Another Date That Will Live in Infamy

Let history show that on September 9, 2009, this country and everything it stands for was brutally and verbally attacked by radical terrorists whose visceral hate for Americans knows no bounds, and who have infiltrated every level of government. Although the hand of peace has been repeatedly offered to these people, they have now proven they have no sense of human decency and cannot be reasoned with. In order to prevent future attacks on our soil, we must not rest until they are rooted out and brought to justice, wherever we find them.

Feingold Blocks Bill to Honor Reagan

[Cross-posted at If I Ran The Zoo.]

Here's an item that could be in one of those silly Facebook games: Things I Love That Everybody Else Hates. Meaning, of course, the congressional practice of attaching ostensibly unrelated amendments to bills before the House or Senate, and the gamesmanship around that practice. In this case, it's Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) blocking a Republican bill to commemorate Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday.

It may just be about the procedural pragmatism of moving legislation by attaching it to another, more popular bill; that happens all the time. However -- and forgive me if I'm adding two and two and getting five -- I think I see a subtext.

Feingold’s amendment would establish two commissions to study the internment and restrictions of German and Italian Americans and Jewish refugees during World War II, and it is unrelated to the Reagan bill. The Reagan measure would establish a commission to plan federal and state celebrations around Reagan’s centennial birthday in February 2011.

I suspect it may not be totally unrelated, although the connection is a subtle one. It's about history, and who gets to shape it. The Reagan presidency, like our treatment of ethnics during WWII, is a dark chapter in our history. It would be better off forgotten than viewed through the rose-colored glasses conservatives have provided us with their relentless, partisan revisionism.

Read more...

Feingold’s spokesman said that the noncontroversial bill would be a good vehicle for the internment amendment, which he said is also noncontroversial.

I think Feingold is daring the Republicans to risk being seen as indifferent to real, sad truths about our history at the same moment they are practicing bald-faced triumphalism, ramming propaganda down our throats while there's anybody alive that remembers the real Reagan legacy; e.g., Iran-Contra, Bitburg, trillion-dollar national debt.

Now that we have decided not to prosecute the Bush administration for its crimes against humankind and the Constitution, and remembering that Reagan openly and repeatedly flaunted his violations of the Constitution, I guess it's only a matter of time before conservatives are pushing for a national celebration of Bush's birthday as well.

Unless a crafty and honest Democrat like Russ Feingold stands up to them, of course.

History is too important, from the standpoint of lessons learned, to allow it to be shaped by partisan politics. Feingold gets this, and raising the lesson of internment camps, etc. is a totally appropriate reminder.

[A] spokesman for Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), said if Feingold’s amendment is truly noncontroversial, he should simply go through the regular committee process and move it to the Senate floor.

What our children's children learn about what went on in our lifetimes is at stake. Let the pissing match begin.

Super Bowl Dissenting Views

[Cross-posted at If I Ran The Zoo.]


A sports-level discussion of why Sunday's game will be the least-super Super Bowl ever is out of bounds for this space. But although I enjoy pro sports, my favorite sports reporting is done with the same healthy dose of skepticism as I try to approach everything that surrounds the actual competition. So it is that, in perfect synch, two of my favorite sports curmudgeons, Bill Littlefield, host of NPR's Only A Game, and Charlie (Charles P.) Pierce, who writes for the Boston Globe magazine and appears weekly on Only A Game and occasionally on the panel of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, call the titans to task for the way they go about their business.

Only A Game has featured the issue of football head injuries on several occasions, calling for the NFL to own up to, and ultimately take responsibility for a problem that's only recently becoming well-understood, but is undeniably real. He levels his criticism of the NFL, advertisers, and everyone else associated with this overblown event in the form of Suggestions For The Super Bowl.

Fair warning to the anti-sports crowd -- Charlie Pierce's piece in Slate almost veers into actual sports analysis, but as he lets the air out of the Super Bowl glorification balloon, no victim is spared -- especially the sports media, the Arizona Cardinal team, and NFL management -- and nobody's funnier while excoriating entire industries than Charlie:

We're going to hear about how they magically transformed themselves at the end of the season. We're going to hear about the remarkable comeback of Kurt Warner. We're going to hear about how marvelous it is for the National Football League that a Super Bowl championship is within the grasp of a team so thickly dripping with obvious mediocrity that it's a wonder Charlie Sheen isn't playing left guard. We are going to hear all of this because the NFL and its broadcast partners operate on the very simple premise that everybody who reports—or follows—their sport on television is a paste-eating moron.

Oh, well, at least some of the commercials will be in 3-D.

The Inauguration Day How We Got Here Random Flickr-Blogging Retrospective Extravaganza

[Cross-posted at If I Ran The Zoo.]

The long election cycle that brought us to this historic day was observed -- in true IIRTZ fashion -- with irreverent and sometimes tasteless derision. While one is tempted to entertain lofty and nostalgic daydreams and memories today, resist and indulge yourself in a retrospective of the political year just past, as seen through the slightly-distorted lens of Random Flickr-Blogging.

Originally uploaded by fabcom.
Random Flickr-blogging explained

We're winning in Iraq. The economy is fine. Voluntary restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions will solve the global climate change problem. John McCain is an independent, straight-shooting campaign-finance reformer. You can have the bridge pictured here for your very own for $29.95, but only if you call in the next ten minutes...


See more...

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Originally uploaded by Robotkid.

The Green Party, having chosen its presidential candidate, examines its prospects for November success.

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Originally uploaded by faustastic.

Based on recent trends within the party, the site committee for the 2012 Republican National Convention decided to consider all options.

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Originally uploaded by rst90274.

Meanwhile, the Ron Paul Revolution rolls on...

Originally uploaded by chrisabad.

"This thing seems to be working -- all of Ron Paul's policy positions are starting to make sense to me."

Originally uploaded by bnidjer.

After visiting If I Ran The Zoo, a Democratic Ron Paul volunteer attempts suicide with a box of Krispy Kremes.

Originally uploaded by androoouk.

"Parachute? What parachute? We're Libertarians -- just relax and enjoy your freedom!"

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The Endless Primary Season

Originally uploaded by Curious_Cynic.

Texas has scrapped its primary election in favor of its own version of the Iowa Caucuses.

Originally uploaded by mkeblx.

The Clinton campaign was accused of employing an aggressive and unorthodox get-out-the-vote methodology last week in South Carolina.

Originally uploaded by urwis.

Bill O'Reilly's vehicle, after he got lost and ran off the road trying to crash another NH primary event.

Originally uploaded by ScottHernandez.

John McCain, the NSA, the TSA, and the Division of Homeland Security have all teamed up to bring the "Living In Fear For The Next Hundred Years" roadshow to your town between now and the November election.

Originally uploaded by Clément Guillaume.

Members of the press as they are marched at gunpoint to yet another Hillary Clinton rally.

Originally uploaded by linktoyou.

Meanwhile, right now, somewhere in this great land of ours, a Barack Obama rally is starting...

Originally uploaded by Mr. T.14.H.

All that was left for Giuliani's staff to do was to clear out the campaign offices.

Originally uploaded by rockfshr.

Poor Chet. One minute, he's having a civil conversation with his wife about Bosnia, Hillary, and "factcheck.org". Next thing he knows, he's camping in the back yard.

Originally uploaded by narrativeMAN.

John McCain released the results of his medical exams in order to defuse any criticisms based on his age, but it backfired when this close-up of his left earlobe and the carbon-dating results were leaked to the press.

Originally uploaded by hbp_pix.
Random Flickr-blogging explained.

These Democrats just found out how long it will be before the Pennsylvania primary.

Originally uploaded by photosbyscott.

Weeks after calling on supporters of both Democratic candidates to put aside their differences, Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean appealed to the last holdouts.

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A decision, then on to the general...

Originally uploaded by David Boyle in DC.

"Yeah, dude, check it out -- there's a great antiques and collectibles yard sale going on down the block."

Originally uploaded by DjTweed.

"See, Cindy, now that we've sold off all those other houses, there's no reason anymore for Joe Six-Pack not to vote for me."

Originally uploaded by bigChill.
Random Flickr-blogging explained.

Another former Republican hears about McCain's beer veto.

Originally uploaded by Leo Cloma.

John McCain came under increasing pressure to disassociate himself with a radical religious leader who had been responsible for such inflammatory and anti-American statements as "Love your enemy", "The last shall be first, and the first last", "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone", and "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Originally uploaded by resistealeau.

The McCain campaign played second banana to the Obama campaign all last week. While Obama spoke to 200,000 enthralled spectators in Berlin, McCain visited a German restaurant in Ohio. While Obama and General Petraeus toured Iraq by helicopter...

Originally uploaded by btornado.

The vice presidential candidate of the future will not need a $150,000 wardrobe.

Originally uploaded by swetieduck.

Weeks too late, they finally found McCain's campaign strategy under a back seat in the Straight Talk Express.

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Finally...victory! From Grant Park, election night:

Originally uploaded by graemetallan.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible..."

Originally uploaded by orangeambrosia.

"...who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time..."

Originally uploaded by SnowInSummer.

"...who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

Originally uploaded by Kealor.

"This is your victory. And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead."

Originally uploaded by Pugnation.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there."

Originally uploaded by ChevyGuy454.

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."

Originally uploaded by jo3c00l.

"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

Originally uploaded by { вянoOoм ~.

"America, we have come so far. We have seen so much..."

Originally uploaded by arnoldzafra.

"...But there is so much more to do...This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace..."

Originally uploaded by Ice Cream Bears.

"...to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one..."

Originally uploaded by Dustin Hall.

"...that while we breathe, we hope..."

Originally uploaded by SamoDiva Stefana.

"...And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't..."

Originally uploaded by ufdance.

"...we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes..."

Originally uploaded by thoa_hnmtc.

"...we..."

Originally uploaded by Martin & Julia.

"...can."

Random Flickr-Blogging: img_4481

[See more RFB at If I Ran The Zoo.]

Originally uploaded by robertclayson.
Random Flickr-blogging explained.

Our three intrepid CEO's, universally mocked for flying to Washington in corporate jets, and told to return when they could show some humility and perspective, formed a carpool for the next trip.
See more...

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Originally uploaded by Eric G..

Sent home empty-handed, they once again set out for Washington, this time to prove that an American car could be simpler and more fuel-efficient. Once again, Congress didn't buy it.

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Originally uploaded by magnussveinsson.

Undeterred, and determined to save their failing industry, they returned to Washington, this time by the Northern route.

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Originally uploaded by photoblake.

"I don't know if these trips to Washington are getting us any closer to a bailout, but I noticed I have a lot more energy these days."

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Originally uploaded by jdj150.

They kept trying, each time taking a different mode of transportation, in hopes of winning the hearts and sympathy of the American people.

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Originally uploaded by JC81.

And even though they tried on each trip to show they'd learned their lesson, each time they were refused...

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Originally uploaded by Juan Ignacio Pascual.

...again and again, over and over, until...

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Originally uploaded by AnneC..

"F%#k it; bankruptcy couldn't possibly be more painful than this. Where do I sign?"

Random Flickr-Blogging: img_0416

[See more RFB at If I Ran The Zoo.]

Originally uploaded by graemetallan.
Random Flickr-blogging explained.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible..."

Originally uploaded by orangeambrosia.

"...who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time..."

Originally uploaded by SnowInSummer.

"...who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."
See more...

Originally uploaded by Kealor.

"This is your victory. And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead."

Originally uploaded by Pugnation.

"The road ahead will be long."

Originally uploaded by Majeed Almahozi.

"Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there."

Originally uploaded by ChevyGuy454.

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."

Originally uploaded by jo3c00l.

"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

Originally uploaded by { вянoOoм ~.

"America, we have come so far. We have seen so much..."

Originally uploaded by arnoldzafra.

"...But there is so much more to do...This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace..."

Originally uploaded by Ice Cream Bears.

"...to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one..."

Originally uploaded by Dustin Hall.

"...that while we breathe, we hope..."

Originally uploaded by SamoDiva Stefana.

"...And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't..."

Originally uploaded by ufdance.

"...we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes..."

Originally uploaded by thoa_hnmtc.

"...we..."

Originally uploaded by Martin & Julia.

"...can."

Random Flickr-Blogging: img_4200

[See more RFB at If I Ran The Zoo.]

Originally uploaded by swetieduck.
Random Flickr-blogging explained.

Weeks too late, they finally found McCain's campaign strategy under a back seat in the Straight Talk Express.
See more...

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Originally uploaded by Christoph Vandewiele.

"Of course he's a culinary genius, but everything he makes is puréed or strained. After a while, you just want to splatter it all over yourself."

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Originally uploaded by btornado.

The vice presidential candidate of the future will not need a $150,000 wardrobe.

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Originally uploaded by DjTweed.

"See, Cindy, now that we've sold off all those other houses, there's no reason anymore for Joe Six-Pack not to vote for me."

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Originally uploaded by Joe Turner Lin.

"OK, guys, the joke's over; put the camera away and bring my clothes back."

From Anathema to Anthemic -- A Short Catalog of Guilty Pleasures

[Cross-posted at If I Ran The Zoo.]

[Because I was tagged by Tom with this meme]

Father, forgive me, for I have sinned...

Kenny Rodgers and the First Edition I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

My nomination for first prize, as this may be the worst song ever recorded that I can't ever get enough of. "...Found my mind in a brown paper bag"..."tripped on a cloud and fell eight miles high; tore my mind on a jagged sky"..."had my foot on the gas as I left the road and blew out my mind..." Future fried-chicken magnate Kenny Rodgers assesses the state of his mental health by filling a song with drug references, and ends up sounding like a guy who's never even had an aspirin. The challenge would be to find a more deliciously cheesy set of pseudo-psychedelic lyrics written in earnest (although Gentle Wandering Ways by the late-period Beau Brummels would be close behind, if it had ever seen the light of day).

I have a video of Kenny lip-synching this on Ed Sullivan in a Nehru jacket, but it may not be uploadable to YouTube for copyright reasons. This video is from the Smothers Brothers TV show, and at least has some cheesy TV special effects.

READ MORE...

Ides Of March Vehicle

One of an explosion of horn bands riding the coattails of Blood, Sweat, and Tears in the early seventies (Chicago being the most successful, of course), The Ides of March enjoyed a career year in 1970, touring in support of Hendrix, Joplin, and Led Zep, after Vehicle became the fastest-selling Warner Brothers release to that point. Unequivocally a guilty pleasure, this recording is bad in so many ways (e.g., lyrics), but its modal-sounding brass lines, together with vocalist Jim Peterik's blatant David Clayton-Thomas ripoff, were a potent hook. It also has the worst guitar solo EVAR -- supposedly it was from a previously-discarded take that had to be spliced in after a section of the master was accidentally erased. Jim Peterik went on to form Survivor (Eye Of The Tiger).

K.C. and the Sunshine Band Get Down Tonight

Disco is the 'anathema' of the post title, and -- Van McCoy's Do The Hustle notwithstanding -- Get Down Tonight was its early anthem, before it became self-conscious, mundane and weighed down with cultural baggage. From the intro and its speeded-up guitar, to the insane background vocal that shows up every second time through the refrain, there's no mistaking that there's something going on here that trancends the genre. Dig this video -- how else would you want to look on stage but like this? Is that trombone player really doing the Funky Chicken? Covered hilariously by Shriekback.

Edison Lighthouse Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

I looked down my nose at this song at the time, thinking it was too trivial and lightweight compared to the heavy hits of the day. As it turns out, not taking itself too seriously gave this song major lasting power. Edison Lighthouse was really a session-band vehicle for singer Tony Burrows, who cranked out four "one-hit-wonders" under four different band names in 1970, and a fifth in 1974. Freedy Johnson does a great cover of this on Right Between The Promises. Upon hearing Love Grows in the car one day, my daughter asked, "Is this on every mix CD you make?"

Glen Campbell Wichita Lineman

Jimmy Webb wrote many songs that make it onto folks' guilty pleasures lists, including MacArthur Park (Richard Harris), Up, Up, and Away (The Fifth Dimension), Turn Around, Look at Me (The Vogues), and The Worst That Could Happen (Brooklyn Bridge). Considered apart from their context and the artists who performed them -- i.e., the circumstances that relegate them to the category of guilty pleasures -- many of these songs are pop masterpieces, structurally and harmonically sophisticated, with simple but emotionally powerful lyrics; in my humble opinion, Wichita Lineman is the greatest example and Webb's crowning achievement. Readers of Rolling Stone, Mojo and Blender magazines have voted "Wichita Lineman" one of the greatest songs ever recorded (which puts its status as a guilty pleasure in jeopardy).

The first time they met, Campbell (an unapologetic wingnut who these days alternately quotes the Bible and claims we should have wiped Iraq off the face of the earth) looked up from his guitar and said "When're you gonna get a haircut?" After their collaboration had produced several gold records (By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Galveston, and Wichita Lineman) and Grammy awards (not to mention a few boatloads of cash), presumably Campbell arrived at a more circumspect point of view regarding the length of Webb's hair.

Judas Priest You Got Another Thing Comin'

This might as well be the blueprint for every great heavy metal single; it has all the hooks and clichés in all the right places. Although most heavy metal is misogynist crap, I can be sucked in by anything with a great guitar sound and even a suggestion of self-parody (see AC/DC).

The Cowsills We Can Fly

A real Rhode Island family with a real band and a real singing mom, they backed out of playing themselves in The Partridge Family when it was discovered Mom (Barbara) would be played by Shirley Jones. No word on whether Barry Cowsill's substance abuse problems were the inspiration for Danny Bonaduce's.

Donovan Hurdy Gurdy Man

Regarding Donovan, what Tom said. Although John Paul Jones played bass and directed the arrangement, Jimmy Page did not -- as was rumored for many years -- play the distorted electric guitar that rescues this from the self-indulgent faux relevance (or is it faux-relevant self-indulgence?) that was a staple of the times, and of which Donovan was the clown prince.

Random Flickr-Blogging: img_2206

[See more RFB at If I Ran The Zoo.]

Originally uploaded by tammyloh.
Random Flickr-blogging explained.

"I got off easy -- Novak, Hannity, and Matthews all got wished into the cornfield."

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Originally uploaded by resistealeau.

The McCain campaign played second banana to the Obama campaign all last week. While Obama spoke to 200,000 enthralled spectators in Berlin, McCain visited a German restaurant in Ohio. While Obama and General Petraeus toured Iraq by helicopter...

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Originally uploaded by ednoles.

"Almighty God, I beseech Thee -- in thy tender mercy -- give me the power to cast off the evil demons of miniaturization and restore me to human proportionality."

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Originally uploaded by No-see-um.

Budget cuts forced Shakespeare In The Park to make some tough casting choices this year.

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Originally uploaded by h4cks.

As we all must eventually, Ted and the gang found out the hard way that MapQuest directions aren't infallible.

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Originally uploaded by David Boyle in DC.

"Yeah, dude, check it out -- there's a great antiques and collectibles yard sale going on down the block."

Random Flickr-Blogging: img_3008

[See more RFB at If I Ran The Zoo.]

Originally uploaded by newyork808.
Random Flickr-blogging explained.

"I don't know anything about all the missing pets in the neighborhood, but I have some especially good barbeque for you to try."

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Originally uploaded by Notsuoh Photography.

Marketing 101 -- Leaving A Great First Impression:

Make sure to use catchy phrases like "Top Quality", or "Troop Surge", or "Straight-Shooting Maverick" in your advertising.

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Originally uploaded by Guilherme Kardel.

I used to shoot skeet, but this is so much more environmentally friendly. Ready...aim...

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Originally uploaded by apatosaurus.

"Get that microphone out of my face, or you'll hear some audio data that's never been parsed this side of the Crab Nebula."