'Best of TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
Baron Dave Romm
Ronald "Shotgun Wedding" Reagan
By Baron Dave Romm
The question isn't so much why dittoheads like Ronald Reagan, the question is why do they love him so slavishly?
Ronald Reagan had major character flaws: Our only divorced president (on the grounds of "mental cruelty"), forced to marry a pregnant Nancy in a shotgun wedding, was greatly influenced by astrology in events, senility by 1983, surrounded by corruption and incompetence and found guilty of "failing to meet presidential obligations" (bottom of link), and investigated for being a Communist in 1947.
Ronald Reagan was not a good president: Campaigned for 16 years, since his Goldwater acceptance speech and won in 1980 on a balanced budget platform, yet the first thing he did was massively increase the deficit, and for wholly political reasons said his Budget Director. This is the biggest flip-flop in US political history, and it drove conservatives crazy. The corruption in his SAG term of office was reflected in massive corruption in his presidential terms (some attribution here and here and... Indeed, it's worse than reported, going so far as to terrorize church officials for their politics and having the CIA illegally infiltrate church sanctuaries. He didn't defeat "communism". The Soviet Union was less than a quarter the number of people that remain under communist regimes. The dissolution of the Soviet Union was a major victory for the people in Russia and the repressed states, but Reagan's sabre-rattling kept it alive several years after it was obviously dead. Star Wars not the reason: There was no increase in the Soviet Union's military spendingin response to Reagan's build-up. He screwed up at Reykjavik, proposing a deal to completely eliminate US and Soviet nukes, then backing off when it looked like Gorby would accept. Credit should go to Carter for setting exactly the right policy with a selected arms build-up, in Afghanistan, and with Solidarity. As we've seen since, the Soviet Union wasn't much of an empire and most of the people in it aren't particularly evil. Perhaps if he hadn't fired the air traffic controllers, there would have been more experienced people who would raise the alarm faster on 9/11.
He was all too willing to sell out. As mentioned above, he was investigated by Hoover for Communist leanings. Hoover scared him, but not straight. During the height of the McCarthy Witch Hunts, Reagan was head of the Screen Actors Guild. The basic result of the "investigation": No important spies were caught, and a bunch of actors' and writers' careers were ruined. Why in hell did the paranoid right go after Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte when Kim Philby was still at large? HUAC was one of the prime reasons more countries went commie: Clearly, any country that could do that to its citizens was the worse of the two. The main effect here in the states, aside from tightening a lot of sphincters, was to remove most of the Jews from power in Hollywood. More Beach Blanket Bingo and less Spartacus and Roman Holiday.
So... why Reagan? Why not Eisenhower? True, he wimped out when McCarthy and co. went after the real hero in the fight against communism, Gen. George C. Marshall. On the other hand, he ended 20 years of Democratic control of the White House and propelled the career of Richard Nixon. He took over from the French in Vietnam, etc. Why not Nixon? Oh yeah, he was a sleazy crook and even the right can't stand him. Why not Poppy Bush, the president when the SU dissolved and Eastern Europe was released, who successfully fought the Gulf War? But Reagan made the few very wealthy people more wealthy, quadrupling the number of billionaires by 1987. The Trickle Down Theory didn't, and the average Joe and Jane didn't do all that well... but they don't give thousands in campaign funds.
Cognitive Dissonance is the theory that people can't hold two competing ideas at the same time. When presented with two completely different views of reality, they'll pick one... and defend that one far more than it really deserves. In this case, Reagan had spend 16 years excoriating Republicans and Democrats alike if they even ran a deficit. This wasn't a plank in his platform, it was his main campaign theme. For him to completely flip-flop on the deficit issue so completely must have done odd things to the heads of the Republican party. On one hand, the guy broke his main campaign promise. On the other hand, they were making money hand over fist. On one hand, a guy who didn't go to church during his presidency replaced the devout Born Again Jimmy Carter. On the other hand, he kept talking about "family values" as if it meant something to him. On one hand, Reagan never went overseas during WWII, spending his time in uniform making films for the army. On the other hand, he lied so smoothly about his participation in the war, freely putting himself in war movie scenarios. On hand, he was obviously senile at the end of his first term. On the other hand, he read his cue cards well and played the part of president better than any real president. On one hand, he stood up to the Soviet Union. On the other hand, he trained and funded Osama bin Laden and sent an autographed bible to Ayatollah Khomeini. On one hand, her projected honesty and integrity. On the other hand, his administration was incredibly corrupt and incompetent. On one hand, Grenada. On the other hand, Lebanon.
Then there was that whole Iran-Contra thing. Traitors to the Constitution working out of the White House, Reagan giving photo ops to people who bought arms for terrorists fighting a democracy. And there was the massive HUD scandal that gets barely a mention these days. Republicans love this stuff. Republicans are soft on crime... when it's theirs.
When faced with these contradictions, no conservative will admit to himself that he was wrong. He'll look at Reagan and the Reagan presidency through rose-colored glasses, remembering a past that didn't exist and a man that never was. They'll kiss his ass from now 'till doomsday because they can't handle the truth, and will lie that much louder.
By all accounts, The Reagans is favorable to Ronnie and Nancy. It shows him resolute in the face of internal criticism, credits him with many accomplishments, etc. The hue and cry over the movie was by people who hadn't seen it. No such criticism was leveled again DC 9/11, which lied about Bush, or Primary Colors, the unflattering portrayal of a Clinton-like president. No, the neocons just couldn't stand a piece that wasn't pure Soviet-style propaganda. Sphincters tight, they went after CBS. CBS caved, just like they caved 30 years earlier over The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
Even more than with Bush Lite, being armed with the facts about Reagan just doesn't sway an arch conservative. They've lived with the lie for decades, spending hours and hours listening to Rush and other hatemongers. They've spent more time praising Reagan than they have making love to their spouse. It may be too late for their redemption; it's not too late for ours.
Baron Dave Romm is a conceptual artist and a noble of Ladonia with a radio show, a very weird CD collection and an ever growing list of political links. He reviews things at random for obscure web sites. You can read all his music recommendations from Bartcop-E here, and you can hear the last two Shockwave broadcasts in Real Audio here (scroll down to Shockwave). Thanks to everyone who has sent me music to play on the air, and I'm collecting extra-weird stuff for a possible CD compilation.
Request
Link suggestion
I'm writing to you in the hope you are interested to link my web site, a complete check-list of Japanese animated figures (anime) produced in Japan since 1917.
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from Mark
Another Bumpersticker
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Rained off & on all day. Quite nice.
Tonight, Monday, CBS begins the evening with a FRESH 'Yes, Dear', followed by a FRESH
'Still Standing', then a FRESH 'Raymond', followed by a FRESH '2½ Men', then a
FRESH 'CSI: Miami'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Dave are Norm Macdonald, Jack Hanna, and the latest evictee from "Survivor: Pearl Islands".
Scheduled on a FRESH Craiggers are Kelsey Grammer and Jagged Edge.
NBC starts the night with a FRESH 'Fear Factor', followed by a FRESH 'Las Vegas', then a
FRESH 'Average Joe'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jay are Hugh Grant, Dakota Fanning, and Jonny Lang.
On the usual Monday-night RERUN Conan are Colin Farrell, Molly Shannon, and Smash Mouth.
Scheduled on a FRESH Carson Daly are Gina Gershon, Steve Kerr, and Stellastarr.
ABC has 'MNF' and 'Primetime Monday'. East coast gets 'Primetime' first, then the game. On the left coast, it's the game, then 'Primetime'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jimmy Kimmel are Kelly Clarkson and Mitch Hedberg, with this week's guest co-host D.L. Hughley.
The WB offers a FRESH '7th Heaven', followed by a FRESH 'Everwood'.
Faux has a FRESH 'Joe Millionaire', and is supposed to be followed by a FRESH 'Skin', but since it's been cancelled, it could be something else.
UPN has a FRESH 'The Parkers', followed by a RERUN 'Eve', then a
FRESH 'Girlfriends', followed by a FRESH 'Half & Half'.
A&E has 'American Justice', 'Biography' (JFK), 'Cold Case Files', and 'City Confidential'.
AMC offers the movie 'Von Ryan's Express', followed by the movie 'Tora! Tora! Tora!', then the movie 'In Harm's Way'.
BBC -
[6pm] 'BBC World News';
[6:30pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Sheehan;
[7pm] 'Ground Force' - Brotherton;
[7:30pm] 'Changing Rooms' - Weston Super Mare;
[8pm] 'Murder in Mind' - Sleeper;
[9pm] 'The Vice' - Betrayed;
[11pm] 'So Graham Norton' - Phil Collins;
[11:30pm] 'So Graham Norton' - Olympia Dukakis;
[12am] 'The Vice' - Betrayed;
[2am] 'Murder in Mind' - Sleeper;
[3am] 'So Graham Norton' - Phil Collins;
[3:30am] 'So Graham Norton' - Olympia Dukakis;
[4am] 'The Vice' - Betrayed; and
[6am] 'BBC World News'. (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has 'West Wing', the movie 'The Man In The Moon', 'Riverdance From NYC', and another 'West Wing'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jon Stewart is Will Ferrell.
History has 'The Royal Navy', followed by the movie 'Dances With Wolves'.
SciFi is all 'Stargate SG-1' all night.
TCM -
[6am] 'Gaslight' (1940);
[7:30am] 'High Sierra' (1941);
[9:30am] 'Here Comes Mr. Jordan' (1941);
[11:30am] 'Rage In Heaven' (1941);
[1pm] 'You'll Never Get Rich' (1941);
[2:30pm] 'Cat People' (1942);
[3:45pm] 'Bataan' (1943);
[5:45pm] 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (1951);
[8pm] 'Notorious' (1946);
[10pm] 'Duel In The Sun' (1946);
[12:30am] 'To Each His Own' (1946); and
[2:45am] 'Since You Went Away' (1944). (ALL TIMES EST)
Robin Williams, left, gives the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence to Australian director Peter Weir, second from right as BAFTA/LA Chairman Gary Dartnall looks on during the 12th Annual BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003.
Photo by Chris Pizzello
The Information One-Stop
Moose & Squirrel
Says Rock Defeated Communism
Andras Simonyi
Rock music played lead in giving Hungarian baby boomers the resolve to bring down their communist state, says one of those reformers who today is a government official.
Andras Simonyi, Hungary's ambassador to the United States, spent an hour Saturday night discussing the impact of Western songs on Eastern European politics before an invitation-only audience of 250 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Simonyi, 51, was a devoted fan of the Beatles, Cream, Traffic and Jimi Hendrix when their releases weren't officially permitted in Hungary. Records and tapes sometimes were smuggled in or recorded from foreign radio broadcasts.
"By keeping in touch with the music scene in the West, it kind of kept me sane and with the feeling I was part of the free world," said Simonyi, an economist by training.
Andras Simonyi
Developing PBS Series
Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson, co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," is developing a weekly primetime public affairs series for PBS that will start in June, PBS announced Friday.
The conservative Carlson will oversee what PBS called a "lively discussion" of the week's top stories from a "wide range of perspectives," although the network said the format and title are still in development.
WETA, the PBS station in Washington, will produce the series. PBS did say regular and guest commentators will join the show and spotlight a wide range of "social, cultural, and political thinking." The network said it wants to add fresh voices to the discussion of the key issues.
It was unclear at press time whether he would continue at CNN.
Tucker Carlson
Actor Peter Fonda (R) takes a self portrait photograph with talk show host Jay Leno prior to the start of Love Ride XX, the yearly motorcycle ride and concert to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, in Glendale, California, November 9, 2003. The 50-mile trek ends at the Castaic Lake Recreation Center and is expected to raise $1 million.
Photo by Jim Ruymen
CBS Pilot
Hilary Duff
CBS is going young -- really young. The network just signed a comedy pilot deal with Hilary Duff, the 16-year-old "Lizzie McGuire" star.
The network will develop a starring vehicle for Duff for the 2004-05 season, most likely a domestic comedy a la "Family Ties."
The teenager's mother, Susan Duff, will executive produce the project. While the deal doesn't guarantee that a pilot will be shot, CBS will pay a substantial penalty if it isn't, sources said. Terms were not disclosed.
Hilary Duff
Star Appears To Fade
Aaron Brown
CNN rented an elegant ballroom a few weeks ago, feeding breakfast to top advertisers and filling them in on 2004 election coverage plans. Virtually all the network's big names were there. Except Aaron Brown, whose star appears to be fading in the CNN firmament.
Larry King was master of ceremonies. Christiane Amanpour appeared via satellite from London. All four "Crossfire" combatants argued politics. Judy Woodruff, who had flown from a California assignment a few days earlier, boarded a 5 a.m. train from Washington to New York for scrambled eggs and small talk.
CNN's chief executive, Jim Walton, cautioned against making too much of Brown's nonappearance at an industry function. The anchorman was working to arrange an important interview and asked to be excused, he said.
But there's talk within CNN, and some of it surfaced in a New York Daily News gossip column, that Brown may not have appeared partly because he was upset about not playing a prominent role on the California recall Election Night.
For a lot more, Aaron Brown
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
'Beauty For A Cause'
Miss Afghanistan
Miss Afghanistan Vida Samadzai, condemned in her homeland for parading in a bikini at the Miss Earth contest, won the pageant's first "beauty for a cause" award on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Samadzai, the first Afghan in three decades to take part in a beauty contest, failed to make it to the contest's semifinals.
But judges announced that, for the first time, they were handing out a "beauty for a cause" prize. They awarded it to Samadzai for "symbolizing the newfound confidence, courage and spirit of today's women" and "representing the victory of women's rights and various social, personal and religious struggles."
Samadzai could face prosecution if she returns to her native country because of her attire at the Manila pageant, a senior Afghan justice official said Saturday.
Miss Afghanistan
A man dressed as La Mama Negra, right, dances during a parade for the celebration of the Fiesta de la Mama Negra (the Festival of the Black Mother) in Latacunga, Ecuador on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003. This celebration features a parade of brightly costumed dancers and live music which commemorates the revolt of the black servants against their white masters.
Photo by Dolores Ochoa
To Face Off Against 'X3D Fritz'
Garry Kasparov
Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov plays against the computer "X3D Fritz" this week in a virtual match in which the board is in cyberspace and the pieces are moved by voice command.
The event marks the first time man and machine have battled over a chessboard "in total virtual reality," according to the International Computer Games Association and the United States Chess Federation.
The four games, November 11, 13, 16 and 18 at the New York Athletic Club, will be broadcast live on ESPN and on the Internet at
www.x3dchess.com.
The 40-year-old chess great will play wearing three-D glasses, gazing at a chess board that appears to float in the air, dictating the movement of his pieces with voice commands, and rotating the board with a joystick.
Garry Kasparov
Refuses To Quit
Anna Kournikova
Anna Kournikova said she was refusing to write off her career despite a chronic back injury which has blighted her recent performances.
The glamour girl of tennis, still only 22, claimed just one victory on the WTA Tour during the 2003 season, beating Slovakia's Henrieta Nagyova in the first round of the Australian Open in January.
Even stepping down to an ITF Challenger event in May in the search for an elusive victory proved unsuccessful, as she eventually retired during her semi-final. That was the last official match she played.
For more, Anna Kournikova
His New Airline
Niki Lauda
Former three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda will not only control his new airline, but intends to be at the controls of the aircraft himself when it begins flying later this month.
Lauda, who founded Lauda Air in 1979 which he later sold to Austrian Airlines, last week bought the Austrian subsidiary of the German charter company Aero Lloyd, which went bankrupt October 16.
The new airline, as yet unnamed, plans to complete in the low-cost segment of the market with flights from Vienna to holiday hotspots such as the Canary Islands, Egypt and Madeira, Lauda told the paper.
Niki Lauda
Formerly 'The Vidiot'
Hurts Adult Magazines
Online Competition
After 35 years in the business of titillating and offending, pornographer Al Goldstein says his magazine can't compete anymore. The audience is just as large, he says, but the Internet has transformed the product and its delivery.
Just over a month ago, Goldstein stopped publishing Screw magazine and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, giving him a chance to cut costs, relaunch the magazine and refocus attention on his Web site.
Similar pressures are seen throughout the adult publishing field. Bob Guccione's General Media Inc., for instance, has also filed for Chapter 11 protection, although the company's trademark Penthouse magazine continues publishing while the company restructures.
For a lot more, Online Competition
The massive winged stone sculpture - part bull, part bird, part man - greets visitors at the Oriental Institute Museum at the University of Chicago, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003. The sculpture represents a lamassu, or guardian figure, and was designed to instill awe into those approaching the king's throne room in the ancient Mesopotamian city of Dur-Sharrukin. The gallery reopened to the public in October.
Photo by M. Spencer Green
ABC Sitcom Deal
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson, the singer famous for dippy-blonde moments on her MTV reality show, has reached a deal with ABC to develop a comedy.
"Jessica has infectious energy and unmistakable star quality," ABC Entertainment President Susan Lyne said Friday. "She also has a built-in fan base in both music and television, which is a great jumping off point for us."
Jessica Simpson
Cutting Jobs, Closing Offices
Starz
Starz Encore Group, which sells movies to cable and satellite TV subscribers, plans to cut 100 jobs and close four of its 11 regional offices as it adjusts to the changing pay TV industry.
Starz, which employs 657 people, will close its offices in San Ramon, Calif.; Buffalo, N.Y.; St. Louis; and Dallas in January and relocate some of those workers to Denver.
Consolidation among cable-TV providers has put increased pressure on programmers to cut costs as the cable-TV firms gain more leverage, said Sean Badding, an analyst who follows the industry for the Carmel Group in Carmel, Calif.
Starz
Countess of Wessex Gives Birth
Baby News
The Countess of Wessex, wife of the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II , has given birth to a baby girl by emergency Caesarean section, Buckingham Palace said Sunday.
The palace said the baby, who was born just before midnight, several weeks prematurely, weighed 4 lbs 9 oz. Doctors at Frimley Park Hospital south of London said both mother and daughter were "stable."
The former Sophie Rhys-Jones, 38, married Prince Edward, the queen's fourth and youngest child, in 1999. The couple's first baby is eighth in line to the throne.
Baby News
Previously Unseen Works Shown
Picasso & Matisse
A pair of New York and Texas art dealers exhibited for the first time a heretofore secret trove of works by famed artists Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.
The prints, some 230 in total, were on display in two shows at Houston's Meredith Long & Co. gallery and at Adelson Galleries in New York. The New York show closed Saturday and the Houston show will be open until Nov. 20.
Much of the collection was originally owned by Ambroise Vollard, the famed Parisian art dealer who gave Picasso and Paul Cezanne their first-one man shows.
Picasso & Matisse
Tourists get a spectacular view of Sydney Harbor including Fort Denison (below) as they climb the eastern arch of the Sydney Harbor Bridge at dawn on November 10, 2003. Tour operators and the hospitality industry are preparing for an expected influx of tourists to Sydney for the final games of the Rugby World Cup.
Photo by Tim Wimborne
'The Osbournes'
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