The GridIron Lovefest needs to cease....

[kentuck]

I read this morning that George Bush stands in front of the invited guests, Democrats and Republicans, and makes jokes about acts where people should be serving time. A year or two ago, he was looking under the desk, the podium, everywhere, for the WMDs that were never found, as our young men were returning home anonymously dead. There was nothing funny about it.

Last night, he makes a joke about Cheney shooting the guy in the face. He said that Cheney's middle initial was "B" and that stood for "Bullseye". Also, that the press made a big deal out of it - you'd think he had shot somebody or something. And Cheney, sitting at the head table, laughed along with the rest of them.

Yes, we've heard the arguments that we need the levity and "bi-partisanship" in these very divided times. I say we need the truth and respect for the role of Congress more than we need this crap. I don't think it does any good for anyone to cheer on criminals or criminal acts at any time.

[Deja Q]

1. ...

unsure

[terrya]

2. I would have cancelled it after the "WMD" shit

That was despicable. If I were there that night, I would have been mortified to see that. One of the worst examples of nastiness I've seen from that creep.

It is...bizarre, to put it kindly...to see this pretend, phony friendly "bipartisian" evening with this group of criminals.

[Benhurst]

3. Terrya, your such a spoilsport. Why I bet you wouldn't have

even gone to the theater with Hitler.

:hi:

[NYCGirl]

4. It's been going on for 120 years. Just because we think Bush and Cheney

are not funny is not a good reason to cancel it.

[kentuck]

5. Assuming the present situation was similar to the previous 120 years...

I would agree with you. But, this is a different time, in my opinion. We should continue it when both sides return to the position of trust and respect, even with partisan differences, that we have seen in the past 120 years.

[NYCGirl]

7. And when would that be? The freepers probably hated the Gridirons

when Clinton was starring.

It's a tradition — and a LONG one at that. It's also not for us, the public.

[boobooday]

6. Actually, there are better reasons to cancel it

The best one: it is obvious evidence of the fact that the most powerful media figures, and the most powerful political leaders get together to LAUGH at how they have gotten away with their evil alliance for another year.

They laugh about what the political leaders have gotten away with, and the press pats themselves on the back for being "in on the joke."

In other words, it's a disgusting show: The watchdogs are eating giblets at the feet of the thieves. The American people are the butt of every joke.

[NYCGirl]

8. Have you ever been there? Or are you just riffing?

Would it be alright to you if the left was in power (as we were in other times)?

The idea of the Gridiron is that they laugh at THEMSELVES. We can't cancel a 120 year tradition because the current comedy writers are so lame.

[kentuck]

9. Did Nixon make jokes about breaking into Democratic HQ's..?

and spying on and lying to the American people? Yes, they can laugh at themselves but they shouldn't make jokes about their crimes.

[boobooday]

10. Actually, no, it isn't alright with me when the left is in power

And if you know anything about comedy writing, you know that it is clear that they are not laughing at themselves, they are laughing at us. The WMD joke is a perfect example.

Bush is looking for nonexistent WMDs under his desk in the oval office. The press are laughing. Soldiers and Iraqi civilians are dying. And the joke is on US, without a doubt. Who was fooled into war?

My opinion of the tradition has nothing to do with the current crop of participants. The tradition itself is corrupt and elitist, an in-your-face celebration of cronyism. A really good tradition would be for the press and the politicians to sit still and be quiet while they are roasted by the people.

Now THAT would be funny.

[Benhurst]

11. ...

:thumbsup:

[KoKo]

12. There would seem to be a "taste" question when it comes to shooting

an old man in the face while you were drunk, and looking for "missing WMD" when you took a nation to war and killed thousands and thousands of people plus maiming and ruining the lives of the rest of them.

How anyone can find that funny or satirical is beyond depravity to me. If they had some Abramoff or Libby jokes it might have been more appropriate.

But, they laugh over killing ...they chuckle over a Vice President who hurts a friend who will probably have medical problems the rest of his life...and we are supposed to think that it's just something that's gone on for 150 years and so it's just "tradition."

It's sickness of mind inside that beltway. We need to bring in a new media. One that has a sense of who they are serving...and it ain't supposed to be the Government.