Looking over the recent posts about Imus and others' faux "outrage" that the funeral of a politically significant personage, attended by many politicians and others who knew her through her politics, should in any way make reference to her politics, I decided (unwisely) to checkout what Imus was actually saying.
Well, I haven't found that yet, though I did read Mr. Imus's "bio" posted on MSNBC. Would it surprise you to know that it's largely a work of fiction? Largely full of juvenile (elementary school) humour and largely dismissive of anyone who might have thought MSNBC and Imus were purveyors of "news" or "information"?
Well, it shouldn't really surprise me either, but it does actually, because I never thought that an organization like MSNBC would stoop THAT low. How low? Read over the flip...
As nearly as the date can be fixed, Don's birth - however it occurred - took place in the late 18-hundreds making him a contemporary of such noted Americans as Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur and Grover Cleveland... all U.S. Presidents.
Don spent the normal twelve years in public school and emerged with no formal education ... a product of automatic social promotion. His secondary school experience was limited to carrying a cracked, faded rubber in his wallet and binding a female classmate to a tree with electrician's tape. He graduated with no honors and no skills. Requiring neither, a broadcasting career seemed a natural for the young Imus and advancements came quickly.
Okay, I get it, Imus thinks he's very cool and that when I clicked on "Don Imus" on the bio page I wasn't actually looking for a "bio" of "Don Imus" but another howlingly funny series of self-congratulatory jokes. My mistake. I thought "bio" was short for "biography" not "big fat waste of time".
Now widely acclaimed, Imus has been featured on NBC's "Today" show, the ABC programs "Prime Time Live" and "20/20", and on CBS' "48 Hours" and "60 Minutes." He has been a guest of Charlie Rose, David Letterman, and of particular note, Larry King, in shameless, mutual ass-kissing marathons....
In a now celebrated episode dating back to the spring of 1996, Don shared a stage with President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at Washington's annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association's dinner. While at the podium, Don made some observations about Mr. Clinton that some felt were rude and upsetting to the President, and that tended to leave egg on Don's face. Little did we know then, that Mr. Clinton was already well into the business of leaving substances splattered on individuals with whom he might come into contact; that his discomfort that evening had its roots in his own wayward DNA, and that Don was Nostradamus. But that's another story best left to another biography.
What would a "bio" of Don Imus, or any other "reporter" of substance be without a totally gratuitous slam on President Clinton? I mean, it's fair game, isn't it?
You know, maybe it's the five years of having a bunch of arrogant, ignorant crooks and jackasses destroying my planet which has made it difficult for me to see the humour in all this. Maybe. Then again, maybe it's not funny. Maybe a
"news" organization and "news" commentator who take great pains to use their influence to manipulate the opinions of their listeners ought to be serious about things like their actual histories and credentials. Maybe.
So, my advice, to anyone willing to listen, is simply boycott all of the so-called MSM with the exception of PBS and the specific shows (Countdown, Daily Show, Colbert, even Letterman and O'Brien, for example) willing to at least pay occasional attention to the truth. Imus? He's a self-described a**hole. Forget about him.