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IN VIGOROUS DEFENSE OF ROSEANNE BARR AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2018) — We lip-service freedom, but we as a nation no longer want it. The American people find it too scary. Freedom’s flip side of the coin, personal responsibility, asks too much of a people gone intellectually soft, ethically lost, and made busy in the extreme by the blitz of a time crunch caused by boredom and fueled by technology, primarily, social media, which is, primarily, the domain of the young.

In case anyone needs reminding, and we suspect there be more than a few, America possesses a Bill of Rights.

Stop the presses!

The First Amendment inscribes our sacred, inherent, individual freedoms into constitutional language. Words can find no more permanent, meaningful, or — we hope — valued place than in the most important founding document of the United States. Too bad, though. We no longer want freedom.

THE PLANET could write prose poems on the “why” of it. We would mention how The Founders mortared the bricks of this republic’s rough-and-tumble of this upon freedom of speech and a free press, then articulating by allowing the vigorous-to-vicious tone of the rousing debates throughout our history from the Thomas Paine beginnings to the Gore Vidal middle ages. THE PLANET would then mention the 180 we did as a country after “winning” World War II. For the first time ever, America didn’t return to a peacetime economy. The money was too big for the then-nascent military-industrial complex. As a solution, they implemented Big Government, the national security machine, and the police state, using the Constitution as wiping paper. Iron, however, makes a lousy toilet article. It appeared freedom would have a chance in the Information Age.

Enter Sept. 11, 2001 to seal our fate.

This contextual preamble must be given to appreciate the most ridiculous “news” story DOMINATING this country’s attention. C’mon down, Roseanne Barr.

THE PLANET doesn’t have to run the facts of the case. You know then only too well. We will, though, come to Barr’s defense as strongly as we can, with a passion we reserve only for special cases, such as the time the courts dragged us into a Star Chamber for our investigative reporting on a hit-and-run accident that local Big Shots tried to cover up because the driver was one of Their daughters. THE PLANET fought the case and won, winning a precedent-setting victory for free speech and free press with respect to bloggers and online journalism. That’s where we come from, end preposition or no.

Barr, a comedienne and actress, told a lousy joke that bombed bigger than Little Boy and Fat Man. For that, ABC pulled her show, putting hundreds out of business and sacrificing the hottest property on the tube. Holier-than-thou types praised the network for its “principles.” We heap scorn on ABC for its cowardice. That the network would pull the plug on its most lucrative property illustrates not nobility winning over greed but its fear level with respect to the forces of censorship, thought control, and political correctness that have swept over a sleeping nation like a Toyo tsunami overwhelming a balsawood village.

Barr’s told a joke — a bad one, true; one in bad taste, true. But in the end, the hysterics have lost sight of two salient points:

(1) She’s a comedian. You can’t hold her words to diplomatic standards.

(2) She’s protected by the Bill of Rights. Barr should be able to say what she did and not pay for it with her career. The Bill  is strong enough to withstand even the most outrageous speech and writing. The more vile the communication, the stronger the Bill and the more this nation can enjoy protection from the totalitarian forces that have destroyed others, forces that characterize to with hunts of the far left.

THE PLANET has never been a fan of Barr, going back to her days as a standup comic. She did the kind of “housewife humor” pioneered by Totie Fields and Joan Rivers. Women found it funny. We preferred Rickles and Dangerfield. We didn’t like her version of the National Anthem and we never watched her TV show, not in the first version or its recent reincarnation. We did admire her fearlessness back in her standup days and the cleverness of her material. It’s one of the hardest things to do to get up on stage alone with a mic and have to make people laugh. We know. We tried it back in the day. We loved how she pushed rhetorical boundaries to their limits, because we knew the rights protected by the First Amendment could not be overstepped.

That, alas, was long ago in a galaxy far away.

Barr told a joke. The self-righteous ideologues executed her in cold blood.  Some freedom.

——————————————————————————-

“The School of Hard Knox has “Ouch!” as its motto” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice via Smoky Stover.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

 

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Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

We have a fascist / neo-nazi U.S. President named Donald Trump who uses racism and hate speech to tear people down and build himself up. I would hate to think that Trump could be justified or rationalized because of Freedom of Speech and the Bill of Rights. In fact, Trump and his white nationalist brand of politics represents everything our nation stands against! We must resist Trump and stand up to his fascism, neo-nazi beliefs, and hate speech. That is what our country is about: Liberty and Justice for ALL!
– Jonathan Melle

Paul Jakacky
Paul Jakacky
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

Jonathan Melle, fascist/neo-nazi? Do you even realize how foolish you sound?
Good grief, give it a rest.

Still Wondering
Still Wondering
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

Jonathan is a lost cause. He’ll never change and the Berkshires are a better place without him.

Two Cents
Two Cents
Reply to  Still Wondering
5 years ago

SW…..Amen to that!!

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

Hate speech is what you constantly post about Nuciforo, hypocrit.

Let me guess, you went to ‘nam and heard the call of the wild

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  LoneGunMan
5 years ago

Nuciforo will sell you some of his marijuana at his Dalton Avenue dispensary.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

Melle has no idea what fascism is. He thinks if he doesn’t care for someone that makes that someone a fascist.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  12 Gauge
5 years ago

Fascism is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism, characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and control of industry and commerce.

Two Cents
Two Cents
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

All your answer shows is that you know how to google…because it is the 1st listing of the search query “Fascism”

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  Two Cents
5 years ago

What is wrong with looking up information on Google?
Please go to Nuciforo’s marijuana dispensary on Dalton Avenue. He wants you to smoke pot!

dusty
dusty
5 years ago

The problem as I see it is that what she said did not come across as intending to be a joke at all. It came across as very racist, and probably was.

And the network had to cancel because for sure they were going to lose all their advertisers.

The good news for Rosanne now though is that she can tell all the “jokes” she wants.

The bad news is that most networks are never going to show any of her reruns again and that will cost, not just her, but everyone who was on the show a ton of money.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

I would like somebody to message the exact quote on this board and the the rest of us can comment on the funny part of what Roseannes thoughts here.The bottom line is that one of the most well know actresses in this country publicly through her own ignorance thought what she said was funny to white people.She was not wrong and some white people think it was funny.She has not apologized.She did say Ambian made her do it because in the end she knows herself it was a unfunny racist comment.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

Actually, she did apologize. Doesn’t make what she said any less wrong.

Henry Plachcinski
Henry Plachcinski
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

She apologized in a “F YOU” I’m not rally going to apologize way…..

NIB
NIB
Reply to  Henry Plachcinski
5 years ago

Are you too stupid to use Google?
In a statement Barr acknowledged as her own, she said: “I deeply regret my comments from late last night on Twitter. Above all, I want to apologize to Valerie Jarrett, as well as to ABC and the cast and crew of the Roseanne show. I am sorry for making a thoughtless joke that does not reflect my values – I love all people and am very sorry. Today my words caused hundreds of hardworking people to lose their jobs. I also sincerely apologize to the audience that has embraced my work for decades. I apologize from the bottom of my heart and hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.”

Shakes His Real Head
Shakes His Real Head
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

Was that after she blamed ambien?

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Henry Plachcinski
5 years ago

At least Henry, you used your own name. The contributors to this blog do not deserve to be insulted by cowards.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

Ithought she apologized that people lost their jobs

Shakes his HEAD
Shakes his HEAD
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

yes, she never actually admitted the offending statement was racist.

Stopping by...
Stopping by...
5 years ago

The right to free speech does not make you immune to the effects of exercising it…

Spagirl
Spagirl
5 years ago

There was not a damn thing funny about her remark. It was racist and ignorant. This Country has a moral break down like no other. The division is widening because of this racist bigoted attitude by those who power up on the rest. It’s sickening.

B. clairmont
B. clairmont
5 years ago

Dan,

I’m a big believer in the 1st amendment. Yes, she had the right to say what she did, I agree with you there.

That being said, it was disgusting and racist.

Just as she had the right to say it, ABC had the right to fire her. They made the correct decision, in my opinion.

And yes, for the record, Sam Bee was disgusting and sexist.

Barry

Pat
Pat
Reply to  B. clairmont
5 years ago

Did Hollywood make the correct decision by showering Bee with a reward and praise from her peers right after her remarks?

The real SHAKES
The real SHAKES
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Unlike Ms. Barr, Bee did actually apologize.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  The real SHAKES
5 years ago

And while what Smantha said was rude to some it was also accurate. Ivanka is a senior adviser to the president and has done nothing but work on her own financial advancement. She has used her fathers power to gain entrance to markets in China and Saudi Arabia that other people never could get into. She flaunts her wealth while talking to the commoners. Now that is disgusting and rude and I don’t know why she has been given any role in our government.

Well, yah I do actually.

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Valerie Jarrett absolutely looks like she was in the original planet of the apes. There’s a fact for you. Deny it all you want. Not saying she is an ape, but she sure as hell resembles one

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Rude to some? No, it was rude to anyone with any sense of decency.

There is no evidence that Ivanka is using her connections in government to increase her own wealth. She is already wealthy. The Clintons, on the other hand, have done everything to increase their wealth through many underhanded schemes using their political clout. They have been protected every step of the way by their powerful friends in government.

The real Shakes His Head
The real Shakes His Head
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Way to be absolutely racist, LGM.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Calling someone that is never accurate. Typical liberal, as longs as a conservative is attacked any words, no matter how disgusting, sexist or racist are AOK.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

LGM, that’s a very stupid thing to say. Valerie Jarrett does not look like that at all. She’s a very normal looking human being.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  The real SHAKES
5 years ago

Barr did apologize, moron. Your dishonesty and stupidity are appalling.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/30/roseanne-barr-apologizes-for-racist-comment-but-retweets-supporters.html

Authentic Shakes his head
Authentic Shakes his head
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

Like I said, its a “F YOU” apology because her racism hurt her finally. She is not contrite in the least. Wait for the news cycle to spin her out of the way and she will be back at peddling her conspiracy theories.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Pat stay focused and stop redirecting.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Melania does not want to be with the President because of the porn actress stormy Danials was his mistriss

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

She said her remarks were discusting and will address how discusting they are on her show….now how do you defend racism Pat,your trying too hard

Mike Ward
Mike Ward
5 years ago

I think Barry made the salient point. Her speech is protected but not her employment. If ABC’s cancellation is a breach of her contract she can take it up in court, and I’m sure that liability was priced in to ABC’s decision.

Spider
Spider
Reply to  Mike Ward
5 years ago

Question for Barry and Mike Ward:

Do you believe that Sam Bee’s show should also be cancelled since her remarks were equally disgusting? And if NO, why?

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  Spider
5 years ago

That’s the issue

liberals can say whatever they want and it’s protected. Someone says it against a liberal and you’re crucified worse than Jesus.

Barry and Mike love the D, they will never admit the hypocrisy

Pat
Pat
Reply to  LoneGunMan
5 years ago

Hollywood protects its own so it knows it can get away with any negative comments made toward conservative women even though they are supposedly so SENSITIVE NOW towards any kind of disrespect toward women.

Weinstein’s abuse of women for many, many years was a big open joke on Hollywood with nobody speaking out and even joking about it at awards shows. Now that they are all in bed with the Democrats, they have suddenly seen the light, but the true Hollywood personalities emerge as with Samantha Bee and shows they have no real interest in being sensitive toward women. They have selective outrage depending on who is involved.

Mike Ward
Mike Ward
Reply to  Spider
5 years ago

I’m not interested in adjudicating anyone’s tweets. That could go on all day. I’m disagreeing with Dan’s statement “Barr should be able to say what she did and not pay for it with her career.” Says who? ABC can do what they want with their programming. That’s a right they absolutely do have.

Spider
Spider
Reply to  Mike Ward
5 years ago

Totally agree, Mike! But it’s too bad that the intolerance didn’t extend to Sam Bee’s network.

Or are there different degrees of “disgusting’?

B. Clairmont
B. Clairmont
Reply to  Spider
5 years ago

Spider,

I never said one way or the other whether any show should or shouldn’t have been cancelled. What I said was it was ABC’s right to cancel the show. It is also TBS’s right to do the same with Sam Bee. They chose not too.

Barry

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Spider
5 years ago

The big picture is the political climate in this country. The left has taken over the media and television networks and they all have to follow that political agenda. This is why what they like and approve of is allowed even if it’s terrible, while other bad remarks are punished. A political party should not be in control to this degree even if people agree at times with the decisions being made. That doesn’t change the fact that this is giving one political agenda too much power. Government should not be involved to this degree in social issues.

B. Clairmont
B. Clairmont
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

Dan,

Great question. I’m pretty sure, in today’s environment, I would have fired her. I probably would have thought about it longer than 12 hours. Fortunately, I wasn’t charged with that decision.

As an employer if I was aware of one of my employees doing the same thing, I’d fire them. My employees are employees at will. I can can them at any time for no reason at all.

The reason I would have had to think longer about this one is all the other employees attached to the show. Maybe I would have found a way to kill her character off.

Barry

Mike Ward
Mike Ward
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

Should employers be able to fire over social media comments? Yes. But the Roseanne case is very different than the average Joe. As a celebrity her statements are widely read and have the ability to damage the brand of the network and also damage its ability to retain clients (advertisers). You ascribe the motive to be fear. Well maybe it was more like “despite her show’s ratings Roseanne’s BS just isn’t worth it anymore”.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

BC, you condemned her only because it happened in the same time frame as Rosanne’s stupid comments. I don’t see liberals getting bent out of shape by the stupid hateful statements frequently made by other liberals.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Mike Ward
5 years ago

The problem with liberal’s outrage is that its always very selective. A liberal can say anything and the Barry Clairmonts of the world are silent.

B. Clairmont
B. Clairmont
Reply to  12 Gauge
5 years ago

Not true. I also condemned Sam Bee.

I call fake news! Lol.

Barry

nib
nib
Reply to  Spider
5 years ago

Spider, I believe Mike’s and Barry’s non-answers answered your question.

Spider
Spider
Reply to  nib
5 years ago

You proved my point, Barry. Justice is not equal!

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Mike Ward
5 years ago

I think the show would have failed if they kept her

NIB
NIB
5 years ago

1st amendment does not apply to the workplace. That’s why the NFL can make players either stand for the anthem or remain in the locker room, and I could get fired if I say the wrong thing at work. 1st amendment applies to actions by the gov’t, not the private sector.

Wilson
Wilson
5 years ago

A lot of white people have a low opinion of blacks and avoid associating with them, so taking a principled stand against a tweet is an easy way to show how non-racist they are. Roseanne thought she was disparaging someone above her, but everyone rushes to defend the poor little black slave girl, though she is mostly white, from an upper-class family, and part of the political elite

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Wilson
5 years ago

What?!? I have no idea of the point you are trying to make, but if I am interpreting correctly you are being even more racist than Roseanne.

And I echo Barry’s comment above. She was not arrested, nor stopped from saying it, she was fired. She exercised her 1st amendment rights, which were protected, and ABC exercised ther right under their contract presumably, to can her.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Wilson
5 years ago

Her skin is dark and that is all a racist sees.

The real SHAKES
The real SHAKES
5 years ago

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

I don’t think Rosanne broke any laws with her racist tweet.

Calling it a “bad joke” normalizes racism, also, It is obvious she was not trying to “tell a joke”, she was opining about a conspiracy theory. Rosanne Barr is a known racist and attention whore. The behavior is nothing new and you’re an idiot if she surprises you.

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
5 years ago

In other 1st amendment news..in what MSM is calling a narrow loss(7-2) Supreme Court rules in favor of backer who refused to do a gay wedding cake! MAGA

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Joe Blow
5 years ago

A 7 to 6 ruling would be a narrow victory. 7 to 2 is very decisive. Just more trying to pull the wool over our eyes by the liberal media. This is a very positive ruling for religious beliefs. The left taking over the media is the real problem for our country and is the real danger to free speech.

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Bingo Pat……….One only has to look to the UK to see what happens when PC culture takes over. They are arresting people over tweets,arresting journalists and massive censorship…..very 1984.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Joe Blow
5 years ago

The UK is a very scary place right now and will only get worse. They are cracking down on free speech. The story about the grooming gangs that were allowed to get out of control in the UK and raped thousands of young girls is a huge tragedy. This article by Douglas Murrray who also wrote the great book “The Strange Death of Europe” explains the situation there now.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/05/tommy-robinson-grooming-gangs-britain-persecutes-journalist/

Heads his Shakes
Heads his Shakes
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Pat, are you spending a lot of time across the pond?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Pulling the wool over our eyes Pat??? I think you have a Merino sheep lying on your head. You cannot tell fact from fiction and your news sources have you buffaloed.

And since we are covering the subject of hooved animals I might then add that I think the Donald is a horses ass. As in Clydesdale size horses ass.

And that right there is free speech without being offensive to anyone. So it can be done with affection as one can clearly see.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

You are free to your opinion as I am to mine,

You don’t have news sources Dusty. You have propaganda from the left which is the majority of the media. That is a major problem in this country.

Gigi
Gigi
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Was very pleased to see the SCOTUS decision. The left seems to have very little tolerance for opposing opinions. “Tolerance is a two-way street.”

SHAKES HIS HEADLY
SHAKES HIS HEADLY
Reply to  Gigi
5 years ago

I don’t think you understand what the court ruling means.

NIB
NIB
5 years ago

Dan, Roseanne herself asked that no one defend her indefensible actions. You should have heeded her words.
Barr tweeted: “hey guys, don’t defend me, it’s sweet of you 2 try, but…losing my show is 0 compared 2 being labelled a racist over one tweet-that I regret even more.”
Was her tweet indefensible? Yes.
Should she have been fired? You bet.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

Poor Roseanne,she does not like her label,racist are ignorant.How about you keep the tirle of stupid.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

There was a time that when we all heard the N word we would laugh ,join in or uncomfortable say nothing and we have made little progress but just enough to make racist ignorant comments ok to some degree because now we soften the blow of the comment by saying it deserves a conversation.A racist comment can stand alone on its merits and it does not need a debateabout weather the media makes the statement hateful.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

And when people say it’s OK for one race to use that word but not another that is racism too.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

Yes,that word Dan,yes yes yes.

Pat
Pat
5 years ago

The left controlled media saying Melania Trump is missing from public view either because she is so depressed or, get this, President Trump is physically abusing her. Melania was in the hospital for a kidney issue and may have been resting for a while. Who can blame her for that? Well, apparently the liberal media can. They are going all out now and will be for the next few months to put down this president in preparation for the November election. Trust very little of what you read.

Dan V. I agree with you about the free speech issue, but I think the problem is the left being in control of the media with only a few exceptions such as FOX news. This control of the media is the real danger to this country and free speech.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/06/04/media-covering-first-lady-melania-trump-as-missing-in-action-despite-being-seen-last-week.html

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

It should be interesting when the first part of the DOJ IG report comes out this week. The hammer is about to drop on the corrupt Obama admin….. In other BREAKING NEWS: Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney Positions, Largest Increase In Decades…Uh Oh! Jeff Sessions nick-name in Alabama was “the silent executioner” hmmmm could POTUS spats with him all been a ruse….Dems in deep do do.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

What bothers me is they are purposely lying and making things up for purely political reasons so it’s not journalism it’s propaganda. BTW, you can thank President Reagan for this – he’s the one who vetoed the Fairness Doctrine. Alot of conservatives thought he was a great president but apart from being strong on foreign policy he was a pretty bad prez.

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

NIB you are forgetting what Obama did..Obama Quietly Signs The “Countering Disinformation And Propaganda Act” Into Law

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-24/obama-signs-countering-disinformation-and-propaganda-act-law

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Joe Blow
5 years ago

OH MY!!!! George Orwell saw this one coming.

Why are so many people so vulnerable to unadulterated horse manure? P.T. Barnum said “There is a sucker born every minute.” Hannity and Fox news are sure taking full advantage of that truth.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Dusty, you wouldn’t know truth if it bit you in the keyster.

Todd Powers
Todd Powers
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Who said anything about fox or Hannity…I don’t blindly believe what people say on tv or net. I do my own research……..you will see!

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

The media hated Hillery Clinton as 1st Lady,where were you people?

Bill DeWahl
Bill DeWahl
5 years ago

What’s wrong about making a ape comment? I know of many instances where white people were called various simean names. But if a black person is called a simean name liberals go ape. Maybe they are the ones who posses the negative association.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Bill DeWahl
5 years ago

If you believe in evolution we are all descendants of the apes. And given what much of mankind has evolved to, being referred to as an ape might actually be taken as a compliment.

Looking at it from the apes perspective it might be they who should be offended.

Pat
Pat
5 years ago

The middle class, companies, and others are fleeing California in droves due to the socialist policies of high taxes and a state that is full of illegal immigrants and a sanctuary city policy that encourages drug kingpins and MS-13 and others to come to that state.

https://www.theblaze.com/video/socialist-oppression-3-things-venezuela-and-california-have-in-common

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

California is not a socialist state and if it is you may want to be a socialist because its the 6th largest economy in the world.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

then why is their unemployment rate higher than the national average? And why are they the welfare capital of the US – California, with 12% of the American population, is home today to about one in three of the nation’s welfare recipients.
Their economy lies in the hands of a very small % of wealthy people. You know, like entertainers. So they are a state of the very rich and the very poor. Isn’t it ironic that income disparity, which Dems say they are against, is the largest in a liberal state?

Pat
Pat
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

It’s only the Hollywood stars who give California the high income. Everybody else is struggling. So true that Massachusetts is going down the same road as California with mainly poor and rich people.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

So if California and Ma.are bad what does Alabama,Louisiana, have to look forward to.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

40 MILION people makes California number 1 in everything good and bad

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
5 years ago

Good for Trump in cancelling the Eagles team visit to the WH. As an Eagles fan, I am disappointed at the lack of team discipline, and I certainly won’t be buying any tickets or merchandise in the near future. These NFL players seem to think their job is to showcase their individual political views. Their team was invited to be honored at the White House, and I repeat, TEAM – so why were many players allowed to opt out? Despicable!

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
5 years ago

Trump cancelled to save his embarrassed ass. Only a couple of the players were going to drag themselves to the white house anyway and that would have made Trump look like the fool he is.

I whole heartedly respect these guys for going with their conscientious. The whole republican congress is too intimidated by Trump to save their own country but these guys stood their ground. True Americans unlike the wimps that are supposed to be a separate branch of government.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
5 years ago

Trump did not want the embarrassment of standing with the black players.

Freud
Freud
5 years ago

Barr filed with the Federal Election Commission as a Green Party presidential candidate in January 2012. She formally announced her candidacy for the party’s presidential nomination on February 2. On July 14, she came in second, losing the nomination to Jill Stein.

GMHeller
GMHeller
5 years ago

Berkshire Eagle headline reads:
‘Norman Rockwell Museum appoints new chief educator leadership role’. (06/04/18) by Clarence Fanto.
Shouldn’t the headline be:
“Nepotism alive and well in Berkshire County —
Rockwell Museum appoints trustee’s sister (daughter of a founding trustee) to high salary position; Berkshire Eagle omits relevant facts in its reportage.”

GMHeller
GMHeller
5 years ago

Clarence Fanto fails to report that Mary A. Berle of Stockbridge is daughter of Norman Rockwell Museum emeritus trustee Lila W. Berle, and sister of present Museum trustee Dolf Berle.
Are not these facts relevant to Mary Berle’s appointment and why has Fanto omitted these facts from his reportage?

NIB
NIB
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

and when pertinent facts are omitted it stops being journalism and becomes propaganda.
Our founding fathers wanted freedom of speech and the press protected so that the truth would not be oppressed. If they could see what the press and free speech has become today they would roll over in their graves.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

Thanks for saying that. I hope Hannity and Limbaugh are listening. Putin loves those two guys.

GMHeller
GMHeller
5 years ago

‘Norman Rockwell Museum appoints new chief educator leadership role’ by Clarence Fanto, 06/04/2018

SEE:
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/norman-rockwell-museum-appoints-new-chief-educator-leadership-role,541352

NIB
NIB
5 years ago

Big overtime scandal going on with the State Police. Wish I could retire with a big fat pension after working phantom overtime hours and ripping off taxpayers. Just another reason the pension system needs to be replaced with a 401k program.

The five newest Massachusetts State Police troopers accused of overtime abuse filed paperwork to retire.
Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio confirmed to MassLive that the five troopers recently flagged because of “alleged discrepancies between overtime pay received and hours worked” filed paperwork to retire Monday.
A final audit of overtime shifts for Troop E in 2016 also identified seven more troopers who had a number of “overtime shifts, or partial shifts that warrant further investigation,” Procopio said.
These seven troopers will remain on active duty as an investigation continues. Procopio noted the seven troopers are separate from the five troopers announced last week.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

And if Deval Patrick were still governor this would have all been swept under the rug.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

But of course I’m sure Maura Healey will let them off scott free.

H
H
Reply to  NIB
5 years ago

State Police Rock.

H
H
5 years ago

Looks like the Prez might-could be deposed, oh, it’s real.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

The police recieved a speeding enforsement grant and of course put 2 cops on double time on Williams street at 7am on a Sunday morning pulling over joggers