Letters to the Editor
-
The Using the Word "Pimp" Defense is Really Devolving
So "pimping" means something different than it did 100 yrs. ago? Try 20 yrs. ago. Big difference. In the 80's the word was enough to cause controversy if used on a rap record, or any record for that matter. The culture cannot make a big enough shift in 20 years to make the word inconsequential, despite MTV's supposed influence. (And as I said in a previous post, MTV as a cultural infulence on anything except the spread of herpes is long gone.)
I believe in free speech, which is why I do not think Shuster should be fired for his joking. But let's get real here. People who report the news are years out of college and most are years out of their twenties, so if they use slang, or text messaging language or anything else on a national news network, they seem a little ridiculous, and sometimes, as in Shuster's case, controversial. I think ratings alone would solve the problem eventually. Most, and I emphasize, most, people do not expect current slang from a person helming a national news desk.
Slang comes and goes. How many anchors use "Peace Out" as a sign off? It was very common phrase once, but not so much anymore, although still in use by some people.
You can cite dictionary definitions and TV shows as much as you want, but the bottom line is that many people still perceive the phrase "pimping out" as vulgar and insulting, just as there are many people who would object to "damn" of "fuck" no matter how common its usage is now. Maybe in 80 more years that will change, but I'm not holding my breath.
And 24/7 is a compression of a phrase, not slang. And "time" slang has no controversial overtones.
-
Re David Schuster
I mostly agree with your assessment of David Shuster. He more than most of the TV people seen on MSNBC seems almost like a "real journalist" rather than a TV personality. Being of a certain age I was surprised to hear the word "pimped out" referring to Chelsea Clinton. However, she does seem to be surrounded in kind of a bubble. I've never seen her give press interviews the way Michelle Obama has. She's a 27 year old woman who seems to be shielded like the little girl she was when the Clinton's entered the White house. That was a very vulgar phrase he used but I think he was getting to a larger point. They use people. The Clinton's were angry with the criticism and then used it politically. That's what they do.
-
I'm not sure how this affects the price of tea in China but
I just remembered this story where Chelsea Clinton refused to give an interview with a "reporter" who was eight years old and who wanted to write a story about her for her school newspaper. Seriously, I don't think it must have been easy growing up in the house of Clinton.
-
CLINTON, DEBATES, MSNBC
Dear Joan, you have gotten uglier and more hypocritical in the last year. You go on MSNBC and you twist your head to the right, never facing the viewers squarely. What are you hiding; where does your shame lie? It's clear who you support, eventhough you act as an impartial expert on politics. You are like a snake in the world of the mind. It's clear that it pains you that Clinton is losing. Good for you; suffer into the dust.
Why do you have a vested interest in a "woman?" What is it about being female that confers goodness or aptness? Nothing! Cleopatra was a jerk, Marie Antoinette the same, and Catherine the Great . . . well?? It's not sex that confers nobility or aptness, but the quality of one's soul. It's either high or low.
What makes you think that Hillary always does well in debates? You said so on Hardball today. If she does, how come she's losing, after so many debates? She's losing because enough of the voters have figured out that she and Bill are self-seeking liars--first of all. Then comes the rest, from which we are supposed to benefit.
Liars a benefit to us?
Catch up to your biological age, Joan.
-
"KID Gloves for Obama, "Knockout for Hillary"
I'm inclined to agree with your analysis of MSNBC'S sexist coverage of Hillary. I watch MSNBC all day for political coverage and I am so angry with Chris Mathews, Tim Russert & Mikka, Tucker Carlson that I'm not going to watch them anymore. It's impossible for Tucker Carlson to control his dislike for the Clintons, he dominates all the coversation, particularly differing views. I have come to the conclusion that both men & WOMEN feel comfortable critizing women (Hillary) and will not scrutinize or question Obama's rhetoric or platforms. They are handling him with kid gloves. Please don't accuse me of being a racist, I AM NOT, AND WILL SUPPORT OBAMA IF THE CANDIDATE.
-
American Idol
Most of my progressive friends and I believe that in many ways Hillary Clinton is the most qualified to be president but we are chosing to vote for Barak O'Bama because, to date, he hasn't chosen to create issues when there aren't any.
Are you kidding? He doesn't discuss any issues at all. And the MSM attack Hillary for him, leaving him looking above the fray. The just want to eliminate Hillary--the only qualified Democrat left in the race who has the skill and knowledge to get our issues passed.
The advertisement about O'Bama refusing to debate that Hillary is running in Wisconsin is another example of her drummed-up garbage.
Yeah, demanding that your opponent debate you is drummed-up garbage. Issues are drummed-up garbage. Ideas are drummed-up garbage. Superdelegates are drummed-up garbage. Hillary's wins in Florida and Michigan are drummed-up garbage. Reading the same speech over and over again in different accents in different parts of the country--that's real. SIGH...
Nobody running for President should be afriad to debate. Obama has only debated Hillary alone once, and obviously he doesn't want to do it again.
-
No choice work ...no value
Over 200 inputs and none worth an editor's choice star. Dead issue..move on. David, you will do well in your future endeavors. Peace Corps, maybe?
-
I agree, he is a scapegoat, even though it was a horrible statement,
it is par with what everyone on MSNBC seems to say these days.
And yes, I have stopped watching MSNBC. I was having my fill with Countdown being one of the few less nasty and distorting. Keith was making me sick with his Obama pushing, like the rest, but he wasn't biased, distorting, nasty and leading with HIllary as the others. However he was slowly heading that way when he was even complaining that Edwards didn't give a concession speech in Iowa...for coming in 2nd...WTF? And Keithie started going downhill from there.
I've now gotten to the point where I cannot even watch Countdown. Keith has become so disappointing in his supposed news coverage. Puff pieces for Obama and anyway in the world he can turn negative on anything with Hillary, he does.
It seems to be an intentional slow move with Keith being one of the last. But to see Olbermann go the way he did, has disappointed me...and I know others, tremendously. My dvd recorder is still recording him, and if I don't catch it to switch, I let it and just erase him.
I stopped watching Dan Abrams again after his Obama/Lawrence McDonnell regular guest appearance, then Keith went down.
MSNNBC, no more in this house.