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8 Pithy Opinions #5
The sky is blue.
Showing posts with label 8PT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 8PT. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
David Letterman and the Political Interview
8 Pithy Opinions #4
David Letterman is a pit bull. (NOT of the lip stick variety.) He's pugnacious. He's indignant. He's everything you could ever want in a political interviewer. Much like Jon Stewart is able to provide some of the most piercing and thought provoking commentary during his comedic newscast, Letterman is able to shed insights on the issues with the country's most important political figures on his comedic talk show.
Perhaps Letterman's greatest asset is his fearlessness. He doesn't place our political leaders on pedestals. Even if he has a great deal of respect for the individual, as Letterman clearly has for Senator John McCain due to his experience as a POW, Letterman will still go after his interview subject on the topics at hand. The traditional media has a lot to learn from Mr. Letterman.
Now, David Letterman has been in the news himself lately because of a situation that developed with Sen. McCain. On September 24th, John McCain was scheduled to appear on The Late Show, when in the midst of the financial crisis, he pretended to suspend his campaign. He called Letterman and said he was heading back to Washington immediately to deal with the crisis. Letterman thought something smelled funny from the start. After his producers switched over to the feed from CBS News and saw McCain about to give an interview with Katie Couric. He wasn't happy.
Letterman didn't let up on McCain after this broadcast either. He kept poking the Republican with a metaphorical stick. I'm sure there was more press coverage than the campaign could have possibly been happy with. McCain finally decided to schedule another date with The Late Show. Delays into Newark almost prevented McCain from showing again. (Keith Olbermann, who replaced McCain on the September show, was waiting in the wings again.) Thanks to a helicopter, McCain made the broadcast. He may have wished he hadn't.
Letterman is an aggressive interview when he's happy with the subject. When you've made him mad, he really goes on the offensive. There was a lot of needling McCain for his failure to show in September, but eventually, Letterman settles down and get into the interview where he does not disappoint. As usual, Letterman seems up on all of the issues and goes right to McCain with his questions. The best bit was when Letterman asked McCain about the Ayers situation. In particular, if we are going to use guilt by association to tar Obama with Ayers, what does than mean about McCain's friendship with G. Gordon Liddy? Never fail to tune into The Late Show if you like to see a politician squirm.
David Letterman is a pit bull. (NOT of the lip stick variety.) He's pugnacious. He's indignant. He's everything you could ever want in a political interviewer. Much like Jon Stewart is able to provide some of the most piercing and thought provoking commentary during his comedic newscast, Letterman is able to shed insights on the issues with the country's most important political figures on his comedic talk show.
Perhaps Letterman's greatest asset is his fearlessness. He doesn't place our political leaders on pedestals. Even if he has a great deal of respect for the individual, as Letterman clearly has for Senator John McCain due to his experience as a POW, Letterman will still go after his interview subject on the topics at hand. The traditional media has a lot to learn from Mr. Letterman.
Now, David Letterman has been in the news himself lately because of a situation that developed with Sen. McCain. On September 24th, John McCain was scheduled to appear on The Late Show, when in the midst of the financial crisis, he pretended to suspend his campaign. He called Letterman and said he was heading back to Washington immediately to deal with the crisis. Letterman thought something smelled funny from the start. After his producers switched over to the feed from CBS News and saw McCain about to give an interview with Katie Couric. He wasn't happy.
Letterman didn't let up on McCain after this broadcast either. He kept poking the Republican with a metaphorical stick. I'm sure there was more press coverage than the campaign could have possibly been happy with. McCain finally decided to schedule another date with The Late Show. Delays into Newark almost prevented McCain from showing again. (Keith Olbermann, who replaced McCain on the September show, was waiting in the wings again.) Thanks to a helicopter, McCain made the broadcast. He may have wished he hadn't.
Letterman is an aggressive interview when he's happy with the subject. When you've made him mad, he really goes on the offensive. There was a lot of needling McCain for his failure to show in September, but eventually, Letterman settles down and get into the interview where he does not disappoint. As usual, Letterman seems up on all of the issues and goes right to McCain with his questions. The best bit was when Letterman asked McCain about the Ayers situation. In particular, if we are going to use guilt by association to tar Obama with Ayers, what does than mean about McCain's friendship with G. Gordon Liddy? Never fail to tune into The Late Show if you like to see a politician squirm.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I Prefer the Phony McCain
8 Pithy Opinions #3
There seems to be two differing opinions of John McCain. Many see the "Maverick" model as the real deal and the current "Conservative" model as merely a poser making unfortunate choices to appease the party base. Others believe that the "Maverick" model was a phony and that the real McCain is the one in charge of the current despicable, pathetic, sad, moronic, evil campaign. Personally, I believe the latter. I gotta say though, I prefer the phony McCain.
(I suppose there are those who believe that John McCain is sincere all the time and is a loyal public servant and an excellent Senator and a noble and honorable man, but I have no interest in making fun of the profoundly stupid.)
The phony McCain opposed George Bush's tax cuts as dangerous and imprudent. The phony McCain collaborated with Sen. Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform. The phony McCain opposed torture. The phony McCain appeared reasonable and moderate, and unlike the majority of his party, he appeared to have a genuine concern for the people of this country.
It's hard to reconcile the phony McCain, the McCain that so many Americans supported, from both sides of the aisle, the the current model. Many in the press refuse to recognize the new model. They believe that McCain has simply lost control of his own campaign and that the direction pains him. Even Joe Biden refuses to believe this is the real McCain. Sorry folks. This is the real deal and he's as dangerous and scary and he's making Obama out to be.
I'd prefer the phony, but here's what we're stuck with. We are stuck with an Iraqi war sympathizer who refuses to discuss the poor judgement that led us into war in the first place and will only discuss the surge as if that somehow redeems all that came before. We are stuck with a war hero who was a victim of torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese but refuses to stand up and demand accountability of the torture ordered by the Bush administration during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. We are stuck with a candidate who has gamed the campaign finance system. We are stuck with a candidate who will resort to the most vile of conservative campaign tactics, including undeniable racism, sinking to depths that I didn't think any candidate for President would reach. The conservative motto is anything to win and no campaign in memory has embodied this idea more than McCain.
Yes, America may be stuck with the real John McCain as a candidate, but we don't have to be stuck with the real McCain, or even the phony one for that matter, as President. Barack Obama outshines both versions in every way. On November 4th, send John McCain back to the minority in the Senate by voting for Barack Obama.
There seems to be two differing opinions of John McCain. Many see the "Maverick" model as the real deal and the current "Conservative" model as merely a poser making unfortunate choices to appease the party base. Others believe that the "Maverick" model was a phony and that the real McCain is the one in charge of the current despicable, pathetic, sad, moronic, evil campaign. Personally, I believe the latter. I gotta say though, I prefer the phony McCain.
(I suppose there are those who believe that John McCain is sincere all the time and is a loyal public servant and an excellent Senator and a noble and honorable man, but I have no interest in making fun of the profoundly stupid.)
The phony McCain opposed George Bush's tax cuts as dangerous and imprudent. The phony McCain collaborated with Sen. Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform. The phony McCain opposed torture. The phony McCain appeared reasonable and moderate, and unlike the majority of his party, he appeared to have a genuine concern for the people of this country.
It's hard to reconcile the phony McCain, the McCain that so many Americans supported, from both sides of the aisle, the the current model. Many in the press refuse to recognize the new model. They believe that McCain has simply lost control of his own campaign and that the direction pains him. Even Joe Biden refuses to believe this is the real McCain. Sorry folks. This is the real deal and he's as dangerous and scary and he's making Obama out to be.
I'd prefer the phony, but here's what we're stuck with. We are stuck with an Iraqi war sympathizer who refuses to discuss the poor judgement that led us into war in the first place and will only discuss the surge as if that somehow redeems all that came before. We are stuck with a war hero who was a victim of torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese but refuses to stand up and demand accountability of the torture ordered by the Bush administration during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. We are stuck with a candidate who has gamed the campaign finance system. We are stuck with a candidate who will resort to the most vile of conservative campaign tactics, including undeniable racism, sinking to depths that I didn't think any candidate for President would reach. The conservative motto is anything to win and no campaign in memory has embodied this idea more than McCain.
Yes, America may be stuck with the real John McCain as a candidate, but we don't have to be stuck with the real McCain, or even the phony one for that matter, as President. Barack Obama outshines both versions in every way. On November 4th, send John McCain back to the minority in the Senate by voting for Barack Obama.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Al Franken Would Make a Great Senator
8 Pithy Opinions #2
I like to laugh and Al Franken is funny, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wondered where Rush Limbaugh gets his facts, and Al Franken figured it out, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I loved the late liberal Senator from Minnesota, Paul Wellstone, and Al Franken was a good friend of Senator Wellstone and would like to live up to his example if he were elected, but that's not why I want Al Fanken in the Senate.
I'm impressed, basically, anytime I can see anyone draw anything, and Al Franken can draw the entire United States of America while taking questions at a rally, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always thought Rush Limbugh was a big fat idiot and Al Franken wrote a book called Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted to be sued by Bill O'Reilly, and Al Franken was sued by Fox News at the behest of Bill O'Reilly shortly before the publication of his great book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted to joke about Karl Rove and Scooter Libby being executed for Treason, and Al Franken did it, while sitting next to David Letterman no less, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted to deliver a verbal smackdown to Ann Coulter about her inaccurate, slander filled books, and Al Franken did just that at The Connecticutt Forum, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted someone to make a documentary on my life, and Al Franken's life was featured in the major motion picture Al Franken: God Spoke, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I want Al Franken in the Senate because he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, I like him.
I like to laugh and Al Franken is funny, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wondered where Rush Limbaugh gets his facts, and Al Franken figured it out, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I loved the late liberal Senator from Minnesota, Paul Wellstone, and Al Franken was a good friend of Senator Wellstone and would like to live up to his example if he were elected, but that's not why I want Al Fanken in the Senate.
I'm impressed, basically, anytime I can see anyone draw anything, and Al Franken can draw the entire United States of America while taking questions at a rally, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always thought Rush Limbugh was a big fat idiot and Al Franken wrote a book called Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted to be sued by Bill O'Reilly, and Al Franken was sued by Fox News at the behest of Bill O'Reilly shortly before the publication of his great book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted to joke about Karl Rove and Scooter Libby being executed for Treason, and Al Franken did it, while sitting next to David Letterman no less, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted to deliver a verbal smackdown to Ann Coulter about her inaccurate, slander filled books, and Al Franken did just that at The Connecticutt Forum, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I've always wanted someone to make a documentary on my life, and Al Franken's life was featured in the major motion picture Al Franken: God Spoke, but that's not why I want Al Franken in the Senate.
I want Al Franken in the Senate because he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, I like him.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Michael Savage is Gay
8 Pithy Opinions #1
Not so popular radio host Michael Savage has issues. How else to explain his constant railing against homosexuals? Does he sincerely believe that gay marriage will destroy traditional marriage? Does he really believe that the problems on Wall Street have anything to do with homosexuality?
Why would any person be consumed with anger at homosexuality unless they are gay and ashamed because of the warped religious values installed in many of us?
Self hatred is never pretty, and you can trust me on that. It leads to angry outbursts that a sane person would look back on with shame. Here's a little advice for Mr. Savage. You can shake the anger and bigotry that consumes you. You can find a path to a life of peace and happiness. The answer is simple.
Come out of the closet.
Not so popular radio host Michael Savage has issues. How else to explain his constant railing against homosexuals? Does he sincerely believe that gay marriage will destroy traditional marriage? Does he really believe that the problems on Wall Street have anything to do with homosexuality?
Why would any person be consumed with anger at homosexuality unless they are gay and ashamed because of the warped religious values installed in many of us?
Self hatred is never pretty, and you can trust me on that. It leads to angry outbursts that a sane person would look back on with shame. Here's a little advice for Mr. Savage. You can shake the anger and bigotry that consumes you. You can find a path to a life of peace and happiness. The answer is simple.
Come out of the closet.
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