Ed's talk

Frank Rich: Mitt Romney Is Closeted About His Religion (VIDEO)

2012-01-31T11:44:00.001-05:00

Willard can not talk about who he really is because if he does, he will displease the Tea Pe-ers and as a result, he cannot get the nomination he craves.

So he's stuck with his present position.

It's as simple as that!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Newt Gingrich Insists He's 'Pulling Away' From Mitt Romney In National Polls

2012-01-29T19:33:00.001-05:00

The truth is that both Mitt and Newt have the morals of two fleas. I think, because Newt is an even more obvious hypocrite, the GO-Tea Party will have to settle for Mitt. Unless a hitherto unheralded conservative savior suddenly appears, which is highly unlikely.

Eve if JC himself were to suddenly run for the presidency, the Teabaggers would find him much too liberal!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Corruption Scandal Rocks Vatican, Whistle Blower Archbishop Vigano Was Transferred Against His Will

2012-01-27T08:42:00.001-05:00

Sexual and financial corruption, the Church of Rome itself is the very embodiment of the "Whore of Babylon" of the Book of Revelations!

And the other religions are not far behind.

All the deities of any religions have never been lucky in their followers!

People, stop wasting your money on these "holy" folks and use it where it may do some good for yourself and others.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Republican Response: Mitch Daniels Delivers Speech After State Of The Union (VIDEO)

2012-01-25T08:55:00.001-05:00

Just more fiction-based sound bytes from the GOT Party! These folks think that if they make the same arguments often enough, the voters will think it's true.

The Obama administration, with all their faults, has proven that it has been able to deal effectively with terrorism which the Bushies with all their Patriot Acts have been unwilling or unable to do. And they have been able to start disengaging the US from the futile and costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so as to make it possible to start spending money on our own needs.

And, yes, they have been able to repeal the, foolish and harmful to our security, DADT which has messed up the military for too long.

The Obama administration is pro-poverty? Maybe if the Republicans were less pro-rich they'd see what nonsense this is!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Gay Republicans: A Defense

2012-01-21T18:44:00.001-05:00

Really Mr. Garrett? Then why have most (if not all) of the Republican candidates signed the anti same-sex marriage pledge? Is that because they cannot get the GOTea nomination unless they do?

Yes, I know that a number of Republicans have shown the courage of their convictions and supported marriage equality and s-s marriage wouldn't have passed without their support. But why won't the party members speak out about the religious homophobia of a Perry, Bachmann and Santorum and the politically-based homophobia of a Romney or that wonderful straight-marriage paragon, Newt Gingrich?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Cy Vance, Manhattan DA, Speaks On Why He Dropped Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case

2012-01-19T09:26:00.001-05:00

Another attempt by HP to revive an old story?

DA Cyrus Vance was left with serious egg on his face by this case and he is only trying to remove it.

DSK a skirt-chaser? I have little doubt about that as many heterosexual men are, by definition. They had sex? I don't doubt that either as shown by the physical evidence which, however, does not prove rape. (Consensual sex often leaves the same evidence.)

But that this was a setup seems equally likely as shown by the maid's own comment and her subsequent actions (or inactions.).

Whether DSK's political opponents had a part in this I wouldn't know but there's no doubt the rape allegation ruined his political and professional career.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Over Predominantly Christian Prayer At Public Meeting

2012-01-17T12:37:00.001-05:00

I am very much in favor of banning "In God We Trust" on money as well as "Under God" in the Pledge. And the laughable attempts by the Rollers to turn public meetings into prayer meetings deserves all the derision it gets.

I don't "trust" in an imaginary large white-bearded man in the sky or the "Holey (sic.) Buy-bull" but if others do, good for them.

And I don't consider this "one nation under god"; The fundies and the T-Party have long disproved that!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Iron Lady's Sex Appeal

2012-01-15T06:55:00.002-05:00

Though I agree with his anti-religion views, the more I learn about Hitchens, the less I admire him. This essay, (the part concerning his encounter with "Dame Attila" is not unfamiliar but I still find it appalling!) only makes my doubts more pronounced.

That such a "brilliant thinker", for example, could ever be taken in by the Iraq snow-job we were subjected to by the Bush administration, makes the rest of his pontifications suspect, at least to me. And his "grudging" admiration for Thatcher is completely beyond my understanding. Is this an example of his attraction to dominatrices?

I am getting to see him, more and more, as the loud-mouthed egomaniac rather than the "brilliant thinker" he has generally been called!

Again the Huffies have apparently not liked the above remarks. Not adulatory enough?

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rick Santorum Wins Endorsement Of Evangelical Leaders

2012-01-14T16:58:00.002-05:00

Certainly, Rick is "frothy" enough to deserve the support of his fellow nutjobs.

I certainly think it will boost his negativity rating which is all to the good!

Onward, Christian Soldiers!

(But I think this was too "frothy" for the Huff mods!)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Archbishop Timothy Dolan Named A Cardinal

2012-01-08T09:52:00.001-05:00

Oh wonderful!

The Ratzter has created another Tyrannosaurus in a red dress who will lead his fellow dinosaurs and will vote for another T. Rex when the time comes. (From all appearances, this may be pretty soon.)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Pat Robertson: God Told Me Who The Next President Will Be (VIDEO)

2012-01-03T21:00:00.001-05:00

Ok. Shall we call them predictions?

I don't even consider them to be "honest" but rather self-serving.

As far as I'm concerned, you can believe in whatever you want; I won't tell you otherwise. But kindly don't tell me what to believe!

I believe Pat's comments are absurd and I stand by my statement.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Israel Ultra-Orthodox Protests: Nazi Garb Sparks Outrage

2012-01-01T17:48:00.001-05:00

The Ultra-Orthodox are only doing what religious wing-nuts of any persuasion do, they try to seize power.

Israel was not founded as a theocracy and it is saddening that these extremists are carrying on like this. The display of the Nazi victimhood symbols is just disgusting and disgraceful.

Bibi N. has been absolutely no help in putting down these people.

That a relatively small group has brought that country to its knees is not to be borne.

Just like our own right wing-nuts whose Tea-Party loonies are holding the GOP hostage!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Losing My Religion: If I'm So Done With Faith, Why Do I Still Feel Its Loss?

2011-12-29T11:25:00.001-05:00

For me, religion was something I had very briefly when I went to Hebrew school and I was rescued from its grave dishonesties by my unbelieving parents and in one instance by a newspaper column.

As a music student, of course I learned about Catholic dogma and can still recite much if not all of the Ordinary of the Latin Mass from memory. Listening and even performing it is not a problem as long as I believe in it when I'm listening to it. When it's over I revert to my normal skepticism.

I believe that all of the Four Horsemen of atheism including the late Christopher Hitchens would support this.

As for greetings, I prefer "Seasons Greetings" (yes I say it!) or "Happy New Year" but it's not a sin to wish believers a "Merry Christmas". Lately I've been wishing everyone a "Merry New Year" because it's closer to the truth. ("Merry" denotes, in the words of one of my more eccentric former acquaintances) a "holiday with strong drink" even if I no longer indulge in that.

And go to all the parties you want. There's no need to feel left out or to feel you are missing anything!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Jim Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin Congressman, Says Michelle Obama Has A 'Large Posterior'

2011-12-21T21:32:00.001-05:00

I'm aware that Mr. Sensebrenner's comment was private and overheard but even so, it gives an insight into what Thuglicans really think about non-white people. And along with Mr. Limbaugh's various comments about Michelle and Barack Obama, I get the distinct impression that they're burned up by them daring not to be either lily-white or obese like they are.

As a non-black person who could stand to lose a bit more weight but is not really obese, I find these remarks racist and disgusting especially Rush's "Uppity" comment on Michelle.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Gingrich Deflation Puts Iowa Conservatives Back At Square One

2011-12-19T08:26:00.001-05:00

When Newton Minow, then chairman of the FCC, made his famous 1961 speech:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_Speech

he could not envision a far less benevolent "Newton" of the "vast waistline" shooting off his even bigger mouth, thus self-destructing at the same time!

Nice going Newt!!! Now you can join the other GOTea candidates in their well-deserved obscurity.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Boehner: House Republicans Oppose Senate Payroll Tax Cut Bill

2011-12-18T19:58:00.001-05:00

Does anyone else think that Boehner's photo show his nose is about to start growing?

Honestly, I think the country has to start getting very annoyed at the GOP's chronic obstructionism and maybe it's time to start to consider recalling the bronze menace who has become the symbol of it all!.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Christopher Hitchens Dead: Legendary Writer Dies At 62

2011-12-16T09:06:00.001-05:00

Condolences to his friends and family from someone who shared his "faith" even if not all his opinions.

He will be missed!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

George Whitman: Owner Of Shakespeare and Company Bookstore In Paris, Dies At 98

2011-12-15T07:29:00.001-05:00

It's rather hazy in my head, I'd been to Europe 2 or 3 times in the late 60s and early 70s. But I'd probably been to Paris twice and once went into Shakespeare and Company with my traveling companion.

George Whitman immediately left us in charge of the bookstore and went out on an errand or to go to lunch even though he didn't know us from Shakespeare himself! When he returned, we went on our way.

We both marveled at how trusting he was and I can certainly attest to his eccentricity.

Mr. Whitman, you will be missed even after your long life.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Candace Gingrich-Jones, Newt Gingrich's Sister, Backs Obama For 2012

2011-12-08T07:04:00.001-05:00

Newt carries more baggage than George Rekers' hired help!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Rekers

In its desperation for both an acceptable and a viable candidate, the GoTPs have kicked him to the top of the heap. I doubt that will work any better for them then the previous bumblers that they've alternately favored and who, in-turn, have flaked out.

Remember that Newtie was also one of the drafters of the "Contract on America" before you decide to vote for him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_with_America

Candace is only right!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Ken Russell Dies At 84: British Film Director Of 'Women In Love' Passes Away

2011-12-04T13:38:00.001-05:00

I loved his early film on the composer Frederick Delius with an excellent performance by Max Adrian as Delius. Christopher Gable the dancer played Eric Fenby ably as well though he was considerably better looking than the real Fenby.

Apparently, when Fenby finally saw the film he promptly had a nervous breakdown because of the memories that it brought to his mind.

in contrast, I saw about 5 minutes of the later film "The Music Lovers" about Tchaikovsky before turning it off in disgust. I still think Ken owed that composer's memory an apology for that film.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Bill O'Reilly's War On Christmas Crusade Heats Up Again (VIDEO)

2011-12-04T10:21:00.001-05:00

If there was ever a "war" on Christmas, it's news to me.

Go anywhere during this season and you can't escape it and since this happens every year, I try not to go into stores too often just to avoid red-nosed reindeers, chanteuses ruining the standards and the usual buh-buh-buh boos.

I have nothing against real Christmas music such as old Carols save the most hackneyed, Bach's so-called Christmas Oratorio (Handel's Messiah has been grossly overplayed) and other examples of the repertory.

But a war on Christmas? I don't think so.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Herman Cain Affair Allegation: GOP Hopeful Meeting With Wife Gloria Amid Uncertain Candidacy [UPDATED]

2011-12-03T09:11:00.001-05:00

While it is true that Herman has been giving the term "moral turpitude" a new face, the fact of the matter is that he has shown no ability to handle political realities either.

Bill, FDR, JFK etc. have also been involved with women other than their wives but there is a difference in that these were (and are) astute politicians. And in those cases, the relationships were, I think, rather more consensual.

The Pizza Man really has got to go and hopefully take with him the other clowns who have been cluttering up the GOP debates.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Non-Existent 'War On Christmas' Is Apparently Being Won By The People Who Invented It

2011-11-29T08:36:00.001-05:00

I've long been a devotee of using "Seasons Greetings" as it gets the true spirit (of commerce) of the holiday season across without bringing Jesus or even Judas Maccabeus into it.

And it also has the salutary effect of p---ing-off Glenn Beck, Bill-O, NOM the Catholic League and many others.

So Seasons Greetings everyone! This is for you!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Emma Sullivan Apology: Kansas High School Student Not Sorry About Sam Brownback Tweet

2011-11-28T07:54:00.001-05:00

Maybe Emma should not have used that expression about the Gov.

But then why did he have to go ahead and prove conclusively that she was correct?

Oh, I forgot, we are talking about a Kansas governor!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Bill Murray, President Obama Meet & Greet At Towson Basketball Game (PHOTO)

2011-11-27T19:03:00.002-05:00

This Huffington Post thread began as follows:

Commented Nov 27, 2011 at 11:17:33 in Entertainment
“You've got the nerve to tell others to educate themselves and then repeat the same old smears and lies! And, who is "george sorrors? Do you mean George Soros?

Educate yourself, lol!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers_presidential_election_controversy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros_conspiracy_theories”

borderlinedevill on Nov 27, 2011 at 18:09:40
“im over whelmed with common sense truth, and facts you need that quality lol”

borderlinedevill on Nov 27, 2011 at 18:12:54

“ARE YOU SURE ITS ALL LIES or have you been brainwashe

d, what about the phony birthcertificate 20 experts says its phony yet none says its real lol”

Would you kindly send a list of these 20 "experts"?. Is one of them Orly Taitz? Maybe another is Donald Trump?
borderlinedevill on Nov 27, 2011 at 18:12:54 “ARE YOU SURE ITS ALL LIES or have you been brainwashe

d, what about the phony birthcertificate 20 experts says its phony yet none says its real lol”

If Obama had white skin, no one would have demanded his birth certificates and he has been more than generous in supplying both the short and long forms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_citizenship_conspiracy_theories

I am not without my own criticisms of Obama but he still has many solid accomplishments which your hero Dubya could only dream of.

Such as getting rid of Osama Bin Laden which the Bushies couldn't do in 7 and 1/2 years..
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

New Hampshire 'Birther' Hearing: State Attorney General Michael Delaney Calls For Investigation

2011-11-25T08:39:00.001-05:00

Ornery T*itz reminds me of the song which begins:

"Isn't it rich?

Are we a pair?

Me here at last on the ground,

You in mid-air.

Send in the clowns"

The Moldovian Menace strikes again!

This is not to put down all Moldovians!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Michele Bachmann Receives Apology From NBC Over Roots Song

2011-11-24T08:49:00.001-05:00

OK folks. NBC and Fallon have apologized and I think Michelle's fake outrage has been covered. Now, can we deal with important issues now like Justin's paternity test? ;-)

Seriously people, trivia and sound bytes are the new "important issues" in almost all the media outlets, including this one.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rush Limbaugh: Michelle Obama Guilty Of 'Uppity-ism' (AUDIO)

2011-11-21T20:23:00.001-05:00

What a nerve of the Obamas to be President and first lady instead of Mr. and Mrs. Stepin Fetchit! That is what Rush really means by his remark and what galls these white supremacist folks.

The unsaid but definite second word begins with an "n" but Rush is really too polite to say it....in public.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

GOP Debate: Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman Cemented As Foreign Policy Outliers

2011-11-14T13:28:00.001-05:00

This is ridiculous and a disgrace when only two of the candidates plus John McCain have the balls to stand up to these "good Christians" who condone torture,

Yes, the Jesus of the NT would condone torture wouldn't he? Sure he would! (-(

Disgusting!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Italians Sing 'Hallelujah' Chorus After Berlusconi Resigns (VIDEO)

2011-11-14T12:50:00.001-05:00

Disappointed to only hear part of it. I wanted to see if the Italians could "handel" the Hallelujah Chorus! ;-)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

7 Health Benefits Of Coffee

2011-11-02T09:58:00.001-04:00

So many of these "facts" seem to be pure commercials, in this case, apparently for some Coffee-Growers Associations.

It's true that the AMA is currently pushing it as beneficial. I drink two large mugs of the stuff per day but much more than that can cause considerable gastric distress.

As with any drug, use caution a as there are side effects!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Pat Robertson Says GOP Getting Too 'Extreme' To Win Election

2011-10-25T16:40:00.001-04:00

Has the GOP finally driven Pat sane? I can't believe I'm finally in agreement with something he says!

Hold the presses!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Trashing Gilbert and Sullivan

2011-10-15T08:47:00.003-04:00

I accidentally saw some of this production of "Pinafore" from Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater last night.

I came in on one of the more conservative sections which, besides the tinny orchestra, featured perfectly inept singing all around and pointless mugging and tap dancing. Occasionally, when G and S were allowed to show through, however dimly, one could see how infinitely better they were than all this nonsense and, though I did witness some of the tap dancing scenes especially the dreadful travesty on "For he is an Englishman", I decided I'd punished myself enough and only returned for the final bows hoping to find who to blame for this mess.

Well, this wasn't very helpful but see my linked title for the small Times' review.

There is a name in Europe for this, "Eurotrash" and, I suppose, we may as well use "Ameritrash" for this kind of crap.

Robert Finn, Kansas City Bishop, Charged For Not Telling Police About Child Pornography Images

2011-10-14T19:22:00.001-04:00

Yes, but this distracts from the Holey (spelling deliberate!) Mother Church's pronouncements about the sinfulness of two adult men or women marrying each other or the Africans using condoms.

Apparently adult-child sex is perfectly ok as long as the adult is a cleric! Anything else is the work of Satan!

Yeah sure!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rachel Maddow Questions Legality Of Anwar al-Awlaki Killing (VIDEO)

2011-10-01T21:24:00.001-04:00

I am manifestly a "librul" and I do watch Rachel often. I happened to see this show and therefore was very interested to read these reactions.

But when I think back to 9/11 and what these fanatics have put us through (I wasn't at the site but witnessed the destruction of the second tower from a nearby window and the subsequent chaos during the long walk home.), I have to, not so reluctantly, agree with Obama's actions especially when his people got Osama for whom I, not surprisingly, didn't shed a tear.

I am angrier at the Bush Administration's subsequent inaction except for using the situation as a pretext to lie us into a war in Iraq which, at that time, had nothing to do with the WTC.

I don't think we should show any sympathy to those who are plotting against us wherever they were born.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Herman Cain Wins Florida Straw Poll Ahead Of 2012 (VIDEO)

2011-09-28T19:46:00.001-04:00

I wrote a recent posting in which I called the Tea Party racist and met with many denials on that subject. But many others including the NAACP have said the same thing:

http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/10/tea-party-racism.html

This doesn't mean that everyone in the Tea Party movement is a racist but the TPs attempts to discredit Obama through the birther and other angles are to me undeniably racist.

Yes, but they say that Cain's popularity proves they are not. As I wrote, the straw poll in Florida was a protest vote in my opinion and the fact that the GOP powers-that-be have been courting, of late, Chris Christie, for example apparently without success (I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually allows himself to "be persuaded" to run.) shows that not to be too far-fetched.

We must remember that the GOP felt betrayed by the poor showing of their Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates' in the last election (especially to a black man, "that one" in McCain's unfortunate choice of words,) and they don't want to repeat the process!

They don't need, at this point, the two Palinesque ladies O'Donnell and especially Bachman or the Ricks Perry and Santorum among many others, and they have to find someone who is at least electable. So far, they have had little success.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Herman Cain Wins Florida Straw Poll Ahead Of 2012 (VIDEO)

2011-09-27T14:15:00.001-04:00

The GOTea Party not racist? Is the Pope Catholic?

Perhaps I'm wrong but this has, to me, all the earmarks of a protest vote. We know that the present crop of candidates has been self-destructing one by one and the party is in panic mode having become more and more unhappy with them. Herman Cain has not yet self-destructed but give him a chance to do that .

Remember that Michelle won the Iowa straw poll and look at her present standing. (last)

I couldn't take that straw poll seriously and I can't take this one seriously either.

The GOP and TP are grasping at straw polls.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Pat Robertson: Alzheimer's Justifies Divorce

2011-09-15T08:08:00.001-04:00

So Pat has redefined Alzheimer's from "sickness" to "a kind of death"! Has he thought about the fact that victims of this disease cannot really give their consent to a divorce? (They lack the "sound mind and body" requirement!)

As I understand it, even legally, this opinion won't work. And replacing the divorce option with annulment doesn't help either.

But Pat has always been such a wonderful example of "christian charity" crossed with such a formidable intellect! (duh!)

What a maroon!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

'The Descendants': George Clooney Talks Hit Film At Toronto Film Festival Press Conference

2011-09-11T10:45:00.001-04:00

Yes, I absolutely agree! There is the post 9/11 Frontline documentary recently rebroadcast which people should be aware of and which can be watched online:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/

A film on this especially with someone like Clooney, though, would bring it much more to the public's attention.
About Movies
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Phoenix Goddess Temple Church Is A Brothel: Police (VIDEO)

2011-09-11T10:14:00.001-04:00

OK. I take back everything I ever said about religion being useless!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Michele Bachmann Says Hurricane Irene And Earthquake Are Divine Warnings To Washington

2011-08-29T14:13:00.001-04:00

Michele and the other holy fools don't mention that there have been many earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters before Irene and there will be many others after her. (Irene that is. I expect many other disasters after Michele as well!)

Primitive humankind including the early civilizations have had many stories about these attempts to placate its imaginary deities such as Abraham and Isaac, Jeptha, Iphigenia, etc. Have we not evolved at all?

I expected all this idiocy from Pat Robertson, but I forgot about Michele B, Ricky P. and the other Tea Partiers.

Please guys, just shut up!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rabbi Yehuda Levin Blames Washington, DC Earthquake On Gay Marriage (VIDEO)

2011-08-24T22:43:00.001-04:00

Hey Rabbi Yehuda,

How long did it take you to come up with such a brilliant statement? You must have gotten it from the even more brilliant Pat Robertson who is prone to make such statements.

It's more likely that it was caused by the Tea Party in Washington which was much closer to the epicenter in Virginia. Maybe, just maybe, G-d abominates those who are trying to deprive the poor, handicapped and sick of their benefits.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

GOP Presidential Primary: New Rules Of The Race Emerge

2011-08-14T10:18:00.001-04:00

"When Bush comes to shove, the brainwashed shall inherit the earth!"

Seriously folks, it's only a straw poll and not an actual anointing.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

David Axelrod: This Is A 'Tea Party Downgrade'

2011-08-07T19:58:00.001-04:00

The Tea Party has perpetuated one of the most vicious attacks on our country since the Bush Admninitration and the Republican Party as a whole has behaved with the most utmost irresponsibility in going along with them. The debt ceiling debate was one of the truly shameless acts of political blackmail that I can remember.

In addition, their attacks on education are a transparent attempt to make war on critical thinking. Their attacks on the unions are an attack on the ability of the people to organize. The best that they can seem to offer is Rick Perry's prayer meeting with their homophobic agenda and the Bachmanns' insanity along the same lines.

I would encourage people to speak up and protest in writing to your local politicians and support the recall of Scott Walker and his buddies as well as the impeachment of these Tea Party scoundrels.

Our president, of course, was taken advantage of by these people and while I'd hope he'd grow a pair in vain, I'm sure they've taken delight in his political weaknesses. Even so I'm not sure what he could do except open his mouth as many other presidents like Truman and Johnson did.

If we ever get out of the mess we ourselves got into by voting these yoyos in, I would hope we never again repeat this folly in the future.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Frank Rich: Murdoch 'Thuggery' Hurting America (VIDEO)

2011-08-03T08:33:00.001-04:00

Thanks! I would want to remind Williamina that HP will send comments, whether approved or not, to various other sites including blogger and Facebook and this doesn't involve copy and paste.

I do occasionally use my, admittedly aged, brain and it really stands to reason that, if the Brits are investigating Murdoch's activities, the Yanks should do the same. Rupert's empire certainly extends to the United States and this might explain a great deal about our current difficulties.

Frank has clearly written about the Murdoch Organization's attempted intimidations when they didn't like what he wrote.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Frank Rich: Murdoch 'Thuggery' Hurting America (VIDEO)

2011-08-02T19:51:00.001-04:00

I have for some time been saying the same thing that Mr. Rich said and getting censored by both Huffington and the New York Times.

For an example of one of my rejected HP comments see my blogspot July 6th comment:

http://ed-edstalk.blogspot.com/
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Debt Ceiling Debate: Michele Bachmann Says Washington Is 'Deceiving' American People

2011-07-29T08:42:00.001-04:00

[from article] Similarly, when Bachmann was asked about reports that her husband's Christian counseling clinic has advised homosexuals to try to change their sexual orientation -- commonly referred to as "reparative therapy" -- the congresswoman had a ready dodge.

"I am extremely proud of my husband," she said. "But I am running for the presidency of the United States. My husband is not ... I am more than happy to stand for questions on running for president."[unquote]

Sign the petition to defund Marcus Bachmann's clinic:

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/bachmann_clinic/?r_by=-4317562-bBNcKEx&rc=confemail
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Debt Ceiling Deadline Looms (LATEST UPDATES)

2011-07-29T08:20:00.001-04:00

Is that why Boehner keeps himself so bronzed? So his embarrassment won't show?

Tell ya what John, you and your Tea Party cohorts should repair to the local Tea Room and try to regroup. It won't work of course but it might make you all feel better!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Thomas Roberts: Michele Bachmann Would 'Extinguish' Gay People (VIDEO)

2011-07-22T16:44:00.001-04:00

I would wonder why anyone, gay or straight, who doesn't have tons of money would support them. A case in point is the last national election which put a Thuglican majority in charge of the House apparently as the result of a voter tantrum against the former Democrat majority.

And look what this got us! Can we all say John Boehner? or his Senate counterpart Mitch? Or worst of all, Eric Cantor?

Has GOProud become the new gay Uncle Tom faction of that party?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Will Obama Be the First Democratic President to Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?

2011-07-09T20:13:00.001-04:00

If Obama compromises with SS, Medicare or Medicaid, I can say definitely he will lose my vote and I will work actively for his defeat.

He can forget any second term; I and many others will not stand for this!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

From Crusading Guardian To Media Frenzy: Why Rupert Murdoch Should Be Worried

2011-07-06T10:07:00.001-04:00

Rupert Murdoch is the lowest of the low in journalism, if you can call it that. "Yellow journalism" might be a more accurate description!

In the past, if I remember correctly, there were rules against one person buying so many news outlets and amassing such power. Apparently now, Murdoch and his partners -in-crime can do whatever they want.

Rupert turned the Post from a respected, albeit leftist tabloid newspaper into the neocon mess it is now and Fox News has long been a "fair and balanced" propaganda fake news channel. And, yes, he screwed up the Wall Street Journal as well.

This guy makes William Randolph Hearst look like an absolute icon of integrity. He needs to be taken down and the sooner the better.

As Lord Acton said in the slightly abridged remark: "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Freed Without Bail By Judge

2011-07-02T08:47:00.001-04:00

People, consensual sex can result in semen stains! Rape is rightly a crime but there is absolutely no evidence that this was rape! Quite the contrary.

There is plenty of evidence that this was a setup!

Years ago I chaired a grand jury and I can assure you that "moral outrage" got no where with us.

So save yours!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Freed Without Bail By Judge

2011-07-02T07:06:00.001-04:00

To those who think that there is still merit in these accusations against Strauss-Kahn I would ask if you read the article! The case, as far as I'm concerned is indeed over.

A valuable and apparently brilliant man has had his career curtailed by a protracted smear campaign and our DA Mr. Vance has been left with serious egg on his face!

Treating such a man, including the "perp walk", as a common criminal without solid evidence is beyond outrageous and I would question the ability of the DA to do his job in the future.

Case over and, I think, the career of Cyrus Vance Jr. is as well!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Andrew Cuomo Interview: Governor Talks 2016, Gay Marriage In Maureen Dowd New York Times Piece

2011-06-30T19:58:00.001-04:00

OK, JImmy,

Obama has had some solid accomplishments as you point out especially in the military area. You have failed to point out what he has and hasn't done which is much less admirable, for example:

• though he had pledged to close Guantenamo it is still open.

• he has extended Bush's Patriot Act. Yes, we have to be vigilant against terrorism, but that kind of spying on Americans is not very patriotic.

• His administration has interfered to stop Spain's investigation of Bush's torture machine.

• He has refused to consider the many well-deserved criminal charges against the same administration.

• We were supposed to wind down our operations in Afghanistan but the government is still stalling. Afghanistan has been the graveyard of many a county's ambition, (see Russia.)

• He has appointed financial people like Geithner and Summers who have been very kind to the banks except for the occasional slap on the wrist which mostly hasn't led to much amelioration of our poor financial situation.

Perhaps I was wrong to call Obama a "wuss" but the alternative is to call him "Bush light" and I hope he's better than that.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Andrew Cuomo Interview: Governor Talks 2016, Gay Marriage In Maureen Dowd New York Times Piece

2011-06-30T08:16:00.001-04:00

I already commented on the Governor on the Times website but not on Mo Do's more recent column:

http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/nyregion/the-road-to-gay-marriage-in-new-york.html?permid=400#comment400

Despite Obama's risky, audacious and, fortunately successful mission to get Osama, he still thinks he has to play nice with the crazy Republicans. Golf with with John Boehner? Oh please!

Andrew Cuomo is a politician like Obama but he apparently knows how to get things done and Barack either doesn't or won't.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthony Weiner Resigns: Congressman Announces Resignation At Press Conference

2011-06-17T07:58:00.001-04:00

This is ridiculous! A promising congressman forced to resign for his sexual peccadilloes even if his constituents wanted him to stay.

Remember, the GOP has never had any of these problems before? (Hi, David Vitter, Arnold S. and John Ensign!)

And the Democrats with their head wusses Nancy and Barack.

Grow up guys and maybe grow a pair. (Yes, you too Nancy!)

And stop picking on a defenseless Weiner!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

California Same-Sex Marriage Law Upheld: Court Won't Overturn Prop 8 Ruling Because Judge Was Gay

2011-06-14T19:25:00.001-04:00

I didn't want to post this as a reply but Bruckley is right to say that there are no arguments against s-s marriage except religious ones. In fact, the summary of the case decision presented said as much.

Now, let's do the same for DOMA and for the same reasons!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rachel Maddow On Letterman: Talks Anthony Weiner, GOP (VIDEO)

2011-06-10T06:41:00.001-04:00

What did Anthony do that was different from what many other congressmen do? True, his stupidity like the stupidity of many other politicians of both parties in exposing themselves in public is amazing but, as Rachel pointed out previously, who is one of the ones wanting Weiner's head? Why David Vitter of course!

I see no reason why the Democrats should be joining the Thugs in pressuring him to resign, except for sheer embarrassment! Weiner never preached family values as far as I know, unlike, David Vitter.

Enough already! Let's find another story to beat to death!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

George W. Bush Reportedly Feels Ignored In Obama 'Victory Lap' Following Osama Bin Laden's Death

2011-05-06T09:28:00.001-04:00

This whole Osama story has been milked to death by all the media including H-P. I've commented on it sufficiently to the effect that Bush deserved no credit at all and I agree with those who say that he and his buddies dropped the ball, not only on Osama, but on practically everything else.

W. seems also to be saying that his waterboarding and other forms of torture were an effective basis for Obama's final action but this is dubious.

In this day and age, political actions are a matter of public record and the attempts by the GOP to change history is both laughable and pathetic.

The Democrats have their shortcomings but the GOP can point to McCain, Palin, Scott Walker, Bohner, McConnell, Newt, Bachmann and their other gasbags? Oh please!

Obama got Osama and the Bushies had nothing to do with it!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Osama Bin Laden Dead, Obama Announces

2011-05-02T07:59:00.001-04:00

I see the photo of SMU students thanking GW Bush, but for what?

The Bush administration's policy was not to find Osama and this was partly to keep the citizens thoroughly cowed by their terrorism alerts-code-oranges! In fact, the day after the attacks, the Bushies put the Bin Laden ralatives, who were in this country, on planes to be flown out of the country.

If Obama's intelligence people could find Osama, why couldn't Bush's?

And why did we have to wait nearly ten years to get the SOB?

Bravo to the Obama administration but no cheers for the Bushies!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Gaddafi Defies Ceasefire As Forces Attack Rebel Stronghold Of Benghazi

2011-03-19T10:10:00.001-04:00

Gaddafi is clearly not playing with a full deck! He needs to be taken out but the US cannot act unilaterally as it would only get us into another quagmire.

We can only hope the UN chooses to deal effectively with this as this nutcase is slaughtering his people! And thumbing his nose at the world.

Come on UN, you can't allow yourselves to look ineffectual (as usual) once again!

If you can't deal with this pronto, you may as well go out of business.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Wisconsin Poll: Republican Enthusiasm Gap Vanishes

2011-03-11T07:41:00.001-05:00

The Howard Beales ("we're mad as hell!") have brought this on themselves with their misguided protest votes and their own stupidity and impatience! By putting the Sons of Bushes back in charge of the House and many of the governships, they have cut their own throats.

They can do little now except try to recall Walker and the others who are after their rights and this includes both their collective bargaining rights as well as their healthcare..

What were they thinking and what did they expect?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Wisconsin GOP Senators Pass Stand-Alone Anti-Union Bill Without Democrats Present

2011-03-10T07:33:00.001-05:00

The previous time the Republicans got in we got Bush and Cheney. The voters should have known better this time.

They didn't and now we got this.

Remember Nixon's "Dirty Tricks"? Scott Walker and his thugs have now made Nixon smell like roses!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Philadelphia Priests Suspended: Archdiocese Removes 21 Catholic Priests Suspected Of Sex Abuse

2011-03-09T08:03:00.001-05:00

I think it is becoming obvious that grand jury investigations are the answer to exposing the widespread corruption of the RCC. Let's have more of them because the church is clearly not capable of policing itself. Brother Ratz and his thugs do what's good for themselves while professing "superior" morality over the rest of us poor "sinners".

World: don't be a Dope! Say Nope to the Pope!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Charles Ferguson's Oscar Speech Rips Wall Street: 'Inside Job' Director Levels Criticism During Acceptance

2011-02-28T07:51:00.001-05:00

Of course, Obama and company took a "brilliant" approach to reforming Wall Street when they originally put Geithner and Summers in charge of their "stimulus-recovery". (Foxes and henhouses anyone?)

The fact is that neither Barack "Gives-good-speech" Obama or his equally mealy-mouthed Madame Secretary of State, Hillary, will do anything without enormous pressure from the outside world. Just as they refused to press criminal charges against the Bush administration (Yes, Barack, Bill, Hillary, the Georges 41 and 43 are all "buddies"!), they have let off Wall Street scot-free.

As I've said before, all we can do is keep up the pressure!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthrax Report Casts Doubt On FBI Science

2011-02-16T10:02:00.001-05:00

Every time this story reappears, it makes me see red. From the beginning, the FBI's story was one of self-aggrandizement with the young "Jedgar" Hoover taking credit for raids and arrests whether the credit was deserved or not.

The Ivens case was another monumental rush to judgment because the FBI wanted closure on the case. But it keeps coming back to bite them on the backside, much like the WMD story and the Bushies!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Pope Can't Be Organ Donor, Church Says

2011-02-08T08:02:00.001-05:00

Perhaps it's not too late to merge the HP religion section with the "comedy" one?

Oh wait; I forgot, "comedy" is useful!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Tracy Morgan: Sarah Palin Is 'Good Masturbation Material' (VIDEO)

2011-01-30T13:48:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness! The Huffie mods are so sensitive on this subject.

I only said I agreed and that Sarah is a real jerk. Isn't that a mild criticism? ;-)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Vatican Lashes Out Over Italian Sex Scandal

2011-01-23T19:57:00.001-05:00

Hello Ratzy,

Have you not yet noticed that you have long lost the right to criticize anyone?

You are looking the fool so please deal with your own sex scandal! (You know which one!)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Vatican Warned Irish Bishops Not To Report Abuse

2011-01-19T19:53:00.001-05:00

The Monkey's so-called "refutation" of the letter in question, as far as I can see is on the basis of the question of legal jurisdiction and, in fact, the Vatican is its own country in a legal sense.

But Ireland and other countries are not the Vatican and have the right to have criminal allegations, such as child molestation, reported to and handled by their own civil authorities and empathically not by the Vatican which, in any case, has a long history of sweeping these alleged activities under the carpet!

So the headline still stands in my opinion, despite the attempts by the Church and the Monkey to say otherwise.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Reagan Had Alzheimer's As President, Says Son

2011-01-15T11:41:00.002-05:00

Huff-Po has been censoring all my latest comments (mostly about Tucson) so I'm dubious about posting this one.

My mother too wasted away from Alzheimer's and my poor father had a really hard time caring for her. (They lived in Florida and I in New York.) In fact, he didn't last a year after she died in a nursing home at 82.

I am fond of Ron Junior as well as Patti and even have some recent sympathy for old Nancy but I didn't care for the "Codger" as I heard him called by some admirers. I did rotice his mental disabilities throughout the course of his presidency even if I didn't have enough information at the time to put this down to A.D..

The so-called "Great Communicator" ("There you go again!") helped pave the way for the nonsensical sound bytes of recent times and I didn't like how the Reagans' handlers covered up his mental disabilities which resulted in some of the really bad policies which we are still following.

How his followers could even think of putting him up on Mt. Rushmore is beyond my understanding.

The ever-vigilant mods at H.P. have deemed this unworthy of being published so don't look for it in the article.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Sarah Palin's Arizona Shooting Statement Blasts Journalists & Pundits' 'Blood Libel' (VIDEO)

2011-01-12T09:22:00.003-05:00

Oh really Sarah? I suppose you really didn't say "Don't retreat! Instead RELOAD!" And Glenn didn't in 2005 threaten Michael Moore's life?

No, these people are absolutely blameless or at least they say they are and the liberals are responsible for the vitriol going around! Oh sure!

No, Sarah, Glenn, Rush etc. didn't pull the trigger and no one ever said they did. But there is no doubt they contributed to the climate of hate presently infesting US politics!

The Huffie-censors didn't like this well enough to include in the article. But, as someone told me "It's not you, it's them."
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

John McCain Still Angry At 2008 Presidential Defeat, Conversations With Advisers & Analysts Reveal

2010-12-23T08:46:00.001-05:00

His anger has been festering for years.

I don't know whether he made his supremely bad choice of running mate by himself or with the help of others. Though I think he probably wouldn't have won anyway, he is clearly mad at himself for having lost and doubly so to a black man ("that one!" in his own words!) And he is taking revenge by trying to block anything Obama is in favor of.

But I'd have to ask him, is Palin not sufficient revenge on the nation all by herself?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Who Were The Three Wise Men Of Christmas?

2010-12-11T09:56:00.001-05:00

"Who Were The Three Wise Men Of Christmas?"

These are no different from the usual "hero" birth myths (see Joseph Campbell for example.) as is the Annunciation, the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection. There is no historical proof to the contrary. (no one outside of Matthew 2, for example, mentions the Magi and those myriad angels in the sky singing hymns of praise at his birth.)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Hang One, Hang 'Em All

2010-12-05T09:54:00.001-05:00

I don't have all the hard facts except to say that if the governments involved had any real case against Assange, they'd have charged him long ago.

As it is up to the present, they can only play hardball by intimidation, smears and innuendo.

If the Obama administration can prove that soldiers' lives were put in danger by the actions of Wikileaks, then go ahead and punish Assange. Otherwise, continue to give Bush, Cheney and friends free passes on their real and proven criminal activities as they have been doing since they took power in '08.

And with its phony wars in Iraq and elsewhere, we ought to see that they are the ones putting lives at risk, not Julian Assange!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Obama Administration Worked With Republicans To Kill Bush Torture Probe, WikiLeaks Cable Reveals

2010-12-01T21:36:00.001-05:00

So Wikileaks embarrassed the Obama administration as well as a whole other bunch of politicians. Too effing bad! That doesn't make Wikileaks the criminals!

I've said from the beginning that the Bushies should be prosecuted and this is something the Obamas, the Dems and the rest of the government have refused to do. No, they'd rather prosecute Assange for exposing their own malfeasance!

There are limits!

If I sound very angry, it's because I am! How many ways can you spell "betrayed"?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

White House Gives In On Bush Tax Cuts

2010-11-11T08:09:00.001-05:00

Another step towards a complete plutocracy!

The money folks seem now to have a complete stranglehold on the politics and economy of the country and the fools that voted in the Republican House of Representatives are largely responsible.

We had no choice but to vote in the Obama administration in '08 and look where it has gotten us! A refusal to deal with the criminal Bush Administration from the very beginning so now we have W. making a comeback along with the rest of the incompetent GOP, a healthcare plan with Big Pharma handsomely profiting, possible cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, a Supreme Court decision on unlimited spending by the big corporations, and a stalemate on the incredibly stupid and strategically dangerous DADT policy in our military; "let me count the ways" as Mrs. Browning said in another context.

We might have, with more intelligence, put in a Kucinich as President but this country has always preferred to put in movie stars or movie star types.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

'Decision Points': George W. Bush Book Brings Former President Back In Spotlight (PHOTOS)

2010-11-09T08:44:00.001-05:00

George's attempt to sell what is laughingly called his "book" tells us what we already knew; that his whole family had and still has a strong sense of (undeserved) entitlement. His mother's remark about her own "beautiful mind" is strong evidence of that.

That he still has no clue about anything is symptomatic of his entire "reign" and we must make sure we never "anoint" anyone else like him or, even worse, Darth Cheney!

Voters, please make sure you think, before casting your ballots again.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rep. Peter DeFazio Investigating Impeachment For Chief Justice John Roberts

2010-10-23T09:49:00.001-04:00

This has got to be the worst decision by the Supremes ever. That both Roberts and Thomas have shown their allegiance to the money people by putting them in charge of the election process (Clarence is even more crooked than John, if that's possible!) means to me that they should be removed from the SCOTUS and as soon as possible.

At the very least, the Citizens United decision has to be reversed.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rachel Maddow: Bill O'Reilly A 'Race-Baiting F**k,' CNN Wanted Olbermann: NYMag

2010-10-04T10:15:00.001-04:00

I still don't see why HP or anyone else is still censoring the four-letter F-word in its headlines particularly since all four of them are given in full in the accompanying article. Who are we protecting? The children?

They need more "protection" from the so-called "christians" and other religious hypocrites who are a real threat to their well-being and even their existence!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Frank Rich: Obama Election Strategy Must Focus On 'People Like You'

2010-09-12T12:41:00.001-04:00

Barack Obama has been extremely cautious on every front. He has tried to cooperate with the Republicans, he has also tried to not rock the flailing boat of Corporate America, of Big Banking and Big Pharma even if he's been called a socialist or worse.

He's had his successes, he has essentially wound down the Iraq war, he has put in a health-care system even though watered down, and he has made some attempt to wind down the Afghanistan conflict.

But I think that the American voter would be insane to think that the GOP and Tea Party will help them accomplish their goals but apparently they are insane enough judging by the various polls.

You want the GOP to do something? Think again! They will do something but only for themselves.

The public has rightly elected Obama because it was the only thing they could have done, and now the only thing they can do in the future is hold his feet to the fire.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Federal Judge In Boston Rules Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

2010-07-08T21:29:00.001-04:00

It seems abundantly clear that the only argument the s.s. marriage opponents have is that "it's a sin". That this is based on a specious biblical argument doesn't seem to occur to them in their insistence that all share their so-called "moral" outlook.

I don't understand why they spend huge amounts of money fighting the inevitable since they will eventually lose sooner or later.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Shroud Of Turin Going Back Up Before The Public

2010-04-10T12:53:00.001-04:00

I'm not an expert on sindonology (look it up!) but when they start wheeling out the "Schmatone" again, (yes it's a real word even if I made it up!) you know they are indeed trying to change the subject.

But everyone knows it was painted by Leonardo even if he lived a couple of centuries after its discovery. (Leonardo was such a great genius that he could do anything he wanted!)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Deaf Boys Tried For Decades To Tell Of Priest's Sexual Abuse

2010-03-27T15:09:00.002-04:00

Besides the sexual abuse of children, the Catholic Church has also been guilty of of physical and mental abuse towards them and many others over the years. Whether there has truly been an improvement in recent years is not for me to say as I was lucky enough to escape the shackles of organized religion after my early teens.

The official doctrine of the Church is that being gay, or at least acting on it, for instance, is "intrinsically disordered". If this is true, what can we say about an organization where such abuses have taken place against the innocent and where ordinary homosexuality seems to be the rule rather than the exception? At the very least, it's the pot and the kettle, at most it is the most blatant hypocrisy imaginable.

I don't, for instance, begrudge a certain former New York Cardinal his chorus boys but to work against gay rights at the same time is inexcusable. (Much like Roy Ashburn and Larry Craig in politics.)

The Church is headed towards the pit unless they "repent of their sins" and get rid of the head Dinosaur who is leading them into extinction. They must do nothing less than getting a real Pope such as John XXIII and modernizing the organization including allowing married men or women or those in a relationship, gay or straight, to become priests.

Do I think they can do this? No but that's not my problem.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Who's Scarier: Heath Ledger's Joker or Glenn Beck?

2010-03-18T20:12:00.002-04:00

"At least the Joker had a REASON for doing what he did (he was insane.)

Beck is just a greedy huckster ripping off the mouth-breathers with his dog-and-pony show and his endless infomercials for his BUY GOLD business."

I respectfully disagree. I think Glenn is indeed clinically insane! Sane people don't have that maniacal cackle and don't say the things he says.

It almost sounds like Glenn has rabies! (But I suppose it's just paranoid schizophrenia!)

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

(The original post was "disappeared" from HP along with my reply which was too much for the Huffies.)

Church Sex Abuse Scandal 'Has Now Reached' The Pope: AP

2010-03-13T10:31:00.001-05:00

When Joey Rat was just a Cardinal, it was well-known that he was a vicious old dinosaur. The church elected him pope anyway.

What these supposedly holy folk don't seem to realize is that they can no longer get away with the same behavior that they have in the past. Communications have improved since the Dark Ages and their crimes and hypocrisies are pretty much an open book now. They claim that gay people are "intrinsically disordered" and I say it is the church that is intrinsically disordered!

Claiming that the Pope didn't know about these abuses, which he ordered to be covered-up, is ingenuous at best and the Pope's brother's pretense of utter innocence (he admits that he only slapped a few boys!) rings as false as the claims of the Pope's innocence and the dogma of the church.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

David Paterson Needs to Find a New Job

2010-02-26T21:25:00.001-05:00

It seems to me that this "scandal" was manufactured so that they could get rid of Paterson simply because he was perceived to be unelectable, which may well be true. But perhaps the Democratic Party could conceivably be more honest about the whole thing? Naw, it's the way politics are run.

I'm not totally convinced of the truth of the allegations. I'm not in favor of domestic violence or violence of any kind unless absolutely necessary but the way they've been hounding the man out of office really reeks.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Amy Bishop ARRESTED: University of Alabama Huntsville Shooting Suspect Is Biology Professor, Harvard-Trained

2010-02-13T09:15:00.001-05:00

"Guns don't kill people, people do."

No, people with guns kill people!

Because of this insane practice of appeasing the NRA, this is what we get!

When the 2nd Amendment was added to the Constitution, it was a different time:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Amendment_USA#The_militia_in_early_United_States_history

and even that didn't turn out too well.

Yes people, if you don't like certain folks, just buy a gun and blow them away just like they do in the video games! That will solve the problem!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere

2010-01-16T09:29:00.001-05:00

The arguments of the far-right, religious or not, including the Catholic and other "christian" church hierarchies, both in regard to the repeal of DADT and the legal recognition of same-sex marriage, have long looked more foolish and, in the long run, tend to support the very things they are arguing against.

For example, the military brass's attempt to delay the repeal of DADT by saying further studies are necessary to determine if separate shower facilities would have to be built in military barracks if the repeal goes through. How long have they been studying this and have they found other countries which allow gays to serve openly have had to construct separate showers?

And the Pope's nonsensical attempt to link the promulgation of gay marriage with environmental damage etc. comes from the same source which states that condoms are not effective against the spread of AIDS in Africa.

The religious right would have us believe that this country was founded as a "Christian" nation. Tell that to the Founding Fathers who were essentially deists and not theists and we have laws against the establishment of any religion or, on the other hand, forbidding the practice of any religion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Establishment_Clause_of_the_First_Amendment

The time for excuses are past so let's do the right and only possible things by repealing DADT now and agreeing to the acceptance of marriage equality.

Lt. Choi is absolutely right!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rep. Hinchey: Bush Administration 'Intentionally Let bin Laden Get Away' In Order To Justify Iraq War

2009-12-01T13:53:00.002-05:00

Who could possibly believe such a story? Why to even mention it is impugning the Bushies veracity and patriotism! As proof of this patriotism can't we point to the Patriot Act? They couldn't possibly be unpatriotic and create the Patriot Act, could they?

And, yes, the fact that they put the Bin Laden family members, that were here, on planes out of the country on 9/12 is further proof of the unshakable honesty of Dubya and Dead-eyed Dick! How could Hinchey even suggest such a thing?

And then there's the Downing Street Memo.

Oh wait...
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

(this comment didn't make it to HP.)_

Bill Thompson Loses To Michael Bloomberg In Tight Mayoral Race

2009-11-04T07:06:00.001-05:00

Someone mentioned election fraud.

When I voted yesterday, I discovered that the lever for Thompson wouldn't go down in the Democratic column. I had to call in an election worker who finally directed me to pull down the lever on the Working Families ticket. I protested, not entirely in jest, that the Bloomies had rigged the machine. If they didn't, someone should have made sure that the machines worked.

This, I thought, was beyond the pale and I intend to make a complaint to the Board of Elections today.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

New York Times Endorses Michael Bloomberg

2009-10-24T18:20:00.001-04:00

I've already commented on the Times site to much the same effect as many of the comments so far. I am furious that Bloomie has decided to unilaterally negate the term limits that we voted on twice and then says something about restoring the status quo after his third term. Can we just say "arrogance" to the point of being obnoxious and does this mean he agrees on term limits except as they apply to himself since he has apparently achieved godlike status?

I remember angrily hanging up on one of his telephone campaign messages which began "This is Ed Koch for Mayor Mike Bloomberg". Ed is the one who caused term limits to be imposed in the first place!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Alan Gilbert does Mahler's Third

2009-09-23T06:07:00.023-04:00

Ordinarily, when I write about a performance such as this, it is from a telecast but this time I was in Avery Fisher Hall on the left side of the orchestra level.

I was hardly enthralled by the televised opening gala of a few days ago which I reviewed here as well. But Mahler's Third Symphony is a far more interesting experience than anything played on that occasion and Alan Gilbert, the new music director sounded infinitely more involved in its performance than in the creaky Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique of the gala. And for once, the Philharmonic even sounded interested enough in what they were doing to rehearse it.

The result was a memorable reading of a not-often done work by a familiar composer. The Symphony, of course, is rooted in song with the third movement based on Mahler's "Ablösung im Sommer" from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, the fourth a setting of an odd poem by Nietzsche and the fifth an expansion for mezzo-soprano, women's and boys' choirs of a song also from Des Knaben Wunderhorn.

I suppose the main reason for its comparative rarity in the concert hall is the sheer size of the performing forces needed and it's sheer length as well. (It was done here without intermission!) And, in this performance, one is immediately struck by the almost deafening sound coming from the stage for much of the piece. The first movement whose first theme reminds me strongly of the "chorale" theme from the last movement of Brahms 1st symphony, is a huge structure and and one of the most expansive extensions of the old sonata form ever attempted. Gilbert and the Philharmonic did this about as well as I've heard but I wish he'd have curbed his enthusiasm for sheer volume just a smidgen. But it had all the energy it needed without the Lincoln-Center standard practice of substituting facial expressions and the Lennyian jumping up and down for expression. And I think it will also have more of the delicacy that is needed after more experience with the piece.

This movement is the usual mixture of extended military marches, lyricism and mysticism and I was surprised to see a man (obviously a percussionist) walking offstage at one point and the drum flourishes-tattoos before the recap coming from there. Nothing else in the Symphony is nearly as long as this movement.

The "minuet" follows and it too takes on symphonic proportions during its duration. There is a "trio" section which is supposed to be played by a posthorn but rarely is. (I think Philip Myers used a regular horn but he played beautifully for a change.) Oddly, the theme here seems an echo of the "Jota Aragonese" slower section that Liszt also quoted in his Rhapsodie Espagnole.

The "scherzo", as I wrote earlier is based on an early Mahler song about a dead cuckoo and "Frau Nachtigall" who replaces it. (In the interest of veracity, the nightingale that sings is always a male; the female doesn't sing!) This too is greatly expanded from the original song and, of course, is purely instrumental.

The "Midnight Song" of Nietzsche was nicely sung by the mezzo-soprano Petra Lang with some rather strange diction. For example, she managed to draw out the word "Mensch" to about 2 syllables stressing the "sh" of the word for some strange reason.

Ms. Lang also joined all of the performing forces in the next movement with the Women of the Westminster Chorale and the American Boychoir and here I was a little disappointed. It seemed to me to lack the sonority it needed and the "Bimm Bamms" of the boys didn't seem to ring out as they should. This may have been due to the sometimes treacherous acoustics of the hall or perhaps to where we were sitting in relation to the choir. The thematic material that this movement, and also the minuetto to some extent, has in common with the 4th Symphony is explained by the fact that the last movement of that Symphony was originally meant to be part of this work, thus making it even longer!!!

But I think the conductor and orchestra redeemed themselves in the last movement which was as fine and expressive as one could hope for.

The new seating arrangement worked very well here.

On the whole, the best performance from the New York Philharmonic I've heard and it gives me hope for its future after the nearly moribund periods that preceded this one.

my Times comment on Ross Douthat's column- 9/21/09

2009-09-21T17:11:00.002-04:00

This is just another attempt by Mr. Douthat to salvage something from the ghastly mistake that was Mr. Bush's presidency. Even Ross cannot turn a lemon into lemonade by pointing to the surge, for example, which was another example of "putting lipstick on a pig" and in the long run, did little to mitigate the mishandling of Iraq. That we obviously got into Iraq for no other reason than oil and money is not mentioned.

The reference to the administration's refusal to allow stem cell research is dismissed by saying that Bush was right in the long run. This is left unexplained, except to suggest that it saved embryos. Oh great!!

Katrina is never mentioned and there wasn't even the hint of self-correction in that case. Yes, we didn't attack Iran as Dick Cheney wanted us to do only because, apparently, there was a final rift between Bush and Cheney as shown by Bush's refusal to pardon "Scooter" Libby as Dick badly wanted.

And there was the great financial disaster which Ross admits happened on the Bushies' watch but the feeble attempt at a bailout was too little too late and the disaster was handed down intact to the Obama administration. And attempting to compare Bush with Herbert Hoover and Lyndon Johnson also fails. Hoover, though helpless in the face of the Great Depression subsequently redeemed himself to some extent and he was never the consummate clown that Bush was. Lyndon, boorish though he often was, got much needed legislation passed during his administration through sheer force of personality as well as much arm-twisting. Bush did almost nothing.

Yes, Mr. Douthat admits that the Bush Administration wasn't a great presidency but but he barely admits that it was a disaster nearly down the line. Nice try Ross!

Alan Gilbert and the opening night at the N.Y. Phil

2009-09-18T06:28:00.010-04:00

Though I did comment on the subject on the New York Times website, I had to be brief due to a lack of time and didn't want to appear too negative. But, in all honesty, I thought the program was ill-chosen.

The opening work by Magnus Lindberg (the Phil's "Composer in Residence"), especially composed for the occasion, sounded like an opening work especially composed for the occasion. So no surprises there! Mildly dissonant sounding much like his fellow Finn Sibelius, it must be said that Sibelius did it much better.

Messiaen's "Poems for Mi" with both text and music written by the composer was sung by Renee Fleming who couldn't disguise the fact that it was endless and, as usual for Messiaen, not very interesting. Messiaen's Roman Catholicism seemed an overwhelming influence on almost all his work as was his marital bliss, short-lived though it was; "Mi" (Claire Delbos) lost her memory after an operation and she was hospitalized for the rest of her life. (Of course Messiaen later remarried.) But Debussy musically influenced this work and Claude also did it better.

The telecast intermissions featured interviews with Renee and Alan and, surprise, each thought the other was wonderful. (And, oh yes, all the composers were also wonderful!)

That creaky old Berlioz warhorse, the Symphonie Fantastique, ended the program and, though some other commentators missed the excitement of Lenny for example, I thought it was a plus to see Gilbert refrain from jumping around. In fact, I found it to be a well-balanced performance and perhaps Gilbert will do even better in the German repertory. (One can only hope.)

The fact is that even standard composers wrote less familiar music which might be occasionally programmed and there are many other new composers who are more interesting than what was performed here.

Governor Giuliani? Former NYC Mayor Close To Running For Governor Of New York

2009-08-25T08:43:00.001-04:00

Oh no, not him again!!!

This is one bad apple that never drops from the tree. One of the biggest political opportunists who ever lived; I recall the old joke which says that all his sentences consist of a noun, a verb and 9/11.

Go away Rudy!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Q&A with Robert Wright (Part 1): There Is Some Larger Purpose At Work in the Universe

2009-08-22T11:26:00.001-04:00

I haven't read Mr. Wright's book but from the title and comments on the book, it seems to me that he is unwilling to give up the core of his Southern Baptist beliefs even if he is no longer a Christian.

So what does he mean when he says he is a "spiritual person"? I find that term to be profoundly unsatisfactory. Does he mean he believes the Universe has a purpose? Well yes.Do I? I don't know and I don"t think anyone can ever know. Whose purpose? God's? Darwin's?

I consider myself pretty imaginative especially in my own field of music. Is that spiritual? Depends on the definition of spirituality. I am an agnostic and this is the only stance I can take.

Is this all a question of semantics? Probably.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Q&A with Robert Wright (Part 2): Is Belief in God Any Weirder Than Belief in Electrons?

2009-08-22T04:42:00.001-04:00

The basis of primitive religion was the attempt to explain the then inexplicable. Thunder, lightning, fire were at first not understood and early man had need to invent anthropomorphic gods and goddesses to explain them. Now that we know what causes all these phenomena, these deities are unnecessary.

And how did "God" evolve? "He" evolved from primitivism to utter absurdity, as we see in "modern" religion which is no more than a collection of old-wives' tales not much more sophisticated than Zeus and company. We are told that "To him who has faith, no explanation is necessary, to him who has not, bo explanation is possible." That this is a complete cop-out doesn't seem to occur to those who spout this nonsense.

The universe is still as mysterious as ever; let's accept it and be content with what we know without inventing more gods.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Mad Men

2009-08-13T18:51:00.001-04:00

Have you people seen actual footage of the Town Hall "debates"? People can say what they want, within reason but yelling at others as Bill O'Reilly does and shouting them down is not a debate and is not giving any other opinions the right to be heard.

Some of these remarks are completely off-the-wall and uncalled for, such as one man shouting "God will punish you!" to one politician.

Many of these loonies are, I think, responding to professional agitators such as Billo, Glenn Beck and Rush L., and Big Pharma and the healthcare insurers themselves may well be culprits in inciting these "protests". This is more than making one's opinion heard; this is bullying!

Steven is right; he may have come across as a bit too graphic but he is right all the same.
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New Mozart Pieces Unveiled (VIDEO)

2009-08-02T21:17:00.001-04:00

I was commenting on the fact that so much "new" Mozart has been found even in the last few years that it seems to amount to a relatively recent Mozart industry. Wasn't there a whole Symphony discovered maybe around five years ago?

But Felix Mendelssohn's "career" was interrupted by Herr Schickelgruber in the 20th Century because he offended his theories on racial purity and whole concerts have been put together from his newly discovered music. (Wagner was also offended by Felix's Judaism though he helped himself to many of his ideas such as stealing the opening of the Reformation Symphony for Parsifal (the Dresden Amen.). And even though the Mendelssohns turned Lutheran early on, they were still Jews and therefore unredeemable.)

Incidentally, Mozart was apparently a friend of Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of Felix and Fanny and Schubert used his German translations of some Psalms except for the one he set in Hebrew.
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