The tragic day the marketers ran short on celebrity

(I’m working on a piece about the infamous “black agenda” memo that came to light yesterday, but in the meantime….)

Once upon a time, fame was a rare commodity, like gold or diamonds or a 1964 1/2 dark-red Mustang convertible in factory condition. Many people sought fame, of course, but since it was scarce, few people could get their hands on it. Fame was generally acquired only by the lucky, the talented or the hard working, with the emphasis on the lucky. And often it came only to those blessed with all three.

And that was OK. The situation seemed more or less in balance.

Then, sometime in the past decade or so, the economics of fame changed. The explosion of media outlets on cable and the Internet meant that there was a lot more air time to fill, more cable channels to program, more niche markets to satisfy, more eyeballs to glaze over and more tabloids to sell.

Suddenly, Madison Avenue and Hollywood faced a desperate, almost crippling shortage of famous people. They needed thousands, tens of thousands of famous people, and they needed them fast. They scavenged the past, bringing back the has-beens and the almost-weres, but all the Danny Bonaduces in the world weren’t enough to satisfy market demand.

So, in the greatest burst of American industrial capacity since the days of World War II, they fired up the famous factories and started to churn out celebrities. Boy did they come fast.

OK, the quality slipped a bit. No, it slipped a lot. The workmanship was shoddy and the final product less than impressive. If you made a sex tape, you were famous material. If you were willing to starve yourself on a desert island in front of a national TV audience, you could be famous. If you were willing to stuff 60 hotdogs down your gut in 10 minutes, famous. For the first time in history, merely wanting to be famous was enough to make it so.

Luck, talent and hard work didn’t matter. What mattered most of all — the absolute key to acquiring fame as fast and cheaply as possible — was the willingness to humiliate yourself. That was the new raw material from which fame could be forged most easily, which is kind of strange, if you stop to think about it. Fame, the ultimate ego stroke, could now be purchased at the cost of your self-respect.

But then, perhaps it was really that way all along? I suspect maybe so.

Anyway, every era, like every prom, needs its king and queen. I would like to place into nomination, as King and Queen of 2009, the symbol of modern America, the epitome of her secret wants and needs, the following adorable famous couple:

Jon and Kate Gosselin, the Liz Taylor and Richard Burton of the modern media age.

181 comments Add your comment

Gale

August 28th, 2009
10:22 am

I love “Lion in Winter”. Hepburn was terrific in that role, as she was in many.

GOP is gone

August 28th, 2009
10:23 am

Paul,

Don’t you think the seniors canceling their memberships with AARP and protesting healthcare reform are doing so because they LOVE their government provided Medicare and are not willing to give it up at all?

Taxpayer

August 28th, 2009
10:23 am

There are indeed some sick people out there. Especially the ones ranting on with their never-ending bouts of hyperbolated paranoia. Like this one. What a Claxton ™

mike

August 28th, 2009
10:24 am

AmVet –

“And can someone PLEASE explain this almost mystical new outrage? ”

Well isn’t it obvious? Mindless partisans make excuses for “our side”, as you just did. They also utterly demonize “their side”, as you also just did.

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

August 28th, 2009
10:24 am

Our moral neural circuitry, that scaffolding inside our brain, has been short-circuited by the self-centered, self-besotted ways we have come to acquire in full force. The pleasure associated with satisfying our newfound solipsistic cravings is trumping our moral code and “telling” us that our views and our needs — to show we’re right, to exhibit dominance, to get what we want and now — are more important than anyone else’s. It’s the new dopamine fix and the addiction is to self and self alone.-AmSpec

Like “free” health care, for instance.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
10:28 am

“Yes, folks who put on TV programming should do so for free. I mean you work for free, right?”

How in the WORLD did you get THAT from what I said about 60 minuts of advertising?

mike

August 28th, 2009
10:30 am

Doggone/GA

“How in the WORLD did you get THAT from what I said about 60 minuts of advertising?”

From your whining about the volume of ads on TV that pay the bills.

Don’t like the ads? Don’t consume the content. Unless of course you want to pass Universal TV Programming after we pass Universal Lawn Care.

RW-(the original)

August 28th, 2009
10:31 am

md

August 28th, 2009
10:33 am

“Don’t you think the seniors canceling their memberships with AARP and protesting healthcare reform are doing so because they LOVE their government provided Medicare and are not willing to give it up at all?”

Or could it possibly be they don’t want to waste a lifetime of forced payments if Medicare fails.

AmVet

August 28th, 2009
10:35 am

“Mindless partisans make excuses for “our side”, as you just did.”

???

mike, have you had your coffee yet?

Where EXACTLY did I just make an excuse for “our”/ANY side?

Taxpayer

August 28th, 2009
10:36 am

Doggone,

Shame on you! Talking down about the need for all those commericals on TV. :roll:

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
10:36 am

“From your whining about the volume of ads on TV that pay the bills”

Man, I don’t know what drugs you are on…but you need some new ones. I haven’t said a WORD about the volume of ads on TV. All I did was post the little tidbit of information that the Glenn Beck show has LOST 46 advertisers and then I suggested that maybe what his show really needs is MORE advertisers, so they take up the whole hour.

How you managed to translate that into “whining” about the volume of ads on TV is WAY beyond MY ability to compute. WAY, WAY beyond.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
10:40 am

“Shame on you! Talking down about the need for all those commericals on TV”

I know, it’s just terrible of me. I actually enjoy a good commercial. My current favorite is the Intel commercial featuring Ajay Bhat. That man looks someone it would be fun to know!

Normal

August 28th, 2009
10:43 am

md

August 28th, 2009
10:33 am

md, I must be dense, but I don’t understand. Are you saying that if Obamacare passes, Medicare will end? Or if you mean Medicare will fail on its own, I don’t think so. It would be politcal suicide to not continue funding Medicare.

AmVet

August 28th, 2009
10:50 am

Suck and grin for the talking heads and endless Viagara commercials, faithful.

By the early 1970s, we were well on our way to the total immersion experience of the television age, in which most children watched 30 to 40 hours of TV a week. They read less and their vocabulary decreased.

These media moguls are doing all this on our property – the public airwaves – and paying us no rent for exclusive use of our property. Yet they are deciding who says what and who doesn’t say what 24 hours a day. The public airwaves are the property of the American people. The FCC is our hapless, industry-indentured real estate agent that gives away the spectrum.

In 1996, Congress quietly handed over to existing broadcasters the rights to broadcast digital television on the public airwaves-a conveyance worth $70 billion-in exchange for. nothing.

Although the public owns the airwaves, the broadcasters have never paid for the right to use them. The FCC has recently begun to recognize the large monetary value of the licenses and typically auctions licenses. The 1996 Telecommunications Act, however, prohibited such an auction for distribution of digital television licenses, and mandated that they be given to existing broadcasters.

How to explain this giveaway, especially when other industries, such as the data transmission companies, were eager to bid for the right to use the spectrum? Look no further than the National Association of Broadcasters. The NAB are huge political donors & have close ties to key political figures.

Not surprisingly, the nightly news was silent on this giant giveaway. It represents a failure of our working democracy

http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Ralph_Nader_Technology.htm

Hef

August 28th, 2009
10:53 am

Doggone-I also hear Beck’s rating’s are jumpin through the roof. Why are the people behind the advertisers leavin so scared? If what he is reporting is untrue just get one of the many other networks that love Obama to contradict.

Angry Black Man

August 28th, 2009
10:53 am

Nothing much to say here. But I do have an invitation to make.

Since you think you know how I think and vote, why don’t you come hang with me for a day Turd Ferguson or Lefty Lemonade or who ever you are today. I saw your earlier comment and you don’t know Jack $hit about how I vote.

mike

August 28th, 2009
10:54 am

AmVet –

“Where EXACTLY did I just make an excuse for “our”/ANY side”

Do you even read what you write, let alone remeber it?

“I DO believe that the current president in spite of his numerous glaring “short comings” is at least NOT an ill-read, mental lightweight like his predecessor.”

So, you state that Obama has many shortcomings, yet you excuse that because he isn’t Bush.

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

August 28th, 2009
10:54 am

But Obama has reached his new low more quickly than most of his predecessors did, Gallup said. The percentage of people voicing disapproval for Obama’s job performance stands at a near-high of 43%. President Ford slipped below 50% in his third month; President Clinton hit the mark in his fourth month. Ford’s rating was partly spurred by his unpopular decision to pardon former President Nixon in 1974.

heh

mike

August 28th, 2009
10:56 am

Doggone –

Duly noted. I wasn’t aware of the context. My mistake and my apologies.

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

August 28th, 2009
11:02 am

WASHINGTON — Rep. Charles Rangel failed to report as much as $1.3 million in outside income — including up to $1 million for a Harlem building sale — on financial-disclosure forms he filed between 2002 and 2006, according to newly amended records.

Time for a Cabinet nomination!

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
11:05 am

“Why are the people behind the advertisers leavin so scared?”

I would guess that they don’t want their brand names associated with what he “reports.” What other reason would there be? It’s all free market in action. And what good does it do them to gain 100,000 new customers if they lose 500,000 because of him?

AmVet

August 28th, 2009
11:06 am

“I DO believe that the current president in spite of his numerous glaring “short comings” is at least NOT an ill-read, mental lightweight like his predecessor. So, you state that Obama has many shortcomings, yet you excuse that because he isn’t Bush.”

And THAT puerile, inane assertion is the totality of your “argument” that I am making an excuse for “our”side?

I voted AGAINST Obama. I’ve only conveyed this to you numerous times.

I have excoriated him repeatedly. I have indicted him on an entire host of issues.

mike, you are so completely invested in this “I am the only non-partisan in blogdom” nonsense that you are more often than not utterly irrational. And oblivious to the realities right in front of your face.

Ask around. I dare say many more than not would agree with me.

But why you constantly beg me, among others, to expose this sophomoric habit is yet another mystery.

PLEASE, do yourself a favor and get one or all of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Logic-Language-Philosophy-Nonfiction-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=11053

david wayne osedach

August 28th, 2009
11:08 am

You’re absolutely right about the Gosselin’s who should go back to living in the trailer they came from. But what about the guy that goes on a celebrity show to get a wife to kill? That’s sick.

Angry Black Man

August 28th, 2009
11:09 am

Jay

I’ll be at work this evening, but I look foward to what you have to say about the mayor memo. I can already sense what will be said in this forum. Some are probably already pressing their sheets.

Hef

August 28th, 2009
11:13 am

Doggone-Or is it intimidation by a group/groups on advertisers that don’t like what he is reporting? Off Topic,Does anyone know much about the group NUD?

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
11:18 am

“Or is it intimidation by a group/groups on advertisers that don’t like what he is reporting?”

What’s the difference? If customers express their unhappiness with what a company supports on TV, then it behooves that company to pay attention, don’t you think?

Dave R.

August 28th, 2009
11:20 am

You know, the mere fact that Nixon couldn’t catch Teddy Kennedy cheating on his wife is a perfect example of why government is incapable of doing anything really right. When Joan finally passes away from a life of alcohol and drug abuse, she and Mary Jo are gonna have a bitch-slapping session to end all with the good Senator stuck between them for all eternity.

Wonder when Jay will be posting a column showing the new Rasmussen poll numbers showing Hope & Change down to 50% overall approval, with a full 40% strongly disagreeing with his performance in office.

Oh, and the poll that shows 58% who say the Democrats shouldn’t push this current version of health care through without GOP support or changes.

I probably shouldn’t be holding my breath waiting, should I?

Dave R.

August 28th, 2009
11:23 am

No, Doggone, it doesn’t. In case you missed, oh, the past 40 years or so, boycotts don’t work.

I’ll repeat again so that even you can understand. For every sponsor that drops out, there are more waiting in the wings that will be eager to put their advertising dollars into that show to fill a void.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
11:25 am

“No, Doggone, it doesn’t. In case you missed, oh, the past 40 years or so, boycotts don’t work”

Ummm, then why speculate that advertisers are leaving Beck’s show because of “intimidation by a group/groups”? Make up your mind, it either works or it doesn’t…you can’t possibly be trying to have it both ways…can you?

Hef

August 28th, 2009
11:30 am

Doggone-I understand what your sayin,but I don’t agree it’s customers that are determining.Its advocacy groups that claim to speak for consumers, and the weak kneed companies that fold.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
11:35 am

“and the weak kneed companies that fold.”

Or maybe they just happen to agree.

Hef

August 28th, 2009
11:41 am

Doggone-maybe or just want the gnats to go away. Either way it’s been effective. Right or Wrong companies are afraid of possible bad or perceived bad pub.

Paul

August 28th, 2009
11:48 am

RW-(the original) 10:21

I found Paul entertaining. If she was blitzed there was no telling what she’d say next.

AmVet 10:21

[[And can someone PLEASE explain this almost mystical new outrage? Where the hell was that for the past decade??? ]]

I’m just glad it’s there, as is the newfound concern over deficits. It’s a beginning. Let’s hope it continues as the reins of power shift.

Doggone/GA

[[“Consistency in arguments”
But I never made that argument]]
I know. I was the one who made it. Seems if people minimize AARP cancellations because there was a net increase in new memberships, Beck shouldn’t be faulted for losing advertisers if he picked up more or had more net advertising revenue.

GOP is gone 10:23

I think members misunderstood AARP’s specific position on reform. I think many seniors’ concern (and I think Democrats are going to lose seniors if they keep including seniors in their description of fascist Astroturf dummies) is that Democratic plans to take at least half a billion dollars out of Medicare will negatively impact their care.

Doggone/GA 11:05

[[I would guess that they don’t want their brand names associated with what he “reports.” What other reason would there be?]]

One could be that as he becomes more popular he increases his ad rates, therefore becoming too expensive for some sponsors.

Heard Rush Limbaugh interviewed on NPR (you read that correctly). When questioned about his show, he responded, “Look, my job is to attract the highest number of listeners I can so I can attract the most sponsors I can and charge them as much as I can.”

Mike

[[“Or is it intimidation by a group/groups on advertisers that don’t like what he is reporting?”]]

I’d say that would be more like the people who boycott Whole Foods because they don’t like the head guy’s views on health care. Or the intimidation by those who ask the board to remove him because they disagree with his views.

Paul

August 28th, 2009
11:50 am

RW-(the original)

Make that “I found Paula entertaining.” I trust you knew that but sometimes we have to state the obvious -

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
11:52 am

“Beck shouldn’t be faulted for losing advertisers if he picked up more or had more net advertising revenue”

But I haven’t made that argument either. I could care less about Beck or his show. I just find the fact that so many advertisers have bailed an interesting tidbit of information. Nothing more, nothing less. I can’t even comment on whether they are justified or not…not having seen his show, I wouldn’t know.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
11:53 am

“One could be that as he becomes more popular he increases his ad rates, therefore becoming too expensive for some sponsors”

It will be interesting to see if that increase holds. I have to wonder how much of that increase is from gawkers who want to see what the fuss is all about. Whether he can retain those gawkers remains to be seen.

GOP is Gone

August 28th, 2009
11:55 am

You know I just can not get behind the notion that people over 62 years old are the only Americans that have the “right” to healthcare. If Medicare is so loved, then they must be doing at least an all right job of it, and the rest of America might like it too.

Government Control, Baby!!

August 28th, 2009
11:57 am

Taxpayer

They claim that the lawyer web site : Lawyers.com or something like that had dropped his TV show. I am listening to his radio show right now. They are advertising on his radio show.

He is one of many prime shows on FOX that has a waiting list of advertisers. Many, like Chevy Trucks just joined on, and I’m pretty sure that considering he had a bigger audience this week than two of the prime time Network news show, FOX has probably tripled the cost of running the spots. The old advertisers were under contracts, but all the new ones are establishing new contracts with much higher rates. Poor Glen and FOX. In all probability, they just at least doubled the income from Beck’s show.

Poor democrats. Everything they do is blowing up in their faces.

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator :-) You Whine :-(

August 28th, 2009
12:00 pm

I’m just sort of curious but why did you go back and delete every single one of my comments save for the very first one?

Government Control, Baby!!

August 28th, 2009
12:05 pm

To anyone talking about Beck’s ratings:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/08/27/big-beck-goes-over-3-million-viewers-beats-oreilly-in-demo-cable-news-ratings-for-wednesday-august-26-2009/25541

5PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Glenn Beck– 3,040,000 viewers (888,000) (1,385,000)
Situation Room—688,000 viewers (141,000) (271,000)
Hardball w/ Chris Matthews—536,000 viewers (139,000) (217,000)
Fast Money—215,000 viewers (55,000) (80,000)
Prime News–267,000 viewers (97,000) (109,000)

He could lose 2/3 of his viewers and still be the number one show.

FrankLeeDarling

August 28th, 2009
12:16 pm

GOP is gone , I agree with your 11:55 100%,not only that but I have to pay for medicaid AND my insurance as well.I would like the over 62 crowd to tell me why I should care about their healthcare if they don’t care about mine.

Taxpayer

August 28th, 2009
12:16 pm

They claim that the lawyer web site : Lawyers.com or something like that had dropped his TV show. I am listening to his radio show right now. They are advertising on his radio show.

Well! The Nerve of those lawyers. If you cannot trust lawyers to keep their word, who can you trust. I’m, well, just, aghast.

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:17 pm

These were no doubt Obobo voters…Ahhh AHAHHAAHAHAA!

Stimulus Check Promise Lures Fugitives
Police Arrest Fugitives Picking Up ‘Checks’
http://www.justnews.com/news/20588578/detail.html

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
12:18 pm

“Obobo”

Who’s that?

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:19 pm

Situation room with Wolf Blitzer…LMAO…what a silly crock.

Paul

August 28th, 2009
12:19 pm

Doggone/GA

[[Beck shouldn’t be faulted for losing advertisers if he picked up more or had more net advertising revenue”

But I haven’t made that argument either.}}

I know. I asked the question after you posted about his losing sponsors. Seems if he lost some, gained others, he’s doing okay. It’s one of those examples where the first bit of information is only part of the story.

As far as the gawkers, I lasted about ten minutes on the tv show. Caught an interview on the radio with Brad Thor. That’s about it. O’Reilly has him on quite a bit, it seems. Calls him a pinhead and tells him he’s waaaay off. Doubt if that made MediaMatters -

Normal

August 28th, 2009
12:21 pm

Y’all, I’m over 62 and I don’t use medicare. I’m glad it’s there in case I lose my current plan. But mostly I wish it were availble to all citizens, then everyone would have at least some coverage.

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:22 pm

Frankie,

You should care about their healthcare as they cared about school taxes, vehicles taxes etc. Im sure you have taken advantage of the Welfare and Food Stamp programs they provided also. Even though you are about worthless you might attempt to repay a little.

PS…Did you mom ever find out who your father is and if so which prison is he stayin?

stands for decibels

August 28th, 2009
12:23 pm

Actually GCB @ 12.05, I should thank you for that link since it lead me to this Variety piece that explains a lot about TV demographics in general:

The networks still preach adults 18-49, but the Big Three are all expected to post median ages above 50 this fall — with Fox not too far behind.

According to a recent study by former Magna Global EVP Steve Sternberg, the broadcast networks as a whole have once again grown older than ever. The five broadcast nets’ average live median age this year — in other words, not counting DVR usage — was 51.

That’s a whopping 8-year uptick from 10 years ago, when the nets’ median age was 43. In comparison, the median age of TV households has grown much less from 1998-1999 to 2008-2009, to 38 from 36.

The oldest-skewing cabler remains Fox News, with a median age of over 65, followed by CNBC, GSN, Hallmark and Golf Channel. Noggin (6) is youngest, then Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

Not knocking the 65-to-dead demographic–I hope to be in there one day myself–but let’s do keep this in perspective. The TeeVee with real-time programming, watched by a passive audience at a time of the networks’ choosing, as we know it, is on its way out.

And most of this arguing about “who’s number one” is nothing even remotely akin to the days when you had truly mass media news.

Lastly, looks like a NBC nightly newscast still draws nearly triple the viewership of what Glennda manages with all this controversy driving rubberneckers to his show.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
12:23 pm

“Doubt if that made MediaMatters ”

Actually, it might have. I go to that site occasionally and that bit about “pinhead” sounds familiar.

Taxpayer

August 28th, 2009
12:23 pm

I don’t watch FoxyNews personally but I do pick up bits and pieces when someone over there makes the news. To that end, I seem to recall OH! Really, insisting that folks start boycotting businesses back in the day.

stands for decibels

August 28th, 2009
12:26 pm

But mostly I wish it were availble to all citizens, then everyone would have at least some coverage.

Funny, when Dr. Howard Dean says the very same thing (as he has for years) that’s somehow crazy left-wing talk.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
12:26 pm

“I seem to recall OH! Really, insisting that folks start boycotting businesses back in the day”

Oh yeah…he and his legions of viewers were going to wreck the French economy if I remember correctly. Don’t think they quite managed it, though.

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:27 pm

Its nice to see someone like Glen Beck tell the truth about Obama and his socialistic ways. Beck should be commended for his systematic exposing of Obama and continue his pursuit of dismantling this basturdized form of govt he is attempting to install!!

Keep up the good work Mr Beck!!

Taxpayer

August 28th, 2009
12:28 pm

stands for decibels

August 28th, 2009
12:23 pm

What about us fifty-sumthins? It’s as though we don’t even matter.

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:28 pm

Satan may not approve, however, Teddy might want to borrow some of Michaels face bleach.

Jay

August 28th, 2009
12:29 pm

Reporter, you probably won’t believe me, but I have no idea. I just now jumped onto the comments, having been struggling with another piece, and upon seeing your note I salvaged the posts you mentioned.

I’m at home at the moment; when I get into the office I will inquire further.

stands for decibels

August 28th, 2009
12:30 pm

What about us fifty-sumthins? It’s as though we don’t even matter.

When you hit 55, you become 3/5 of a viewer.

Matilda

August 28th, 2009
12:30 pm

It would be hard for me to conceivably give less of a *bleep!* about Glenn Beck’s revenues. All it is to me is a gauge. If the gentleman listens to that whack-head, then he is way too bat-squirt nutso for me.

Paul

August 28th, 2009
12:31 pm

Taxpayer 12:23

By ‘businesses’ do you mean “France”?

Doggone/GA

Have you any idea of the circumstance that surrounded the call (not just by him) for the boycott of France? I mean the reasons – not the silly little examples of freedom fries and the side issues.

Does the term “dead aircrew members” and “starving Iraqi children” ring any bells?

Hef

August 28th, 2009
12:33 pm

Paul

August 28th, 2009
12:33 pm

“But mostly I wish it were availble to all citizens, then everyone would have at least some coverage.”

Medicare, like Social Security, is one of those systems where you have to earn the right to participate.

Taxpayer

August 28th, 2009
12:35 pm

Its nice to see someone like Glen Beck tell the truth about Obama and his socialistic ways

Do you folks just cycle through the word of the day like FoxyNews does with its advertisers. I mean, one day it’s socialistic, the next it’s naziistic, then it is communistic followed by terroristic. Why can’t we all just be more Woodstockistic — love thy neighbor and thy neighbor’s wife (or mule if you’re so inclined) or husband or… well… it is Friday.

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
12:38 pm

“Have you any idea of the circumstance that surrounded the call (not just by him) for the boycott of France?”

Nope, and I don’t care. I just found it amusing that he thought he had enough influence to bring them down. I have no doubt he never even caused a blip in their economy.

FrankLeeDarling

August 28th, 2009
12:39 pm

For the record I do not mind paying medicaid ,I just don’t see why we all can’t have health coverage

and turd,no I have never received any assistance from the government I work,and my father is a deceased decorated vet who fought for worthless crap like you

stands for decibels

August 28th, 2009
12:40 pm

Troll chow upstairs, folks.

Paul

August 28th, 2009
12:44 pm

Interesting bit from Time:

“In what may mark the final flicker of Kennedy influence in American Catholicism, reports circulated last spring that Obama was considering JFK’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy, as the possible next U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. That was not to be. Indeed in the wake of Uncle Ted’s death came word Thursday that Obama’s final choice had arrived in Rome to take up the diplomatic post at the Holy See. His name is Miguel Diaz, a little-known Cuban-born professor of theology firmly on the record as pro-life.”

How on earth did the Democratic Senate confirm a pro-lifer without raising any kind of a stink?

AmVet

August 28th, 2009
12:48 pm

OH NO JOE! Tell me it ain’t so!

There really is a vast, nefarious, non-human, left wing conspiracy to silence the White Welcher???

What is the explanation???

Karma?

Paul

August 28th, 2009
12:49 pm

Doggone/GA

[[“Have you any idea of the circumstance that surrounded the call (not just by him) for the boycott of France?”

Nope, and I don’t care. I}}

There are some families of dead servicemen who I'm sure would be touched by your concern -

Frank

[[For the record I do not mind paying medicaid ,I just don’t see why we all can’t have health coverage]]

Some few groups are exempt. Not many, but some. Once they hit the right age, people who qualify can have Medicare health coverage.

Interesting that Social Security and Medicaid do follow the European model in that most everyone pays. Those opposed to a public option are in error when they state it’s European socialism – it isn’t, as only a few percent of Americans’ll foot the bill -

AmVet

August 28th, 2009
12:52 pm

“…my father is a deceased decorated vet who fought for worthless crap like you.”

And I salute him.

As one of the “greatest generation”, we owe, without measure, Americans like him. And I thank him for giving me everything I have, including my very life…

Taxpayer

August 28th, 2009
12:53 pm

Nope, and I don’t care. I just found it amusing that he thought he had enough influence to bring them down. I have no doubt he never even caused a blip in their economy.

Well! I laid off brie for a week!

Paul

August 28th, 2009
12:55 pm

Doggone/GA

The French Gov’t Tourism Office estimated the boycott cost them half a billion in just tourism dollars the first year. Didn’t count all the other effects such as goods. I know, to many on the Left half a billion is chump change, but the point was made.

And now Chirac is gone and a new party’s in power and they really like Obama but don’t think much of him and don’t really care what he wants the French to do so we’re back to the same results as Bush had.

Life goes on.

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:56 pm

Doggone/GA

August 28th, 2009
12:38 pm

Doggone only wants to acheive Drama Queen status.

Paul

August 28th, 2009
12:57 pm

Taxpayer

[[Well! I laid off brie for a week!]]

I didn’t. Bought a lot of French wine, too. Good stuff.

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:57 pm

FrankLeeDarling

August 28th, 2009
12:39 pm

LOL…I dont believe a word of it…

Turd Ferguson

August 28th, 2009
12:58 pm

I even stopped purchasing OUI magazine.

GOP is Gone

August 28th, 2009
1:01 pm

Mr and Mrs Ferguson really aptly named their off spring. A kernal off the old man maybe?

FrankLeeDarling

August 28th, 2009
1:35 pm

dosen’t make it any less true turd

FrankLeeDarling

August 28th, 2009
1:36 pm

thanks,Amvet

radiowxman

August 28th, 2009
3:31 pm

Reality TV is popular because of a perfect storm:

1. Network TV is not the cash cow it once was.
2. Ad rates are lower, and it’s easier for advertisers to use different platforms to get their word out.
3. When income falls, production budgets shrink.
4. Reality TV is cheap, cheap, cheap to produce. Talent is basically free and the support staff is relatively nil. For example, “Family Guy” taks about 500 people to make.
5. Reality TV gets ratings. Therefore they get a nice ROI.