As we deal with the repercussions of Sandy Hook – as we debate how we deal with guns and what mental illness looks like in this country, I couldn’t help but think of this.
I’d like to call this perspective, ladies and gentlemen.
Let’s recap this week:
With all this crazy, I was excited to tune into Real Time with Bill Maher this week. While sometimes I find myself cringing as he skips right over the line between right and funny and parachutes into offensive, I always enjoy his show and feel like I learn something. Now that Entourage is off the air, he is the WHOLE reason I still have HBO. (Sorkin’s Newsroom will be reason #2 in a few short months.)
And may I just say, that once I got past a gay joke about Anderson Cooper, Maher did not disappoint.
In particular, the last of his “New Rules” this week really won me over and I was dying to share. All I wanted to do was to find the clip. Surely someone else was amused and posted it online. So I searched and searched to no avail.
Damn.
Then I thought, well, I’m watching it on my DVR. Surely someone else did too, SOMEONE thought this rule was BRILLIANT, and wrote it down. Blogs? Message Boards? Anything?
No such luck.
DAMN.
Normally, out of sheer laziness I would have moved on at this point but the New Rule was just too good.
So I watched and rewatched the clip, to provide you with the below text.
If Mitt Romney really wants to win over conservative viewers, he needs to one up Jan Brewer and spit on Obama’s shoes. From Bill O’Reilly interrupting the president 48 times in a 15 minute interview to Joe Wilson heckling him in a speech before Congress to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer sticking a finger in his face, something unprecedented is happening in the way conservatives disrespect this president. And I’m not talking about mere words uttered hundreds of thousands or miles away. Sean Hannity can say whatever he wants, no one looks to him as a model human being, or even a human being. And I, of course, am very guilty or actually proud, of innumerable insults to former President Bush, calling him a “A rube” “A cypher” “A shit kicker” “a yokel on the world’s stage” “a catastrophe that walks like a man” “the cowboy from Toy Story” “Drinky McDumbass” “President Larry The Cable Guy” And then in Season 2…
But I didn’t call him that to his face, nor would I if I had the chance. And that is the difference.
Now the deal we’ve always had with the president’s is that we smile and talk nice to them when they are in front of us and we cut them down and say horrible nasty things about them behind their backs. This has always worked for 8th grade girls and it has always worked for the United States of America. But there is something about this president that makes conservatives think it is ok to go ape shit in his presence. They didn’t do this to Carter, an actual pacifist or Clinton, who really did have a plan for universal health care or LBJ, who actually made it easier for poor people to vote and eat- All of them clearly evil, America haters. But they got treated with a modicum of respect at least to their faces. Not Obama. What can it be that’s different about him?
It’s either his race or it’s your brain chemistry or it’s something about how your dad spanked you and you liked it and you were looking at a box of Cream of Wheat.
I don’t know- I’m not a therapist.
Maybe it’s not race, I don’t know what’s in people’s hearts. Except Newt Gingrich, I know what’s in his heart. Lust and Cheese Fries.
But, this type of in the room, in your face, in your space, disrespect is new. Admit that- and I will admit that, of course, something like impeaching Clinton was far more serious, but it was also at least, in some ways, more respectful. It was done with high pomp, through official channels. It was all about rule of law, and the Chief Justice wore a special robe that he got from a musical or something. And somehow, that is a lot more respectful than this. (See below.)
Not that is Obama ever did anything like what Clinton did, he’d even be alive. Can you imagine what they’d do if they found out Obama had sex with a White House intern on Easter? Talk about colored eggs.
He would have been impeached two times- one for each testical.
This president has had to be the Caesar’s wife of Pennsylvania Avenue, the Jackie Robinson of American politics, never reacting to the taunts from the stands. But after you do this, to try and get his goat- what’s next? A wedgie? A purple nurple?
Governor Brewer said she did this because she felt threatened. Riiiggghhht. Like Obama ran a finger down her blouse and said “You my white princess.”
-Real Time with Bill Maher
I had a friend, who even when I was frustrated with President Bush would talk to me about the wonder of the office and the respect the position deserves. Watching this Real Time clip, I couldn’t shake that same feeling.
We deserve better than minimizing the presidency to finger shakes and heckling. It’s not about agreement, it’s about respect.
Think West Wing.
1. Dance Moms
Why yes, looks like an absolute trainwreck of a show and I must confess: I. Am. Giddy. Beginning July 13th, this “documentary” of sorts follows in the pattern of Cheer Nation and others: Insane Parents. Sadistic Teacher. Little Kid Tears. As a dancer, a dancer who grew up at a dancing school, with tamer but, at times, equally crazy parents, I cannot wait.
I have read reviews of the studio. It is, no doubt, a demanding studio that demonstrates a high level of technique and precision. But it is also a breeding ground for star crazed mom’s with delusions of grandeur (think Dina Lohan) and dancers getting burnt out by the age of 12. (Note the lack of teenage or older dancers in the previews.) Despite the possible years of therapy these little ones will have to endure, not to mention their inevitable future putting these dancing skills to use on a pole, I’ll be shamefully tuned in to every insane moment.
*Can we also take a second to enjoy the morbidly obese teacher? Does a teacher have to be the best dancer to teach? No, often the best dancers make awful instructors. But perhaps I would like my children’s teacher to look like she could see her toes, none the less pointe them.
2. Project Runway
Yet another Lifetime Network gem, the return of this show for it’s ninth season on July 29th promises a predictable mix of flamboyant and crazy. They choose telegenic, easy to categorize personalities (the annoying one, the talented one, the flamboyantly gay one, the hot straight guy you want to make you a dress before having his way with you) who compete in predictably ludicrous challenges (who has to make an outfit out of car parts?) and are held together by a 2-parts-bitchy-1-part-fatherly judging/advice panel. No one tunes in because they don’t know what’s going to happen, we tune in because we do.
3. Entourage
It’s the final season for this HBO boys club and I’ve never been so excited to have HBO. (July 24th)
4. Good Christian Belles
Haven’t heard of it? Well here it is.
I’m excited for this show for one reason.
Kristin Chenoweth is one of the most underrated, painfully talented actresses in Hollywood. (Yeah I said it.) She’s one of those actresses that you might recognize (She’s been in everything from Glee to the West Wing) but would be hard pressed to name. She sings (original Glinda in Wicked anyone?) she dances (a SYTYCD judge this season) and has a comedic timing and sharp wit that’s made even more cutting with her sugary sweet voice. (Can you tell I’m a fan?) With any luck, this midseason replacement from ABC will turn her into a household name and showcase her variety of talents. Sadly, ABC midseason replacements don’t have a lot of luck getting off the ground- a la Mr. Sunshine. Let’s hope this show has a slightly less dismal fate.
Ok, so it isn’t slated to hit the HBO airwaves until 2012 but this Aaron Sorkin project about a cable news station has to be one of the most buzzed about tv projects that is still in casting. Equal parts West Wing, Sports Night, and Studio 60 (at it’s best perhaps) it is said to profile an Olbermann like idealist, liberal reporter and his staff. With each new casting addition (Dev Patel, Kathleen Kennedy) I get more excited for its eventual premiere. (Note to self: either need to move again or not be so cheap by the time this comes out. HBO will be a must have for this Sorkin junkie.)
