Kat explains how there's only one Cher

From KAT'S KORNER (of THE COMMON ILLS):

Cher

There's only one Cher.

There was not a Cher before Cher.  She's not based on anyone.  She's not Madonna coming up trying to be Marilyn Monroe.

Everything she did was the 'wrong' thing.  In the 60s, gossip columnists like Hedda Hopper couldn't stop trashing her.  What she and Sonny wore was considered outrageous.  She became a rock star when few women did.  And she did it by singing some really tough songs.  She wasn't blond, she wasn't Lesley Gore.  

The sixties ended and ended the popularity of many big acts from that period.  Dusty Springfield didn't have hits, etc, etc.  It was over.  Cher was no more.

Except, surprise, there she was on TV and she quickly became a TV star -- and she ended up with more hit songs including three number ones.  

The 70s ended and so did Cher.  That's what people said.  She did an act in Vegas.  Not much else.  The hits were gone on the radio.  Then, boom, she was a movie star: SILKWOOD, MASK, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, SUSPECT, MOONSTRUCK, MERMAIDS -- and an Oscar for MOONSTRUCK. 

And she was back on the music charts -- "We All Sleep Alone," "Just Like Jesse James," "Heart of Stone," "If I Could Turn Back Time" . . .

The 90s.  She does the infomercial.

Her career is over.

But we'd heard that before, right?  

She ends up with her first solo number one "Believe."  She's amazing in TEA WITH MUSSOLINI.  

She's never gone.  She's never over.

And she's her own template.

Cher is Cher.  

Why am I saying this?

A Tweet led to some insisting Dua Lipa is this "generation's Cher" and NME reports:

Another user quote-retweeted the post, writing, “So much truth in one Tweet.” They tagged both artists, to which Cher responded somewhat shadily. “How many [years] are in a generation,” the 76-year-old pop icon wrote alongside an emoji of a thinking face. See that exchange below:

I agree with Cher.

Dua's been around for a few years.  Trying doing it for decades before being compared to Cher and try also being an original and not a copy.  No woman sang like Cher before Cher.  

I feel a little sorry for Dua because it's not a compliment. By that, I mean, a comparison with Cher has always left the other one exposed because they are not  Cher.  That was Rebecca's point last October when an idiot was insisting Lady Gaga was going to win the Oscar (she didn't, did she) and was the new Cher.

Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Stan explains the reality of Brad Pitt

From OH BOY IT NEVER ENDS:

Brad Pitt is not box office by himself

Ryan Scott (FILM) has finally noticed what everyone else has: There are no efforts by the studios to fill August and September.  This is their fault, he's right.  They should have planned better.  This is from his article:

2021 had some big breakout hits, but most of them were superhero movies like "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" and "Venom: Let There Be Carnage." Heck, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" even made the vast majority of its money in 2022 since it came out in December of last year. :ast year had few unexpected hits while every single Warner Bros. movie went to HBO Max the same day it hit theaters. It was a step in the right direction, but far from a return to normal.

Meanwhile, 2022 has seen hits not connected to franchises: "The Lost City," "The Black Phone," "RRR," "Everything Everywhere All At Once," and "Elvis." But those movies weren't being counted on as the only games in town. At the same time, expected franchise hits like "The Batman," "Minions: The Rise of Gru," and "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" were doing their thing, along with the aforementioned hit blockbusters. "Maverick" has led the way with more than $1.4 billion globally, but it hasn't been operating alone.

Many of the other breakout hits that weren't franchise-based were kind of secondary to the steak and potatoes hits that were being supplied to theaters. Now? It's only side dishes like "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero." I think it's great that anime has found a foothold at the box office in North America, but movies like that alone can't carry theaters alone. Granted, it's not the fault of Sony that "Bullet Train" didn't break out as big as they hoped, nor is it Universal's fault that "Beast" wasn't a bigger hit. The relative disappointment of films like that, as well as "DC League of Super-Pets," has only served to further highlight the issue.

That's where I strongly disagree with him.  It is SONY's fault that BULLET TRAIN didn't break out.  Brad Pitt has been around forever.  He does not sell tickets.  Pair him with Angelina or Leo and he's got a hit.  Make him a star and the movie either bombs or struggles -- MEET JOE BLACK, SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET, etc, etc.  He hasn't really carried a hit.  And that's back when he had his looks.  His face sags and not even all the make up they piled on him for the cover of GQ that came in the office mail yesterday makes him look better.  

If they'd given Sandra a real part -- not a voice over for 2/3 of the film -- it could have done better.  As it is, it's Brad's movie and I'm failing to see why anyone would invest $100 million in a Brad film after so many flops and on top of that the fact that he's lost his looks.

Go through his he's part of an ensemble -- Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña.  INTERVIEW WITH A V15 biggest money makers, if you doubt me.  12 YEARS A SLAVE?  He's got a bit part.  That's number 15, we're working our way up to number one.  Sandra Bullock's THE LOST CITY -- he's got a bit part.  FURY, AMPIRE -- Tom Cruise is the star.  OCEAN'S 13 -- ensemble.  Quentin Tarantino's INGLORIUS BASTARDS -- ensemble (and Tarantion is the star of any Tarantino directed film).  Will Ferrell's MEGAMIND is (a) animated and (b) Will's picture.  David Fincher's SEVEN.  It's the director's picture and Brad's part of ensemble led by Morgan Freeman which also includes Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow.  THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON -- Brad co-stars with Cate Blanchette, Taraji P Henson and Tilda Swinton and, the real star, director David Fincher. OCEAN'S 12 ensemble. Tarantino's ONCE UPON A TIME (Tarantino's film, then Leo's film, Brad -- already looking tired and old -- didn't add anything). OCEAN'S 11 -- ensemble.  TROY -- ensemble cast that included Eric Banna, Orlando Bloom, Rose Byrne and Pater O'Toole. Angelina Jolie's smash MR. AND MRS. SMITH -- part of a trio of action films Angelina carried to the top of the box office (see WANTED and SALT).  Then there's WORLD WAR Z and there are other actors in it but this was a zombie movie and that's what sold tickets.

His bombs are too many list.  We noted two but there's also KILLING ME SOFTLY, SPY GAME, MONEYBALL, ALLIED, FIGHT CLUB, 

He's not a star and they shouldn't have mistaken him for one.  Use him in a small part back in his better days and you'd get 12 MONKEYS.  But put him in the lead and no one wants to see him.

Going out with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Mike weighs in on the Hulk and other MARVEL issues

From MIKEY LIKES IT!

The Hulk, MARVEL and other issues

Didn't feel like writing last night.  Sorry.  Just wasn't up to covering the news.  Sometimes it's just too depressing.  Normally, I've got a day of the week that I cover/recap THE GOLDBERGS and one where I do SUPERMAN AND LOIS.  But with summer, there are no new episodes.  We did learn yesterday that the dad on THE GOLDBERGS is dead.  He will have died before the next season starts.  Anyway, this:

Mark Ruffalo has embodied the character of The Hulk for a decade. He had his debut on The Avengers in 2012 and went on to become an essential member of the superhero team. He has continued as Hulk in the new Disney+ show She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Mark Ruffalo was asked in an interview with Variety if he plans to stay with Marvel or retire as Phases 5 and 6 loom. He had this to say:

"I mean, I'll probably do it as long as they'll have me, if people are interested, and I can bring something that's interesting to me to it, and interesting to the fans. But I have no idea. I mean, you know, when you look at the comics, there's some pretty grizzled, old versions of him. I'm like, OK, the 67-year-old Hulk, that would be interesting - if all of us are still here making movies and there's a world that allows for us to do that anymore. With what we're living in and heading towards, the future feels more precarious than any other time. So I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. But I hope I'm still around to do it."

First off, Mark's 55 in November.  67 isn't that far off.  Second, Edward Norton was my favorite Hulk.  I wish he'd been brought back.

It's time to replace Mark.  I like him, I'm a fan.  But with Black Widow dead, he doesn't really work.  He and Scarlet had a chemistry that would have me arguing for him to continue in the role if Black Widow were still around.  But she's not.  And the writing of Hulk and Bruce is tired.  It's not Mark, it's the writing.  They aren't capable of making Hulk interesting and he gets weaker and weaker.  So it really is time for MARVEL to do the only thing they know to do when they run out of steam, recast the role and do an origin story.

I also believe that the MARVEL film brand is being destroyed by really awful DISNEY+ shows.  The only show truly worth watching so far was THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER.  And if you don't grasp that, you live in a bubble.  When you have comic book fans turning on these programs, you've got a serious problem.  And don't whine when the box office starts to falter even more after you've abused the fans with these bad shows. 

MARVEL shows should have stayed on NETFLIX.  NETFLIX knew how to do them.  They were worth watching.  

These DISNEY+ shows are a nightmare.  And I just read about WONDER MAN and it's going to be a Hollywood parody.

I'm sorry, who has been asking for that?

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Rebecca covers the series finale of ANIMAL KINGDOM

After six seasons, ANIMAL KINGDOM came to an end.  Rebecca covered it in multiple posts:

• other reactions to the end of 'animal kingdom'
• adrian sucked deran down to the hairy root and then ...
• animal kingdom - was smurf killed off too soon?
• the end of 'animal kingdom'

including the one we're highlighting below:

the end of 'animal kingdom'

'animal kingdom' wrapped up last night.  if you were wondering about the flashbacks, it made sense in the final episode.  it was all leading up to what j did and how he did it for julia.  

so what happened?

j screwed them all over.  last week, we saw him steal all their money.  now they broke pope free while he was being transported to another prison.  all 3?  no, j didn't show.  it was deran and craig.  he texted that he had the heat on him.  was he telling the truth?

of course not, it's piece of crud j.  they ride their dune buggies to where j had stashed the get away cars.

they are there.

with their tires slashed.

meanwhile, j's calling the police to report where they are (remember his idea about a tracker on pope? that's why).  

his girlfriend shows up and then the police do.  he says he knows nothing about the jailbreak and that pope would never come here.  he also says deran and craig moved out sometime ago.  he's just 1 lie after another.  he was here all day and turns to his girlfriend who nods.  

after the police leave, she starts to grasp what a s**t j really is.  she says she can't leave with him after all.  

he pretends it's okay and then goes to the kitchen and get a beer as well as fix her a drink.  he injects something into her drink.  

she's dead after she drinks it.

deran, craig and pope are holed up in an empty house when the police start showing up.  pope tells them to leave, he'll be okay.

somehow, he is.  he has a shoot out with 3 squad cars and he's the only 1 left standing.  he takes off in 1 of them.

craig and deran stop at a gas station and try to steal some car keys.  the store owner's little boy comes out of nowhere and shoots craig in the stomach.  deran wants to shoot him back but, since he's a kid, he doesn't.  

they leave in the gas station owner's car.

he's taking craig for help.  craig tells him to pull over and that they aren't going to make it.  he keeps telling craig not to give up.

craig dies.  deran cries by the beach and promises craig he'll make sure his kid is okay.

which i guess means deran has to put his life on hold yet again because adrian is in indonesia.  so deran doesn't get a happy ending.  craig's dead.

pope?

pope swaps the squad car for a car he steals and ends up back at smurf's house.  j is inside with a bat destroying everything - apparently trying to make it look like pope came back and attacked (explaining the dead woman by the pool).  

the flashbacks throughout all of this are of julia.  she came back to rob smurf.  pope locked her in the bathroom.  when smurf came back she wanted julia tossed out.  pope pleaded for rehab.  she said okay.  in the car to rehab, julia placed pope's hand on her belly so he could feel her baby.  she was going to name him joshua, she explained, and call him j for short.  smurf doesn't take them to rehab.  instead she dumps julia under a highway.  when pope argues, she tells him he can stay with her and that once he leaves there is no coming back.  he ends up staying.

so j planned this all along.  not just since smurf's death.  he planned to kill all of them for what they did to julia.

deran and craig were little boys, it's not like they did anything to julia.  pope was a young adult and not capable of standing up for himself.  that leaves smurf.  if he was really about revenge, then smurf was his only real target.

j was a creep and trash and it was obvious that's what he was all along.  a few weeks back, even deran's father warned him not to trust j.  when even dennis leary is wary of you, you're garbage.

pope and j fought.  pope had him in a sleeper choke hold.  when he woke up, j was tied to a lawn chair by the pool.  pope confronted him about killing the woman.  he also confronted him about how he set his uncles up.  that's when j revealed it was always th eplan for him to get back at them for julia.  pope knocked him into the pool.  as j was drowning, pope had the flashback to julia being dumped under the highway.

he ended up saving j.  he cut him free from the chair and told him to run.  then pope set fire to the house and presumable died in it.

so ...

deran deserved a happy ending.  and it really ticks me off that we didn't see him heading for indonesia and deran.  the cody family robbed deran more than any of the others.  craig got to become a dad and had how many different lovers.  pope got to be a dad to baz's kid.  pope also got back with an old girlfriend in the final season.  

it was an ending.  i didn't like it.  and i didn't like craig and pope dying while j got to live.

maybe there will be a spin-off:

Animal Kingdom's finale, "Fubar," ended with J and Deran as the surviving Codys. Deran is last seen promising a dying Craig to take care of his family and take vengeance against J. And while J manages to make it to safety thanks to Pope's mercy, he is left alone and emotionally defeated, confirming the old adage that money can't buy happiness. As such, an Animal Kingdom spinoff could pick up where Season 6's finale left off by following Deran on his revenge quest against his nephew. It could also provide some closure to Renn (Christina Ochoa) and Nick's storyline while perhaps re-introducing Adrian (Spencer Treat Clark), Deran's former boyfriend, back into the mix. The only downside to this type of spinoff is it'd be sans Craig and Pope, with the latter becoming a fan-favorite character with big shoes to fill. However, there is also the opportunity for a fake-out, with Pope and Craig managing to survive their wounds despite their apparent deaths.

let's close with c.i.'s 'Iraq snapshot:'

Elaine on the Trump raid

From LIKE MARIA SAID PAZ:

A special master needs to be appointed immediately

Jonathan Turley:

The arguments raised by the Justice Department are not just familiar but transparently weak. The government argues that Trump lacks standing because the records belong to the United States, not him. However, that is the point. The court is trying to determine who has a right to these documents. The Justice Department itself recognizes that it may have gathered some attorney-client privileged documents in this ridiculously broad search. It allowed the seizure of any box containing any document with any classification of any kind — and all boxes stored with that box. It also allowed the seizure of any writing from Trump’s presidency.

Moreover, the court itself has ample authority to appoint a special master to help sort through such material.

The government and its allies, in my view, misconstrue the impact of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g), which provides

” A person aggrieved by an unlawful search and seizure of property or by the deprivation of property may move for the property’s return. The motion must be filed in the district where the property was seized. The court must receive evidence on any factual issue necessary to decide the motion. If it grants the motion, the court must return the property to the movant, but may impose reasonable conditions to protect access to the property and its use in later proceedings.”

However, the Special Master is being used by the Court to determine the status, classification, and categorization of the documents. The Court has the inherent authority to seek such assistance in an independent review of material. Special masters are fairly common helping courts establish the record for ruling on the merits of motions. It may turn out that most or all of this material is properly held by the government, but a Special Master can help establish the record for that decision, including the status of material acknowledged as potential attorney-client material.

The Justice Department also makes the same type of arguments used to oppose the release of a single line of the affidavit in redacted form.  It claims that both its investigation and national security would be harmed. That is even less compelling here. A special master would be reviewing documents in a secure facility and would presumably have a clearance. Many of us who have handled national security cases have been cleared for TS/SCI material.

Notably, however, the Justice Department states in a footnote that “the government is prepared, given the extraordinary circumstances, to unseal the more detailed receipt and provide it immediately to plaintiff.” That sounds like (as with the redacted affidavit) that they clearly can release more information, particularly to avoid a Special Master appointment.

The use of such arguments after the release of the redacted affidavit only undermines the arguments further. The Justice Department insisted that the court should not release a single line of the affidavit and that any substantive disclosure would unleash a parade of horribles, from damaging national security to sacrificing witnesses.

For those of us who have litigated cases against the Justice Department, it was an all-too-familiar claim by a department notorious for over-classification and over-redaction arguments. For a week, media pundits mouthed the same exaggerated claims and challenged those of us who argued that it was clearly possible to release a redacted affidavit; liberals suddenly shuddered at the thought of doubting the Justice Department.  Then the government produced a redacted version that caused no such harms while confirming important facts in the case.

 

The raid.  Merrick Garland's actions do not instill confidence.  The whole thing was questionable to begin with.  Donald Trump is expected to run for the presidency in 2024.  Joe Biden states he plans to run and his people go after anyone who says otherwise (like Carolyn Maloney).  Joe is in charge of the Justice Dept and the JD raids the home of the person who some polls say could beat Joe.

I don't know why I'm so shocked that they don't care about appearances.

They didn't care when it just appeared that Hunter Biden was acting in an unethical manner.  Now that we know more, Hunter Biden was using his father's office to enrich his family and how "the big guy" (Joe) knew about it all along.

They need to appoint a special master and do so immediately.  It is needed and the longer this is avoided, the more doubts that we the American people are going to have.

"Iraq snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):

Isaiah reviews a 90s comic book (actually four issues)

Repost from THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS:

ZERO HOUR CRISIS IN TIME

Used KINDLE UNLIMITED to read DC's ZERO HOUR CRISIS IN TIME.

This is a 1994 comic.  And, if you're not getting how far we've come, the cover features over 15 superheroes and only one, Batgirl, is a woman.

That's what passed for 'progress' in the 90s.  

Batgirl shows up early in the comic, roping Joker.  Shocking Batman and Robin who remember when Barbara Gordon was paralyzed.  Eventually, Hawkgirl shows up in a panel -- she doesn't get a line.  Eventually, Wonder Woman shows up and actually gets a line (worried to Power Girl, should Power Girl have responded to Superman's summons when she's pregnant?).  Then a panel with a ton of heroes behind her.  I recognized Lighting Lad, the Atom, Saturn Girl, Shazam, Green Lantern, Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Aquaman . . . 

Donna Troy shows up -- but which Donna Troy, from which reality?  Donna Troy is Wonder Girl. 

The comic brings past and present heroes together -- from different time lines  and realities.

 

Supergirl and Wonder Woman appear to take time mid-wifing Power Girl's baby.  At one point, a male hero I don't know offered to help because he's helped his wife deliver a baby and Wonder Woman sends him away saying he's needed for the battle outside and she's more than capable of helping Power Girl.  

When did Wonder Woman have a baby?  She didn't.  And her butt should have been in the battle.

A Green Lantern shows up calling himself Parallax.

Batgirl notes that it's "weird to hear I'm from an alternate timeline."  She insists she has feelings and memories.

Not for long.

She dies shortly after.  In a tiny panel.  It's a tiny story -- four comic book issues.  They use a lot of close ups and it's awful.  You want to see action in big panels.  Time and again, the action scenes are weak and the panels small.  (Yes, you can enlarge them by clicking on them. But I'm referring to the panels in relation to the original comic book page they appeared on.)  

They use way too many face shots on top of that.  

A dull comic.  

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

ZERO HOUR CRISIS IN TIME

Used KINDLE UNLIMITED to read DC's ZERO HOUR CRISIS IN TIME.

This is a 1994 comic.  And, if you're not getting how far we've come, the cover features over 15 superheroes and only one, Batgirl, is a woman.

That's what passed for 'progress' in the 90s.  

Batgirl shows up early in the comic, roping Joker.  Shocking Batman and Robin who remember when Barbara Gordon was paralyzed.  Eventually, Hawkgirl shows up in a panel -- she doesn't get a line.  Eventually, Wonder Woman shows up and actually gets a line (worried to Power Girl, should Power Girl have responded to Superman's summons when she's pregnant?).  Then a panel with a ton of heroes behind her.  I recognized Lighting Lad, the Atom, Saturn Girl, Shazam, Green Lantern, Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Aquaman . . . 

Donna Troy shows up -- but which Donna Troy, from which reality?  Donna Troy is Wonder Girl. 

The comic brings past and present heroes together -- from different time lines  and realities.

 

Supergirl and Wonder Woman appear to take time mid-wifing Power Girl's baby.  At one point, a male hero I don't know offered to help because he's helped his wife deliver a baby and Wonder Woman sends him away saying he's needed for the battle outside and she's more than capable of helping Power Girl.  

When did Wonder Woman have a baby?  She didn't.  And her butt should have been in the battle.

A Green Lantern shows up calling himself Parallax.

Batgirl notes that it's "weird to hear I'm from an alternate timeline."  She insists she has feelings and memories.

Not for long.

She dies shortly after.  In a tiny panel.  It's a tiny story -- four comic book issues.  They use a lot of close ups and it's awful.  You want to see action in big panels.  Time and again, the action scenes are weak and the panels small.  (Yes, you can enlarge them by clicking on them. But I'm referring to the panels in relation to the original comic book page they appeared on.)  

They use way too many face shots on top of that.  

A dull comic.  

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Marcia weighs in on Olivia Wilde

Repost from SICKOFITALLRADLZ:

Olivia Wilde, shut up

Can Olivia Wilde shut up?

I mean, I get it, she's from a busybody family of trash.  Laura Flanders is her aunt.  Stephanie Flanders is related to her as well.  The 'journalist' Patrick Cockburn (propagandist) is related to her as well.  The only  one in her family I had any respect for was Alexander Cockburn.  He's dead.

She is career wise but nobody wants to tell her.

She thought she was going to be a star.  And, yes, C.I. did get her nixed for a few roles. But it was easy to do when she failed at every acting opportunity she had and due to her age.  With no stardom in sight, she's now grabbed on to directing.

She was slamming Shia LeBeouf this week and claiming he was fired from her movie (he wasn't) and that she didn't allow the kind of trouble he causes -- no, not on her productions.  Her productions?  She's directed two feature films.  The first one bombed (BOOK SMART).  Her new one is DON'T WORRY DARLING and it hasn't come out yet.  Her productions?

Cake on some more make up, lady, you're not fooling anyone about your age or with your talent.

She really needs to stay out of Shia's business.  If Will Smith's in a slapping mood again, he should slap her and tell her to keep Shia's name out of her mouth.

I am so sick of this pompous, middle-aged freak.

Take your whine wagon somewhere else.

"Vicious."  It was the most vicious thing ever, whine, whine.  That was also Priss Wilde this week.  Jason Sudekis served her with custody papers while she was promoting her film.  The most vicious thing ever.

Just shut up.  No, it's not the most vicious thing.  She is a spoiled brat who needs to grow up.  I would love for her to make that most vicious claim in front of Judge Judy and watch Judy rip her a new one. 

I feel sorry for Harry Styles because he's dating her.  Poor Harry.  I've never wished someone was in the closet before, but I do now.  I'd love it if Olivia were just the beard.  It's awful to think of Harry having to put up with her. 

Even worse, what the pillow looks like the next day.  That woman cakes on make up.  Her pillows and towels must be filthy all the time.

 

Before any idiot wants to e-mail me that Laura Flanders is my friend, she's a self-loathing lesbian.  I don't have time for her.  In 2008, Barack Obama put homophobes on stage at his campaign events.  Laura endorsed him.  She didn't bat an eye.  He promoted conversion 'therapy.'  Laura didn't say boo.  Bitch can go f**k herself. 

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Ruth on our disappointing media

From RUTH'S REPORT:

The media loves their clown pundits (we don't share that love)

The media wants to be trusted but they keep putting clowns on to act as experts.  Worse then clowns?  Known liars.  Nikolas Lanum and Brian Flood (FOX NEWS) report:

Left-leaning media networks CNN and MSNBC continue to give ample airtime to a number of current and former intelligence officials, despite concerns about their credibility following the Trump-Russia collusion investigation and the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. 

On Monday, during an appearance on "Don Lemon Tonight," former Director of National Intelligence and CNN national security analyst James Clapper said that one should assume all classified material obtained from former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home have been compromised. 

"That is the worst-case assumption that you have to make. What is the potential damage that could be done to U.S. Intelligence capabilities? That is, sources, methods, trade crowds compromised? That can get very personal in the case of human assets," he said.

But, Clapper has made numerous comments over the years that are scrutinized to this day.

In March 2013, Clapper said the U.S. government does not "wittingly" collect data on millions, or hundreds of millions of Americans, during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. 

However, following former NSA contractor Edward Snowden’s decision to leak top-secret information in 2013, it was revealed that the federal government does indeed collect data from the phone calls and internet communications of the American public. Clapper subsequently apologized in a letter to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, stating his answer was "clearly erroneous." 

Clapper has also been criticized for his commentary on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s sprawling Russia investigation.

In December 2017, Clapper told CNN that Russian President Vladimir Putin "knows how to handle an asset, and that’s what he’s doing with" Trump.

If the media wants to address the trust issue -- few trust them -- they are going to have to address James Clapper and others.  Mr. Clapper, for example, should not be allowed on TV or radio as a commentator.  He lied to Congress.  He lied to the American people.  Ethically, that should end his career as a commentator for the media.  By the same token, John Dean is a convicted felon.  He was disbarred.  MSNBC needs to stop bringing him on as a guest.  He is not to be trusted.  

I get the point about the ones wrong about Russia-gate or Hunter Biden's laptop.  I agree that there needs to be accountability and that there should be.

But Mr. Clapper and Mr. Dean go far beyond that.  A functioning media would not bring them on and give them airtime.

 

And now I get to go eat.  A neighbor's garden is playing out and he brought me onions and jalapenos this evening.  That was very sweet of him.  When I have both of those on hand, I like to cook black eyed peas.  So I immediately needed to soak some dried black eyed peas.  I did the quick soak -- bring to a boil for two minutes, remove from heat, cover and let set for an hour, then empty the water and rinse the beans.  Put fresh water in the pot, add the peas, a chopped onion and 3 chopped jalapenos, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover and allow beans to simmer for one hour.

And they are finally ready.

Fresh onions and jalapenos make the black eyed peas taste so good -- there is a hot, spicy quality and a sweetness.  Anyway, they are finally ready and eager to dive in.

 

 

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"