Mitch Albom grows a pair, rips GOP (bad jokes vs evil jokesters)

[Bozita]

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061105/NEWS05/611050630/1082


Published: November 05. 2006 3:00AM

Metro Detroit
MITCH ALBOM: Politics of what is -- and is not -- a joke

November 5, 2006

BY MITCH ALBOM
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

With a week to go before a critical midterm election, the president, his supporters and most of the media acted as if the most important issue in America wasn't a costly war, failed international policies, failed domestic policies or the battle between religion and science. Instead, what apparently mattered most was a bad joke.

If you don't do well in school ... "you get stuck in Iraq." That was the punch line of an ill-advised, badly delivered attempt at humor by Sen. John Kerry, who has never been strong in that department.

He says he was trying to criticize the president, not the troops, and any careful reading of what he said supports that, as does common sense. Why would Kerry insult troops on foreign soil? For one thing, unlike George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, Kerry actually was one. Besides, what would such a crack gain him politically?

But instead of recognizing that, instead of being bigger than that, the president himself joined right in with the chorus of bloggers, radio hosts and bee-buzzing media who happily glommed onto a tempest in a teapot, rather than face anything difficult, like where did all those guns we sent to Iraq disappear to?

more... (He's just warming up, folks!)

[MH1]

1. Pretty good commentary

I disagree with "Kerry's comment, even taken as he meant it, was rude and unnecessary." That's bullshit in the world of politics. Kerry's comment, as written, and even as stated - before being twisted by the RW smear machine and that twisted interpretation believed by people who really are too intellectually lazy to think for themselves - was typical for our political discourse and nothing approaching the crap that routinely spews from some other politicians, especially on the right.

[Bozita]

2. That's a damn good commentary on a pretty good commentary

Good stuff!

[blm]

5. At campaign rallies most speakers juice it up a bit.

And they SHOULD.

[Catchawave]

3. I agree with everything Mitch wrote !

I hope DUers take the time to read the whole commentary, it just gets better :hi:

[Bozita]

4. kick

busy day here at DU

[maseman]

7. Mitch Albom is great

Is he still on WJR?

[Bozita]

14. yup, still on WJR

[Hidden Stillness]

6. Albom Always Knows Which Way the Wind is Blowing

Oh, how brave they get, once they realize the ship is sinking. What Albom needs is not "a pair," unless by that you mean a brain and a heart. Remember when the Detroit Free Press and News employees went on strike about 11 or 12 years ago, and Albom barged right past the strikers, breaking the strike, and stole a new job? Oh, what "balls"! I have not read the bastard since. Easy to talk, rich boy.

[proud patriot]

8. I remember his show on MSNBC

:hi:

[Catchawave]

9. Love this sentence:

"What's sad is that Bush, who is supposed to be the president of all of us, not half of us, can't pass an opportunity to thump on a dead horse while ignoring the ones running wildly through the barn door."

:kick:

[Laelth]

10. Did you check out the comments by the local ...

Neanderthals? Only one sane comment in the bunch.

:scared:

-Laelth

[Catchawave]

12. I did...

:scared:

:kick:

[yellowdogmi]

11. The only thing I would add

Would be a mention of the 9th comandment. Thou shall not bear false witness on my neighbor (or as close as I recall) My point is that all of those kool-aid drinking moran's need to have it rubbed in their faces that * is a christian only when it suits his needs.

:mad:

[Goblinmonger]

13. Too bad his cheesy books don't read as well.

Yeah, you heard me. I said it. I'm a literary snob; I'm not afraid to admit it.