freely call former "Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno "Lew Ferrigamo" to the actor's face twice in the same live interview about the late Michael Jackson's exercise habits.
Ferrigno for his part had a somewhat pained look on his face that seemingly said "my ghod he IS as a dumb as they said!"
King on the other hand dismissed his own gaffe by muttering "Well it is a tough name"...
FERR-IG-NO...see I GOT IT!
Larry must have these sorts of moments at least a dozen times a week, and yet CNN stands by him the way they stand by gaseous blowhards like Wolf Blitzer or frantic imbeciles like Nancy Grace.
i don't understand the attraction quite frankly but CNN and Larry King soldier on together night after night, him making a fool of himself, they broadcasting it all with a straight face like he was the very incarnation of Edward R. Murrow.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
2010
My guess is, taxes, public ethics and maybe local aid will be the big issues in next year's gubernatorial campaign. None of them advantage the democrats though, so what else is new?
I expect Governor Patrick will be defending the sales tax increase from now until next November and beyond, he'd best sharpen up his rhetorical arsenal in that respect.
If I was the Governor I'd adopt a truculent Harry Truman pose, people forget that Truman made a lot of dubious appointments amidst the making of a lot of very good decisions.
Meanwhile from the GOP and others we will be hearing a lot about public ethics and the cuts to local aid...the bad news is, the bad news advantages our opponents. The good news is, given the circumstances there is little they could do differently. It is a subtle point but it may wear well as the campaign progresses.
Meanwhile what about State Treasurer Cahill, is he in or out...will he run as a democrat or an independent?
My question is...what would be his natural constituency in either case? Disaffected conservative democrats I would think, and maybe some independents.
However in the case of the state's conservative democrats they haven't been able to initiate independent action since the Imperial High Noon of Ed King. Anything they have accomplished since then has been in coalition with others. Moreover as a independent, Crazy Christy Mihos did what 6% of the vote last time, and despite his jumpiness he had serious cashola to spend on a campaign...will Cahill have similar resources to draw on?
Doubtful.
As a dissenting democrat, Cahill won't do much business on primary day due to Patrick's still formidable organization...and he hasn't the resources to force the issue as an independent candidate for Governor.
But it sure sounds like he wants in, which means there is good bloggable chaos on the horizon.
I expect Governor Patrick will be defending the sales tax increase from now until next November and beyond, he'd best sharpen up his rhetorical arsenal in that respect.
If I was the Governor I'd adopt a truculent Harry Truman pose, people forget that Truman made a lot of dubious appointments amidst the making of a lot of very good decisions.
Meanwhile from the GOP and others we will be hearing a lot about public ethics and the cuts to local aid...the bad news is, the bad news advantages our opponents. The good news is, given the circumstances there is little they could do differently. It is a subtle point but it may wear well as the campaign progresses.
Meanwhile what about State Treasurer Cahill, is he in or out...will he run as a democrat or an independent?
My question is...what would be his natural constituency in either case? Disaffected conservative democrats I would think, and maybe some independents.
However in the case of the state's conservative democrats they haven't been able to initiate independent action since the Imperial High Noon of Ed King. Anything they have accomplished since then has been in coalition with others. Moreover as a independent, Crazy Christy Mihos did what 6% of the vote last time, and despite his jumpiness he had serious cashola to spend on a campaign...will Cahill have similar resources to draw on?
Doubtful.
As a dissenting democrat, Cahill won't do much business on primary day due to Patrick's still formidable organization...and he hasn't the resources to force the issue as an independent candidate for Governor.
But it sure sounds like he wants in, which means there is good bloggable chaos on the horizon.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Scot Lehigh gets it wrong again...
Re John Ensign and Mark Sanford:
As bare-your-soul-about-baring-your-body press conferences go, Sanford’s was one for the ages. And now, having watched it in its entirety, I have a confession of my own to make.
No, no, not that kind of confession.
Just this: I don’t care that much. Not beyond the hypocrisy, which is admittedly delicious to point out.
The real problem isn't hypocrisy, it is more to the point that one collection of ideologues within the overclass cannot live up to the "standards" they normally use to punish those with whom they disagree politically.
Morality therefore has become a weapon in the hands of the inept, and that is a bad thing for morals public and private. If all morality is, is a means to vex your enemies then morals themselves become degraded.
And that my frenz is a bigger problem than mere hypocrisy at the topmost reaches of the USA.
As bare-your-soul-about-baring-your-body press conferences go, Sanford’s was one for the ages. And now, having watched it in its entirety, I have a confession of my own to make.
No, no, not that kind of confession.
Just this: I don’t care that much. Not beyond the hypocrisy, which is admittedly delicious to point out.
The real problem isn't hypocrisy, it is more to the point that one collection of ideologues within the overclass cannot live up to the "standards" they normally use to punish those with whom they disagree politically.
Morality therefore has become a weapon in the hands of the inept, and that is a bad thing for morals public and private. If all morality is, is a means to vex your enemies then morals themselves become degraded.
And that my frenz is a bigger problem than mere hypocrisy at the topmost reaches of the USA.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Gawd Almighty
Mark Sanford, the adulterous wandering wowser-governor of South Carolina can even showboat shamelessly as he confesses publicly to a tawdry affair with some bint from Argentina.
We are maybe only minutes away from the requisite cheesecake photos of his mistress rocketing around the internet like corn thru a goose.
I am past trying to affix the tag of hypocrisy to these yaps, hypocrisy presumes some sense of morality that must be placated at some point in the process. These dingbats have no morals only a series of focus group tested poses.
Anyway, Sanford is getting all kinds of press off of this, Mitt Romney must be seething with jealousy, I'll be the Former Viceroy is auditioning Philippina mistresses even as I write this.
We are maybe only minutes away from the requisite cheesecake photos of his mistress rocketing around the internet like corn thru a goose.
I am past trying to affix the tag of hypocrisy to these yaps, hypocrisy presumes some sense of morality that must be placated at some point in the process. These dingbats have no morals only a series of focus group tested poses.
Anyway, Sanford is getting all kinds of press off of this, Mitt Romney must be seething with jealousy, I'll be the Former Viceroy is auditioning Philippina mistresses even as I write this.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Whenever Jeff Jacoby gets up on his stuffed cavalry charger
and starts bellowing about democracy, it is time for all sensible citizens to adjourn to the cellar, crouch behind some sandbags with a stout tire iron and some canned food.
Cuz he will rant and rave long and loud....
Of course where was this blubbering sobbing lu-uv fer demo-cracy when the ballots in Florida begged for a recount or when Ohio's GOP stole the whole state from John Kerry?
Let us face facts shall we? Jeff is a mark for the war party by his own admission so the current rioting over there is a godsend to him as it is a pretext for escalation, invasion, regime change or whatever diresome fantasy teases him this week.
The President is speaking out firmly and clearly on Iran, far more clearly than Saint Ronald Reagan ever did with respect to say...South Africa or Pinochet's aufklarung in Chile.
in some respects, I'd say the regime has fallen into Obama's rhetorical trap, the repression frees the White House to simply decry the violence without the onus of choosing sides.
And while this puts any thaw with Tehran on hold it also puts the kibbosh on any of these notions that Iran will become some type of regional hegemon any time in the near future. Frankly the mullahs are looking more and more like the usual blustering strongmen of a type that much bedevils the middle east.
Cuz he will rant and rave long and loud....
Of course where was this blubbering sobbing lu-uv fer demo-cracy when the ballots in Florida begged for a recount or when Ohio's GOP stole the whole state from John Kerry?
Let us face facts shall we? Jeff is a mark for the war party by his own admission so the current rioting over there is a godsend to him as it is a pretext for escalation, invasion, regime change or whatever diresome fantasy teases him this week.
The President is speaking out firmly and clearly on Iran, far more clearly than Saint Ronald Reagan ever did with respect to say...South Africa or Pinochet's aufklarung in Chile.
in some respects, I'd say the regime has fallen into Obama's rhetorical trap, the repression frees the White House to simply decry the violence without the onus of choosing sides.
And while this puts any thaw with Tehran on hold it also puts the kibbosh on any of these notions that Iran will become some type of regional hegemon any time in the near future. Frankly the mullahs are looking more and more like the usual blustering strongmen of a type that much bedevils the middle east.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
(Governor) Deval Patrick in Menotomy (part III)
For a man who had to stroll thru a police "informational picket line" to get to his own town hall forum, Deval Patrick exuded a nonchalant attitude to the very last. His picture ought to be plastered next to the word "unruffled" in the dictionary. He may be down in the polls and beset on all sides, nonetheless Patrick brims with the confidence of a man who thinks he will win next year in a walk.
He even looks better and more relaxed in shirtsleeves than Mitt Romney, who always looked like a half dressed Jordan Marsh mannequin.
The pickets by the way were numerous and reasonably orderly, no epithets were shouted and no one's access was barred to the venue.
However, their issues (the flagmen reform the demise of the Quinn Law) are a dead letter, normally local politicians fear the patrolman's union the way a vampire dreads garlic salad dressing. However last night the hall was brimming with state reps, selectpersons all the usual suspects, that tells you a lot about just how concerned the political elite really is about the loss of construction detail pay.
I give Patrick credit, he is uncommonly well informed and good at linking particular concerns to the general line pursued by his admin...because lord knows that was the response he gave to about a dozen questions over ninety minutes. Serious detailed answers on everything to cuts in the budget for the disabled, local school policy, senior citizens issues and on to smart growth and Cape Wind Farm. Not sure he missed a beat at all....the Scot LeHigh's dismiss him on grounds of a tin ear for politics but his instincts were sound as a dollar last night.
Granted, Menotomy is Deval Patrick's base and more than a few activists found their way to the microphone ( I suspect he recognized them from prior forums) but the overall effect was serious positive and even a tad optimistic. I was frankly expecting edgier stuff especially from the famously fractious Menotomy voters....but no comity of a sort reigned.
He even looks better and more relaxed in shirtsleeves than Mitt Romney, who always looked like a half dressed Jordan Marsh mannequin.
The pickets by the way were numerous and reasonably orderly, no epithets were shouted and no one's access was barred to the venue.
However, their issues (the flagmen reform the demise of the Quinn Law) are a dead letter, normally local politicians fear the patrolman's union the way a vampire dreads garlic salad dressing. However last night the hall was brimming with state reps, selectpersons all the usual suspects, that tells you a lot about just how concerned the political elite really is about the loss of construction detail pay.
I give Patrick credit, he is uncommonly well informed and good at linking particular concerns to the general line pursued by his admin...because lord knows that was the response he gave to about a dozen questions over ninety minutes. Serious detailed answers on everything to cuts in the budget for the disabled, local school policy, senior citizens issues and on to smart growth and Cape Wind Farm. Not sure he missed a beat at all....the Scot LeHigh's dismiss him on grounds of a tin ear for politics but his instincts were sound as a dollar last night.
Granted, Menotomy is Deval Patrick's base and more than a few activists found their way to the microphone ( I suspect he recognized them from prior forums) but the overall effect was serious positive and even a tad optimistic. I was frankly expecting edgier stuff especially from the famously fractious Menotomy voters....but no comity of a sort reigned.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Handicapping....
A teensy announcement in the Boston Metro today notes that Suffolk Downs is cancelling this year's Masscap horse race due to the usual recessionary pressures and stresses.
This is a cultural setback for the Commonwealth, two weeks ago some yokel hummed a rock through the Tri Town Drive's Omnipotent outdoor screen, last week it was the North Shore Music Theater's closure now the Masscap has gone for the terminal dirt nap.
Someone must stand athwart this steady degradation and cry "halt!".
***
Thus it falls to Humble Elias to do some handicapping of his own, horses being off the books for the moment lets take a quick look at the 2010 gubernatorial line up:
Crazy Christy Mihos (GOP), on paper Christy ought to be formidable, he is rich, talkative and he can credibly be named a gubernatorial kingmaker when former Governor Mitt Romney is concerned. However Mihos' third party bid for the corner office in 2006 lost him many friends in the GOP base and yet was not enough of a vote getter to stake any claim to a constituency within the party. Then again there is Christy's lack of an "indoor voice" and a strange tendency to nervously giggle like Cesar Romero's old "Joker" routine on the Batman TV show. Odds to nominate: 50-50, Odds to win 60-40.
Charlie Baker (GOP) A former Weld admin functionary, a wealthy HMO tycoon a formidable fundraiser and a potential darling of the punditariat, the day he announces the Globe's Scot LeHigh will fall over in an ecstatic swoon. And yet no one has heard anything from him that indicates that he truly wants the job...everyone bides their time in their own way but does Baker have the fire in da belly? His name keeps cropping up, but he never says anything...there is a Mario Cuomo quality to Baker one wonders if he wavers a tad too much. Moreover, how well will an HMO CEO wear on the electorate at a time when people are losing healthcare all over town?
Odds to nominate 60-40, odds to win to
50-50
State Senator Scott Brown (GOP) He is nicely mannered, telegenic, unthreatening, his daughter turned in a credible performance on "American Idol"...other than that does anyone know anything about the guy?
Well, maybe that is something in Brown's favor a good dark horse has a short record and all that. You have to wonder though, how is he gonna make the fundraising leap from the State Senate (a 100K investment every two years) to the multimillion dollar gubernatorial ranks?
Moreover does he really wanna give up a sure thing in the state senate especially when the GOP ranks therein are so attentuated?
Odds to nominate, 70-30, Odds to win, 60-40
The Claims Stakes:
Reed Hillman, Nobody has heard squat out of Scary Kerry Healey's Lt Governor nominee in four years and his fundraising reach is nil and his barracks mentality won't go far in an election. But he is available and not given to seizures.
Scary Kerry Healey I put her on the list simply because she is just enough of a lightweight to think she can win the second time around. odds are, she won't be able to raise the scratch and even her husband's coffers aren't limitless.
Andy Card the Former courtier for La Famiglia Arbusto gets a guberatorial mention in this state every four years, who am I to break with that tradition?
This is a cultural setback for the Commonwealth, two weeks ago some yokel hummed a rock through the Tri Town Drive's Omnipotent outdoor screen, last week it was the North Shore Music Theater's closure now the Masscap has gone for the terminal dirt nap.
Someone must stand athwart this steady degradation and cry "halt!".
***
Thus it falls to Humble Elias to do some handicapping of his own, horses being off the books for the moment lets take a quick look at the 2010 gubernatorial line up:
Crazy Christy Mihos (GOP), on paper Christy ought to be formidable, he is rich, talkative and he can credibly be named a gubernatorial kingmaker when former Governor Mitt Romney is concerned. However Mihos' third party bid for the corner office in 2006 lost him many friends in the GOP base and yet was not enough of a vote getter to stake any claim to a constituency within the party. Then again there is Christy's lack of an "indoor voice" and a strange tendency to nervously giggle like Cesar Romero's old "Joker" routine on the Batman TV show. Odds to nominate: 50-50, Odds to win 60-40.
Charlie Baker (GOP) A former Weld admin functionary, a wealthy HMO tycoon a formidable fundraiser and a potential darling of the punditariat, the day he announces the Globe's Scot LeHigh will fall over in an ecstatic swoon. And yet no one has heard anything from him that indicates that he truly wants the job...everyone bides their time in their own way but does Baker have the fire in da belly? His name keeps cropping up, but he never says anything...there is a Mario Cuomo quality to Baker one wonders if he wavers a tad too much. Moreover, how well will an HMO CEO wear on the electorate at a time when people are losing healthcare all over town?
Odds to nominate 60-40, odds to win to
50-50
State Senator Scott Brown (GOP) He is nicely mannered, telegenic, unthreatening, his daughter turned in a credible performance on "American Idol"...other than that does anyone know anything about the guy?
Well, maybe that is something in Brown's favor a good dark horse has a short record and all that. You have to wonder though, how is he gonna make the fundraising leap from the State Senate (a 100K investment every two years) to the multimillion dollar gubernatorial ranks?
Moreover does he really wanna give up a sure thing in the state senate especially when the GOP ranks therein are so attentuated?
Odds to nominate, 70-30, Odds to win, 60-40
The Claims Stakes:
Reed Hillman, Nobody has heard squat out of Scary Kerry Healey's Lt Governor nominee in four years and his fundraising reach is nil and his barracks mentality won't go far in an election. But he is available and not given to seizures.
Scary Kerry Healey I put her on the list simply because she is just enough of a lightweight to think she can win the second time around. odds are, she won't be able to raise the scratch and even her husband's coffers aren't limitless.
Andy Card the Former courtier for La Famiglia Arbusto gets a guberatorial mention in this state every four years, who am I to break with that tradition?
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