We couldn't stay on the DL, anchoring the sofa, in a wave of wonderful power naps, without jumping in on this one.
It came down today, that the New York Times was ending their subsidy of The Weekly Standard, gainfully, if not painfully, employing their editor, William "Little Billy" Kristol, for the past year, to promulgate the propaganda of The Weekly Standard, on the Op-Ed pages of the aforementioned, New York Times.
Funny, they never did alter their motto, to "All The Bullshit Fit To Print".
The running thread that kept popping up today, as Attaturk noted, on Firedoglake, in his post And how’d that work out for you?;The most significant and intelligent part of Bill Kristol's column in the New York Times wasn't written by him.
Well, his last column in the NYT, as Think Progress (and others) are reporting that The Washington Post will pick up on the journalistic bailout, having Little Billy on their pages, on monthly basis.
This is William Kristol’s last column.
I guess they don't mind that Time Magazine, and now the NYT, have given him his pink slip.
Kristol was one of the Right Wing Freak Show's loudest cheerleaders for The Bush Grindhouse, and their invasion and occupation of Iraq, and, using his sterling judgment, backstopped and waved the pom poms for The Wasilla Whiz Kid, ushering her into the Dead Campaign Express.
Yes, Virginia, Even A Stopped Clock Is More Accurate Than Little Billy Kristol ...
It's one thing, tossing off scraps for the Flying Monkeys, they eat up everything, especially the false and untrue, like happy soup.
But he was now tied to the strings of the Grey Lady's dress, and the errors kept coming, and coming, and coming, earning them headlines, such as "The NYT's latest Kristol embarrassment.
Jesus, he even took to dissing the NYT, while he was getting a paycheck from them!
As Steve Clemmons rhetorically asked; "Why are any of the majors publishing Kristol on a continuous basis when he has his perch at the Weekly Standard?"
Why, indeed ...
In the end, at just about the year anniversary, it was the shoddy writing that brought about the final drips of his gravy train
The ever-sharp cracker jack, Scott Horton, whose articled was prefaced with"...Scott Horton, who broke news on Kristol's involvement in the selection of Sarah Palin, reports on real reasons the Gray Lady didn't renew his contract", has the scoop;The New York Times’ decision not to renew Bill Kristol’s opinion column was because of the conservative writer’s sloppiness and uneven quality, according to a reliable source with first-hand knowledge of the decision. Today, the Times features a signature Kristol piece, discussing the heroic role of conservatism in modern American history and contrasting this with the fecklessness of American liberals. But only the last line is newsworthy: “This is William Kristol’s last column.”
Notice how, when talking about Kristol, and his writing, the word "sloppy" keeps jumping up?
The problems that emerged were more fundamental. Kristol’s writing wasn’t compelling or even very careful. He either lacked a talent for solid opinion journalism or wasn’t putting his heart into it. A give-away came in the form of four corrections the newspaper was forced to run over factual mistakes in the columns, creating an impression that they were rushed out without due diligence or attention to factual claims. A senior writer at Time magazine recounted to me a similar experience with Kristol following his stint in 2006-07. “His conservative ideas were cutting edge and influential,” I was told. “But his sloppy writing and failure to fact check what he wrote made us queasy.”
Go check out Greg Mitchell, over on Editors & Publishers, and his Kristol Bawl: An 'Appreciation' As Column Ends at 'NYT', which details the errors - "He gave us many belly laughs, several glaring errors to point out, some choice takedowns by Jon Stewart -- and Sarah Palin, who doomed McCain."
Now, Little Billy Kristol gets to "doom" The Washington Post.
We'll give Robert Stein, from Connecting The Dots, the last word on that;It's fitting for Kristol to go out on a high note of error. klutzy writing and self-delusion, but apparently the market for his kind of babbling is not entirely dead. He came to the Times after a stint with Time, and now there are reports that the Washington Post, apparently suffering from a lack of wrong-headedness not completely satisfied by Charles Krauthammer and Michael Gerson, will avail themselves of Kristol's wisdom occasionally.
We can hardly wait for that fun to begin
Little Billy Kristol's Greatest Garlic Hits!
It Takes A Neocon To Raise A Legacy ... They're Drinking The Kool-Aid Again ...
Of Legacy Maintenance - And Corrections! ... David Corn's "REBUTTAL - Why Bush Is A Loser"
Yes, Virginia, There Is, Sadly, A William Kristol ...
Yes, Virginia, Even Sadder, Little Billy Kristol Is Going To The NYT
They Call Me "Mister Glass"
Monday, January 26, 2009
Yes, Virginia, Even A Stopped Clock Is More Accurate Than Little Billy Kristol
This Date ... On The Garlic
26 January 2008... On The Garlic
Na-Na, Na-Na-Na ... Obama Wins ... And Gets The Keys To Camelot!
26 January 2007... On The Garlic
Breaking News! Hagel Speech Causes Havoc; Payless Shoes Flooded With Job Seekers, Resumes; Applicants Looking For " The Safe Jobs Senator Hagel Talked About"; Tancredo Offers Threats
Top Ten Cloves: Reason President Bush Is Now Only "The Decision-Maker" And Not "The Decider"
26 January 2006... On The Garlic
Bush Says Palestinian Elections Not Valid; "No Official Purple Fingers Verified
Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Kayne West Posed As Christ For Cover of Rolling Stone Magazine
Sunday, January 25, 2009
For Me, It's John Denver ...
But Billy Joel ranks right up there.
Still on the DL, Garlic Fans, but I wanted to pop in with this gem from today, espied in the morning read.
The Worst Pop Singer Ever - Why, exactly, is Billy Joel so bad?
Ron Rosenbaum, over on Slate, weighs into Christie Brinkley's ex, sans anything other than 16-oz boxing gloves, whacking Joel around the ring, so to speak, unmercifully.Which brings me to Billy Joel—the Andrew Wyeth of contemporary pop music—and the continuing irritation I feel whenever I hear his tunes, whether in the original or in the multitude of elevator-Muzak versions. It is a kind of mystery: Why does his music make my skin crawl in a way that other bad music doesn't? Why is it that so many of us feel it is possible to say Billy Joel is—well—just bad, a blight upon pop music, a plague upon the airwaves more contagious than West Nile virus, a dire threat to the peacefulness of any given elevator ride, not rock 'n' roll but schlock 'n' roll?
In-between those two samples is a boatload of great insight, and most amusingly, quite frequently.
[Snip]
He thinks people can't stand him because he dresses wrong or doesn't look right.
Billy Joel, they can't stand you because of your music; because of your stupid, smug attitude; because of the way you ripped off your betters to produce music that rarely reaches the level even of mediocrity. You could dress completely au courant and people would still loathe your lame lyrics.
John Denver is the worst for me ... Skin crawls each and every time my security breaks down, and a few notes of his singing breaks through
Being a Jazz Guy, I don't have as strong a dislike for Billy Joel as Rosenbaum, not being all that familiar with his work, yet, on the other hand, what I have heard of him, it hasn't made me want to run out and buy any of his recordings. What I have heard, it sounds like Pop pap, too cute, by half
And, one of his songs, 'New York State of Mind', is done infinitely better, by jazz pianist/vocalist Ben Sidran (and apologies, could not find a YouTube, or (free) audio file of it to post).
Go and read The Worst Pop Singer Ever, and check out the links, as Rosenbaum has also riffed on Angelina Jolie, and Starbucks.
Bonus Bonus
Since we brought him up, we thought you should hear a little of Dr. Ben Sidran, one of his better tunes, the Frank Rosolino-penned 'Blue Daniel'.
Some of you might know him, from his NPR program, "Sidran on Record", or, his time, early in his career, with the Steve Miller Band, writing their big hit, "Space Cowboy".
With the unrelenting, full measure of Winter we have had to-date, this tune might just hit-the-spot right now.
Ben Sidran - Blue Daniel
Blue Daniel - Ben Sidran
This Date ... On The Garlic
25 January 2008... On The Garlic
Does He Get A New Girlfriend With This Job Too? ... Does The Job "Pay For Itself?
Wanted Dead Or ... Ahh, The Hell With It .. I'll Let The Next President Get'em ...
Good Post Alert - Martin Lewis's "Ads The GOP Would Run Against Obama - #1 "Ooops!"
25 January 2007... On The Garlic
News In Brief - Watergate Plumber Chief Passes Away; E. Howard Hunt, Watergate Figure, Dead At 88; Nixon's Chief of Dirty Tricks Was Ex-CIA; Hand In Everything From Guatemala To Bay of Pigs
25 January 2006... On The Garlic
White House: "We Know No Such Person Named Jack Abramoff"
Top Ten Cloves: Ways Google Tried To Avoid Censorship Of New China Search Engine
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Dindi
Well, we're not going to wait for the final gongs of the clock for the day.
We're calling it early, and packin' it in.
We've alluded to this month being being an extremely tough one for The Garlic, a number of draining challenges just rolling in, one-after-another ...
That trend continued this past week, though we did manage to squeeze some posting in there.
So, for this evening, in lieu of something witty or pithy, we have just the thing for a cold winters' evening.
Dindi.
The Antonio Carlos Jobim classic, that quickly became a standard, covered by just about everybody, at some point, or another, including the likes of Sinatra, Ella, Perry Como, and on to Jane Monheit, and dozens-and-dozens of others.
Two renditions have always stood out.
Many are locked into the Jon Lucien version, which is very good (hell, just about everything he does is killer).
This writer has always melted at another, though ... Willie Bobo's, from his 1978 recording, 'Hell Of An Act To Follow'
Living in Los Angeles, in the early 80's, and awakening to KKGO, on the morning on September 15th, I noticed that they were playing an extended set of Willie Bobo's music, and realized, that he must have passed away (he did, the same date - Sept. 15, as legendary jazz pianist, Bill Evans, for whom Pat Metheny wrote a wonderful tribute song, 'September Fifteenth', which I now remember it for Willie Bobo, as well).
I believe you will agree that Bobo nails it, and it is so, so cool.
Grab your sweetie, and get down with some slow, slow, slow dancing!
Dindi - Willie Bobo
This Date ... On The Garlic
24 January 2008... On The Garlic
Leave It to Rumsfeld ... There's Not Enough Lying Going On!
"They Don't Like Me! ... They Really Don't Like Me! ...
Top Ten Cloves: Other Things President Bush Wants To Put In The Economic Stimulus Package
24 January 2007... On The Garlic
Garlictorial - We’ll Need That Table
24 January 2006... On The Garlic
Deadline Looms For Axis of Evil Applicants
NBC, Feeling Pressure, Reverses Ax; Will Merge West Wing, Will & Grace
Top Ten Cloves: Other Things That Karl Rove Believes Is "Wrong - deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong"
Friday, January 23, 2009
Top Ten Cloves: Possible Things Obama Administration Can Do With The Gitmo Prisoners
News Item: President Obama Takes First Steps on Gitmo, Considers How to Go About Re-Balancing the Scales (News & Commentary Round-Up)
10. Letting them keep those orange jumpsuits, trash pickers through the entire U.S. Highway System
9. Have them work the Security Gate, of the Purple Section, at the next Obama Inauguration
8. If you can put about 50 of them together, some city must want a new NFL franchise
7. New Fox Program - Terrorist Idol
6. NBC copycat program - Superstars of Terrorism
5. For the ones profoundly tortured, screen Tyrone Powers' 'Nightmare Alley', and pitch the benefits of being a carnival geek
4. Teach'em to sing, form a choir, and give the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus a run for-the-money
3. Let them all go, using the only five words that will keep them straight - Chuck Norris Will Get You!
2. Hmmmm ... Can you say Mariel Boatlift - The Sequel?
1. Train them, to guard President Obama's Blackberry
Bonus "Shut It Down" Riffs
Media Matters: Media advance falsehood that Pentagon has confirmed that 61 former Guantánamo detainees have returned to battlefield
Dana Priest: Bush's 'War' On Terror Comes to a Sudden End
Myca: President Obama Did Something Good Today - 1/21
bmaz: Obama Drafts Order To Close Gitmo; Suspends Habeas Cases In DC Circuit
This Date ... On The Garlic
23 January 2008... On The Garlic
Yes, Another "I'm Shocked To Find Gambling Going On Here" ... Bush Lied - 935 Times!
Keith Olbermann ... Setting The Standard That, Almost Guaranteed, Will Not Be Followed
23 January 2007... On The Garlic
Of Daydreams, Lies, Libby and The State of the Union
23 January 2006... On The Garlic
Editor's Note: Excellent Truthout Perspective - Democrats: Get Up and Walk Out
White House Scores Again, Adds MSNBC Trio To Bushapalooza Tour
Top Ten Cloves: Things That Can Go Wrong For James Carville's New XM Radio Sports Show
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Doc Bloc Death Knock? ... MSNBC Climbs Into the Big Yellow Taxi
Okay, "Sticks nix hick pix" it isn't, but it appears MSNBC is looking to get out of the rerun business
MSNBC Wants to Add a 3rd Prime-Time ShowBuilding on the momentum of its prime-time hours, MSNBC is developing a 10 p.m. program that would complement its left-leaning evening lineup, the cable news channel’s president said this week.
[Snip]
Unlike most major networks, MSNBC’s original programming ends at 10 each weeknight. The 8 p.m. program “Countdown With Keith Olbermann” is rerun at 10 p.m., where it usually ranks third.
[Snip]
But at 10 p.m., MSNBC replaced live programming with documentaries and repeats in 2006. It moved the reruns of “Countdown” there in March to capitalize on the political year. Reverting to tape at 10 p.m. puts the network at a disadvantage, especially on busy news nights. Meanwhile, CNN and Fox News are battling for first place in the hour. Last year, “Anderson Cooper 360” on CNN outperformed “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” on Fox News among younger viewers, but the Fox program averaged a higher number of total viewers.
Hmmm ...
We once joked, at the height of the Missing White Woman bonanza, that MSNBC was going to launch a 24/7 Rita Cosby Channel, and, apparently, they are reluctant to plaster a Keith Olbermann Doc Bloc of sorts, endlessly replaying his Countdown program on the channel.
And, now, they want to cash in on their "left-leaning evening lineup" ...
Something seems to come to mind about that;Dont it always seem to go
Perhaps this is an opportunity to make amends, for their boneheaded cowardness, for their capitulation to the Right Wing Freak Show, and the Bush Grindhouse, when they dumped Anti-War proponent Phil Donahue from their line-up.
That you dont know what youve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lotExit Phil Donahue
Phil Donahue on his 2003 MSNBC firing: "We had to have two conservatives on for every liberal. I was counted as two liberals."
MSNBC Sabotages Donahue
Then again, we haven't seen Rita Cosby pop up anywhere.
From this view, it would be nice if they came up with a second "progressive" program, and stop subjecting us to the Tweety rerun at 7:00PM.
And don't you dare put Morning Joke back in Prime Time!
Bonus MSNBC Riffs
MSNBC's Matthews Uninjured Pulling Head Out Of Judy Miller's Ass ... Hardball Host Fawns Over Former White House Stenographer; Stays Away From Tough Questions
Top Ten Cloves: Things Joe Scarborough Likes To Eat and Wear When Sitting At Computer
Developing Story - MSNBC Making Pitches To Become Eulogy Channel
Rachel Maddow: Hillary Apologist and Obama Basher
Bonus Bonus
Joni Mitchell Big Yellow Taxi
How Did This Crack Through?
Boy, you would have thought, between the Obama Inauguration (and the continuing Right Wing Freak Show flap, over the Oath of Office), President Obama's spectacular first-day-on-the-job, and the bursting news of Caroline Kennedy's "My Sister-My Daughter" Senatorial foray, any other news would be sitting, collecting dust.
Ahhh, but we do have a winner, one of the best headlines seen, since the World Weekly News shut down;
Former French President Chirac hospitalised after mauling by his clinically depressed poodleFormer French president Jacques Chirac was rushed to hospital after being mauled by his own 'clinically depressed' pet dog.
The 76-year-old statesman was savaged by his white Maltese dog - which suffers from frenzied fits and is being treated with anti-depressants.
[Snip]
We were already aware the animal was unpredictable and is actually being treated with pills for depression.
'My husband was bitten quite badly, but he is certain to make a full recovery over the coming weeks.'
The former French First Lady did not reveal where on his body Chirac was bitten.
The pet, named after the Japanese form of wrestling, was a gift to the Chiracs from their grandson Martin.
Hmmm ... One clue might checking the Last Will and Testament, or Living Will, and see if a certain grandson is in line to make a haul.
Or, maybe the help was teaching little Sumo some "tricks".
Then again, there was Chirac, and his popularity.
One commenter to the story wrote that they would "like to send the dog a present".
Another wrote;How I hate those yappy, snappy looking mutts these French love to drag everywhere they go. I once saw a lady savaged around the ankle by one of those ratty looking terrier things - she walked past a table in a cafe and the thing leapt out from under it's owner's table.
I smell a deliciously comical, cinematic, French Farce coming down the pike, which, just may happen to have a corporate leader, or politician, in the lead, the owner of a snapping, vicious, feisty little chienne
Too bad Jacques Tati isn't still around.
This Date ... On The Garlic
22 January 2008... On The Garlic
Ring A Bell Today For John Edwards ... Let's Give Him Some Wings To Carry On Good Fight With ...
Oh... people will come Hillary ... People will most definitely come ... The Results - The Garlic's Weekly Poll
22 January 2007... On The Garlic
Editor's Note - Battling To Get Back To Form
Will The Jury Be Sequestered? ... The Results - The Garlic's Weekly Poll
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Before You ... On The DL, Again
Good Evening Garlic Fans
Hope you are all well, and warm, if that be the case where you are ...
Though, I didn't have as busy a day as President Barack Obama, events here on the homefront have been building up, and I will be light posting for the next day, or two.
Included in the travails is that I injured myself shoveling snow this past weekend (Hip/Thigh/Leg).
While I have battled through it for the past two days, today was a day where that was difficult to do, and with the other things going on, time to sit it out for a spell.
So check in, as there is so much going on, I may pop in with something, otherwise, it will likely be Friday, or Saturday, before I resume normal posting.
Tonight's treat ...
I did have a thought, in case you hadn't heard it enough the past few days, of posting "At Last", but I don't want to be that cruel
No, we go with something from ''Sharky's Machine', a 1981 cop caper, directed by, and starring, to burnish his "Es Muy Macho", Burt Reynolds, as well as the oozing sensuality of Rachel Ward (additionally, former LA Rams football star Bernie Casey, and Buffy and Jody's Dad, Brian Keith are in it).
While it's a Grade B movie all the way, it does have one, ass-kicking, motherfucking soundtrack, a Who's Who of Jazz stars of the day.
Here's two of the biggest.
Enjoy!
Before You (Sarah Vaughan & Joe Williams)
This Date ... On The Garlic
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Everybody Rejoice! ... President Barack Obama!
Well, we made it.
You had to account, and prepare, for, a last-minute coup by The Bush Grindhouse.
It wouldn't be a stretch to think of Keyser Soze (aka VP Cheney), pulling an all-nighter, with his lap dog David Addington, feverishly culling through the Library of Congress, the Federal Archives, or, doing what they did for most of the past 8-years - making up their own laws - to come up with something that would block the new administration and keep themselves in power.
But it went off without a hitch.
Well, almost ...
How to shine in the spotlight there, Mr. Chief Justice.
That remarkable, stunning, transfer-of-power that the media has been salivating all over the place about, for the past few days.
Considering we've done this, now, for the 43rd time, in both peaceful eras, and in the fury of wartime, it is neither remarkable or stunning ... It's der rigeur ... pro forma ...
Been There/Done That ...
If anything, it has become a spectacle, kind of like the run-up to the Super Bowl, only instead of a week, or two, we have to wait four-years for it.
Being that the Obama Team was selling it like crazy, missing, perhaps, was NASCAR-like logos on their suits.
The only cool thing before today, was having Pete Seeger join the other artists, at the "Inauguration Concert", leading a rousing, In-Your-Face, "This Land Is Your Land" on Sunday.
The rest of it has been pap and fodder for the media ... All those hours of airtime to fill (and sell).
In fact, better stated, and with much more bite, a must-read, is Dennis Perin's "O-nauguration"
It's an "Inauguration You Can Believe In".
If Obama being sworn in as President today gets the top billing, let's take a look at what came in a close second.
Ding Dong, The Bush Grindhouse is Dead!Ding Dong! The Bush Grindhouse is dead.
Sadly, and how sweet it would have been, is if, minutes after taking the Oath of Office, President Obama had his Federal Marshalls arrest the former Court-Appointed President, and his henchman, Cheney.
Which old Bush Grindhouse?
The Wicked Bush Grindhouse!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Grindhouse is dead.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Bush Grindhouse is dead!
After all, they used their Legacy Farewell Tour to boast and brag about all the War Crimes they committed.
That, perhaps, will be left to another day - we fervently wish for.
And, speaking of War Crimes, old Darth Vader in a wheelchair? ... Hurt himself moving boxes (plausible, considering they were probably the shreds of all those White House emails, that would be some hefty weight he was toting)?
Looks more to me that they are lining up that old crazy Mafia Don defense.
They'll have him stumbling down Pennsylvania Avenue next week, in his pajamas.
Today, however, is the day to celebrate a new day, bask in the glow of optimistic hope, and have Hillary Clinton's Hillary's Locker Creatures shift allegiance;"Obama is back! The keeper of the light! All hail Obama! All hail Obama! Obama can you see by the dawn's early light..."
And we salute the new President with song, culled from the out-of-sight, total knock-out Broadway Cast Album, and not the horrendously ill-cast movie, 'The Wiz',
Everybody Rejoice
Everybody Rejoice ( LP Version ) - The Wiz
Congratulations to our 44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama!
Now, roll up your sleeves, and start digging into the massive pile of shit your predecessor has left you.
Bonus Obama Inauguration Riffs
NYT: Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
NYT: Inaugural Poem
John B. Judis: Barack Obama's Speech: A Disappointing Hodgepodge
Eve Fairbanks: John, You're Too Hard On Obama's Speech
The Raw Story: 'Change has come': 1st post on WhiteHouse.gov announces
Gregg Levine: Worst. Inauguration. Ever.
Steve Benen: ABOUT THAT OATH....
Monday, January 19, 2009
First Day of School...5 years from now
This is pretty damn funny!
First Day of School...5 years from now
And here's a related article to it;
Black cartoonists missing from pages
H/T to my friend, Dee Dee, for this
This Date ... On The Garlic
19 January 2008... On The Garlic
"The morning after always looks grim if you happen to be wearing last night's dress"
19 January 2007... On The Garlic
New Bush Spying Expanding! Nod To FISA May Signal Surge In Wiretaps, Experts Say; Bush Turns To Marx Brothers Policy Once Again; Signs Point To Coordinating Mail Reading and Eavesdropping
Top Ten Cloves: What It Will Take For President Bush To Brief Congress On New Wiretap Plans
Editor's Note
19 January 2006... On The Garlic
Breaking News! Bin Laden Surfaces With New, Wide-Ranging Audio Tape, Triggering Swift Boat Vet Action
Google To Fight DOJ On Record Search Subpoena
Top Ten Cloves: Reasons That Should Give Mitt Romney Pause As To Running For President
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Our Ignorant Dolts of the Week ... Judie Brown and the American Life League!
While The Wasilla Whiz Kid, in her latest installment of "I Wuz Robbed", drew attention, that certainly put her in the room for IDOTW.
And, with The Bush Grindhouse shutting down, we could also have considered, as part of rousing farewell, The Commander Guy, and his Shadow President, Dick Cheney (or Keyser Soze, as we pointed out the other day).
However, much like larger-then-life idiots, such as Bill O"Reilly, Rick Santorum, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, we can, pretty much grandfather them, to the level of Grand Ayatollah of Dolts.
It's just a given.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made a strong case for grabbing the IDOTW title, over his strategy on dealing with the seating of Senator Roland Burris.
We all know that Reid used to a boxer, so it was a surprising revelation that he also graduated from Clown College, as well.
But no, our Ignorant Dolts of the Week came charging down the pike, in full, rampaging, Flying Monkey fury, certainly to the pleasing smiles from the Queen of the Flying Monkeys, Michelle "Stalkin" Malkin, who had her own irrational tizzy having to do with donuts.
The American Life League, led by Judie Brown gets the IDOTW crown and septer this week, for their comparison of a Krispy Kreme marketing promotion to abortion.
Yeah, I know, pretty, way-the-fuck, out there, not assuming they had their optic nerves banged around by a spoon.
The American Life League, according to Wikipedia, is "One of the largest pro-life organizations in the United States, according to their website, American Life League, or ALL, opposes all forms of abortion, birth control, embryonic stem cell research, and euthanasia. Its current president is Judie Brown and its headquarters are in Stafford, Virginia.[1]
And their mission;American Life League, which claims to have 300,000 members, aims to persuade Americans and Catholics about its views on abortion, birth control and euthanasia. ALL is involved with issues pertaining to the sanctity of life, with an emphasis on abortion. American Life League describes itself as "pro-life—without exception, without compromise, without apology." ALL's mission is to end all forms of abortion without any exceptions for the life and health of the woman, rape, incest, fetal abnormality, viability, or IVF. According to its president, "Abortion is never necessary to save a mother's life."[2]
SourceWatch also adds that "ALL also opposes health insurance coverage of contraceptive medications"
So, I hear you cry, what the hell does any of this have to do with Krispy Kreme donuts?
Enter, the election, and forthcoming inauguration of Barack Obama
Krispy Kreme Celebrates the Freedom of Choice on Inauguration Day ...Customers Can Enjoy a Free Treat at Participating Stores NationwideKrispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies -- just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet "free" can be.
Sound like a pretty good deal, if you like Krispy Kreme donuts.
Now, here is a American League Press Release, written by Katie Walker;"The next time you stare down a conveyor belt of slow-moving, hot, sugary glazed donuts at your local Krispy Kreme you just might be supporting President-elect Barack Obama's radical support for abortion on demand – including his sweeping promise to sign the Freedom of Choice Act as soon as he steps in the Oval Office, Jan. 20.
[Snip]
Just an unfortunate choice of words? For the sake of our Wednesday morning doughnut runs, we hope so. The unfortunate reality of a post Roe v. Wade America is that "choice" is synonymous with abortion access and celebration of 'freedom of choice' is a tacit endorsement of abortion rights on demand.
Now be honest, when you read the line from Krispy Kreme, about picking up a free donut - of your own free choice - you immediately stopped thinking about the glazed treat, and went straight to being consumed about abortion, right?
Katie Walker, Judie Brown, and the rest of the Flying Monkeys that make up the American Life League, might have actually had their heads outside of their asses, if, say, Krispy Kreme was running abortion clinics in their back rooms, if they announced that a certain percentage of every donut sold went towards the local abortion clinic, or, if they handed out discount coupons for contraceptives in every dozen donut box.
As you could see, it wasn't, it isn't anything remotely in the same universe of any of those actions.
Now, I'm all in on the First Amendment, people can say anything they want ... No Problemo.
However, when you come out with shit like this ... Jesus, your Freedom of Speech Rights are well intact, but you really dilute your message and come off as First Class Whack Jobs!
Emily Douglas, over on The Reality Check points out;Best comment on the Miami New Times blog: "if they were abortion donuts, i don't think i'd want one. i assume they'd be taking them out of the oven way too early."
Only thing missing in this picture, to make it complete, is to have William Donohue running around, decrying someone is making a Jesus Christ out of Krispy Kreme donuts.
I mean, it is really an enormous stretch, something that would even challenge Elastic Man, to take a marketing promotion, with a common phrase, and build a abortion protest around it.
Since he does have a sense of humor, and the Obama Team certainly wouldn't mind making some more money off the Inauguration, President Obama should, in the middle of his Inaugural Speech, stop, hold up a glazed Krispy Kreme and announce that he has "exercised his Freedom of Choice today"
So, The Garlic, sans any Krispy Kremes, excersises its' Freedom of Choice today, for Judie Brown, Katie Walker and the American Life League, crowning (and no, that isn't anything do with being pro-life, as in a birth, the baby "crowning") them all Ignorant Dolts of the Week.
Bonus Abortion Donuts Riffs
Steve Benen: MUST BE SOMETHING ABOUT DONUTS....
Wonkette: Free Abortion Donuts On Demand!
Amanda Marcotte: Sanctity of Donuts Day
DougJ: Why does Krispy Kreme hate America?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Guarare
Good Evening Garlic Fans
Completely out-of-gas today, due, specifically, to the rough week.
So rather than winging it (and I do have a bevy posts, just needing to be put in shape), here's something to put a little "azucar" into your Saturday night ...
A gem, from the 70's, with Ray Barretto, Ruben Blades, Tito Gomes and a host of others
Guarare
This Date ... On The Garlic
17 January 2008... On The Garlic
Just Say "Oh No"! ...
17 January 2007... On The Garlic
Libby Trial Update: Cheney In The Crosshairs; Reports Surface Cheney Scouring eBay, Internet For Credibility; VP Office Silent, But On-Line Resellers Abuzz On Interest, Bartering With Vice President
Top Ten Cloves: Things About Cully Stimson's Apology Over His Guantanamo/Lawyers Remarks
17 January 2006... On The Garlic
Special Commentary: Welcome To Bushville …
Friday, January 16, 2009
Mister Sandman ... Or, Is Dick Cheney Keyser Soze?
Think Progress has the scoop ...
Did Cheney nod off during Bush’s farewell address?Last night during PBS’s coverage of President Bush’s farewell address to the nation, for a brief moment, the camera panned to Vice President Cheney, who appeared to momentarily doze off ...
And, this would not, hardly, be the first time
Let's not forget, in the movie 'The Unsual Suspects', Agent Kujan observes;First day on the job, you know what I learned? How to spot a murderer. Let's say you arrest three guys for the same killing. You put them all in jail overnight. The next morning, whoever's sleeping is your man. You see, if you're guilty, you know you're caught, you get some rest, you let your guard down.
Hmmm ...
He's always been pegged as Darth Vader ...
What if ... What if .. All this time, Dick Cheney is really ... Keyser Soze?
Keyser Soze (The Story)
Cue the music, Maestro!
The exiting VP has some "Z's" to catch ...
Mr Sandman - The Chordettes
This Date ... On The Garlic
16 January 2008... On The Garlic
Riding The Woody Allen Train To Last Night's MSNBC Democrat Debate
16 January 2007... On The Garlic
Breaking News! Domestic Spying Injected Into Libby Trial; Trial In Chaos; Justice Dept. Gave Libby Lawyers Prospective Jurors Personal Info
Top Ten Cloves: Things Overheard At The Golden Globes Last Evening
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hallelujah
We've seen (and heard) the word "hero" tossed around, particularly during the past eight-years, like Bernie Madoff sales pitches, sometimes given to someone truly deserving, more often, bestowed to some dwarf, fink, phony or fraud.
Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger.
Hero!
Major fucking hero!
Big-Time Mr. Clutch!
Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is the pilot, of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, that made the unscheduled landing in the Hudson River today.
Everyone on the plane is alive tonight, 155 survivors.
In the coming days, 154 people are going to tattoo "Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger - Major Fucking Hero" on their lips.
And, they will be singing this song as they do it (and everyday for the rest of their lives);
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
In the Small Potatoes Department, The Commander Guy hijacked the airwaves this evening, for the television component of the Bush Legacy Project.
Pure bullshit.
And, to note, he showed exactly how small a person he is.
He made absolutely no statement, no reference, no nothing to the Hudson River Plane Crash today.
No best wishes, no "Thank God", almost as if it was competition for his sales job, that it encroached on his ownership, his copyright of September 11th and New York City, and his faux heroism.
Or maybe we're judging that too early ...
He may wait five days, and they do a fly over of Hudson River, you know, to show he was engaged and compassionate.
Like we said the other night - The President of Shitdom!
Bonus Links
Great Riff by Spencer Ackerman - Al Qaeda Uses Birds to Down Civilian Airliner
No More Mister Nice Blog: PLANE CRASH IN THE HUDSON RIVER
NYT City Room: Updates From Plane Rescue in Hudson River
Dan Frommer: U.S. Airways Crash Rescue Picture: Citizen Journalism, Twitter At Work
Editor's Note: The Aunt made out A-OK at the Doc's today ... Whip-Smart, crackerjack Rheumatologist carried the day and all is well ... Should be back in the saddle with posting tomorrow.
This Date ... On The Garlic
15 January 2008... On The Garlic
Is The WaPo's Richard Cohen Looking To Join Hillary's Racial Slime Team?
Good Post Alert: Do you have a favorite drunkard? ... Andre The Giant
15 January 2007... On The Garlic
Surge Me The Money! ... The Results - The Garlic Week Poll
Weekend-Holiday Special - Sautéed Cloves 15 January 2007
15 January 2006... On The Garlic
Weekend Special - Sautéed Cloves
