A Motive Behind Everything

Friday, October 29, 2004

From NBC5:

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Katherine Zellner, the attorney representing Kevin Fox, said on Wednesday that she believes the timing of Fox's arrest was politically motivated, with the Will County State's Attorney Jeff Tomczak wanting to make a "big arrest" in the midst of a tight race in Will County.

My, how everything is politically motivated. How dare the prosecutor arrest a suspected child rapist/murderer "in the midst of a tight race." Damn prosecutors only thinking about themselves.

In related news, the folks at Things that make ya go..."What tha?!?!" have picked up on the story from my site and are commenting appropriately.

Unspeakably Disgusting

Thursday, October 28, 2004

While brining up a story like this is never pleasant, it's important to be continually reminded of the scum that exists our society. From the Chicago Sun-Times:

She was sexually assaulted, her arms and mouth bound with duct tape, then 3-year-old Riley Fox was dumped alive into a secluded creek and left to drown, Will County authorities said Wednesday.

Her attacker was her 27-year-old father, Kevin Fox, who was arrested earlier in the day after allegedly giving a videotaped statement implicating himself, officials said during a news conference. He is expected to be formally charged today with assaulting and murdering his youngest child.

Anyone who doesn't believe that this piece of white-trash deserves the death penalty upon conviction is encouraged to e-mail me with their best defense. I promise I won't go too hard on whomever takes up the challenge.

Another Zinger

As usual, I can always depend on Ann Coulter to give me a Quote of the Day on demand. From her most recent column:

White liberals have been indulging their fantasies of violence against conservatives lately – physically attacking conservatives, ransacking Bush-Cheney headquarters (though not any NRA headquarters, I note).

It would be interesting to find out if any NRA headquarters has ever been the target of vandalism. Get the point?

Alright Already, You Guys Won

As hard as this is to do (go Yankees! sob…) I must congratulate the Boston Red Sox for finally winning the Big One that took 86 years to do - since it last won the World Series in a pre-Penicillin era. I personally think Major League Baseball should test Johnny Damon's hair for illegal performance enhancing substances. That guy single-handedly dominated the Yankees. It's got to be the hair. Of course the guys at Power Line couldn't resist making their congratulations post a political one, pointing out that pitcher Curt Schilling is a Bush fan.

Shoutouts

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Thanks to all who link to Aggressive-Voice Daily, most recently Niftyfingers and Ninja Monkeys…especially Ninja Monkeys for listing me under "Blogs That Kick Ass".

It's true, you know.

Mailbag: More on Wolves

barking dingo offers this:

What about the fact the Porter Goss, the man appointed by Bush to head the CIA, called for a reduction (note I said "reduction" and not "slashed") three times bigger than the one called for by the "liberals." You have to admit the ad is kind of hypocritical.

You must be talking about this, and yes, nine years ago he proposed steeper budget cuts than Kerry, but that was before he was appointed head of the CIA, a position that doesn't have any power over budget cuts unlike his previous title of congressman.

But I see what you're getting at and perhaps there's a bit of hypocrisy at play, but like I said political ads are designed to be convincing and effective. That they're often dirty is just part of the game.

Rebuttal to Wolves

A reader pointed me to this Slate article that offers a rebuttal to Wolves, which I have dubbed the "coolest ad of the election season."

The author, Fred Kaplan, defends Kerry against the ad's claim that he voted to "slash" intelligence spending. Notice however that Mr. Kaplan does indeed conceded that over the years Kerry has voted to cut the intelligence budget, just not all at once the way the ad would have you believe and that it's not fair to say that Kerry "slashed" it. Mr. Kaplan also points out that while the ad mentions "liberals in Congress" responsible for "slashing" the budget, the sponsor of the Senate amendment was Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania. Right, but calling Arlen Specter a Republican is like calling Zell Miller a Democrat.

Is the ad misleading? Maybe, but no one ever said political ads were supposed to be fair. I still think it's a fair commercial and will have an impact on the undecided voters who are tired of the Michael Moore-types downplaying the threat of terrorism. Even if Kerry has a plan to keep America safe, he is not being helped by the many Hollywood liberals and celebrities preaching the "You can't hug with nuclear arms" line.

Wolves

So far the coolest TV ad of the election season is this brand new one from Team Bush, titled Wolves. The ad shows an entire pack of them resting in a forest prepared to strike as a deep-toned female voice warns that we will all be sheep under a Kerry administration. Agree with it or not, you can't deny its effectiveness and I believe it will have an impact on some undecided voters. Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris compares Wolves to the infamous "Daisy" commercial aired by Team LBJ in 1964.

Vote for Change….Or Die!

Let me make it clear to prevent further confusion that I do not officially endorse President Bush, but if I were to give him some great advice for when he wins next week, it would be to play the Vote for Change - People Have the Power song at his second-term inauguration - out of sheer spite the way Truman did when he lifted the infamous Chicago Daily Tribune newspaper that read: DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN.

The Vote for Change tour is a coalition of high profile celebrities crammed onto one stage trying to -- as the cliché goes -- make a difference. The artists include: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Bonnie Raitt, Bright Eyes, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Dave Matthews Band, Death Cab For Cutie, Dixie Chicks, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp, Jurassic 5, Keb' Mo', Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., and My Morning Jacket.

Together they smile, clap, sing and preach to an enthusiastic arena audience of Kerry supporters and Bush-haters, because there is nothing more important to these people than to get a president out of office who had the audacity over the last four years to try to ensure the safety of Americans by fighting a costly war on terrorism.

From Bruce Springsteen's official website:

We remain a land of great promise but we need to move America towards the fulfillment of the promises that she has made; economic justice, civil rights, protection of the environment, a living wage, respect for others, and humility in exercising our power at home and around the world. These are not impossible ideals, they are achievable goals with a strong leadership and the will of a vigilant and informed American people. I believe that Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards understand these important issues and are prepared to help our country move forward.

So there isn't enough economic justice in this country for these multimillion-dollar mansion-dwellers but apparently the living wage is suitable enough under President Bush to charge us average people a whopping $100 per ticket to attend Vote for Change.

Nowhere in Mr. Springsteen's list of "promises" is homeland defense and protection from terrorism; issues far more pressing in the short-term than Hummer pollution.

War Thoughts From Last Year

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Big hat tip to LewRockwell.com for sending more than two thousand of its readers to an old article of mine on how we treat the deceased soldiers of the Iraq war, via this page. Rockwell is a great read for the libertarian-minded; we could use a few more of them.

Love Those Liberal Celebrities

President Bush's re-election can't come soon enough as it has been nothing but constant garbage spewing from the idiot Left these past few months. Here's the latest from everyone's favorite entertainer, Cher:

All the gay guys, all my friends, all my gay friends, you guys, you have got to vote, all right, because it will only be a matter of time before you guys will be so screwed, I cannot tell you, because, you know, the people like in the very right wing of this party of these Republicans, the very, very right wing, the Jerry Falwell element, you know, if they get any more power, you guys will be living in some state, you know, by yourselves.

Right, because Jerry Falwell has so much influence in this country! Everyone knows (except Cher) that both President Bush and Senator Kerry oppose gay marriage and instead would allow for the possibility of civil unions. But if you actually believe Cher, and I fear so many people do, then voting for Bush means all the gays in this country will be rounded up and shipped to…I don't know, say Key West or someplace.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have all the gays in our country down in South Florida than Cher who was there this week giving that speech before Kerry supporters.

Ashlee Simpson on Lip-syncing

Monday, October 25, 2004

A few readers have e-mailed me this quote from a supposed interview with Ashlee Simpson conducted by Lucky Magazine before the SNL meltdown:

Lucky: What are your takes on lip-synching?

Ashlee Simpson: I'm totally against it and offended by it. I'm going out to let my real talent show, not to just stand there and dance around. Personally, I'd never lip-synch. It's just not me.

I haven't been able to confirm the authenticity of this quote or interview, but a lot of bloggers are running with it and I thought you'd appreciate the laugh.

Mailbag: Defending the Fraud

Cheecky gives it to me straight:

Ha! You are such a fuc*ing hypocrite! Talking sh*t about Ashlee Simpson yet you defend Avril Lavigne like she is your biggest obsession you lonely queer. Avril is such a poser and is rude to everyone who talks to her. Next time you have an idea keep it to your fuc*ing self because no one gives a f*ck.

Hmm, I'm a hypocrite for exposing Ashlee Simpson for the fraud that she is while at the same time showing a liking to Avril Lavigne for the talent she surely possesses? There's no need to elaborate here. People think they know everything about an artist because they hear a few mainstream-friendly songs on the radio and feel they can adequately judge someone based on that. I know enough about Avril Lavigne to know that she isn't just another pretty face abusing a microphone.

Simpson is simply a no-talent hack. Her first live performance doing anything was furnished by MTV and in front of a pampered crowd of friends and family. Avril has been performing her whole life in church and before large crowds where her natural singing talent was recognized. In my grade school days I had lead parts in school holiday concerts, singing and acting and being in front of people. I had more stage experience before I turned 15 than Ashlee Simpson does now.

Speed R8cer has me considering this:

Let me make it clear that I am not defending Ashlee Simpson. I've never cared for her music or her crappy TV show on MTV but dare I say you might be coming off too harsh on something we know very little about. What was revealed in the tape you linked to was a voice track that is actually common for singers to use as an aid to their performances.

Not buying it. When you hear the voice track to "Pieces of Me" it comes in loud and audibly clear as if it's to represent Simpson's live voice. Talented singers don't require such "assistance" because they have range. Simpson's own show proved how tone deaf she is.

Just tonight she was talking to Carson Daily and has appeared to back off the band blaming, saying she's "human" and that mistakes happen. Yeah, only it’s a mistake that clearly proves you're a fraud!

A Fraud is Born

The mainstream press has finally caught on to Ashlee Simpson's SNL gaffe that is just too juicy to ignore. Not that I'm praying for this debacle to result in the end of Ms. Simpson's career, it's just that I don't respect frauds and Ashlee Simpson takes the crown on the subject of frauds. And to add salt to the injury, she had the audacity to blame the fiasco on her band; which, contrary to popular belief, does not control the dubbing of the lead "singer's" lyrics. This is just one example of the many talent-less faces that can sell records in this country, whether it be by their good looks and marketable faces, or in Simpson's case: heredity. Congrats girl, you know the system and how to milk it for every penny.

Keep on smiling Ashlee, for the end of your career is (hopefully) near!

Mailbag: What Movie Were You Watching?

Sunday, October 24, 2004

Black Rose had a different experience:

Sorry that you feel that way about this movie. In my opinion, this movie scared me more than enough. It wasn't scary because of the ghost: it was scary (because) it was disturbing. And to get to that point, it takes a lot of creativity to mess you up psychologically.

I don't deny the film's creativity and I make sure to point out in my review that there are a few chilling scenes, but to say it "messes you up psychologically" is a bit much. Thirty minutes in you know the place is haunted and a ghost will come out every time someone unwisely ventures upstairs and into the mysteriously filled bathtub. Or maybe my skin is just thicker than most.

Superman, The Grudge, and a No-Talent "Singer"

Many apologies for the lack of posting this week. Since our last update, a new Superman was selected, The Grudge disappointed, and Ashlee Simpson bailed out of her second SNL performance last night because the technician running the Talent Machine™ accidentally cued up "Pieces of Me" which was the song she "sang" in the first set.

The odd thing is that while Ashlee just stood there waiting for "Autobiography" (another joke in itself) to start up, her voice could be heard singing the intro to "Pieces of Me." Oops, it appears that Ms. Simpson lip-syncs her live performances, because to sing live would of course require talent -- and she clearly lacks in that department. You can catch the clip here. Warning, it's pretty embarrassing, but not as bad as her blaming the band during the closing credits. Uh-huh, because the band is responsible for streaming your voice through the speakers!

I was too busy partying after Florida State pulled off an ugly victory last night to catch that episode, which was -- if you care -- hosted by Jude Law. On a more interesting note, I learned that using the Blog Explosion navigator toolbar isn't that easy eight beers into the evening. If you have a blog meant for mass public viewing I recommend giving it a try.

Who's a Singer Now?

Thursday, October 21, 2004

While flipping through the channels earlier today I caught teen-star Lindsay Lohan's new music video on MTV. Lohan, the popular young actress from marketable PG films such as Freaky Friday is now working on her music career. To be fair, I only caught the last minute of the video but the pumped up synthesized beats were hardly impressive and didn't warrant a second listen.

This is indeed a sad trend, watching every pretty face go from silver screen to silver microphone. It's only fitting that I point out this quote from Avril Lavigne printed in the Irish Examiner:

"The music scene is at a weird spot right now, where it kind of seems like anybody can be a star.

"I think it's really sad and stupid, that people who have certain hookups, who are already rich and famous, can just go, 'I want a music career,' and get one.

"I'm not saying names, but there are people out there who can't even sing, popular artists who have other people singing on their records. It's lame, and it's not supposed to be that way.

"I always think it would be so much easier if I didn't have to write my own music. If I could just go through a bunch of songs that my record company thinks are hits, it would take me like a week! But it's important for me to be a part of it - I have things that I want to talk about."

I can name more than a handful of pretty blondes with not-so-pretty voices that fit this description.

Weapons for Cash Means Cash for Weapons

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

From the Tucson Citizen:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi announced plans yesterday to extend a cash-for-weapons program for Shiite fighters in Baghdad's Sadr City to cities nationwide in an attempt to disarm the country.

The government launched the program in Sadr City as part of a deal to end weeks of fighting in the Shiite district of Baghdad and has twice extended the deadline for fighters to hand in their weapons.

Yesterday, Allawi told the National Council, a government oversight body, that the program is going so well he wants to extend it to the rest of Iraq.

It failed miserably here in the U.S. and will most likely fail in Iraq. A program that offers money in exchange for weapons is going to do one thing and one thing only: give allowances to terrorists who sellback their defunct weapons so they can take that money and buy more expensive ones.

Gun policy is nothing more than a cheap, sustenance-free option for lawmakers too lazy to come up with a real solution to solving crime and violence. In Iraq, the only real solution is to root out terrorism by destroying terrorists, not by giving them cash in exchange for weapons they never planned on using anyway.

Aggressively Silent on Bill O'Reilly

Several, and I do mean several readers have e-mailed me in regards to Bill O'Reilly's recent sexual harassment suit asking why I've thus far been silent on the matter. I believe it is important that we do not jump to any conclusions because this is an extremely serious issue. A man's reputation is on the line whether he deserves it or not.

O'Reilly's accuser, Andrea Mackris, supposedly has tapes of their promiscuous phone conservations that you can read courtesy of The Smoking Gun, but it looks like a court must force her to release them unless she can show cause for why she shouldn't have to. If all the evidence is on those tapes, then what's keeping her from releasing them?

Also, a restaurant owner has testified that he has overheard Mackris making plans to destroy his career, possibly through a tell-all book. This is suspicious. I will not take sides until all the facts have been established. What I will say is that it's a shame he's had to cancel talk show appearances to promote his recently released kid's book while the litigations are taking place. Whether or not O'Reilly is guilty of any wrongdoing, it's unfortunate that he's already taking a major hit for it.

Jon "Blue" Stewart

In response to my latest post, Tim Boucher misconstrues my point on Jon Stewart's endorsement of Senator Kerry:

Since when is comedy some kind of egalitarian venture where everybody has to be included in perfectly symmetrical portions? Anyway, yeah.

I never attempted to make such an argument. Of course comedians can be politically bias and there are plenty of examples of such entertainers. You've got the master of red herring idiocy on the Left, Bill Maher, and Bush's bed-buddy, Dennis Miller, on the Right.

But The Daily show, unlike Real Time and whatever Miller's unwatched show is called, has always been a reliable source for comedy that isn't driven by an agenda. Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, SNL and MAD TV freely hammer both sides and for that are generally respected by the public...also get higher ratings. The Daily Show usually holds no cows sacred as well, but knowing that Stewart has endorsed Senator Kerry is a distracter. Nothing wrong with that but a disappointment to some. Is that related to Stewart's recent drop in ratings is the rhetorical question I raised.