Before Baio’s career began to wane, and long before Swayze’s started to wax, there was Skatetown, U.S.A. Based on the trailer, it’s some sort of homo-erotic, disco West Side Story. If the trifecta of Chachi, Dalton and that sweet description don’t whet your appetite, how about a 70s smorgasbord of a cast that features Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch), Ron Palillo (Welcome Back, Kotter), Melissa Sue Anderson (Little House on the Prairie), Flip Wilson, Ruth Buzzi and Billy Barty. Ruth Buzzi and Billy Barty? Does that mean this movie will have a pie fight?
I don’t throw words like legend and hero around casually, but that’s just what George Carlin was. He could kill with observational humor, fart jokes, political material and philosophical musings all in one special. His honesty, joke writing ability and complete mastery of the language were second to none. He didn’t suffer fools, and he had an extremely low tolerance for bullshit. To that end, this clip leads off with one of my favorite Carlin bits.
UPDATE VII: Barack Obama got around to issuing a statement and — citing what he calls "the grave threats that we face" — he just announced that he supports this warrantless eavesdropping and telecom amnesty "compromise":
Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. . . .
After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year’s Protect America Act. . . It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses.
It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives -– and the liberty –- of the American people.
Telling Americans that we have to give up basic constitutional rights — and allow rampant lawbreaking — if we want to save ourselves from "the grave threats we face" sounds awfully familiar. He says he will work to remove amnesty from the bill, but once that fails, will vote for the "compromise." Obama has obviously calculated that sacrificing the rule of law and the Fourth Amendment is a worthwhile price to pay to bolster his standing a tiny bit in a couple of swing states. The full Obama statement is here.
If you refuse to hold war criminals accountable for their actions, what fucking good are you to me?
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Dear Mr. Adams:
Thank you for your letter concerning impeachment proceedings against President Bush. I appreciate the time you took to write and welcome the opportunity to respond.
In our recent elections, the American people expressed clear disapproval with the path this country was on. They are tired of partisan politics and of an Administration that pays little heed to the wishes of the American people. They want-and deserve-a Congress that holds the Administration accountable and fulfills its Constitutional responsibility to check and balance the Executive. I share this sentiment and am determined to work hard and across party lines in the United States Senate to promote issues that are of real concern to most Americans, including the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, homeland security, global warming, and lobbying and election reform.
At this time, however, I believe that impeachment proceedings against President Bush will only divide the country even further, frustrating our hopes for a meaningful change in direction, while having little chance of success.
I have been deeply disappointed by many of this Administration’s actions and have been outspoken in those instances. Nevertheless, given the challenges our country faces I believe that we need to focus on constructive and cooperative steps that would lead us in the right direction.
Again, thank you for your continued correspondence. If you have any further questions or comments, please contact my office in Washington, D.C. at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.
One more smart, funny Black face on TV. One less smart, funny Black comic in LA taking stage time away from me. I’d say this is win-win. Great start, Wyatt!
