Something tells me that if you checked the astrological and cosmic portents for new ventures today, they would all say, "Don't do it! This is not a perfect plan!"
At least, that's the sense I'm getting from two different announcements of Big New Projects I have read about since this morning. We'll see which one eats dirt first.
First up, we have Allbritton Media, one of those…media thingies, some kind of massive multi-multi-media platform that's going to put all of television, publishing, and blogging out of business. (I know I'm scared.) Just like HotSoup. Remember HotSoup? Me, neither.
So, why am I writing about this? Well, don't everybody cry at once, but they've lured Pool Boy away from the WaPo!
(via Wonkette)
Top political reporters Jim VandeHei and John Harris are leaving the Washington Post to act as accomplices in yet another new media bullshit show. This one’s some sort of website that will revolutionize political reporting — with VIDEO and shit.
(snip)
This is a huge coup for Allbritton Communications, the party responsible for this shitstorm of hype, and we can only hope it’s as much of a huge success as HotSoup, the REVOLUTIONARY NEW INTERACTIVE ONE-STOP POLITICAL WEBSITE/COMMUNITY that lured Ron Fournier away from the Associated Press.
DID WE MENTION THERE’S VIDEO?!?
That means Pool Boy's going to another high school! What'll we do?! We never got to see how his various facial hair experiments concluded! We'll never get to enjoy his, euh, refreshing take on the Plame outing again! Not that I don't believe Allbritton has EVERY chance of success, but…wait, Jim! Let us get one last look at you! Can I take a quick picture?
And hello to your lovely wife! (Who's she working for now that Tom DeLay's former staff have all told Shelley Sekula-Gibbs where she can stick it?)
In other News of the Doomed, Pox News think they're funny. They're going to start their own version of "The Daily Show".
(via Reuters)
Fox News Channel might air two episodes of a "Daily Show"-like program with a decidedly nonliberal bent on Saturday nights in late January, with the possibility that it could become a weekly show.
The half-hour show would take aim at what executive producer Joel Surnow, the co-creator of "24," calls "the sacred cows of the left" that don't get made as much fun of by other comedy shows.
Oh, joy. Oh, rapture. I'm so excited I could puke on my shoes.
Taped before a studio audience in Los Angeles, the show will feature two co-anchors, actors Kurt Long ("Cuts," "Games Across America") and Susan Yeagley ("Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Reno 911!"). It also will feature person-on-the-street interviews and correspondent reports like other shows. But Surnow said it's not going to be strictly conservative but more in the spirit of the old and rebellious "Saturday Night Live."
"It's not going to hit you over the head with partisan politics," Surnow said. "It'll hit anything that deserves to be hit."
Good luck with that. I'm sure it'll be "Fair and Balanced" like everything else you dickweeds do.
You guys should really drop this one before it bites you. I'm not kidding. Humor should never be made by the irony-impaired. It will only end in tears, I guarantee it.
Besides, you guys already do a comedy show, Fox and Friends. The only people who don't realize how hilarious it is are, well, the people who work there. Quit while you're ahead, you dumb clucks! Good comedy is a very delicate and intricate business. You should leave that to hard-working professionals like me. It just takes a quick glance at your side of the aisle to establish that Reich Wingers are only funny when they're trying to be serious.
As Jane said:
Which is all by way of saying I don't think we'll be seeing the Steven Colbert of the right any time soon, but they may well work themselves up a Howie Mandel or a Carrot Top or two as they watch the opportunistic rats scuttle over the gunwales of their rapidly sinking ship.
File under "small consolation."
Yeah.
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Yo!
I wonder if Dennis Miller will be a regular guest on the new ‘The STD’ show. Funny like genital warts.
fitz!!!!!!!!
Poor baby Pombo cries:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/…..MGE031.DTL
Tonight, the role of Rosencranz will still be played by Alan Colmes.
TRex what about a contest based on the OJ book. Lots of good entries this afternoon.
If I was a crook, R.M. Nixon
If I did out an American spy during wartime, Rove and Libby
Good times.
AND they have real VIDEO?
Wo.
Somebody better alert C&L.
And YouTube.
I’m going to guess that Surnow is thinking of the Anthony Michael Hall era on SNL, not the Murray/Belushi/Aykroyd/Curtin/Radner era.
John Harris AND pool boy. Be still, my aching heart.
Or is that just angina.
blah @ 4
Pombo the Elephant sees reality.
PS, my first acid trip and I didn’t even know it…
Balrog @
2
“Finally! A President who gets it!”
- GOP fluffer and former comedian Dennis Miller, at the first Clinton Inaugural.
_
It will only end in tears, I guarantee it.
Does laughing til you cry count?
Come on, it could be like Mark Trail. So bad it’s good.
blah @ 4
Excerpt: Pombo is still digesting the loss. In a wide-ranging interview, he used humor to deflect questions about how he’s coping with his defeat. But his post-election sentiments are clear: He’s furious at his opponents for the very personal campaign they waged against him, and he is still stunned because they pulled it off.
“How dare they call me a corrupt bastard! Hey, are there any hundred-dollar bills sticking out of my pockets? Sorry, gotta go hunt peasants with Dick.”
Well this explains why John Harris is never around to do those WaPo chats. He’s been in salary negotiations.
They’ll be missing his tender ministrations to Rove. Maybe they can hire Mark Halperin.
egregious >
Ummm, yea
for cross reference, see “lots of money down deep dark rathole”
“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.” – Otto von Bismarck
EvilDrPuma @ 13
And this from same:
Some close to Pombo believe this could be his last campaign. He has never shied away from political combat, but the race left hard feelings for many in his tight-knit Portuguese family, who felt the Pombo name was dragged through the mud.
Family actually blaming baby for sullying the family name. Poor poor baby!
I’m not sayin I did it, ya know, and you can’t prove anything, ‘cus I wasn’t any where around that restaurant, dig? But if I did it, I’d of put Jimmy Hoffa under that new tree they put in at the White House. Fertilizer, ya know, and who’d think to look there! I’m a genius! Er, I’d of been a genius, if, ya know…
… a “Daily Show”-like program with a decidedly nonliberal bent …
Hoo boy.
Will anyone be able to tell it from the rest of their broadcast?
Will they have a ticker at the bottom reminding people to laugh, or what?
SamTheLurker @ 18
Good point.
So will “Pool Boy” be retired to the FDL Name Hall of Fame? You know kind of like when baseball teams retire the number of their star players.
Who was it that was invited to do the first test show for Fox (Ingraham? Malkin?) and who seems not to be mentioned at all in this? If they’ve already submarined their first nutball conservative, then maybe there’s small hope for the show lasting more than a month.
But, in terms of longevity, the Albritton exercise in frustration will last longer (nine months?), but will have a much higher velocity as it augurs in.
The Fox show will, after six weeks, just sort of slide off the runway into the weeds after not being able to take off.
Balrog @
2
He’ll only be on because the chimp refused to go on alone.
Somewhat off topic but not totally…
New media continues to gain traction
“…it’s the ideas that count, not the number of trees you kill to print them.” – Phil Carter@Intel-dump.com
Teee—Rexxx!!!
You’re out and about early tonight. Will we be seeing more of you at Late Nite?
P.S. Is this Pool Boy move one of those things where he leaves the WaPo, and joins Allbritton, and the average IQ of the people in both of the two organizations goes up?
CHICAGO – Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who is contemplating a run for the presidency, on Monday called for a “gradual and substantial” reduction of U.S. forces from Iraq that would begin in four to six months.
Wow, interesting news about John WATB Harris and Pool Boy. Thanks TRex.
Anyone know how Jim
Church LadyBrady is doing or Debbienobody says fuck except meHowell? I thought I heard, IIRC, that Debbie got demoted; she only “ombudsmaned” metro stories.I guess the moral of the story is, don’t piss off Jane.
Is the WaPo finally purging some of the dead wood? From his online chats, I thought Harris was very weak. VandeHei perhaps figured out that all his “access” was with the wrong people. What are these guys going to do now, that they can’t wait for the phone to ring? It doesn’t sound as though the WaPo tried very hard to keep either one.
Question–
If you watch episodes of this Focks show on a Zune, will you create a black hole?
dna
Sparkles the Iguana @
14
Well, I heard a rumor that Rove would be leaving in weeks, not months…so Harris’ services will no longer be needed in that area.
daCascadian said,
“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.” – Otto von Bismarck
Amazing how prescient Bismarck was. Didn’t he die before Dick Cheney was born?
Indeed. Just as soon as I figure out what I’m going to write about.
montag @ 21
The success of Jon Stewart and his Daily Show owes much to his good-naturedness, his leavening of legitimate moral outrage with a head-shaking, shoulder-shrugging “can ya believe this shit?” delivery that resonates with thoughtful, reasonable people. The right has no equivalent humane sense of humor — they are perpetually hyperbolically pissed off at anyone who doesn’t buy the party line. “Right Wing Humor” is a contradiction in terms. Their omnipresent go-for-the-jugular vilification of non-believers ain’t a basis for successful comedy, IMHO.
_
TRex @ 29
You can always take a cue from the Pombo story and write about what kind of whining Republican losers are doing two weeks after their ignominous defeats.
Off-topic:
For you Bobby Kennedy fans (and who isn’t?)…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/…..93,00.html
David Sanchez Morales at the Ambassador Hotel is big news.
A lot of us in the JFK assassination research community are convinced of Morales involvement in the JFK assassination as well.
Morales confessed to helping kill JFK to two close friends (see Gaeton Fonzi’s THE LAST INVESTIGATION.)
Morales was a major figure in the notorious Operation Phoenix Vietnam death squads in the late 60’s.
Morales was likely photographed in Dealey Plaza perched high on a light pole.
Morales at the Ambassador, well, it wraps up the 60’s, by my reckon’n…
OT – Al Franken on Lou Dobbs after commercial break
Crap. These tubz is clogged. I can’t get anywhere but here, C&L and YouTube. Am I the only one having this problem?
What, was the staff at DirtyUnwashedPajamas Media full?
Get ready for lots of lame misogyny and homo jokes cause that’s about all they got…
Lindy @ 35
Where else would you need to go? *g*
Kelven @ 36
Seriously. Somebody better be sending Andrew Dice Clay some royalty checks.
neurophius @ 38
Well, I wanted to read the Pombo story…and the Morales link. *sigh* Other than that, you’re right, of course.
TRex @ 38
“Up next on Fox: ‘Mallard Fillmore: The Animated Series’…”
EvilDrPuma @
13
“But it got so ugly and so personal, I think they were happy it was over with,” Mr. Pombo said. I believe he meant the frequent references to his Congressional voting record.
Hickory Dickory Dock…
TRex @
30
There was an interesting vein throughout the day which dealt with Bush’s psychosis as a dry drunk and the similarities with a sufferer of OCD to see the world in black and white…no shades of gray…no nuance…no love…no joy in freakin Mudville. I would humbly suggest that concluding that vein would make a nice sandwich on this post which revisits the very direct point that authoritarian nutbags have absolutely no ability to perceive humor. Just a thought.
I’m looking forward to this show in the way I gear up — roll up my sleeves, tuck in a napkin, bless myself and say grace in gratitude for the gift — to enjoy a full-course meal of Schadenfreude.
Because of my certitude in the theory I (and lots of others) expound — and if the theory works in the case of Nazi Germany it’ll certainly work in the case of these reich wing clowns –, the tasty Schadenfreude meal is guaranteed.
The theory being: no fascist sensibility is ever, ever capable of producing good art. Of any sort. And comedy IS an art. The fascist, authoritarian view of the human condition is one of strict social hierarchy, with the elite at the top of the power structure by virtue of clawing its way there sociopathically. Fascists worship power and despise empathy of any sort. They sneer at the peons below, whom they manipulate callously.
This worldview is antithetical to ANY sort of art. And comedy is an art form for sure, one, which like all art forms, must embrace the entire human condition in all its complexity to flourish.
Their worldview is the mentality of the bully. Bullies are only funny INADVERTANTLY, when they are being ridiculed by others. When was the last time you saw humiliating a hapless servant, kicking the weak and disabled, or depriving the poor of food and dignity as instances of kneeslapping hilarity? You’d have to be a sociopath, too, to find humor in cruelty and inhumanity.
Good luck, Fox. I’ll be seated ringside to see your much-deserved public humiliation in this “comedy” endeavor.
HotFlash @ 41
Damn those Democrats! They have no ideas of their own, so they attack Pombo the Failing Elephant’s history of corporatist enabling.
Pool Boy? Guess I need to Google…
TRex @ 30
CONTEST! If I were a crook…
Mrs. K8 @ 44
Just don’t waste good popcorn on it.
only if he goes in with this indelible Hamsherian image -
http://www.boomantribune.com/s…..dehigh.jpg
‘zup Firedogs !!!
blah @ 4
What’s really funny is, his complaints nearly duplicate a story in the Onion from two weeks ago…
Cliff Varnell @ 33
I am an extremely hard sell on conspiracy stuff. But this thing in the Guardian is worth a read.
Seymour Hersh on Hardball now
Swopa @ 50
The Onion writers aren’t humorists, they’re prophets.
Lindy @ 28
I don’t think it’s Harris’ services, it’s Jimmy/Jeff Gannon/Guckert. But like all areas of government, there is duplication.
In the event you haven’t seen Michael Richard’s who played Kramer on Seinfeld doing a career melt down.
Word’s can’t describe.
-GSD
neurophius –
Thanks for the heads-up on Sy Hersh!
TRex @ 30
Ah, just sign your name and jump in during the comments. We love ya, big guy.
Hey Twisted, I’ve always believed home field is worth ten points. I think your guys were the better team. If the Irish knock off the Trojans, maybe the Maize and Blue will get another shot.
First of all, “oh joy! oh rapture!” was my line, uttered at the possibility of acquiring a brain, or was it getting a clue? — but you can use it if you feel enlightenment coming on.
But second, I have mixed feelings about this Fox effort to be knowingly funny. What this requires is that someone actually explain real humor (not merely cruel sadism) and irony to these folks, have it sink in, and deal with it. I suspect that their first reaction to getting it will not be laughter, or even a smile. More like the moment of horror when you realize your fly has been open your entire time at the party and you now realize why everyone else has been sniggering.
[
Anything that wastes the right’s money is OK by me.
Mrs. K8 @ 45
I’m reminded of one of my favorite Monty Python skits about the WWII era Englishman who writes “The World’s Funniest Joke.” It is so funny it causes immediate death; so, of course they translate it into German and have brigades chanting it on the battle field…and it kills!
The Nazis, of course, attempt a competing weapon of humor and come up with, “Two peanuts were walking down the street, one was assaulted,”…no one died. I’m betting the same will be true of Rupert’s new debacle.
Burning questions:
Will the Fox show have hilarious bits like Rush making fun of the handicapped and various Goopers yukking it up about how ugly the teenage daughters of Democrats are?
More important, will the show’s expenses balloon out of control because of the massive number of man-hours of editing needed to keep the “man-on-the-street” interviews from resembling the comments at Free Republic?
I couldn’t get the Michael Richards video to play, but maybe that’s for the best.
Recently watched Weird Al’s movie, UHF again, this time with my two (biracial) kids. Richards’ recent tirade is quite the jarring counterpoint to the character my kids enjoyed in that movie.
Lindy @ 35
If you throw in Amato, TBogg, MyDD, kos, Howie Klein, and Taylor Marsh that’s pretty much the known universe.
GSD @ 56
I read about that earlier today. Un-fucking-believable. Racists, like fascists (there is much overlap here) are deeply unfunny.
But this guy had an amazing melt-down indeed. In my very worst moments, in my worst moods, at those moments when I was intoxicated (to cover the possibility that he was drunk or stoned) I would never even have IMAGINED the sort of shit that he spouted in front of that audience.
It’s always astonishing to see psyches unravel publically like that, especially when they contain such ugliness.
The Pombo whine was awesome. Talking about his record is “getting personal.” How dare those Democrats and environmentalists drag his family’s good name through the mud by bringing up things he actually did!
Aw. I love you, Miz E.
TRex @ 30
How about a script for the new Faux show?
Redshift @ 61
Nah. They’ll just script ‘em.
…starting countdown until Kramer checks into rehab.
jeffreyw @ 67
(scratching head) …why do you want TRex to make such an effort to not be funny?
johnSwifty –
Yes! I remember that skit. I like the “meta” way that Monty Python could show not only why they were funny, but also why fascists never are.
twolf1 @ 69
In his mind, he’s already gone.
Hersh is OK.
TRex @ 67
[blushes, swings toe back and forth in the sand]
EvilDrPuma @ 73
“no job for you!”
I am constantly revisiting the favorite “characters” in my life, Kramer is gooooooooone for me.
ugh.
“It’s” obviously omnipresent– racism, sexism, homophobia by hubris laden, xenophobic fools right here at home.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 74
I’m pleased that he gets the chance to defend his writing. You know that other media outlets will be content to demonize him from afar, without his input.
EvilDrPuma @ 71
You’re onto a reason for him to not do it, TRex can’t not be funny, and worse, they may steal some of his chops.
TRex @ 67
It’s like Keith said, he can only do Special Comments when they come to him, otherwise he would be [?Rush without the hallucinogens?]
Mrs. K8 @ 73
Genius is never more enjoyable than when it is directed towards the comedic passion. Which do you prefer, “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” or “Hamlet?”
twolf1 @ 76
And you managed here to loop the association back around to the failure of an outfit like “HotSoup.”
I tip my hat!
Question: Will Albritton have live video of Harris and VandeHei crawling back to the Post, licking Downie’s Guccis and begging him for their old jobs?
I think it could work if Jim VandeHei and John Harris could get Mark Halperin to join in. Then all they would need is a clue.
Mrs. K8 @ 77
Linky?
dang it, I am in “time out”.
johnSwifty @ 80
Wasn’t it Arthur Koestler (”The Act of Creation”) who maintained that the best of tragedy contains elements of comedy, and the best of comedy contains elements of tragedy?
I wouldn’t want to pick one over the other. I want both! They’re both fully human, after all.
Still haven’t figured out the “pool boy” thing, but I found this…
Here is a little repartee regarding the recent election and how they may impact the world of comedy.
A comic chimed in that “democrats=death for comedy”.
I took objection and offered up a battery of facts to the contrary.
The Comedy Studio.
-GSD
angie @ 86
Mrs. K8 @ 87
I wouldn’t want to pick one over the other. I want both! They’re both fully human, after all.
You are sooooo on to me. I knew you would be ;-}
Renee in Ohio @ 87
Renee, I think they mean Jim VandeHei the former WaPo guy but I don’knbow why they call him that.
HotFlash @ 84
Sorry, I don’t understand the question. I can’t link to prove a negative. I’m assuming that if outlets like Fox, Limbaugh, Savage etc. mention Hersh at all, it will be to bash his article(s) without having Hersh himself state his case. The WH is bashing Hersh, do you want a link for that? (I can go get that if you like — I saw it yesterday and can poke around in my “history” page.)
I’m happy that Tweety had Hersh on today to defend himself against the WH’s slam of him.
Mrs. K8 @ 86
These days, given how the neo-cons are stabbing each in the back, Macbeth is probably an apt choice. :)
I don’t know which s-word, JohnSwifty! I did use the word *exist and now the comment is scrubbed.
I also used *omophobia, *acism, *enophobia.
The reason that Stewart and Colbert are funny is because they see what goes on in a reality based view of the world, just like we do. It’s so obvious! to us. They can point out the hypocrisy every day. Right wingers can’t do that because we aren’t hypocrites so their is nothing to make fun of.
One needs to be able to look at situations as they really are in order to make fun of them. And their take on what’s funny is to make fun of people and demean them. That’s not funny.
GSD @ 88
Not death, but now comics’ll actually have to write material ;)
HotFlash, I did figure out that it was a reference to VandeHei, and some blog mentions that, I think Jane, affectionately refers to him as the “White House pool boy” because he spouts Republican party talking points. Maybe that’s all there is, but I’ve been wondering if there is more to the inside joke. Origin-wise.
angie @ 95
Wow, that’s some sick shit!
only one problem for fauxnuws, conservatives ain’t funny
dennis miller became a conservative, and his career DIED (that MNF gig didn’t help either)
how is America gonna react to a network that mocks people who are trying to save our soldiers from a disaster
that oughta play real well in Peoria
bet it plays well in the South too
based on the fiasco in Iraq, and the REALLY BAD IDEAS for “fixing” the problems, I’m predicting that the South will be in play in 2008
if lame humor at our soldiers’ expense is all the freepi got, 2008 is gonna be a wipeout
HotFlash @ 92
IIRC, “pool” in this context could be short for “stenographer pool.” The idea is that the reporter merely wrote what his source (often Karl Rove) told him rather than doing actual reporting to determine whether the statements he was passing on were correct or made sense. However, in Jane’s world, there are often other possible allusions that I am not clever enough to appreciate.
HotFlash @ 95
Pretty much. It’s not as if Democratic politicians have never been hypocrites or done anything stupid, after all. Hell, the Lewinsky business was well deserving of some comic jabs–not that that excuses Jay Leno for not writing any new material since 1998.
montag @ 94
Et tu montag????!!!!
johnSwifty @ 90
You are sooooo on to me. I knew you would be ;-}
;-) {{{***knowing wink / sly smile***}}}
However, I may totally ruin the intimacy of that wink by admitting that I have no idea what that “S-word” is of which you speak (in your comment to angie).
Proof righties don’t like humour — clowns sent to the slammer..
o/t
did y’all see this already ?!?!
Houston Janitors reach tentative 3 year agreement
sweeeet!
nothing up at Jordan’s place yet, can’t wait to read his take
Go SEIU ! Go Andy Stern !
http://soapblox.net/texaskos/s…..aryId=2084
These days, given how the neo-cons are stabbing each in the back, Macbeth is probably an apt choice. :)
Montag –
Or as we superstitious people call it, “The Scottish Play.”
HotFlash @ 103
Republicans are afraid of clowns. It’s a projection of their deep-seated fear that their ideas wouldn’t be out of place in people who wear huge red rubber noses.
cathy @ 96
I think you’re on to something important, cathy. However, I suspect that the listener hears with his/her own definitions of “reality.” If you’ve watched comedy central, you’ll find right-wing humorists make jokes that are funny to those listeners who share their perception of “reality,” but it just comes off as being mean to us. And vice versa is probably also true.
Yeagley is Kevin Nealon’s wife. According to IMDB, Brian Unger — Keith Olbermann’s substitute anchor and former Daily Show correspondent — is also in the cast.
WTF???
italics off
Yay Keith! Thanks for doing all you do,and I wonder,do you ever catch any crap from the bosses for speaking out?
Dear AAOB: thank you kindly, and, no crap. The only thing they ask for is more of them. I point out I can’t supply these on demand. They’re organic; otherwise I’m Limbaugh without the hallucinogens.
That’s from the fdl interview with KO.
1,338 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Mrs. K8:
Even in yer wildest, angriest, most intoxicated, you’d never be able ta summon up that kinda ugly ‘cuz it jest ain’t in ya. That’s why I have never argued with the drunks I know (recovering and not) who say that nuthin’ that comes out when yer drunk ain’t in there when yer sober…think Mel Gibson.
And, yes there is a direct correlation between racism, sexism, homophobia and fascism…how we think about the “others” among us, tells a great deal about how we’re willing to treat them.
KEEP THE FAITH AND DON’T LET ‘EM GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING!!
gotta say, “Reno 911″ can be hilarious…
cbl @ 105
Thanks, cbl, for the great news!
I wonder if having mounted Houston police move their horses in on peaceful protestors ultimately helped in the public relations aspect of negotiations.
johnSwifty @ 102
Et tu montag????!!!!
Oh, yeah, Julius Caesar would make a nice double-header. :)
once again? italics off
ok that’s not working.
Mommy? Help?
cathy @ 96
shorter cathy:
comedy has a reality based liberal bias
John Casper-I told my son that politics makes strange bedfellows and so does the BCS. I need to root for the Domers this weekend!
Ohio State is REALLY good, better than I thought they were. We fought hard all the way and almost clawed back. A rematch would be pretty cool, although the Rose Bowl is a pretty good consolation prize.
Sing it with me…
“Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send the volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky,
What though the odds be great or small
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to Victory!”
Mrs. K8 @ 105
If you haven’t seen it, there is an episode of “Blackadder” that might amuse.
punaise @ 112
Love that show. Did you see the trailer for the movie?
Reno 911 Miami
Mrs. K8 @ 104
I was too plebian, I fear. The answer is back to Monty Python, “How do you know he’s the King?”
“‘E ‘asn’t got shit awl over ‘im”
It was an attempted ironic poke at the fact that the moderators at FDL are more than accepting of colorful verbiage; but mind your fucking ziggurats!
I can’t remember why we started calling VendeHei that. Jane would know. I think had something to do with him being not so much a water-carrier as BushCo’s pool-boy.
EvilDrPuma @ 118
Oooooh! Thank you kindly for that! Will enjoy it!
EvilDrPuma @ 118
Yep, seen it. Everybody dies of knife wounds, Black Adder’s accidentally self-inflicted, as I recall. :)
johnSwifty @ 121
glad to see you got your priorities straight.
scarecrow @ 101
Funny, I always thought of the ESPN commercial where Charlie Steiner was the poolboy at Melrose Place…like he wanted to be the pool boy so he could hang out with all teh kewl people.
Maybe we need to resurrect “MacBird” from the good ol last war.
EvilDrPuma @ 120
I curtsy before the Black Adder.
So funny.
egregious @ 115
egregious –
I’m not seeing any problem here from my monitor. Your writing looks just fine to me. What’s the prob on your end?
Scarecrow-
Then perhaps this idea of a comedy show for rightwingers will be successful. It will be hilarious to them and not to us.
It could be how The Three Stooges is hilarious to my husband and not to me.
Meanwhile in the bloodbath that is modern day Iraq:
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen killed a much-loved Iraqi comedian on Monday as attacks and kidnaps of senior politicians and dozens of ordinary people prompted the defence minister to declare that Iraq was now in a “state of war.”
Another comma for Bush.
-GSD
Three Stooges– Yeah not for everyone– Marx Brothers have a little more general appeal.
Excellent news cbl! You know, sometimes it sorta actually seems like this stuff we are doing might be working. I just saw this by Frank Rich in yesterday’s NYT, title is It’s Not the Democrats Who Are Divided
Do those points look familiar? Could we be seeing what Spotlight can do? Whoohoo!
scarecrow @ 101
I don’t know where “Pool Boy” came from, but I can no longer think of VanDenHei without making that association.
I suppose a pool boy could be the guy with the net on a long handle who scoops the shit and scum off the surface of the water…
johnSwifty –
Ach, so ist das!
It’s the Fall-of-the-Tower-of-Babel Syndrome, eh?
I’m often tempted to keep hitting the “quote this” button, ’cause it’s so easy as pie, but try to restrain that impulse. It’s like the Bushco House of Cards — bound to tumble and create a mess sooner or later.
:-)
twolf1 @ 120
hee hee. thanks for that.
GSD @ 132
we have gone from “shock and awe” & “mission accomplished” back to war and on to a brutal occupation and back to a state of war.
yeah.
Retreat and admit defeat.
Now.
GSD @ 130
Geez, was that the guy who did what the news media in this country called the Baghdad version of TDS, the guy with the afro and the wacko sunglasses?
Mrs. K8 @ 135
Tower of Babel….Oh you kill me!
cathy @ 129
Didn’t the Human Genome Project figure that one out?
Or maybe I’m imagining it. But as I recall, the Three Stooges Appreciation Gene is on the y-chromosome.
Dover Bitch >
Mr. Nealon is doing a wonderful job in Showtime`s “Weeds” series
“All animals except Man know that the ultimate purpose of life is to enjoy it” – Samuel Butler
Oh Jeebus. Saw Digby at lunch who told me about Pool Boy and WATB leaving the WaPo.
There goes half my fucking act.
The Renoo 911 movie looks funny.
-GSD
Leave Iraq.
Don’t bomb Iran.
Start a new peace process respective of the Israelis and Palestinians.
What’s the problem?
Twisted — your understanding is as good a guess as any.
cathy — yes. If the show “succeeds” with its intended audience we’ll probably hate it, not only because it’s mean but because it stokes the hatreds/prejudices that we see as part of the problem.
Jane-
Don’t worry, I’m sure their replacements will give you material.
Renee in Ohio @ 140
Foul! Foul! Don’t attribute that to an admittedly foolish 50% of the population. I wax prosaic about the intricacies of an electronic carburator for hours, but I won’t watch grown men pummel each other unless a pretty girl walks around a ring about every three minutes or so.
Tower of Babel….Oh you kill me!
Softly, softly…I hope!
I may have recently experienced an instance of right wing “humor.”
I was at a protest in front of the hall where Bush was speaking. We were getting lots of positive feedback from people in the cars driving by, including some of the ones leaving the Bush event!
Then this one guy walked across the street and as he passed by where we were picketing, he yelled, “Baby killers!” at us.
Now, I don’t doubt that his comment reflected his actual belief about the demonstrators, I got the impression that he thought it was pretty funny to yell that at a bunch of people protesting George W. Bush. If his right wing buddies had been there to hear it, they might have gotten a sick laugh out of it.
They weren’t. Nobody laughed.
johnSwifty-
Don’t bring Benny Hill into this.
x
Jane Hamsher @ 141
Oh Jane, no!
I’m sure your take will be uniquely snarky and laser-like in paring down to the essentials of this “career move.” Looking forward to it!
Twisted Martini @ 117
Twisted, I just can’t do that, even with a Fighting Irish alum uncle. My parents were married in Ann Arbor one November 60-odd years ago. They scheduled the wedding for Sat morning because if they’d had it in the afternoon everyone would have been at the Notre Dame game. Go Blue!
Mrs. K8 @ 148
A long, long time ago, I can still remember when…
angie @ 136
How sad. I thought it was the COMEDIAN who was supposed to “kill” in the room.
TRex, I was thinking about that coffee mug from a long time ago: I am Woman. I am Strong. I am Tired.
Thot it could be changed to be:
I am a Blogposter. I am Strong. I am Tired.
or thereabouts.
Just declare open season and let the shooting begin. That is, just declare open thread and let us talk with you.
Ok. Who put the blotter in the formatting? Dude, the italics! Giant comments after the submit comment button!
I’m afraid to press refresh. I think it’s talkin’ to me…
Here’s a rightwinger joke-
A guy walks into a bar and sees the bartender has a Kerry for president pin on. The guy says to him “hey baby killer, why don’t you marry your boyfriend?”
Hahaha
cathy @ 150
What, when he was that toy maker in Chiti-Chiti Bang Bang??? That was some good work!
Hey, I hear Ian Flemming has another thing to roll in his grave over!
Comments 61 – 152 are still in italics.
Damn I hope McCain wins the Republican nomination for ‘08!
neurophius >
maybe he was refering to Bush et al
probably not but still…
“We are all individual molecules of a great social gas.” – A. Huxley
montag @ 137
That was my thought as well, but it’s not the same guy. (In fact, that actor doesn’t even live in Iraq; the show was filmed in Dubai.)
1,337 dayz and the killin’ goez on and on and..
Mrs. K8:
Speakin’ of the Tower of Babel, if you haven’t seen the film “Babel” go see it…it’s this years’ “Crash”.
KEEP THE FAITH, AS LONG AS THERE’S HUMOR YA KNOW THAT SOME OF US ARE STILL ALIVE!!
They’re busy right now writing additional verses to Borat’s “Throw the Jew down the well”
Patrick 4/4 @ 156
Wow, you’re the second person (along with egregious) to mention italics.
Why does everything look just fine for me? [Not rubbing it in, just trying to assist in the diagnosis.]
What browser are you two using?
Jane Hamsher @ 143
Au contraire. We can now mock their new enterprise.
Renee in Ohio @ 139
You are correct. The Olympic Commission uses Stooges Appreciation Screening to determine positively the sex of 6′7″ shotputters named Svetlana and other participants whose gender is in doubt.
Mrs. K8 @ 167
I’m using Opera. It was fine for me when others had complaints – Plus I have giant comments after the submission box. Try reloading and see what happens.
Susan Yeagley, according to IMDB, was on Reno 911 for two episodes. She played “cashier” and “drive-through cashier.” Headliners, baby, headliners.
Women who grow up with lots of brothers like The Three Stooges.
Ask my sister.
-GSD
Of course the Marx Brothers (who I absolutely love) have been accused of racism for scenes like the barn dance in “Day at the Races”. Other folks reply that they were some of the only ones who would have African Americans in their films at all.
rwcole @ 133
Olbermann minus 6 minutes.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 163
Thanks for the tip, Norske!
You folks provide wonderful links and suggestions to iitems I never would have heard about otherwise.
It gives me hope for remaining marginally “hip” as I make my way into middle-aged-ladyhood.
Swopa @ 162
I guess it makes sense–you’d have to be at distance from Iraq to find any humor at all in it….
raven @ 172
The same with The Stooges. I believe the episodes even credited Dudley Dickerson in some of his appearances.
-GSD
Jane Hamsher @ 142
There is still the DLC, Rahm, Schumer, Mr. James It’s the economy stupid Carville, and you’ve hardly even touched Clinton and McCain yet, plus an entire Republican party and MSM out there, and now you have Mr. Compact with American back in power. And like the poor, there will always be Joe Lieberman. I think you’ll be okay, Jane.
OT.
“Happy Feet” was cute, funny and had a nice enviro friendly message to boot.
-GSD
Patrick 4/4 @
170
OK, did it. Refreshed the page (not using the comments button this time).
Everything’s still just fine.
egregious — are you using Opera, too?
I believe that sometimes pages are written with little code quirks which affect some browsers and not others. Maybe that’s happening here?
Is there a tech guru around?
scarecrow @ 176
And, don’t forget, give ex-Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson another month or so to get comfortable in his new job….
So, maybe this Kramer-actor-guy could do comedy for FOX? First guest: Mel Gibson!
GSD @ 179
The name of the film itself makes me smile broadly.
And want to dance.
scarecrow @ 178
Hillary vs. McCain. Gawd!!!
scarecrow @ 177
a Quiverfull of subjects, ripe for barbs
Olbermann just showed Bush saying about Iraq, “We’ll succeed, if we don’t quit.”
He still doesn’t get it. Probably never will.
punaise @ 181
Subjects pregnant with possibilities….
I am happy to announce I now have the perfect way to succeed in Iraq. Leave.
GSD @
179
The name of the film itself makes me smile broadly.
And want to dance.
[There will be an earlier version of this remark popping up later, which is stuck in moderation now. Sorry in advance for the repetition. I think my url line got screwed up, with the word “deleted” in the designated spot. Now there’s another weird quirk. Oh well.]
ALL POINTS BULLETIN:
Keith is on now and will have a Special Comment about Iraq.
B there or B sq
Oklahoma kiddo @ 188
Go to the head of the class!
[Actually I’d rather you could go to the head of the administration.]
Love the pic of the chimp with fangs from Indonesia. Looks just like him.
just posted by Kos:
Oklahoma kiddo @ 184
D’ya think Bush will be able to choke out, “p-p-p-p-peance w-w-w-w-w-w-with hah-hah-hah-hahmunah-hahmunah-hahmunah-honor?” :)
The clown Kissinger is telling us that we cannot win in Iraq. Is this what Henry, ‘the back door man’ has been advising George for the last six years.
chimpy in Indonesia – “I haven’t made any decisions about troop increases or troop decreases, and won’t until I hear from a variety of sources, including our own United States military.”
–Some of the other “variety of sources” Bush is waiting to hear from are Exxon and Haliburton
My God. How many more years of Kissinger’s bad advice do we need to endure?
Shouldn’t he have retired by now?
I’m afraid to press refresh. I think it’s talkin’ to me…
Wow, you’re the second person (along with egregious) to mention italics.
Why does everything look just fine for me? [Not rubbing it in, just trying to assist in the diagnosis.]
What browser are you two using?
I’m using Opera. It was fine for me when others had complaints – Plus I have giant comments after the submission box. Try reloading and see what happens.
punaise @ 182
And all focused, very much, at Bush…Tres Bushe?
Patrick 4/4 @
170
OK, did it. Refreshed the page (not using the comments button this time).
Everything’s still just fine.
egregious — are you using Opera, too?
I believe that sometimes pages are written with little code quirks which affect some browsers and not others. Maybe that’s happening here?
Is there a tech guru around?
[This, too, is a copy of what I wrote earlier which is stuck in moderation. Sorry again for the repeat-to-come.]
neurophius @ 193
Or been arrested, at the very least….
Dana now with the viagra options, go big, go long, go home, adding a 4th, go insane.
punaise @ 193
Yeah? My foot!
Carville floated Hillary’s trial balloon. Only it didn’t float. Being made of lead, it sank like a stone.
Twisted Martini at 4:31 pm
LMAO.
Don’t get your hopes up. ND is a finesse offense. Pete Carroll, I suspect is going to double both their stud wides, Smaradzija and McKnight and man-up on the RB, Darius Walker all over. ND won’t have their stud TE, Carlson which is a big loss. Quinn will throw it about fifty times to a midget WR named Grimes and the backup TE, Freeman. USC’s QB, Booty, is young, if we can get into the 4th Quarter, down by 14 or less, maybe we can get you guys the rematch. Here’s to hoping.
montag @ 197
I would assume that in planning his travel schedule, he makes sure to avoid The Netherlands.
neurophius @ 199
And Spain. And Chile. He’ll probably even stay out of Paraguay now. :)
Lots studs there in South Bend.
John Casper @ 200
EvilDrPuma @
109
Even Balrogs are afraid of clowns…
I don’t know, John, I think BC can make the TD in the DMZ if the WMD can hand off to the WO but the NPT could change all that. ROFL. You make me realize how much I don’t know about football.
twolf1 @ 71
Rehab isn’t going to do it.
He’ll have to pray that he can find a Navajo medicine man to do a sing for him.
Not that I would wish him on anyone.
I wish any of these episodes, like the current one with Michael Richards, could be a springboard for America taking a long hard look at itself in the mirror.
Henry Kissinger meets Grampa Munster!
so if USC’s QB calls an audible at the line of scrimmage, is that a Booty call?
punaise @ 191
Wow. This is amazing.
YEeeeeahhhhhh! Howard is teh strong one!
The now public repudiation of Carville is an opportunity suggest to the CNN types that Mr. Carville does not represent the party, or any significant faction of it, and so he (and his pals) should not be used as the “Democratic” panelist on the various shows. No one claims him, and so no one should care/ask about what he says.
Isn’t it time to ask that the media use representatives of the “Democratic wing of the Democratic party,” for these talk show positions? Just a thought.
Contest:
Rename McCain’s campaign bus. Can’t be straight talk express any longer. Alter puts out the challenge.
So when will Susan Haigh of the A.P. and Jennifer Medina of the NY Times be joining them? From the sounds of things, those two dipwads will feel right at hime.
Hubby just suggested Bullsh*t Express.
You probably don’t recall “In Living Color’s, Men’s on Football”? “I just loves Dick Butkus and Bob Griese”!
punaise @ 212
newtonusr @ 217
Say what? Is it just my monitor, or are you rendered speechless?
McCain repositions himself on abortion. Repositions? I am so damn sick of this s’t!
That’s the smartest comment I’ve ever seen on FDL!
newtonusr @ 217
scarecrow,
Maybe Carville will pass himself off as an Independent Democrat. Now where have I heard that before?
scarecrow @ 214
This would make him the “go-to dem. guy” for Pox news
Oklahoma kiddo @ 221
“Repositioning.” Another one of those disgusting words made up for the spin world (like “pushback”).
Repositioning = “I’m tapdancing as fast as I can.”
Messenger duly killed ma’am. Another messenger is now on standby.
Hugh @ 223
He could join the CT for Lieberman party. They need a(nother) spokesliar.
Mrs. K8 @ 220
Just ended the hanging italics…
BTW, Carville taking one for the team. Hard to know why Hillary’s team thought it would fly.
Sorry, that link should have worked!
Kissinger/Munster
Lieberman critic officially joins “Connecticut for Lieberman” party…
HotFlash @ 226
Well, maybe that’s something useful Hillary actually CAN do. Kill off these obnoxious “messengers” so we don’t HAVE to.
Hugh @ 222
I think he needs 14,000 signatures on a petition, first. Or we could have one of the CNN polls and just freep the guy.
The now public repudiation of Carville
repudiation for rumination > ruination of reputation
newtonusr @ 228
Oh, that was a nice thing to do — what I’m wondering is why only some of us SAW the italics. I never did. (Except for the intentional ones. Like this.]
HotFlash @ 222
summoning best Holy grail accent: “hey! I can still fight”
Mrs. K8 @ 234
Mac or PC? Explorer, Safari, FireFox? Somewhere in there is why.
summoning best Holy grail accent: “hey! I can still fight”
punaise –
Bwahahaha! “Hey, come back here!”
That just begs for some photo-shopping. Put Carville’s face inside the knight’s visor (with the cover open, of course, so we can see his ugly mug ).
They’re back…
RevDeb @ 210
On the way to Liberty College or Bob Jones U., it will be the Blue Balls Express. When visiting military bases to exhort the troops to ever more tours in Iraq, it will be the AOO [Army of One] Speedwagon. When visiting Colorado Springs for consultation with James Dobson, in honor of the AFA, it will be named Wings of Bullshit. When campaigning in his home state, it will be the Sleazy Sidewinder. By the time he gets to Georgia, it will be the G-G-G-G-Greyhound Line (for God, Guns, Gaybashing and Georgia).
The name changes as often as McCain does on his commitments.
Mrs. K8 @ 233
then you could say Carville really went out on a limb (or four)
montag @ 239
I think we have a winner, er several of them. LMAO
nice work, montag! (bus names)
KO Special comment NOW
newtonusr –
I’ve got Firefox. No italics problem here.
OTOH, I’ve got a WEIRD problem, been going on for a long time, and supposedly no one knows why. A mystery!
Here goes — If I forget to stuff a real url in the “website” line in the comment form, sooner or later what will show up, all on its own, is the standard “http” with the appropriate back-slashes, followed by the word “deleted.”
This apparently triggers moderation. Oh joy! If I don’t notice it automatically happening, then perfectly innocuous comments will get weirdly stuck. I’ve been told that for some odd reason, trolls stick that word in there, so when “deleted” appears on that line for unknown reasons, comments get snagged.
Now if I can just remember to make sure I put the firedoglake url on that line, the whole issue would never bother me again.
If you can figure that one out, you’ll gain genius status forever in my eyes.
Olbermann is doing the heavy lifting. Again!
Mrs. K8 @ 232
Don’t forget the mace lodged firmly in his skull….
The same idiots that told us to stay in Vietnam. . .
Doctor Kissinger!
montag @ 246
No mace, how about some pepper spray?
Olbermann absolutely amazes.
punaise @ 237
Uh, I had an unfair advantage (thirteen years in the bus business :) ).
Goddammit.
I LOVE KEITH.
the monumental lie
Bravo!!
Olbermann!!
montag @ 247
as long as you weren’t driving the porcelain bus, that’s OK
Odd that he did the special comment in the middle of the show. Now he has to come back with trivia.
jayt @ 250
looks like I have date with the tee vee three hours from now
Watching and hearing Olbermann, my jaw drops to my knees. Did I say ‘knees’? My ankles.
omg ty KO
Absolute hum-dinger of a Special Comment from KO. Anybody know why it wasn’t at the end of the broadcast? I think they’re more powerful at the end…
Olberman worked up a good case of the hates tonight- his emotion was contagious–holy shit–he looked like he really needed a break to recover. He’s amazing.
RevDeb @ 256
I seem to remember him doing that once before. The only reason why I remember that is because I glance at the clock when it begins — so Mr. K8 knows what part of the hour to switch to it during the repeat broadcast. He’s usually not home yet for the first airing.
I hear ya but I hate it when we get teased with the “special comment coming up” for 45 minutes. This special apology may not be trivial.
RevDeb @ 256
God, I’m sure chimpy NEVER watches that. I need a drink after that one! Keith rocks, hard!
Marion in Savannah @ 260
yes, odd. Now he has to cover OJ, Kramer, and Top Gun’s wedding. What a comedown.
punaise @ 250
No, that was in a different life, the one I saw through olive drab-colored lenses. :)
Keith
It’s going deep, I don’t think it’s playable.
newtonusr @
236
I’m blaming Glenn Beck.
Have you ever noticed how his eyes seem to follow you? It’s creepy.
You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him!
Obama says there are no good options left in Iraq. Obama urges gradual withdrawal
Olbermann: Lessons from the Vietnam War
Keith Olbermann responds to Bush’s comparison between Vietnam and Iraq
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15821138/
Transcript for the MSNBC challenged ; )
1,337 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Firepup Patriots:
Holy Shit!!! Keith O jest buried the corporate war folks and with ‘em Mrs. Clinton’s hopes for the Democratic nominnation! It is now acceptable to call a spade a shovel and talk about gettin’ the fuck outta there…they can’t erase the tape or swift boat ‘im, it’s out there in prime time and nobody is gunna be able ta marginalize it.
Thank You Keith, your analysis of the lessons of Viet Nam brings tears to my eyes and maybe now we can all accept those terrible lessons and take our anger out on the fascist fuckers who got us into this one…are you listening Mrs. Clinton??!!!
KEEP THE FAITH AND DON’T LET ‘EM UP FOR AIR!!!
You got more faith in “Mrs Clinton and we all” than I do.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 272
After Olbermann’s comment, I am exhausted. But just for a little while.
Just saw Olbermann talking about Michael Weiner Savage and his latest rantings about gays, Olbermann saying, “Come out of the closet already!” That tangentially reminded me of something I read earlier today…
So, if you “let yourself go”, your pastor husband might turn to men?
I’m blaming Glenn Beck.
Have you ever noticed how his eyes seem to follow you? It’s creepy.
Um, no, Patrick.
Firefox has these nifty extensions, called “AdBlock Plus” and “NoScript.” I get to control what advertising I see. That means No Beck.
[Except for those occasions when people remind me that clicking through will bring our lovely hosts some $$$ — that strikes me as worth the sight of the ad. But Firefox extensions let you turn the ad views on and off.]
neurophius >
Actually what this is about is setting up, for future use, a “We woulda won if we hadn`t been stabbed in the back by all those damn ___________” meme. Much like happened after Vietnam (note the recent very public appearance of Mr. Kissinger)
This is what fascists do when they begin to realize they are losing a round in the never ending battle for power that they are engaged in.
Be Aware of the tactics and learn how their system functions. Be prepared for the next round.
“…With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power…” – Henry Wallace
The Keith Olbermann-TKO!
There is no one on TV who can deliver such a power packed shot of logic, reason and heart as Mr. O.
-GSD
Looks like I need to update my extensions. I see Beck everywhere.
On blogs, I mean. Not in my house, or in my dreams, or anything weird like that.
Renee in Ohio @ 279
It’s early yet…
Renee –
This line kills me:
they sometimes feel that because their husband is a pastor, he is therefore trapped into fidelity,
That’s funny. I thought that because I took my wedding vows seriously, I’m happily *pledged* (NOT “trapped”) to fidelity.
I thought everyone who pledges that vow commits to fidelity, not just “pastors.”
Guess that makes me some kinda immoral liberal, huh?
Given the stakes at hand, Bush must pay the domestic price, or thousands will have died in vain.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/o…..=34′
They didn’t give a doodly damn that their part in causing the United States to bug out of Vietnam caused over 58,000 of our fellow Americans to have died in vain.
http://www.newsmax.com/archive…..5240.shtml
Same lame argument 40 years later. Let’s get more of them killed so they didn’t die in vain. HUH?
Renee in Ohio @ 275
and meth, don’t forget the meth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..&eurl=
Henry Kissinger. This rich old man wreaks. Of the scent of death.
New thread.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 279
Yeah, but more like the “cent of death.” I’m pretty sure he works on commission…. :)
new thread: “You become responsible forever”
Renee in Ohio @ 274
Renee, good catch!
That poor wife….
Carville should join the Connecticut for Lieberman party. I hear there is only one member so far.
GrandmaJ @ 284
Sounds like one too many for the liking of someone like Carville. :)
And this is going to stop FOX’s ratings drop how?
Sorry, kidz — FOX started on its downward spiral when it became apparent to its casual viewers that THEY WERE BEING LIED TO: On Iraq, On Social Security, On Terri Schiavo, On Katrina, et cetera.