Archive for October 17th, 2008

My heart has been broken by the fact that Johnny Depp’s participation in the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series has further delayed the Dark Shadows remake. Tim Burton was set to direct but the project is now on the shelf indefinitely. 

There really doesn’t need to be another Pirates’ movie. There is a much greater need to bring Dark Shadows back into the entertainment spotlight. The original DS aired between 1966 and 1971 and was a soap opera populated by vampires, ghosts, zombies and the occasional human.

The most famous character to come out of the series is Barnabas Collins, a sympathetic and love lorn vampire portrayed by Jonathan Frid in the original and Ben Cross in the newer version (and Johnny Depp if the remake ever gets made). Fun fact: Dark Shadows had been on television for a year before Barnabas- originally intended to be a bit character- made his first appearance. 

Barnabas Collins’ introduction into the original DS: 

A clip from the 1991 revival of DS: 

Conservative radio show host Bob Grant could not believe that Barack Obama would be uppity presumptuous enough to create his own version of the American flag to decorate the background behind him at campaign appearance. 

The flag in question: 

The flag, bearing a prominent “O”, has only appeared behind Obama in Ohio. Bob Grant stopped his thinking there. He didn’t wonder why the Obama campaign would so scarcely use a flag it would’ve taken significant time and money to produce. The fact that the flag has only shown up in “O”hio didn’t give him pause. Bob Grant is also incapable of doing some basic internet research. 

If he’d attempted any cognitive function, he might have stumbled across the fact that it is, in fact, Ohio’s state flag. The flag has been around since 1902, when Barack Obama would’ve been -59. Bob Grant, unless you are willing to concede that Obama is so powerful he’s capable of time travel, you are the Idiot of the Day. 

The Idiot’s official statements: 

On the October 15 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Bob Grant said: “[W]hat is that flag that Obama’s been standing in front of that looks like an American flag, but instead of having the field of 50 stars representing the 50 states, there’s a circle?” He then said: “Is the circle the ‘O’ for Obama? Is that what it is?” Grant later said: “[D]id you notice Obama is not content with just having several American flags, plain old American flags with the 50 states represented by 50 stars? He has the ‘O’ flag. And that’s what that ‘O’ is. That’s what that ‘O’ is.”

When John McCain spurned David Letterman by canceling an appearance to “return to Washington” (aka “speakwith Katie Couric”), he might have expected some hurt feelings on Letterman’s part and some harsher treatment in opening monologues. He certainly didn’t expect that he would, on his eventual appearance on the program, be grilled about his relationship with G. Gordon Liddy. 

But Letterman went where actual journalists fear to tred during McCain’s appearance on his program last night. In reference to McCain’s attacks against Barack Obama concerning Bill Ayers, Letterman asked whether it was relevant (or wise) to hold politicians accountable for every person they’ve encountered. Letterman then mentioned McCain’s relationship with Liddy. “”Did you not have a relationship with Gordon Liddy?” Letterman asked. “Did you attend a fundraiser at his house?” 

McCain sputtered around but was saved by a commercial break. After the break, McCain responded: “I know Gordon Liddy. He paid his debt, he went to prison…. I’m not in any was embarrassed to know Gordon Liddy.” 

As Steve Benen writes, that is a curious position to take on a man who isn’t any more repentant than Ayers:

 Liddy is, of course, a convicted felon who has ”acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in ‘if necessary’; plotting to murder journalist Jack Anderson; plotting with a ‘gangland figure’ to murder Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators; plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution; and plotting to kidnap ‘leftist guerillas’ at the 1972 Republican National Convention — a plan he outlined to the Nixon administration using terminology borrowed from the Nazis.” Liddy also once famously gave his supporters advice on how best to kill federal officials (he recommended shooting them in the head because they might be wearing flak jackets).

Despite this scandalous past, McCain has accepted thousands of dollars in contributions from Liddy, attended a fundraiser in his honor at Liddy’s home, and told Liddy that he’s “proud of” him.

Also remember, Liddy can be fairly described as “unrepentant.” When asked if he regretted his felonies, “A vein twitches angrily on one of his scales, but he replies in a level voice, ‘No.’”

John McCain pals around with terrorists. He should have to explain this association. 

Yeah, I’m not holding my breath, either.

…and how’s your day going?