June 19, 2004, Ugly American Blows Off Gorgeous Ukrainian
I'll discuss this story from this week's visit to Pravda about how pageant organizer Donald "the Donald" Trump blew off Sasha, "Miss Ukraine", at the Miss Universe pageant in Ecuador, in favor of "his type", blue eyed blond Miss Australia... but first...
Even I have finally tired of bashing the President. There are two real problems about this bashing that I discussed with the Unseen Editor: (1) We in New York almost universally feel this way, but we still command barely 6% of the electoral college, and much of the rest of the American people actually support Bush, or more likely, simply don't give it too much thought, and probably more importantly, (2) the feckless Democrats are giving Bush and the Bushmen a complete and total pass. Its the second that concerns me. Al Gore is certainly saying what needs to be said, but a media
that hated and marginalized him when he was running for President (there is a famous incident of NBC-- and Columbia College grad-- Claire Shipman being chewed out by NBC generalissimo Jack Welch... NBC is a broadcaster owned by a defense contractor... "fair and balanced" indeed... for NOT bashing Al Gore while covering his campaign; her bureau chief-- one Tim Russert-- just idly let the chewing out continue) has now portrayed him as a mad man, so, like Cassandra, his utterances of pure truth fall flat, or unheard and certainly unheeded.
I could, however, think of one Democrat of national stature who is more or less universally respected on matters of state (I won't state "affairs of state" for obvious reasons), and that of course, is the Big Dog himself. Now, a cynical bastard (me?) might say that the Big Dog is more interested in shlepping his (assuredly record breaking) book right now. But all publicity is good: just imagine if the former President of the United States and husband of the Junior Senator from Ground Zero decided to make the following statement (its a bold statement, so I'll bold it): "I don't mean to break a protocol I have set for myself and criticize the current President-- but there is a limit. I remained mute on the question of whether to have the Iraq war, and frankly, I don't care what your position is with respect to that war. In the conduct of that war, the President and others responsible for the inhumane treatment of prisoners and others in our custody have committed the gravest of breaches-- they have put Americans captured on the field of battle, or indeed, traveling or living abroad-- in the gravest of danger. The protections of our treaties are to maximize the possibility that Americans in the position of captured combatants are treated humanely and legally. The deliberate decision to break this is illegal, immoral, and endangers Americans. It is wrong. And the American people are about to see images of the systematic torture of children in front of their parents. This is barbaric... this is the conduct engaged in by the most savage of the enemies we have been called on to defeat. It is a debasement of all that is good about this nation, and it is unacceptable. The American people are entitled-- no, obliged-- to bring those responsible to account."
Bill Clinton could say it-- and it would be heard. And frankly, he would sell twice as many books (hell-- I'd buy a couple, if he said that). It would be absolutely not partisan-- no mention of the election, or Kerry. Just a simple theme: the deliberate decision of the United States government to sanction barbarism of the most savage variety (torture of children for Christ's sake) has crossed every line of decenty we have-- and nothing justifies it NOTHING. If a nuclear bomb were about to go off in New York-- that doesn't justify it and I live in New York, It is an outrage that needs to be talked about every day by someone important between now and the day those responsible are brought to account for this. Sadly, someone cynical (me?) feels Bill's muteness on this (while still managing to tell us he had Ms. Lewinsky perform oral sex on him "because he could") is because he would prefer Senator Kerry to lose the upcoming election.
Ah, but I would instantly laud the Big Dog's moral stature (and might even refer to him as a "man of principle"-- the way I do of the Sainted Al Gore and John McCain, and even of former President Carter) if he, instead, made a statement similar to the one I wrote for him. I'll not be holding my breath. (Oh-- btw-- I will give Kerry-- and only Kerry-- a pass on this, because the assumption is that anything he says is "politically motivated"; everyone else, including his veep prosects and the entire Congress-- both parties, but especially the Democrats-- should be taking this-- torture of children-- as the ultimate insult-- and never shutting up about it. Never. I assure you-- not doing it is more risky than doing it. Unless, of course, Ralph Nader is right that for most practical purposes, both parties are equally worthless.)
Anyway-- there, I said it. Much as I'm enjoying the general melt-down, I will probably tone it down a bit, lest I be perceived as... "partisan". (LOL).
Back to the Donald. Its good to be a billionaire with a thing for nice-looking ladies who owns an international beauty pageant, don't you think? Its not, of course, that Miss Australia isn't herself gorgeous; its simply a question of promoting the Donald's parochial (and boring) American tastes over what seemed to be a consensus of the judges and most of the world that other, more exotic-to-our-American-sensibilities women were just better and more deserving candidates for the Miss Universe Crown. But then, this is kind of what "modernity" means, no? China flooding irredeemable cultural treasures in its Three Gorges Dam project to power more ugly buildings in Shanghai; India doing similar things; extended families have long since broken down; lots of things-- most things-- that for all of human history, made us human, are being replaced and discarded in the name of "modernity". The Donald's tastes seem to favor the sort of bland homogeneity of the American Mid-west (think Marla Maples-- and even when he was married to an exotic Czech skier-- she had a Midwestern blonde hairstyle) where a huge proportion of young ladies dye their hair blonde (relatively few are natural blondes, though a good number are) which appeals to the uniquely bland American sensibility.
I better watch it: if I keep saying less than glowing things about this country, Pravda will ask ME to write for them!
Comments
Whoa TD.
When you talk of "modernity" replacing what made us human - in what made us human, are you including no abortion, no gay marriage, governmental recognition of God - that sort of thing?
Posted by Dave the Chimp at June 19, 2004 06:31 PM
I have to say that, in the matter of Bill Clinton, I sometimes wonder who really stood by him when he needed it. I would have to go back and check the record, but if he didn't get the support he needed from his fellow Democrats, and from Kerry in particular, I wouldn't say I could blame him for hanging back now. He paid his dues for his party. And it had to be insulting when he didn't get to stump for Gore, because he should have been begged to do so.
As for Trump, well, look, it's all a matter of taste. I don't like red hair. Met plenty of perfectly fine redheads, but they turned me off. Taste is taste. It doesn't matter, ultimately, because there's a pot for every lid. Hmmm. A lid of pot. Haven't heard that expression in years.
Posted by WallyCoxLives at June 19, 2004 10:52 PM
Dave--
I'm more talking about the 70 hour American workweek at soulless jobs, and then going home along our packed freeways to our tract housing and eating our frozen dinners sort of things... I wasn't making a point about particular political issues... besides, I think you know where I stand on them (no abortion-- state by state political issue; no gay marriage-- state by state political issue; governmental recognition of God-- implicitly done by the polity though expressly prohibited by the Constitution).
WCL--
Bill Clinton got the support he needed at the time that it mattered: not a single Democratic senator voted for his impeachment, and IIRC, no more than a dozen Democratic House members did either. Let's face it: the guy who made it hard to support Bill Clinton on that Monica-gate *&^% was Bill Clinton-- he just kept putting his foot into it deeper... and deeper. I still believe that the man, while an effective President, is not a gentleman. Had he been, the correct deposition answer to "affair with Lewinsky?" is "a gentleman doesn't answer-- or ASK a question like that; while in olden days I'd challenge you to a duel for asking, now, I must be content simply not to answer-- default in the lawsuit be damned." I was ESPECIALLY hoping he would give a similar answer to why he had the affair with Ms. Lewinsky AT ALL-- rather than the piggish "because I could"-- simply, "a gentleman doesn't answer... etc." As to Gore, the man was in a tough spot-- Clinton's overall popularity was strong, but not so in some key swing states Gore needed. Plus, I'm not sure Gore likes Clinton.
As to Kerry-- hey, I certainly don't blame Clinton for showing no enthusiasm for a guy I can show no enthusiasm for. But as I said-- my little statement is more about not being a Democrat-- but an American-- and indeed, a civilized human being. I wouldn't worry; Clinton'll be in downtown NYC on Wed. signing books-- if the line's not too long, maybe I'll ask him about this (LOL).
Posted by the talking dog at June 20, 2004 01:25 AM
My message today is simple....a sincere Happy Father's Day to all dads....
TD......Thanks for your words that provoke thought and smiles....I might miss the bashing a bit, but sometimes it's necessary to take a breather. To all a good day!
Posted by alicia at June 20, 2004 10:01 AM
TD, you can't separate the two.
Posted by Dave the Chimp at June 20, 2004 11:56 AM
You know what Dave? I think I agree with you.
But its kind of like the pledge thing: there's the "correct answer" (yes-- its blatantly unconstitutional) and the "right answer") this will, for something irrelevant, needless piss off too many people who we need on board for more important things.
I'll give you my haiku of the day:
If God wanted us
all secular, He would have
given us free will.
The old book "Zen and the Art of MOtorcycle Maintenance" used the term "quality" to describe what I'm talking about. Our food doesn't taste quite as good as it once did (or as it does in places where they treat food differently), but damn, we have a lot of it and its cheap. We ALWAYS seem to opt for "more, bigger, faster"... while seldom asking... "is this better?"
I'm not knocking a system that has doubled or tripled life expectancy, and made our poor live like or better than the royalty of old-- I can't argue with that. However, we have some dark sides-- separation of science and spirit, maybe?
Let's just say... "to be continued". The march of modernity is neither an unmitigated good or bad-- but we have to watch what its doing.
If applicable, Happy Fathers Day!
Posted by the talking dog at June 20, 2004 12:05 PM
Hi Mr. Talking Dog,
You are the best! I agree with what you're saying about the Big Dog -- he has a chance to steer your country out of the jaws of madness by making the statement you suggest... and influencing public opinion... let's hope he does (but I won't hold my breath).
... If the pictures you talk about (children being tortured) come out... and Bush is elected for a second term... the rest of the world will take it to mean that Americans endorse torture of the vilest kind... Not only will the U.S. loose (even more) respect around the world, it will become pretty much impossible for them to accomplish anything good in Iraq or the Middle East as they will have completely and utterly lost the moral high ground.
A Canuck watching in Shock+Awe
P.S. BTW, it's hopeless to be wringing your hands over the boring tastes of a stupid cur like the Donald -- he's the kind that would prefer Alpo over a real steak.
Posted by Dena at June 20, 2004 12:52 PM
Well, TG, you'll get no argument from me as to what the gentlemanly thing to do may be. On the other hand, the gentlemanly thing to do is not cheat on your wife. Still, I don't beat my breast about that, because that's between Bill Clinton and Senator Clinton. And it should have been from the start. I do hope he takes to the stump on Kerry's behalf, because he was the best campaigner I had seen in my lifetime. He connects with people, and I want to see him connecting on behalf of someone I like. And I, though I fear I am fairly isolated in this, LIKE Kerry. I'm glad he got the nomination and I look forward to his presidency. But isolated or not, I'll gladly have you all voting for JFK on the basis of ABB. Wish I could get into NYC to get WJC to sign a book for me. I liked WJC too, a lot, as president. All the weasles trying to down Kerry by attacking Bill are...I just said "weasles" already, didn't I?
Posted by WallyCoxLives at June 21, 2004 10:34 AM
What shame the Donald has brought upon this country.
At least Bubba chased a whole variety of beastly women because he could, instead of doing the dishonorable thing of going after good looking ones.
Posted by They Call Me Mr. Crabcake at June 21, 2004 11:51 AM
As General J.C. Christian points out on his blog, if Clinton had been an honorable man he would have shifted the blame for all of his mistakes to someone else instead of taking responsibility.
Posted by WallyCoxLives at June 21, 2004 11:57 AM
When did he take responsibility for his actions? In 2004? How about being a man in 1998, and stating unequivocally that this was a personal matter between himself and his wife. Regardless of the consequences, politically and financially. Instead, he lied to our faces, committed perjury in court, and destroyed the lives, careers and fortunes of his biggest friends and supporters. (All while ignoring the onslaught of Al Qaeda) TD speaks of a fondness for this two termer. He should have done two terms at Leavenworth. Show me any person that was in his vast inner circle, with the exception of McAuliffe, that still admires and supports him.
Posted by They Call Me Mr. Crabcake at June 21, 2004 06:43 PM
What country have you been in? Oh, I see. You want me to sit here and get into all THAT again.
Sometimes the people on the net are too f-ing weird and retro, mentally, for me to deal with. Thanks, but no thanks. If I spend as much time as some people seem to demand explaining history, and dealing with their personnel vendettas and prejudices, I expect to get paid for it. Tell you what, you tell me how much you will pay for the service and we'll work something out. This is the second time you turned all attack dog on me, frankly, you can stuff it. Go play assinine games with someone else with your pretend indignation.
Posted by WallyCoxLives at June 21, 2004 09:12 PM
Hey, can the rest of my body ramble too or what?
And notice, only one word in all caps, and it's not a swear word.
Pass the polka dot sauce, time to see spots!!!
Posted by WallyCox'sLiver at June 21, 2004 11:40 PM
Well, it has at least become obvious that the Crabcake guy and the Liver guy are the same character posting under different names. I suspected it before, but this thread made it clear. I guess he figures if he attacks someone from two different names, it will be intimidating, like I'm being ganged up on. Whatever.
Posted by WallyCoxLives at June 22, 2004 08:28 AM
Gee, Wally.
I thought I was attacking Clinton, and not you. But have fun with your ego anyway.
Signed,
The Beaver
P.S. Thanks for the compliment, but I am not your liver.
P.P.S. PRETEND indignation? PRETEND? Hey, that does work better with all caps.
Posted by They Call Me Mr. Crabcake at June 22, 2004 11:16 AM
Gentlemen, gentlemen... this is supposed to be a happy blog... let's not argue and bicker about who flamed who...
Posted by the talking dog at June 22, 2004 11:21 AM
Fake extra personnas, fake indignation, hyperbole about two terms in Leavenworth.
Don't bug me.
And TG, it's a nice blog, but all the blogs suffer from the Crabs eventually. I just get really tired of them popping up with their bogus arguments and hyperbole, their pretend indignation, their breast-beating outrage. Who needs it? You voice an opinion and some people will discuss it in a rational manner, but then you have the Crabs, and they're a little too excitable for my taste. Leavenworth. Right. Ruined lives and careers. Right. Such nonsense, such a selective memory, if there is any memory there at all. And always the pretend indignation. Such a bunch of phonies. So I get annoyed. So sue me.
Posted by WallyCoxLives at June 22, 2004 11:47 AM
I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of the Crabcake Party.
Sure, I have my own problems, but imitation crabcakes won't solve them.
But, seriously, when you indict the crabcake system, you indict the whole ecosystem, and I won't stand for that.
Posted by WallyCox'sLiver at June 22, 2004 12:09 PM
WCL--
Based on their computer i.d.'s (and other information that neither I nor the vice-president are free to share with you or the 9-11 commission), Crabcakes and WCLiver are, in fact, not the same person... though at times, it seems that they might as well be! However, from the magic of Movable Type's logs, it does appear that "Hassan Bar Sinister" and "Bernie Z." both post from the White House.
Posted by the talking dog at June 22, 2004 03:17 PM
I stand by the rest of it, then. My apologies to Liver, though he oughtn't to have played off my unique name.
But who is this Hassan Bar Sinister? I have no files on him?
Posted by WallyCoxLives at June 22, 2004 03:30 PM
Oh, that's just great TD...a guy in the White House is making fun of my draft fears...man, he really is sinister!
(BTW, I agree, this is a nice blog)
Posted by alicia at June 22, 2004 04:24 PM
Nice blog, yes.
Even the evil comments are nice.
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Hello Hassan....Push-ups are going well... :)
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Alicia, Dear Alicia,
I am happy to hear of your progress with the push-ups.
I wish I could watch all American women doing push-ups.
But, usually I have to pay for that.
Posted by Hassan Bar Sinister at June 23, 2004 03:47 PM
Hassan....More info than necessary....you must invest in a T.V. :)
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