Quite a Virtuous Guy

You just have no idea - no idea - how much I enjoyed this story in today's New York Times...

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Relentless Moral Crusader Is Relentless Gambler

May 3, 2003
By Katharine Q. Seelye

WASHINGTON, May 2 - William J. Bennett, author of "The Book of Virtues" and one of the nation's most relentless moral crusaders, is a high-rolling gambler who has lost more than $8 million at casinos in the last decade, according to online reports from two magazines.

The Washington Monthly said on its Web site that "over the last decade Bennett has made dozens of trips to casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, where he is a `preferred customer' at several of them, and sources and documents provided to The Washington Monthly put his total losses at more than $8 million."

In an article that depends on much the same reporting, the online version of Newsweek said that 40 pages of internal casino documents show that Mr. Bennett received treatment typical of high-stakes gamblers, including limousines and "tens of thousands of dollars in complimentary hotel rooms and other amenities."

Mr. Bennett, who has served Republican presidents as education secretary and drug czar, declined to be interviewed today by The New York Times, with a spokesman saying that he needed to digest the articles before responding. --edit--

The magazines say he earns $50,000 for each appearance in
speaking fees on the lecture circuit, where he inveighs
against various sins, weaknesses and vices of modern
culture. --edit to end--

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I love it!!!!!
This loathsome, pompous, holier-than-thou travels the nation telling people how to live virtuous lives...and then spends his spare time sweating over gambling tables, pissing away his money while millions of Americans go hungry, have no health insurance, no jobs.

Welcome to the Republican party.

-M!

Fair Use Notice

Falwell and the Chicks

Ooooh, here's a fun AP story, dated 4/30/03 out of Jonesboro, Arkansas (a nice city I've visited)...

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The Rev. Jerry Falwell called the Dixie Chicks three "French hens," saying "politics should end at the shore when you leave the country," referring to antiwar remarks made by lead singer Natalie Maines.

At a March 10 concert in London, Maines told the audience in reference to President Bush's push for military action against Iraq: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

After Maines' remarks, radio stations began boycotting the Dixie Chicks, even though she publicly apologized for her statement.

Maines and the Texas-based trio's other members — Emily Robison and Martie Maguire — told ABC's Diane Sawyer in a recent interview that the fallout was too harsh for the offense and that they've always supported U.S. troops even though they questioned the war.

Falwell said Maines was wrong to speak critically of the United States while overseas. "You don't talk about your own country, especially during war," he said Monday during an appearance at Jonesboro.

In 2001, Falwell apologized for saying God had allowed terrorists to attack America because of the work of civil liberties groups, abortion rights supporters and feminists.

He said his comments were ill-timed, insensitive and divisive at a time of national mourning. "In the midst of the shock and mourning of a dark week for America, I made a statement that I should not have made and which I sincerely regret."

On Monday, Falwell, a Baptist minister, characterized his statement as a clarification and "not so much as an apology."

"But I don't sell records," he said. "And I don't do it in England and I don't do it in France. I do all of mine head to head, face to face in America as a taxpaying citizen."
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I agree with the Dixie Chicks and am glad they said what they did in London. They retreated a bit, fearing the record and broadcast industry prostitutes they work for would cost them some money. Their new tour starts tonight. All signs point to sell-outs and adoring fans happy to enjoy their work.

And, meanwhile, we see once again what an irrelevant, out-of-touch, big, stupid, closed-minded windbag Falwell is.

-M!

Fair Use Notice

Jack: Off to Rehab

Over the past couple of days, we've learned from many news sources, including Agence France Presse, quoted here, that "Jack Osbourne, the teenaged son of former Black Sabbath rocker and reality TV star Ozzy Osbourne, checked into rehabilitation center for marijuana and alcohol abuse, his parents said."

I've seen exactly one episode of MTV's The Osbournes. It was interesting, but I never had the urge to go back.

I've always been fairly indifferent to Ozzy and his antics over the years. Felt bad for his wife during her recent illness...and wondered what was up with her fisticuffs with some other woman at a restaurant just a few weeks ago.

The Jack thing is the most intriguing, telling.
He's 17 years old. Described by AFP as "a regular at bars and nightclubs despite being below the legal drinking age." AP reports that he's also "a part-time talent scout for Epic records."

My comment: he's 17 years old! Why is he a talent scout for a record company? He's a kid. When I was that age, I barely knew how to work a doorknob, never mind hitting bars or working for record company whores and dressing like a doofus.

It's a family further proving that celebrity is not glamorous or fun or admirable, it's just sad.

-M!