Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?

David Brooks writes about the decline of dignity in our once-proud (and reserved) nation:

In so doing, [George Washington] turned himself into a new kind of hero. He wasn’t primarily a military hero or a political hero. As the historian Gordon Wood has written, “Washington became a great man and was acclaimed as a classical hero because of the way he conducted himself during times of temptation. It was his moral character that set him off from other men.”

Washington absorbed, and later came to personify what you might call the dignity code. The code was based on the same premise as the nation’s Constitution — that human beings are flawed creatures who live in constant peril of falling into disasters caused by their own passions. Artificial systems have to be created to balance and restrain their desires.

Can we have some contemporary examples?

Today, Americans still lavishly admire people who are naturally dignified, whether they are in sports (Joe DiMaggio and Tom Landry), entertainment (Lauren Bacall and Tom Hanks) or politics (Ronald Reagan and Martin Luther King Jr.).

Uhh, Joe Dimaggio?  No to take anything away from the Yankee Clipper but how could a writer for the NY Times fail to mention Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, or Mariano Rivera (who didn't look so dignified here in October 2003, but that was OK.)  Or further afield, how about Hank Aaron or Dr. J?  My goodness, surely an example from the latter half of the twentieth century will have broader audience appeal.

In entertainment, Tom Hanks is a fine pick; Lauren Bacall is from a bygone era, but I will nominate Scarlett Johansson from the current crop of starlets as someone who seems heady, poised, and scandal-free.  Of course, I say that as a non-People reader, so I could be hopelessly wrong; my fallback is Natalie Portman, subject to the same caveat.

As for political figures, after a pause for reflection I decided that Barack Obama was getting short shrift here and deserved a mention.  However, Brooks got there in his Pop Culture Big Finish after trouncing Mark Sanford, Michael Jackson and Sarah Palin:

Americans still admire dignity. But the word has become unmoored from any larger set of rules or ethical system.

But it’s not right to end on a note of cultural pessimism because there is the fact of President Obama. Whatever policy differences people may have with him, we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity. The cultural effects of his presidency are not yet clear, but they may surpass his policy impact. He may revitalize the concept of dignity for a new generation and embody a new set of rules for self-mastery.

TO WHICH WE WILL ADD:  Barack did maintain a quiet composure while giving McCain the finger.  Also Hillary.

Comments

[PaulL]

Wow! David Brooks loves Barack Obama. Who'd've guessed?

[Fritz]

Barack Obama is dignified like Tony Soprano. Isn't humility part of dignity?

[hit and run]

TM:
but I will nominate Scarlett Johansson from the current crop of starlets as someone who seems heady, poised, and scandal-free. Of course, I say that as a non-People reader, so I could be hopelessly wrong

I will http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2009/07/paul-krugman-misstates-bruce-bartlett/comments/page/3/#comment-6a00d83451b2aa69e2011570ddb2ea970c>claim authority in this area. Scarlett was not mentioned at all in any of the trashy entertainment mags this week.

Not sure that's confirmation of her heady-ness. But scandal-free seems assured at this moment in time.

But then again, neither was she included as one of the Top 10 Hot Summer Bods.

[Rick Ballard]

"we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity"

Sure we can. I think his flipping off of Hillary, "My Friends" and Palin was the most dignified act that I've ever seen performed by a Kendonesian commie bastard.

[Lauren Bacall's ok in my book, and I'm agnostic on the Yankees]

Scarlett Johannson won't date Republicans, Natalie Portman has dated Chesa Boudin, Tom Hanks thinks it's un-American to oppose gay marriage, and if I ever found myself alone in an elevator with Brooks and Obama with time to throw only one punch, I'd aim for Obama's scrotum so I'd be sure to hit both of them.

[narciso]

I know you're shocked too, huh, PaulL, you would think Brooks would have a sense of shame, but then he wouldn't work at the Times would he?

[BumperStickerist]

Whatever policy differences people may have with him, we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity.

I'm reasonably sure a reticent person would put allow legislation set to be approved to be viewed by the public for five (5) days.

or rush to envelope the auto and banking industry in a mesh of governmental hands-on controls.

I'm also reasonably certain a dispassionate person would not have, per Drudge, an "evil eye."

as for other traits associated with dignity, I'm quite certain that I can't think of circumstances where Obama has displayed this characteristic.

Press conferences? Signing ceremonies? Walking Bo? Weeding the Garden? Interacting with the Loyal Opposition?

When?

[Thomas Collins]

Dignified? We have always been a group of God-fearing, hardworking carousers, and have never been a particularly dignified group. We have left that to the continental Euros. If anything, we have become too enamored of effete dignity.

[matt]

reading the LA Times this am I was somewhat surprised at the dress of many of the people going to the Michael Jackson memorial. T Shirts and shorts. What a sign of great respect.

As I told my daughter not too long ago, respect is earned, not expected.

[Porchlight]

Yeah, Barack's "lipstick on a pig" comment and his dissing of Nancy Reagan in his first press conference were classy moves, too.

So "scandal free" is a new height of heights for young starlets? Impressive.

I love Lauren Bacall but she and Bogart began their affair while Bogart was married. So she doesn't qualify as scandal-free, if that is a major criterion.

[Barbara]

What an odd article. After lamenting the loss of dignity in our nation, David Brooks consoles us by pointing to Obama as an example what has been lost in today's culture. He is confusing celebrity with dignity, narcissism with culture, secrecy with reticence. Do you suppose that he really believes what he writes?

[Thomas Collins]

Unfortunately, Barbara, Brooks really does believe his drivel. Because certain O-Team members give him some background information from time to time, Brooks thinks he is a policy and cultural mover and shaker pundit. It's sad.

[PeterUK]

Dignified, The Temple of Obama? Looks like one of the cheaper Vegas hotels.

[Pofarmer]

If there is a cure for cancer in the next 50 years, it will probably be credited to some Obama program, and the finder relegated to the dustbin of history.

I hope Brooks believes what he writes. If he doesn't, he's just a garden variety whore. If he does?

[Ignatz]

Brooks writes another Whiskey Tango Foxtrot paragraph on Obama. What a surprise.
Barry may be as slick as a greased string in a cat's ass, but I hesitate to call that digniifed.

[PeterUK]

Dignified? You can't get more dignified than Kissing a King's Ring.

[hit and run]

Well, lookie here, a post where http://www.nypost.com/seven/07062009/news/nationalnews/jackies_doomed_love___with_rfk_177775.htm>this is on topic:

Jackie Kennedy had a four-year love affair with Bobby Kennedy that began not long after JFK's assassination and grew so intense that when RFK was gunned down, it was she -- not his wife -- who instructed doctors to pull the plug, an explosive new book claims.

The married senator and father of 11 kids was the former first lady's one "true love" -- and his wife, Ethel, along with the rest of the Kennedy clan, knew about their romance, according to "Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story."

"Everybody knew about the affair. The two of them carried on like a pair of lovesick teenagers," the late Franklin Roosevelt Jr., who served as JFK's undersecretary of commerce, says in the book.

Ah, the good ol' days...

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Yeah -- Washington = Obama. That is dispassionate, dignified analysis if I ever saw it. One was an heroic general who won a war against the world's greatest power, refused a monarch's crown, became President, and voluntarily gave up the "leader for life" mantel all of which earned him the privilege of being called father of his country.

The other was a profligate spender of other people's money as chair of a foundation that did not accomplish anything, a part-time state legislator, a part-time Senator and full-time candidate who has been President for 6 months and is now on pace to spend more of our $$ than all other presidents combined.

Both equally dignified? -- yeah, that's the ticket.

[glenda]

Oh, Barbara... Brooks has definitely overdosed on the kool-aid.
And , but of course, Rick says it so well!

[Caro]

Chin-in-the-air haughtiness is not dignity.
My first thought was those middle finger salutes, too.

[glenda]

My goodness, Michael Jackson has pre-empted my husbands favorite, court tv, he is not happy.
Oh, PeterUK..how does your realm of the music industry come down on MJ's legacy?
Very talented and very flawed? Now there's a comparison for Brooks to make some hay of.

[Porchlight]

"Everybody knew about the affair. The two of them carried on like a pair of lovesick teenagers," the late Franklin Roosevelt Jr., who served as JFK's undersecretary of commerce, says in the book.

And more from hit's link:

The book, which hits shelves this month, also includes recollections of the steamy affair from a host of other Kennedy family intimates, including Pierre Salinger, Arthur Schlesinger, Jack Newfield, Gore Vidal, Truman Capote and Morton Downey Jr.

Yet another affair that "everybody" knew about. According to Mickey Kaus "everybody" knew about John Edwards' affair long before it broke, too.

Ever wonder what else "everybody" knows about that we don't get to learn?

[narciso]

DAvid Heyman, makes my skin crawl, he's just one step above or below, Kitty Kelley, convenient that the accuser is also dead. I couldn't phrase it better Jim, about the Washington/Obama comparison

[DebinNC]

Very strange Brooks piece. I wonder what recent event inspired it? I bet he sees a lot of himself in BO's passionless style. I hope there's no Mrs. Brooks married to this bloodless prude.

[clarice]

Line of the year:"if I ever found myself alone in an elevator with Brooks and Obama with time to throw only one punch, I'd aim for Obama's scrotum so I'd be sure to hit both of them."

[centralcal]

I agree with the line of the year, Clarice! I just checked in (at work) to see what was up and couldn't control my loud laughter over that comment.

[Thomas Collins]

If Brooks wants to write about dignity, he should write about George Catlett Marshall. Obama babbles about service to country. Marshall served his country in both military and civilian governmental capacities, and then refused to "cash in" with tell all memoirs. Marshall was the organzier of victory over two mighty military machines. Obama is the organizer of cult worship of himself (one of the most ardent worshippers being Brooksie), but not much else.

[sbw]

Uh, tell me again... why does anyone read David Brooks?

[Thomas Collins]

Brooks is a pedestrian writer, sbw, but he is a good barometer of effete opinion. His op ed may be a sign that the self appointed movers and shakers are moving away from emphasizing Obama's supposed policy smarts (which even his supporters are coming to realize are nonexistent) toward emphasizing Obama as dignified monarch.

[Rick Ballard]

TOTUS is to dignity as ClaraBelle is to beauty. Brooks is to journalism as ...

Hmm.. Maybe a contest is in order?

[peter]

Michael Jackson was a showman, not a musician. His voice was, eh. His greatness was in surrounding himself with the best arrangers (Quincy Jones) and choreographers. I don't think he wrote too many songs, in fact, according to the current New Yorker, he ripped off Manu Dibango.
I know I'm not the Peter from whom you requested an opinion, but I was never all that impressed by Michael Jackson's music. I'll grant you he could dance.

[peter]

Ever wonder what else "everybody" knows about that we don't get to learn?
Obama's got a girlfriend in the Caribbean?

[Captain Hate]

there is the fact of President Obama. Whatever policy differences people may have with him, we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity.

Who is the "we" this metro douche is talking about? The other toadies on Pinch's payroll?

[Parking Lot]

TM

Thank you for reading Brooks' bilge and reporting back because I would not be able to stomach it firsthand.

It's easy to express dignity when the world loves you and the press is slobbering all over you. Anyone can do that. But try expressing dignity when you're under attack from all sides, even those who should by rights be your friends.

Palin has exhibited extraordinary grace under attacks that might wither 0. She has been tested and not found wanting. But how about 0? His full measure has not even been tested yet. He's had a path strewn with roses. If the worm turns against him, then we can judge, but not until.

[Parking Lot]

((Who is the "we" this metro douche is talking about? The other toadies on Pinch's payroll?))

he probably has a mouse in his pocket

[glenda]

peter- I cry at all funerals--the music is very soulful, but these celebrities crying and speaking, should of physically intervened in his addiction. Yes, he may have relapsed, but they should have tried harder-with the resources available. I speak from too much experience about addiction, knowing only the person addicted can walk that walk, but many who recovered,did so because of intervention.

[Extraneus]

Do you suppose 0bama has memorized George Washington's Rules of Civility?

(56th) Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for 'is better to be alone than in bad Company.

[Danube of Thought]

Ah, the dignity of his speech about Reverend Wright.

Brooks makes me sick.

[Sue]

we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity.

I won. Very dignified.

[glenda]

Or the dignity of his abandonment of family, and his ignorance of protocols.
If he walks like a pimp, talks like a pimp, and takes your money for YOUR hard work,like a pimp, does that make him a pimp?

[Thomas Collins]

My entry for Rick's contest:

Brooks is to journalism as Obama is to athleticism.

[Sue]

His voice was, eh.

It might have been the sound coming out of a 10 year old, but I thought his voice was extraordinary. I really didn't care for his later work, but I never thought he didn't have a good voice.

[Parking Lot]

Brooks is to journalism as tares are to wheat.

[Mark O]

Dignity. It is not a quality derived from a teleprompter.

[Porchlight]

Brooks is to journalism as IKEA is to carpentry.

[Sue]

Brooks is to journalism as Pelosi is to wrinkles.

[Sue]

Oh, dear lord. Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced a bill in the Congress to honor Michael Jackson. My head is exploding.

[sbw]

Sorry. I'm stumped. I can't play.

Brooks ISN'T to journalism.

[sbw]

Ooh! Wait a minute! Yes, I can:

Brooks is to journalism as monkeys are to Shakespeare!

[hit and run]

Brooks is to journalism as Michelle is to fashion.

[jean]

Brooks is to journalism as MJ day of dead is to dignified

[PeterUK]

Brooks is to journalism as Bill Ayers is to patriotism.

[RichatUF]

Brooks is to journalism as a sewage plant is to smell....no that's not quite right...

Brooks is to journalism as Franken is to comedy.

Brooks is to journalism as Michelle is to fashion.

I'll have to think about this one for a while.

[RichatUF]

Damn, hit got my Michelle is to fashion first.

[PeterUK]

"Oh, dear lord. Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced a bill in the Congress to honor Michael Jackson. My head is exploding. "

Yes.I his honour,Congress is to be renamed "Neverland".

[Sue]

I'm a little surprised the memorial service was as dignified as it was. Did anyone notice if the Rev. Jackson spoke? I muted Al Sharpton, but don't remember Jackson.

[Mike Myers]

Say "Lauren Bacall's okay in my book etc. . ."--I'll make a deal with you. The two of us will get in the elevator with Barack and David Brooks--I'll swing at Barack's groin from the right, you swing from the left and we'll pop David Brook's head open like a grape. And Baracky won't be able to walk for a week. Those tooth marks can be a bear.

[sbw]

Okay. I read Brooks' column anyway. Where did he go wrong?

The big clunker Brooks ends with is a profound misreading of Obama's superficiality that Brooks interprets as character.

That, of course, shows that Brooks has not a clue what constitutes character.

Working towards the Op-Ed's beginning, he misses a key point from Brookhiser's Washington biography where he wrote that "Character" was a role one played until one became it.

Next, Brooks confuses dignity as virtue when it is only a weak sign that character might lie underneath.

Finally, not a single sentence in Brooks piece should remain in his space-filler after the dreck has been blue-penciled out. Brooks is a maroon, desperately in need of an editor, and not worth the fisking.

And if he cares to discuss the point, let him call.

[Sue]

Okay, okay, I spoke too soon.

[Parking Lot]

Brooks is to journalism as Lindsay Lohan is to Lauren Bacall.

[Rick Ballard]

Brooks is to journalism as a Fiat is to a Ferrari.

Brooks is to journalism as William Jefferson Clinton is to fidelity.

[daddy]

(This looks like the proper place where I should have posted this)

Hit,

"One of the things we do while here at the lake, when in the afternoon things slow down and we are just laying around the dock is to consume every trashy entertainment magazine known to man.

I know it all.

Megan Fox tats? (that's tatoos not ta tas, but then again, I can speak to those as well)"

I have been thinking that on a slow weekend we should start a JOM contest---"What should Megan Fox's Next Tattoo Be?"

Apparently she's determined to further disfigure that gorgeous body, so lets offer our considered JOM input. I think there's some butterfly poem on her right shoulder already, some crud on her left leg, and a Marilyn Monroe pic on her starboard underarm, (Hit-your expert input here would be greatly appreciated) but even though it's already pretty busy on select portions of her dermis, I think there's still ample canvas to work with.

How about "Love means never having to say you're sorry" on her Left Volleyball? (Hat Tip DOT).

Or, "If you love something, let it go..." on her right mammary, which can be expanded via breast enhancement for the whole phrase, should the text run a tad long than anticipated.

Or perhaps she should consider a tattoeed picture of Barack Obama done on her left forearm. That way, then every time she clapped her hands over her head, such as in "Right on Optimus Prime, kick Decepticon Butt!," Barack's tat on her left forearm could kiss Marylin's tat on her right, and maybe that would finally convince our Interracial Dating Spam poster, Joyce whomever, to finally leave us the hell alone.

Me though, I'm flexible, but I think my favorite would be a slight change in MayBee's Classic phrase, tattooed right across Megan Fox's forehead: "I'm Bai Ling Bat Shit crazy!" Just about says it all if you ask me.

Posted by: daddy | July 07, 2009 at 03:45 PM

[Stephanie]

Brooks is to journalism as sh*t is to a septic tank...

[trentk269]

Is it dignified to pose as a modern conservative on a blatantly liberal political rag like the New York Times, repeatedly skewering the right and Republicans year in and year out? More to the point, is it dignified to refuse to vote Republican because of the VP candidate's alledged inexperience, voting instead for the most inexperienced and radical leftist candidate in American history?

BTW, I saw a video of Tom Hanks recently, flipping off the papparazzi as he drove past them in a car. Very dignified, and suggestive of a man who has achieved self-mastery.

[sbw]

To anyone contemplating a tattoo I say, "When you get old it's going to sag."

Most reconsider.

[Danube of Thought]

Brooks does journalism like my ass chews gum.

[RichatUF]

Brooks is to journalism as Claude Van Damme is to acting.

Brooks is to journalism as Milli Vanilli is to music.

Brooks is to journalism as Amy Winehouse is to sobriety.

[Elliott]

Ever wonder what else "everybody" knows about that we don't get to learn?

That Saddam Hussein shipped some important stuff both to Syria and back to Russia.

[Frau Roggenbrot]

PUK, Our president did not only bow to kiss a king's ring, he bent his leg in utter subservience. (A different video shows it - "Obama bends low"). Of course, we now have Brian Williams bowing his head to BHO. Will others, Helen Thomas excluded, have to follow?

Today, our local newspaper had Richard Cohen's contribution to the branding and disposal of Sarah Palin -"unfit for any higher office." (Rush Limbaugh was called "a belch from the gutter," but don't mention Al "Breath of the Sewer" Franken.) Now, in full masochist mode, I read the fawning Brooks and far too many of his lubricating and lactating readers. My disgust runneth over. When ordered to the WH for his mind-wipe, Brooks must have had Rahm Emanuel work him over, for he is now truly top to bottom *full* of carp. The readers' comments were so depressing. Did I need to hear how singularly perfect our president is and that a man in Singapore finds him a role model? Sarah Palin is described as a GOP Tammy Bakker, symbolic of the depraved condition of all Republicans. While praising Brooks the Conservative (whoa!) and his application of Washington's dignity to BHO, the readers cannot begin to practice civility. Pfui!

Dignity is yours in politics as long as you have ruthless cutthroats and useful idiots to do your dirty work. I shake my head sadly when someone says, "That couldn't happen here." Onkel Adolf was not only a snappy dresser and an inspiring speaker but extremely dignified. You cannot find where he actually ordered the extermination of his enemies and Europe's Jews, but it happened.
------
Brooks is to journalism as Twinkies are to
apple strudel.

[daddy]

Hit,

Fresh Air just posted a question to you on the defunct thread, and I didn't want you to miss it:

"Megan Fox tats? (that's tatoos not ta tas, but then again, I can speak to those as well)"

What would you say to them? (Editor's note: I'm trying to put this one up in the zone, over the meat of the plate, so try not to whiff...)

Posted by: Fresh Air

[GMax]

Can Amy Winehouse even spell sobriety?

[narciso]

You know years ago when I first encountered the blog world, where were two Juan Gato
(not his real name, and Charles Austin, who
used to flay Richard Cohen mercilessly, it was called the scourge, the fisk pre Fisk, but he eventually gave it up

[Stephanie]

Has everyone seen this..

One of the most terrifying moments of my political life came last summer at the Republican convention in St. Paul. No, I don’t mean seeing John McCain careering around the Xcel Energy Center like Eyegore in Young Frankenstein, his face frozen in a Lon Chaney Sr. rictus grin as he reached across the aisle to his erstwhile friends in the media and got his hand bitten off. Rather, I’m referring to the aftermath of Sarah Palin’s outrageous acceptance speech, which whipped up the Rotary Club delegates into a frenzy of white-boy fury that not even heckling by a brave Code Pink embed could deter. Truly a fascist classic and one that sent shivers down our collectivist spines.

Nailed it. Satire is a wonderful thing.

Now for some planning and strategery from the brain dead Steele. Like a resignation by Friday... I'm sure he will need assistance in getting the words spelled correctly and not being too offensive and mean...

LUN

[Sue]

Megan Fox thinks that the world needs to rid itself of people in flyover country. Her exact words fail me, but she hates us. Keep that in mind next time you spend money on her.

[Sue]

Oh, and daddy, that was hilarious. Obama and Monroe and our resident spammer!

[Stephanie]

Megan Fox thinks that the world needs to rid itself of people in flyover country. Her exact words fail me, but she hates us. Keep that in mind next time you spend money on her.

Polarize her... Oh wait, wrong rules...

We just need the draft of Palin's Rules for Conservatives since it's not in print yet though, I understand the highlights will be available for preview in California in August if not leaked before**...

**see resignation letter and other statements and interviews for the previews.

[JM Hanes]

"Uhh, Joe Dimaggio?"

That's the least of Brooks' sins here!

Washington absorbed, and later came to personify what you might call the dignity code. The code was based on the same premise as the nation’s Constitution — that human beings are flawed creatures who live in constant peril of falling into disasters caused by their own passions. Artificial systems have to be created to balance and restrain their desires.

Reading Brooks' executive summary, one might almost suspect that Rich Lowery's excellent column on our "Founding Skeptics" -- published 2 days earlier in the NY Post -- caught Brooks' eye. I'm sure he can't imagine any crossover in readership! But perhaps in the traditional Fourth's flurry of Framers, he just had his Hamilton handy.

Brooks' notably idiosyncratic juxtaposition, though, is really rather bizarre. Trying to vest his "dignity code" with both Washington's character and the Constitution's load-bearing philosophy is pure flight of fancy. I'm not sure when our first President's putative absorption was supposed to have occurred, but George almost took a pass on the Constitutional Convention altogether. Indeed, he was most concerned about risking his dignity on the venture:

Suffering from rheumatism, despondent over the loss of a brother, absorbed in the management of Mount Vernon, and doubting that the convention would accomplish very much or that many men of stature would attend, Washington delayed accepting the invitation to attend for several months. Torn between the hazards of lending his reputation to a gathering perhaps doomed to failure and the chance that the public would view his reluctance to attend with a critical eye, the general finally agreed to make the trip. James Madison was pleased.

His grudging attendance, perhaps ameliorated by being unanimously elected Convention President, did not include servomg on any of the Convention's Committees (scroll down for the checklist) where the most contentious issues, and the fundamentals, were hammered out. I really can't see how one would go about divining a sympathetic -- as opposed to, say, a contrarian -- spirit here:

By July 10 George Washington was so frustrated over the deadlock that he bemoaned "having had any agency" in the proceedings and called the opponents of a strong central government "narrow minded politicians . . . under the influence of local views."

Perhaps in addition to pointing out Brooks' baseball sins of omission, someone should explain the difference between hitting home runs and stealing bases. An observation from my comment on intellectual athletes from the Ivy League suddenly seems more appropriate to this thread:

In one of the great ironies of higher education, the more skillful the debater, the more facile the sophistry in which virtually any position can be indulged and defended in a manner which appears to make sense.

I note that Brooks' Obama Hosannah makes no reference to George Washington's most legendary dedication to the truth.

[Bill in AZ]

((Ever wonder what else "everybody" knows about that we don't get to learn?))

A gal by the name of Val comes to mind...

[EBJ]

I think Brooks has it right with the dignity part. All the bowing and ring kissing (not yet but it's coming) is a return to conservative values - real conservative like from the Middle Ages. I'm fine with this as long as I get to be a Prince or King and not a serf. Serfs get free medical care, right?

[hit and run]

Finale.

[PeterUK]

Finale,It would have to have ale in it wouldn't it?

[PD]

"Those tooth marks can be a bear."

Dare we ask how you know this?

[joycekane]

You'll find the best selection of hot babes,
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Post a message, a pic of yourself and check out the hot photo galleries.
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[centralcal]

uh, Tom M., joycekane is getting close to being a problem. You may need to wash your mouth out with soap and gouge out your eyes pretty soon, if you don't put a stop to he/her/it.

[BobS]

Friends: Demleftdom will never abide by decency. See Alinsky # 5 for more info. The college kids of Kos only know name calling. It takes its toll on us because we do not respond. We attempt to be bigger than them be ignoring and it doesn't work. They advance via name-calling and platitudes. I'm having this fight over at Florida Buzz Politics now. LUN. Hit the bully back. They are after Marco Rubio as they fear his conservative bonafides like they do Palin and Gingrich.

[Ann]

cc,

Besides everyone knows that the best selection of hot babes, and charming singles are at JOM!

[BobS]

Republicans and conservatives have to stop the circular firing squad that takes out pols who share our values that we do like Sarah Palin and Marco Rubio. Stop trying to impress everyone with a self absorbed opinion of your own intelligence by finding a reason to do Democrats bidding for them. People like Palin and Rubio have guts to represent values we clutch to. Stop giving Dems ammunition to take American for themselves.

[JM Hanes]

Funny, but I got a Captcha window earlier, for the first time in ages, and I figured TM had finally decided to fence us off from the trashy troll. I'm not sure which is worse, though.

[Porchlight]

BobS, both your comments are great. I couldn't agree more. If we can't unite against a common opponent, we don't deserve to win elections.

[BobS]

Bless you, Porchlight!

[Porchlight]

Thanks BobS, and right back atcha. Keep up the good fight at the Buzz!

[centralcal]

Ann: A big grin back atcha! Yep - who needs trashy trolls, when we have great, strong, brilliant, gals right here at JOM!

[centralcal]

BobS: I am so with ya!!!!

[maryrose]

OT;
IS Hillary being punished? Why is she stuck making nice with the loser Zelaya? She and Obambi must definitely be on theouts.

[Ralph L]

I never thought he didn't have a good voice.
Puberty, or whatever he went through at that age, narrowed his range. I've often wondered if his father did something to keep his voice high and girly.

Dr. Drew Pinsky says women sometimes keep the girly voice they had when they were molested. He can pick out molested callers by their voices.

[BobS]

thanks everyone...forgive me for calling Obama and Dems stupid in my blog. I'm really pissed. Perhaps I need to start going to Tea Parties.

[Stephanie]

((forgive me for calling Obama and Dems stupid in my blog. I'm really pissed))

Forgive you for speaking truth to power????

Nope, wouldn't be prudent.

[BobS]

As I've gotten older, I've become less religious but more spiritual. And i am more in touch with what I interpret as "Chritian" values. After living in NYC for 10 years I think these are just like "Jewish" values and those whom follow faiths based on goodness.

We'll not see anyone as gifted nor talented as Michael Jackson in our time. But sadly he was a tragic and terribly lonely figure. I don't know if he was a pedofile. I pray not. Looking from above it looks as if Jackson was unable to maintain intimacy. No love with wives Precilla Presley and the supposed mother of his children. I found the angst that his daughter conveyed today real. I'd have hated for anyone I loved to have lived his life.

[hit and run]

BobS:
Perhaps I need to start going to Tea Parties.

That's it. You drive north to ATL and pick up Jim and Stephanie -- then pick up DebinNC and head my way. Me and JMHanes will meet y'all somewhere on I85/I40, and then we'll storm DC. RichatUF, get in here if you're still around Tallahassee. Larry??? Who else???

And gosh darn you lurkers, man up/woman up and tell us if you want a ride. We need confirmations, if we need to book a bigger van/bus.

We want to book a bigger bus. BIGGER.

If I don't have to drive, I'm buying all the booze. When we get there, Jane will provide all the pitchforks we need.

Step up.

[Jim Miller]

What a strange, strange column. His central idea isn't bad, but he doesn't explain it well.

And using Obama as an example of dignity is as bizarre as using Paul Krugman as an example of moderation and fairness in debate, or Maureen Dowd as an example of a successful wife and mother.

Shouldn't the fact that Obama tells some teeny little fibs from time to time count against him? Or has Brooks not figured that out yet?

(I don't think it is any secret that Obama doesn't care whether he tells the truth. In fact, I thought during the campaign that his deceptive ability was one of the things that attracted some of the more cynical leftists to him. But somehow Brooks doesn't know the man is a liar.)