“Rock music has come to a standstill — it’s not going forward any more, it only bores me.”
–Sting, who hasn’t recorded anything of interest since the early 1980s. And who can forget his Jaguar ad from a few years back, in which Gordon Sumner informed us driving a luxury sedan is what “rock stars dream about.”
“You’ve changed, man. It used to be about the music.” — Milhouse van Houten
The M.C. has an agenda, and it’s fairly sinister (imagine Tom Cruise opening a Scientology indoctrination camp for African orphans) — 
Madonna’s disastrous public-relations effort in the small African country of Malawi only gets worse. I can tell you that she has started a new charitable foundation, Raising Malawi, to help orphans in that country, but that the whole thing is a front for the Kabbalah Centre in Hollywood.
The charity, Raising Malawi, is designed to spread the word of Philip Berg’s Kabbalah Centre, his own version of Kabbalah beliefs and mysticism, through Malawi’s orphaned children.
Indeed, the Web site for Raising Malawi, the new charity, tells the whole story. The entire organization is run by the Bergs as a kind of missionary program for Africa, with Madonna as the leading proselytizer.
Unlike U2’s Bono, who’s merely trying to send money to Africa by pushing the sales of red phones and T-shirts, Madonna is preaching as she disseminates her funds and largesse.
That’s what some Republicans want the GOP to become (and it’s well on its way). Some people are never satisfied:
"The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party," said Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a Christian advocacy group. "All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns." …
A recent incident that upset social conservatives involved remarks by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week. With First Lady Laura Bush looking on, Rice swore in Mark R. Dybul as U.S. global AIDS coordinator while his partner, Jason Claire, held the Bible. Claire’s mother was in the audience, and Rice referred to her as Dybul’s "mother-in-law."
"The Republican Party is taking pro-family conservatives for granted," said Mike Mears, executive director of the political action committee of Concerned Women for America, which promotes biblical values. "What Secretary Rice did just the other day is going to anger quite a few people."
It’s not just anger at Rice that worries Republicans; it’s the possible effect on evangelical voters next month.
The Dybul incident "was totally a damper to the base that we need to turn out," said the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, a California lobbying group that focuses on religious and social issues.
That would be tight-assed hatemongers, otherwise known as "the base."
That’s what some Republicans want the GOP to become (and it’s well on its way). Some people are never satisfied:
"The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party," said Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a Christian advocacy group. "All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns." …
A recent incident that upset social conservatives involved remarks by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week. With First Lady Laura Bush looking on, Rice swore in Mark R. Dybul as U.S. global AIDS coordinator while his partner, Jason Claire, held the Bible. Claire’s mother was in the audience, and Rice referred to her as Dybul’s "mother-in-law."
"The Republican Party is taking pro-family conservatives for granted," said Mike Mears, executive director of the political action committee of Concerned Women for America, which promotes biblical values. "What Secretary Rice did just the other day is going to anger quite a few people."
It’s not just anger at Rice that worries Republicans; it’s the possible effect on evangelical voters next month.
The Dybul incident "was totally a damper to the base that we need to turn out," said the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, a California lobbying group that focuses on religious and social issues.
That would be tight-assed hatemongers, otherwise known as "the base."
"We’re making a stand, a freaky stand!"
One of the more underrated "Simpsons" episodes, in which Homer unwittingly dopes Springfield.
"We’re making a stand, a freaky stand!"
One of the more underrated "Simpsons" episodes, in which Homer unwittingly dopes Springfield.
Sure, he’s a bigot, a homophobe, and, as demonstrated here, terrible on TV (linked clip includes probably the most egregious attack ad ever produced). But bigots and homophobes like him don’t come along every day — even in Congress — so I’m rooting for Vernon Robinson.
Come on, North Carolina, give ‘ol Vern just one term in Washington, for me and all those other bloggers out there who would be lost without his bluster. The guy’s the easiest of targets, and the Malcontent can’t ever get enough of those.
As you read this story, ponder why there’s a need for "free speech zones" on college campuses. Does that mean free speech is not allowed outside of those zones? 
Officials at Marquette University have ordered a Ph.D. student to remove a quotation critical of the federal government from his office door, because the hallway the door faces is not a "free speech zone."
In August, Stuart Distler, a doctoral student teacher, posted a quotation from humor columnist Dave Barry on his office door. "As Americans, we must always remember that we all have a common enemy, an enemy that is dangerous, powerful and relentless," the sign stated. "I refer, of course, to the federal government."
On Sept. 5, Philosophy Department Chairman James South informed Distler via email that the sign had been taken down because it was "patently offensive."
"While I’m a strong supporter of academic freedom," South wrote, "I’m afraid that hallways and office doors are not ‘free-speech zones.’ If material is patently offensive and has no obvious academic import or university sanction, I have little choice but to take note."
So now Dave Barry is considered subversive. Very scary. Besides, the quote in question is not offensive, but largely accurate.
"Rock music has come to a standstill — it’s not going forward any more, it only bores me."
–Sting, who hasn’t recorded anything of interest since the early 1980s. And who can forget his Jaguar ad from a few years back, in which Gordon Sumner informed us driving a luxury sedan is what "rock stars dream about."
"You’ve changed, man. It used to be about the music." — Milhouse van Houten
And his opponenent, Brad Miller, does not. Vernon Robinson, challenging the Democratic incumbent for a House seat in North Carolina, implied that makes Miller gay, overlooking the fact Miller’s wife had a hysterectomy more than two decades ago.
But that hasn’t stopped Robinson from staying on the offensive. Emphasis on offensive:
Robinson, who has run a series of brash advertisements about the two-term Democratic congressman, charged that Miller wants to import homosexuals to the United States and supported scientific studies that would pay teenage girls to watch pornography.
“Those are San Francisco values, not North Carolina values,” said Robinson, repeating a common theme of his campaign.
And a common Republican cliche. This guy makes Tom DeLay look like George McGovern.
