old. Yes, Bill , that's because the Church has issued an official doctrine regarding abortion while it has not regarding capital punishment; the pope's opinion regarding Iraq is clearly not official Church policy. A reasearch assistant would really help a lot in getting your facts straight. Or maybe that's not on your agenda just now. Here's the money quote: The truth is good Catholics disagree on choice.........Vatican II, in fact, recognized what it called "" Freedom of Conscience"" among Catholics." There isn't one true sentence in there. The Church has offically stated that you cant' be a " good " Catholic and support abortion and " freedom of conscience" applies only to specific circumstances - in this case, not abortion. There's more- " John Kerry can be pro-choice and still be a practicing Catholic". It's nice to know Bill Press has elected himself to the College of Cardinals. Yes, John Kerry can be pro-abortion and go to church but according to Catholic doctrine he will not be in good standing. Maybe Bill can fix that when he gets to Vatican City. He then goes on to say that bishops, or any clergy , have no right to tell their flocks how to vote and that's it's an " outrageous " violation of church and state.
The point of all of this isn't about John Kerry. I'm not a church official and I don't deign to decide whether he should attend Mass or not. In fact, I don't care if he attends Mass or not. That's between him and God. This about Bill Press and his continual assault on common sense and the intellect of the people who read his columns. He's been a working journalist for over twent years so I refuse to believe that he is incapable of writing a factual column on this issue. This is inside the Beltway laziness, pure and simple , with the added curse of a vitrrolic opposition to anything that doesn't conform to his liberal viewpoint. All it would have taken was a phone call to a priest or the press office at his local Catholic diocese to understand the differances between Church doctrine and the pope's opinion and the concept of " freedomg of conscience " as layed out by Vatican II. But that's too much to expect to expect from Bill Press. He has demonstrated time and time again that he is lazy, incompetant, and an ignorant ass.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Day By Day by Chris Muir, cartoon for: 4/1/2004
This is a pretty neat e-strip. A antidote to that bitter lefty Garry Trudeau who ran out of original ideas around 1982. The artist is actively seeking exposure so check it out.
This is a pretty neat e-strip. A antidote to that bitter lefty Garry Trudeau who ran out of original ideas around 1982. The artist is actively seeking exposure so check it out.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
UPDATE:
I'll be expanding on my NAACp posting in an article for USELESSKNOWLEDGE.COM very very soon
I'll be expanding on my NAACp posting in an article for USELESSKNOWLEDGE.COM very very soon
HERE'S PART OF MY MOST RECENT ARTICLE FOR USELESSKNOWLEDGE.COM
> Boy, just when you thought is was safe to come out of your spider hole and dig out of the rhetorical rubble known as the Democratic primaries, along come the Culture Wars to liven things up again. And what a week it’s been already: Howard Stern getting bitch slapped, the President coming out in support of offending (I mean amending) the Constitution, and Mel’s Masterpiece hitting the popcorn circuit. Geez, with the Oscars on Sunday this week could turn out to rival the halcyon days of the mid Eighties when Jim and Tammy Faye were playing King of the Moral High Ground with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. There’s a lot to be said for each of these stellar events and that’s going to happen. They also won’t be going anywhere for a while. The mainstream media’s (predictable) reaction to each of these debacles is also fodder for a lot of hilarity as well.
> Boy, just when you thought is was safe to come out of your spider hole and dig out of the rhetorical rubble known as the Democratic primaries, along come the Culture Wars to liven things up again. And what a week it’s been already: Howard Stern getting bitch slapped, the President coming out in support of offending (I mean amending) the Constitution, and Mel’s Masterpiece hitting the popcorn circuit. Geez, with the Oscars on Sunday this week could turn out to rival the halcyon days of the mid Eighties when Jim and Tammy Faye were playing King of the Moral High Ground with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. There’s a lot to be said for each of these stellar events and that’s going to happen. They also won’t be going anywhere for a while. The mainstream media’s (predictable) reaction to each of these debacles is also fodder for a lot of hilarity as well.
I received the NAACP's 2004 National Survey on Race, Gender, And Equality in America last week and haven't had time to post about it until now. How in the world I got on their mailing list is beyond me. I'm on a lot of mailing lists but.......
The survey is ridiculous. If the NAACP's goal is to try to attract more people to its side, it failed miserably. Now, I'm not stupid enough to think that the NAACP is merely interested in my opinion. They want my money too. This is clearly a fund rasing letter. That's cool and I respect that. But they sure have an odd way of appealing to people. I'm either on some weird lists or this is another example of how elite organizations engage in group think and just assume that everyone generally agrees with them and that no "right " thinking person could possibly find the leftist bias inherant in this "survey"
The survey is ridiculous. If the NAACP's goal is to try to attract more people to its side, it failed miserably. Now, I'm not stupid enough to think that the NAACP is merely interested in my opinion. They want my money too. This is clearly a fund rasing letter. That's cool and I respect that. But they sure have an odd way of appealing to people. I'm either on some weird lists or this is another example of how elite organizations engage in group think and just assume that everyone generally agrees with them and that no "right " thinking person could possibly find the leftist bias inherant in this "survey"
Monday, February 02, 2004
THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE QUIET SOLITUDE OF A MONDAY MORNING, LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE SNOWY FRONT YARD OF CAMP PREAKNESS WHILE THE BABY NAPS. GREAT BIG BANK NOW KNOWS WHERE IT STANDS IN THE GRAND PANTHEON OF THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE.
WATCHED THE SUPER BOWL LAST NIGHT -EVERY JOT AND TITTLE. THE GAME WAS GREAT BUT THE COMMERCIALS WERE PRETTY FORGETTABLE. HOW FORGETTABLE ? I REMEMBER LIKING ONE AND CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS ABOUT OR WHAT IT WAS FOR. SHE'S SLEEPING NOW- AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF OF BREAKFAST AND PLAY AND THAT AFTER TEN HOURS OF SLEEP. IT MUST BE EXHAUSTING TO BE A CHILD. SLEEP , LIKE YOUTH, IS ALSO WASTED ON THE YOUNG. THE IN-LAWS WERE HERE THIS WEEKEND AND GAVE THE WIFE AND I THE NIGHT OFF. SO, OFF TO THE MOVIES. SMARTLY BOUGHT THE TICKETS EARLY AND THEN PARADED THROUGH THE COLD PARKING LOT WITH HALF OF THE TEENAGERS IN DE INTO THE BEHEMOTH THEATER. " COLD MOUNTAIN" .............. I READ THE BOOK AWHILE AGO AND REMEMBER LIKING IT BUT NOT MUCH ELSE. THE MOVIE WAS GOOD- LUSH CINEMATOGRAPHY, LUSH NICKY KIDMAN ( A LITTLE TOO LUSH, IN FACT). THAT, TOO ME , WAS THE ONLY PART OF THE FLICK THAT RAN FALSE. EVERY ONE ELSE WAS DUTIFULLY GRUBBY, ESPECIALLY RENEE ZELLWIGGER, BUT NICOLE KIDMAN,M IN SPITE OF HARSH CONDITIONS, A PISS POOR DIET, AND THE NORMAL TRAVAILS OF LIVING IN BACK WOODS, RURAL NC IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, WAS GORGEOUS. DIDN'T QUITE WORK FOR ME BUT OVERALL I LIKED THE MOVIE- GOOD STORY AND NEAT CAMEO APPEARANCES. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN CONTINUES TO PROVE WHY HE'S SO GOOD.
ONE OTHER SUPER BOWL NOTE- I WAS PUTTING NUMBER 1 SON TO BED AND MISSED THE JANET- BOOB FALDEROL BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION- IF IT WAS AN ACCIDENT , WHY DID SHE HAVE A HUGE DECORATIVE STAR MEDALLION ON HER NIPPLE? THE APOLOGIES ARE LAUGHABLE AND I HOPE THEY'RE INTENDED AS SUCH. MY INTELLIGENCE DOESN'T NEED TO BE INSULTED BY MTV THESE DAYS, I'M NOT 15 ANYMORE !@
WATCHED THE SUPER BOWL LAST NIGHT -EVERY JOT AND TITTLE. THE GAME WAS GREAT BUT THE COMMERCIALS WERE PRETTY FORGETTABLE. HOW FORGETTABLE ? I REMEMBER LIKING ONE AND CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS ABOUT OR WHAT IT WAS FOR. SHE'S SLEEPING NOW- AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF OF BREAKFAST AND PLAY AND THAT AFTER TEN HOURS OF SLEEP. IT MUST BE EXHAUSTING TO BE A CHILD. SLEEP , LIKE YOUTH, IS ALSO WASTED ON THE YOUNG. THE IN-LAWS WERE HERE THIS WEEKEND AND GAVE THE WIFE AND I THE NIGHT OFF. SO, OFF TO THE MOVIES. SMARTLY BOUGHT THE TICKETS EARLY AND THEN PARADED THROUGH THE COLD PARKING LOT WITH HALF OF THE TEENAGERS IN DE INTO THE BEHEMOTH THEATER. " COLD MOUNTAIN" .............. I READ THE BOOK AWHILE AGO AND REMEMBER LIKING IT BUT NOT MUCH ELSE. THE MOVIE WAS GOOD- LUSH CINEMATOGRAPHY, LUSH NICKY KIDMAN ( A LITTLE TOO LUSH, IN FACT). THAT, TOO ME , WAS THE ONLY PART OF THE FLICK THAT RAN FALSE. EVERY ONE ELSE WAS DUTIFULLY GRUBBY, ESPECIALLY RENEE ZELLWIGGER, BUT NICOLE KIDMAN,M IN SPITE OF HARSH CONDITIONS, A PISS POOR DIET, AND THE NORMAL TRAVAILS OF LIVING IN BACK WOODS, RURAL NC IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, WAS GORGEOUS. DIDN'T QUITE WORK FOR ME BUT OVERALL I LIKED THE MOVIE- GOOD STORY AND NEAT CAMEO APPEARANCES. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN CONTINUES TO PROVE WHY HE'S SO GOOD.
ONE OTHER SUPER BOWL NOTE- I WAS PUTTING NUMBER 1 SON TO BED AND MISSED THE JANET- BOOB FALDEROL BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION- IF IT WAS AN ACCIDENT , WHY DID SHE HAVE A HUGE DECORATIVE STAR MEDALLION ON HER NIPPLE? THE APOLOGIES ARE LAUGHABLE AND I HOPE THEY'RE INTENDED AS SUCH. MY INTELLIGENCE DOESN'T NEED TO BE INSULTED BY MTV THESE DAYS, I'M NOT 15 ANYMORE !@
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Watchng John Kerry on the the talk shows this morning - a few observations:
1. He seems to be making a conscious effort to smile- and I mean conscious. Smiling doesn't appear to be at or near the top of the list of emotional reactions that Kerry has to any single event.
2. He's adopted a Dean-without-the- baggage persona in NH that I'm sure will help him pick up some of the undecided votes before Tuesday. He's careful not to say that Bush misled the country into war but doesn't hold his tongue much beyond that. His premise on the war seems to be that Bush promised three things: a exhaustion of all diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation, a "strong viable " coalition ( presumably one that includes France and Germany), and - oh well I cant remember the third one but it was equally fatuous. I dont' remember Bush promising anybody those conditions and even if he did, I think you can make a strong argument that he more than fulfilled those expectations. John Kerry disagrees.
Game on
1. He seems to be making a conscious effort to smile- and I mean conscious. Smiling doesn't appear to be at or near the top of the list of emotional reactions that Kerry has to any single event.
2. He's adopted a Dean-without-the- baggage persona in NH that I'm sure will help him pick up some of the undecided votes before Tuesday. He's careful not to say that Bush misled the country into war but doesn't hold his tongue much beyond that. His premise on the war seems to be that Bush promised three things: a exhaustion of all diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation, a "strong viable " coalition ( presumably one that includes France and Germany), and - oh well I cant remember the third one but it was equally fatuous. I dont' remember Bush promising anybody those conditions and even if he did, I think you can make a strong argument that he more than fulfilled those expectations. John Kerry disagrees.
Game on
Saturday, January 10, 2004
I think ! agree w/ Jonah Goldberg's take on the whole immigration " reform " issue presented by President Bush this week. I say " think" because I also believe it's way too early in this process to pass a final judgement on how this will play out. The bottom line is too often conservatives become beholden to the theory that the good is the enemy of the perfect. Practical reality seems to be this President's forte and I applaud him for even daring to go down this road. Like the recent Medicare " reform " that he rolled out, the hue and cry from both ends of the political spectrum indicate to me that he has gotten this one just about right where he needs it to be. That's Centrism, folks .........
Thursday, January 01, 2004
THE LAST GOOD DAY OF THE YEAR
The countdown is on and I'm officially on the clock at Great Big Bank. I've cheerfully given my notice - last day is the 9th.
I'm going to be changing the name of this blog ( or creating a new one ) due primarily to the fact that I've lost faith in the whole concept of Common Ground thanks in no small part to Dr. Dave. Lileks has summed up my feeling perfectly this week about liberalism's move to the outer reaches of looneydoom. I concur
I'm also embarking on a new challenge here at Camp Preakness so it's seems entirely appropriate to rename and recast this space as Stay at Home Dad blog.
More on the way- Happy New Year
Ya'll ain't seen nothin' yet
The countdown is on and I'm officially on the clock at Great Big Bank. I've cheerfully given my notice - last day is the 9th.
I'm going to be changing the name of this blog ( or creating a new one ) due primarily to the fact that I've lost faith in the whole concept of Common Ground thanks in no small part to Dr. Dave. Lileks has summed up my feeling perfectly this week about liberalism's move to the outer reaches of looneydoom. I concur
I'm also embarking on a new challenge here at Camp Preakness so it's seems entirely appropriate to rename and recast this space as Stay at Home Dad blog.
More on the way- Happy New Year
Ya'll ain't seen nothin' yet
