July 3, 2009
Dutch on Michael Jackson’s death:
Sadly we at PODM must raise a few quibbles. (Actually it was Senior Editor Emeritus Franklin Erasmus Buzzkill; address all complaints to him at: PODM World Headquarters in Kitschaskiny Florida.) In the past we have lost more than a few immortals of pop: two Beatles, God knows how many Beach Boys, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendricks, Jim Morrison all exited in interesting and untimely manners. Lets face it: Cass Eliot, Karen Carpenter and Michael Hutchence departed this vale of tears in a manner less mundane than heart failure. Bobby Fuller inhaled gasoline and Lynard Skinner died in a plane wreck . . . .
Of course Michael Jackson was no ordinary pop star–despite Mr. Buzzkill’s curmudgeonly complaints–and the tributes continue to pour in: Wal*mart has declared that in Jackson’s honor they will have little boys’ pants half off this month (I know its an old one, but when are we going to get to use it again?) and from beyond the grave Farah Fawcett claims she asked Saint Peter to help young boys everywhere–so he killed Jacko. Reggie Jackson (no relation) has claimed he was honoring Michael while playing right field because both Jackson (Michael) and Jackson (Reggie) wore a single glove for no apparent reason.( Yeah, I know its another old one but–again, when are we going to get to use it in the future?)
Fortunately Mr. Jackson’s legacy is in the capable hands of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson (no relation), so we can rest assured nothing exploitative or self-serving will occur. Time has stopped at Neverland–fortunately not at bedtime–which, we are reliably informed, is when the big hand touches the little hand. So until we find the stone rolled back from Mr. Jackson’s tomb and he moonwalks across the reflective pool; farewell, Michael. Farewell.
Other members of the Jackson family–Stonewall Jackson (no relation), Shoeless Joe Jackson (no relation), Andrew Jackson (no relation), Jackson Browne (no relation), Kate Jackson (no relation), Samuel L. Jackson (no relation), Phil Jackson (no relation), Shirley Jackson (no relation), Milt Jackson (no relation), Jackson Pollock (no relation), Randy Jackson (no relation), Glenda Jackson (no relation) and Henry “Scoop” Jackson (no relation) could not be reached for comment.
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July 3, 2009
But you must, in that tough Colonial spirit, go to YouTube to get it.
So go.
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July 3, 2009
that will be with him forever:
Behold. The wan and pityingly patronizing smile that flickers and fades. Observe the slight tinge of sanctimony with the tilt of the head. Watch for the momentary lapse into irritation masked by the lidded beagle eyes. Listen if you can to the parrying banter and recall the man who “oozing charm from every pore / oiled his way across the floor.”
All of these bespeak the man who knows he is leading whores on a merry chase and is determined that if anyone is put at bay it shall not be him. Gibbs is, as these men go, a serviceable dog; one who has been carefully vetted and trained to be loyal to his masters. He has what it takes — a willingness to do say anything, to do anything, to perform any service asked of him and to eat any offal that his masters put before him.
Charles Dickens had the measure of these Gibbsian phonies long, long ago. Here is his description of Seth Pecksniff, the “treacherous and hypocritical architect” in Martin Chuzzlewit. when he described this most odious man . . . “journalists” like these they have long since sold their right to say “No.” And once you’ve given up the right of refusal you are doomed, like all whores, to just sit still and let anybody in Gibbs’ position use you.
Naturally, Gerard’s got the clip of the White House Press Corps—including Helen Thomas—getting testy with Gibbs, not liking the flagrant White House control of town hall meetings. But what, exactly, do they intend to do about it?
The only thing that would make a difference at this point is to stop turning tricks for the Administration.
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July 3, 2009
That doesn’t sound right. He probably just sent his attorney.
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July 3, 2009
The guys who said her career is over are walkin’ that one back.
Ya think?
* * *
I say she’s either out for good, or playing a long game.
UPDATE: To those among my friends on the left (including my mother) who are throwing parties, I’d like to caution against irrational exuberance, because 1) whom are you going to beat up on now?—and 2) you don’t know what that woman will do without the handcuffs of the governorship and a 2012 campaign on her. Don’t celebrate too hard. (Especially mom: no alcohol, remember? Think of your liver.)
There’s a nice roundup—with luxurious, ample quotage—from Caffeinated Thoughts.
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July 3, 2009
. . . [I]f Barack Obama got one-tenth the abuse that Sarah Palin has gotten, he’d cry like a little girl. And his defenders would scream raaaacciiiiism at the top of their lungs.
Plus, the good professor’s mini-roundup of the latest on America’s foxiest governor.
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July 3, 2009
Battle =/= war.
If it’s a matter of the abuse her family has had to endure, I’m down with her taking a step backward and giving them a break.
I know a lot of people are still upset that she didn’t serve out the entire term, but we still don’t have the full story, and we also haven’t been subject to the unrelenting attacks she has had to put up with. The closest I can think of is Reagan, and in that case people weren’t dragging his kids into it.
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July 3, 2009
There we go. All fixed.
More? Okay:
Joe Jackson Clogs Sewage Treatment Plant
LOS ANGELES, CA - An attempt to remove scum from Michael Jackson’s father failed after Joe Jackson damaged the primary sedimentation tank at the Silverlake Waste Management Facility. Said Jackson family spokesperson Armand Daley, “Joe caught some bad press for using Michael’s death to promote his new record company. We thought we’d clean him up a little before the funeral.” Plant supervisor Xavier Escoto said, “Jackson was placed in the tank, but when the skimming arm tried to scrape off the sludge, it jammed, then broke . . . .”
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July 3, 2009
There’s an amazing essay about Sarah Palin over at PJM; couldn’t have said it any better myself.
UPDATE: The Temple of Mut has a nice summary, and a good roundup.
UPDATE II: The Anchoress stays with the story.
UPDATE III: Andrew Sullivan seems unable to exit Governor Palin’s vagina.
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July 3, 2009
We don’t know what’s going on; we can’t know what’s going on. As The Anchoress points out, the most likely explanations are that there is a problem with her health, or that she is going through some sort of intense personal crisis—possibly involving her family, or maybe even her marriage.
Governor Palin, from the Runner's World shoot.
Today we are hearing the usual cries of “now her national ambitions are over!”
But of course, we don’t know that until we know the nature of the challenge she’s up against in private, and she ain’t talking. Without knowing that, it’s all just words.
If, for example, she’s taking time off to battle cancer or something of that nature, people will gladly accept her back into political life once it’s over.
Geraghty is anxious to get the corpse of Palin’s political career into that hearse.
Forget getting the facts; jackals, attack!
UPDATE: Ah, here we go: Thing 1. Thing 2 specifies a caveat, such as needing treatment for cancer. So, if there’s a crisis involved, this wouldn’t scuttle any national ambitions she might have, huh?
(Of course, if there isn’t a crisis involved, she wouldn’t be doing it—not unless she’s sick of all the shit she has to take, in which case the story would be that she’s giving up those national ambitions. Obviously.)
Just words.
UPDATE II: Ed Morrissey has some more blah blah blah. And, blah, adds Steve Green. And those are two of the smart guys we’ve got. Jeez.
Malkin manages to keep her powder dry, to her credit.
Why is everyone pretending to know more than we really know?
UPDATE III: Well, at least this makes a bit more sense:
Why is she resigning? We know at least two things: (1) this makes no sense politically, meaning it’s either a scandal or a health issue (2) Palin tweeted that her reason for resigning was “good news.” If it’s good news it can’t be a scandal or a health issue, unless that health issue is that she’s pregnant. My very first guess was pregnancy, in which case mazel tov except she’s going to get slammed as “irresponsible” for getting pregnant after giving brith to Trig.
Well, “everything happens for a reason.” Almost anything could be considered good news if one’s attitude were prayerful enough. (I’m not there, but I know people like that.)
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July 3, 2009
who he thinks is “blowing it.” I don’t agree, but I do think she should go home now and hit the books a bit for a while.
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July 3, 2009
. . . for banning burqas in this country. I agree, even aside from humanitarian grounds and the clear subjection of women promoted by this practice.
At the same time, I feel that headscarves are fine, and should be protected; Jews, Muslims, and some fundamentalist Christians need to be able to wear them, but these headcoverings do not enable criminality by hiding the face, or “imprison” the wearer (as Chesler points out) by cutting off sensory input.
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July 3, 2009
Yockey satirizes Katharine Weymouth:
Today Washington Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth cancelled plans for a series of private salons-for-hire at her posh home where lobbyists paying six-figure fees were to have access to WaPo reporters, members of Congress and officials in the Obama administration.
“We are sluts, not whores,” Weymouth said indignantly. “There’s a difference! We do not charge for our journalistic integrity. We gave that away for free years ago. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do to protect Pres. Obama and the Democratic Congress totally for free. We also are happy to destroy their enemies purely as a labor of love. I am outraged that anyone could think we would put a price on those services. When we sell out our readers, we get absolutely nothing in return!”
No, really: the newsroom had no idea what the promotions people were up to in Ms. Weymouth’s home:
This morning, Politico’s Mike Allen reported that a flier distributed by The Washington Post is offering lobbyists and association executives off-the-record access to the Obama administration, members of Congress, and the paper’s own reporters and editors.
The cost? A mere $25,000 - $250,000 will grant a few deep-pocketed sponsors an intimate dinner and discussion with key decision makers at the home of WaPo CEO and Publisher Katharine Weymouth. But wait, there’s more…
According to Politico, the flier says:
“Bring your organization’s CEO or executive director literally to the table. Interact with key Obama Administration and Congressional leaders.”
WaPo was quick to respond to FishbowlDC’s request for comment about the flier and event:
The flier circulated this morning came out of a business division for conferences and events, and the newsroom was unaware of such communication. It went out before it was properly vetted, and this draft does not represent what the company’s vision for these dinners which are meant to be an independent, policy-oriented events for newsmakers.
As written, the newsroom could not participate in an event like this.
We do believe there is an opportunity to have a conferences and events business, and that The Post should be leading these conversations in Washington, big or small, while maintaining journalistic integrity. The newsroom will participate where appropriate.
Not until they see how much money they can make off of it, and not if they get caught.
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July 3, 2009
Right here.
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July 3, 2009
Carol has a lovely linkfest up, and she’s running a clip from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, with force-of-nature Jimmy Stewart. Way to celebrate the 4th!
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July 3, 2009
Ed Morrissey at The Air:
I guess the Post doesn’t kiss and tell, huh? They didn’t always take that position, though. When Dick Cheney met with energy-industry leaders in 2001 (before he could take advantage of the Post’s Mack Daddy program), the Post demanded transparency in government officials meeting with lobbyists. In fact, the Post got inside sources to divulge the list of participants in the meetings of the Energy Task Force. The Post was so impressed with itself that it created [a] handy table in order to make the information as easy to read as possible, when it published the names of all the participants in 2006.
Now, how does that situation differ from the Post’s own “salons” intended to create tete-a-tetes in private with high-ranking government officials? Shouldn’t the Post, as a journalistic organization, inform the public about the actions of public officials who want to secretly meet with lobbyists? After all, that was the reasoning behind the demand that Cheney release the participants in the ETF — that secrecy would negatively impact public policy. If these public officials declined the invitations, we’d like to see that kind of integrity honored. If they didn’t decline the invitations, then we should know about that, too.
This is what happens when a journalistic organization decides to moonlight as a power pimp for profit. The moonlight identity becomes the sole identity.
But what I really want to know: would the discussions between reporters, lobbyists, and politicians have been limited to healthcare, or would New Media also have been discussed? Because while The Washington Post is cancelling these $25,000-$250,000/head events, I made another fifty cents from my Amazon referrals in the past two weeks alone, and I feel dreadful about it.
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July 2, 2009
McArdle explains why Wal-Mart might not have suddenly become Enthusiastic Guardians of Public Health, and reminds us of the Bootleggers-Baptists connection.
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Free Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani!
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