Ebert v O'Reilly

This is an editorial that Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun Times the other day.

"To: Bill O'Reilly
From: Roger Ebert

Dear Bill: Thanks for including the Chicago Sun-Times on your exclusive list of newspapers on your "Hall of Shame." To be in an O'Reilly Hall of Fame would be a cruel blow to any newspaper. It would place us in the favor of a man who turns red and starts screaming when anyone disagrees with him. My grade-school teacher, wise Sister Nathan, would have called in your parents and recommended counseling with Father Hogben.

Yes, the Sun-Times is liberal, having recently endorsed our first Democrat for President since LBJ. We were founded by Marshall Field one week before Pearl Harbor to provide a liberal voice in Chicago to counter the Tribune, which opposed an American war against Hitler. I'm sure you would have sided with the Trib at the time.

I understand you believe one of the Sun-Times misdemeanors was dropping your syndicated column. My editor informs me that "very few" readers complained about the disappearance of your column, adding, "many more complained about Nancy." I know I did. That was the famous Ernie Bushmiller comic strip in which Sluggo explained that "wow" was "mom" spelled upside-down.

Your column ran in our paper while it was owned by the right-wing polemicists Conrad Black (Baron Black of Coldharbour) and David Radler. We dropped it to save a little money after they looted the paper of millions. Now you call for an advertising boycott. It is unusual to observe a journalist cheering for a newspaper to fail. At present the Sun-Times has no bank debt, but labors under the weight of millions of dollars in tax penalties incurred by Lord Black, who is serving an eight-year stretch for mail fraud and obstruction of justice. We also had to pay for his legal expenses.

There is a major difference between Conrad Black and you: Lord Black is a much better writer and thinker, and authored a respected biography about Roosevelt, who we were founded to defend. That newspapers continue to run your column is a mystery to me, since it is composed of knee-jerk frothings and ravings. If I were an editor searching for a conservative, I wouldn't choose a mad dog. My recommendation: The admirable Charles Krauthammer.

Bill, I am concerned that you have been losing touch with reality recently. Did you really say you are more powerful than any politician?

That reminds me of the famous story about Squeaky the Chicago Mouse. It seems that Squeaky was floating on his back along the Chicago River one day. Approaching the Michigan Avenue lift bridge, he called out: Raise the bridge! I have an erection!"

Finally, someone let's Billo have it. It is honestly about time. Anyways, just a quick note working on a blog about the ties between the Pagan holiday of Ostara and the Christian Easter. Should be up sometime tomorrow.

LibPagan

Tea-Party

Again, let me apologize again for time in between posts. My Internet as of late has been spotty. Tonight I am going to do something a little different. Last time it was a blow for blow with El Rusho.

Tonight, I am going to be taking about the "Tea Parties" that are being organized all around this country. I will let you know that throughout the past couple years, I have been very active in the political scene. I have been to plenty of rallies, protests, et al. So let me get this out first, I am in no way shape or form against protests or organized gatherings. I think that they are great for the democracy that I and so many other people I know love.

What gets me the most about all of this is the fact that during the Bush era of government, and largely since the 60's, those that go to protests are generally considered hippies, or political activists for the left.

But what definitely is scary though is the type of people that are going to be going to these tea parties. They have been considered a huge gathering point for those on the right. Everyone from Rush to Beck have been supporting them for the past few weeks. They have also been getting a lot of support from Neo-Nazis and other right wing fringe groups.

In my own personal opinion,this could turn really violent., the Klan is not known for being very civil at gatherings. I have been to protests for the Iraq War almost every year since it started, and most of them have been pretty civilized and peaceful until the police got involved. I have been tear gassed plenty of times at seeming peaceful benevolent gatherings. My only question is will these protest, even if they are turning somewhat hairy, will the police step in at all and control it, or will they just sit back an partake in the violence?

I don't know the answer to any of that, but it has been on my mind all day. Anyways, who am I to say that they can't gather peacefully, after all it is their constitutional right. Wait a minute, one of the main issues that they have made a big deal is the fact about a "Obama Gun Ban" which would go against their second amendment right because they don't like their right being infringed upon.

Where were they when our previous president's Deparment of Justice said in a series of memos that torture of suspected terrorist was ok? Where were these people who like their rights when the NSA was given full permission to perform warrant-less wire-tapping on American citizens living on American soil? Wasn't that an infringement on our civil rights? Wasn't both of those taking away our first amendment rights? When were they going to stand up those rights being taken away?

Here is your answer, THEY WON'T! They actually view those infringements as necessary to control terrorist attacks on Americans. Wait a minute, I can think of two different terrorist attacks on American soil since 9/11. One is the Beltway Snipers, and the other is the Anthrax attacks. Both of which took place after 9/11 under Bush's watch., but then again Bush kept us safe for the past 8 years.

Anyways, all this is getting my head hurting, and I haven't drank in a couple nights. I think I am going to go grab a Guiness and get going to bed.

LibPagan

Sorry for the delay

Sorry for the delay in between posts. I have been extremely busy the past week or so because of everything going on with my car to coming out of the closet to the Marines. Anyways, I just wanted to hop on here for a moment and let everyone know that I am still alive, and that expect a post sometime tomorrow, depending on whenever I decided to wake up.

LibPagan