Conservatives: Always Good At Telling You What You Should Do:

There is a feature on this blog called the most popular posts (Basically the posts that had the most spam and bot activity) You can check it out for yourself over on the left side of the blog. What I like best about the feature is sometimes it jogs my shoddy memory as a now long forgotten post sometimes finds its way on to the list and I click on it and  I see comments that have been left since Jonathan, Eileen or myself have written the post. The post in question here was called More On Kyle Ann Shiver and was in response to an article Ms Shiver  had written called "How Vermont Secession Could Bring Peace to the Middle East"

Now I must admit I had forgotten about this post... probably the second after I wrote in July of 2008...and reading it now there is no doubt that I could have been more eloquent and tactful. However what I love most re-reading the post now is this response from one


Zbigniew Mazurak
(clicking his name leads to still going Teabagger blog.)

"Please do not swear, not to mention that you responded to a lady, and according to Western tradition, ladies should be treated more respectfully than gentlemen. You may disagree with her, but you should not offend her. That's not a Lancelot-like deed. This paragraph would also apply to Jonathan and Sergei."

Why do Conservatives do this?  Why do they, the people who love freedom oh so much always hate yours? Why do they feel it is their God given right to tell you what to  post, what to say, what to think?  Aren't these the same people who hate political correctness and  having their  free speech violated?

I don't know what became of Kyle Ann nor do I care. Honestly I had forgotten about writing about her 5 years ago. But I can tell you her blog seems to be gone. What became of her I have no idea. I sure hope I didn't offend her though because that would be terrible.

Don't Take A Hollywood Bio Pic As Gospel...

 Max Baer was The Heavyweight champion of the world from 1934-1935. He would lose the title to a Journeyman fighter named James Braddock in a fight that would be inspire a movie in 2005 called Cinderella Man and still remain part of boxing lore. Baer never bothered to take Boxing, nor much of anything else for that matter, seriously and as such most boxing historians regard him as supremely talented but his career as ultimately disappointing. Two movies made nearly 50 years apart would cloud the true nature of his character and spawn much controversy.

I hate to take a break from Rev. Sam. to ask a question. Do people really take hollywood Bio-picture that seriously? In 2005 Ron Howard made a bio pic of the Boxer James J. Braddock's life called Cinderella Man. I was one of about 1 of 10 people who actually saw the film in the theater and thought it was excellent. However it was not without controversy. The movie depicts Max Baer Sr, whom Braddock won the heavyweight title off of, as a mean thoughtless blood thirsty savage. This portrayal greatly upset the Baer family. Mainly Max "Jethro Bodine" Baer Jr. Whom threatened a law suit. In truth Baer Sr. Was a fun loving, good guy whom lost to Braddock, and other fights he should have won, not because he was a blood thirsty savage but he because was in fact the opposite. Baer Sr. was a good time guy who would rather laugh, drink and "grab a broad" instead of train for a fight. His famous quote after losing the title to Braddock "He needed it more than I did. he's got 3 kids I don't know how many I've got." gives us much insight to Baer Sr's true personality really was. Also upsetting however to the Baer family was the Portrayal of Baer's attitude about killing a man in the ring. (which happened) In the movie Baer again is portrayed as a blood thirsty savage reveling in the death. In truth the incident bothered Baer until he own death at the relatively young age at 50 and may have contributed in Baer's seemingly nonchalant attitude towards his own fight career.

If the only movie we had to base Baer's true personality and character off of was Cinderella Man maybe the family would have more of a point about the false portrayal. However it is not. There was another movie thinly based on the life of another boxer named Primo Carnera made in 1957 called The Harder They Fall. Unlike Cinderella Man which flopped, The Harder They Fall was and is still one of the most popular "fight pictures" of all time. The film would be Humphery Bogart's last was an expose of the way fighters are exploited by criminals in the fight game. It was Carnera whom Baer would beat for the title. And who would play the character Buddy Branned whom was clearly based on Max Baer? Max Baer! That's right. Baer played the role of a boxer based on himself whom was every bit mean, blood thirsty, and rotten, not to mention also reveling in the fact he killed a man, as his character would be in Cinderella Man. And he had to have known that the role he was playing was based to be himself.

So even before Ron Howard took the life story of James Braddock and embellished many aspect of the story including the true personality of Max Baer Sr, to make a better movie, Baer playing himself did the very same thing some 50 years earlier. In fact you could make a very good argument that The Harder They Fall showing Baer acting in such a fashion did more to harm the legacy of the man than Cinderella Man did where Baer's character was embellished to make Braddock's achievement look that much more impressive. Would Cinderella Man have the same emotional ending if the film had shown Braddock beating a fat out of shape Baer who spent the fight clowning as was the truth instead of making it look as if Braddock beat some unbeatable brute against all odds?

I say all of this to ask this question. Should people or their families really get that upset over their portrayal in a Hollywood film? The way I look at is most people, if they have any smarts at all, are going to know to take what they see on the screen with a grain of salt no matter how truthful a biopic purports to be. All movies, even ones based on the truth are going to at least 30% fiction. They have to be or they would never have hold your attention.. Baer certainly didn't seemed to mind taking money to play himself as in such a fashion Why did his family have such an issue when Craig Bierko did? My own personal answer as somebody who liked both Cinderella Man and The Harder They Fall is I'm smart enough to know that both Baer and Bierko were making an Hollywood version of a real event. Based on truth but was embellished to tell a story. Others watching these films and other bio pictures like them are also smart enough to take what they see on the screen as face value. And if they are not that says more about themselves and their own intelligence than it says about the people being portrayed.

Random Thought

You ever ponder an episode in your life when at the time you tried and tried and tired to make it work only to watch it hopelessly fail? You fought to make it work, you lied to make it work, not only to yourself but to others involved. Then years after you raised the white flag and you have excepted defeat on that episode of life your mind wanders back to the episode and you realize not only was it doomed to fail from the beginning but your life is actually better for it having failed. Then of course you ask yourself why in the hell was I working so hard to save that Titanic in the first place?

Don't ask me why I was thinking about this tonight. My mind was doing a mental look back over 35+ years of life good and bad. Maybe it comes with the age but lately I have been replaying my life aged 21-28 and wondering what the hell were you thinking?

Usually when I start doing this it means it's time to go to bed.

Question For Jonathan

With rumors circulating that JaMarcus Russell is about to be let go from Oakland would you put him in with the rarefied air of Leafdem or is too early?

Edit by Jonathan: Total bust, Count. One of the top 10 busts of all time (probably no. 4 or 5 on the list), thanks in part to Al Davis' staunch support for Russell for as long as he did. Raider Nation will still be a laughingstock as long as Al Davis is still running shit up in Oakland.

What Do You Think?

I have made my opinions of this guy fairly well known I do not like him. I know that he gets labeled as a "liberal" from people who have either never actually listen to him and heard he was gay ( so he must be liberal) or by people who are so far right that Hitler was a liberal by comparison. It sure seems obvious to me that anybody who says stupid shit almost nightly like "why is Islam the only religion you can't talk bad about?" Or has talking points that often are almost word for word the same as Hannity's is no Liberal.

Where do you stand?

Criptic Message Time

How can one be a radical moderate if one does not stand for anything?

How Are You Spending Your July 4th?

It's a gorgeous night here and it's Saturday which means the fireworks show is loud and it will be long. I would love to go watch some of it but my Animals are so scared that I am staying in playing Sinatra ETC to calm them down. Good man or Sap? Anyway I am thinking about sneaking out for a bit. I actually feel pretty good.

Anyway Open thread.

Fuck Sarah Palin

Some Questions For ET

I notices another health care thread on Newshounds. I know you were born in and lived in the states and you now live in Canada. What are the pros and cons of the Canadian health care system and how do you honestly feel it compares to the health care system in the States? ( I think I know the answer to that) Are there things that are better about our health care system?

Which Number Is Higher

The Current Temperature in Omaha 1

Or

Ralph's IQ?

I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

I was thinking about writing my recap of Nebraska's football season tonight an collecting my thoughts when I got to thinking about The Nebraska-Kansas State game. Not so much the game itself but the fact that they actually had us stand while the PA Guy lead the crowd in the pledge of Allegiance. Now I have been to plenty of sporting events and have seen several pregame displays of patriotism that have ranged from the understandable, The National Anthem, the pre-game ceremony at Missouri in 2001 (It was their first game after (9-11) to the ridiculous, bands playing proud to be an American, to the horrific, recordings of Lee Greenwood singing proud to be an American. But this was the first time I actually witnessed the crowd being led in the pledge of Allegiance. At the time I leaned over to the Contessa and whispered "I Can't fucking believe this" and stood up and gave a half -assed Pledge Of Allegiance not caring to make it an issue and laughing at the thought of suddenly being in 3rd grade again with 48,000 class mates. And if for one minute I thought those around me were taking this seriously I would have said fuck it and just stayed seated. I can tell you that 98% of those people there, who I am sure were 85% Republican were just as "patriotic" in their delivery of the pledge as I was.

I'll stand up and sing the National Anthem with my hand on my heart and I won't even yell CORNHUSKERS or Wildcats when they get to "and the home of the " part like all the other patrotic Americans did. I get that don't have a problem with it. But I pledge allegiance to the flag? One Nation under God? No. not here and frankly not anywhere. The more I think about this the more I actually get somewhat...angry about it. The fact that this is the only place I have seen this makes me less angery about it. but what if more stadiums and events start this? I know this is an worn out analogy but isn't making one take allegiance to the flag at a sporting event that has nothing to do with National security or patriotism a little allegiance Nazisish? Who are these people to question my loyalty to the flag that I have to make a public display for them? This is not a Soccer game between the United States and Mexico. One's loyalty to Bush and Country was not at question here. The only people I stood in disagreement with were Kansans rooting for Kansas State and it wasn't because I questioned their patriotism it was because they were fucking Kansans rooting for fucking Kansas State. And even then it was good natured this wasn't the Jews and The Palestinians.

If I go back to Manhattan for a game and again we are asked to stand for the Pledge I do believe I'll politely say fuck no. I payed $80 for this ticket and I'll stand for the national anthem and I'll stand for your dopey ass school song but the only flag I am pledging allegiance to today is that red one with a white N on it.

I will ask you, I was going to make a poll question out of this but the dicknuts would just spike it.

If You're At an event where you are asked to stand and give the pledge of Allegiance would you:

A. Stand And Recite It.
B. Stand And Not Recite It.
C. Stay Seated and Refuse To Recite It.

Ann Coulter Thread

The Newshounds Mod has started a thread about Fox promoting Ann Coulter's new book. Since I cannot comment on The Newshounds Mods threads here are my questions to you. Have you ever gone into somebodies house and actually seen a copy of any of her books? Do you know anybody who has ever bought a copy of her books? I know I haven't. Plus it seems like all of the bitch's books are the same. Fuck Ann Coulter! On second thought...don't. :)

Why Is It Every Single Currupt Politician In The Western World Has The Same Hair?

Is Lon Chaney In Phantom Of The Opera A Dead Ringer For McCain?

I Forgot To Add This

One question I forgot to ask in the diatribe below.

When did stupid become a virtue?

We made a President out of a man who couldn't find oil in West Texas because he seemed cool to have a beer with. Now we have a VP nominee who other than being a beauty pageant winner and a weather gal was the mayor of a town with 10 people. And she doesn't know what paper she reads but dammit she reads it. But she's one of us.

Now the latest political "hero" is an unlicensed plumber who doesn't pay his taxes. And the fact that this guy Doesn't want to vote for Obama is a bad thing for Obama?

Seriously. when did we stop demanding better? When did Stupid become a virtue?

McFilthy And McNasty

Once upon a time the Washington D.C. NBA franchise now known as the Wizards was known as the Bullets and The Washington Bullets had two players named Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland that the late great radio announcer of The Boston Celtics labeled "McFilthy and McNasty"with all due respect to the late Mr. Most I have stolen his nicknames and applyied them to the 2008 Republican Ticket for President. The only question is Who is McFilthy and Who is McNasty?

I have decided that

is McFilthy and

Is McNasty.

Do I have it right or should it be switched?

Flashback To 8 Years Ago

Why did Al Gore pick Joe Lieberman? There had to be what he thought was a good reason. What in 2000 was thought to be Judas Joe's good side.

Why is Glenn Beck Still On the Air?

Total Viewers: (L +SD)

Total day: FNC: 1469 | CNN: 746 | MSNBC: 518 | HLN: 334

Prime: FNC: 3408 | CNN: 1226 | MSNBC: 1440 | HLN: 807

	5p:	6p:	7p:	8p:	9p:	10p:	11p:
FNC	ElectionHQ:	Hume:	Shep:	O'Reilly:	H&C:	Greta:	O'Reilly:
	1706	2019	1903	4572	3059	2592	1931
CNN	Blitzer:	Blitzer:	Dobbs:	Brown:	King:	Cooper:	Cooper:
	1088	1011	961	1022	1381	1276	873
MSNBC	Hardball:	Gregory:	Hardball:	Countdown:	Maddow:	Countdown:	Investig.:
	652	564	989	1928	1543	851	480
HLN	Prime:	Prime:	Beck:	Grace:	Beck:	Grace:	Showbiz:
	298	188	424	1283	682	530	376

Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data.

TP showed this graph to show how well Rachel Maddow did on her first night but looking at this graph I have a question. Why is Beck still on the air? You could have a Cocker Spaniel sit in the chair and get better raitings than he does.

New Poll Question

Thank you to the 91 people who voted on the DNC especially those who admitted to being tools for McCain.

Should The Drining Age Be Lowered?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26320912/?GT1=43001

By Susan Kinzie and James Hohmann

updated 12:32 p.m. CT, Thurs., Aug. 21, 2008

On the face of it, the notion seems counterintuitive, but to the presidents of some of the nation's most prestigious colleges, it makes a lot of sense: Lowering the legal drinking age might get students to drink less.

But any chance for the academic leaders to begin a public discussion of their theory -- that allowing people as young as 18 to drink legally might promote moderation -- has been lost in a wave of criticism from health experts, transportation officials, government leaders and opponents of drunken driving.

Safety advocates say the legal drinking age of 21 saves about 900 lives every year. And Laura Dean-Mooney, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said: People look to college presidents "for their leadership role on their campuses. It just seems like they didn't do enough homework to look at the science on this."

...

I have argued and will continue to argue that there should be NO drinking age limit. At least half the reason teens drink is because it's another law they can thumb their noses at. I have always felt that getting rid of the drinking age limit would eventually lower the amount of alcoholism with teens significantly. And I have pointed to Europe where there is neither a age limit nor the problem with teen alcoholism that America has. Since I know that is not going to ever happen I say lower it to 18. Shit if Johnny and Joan are old enough lose their lives in Baghdad they are old enough to order a MGD.

Also parents could use some truth in advertising. No matter how blue the can gets Beer is not some magic cool substance that will make your life a living party 24/7. In fact it's one of the absolute worst tasting things that there is around. There is only one good reason to drink 10 beers. The 10th makes you forget how fucking awful the first 9 tasted.

Time For Some Serious Discussion

As you have probably heard by now the chairman of the Arkansas democratic party has been shot. The suspect was shot and killed. What role do you believe the right-wing hate jocks on radio and print have in these shootings? My own honest opinion is very little. As fun as it to blame Mouse, Shemp, Billo, Maglalang or Weiner for these acts I believe the problem runs much deeper than those fools. We have a health care crisis in this country. People seem to forget that while that means Joe Everyday can't get his finger surgically repaired and his wife can't get the meds she needs it also means that we have a serious problem with mental health care that needs to be addressed.

I guess my view is that Right-wing, Left-wing violence from a sick society is not the work of Mouse Limbourgh but Mouse Limbourgh is the work of a sick society.

That's just my view. I would like to hear others.

EDIT: Bill Gwatney has died.