Katie Couric re: Gen Ann E Dunwoody (old video)

June 17, 2009

Fire David Letterman Rally Pix

David Letterman the hypocritical whore (makes the sign appropriate)

Letterman – Gov Palin posts

June 17, 2009

If there is one thing perfectly clear about David Letterman is that he cannot take what he dishes out. And it says more about him than his “jokes”. His face was pink and he could barely look at the camera and it wasn’t out of shame. Or hypocrisy. How long ago did he knock up the mother of his child? Or was it done by turkey baster because he wasn’t up to the task?

Pink-faced dave was not contrite…he was outraged.

How dare someone make sexually suggestive comments about him. How dare someone call him a dirty old man who cant be trusted around teenage girls. How dare people think that ‘jokes’ about a 14 y/o girl engaging in sex acts is the only way he can make money. How dare people embarrass him at work. How dare people make him apologize…

And the reality?

He is a pervert. He shouldn’t be around teenage girls. He does rely on sexism and the sexual objectification of women to get laughs. He does say derogatory things about people because he can get away with it. And he does resort to ageist attacks on an American hero to earn a living.

He is the dictionary picture of the irrelevant old over-the-hill comedian dumbing it down to get ratings so he can justify the paycheck he’s too intellectually lazy to earn.

Take out the McCain cliches, the sexual and sexist jokes and there’s nothing to laugh at…except him.

Hence the outrage.

And the fans.

How many windows do you think he has?

Why the need to acknowledge those folks?

Adam Lambert 20/20 interview

Adam Lambert, Idol Top 10 – posts/videos

June 16, 1009

Here’s Adam Lambert’s 20/20 interview with ex-MTVer Chris Connelly from last Friday (June 12th). There was nothing shocking about the interview – Adam came across as authentic and dare I say boy nextdoor-ish. His answers were honest and straightforward and he seems to be enjoying himself. He’s doing what he has always wanted to do – be a rockstar – and is comfortable with who he is both on and off the stage. Nothing political.

One of the best things about Idol this year – besides Adam’s wonder what it will be this week performances – was that the viewing audience got to see Adam’s parents root him on and see how much pride and love for him. And he has an interesting roommate  – Kris the missionary – who had to have had his mind expanded – no matter how tolerant he went into it. In their Larry King interview with Ryan Seacrest, Kris said the message of the show was diversity and tolerance.

ALLEN: I think, seriously, like, we are really all different. And we have gotten along, like, amazingly. And so I seriously think that’s a theme. You know, and society is dealing with weird stuff like that right now, you know. And you know, we need to pull together as a society.

20/20

June 12, 2009—Combination of video and article.

Courtesy of LuBear

ADAM: It’s surprising, because I don’t think twice, for example, about my sexuality, because I’ve been living this way the whole time I’ve been in LA – the past 8 years. It’s a funny reminder that not everybody is as comfortable with it as I am.

Adam, you gay?

ADAM: Yes. I am.

What does he want to share about his sexuality?

ADAM: That I am gay. And I’m very comfortable with it. And that I have been for a very long time. [laughs] And it’s funny that people say ‘oh, he’s been hiding it.’

Did he think coming out it would limit his chances to succeeed in the competition?

ADAM: I”ve always been out. I just chose to avoid it. I wasn’t ready to address everything that I’ve ever done and reveal the most intimate details of my personality, because I was just getting use to being a figure of the public eye.

I wanted the focus to be on my ability as a singer and as an entertainer — not on my private life. So I chose to kind of ignore the issue until after the voting ended.

He said in the Larry King interview (with Seacrest) that checking out the blog chatter helped him in the beginning because he was able to see that he was getting lots of support. He also said he saw a lot of nasty things that he tried not to take personally.

ADAM: [The AI producer's] were 100 percent supportive the entire time. They asked me, ‘What do you want to do? Would you like to talk about it? No? Fine.’ They respected it either way. They respected my choice.

And now I feel like, ok, people see me as an entertainer, and now I’m willing to let them in a little bit more into my personal life.

How does it feel to be open to the world?

ADAM: It feels really good because I think there was a lot of speculation and talk. And it feels really good to kind of state the fact, and move forward, and not keep wondering about: ‘what does he do’ [laughs] ‘and with who?’

And as clever as he is, he knew magazines [not sure if he was really thinking it would be Rolling Stone] and entertainment shows and the morning and talk show circuit would want to get the Exclusive! Adam comes out! story. That way he stays relevant and in the media and maybe gets a little cash on the side. He really figured it all out before he went on the show and for sure is the first one to know who he is, what he wants to sing, his niche in the market. And then he surgically went about choosing songs that were dissimilar to his fellow contestants so he would stand out. He would stand out if he sang the same song. It’s clear why he waited till he was ready to go on the show and his preparation paid off.

ADAM: I just wanted to stand apart from everybody else. I always have to be different. I wanted to pick songs that I believed in. That was part of my strategy. … If all the other contestants were singing up-tempo songs that week, I would pick a ballad. If they were all singing ballads, I would pick an up-tempo.

His cover of “Mad World” is currently #44 on Billboard’s Hot 100. If you haven’t heard it – here is his Idol performance of it.

He has already signed a contract with 19 Recordings — the production company owned by AI creator Simon Fuller — and hopes to release his debut album this fall on RCA Records. He doesn’t consider himself the loser and is genuinely happy for Kris – as he made clear in their Larry King/Seacrest interview:

The point is not a title. The point is the opportunity. And I feel like we got that opportunity.

And it didn’t hurt that he found his roommate hot.

ADAM: He’s a good-looking guy. I think that a lot of people out there who watch the show can agree with me.

It just came down to personal style preference. On Larry King, Adam and Kris both discounted the Bible Belt/Red state–blue state theory as to why he wasn’t the winner and agreed that Danny Gokey fans probably went with Kris.

ADAM: I think being a sore loser just sucks. I think that’s tacky. We’re two very different types of artists, and I don’t see how people can say one is better. I love listening to Kris sing and watch him play. And I think that he enjoys watching me do my thing.

Susan Boyle looked like a sure bet too and she didn’t win either. Time will tell who does better – the winners or the runner ups. Adam and Susan Boyle are unique stars in their own right – both have the chance to be tremendously successful solo artists – so it was probably better that they weren’t stuffed into a contract. Now they’re free to choose their own paths. One can only hope that Ms Boyle will be allowed to find her own way at her own pace.

As fas as his “coming out”?

His mom, who said she always knew, said from an early age Adam enjoyed dressing up in costumes and performing. He “had a fascination with glitter”. In his old footage, he looks almost unrecognizable. He was a little pudgy and his hair was still its natural strawberry-blond color. And of course no guyliner.

He said he had some regretted he was ‘in the closet” in high school because he never experienced the things most high schoolers do. His mother asked him — after they had seen a play about a gay son lamenting how his parents had treated him — if he had a girlfriend. No. Did he want a girlfriend? No. Did he want a boyfriend? Could be nice. And then he went on to ask her about when she knew, how she knew, etc. She said she had always known but she didn’t want to push him.

ADAM: It was very subtle. … That was the cool thing, is that without actually saying it, I was myself. I always felt support. And I was always able to be creative at home. And there was no taboo.

His mom, LEILA LAMBERT:

I think we stayed up until about 3:00 in the morning and laughed and talked. And it felt really great because there were no barriers.

So what about his female fans not that he’s made clear his sexuality? He enjoys that he has lots of female fans and thinks attraction is just that.

CONNELLY: Women really liked you.

ADAM: I’ve heard.

I think that sexuality is universal. If something is attractive to you – it’s attractive. Sexy is sexy.

I have crushes on women all the time. I don’t have intimate relationships with them, but I find women beautiful. … I think femininity is a beautiful, beautiful thing. And to be the object of desire to a woman is a great compliment.

Although he is presently dating, he says his relationships have been “few and far between”.

ADAM: I’ve had my heart broken. I’ve chased after people and had it not work out. Throughout my entire 20s, I’ve wanted to be in love. That’s what I want. I think everybody deserves that. And I’ve only been in love once. So I’m still looking.

And not just in the same aisle it seems. He describes himself a bi-curious. Now that might be a stretch for Ed and Marge on the farm but it was an honest spontaneous answer. Refreshing.

ADAM: I’ve been kind of toying around with the bi thing in my head. I wouldn’t ever give myself the label ‘bisexual,’ but bi-curious? Yeah, I’ve been known to make out with girls from time to time. Couple drinks involved, you know. It’s fun. And who knows? Maybe it’ll go further someday. I don’t know.

As for his music and career?

ADAM: It’s surreal. It’s really, like, everything that I ever wanted is happening and … I don’t know how to react. I’m thankful. I am proud.

Everybody wants to be a rockstar. Who doesn’t? So I’m looking forward to the idea that I get to do that now. I get to dress up and be a rockstar – it’s fun.

Every time I am tempted to complain about it, or I start getting a little bit like, ‘Ugh,’ I just rewind about a year and a half ago when I was … sitting on my a** and not satisfied.

Worried about his career options now in relation to his sexuality?

I get to be that rock star that every kid fantasizes about being. I get to sing and entertain and make people happy and … hopefully forget about some of their problems, or make them feel better about some of their problems — just take them for a ride. That’s the coolest job in the world.

I don’t think it’s going to limit anything. I can see how certain people might get turned off by it. And if they do, it’s their loss, you know?

================

As for Queen? Nothing further as far as I am aware. He admitted to Seacrest that Queen asked if he wanted to come out and sing with them “here and there” and he said yes – it would be amazing. He denied that it was an offer to be lead singer. Here’s Kris and Adam singing “We Are the Champions” with Queen on the finals. It’s perfectly clear they liked Adam and that Adam would do Mercury justice in voice and performance. They couldn’t ask for anyone better.

For more interviews/American Idol performances follow the link at the top.

Ms Boyle rocks Glasgow (video)

Updated: Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 16, 2009

Not sure why this post disappeared. Besides the video it also had some quotes from UK articles. Major bummer.  Well, by all accounts, Ms Boyle was a smashing success and her countrymen went wild. To a person – they were very proud of “their” Ms Boyle. Watch the video and you’ll see why.

“Make some noise for your very own, the amazing, Susan Boyle!”

And they sure did. They could hardly stop cheering to let her sing. Sure wish we could see her face, especially when she plays to the crowd in the middle of “Memory”. Maybe a better video is out there by now though much thanks to ruthd101.

ruthd101

Bozell: “Apologize Like a Real Man”

It seems a few Letterman-Palin posts just disappeared so I’m reposting them.

Letterman – Gov Palin posts

June 13, 2009

Well now. That would take a real man. And it would also require finding something to pretend to  apologize for. He’s not sorry and he said he didnt regret anything. He’s outraged that folks are outraged.

Here’s  Media Research Center President Brent Bozell weighing on in things. Thinks the explanation was worse than the joke — it was taunting and arrogant. And he says what a lot of people for and against Letterman have said – it was what David Letterman has become, which is not a nice person. Yeah, that’s what happens when the viagra stops working What a wonderful legacy granddad is leaving for his son.

Brent Bozell, President of the Media Research Center, issued the following statement calling upon Letterman to issue an apology:

David Letterman needs to be a real man and apologize unequivocally, like a real man.  He should have apologized immediately after crossing the line. And we know he’s gone too far when even the National Organization of Women has come to the Palin family’s defense.“But now he’s trying to qualify his comments and claim that he wasn’t going after a teenaged girl. Simply put, they are the rantings of an arrogant, cocky coward. Raunchy sex jokes aimed at a young woman are never excusable regardless of age or circumstance.

“Letterman is out of his mind if he thinks that slippery non-apology will get him off the hook.  The fact is, if he had a daughter who became the butt of a statutory rape joke on national television, I suspect he’d want to do what Sarah and Todd Palin probably want do – punch that ‘comedian’s’ lights out.”

“We’re talking about the governor of Alaska because she’s catnip”

Letterman – Gov Palin posts

June 16, 2009

Hardball – barama matthews, roger simon & Tina Brown are discussing the Palin-Letterman saga and Palin’s talking point acceptance of letterman’s apology.

BROWN: I think she won round one but I don’t think she’s won the subsequent ones…except she’s kept herself as catnip for cable, which really seems to be her goal right now. That’s my problem with it, actually.

MATTHEWS: You calling me a cad?

BROWN: No. I said catnip.

MATTHEWS: You’re calling me a cad.

Brown then talks about how she was in the room with Secretary Clinton last Friday, marveling at how she has been able to handle all of the things that have been thrown at her and how she keeps at it.

MATTHEWS: We’re talking about the governor of Alaska because she’s catnip.

I got the message Tina. I’ll never forgive you.

MATTHEWS says to porca maximus roger simon, whose eyes light up: She’s the editor of my favorite organ.

His emphasis. Yes, technically, her website could be referred to as”organ” but it doesn’t take Freud smoking opium to know which exact organ he was referring to or why. Well, little lady, you put me on the spot and call me out for talking about catnip? Well I get the last laugh because your organ doesn’t have the power my organ does. barama at his most juvenile and so crudely obvious that even porca got it – but Brown smiled away completely oblivious.

What makes women think men can selectively direct their sexism?

That men only think that way about “Hillary” because, c’mon, she really IS a bitch?

If Michelle Bernard was chatting with matthews and he proceded to call barry a ni*ger – would Bernard laugh?

Would she join in and add a few names of her own?

Would she just assume he doesn’t feel that way about her because, c’mon, everyone knows barry really IS a ni*ger?

Would she really believe matthews could be selectively racist?

Do you see the madness?

It’s what’s been made perfectly clear during this election — The Double Standard.

Racism is the only ism that matters.

Sexism is whining and ageism is a punchline.

Is there a single person on this planet who believes David Letterman would still have a job if he talked about Michelle Obama’s sluttiness or said she picked up a kilo of crack on her visit to NYC?

And if he made a sexual joke of whatever degree you want to delude yourself it wasn’t about Malia and Sasha?

What’s the difference between nappy headed ‘ho and slutty flight attendant?

Why is one worse than the other?

Prejudice is prejudice. Bigotry is bigotry.

They are absolute — either both are wrong or neither is.

So why does Wanda Sykes get away with whitey jokes and why did barry get away with laughing at them?

The Double Standard.

I find it interesting to hear women like Brown trash Hillary Clinton for who she is and what she does when it’s convenient or when she needs more hits on her websites or when she needs her own cable catnip fix. But then when it’s no longer politically expedient to trash Clinton – as in now when she’s doing a job barry is about as qualified for as Palin – Brown marvels at what an extraordinary woman Clinton is for handling all the disgustingness thrown her way. And while she’s marveling, Brown shows zero insight as to her and her website’s role in slinging the disgustingness.

And if she were to be so enlightened would she have the integrity to admit to it?

Men would not have been able to attack Secretary Clinton for the last 30 years without the Tina Browns laughing along with them, saying the same things themselves or simply sitting back and doing nothing. The extra-cowardly ones are the Gloria Borgers, Peg Noonans, Kathleen Parkers, Mo Dowdys and Arianna Huffingtons, who join in so they can be “one of the guys” ignorantly thinking the pigs view only some women that way. I often wonder if they really are that uninsightful and how they feel and what they truly think of themselves the first time they hear the pigs they were just laughing with say the same things about them.

Do they still think it’s hilarious? Do they consciously make the connection? And if they do, how do they feel when they continue to join in?

Someday it will dawn on them that the way Secretary Clinton is and has been treated is an indictment of their own inhumanity, insecurity and lack of integrity. And that they have absolutely no right to outrage when a pig calls them Catnip or a Nutcracker with a Penis or a Dumb Blonde Frumpy Ass Foreigner.

Gov Palin accepts Letterman apology

Letterman – Gov Palin posts
(6-10) Letterman non-apology #1
(6-15) Letterman non-apology #2

June 16, 2009

Gov Palin accepts Letterman’s apology. Political statement not personal or motherly. And  she lets him off scot free when he apologized for only the one joke. He said nothing about connecting her 14 y/o to Eliot Spitzer the prostitute frequenter.

And there was no request for putting some of his $30M where is mouth is. No request for donations to an abused woman shelter or rape crisis counseling center or the home for disabled adults she was working with in NYC.

How is that teaching young girls accountability? About the consequences of their actions?

He said those foul things and there is nothing stopping him from doing it again – so why would he stop?

She really is quite disappointing. I now see her naked ambition. It’s sad.

Palin statement to FOX NEWS:

Of course it’s accepted on behalf of young women, like my daughters, who hope men who ‘joke’ about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve.

Letterman certainly has the right to ‘joke’ about whatever he wants to, and thankfully we have the right to express our reaction.

This is all thanks to our U.S. Military women and men putting their lives on the line for us to secure America’s Right to Free Speech – in this case, may that right be used to promote equality and respect.

Letterman non-apology #2 (6-15)

Letterman – Gov Palin posts
Letterman non-apology #1 (6-10)

June 15, 2009

Evidently Letterman starts the week with a new version of apology. One wonders his sudden contrition. His show isn’t on yet – but here’s what CNN reports he said. Note that he only apologizes about the “knocked up by A-rod”  “joke”.

He says nothing about the slutty flight attendant joke that he had said he liked even as he was allegedly apologizing last week. No mention of the Top Ten crack joke or what I found most disgusting of all – his comment about Eliot Spitzer. [It seem a lot of people never heard it since it was on the following night]. He connected a grown man – another adulterer – who hired women to have sex with him with a 14 y/o girl. Where’s the connection? And what was supposed to be funny even if it was the 18 y/o daughter?

Nothing about these. Imagine Imus joking about Michelle Obama and a “kilo of crack”. Recall that in his first non-apology he mentioned the Spitzer comment so it’s not like he never acknowledged it. Someone who is truly sorry about what they said makes sure they apologize for everything. And that will never happen because he already said he wasn’t going to apologize for the slut comment: “The only thing I can say abiut this is I kind of like that joke” (grin)

Bought makeup from Bloomingdales to update her “slutty flight attendant” look.

After a win and a nod, ended up with a kilo of crack.

The toughest part of her visit was keeping Eliot Spitzer away from her daughter.

But he gets a plus for saying “everybody else who was outraged” instead of “IF” anybody was …. or “IF” I offended anyone…

DAVID LETTERMAN via CNN:

It was kind of a coarse joke. There’s no getting around it

It doesn’t make any difference what my intent was, it’s the perception.

As they say about jokes, if you have to explain the joke, it’s not a very good joke. I take full blame for that. [But nothing else]

I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed.

So, I would like to apologize, especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke.

I’m sorry about it and I’ll try to do better in the future.

Octuplets: Nadya’s false outrage

(6-16) Updated list of octuplet posts

June 15, 2009

Ran across this video from Radaronline.. It’s of no value other than as a refresher on Nadya’s body language. Radaronline made an offhand comment about a theater company making a musical parody about her and she pretends to be outraged when in fact she’s delighted. Watch her first reaction when she smiles and sits forward. Then there’s the tell tale voice change and the left hand on her cheek/neck.

Octo-Mom: The Musical opens this July at Cabaret Voltaire in Los Angeles.

She claims that they can’t use “Octo-mom” in the title because of her trademark, which must have come through. Somebody in Houston had gotten to it before her anyway. And she trademarked *Octomom* and they spell it *Octo-mom*.

Ms Boyle’s mini-glitch in “Memory” (6-13)

Updated: Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 15, 2009

I was looking for fresh video from Ms Boyle’s performance in Glasgow — I hope she rocked — and ran across this homemade video from her Sheffield performance on Saturday, June 13th. It cuts out abruptly before the song ends but it is worth watching for several reasons: a) despite the screams from the videographer, Ms Boyle sounds great – better than when she sang Memory in the semi-finals; b) there is emotion behind the words that I thought was lacking in the finals; c) Susan Boyle 1.0 from the audition pops through; and d) the crowd clearly loves and supports her even after how the UK press attacked her.

It was lovely to see – especially since she needed a day off “to rest” after the performance.

You may have to watch the moment a couple of times to catch it because of the screaming, but at (1:45) Ms Boyle momentarily blanks on the words. The crowd immediately encourages her. She makes the same motion to her temple that she did when she was trying to think of the word “villages” in the audition. She resumes on key and then acknowledges the crowd with a thumbs up.

Nice to know she’s still in there.

POTUS re: Iran voter outrage and protests

June 15, 2009

The election was supposed to be much closer than a 2:1 margin win by Iranian Hitler Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the people are not happy. Riot police have been given orders to “crush all dissent”, which in the Arab world is literally meant. What’s amazing is the sight of unshrouded women on the street protesting. That in itself says a great deal.

Arab women are the key to ending the madness. The free world can only hope their protest will enlighten them as to the power of their individual and collective voices. That they are the only one who can free themselves. That they no longer have to sit passively by and watch their sons, brothers, nephews and grandsons become so filled with hate that they are willing to detonate themselves and evil enough to convince others that their detonation will lead to something other than death. And that as mothers, sisters and grandmothers they not only have the right to act — they have a moral imperative to do so.

The uprising has to begin somewhere — why not now? Why not Iran?

Iran’s “supreme leader” Ayatollah Khomeni has reportedly announced that there will be an investigation into the election results.

And in the meantime?

How many once hopeful Iranians will be “crushed” and/or killed?

How many homes and businesses destroyed?

How many schools destroyed?

And who in the end is going to put it all back together again?

That crazy little maniac who sparked the outrage?

Quotes from barry via  CNN:

It is up to Iranians to make decisions about who Iran’s leaders will be. We respect Iranian sovereignty and want to avoid the United States being the issue inside of Iran.

Having said all that, I am deeply troubled by the violence I’ve been seeing on television. I think that the democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent — all those are universal values and need to be respected.

The Iranian people and their voices should be heard and respected.

Whenever I see violence perpetrated on people who are peacefully dissenting, and whenever the American people see that, I think they are rightfully troubled. I think it would be wrong for me to be silent about what we’ve seen on the television over the last few days.

Obama said those “who put so much hope and energy and optimism into the political process” should know “that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was.”

================

NBC 5 News:

It’s important that moving forward, whatever investigations take place are done in a way that is not resulting in bloodshed and is not resulting in people being stifled in expressing their views.

President Clinton formally named envoy to Haiti

June 15, 2009

Update: Scroll down for Haiti earthquake videos.

United Nations officially names President Clinton envoy to Haiti.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

No one is better placed for this mission. He knows the country. He loves the people. They love him. This is the strong wish of the Haitian people and the Haitian Government and myself as Secretary-General.

UN TV

PRESIDENT CLINTON:

Has four goals:

to support the Haitian government in implementing its program

to assist in the recovery effort with the same fervor as was shown toward countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004

to encourage more international private sector investments

to encourage donors who have promised money for Haiti to honor their commitments.

Feels optimistic:

Haiti, not withstanding the total devastation wreaked by the four storms last year, has the best chance to escape the darker aspects of its history in the 35 years that I have been going there.

All I want to do is help the Haitians take over control of their own destiny. It’s all I have ever wanted for Haiti.

They produced, I thought, a very impressive program called ‘Haiti: A New Paradigm,’ and we intend to follow that.

He wants to make sure the $353M pledged to Haiti gets there and also to bring in private sector donors.

We also want to do everything we can to make sure that these donor commitments are aligned as closely as possible with the Haitian programme we have been given.

He also wants to target the energy crisis, focusing on clean energy,

We believe there’s a lot of economically viable opportunity yet untapped for clean energy and also for energy efficiency, particularly in manufacturing facilities and in the way the homes, and the schools and the hospitals and the public buildings that have to be rebuilt are rebuilt.

I hope that in the process of doing all this, we will continue to elevate awareness of both the pain and the promise of Haiti in the international community, and there are real genuine economic opportunities there.

I believe Haiti is better positioned to make progress for all its people than at any time since I first visited in 1978.

ALRICH NICOLAS., Haiti’s minister for foreign affairs:

Our country and people could not hope for a better friend and advocate than Bill Clinton.

Sources: CNN’s Meghan Dunn & UN Centre

Pres Clinton w/POTUS remarks re: Haiti (video/text)
Haiti: Dr Gupta speaks with Pres Clinton (video)
BushClintonHaitiFund.org
Bush Clinton Haiti Fund PSA (video)
Hope for Haiti Now: Pres Clinton (video)
Humorous out takes from (fake) Bush/Clinton PSA

Gen Dunwoody tosses first pitch at Yankees game (6-14)

June 15, 2009

NY Assemblyman, Brian Kolb, also calling for Letterman firing

Letterman – Gov Palin posts (updated 6-15)

June 15, 2009

Republican Minority Leader of the NY Assembly Brian Kolb, like fellow Assemblyman, Gary Finch is calling for Letterman’s firing. He thinks Letterman should be held accountable like other employee at the CBS.

Friday, June 12th, Kolb (like Finch), released a written statement and wrote a letter to President/CEO of CBS, Les Moonves. He has also–along with attorney, Gwendolyn Lindsay Jackson and avowed friend of MSNBC/NBC, John Ziegler–established the FireDavidLetterman.com website to wage an email/Twitter war on CBS and its sponsors. Additionally, they are planning a rally outside the Ed Sullivan Theater – where Letterman tapes his show – to take place on Tuesday (tomorrow), June 15th at 4:30. My bet is Moonves waits to see the turnout before he responds to Kolb and Finch’s letters.

[Not] surprisingly the media as a whole has not demanded a reaction from Moonves. [Surprisingly] Katie Couric, known critic of Palin, has remained mum – as far as I can find as of just now.

FYI: As if it wasn’t already known, CBS [Lamar Outdoor and Clear Channel Outdoor] has made clear their stance by refusing to allow any of their 550,00 billboards to read: “Where’s the birth certificate?” – the campaign started WorldNetDaily founder and CEO Joseph Farah.

Kolb’s (6-12) written statement per FOX.

[I don't know if it is his full statement - it wasn't on his website like Finch's was.]

As the proud father of a daughter, and as a husband, I wanted Mr. Moonves to hear from me directly about Mr. Letterman’s disparaging remarks.

Firing Mr. Letterman would send a clear message that CBS will not tolerate any of its employees — even an established media figure like Mr. Letterman — making demeaning and degrading comments about women.

Kolb sharing his outrage with FOX’s Dave and Clayton yesterday.

Courtesy of mghoft [hand transcribed]

FOX: Tell us why you are calling for David Letterman to be fired?

Well, as  a father and a husband I thought it was outrageous what David Letterman said. I don’t think it was funny whatsoever to talk about a 14 y/o  daughter, or a 18 y/o daughter, or 32 y/o daughter. It was totally across and above the line.

And I think that certainly that if David Letterman made that comment working in a corporation, he’d be fired.

And so I think that the same standard should be applied to him – when your talking about a woman of any age.

[And most definitely a girl of any age.]

FOX: Shouldn’t he be held to a different [lesser] standard because he is a comedian?

[How many millions of people - young people - males - watch Letterman?]

No. Absolutely not.

I think he has to held accountable — whether he is fired, whether he is suspended or whether he makes a heartfelt and full-blown apology.

I think certainly our country has got to establish some standards of civility.

When David Letterman made those comments, I didn’t find them funny at all. I found them offensive. And, quite frankly, many of the people I’ve talked to across the state and across the country feel the same way.

I think CBS has to take a stand as a corporation and hold him, as an employee, accountable – just like they would any other employee of their organization.

FOX: Has CBS responded to you yet?

No, he has not.

We dropped the letter off  Friday afternoon at the offices.

[One wonders why it took him all week to act. Important thing is he did - however delayed. In addition to being a husband and a father, he is an elected official.]

But I have not heard back at all. Of course it’s only been a couple of days.

I would hope he would at least call me, and at least give me his side of the story, and why he believes Letterman should stay or go.

NY Assemblyman Gary Finch calls for Letterman firing

Letterman – Gov Palin posts (updated 6-15)

June 15, 2009

New York Assemblyman GARY D FINCH‘s press release (dated 6-12) and his letter to CBS President/CEO Les Moonves calling for Letterman’s immediate firing – like his fellow assemblyman BRIAN KOLB It also explain some of the legitimate reasons — besides a charity walk for autism and something involving and Independent Living home for folks with disabilities – why Gov Palin was in New York and highlights what Letterman chose not to mention.

FINCH CALLS ON CBS TO FIRE LETTERMAN

Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I – Springport) today has called for CBS Corporation President & Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves to terminate David Letterman’s contract with the network. Assemblyman Finch sent a letter via personal courier to Mr. Moonves asking for Mr. Letterman to be fired.

“Governor Sarah Palin was a guest of the City of Auburn in New York state,” said Finch. “She was subjected to degrading comments about herself, her 14-year-old daughter, and all women, on primetime television by Late Show host David Letterman. I find these comments to be completely unacceptable and outrageous.”

Governor Palin was in Auburn, New York to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Statehood of Alaska. She toured and addressed a crowd at the former home of Secretary of State William H. Seward, who was instrumental in the purchase of the Alaskan territory from Imperial Russia.

While staying in Upstate New York, Governor Palin and her family also took time to tour the home of Harriet Tubman who helped free slaves using the Underground Railroad. They visited the Women’s Rights National Historic Park and National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.

“Mr. Letterman made these comments on the heels of Governor Palin’s visits to notable landmarks of abolitionists and women’s rights advocates,” Finch stated. “These comments and Mr. Letterman’s continued degrading comments about women during the explanation of his remarks was appalling.”

Finch continued, “I insist Mr. Moonves fire David Letterman and send a clear message to America that the CBS Network and its affiliates do not find insulting women acceptable.”

————-

Assemblyman Finch’s letter to Les Moonves

Mr. Leslie Moonves, President & Chief Executive Officer
CBS Corporation
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019

Dear Mr. Moonves:

I am writing to insist that your primetime comedian David Letterman, the host of the Late Show, be fired.

Last week, Auburn, New York was honored to have Governor Sarah Palin celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Statehood of Alaska at the former home of Secretary of State William H. Seward.  William Seward was instrumental in the purchase of the Alaskan territory from Imperial Russia.

While she was a guest of our state, Governor Palin, her daughter and all women, were subjected to Mr. Letterman’s outrageous comments on national television.  To make the situation more egregious, during Mr. Letterman’s explanation of his remarks, he took the opportunity to continue making degrading comments toward women.

Mr. Moonves, once again I am calling on you to cancel David Letterman’s contract and send a clear message that you, the CBS Network and all its affiliates do not find insulting women acceptable.

Sincerely,
Gary D. Finch
Member of Assembly

Ms Boyle set to perform tonite in Glasgow

Updated: Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 15, 2009

Well, AP is reporting as recently as 3 hours ago that Ms Boyle will return to the stage tonite in Glasgow. I certainly hope for her sake that her “day of rest” has reinvigorated her so she can give her countrymen what they have been waiting for. How could she “flub some lines” from songs she knows so well and has been singing so frequently? I don’t understand why she is doing this tour at all. Is she legally obligated? Because she doesn’t need the tour to get her career going. More days of rest are just going to fuel more crazy rumors and in the long run affect attendance at her own live shows – provided she has any.

I truly hope that Ms Boyle does indeed have her physician traveling with her and that said physician has only her patient’s best interest at heart. One can’t help but wonder who is actually calling the shots and whether there are too many – however well-intentioned – folks involved. Just think how thrilled she would have been six months ago to be on stage in Glasgow and recall how totally excited she was at her audition there in April. I wonder if the absolute joy of Susan Boyle 1.0 will ever return.

Spokeswoman from earlier today:

“[Ms Boyle]had one rest day, but she will be back on stage tonight,” she said, adding that she expected Boyle to take part in the rest of the tour, which runs until early July.

Why the need to add she is expected to take part in the rest of the tour? So folks buy their tickets? The message yesterday was “following three sensational performances, Susan Boyle has been advised to rest”. What are the chances she will be in need of rest after the next three?

The fallout from yesterday’s missed performance as per the UK Telegraph. Fans in the audience were given the message: “[Ms Boyle] sends her sincere apologies to her fans for not appearing in Manchester.” And then the Britain’s Got More Talent folks played a Susan Boyle video clip highlight reel, which of course was met with boos. And then the audience was offered refunds if they chose not to stay and watch the show.

Pretty clear why that extra little sentence was added. So how are they not still using her to promote BGT…the Tour?

And how did the actual winners – Diversity and the other performers feel when the audience was offered refunds?

How is BGT treating the folks whose futures are actually riding on the BGT Tour? And how is Ms Boyle’s uncertainty and the attention it garners affecting their performances and the joy they should be experiencing?

(Lewis Whyld, PA)
Ms Boyle outside the Birmingham National Indoor Arena, central England after the first show of Britain’s Got Talent live tour Friday June 12

Fire David Letterman Rally

Letterman – Gov Palin posts (updated 6-15)

June 15, 2009

Provided for informational purposes only.

We’re not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, any political party, organization or candidate.

Here’s a new website: firedavidletterman.com put together by NY State Assemblyman Brian Kolb, attorney Gwendolyn Lindsay Jackson, radio talk show host, producer and favorite MSNBC terrorizer John Ziegler. They have launched an email/twitter campaign against Dave, CBS and the sponsors as Letterman has yet to receive any type of sanction. They are also organizing a protest rally in front of the Ed Sullivan Theater – where Letterman’s show is taped – for Tuesday June 16th at 4;30 pm.

===============

4-star Army Gen Dunwoody gets new HQ

Inspiring words from President Clinton

June 15, 2009

Every once in a while it is good to be reminded of the power of a US president’s words. And one thing is for certain – that power does not reside in the teleprompter or in the recycling of a previous president’s sentiments.

A few quotes from President Clinton’s keynote address at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington upon receiving their global leadership award.

Global cooperation is crucial for the survival of mankind.

If we have a chance, it has to begin by people accepting that they can be proud of who they are without despising who someone else is.

To foster this cooperation, people should focus on their similarities because we are genetically “99.5 percent” the same.

From time immemorial, people have fought over identity rooted in that (half percent). We should have spent more time thinking about that other 99.5 percent of ourselves.

You teach your children their ethnic heritage; their religious heritage; their cultural heritage with no negative reference to anyone else because it’s the only shot we’ve got to make the most of our interdependent world.

Source: CNN

Ms Boyle not performing tonite

Updated: Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 14, 2009

With Friday and Saturday’s performances behind her, Susan Boyle decided to sit out tonite’s performance in Manchester.

Following three sensational performances, Susan Boyle has been advised to rest. She sends her sincere apologies to her fans for not appearing in Manchester.

Yesterday there were two shows – matinee and evening. Evidently she “fluffed some lines” during her matinee performance but was able to get it together by evening. After the show she “did not travel back with the other performers on the bus or stay at the hotel”.

Maybe they just wanted to make sure she’d be ready for Monday’s performance in Glasgow.

Simon Cowell, hence Boyle’s publicist Max Clifford:

I’ve spoken to Simon and his view is to take things very carefully with Susan as that is the most important thing. Everything relating to Susan is being done very gently and what everybody is concerned with is what’s best for her and the plan is to take every day as it comes. As Simon has made very clear, anything – whether live or in the studio – depends on how Susan is and what’s best for her.

Not sure who is personally calling the shots around her or why they thought she could handle two a day performances. Why don’t they just let her do her own thing and disregard the BGT Tour all together? I’m sure BGT winners Diversity would enjoy actually being the headliners.

Looks like she got another haircut

Source: UK Skye news

Patti Blagojevich chomps on tarantula – loses anyway

Finally found the video clip of Jungle Patti [Blagojevich] passing her first test by eating a tarantula…musty, yeasty, crunchy and fuzzy. But she didn’t eat it fast enough and lost.

=====

Hubby is the official ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ correspondent aka Radio Rod with the Jungle Beat for the Don Wade and Roma Show on WLS-AM 890. The same folks he filled in for a day while they were out of town. Jungle Patti, who equated the jungle to Chicago politics, gave him something to talk about when she called Judy Baar Topinla – hubby’s opponent for governor – a kooky old aunt. Radio Rod explained his part on his segment and then Barr Topina called in and defended herself to Don and Roma.

One of her thoughts re: Patti:

You can’t tell me that as she sits there looking sane, with a bunch of has-beens and wannabes and goofs so she looks better by comparison.

Precisely…and it’s working. And Radio Rod is coming across like a loving concerned hubby and Mr Mom.

Umpire ejects…entire crowd

June 13, 2009

How weird is this. An Iowa umpire ejected the entire crowd of 100 or so fans watching a high school baseball game and then called the police. Evidently the crowd was yelling and arguing with each other but the AP doesn’t say about what – like if it started with a bad call. None of the players were involved. Unkown is the make up of the crowd or the size of the two schools – Winfield-Mount Union and West Burlington – or whether they had a history of violence. The school superintendent of the winning schoo; (12-11) was in attendance and said the umpire overreacted. No arrests were made.

Source: Chicago Tribune

US Navy Oath of Office

June 14, 2009

Here you go, Mrs Laughton.

How to check if this blog is linked to pornographic site?

June 13, 2009

Totally serious.

We get a lot of searches that concern nakedness: women,”full frontal male nudity”, unspecified gender “twins”, people who have never been mentioned on this blog and most unsettling: “underage girls”. And why would anyone want to see Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann or Stanley Dunham, barry’s grandfather, naked? Perhaps they meant his mother.

There is not a naked picture on this website – nor has there ever been – nor will there ever be. The closest is golfer Henrik Stenson stripped down to his skivvies to play a shot off a creek bank. And the title of the Larry King/Jim Carey  video was Explicit! bubblebath video as a joke, which I just changed.

And with the other search terms that cannot be mentioned I’m wondering if our site is linked to some pornography site and if there is a way to determine this. I don’t think the name of the site could possibly be close to anything pornographic – but who knows. We get occasional referrals from Facebook – once listed as “Facebook/porn” but none of us belong to Facebook and it has never even been mentioned on this blog and I can’t get in there to check – not like I would want to see what it leads to. Also, Alexa says about 40% of our visits are from outside the US, which I don’t know how they would know, and I wonder if that might have something to do with it.

None of us are computer whizzes so any suggestions on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.. Thank you.

Gibbs’ non-answer on CIA memos

June 19, 2009

So what hasn’t barry gone back on?

Iraq is his most significant lie. He created a fairy tale based on that politically expedient speech in 2002. Mr Bill was 100% correct and yet he was crucified by the barry media, who the ignorant cultfollowers believed without bothering to check. They based their vote on complete fiction and proudly proclaimed that was why they were voting for barry. And now they are buying the lie of “transparency” which he has been anything but.

Here are the most recent barryflops:

CIA interrogations should be released – not. Torture photos should be released – not. Military commissions should be stopped – not. Gitmo should be closed – too early to tell but the fine print gives him an out – an out he will most assuredly will take. And let’s watch what he does with the detainees found to be not guilty – that Gibbs refuses to answer because it is “hypothetical”.

PRESS BRIEFING

Q    A quick follow on something else, the CIA interrogation tapes.  Why is the administration trying to block the release of the Bush-era documents on the CIA interrogation tapes, when previously you released Bush-era memos and said you didn’t really have a national security concern about it because these methods were already out there, the media had reported on it?

MR. GIBBS:  Well, but understand — I think if you look at particularly at some of the memos that were released, you see that there was some redaction taken to ensure highly sensitive information.  Obviously a great amount of the information contained in those memos were known by your network and others, and have been for quite some time.  They’ve been in the media, they’ve been in books; the people in the previous administration have written communications back and forth involved in some of these cables.  You can’t redact that information.  That’s what it is.

The President believes, the administration believes that that material is highly sensitive.

[Now - when they are aware of the ramifications and not what the poss and people want to hear.]

Q    But the CIA is saying that this could be a recruiting tool for al Qaeda.  Haven’t you said previously the President has been removing recruiting tools by ending torture to begin with?

MR. GIBBS:  Yes, and that was one of the reasons that the larger framework of those memos — again, those tactics were — I’ve used this example with you before — the graphic that you all had about waterboarding wasn’t a graphic that was created after the release and the reading of these memos.  It’s been something that’s been discussed, my guess is, for many, many hours on your network.

And that was it.

Ms Boyle: BGT Tour opening nite (homemade video)

Updated: Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 13, 2009

Quick frankly, I’m surprised Ms Boyle is participating in the Britain’s Got Talent Tour. I thought she would lay low andavoid them all together. They wanted her to perform of course so it doesn’t look like they forced her to compete but also because she will draw crowds. Folks who actually want to hear her sing and the few who want to be there in case she decompensates again.

The show was at the Birmingham National Indoor Arena, which holds 13K. She sang the two songs she has previously sung: I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables and and Memory from  Cats. It doesn’t appear that there will be show produced videos (that I could locate) so here is a homemade one from the crowd. Sound isn’t that great but you can see how animanted she was and how the crowd loved her.

XXBRITAINSGOTTALENTX

Ms Boyle: ITN video clip recap of opening night

Updated (6-13) Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 13, 2009

Well there should not have been any doubts about Ms Boyle. She not only showed up for the opening night of the Britain’s Got Talent Tour – she sang pretty darn well and the crowd loved her. She sang both Memory from Cats and I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. Have been trying to track down a video of her performance. Have one but it was made from the audience and the sound quality isn’t very good. In the meantime, here’s the news video clip from ITN.

Updated: Adam Lambert named Young Hollywood Artist Of The Year

Adam Lambert & Top 10 American Idol – posts/videos

June 10, 2009

He may not have won American Idol but he made the cover of the Rolling Stone and has a contract with 19 Entertainment and RCA Records. And on Sunday, at Life’s 11th Annual Young Hollywood Awards in Santa Monica – hosted by Lara Spencer of the Insider – Lambert was named Young Hollywood Artist Of The Year. He was presented his award by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, which was nice for both of them.

YHAwards

LAMBERT:

This is really cool, because it’s the Hollywood community here – I’ve been a resident of Hollywood for eight years and it feels amazing to be getting an honour like this by my community.

Not bad for runner up.

Source: Examiner.com

(JEFF VESPA/WireImage)

“Michelle Obama bought makeup to update her slutty First Lady look”

Letterman – Gov Palin posts

June 12, 2009

How does that strike you?

Hysterical ain’t it?

And if Dave had so those words? Would he still be working?

Do you have a different reaction to those words?

Racist, you say?

Why?

Is a white former VP candidate and mother of five children being called a slut different than black college athletes being called nappy-headed ‘hos?

Why?

Why should one person lose their job and the other go unsanctioned?

If you reacted in a different way than to Letterman’s similar comments about Gov Palin, ask yourself why.

What crossed the threshold for you?

Was it because of Gov Palin’s political party? Because of her religion? Because her oldest teenage daughter was “knocked up”? Because she has, as NEWSWEEK’s Jonathan Alter referred to Trig, a DISABLED INFANT?

Because of the way she talks? Because her skin is white? Because “slut” in your mind has a different meaning than “‘ho”? Because you feel it’s apt?

Are they not both women? Mothers? American political figures known on the world stage?

Is not disrespecting one woman, disrespecting all?

Or is disrespect and sexism ok for some and not for others?

Say, perhaps, ok for Secretary Clinton and Governor Palin but not for First Lady Michelle Obama?

Is sexism specific to skin color or ethnicity?

So why is it you reacted differently?

What exactly was the deciding factor?

I am truly curious because I cannot understand some of the comments folks are making out there. What goes on in their small bigoted minds.

No. I did not vote for Gov Palin or anyone else. This site is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, any candidate, political party or organization.

Here is just a sampling – the majority appeared to be written by women.

FOUL LANGUAGE that is as was posted. All but two identified themselves – either in the post or on their website – as Obama supporters. The other two had nothing political on the home page.

I hate her.

She’s a dumbass BITCH!!!

She’s just whining.

She’s still a cunt.

Chill out – they’re just jokes.

She’s just using it to get publicity.

She’s still a MILF (Mother I’d like to fuck)

He wasn’t talking about the younger one. Duh!

Why doesn’t she just shut up and go away.

How long before that one gets knocked up, too?

What’s the big deal? She IS a slut.

SHE’S A FUCKING CUNT!!!

She’s a worthless whore and so are her daughters.

Why doesn’t she just stay home with the retard?

Ms Amrit Singh: If waterboarding is torture, what is this?

June 12, 2009

WARNING: EXTREMELY DISTURBING VIDEO

Released at the victim and her husband’s request. Nakedness pixilated.

izzdviruss

This is America.

A woman who started out the victim ends up handcuffed and physically restrained on the floor of a jail cell by more than six officers – male and female. She was then forcibly stripped of her clothing, in full view of the camera, and with the assistance of several male officers. After her clothes were ripped off, she was left in the cell completely naked.

Ms Singh, what does the ACLU think about this video?

Or are you only concerned with releasing pictures of terrorists, not on US soil, whose chosen purpose in life is to spread evil and kill as many Americans – Americans with no connection to those photos – as possible?

ACLU’s Amrit Singh’s justification for release of photos
To the ACLU re: release of torture photos
POTUS re: release of torture photos
ACLU’s Amrit Singh, Anderson Cooper, Kevin Madden re: photo release