NBC Sports: NBA 1991-NBA Finals-Game 1-Los Angeles Lakers @ Chicago Bulls: Full Game

Source:The New Democrat

Game 1 of the 1991 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, Magic vs. Air Jordan, James Worthy vs. Scottie Pippen and I could go on. But this is perhaps the one NBA Finals matchup that every NBA fan wanted to see in 1991. The team of the 1980s and perhaps of all-time, the Los Angeles Lakers, with the player of the 1980s and perhaps of all-time in Earvin Magic Johnson. Vs. who would become the team of the 1990s, with the player of the 1990s and perhaps the player of all-time in Michael Air Jordan. Not every year and perhaps every decade that the NBA produces Super Bowl caliber matchup’s in their championship series. But 1991 was certainly that and had James Worthy and Byron Scott been healthy for the Lakers in this series, we are easily talking about one of the greatest NBA Finals matchup’s of all-time, that would’ve made it back to Chicago for at least game 6, if not game 7 as well.

A&E: Biography- Elizabeth Taylor 2003: The Actress of All-Time

Source: Elizabeth Taylor-

Source: This piece was originally posted at The New Democrat Plus

If there is just one actress that I could have to put into any role for anything, I could only have one, that woman would be Elizabeth Taylor. I mean, she was a great actress before she was even a teenager in the 1940s. She’s the gold standard, the standard that all actress’s are judged by. The Jim Brown or Babe Ruth of acting at least when it came to actresses. There isn’t a better dramatic or comedic actress than Liz Taylor. Someone who could make dramatic roles look hysterical, like when she played Martha in Virginia Wolf and could make comedic roles look serious.

And I’ve only covered her professional skills. But do you another woman with a better pair of eyes, sweeter or prettier eyes than Elizabeth Taylor. A beautiful baby-face brunette really her whole life. And we are talking about almost eighty-years and with the curves that she had. She could play a really adorable women, who just makes guys go, “aw, she’s so cute!”. Or she can play a sexy baby-face beautiful brunette that guys can’t get their minds off that drives wives crazy every time they are in her presence.

And of course no one is perfect and Liz Taylor might be the perfect example of that. A lot of her life is a dramatic comedy, or Hollywood scandal. With the countless marriages that she had, the alcoholism and obesity that she was fighting in the 1980s and perhaps even before that. But none of that takes anything away from what she brought to Hollywood and millions of movie fans. As this beautiful baby-face sexy brunette, who was an incredible actress, as well as one of the funniest people of all-time. Both intentionally and unintentionally.
A&E: Biography- Elizabeth Taylor 2003: The Actress of All-Time

Jim Morrison & The Doors: Live in Frankfurt, Germany (1968)

Source:Getty Images- Jim Morrison & The Doors: Live From Frankfurt, Germany (1968)

Source:The New Democrat

“The Doors perform outside the Frankfurt town hall for German television.”

From Getty Images

“The Doors truly are one of the all-time greatest and one of the most iconic rock bands in history. Jim Morrison was without a doubt one of the most prolific and charismatic frontman in all of rock, and his influence is still regarded as such even to this day. The Doors were one of the best, pure and simple.” 

Source:Society of Rock- Jim Morrison & The Doors: Live From Frankfurt, Germany (1968)

From Society of Rock

I think the Crawling King Snake video from The Doors with Jim Morrison perfectly sums up the style and career of Jim Morrison. The man made leather jeans and rock and roll culture and why it looks the way it does today, at least with hard rockers and headbangers. The Lizard King obviously wasn’t a hard rocker or a headbanger, but he put his signature black snake skin leather jeans on the map and made them cool. To the point by the 1980s they were standard for rockers male and female. And probably a big reason why Melissa Etheridge and Joan Jett got into them and why you saw rock and roll bands like Guns N Roses and Kiss get into them and of course the metal bands like Skid Row and Motley Crew.

And that is what you see in this video. The Lizard King moving so smoothly in his snake skin’s and cowboy boots and the concho belt. He combined rock and roll culture and lifestyle, with Western and American-Indian culture with the leather jeans, cowboy boots and concho belt and the leather jacket as well. He put these looks on the map in rock and roll, because of how often he wore this outfit in public and all the images that have come from those appearances. That were famous then and if anything now more popular forty-five years later. And without the Lizard King, rock and roll probably looks a lot different in the 1970s, 80s, 90s and today.

Leather in general wasn’t very popular in America when it came to wardrobes pre-late 1960s or so, except for perhaps biker and to a certain extent Western culture. So Jim Morrison in his full leather suit and then throw in the cowboys boots and the concho belt, that if anything even highlighted his leather jeans even more, especially in front, he was taking a risk. But he had the style, the look, the moves to make it work to the point that he became a rock and roll and perhaps even style icon in America and not just in rock and roll. And all of this is part of legacy that is still alive and well today.

The Merv Griffin Show: Dennis Hopper Interview, Easy Rider, The Last Movie (1971)

Source:The New Democrat

There is such a thing as being ahead of your time, but I don’t think that applies to Dennis Hopper. Who I consider to be a baby boomer born in the mid-1930s, I believe 1936. He is obviously not a boomer, but he fits into that generation so well, especially the Hippie Culture, the Counter Culture of the 1960s. And a lot if not most of his movies from the 1960s and 70s, had something to do with the current culture of that era and a lot of them were about Hippie Culture. So if he had a movie that didn’t do very well in that era and it was about Hippies, it probably wasn’t because Dennis was ahead of his time. That argument could’ve been made about someone making a counter-culture movie in 1955 or so. But you make a movie like that in the late 1960s and early 1970s, you’re in the perfect time frame for that movie.

So Dennis’s problem with The Last Movie, perhaps was the title, but anyway it might just of been that the movie wasn’t very good. And I’m saying this as someone who is a big Hopper fan and have liked a lot of his movies. As far as this interview, classic Dennis Hopper I believe, at least from that era. I mean he just did Easy Rider in 1969 and he walks onto the stage as a Hippie drifter. Which is essentially what he played in Easy Rider. He is a man for his times, as he was back then and is still today. So whether he doesn’t do as well as he wants to, it just might be because the movie or his performance wasn’t as good as it needed to be for him to do as well as expected to do. It is easy to put it on the audience, or people you work with, but harder to look at yourself to see where you came up short.

Mariah Carey: ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’

Source:Mariah Carey- performing All I Want For Christmas in 2009.

Source:The New Democrat

“About the “Merry Christmas” the album:

Merry Christmas is the first Christmas album, and the fourth studio album, by Mariah Carey. The album features cover versions of popular Christmas tunes and original material. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks, as well as producing Carey’s interpretations of the covered material. The album contains a contemporary holiday theme, and featured “authentic, gospel flavored background vocals”. Three singles were released from the album, of which All I Want for Christmas Is You went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time.” 

From Mariah Carey 

R&B Diva and Goddess Mariah Carey performing All I Want For Christmas at Rockefeller Center in New York, City in 2014.. The video is apparently not available right now. 

Source:Mariah Carey- performing All I Want For Christmas at Rockefeller Center, in New York City in 2014.

This is something I’ve wanted to post for, like years now and forgive me for being busy. But I can’t think of a better person and perhaps a more adorable person to sing this adorable song, than baby-face goddess Mariah Carey. With that voice and those facial expressions, watching perform always make me want to go, aw! And be in aw of her, I mean she really is one of the sweetest performers you could ever see and hear and perhaps talk to.

Mariah is the voice of our generation, especially since Whitney Houston unfortunately passed a few years ago. And perhaps the best voice that has performed since The Chairman of the Board Frank Sinatra. I mean Mariah is absolutely insane, (no, not mentally) but in physical, as well as professional talent. It is like watching an angel from above who came down from Heaven. Perhaps bored because God doesn’t give her enough work to do. And she blesses everyone with her presence.

Noel Breen: Video: ABC Sports: MLB-1983-World Series-Game 1: Philadelphia Phillies @ Baltimore Orioles: Intros

This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on WordPress

Basically just the intros of the Philadelphia Philles and the Orioles for game 1 of the 1983 World Series. With a little commentary from Al Michaels, Howard Cosell, and Earl Weaver. A brief interview of Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken and didn’t get enough of it to figure out what they were talking about, other than Cosell trying to figure out how Cal Jr felt playing for Earl Weaver with the Orioles. And The Earl talking about the fact that the Orioles lost their DH Ken Singleton. Because back then unfortunately what MLB did for the World Series, was to rotate the hitting pitcher and the designated hitter each year. One year the DH would play in every game. The next year, there would be no DH and the pitcher would hit every game. Which was unfair and gave the National League champion a big advantage during the World Series.

Outdoor Insane Asylum

MLB Classics: MLB 1983- MLB World Series-Game 5- Baltimore Orioles @ Philadelphia Phillies: Full Game

Source:MLB Classics- The Orioles unlike in 1979, coming through when it counted the most in 83.

Source:The New Democrat 

"Baltimore Orioles 5 at Philadelphia Phillies 0, F -- Eddie Murray hit a pair of homers and Rick Dempsey added a solo shot to back the five-hit pitching of Scott McGregor as the Orioles wrapped up their first World Series title in 13 years with a 5-0 shutout of the Phillies. Murray and Dempsey hit solo homers off Charles Hudson in the 2nd and 3rd innings, and Murray's two-run shot in the 4th broke the game open. Al Bumbry drove in Dempsey in the 5th to set the final margin, and McGregor took over from there. Picking up where he left off in Game 1, when he allowed only two runs in eight innings despite taking the loss, McGregor went the distance, striking out six, as the Orioles wrapped up the championship." 

From MLB Classics

What makes the 1983 World Series different from the 1979 World Series that the Orioles had a 3-1 series lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979, as opposed to the Phillies in 83, is the Orioles pitching and their hitting. 

The Phillies other than the really the first game of this series, were pretty much shut down offensively in this series. Including getting shut out in-game 5 to clinch the Series for the Orioles. Unlike game 5, 6 and seven in the 79 World Series against the Pirates, the Orioles got all the pitching, key runs and key hits in-game 5 of the 83 Series and for most this World Series as well.

The Phillies had a very solid lineup in 83, but you shut down 3B Mike Schmidt and you could pretty much shut down the Phillies lineup. Then throw in the fact that Joe Morgan their leadoff hitter was forty-years old, Pete Rose is forty-two and their 1B Tony Perez is thirty-nine years old and all of these players being great at one point, but were all at the end of their careers against the Orioles in this series. 

As well as the Phillies not having the pitching that the Pirates did in 79. Everything was set up for the Orioles to win the 83 World Series. The only question was, would they come through or not.

Tim Fuerhardt: MLB 1991-Detroit Tigers @ Baltimore Orioles: Orioles Last Game at Memorial Stadium

Source:The New Democrat

The story of this Tigers-Orioles game, even though it is a very small part of the Orioles 1991 season with this being their last game at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, but this game pretty much summarized their season. You would think that the Orioles management would’ve put more into trying to make sure that they had a competitive team in 91, considering this was their last season at Memorial. And they tried to do that with the Glen Davis trade, but they were horrible in 91. Very little pitching, at least consistent pitching either starters or in the bullpen. And not a lot of offense in their lineup to go with Cal Ripken.

The Orioles lost this game I believe 8-1 to the Tigers, who had a pretty good lineup that year. But the real story of this game was that it was the end of a great era not just for Orioles baseball with all the success the Oriole had at Memorial, but the end of a great era for Major League Baseball as well. Just too bad that the Orioles, especially for their fans, that after winning their last MLB World Series in 1983, they five of their last eight seasons at Memorial, were losing seasons. Including losing 108 in 88 and two 95 lost seasons in 87 and 91. But the Orioles of the 60s, 70s and 80s were one of the best franchises in MLB and all of that home success came at Memorial.

ABC Sports: MLB-1985-MNB-Detroit Tigers @ Baltimore Orioles: Highlights

Source:ABC Sports- Detroit Tigers vs the Orioles, in 1985-

Source: The New Democrat Plus

Interesting matchup between two non-contending AL East teams in 1985. The Detroit Tigers finished in third place, but fifteen games out of first. And the Orioles finished fourth sixteen games out of first. But the AL East was deep in 1985, with four teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Tigers and Orioles all having winning seasons. And the Boston Red Sox were a 500 club that year. So it wasn’t like the Tigers and Orioles had bad years in 85, it was just that the Blue Jays and Yankees were both very good. And had their been a wildcard back then, both the Jays and Yanks would’ve made the AL Playoffs.

The Orioles were in transition in 85 especially as it relates to their pitching with Jim Palmer retiring after the 84 season. They were still good enough to be a winning team, but no longer a serious contender for the AL East. Their pitching wasn’t nearly as good as it was in the early 1980s and 1970s. And became a power hitting team that needed big offensive games to win. The Tigers won the MLB World Series in 1984 and were still good enough to contend in 85. But they slipped back as the Blue Jays and Yankees finished first and second.

The Rachel Maddow Show: Michele Bachmann: Tea Party Campaigns

Source: MSNBC- The Rachel Maddow Show-

Source:The New Democrat

Just to state a fact here and hopefully not my only one in this post. It is kind of funny to hear from Rachel Maddow and really anyone on MSNBC talk other than maybe Larry O’Donnell and Ed Schultz, talk about the lack of facts coming from really anyone, including Michele Bachmann. Who at least in the Representative’s case, she has a following, unlike MSNBC.

To correct Rachel Maddow. Representative Bachmann only serves in the House. So she doesn’t sit on the Intelligence Committee in Congress, but on the House Intelligence Committee, which is bad enough. And also to correct Rachel Maddow. Representative Bachmann wasn’t appointed by the Congressional Republican Leadership to the Intelligence Committee. Just by the House Republican Leadership. Since Representative Bachmann only serves in the House and not the Senate as well.

So how about my greatest hit of the distinguished Representative from Minnesota who hopefully for the rest of the country, not including comedians and bloggers on both sides if the isle, will be spending a lot more time back on the Frozen Tundra next year as she departs the House of Representatives at the end of the 113th Congress.

I think number one has to be which was in her 2011 presidential campaign announcement speech about saying that “same-sex marriage being the number one threat to national security”. I don’t know this as fact, but I believed she included pornography in that speech as well and said both pornography and same-sex marriage are our number one threats to national security.

You know, you would think someone who serves on one of the intelligence committees in Congress, not the Congressional Intelligence Committee in Congress, (to take another jab at Rachel Maddow) would be getting briefings and, gee I don’t know intelligence, (I know, wild idea) about what are truly the national security threats to America. And hear things like North Korea, Islamic Republic of Iran and their state-sponsorship of terrorism, Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Syria, that also occupies part of Northern Iraq. And think, “gee perhaps these states and groups are real threats to American national security”. And same-sex marriage and pornography, which would never even come up in a House Intelligence Committee hearing at all for no reason whatsoever. Well because they have nothing to do with national security.

I’ve never viewed President George W. Bush as a dumb man. Well at least not post-9/11, because at that point at least I thought President Bush was up to the job at least when it came to national security and foreign policy. And it looked like when, even including Vice President Dick Cheney, that the President was in good hands with a good team around him. Even with the Iraq debacle, I saw him as unqualified, sure, but not stupid which are two different things. But I could easily see why others viewed him that way with his horrible habit of saying things that are simply false. But whether you think G.W. Bush is a bright guy or has bricks for brains (to put it lightly) the man looks like an English professor at Harvard in comparison to Michele Bachmann.

Whether Michele Bachmann needs to be institutionalized, or under some therapy for some mental handicapped she’s suffering from, or simply an asshole who specializes on speaking out of her ass, which could be said by a lot of people in Congress both House and Senate, there isn’t an easier person to make fun of in Congress than Representative Bachmann. And yes I have to admit, as a blogger and political satirist myself, I’m going to miss her for those reasons alone. Plus, she’s so damn cute and funny both intentionally and unintentionally. Intentionally when she’s not going off on Democrats with nothing more than a bucket of spit. That I hope she keeps herself in the public eye in the future. Just as a private citizen, perhaps as a political satirist, columnist, blogger, radio talk show host. All jobs she’s actually qualified for, unlike her current one.
MSNBC: The Rachel Maddow Show- Michele Bachmann: Tea Party Campaigns

Gingery Oddity: The Newsroom- Maggie: On Michele Bachmann and Christianity

Source: Gingery Oddity-

Source: This piece was originally posted at The New Democrat Plus

What the Maggie character from The Newsroom didn’t mention and perhaps didn’t think of, is that perhaps Representative Michele Bachmann’s whose career in Congress will be over in just a few weeks, (counting the days, can’t wait) that perhaps Michele believes her own propaganda.

See, I’m not sure if the distinguished Representative from Minnesota is an escaped mental patient, someone who should be committed, but because she’s married to Markus Bachmann who perhaps should be committed as well, or is not smart enough to see that her dear wife needs professional help. Or is a complete idiot who believes her own, lets say propaganda about, “God wants me to run for President”.

You know not all politician’s are liars. Which is as difficult to believe that it never snows in Minnesota, or the New York Yankees aren’t from New York, or there isn’t a lot of oil in Texas. But there are politician’s that are simply flat nuts or complete morons, or perhaps in Michele Bachmann’s case a case of both. And yes there are politician’s that lie, well their mouths off, who the only way to know what they think and know about anything, at least important is to always have them on truth serum. I’m just throwing it out there that there are politician’s who are nutty or dumb enough to actually believe their own words and aren’t always lying.
Gingery Oddity: The Newsroom- Maggie: On Michele Bachmann & Christianity

Murat Shawn: HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher- "Most Americans Are Dumb and Uneducated"

Source: This piece was originally posted at The New Democrat

I wonder if Bill Maher includes himself in the group "most Americans are dumb and uneducated". I also wonder where he got those polls and numbers he was apparently quoting. Assuming what he does is a real job, he wouldn't have the time go do those polls himself, or do all the research. Bill Maher again leaves me with a piece where I'm sort of with him, but not completely there. Are there stupid Americans, you might as well ask if their lakes in Minnesota, snow in Alaska, or water in Michigan. That is not a real question or debate. And to be completely truthful, I don't believe "are most Americans stupid a real question and debate either".

If most Americans were stupid, the country wouldn't be nearly as developed as it is and far along and powerful across the board as it is. Why, because a country run by idiots and not just in the public sector and private sector couldn't create that. Why, because they are idiots and what are idiots good for, well why are they called idiots, because they are experts on idiocy. I know Bill Maher is a comedian, at least technically so what he says should be taken with at least jar of salt every time he even tries to sound serious, but he's simply wrong about that.

Now here is where I agree with Maher. And again no debate, too many stupid Americans, but why is that, one our education system, public for the most part isn't as good as it needs to be for a country this size. Too many Americans either not finishing high school and even if they do not getting out of high school what they should've gotten that taxpayers paid for and as a result having to take high school courses in the junior college that would take them  so they can finish their high school education and be ready for junior college.

But it is not just education, but it is also about values. And no I'm not a Religious Conservative, but things that people need to do well in America, aren't valued as highly as what is considered hot or awesome at the time by too many young Americans. Which is how you get such a high percentage of Americans who couldn't tell who their U.S. Representative is, even if it meant winning the latest smart phone with a year of free service. Why because they are too busy playing video games, watching so-called reality TV, what was the latest bar their favorite celebrity got kicked out of. Or what Kim Kardashian had for lunch in Beverly Hills on Saturday and what shoes she wore with her purse.

A lot of young Americans are more interested in these celebrity culture and technology stories, than they are in current affairs and politics. And forget about American history or the U.S. Constitution, "because that is like so yesterday and not awesome". Actually for a lot of Millennial's, what happened last year, "is like so ancient history". American history and current affairs is being replaced by valley culture and valley pop. At least in the short-term, hopefully at some point they'll grow up and become more serious and respectful of things and people that came before them. But right now they are making America look stupid.
Murat Shawn: Real Time With Bill Maher- Most Americans Are Dumb & Uneducated

CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman- Jon Stewart on Things

Source: CBS-

Source: This piece was originally posted at The New Democrat

As far as kids, glad I don't have any! And so far I've done a hell of a job up achieving one of my goals in life which was not to have kids. I'm not even crazy about being an uncle, as my two nieces and nephew may tell you. Not saying that having kids is not important and that kids don't have a place in the world. Last time I checked, people don't start off as adults in life. I'm a perfect example of that and some may say I haven't finished childhood yet. I'll say one thing nice about kids. I'm glad my parents decided to have them and more importantly at least to me, I'm glad they had me.

As far as Halloween, I'm glad that's over for me. I mean it was useful to me as a kid, because it meant about a week or a few days of free candy. Depending on how successful I was at tricker treating and not scaring the hell out of people who may give me candy. Like dressing up as Charlie Manson, Ted Bundy, Saddam Hussein. But one thing I discovered as an adult with a job, that if I want candy, I don't have to ask my parents. I can just go buy it, like I did on Friday and besides candy is not that important to me anyway. A couple of things you learn as an adult.

As far as freedom in Egypt and the Middle East, or Arabia. This may sound harsh, but are they ready for freedom, I mean what would happen if all the sudden they had it, would they know what to do with it? I think freedom to people in that part of the world they where they grew up and living as adults in such an authoritarian statist environment, where you are told what to do by your own damn government all the time, you come to expect that. It is a reason why these countries are called police states. Because it essentially like living in prison where you don't have to make decisions for yourself.

I think learning to live freely for people who've only known an authoritarian system, would be like trying to learn how to drive without an instructor right after you learn how to, well drive for lack of a better word big wheels. I think their would be a real learning curve there. And if you free the people there, then you are also freeing authoritarian radicals who want to tear down the current police state to establish their own. Not saying that freedom couldn't work in a large like Egypt to use as an example, but there would have to be smart people there who have to know how to establish it. And an overwhelming majority of the country that actually wants it.
CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman- Jon Stewart on Things

Joey Mesa: Video: ABC Sports: NFL 1978-MNF-Baltimore Colts @ New England Patriots: Joe Washington Highlights

This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on Blogger

I'm posting this because as a Redskins fan who is not quite old enough to have a very good memory of the Baltimore Colts before escaped to Indianapolis in 1984, I remember Joe Washington with the Redskins in the early and mid-1980s. He was what the NFL calls now and perhaps then a hybrid on offense. Someone between a wide receiver and running back. Someone you could run out of the backfield in a traditional set, but run draws, catch screens and swing passes out of the backfield. But you also line him up in the slot position as a possession receiver, or even big play receiver.

Hybrid offensive players tend to not be big for running backs and not tall for receivers. They tend to be about 5'9-5'11 around 190-200 pounds or smaller than that. Strong enough to run the ball out of the backfield and catch the ball as a wideout and get open. But not quite big enough you want that player to be doing full-time, at least as your go to runner or receiver. The guy who really reminds me of Joe would be Eric Metcalf who played for the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons in the 1990s. And played both halfback and wide receiver, as well as return kicks and punts.

Wayne Barros: Video: NBC's The Tonight Show: Steve Martin Interviewing Richard Pryor in 1978

This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on Blogger

Sounds to me Steve Martin was going dry trying to interview Richard Pryor on The Tonight Show. And what I mean by that for all of you who just speak English, is that Martin was struggling to think of stuff to ask Big Richard (ha ha) and was having to go off the top of his head. And apparently not having much upstairs to pick from to talk to Pryor about. With Pryor doing the best with what Martin would eventually find to talk to Pryor about. This interview to me is sort of like a blind date involving two people that basically have nothing in common. Perhaps their friends put them together as a practical joke.

Which is strange to me because Steve Martin is obviously not just a very funny man and great comedian, but a very bright guy. Otherwise he wouldn't of gotten the opportunity to fill in for the great Johnny Carson. But this interview to me looks like a couple of complete strangers being forced together and forced to talk to each other like their life depended on it. And they basically get down to "nice weather we're having. Yeah the weather tends to be nice around here in May. What's you favorite color? I had a cold recently, but it wasn't that bad".

But being the two great professionals that they were despite Steve Martin's lack of preparation and homework, (ha ha) I think they did pretty well together, despite the lack of and material and topics they had to work with. Because of Steve Martin not knowing what he was doing in that big chair and perhaps not understanding what the job of the comedic interviewer was. Perhaps The Tonight Show Staff didn't give him the memo, or Steve's dog ate his homework.

Real Time With Bill Maher: Tells American Socialists to Come Out of the Closet

Sourcre:Real Time With Bill Maher- telling American Socialists that it's time to come out of the closet already.

Source:The New Democrat 

"Bill Maher Demystifies Socialism & Compares the American Model with the European Model. America gets stuck with bank bailouts and imperialist wars; Western Europe gets public transportation, low school tuition, and universal healthcare." 

From Real Time With Bill Maher

Forget about me saying at risk of slapping myself on the back, because I'm just going to slap myself on the back so much, you would think I was being whipped with a belt by a gay lover. Because I've made at least part of the point over and over of what Bill Maher is saying here. 

We not only still have closet gays in America, but we have closet Socialists as well. We have Americans who say: "I hate socialism! Oh by the way, you even think about touching my damn Medicare, I'll kill you!" And that is the nice version. But who do you think runs Medicare, Jesus Christ? Medicare is a socialist, centralized, federal government-run program that is financed through taxes that we the people pay.

But there's even more, because we also have Americans who say they aren't Socialists. They just speak highly of socialism and defend socialism, as if their lives or Unemployment Insurance depended on it. Sort of like the Christian fundamentalist preacher who says he hates homosexuality and that it is a sin, while at the same time he's having affairs with men that his wife and ten kids don't know about of course. But the difference being the closet Socialist on the Left, doesn't have the balls to admit they are a Socialist. The person on the Right doesn't support socialism broadly. So I'll cut them some slack.

But the closet Socialist on the Left is a Socialist, perhaps knows they are a Socialist and just doesn't want to admit it. Because admitting to being a Socialist in America or admiring it, is liking a man admitting he likes boys, or admitting to being a rapist or something. 

It is not socialism that Americans hate, but the word itself because it gets linked to communism and other leftist authoritarian ideologies. It is not that we don't have Socialists or gay lovers of gay socialism in America. It is that we have Socialists who don't have the balls to admit to what they are. And Americans who do not understand what socialism actually and look down at and people who actually admit they are Socialists.

Whether you want to call the lets say hard core Left in America especially in the Democratic Party McGovernites (which is how they were labeled in the 1970s and 80s) or the so-called Progressive Caucus (closeted Socialists, in actuality) in the 1990s and even today, or the modern label Occupy Wall Street, these are the stuck in the closet with the door bolted down that an Army tank couldn't knock the closet door down Socialists in America. 

Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders, actually has the balls to admit he's a Socialist and damn proud of it. (Perhaps he plays a lot of basketball) But a lot of his followers don't and go by Progressive, or what makes me want to try to ram a brick wall down with a head, I hate saying this, but they some call themselves Liberals.

Frank Russo: Captain- The Thurman Munson Story: Mr. New York Yankee of The 1970s

Source:Frank Russo- From the Thurman Munson documentary, Captain.

"New York Yankees-produced video biography of the Yankee catcher who was American League rookie of the year in 1970, Most Valuable Player in 1976, and a seven-time all-star before his death in a private airplane crash."

From Frank Russo

I'm not an expert on Thurman Munson, he died in 1979 and I didn't start watching baseball until 1983 but what I've heard about Thurman Munson, is that there's not nearly enough information or reporting about him one of the most underrated and under appreciated baseball players of all time. We are talking about one of the best all around catchers of the 1970s, right there with Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench. Same skills as both players but ran better and could hit for a better average.

This was a catcher who was a 300 hitter and back then that almost never happened. Besides I'm a Baltimore Orioles fan and the New York Yankees are our arch rivals and Orioles fans hate the Yankees and we had a very good rivalry with each other in the 1970s and 80s and the Yankees cost the Orioles a three division titles in the mid and late 1970s, 76-78. But again what I've heard and know about Munson, is a great all around catcher who was headed to the Hall of Fame.

And even though he only played eleven seasons 1969-79, again since he was one of the best all around catchers of an entire decade that alone should be enough to give Thurman Munson consideration for the Hall of Fame. Anytime you're one of the best players at your positions and one of the best players in the game for an entire decade, that alone should give you strong consideration to be in the Hall of Fame. But that's not up to me but it took a plane crash in the Summer of 1979 to keep Thurman Munson out of the Hall of Fame because he's a player that played in pain constantly, similar to Mickey Mantle another great Yankee and who was headed to the Hall of Fame.

If you want to know if Thurman Munson was a great baseball player or not, you need to know what makes a great baseball player. To me that's someone with no glaring weakness' and at least with a few glaring strengths and you show these skills consistently for a solid period of time, 5-7 or ten years to me for a catcher to be a great catcher, you can't just be a guy that calls a great game, defends his position well and throws the ball well, Rick Dempsey of the Orioles did all of those things very well.

And for about ten years about as well as they could be done. But Rick Dempsey was basically a 230 hitter with very little if any power and not much of a run producer his entire career. But he was a good clutch hitter in the playoffs but that alone even with being a great defensive catcher, doesn't get you in the Hall of Fame. The reason why Thurman Munson was a great catcher because he did everything that Rick Dempsey could do if not better.

But Thurman was also a 300 Hitter who drove in runs. Who also had solid power but not great power but definite threat to go deep. In the American League the two best catchers in the 1970s were Carlton Fisk and Thurman Munson and you could go either way and for that decade I would lean towards Munson, because he played through injuries without losing production. Fisk missed a lot of time because of injuries. When I think of the term captain as it relates to sports, I think of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers who his teammates called Cap.

But captain also fits Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees who was not only the captain of his teams but the leader the quarterback, the on field coach of that team that his teammates knew they better do their jobs or the Captain was going to get on them. Who always did whatever he could to make sure his players were in the best position that they could be so they could play as well for the Yankees as possible. Thurman Munson was the Captain of the New York Yankees. 

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on WordPress.

Lakers Dynasty: The 1988 Los Angeles Lakers Back to Back: The Lakers Become the Team of the 1980s

The Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s were a great dynasty for several reasons and more reasons because they had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin Johnson and Pat Riley as their head coach and Jerry West as their general manager. They had the best center of all-time, the best point guard of all-time, one of the best head coaches of all-time in Pat Riley, one of the best executives of all-time in Jerry West. And a great chief executive in Jerry Buss, again one of the best ever. All these people are Hall of Famers and in Jerry West a Hall of Famer as one of the best players of all-time as well as one of the best general managers of all-time.

And you add in James Worthy another Hall of Famer and a guy who played both small forward and power forward at 6'9 225 pounds the size to play both positions and you throw in their fast break, I believe the best ever with their ability to defend, rebound, run the floor. Kareem, Magic, Riley and their fast break is what they are known for, but these are just some of the reasons why they were a great dynasty.

You had Jerry West putting the teams together, Pat Riley leading the teams and then Kareem and Magic, both two of the best players of all-time not just at their positions and you can make a good case for both of them that they are the best basketball players of all-time period as their lead players, with Worthy backing them up, who on most other teams in the NBA would be the best player on the team, but since he played for the Showtime Lakers he was the third best player.

The Showtime Lakers had three of the best players in the league all on the same team with the best head coach in the league at least at the time in Pat Riley with their three franchise players. One or two of them even could have a bad game, not in a championship game, at least not two of them and the Lakers could still win. Because two or just one of them was great enough to pick up the slack for one or two players. The Celtics back then were the only other team in the NBA that had that.

With all that, that's still not enough to be NBA champions, that's most of the pieces, but not all of them. They had great role players as well, Byron Scott great outside shooter and defender, Michael Cooper the same thing and with the ability to play both guard positions and small forward. Kurt Rambis excellent post defender, rebounder and ran the floor very well and a great hustle player. AC Green another excellent rebounder and post defender who ran the floor very well and could score a little as well. Mychal Thompson a great third big man, the ability to play both center and power Forward. Could rebound defend, score and ran the floor very well as well.

The Showtime Lakers are known for their fast break, but what doesn't get mentioned is why they are a great fast break team. Back then the Lakers were also one of the best defensive teams if not the best defensive team as well as a very good rebounding team and the best passing team in the league. Their defense and rebounding led to their fast breaks, with Earvin Johnson the best Point Guard the NBA has ever seen running the Laker show.

But with Kareem, Magic, Worthy, their outside shooters, they were also a great half court team. The Showtime Lakers were like a great movie or TV show with a great producer, director, great lead actors and great character actors with everyone knowing their roles and playing them up to their best ability. Which is why I believe the Showtime Lakers are the best NBA dynasty of all time.

Larry King Live: Bill Maher Remembers George Carlin (2008)

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on Larry King Live in 2008.

"Bill Maher remembers George Carlin" 

From Van 

"Bill Maher remembers George Carlin"  

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on Larry King Live in 2008.

From Van 

This photo is from a YouTube video by someone who goes by Anti-Conformist. But the video that this photo is from not currently available right now online because it was either deleted or blocked.

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on Larry King Live in 2008.

George Carlin isn't my favorite comedian but he's one of them. I don't consider him to be the best comedian but definitely one of them. But he's my favorite satirist and I consider him to be the best ever at that at least the best I've ever heard of. 

I guess all comedians are satirists, they all get their material from what they see in life. But Carlin to me is a satirist first, a great political satirist and a fair political satirist. He takes on both sides, that alone doesn't make him fair but the fact that he takes on the weakness's of both sides does because he hits people regardless of party where they deserves to be hit.

I try not to listen to political satirists from the right or left, unless they say something ignorant. Sarah Palin and yes thats what she is, she's a satirist and pretty funny one. But she's may favorite target on the Right. But I prefer to listen to satirists like George Carlin, Jon Stewart, Dennis Miller (a real Conservative) , Adam Carolla, a Libertarian satirist people who take on the establishment but in satiric form. 

If you're going to take on the establishment, you shouldn't pick on one side and treat them like the Devil. People who are completely incompetent and treat your side like its a God not capable of making mistakes. You should be able to hit both sides when they mess up, especially when they are hypocritical, perfect example of this. 

When someone like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann, both have a future in comedy if they want it. Rush Limbaugh a big fat target, that a blind person could hit would be another one, when Sarah, Michele and Rush go off on Democrats for supporting Big Government, whether the Democrats they targeting support Big Government or not, they're generally being hypocrites. These folks may want big government out of our wallets, but then put big government in our homes to make sure we're living what they would call a moral, Christian life. 

But what separates George Carlin from everyone, is his honesty, bluntness and credibility. He has all of those things, he goes after everyone he believes deserves to be critiqued. Both Democrats and Republicans, as well as Independents and the voters as well. He doesn't blame politicians for the problems in the country. But the people that voted for those politicians and then voted for their reelection. Which is what separates George Carlin from the pack. 

You can also see this post at FreeState MD, on Blogger.

The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Joan Rivers Standup (1984)

Source:The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson- standup comedian Joan Rivers in 1984.

Source:The New Democrat

"Joan Rivers stand-up Tonight Show - hilarious monologue 2 - 1984. Joan guest hosts in 1984."

From Musica Atmosphere 

Speaking of annoyances in life, how about Joan Rivers. After listening to that performance (the whole damn thing, by the way) I feel like I just got back from a Judas Priest heavy metal concert. And I was not only in the first row, but right in front of the speakers listening for two-hours straight. Looks like I'm going to the ear-doctor tomorrow, because I can't even hear myself think. So if this post sounds strange it is because I might not know what I'm saying, because I can't even hear myself think. Joan was very funny, but her act was loud (to put it mildly) that is just sort of how she spoke to people and performed.

As far as what Joan was talking about: filthy people, who likes filthy people especially if they live right next door to you, or worst even in your home? Wait, I think I got it, filthy people like filthy people. Could you imagine a filthy person getting on someone for being filthy? That would be like an alcoholic getting on someone who smokes too much. It would be a little hard to put up with without making fun of a the tiny hypocrisy there. But the part of that is funny, is that she also doesn't like to clean, but with the money she had, she probably had her own cleaning crew. So it worked out for her.

Joan doesn't like cooking, so I guess going to her place for dinner meant bringing your own food. Unless she ordered out for both of you, or perhaps had her cooking staff prepare a meal for you. 

Aging, you know this is going to sound as obvious as saying when you jump in a lake, you're going to get wet and perhaps will sound easy coming from a guy, especially a guy who is not an athlete or divorced, but if you want to live a long time and I mean really live and not just be alive and do it for a long time, you're going to age. Speaking about facts of life. 

The Ed Sullivan Show: Joan Rivers- On Dating (1967)

Source:The Ed Sullivan Show- Comedian Joan Rivers, on Ed Sullivan in 1967.

Source: The New Democrat

"Joan Rivers performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on April 23, 1967. Subscribe now to never miss an update:Ed Sullivan." 

From Ed Sullivan 

I never got Joan Rivers putting down her physical appearance, especially with the style icon that she has become with her own clothing line that I'm sure is worth in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Is Joan Raquel Welch, well does it snow in Houston, Texas in July: same answer to both questions. But most women are not Raquel Welch with that great of a physical appearance where they can make women young enough to Raquel's granddaughter jealous of her looks. But Joan Rivers is sure as hell not Janet Reno either and if she was, the only thing she would be famous for would be kicking the hell out of NFL players with her butch appearance and presence. Actually Janet Reno is famous for putting away tough guys, but in a more legal fashion. 

I saw Joan as a cute little Jewish blonde (not to get too ethnic) but from New York. With a damn quick wit that comes from that community and city. And never understood why she was always putting herself down. Other than to get great laughs, which she was great at.

The Tonight Show With Joan Rivers: Angie Dickinson (1983)

Source:Joy Collector- Hollywood Goddess Angie Dickinson & the great comedian Joan  Rivers.

Source:The New Democrat 

"From January 26, 1983. Joan interviews Angie Dickinson- who is best known for starring in the cult movies "Big Bad Mama"and "Dressed to Kill", and the TV series "Police Woman". 

From Joy Collector

On a personal note and perhaps just the only one: I could watch and listen to Angie Dickinson until it snowed in Miami, Florida. Sitting in Miami, Florida in July waiting for it to snow and getting so tanned and sunburned that I make John Boehner look like the Snowman. By the way, Snowmen aren't real. I hate to break that to you kids and seriously retarded adults. People just make fake men out of snow. Sort of how women see fake men as real men and then act horribly surprised when their man turns into a bastard.

But back to Angie Dickinson before I lose anymore followers. (Ha, my followers are back already) I could literally listen to her read off of a phone book and go through the thousands of Joe and Mary Smith's who live on Main Street near Bob's Diner and Gas Station and it would sound fascinating coming from her. She has this adorable and yet sexy vibe from her that everything she says and talks about just grabs you. The woman could also look hot in pajamas and an orange baggy prison jumpsuit. She has this quality about her that is incredible that is hard to explain that you simply don't see on a regular basis.

The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Frank Sinatra & Angie Dickinson (1977)

Source:Mr. Dnice- Chairman of the Board Frank Sinatra, guest-hosting and interviewing Hollywood Goddess Angie Dickinson.

Source:The New Democrat 

From Mr. Dnice 

"The Tonight Show Featuring Guest Host Frank Sinatra & Guest Angie Dickinson"  

Source:Dino Forever- Hollywood Goddess Angie Dickinson, on The Tonight Show With Frank Sinatra, in 1977. (Pun intended)

From Dino Forever 

"THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON -- Pictured: (l-r) Actress Angie Dickinson, guest host Frank Sinatra on November 14, 1977 -- (Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)" 

Source:Getty Images- Angie and Frank, on Johnny in 1977.

From Getty Images 

"Frank Sinatra guest hosting The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, November 14th, 1977"  

Source:Francis Albert Sinatra- Angie and Frank in 1977.

From Francis Albert Sinatra

Frank would’ve made an excellent talk show host with his sense of humor. His ability to sing obviously and all of the people he knew. Plus his intelligence and interests the ability to talk about multiple topics. 

This interview with Angie Dickinson I bet was fairly easy for him. Except for perhaps trying to focus and pay attention to the interview and not just stare at Angie the whole time. Who just happens to be one of the top goddess's in Hollywood history. 

I bet this interview was easy for Mr. Blue Eyes, because he and Angie knew each other pretty well. They worked together to do the 1960 film Ocean's Eleven. They were very friendly and had history together and gave them both an opportunity to talk about some of the better moments in both entertainer's career. And the time they spent together. I just wish I knew what show this was.