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To The Class of 2010 (and Helen Thomas)

June 11, 2010 in Life, Politics with 2 Comments

I was recently surprised to learn that Helen Thomas was still alive.  The great irony here is that I learned this as she was killing her career.  No, I’m not making crass zombie jokes.  WhHelen Thomasen I think of a trailblazing woman who became White House Press Corps royalty and covered over 10 presidents, the name that comes to mind is Sarah McClendon (read her book Mr. President, Mr. President! ).

But alas, we’ve been stuck with Helen Thomas, front and center on the seating chart but oh-so-left otherwise, in recent years at presidential press conferences.  Until now.  Thomas went too far last week.

In case you didn’t know or care, Thomas–the so-called “dean” of reporters–destroyed her career by providing a succinct, anti-Semitic soundbite in front of a recording camera.  She feels that Israelis should “get the hell out of Palestine” and go back to Germany or Poland or America.  You know, places where they should be.  Matter of fact, why did the Jews even leave in the first place?  Ooh…

Robert Byrd: Available but call soon

But this article is about students not Thomas who was dumped from giving a commencement address at Walt Whitman High in Maryland this month.  I have been working with teenagers for years and have no clue what 18-year-old would want to hear a speech from the curmudgeony 89-year-old Thomas.  Those graduating seniors can let out a big sigh because the replacement has been chosen and it’s, ooh…, Bob Schieffer of CBS who comes in at a spry 73 years of age and was five years into AARP membership when these kids were born.  Good Lord!  Was Robert Byrd unavailable?  Sorry gang.

Here’s what I can do for you.  It’s not much but how about a few words of encouragement right here?  It’s short notice, but at least I come within 9 generations of you, and my face and cheeks actually move when I smile.  Right then, here goes.  Ahem…

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Dear Attention Behold! Yo Seniors of the class of 2010:

Today, as you reflect on days gone by we look to the future.  Congratulations on your achievements.  You have survived clueless parents, spotty cell phone service, and the American public education system, even at a school that actually wanted Helen Thomas to be here speaking to you tonight.  Continue Reading…

Should Muslims Get A Mosque At Ground Zero?

June 4, 2010 in News, Politics, Religion with 10 Comments

Should New York build an Islamic mosque near the World Trade Center site in Manhattan?  Amidst economic crisis, oil catastrophe, and the plummeting popularity of a president this heated debate has exploded onto the scene in recent weeks.  Folks keep asking me what I think, so I figured I should formulate some kind of educlayted opinion.

The argument has already gotten pretty nasty since the announcement of the project.  The issue remained somewhat quiet until a recent vote by Community Board 1 came down 29-1 in favor of the worship/community center.  A quarter of the board members abstained.

This issue comes down to two main questions.  Should Muslim leaders pursue this project?  Do they have a right to build a mosque there?  Everything beyond those two factors falls into the camp of emotions, lots of emotion.  As one protestor stated at the board hearing: “This house of evil will be the birthplace of the next terrorist event.”

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A recent caller to a talk show on a radio station which I will leave unnamed objected to the project with this statement: “Would they build a monument for Hitler next to Auschwitz?”  That’s an intense reaction.  Some folks find that comparison incredibly offensive while others find it accurate.  Nazism was short-lived and brutal.  These days the beliefs and symbols of Hitler’s regime are outlawed in Germany.  I find the Holocaust comparison somewhat off for this debate.   

Perhaps a better example would be the Japanese-American conflict of the 1940s.  It’s hard for this generation to understand the impact of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941, but that event felt a lot like 9/11 and cost a comparable number of lives.  What would you say about a project to build a Shinto temple a few hundred yards from where the U.S.S. Arizona was sunk by Japanese fighters?

Nearly a decade after Pearl Harbor, Japan and the U.S. were building a healthy relationship.  Could you imagine a Shinto priest pushing for a facility in that spot?  How would Americans have reacted then?  Let’s flip the scenario.  How do you think Japanese people would have felt about a big, ol’ catholic church right on the doorstep to the Hiroshima memorial?  Why would any American even promote such a plan?  Sounds like a slap in the face.

Allow me one more distinction between 1941 and 2011.  Pearl Harbor was a military facility staffed by men and women serving their country.  The World Trade Center was filled with civilians just working and trying to live out their free lives.

Islam is accepted by our pluralistic society, as are many other beliefs.  We tolerate opposing beliefs, but we’re under no obligation to celebrate them.  Muslims who want this facility have rights in America because heroes of this nation have shed blood by the millions to guarantee freedom.  To mere suggestion of this facility does not seem like the workings of peace but a stirring of conflict.  Lots of folks say, ”Build a mosque, just NOT THERE!”  Yet there’s another significant fact that warrants incredulity. 

The Imam and company claiming a desire to “bridge the gap” between Muslims and the rest of America want to break ground on this facility to celebrate Islam on September 11, 2011–the 10th anniversary of the attack.  Continue Reading…

Susan G. Komen Foundation Controversy

May 7, 2010 in Politics, Pop Culture with 6 Comments

I was recently taken back when someone placed an order of KFC food before me. No, I wasn’t staring at the ridiculous new Double Down, a ghastly collection of dead pig and yellow slop resting between two pieces of boneless so-called chicken. Let’s spare that for now as I’m sure Jim Gaffigan is somewhere feverishly writing one-liners for a future standup act.

Susan Komen's legacy alters skylinesThe surprise that got me thinking during mashed potatoes and gravy came from the pink lid on the familiar KFC bucket o’chicken. The company is now tied to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure, the ubiquitous cancer-fighting organization most recognizable by “pinking” everything from the equipment of professional athletes to the gushing waters of the fountain in Pittsburgh’s Point State Park.

The first thing that struck me–other than the irony of KFC promoting an organization most certainly supportive of healthy dietary choices–was how huge this pinking movement has become. Who was Susan G. Komen anyway?

I wasn’t surprised to learn that Ms. Komen had suffered and been taken (in 1980) by the very cancer her namesake organization combats. Her sister, Nancy Brinker, promised to do everything she could to end breast cancer forever.

Fight Cancer & Offend Chickens

According to their website, they’ve invested nearly $1.5 billion in cancer research since 1982. That’s a whole lotta pink ribbons, but what would you expect from “the largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.”

I was, however, a bit surprised by how much controversy has surrounded the Komen foundation in recent years. Of course there’s no way an organization with so many hands and money involved could ever escape conflict, especially one driven by passionate activists. The interesting thing is the amount of heat burning against these passionate pinkos from every direction. In short, they’ve managed to anger folks on all sides of the political spectrum.

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The very idea of partnering with KFC, which you’ll remember stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken, offended many folks right off the bat. The Washington Post produced the clearest and most useful piece on this debate. In short, the protestors argue about the wisdom of the Komen foundation locking arms with an organization known for producing less than healthy food which, by the way, usually begins with some kind of intense chicken slaughter. See how quickly you can unite medical professionals with the animal rights crowd?

Sure, KFC tosses in fifty cents for the cure with every pink bucket sold, but couldn’t the Komen group find a more sensible alternative? Personally, nothing in this debate really affects me, but as far as business decisions go we might have to qualify this one as not so bright.

While the doctors pitching in on the debate are as close to an apolitical group as we’ll find, the rest of the controversy surrounding Komen For The Cure revolves around front line issues of contention in the neverending culture wars.

Besides mechanized (or any kind of) animal slaughter, some lefties are up in arms over the fact that Komen For The Cure uses Hadassah Lieberman as a paid spokesman. If you don’t recognize the first name, you probably know the last is the same as one Senator Joseph Lieberman, the one time vice presidential candidate for the Democratic party. As most Dems will tell you, Lieberman might be the antichrist, so what would you expect from his wife right? Her sins are many, but she actually speaks on behalf of other companies like Pfizer which oppose healthcare reform. Gasp! Continue Reading…

Almost A Century Of Reagan

February 6, 2010 in History, Politics with 2 Comments

The last man to win the presidency by capturing 49 states would have turned 99 today.  The anti-Reagan movement has tossed and turned over the past two decades, but it’s quite okay to call the 40th president what he was: Super Awesome.

Here’s a small dose from a healthy batch of the kind of medicine America could use these days.  The first clip is taken from his farewell address of January 1989.  The second shortie comes from an old-fashioned press conference when reporters challenged political leaders. 

Obama’s Uh-Oh Of The Month

November 4, 2009 in News, Politics with 0 Comments

The results are in.  For those of you unaware, yesterday was actually an election day.  If you missed it, don’t worry.  It’s only the staple of our entire republican way of life in which we give all power to elected representatives in a free and fair process that is the hallmark of democracy.  Whew.  Where was I?

Oh yeah, the Democrats got trounced.  Not surprising if you read history books.  This trend is common.  As a matter of fact, you’ve perhaps heard that in all America’s history, each time a political party takes the White House (i.e. Dems in 2008), that party loses the following midterm elections.  The only two exceptions are FDR and George W. Bush.  Roosevelt had the country’s attention during the Great Depression while Bush rocked America’s approval following 9/11. 

So independents in key states broke for the GOP last night.  That simply lines up with our history, a two century string of checks and balances where the winners eventually lose and the losers can usually make a comeback.

You can read any of a thousand articles for details, but here’s the important basics you should know to gather the meaning of these elections.

  1. Obama ‘s influence takes a hit.  He personally campaigned a good deal for his party, most notably Democratic gubernatorial candidates in NJ (Corzine) and Virginia (Deeds).  They both lost even with the president’s backing.  Continue Reading…

Food, Inc. Wow.

October 28, 2009 in Politics with 9 Comments

I eat animals just about everyday.  I believe we have dominion over animals but cruelty isn’t included in that responsibility.  I think we should be good stewards of the earth but a lot of environmentalists are out and out liars.  I also feel revulsion when I see those reports about how animals are mistreated for bigtime agribusiness.  What’s an omnivore to do?

I’m challenged to consider how I feel about these things because I just finished watching Food, Inc., one of the best documentaries I’ve ever watched.  [Note: Link to view the film can be found at the end of this post].  I won’t be joining any causes anytime soon, and director Robert Kenner didn’t set out to create a propaganda piece for some organization.  The film attempts to answer one main question: Where does our food come from?

I skip most of these projects when I know I’m going to be bombarded with punishing images of sick cows and chicken massacres only to be told in the end that I’m a horrible person.  Food, Inc. is not about that.  As a matter of fact, one of the main scenes that hooked me was a brief interview early in the film with Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation). 

I expected the preaching to begin, but Schlosser (who I know very little about) was seated at a diner trying to decide what he wanted to eat.  He chose a hamburger with fries and took a healthy bite.  At once I knew I was going to hear from investigative journalists rather than preachy hypocrites.  The experts in this film are not kooks like the jokers that spend their lives getting people to hate them so they can feel good about caged animals or dying trees. 

This movie is about the veil between us and where our food comes from.  That veil is heavily guarded by massive corporations and the American government.  Surprise, surprise, Democrats and Republicans are guilty.  The animals that suffer because of a few companies, and I mean a select group dominating everything, are only part of the story.  People are hurt by this corrupt system as well.  Continue Reading…

Obama’s House Gives Censorship A Twirl

October 24, 2009 in News, Politics with 0 Comments

The White House got a kick in the pants this week from Constitution-wielding media networks.  Fitting that at Halloween time our Executive branch would attempt one of the scariest violations of democratic rights I’ve seen in my lifetime.  Obama’s had a problem with Fox News for some time now for what he feels is unfair treatment.  By unfair, he means they report the news even if it’s critical of him.  Love ’em or hate ‘em, if Fox News were making stuff up all the time, they wouldn’t be a part of the White House pool. 

The White House pool is a five network rotation of media outlets that share costs and responsibilities of covering White House happenings.  Fox News has been a part of the pool since 1997.  On Thursday, the White House tried to exclude Fox News from interviewing Obama’s pay czar Ken Feinberg.  The decision to ban a major news network from the president’s administration is stunning, and I don’t mean stunning as in “look at Kate Beckinsale!”  I’m talking stunning as in here’s a taser right to the gut of First Amendment rights. 

Remember Thomas Jefferson’s take on the importance of the press?  If you’ve never read this before, here you go.

“The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.” — Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1787.

Well, here comes the good part of this story.  The other members of the D.C. press put aside partisan obsession and decided that Jefferson was right and Obama’s White House is wrong.  ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN refused to interview Feinberg if Fox was to be ostracized.  The White House caved.  How cool is that? Continue Reading…

Obama Get Nobel Peace Prize, Plans War In Middle East

October 9, 2009 in History, News, Politics with 0 Comments

The AP headline this morning read “In A Surprise, Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize.”  In related news, other shocking announcements reveal that the sun rose, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers again, and David Letterman isn’t perfect.  Quite frankly, I was more surprised this morning at how much Fruity Pebbles we had left.

A white-knuckled, teeth clenched Chelsea Clinton told reporters that “No, really, mom and dad are thrilled for the president.  They have in no way turned the living room into an MMA fighting arena.”

Many observers won’t be stunned that Obama was given a Nobel.  He has gone to great pains to hook up with the rest of the world, but you’re not gonna have to find Glenn Beck on the radio to hear someone question the merits of this award.  Questions are already popping this week about Obama’s relationship with the left-wing media.  Wolf Blitzer’s beard almost came off as he condemned Saturday Night Live’s sendup of the president’s year one lack of accomplishments.  Early reaction to this morning’s announcement is drawing more criticism.

Newsweek blogger David A. Graham doesn’t share the Prize Committee’s zeal.  In an article detailing some other controversial selections, Graham points out that it’s a bit early for such acclaim.  After all, didn’t Arizona State University feel Obama shouldn’t even get an honorary degree?  Furthermore, the author notes, “Obama is likely to order thousands more troops into a warzone within weeks.” 

The president’s supporters have been picking up criticism lately over Obama’s escalation of the war in Afghanistan and his failure to close Guantanamo or even release prisoners anywhere near the rate of the Bush administration.  While Obama draws ire from his base, he ain’t exactly gathering new supporters from the right.  One might suggest that Obama could end up a man without a country, but that’s not the case.  Tons of countries love him; he just isn’t doing so well in America. 

You can expect a parade of skepticism from all over the world similar to that of Lech Walesa, former President of Poland, the baddest Pole I’ve ever met, and 1983 Nobel Peace laureate.  “So soon?   Too early. [Obama] has no contribution so far.  He is still at an early stage.  He is only beginning to act.” 

I can’t seem to find any lines in there to read between.

The AP makes this business sound like dog training.  The peace prize committe meant to scold former President Bush while luring the young president with a Nobel bone.  “Come on Obama.  You’re doing good!  Keep it up!”  If the criticism ever gets too tough, die-hards can always fall back on the comforting knowledge that Obama only makes mistakes because of what George Bush did to America. Continue Reading…

Summit Madness

September 23, 2009 in News, Politics with 5 Comments

We are off and rolling here in Pittsburgh, The City of Champions and unlikely host to the international conference that is your G-20 Summit.  Well, get in the fast lane grandma cause the bingo game is ready to roll, and the real story of this event has begun to unfold.  We’re talking about the protestors, thKDKAose crazy cats so popular among the young and rebellious, so annoying to everyone else with jobs.   

Some environmentalists got things started today.  A few members of Green Peace decided to unfurl a massive sign over the side of the West End Bridge.  Four of the Greenies then repelled to the base of the sign to hang out for a while, grab a lot of early attention, and generally warn us all that nature is doomed and we’re the doomers.  Hey don’t blame me GP, I sometimes prefer paper over plastic after driving my SUV to a food conglomerate retail center to buy chemically enhanced meat.

Something tells me we’re just getting started.  Many world leaders are arriving as I type, streets are being shut down, and college campuses and office buildings are being taken over as staging grounds for the heaviest presence of law enforcement this town has ever seen.  And wait until Joan Jett and the Black Hearts play an outdoor concert tonight. 

Rumor has it that other cities turned down the “opportunity” to host this event.  I can’t imagine Obama offered the Summit to anyone before giving Chicago a chance.  I guess other major metropolis types didn’t want the headache.  This town just doesn’t know any better.  Now the eyes of the world are upon us.  Pittsburghers are a nutty bunch, but they may have met their match.

We have a beautiful city here, the only one ever named most livable twice.  International reporters already in town have commended their hosts  and the beauty of the city.  That last one may be a little unexpected, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better entrance into a major American city than the panorama unfolding as you emerge from the Fort Pitt Tunnels.

Speaking of those tunnels, police foiled another protestor plot down there a little while ago.  From the looks of things, these folks were gunnin’ to make something happen on that mountain.  Maybe they wanted to emerge ala Moses, a righteous leader descending into a land of sinners, a spectacle of lust and greed that is corporate capitalism and modern politics.

Villains of this ilk hide behind their sparkling facades adorned with logos of the damned, names like GAP and APPLE.  Don’t believe me?  Hop on over to Shadyside, a ritzy little town as “enlightened” as it gets, a cozy spot where you can sip $6 lattes while sporting the latest in eyewear frames.  Along the posh streets of Shadyside, business owners are directing contractors in last minute preparations for the aggression that is to come.  Apparently there is a list, a target sheet if you will, of those major conglomerates so happy to destroy the earth while defecating on the poor. Continue Reading…

Replacing The Democrat’s Mascot

September 17, 2009 in Politics, Pop Culture with 3 Comments

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The democrats current icon.

Andrew Jackson had plenty of enemies by the time he became president in 1828.  The Age of Jackson is also the age in which politics started to get Nasty.  His opponents even called him a “jackass.”  Jackson liked it so much he adopted it as his party’s logo. 

We live in a new age now where nasty politics is simply what we do for breakfast.  Thanks to Kanye West, we know that imbecilic, egomaniacal buffoonery is what we do for a nightcap. 

President Obama may have thought the recorders weren’t rolling a few days ago when he rightly slammed the hip hop fool, but as Richard Nixon once learned there is no such thing as “off the record” for the POTUS.

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According to Obama, the new “jackass” in town.
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