Bob Parker: ABC World News January 6, 1987: The 100th Congress and The Iran Contra Investigation

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Erik Schneider

ABC World News

Source: This piece was originally posted at The New Democrat

Early 1987 and really the whole 1987 year was a bad one for President Ronald Reagan and the Reagan Administration. Republicans, lost the Senate in 1986 which gave Congressional Democrats complete control of Congress going into 1987. Just when the Iran Contra investigation was in the news and when both the Senate and House was looking into that. The House and Senate put together a joint Congressional committee to investigate the Iran Contra situation in the summer of 1987. Where people like Marine Colonel Oliver North became a famous name and person and became a main focus of the Congressional Iran Contra Committee.

I was eleven years old and in fifth grade for most of 1987, so I don’t remember a whole lot about the politics that year. I remember seeing some of the Iran Contra Committee with my parents on TV. I remember hearing about Gary Hart running for president and then dropping out because he was caught having an affair with a women who wasn’t his wife. I remember hearing the name Michael Dukakis and a little about Robert Bork who President Reagan nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court. But most of these things except for Gary Hart and Mike Dukakis weren’t good for President Reagan. And all issues that Vice President George Bush would have to inherit as he ran for president in 1988.

For really the first six years of the Reagan Administration, except for perhaps 1986 when Iran Contra became a big issue, President Reagan and his team were always on the offensive. And able to push their issues and get the country behind them in some key areas. They got their military buildup, tax cuts, Social Security reform, immigration reform, negotiations and better relations with Russia, to use as examples. But 1987 was the 1998 for the Reagan Administration. Where they played defense for most if not the whole year. Either answering questions they didn’t want to answer, or trying to avoid questions that they didn’t want to give the full truth on.

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Barry Kibrick: Dyan Cannon on Between the Lines: Life With Cary Grant

Posted on September 6, 2015 by kireschneider
Hollywood Goddess

Hollywood Goddess

Source:The Daily Review

I didn’t get much out of this interview, but I can speak about Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon two of my favorite actors, as well as comedians of all-time. I bet they were laughing the whole time during their marriage just because of how off the cuff quick-witted they were and Dyan’s case she still is. In Carry Grant’s case I believe we are talking about the best actor ever and I mean actor as far as men. Perhaps the funniest actor and physical comedian ever as far as his delivery and improvisation. And in Dyan Cannon’s case you’re talking about one of the best actress’s of her generation. People born in the mid and late 1920s and the 1930s. As well as one of the best looking.

Cary and Dyan, were together in the mid and late 1960s. Cary’s career was slowing down and he had time to have a strong relationship with a beautiful sexy women like Dyan Cannon who was going to become a Hollywood Goddess and one of the top actress’s of the 1970s and the 1980s. So I guess that gave Cary an opportunity to show a young beautiful baby-faced adorable actress like Dyan Cannon the ropes of the business so to speak and perhaps finally start a family with a women. Which is what Cary and Dyan did in the mid 1960s. Cary Grant would go on to live another twenty years after getting together with Dyan Cannon, but never regained the stardom that he had in the 1950s.

Dyan Cannon, has had some great roles in some of my favorite movies. The Last of Sheila, which she did in 1972 with another Hollywood Goddess Raquel Welch. Shamus, in 1973 with Burt Reynolds, The Doctors Wives in 1971, Caddyshack 2 from 1988 which is a hell of a lot better than the original Caddyshack from 1980. And she’s a women whose somehow managed to stop aging after she hit 30, or something and still looks incredible today with that gorgeous baby-faced, adorable personality and great sense of humor. Not the great career of a Liz Taylor, or a Lauren Bacall, but she’s had a great career and has made a great impact on Hollywood and perhaps is still the best Los Angeles Lakers fan alive.

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Yoo Jay: The Art and Freedom to Offend people

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Derik Schneider
George Carlin

George Carlin

Source: Yoo Jay: The Art and Freedom to Offend people

If I’m going to listen to so-called political comedians, I’m going to first listen to people who know what they’re talking about. I’m not going to go to a mechanic to get my knee examined, or hire that person to do my taxes. Just like I’m not going to listen to a comedian who simply doesn’t know what they’re talking about and perhaps just looks at politics from a stereotypical point of view. As far as how they look at politics, politicians, Democrats, Republicans, etc. Then once I’ve determined that the comedian is knowledgable about politics, or whatever the issue is, they got to be funny. And use their own humor and not use material that a hundred other comedians and other people have already used.

To me at least comedy is only funny when it is accurate, or at least not exaggerated. So to make fat jokes about plus-sized curvy women who are actually in great shape, especially when they come from a rail-thin women who gets blown to the ground every time there’s a breeze in the air, is not funny and also doesn’t even make sense. Now a fat joke about a women, or man who goes to sleep at the all you can eat meat lovers buffet every night so they don’t miss anything, would be funny. But it would also be true. Jokes to me at least have to make sense and they make sense when they’re believable and correct. Like making fun of hypocrites to use as example. Like the guy who preaches about the dangers of adultery and homosexuality when he’s cheating on his third wife and having an affair with a man. You could say this person knows these dangers from personal experience.

I also tend to only listen to comedians who are consistent and non-partisan. Meaning they’re not looking to just bash Republicans, or Democrats, but people who they see as either funny, or bad politicians, or a combination of both. I’ll also listen to comedians who lean in one direction, or the other, but smart and honest enough to know that their side isn’t perfect either. And will go after their side from time to time when they feel they deserve it. Dennis Miller on the Right, Bill Maher, fairly Far-Left, Lewis Black on the Left, P.J. O’Rourke on the Right, whose not a fan of Democrats, or Republicans and the same thing with Chris Buckley the son of William F. Buckley.

George Carlin, is one of my favorite comedians and I don’t agree with all of his satire. But he was about as non-partisan as it came with his comedy even though his personal politics leaned very left at least on economic policy. But he didn’t make fun of Democrats, or Republicans, but he made fun of politicians who happened to be Democrats and Republicans. And he made fun of voters who voted for politicians. And I guess his idea of a politician was someone who would practically do anything to get reelected, or move on to the next level in government. Someone like that will get taken seriously by both sides of the isle and will also attract followers. Because a, they know what they’re talking about, but just as important they’re honest enough to talk about it. As opposed to the partisan comedian who bashes the other side as hard as they defend their own.

Political comedy and comedy in general needs to be funny first and of course. But it’s not going to be funny if it’s not accurate, or at least not exaggerated. And when you’re hitting one side, keep in mind someone is hitting your side and perhaps doing a damn good job at it. And you would better off if you can take a joke. Instead of acting you’re all perfect while the other side if loaded and overflowing with morons that need to be deported, because you’re out of room for morons. Then it also has to be consistent and this gets to political correctness. If redneck jokes are acceptable, so are ghetto jokes. If right-wing Christian jokes are acceptable, then so are right-wing Muslim jokes. And that is just a couple of examples. That great comedians make fun of people who deserve to be made fun of. Instead of picking out one side and hammering them, while they’re trying to defend everyone else.

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Lifetime: Intimate Portrait- Hollywood Goddess Stefanie Powers

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Ederik Schneider

New York

Source:The Daily Review– The Big Apple New York City.

Source:The Daily Review 

“Intimate Portrait Stefanie Powers.” From a 2002 documentary about Hollywood Goddess Stefanie Power. From Lifetime. The video has since been deleted or blocked on YouTube.

“The career of Stefanie Powers is one of so many stage, screen, and television credits that her name alone recalls memories as varied as her roles—on screen and off. From movie roles including John Wayne’s daughter in McLintock! and Lana Turner’s rival in Love Has Many Faces, to being terrorized by Tallulah Bankhead in Die, Die My Darling and befriending a Volkswagen in Herbie Rides Again, she stepped onto the television screen as the sexy secret agent April Dancer in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. and the jet-setting, crime-solving wife of Robert Wagner in Hart to Hart. She is also an award-winning stage actress, fitness advocate, and an internationally recognized animal conservationist…

One from the Hart by Stefanie Powers, Paperback _ Barnes & Noble®

Source:The Daily Review– Stefanie Powers book.

You can read the rest at Barnes & Noble

When I think of Stefanie Powers, I think of her eyes and her little baby nose and big sweet cheeks and sweet voice to match. She is literally one of the sweetest and prettiest things that has ever come out of Hollywood. And then you look at her resume and you’re looking at The Girl From Uncle, Love Has Many Faces, where she works with Lana Turner, Ruth Roman, Cliff Robertson, Hugh O’Brien and many others and you know she’s good enough to work with the best. Which is sort of the way you judge athletes in pro team sports. Are they good enough to play with and play against the best, or not. Stefanie has always been great enough to do both.

She also did Experiment in Terror, which is one of the best crime dramas/horror movies you’ll ever see. From 1962, where she worked with Lee Remick and Glen Ford. She’s about 18-19 at that point and playing a high school student and looked even younger than that. But Hart to Hart, is perhaps not Stefanie’s best role that she’s ever had. I believe her movies are better and Hart to Hart is somewhat cheesy in comparison, but Jennifer Hart is the role that made Stefanie a huge star. She and Robert Wagner, did a great job with some pretty cheesy writing and a show that isn’t very credible. When you’re talking about a president of a corporation that essentially acts as a private detective even though his business was not detective work.

Stefanie and RJ, as they are called, made Hart to Hart from how they related with each other on the show with their chemistry and that they share a very similar sense of humor and both have great timing. Stefanie Powers, is an actress who has always had a lot to work with both personally and professionally and who has made the best of those roles from what she’s brought to them. From her physical appearance, her great voice and her delivery. And is someone who has combined very good acting ability and wit with an excellent physical appearance that has left many men remembering her and always wanting to see more from her. I’m one of her biggest fans and I hope she works forever just like Raquel Welch.

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My Talk Show Heroes: The Late Show With David Letterman- Joe Pesci Talking About Goodfellas in 1994

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Rik Schneider
Joe & Dave- Two All-American Guys

Source: My Talk Show Heroes – Joe & Dave- Two All-American Guys

Source: The Daily Review

Here you have a Hall of Fame comedy duo here in David Letterman. One of I believe the top five or so best late night talk show hosts of all-time and a hell of a standup comedian as well. And Joe Pesci, whose one of the best improvisational actors of all-time. Who can make serious characters look like comedians and make the funniest people you’ll ever see seem even funnier. Because again like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro to use as examples, he’s not only a great improvisational actor, but he has a great sense of humor as well. A great comedian who perhaps has never done standup comedy in his entire career other than giving awards speeches.

Dave and Joe, are talking about Goodfellas here. Which is one of my top 2 Italian Mafia movies of all-time. I go back and forth between Goodfellas and Casino. Donnie Brasco, is also one of my favorites. But Goodfellas is a movie that is not just based on a true story and about Italian mob families in New York, but if you talk to the real-life characters that these actors played, like Henry Hill the character that Ray Liotta played they would tell you that Goodfellas is a true story. And it was like seeing themselves in real-life in that movie. Joe Pesci, played mobster Tommy DeVito and he probably has the funniest part in that movie.

Joe Pesci, like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Cary Grant, Burt Reynolds, are actors/comedians that don’t need scripts. At least to be funny they can turn their character into themselves and you tell them who the character is and what they’re doing in the movie and they’ll not only play it, but add their own flavor to the role and especially add a lot of their humor to the role. They can make simple lines and scenes look hysterical. De Niro, with his facial expressions and the way he delivers lines and perhaps adds his own material. Pesci, by taking a crazy, or funnier character and making that person look like the funniest and craziest person in the world.
My Talk Show Heroes: The Late Show With David Letterman- Joe Pesci

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Movie Clips Classic Trailer Vault: ‘Lenny Official Trailer- Dustin Hoffman Movie (1974)’

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Erik Schneider
Lenny 1974

Source:Movie Clips Classic Trailers– From the tailer for Lenny.

Source:The Daily Review 

“Lenny Trailer – Directed by Bob Fosse and starring Dustin Hoffman, Stanley Beck, Frankie Man, Gary Morton, Guy Rennie. The story of acerbic 1960s comic Lenny Bruce, whose groundbreaking, no-holds-barred style and social commentary was often deemed by the Establisment as too obscene for the public…

From Movie Clips Classic Trailers

Lenny Bruce, was a comedian who used humor to talk about everyday American life. And part of how Americans live is how we interact with each other even in the most personal of ways. Including, marriage divorce, family and yes, even sex. All he did was talked about how Americans lived, but he did it in public. He said things in the public that right-wing culturally conservative establishment who perhaps thought we were a Middle Eastern fundamentalist country and not a Western liberal democracy, didn’t believe Americans should be allowed to hear or say.

As I mentioned yesterday had Lenny came out 10-20 years later, he probably never spends a day in jail for his act. At least outside of the Bible Belt. He actually had a significant criminal record as a thief and dealing with drugs, but when it came to his comedy act he was arrested for literally using adult language in public. Which is clearly unconstitutional under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. He wasn’t libeling people, he was inciting violence, he wasn’t calling for violence to come against anyone. Even the cops who arrested him for using adult language. He was simply using adult language in public as part of his comedy routine.

People tend to think of political correctness as censorship against language that may tend to offend certain groups of people. And that is true obviously, but political correctness in the 1950s and early 1960s was used against people who used language that lets say the most religiously conservative of Americans not only find offensive, but immoral.

And when that language is used they believe the people who say those things should literally be arrested. Today political correctness is used against comedians and other commentators who say negative things even if they’re true against minority groups in America. Lenny Bruce was a victim of 1950s and 1960s right-wing political correctness fascism.

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Edwin Black: ‘Banking On Iraq’

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Ederik Schneider

Banking on Baghdad_ Inside Iraq's 7,000-Year History of War, Profit, and Conflict (2004) - Google SearchSource:Amazon– Edwin Black’s book.

Source:The New Democrat 

“New York Times and international bestselling author Edwin Black uncovers Iraq’s hidden economy and the companies that profit from its upheaval

Big business and global warfare have long been fiery and symbiotic forces in Iraq. Banking on Baghdad tells the dramatic and tragic history of a land long the center of world commerce-and documents the many ways Iraq’s recent history mirrors its tumultuous past. Tracing the involvement
of Western governments and militaries, as well as oil, banking, and other corporate interests in Iraq, Black shows that today, just as yesterday, the world needs Iraq’s resources-and is always willing to fight and invade in order to acquire and protect them.

While demonstrating that Iraq itself is partially to blame for its current state of turmoil, Black does not shy away from the uncomfortable truth that war and profit have also played an equal part in creating the Iraq we know today. Just as he did in IBM and the Holocaust, Black exposes the hidden associations between leading corporations, war, and oil-such as the astonishing connections between Nazi Germany, Iraq, and the Holocaust.

He exposes the war and race-based profiteering by some of the world’s most prestigious corporations, as well as the political and economic ties between the Bush administration and the companies that gain handsomely from its foreign policy. Just as he did in War Against the Weak, Black offers a compelling blend of history and contemporary investigative journalism that spans a century and eschews easy answers for complicated questions.

Edwin Black (Washington, DC) is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of IBM and the Holocaust, The Transfer Agreement, and War Against the Weak. His journalism has appeared in the Washington Post, The Village Voice, The Sunday Times (of London), and The Los Angeles Times.

From Amazon

The Amazon review of Edwin Black’s book, is obviously a left-wing point of view and spin of the Iraq War. So take it for what you think it’s worth.

In 2004, you could argue that Iraq failed, because the world’s superpower the United States invaded them and knocked out their government and removed their dictator. And you could pretty much end it there and then debate more than ten years later if Saddam would still be in power today without the American invasion.

I’m not sure Iraq was ever originally set up to be a successful, independent country. It was set up by the United Kingdom as a British colony. And the way the British set it up was to create a state where you had two large ethnic groups: Levantine Arabs and Iraqi Kurds. And two major Islamic factions: sunnis and the Shias. With a bunch of other ethnic minorities like the Turkmen’s and Assyrians.

Iraq, similar to Iran, were set up to become reliable sources for oil and gas for Europe especially the United Kingdom. Unlike the State of Israel that was put together so the Jews could have their own country and not have to worry about being murdered by their own government in another country.

But even pre-2003 Iraq War, you could argue that Saddam Hussein destroyed Iraq. Here he had a fairly large country in land, but with only twenty-five-million people or so and yet most of them are educated, that is not only energy independent, but is one of the largest oil and has producers in the world. And yet he created a third-world country. Because he wasn’t interested in developing his country. But holding onto and expanding his dictatorship. And invading countries he thought he could control and steal their energy. Iran and Kuwait, come to mind real fast.

So Iraq failed, because it wasn’t set up to succeed by the British and Saddam, destroys his country by the way he mismanaged the economy started wars that shouldn’t have been fought.

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Mysteries & Scandals: Lenny Bruce

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Erik Schneider
Free Speech Under Assault

Free Speech Under Assault

Source: The Daily Review

Keep in mind that Lenny Bruce’s act came out in the 1950s and up until the early 1960s when we were still living in this Leave it to Beaver Pleasantville, where a lot of Americans are supposed to live on the farm, or out West, type of culture. Where the idea of political correctness was not saying anything that went against this establishment. Where sex and divorce wasn’t talked about, where government officials were considered gods and looked up to, where women’s place was in the home and where gays place was in the closet, jail, or a mental institution. Where everyone at least was supposed to take their parents word as gold and if you questioned them, you were committing a sin.

Imagine if you’re Lenny Bruce and this is the culture you live and work in and your act is not ahead of its time, but you might be twenty-years ahead of your time. Your act would be mainstream in 1975 or so and to a certain extent in the late 1960s in certain places, but you’re starting out in the early and mid 1950s where America was still supposed to be Pleasantville. And you have this comedian whose literally being arrested and you have cops going to his shows for talking about things that the supposed culture and establishment of the time sees as unacceptable. Even with our liberal free speech and first amendment rights.

Lenny Bruce, was using swear words in a culture where words like damn, hell, bitch, bastard, ass, words that were very mainstream by the mid 1970s or so, that were considered very sinful and immoral in 1955, or so. Lenny, wasn’t getting in trouble for calling for people to be hurt, or murdered, or libeling people, things that aren’t protected by the First Amendment. Bruce was being harassed and prosecuted by government for using adult language. And talking about adult topics like marriage, divorce, sex and using adult language. All things that are protected by our first amendment.

I think the closest comedian to compare Lenny Bruce with would be George Carlin. Who came onto the scene about ten-years after Bruce. But they have similar styles and the ability to take on the system, or establishment and inform people that America and their country isn’t as perfect as their government wants them to think it is. That America is Pleasantville at least not everywhere. That we have real issues and concerns that need to be dealt with. And that talking about things even adult subjects issues that all Americans do in private at least is okay to talk about those things in public as well. And besides we have a First Amendment that protects this speech anyway.

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Say No To Democide: Free Speech or Offensive Speech: Should We Let Haters Speak?

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Derik Schneider

Free Speech

Source:The New Democrat

To put to bluntly, if you don’t like free speech, you’re probably not a fan of liberal democracy and sure as hell not America as well. The First Amendment, is not something you can mess with simply because you don’t like the opposition and what they have to say, or you’re frustrated about their ability to communicate their message and attract followers. Which is how today’s so-called Progressives feel about Fox News, right-wing talk radio to use as examples. And launching campaigns to get those organizations shut down and shut up.

Free speech, just doesn’t protect Americans right to be kind, intelligent and enlightened. But it protects our right to free speech and that even includes the right to say stupid things and believe garbage, to be nice that no intelligent person could ever believe as the truth. I mean if you actually look at the First Amendment, what does it say? “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” So where do you see in that where Congress could pass a law banning offensive speech in America?

One of the great things about living in a liberal democracy, or liberalized society, is the ability to put all the information, facts and views out there. Where everyone can be heard and where we know where everyone stands. The right to free speech doesn’t entitle anyone to respect. You can pretty much say whatever you want short of harassing, libeling and inciting violence. And then the public gets to figure out whose right and whose wrong. Whose smart, whose stupid, whose tolerant and whose hateful. With public consequences coming from the people as far as what we say. Short of actually shutting people up and giving them governmental sanctions for what they say.

So the answer to the question should we let haters speak is sort of a moot question. Because we already do and there isn’t a hell of a lot that can be do about that short of amending the First Amendment. Which is almost impossible to do anyway, but again if you’re a fan of free speech and the First Amendment which all Liberals are including myself, that is exactly how it should be. If you’re not a Liberal and you’re not a fan of free speech and would prefer collective speech with a so-called progressive enlightened committee deciding what is proper and what isn’t proper when it comes to speech, then you have a big problem with free speech. And you’re liberal credentials are probably non-existent.

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Blog For Arizona: The So-Called Religious Liberty Aka License to Discriminate Legal Fight

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Rik Schneider
Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky

Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky

Source: Blog For Arizona

The whole Kim Davis same-sex marriage vs. so-called religious liberty case in Kentucky, is the best case for Separation of Church and State that I’ve ever seen in this country. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are the best cases worldwide for Separation of Church and State. If Clerk Kim Davis doesn’t want to serve part of the public, then she shouldn’t have a government job. Government, is open for the public and that included gays who are obviously people and part of the public. Even in a third-world backwards state like Kentucky where not everyone there is able to go to and finish school. She should instead go to the Kentucky hills, or someplace and work as a coal miner. Or get a job at a Kentucky beer, or whisky factory, or someplace in the private sector.

Kim Davis could volunteer for the Mike Huckabee campaign for president and what’s left of it. And spread the gospel and evils as they see it of homosexuality and add to the list of states that Mike Huckabee will either lose, or won’t even have the resources to compete in. She could work for her church and talk about the importance of religious liberty, again as they see it. But once you’re open for the public as government offices are, you’re responsible for serving the public. Same-sex marriage is now legal in Kentucky. Gay couples have the same right to get married in Kentucky as straight couples. And if she has a problem with that she wouldn’t work for Rowan County Government, or any government in Kentucky and instead move onto the private sector.

Kim Davis, is now looking at real jail time and putting her family and herself through hell for simply not doing her job. She’s under a state order from the Governor and now court orders in Kentucky, to either do her job and serve the whole public, or go to jail. She has no legal authority to deny gay couples marriage licenses simply because her religious views sees homosexuality as a sin. And whether she’s smart enough to understand that, her lawyers better be, or they shouldn’t be practicing law anywhere. She should drop what she’s doing and simply resign her office and move on with the rest of her life and save herself and her family a lot of pain.

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