Stop Blaming Sarah Palin! (he has)

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:03:45 -0500

More follow up to the media blamestorming in the wake of the Arizona shooting story.  
I have been defending free-speech and the assignment of blame on “heated rhetoric” since some bloggers and MSM outlets started pointing fingers at Sarah Palin and Fox News. Today I was joined by a very unlikely source... the very liberal, former mayor of New York City Ed Koch.

These are his comments:

Ed Koch Commentary
January 17, 2011
                                     Reflections on Sarah Palin
          As I see it, in the current battle for public opinion Sarah Palin has defeated her harsh and unfair critics.
      After the January 8 shooting of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the murder of six others in Tucson, Arizona, some television talking heads and members of the blogosphere denounced her and held her in part responsible for creating a climate of hatred that resulted in the mass attacks.
          An example is Joe Scarborough and his crew on the “Morning Joe” show, which I watch and generally enjoy every morning at 6:30 a.m. when I rise to start the day.   Because Palin designated Congresswoman Giffords and others for defeat in the November elections by the use of crosshairs on website maps of the Congressional districts, they blamed Palin for creating an atmosphere that caused Jared Loughner (whom everyone now recognizes as being mentally disturbed) to embark on the shooting and killing spree.
          Then reason set in, led by President Obama in his now famous and widely-lauded speech in Tucson bringing the country together. Most commentators did an about-face, recognizing that the lack of civility in both speech and actions by politicians, particularly in Washington, were not the cause of the shootings. A friend of the shooter said he had no interest in politics or talk radio. Insanity was the cause of his vicious acts, not political rhetoric.
          While the charge of responsibility against Palin was dropped, the Scarborough crew continued to assail her for defending herself on her website where she stated that she had been the subject of a blood libel. Her critics were incensed that she should use the term “blood libel.” That was the description given by Jews to the charge of Christian clergy who falsely accused Jews of killing Christian children in order to make matzos (unleavened bread) during the Passover holiday. That libelous accusation was intended by those using it to cause pogroms that killed and injured thousands of Jews. It started in the early centuries A.D. and continues to date, according to Wikipedia. That same charge – blood libel – is now repeated by the media in Arab countries to stir up the anger of the Arab street against the Jews in Israel. The libel continues to do damage.
          Today the phrase “blood libel” can be used to describe any monstrous defamation against any person, Jew or non-Jew. It was used by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon when he was falsely accused of permitting the Lebanese Christian militia to kill hundreds of defenseless and innocent Muslim men, women and children in Lebanese refugee camps. The killings were monstrous and indefensible revenge for earlier killings by Muslims of innocent Christian civilians.
          Time Magazine published a story implying that Sharon was directly responsible for the massacres. He sued the magazine. At trial it was determined that the magazine story included false allegations, but since Sharon was a public figure, he received no monetary damages.
          How dare Sarah Palin, cried the commentators, use that phrase to describe the criticism of her by those who blamed her for creating the atmosphere that set Loughner off in his murderous madness. Some took the position that it proved their ongoing charges that she is not an intelligent person and probably did not know what the phrase meant historically. In my opinion, she was right to denounce her critics and use blood libel to describe the unfair criticism that she had been subject to.
          Here are excerpts from her statement:
          “Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy.”

          “Like many, I’ve spent the past few days reflecting on what happened and praying for guidance. After this shocking tragedy, I listened at first puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness, to the irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion blame for this terrible event.”

          “Vigorous and spirited public debates during elections are among our most cherished traditions. And after the election, we shake hands and get back to work, and often both sides find common ground back in D.C. and elsewhere. If you don’t like a person’s vision for the country, you’re free to debate that vision. If you don’t like their ideas, you’re free to propose better ideas. But, especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.”

          “As I said while campaigning for others last March in Arizona during a very heated primary race, ‘We know violence isn’t the answer. When we take up our arms, we’re talking about our vote.’ Yes, our debates are full of passion, but we settle our political differences respectfully at the ballot box – as we did just two months ago, and as our Republic enables us to do again in the next election, and the next. That’s who we are as Americans and how we were meant to be. Public discourse and debate isn’t a sign of crisis, but of our enduring strength. It is part of why America is exceptional.”

          Why do I defend Palin in this case? I don’t agree with her political philosophy: She is an arch conservative. I am a liberal with sanity. I know that I am setting myself up for attack when I ask, why did Emile Zola defend Dreyfus? Palin is no Dreyfus and I am certainly no Zola. But all of us have an obligation, particularly those in politics and public office, to denounce, when we can, the perpetrators of horrendous libels and stand up for those falsely charged. We should denounce unfair, false and wicked charges not only when they are made against ourselves, our friends or our political party but against those with whom we disagree. If we are to truly change the poisonous political atmosphere that we all complain of, including those who create it, we should speak up for fairness when we can.
          In the 2008 presidential race when Sarah Palin’s name was first offered to the public by John McCain as his running mate, I said at the time that she “scared the hell out of me.” My reference was to the content of her remarks, not to her power to persuade voters.
          It was McCain who lost the presidential election, not Palin. Since that time she has established that she has enormous power to persuade people. A self-made woman who rose from PTA mother to Governor of Alaska, she is one of the few speakers in public life who can fill a stadium. Her books are enormous successes. Her television program about Alaska has been a critical and economic success. When Sarah Palin addresses audiences, they rise to their feet in support and applause. She is without question a major leader of the far right faction in the Republican Party and its ally the Tea Party.
          I repeat my earlier comment that she “scares the hell out of me.” Nevertheless, she is entitled to fair and respectful treatment. The fools in politics today in both parties are those who think she is dumb. I’ve never met her, but I’ve always thought that she is highly intelligent but not knowledgeable in many areas and politically uninformed. I don’t believe she will run for president in 2012 or that she would be elected if she did. But I do believe she is equal in ability to many of those in the Republican Party seeking that office.
          Many women understand what she has done for their cause. She will not be silenced nor will she leave the heavy lifts to the men in her Party. She will not be falsely charged, remain silent, and look for others – men – to defend her. She is plucky and unafraid.
          While I disagree with her and I am prepared to oppose her politically, in the spirit of longed-for civility I say, Ms. Palin you are in a certain sense an example of the American dream: You have the courage to stand up and present your vision of America to its people. Your strength and lack of fear make America stronger and are examples to be emulated by girls and boys, men and women who are themselves afraid to speak up. You provide the example that they need for self-assurance.
________________________________________________________________
Well said Mr. Mayor.

Olbermann: The People Know Best, This Time

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:03:56 -0500

If Keith Olbermann’s viewers know what is best for HIS show, why don’t you the people know what’s right for America?
Less than a month after he removed the benchmark segment “Worst Person In The World” from his MSNBC television program, Keith O. has relented to the will of the people. (And by “people” I am referring to the faithful following of the troubled cable channel.) Starting tonight, the old standard of name-calling and hate-mongering returns to MSNBC as WPITW is back! (If you are reading this Keith, or having it read to you by a minion, I secretly crave to make the list. Even if I'm just the Bronze medal winner, that would make my day and be a huge boost to my Right thinking street cred.)

Seeing that popular opinion carries sway with someone so often seen as inflexible, I wonder how Keith and MSNBC would now feel about the following controversial topics:
The proposed mosque to be built near Ground Zero – Time Magazine’s survey showed that 61% of America thinks it should not be built and 70% believe that continuing with the plan would be an insult to the victims of the attack. Based on these numbers, would the Olbermeister stand up and say that the American people have spoken and the mosque should be moved? Doubtful.
The Obama Healthcare Bill – After narrowly passing earlier this year, and facing possible repeal or defunding by the 2011 Congress, the healthcare legislation is still generating significant negatives. Reuters recent online survey shows that 64% of respondents are not pleased about the bill. Nearly 2/3rds of the people want this legislation radically changed or undone. Where does MSNBC’s pitbull stand on this?
The (ironically titled) Employee Free Choice Act or “Card Check” – The unions claim this would be a great thing for the country. The people seem to know differently and have expressed their opinion many times over. Evidence the results posted online from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The poll, conducted by Voter Consumer Research, showed that 61% of respondents nationwide oppose EFCA, which would make it easier for unions to organize workplaces. Some 48% said they strongly oppose, and 47% said they personally would be worse off if more workplaces were unionized.” Since union honcho Richard Trumpka practically has a locker in the MSNBC air talent lounge, I won't even pretend to think there could be a change of opinion on this one.
Cap & Trade – The President himself warned us that his proposed program of capping emissions and trading carbon credits would “necessarily cause energy rates to SKYROCKET” – so it is no shock that the American people are less than thrilled about the prospect of this shady plan. A national survey from the Institute for Energy Research revealed that Cap & Trade was narrowly beaten when 70% of the American people were against it. WAIT… only 70% are against it? That’s hardly a reason for the government to forge ahead with plans to impose financial punishment on the people.
I could go on and on with cases of the people thinking that the government is going the wrong way by imposing their will on the people who elected them, but I doubt it would change opinions of the brain trust at MSNBC or Keith. They are not about to admit that the people want something different from what they are being force-fed. No sir, these myopic media monsters are still convinced that the Democrats midterm election disaster was due to the economic malaise that still haunts the country and not a rising tide of rational thinking trying to reign in an out of control government.

On The Next Oprah, The Cheney Diet?

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:32:37 -0500

Grazing the mid-day cable news universe yesterday I stumbled onto MSNBC’s coverage of the groundbreaking ceremonies at the Bush Presidential Library in Dallas. Oddly enough, the other two newsers were not covering it. Former Vice President Dick Cheney was at the podium, looking rather un-Cheney-like. He was thinner, much thinner.

The former VP was still full of warmth and praise for his old boss, but also lobbed a little grenade towards the current administration when he observed; “This may be the only shovel-ready project in America.” Not a bad line and certainly one that Jon Stewart would have used. AND, considering the President’s recent admission that the magical shovel-ready jobs don’t really exist (as he promised), it was a fairly strong shot. Let’s watch how the MSM media spins Cheney’s appearance and his comment. I’m betting that the overall take will be something along the lines of saying that Cheney looks old, ill, frail or all of the above... and that he attacked the President with his comment. Stay tuned.

Broadway Pithy Party

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:19:55 -0500

The one-man show “Colin Quinn, Long Story Short” opened last night (Nov. 9) at the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway (actually just off Broadway on W.44th) and it is slated to run for 11 weeks.

Quinn’s 75minute history of the world spent the summer getting polished at the Bleeker Street Theater, a much smaller venue that is often home to one-man and offbeat shows. He has graduated to the big stage and I am one fan who is thrilled for Mr. Quinn but moreover for fans of smart comedy.

While not generally considered to be an actor (although he has appeared in many movies), this SNL alum displays a strong set of stand-up comic skills as he comfortably wanders the stage delivering a world history lesson that should be required of all NYC public school students. To most school kids (and probably most Americans) “history” is a subject that usually elicits about as much interest and excitement as toilet scrubbing. This is not the case with “Long Story Short,” I laughed early and often throughout the entire performance.

Typical comedy club fans should know that this is not a stand-up performance, but an actual show with a beginning, middle and end. And that is a plus.

Often referred to as a “comic’s comic,” Colin Quinn has been this clever, this biting and this intelligent since forever. The show is written and performed solely by Quinn, directed by Jerry Seinfeld and utilizes a sparsely decorated stage supported by a few projected video images to allow Mr. Quinn to transport the audience from pre-historic to modern times. It is a functional set that does not interfere with the material, effectively focusing the typically distracted NY audience.

The show is playing at the Helen Hayes Theater on W.44th Street, with performances running a fast 75minutes. Tickets available at Telecharge.com. Hurry, the show is only running 11 weeks.

The DEA Wants Cunning Linguists

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:25:34 -0400

Don't let last week's depressing job numbers showing a surprising increase in first-time claims for unemployment get you down, the DEA is hiring! That's right, the Drug Enforcement Agency is looking for hundreds of people to help catch the bad guys trying to pollute our streets with drugs. The Atlanta field office of the DEA is seeking over 200 skilled translators, including 9 openings for anyone who can demonstrate fluency in Ebonics.
While this may appear to be “out-of-the-box” thinking, the DEA has a history of tapping into the bleeding edge of society. In December of 1970, Elvis Presley was invited to visit then President Nixon in the White House and was deputized as a Federal Agent At Large for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
Nashville songwriting legends Pinkerd & Bowden even memorialized this magic moment with a song called “Elvis Was A Narc.”

Again in 1983 the White House enlisted Gary Coleman and his “Different Strokes” castmates a special episode linking pop culture to Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign.
Fast forward to 2010 and the Feds are using innovation in an effort to stem the flow of drugs into America. Make no mistake, these are highly specialized jobs, requiring a level of proficiency in some rather exotic languages like Farsi, Creole Patois, and yes, Ebonics.
Let us not lose sight of lucrative nature of this gig, working for the Federal government often pays double the money that one can earn in the private sector. So you are probably wondering, is the DEA looking for my resume? If you speak Ebonics, they are.
TheSmokingGun.com is reporting that there are a multitude of good paying jobs with long-term career possibilities for people with foreign language skills.
I can’t help but wonder if Barbara Billingsley has offered to help clean up the streets, by raising her hand and shouting "I Speak Jive?"

Should the 94 yr old Billingsley decide to come out of semi-retirement to serve her country by heading up the Ebonics team at the DEA, I for one will be proud to support her nomination.

However, should this plum spot remain unfilled, I encourage many of the millions of unemployed Americans to start their own home-study course in Ebonics. It's easy, fun and can be done online with one of many Ebonics translators just waiting for your click!

Ok, Home Slice, I’ve dropped enough knowledge on you for one night, I'm Audi... Peace!