So-called comedian Larry David, in a recent episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", pissed on a painted face of Jesus, sarcastically characterizing drops of urine as "tears", mocking the gullibility of Christians whom claim to witness blood or tears from images, statues or other religiously significant items. (No doubt Mr. David is not worried about a group of Quakers issuing a death fatwa in response to his boorish behavior...)
As a Christian, I don't get excited about tasteless behavior. Mr. David is simply unoriginal, reworking a theme from over 20 years ago, when a so-called arist (Serrano) submerged a crucifix in a vial of his own urine, calling it "Piss Christ"; progressive elitists were stunned by the magnitude of his hard work, the profundity of his vision. (However, I suspect they would not be as positively receptive to a photo of Obama under a layer of spittle...)
I am annoyed by the double standards, particularly in terms of treating Muslims. Personally, I am opposed to a lack of civility in any form, including disrespectful treatment of leaders, followers and historical figures of Islam. However, when there are international incidents over an ill-conceived cartoon in a European newspaper but virtually no response over far more provocative treatment of the images of Jesus and His mother Mary, we need more balance in public discourse. I personally don't need to be reminded by Obama and others that Ft. Hood massacre suspect Nidal Hasan's actions are not representative of the large number of American Muslims. We know there are millions of Muslim Americans whom live peacefully with their neighbors and this terrorist act was the exception, not the rule.
But Barack Obama and his fellow progressives find their very credibility on the line when, for instance, they lecture the rest of us on a "rush to judgment", when in fact Obama didn't wait for "all the facts" in denigrating a Boston cop for arresting his professor friend, whom repeatedly ignored warnings and in fact followed the police officer outside his house, taunting him, and Obama wasn't exactly slow to judgment in demanding the termination of Don Imus over a tasteless joke involving the Rutgers female basketball team. (When exactly did he stand up against progressives' far more offensive treatment of Sarah Palin or George W. Bush?) So, please, Mr. President, get off your morally self-superior throne.
More on the Phony White House Claims of Stimulus Job Creation
Fox News Special Report Grapevine Wednesday pointed out some bogus claims, such as $77,000 in stimulus money at a state college in Massachusetts resulted in 160 jobs. (I know progressives are lousy at math, but... Divide $77,000 by 160, and then compare the result to multiplying 2000 work hours per year times minimum wage. (Maybe the college is paying for undocumented workers out of the stimulus?)) Then there's the shell game by trying to argue that jobs related to non-stimulus federal money are stimulus jobs... Let's put it this way: divide $787B by Obama's hyped numbers of jobs created or saved; if you put a fraction of the aggregate amount into business tax relief, don't you think that the private sector would have achieved as good, if not better result at a far lower cost to your grandchildren?
Political Cartoon
This Gary Varvel cartoon speaks for itself. But no matter how progressives dress up this legislative monstrosity (why aren't Congressmen required to take a vow to do no harm?), you can't put lipstick on a pig (and I wouldn't suggest trying it on a skunk). Nancy Pelosi may try to seduce ill-informed American taxpayers like Pepé Le Pew, but something is rotten in the state of progressive politics.
Musical Interlude: My Favorite Tina Turner Song
Phil Spector, former innovative "Wall of Sound" music producer and genius and recently convicted murderer, recorded this track back in the mid-60's. I bought a Spector anthology several years ago; what particularly caught my eye was a liner note from the late Beatle George Harrison, calling this track "a perfect record from start to finish". (Coming from a gifted singer/songwriter whom composed pop masterpieces like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Something", that is high praise.) What can I add? George was spot on. This is a GLORIOUS love song; it ranks among my personal favorite top 10 hits, and I never tire of listening to it.
