Fit, Fun, Classless
Chris Lee and Eric Massa could get an apartment together. I smell a sitcom! We may as well get some canned laughs out of the area’s latest politician-generated shame, as Western New York must cope with being known as the home of immoderately randy congressmen. It takes three examples to make a trend, and we’re two too close.
Lee misplaced his career along with his shirt. That said, Lee has quite a core! Um, moving on, it’s sad that a representative couldn’t even figure out how to cheat properly.
Aside from the fact that fooling around being a spouse’s back is so obviously, utterly, repulsively wrong, Lee was stupid enough to put his face in a Craigslist ad photo. Even unelected regular scumbags know to crop photos at the neck.
In his defense, he can use his incompetence as evidence that he’s a novice at disregarding his vows. That’s unless he has actually been this repulsive, dumb, and sloppy for awhile. Either way, he can now head back to his favorite site and look for his career in Missed Connections.
On the other hand, voters shouldn’t place ads looking for him. We should bid good riddance to bad husbands. There’s no use for a politician who holds the right political positions while looking for to get himself into illicit personal ones.
He has shown that he’s not trustworthy. Lee can’t justify his worthwhile votes without simultaneously behaving faithfully. He can figure out where he went wrong by spending time with Mark Sanford so they can compare notes and strategies.
Now, what should he do? The first thing is nothing. Lee should disappear for awhile, both for his own good and on account of how nobody wants to deal with him right now.
Ideally, he should pull a John Profumo, with the bright side being that cleaning bathrooms can’t be much worse than being a congressman. What’s important is that he gets modest and acts contritely, if for no other reason than he shouldn’t be heard from him for awhile. He shouldn’t make another public appearance until he can display a genuinely sheepish expression.
By comparison, the attempted cheater doesn’t want to turn into someone even scuzzier, namely a publicity whore. A certain New York ex-governor comes to mind, although sinking to Spitzeresque levels is impossible for most humans. That said, if CNN wants to retool its moribund 8 p.m. hour, Christopher Spitzer could become the most appealingly unctuous program since Jersey Shore.
But give Lee credit for acting in the best possible way after acting like the worst husband. Lee at least had the decency to resign when his scandalous behavior came to light. His acceptance of responsibility is far better than dragging the area through a local Clinton-style ordeal where he kept his job at the expense of losing what’s left of his dignity.
Of course, it would have been infinitely better not to have done something appalling in the shadows where he had to fear being caught in the first place. But it’s better to have standards and fall short than to shamelessly wallow in filth.
Lee is gross, but he at least realizes it. Now, we’d be in much better shape if only some Democrats would resign for carelessly exposing our checkbooks.
In the meantime, Lee has plenty of time to think about whether looking for tail online was worth it. He may conclude that giving up Congress for the pursuit of the most lecherous of matrimonial-belittling indulgences might not be as appealing of a trade-off as it first sounds. Even accepting one of Massa’s invitations to tickle fight won’t help Lee clear his head, although it will make for a wacky episode.
Honor Conviction
The most troubling thing about Bridges TV isn’t that Goldie Gardner hosts a cooking show on it. The legendarily irritating WNED telethon shill is sharing her culinary abilities on a Muslim channel for some reason, but that’s not their most egregious affront to broadcasting.
More importantly, they’re not living up to their mission of providing, according to their site,
…a broad range of lifestyle oriented programming that aims to foster a greater understanding between the West and MESA (Middle Eastern/South Asian) religions, its cultures, and diverse populations.
It’s not bad enough that I think they just made up the term “MESA.” Worse, there has been no special programming devoted to the conviction of prominent Muslim Muzzammil Hassan. It’s the equivalent of Oprah not appearing on OWN.
To recap, the honor killer’s strategy of blaming a “religion of patriarchy” failed to impress jurors, who convicted him of second-degree murder in less time than it takes for your baked potato to finish in the oven. They took an hour to return a verdict, although there’s no report of what kind of sandwiches they ate for 58 minutes after the two it took to vote “Guilty.”
Juries have gotten a bad rap ever since one-time Buffalo icon and present prison bitch O.J. Simpson was found not guilty by a dozen potted plants who thought racism killed his ex-wife and her friend. But a local collection of upstanding fellow citizens showed that justice is the more likely courtroom outcome.
And yet there is no round-the-clock coverage on Bridges. Yes, Hassan coincidentally founded the network. But personal relationships shouldn’t affect objective news judgments, especially considering the relevance of the religion in question to both his actions and astoundingly pitiful defense.
In fact, the direct connection means they should confront the issue directly and frequently. Bridges should presently be offering balanced coverage: 12 hours per day about what’s happening in Egypt and 12 about the recent court proceedings near their headquarters.
So, why is there no attention being paid to the landmark conviction from programs such as Bridges Evening News, Democracy Now!, and Viewpoints with John Zogby? As for the BEN, it supposedly
…is dedicated to bringing you a balanced coverage on local and international news you care about. Join Tooba Khilji and David Prinzbach for a closer look at the news you can trust.
But they apparently can’t be trusted to devote extensive time to reporting about a the aftermath of a Religion of Peace member’s trial. We presumably also shouldn’t expect documentaries on the subject similar to the one they air objectively titled Broken Promises that asks:
When American agents in Sweden deport 2 Egyptian men, the question of how far is too far when fighting terrorism is raised.
I bet their answer is “too far,” although I admittedly didn’t see the program. Still, I’m wagering that not even episodes of Soccer Academy will deal with the conviction’s fallout.
It’s such a shame. They should be airing a barrage of shows that ask why a man who founded a 21st-century enterprise is living in a three-digit year.
After all, treating one’s wife like a 43rd-class citizen before cutting through her neck seems to be an act committed more frequently by members of this particular faith than, say, Orthodox Jews. Why not add programming about why it happens and what can be done to stop it? They should confront the issue head on instead of dodging it.
But they apparently won’t examine such issues on Hassan’s baby about why this case fails to be an exception. That’s okay, as we’ve ascertained the connection even without locating the network buried in the channel lineup next to whichever one just hired Keith Olbermann.
We don’t need Bridges to have learned something about what provoked Hassan. Actions speak louder than programming.
Pointless Sabre Rattling
Someone actually wants to buy a Western New York business, and The Buffalo News won’t stand for it. Terry Pegula has a lot of nerve for purchasing the Buffalo Sabres. As a result, those who write the words on the pages that wrap the coupon circulars did what they could to make him feel unwelcome in the City of Good Neighbors:
In the course of making his fortune, the Florida billionaire negotiating to buy the Buffalo Sabres contributed heavily to politicians in a position to advance his business interests and established a less-than-stellar track record in the environmentally dicey business of drilling for natural gas, The Buffalo News has found.
A News review of compliance records found East Resources, the company Terrence M. Pegula sold last summer for $4.7 billion, had a middling record of complying with environmental regulations in Pennsylvania, his base of operations. The company last year paid the largest regulatory fine in its history and was involved in a spill of toxic wastewater that resulted in the first quarantine of cattle in the history of natural gas drilling in the state.
A fine? See you in Hell, East Resources. Also, are the cattle okay? I’m worried about steak. Not only did he deal with regulations while make money running a business: he also gave some of it to those who seek to represent us:
Pegula has made more than $630,000 in campaign contributions to Republican politicians and committees who support what one observer termed his “very, very conservative” positions on global warming and taxes and regulations related to the natural gas industry.
The News thinks it’s news that everyone has the right to donate to candidates. People often do so in an attempt to curry favor, as Goldman Sachs bigwigs did with Barack Obama. Another good example would be the owner of a certain local newspaper giving money to politicians as a hobby.
The key is to see if such gifts lead to favors from politicians. We can then hold them accountable by either voting out the recipients or not patronizing businesses belonging to the contributors.
Sadly, it’s trickier to punish lousy journalists. The article relies egregiously heavily on quotes from members of liberal advocacy group Common Cause. There is also ample space devoted to a, surprise, partisan environmental group called PennFuture. The article demonstrates the results of networking done among #p2 Twitter hashtag users.
By contrast, an article of over 2,200 words devotes three measly paragraphs to quotes from a single Pegula defender. Earle Robbins, “who acts as a liaison between energy companies and landowners as they negotiate drilling leases,” should feel honored to be selected as the closest thing to a token conservative.
The reporter seemingly missed that day of journalism school where students learn about the necessity of balance, as he included no quotes from people who appreciate having power or jobs thanks to Pegula. Once again, the rag’s staffers decided to be confrontational rather than merely critical.
And it was surely coincidental that the paper’s target was a Republican fossil fuel man. The worst thing about such discreditable journalism is that they don’t even get Robert Edgar-signed checks in exchange for their advocacy.
The process of acquiring natural gas is as difficult as it is necessary. The alternative is to sit in dark caves while being smug about one’s carbon footprint until hypothermia kicks in.
Some people want the benefits of civilization without any tradeoffs. There is risk involved as long as there are heated buildings.
Fining companies for honest errors made during their pursuit of an indispensable energy source is far superior to buying energy from international thugs or hoping solar energy can power all our light bulbs. Without domestic production, we’re at the mercy of the whims of despots and/or clouds.
Pegula’s ownership will do more for Buffalo than every Rod Watson and Jeff Simon column ever published. Maybe that’s the problem. The city’s hockey franchise is infinitely more beloved than its newspaper, which irritates workers at the latter to no end.
That’s why the hacks focused upon the occasional errors of a new Buffalo figure’s former company rather than its overwhelmingly numerous benefits. They also forgot to focus upon his unbelievable philanthropic work. On top of that, they didn’t question whether the regulatory burden his company faced was excessive. The paper speaks truth to power unless it involves challenging government regulations on business.
How hospitable! Pegula should know that very few members of the community his franchise calls home are as truculently unfriendly as its print journalists. The Buffalo News is nothing like Buffalo.
Burning Bridges
Mo Hassan just can’t stop enhancing Islam’s image. In addition to founding Bridges TV to present us with pro-Muslim programming, he’s also proving that members of one of the great faiths can serve as attorneys despite a complete lack of legal training. His positive contributions almost counter how he’s on trial for disconnecting his wife’s head from her neck:
On Day four in the Mo Hassan, the Judge has decided that the defendant can act as his own attorney. This revelation came after lawyers on both sides met with the Judge behind closed doors.
You know you’re a difficult homicide defendant if even a lawyer won’t defend you anymore:
Judge Thomas Franczyk says the “bottom line is he does have the right to steer his own ship, even if he is steering it into an iceberg.” Reluctantly, I am going to grant Mr. Hassan’s wish to represent himself.”
[snip]
Judge Franczyk acknowledged fundamental strategic differences between the defendant and his attorney. Over the weekend, the Judge says he had a chance to review the requests made last week. ”Case studies do say that the defendant has the right to counsel of his choice, even if that counsel is himself,” said the Judge. He added that the court has to be aware of the “wily defendant” who may be trying to delay and manipulate the process.
Does anyone know a counselor with even fewer qualms about morality than usual? Unless Jackie Chiles is available, Hassan is flying solo.
His faith in himself might not be the example of secluded meditation that the religion of peace is attempting to portray. That said, it is thrifty to not pay a counselor, which is a good example to follow no matter where one worships.
But Hassan’s baffling exercise in self-reliance is only the latest miserable detail to emanate from Western New York’s most sordid trial in recent memory. The patriotic Muslims in Lackawanna who blew in the cowards who warped their beliefs and trained to attack from within must be seething.
Hassan keeps counteracting worthwhile efforts. He prominently attempted to counter the portrayal of his religion as one infested with medieval-minded primitive honor stalkers. But he, mildly, self-contradicted his intent.
And he keeps going. To wit, he is acting like a lunatic during the trial to determine if he is the one who murdered his wife using the most savage method imaginable. And you thought attempting to portray himself as the victim served as his rock bottom moment.
As for the representation of his faith, Islamist apologists constantly attempt to assure us that a widespread terror movement isn’t widespread, terrorizing, or a movement.
Perhaps it’s coincidental that more than a handful lone nuts who have murdered or attempted to murder as many innocent people as possible pray in the same direction five times per day. Also, random chance could explain how 19 lone nuts just happened to board the same four flights on September 11, 2001.
But erstwhile community leader and spouse decapitator Hassan isn’t quite helping dispel perceptions that a small percentage of Muslims are still fighting battles with figurative or literal scimitars. We’re left wondering what it is about this particular faith that inspires frightening sliver of adherents to attack huge crowds and/or nuclear family members.
As for court proceedings involving one of the naughtiest attackers in question, there may be no surprise witnesses, shocking plot twists during questioning, or putting the system on trial. What’s important is that, if Hassan does not successfully defend himself, he won’t be able to behead any more wives; that would prevent further damage to his religion in the realm of public relations. Now, if Hassan possesses any sense, he’ll plead insanity on his client’s behalf.
Wrangling Rangel
Fool NY-15′s voters 20 times: shame on you. Fool them 21 times… Censured Charlie Rangel capped of a humiliatingly busy week by demonstrating his oft-unacknowledged sense of humor when he claimed there was “no evidence of corruption” after he was found to have committed massive corruption.
His amusing take on his own misdeeds apparently explains why he feels entitled to keep acting roguishly. But the taxing and spending specialist has inflicted far more harm in true New York Democratic style during his tenure’s non-crooked portion.
At least he remains obliviously entertaining. For one, his Michael Jackson Defense is so shameless that it would have made the late King of Pop blush through his pale cheeks:
“History would show that a different standard has been used in this case where I did not curse out the Speaker, I did not try to have sex with minors,” he said, referring to past censure cases.
It’s heartwarming to know a bad guy wasn’t doing something worse. But I’m a typical conservative who focuses upon how the congressional mainstay is a corrupt scumbag instead of his history of not sexing up high schoolers. Rangel’s misappropriation is merely the culmination: he promoted bad policy even when he wasn’t enriching himself.
Regardless, the myth persists that Rangel helped his constituents when he wasn’t helping himself to rent-controlled apartments. It’s irrelevant whether his constituents believe it or not: governmental funds didn’t suddenly create a relatively meager oasis in Manhattan’s most famous desert.
Still, some won’t accept who he is. As an example, his Wikipedia entry includes the remarkable claim that Rangel deserves credit for Harlem’s semi-rebirth, at least the parts of the neighborhood people don’t avoid. Such hilariously partisan blather is egregious even by the proletariat web encyclopedia’s standards:
He played a significant role in the creation of the 1995 Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and the national Empowerment Zone Act, which helped change the economic face of Harlem and other inner-city areas.
They would have better off without his alleged help. Gentrification due to rich private citizens rediscovering brownstones along with entrepreneurs tapping into a neglected market combined to fix the area. On the other hand, federal intervention helped Harlem as much as the stimulus helped the rest of America.
In fact, the money taken from the economy and thrown in Harlem’s direction dramatically slowed the process of private cash injection. At best, some of the federal cash thrown above Central Park stuck to a few blocks; in that case, it only took a few decades to see a few signs of life.
Fellow Empire Stater Chuck Schumer subscribes to the latter theory, although he still failed in his effort to sock it to millionaires on New Year’s Day. No higher levies for rich folks? I guess they’ll have to take their money and create jobs without Joe Biden’s help.
Aside from his personal investment in the slick suit and pomade industries, Rangel is the ideal combination of personal and political corruption. If one is going to redistribute income, why not do some of it to oneself?
In his disregard for laws and decency, Rangel also serves as his party’s tattered mascot. Yes, even Sean Hannity would admit there are corrupt and/or shameless Republicans off-camera after Greta’s show began. But this state’s Democrats are better manufacturing humiliation, which makes them much worse.
Many of those in power here are semi-unique: criminal or not, they’re sleazy in their own individual ways. Notably, Western New York’s most famous representatives during the Barack Obama have been amateur wrestler Eric Massa and shameless denture anecdote spinner Louise Slaughter. Our reps reside in the damp basement apartment of the People’s House.
The executive branch’s seat-fillers are similarly sterling. Shameless Wall Street bullier and hooker buyer Eliot Spitzer set the standard for Yankee fan David Paterson, who is in turn being replaced by former HUD scoundrel Andrew Cuomo. Worst, they all advocate a command economy even when they manage to behave.
They think they can spend your earning better than you can. On a related note, the shifty lefties all share tremendous antipathy for corporations, aside from the bailed-out failures and those politically connected enough to cut out favors. Their goals are appalling whether they enact them legally or not.
Rangel is merely the worst at present. The Ways and Means meanie is a greasily arrogant embodiment of a politician who thinks he shouldn’t have to obey the same rules as us peasants. But he hurts the nation even when he’s not thieving.
Artless Advocacy
Buy your own damn art. Take the money you’ve earned, give it to someone who created a piece you enjoy, and hang your acquisition in your den. Dragging everyone else into the transaction creates a bitter public that would rather purchase a second plasma screen to adorn a nude wall than a first watercolor.
Sadly, the obvious appeal of mutual transactions won’t stop involuntary painting training backers from promoting seizure of your income. To wit, Colin Dabkowski devoted precious opinion column space in a recent Buffalo News edition to moan about a woman in a Buffalo neighborhood who needs you to fund her dreams:
In a small painting studio flooded with afternoon sunlight and crowded with half-finished canvases, Molly Bethel leaned forward in her chair, rested her elbows on a paint-spackled table and recited her creed.
“I believe,” Bethel said, “I really believe that everybody has a basic human right to have a realistic opportunity to develop whatever talents and interests they may have.”
Fifty years ago, spurred on by that belief, Bethel launched the organization that became Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, a community institution that has instilled a love for the arts in thousands of students from across the city’s East Side and beyond.
That’s quite a “basic human right.” But there’s no reason to rebuff the audacity of hope. We clearly need a 28th Amendment which would guarantee the freedom to pursue whatever the hell sort of career or hobby you want. Yes, it would cost society a fortune, but is life really worth living if you don’t get to live without fear of boundaries or rent?
As for now, in a Buffalo tragedy equivalent to a presidential assassination or the Mike Mularkey era, the school may actually soon have to pay its own bills.
After 50 years of serving an underprivileged community, Bethel is used to patching together the school’s modest budget (about $100,000 per year) from a mind-boggling range of sources, including the New York State Council on the Arts, local foundations, companies and individual donors. But this year –because of a low score on an application vetted by the Erie County Cultural Resources Allocation Board – the organization is getting no money from Erie County, which has consistently provided about $10,000 to the school annually.
For once, we should be applauding our oft-wayward county: they actually had the nerve to cut off something subjective like neighborhood art instruction. Participants could look elsewhere: can’t they just send away for the Art Instruction Schools brochure and try to advance their creative careers by submitting drawings of a turtle and pirate like all other budding drawers?
The answer is no. Instead, they want your money. Hand it over unless you hate art, you bigoted homophobe:
Bethel preferred instead to reflect on the importance of public funding for the arts.
“I think it’s to everyone’s benefit and I think I’m a good example of that,” Bethel said. “In my family, nobody was in the arts. I discovered painting through a place” –the Cornelia Yuditzky School of Creative Art in Washington, D. C. –“that had originally started as a WPA project.”
So, we’ve got the feds to blame for this crap. There’s a message here for anyone who maintains that government subsidies create a culture of dependency that keeps recipients from ever learning how to make themselves valuable: you were utterly correct. On the other hand, earning would cut into art time. Heavens forbid that someone actually be required to make money:
Bethel’s legendary determination has lately been frustrated by the difficulty of making her grassroots school work in a funding climate that increasingly trumpets economic impact above activating the imagination, tourism potential above community service.
Activate your imaginations on your own time and dime, pal. The alternative, namely that people be allowed to purchase what they like with their own funds and support the schools they find worthwhile, is apparently unimaginable. That won’t keep us merciless conservatives from pointing out that the government’s role is to maintain conditions where citizens can prosper, not attempt to dole out prosperity itself.
Letting citizens figure out how to fund their own free-time fun is a wholly worthwhile approach that implicitly verifies the government’s trust in adults to make their own decisions. Babysitting the whole county clearly hasn’t worked, so we may as well try the alternative jut for novelty’s sake.
Plus, there would naturally be more cash about if our administrators didn’t get their grubby elected paws upon it first. The reason the Fruit Belt remains menacing to both outsiders and residents is precisely because various governments cavalierly toss around thousands of dollars taken from earners.
That leaves little for purchases or investment: the neighborhood is broke because so many people are. Yet our paper’s hacks can’t ascertain why Buffalo is constantly teetering near depression.
Dabkowski’s whining about funding serves as a perfect Buffalo News column, which most Western New Yorkers recognize is as far from a compliment as imaginable. The word assembler snottily endorses taking money from everyone to fund an obscure, obviously non-essential venture with parochial appeal. Why would we object?
The wildly improper use of authority to redistribute wealth harms artists far more than making them find buyers or benefactors. Everyone knows of this state and county’s legendarily unbearable tax rates, which may explain why there are so few citizens able to scrape together enough to sustain right-brained instruction.
But Dabkowski would rather demand than request. If he really cared, he could encourage both lower taxes and higher private donations. There should be enough readers willing to kick in a few bucks to preserve the artistic outpost; that’s especially so since it’s allegedly such a piddling amount, at least in the eyes of fat cat News staffers.
Better yet, he could buy patronize the school himself instead of patronizing readers. That possibility would create the additional benefit of no further columns on the dreadful subject.
As it stands, bitching that the government is obligated to fund painting classes is as foolish as suggesting that newspapers deserve public funding. Still, the Wegmans ad and daily Sudoku puzzle are far more beneficial to the community than teaching people how to stroke brushes properly, which means The News logically deserves a crutch from the county first.
We’ll start seeing editorials campaigning for such bailouts once circulation slumps a little more. You understand: the rag’s toilers have Prius payments to make. It’s not as if they can sustain themselves indefinitely without aid packages. They’re certainly not about to attract more readers with content that serves as the artistic equivalent of sad clowns rendered on velvet.
