An anti-Bob Hope rant worth consideration:

[mmm]

This rant arrived in my box today. Origin unknown.


So Bob Hope lived to be 100, and that’s wrong.

Bob Hope is everything that was wrong with America in the 20th century—lucky, opportunistic, selfish, two-faced, sophomoric, shortsighted, undeservedly rich, intolerably smug.

Bob Hope is everything that’s wrong with the 21st century, too. He’s still here, isn’t he?

Bob Hope is everything that was wrong with Bing Crosby. And that dude was fucked up.

Bob Hope is everything that is wrong with USO tours. For 60 years Hope cast himself as a hero for staging shticky shows for our boys overseas. He was really just the cruelest of opportunists–party to a propaganda deal with the government. Hope’s USO and Christmas specials in Vietnam in the 1960s were underwritten by tax dollars. The government saw the value in convincing America that the teenagers it had drafted and sent into the jungle were having a good time. Hope just saw value–he got free publicity and kept the huge profits. And the servicemen? Would you want to spend your last day on Earth listening to Bob Hope mechanically recite rim-shot one-liners?

*** Edited by Admin for copyright reasons ***

[FlashHarry]

1. Jesus, LET IT GO.

Save it for when Reagan's death is announced.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. The basic human condition is

"something's wrong here!" Thanks for demonstrating it. Something can be found wrong with everything inside that paradigm.

[Maddy McCall]

3. you PLAGIARIZED THIS from Orange County Weekly

Per DU rules, when you take from another site, limit to 4 paragraphs and post a link.

Here's the link you forgot:

www.ocweekly.com/ink/03/40/news-wielenga2.php

[FlashHarry]

6. NICE CATCH!

BUSTED!

[skip fox]

13. Not plagarized! He told us he didn't write it!

Received in mailbox.

And I think that it is _well_ worth posting. I understand the issue of respect,
but DU is an open forum and maintaining a uncensored and vitally interrogating
stance and mindset trumps the proprieties. It ain't even a context.

IMHO

[DoveTurnedHawk]

4. This Rant Is Complete and Nonsensical Tripe

You should be glad you were not the author.

DTH

[WestPacSailor]

5. It's just bad form

Despite your lack of attribution (which is bad form for posting) you neglect one important fact: Bob Hope did more for the morale of the American fighting man (and woman) than any your ranting author can even imagine, let alone try to emulate. Bob Hope was a great American and will be sorely missed by ALMOST all Americans, regardless of political leanings.

[underpants]

8. Exactly this is total BS

Welcome to DU :hi: West Pac Sailor.

[SacredCow]

12. I agree...

I am aware that the repukes rejoice and dance in the streets when a prominent Democrat passes on (Wellstone, for example), but I'll be damned if I stoop to that kind of barbaric behavior!

I'm going to do myself a favor, and stay away from this place when Raygun dies- from what I've seen, the "celebration" around here will be too much for me to bear.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

22. Untrue, About FR

the repukes rejoice and dance in the streets when a prominent Democrat passes on (Wellstone, for example)

I visited FR during the week of Wellstone's death. As you know, FR is as right-wing as Republicans come.

The vast majority of posts about Wellstone that week were grudgingly respectful, of a man they disagreed with vehemently, but was honest in his beliefs. They comported themselves very well, IMO.

There were indeed a few jerks who slammed him (just as there are a few jerks here who slam right-wing folks when they die), but most of those posts were removed by an Admin Moderator.

but I'll be damned if I stoop to that kind of barbaric behavior!

On this, we agree entirely.

DTH

[SacredCow]

26. I admit that I didn't go to FR after Wellstone's death...

I was mostly talking about some repuke co-workers. I'll take your word that they were, for the most part, respectful.

I'm OK with being wrong once in a while! :spank:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

27. Humanizing the Opposition

I think it's a big problem we have in our society (and I am as much to blame for this as anyone), the demonization of our opponents. IMO, it's a good idea to humanize them as much as possible, just as we would want to be humanized.

Anyway, thanks for the clarification. Peace.

:thumbsup:

DTH

[searchingforlight]

17. I am fairly new too but welcome and thank you for saying what I would

have said.

[JohnKleeb]

34. welcome sailor

yes who cares about politics really in a time like that and I thought Hope was British thats just me.

[catpower2000]

7. I never liked Hope's character, his politics, or his comedy...

and I won't miss him, so I'm sorely disappointed to know that all news outlets, 24/7 for the next few weeks, will be running nonstop Bob Hope tributes, clips, and interviews. UGH. Look for the BFEE to slip something big under the radar as the nation "mourns" for this Repuke.

Cat

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Cat honey, the American population can't pay attention to anything

more than a few days MAX...three weeks from now, people will be saying "Bob who?"

[catpower2000]

10. LOL, of course you're right...I meant a few DAYS, not weeks :) nt

[nini]

11. What is wrong..

are people who feel a need to prepare and email stuff like this around after someone's death.

You don't have to agree with his politics(which I don't) or life in general, but he did do alot of good too. At the very least recognize that.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

15. Like what?

Apart from telling jokes to soldiers who could and in many cases did soon die, what else did Hope do that was good?

I ask this in all seriousness, because apart from that I know very little about the man. It appears from some posts on other threads that Hope had no connection to any charities etc, so what exactly did he do that was good?

[nini]

19. well...

"Apart from telling jokes to soldiers who could and in many cases did soon die"

having had a brother in Vietnam who saw this guy and that it was a bright spot in an otherwise disgusting experience -- this is enough for me.

I don't think anyone believes he was perfect.. I dont' know anyone who is.

[catpower2000]

23. Hope was manifestly pro-Vietnam...

He was a war hawk. If he had had his way, he would have had thousands more men like your brother over there.

Cat

[nini]

24. yep..

Yes, I know he was a republican on the hawkish side. What I am saying from my own family's experience is that my brother seemed happy in an otherwise brutal time of his life to get a laugh or two that day. That in turn was a bit of relief for my mom for a bit. That's it.. he wasn't all evil - wan't all good.

While my one brother was over in Nam - another was a objector and did not go. The rest of us here were demostrating against the war. Very strange times back then.. Differences of opionion in my own family on whether we were justified being there or not - those differences though intense did not break the family up and we all supported the brother over there emotionally and with our love. The day he came home is still one of the best days of my life and I know I'm freaking lucky he did.

[Coffee Coyote]

32. who cares?

Hope doesn't care what you say about him - he's dead. Dead people don't give a shit what you say about them. The facts about what a wasteful piece of protoplasm he was speak for themselves. Those of us who call him on it shouldn't be chastised just because he isn't taking up any more of our oxygen. More the reason to dance on his headstone.

I honor the memory of those who died in all U.S. wars by telling the truth about what a vicious scumbag he was.

[DagmarK]

14. MMM, I think I know everything I need to know about you.......

and will be VERY cautious about your posts.

This is such bad form......is Bob Hope's body cold even?????

[orangecoloredapple]

20. what's to know?

someone got a message in their box and posted the contents. Big deal. You sound like the Paranoia Police. I'll be looking over my shoulder as well.

[skip fox]

16. Maintaining a critical and open attitude

and an interrogating stance toward ALL things (even in the face
of what 99.5% of the culture might condemn you for) is of
central importance and one of the reasons I value an open
forum like DU. This is far more important than minding the
proprieties.

IMHO

oh yes, welcome to DU mmm

:toast:

[Sperk]

18. Sorry, but GREAT men fight to keep our boys out of UNNECESSARY

wars, not make money off of them! His fans act like he donated his time for "the boys" or something. It was a huge business and it made Hope MILLIONS. Is that wrong? Maybe not, but please spare me the hero B.S.!
:eyes:

[dflprincess]

21. I didn't like Bob Hope's politics and I hated his sexist humor

but, at the risk of getting flamed, I'll give him this. At least he didn't just sit at home and say he supported the troups. He was willing to put himself (and the members of his troup) at risk when he'd do his USO shows.

[JohnKleeb]

35. dfl I agree

[Norbert]

25. Didn't like his politics but...

He hardly sired Tom Delay or shrub.

Let it go. Bob Hope can't hurt you anymore.

[noonwitch]

28. That's as nasty as the crap some freepers were saying about Kate H.

Adultress, going to hell, baby-killer (her mother helped found Planned Parenthood).

[Coffee Coyote]

31. but she never supported war or GOP politics

I don't waste time worrying whether some of us who are nonplussed with his death (death is inevitable, and when it comes, I accept it as part of life) are like "the other side". There is only one side, and that is for the living. Too many good people die young, while wasted old colostomy-bag extensions like him live far too long to be of any use for the rest of us. I piss on his grave.

No more applause for the applause junkie and pathetic GOP court jester with all his prattling about "our boys" and other nonsense.

I liked the rant above. It tells many unpleasant truths about Middle America and its taste for war and bad comedy. I don't believe in hell, but I hope Bing Crosby's wife-beating drunken rotting corpse is buggering his old buddy Hope up the ass right now in a pit somewhere. Since it isn't, I can be glad that sonofabitch is gone, and I warily await the news of Reagan's death. :P

[bif]

29. Bob Hope was a dick.

Here's why I feel this way. About 30 years ago, a nine year old kid I know wrote a letter to Bob Hope. He was a huge fan of his and was into making up jokes. He sent along a couple of his favorite original jokes. Bob Hope wrote back a nasty letter telling the kid that he didn't accept unsolicited jokes. And the kicker was, he made a comment that he thought the jokes were lousy. It broke this kids heart. So I've always hated the man. And to tell the truth, I've always referred to him as "the world's most unfunny man."

[44wax]

30. Bob Hope was a Greedy Old Prikkk

My respects to his family and all but I do not give a shit. Alex Spanos, a very rich man from my hometown is threatening to donate some cash to refurbish an old city owned theatre downtown but only if the city renamed it after Bob Hope. Good grief. The only time Bob Hope showed his face in town was when some fellow Greedy Old Prikkk had a fundraiser at Spanos' house.

[BlueJazz]

33. Just because some...

...right-wing prick dies certainly doesn't change my disrespect for them. I feel free to speak my mind about somebody regardless of the state of their body.
I hold Mr.Bob Hope in the same regard now, as I did when he was alive.