TWO FAMOUS BILLS
I was a fan of Bill Cosby. I was never a fan of Bill Clinton. I remember telling anybody & everybody who would listen that the Bill Clinton administration would undoubtedly be judged as the most corrupt in American political history. Nothing has happened to change my mind.
I grew up listening to Bill Cosby's comedy records. I watched his Fat Albert cartoon show. I loved him on "I Spy." And I really, really liked "The Cosby Show."
Then came all the stunning allegations of his taking advantage of women after having drugged them. His recent admissions, given while being legally deposed, seem to confirm those allegations. You might say it's been a little disillusioning. And now New York Magazine has come out w/a cover story about the women who claim he's sexually assaulted them against their will. Their pictures are on the front cover.
I use words like "allegations" & "claim," not because I don't believe them but because, as far as I know, he hasn't been convicted of any crimes.
Here's what I find fascinating. I cannot recall this magazine or, for that matter, any other periodical of the main stream media [& I even hesitate to use apply this term to this particular magazine, since, as I'm sure how many people even read it. It's NEW YORK magazine, NOT the NEW YORKER.] ever doing a cover story of the women who have, over time, stepped forward to make allegations against our former president, let alone print their pictures on a front cover.
Any stories I remember seem to have been slanted to cast serious doubt on the integrity & moral character of these women. Do I detect a double-standard? I would scream "racism," but then I've heard Bill Clinton referred to as "the first black president" many times.
OUR PRESIDENT'S LEGACY
Excerpts from Norfolk Daily News (7/30): "Third term? Obama says no thanks. Could President Barack Obama win a third term in office? He's convinced that he could, but would really rather not . . . 'I actually think I'm a pretty good president,' Obama said. 'I think if I ran, I could win. But I can't!' [Your modesty is commendable, Mr. President, but just to make sure you maintain a modicum of humility, I offer this.]
From NDN (7/30): "Government finds health law co-ops awash in red ink. "Nonprofit co-ops, the health care law's public-spirited alternative to mega-insurers, are awash in red ink & many have fallen short of sign-up goals, a govern audit has found. Under President Barack Obama's overhaul, taxpayers provided $2.4 billion loans to get the co-ops going, but only one out of 23--the one in Maine--made money last year . . . Another one, the Iowa/Nebraska co-op, was shut down by regulators over financial concerns . . . The probe raised concerns about whether federal loans will be repaid . . . 'The low enrollments & net losses might limit the ability of some co-ops to repay startup & solvency loans, & to remain viable & sustainable,' said the audit report." [Working as promised. Wait . . . what?]
OH, IN THAT CASE . . .
Excerpt from Twin Cities Star Tribune (7/21): "Franken: I was joking years ago about McCain. Senator condemns Trump's comment, says he respects McCain's 'feat of courage.' Sen. Al Franken on Monday said that remarks he made more than 15 yrs ago--before he became a senator--about Sen. McCain's military career were a joke. The MN Democrat's remarks are similar to those of Donald Trump, who ignited a firestorm after telling a crowd in IA on Saturday that McCain is 'not a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured.'
"Franken said he told a similar joke on his radio show, during an episode where McCain . . . was a guest in 2004. Franken said Monday that MCain understood the intent of the joke, & he praised the Republican senator for his 'amazing feat of courage.'
"Franken's remarks also appeared in a 2000 Salon article. The story quotes Franken as saying, 'I have tremendous respect for McCain, but I don't buy the war hero thing. Anybody can be captured. I thought the idea was to capture them. As far as I'm concerned, he was sat out the war.'" [OK, I'm just a little confused. He says he told "a similar joke." But he "condemns Trump's comment." Wait, I just remembered. Al Franken USED to be a comedian, AND he's a Democrat, so the phrase "a matter of good taste" is completely irrelevant. And why did he even bring it up in the first place? Did he foresee someone else recalling his remarks from 15 yrs ago & wanted to get on top of any potential "firestorm?" You are so lucky you have the Star Tribune flacking for you, Al!]
SHAMELESS JOKE STEALING
From Omaha World Herald (7/31): "Breaking Brad, Lampooning the Latest Sports News, by Brad Dickson: Now that the Nebraska 100 [greatest athletes' series] is complete, the World Herald is compiling a list of the top 100 Republican candidates for president in 2016." [emphasis added]
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