Health Care and the Moral Imperative

I am always troubled by those in government claiming they have a moral imperative to enact this or that policy. A little digging often reveals that their motives are more self serving than moral. I am doubly troubled when those raising the moral banner tend to reject the very idea of an objective morality applicable to all men at all times.

Such is the case with liberal Democrats and their insistence that the moral laws of the universe – laws that have been with us since God breathed life into man (or as some would have it when we rose from the primordial soup) – command Government to supply every citizen (and many that aren’t) with health insurance.

But as is generally the case all we need do is scratch the surface and the truth reveals itself.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, John Cassidy of the New Yorker lets the cat out of the bag when he writes on The New Yorker website that we must be clear about what the reform amounts to. “The U.S. government is making a costly and open-ended commitment,” Cassidy writes. “The Obama Administration . . . is creating a new entitlement program, which, once established, will be virtually impossible to rescind.” And why are they doing it? Again the WSJ quotes Cassidy: Because “ObamaCare serves the twin goals of making the United States a more equitable country” and furthering the Democrats’ “political calculus.” In other words, the purpose is to further redistribute income by putting health care further under government control, and in the process making the middle class more dependent on government. As the party of government, Democrats will benefit over the long run.” (more…)

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Tags: government, Obama, ObamaCare, pelosi, socialism
Posted Nov 16th 2009 at 11:01 am in Politics | 26340239 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jphillips/2009/11/16/health-care-and-the-moral-imperative/Health+Care+and+the+Moral+Imperative2009-11-16+19%3A01%3A37Joseph+C.+Phillips

NBC’s ObamaVision: Will Peacock’s News Division Expose the Alarmism?

“Why can’t we ignore [global warming]? Because it’s the biggest crisis we’ve ever faced.” — Al Gore, April 24, 2009, Testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Climate Change Legislation.

Next week NBC is entering their “Green Week” of programming, infusing environmental messages across many of their prime-time shows. But the campaign does not only include entertainment programs – the eco-messaging will also be spread through NBC News’ Nightly News, Meet the Press, and the Today Show.

My question for the NBC News organization is this – will you be discussing the biggest global warming story of the year?

Early this year a study from Oregon State University, entitled Reproduction and the carbon legacies of individuals, contained the single biggest decision that anyone could make to dramatically lower their carbon footprint. And that decision? Have fewer kids.

The results of the report are actually mind boggling for anyone somewhat informed on environmental policy. The study investigates how the reproductive choices of an individual affects their “carbon legacy”, or said differently, the CO2 emissions attributable to a person’s offspring. What they found was that a US citizen’s decision of having a child adds 5.7 times the expected CO2 emissions for that citizen. Yes, 5.7 times!! This is due to the domino effect of your kids having kids, which have kids, and so on.  (more…)

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Tags: Al Gore, GE, Green Week, Meet the Press, MSNBC
Posted Nov 16th 2009 at 6:44 am in Media Criticism, Politics, Television | 26227092 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/pcourrielche/2009/11/16/nbcs-obamavision-will-peacocks-news-division-expose-the-alarmism/NBC%27s+ObamaVision%3A+Will+Peacock%27s+News+Division+Expose+the+Alarmism%3F2009-11-16+14%3A44%3A55Patrick+Courrielche

NBC’s ObamaVision: GE Uses Network To Push Obama’s Green Agenda — And Rakes In the Dough

What do you call it when the federal government pays a private company some money so that the private company will stump for the federal government’s agenda?  Payola.  Under the FCC rules and regulations, “When a broadcast licensee has received or been promised payment for the airing of program material, then, at the time of the airing, the station must disclose that fact and identify who paid for or promised to pay for the material.” 

So what do you call it when the federal government steers money to a major broadcast network so that the major broadcast network will stump for the federal government’s agenda? 

That’s precisely what’s happening over at NBC this week.  According to the Associated Press: 

NBC gives new meaning to the phrase “green screen” next week, spreading a pro-environmental message across five of its prime-time entertainment programs.  “30 Rock,” where Al Gore takes a cameo role, leads the way. Environmental themes were also added to the scripts of “The Biggest Loser,” “The Office,” “Heroes” and “Community.”  NBC Universal’s three-year “green” campaign has largely focused on off-camera issues like making company facilities more eco-friendly. News and information programs have also been enlisted to do stories on environmental issues, but except for one “30 Rock” episode two years ago, the campaign hasn’t touched the prime-time lineup. 

Now, it’s clear that NBC has pushed this “green agenda” for years.  And that makes sense – General Electric owns NBC, and General Electric is at the forefront in terms of producing “green products” like energy efficient lightbulbs.  In May 2005, GE launched its $90 million “Ecomagination” advertising campaign, designed to demonstrate “GE’s commitment to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water,” according to GE CEO Jeff Immelt.  (more…)

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Tags: Al Gore, AP, GE, Green Week, Immelt
Posted Nov 16th 2009 at 2:59 am in Featured Story, Politics, Television | 26154244 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bshapiro/2009/11/16/propaganda-ge-uses-nbc-to-push-obamas-green-agenda-and-rakes-in-the-dough/NBC%27s+ObamaVision%3A+GE+Uses+Network+To+Push+Obama%27s+Green+Agenda+--+And+Rakes+In+the+Dough2009-11-16+10%3A59%3A44Ben+Shapiro

Another 9/11 Travesty

A little more than eight years ago, a group of Muslim terrorists attacked Americans on American soil.  In the end, more than 3,000 innocent civilians were dead.  The attack on that day was just that: an attack.  A well planned and executed military attack that murdered thousands of people. 

Friday morning, another travesty relating to 9/11 occurred.  President Obama and his loyal minion, Attorney General Eric Holder decided that the war criminals who were responsible for 9/11 would be tried as civilians in a Federal courtroom in lower Manhattan, a few blocks from their main and most deadly attack that day.  A few blocks from Hallowed Ground. 

I am angry.  As all of you know from this column, I try to be fair and balanced in my arguments.  I do not allow anger to rule the day.  But today, I am angry.  The Obama Administration has now decided that these war criminals should have the same rights and privileges as ordinary citizens. 

The ramifications of this are obvious.  It is just another example of the appeasement and weakness of the Obama Administration’s policies.  I want you all to remember the last time appeasement was used in the late 1930’s.  After that travesty fifty million people were dead including six million innocent Jews.  The last time we were weak was during the Carter Administration.  The result, Americans held hostage for more than a year.  (more…)

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Tags: 9/11, Fort Hood, Manhattan, Obama, WTC
Posted Nov 15th 2009 at 5:27 pm in Politics | 262966141 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/fdemartini/2009/11/15/another-911-travesty/Another+9%2F11+Travesty2009-11-16+01%3A27%3A51Frank+DeMartini

Obama Nation: A Big Mess They Made

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Tags: "Obama Nation", Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Obama, pelosi
Posted Nov 15th 2009 at 2:14 pm in Art, Politics | 26245040 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hudlash/2009/11/15/obama-nation-a-big-mess-they-made/Obama+Nation%3A+A+Big+Mess+They+Made2009-11-15+22%3A14%3A27James+Hudnall+and+Batton+Lash

Death of the Movie Star: Hollywood Rethinks use of A-list Actors

Reuters:

“Hollywood studios are now thinking twice about splurging on A-list movie stars and costly productions in reaction to the poor economy, but also because of the surprising success of recent films with unknown actors. …

“Last weekend, comic actor Jim Carrey’s “A Christmas Carol” became the latest celebrity-driven movie to stumble at box offices, opening to a lower-than-expected $30 million.

“Aside from Jim Carrey and “Carol,” which cost at least $175 million, A-listers who suffered box office flops recently have included Bruce Willis (”Surrogates”), Adam Sandler (”Funny People”), Will Ferrell (”Land of the Lost”), Eddie Murphy (”Imagine That”) and Julia Roberts (”Duplicity”). (more…)

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Tags: A-List, hollywood, Jim Carrey, Movie Star, reuters
Posted Nov 15th 2009 at 9:42 am in Film, Politics | 263238186 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/11/15/death-of-the-movie-star-hollywood-rethinks-use-of-a-list-actors/Death+of+the+Movie+Star%3A+Hollywood+Rethinks+use+of+A-list+Actors2009-11-15+17%3A42%3A01Big+Hollywood

Obama: The Woody Boyd Candidate

Earlier this year, I rented and re-watched the entire series run of Cheers. Towards the end of the series, the hayseed junior bartender Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) decides to run for city council. He is encouraged in this endeavor by psychiatrist Fraser Crane (Kelsey Grammer), the bar’s resident elite, who acts as Woody’s campaign manager.

Fraser masterminds Woody’s campaign as a social experiment: He is convinced that anyone, even a bumpkin, can get elected, simply by spouting vague cliches. His advice to Woody? Don’t be specific on the campaign trail – just repeat empty slogans like “change.”

When I saw this, I burst out laughing – perhaps this is where Axelrod & Co. received their inspiration for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign theme, I surmised. (more…)

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Tags: "Cheers", Obama, Ted Danson, Woody Boyd, Woody Harrelson
Posted Nov 14th 2009 at 6:10 pm in Featured Story, Political Humor, Politics | 259954133 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/mpatterson/2009/11/14/obama-the-woody-boyd-candidate/Obama%3A+The+Woody+Boyd+Candidate2009-11-15+02%3A10%3A28Matt+Patterson

‘Poliwood’: One-Sided, Occasionally Fascinating Look at Politics and Celebrity

Did you know celebrities have a right to speak their minds about politics courtesy of The First Amendment? Or that the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon televised debate changed the way we saw politicians forever? “Poliwood,” a new film “essay” from director Barry Levinson, uncovers those nuggets and much, much more.

The film, set to bow at the Starz Denver Film Festival this weekend and already airing on Showtime, does offer more than just those recycled themes. It’s an occasionally fascinating look into the modern actor’s mindset as well as the anger the general public feels when they hear celebrities pontificating on events of the day.

Director Barry Levinson

We’re also given a peek at the passions driving some celebrities to speak out on the issues. Yet the film is emblematic of Hollywood productions which strain to achieve balance but come up mostly empty.

The bulk of the film features liberal celebrities from the Creative Coalition, a nonpartisan group, maneuvering around last year’s Democratic National Convention in Denver. (more…)

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Tags: "Poliwood", anne hathaway, Barry Levinson, Jennifer Lopez, showtime
Posted Nov 13th 2009 at 3:04 pm in Celebrity News, Politics, Reviews | 26241840 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cftoto/2009/11/13/review-poliwood/%27Poliwood%27%3A+One-Sided%2C+Occasionally+Fascinating+Look+at+Politics+and+Celebrity2009-11-13+23%3A04%3A44Christian+Toto

‘The Demands of Political Correctness’

In reply to a recent political and cultural controversy involving “Sesame Street,” Sesame Workshop Executive Vice President Miranda Barry wrote:   

Jim Henson, Jon Stone, Frank Oz and others set a witty and silly tone for Sesame Street that our current writers work to maintain despite the demands of political correctness. 

What then, specifically, are the demands of political correctness that Ms. Barry’s taxpayer-funded organization operates under? 

What is Political Correctness? 

For an exacting scholarly analyses of Political Correctness we can turn to Free Congress Foundation & William Lind’s The History of Political Correctness. 

As Mr. Lind distills:

If we look at [Political Correctness] analytically, if we look at it historically, we quickly find out exactly what it is. Political Correctness is cultural Marxism. It is Marxism translated from economic into cultural terms.  (more…)

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Tags: Miranda Barry, Ms. Barry, pbs, political correctness, Sesame Street
Posted Nov 13th 2009 at 1:18 pm in Entertainment, Featured Story, Politics, Television | 262598176 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/abaldwin/2009/11/13/the-demands-of-political-correctness/%27The+Demands+of+Political+Correctness%272009-11-13+21%3A18%3A01Adam+Baldwin

ObamaVision: Brace Yourselves For the NBC-GE ‘Green Week’ Push

Just as political correctness is nothing more than left-wing fascism disguised as tolerance, global warming climate change is nothing more than socialism disguised as nonsense. The tactics change, the goals remain the same, and the arts are as effective a tool as ever.

The Left understands this, which is why the White House pushed to co-opt the National Endowment for the Arts (as though they needed co-opting) and the Entertainment Industry Foundation bent over backwards to push “volunteerism” — which is just another word for funneling the unsuspecting to Internet portals with pro-ObamaCare videos, Planned Parenthood ads and a nifty “glitch” where when you type in “Republican” you’re directed to left-wing groups.

Next week, and for the third year in a row, NBC will inject enviro-friendly messages into its primetime line-up, including a “30 Rock” appearance by former Vice President Al Gore. This push is not about ratings (Al Gore?) and it’s not about an Ed Begley Jr.-style of do-gooderism. And not only will this politically correct environmentalism infect the entertainment division, those left-wing ideological warriors disguised as the NBC News Division have also  jumped on board … and not just the Obama-ites at MSNBC.

Starting Monday, a number of Big Hollywood contributors will take an in-depth look at the insidious artistic, business and political maneuverings behind this push, which Bill O’Reilly discusses at length in this Talking Points Memo: (more…)

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Tags: EIF, GE, nbc, Obama, ObamaCare
Posted Nov 13th 2009 at 11:22 am in Art, Politics, Television | 26271079 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/11/13/obamavision-brace-yourselves-for-the-nbc-ge-green-week-push/ObamaVision%3A+Brace+Yourselves+For+the+NBC-GE+%27Green+Week%27+Push2009-11-13+19%3A22%3A19John+Nolte

The Hidden Truth Behind ‘V’

Like many conservatives, I was intrigued and excited by the promos for ABC’s reboot of one of my favorite mini-series, “V.” Finally, we thought, one of us had infiltrated the system and slipped one by the hippies who run Hollywood.  Even better, we hoped that ABC, in a brash display of “corporate greed” had decided to green-light a series that appeals to the many of us (the majority of the country actually) who are less than enthralled by the hopey changeiness of the current administration.

Old School Visitor

But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.  As my colleague Jeffrey Jena pointed out, the show’s writer is a devout leftist and Obama supporter.  The show was actually written in 2007, long before David Axelrod and his minions concocted the brilliant marketing campaign that elevated an inexperienced and naive community organizer to the most powerful position in the world.

So, is that it?  Case closed?  Is “V” not an indictment and slam at the “O-mania” that swept the nation?  Far from it.  In fact, the show contains two powerful messages that should warm the hearts of all conservatives and make leftists think twice. (more…)

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Tags: big government, health care, Obama, socialism, stimulus
Posted Nov 13th 2009 at 5:03 am in Featured Story, Politics, Television | 259658182 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lscott/2009/11/13/the-hidden-truth-behind-v/The+Hidden+Truth+Behind+%27V%272009-11-13+13%3A03%3A05Leigh+Scott

Burt’s Eye View: Hollywood Elitists Through the Ages

A lot of people seemed shocked to discover that the folks at the National Endowment of the Arts were so ready, even anxious, to devote their talents to propagandizing on behalf of Obama and his administration.  That merely proves that a lot of people haven’t been paying attention. 

It’s my guess that a majority of those involved with the NEA — even those few who are talented — are always eager to roll over for left-wing politicians.  Partly it’s because they are so hungry for attention and partly because they lack anything resembling a moral compass. 

Allow me to give you a few notable examples of the way that people who earn their living in the areas of art and entertainment can voluntarily blind themselves to those matters that have moral implications.  Just recently, we got to watch a swarm of Hollywood retards climbing all over themselves in a rush to defend Roman Polanski, a piece of Euro-trash who confessed to having sex with a 13-year-old child.  All sorts of big name, small brain, celebrities lined up to sign petitions on his behalf.  By attesting to his character, they merely confirmed that they lacked any themselves.  (more…)

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Tags: audrey hepburn, Cliff Robertson, David Begelman, hollywood, motion picture academy
Posted Nov 12th 2009 at 8:23 am in Celebrity News, Classic Hollywood, Politics | 259282100 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bprelutsky/2009/11/12/burts-eye-view-hollywood-elitists-through-the-ages/Burt%27s+Eye+View%3A+Hollywood+Elitists+Through+the+Ages2009-11-12+16%3A23%3A59Burt+Prelutsky

NEWLY REVEALED DOCUMENTS Contradict NEA Chairman Landesman

“The former NEA Director of Communications acted unilaterally and without the approval or authorization of then-Acting Chairman Patrice Walker Powell.” – Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, on September 22, 2009

Chairman Landesman’s claim that Yosi Sergant, the former NEA Communications Director, acted “unilaterally” on the controversial August 10th conference call is not only beginning to erode, but new documents obtained by Judicial Watch under the Freedom of Information Act show that another federal employee thought the arts effort was entering murky legal waters.

–

In an email dated July 30, 2009, Nellie Abernathy, a representative of the federal program United We Serve, sent an email to Sergant to inquire of his interest in attending a meeting regarding 9/11 events – the culmination day of the United We Serve campaign. In the email Abernathy states (emphasis added):

“Just got off the phone with [redacted]. They’re interested in helping produce some 9/11 events and will be in DC next week. Any chance you could join us for a meeting Tuesday morning? Or does this fall into that sketchy grey we might get arrested area?”

Sergant responded, “I’d love to.” (more…)

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Tags: Buffy Wicks, national endowment for the arts, nea, Nell Abernathy, rocco landesman
Posted Nov 12th 2009 at 5:03 am in Art, Featured Story, Politics | 261522192 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/pcourrielche/2009/11/12/newly-released-emails-appear-to-contradict-nea-chair-landesmans-statement/NEWLY+REVEALED+DOCUMENTS+Contradict+NEA+Chairman+Landesman2009-11-12+13%3A03%3A19Patrick+Courrielche

When Does Life Begin, Y’all?

YouTube no link

(more…)

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Tags: abortion, children, constitution, Obama, right to choose
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 6:04 pm in Politics, Video | 260086179 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/arachel/2009/11/11/when-does-life-begin-yall/When+Does+Life+Begin%2C+Y%27all%3F2009-11-12+02%3A04%3A49Alfonzo+Rachel

A Message to Our Veterans

[click image to play video]

So many of us in the business know people who have been overseas to help entertain the troops, and the luckiest among us have actually had the experience ourselves. I’m proud to have moved from Category A to category B this last week, when I was able to spend five days down at Guantanamo Bay.

There’s a lot to talk about. But the thing that struck me hardest was the fact that even though I expected to be blown away by our men and women in uniform, I really had no idea of just how far my high expectations would be exceeded. The competence and discipline I took for granted going in. It was the soldier’s generosity that kept knocking me on my butt. (more…)

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Tags: bill whittle, gitmo, guantanamo bay, PJTV, Veterans
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 5:49 pm in Military, Politics | 26183416 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bwhittle/2009/11/11/a-message-to-our-veterans/A+Message+to+Our+Veterans2009-11-12+01%3A49%3A35Bill+Whittle

Daily Gut: Fall of Wall All About Obama

So President Obama says he’d like to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki – something no sitting U.S. president has ever done. Of course, there’s a reason they haven’t: it could be seen as criticism of a painful decision that ended the bloodiest war in history.

Now, I don’t mind if Obama wants to go, and it’s probably presumptuous of me to criticize him for what he might say there, since he hasn’t gone yet.

But if I didn’t, then I wouldn’t have a Gregalogue, and that’s not fair to me, or to those delightful unicorn voices in my head.

And besides, I can pretty much go by what I’ve seen of Obama already. Fact is, whenever he’s overseas, he tends to translate American success into past arrogance. Plus, I don’t think he’ll go to Hiroshima and say, “We did it to save lives,” because that undermines his whole point about nuclear weapons being evil. (more…)

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Tags: Berlin Wall, Hiroshima, MTV, Nagasaki, Obama
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 4:46 pm in Politics | 261606141 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggutfeld/2009/11/11/daily-gut-fall-of-wall-all-about-obama/Daily+Gut%3A+Fall+of+Wall+All+About+Obama2009-11-12+00%3A46%3A33Greg+Gutfeld

Part 2: The Super-Hero’s American Exceptionalism

Editor: This is the second part of a two-part series. You can read part one here.

The 1970s showed the once-invincible comic book super-heroes to be losers, in attitude and sales. Watergate had disillusioned the super-patriot Captain America with a storyline implying Nixon was the head of a terrorist group. The Captain trashes his outfit and becomes Nomad, The Man without a Country. My 11-year-old mind thought this was ridiculous, as Cap was originally a Depression-era 98-pound weakling until given a Super Soldier serum to bulk up and fight Nazis. It was unlikely that one of the “Greatest Generation” would bail on his country so readily. Even then I realized that this development merely mirrored a hippie writer’s attitude more than staying true to a character’s origins. 

Super-heroes became bleaker and even homicidal in the 1980s. The Punisher, a murderous vigilante, has become a top Marvel character. The Dark Knight Returns, a re-imagining of Batman, introduced an elderly caped crusader fighting the corrupt U.S. government represented by a stoogish Superman. Watchmen was set in a dystopic alternate reality where Nixon is still president and the super-group is made up of, among other miscreants, a rapist and mass murderer. It was a transmutation of established super-heroes from the 60s with Steve Ditko’s Objectivist hero The Question recast as the psychotic Rorschach.  (more…)

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Tags: America, American Exceptionalism, batman, Captain America, Comic
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 2:05 pm in Art, Featured Story, Politics | 259362143 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/mtodd/2009/11/11/part-2-the-super-heros-american-exceptionalism-by-mort-todd/Part+2%3A+The+Super-Hero%E2%80%99s+American+Exceptionalism2009-11-11+22%3A05%3A40Mort+Todd

Prime-time Threesome: ‘Gossip Girl’ Hits New Low?

The CW program “Gossip Girl” has often found itself in the glare of the political spotlight. It has often relished that position and used it to garner more attention from conservative critics and groups that are opposed to the salacious content of the program. With that in mind, the show, now in its third season, has once again grabbed the spotlight with a recent sexual threesome featuring three young adults on the program.

If you are not familiar with the show that was famously once called “every parent’s nightmare,” it revolves around a group of elitist and predominantly rich young people in New York City who often spend their time manipulating and betraying each other while being observed by an anonymous online author named “gossip girl.” The show is escapist fare for young people and adults who may envy the lives of the rich and outrageous. I have seen a couple of episodes of the program since its premiere several years ago. Although its ratings are not great, the program has shown a keen ability to grab a lot of attention and make headlines with some of its racier storylines. For instance, the media attention for the threesome episode came only a few short weeks after the show received a lot of attention for a kiss between two guys, one of whom is the show’s resident bad boy, Chuck Bass. (more…)

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Tags: CW, Entertainment Weekly, Gossip Girl, Hillary Duff, threesome
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 11:27 am in Culture, Politics, Television | 261378119 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2009/11/11/primetime-threesome-did-gossip-girl-hit-a-new-low/Prime-time+Threesome%3A+%27Gossip+Girl%27+Hits+New+Low%3F2009-11-11+19%3A27%3A48John+P.+Hanlon

Who You Calling Republican?

I opened TimeOut NY magazine this morning and saw that I was featured in their “Essential New York” issue. Excellent. I’m overjoyed, as most performers are when they get some press. Now among the other nice things in their profile, they said this:

“He’s the only conservative Republican comedian who’s actually funny.”

Now, what do you think was the first thing I did when I saw that in print? Defend the honor of Evan Sayet and Steven Crowder? No.

My act is personal, not political, and those are two different things, unless you believe what it says in that dog-eared copy of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” on your ex-girlfriend’s bookshelf. But since Andrew invited me to “come out” on this site last year and air my (comparatively moderate) center-right views, the word has gotten around to some of my fans and associates that I might be playing for the other team. I’ll be at a showbiz cocktail party and someone will playfully say, “I heard a rumor about you…” They’re not trying to be mean or McCarthyite-they genuinely like the idea that they may have a right-wing acquaintance. It’s fun for them! But then they want to pick my brain. “How did it happen? Was your dad a minister?” They begin to introduce me to their friends as “their favorite Republican.” (more…)

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Tags: conservative, evan sayet, Independent, Left, Republican
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 8:23 am in Entertainment, Politics | 25953492 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/tshillue/2009/11/11/who-you-calling-republican/Who+You+Calling+Republican%3F2009-11-11+16%3A23%3A06Tom+Shillue

Stand Up Notes From Flyover Country: Fallen Heroes and Terrorists

As I was driving to Wisconsin on Thursday a disturbing report came on the news. A mass shooting had taken place at Fort Hood in Texas. The details were unclear, at first report there were several shooters and seven dead. Several thoughts crossed my mind, solders suffering from PTSD, disgruntled civilian employees and of course a terrorist attack.

As details became clearer the death toll rose and the attack seemed to be the work of a single shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a devout Muslim. As the day wore on it became clear that Major Hasan held radical beliefs concerning United States foreign policy and had shared those beliefs not with just a few close friend but with just about anyone who would listen.

Then it was announced that the President was going to speak about the shootings. I expected to hear a calming voice that would honor those slain and get to the heart of the matter: We have a serious problem in this country with domestic terrorists both in and out of the military and we need to do something about it.    (more…)

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Tags: Fort Hood, Islam, Janet Napolitano, Major Nidal Hasan, Muslims
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 6:44 am in Military, Politics | 26110696 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2009/11/11/stand-up-notes-from-flyover-country-fallen-heroes-and-terrorists/Stand+Up+Notes+From+Flyover+Country%3A+Fallen+Heroes+and+Terrorists2009-11-11+14%3A44%3A51Jeffrey+Jena

PRESENTING: The ‘Fourth Graders For Obama’ YouTube Channel

Here’s a little mid-week scare courtesy of the 4thgraders4obama YouTube Channel. (Don’t waste your time — I searched high and low and no luck finding the 4thgraders4bush YouTube Channel.) Yes, you read that right, an entire portal filled with nearly a dozen videos devoted to nine and ten year-olds singing, speaking and in general, getting awfully excited over a politician on the brink of having us all long for the good old days of Jimmy Carter. Here’s a taste:

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The programmer teacher is Ms. Clark (she makes a short appearance here), but there wasn’t anything that identified the actual school. In last week’s Elementary Epidemic you saw a mix of Obama-enthusiasm. Some of the videotaped students were reminiscent of POWs speaking against their will on camera as they blink a Morse code plea for help, others were truly excited — and it’s the excited ones that are most worrisome. They’re gone. Lost forever… Ms. Clark’s entire class is like that.

The 4thgraders4obama videos do give us a broader glimpse into the methodology at work in our nation’s classrooms. In a couple of the videos you’ll see the kids watching President Obama on television and the whole class is as giddy as though they were in line for Space Mountain. Other videos have the kids standing before the camera reading what sounds like love letters to the First Family. Public or private school — that makes no difference. You don’t do this to young minds. There’s a wide berth between infusing your children with values and this. (more…)

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Tags: Obama, private school, public school, school, school children
Posted Nov 11th 2009 at 5:09 am in Culture, Featured Story, Politics | 25965471 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/11/11/the-fourth-graders-for-obama-youtube-channel/PRESENTING%3A+The+%27Fourth+Graders+For+Obama%27+YouTube+Channel2009-11-11+13%3A09%3A50John+Nolte

NewsBusted: What Does 10.2% Unemployment Mean?

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(more…)

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Tags: 10.2% Unemployment, Al Gore, Democratic Health Care Bill, health care protests, Maine Rejects Same-Sex Marriage
Posted Nov 10th 2009 at 6:07 pm in Media Criticism, Politics, Video | 26102622 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/newsbusters/2009/11/10/newsbusted-what-does-10-2-unemployment-mean/NewsBusted%3A+What+Does+10.2%25+Unemployment+Mean%3F2009-11-11+02%3A07%3A26NewsBusters

Disney’s ‘Christmas Carol’ Disappoints at Box Office, Carrey Slams Capitalism

Robert Zemeckis’s motion-capture-animation version of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol had a fairly blah opening weekend at the North American box office, finishing first with an unexpectedly miserly total of $31 million in ticket sales. Industry insiders had figured the film to bring in up to $45 million.

Disney studio representatives predict that this latest adaptation of the Dickens classic will do well over time, like Zemeckis’s 2004 The Polar Express. My assessment is that the biggest element limiting the film’s appeal in the pre-release period was the annoyingly frenetic and superficial quality suggested by its promotional trailers and commercials.

Jim Carrey’s noisiness appears to be wearing quite thin, and a film that features him as not only the protagonist but also three other characters sounds like far too much of a no longer good thing. Carrey would do well to follow the path of the equally obnoxious Robin Williams and move on to more serious film roles, even if it kills his career. Yes, I’m well aware that Carrey’s occasional serious performances have been pretty awful, but he’s dead either way, and it would be best to die with honor instead of ignominy. (more…)

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Tags: capitalism, Christmas Carol, disney, Jim Carrey, Robert Zemeckis
Posted Nov 10th 2009 at 3:08 pm in Entertainment, News, Politics | 261126167 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/stkarnick/2009/11/10/disneys-christmas-carol-disappoints-at-box-office-carrey-slams-capitalism/Disney%27s+%27Christmas+Carol%27+Disappoints+at+Box+Office%2C+Carrey+Slams+Capitalism2009-11-10+23%3A08%3A56S.T.+Karnick

‘By the People’: Ed Norton and Hollywood’s Mindless Obama Praise

Amy Rice and Alicia Sams’ documentary, “By the People,” provides a lens into Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.  A guided tour of sorts, the film delves into the Obama’s biggest milestones, while ignoring glaring contradictions and blemishes.  Perhaps two words can best describe it: snooze fest.  Teamed with the films vapidity and its lack of new, unexplored material, there are some intriguing conflicts of interest surrounding its production.

“By the People” is a praise initiative that doesn’t offer much beyond what politicos and Obama enthusiasts already know: Obama was a regular Joe who, through a series of (unfortunate for the American people) events, captured the presidency.

While Hollywood’s insane obsession with anything and anyone left of center is never a surprise, one should ardently question why HBO, after purchasing the film for seven figures, has chosen to ignore other intriguing political stories.  Why not balance the film with another special or documentary that explores the McCain-Palin campaign?  One could argue, as I’m sure HBO would, that the focus of the film is on to the winning candidate.  Fine.  Argue away, but anyone with a pulse knows we’d be hard pressed to see a similar accolade to a Republican victor.  Furthermore, Sarah Palin’s initial book sales prove that she’s a brand worth exploring.  So, why not go for it? (more…)

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Tags: Ari Emanuel, By the People, documentary, hbo, Obama
Posted Nov 10th 2009 at 11:11 am in Film, Media Criticism, News, Politics | 25911865 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bhallowell/2009/11/10/hollywoods-mindless-praise/%27By+the+People%27%3A+Ed+Norton+and+Hollywood%27s+Mindless+Obama+Praise2009-11-10+19%3A11%3A53Billy+Hallowell

Jon Voight: Like the Tea Party People, Left Dismisses Me With Slurs

Today’s Variety:

“Shortly after Jon Voight addressed health care protesters on Capitol Hill last week, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs dismissed the event by saying rather glibly, ‘I’m sure there’s a Jon Voight joke in here somewhere, given he was one of the featured speakers.’

“Over the weekend, when a clip of Voight was played on ‘The Week with George Stephanopoulos,’ where the actor asked of Obama, ‘Could it be he has had 20 years of subconscious programming by Reverend Wright to damn America?’ Cokie Roberts called it a ‘cringemaking’ moment. …

“When I asked about the criticism of his speech, Voight said, ‘Listen, there’s no telling what people will say.’

“What concerned him, he says, was the notion that the protesters on Capitol Hill were being dismissed by some lawmakers. ‘It is unfortunate that people will not take seriously the response of informed citizens.’ (more…)

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Tags: Cokie Roberts, Jon Voight, Obama, ObamaCare, Rev. Wright
Posted Nov 10th 2009 at 8:09 am in Entertainment, Politics | 26094664 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/11/10/jon-voight-like-the-tea-party-people-left-dismisses-me-with-slurs/Jon+Voight%3A+Like+the+Tea+Party+People%2C+Left+Dismisses+Me+With+Slurs2009-11-10+16%3A09%3A18Big+Hollywood

Green Push on ‘Sesame Street’: Programming Your Kids For ‘Sustainable Living’

This week marks the start of Sesame Street’s 40th season.  As announced in an article in National Geographic, the show will be focusing on a green storyline this year:

As another example of the show’s forward thinking, Davis said, the new Sesame Street season that begins next week will introduce children to the basic ideas of sustainable living.  “It’s a curriculum about nature and caring for the world that is just right for today,” he said.  ”This show continues to stay very current with ideas that are in the zeitgeist.”

Sustainability.  Makes you feel smart just reading that word, doesn’t it?  Who doesn’t want sustainability?  This is a great new tactic of the Left; the raping of our language and the use of beautiful sounding, unassailable words to represent an agenda with far more controversial ideas.  Sustainability.

Sustainability is not just about putting your empty beer bottles into a special bin to keep them separate from your other trash.  It’s also more than driving a car with a giant battery in it (which will eventually poison our water system after all of these “Hybrids” end up in a landfill… didn’t think about THAT, did you Mr. Begley?).   It’s also more than building giant solar panels which require preciously scarce water to stay constantly clean and efficient or giant windmills which end up killing endangered birds.  No, sustainability is not any of those ineffective yet relatively benign efforts at “saving our planet.” Sustainability, as a National policy, is the most regressive and dangerous idea the Green-Left has ever put forth.  Sustainability is the death of the West’s economic dominance. (more…)

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Tags: 40th anniversary, National Geographic, Sesame Street, Sustainability, sustainable living
Posted Nov 10th 2009 at 4:03 am in Featured Story, Politics, Television | 260098107 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/11/10/green-push-on-sesame-street-programming-your-kids-for-sustainable-living/Green+Push+on+%27Sesame+Street%27%3A+Programming+Your+Kids+For+%27Sustainable+Living%272009-11-10+12%3A03%3A23Stage+Right

Mr. Obama, Tear Down Your Wall!: Reflections After 20 Years

I recently attended an event at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The event titled: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Wall: Reflections from Yesterday, Lessons for Today, was a conference packed with an impressive list of speakers ranging from world leaders, dignitaries and influential personalities from around the world. 

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The event was comprised of three panel sessions and a luncheon keynote speech. The goal of the conference was to look at specific events that led to the fall of the wall, the people responsible, the impact of that historic event, and the legacy of the man who led the charge to end the Cold War, Ronald Reagan. There were two sessions that stood out at this event.  The first was the keynote speech by former Secretary of State for Ronald Reagan, George P Shultz.  His speech shed light into the unique leadership Ronald Reagan provided that we fail to find in our elected officials today.  Shultz delivered a rare look into the mindset of the Soviets at the time, and the determination and constancy of purpose that Reagan possessed.  He spoke of how Reagan approached the use of force with a subtle pot shot at the Obama administration.  (more…)

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Tags: America, Berlin Wall, communism, George P. Shultz, Obama
Posted Nov 9th 2009 at 2:11 pm in Politics | 26033031 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/dbroes/2009/11/09/mr-obama-tear-down-your-wall-reflections-after-20-years/Mr.+Obama%2C+Tear+Down+Your+Wall%21%3A+Reflections+After+20+Years2009-11-09+22%3A11%3A59Derek+Broes

A New Morning of Race in America

On the issue of race in America there is something in the air. Shakespeare’s melancholy Dane might say it is the “scent of morning;” our president would call it a “teaching moment.”

A lawsuit filed in the district court of East St. Louis alleges that Mayor Alvin Parks and City manager Robert Becks refused to hire Ronald Grimming, a former top commander of the Illinois State Police and former Director of the Florida Highway Patrol as the city’s police chief because he is white.

Plaintiffs Wyatt Frazer and Della Murphy, former members of the Police, Fire and Civil Service board, allege that shortly after Parks was elected he let his bias be known rejecting their recommendation of Grimming because in his words, “the city was not ready to hire a white police chief.” At Parks’ recommendation the city later hired Michael Braxton, a Black candidate with considerably less experience. Braxton resigned earlier this year following allegations that he has mishandled murder cases and engaged in race based hiring practices.

Frazer and Murphy further claim that for their advocacy of white candidates for other jobs in the municipality they were forced off the board. (more…)

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Tags: Della Murphy, East St. Louis, Illinois State Police, Mayor Alvin Parks, race
Posted Nov 9th 2009 at 12:24 pm in Politics | 26030671 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jphillips/2009/11/09/a-new-morning-of-race-in-america/A+New+Morning+of+Race+in+America2009-11-09+20%3A24%3A50Joseph+C.+Phillips

‘Sesame Street’: Habitat for Political Correctness

Having received some criticism for my last post about “Sesame Street,” I would like to briefly respond to some of the questions and assertions in the comment section. 

What’s so bad about saying “we share common humanity despite ethnic/religious/linguistic differences?” 

A main tenet of the multiculturalism and Enviro-Statism inculcated by Modern Liberal educators and as practiced on “Sesame Street” — exemplified in “We All Sing the Same Song,” is the diminishment of the unique greatness of American culture. 

Political Correctness and its Critical Theory are shamefully deployed against American culture to create a false front of “equality” to less free, less successful, and deviant cultures around the globe. 

That is neither a healthy, nor appropriate form of values inculcation upon young American children, nor is it a responsible expenditure of American tax dollars.  (more…)

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Tags: children, DVD, environmentalism, pbs, Sesame Street
Posted Nov 9th 2009 at 8:28 am in Culture, Featured Story, Politics, Television | 260138173 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/abaldwin/2009/11/09/sesame-street-habitat-for-political-correctness/%27Sesame+Street%27%3A+Habitat+for+Political+Correctness2009-11-09+16%3A28%3A01Adam+Baldwin