ATLmalcontent

That's So 2007

Could we get off the playground rocking horse and cease with the incessant whining about "haters?" And might we also stop deifying insecure, materialistic, egocentric rap stars?

Brought to you by The Committee For a Saner 2008.

July On the Sly

The YIR returns:

*My best post of the year;

*The "faux independent blogger" reponds;

*An X-Rated Blogopshere Says What?;

*A fond farewell to Aunt Babs.

Bush In Mormon Underwear

Andrew Sullivan routinely refers to Hillbot as "Nixon in a pant suit," noting her paranoia and secrecy. Couldn't agree more.

The Anchorman, meanwhile, is but a replicant of our current president. He panders to the same crowd, believes in an unrestrained executive branch and doesn't much care what anyone outside of the GOP's narrow-minded base thinks about it. Worse, he's a colossal phony, hence the enthusiastic support of soulless twits like Hugh Hewitt and Ann Coulter.

Unless this is your first visit here, you know how much I detest Romney and Hillary, perhaps beyond reason. But my antipathy is real -- unlike the aspiring automatons-in-chief. Regrettably, I've become convinced they will be their party's nominees. I never get the candidates I want, so why should 2008 be any different?

There'd be no lesser of two evils -- just evil squared. I couldn't vote for either one. Never.

The good news? A third-party candidate would never stand a better chance of competing for the White House. No way will the majority middle embrace Clinton or Romney. I'd have no reason to support New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg (rumored to be pondering a run) other than the fact he's not Hillbot or The Anchorman.

That would be reason enough.

Quantity, Not Quality

The GOP establishment has settled on a depressing new mantra, eagerly regurgitated by the favored candidate of party elites:

"Our most basic civil liberty is the right to be kept alive."

Yeah, that whole pursuit of happiness thing is way overrated.

Still Making It

Happy 71st to my kind of gal.

Conservatives Against McCain

The more shrill the right-wing pundit is, the more they seem to hate McCain.

Japanese internment apologist Michelle Malkin posted this typically classless poll today:

Would you, could you, vote McCain?

Yes, I love John McCain! 6% 366
Yes, sigh, I'd hold my nose and vote McCain. 52% 3,349
No, I'll sit it out if he's the GOP nominee. 14% 878
No, I'd vote for Hillary before I'd vote for McCain. 2% 124
No. Never. I'd rather be waterboarded. 27% 1,777

Waterboarding -- how cute, especially in reference to a victim of torture. Much like their Democratic counterparts, conservative ideologues seem intent on foisting their most uninspired candidate on the electorate. And much like the old Politburo, they favor soulless functionaries more loyal to party than principle.

The Candidate of Spite

Some pundits are theorizing that Hillbot's divisiveness helps her among vengeful partisans. Opposition from the right = support from the left. We've seen this, in reverse, with George W. -- the fringes are energized by candidates with "the right enemies" as opposed to the most allies. Need proof? Read this Paul Krugman screed.

Perhaps that explains Clinton's recent surge; she's up by double-digits in Iowa, according to a new CNN poll. It's hard to find a reason for her rebound. She's been receiving more bad press and, along with The Anchorman, maintains the highest level of core opposition among voters. Forty-seven percent (47%) say they will vote against Hillary or Romney no matter who else is on the ballot.

Obama, meanwhile, appeals across party lines. That's likely to hurt him among Democrats (see: Republicans and John McCain).

The CNN poll has hopeful news for Romney's campaign as well. He's now tied with Huckabee after trailing by 11 points just one week ago. Like Clinton, there's little to explain his comeback.

Just today the conservative Manchester Union Leader published this stinging editorial against the former Massachusetts governor:

In this primary, the more Mitt Romney speaks, the less believable he becomes. That is why Granite Staters who have listened attentively are now returning to John McCain. They might not agree with McCain on everything, as we don't, but like us, they judge him to be a man of integrity and conviction, a man who won't sell them out, who won't break his promises, and who won't lie to get elected.

Voters can see that John McCain is trustworthy. Mitt Romney has spent a year trying to convince Granite Staters that he is as well. It looks like they aren't buying it. And for good reason.

Considering how the GOP distrusts the press, such rebukes might benefit The Anchorman. Spite can be a powerful force.

*There is some positive news out of the CNN poll. Despite barely campaigning there, and being the only candidate who opposes ethanol subsidies, McCain has risen to third in Iowa, only six points off the lead. If he were to maintain that support, McCain would emerge as the big winner in Iowa, regardless of who finishes first. Sensing a changing tide, maybe the GOP is willing to relax its ideological purity test this go around.

Media Intramurals

Amid all the sophomoric claims of relevance, one wonders if the old media and new media will ever get along?

(originally posted 6/5/2007)

Consistent throughout the verbal jarring over Andy's article has been a virulent dose of self-importance from the "new media" types.

As one wrote to Andy, "Keep fiddling, Nero!"

I guess that's fair, since many in the "old media" retain a condescending tone whenever addressing bloggers (i.e. losers who live at home with their parents).

Both sides are way off. The new media is here to stay, and they can be influential -- just not as influential as most of them think. Not yet, anyway.

As for us dinosaurs ... we're far from extinct, and don't count on that happening anytime soon. There's something to be said for professionalism and craft. I've been an ink-stained wretch for nearly 20 years, and that experience counts for something. I know more about reporting a story than someone who started a blog two years ago. Sorry if that reeks of old media snobbery.

Although there are some blogs that feature dogged journalism, most are opinion-driven, which is fine. There's a place for that. A small minority of bloggers are real reporters, and they're uncovering plenty. More power to them. But building a brand that can be trusted takes time. ...

Of course there's plenty to criticize about the old media. They are slow to react, and the changes they are instituting veer to the trivial. I'm a vocal critic of our industry, as are many of my co-workers. It's in serious trouble, due in large part to the rudderless leadership of the conglomerates in control -- not because blogs have become the preferred source of information for big stories.

Think about it: terrorists strike Atlanta tomorrow. Where are you going to turn for information?

Hyperbole Alert

Truly amazing (especially the last paragraph).

June Swoon

Not a very insightful month for yours truly, but the YIR must go on:

*Meet Islamic Rage Boy;

*Conflicted over Pride;

*The American Film Institute has no idea what it's talking about. "The Sixth Sense," rated higher than "Goodfellas!?!" Are they fucking kidding me? The AFI nominated 400 movies for it's listing of the "100 Greatest Films Ever. The nominees included: "Big," "Boogie Nights" -- the most overrated movie EVER, " "Born on the Fourth of July," "Chicago," "Dead Poets Society," "The English Patient," "Erin Brockovich," "Finding Nemo," "Ghostbusters," "Jerry Maguire," "Love Story," "The Matrix," "Moulin Rogue!" "Mystic River," "Philadelphia," "Pirates of the Carribean," "Shrek" and "Spider-Man 2."

Missing from the list: "Being There," "The Americanization of Emily," "Barfly," "The Bad News Bears," "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Ghost World," "Lolita" (the original), "Lone Star," "Miller's Crossing," "The Player," "Sid and Nancy," "Straw Dogs" and "Zelig," among others. Pathetic;

*Mason and Dixon;

*Radical Muslims propose killing those who criticize them for being violent ;

*My alter ego previews the summer's movies;

*Inside the Creation Museum;

The danger of diversity.