No one will aver accuse me of being a Chuck Todd fan, but let’s give the man credit where it’s due. Though he’s careful with his language, Todd not only sees through what Colbert’s doing, he’s also troubled that much of the MSM is complicit in furthering the Stewart/Colbert left-wing agenda:

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HuffPo:

“He is making a mockery of the system,” Todd said. “…Is it fair to the process? Yes, the process is a mess, but he’s doing it in a way that feels like he’s trying to influence it with his own agenda and that may be anti-Republican.”

He cautioned the media to be “careful” about amplifying Colbert’s message, and said it should not be treated as “shtick” or satire.

“What is his real agenda here?” he said. “Is it to educate the public about the dangers of money and politics, and what’s going on? Or is it simply to marginalize the Republican Party? I think if I were a Republican candidate I would be concerned about that.”

Todd concluded by saying that he “idolized” American politics and didn’t want to see people become more cynical about them.

Less than a few minutes ago, Colbert was on MSNBC’s  ”Morning Joe” being fawned over by Scarborough, his guests, and his audience. All rather nauseating.

I also disagree with Todd’s claim that Colbert is doing something noble in going after these Super PACs, but we’ll leave that debate for another day (more on that here).

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Naturally, what happens to all showbiz types and Blacks who dare stray off liberal plantation is happening to Bill Cosby now that he’s shown some love for Tebow: the cries of crazy hasbeen! have begun.

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What happened to the guy who asked, “Mother, should I trust the government?”

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“I pay taxes here. I’d be happy to pay more.”

Okay, Roger, no problem…

Here.

Put up or shut up, and that goes for anyone else who spouts this nonsense about wanting to pay more in taxes.

No one is stopping you but you.

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Because I’m old and uncool, this is the first time I’ve ever heard of Kina Grannis. The song is sweet, though, and she’s obviously adorable, but check out the video:

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If you really want your mind blown, check out the making-of video below. All of that was done in-camera. Every frame.

No CGI.

No green screen.

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***Update: Rapper apologizes…

“In no way would I ever want to offend those who are protecting our freedoms…I am deeply sorry[.]“

End update…

NSFW video:

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THR:

The rapper is under fire after his latest clip went viral, in which he appears to deliver the line “F*** the Troops.”

Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, who is perhaps best known for his 2007 smash hit “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” faces extreme public scrutiny after allegedly delivering a blow to the U.S. military in his latest video.

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When we find ourselves in difficult times, it is easy for us to lose hope…to wonder “why?”…to want to give up the fight.  But every now and then, when we least expect it, God shows up in a big way to let us know He is with us and is in control…always…and I am reminded of these lyrics from the song “Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns:  “…as the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, ‘I’m with you’…”

On the morning of 1 July 2011…that “whisper became a shout.”

What started out as a regular weekly spotlight on one of our great culture warriors at BigDawg Music Mafia – this time on the amazing music of our good friend Chip Murray, a truly gifted singer/songwriter who also happens to be a delightful, down-to-earth blogger – has turned out to be so much more.   We are reminded not only of God’s incredible Grace, but we are also reminded of the sacrifices of our fallen brothers and sisters that enable us to celebrate our freedom.   May this story–Chip’s story–lift your spirits and give you hope.

It is a pleasure and an honor to introduce our friend, Chip Murray.

Chip’s Biography:

Chip got his first guitar (a Stella) at the tender age of 13.  It may have been a cheap guitar, but he quickly found it to be a great tool of expression and a very cool way to connect with people.  Growing up in the turbulent 60’s, the guitar became his life raft and steady friend through the whitewaters of adolescence…. And while the rest of the world seemed to be finding themselves, making their marks and staking their claims, he was tasting the silent sweetness of nowhere.  And yet, by 35 he had lived everywhere from Boulder to Reseda, to Morgan City and the Houston suburb of Bacliff.  He lived, worked, loved, fought, and danced with “the people” on every coast of this great land.  He became one of them, assimilating their culture by inhaling their music and stories into his heart and soul… “Gone Wishin‘,” the debut CD from his band Cavern was his first public “exhale” and but a glimpse of what’s inside.  From “Devil in Me” to “Deja Vu Blues,” Gone Wishin’ is a metaphor for our journey from the darkness to the light….and after “we rest on the wind, we’ll come right back to our mothers again.”- Gibran. (more…)

This Orwellian moment brought to you by GLAAD and their fascistic Leftist enablers so resembles Winston Smith’s final confession in “1984,” it seems too obvious to even reference it. The video below is a little blurry, so it’s impossible to tell if Tracy Morgan’s blinking some kind of S.O.S…. If he has any pride, he’s blinking some closer to f-u-c-k-a-l-l-o-f-y-o-u:

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Could anything be more un-American than a comedian being trotted around the country to apologize for his … comedy?

Talk about chilling free speech.

Obviously the old saying about not agreeing with but still fighting to the death to defend someone’s speech is all but dead on the Left, especially where the sentiment should be most true … in the world of entertainment.

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As Memorial Day weekend approaches and we make plans to celebrate with family and friends, there are so many who will not be celebrating.  They will, instead, be visiting Arlington Cemetery and hundreds of other cemeteries across the country where their loved ones, who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, have been laid to rest.

And then there are the “lucky ones” who made it home.

YouTube Healing Waters by Lisa Mei and BigDawg

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Some homecoming.  They returned to a country that is struggling with sky-rocketing fuel and food prices, out-of-control government spending, record deficits, high unemployment rates, record home foreclosures, businesses going under, and the ever-increasing government intrusion into our private lives.  These heroes, our wounded active duty military members and veterans, have the added struggle of trying to muster the will and courage to press on with their lives as they suffer in silence not only from their physical impairments but from the never-ending nightmares, anger, loneliness, guilt, depression, and a number of other gut-wrenching emotions — all of which are triggered by and attributed to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Thankfully, there are caring organizations that understand what our battle-scarred warriors are going through and are actively engaged in helping them begin the healing process.  One such organization is Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc (PHWFFI).

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From the Associated Press:

A representative for Whitney Houston said Monday that the singer had voluntarily entered rehab and is undergoing treatment. Houston is in an out-patient program for drug and alcohol treatment.

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What’s to Like: The finale to the “Harry Potter” series promises to feature a lot of exciting action sequences and great special effects. Judging by the trailer and the content in the last book, I know there’s a lot to cover in this final film and I’m excited to see it come alive on screen. I’m particularly impressed with the trailer focusing on how many people have sacrificed themselves to protect Potter. It’s a dark theme but one the final film should address.

What’s to Dislike: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 1” was a complete disappointment. It was long and devastatingly dull. It’s hard to get my hopes up for part two when I’m still thinking about everything wrong with part 1. Plus, this new movie is in 3D. I’m not sure why, but it is.   

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A New York Post article title reads, “Box Office: ‘Atlas Shrugged’ collapses, even without a NY Times review.’ However, it is possible that the movie’s limited success and the lack of a Times review are linked. Cynthia Haven, an affiliate at Stanford University, points out that at least in the case of obscure books, negative reviews “can dramatically boost sales for obscure and up-and-coming writers.” This trend—of negative reviews boosting sales—can be observed again and again.

The NY Post article linked above asks the question: “Why didn’t The New York Times, which deploys a small army of critics to handle even the most obscure releases, bother to review this particularly newsworthy movie?” A worthy question. The Post goes on:

The Culture Desk, as its [sic] known over there, hasn’t even run a feature on the movie since 2007 (though a couple of Op Ed columnists mentioned it recently). The Times didn’t respond to my e-mailed query, but a commentor [sic] named Stu Freeman posted an intriguing theory at the movie’s page on the newspaper’s website:

“Has anyone else been wondering why The Times- which never lets a new movie go unreviewed (even when no critics’ screenings have been arranged)- has decided to break precedent with this one? My understanding is that the film’s producers actually did hold a press screening but decided not to issue an invite to this paper. If so, the failure to publish a review here is a matter of pure pique and comes across as a disservice to the paper’s readers. I have no personal connection to the film and nothing good to say on its behalf. My argument is that every film that opens commercially in NYC deserves to be critiqued by its paper of record. The decision not to do so is even more deplorable than that taken by the distributing company to withhold an invitation to its opening for reasons of editorial politics, operating policy or anything else. Who knows? The Times critics might have actually liked the thing…”

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Wow. This guy used to be a Governor? How pathetic. I’m actually embarrassed for Crist here. Talking Heads singer David Byrne obviously set out to humiliate someone and landed himself a United States Governor and former Republican star.

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has settled a lawsuit filed by Talking Heads singer David Byrne after Crist used one of the group’s songs without permission in a campaign ad last year, both parties confirmed Monday.

Terms of the settlement were not released, but it included a recorded apology by Crist that was posted on YouTube Monday afternoon. Byrne had sued Crist for $1 million for using the song “Road to Nowhere” in a YouTube video attacking Marco Rubio, one of the governor’s opponents in the U.S. Senate race.

Crist said Monday that he was pleased with the terms of the settlement and that Byrne “couldn’t have been a better guy” when they met last week to mediate the case.

“As I told him, I was sorry it ever happened at all,” Crist said. “He couldn’t have been more of a gentleman about it.”

Byrne gloats:

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Tonight:

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This is really just a promo for what promises to be more footage released on “Entertainment Tonight” tomorrow, but since “Entertainment Tonight” is really just a show about promoting what it will broadcast tomorrow….

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And on the way down here I drove and I heard about this guy in Wisconsin, his name was Walker and apparently he wanted to stop collective bargaining. That’s supposed to balance the budget. That’s the magic bullet. So you’ve got [Republican Governor] LePage in Maine, Walker in Wisconsin, you got [Republican Governor] Scott in Florida. It’s Larry, Curly and Moe. That’s what we got right here.

Now you might say, what are you doing up there? Aren’t you rich? The answer is: thank God, yes. Because I grew up poor. I lived in a family where my mother asked donated commodities from a Republican administration and got turned down. That’s where I came from. And you know what, as a rich person I pay 28% tax. What I want to ask you is why am I not paying fifty? Why isn’t anybody in my bracket paying fifty? …

Because [politicians opposed to raising taxes] come from the party of Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator, who one year put down on his taxes that he gave $10,000 to charity. Well, my wife and I … we try to make up the difference, the shortfall, that 22% we don’t pay, by giving it away. But you know what, I haven’t seen a lot of that going around.

Doesn’t Stephen King kind of answer his own question here? Yes, his elitist, holier-than-thou and arrogantly mistaken belief that a whole lot of people in the most charitable country in the world aren’t as charitable as he is, is off-putting in the extreme. But that he’s able to give that 22% of his income not swallowed up by the blackhole of the government directly to the causes he believes in is a beautiful thing. This is exactly why raising taxes is a terrible idea. Regardless of what people do with their money, whatever they do with it is better for this economy than what the government does with it. Obama’s failed stimulus settled that argument, especially when you compare the results of that to the roaring economy that resulted from Reagan’s huge tax cuts.

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With their most recent undercover video investigations, independent journalists James O’Keefe and Lila Rose have set a new standard of transparency in the field of journalism — a standard I call on all media outlets — print, online, and broadcast — to adopt and to institute immediately. Within hours of releasing what the AP called “heavily edited” video footage of a high-powered NPR executive’s troubling statements with respect to the Tea Party, conservatives, and Jewish control of the media, Mr. O’Keefe then released to the public the full, unedited two-hour video of the entire conversation. Another New Media pioneer, Lila Rose, also released the full video of her undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood.

While the biased AP apparently only whips out the term “heavily edited” when the institutional left is under fire, it’s difficult to disagree with them on principle, especially when we live in a world where on a daily basis the network nightly news programs, Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show,” MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, and every facet of the MSM broadcast and publishing world release reports no less “heavily edited” than Rosa and O’Keefe’s initial video releasse. However, unlike Rose and O’Keefe, the mainstream media never allows the public to view the full, unedited material in order to judge the full context for ourselves.

This can and must end today.

With New Media once again leading away, let’s start a new era of responsible journalism that we’ll call The Rose/O’Keefe Standard of Journalistic Transparency, where the insidious practice of “heavily edited” interviews and reporting finally comes to an end. If the mainstream media is as devoted to transparency, truth, and context as James O’Keefe, here are some examples of how it can work….

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This might go down as Daniel Craig’s chest-waxing moment, where a big, likable star appears in a smug, image-shattering PSA that forever alters our perception of him.

Further proof of  how insular the modern-day celebrity bubble is. Regardless of one’s opinion of the cause behind this embarrassing production, no one in the real world would even consider suggesting anyone appear in such a thing, much less the guy playing James Bond. Only a Hollywoodist would dream this up and only a Hollywoodist would say, “Yeah, great idea. Let’s do it.”

Palate cleanser, anyone…?

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At the State of the Union address, our President attempted to recapture the magic of “Yes, We Can” by coining the phrase “Win the Future.”  His path to victory included high speed rails, more wealth redistribution, more powerful unions, and less civil liberties.

Charlie Sheen has different ideas.

It’s early March, but I don’t think it’s too soon to declare 2011 “The Year of Charlie Sheen.”  That may actually prove to be an understatement.  Decades from now, our president, “The One,” will be a mere footnote, while Charlie Sheen will have volumes dedicated to his historical impact.

Charlie Sheen’s recent monologues and interviews, dubbed “meltdowns” by the press, have illuminated the conflicts in our culture and society.  It is a tipping point in our culture.   Let’s examine how,  shall we?

Group Think is the New Normal 

Despite all their ramblings about “freedom” and “democracy” and “individuality”, Hollywood, the left, and the youth of our nation represent the biggest bunch of robot clones to ever walk the face of the earth.  We’re supposed to think that Charlie boy is “crazy” because….why exactly?  He’s absolutely correct that he is the reason for his show’s success.  He really does turn their “tin cans into gold.”  He’s worth every cent that he’s paid.  No, he’s “crazy” because he gets on T.V. and has the balls to admit that.  His hilarious, megalomaniacal rants are downright refreshing.  Charlie Sheen sounds like an Ayn Rand character written in the vernacular.  It’s like a Howard Roark speech written by Hunter S. Thompson.  No wonder the left, who is so quick to champion “rebels” like that tool Alan Grayson or  Michael Moore, is doing its best to minimize and marginalize Charlie Sheen. Yes, he is worth the money.  Yes, he is incredibly talented.  Yes, he can do more blow than the average human.  Yes, he can simultaneously satisfy two porn stars.  He is probably better than you and he’s willing to say that.  How dreadful.  Charlie Sheen is a true rebel.  Instead of attacking “soft targets” like Christians, Sarah Palin, and “Islamophobes,” he really is “speaking truth to power.”

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FoxDC:

Arlington police say a brawl broke out during the DMV music awards ceremony, sending one person to a local hospital.

Police say five people were treated Saturday night at the scene of the awards ceremony, which honors local rap, hip-hop and R&B performers.

About 1,500 people attended the ceremony at the Crystal City Hyatt, and witnesses said more than 20 police vehicles responded to deal with a half dozen fights that broke out.

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Over the course of almost a full year, Red Letter Media has done a marvelous job of offering up in-depth and entertaining explanations as to why the Star Wars prequels sucked as hard as they did. In December of 2009 there was “Phantom Menace,” In April “Clones,” and now the epic trilogy concludes with “Sith.”

These are hugely popular productions because they’re so true. If only Lucas could take these video criticisms back in time and start all over. Here’s hoping Red Letter takes on “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull” next, which was infinitely worse than any of the “Star Wars” prequels.

Enjoy and NSFW…

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