I just heard an interview with Gene Simmons (Of KISS fame ) on NPR's " Fresh Air". This guy needs to hook up with OTBL and Auntie Ayn Rand ASAP. I couldn't help but think of the obnoxious philosophy espoused by those who wallow in the stagnant water of the borderline backwater swamps as I listened to Simmons. He's a resonant echo chamber of borderline baloney.
Listen http://erim.net/misc/GeneSimmons_TerryGross.mp3 (copy & paste link into browser) and judge for yourself. I'll go get the barf bag for you.
Get Gene Simmons Latest CD release:
Here:
An actual fan's review:
"When Gene Simmons named his new album 'Asshole' few people would argue it was an inappropriate name. Gene does have a reputation to uphold after all.
Asshole is his first solo in 26 years. Kiss as a commercial product is pretty much about equal parts Gene's 'rock star' to Paul's 'pop star'. Extract the Gene component into a solo record and you get a hard rock sound."
"Compassionate Conservatism"
"Levity and ridicule are inevitable. So, too, is political disintegration. But pity and compassion seem a more fitting response than outrage — for Craig, his wife and his family. There has been precious little of that, and more than a whiff of intolerance and double standards. Led by GOP presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and John McCain, politicians who hours earlier had been colleagues and political allies raced to denounce Craig, their haste in direct proportion to their zeal for higher office.
Senate Republican leaders quickly demanded an investigation, forced Craig to give up his committee seats and turned their backs on him. Contrast this with the reaction when Sen. David Vitter, R-La., admitted he had solicited sex from female prostitutes. Vitter kept his committee seats, and his colleagues reportedly applauded him when he entered a GOP meeting after his disclosure.
True, Craig's actions were a profound embarrassment that fall under the catchall Senate ethics rule that makes it a violation to engage in "improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate." And he left himself open to charges of hypocrisy with his record of strident opposition to gay-rights causes.
The calls for his prompt resignation, however, are premature and probably irrelevant. If Craig decides to quit on his own accord, so be it. If the Senate decides to punish him, let it await the ethics committee report. And if he tries to extend his political career, let the voters of Idaho determine his fate."
USA Today editorial 083107
Democrats Have A Double Standard
Idaho Senator Larry Craig Drops the Soap in Minneapolis Airport
I listened to four different conservative, talk radio shows today and the main topic and akk was how there is a double standard with the Democrats concerning sex and the law. Senator Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct involving an incident in the bathroom at the Minneapolis airport. Later he said his plea was a mistake.
I haven't heard any sound bites from elected Democrats condemning or discussing the Craig incident. I've heard sound bites from a couple of Republicans.
Of course the purpose of today's GOP talking point is to get the gun-tooting, redneck, homophobes pointing this double standard out to their beer drinking buddies at the local roadhouse. Problem is those right wing radio quackers forget that their listeners weren't asked to define "double standard" on their GED tests.
Click here to check out how the right-wing noise machine is working today's talking point on the blogosphere.
Morning News Shows 'Promoting' Democrats
I know this is going to be hard for you too believe, but the Media Research Center (MRC) has released a study that finds the coverage on the 2008 Presidential election is "overwhelmingly focused on Democrats, [and] they are actively promoting the Democrats' liberal agenda." MRC is a conservative media watchdog group run by president and founder Brent Bozell. The Center has a $6 million annual budget, 60 staff members, is funded by larger right-wing foundations and tries to find liberal bias in the media. I read about this report in a Cybercast News Service (CNSNews) e-blast. CNSNews is a subsidiary of MRC.
Luckily, it doesn't take $6 million a year to find conservative bias in the media. Locally, you can find it for free on KTLK 100.3 FM radio or 1280 AM Patriot radio.
Read the whole story here.
From BBC news:
"Speaking recently at Georgetown University in the nation's capital, President Bill Clinton described the "relentless search for the Common Good", as a quest to "devise policies that promote equal opportunity, shared responsibility and inclusive community".
He was speaking in the same wood-panelled hall where 15 years earlier he delivered an identical vision for America. At the time, he called it The New Covenant - so it's old wine in new wine skins if you like.
And it is no coincidence that Bill Clinton chose to talk about the "Common Good" at a Jesuit-founded university (also his alma mater). The term is straight out of Catholic social teaching.
Meanwhile for the last 20 years the religious right has, with great success, portrayed God as a Republican.
"I think Catholics resonate to this," says John Podesta, Bill Clinton's former chief of staff, whose Center for American Progress is promoting the new slogan.
"I think it does connect to people who are looking for a higher purpose in their own lives and in the life of the country."
Mr Podesta insists the Common Good is a philosophical perspective that can bring those on the right and left together. He points out that the founding fathers also used it."
