Almodovar: Six Inches

As reported by Jo Piazza of FOX News: “Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's latest thriller, "The Skin I Live In" had filmgoers fleeing the theater Thursday night at its gala premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, due to some aggressively violent and disturbing content.”

Something similar happened on ‘The Lou Dobbs (radio talk) Show’ starting yesterday when Dobbs declared most stridently that Benjamin Netanyahu owes Barack Obama an apology for publicly speaking to him in ‘that tone’ during joint statements with the press in attendance. What followed was highly disturbing radio in which both guests and listeners were reduced to incoherence while bludgeoned by Dobbs’ highly combative beat-down style.

I have always been suspicious of Dobbs. There had at one time been talk of Dobbs throwing his hat into the ring. I truly thought he might try it. Though his words seemed tailored to serve this purpose, I felt there was always an undertone of insincerity, limitless arrogance, and touch of dementia.

It is perhaps appropriate to note that in search of ratings, those so engaged will seek ever higher realms of outrage to aspire to in an effort to garner attention in an increasingly crowded field. Almodovar no doubt has proven over and over again that he is a genius director. His latest offering, however, seems to have crossed a line, and I will not be going to see it.

Few have been more consistent in their criticism of Barack Obama’s policies than Dobbs. It has earned him a considerable following among the like-minded, some of whom had switch from brain-dead booster Hannity. To now suddenly turn on his audience, characterizing the Israeli PM as rude and downright ignorant while ignoring Obama’s own avalanche transgressions, is at the very least insensitive.

Most, but the most ardent Jew haters and Marxists, would agree that Obama had it coming. They were relieved that at least someone had finally stood up to this flame-throwing ideologue, even if it took someone from another country to do it. God knows, our own have been tip-toeing around this rogue elephant, lest they be called nasty names.

Which brings to mind the question: Why are so many, on the Republican side, so loath to run for high office, turning our roster of candidates into a virtual revolving door? Obviously, they’ve looked around and seen how others are treated, and reached the conclusion: Who needs it? Moses too was reluctant to lead.

Leadership in this country has been turned into an exercise in self-flagellation – particularly on the Republican side. I suspect that even Gingrich saw it coming and purposely torpedoed himself as to fashion a (not so) graceful way out.

We’ve reached the end of the line as a nation. Not only have our problems become so immense as to defy solution, but the media attacks have become intolerably cruel. No one in their right mind can afford to subject themselves to that – especially people who value their families first and foremost.

Looking at it another way, imagine our candidates as pole-vaulters. In order for Republicans to qualify, they must get over a bar set at 6 meters. Democrats, on the other hand, merely need to clear six inches.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

CPAC blah, blah, blah...

McCotter has it exactly right. He gets it. Unfortunately, nobody is listening. Or, those who are listening have nothing to say about what our government is presently doing. Actually, there’s now a consensus in this country on a wide range of issues. The problem is that the tail continues to wag the dog.

You mean to say that passing Obamacare was a good idea? No. I do believe hardly anyone agrees with it - especially the people in the health care field. Yet, it was shoved through in a nasty, unconstitutional way, and now we’re apparently stuck with it. There’s virtually no chance of repeal. Republicans will try, but will run into so much static; it almost won’t be worth the effort. Same with every other bill that has become law during the Obama administration’s first two years in office.

Even after it came out that ‘global warming’ was a hoax, Obama and Democrats are still pushing their ‘green’ agenda. Gas is now well above $3.00 a gallon. (I believe they want it to go up to around five.) Food prices are rising. U.S. debt is rising. Internationally, dominos are falling… It’s all going to hell in a hand basket, much of which, despite what anybody says, is the direct result of our current administration‘s policies. It would now take but a feather to knock us down and out for good.

What is our government’s response? More of the same. Everything is fine. Prosperity is just around the corner. Voices, like McCotter’s are routinely ignored, discredited and marginalized by our own media. Any attempt to fix things is continually upstaged by events, sidetracked amid the din of ever escalating crisis.

There’s little chance of making headway now and for at least the next two years. By that time, it could well be over for us.

This winter alone, we’ve had to dig our cars out of snow banks no less than three times already. This was even before we could make it out into the street. Each time took longer to set things right. It wasn’t impossible. But each time the city plows passed by, they managed to throw even more snow into our driveway.

So too it is with a government seemingly determined to diminish our once great nation. We ought to be doing more than just make speeches. ‘Organizing For America’ (emphasis on ‘organizing’) still seems to be the only game in town. The rest is just endless talk about polls, put-downs, and ratings. Truly, I don’t see how we can last another two years, much less six.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Let's See How It Plays

Olbermann gone, but not forgotten. Perhaps it all boils down to ratings after all. Olbermann has always been near the bottom of the heap. He has talent, no doubt. His talent was overshadowed by his bias. Once bias has been freely and audaciously exhibited, there is no longer any need to watch. Everyone already knew what was coming.

Olbermann is much too smart to let this happen. I suspect he was encouraged all the way. He knew that his ratings suffered. (They all know.) In fact, he had much larger audiences than what was obvious when his clips were played on much more successful shows. These made him out to be a clown and he readily obliged. Why?

I suspect it’s some version of the ‘fairness doctrine’ again: Olbermann on the Left; Beck on the right. “We’ll get rid of Olbermann, if you get rid of Beck. In fact, let’s get rid of the whole bunch of them: We’ll get rid of MSNBC; you’ll get rid of FOX. Let’s start with Beck and Olbermann and see how it plays.”
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"Despite the fact that Democrat policies are hugely unpopular, two factors have enabled the party to continue to present itself as mainstream.

“The first factor has been the media. As has been their practice forever, it seems; the media have helped Democrats by demonizing the Republicans and rightist politicians. Working hand in glove with leftist politicians, the media have implemented the politics of personal destruction against right-wing leaders. By demonizing the likes of Bush, Cheney, Palin, Limbaugh et al, they have rendered the social cost of supporting Republicans and the Right too high for many Americans to bear.

“At the same time, the media have colluded with the Left to present leftist leaders as earthy, heroic, sophisticated and responsible statesmen. By keeping the content of their policies firmly out of the discussion and framing the debate instead around personal attacks and symbols, the media have successfully kept conservative leaders on the defensive and shielded leftist politicians from substantive attacks on their radical policies.“

The preceding has been taken from Caroline Glick’s latest article in the Jerusalem Post. It is not about America. It is about Israel. I’ve taken the liberty of changing a few words.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/