Why Care?

There was a time when the Academy Awards ceremony was very different than what we see now. The original concept consisted of studio heads----Jack Warner, Harry Cohn, Adolph Zukor---- and a few major stars like---- Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin--- having a few drinks, having more drinks, maybe, some dinner when necessary, and celebrating the success of the infant industry that was the moving picture. It was partly ego [after all, this is SHOW business] and partly economics [after all, this is show BUSINESS]. It was an inside affair with the public staying out of the fraternal order of the ''movie people''. It was a good celebratory time, with ribald stories and good-natured kidding coming from all quarters of the ballroom. Eventually, the evening would end, the winners would walk out proud, and everybody went home to get laid......... When radio, and, especially, television, came into the ceremony, then the Academy Awards really took off. From the 1940's on, the Oscar race became a yearly horse race, with heavy betting and jockeying for power and prestige leading the charge. Suddenly, instead of quietly admiring a co-workers job performance, the Oscars became Hollywood's favorite cutthroat game. Big Money, always the driving force of any industry, was to be made. If a picture became the ''Best Picture'' of any given year, then, it usually added many millions to the box office take, which would turn an initial disappointing financial investment into a windfall. Studios campaigned for their movies and their movie stars like politicians campaign for the White House. By the end of the studio system in Hollywood---- when actors and directors and producers gained the upperhand in negotiations---- the Academy Awards were a vital component between commerce and perception of excellence........ From the 1970's on, the Oscars became a freefall of excess and egomania. But, in a strange way, that was what made the show so compelling for the outside public. To see a bunch of pampered stars shining the spotlight on themselves held a macabre fascination for us ''normal people'', as Hollywood likes to view us. And, you also have to throw in the ''beautiful people'' with all of their star luster. They lead, what appears to be, exciting lives. They do not have the normal routine of regular jobs like us, the same humdrum existence we carve out for ourselves every day. They glide in a surreal world, a world of enchantment, a bewitching fantasy. To see them onscreen is to be taken into a world we will never know. And, in an ironic twist, to be taken into that world, is a cautionary warning...... Because, for the same reason we are interested in that world, we must see the pitfalls that arise. It is a fantasy world---yes--- but with fantasy comes, for some people, a cloudiness to reality. That world of show business is not the Real World. It is a cocoon from normalcy, a blind silkscreen to go along with the silver screen. For in the Reel World Of Movies comes all of your dreams fulfilled, every whim and desire instantly at your finger tips. While that may sound enticing on one hand, the reality is often fatal. Many stars throughout history, absorbed in their Dream World, fall victim to excess and fallen dreams. It is no accident that Hollywood is the poster child for bad relationships and false intimacies. Why? Well, insecurity is part of the reason. Performers have to fill that vast hole in their souls, the hole of needing to be universally loved by strangers. A person so addicted to that need, for self-fulfillment, is incapable of finding a normal, loving relationship with someone. It is ''All About Me''  and no thought of the other ''You''........ This is the world we have a deep curiosity about. It is foreign to us, as alien as living on Mars. Like a moth drawn to a flame, our interest must be satiated.  And, the Oscars bring us close to that world. That is where the fascination of watching it comes from. Yes, there is the glamour and the ''beautiful people.'' But those interests come along with the fascination of that enclosed world of privilege. Truth be told, there are people walking the streets that rival the beauty that Hollywood shows us [WalMart stores excluded]. But, we have been fed the information that these people in La La Land are important and, therefore, our attention must be directed at them. We call them by their first names, like ''Leo'' and ''Meryl'' and ''Jack'', like we know them personally. And, then, we pick our favorites to win, like you would root for the Bears or Cubs to win. For a very strange reason, an actor winning an award, like a football team winning a Super Bowl, is a vicarious thrill for us, as if we had some part in their achievement. Because if you took a step back and analyzed the situation coolly, why is it important to you? Does it really affect your life that your favorite movie star wins a gold statue?........ For many people, it seems that it is. There is no other reason that I can think of for this show to continue to draw the enormous ratings that it does. The Academy Awards is a long, boring show to watch. Almost every year, the feedback the next day was how bad it was, how long it was, and how badly people were dressed and talked. The winners get up to the podium and thank the people in their lives, their ''team'', that no one at home watching gives a damn about. Technical awards are given for movies most people have not seen, or, care to see. We see actors up on the stage barely able to read from a teleprompter. And, lame jokes fall hard against the pressure of scared individuals out there working without a net. Again, taking a step back and analyzing the program as a whole, why do you, the viewer, keep watching???........ I can only answer for me. Ever since I was a kid, I have been in love with the magic of movies. Long before I ever heard of the craft of acting and movie deals with per diems, I fell for that alternate world of fantasy. The heroes always won, the bad guys got defeated. The boy and the girl always got together. The world beyond the stars was a glorious galaxy of another life........ Movies always made me happy, sad, excited, depressed, enlightened, confused, filled with awe. It also, at an young age, bonded me with my beloved Dad, for father and son religiously went to movies, creating a lifetime of wonderful dreams and memories in my head. Dad liked the Oscars, and, then, so did I. He saw through the phoniness and the insincerity and the bizarre hype. And, so do I. And, yet, I still watch...... Perhaps, it is a bridge back in time for me watching them, a continuation of the movie love I shared with Dad on those long-ago days in the darkened cinema houses. I personally do not care if ''so-and-so'' wins the Academy Award. That award is for their career and ego. But, I do care that the magic of movies is tied into the spectacle, however, bastardized it has become........ In movies, as in life, I watch the whole picture, not just the flash........

Great Movie: ''The Fugitive''

The story is a familiar one. A wrongly accused man-on- the run from the cops, desperately searching for the real killer. And always, the man-on-the-run finds the bad guy, there is some kind of fight----sometimes, with a gun, many times, with fists thrown----- and justice will be served with the innocent man set free. You can go through the backlogs of Hollywood storylines and find this scenario. Most films with this plot are cheesy and instantly forgettable. But, every once in a while, a diamond is found in the rough and a great movie emerges from the formula. This was the case with ''The Fugitive'''....... The film version of ''The Fugitive'', based on the 60's TV show of the same name, was released in 1993. It received popular and critical acclaim as a damn fine movie. And, it is. It has fine action, a plausible set of plot scenes, and, mostly, it has excellent acting. The story surrounds the efforts of Dr. Richard Kimble, played by Harrison Ford, coming home one night and finding his wife viciously beaten to death. The police suspect him right away. In the first several minutes of the film, we see him arrested, on trail, and convicted. He is sent to jail on a prison bus with other convicts. But, misshap on the bus involving other prisoners is in store, along with a pesky train that decides to board the bus head-on. In a spectacular moment onscreen, the train smashes into the bus [this was a real train and bus, not models or computer generated special effects] and Kimble and another prisoner escape, each man going his separate ways......... At this point, the plot has been set. Just the details need to be ironed out. But, the first twenty moments or so of the film grab your interest. We know, eventually, that Harrison Ford will find the bad guys. It is how that will keep us watching. That, and the arrival of U.S. Marshall Samuel Gerard, played royally by Tommy Lee Jones...... From the very first seconds he appears in the movie, Tommy Lee Jones is in command. His face, that great weathered look of someone who has seen life at its dirtiest, greets us, along with his first words of astonishment and ironic detachment combined [ ''My, my. What a mess.''] Gerard has his team of fellow law enforcement people around him, both dedicated to serving the law and serving Gerard. Jones instantly sizes up the situation and concludes that two prisoners have escaped, despite what the clumsy cop on the bus says. He takes control. He wants the area contained, with check points in a small mile radius........ Soon, both Kimble and Gerard will meet. It is over a waterfall. Gerard does not care if Kimble is innocent or not. He just wants his prey captured. Kimble, shaken to his core after what he has been through, still has enough sense to know he will be going back to jail, maybe, even longer because he is on the lamb. So, in a scene both plausible and inplausible, Kimble makes a suicidal jump into the waters wrath. There is a moment when the movie stumbles here because, clearly, a dummy is tossed into the water. Of course, no human stunt person could have done the shot that was required but it is a laughable error seeing this dummy in the air. However, the shot is brief and we see Kimble in the water. Did he survive this almost certain death plunge? Gerard thinks so. His instincts tell him that Kimble is still alive........ And, naturally, Richard Kimble is still alive. We would not have the rest of the movie to watch if he was not. Soon, Kimble makes his way to Chicago [after another, unfortunate, embarrassing moment when he is picked up hitchhiking in the middle of the night by a lonely woman]. By then, it doesn't matter if he would be getting a ride into Chicago. The movie has us, as both Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones have fully engaged us. For the remainder of the movie, it turns into a cat-and-mouse game of nearly getting caught and figuring out your opponents next move. Both actors fully engage us in their thoughts and feelings and desire to see justice prevail. Jones has the tougher assignment. At first, his Sam Gerard is all bluster, a hard-assed man who does not want to hear bad news that will spoil his beloved chocolate doughnut with the sprinkles on top. This is a man who has heard all of the stories about the wrongly accused. He doesn't care. He wants Kimble because Kimble is wanted. It all black and white to Gerard. But, as the film deepens, Gerrard sees the cracks in the official story and spots the faraway theory that Kimble may be, in fact, framed. Especially, after he meets the other people who circle around Richard Kimble, most notable, Dr. Charles Nichols, played unctuously by Jeroen Krabbe. Gerard, through the expressive acting of Jones, begins to see the riddle unraveling and the finger of guilt point away from Kimble........ Scenes and events come rapidly to the viewer. We are at Cook County Hospital as Kimble goes after the person he knows did the actual murder of his wife: the man with one prosthetic  arm. He grabs a bunch of names and barely dodges Gerard, who always is one infuriating step behind. Daley Center, the St. Patricks Day Parade, street scenes, all mingle nicely together as the chase unfolds. Finally, revelations are rolled out, the spotlight on the truly guilty is seen clearly. We have a showdown in a hotel, both inside and on the roof. Punches are thrown, men are dropped from high above, glass shatters, and a dangerous beam is used as a weapon. All exciting, all well done by the filmmakers........One of the great things about a movie like this is the surprises. I will not give any away to those who have not watched the movie. But, I can promote the idea that the movie keeps you on the edge of your seat, like riding that runaway train that collides with the bus at the beginning. But, the true highlights are the actors. A rich supporting cast of comfortable but unfamiliar actors [at least, they were in 1993] surround the main principals, including, the always watchable Joe Pantoliano. Julianne Moore turns up in a small but vital role as a doctor at CCH. However, it is Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones we watch. Ford, at home in this type of action role, doesn't have much dialogue. Still, his actions and physicality speak volumes and he brings a certain sadness to the part, like a man who wants to find his wife's killer because he deeply loves her and he must do this for her. Yes, he wants to save himself but, he always has thoughts of his fallen wife. Harrison Ford can never be accused of being a versatile actor---he is too limited. However, he does shine in these types of roles. And, as Richard Kimble, Fugitive, he brings it off.......... Tommy Lee Jones is the true star. Always underappreciated by the public before this movie, Jones was rightfully acclaimed across the board. A well-earned Oscar for Best Supporting Actor the following year for this role was just desserts. Jones dominates every scene he is in. He brings toughness, street smarts, calmness, anger, humor, and finally, humanity to his Sam Gerard. It is a flawless performance that also is a great deal of fun to watch. When he enters a scene, you feel the energy level of the movie pumped up, as if it were shot with adrenaline and urgency. There is command in his presence, a follow-the-leader aura. It is a fine example of good acting and movie star charisma meeting at an intersection......... I have a warm spot in my heart for this movie because I am in it. It was during my acting years in the late 80's/early 90's that I did a ton of ''extra'' work in movies and TV shows filmed in town. The scene I am in is when Harrison Ford, thinking he has found the one-armed man, goes to the Daley Center to see a locked up man in jail. The scene starts with the camera pointed upwards and quickly pans down to street level. Ford is walking away from the camera crossing the street while a couple of pedestrians are crossing the other way, coming directly towards the camera. I am on the far left. I hold my hand out to stop a cab that was trying to come through [no acting direction from the director, Andrew Davis. I was trying to not be hit by a car.] Ford passes me and the others by and I walk right into frame. I was 27 years old, then. All dark hair and thin. I had a suit on, with a nice overcoat. Many people who have seen that scene refuse to believe that it is me. But, it is. All youth and vigor....... I did not get a chance to talk with Harrison Ford. I do have a story about him but I will invoke the ''Guy Code'' of honor. Tommy Lee Jones was elsewhere, which disappointed me. I really wanted to meet him and shake his hand........ And, maybe, give him a doughnut. A chocolate one, with the sprinkles on top........

No More Bush

With Jeb Bush dropping out of the race for President, this might be the end of the Bush dynasty. His poor showing in the primaries was the final nail in the coffin with the dream of more Bushes in the White House. This is a good thing...... I find it very hard to really mourn the failure of Jeb Bush making it to the Promised Land. The Bush family has had more than their share of romping in the halls of the Executive Mansion. The legacy of Father and Son George running this country is not a strong one. In fact, it is appalling on several levels, starting with the savings and loan scandal under Bush Senior, to the Iraq War under Junior's command. One scandal cost billions in currency, the other thousands, perhaps, millions of lives. The Iraq War that Junior fought was the extension of the Gulf War that Senior fought, with the remnants of Saddam Hussein being dealt with. The case could be made that had George Sr. completed the Gulf War---- which, the military people wanted but the politicians ultimately decided no on----- then, it is very likely that the Junior created Iraq War would never have happened....... But, this is all hindsight. The Iraq War happened, and it does no service to anyone to continue to point out the obvious that it never should have occurred. The hornest's nest of problems---- most notably, the birth of ISIS----- is the sad legacy of this conflict. George Jr. either was badly advised into going into the region, or, was advised against doing this and ignored the warnings from his people. The story supports both sides as the participants scurry around covering their asses while blaming him. And, the blame must go to him because, ultimately, it is the President Of The United States who makes the final call to arms. And, George W. Bush must live with this decision til his dying day.......... Historians often say that it takes a good twenty years to judge a Presidential performance in office. Evaluations are put off this long because the ripples of a Presidency usually take generations to see the effects of. What may have been a disappointing Presidency, in hindsight, can, sometimes, be an outstanding achievement when measured against its results in history. Harry Truman was a joke in the White House. He was ridiculed mercilessly as being an unsophisticated hayseed, not very smart [kinda like George W. Bush is portrayed. That is wrong. He is a smart man, just not articulate with the public] and a failure as President. But, time has been good to him and he is now regarded as a damn good Chief Executive. John F. Kennedy is the opposite. because of his glamour and good looks [and, tragic demise] JFK is always high in the ratings in the public's mind. History experts judge him differently. Richard Nixon was reviled and loved. Now, his enemies see a damn good Presidency that could have been legendary. But, Watergate and other tricky dealings tainted Nixon's legacy, tarnishing a tenure that would have been among the finest we have ever known........ George Herbert Walker Bush can be judged fairly now. He started off strong because he had the glory of the Reagan years to ride the crest of. The economy was perking along nicely in 1988, along with many successes in foreign policy decisions[ the dealings and treaties with the Soviets, most notably]. When George Sr. easily defeated Michael Dukakis in 1988, the promise of carrying on the achievements of Reagan seemed rosy. Then, the savings and loan scandal erupted. In a nutshell, many prominent businessmen on Wall Street, and in high finance---- in cahoots with the shifty banks----- nearly brought the Federal Reserve to its knees and lost many people their savings. This was done through false entries in bank records, questionable government deregulation bills, and defaulting on loans knowing full well that the taxpayers would foot the bill [ And, we did. To the estimated tune of 135 billion dollars]. Some of the guilty had fingerprints directly touching George Bush Sr., with a Ronald Reagan chaser. That Bush later pardoned many of these thieves--- like Lloyd Davis and Edwin Cox, both men given prison time for bank fraud----- speaks of his knowledge and skullduggery. And, Jeb Bush was not innocent in this, either. He defaulted on a 4.56 Billion dollar loan and paid next to nothing back in penalties. Guess who did pay off his loan, though? If you said Barbabra Bush, you are wrong.........The fact that politicians are in bed with the shysters in business is as old as the beard on the face of Moses. But, through pulling punches at the Department of Justice [when it came time to prosecute the hooligans] Bush Sr. protected his buddies in high finance. Some found their time in jail but most did not. The ''Friends In High Power'' fraternity saved his friends. But millions lost millions........ Then came the infamous Gulf War, or ''Desert Storm''. This was our first made-for-TV conflict. Suddenly, overnight, Saddam Hussein, who had been our ally for many years, became the Devil Incarnate, akin to Hitler, and someone we must dispose of. Part of it was fact. Hussein was a mass butcher, executing with glee anyone who came within his vision. He was a monster. But, the U.S. has supported many monsters throughout the years. Why, the question went in 1990, did he need to be toppled when he served our purposes for so many years in the region? The answer was in the question: he served our purposes. Now, he was expendable. The reason given was because he invaded Kuwait, a small but very rich country specializing in oil. When Evil Saddam went into Poor Kuwait, Big Bad George Herbert Walker Bush felt righteous indignation. He must be stopped, Bush told us, before he strikes again and destroys the world. Thus commenced, in January 1991, the Gulf War. It lasted five weeks. I've been to parties that lasted longer. With full support of a united, United Nations, America, with George Sr. riding shotgun in the pilots seat, swept Iraq out of Kuwait with a mighty swat. We drove the Iraq army so back into its own country that victory was at our grasp. But, then, mysteriously, we stopped. By military estimations, only a few more days and we would have had Hussein and his henchmen. However, we stopped....... Why? That has always been the elephant in the room when talking about this ''war''. Why did we stop and not complete our objective? Why did we leave Hussein in power, for after all, he was an evil bad man who must be disposed of? The military wanted to complete the job. Even those who were against the war felt that, as long as you have done this, why not go all the way into victory? The failure and the dark suspicions would hover over George Bush Sr., following him into his reelection campaign in 1992. When the Gulf War ended in February 1991, Bush had an extraordinary 90% approval rating. By election time in 1992, he was hovering in the 30% level. Why had he fallen so hard so fast? Simple. The economy tanked. And, Americans, regardless of what they say in polls, always vote what is in their wallets. In the fall of 1992, the economy was in a heavy recession. Plus, Bush Sr. had been haunted by the ghost of something he said at the Republican Convention in 1988. Remember the famous, ''Read my lips. No New Taxes.'' line? Well, voters in 1992 did remember because Bush DID raise those taxes and it was the middle class who felt the pinch the most. Come election day 1992, Bush would lose to shady Bill Clinton with the help of third party candidate Ross Perot, who siphoned off many votes from Bush. When George Bush Sr. left office in January 1993 [on the way out he made sure to pardon his Iran Contra buddies like John Poindexter], history promised to not treat him kindly in retrospect. It hasn't........ The 90's saw the family retreat into the background of politics. But, the family was gearing up to grab the brass ring again. The obvious candidate was Jeb Bush, the Golden Son. He was smart, articulate, and hard-nosed. But,  he was passed over for George W. Bush Jr. It is another why question. Why pass over the better son to take a chance on the son most vulnerable? True, George Jr. was Governor of Texas and had cleaned up his wilder, party-boy days of his youth. Still, he was a huge gamble for the family. However, the family did rally around him and he became President in 2000 after a legendary dirty election. The fact that he only won by several hundred votes has always been an open question of honesty. Al Gore, that great example of a fetus living after an abortion, won the popular vote [lets be honest, all of you liberals. Do you really think all of Gore's ''found'' votes in Florida were any better than Bush's?] but lost the electoral vote, which is how we elect Presidents in this country. Until we have solid proof that Bush stole the election, we must concede he earned the job. And, until September 11 2001, he stumbled a little with yet another faltering economy. He cut taxes, which put us into a hole, deficit-wise. But, nothing major came his way....... Until, 9/11....... Again, we must disregard the rumors of ''what he knew and when he knew it.'' That is for his enemies to prove. And, yes, the famous scene in the Florida classroom, as he learned of the terror attacks, with him sitting immobile for a few crucial moments, is disquieting. However, he did recover quickly and his leadership in the days and weeks after the attacks was quite splendid. I remember watching him during this time and thinking, ''He has grown into this job now''. And, he did. George Bush Jr. did everything right after 9/11, from assuring a shaken country and world in a memorable address to Congress, to identifying the cowards who did this and promising to punish them. He wisely took his time before going after the Taliban in Afghanistan. Like a skilled General, he took his time, was not rash, and sent his awesome military power after the bastards. Initially, he was successful, driving the Taliban away and aggressively hunting Bin Laden. As the months rolled on, a sense of normalcy came back to us. Bush Jr. seemed to be going after the bad guys....... Then, in March 2002, in front of Congress, George W. Bush took a fatal step. He announced that Iraq had, once again, Weapons Of Mass Destruction. This was one of the big selling points that his old man had used in the Gulf War.  Bush Jr. was certain, he told America---and, by extension, the world--- that Saddam Hussein was up to his old tricks and needed to be stopped. The Bush administration also let it be known that there was a connection between Iraq and 9/11 [there wasn't]. Like millions of Americans, I believed this rhetoric--- sort of. After all, I thought Bush had done the right job after the terror attacks. Still, as I supported his contention of a connection between Hussein and Bin Laden, there was a nagging feeling in the back of my mind. Iraq? 9/11? Oh, well, he was right about Afghanistan, so, he must know about Iraq. Lets get Hussein, too!! And, those pesky Weapons Of Mass Destruction!!!........ Well, in March, 2003, we did go after him. And, just like a decade earlier, we sent them running for cover in Iraq. Within weeks, Saddam and his government were all done, with only their capture to be the final chapter. For the rest of us, we decided to sit back, enjoy another victory, and wait for the discovery of those pesky WMD'S....... There was just one big problem: those weapons were nowhere to be found. Anywhere. Perhaps, they had been moved. Maybe. There was no evidence that they had, though. To this day, no weapons Of Mass Destruction has ever been found in Iraq...... How could this be? How could we have been so wrong? The British thought Saddam had them, as did the Russians, the UN. Was everyone wrong here? The answer is overwhelming: WE WERE. And, a lot of blood was shed finding this out......... Within Iraq, chaos was happening. Now that the murderous Saddam was gone, there was no one to run the store. Thus was born various small but deadly terrorists groups, namely, ISIS. These groups, murder fiends to their slimy core, took apart the country and set their venom against the U.S. soldiers still occupying the region. It became a horrible news story every day hearing about how many casualties fell victim to these fuckers. And, with this total came the sad and angry realization that we, as a country, had been sold a bill of goods by the Bush Administration. Not only was Iraq not succumbing to our military might but we were also to learn that the Iraq/9/11 connection was bullshit. Saddam Hussein, despite all of his villainy, was not in with any planning or execution on our Day Of Infamy Part 2. So, the question must be asked: Did Bush lie about us going to war? Yes, I believe he did. Unlike his enemies, though, I do think the administration lied not to finish the job that his father started----although, that was a bonus---- but rather to box in Iran, who is the real enemy in that area. The way of thinking is, if we conquer Afghanistan on the right of Iran, and Iraq on the left, we will have the Iranians right where we want them. Or, to put it bluntly: WE WILL HAVE THE OIL.....So, we touched that hornets nest in that most irrational of areas in the world and we have seen what we have reaped. It is even more dangerous and deadly there than any time in history. Yes, Saddam is gone---which, is good---- but a bunch of little Saddams has replaced the original. And, they are all devils. I'm not saying to have Saddam Hussein in there now would be a wonderful thing. But, sometimes, it is better to have the Devil you know........More failures came with the Bush Presidency, most notably, Hurricane Katrina [''You're doing a great job, Brownie!'']. Not having enough troops in Iraq. Letting Bin Laden, once so close in our sights, escape. The connections to Enron and Halliburton....... Writing this, I am hard-pressed to find much positive in his time in office. I suppose, to foreign enemies, he was somewhat feared for his not sitting back and doing nothing, like Obama. He was the Cowboy riding into battle with his spurs and horse and shotgun, ready to take on any challenger. And, he was, surprisingly, a strong advocate against the universal fight against AIDS. Particularly, in Africa. This fight should have be celebrated by even the staunchest liberal. But, it has been ignored.......... When George W. Bush left office in 2009, the economy again was on shaky grounds, thanks to the mortgage crisis. The debt was in the trillions. The good word of the United States had been besmirched by the tragic folly of the Iraq War. Afghanistan had no end in sight. The Republican party was at war with itself. The country was so disillusioned that we elected as our next President a man who never had a real job in his life. While it will take twenty years to fully grasp the second Bush Administration, the short term report card does not look strong. It is poor, very poor. Maybe, history will change in the decade ahead and it will make sense. Maybe....... The pundits in the media say it is this memory of the George W. Bush mess that haunted his brother, Jeb. They call it the ''Bush Hangover''. What that means is, that the people have such a bitter taste in their mouths about the Bush Family, the thought of another Bush in the White House makes their skin crawl. Jeb Bush had to unite the Republican Party in his quest, to get the voters under one roof, to undue the damage that his brother caused. He couldn't make a mark. From his initial announcement upon entering the campaign, he was dead in the water......... The irony for me is that I like the Bush Family. Not as sitting Presidents but as people. I don't know them, obviously. Still, there is a likability to them, a certain southern country charm. They seem like the type of people that it would be fun to have a beer with [non-alcoholic for Jr.]. I sense a decency with them, so different than the treacherous Clinton hillbillies. I just wish I found them to be better Presidents....... I have many conservative friends who sing their praises and point to successes. I disagree. I see only failures, many of them painful.

The Grammys 2016 Recap

It is, indeed, strange, how you grow into your parents thoughts and feelings as you get older. My parents seem to grow incredibly smarter as the years roll on, their thoughts little pockets of genius. As I watched the Grammys last night, I heard the echoes of long-ago comments reverberate in my mind. It is startling on how timely those comments are....... Look, I do not claim to be an expert on modern music. I gave that up a while ago when the music scene became the drive-by shooting scene. The popular sounds are way beyond me, both because of my age, and, because of my taste level. I have always admired the craft of being a musician, which I consider to be an art form. To take little noises from instruments and to turn them into sounds that the world whistles and dances to is a stunning achievement in my mind. I cannot play an instrument. Tying my shoes is a monumental task for me. However, i have many friends who have the music muse surging through their systems, and, being a one-time performer myself, I naturally lean towards the artistic among us. That is why watching something like the Grammys depresses me. In today's environment, the musician is lost among electronic noises created in the studio. Why hire a fine but expensive session person when you can hit a few buttons on the computer and create an instant band? The irony for the music industry is that this cost-saving technique ultimately dilutes the quality of the music itself. Sure, the sounds are there but they are sounds of creative silence, an inertia of quality. And, with this fallen quality comes fallen interest by the public. And, hot on the heels of that are fallen profits....... Back to the Grammys. This year, more than any other I can think of, was the year of the ''Tribute'' to fallen artists. The previous few months have been brutal for musicians, with major talents leaving us for the Other Side. Strangely, what held my interest last night was seeing how the notoriously out-of-touch Grammy Awards would handle saluting their own, when many, like Glenn Frey, were not honored by the industry awards when they were still breathing...... The show opened on a high note. Taylor Swift, all grown up and ready to do the town, belted out an opening number that instantly grabbed your attention. While the song itself is no great shakes, the performance was spot-on, as Ms. Swift stared down the camera [always a performer's most useful weapon] and announced that the rest of the show would have to follow her.......As her song ended, the increasingly tiresome LL Cool J took his spot as the MC of the show. While nothing is wrong with his oh-so-hip-cool-cat-delivery, nothing is right about it either. He read the lines that were fed him, performed without any bloodshed, and will disappear until this time next year....... The first award of the night went to the ''song'' called ''To Pimp A Butterfly''. The ''artist'' was Kendrick Lamar, who continued the fine tradition of hip-hop performers in being inarticulate for financial gain. At first, he thanked God, because God gave him his talent but not any verbal speaking skills or fashion sense. The ''song'', destined to be sung in bathtubs around the world between mother and infant, went over well, garnishing a standing ovation. In fact, all the songs that were performed live last night got rousing standing ovations....... After Mr. Lamar thanked the Lord Above, the television screen was treated by the sight of a spool of thread on a human form. This rapper was known as ''Weekend'', therebye, giving out the argument that a 7 day work week is not a bad idea. His moves were of a plaintive cry for----- I have no idea. But, it seemed important to him...... Soon, real music came back to the forefront and we were diverted from gang thoughts with the simple joy of the music of Lionel Richie. Now, I have liked his music for years but, you know, when you hear a classic hits collection during a tribute to someone, you tend to say to yourself, ''Gee, I didn't realize how good his music really is!'' I had that feeling listening to Richie. I enjoyed this part of the show. And, so did the audience. It was nice to see a communal moment against the background of divisive rap ''music''......... More awards came, with artists both talented and not. Then, almost floating in quietly, were the first chords of ''Take It Easy'' by the Eagles. This was Tribute Number 2 for the evening. Glenn Frey being saluted by his friends and bandmates. Also, Jackson Browne, who was an old friend and co-writer for ''Take It Easy.'' Sadly, this performance was a major disappointment. Partly, because of the reason they were playing. The Eagles looked sad and somber--- which was understandable. But, Browne was a huge shock. Not only is his voice gone but he stumbled badly on the words of his own song. I will cut him some slack, though. I will chalk it up to being overwhelmed by the solemn occasion. But, the boys, after finishing the song, seemed in a hurry to get off. Again, this is understandable. I'm thinking it was too much for them, a little too soon to honor their lost comrade in arms with a public show of grief. The intentions were good, but, the execution of those positive thoughts limped home........ More awards and more newer artists performed. Somewhere in the mix, the viewer was treated by the honor of seeing Stevie Wonder onstage. No matter what Stevie sings, it sounds golden to me. I admire this man tremendously--- and, not only for his music. To be blind, with the hardest of hardships imaginable, and to push so much music out through that brilliant mind of his, takes tremendous courage of spirit....... Justin Bieber made an appearance. The Grammys must always appeal to the teenage girl audience. Bieber seems to be trying to shake his self-created image with another self-created image. Whether he was successful depends on whether his sales spike. I have always gone easy on Bieber. Not because I dig his music, but, because he is just another image and marketable pop star from the assembly line of the music business. From Ricky Nelson in the 50's to David Cassidy in the 70's to the New Kids On The Block in the 90's, pop music has always had one of those performers, created from Madison Avenue and not from a deep talent pool. He seemed to me to be struggling to stay relevant to his fan base. But, he must know by now that a fan base of teenage girls are fickle and will gladly move on from one ''dreamboat'' to another. What I saw last night was a kid seeing it all end for him and desperately holding on for dear life. For his sake, I hope he can survive it....... Taylor Swift continued to rack up honors. She also seemed to take some shots at arch nemesis Kanye West. Ms. Swift would do better than sling mud at him because it only demeans her. Ignore him. That is the best strategy. His career is ending and he is using potshots for publicity. When the media wises up and tires of his act, so will the public. And, in a few years, Taylor Swift will continue her successful career because she has talent. And, Kanye will be----well, who really gives a shit???........ Lady Gaga rolled out Tribute Number 3 of the evening, this time for David Bowie. Now, by now, I had turned the Grammys off because of feeling left out that I could not relate to being in prison. So, I actually missed this tribute but I did catch up on it with social media. The feedback I see is that she, like the Glenn Frey tribute, had good intentions but did not carry it off. She is a talented woman and artist in her own right. However, David Bowie was a unique performer, a complete original in song and personality. To do justice to his music means you must also be as versatile. And, Lady Gaga, for all of her efforts, came up short. She does get an ''A'' for effort.......... More awards. More screaming from the audience. More standing ovations from a generous audience. Again, I was elsewhere on the dial so I didn't see what was happening. The show concluded with Tribute Number 4. This was for metal pioneer Lemmy Kilmister, the guiding spirit of Motorhead. Now, I have never been a huge proponent of heavy metal but I do concede what Lemmy did for music. The ''Hollywood Vampires'' blasted their love for Lemmy, playing his signature tune ''Ace Of Spades''. The ''Vampires''---- Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry came to play and they did. The evening ended with a rocking bang, leaving the atmosphere full of raw rock energy. A nice tribute........ The Grammys concluded like it always has. Some people liking it, some saying it was horrible. There will be debates in offices and on the Web about its merits and the awards it gave its artists. That is how it should be. It should be fun debates, however. The reason is that award ceremonies should never be considered important or a barometer of what is good or bad. It is just a personal preference by the viewer, a marketing publicity tool by the music industry. It doesn't really seem important, does it?....... But, music is important. Music will always be the magical gift from God that reaches into our souls and delivers the delicious feeling of intense emotions and feelings. It delivers love, lost love, sadness, happiness, physical excitement, and the feeling of being alive. Just imagine the world if no such thing as music existed. There would be an empty hole in all of us because our deepest core has not been touched........ In a strange way, the Grammys are a microcosm of that core. And, we will always watch........

The Vaffanculo Party

Well, the results are in from the Iowa caucus and..... who really cares? It is the first test in the endless, painful campaign for a bunch of rich, out of touch people in power running for President. The media builds these primaries up to such high spirits that the average citizen---you know, me and you---- is conned into thinking that we actually have the ability to guide the destiny of our great country. Never mind that elections have always been decided in back room boiler meetings or in the sacred halls of Big Business. Some people out there are deluded into believing that we are in control of driving the car...... No. We aren't even riding shotgun. In elections, we are the equivalent of the people on the side of the road, as the political process speeds by, never giving us a simple glance. At one time, when I was younger, I actually bought the con that we can make a difference, that if you did not like whom was in office, then vote them out! Well, I tried voting them out and you know what? Two things happened. 1. They stayed in office because enough other people failed to see what I saw. 2. They did leave office, but, a new batch of shysters came in and did the exact same things. As The Who famously sang, ''Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss''........ And, I feel the same way about this upcoming election for President Of The United States. It is the same trash recycled every time someone runs for high office. First, they tell you what is wrong with the country [ignoring the fact that politicians are what is WRONG with the country] and how they can bring us back to the glorious good, old days that we remember so very fondly. They are our tonic, the Knight In White Armor, riding the countryside, zapping the foes keeping you from the Good Life. So, just ''Vote For Me'' and I will make all our your dreams a reality. It is so close, they proclaim, within reach! Let me guide your hand to touching nirvana.......That is really nice of them, an undeserved honor on my part. They care about me!! Aren't I special?! Screw you, politicians!!! Who do you REALLY think you are fooling here? Take the two parties, who are actually siamese twins separated by just a few self-serving issues and goals......The Republicans want you to keep your money. That is nice. My bank account really appreciates you doing that, Grand Ole Party. But, I have noticed that when you Republicans are in office, wars seem to start and the defense budget rises [along with debt] and fat cat cronies of the President warm their hands on the cold blood of soldiers dying for Big Business's interests. Also, the Republicans seem to have a direct line up to God. No texting, no call waiting. It is a direct line to the Almighty!!! And,  after the Republicans hang up that long-distance chat, they tell us what God wants, when HE wants it, and what to do with out bodies. Sorry, let me be a Satanistic pessimist here, but, I don't think God votes to the Right. If God is the type of Force I think IT is, God is very pissed off that a political party is using the Good Word to scare people into voting for people who might not get into Heaven anyway....... And, the Democrats. Christ, they are even worse than the Republicans. Why? Well, they won't even let me look at my money because they are too busy spending it before I make it. You know, like pumping the money into the bottomless pit of Obamacare and welfare for people who are scamming the system. And, let's not forget allowing illegal aliens into the country without serious border control. The Democrats would have you believe that the old days of people coming into this country peacefully, to start a new life and enrich this country and its heritage, are still the meat and potatoes mantra of the immigrant. It was once, when our forefathers came a calling to this land. Now, it is the new policy to cheat, lie and steal this land, along with blowing up its citizens. Let us also not forget the exploitation of the liberals of the black and Hispanic communities. For years, these charlatans---- aided by equally corrupt charlatan ministers like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton---- have preached the gospel of reform and all things equal, without doing a damn thing for these communities except take their votes and money. If I was black or Hispanic, I would be more pissed off at Democrats than Republicans. At least, the Republicans tell me that I mean nothing to them. The Democrats smile at your face while they are stealing from your pockets....... Look at the front candidates that both parties are putting out there to run for President, Trump and Clinton. They ooze insincerity and self-interest. They have that look in their eyes of a Demon, the seeker of your Blessed Soul And Good Nature. How can even the most ardent defender of a political party find comfort and sanity in the cloths of these wretched people? Is this REALLY the best this country---- the greatest in the history of the world---- can do? My God!!! One of these two will be in charge of our daily lives!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME OUT THERE???!!!!!.......... I find no solace in the arms of any other political party because there is not really a third choice. Yeah, sure, this is the Libertarian Party [whose views on many issues I agree on] but, they are insignificant in the political game, never really making a dent. And, occasionally, you will get a wild-card candidate like a Ralph Nader. Again, they are fringe candidates, not of any strong performance in the polls....... Maybe, what we finally need is the long-overdue ''Fuck You Party'' or ''Vaffanculo Party'', if they were Italians. It would be the party of the disenchanted, the people tired of being exploited and conned and hustled by the government. It would be a protest party, granted, but, also, a party that just wants to have things done correctly so that we can live our small lives in quiet dignity. We would not start wars. However, we would defend ourselves if we were attacked. We would not give continual aid to the lazy and the con artists, but, just on those who really need our help. We would keep our noses out of everyone's business. We would---- and this is crucial in today's world---- live up to our mistakes and faults and correct them without blaming anyone else. We would watch out for each other, care for each other, and not buy the endless garbage of lies that our ''leaders'' tell us. We would call out the professional hustlers of our lives, telling them in the street language that is, oh, so sweet, that what they are saying is ''bullshit'' and not what we want them to do. We would spell out that we want FAIRNESS and HARMONY as our negotiating platform, not the grade school name calling and in-fighting and finger pointing that they spew at alarming rates. We would demand respectful treatment of our elderly, the Greatest Generation, so that they would not have to face the indignity of having to choose to either spend their last dollar on staying alive with medicine or eating a meal. We would demand rewards for our military vets that kept us free. We would stumble on things and fail, but we would learn from our failings and not repeat. Sure, there would still be the bad seeds among us. That, sadly, is part of human nature. And, of course, we would realize that we would have to overcome the naive nature that would creep in at times. Still, the ''Vaffanculers'' would march on in the battle for moral supremacy........ Bob Dylan once wrote, ''Don't follow leaders. Watch your parking meters.'' I would gladly throw some coins into the parking meters of human caring and decency, along with a strong, stinging rebuke from the podium of the ''Vaffanculers'' faithful......