Shut up and Talk

I listen to Howard Stern every morning on the way to work. I have listened to Howard for more than 20 years now. I think he's funny and edgy. His adult humor gets me smiling in the morning. However, for the last year or so he's begun to really aggravate me.

This is a good example. The other day Howard's side-kick, Artie Lange (very funny guy too), asked if its upsetting to the soldiers in Iraq if they say (on the Stern show) that the war in Iraq is a real mess. Howard immediately jumped in and said, "not at all. Most of the soldiers over there think its messed up too." That's crap for two reasons.

First, the army reports that 2 out of every 3 soldiers discharged from Iraq re-enlist and go back to Iraq. If the soldiers think its so messed up, why are they voluntarily going back, Howard?

The second reason this comment is crap is because its Howard making the statement. Many years back, when Howard first started sticking his nose into politics, including his own run for the governorship of NY, he was clearly a conservative. He supported Christie Todd Whitman when she ran for Governor of NJ, and George Petaki each time he ran for Governor of NY. And both of these Governors are Republicans. Christie Whitman even named a rest stop on the NJ Turnpike after Howard for his support of her candidacy. I also know from years of listening to Howard that he is in favor of the death penalty and when he ran for Governor of NY he ran on the Libertarian ticket. Hardly a liberal party.

So why did he make this statement? In fact, this comment is only one is a pattern of Howard's for some time now. More and more Howard has been making liberal and virulent anti-Bush statements of late. And I know why.

Howard is going "Hollywood." He makes it no secret that he wants a career in movies and television. And what better way to insinuate himself into the Hollywood clique than to speak out against President Bush and the War in Iraq. He is vying for a seat at the big celebrity table, and he's doing it at the expense of his own karma.

In fairness, however, Howard isn't the only "celebrity" to take this route. Before PoliticallyIncorrect was taken up by Disney, Bill Maher was a conservative. I used to watch his show when it was on cable, and his positions we more often than not conservative. Now, Maher can't get liberal enough. He's fighting it out with Rosie O'Donnell for the spot as the angriest empty-headed liberal in entertainment. And at times it seems he's winning.

There are many other examples out there of people on the fringes of Hollywood trying to make their way into the heart of the business by attempting to out-liberal each other. What irks me about Howard doing it though is that he is a fairly intelligent, well-spoken man who has sold his soul for a career in a make believe world that no real person can relate to. Certainly not a world most of his listeners can relate to. He's selling out himself, his listeners and his country.

I hope he finds happiness at what he does best, radio, and leaves the liberal flag where it should be left: Southern California.

A Lack of Media Savvy

A major weakness of the Republicans is that they have no idea how to manipulate the media. The Deomocrats on the other hand are masters of this art. And with the mass media so in the pocket of the Democrats, this is a strong combination.

An example of how the Republicans shoudl have, but did nto start to manipulate the media is with the Foley "scandel." As many of you hopefully know nby now there was a Democrat in the House in the early `80s by the name of Gerry Studds. He had his own little page dilemma. He not only solicited under-age pages for sexual satisfaction, but he actually had sex with at least one 17 yeras old male page.

Did Studds resign? No. Did the Democrats run him out on a rail? Of course not. What did the Democrats (who controlled the House at the time) do to Studds? Promoted him to a committee chairmanship (at the urging of Nancy Pelosi, no less).

Conversely, at the urging of Newt Gingrich, Republicans pushed for Studds to be kicked out of the house, but that was never done.

Now we get the Foley scandel. Did Foley resign? Yes, so there was nothing else for the Republican lead house to do to him, legally. And Foley didn't even have sex with the page in question (as far as we know).

So what do the Republicans do in the wake of Foley-gate? Denny Hastert-- "well, uh, I'm thinking about it." Next day-- "well, uh, I'll ask the FBI to investigate." How long will that investigation take? Well at least until after the election. Way to go Denny.

What shoudl the Republicans have done? On every media outlet, every interview, every press conference, every Sunday morning show, the first words out of any Republican's mouth should have been "Gerry Studds." Put the Dmocrats on the defensive while at the same time taking the sting out of the story. Show how the Democrats are worse than hypocrits. They have, as usual, a double standard. Apparently, if you ask a page for sex you should be drawn and quatered. But if you actually have sex with a page, you should be promoted.

This is grade school stuff, but the Republicans have never been able to do it. They have never even tried. And until the start to they will always lose the media wars in politics.