If the accuser is always to be believed, if a denial by the accused only
serves as further proof of guilt, and if no corroborating evidence is
required, then the accused are in an impossible situation, like those
accused of witchcraft in Salem. This repudiation of due process is
antidemocratic and right-wing.
-- Eric London, "The Jussie Smollett controversy: Must all accusations be believed?" (WSWS).
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Truest statement of the week II
The Democrats are hoping that having another biracial black person on
the ticket can make up for their lack of substance and hers. All Harris
knows how to do is pander, and she doesn’t even do that very well. On
The Breakfast Club radio show she was asked if she opposed marijuana legalization.
“That’s not true. Look, I joke about it, I have joked about it. Half my
family is from Jamaica. Are you kidding me?” The promotion of a
stereotype didn’t go over very well, including with her own father, who
was angry enough to call her out in public. Donald Harris said
that his ancestors “…must be turning in their grave right now to see
their family’s name, reputation and proud Jamaican identity being
connected, in any way, jokingly or not with the fraudulent stereotype of
a pot-smoking joy seeker and in the pursuit of identity politics.” Not
only had she offended her father but she was also lying. As attorney
she opposed a 2010 proposition that would have legalized recreational
use. She opposed it as late as 2015.
Not content to offend her own father she followed Hillary Clinton with another reference meant to make herself appealing to people she doesn’t respect. Hillary Clinton famously sought to ingratiate herself with black voters with cultural connections. She claimed, also on The Breakfast Club radio show, that she carried hot sauce in her purse at all times. Harris can now be seen putting hot sauce on her collard greens too but the absurd mimicry isn’t hurting her any. The endorsements are already coming her way.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee has long ago dispensed with the progressive stances that put her on the political map, but the old reputation still matters. Her endorsement of Harris is significant as is the fact that her position as an elected official makes her a super delegate at the 2020 Democratic Party convention. Lee’s endorsement was followed by Dolores Huerta’s, who may also have an undeserved progressive credentials. This process will go on with a new heavy hitter who can provide her with cover coming on board every week.
-- Margaret Kimberley, "Kamala Harris: The Fix Is In" (BLACK AGENDA REPORT).
Not content to offend her own father she followed Hillary Clinton with another reference meant to make herself appealing to people she doesn’t respect. Hillary Clinton famously sought to ingratiate herself with black voters with cultural connections. She claimed, also on The Breakfast Club radio show, that she carried hot sauce in her purse at all times. Harris can now be seen putting hot sauce on her collard greens too but the absurd mimicry isn’t hurting her any. The endorsements are already coming her way.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee has long ago dispensed with the progressive stances that put her on the political map, but the old reputation still matters. Her endorsement of Harris is significant as is the fact that her position as an elected official makes her a super delegate at the 2020 Democratic Party convention. Lee’s endorsement was followed by Dolores Huerta’s, who may also have an undeserved progressive credentials. This process will go on with a new heavy hitter who can provide her with cover coming on board every week.
-- Margaret Kimberley, "Kamala Harris: The Fix Is In" (BLACK AGENDA REPORT).
A note to our readers
Hey --
Sunday night.
Let's thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
And what did we come up with?
Peace,
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
Sunday night.
Let's thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen, Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen, Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
And what did we come up with?
Eric London gets another truest.
Margaret Kimberley gets another truest.
A question is asked, one we should all be asking.
Ava and C.I. take on MIRACLE WORKERS.
We wrote this while watching the awards and included C.I.'s comment that she made from the awards.
We've been meaning to do a write up on THE VELVET ROPE for some time but only made the time for it this week.
Margaret Kimberley.
Ava and C.I. take on the sadly ridiculous Janis Ian.
Again, Margaret Kimberley.
What we listened to while working on this edition.
Mike and the gang wrote this and we thank them for it.Peace,
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
Editorial: The silence is deafening
It's a simple question.
Why aren't others asking it?
My first born son was 14 months old as I talked to him the night before I deployed to Kuwait/Iraq in June of 2003. My son just received mail from a recruiter for the first time. How the f**k is it possible he could go fight in the same war I did before he could walk? ENDTHEWAR
Why aren't others asking it?
TV: TBS airs another bomb
It's a tough call: what's harder to believe -- that TBS has aired so many bad sitcoms or that it's still trying with sitcoms?
The debris of so many bad sitcoms still is scattered on the ground -- including TYLER PERRY'S HOUSE OF PAYNE, SULLIVAN & SON, ARE WE THERE YET?, MEN AT WORK, WEDDING BAND, PEOPLE OF EARTH, SEARCH PARTY, THE GUEST BOOK and WRECKED.
And to that list of disappointments add MIRACLE WORKERS.
It's a bad, bad show.
It only has two things going for it: the comedic timing of Karan Soni and Daniel Radcliffe's star wattage. The rest of it is just a dreary, long slog.
The premise of MIRACLE WORKERS is that God (Steve Buscemi) isn't pleased with the earth -- that includes Bill Maher -- whom he doesn't find funny -- possibly the only point that everyone in the audience can relate to. Being displeased leads God to announce that he's decided to destroy the earth.
Craig (Daniel) and Eliza (Geraldine Viswanathan) are attempting to save the earth by creating a miracle (hence the title) and getting two people to fall in love.
It should be something but it isn't.
It's getting good ratings (over twice what a new episode of SEARCH PARTY pulls in) but that's really because of Daniel Radcliffe's star power. Watching, you have to wonder why THE CW isn't wooing him for a SUPERNATURAL spin-off (both Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have gotten long in the tooth -- at least Jensen still looks like a man)? He'd seem a natural.
There's nothing natural about this TBS program and the fault for that goes to the creator, producer and sometime writer Simon Rich. It's surprising just how unfunny Simon Rich is. You have to wonder if he tried bitchy if that would work better -- it gave his father Frank a long career. He's earned great reviews -- as only the child of a member of the press can. He hasn't deserved any of the raves. His books don't actually sell and his time as a writer for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE provided nothing that ever stood out. Then there's his last 'sitcom,' MAN SEEKING WOMAN, which lasted ten episodes.
With no evidence of even a slight talent, Simon Rich has become a writer and a producer. He'd be an actor as well if he didn't look the way he does -- not even Daddy could help him there.
But few can be helped. As we noted, Daniel Radcliffe has real star power. You either do or you don't.
We were sick last week and often fell asleep with the TV on. That's actually an illuminating experience. You react instinctively.
For example, with regards to TCM, Ben Mankiewicz speaking -- never a simple sentence when he prefers to speak in commas -- was enough to have us moaning, curled up in a fetal position. The same fever state welcomed Dave Karger whose voice was soothing and whose physical presence was reassuring.
It's a powerful lesson and one that people should really consider when casting projects. For example, about half the cast of MIRACLE WORKERS would still be seeking work if any real standards applied. But then if real standards applied, Simon Rich wouldn't be producing TV shows.
The debris of so many bad sitcoms still is scattered on the ground -- including TYLER PERRY'S HOUSE OF PAYNE, SULLIVAN & SON, ARE WE THERE YET?, MEN AT WORK, WEDDING BAND, PEOPLE OF EARTH, SEARCH PARTY, THE GUEST BOOK and WRECKED.
And to that list of disappointments add MIRACLE WORKERS.
It's a bad, bad show.
It only has two things going for it: the comedic timing of Karan Soni and Daniel Radcliffe's star wattage. The rest of it is just a dreary, long slog.
The premise of MIRACLE WORKERS is that God (Steve Buscemi) isn't pleased with the earth -- that includes Bill Maher -- whom he doesn't find funny -- possibly the only point that everyone in the audience can relate to. Being displeased leads God to announce that he's decided to destroy the earth.
Craig (Daniel) and Eliza (Geraldine Viswanathan) are attempting to save the earth by creating a miracle (hence the title) and getting two people to fall in love.
It should be something but it isn't.
It's getting good ratings (over twice what a new episode of SEARCH PARTY pulls in) but that's really because of Daniel Radcliffe's star power. Watching, you have to wonder why THE CW isn't wooing him for a SUPERNATURAL spin-off (both Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have gotten long in the tooth -- at least Jensen still looks like a man)? He'd seem a natural.
There's nothing natural about this TBS program and the fault for that goes to the creator, producer and sometime writer Simon Rich. It's surprising just how unfunny Simon Rich is. You have to wonder if he tried bitchy if that would work better -- it gave his father Frank a long career. He's earned great reviews -- as only the child of a member of the press can. He hasn't deserved any of the raves. His books don't actually sell and his time as a writer for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE provided nothing that ever stood out. Then there's his last 'sitcom,' MAN SEEKING WOMAN, which lasted ten episodes.
With no evidence of even a slight talent, Simon Rich has become a writer and a producer. He'd be an actor as well if he didn't look the way he does -- not even Daddy could help him there.
But few can be helped. As we noted, Daniel Radcliffe has real star power. You either do or you don't.
We were sick last week and often fell asleep with the TV on. That's actually an illuminating experience. You react instinctively.
For example, with regards to TCM, Ben Mankiewicz speaking -- never a simple sentence when he prefers to speak in commas -- was enough to have us moaning, curled up in a fetal position. The same fever state welcomed Dave Karger whose voice was soothing and whose physical presence was reassuring.
It's a powerful lesson and one that people should really consider when casting projects. For example, about half the cast of MIRACLE WORKERS would still be seeking work if any real standards applied. But then if real standards applied, Simon Rich wouldn't be producing TV shows.
Thoughts on the Academy Awards
1) Bette Midler nailed "The Places Where Lost Things Go."
#Oscar Bette Midler sings The place where lost things go. #Oscar2019
Really drives home how Bette should have starred in the Mary Poppins sequel and how DISNEY should have gotten over their hostilities towards her and been casting her in musicals for about ten years now.
2) Adam Lambert and the surviving members of Queen are not Queen. Their performance just made clear how much of the group was Freddie Mercury -- about 92%. Or as C.I. noted (she was at the ceremonies): "
As some of us are joined by others -- I never stood for this crap -- the AMERICAN IDOL reject is on stage with Geezer Rock performing non-Oscar nominated songs. Oh, this is going to be an awful ceremony. Right from the start, they're not honoring film. Can someone get these fat and old people and their attempt at Karaoke off the stage already?"
3) Trevor Noah really isn't funny. And how telling that his only real laugh was a cheap one -- his Mel Gibson joke or 'joke.'
4) Bravery is Mahershala Ali's middle names -- few others would dare to dress like a Minion.
5) We disagree with any wins for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY but, setting that aside, what was Brad Pitt doing with those winners? And the divorce is certainly hurting him, look how much weight he's gained.
- SOUND MIXING BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin and John Casali #AcademyAwards
#AcademyAwards2019 #Oscars
#Oscars2019
6) Kacey Musgraves wows them with songs on country radio but that outfit looked like someone had overdecorated a toilet scrubber.
7) The Oscars would have done better ditching that awful Queen performance and instead opening with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper or Jennifer Hudson or Bette Midler.
8) There were four people on stage who won for Best Screenplay why did Spike Lee think he was the only one gets to speak? Spike Lee, you were not just a fashion disaster, you were also an egomaniac.
9) Barbra Streisand really is that stupid. Of BLACKKKLANSMAN, she insisted, "It was so real . . . because it was based on the truth." No, it wasn't. It was a glorification of the FBI which, let's remember, was used to attack African-Americans -- not limited to attempting to suicide MLK.
10) Rami Malek just became the least worthy actor to ever win an Oscar. Enjoy the moment, fish eyes, people are already tired of you.