The social rejects that make up Panhandle Media are throwing a little ball. Somehow FAIR hasn't found time to call it out.
It's the so-called peace ball. And it's journalists (and a few wife beaters tossed in -- no, we don't refer to the t-shirt). Now if The New York Times had thrown an inaugural ball to celebrate the swearing of Bully Boy in 2001 or 2005, you damn well better believe the misfits at FAIR would be telling you how wrong that is. But with the "peace" ball?
Not a damn word.
Here are the basics:
Inaugural Peace Ball
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Next to Union StationWashington, D.C.
Doors open 6:00pm (NEW OPENING TIME)
Program Begins at 7:00pm
Valet Parking Available: $20.00 paid directly to attendant
Valet Location: First St. and Mass. Ave., NE, near Union Station
Invitations: $165.00 (includes tax) Sold out
Special Guest Host Harry Belafonte
Special Performances By:
Joan Baez
Bernice Johnson Reagon & Toshi Reagon
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Angelique Kidjo
Fertile Ground
Holly Near & Emma's Revolution
Ayanna Gregory
Sekou da Misfit and Steve Connell
Special Appearances by:
Dick Gregory
Jody Williams, Nobel Prize Laureate
Alice Walker, author, Color Purple
Eve Ensler, playwright, Vagina Monologues
Amy Goodman
Laura Flanders, Air America
Kim Crenshaw, Law Professor and Activist
Mistresses of Ceremonies: Verna Avery Brown and Kate Clinton
We are completely sold out! Tickets were mailed on January 5.
No, they're not sold out. If you thought $165 was an outrageous price for what should be a people's party, hold you hats. Queen of All the Beggars Amy Goodman isn't content hosting, she also sees it as a fundraiser. ("Fundraiser?" You know, like when you walk down the street and you're hassled for a buck.) So Beggar Amy sent out "Last Tickets for 1/20 Inaugural Peace Ball & VIP Reception" Thursday afternoon and it informed: "A limited number of tickets for this sold-out event are available for a $1000 donation!Your donation will help Democracy Now! build a new home!"
Goody's attending and making money off Barack's inauguration -- how critical do you think she's going to be of him? Could you imagine the uproar if Chris Matthews was pulling this stunt?
Well, you may argue, it's a "peace" ball. It really doesn't have anything to do with Barack. The 'peace' ball explains:
History was made November 4, 2008 when Illinois Senator Barack Obama was elected as the 44th and first African-American President of the United States of America. In honor of his election, we will gather in Washington DC on Inauguration Day to celebrate change and "yes we did" at the premiere Inaugural Peace Ball sponsored by Busboys and Poets and the Smithsonian Postal Museum.
Want to pretend again that it has nothing to do with Barack?
They also note:
Our phenomenal hosts include to date: Historian Howard Zinn, Comedian Dick Gregory, Mayor Adrian Fenty, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Katrina Vanden Heuvel of The Nation Magazine, Laura Flanders, Barbara Ehrenreich, Anthony Arnove, and many more.
Wow, what wonderful 'independents', huh? Coward Zinn. Anthony who wishes he was Howard.
*****JIM NOTE ADDED 1-13-09: IN AN E-MAIL, ANTHONY ARNOVE STATES TO US THAT HE'S NOT ATTENDING THE 'PEACE' BALL -- NOR IS HOWARD ZINN. THE BALL LISTS THEM NOT AS AN ATTENDEES BUT A HOSTS. ARNOVE STATES HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THAT CORRECTED.******* Big nosed ,ugly girl Katrina hoping to finally be belle of the ball. Self-loathing lesbian Laura Flanders (who will no doubt insist -- when not drunkenly coming on to various lasses -- that she'll hold Barack's feet to the fire any day now!). What a bunch of losers.
What a sorry excuse for an independent media.
They should all be ashamed.
Hop-on-the-high-horse Amy Goodman once had the gall to castigate Lesley Stahl for offering Richard Holbrooke a ride (so he could avoid the insane Amy) and said that journalists should maintain a distance. What the hell kind of distance does Liar Goodman believe she's maintaining hosting a ball for Barack?
Answer: None at all.
And what kind of independent media does the United States have?
Answer: None at all.
You may be looking at the list of entertainers and thinking, "I want hit tunes! Where are the hits!" Well fear not! They've added Jackson Browne and his last hit was 20 years ago!!!! No word on whether his act will include beating up a woman or not but remember what Joni sang:
The story hit the news
From coast to coast
They said you beat the girl
You loved the most
Your charitable acts
Seemed out of place,
With the beauty
With your fist marks on her face.
Your buddies all stood by;
They bet their fortunes
And their fame
That she was out of line
And you were not to blame.
-- "Not To Blame," written by Joni Mitchell, from her Grammy winning Turbulent Indigo.