Thursday, April 23, 2009

Common Sense?

The Red Sox are off today. Boston takes on the New York Yankees tomorrow for a weekend series.

Dan Carlin's Common Sense (www.dancarlin.com) was outstanding this week. Carlin interviews Vincent Bugliosi, the author of, among other books, "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder" and "Reclaiming History:The Assassination of JFK", both of which are outstanding, and both of which I have read.

In his monologue section, Carlin also touches on the Tea Parties, a subject which has come up here now and then. Carlin cited Janeane Garofalo's slightly unhinged comments on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" accusing all Tea Partiers of being racists, and notes that this is ludicrous-all presidents attract the kinds of extreme rhetoric that some Partiers exhibited towards Obama. I have to admit that Carlin has a point there.

7 comments:

  1. Might I add that I have been lurking through your posts on the Red Sox... and appreciate the posts. I'm on the other side of the sates... our news lacks the flavor of one who cares. This is nice. Thanks.

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  2. Garafolo's comments are more than slightly unhinged: they are pretty much coming from imagination.

    I looked and listened closely at the tea party I attended, and there was nothing even remotely racist.

    However, someone did have an Obama = Hitler sign at the protest. I mention this because another blogger (on the left) used Obama = Hitler signs as examples of the tax protesters' racism. Perhaps that is kind of like Garafalo's non-reality based thoughts. Where it does not matter what is on the sign.

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  3. Ananda-pleased to be of service.

    DMarks-I can only believe you, since you've never lied to me, and of course, I wasn't there.

    http://bit.ly/ljjoR

    This is the kind of thing Garofalo was talking about.

    As we have discussed, though, one sign, or even a number of signs, does not define any group.

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  4. Most of those are racist. The one referring to Obama's policy on abortion is not. Nor is the Hitler one. "Guns Tomorrow" is too vague. But yes, there were a few racist signs there. Did Garafalo say all of them were racists because only a few of the worst signs were?

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  5. I can't speak for anyone but myself.

    In fact, sometimes not even that.

    But I've listened to Garafalo as a comic, radio host, and commentator for a number of years now. If I had to guess, I would say she was going for shock value. At this point, she knows what sort of statement will send the right wing into waves of indignation, so she goes for the cheap point and the unfair jab. I think she knows better and, if she had 15 minutes instead of three, she would explain that she knows not EVERY tea partier or conservative is a racist.

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  6. I have to disagree with you Michael.

    Having seen the clip a total of three whole times, Garofalo leans back in her chair in a relaxed manner and there are pauses between her remarks. Her speech wasn't rushed and she repeats the the indictment of racism a few times. There is no evidence she would say something different, given more time.

    Olberman introduces her with, "On a more serious note." He introduces her as an "actor and activist." He does not set her up for laughs.

    In her opening comments, Garofalo refers to the crowd as, "a bunch of racists." She then says, "This is about hating a black man in the white house. This is racism straight-up."

    Considerably later in the segment, she says, "This is about racism" (She emphasizes the word "racism" strongly and slowly, indicating she means it and the word is well-considered.). Later in the segment, she says, "I didn't know there were so many racists left."

    You give her too much credit. IMHO, she wasn't trying to be shocking; she wasn't trying to offend. She actually believes this. That's why I'm so offended. Watch the clip again asking yourself, "Is she aware she's being outrageous? Does she really believe that the tea party movement is filled with racists?"

    See if you can see the glime in her eye; the half-smirk that says, "I know I'm being hyperbolic." It's not there. She was being honest. She's wrong. And I'm honestly offended.

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