Perhaps you've heard of
this new book,
100 People who are screwing up America, by Bernard Goldberg. Its just a list, each with an explanation, of people who think Bernie here is screwing up America.
And its all completely "fair" and "balanced," so you know what that means. It means Michael Moore is number one, Al Franken is on the list, and W, Cheney, and Rove aren't screwing up America at all (at least, they don't present the kind of threat that Courtney Love does, apparently)
Many on the list are pretty anonymous, so they must be secretly screwing up America. One notable name, our own Markos Moulitsas, checks in at an American-threatening #52. Noticably absent from the list? Perhaps you've heard of Osama bin Laden?
More, including the full list, below!
The book goes after Seattle (my current residence) a bit - we're a city of loonies apparently, so the
Seattle Times wrote a story on the book, where I can assure you they gave the book all the respect a tome like this deserves:
Paris Hilton's parents; the Rev. Al Sharpton; the guy who gave us "Fear Factor;" and Rep. Jim McDermott.
At first glance, they don't have a lot in common. But they are linked for eternity in a new book, "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken Is # 37)."
McDermott, as it happens, is No. 38. The Democratic congressman from Seattle apparently doesn't pose as big a threat to democracy as comedian-and-leftist radio talkster Franken. But McDermott presents more of a problem than, say, feminist Gloria Steinem, at No. 42, or Enron's disgraced chief executive, Kenneth Lay, who lumbered in at No. 45.
Almost as bad for the United States as McDermott is the city of Seattle, which is described as "ground zero for overpriced coffee," home of more "progressive loonies than anyplace else on the Left Coast."
fast forwarding a bit
The "100" list counts backward and culminates with a photo of movie producer Michael Moore, who made "Fahrenheit 9/11," a documentary argument against President Bush and the war in Iraq in which McDermott played himself. The top 20 include Sen. Edward Kennedy, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Democratic Chairman Howard Dean and billionaire George Soros, who spent millions to defeat Bush in last year's presidential election.
"Heck, I'm in good company," McDermott said.
There is another name with a Seattle connection: Rolling in at 95 is singer Courtney Love. Goldberg's only description of her in the book is unprintable.
The main premise of the book is that these people have hurt america by removing its decency (Jerry Springer) or by spewing out hate (everyone but the Jerry Springer, I guess).
Here, to better explain it, I'll let Bernie himself do it. He went on Hannity & Colmes to talk about it. There's a bit on this on Fox Hounds
According to Goldberg, it's the fault of those he attacks for being attacked. He said that the country has gotten nastier and more selfish but "there's a tendency to believe that it just happened, that society just evolved this way and nobody's really to blame. It's not true. There are people to blame and that's what this book is about - 100 people who I'm blaming for it."
Not surprisingly, Hannity gushed that everyone in the audience should "go buy this book. Because there's enough research on all of these people that you will use over and over again... I have been making the point lately... the left is so shrill... and so angry and out of control."
snip
Goldberg said, "Nobody is on this list because of their liberal politics," a remark that made Colmes start laughing.
Goldberg defended himself against Colmes who said he would have considered it a badge of honor to have been included in the list. Goldberg said, "I don't call anyone in the book a Nazi. I don't call anyone a fascist. I don't call anyone the 'f' word."
AC: You mean like Dick Cheney did?
Bernard Goldberg, demonstrating another aspect of his civility and lack of shrillness said that Cheney's comment to Senator Leahey was "a long overdue suggestion."
Hannity: This is a great book... I love the book
So by now, you get the idea. Shockingly, Bernie forgot to add either one of the Clintons. Must have been some kind of oversight.
Anyway, without further ado, I present THE LIST as provided by myDD:
cd6's note: for some of the people, I've added my own comments, in italics. Trying to help clear up some of the more obscure names in the first two dozen or so, which were identified by the myDD crowd
- Michael Moore
- Arthur Sulzberger publisher, NY Times
- Ted Kennedy
- Jesse Jackson
- Anthony Romero head of ACLU
- Jimmy Carter Nobel Peace Prizer winner, builder of homes for the poor, former president = threat the country, obviously
- Margaret Marshall Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. She's the one who wrote the 2003 same-sex marriage decision
- Paul Krugman columnist
- Jonathan Kozol
- Ralph Neas
- Noam Chomsky
- Dan Rather even in retirement, screwing up america! wow!
- Andrew Heyward no idea on the next 3
- Mary Mapes
- Ted Rall
- John Edwards and Kerry doesn't make it?!
- Al Sharpton
- Al Gore
- George Soros I would have thought 19 and 20 aren't high enough
- Howard Dean
- Judge Roy Moore I really don't get this one... hes the judge who wouldn't move the 10 commandments. I'd assume Bernie would love this guy, but guess not...
- Michael Newdow ...especially since the guy who sued to get God out of the pledge is the next biggest threat
- The Unknown American Terrorist what?
- Lee Bollinger former head of Michigan Law (now Prez of Columbia I think) who wond a SC decision to keep affirmative action in place. -myDD
- James Kopp with exception of Begala, CNN analyst, I don't know the next couple
- Dr. Martin Haskell
- Paul Begala
- Julian Bond
- John Green
- Latrell Sprewell NBA player who needs a few more million to feed his family. I think thats Spre. Also, tried to choke his coach. Technically, not a bad pick, though 30's a bit high
- Maury Povich
- Jerry Springer oh hell I agree with this one too
- Bob Shrum
- Bill Moyers
- Jeff Danziger
- Nancy Hopkins
- Al Franken
- Jim McDermott
- Peter Singer
- Scott Harshbarger
- Susan Beresford
- Gloria Steinem
- Paul Eibeler
- Dennis Kozlowski
- Ken Lay
- Barbara Walters haha I love it
- Maxine Waters
- Robert Byrd
- Ingrid Newkirk
- John Vasconellos
- Ann Pelo
- Markos Moulitsas Only 52? Kos you ain't tryin hard enough
- Anna Nicole Smith
- Neal Shapiro
- David Westin
- Diane Sawyer
- Ted Field
- Eminem
- Shirley Franklin
- Ludacris
- Michael Savage
- Howard Stern
- Amy Richards
- James Wolcott
- Oliver Stone
- David Duke
- Randall Robinson
- Katherine Hanson
- Matt Kunitz
- Jimmy Swaggart
- Phil Donahue what has he even done the past few years??
- Ward Churchill
- Barbara Kingsolver
- Katha Politt
- Eric Foner
- Barbara Foley
- Linda Hirshman
- Norman Mailer
- Harry Belafonte
- Kitty Kelley
- Tim Robbins
- Laurie David
- The Dumb and Vicious Celebrity
- The Vicious Celebrity
- The Dumb Celebrity
- Chris Ofili
- Sheldon Hackney
- Aaron McGruder
- Jane Smiley
- Michael Jackson
- Barbara Streisand
- Kerri Dunn
- Richard Timmons
- Guy Velella
- Courtney Love
- Eve Ensler
- Todd Goldman
- Sheila Jackson Lee
- Matthew Lesko
- Rick and Kathy Hilton
Shout out to Crooks & Liars who ran the first version of this story that I saw