Posts Tagged ‘history’

I didn’t get Joker/Obama photoshop…

Posted: August 4, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
Tags: , , , ,

…mainly as an old comic guy I didn’t see the connection and frankly didn’t think the Dark Knight movie portrayal was the end of all things as some do but the predictable reaction has produced a very great line from Bob Owens:

A lot of people are getting their noses out of joint about a poster popping up around Los Angeles comparing President Barack Obama to the Joker.

Frankly, I don’t get it.

One embraces terrorists and madmen, is dedicated to anarchy and the destruction of capitalist society, and sends the population fleeing in horror from his creations.

The other is a fictional character played by the late Heath Ledger.

Absolutely classic, the Anchoress adds some serious perspective:

Obama’s predecessor endured 8 Years of Assassination Fascination. Actually, the “Assassinate Bush Chic” began even before the 2000 election, when Craig Kilborn flashed “snipers wanted” under a picture of Bush. So-called “newsmen” like Keith Olbermann repeatedly called the president “a fascist” and “a terrorist.” And Obama supporters can’t handle The Joker and the word “Socialism”?

Politics is ugly, and it is often over-the-top but that’s not new. Photoshop happens; it’s a free country. I myself have been photoshopped next to a dancing condom, a commentary on my annoying habit of being a Catholic.

And a sliver lining:

This Obama/Joker portrait is actually heartening to me. I may not have liked the press’ incessant attacks on Bush, and some of the uglier media put out about him, but I never found any of that as worrying as I have found the unquestioning incuriosity of the Obama-press, or the inclination by some to treat him as something more than a mortal politician voted into office by the people. The self-censoring we have seen in media has been sad and a little chilling. More chilling than any of the pics used here.

Gotta love that left. Now its off to funspot with the youngest for the day.

S.D. Hoyt and Michelle rebut

Posted: July 31, 2009 by datechguy in amazon reviews, opinion/news
Tags: , ,

In my review of Culture of Corruption I argue that there are two chapters that don’t support Michelle Malkin’s thesis of the book:

The chapter on the Clintons:

The Chapter on Chris Dodd:

Today Michelle Malkin answers me on Dodd in her column:

But Dodd’s cratering numbers and mounting ethics scandal aren’t just about Dodd. Damaged birds of a feather flock together. Even before these latest disclosures, Dodd’s approval ratings had dropped to their lowest levels ever. Yet, President Obama – agent of the “new politics,” erstwhile Breath of Fresh Air, guarantor of all that is good and clean in Washington — declared his support for Dodd’s 2010 re-election campaign bid.

“I can’t say it any clearer: I will be helping Chris Dodd because he deserves the help,” President Obama announced in April. “He just has an extraordinary record of accomplishment, and I think the people of Connecticut will come to recognize that.”

The problem with this argument is that I can’t think of any president that has rejected a member of his party up for re-election in the senate due to ethics issues, particularly one with power and seniority of Dodd. The president’s endorsement has everything to do with his legislative agenda and nothing to do with Dodd’s corruption.

The second point comes from a S.D. Hoyt who left this comment at my Amazon review:

In case you did not know, Hillary Clinton was born in Chicago and did her senior thesis on Saul Alinsky, the original Chicago community organizer. Access to that thesis was limited when Bill Clinton became President. So there is some connection between the Clintons and the Chicago clan. Not nearly as much as the Obama’s thorough indoctrination.

It is a good point, I reply as follows:

That is true but the Clintons where not included in the administration due to their Chicago connections or their knowledge on how to play ball. The Clinton concessions were necessary to unite the party and avoid the risk embarrassment on the convention floor before the election and to make political peace afterwards. This would have been the case even if the Clintons were as clean as Paul Tsongas.

One might make the argument that if the Clintons were clean they would not have been in that position but that’s not the books thesis.

When you get past the 1 star reviews from non readers the discussion is actually quite interesting.

Privacy my a** Terry

Posted: July 31, 2009 by datechguy in baseball, opinion/news
Tags: , , , , ,

I just saw a clip of Terry’s press conference. I know his job is to manage the team as it is but don’t tell me something like this:

“There’s some people out there who need to have their integrity checked,” Terry Francona said.

He is talking about the guy who talked not about the cheating. Callahan is exactly right:

One of those people was inside the clubhouse with Francona. He stopped briefly to meet the media but said nothing. No courage on this day. David Ortiz [stats] was wearing dark glasses, but they didn’t help. The mask was off. The big lies exposed.

To steal Robert Stacy McCain’s favorite line via Clint.

Don’t piss on my back and tell me it’s raining.

Maybe John McGraw or Billy Martin would have gone along with it but I’m with Christy Mathewson and Hank Aaron on this:

But when it comes to Cooperstown, the site of Baseball’s National Hall of Fame, Aaron knows that there could be a division between players from his era, and those from the “steroid” era.

“I think that some way, something is going to be put on there. I hate to say it, but maybe an asterisk somewhere behind their name.”

No wonder there is talk about reinstating Pete Rose, justly banned though he is. He’s worth 5 of any of them. And if I was managing a team I’d want him on it, nobody I ever saw played harder. I’ll take him over any of the steroid boys. ANY of them.

Culture of Corruption: Amazon Review

Posted: July 29, 2009 by datechguy in amazon reviews, opinion/news
Tags: , ,

My review of Michelle Malkin’s new book Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies is available at Amazon.com Here.

I pretty much liked the book but thought the epilogue really didn’t belong in it. I don’t think you can credibly link Chris Dodd’s corruption to President Obama’s except in the sense that both received quite a lot of financial support from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

I have to congratulate Michelle on the timing in particular, the book came out exactly as questions are coming up concerning this administration which I think drove the coverage of the book on the today show. The Today show interview will drive others.

Being a top 1000 reviewer at Amazon is pretty much like being a famous candlepin bowler, but if you give that weight then I say go buy it!

Older Entries
Newer Entries