Made Ya Cry!!

How degrading. Leave it to 20/20 anchor Barbara Walters, to make Dan Rather cry.

Keeping within her signature tradition of reducing interviewees to blubbering balls of mess, Babs got Rather to well up in tears when she tried to show her support to the fallen CBS anchor at her retirement bash last night--and of course, NY Post's Page Six was there to capture the moment.

While it may very well be sincere gesture of concern from the anchor of Rather's rival network, ABC, I get the sense that it was executed with a 'better you, than me' kind of smugness within which competing stations revel.

Such is the punishment administered to any voices of dissent aimed at Emperor Bush in this free country of ours--you know the freedom that "they" hate.

The Daily Bubble

If anyone caught this morning's Today Show with Katie Couric interview with Jon Stewart, I'd love to hear your take on the outrageous display of racists banter that transpired.

Comedy Central's The Daily Show host, Jon Stewart was on this morning to promote a new book that I do not wish to promote here. In the midst of congratualatory discourse, Katie mentions Stewarts recent Emmy Award and his huge staff of Daily Show writers who, apparently are all white men.

She injects (I'm paraphrasing here), "Where's the diversity? Where are the women and people of color?"
Caught off-guard, Stewart nervously laughs it off with a coy joke (but it really isn't), "What?...Who are people of color? I'm only comfortable around [my own kind]."

We hear people on the NBC set break out in laughter (or nervous laughter) cheering Stewart on for his witty charm.
Of course, I was appauled, and amused by the spontaneous moment of truth that followed.
Katie continues with a comment like, "Where did you find them?" (all the white men) and Stewart says, "I met them all at Sedar."

Essentially owning up to the predominent, if not exclusive presence of Jewish writers who may also happen to be personal friends of Stewart.

Stewart's off-the cuff remarks and cute reparte with Katie may have fit the bill for The Today Show's morning slot, but Stewart should prepare for the inevitable backlash from women and poeple of color who happen to share his show's left-wing views and once supported it.

My heart goes out to anyone of color who may be interning on the Daily Show and are women and/or of color. If you were hoping to write for that show, that sad display will hopefuly inspire you to move your experience and talents to another show because Stewart aint into it.

FYI, Jon, there are many talented writers of color, including women, who can write about political issues and any topic out there. As writers--that would be their craft and job.

Off With Their Heads!

It is with no surprise that I present to you Ms. Mary Maples, the now infamous producer behind the scandalous 60 Minutes story on George W. Bush's checkered past in the National Guard.

As I forcasted (See 9/16/04 Blog entry), CBS no longer stands by their man Dan Rather and crumbled under right-wing, corporate pressures to recall Rather's story due to questionable sources that can no longer be validated.

Today's New York Times is chock-full of rebuke for CBS's 'oversite' in thoroughly checking their sources. The Times, along with FOX News can now bask at the successful character assassination of Dan Rather and the journalistic integrity of CBS.

Rather and CBS's admitted failure and public apology is sure to detract advertisers if ratings slide.
Rather's public apology, coupled with his previously very public bouts with George Bush senior reads like an obituary for the 72-year-old anchor.

The latest chapter of this story will no doubt be linked with Kerry's campaign and the inefficacy of liberalism.
Once again this speaks to the growing right-wing ideology that has swept mainstream media venues like Hurricane Ivan.

What's next? Will Dan Rather be forced to retire or 'encouraged' to report on local crime stories and hurricane preps?
BTW, do not be surprised if this incident boosts George W. Bush's approval ratings if polls are tallied this week.

Don't Make Me Cut Ya!

Before I was able to access a decent cup of coffee for my commute to work, I grabed a copy of this morning's NY Metro edition instead. Misfortune reared its ugly head and cackled back at me from page 14.
Me: Horrified.

It's easy for me to forget how noticeably distressing it is to see images of New York socialite, Jocelyn Wildenstein--a classic case study in the dangers of excessive plastic surgery.
Sadly, she started out looking quite beautiful until she was talked into erasing all traces of her ethnicity and humanity. The end results were ghoulish...but she's filthy rich so she gets to whoop it up with all the celebs during Fashion Week in New York.

It's sheer agony for me to envision the obscene amounts of cash that society's elite pour into themselves and other material items like cosmetic surgery. The amount of money it costs to complete one surgical procedure could, in all likelihood, wipe out all of my current debt AND I'd still secure a nice savings for myself.

The things folks in this country subject themselves to, to try to fit into pop culture's mold of social acceptance, is phenomenal! Elective mutilation at what cost?

Oh, well, it's only tons of money! I aint mad at ya, Jocelyn.