Friday, August 31, 2007

A Cloud Placed Over Idaho


Since it's Caligula's birthday, it's as good a time as any to drop the Larry Craig bomb. The ego and hypocrisy of his ilk stupefies the mind.

“Please let me apologize to my family friends and staff, and fellow Idahoans, for the cloud placed over Idaho,” he said. “I did nothing wrong and I regret the decision to plead guilty and the sadness that decision has brought on my family, friends, staff and fellow Idahoans, and for that I apologize.” (August 28, 2007. Source: Idaho Statesman).

The Republican senator is a fool in a long list of them. His kinky little activities are one thing -- his conservative voting record is another. It's also another example of why lightly populated states don't deserve two senators -- especially when more populated areas like DC and Puerto Rico have none. Now a figure of fun, Craig will be forced out of office. Only to be replaced, no doubt, by another fool.

Elsewhere in the brazen fool department, defrocked New Life Church leader Ted Haggard has the audacity to ask the public at large to send him -- and his wife -- money so they can continue to live at the level of comfort they enjoyed before his gay sex scandal.

Haggard: "It looks as though it will take two years for us to have adequate earning power again, so we are looking for people who will help us monthly for two years . . . . . During that time we will continue as full-time students, and then, when I graduate, we won't need outside support any longer." (Source: "Fallen Pastor Seeks Financial Support," Associated Press, August 25, 2007).

Dear readers: I could use some extra earning power, too. If you'd like to send me some, email with the details. (Kidding!)


Birthday's today: James Coburn's and Van Morrison's. Van's father George lived in the Detroit area (in Saint Clair Shores at one time) before returning to Northern Ireland. George's exposure here influenced Van's musical tastes with American blues, jazz, and pop.

Coburn was a perfect tough guy actor. Though usually good in everything, I'll plug The President's Analyst (1967) -- much about governmental wiretapping -- and Affliction (1997). Very much of the Steve McQueen school.

Today's Rune: Harvest.

Birthdays: Caligula ("Bootsy"), Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier, Fredric March (Bickel), William Saroyan, Richard Basehart, Daniel Schorr, Buddy Hackett (Leonard Hacker), James Coburn, Van Morrison, Itzhak Perlman, Chris Whitley, Phina Oruche.

Hasta la vista! Grand Prix and the Detroit Jazz Festival this weekend.

8 comments:

MacGuffin said...

Haggert's level of nerve is astonishing. But now that he's "cured", I wonder how much he'll rake in?

Anonymous said...

You are the only other person I personally know who knows that "Caligula" actually means (literally) "Bootsie".

What I don't understand is how Senator Craig could actually have thought that he was anything but doomed as a politician even a week ago. The level of denial is staggering - on so many levels. Haggert, on the other hand, is no surprise. These guys always do the "Jesus has forgiven me, why can't you?" bit. (I'm sure Jesus probably has, but that's not the
*$#*&ing point!)

Ave atque vale, Larry Craig...

JR's Thumbprints said...

Interesting fact about Van's father. Also, you're absolutely right, why should some states have toe-tappin' senators when other more populated areas have none? Let's give Senator Craig the benefit of the doubt--he was trying to give the guy in the next stall a business card.

the walking man said...

What I find to be so peculiar about Taggert and Craig is their consistent votes and rants against same sex couples. God never gave a shit one way or the other towards their orientation but the hypocrisy on the other hand is another matter.

I don't agree though with proportioning the senate by population, we do that with the house and look at what a political cluster fuck that is.

Very funny Jim I almost pissed myself on that one! Maybe as a US Senator he was above flushing his own toilet and wanted the guy in the next stall to come and do it for him...oh no wait a minute he did flush his own toilet didn't he.

Peace

mark

Charles Gramlich said...

I'm sure there will be people who send him money. The "sheeple" as Lana calls them. I think more than anything it is the hypocrisy that I see in public office that depresses me.

Johnny Yen said...

The President's Analyst is one of my favorite movies, and Coburn was one of my favorite actors. I loved the "Flint" movies, which spoofed the Bond movies-- though how do you spoof a spoof?

There's a story about Phil Ochs in the audience at the Troubador, watching Van Morrison. He had a meltdown because Morrison didn't play Madame George, his favorite Van Morrison song, and tore a sink out in the bathroom.

Lana Gramlich said...

Craig & Haggart are good arguments for banishment--like to the moon, perhaps? Unfortunately, they're also good examples of just how f*cking STUPID the sheeple are, too...

the walking man said...

Can we get an AMEN on what the sister Lana said? *the crowd in unison hollers amen and thank you Jesus for helping these once lost souls*