Morning Mix: Angelina Does D.C.


Angelina Jolie at Tuesday's Council on Foreign Relations meeting in Washington. (Reuters)

Headlines: Angelina Jolie, in D.C. with sons Maddox and Pax, pushes education for Iraqi children... Doctor says Patrick Swayze responding well to cancer treatment... Magazine names Ellen DeGeneres "Most Influential Gay Woman" in America... Tommy Lee Jones calls Texas border fence "bull[bleep]"... Toni Braxton hospitalized for chest pain... Adam Carolla eliminated from "Dancing With the Stars"... Kylie Minogue says her breast cancer was initially misdiagnosed... Pregnant Tori Spelling models a bikini... Daniel Radcliffe to make nude Broadway debut in September... John Cleese offers his speechwriting services to Barack Obama... Joan Rivers calls Victoria Beckham "arrogant"... Former bodyguard suing Lindsay Lohan for unpaid wages... Los Angeles police chief says proposed paparazzi law would be unenforceable... Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban didn't buy L.A. home, says publicist.

Crime Watch: Priest pleads guilty to stalking Conan O'Brien... Pete Doherty jailed for 14 weeks for probation violation.

Rumor Mill: Paris Hilton tried to buy cheetah on South Africa trip... Naomi Campbell banned from British Airways... Mary-Louise Parker breaks off engagement to "Weeds" co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan... Naked Pam Anderson surprises Hugh Hefner with birthday wishes.

Say What?
"Do you think Dick Cheney's going to hear two gags from me and say, 'You know what? I've been wrong!'" -- Craig Ferguson on his upcoming hosting duties at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner

"She can out-eat me in rice dishes, like paella." -- Chef Mario Batali on Gwyneth Paltrow's appetite

By Liz |  April 9, 2008; 7:55 AM ET  | Category:  Daily Mix
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"Priest pleads guilty to stalking Conan O'Brien."

You'd think we'd be happy Father Jack is at least trying to meet someone closer to his own age.

Posted by: byoolin | April 9, 2008 8:55 AM

Obama should decline Cleese's offer. It would be very difficult to campaign for president with the nerds in the crowd yelling, "It is a DEAD parrot!"

Posted by: byoolin | April 9, 2008 9:02 AM

Aawww. Pam Anderson is so thoughtful.

Also, I missed the memo. When did Anderson Cooper come out?

Posted by: methinks | April 9, 2008 9:05 AM

Tommy Lee Jones' comment just about makes me forgive him for the horrible cheerleader movie.

Posted by: michael | April 9, 2008 9:07 AM

I love Mario Batali's comment about dear Gwynnie. So much for eating like a bird.

Posted by: surlychick | April 9, 2008 9:13 AM

"You want to say: 'Calm down, you were a Spice Girl.'"

And Posh wants to say something comparing her husband with Joan's.


Posted by: byoolin | April 9, 2008 9:16 AM

1) I love Tommy Lee Jones
2) I love John Cleese
3) how is Pamala Anderson different from Pamela Anderson clothed? We have seen 99% of her body already, including full boobs and nipples through see-through shirts.

Posted by: | April 9, 2008 9:19 AM

April 9

Unfortunately we have seen 100% of Pam's body. If you have not seen "the tape", you are lucky.

Posted by: DW | April 9, 2008 9:24 AM

ok, I meant "Pamela Anderson naked different from..."

sorry, need coffee...

Posted by: | April 9, 2008 9:24 AM

One thing I haven't been able to forget since reading it a couple years ago is Tori Spelling's husband being asked to describe her, and the first thing him saying is "So much hotter in person." I really want to believe that's true.

Posted by: trumance | April 9, 2008 9:29 AM

Anderson Cooper is not out, says the article at Out.

"He's still cautiously neutral--and silent on his sex life--but his domination of the airwaves is undeniable."

Also not out: Mohammed Yousuf (108, not out) and Shahid Afridi (27, not out) batting for Pakistan, while for Bangladesh it was Abdur Razzak (11, not out) in a match won by Pakistan yesterday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Posted by: byoolin | April 9, 2008 9:30 AM

One of the attorney's I work with is friends with the guy who runs reality programming for Bravo and is BFFs with SJP and knows Anderson Cooper, says unequivocally that Anderson Cooper is gay. I became convinced when he was reporting in the aftermath of Katrina wearing Prada jeans.

Posted by: jake e. poo | April 9, 2008 9:45 AM

If Anderson's gay then why didn't he get Kathy Griffin when they did New Year's together?

Posted by: jes | April 9, 2008 9:53 AM

Thanks for the update on the test, byoolin.

How's the pitch? I hope a sticky wicket didn't interfere with Afridi's innings.

Posted by: Pompous Magnus | April 9, 2008 10:03 AM

Awesome - is this now a celebrity & cricket blog? Can someone explain the rules to me?

Posted by: h3 | April 9, 2008 10:13 AM

"Joan Rivers calls Victoria Beckham "arrogant"..."

Victoria Beckham calls Joan Rivers one square inch of skin stretched over an entire face.

Who was Ellen DeGeneres' competition for the title of Most Influential Gay Woman in America -- Melissa Etheridge? It's like naming Oprah Winfrey the Wealthiest African American Female Talk Show Host.

As for Anderson Cooper and the Prada jeans, his mother was Gloria Vanderbilt, so of course he's wearing designer jeans!

Posted by: td | April 9, 2008 10:31 AM

Speaking of Bravo, why did the New York Times make the top ten and not Bravo?

Posted by: MoCoSnarky | April 9, 2008 10:31 AM

Liz, can you please, please, pretty please not post the morning-after spoilers about Dancing w/ the Stards? I have to take a Tuesday evening class so I Tivo DWTS and watch it the next afternoon.

You could do something like "Click here to see who got voted off DWTS last night!"

Otherwise, I won't be able to start my Wednesday mornings with you and that would be a tragedy!!!!!!!

Thank you, I love you and you are awesomer than Gene. (I hear he won some silly little carnival prize/doodad thingie yesterday?)

Posted by: pixie radiance | April 9, 2008 10:33 AM

"...his mother was Gloria Vanderbilt".

Pretty sure she still is.

Posted by: | April 9, 2008 10:34 AM

Stop trying to snatch a peek at Pam's parts and check out the cake on Pam's tray. Perhaps someone was going for some sort of phallic suggestiveness, but all those candles stuck in it makes it look more like a little, brown voodoo doll.

Or maybe the little bunny's ears fell off.

Posted by: MoCoSnarky | April 9, 2008 10:36 AM

Can someone explain the rules to me?

Hell, no.

They're straight out of the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. See the Wikipedia article describing the 42 Laws Of Cricket at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_cricket.

(Jan, you can check out http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket/ instead, since we all know how you feel about the Wikipedia.)

Posted by: byoolin | April 9, 2008 10:38 AM

If Anderson's gay then why didn't he get Kathy Griffin when they did New Year's together?

Posted by: jes | April 9, 2008 9:53 AM

Of course, the #1 clue that you're gay is that you have to find Kathy Griffin funny. Anderson should have his Prada jeans confiscated and given a pair of Wranglers.

Posted by: | April 9, 2008 10:39 AM

Oh bugger, I find KG funny. My wife is going to be SO peeved. But I still don't care if Cooper is a FOD...he's annoying. Also, Joanie, simma down. When did Posh snub you?

Posted by: 23112 | April 9, 2008 10:48 AM

I think Obama's speechwriting is pretty good the way it is, but Cleese could certainly advise him on silly walks.

OK, since we're talking cricket, what is in fact, a "googly"?

(just an aside, gals, you should watch cricket: the guys are hot, they wear clingy outfits and don't scratch themelves)

Posted by: possum | April 9, 2008 10:53 AM

"...his mother was Gloria Vanderbilt".

Pretty sure she still is.


Oh yeah, she's still alive. Whoops. Sorry, Gloria.

Posted by: td | April 9, 2008 10:54 AM

I don't care if Anderson Cooper is straight or gay - it's his business anyway. He's got the nicest blue eyes to look at!

Posted by: jlr | April 9, 2008 10:54 AM

Hey, here's one for the Rosie watch...she's trying to make it all about her again!

"Actress Rosie O'Donnell wants to take Britney Spears' place as the celebrity face of 'mental illness' to relieve the pressure on the troubled star. The former talk show host believes both she and Spears may suffer from bipolar disorder - but insists she is better equipped to deal with the illness and the press intrusion. Speaking on Good Morning America on Tuesday, O'Donnell says, 'I have been on anti-depressants since Columbine (1999 high school shooting). I sort of feel Britney has become the poster child (for mental illness). The kid is very young. She never had a childhood. She never rode a big wheel. Rather than put her face on mental illness, or Brooke Shields - who had postpartum depression - use me.'"

Posted by: 23112 | April 9, 2008 10:55 AM

Cricket is an exercise in frustration. They can play for days on end and still not have a winner. Then you're supposed to just go out have have a pint with your mates? Oh. Okay, I can sign on to that.

Posted by: methinks | April 9, 2008 10:57 AM

23112 - Thanks for the update on Rosie. I'm sure Brooke Shields just LOVES being dragged into this discussion!

Posted by: jlr | April 9, 2008 10:58 AM

I've just been staring out my window these last few minutes, and it does not appear that Washington women are following Angelina's lead in eschewing the power suit (or maternity power suit). What a pity, I was so hoping for someplace to wear all my evening gowns, as I don't get many invitations to address the Council on Foreign Relations.

Posted by: Business Casual | April 9, 2008 10:58 AM

OK, 23112, stop right there. Did you just type:

"[Rosie] O'Donnell says, 'I have been on anti-depressants since Columbine.'"

I had no idea that Columbine was about Rosie O'Donnell. Kinda like Princess Diana's death being all about George Clooney and Fran Drescher....

Posted by: td | April 9, 2008 11:01 AM

Have you not noticed that Rosie can take any event or person and find a way to insinuate her into it somehow? I'm surprised that she hasn't made a public statement about her difficulty in selecting a presidential candidate to support.

Posted by: 23112 | April 9, 2008 11:06 AM

"Rather than put [Britney's] face on mental illness, or Brooke Shields - who had postpartum depression - use me.'"
-- Rosie

"If my dog had a face like that, I'd shave its behind and teach it to walk backward."
-- 2000-year-old, yet still salient, joke

Posted by: byoolin | April 9, 2008 11:09 AM

How about the Gerard Butler news?

Posted by: JustAGirl | April 9, 2008 11:14 AM

and now Rosie will have to deal with the humiliation of Ellen being chosen MIGW over her...

Poor Rosie. She never catches a break.

T.S. Eliot:
Half the harm that is done in this world
Is due to people who want to feel important.
They don't mean to do harm -- but the harm does not interest them.
Or they do not see it, or they justify it
Because they are absorbed in the endless struggle
To think well of themselves.

Posted by: b | April 9, 2008 11:14 AM

What I find funny is that Rosie seems to think that she hasn't been the poster child for celebrity mental illness for years. Ro-Ro, we're so used to you that it's just part of your wiki...like Anderson Cooper being .

Posted by: 23112 | April 9, 2008 11:16 AM

Not to be insensitive, but Columbine was on my birthday and I don't suffer from bi-polar disorder, so what's Rosie got to be so upset about?

Posted by: michael | April 9, 2008 11:16 AM

hehe....y'all finish up that last post of mine however you want.

Posted by: 23112 | April 9, 2008 11:18 AM

I don't know why cricket gets such a bad rap in this country. It's actually a pretty straightforward game once you see it played. Kinda fun to play, too.

Posted by: Pompous Magnus | April 9, 2008 11:27 AM

Liz, do you know what Conan's stalker's reasoning was for stalking him? I mean, is the stalker totally crazy, or has Conan made some Catholic/priest jokes in the past?

Posted by: Catalina | April 9, 2008 11:37 AM

clingy outfits and they don't scratch themselves, I might have to check this out.

Rosie needs help for her narcissism not any other alleged mental illness.

If Anderson really is gay, can I still find his reporting HIGHLY annoying. He is another, it is all about me person disguising it as neutral reporting.

Posted by: ep | April 9, 2008 11:44 AM

Somehow the fact that Gwyneth eats a lot of rice just isn't a shocker.

Now if Mario had said she eats a lot of rice smothered in chili or chocolate I'd be surprised.

Posted by: Bored @ work | April 9, 2008 11:51 AM

The only type of cricket that should be allowed on this blog is Crotch Crickets.

Posted by: Sasquatch | April 9, 2008 11:52 AM

"How about the Gerard Butler news?"

OK, JustAGirl. Made me look. For a moment I'd thought maybe he was dating Anderson Cooper, but I see it's Cameron Diaz.

(Was Columbine about him too? Any mental illness we should know about? Does he play cricket or stalk clergy? If he's gonna hang out with Cameron, just tell us now and get it out there - for Rosie's sake.)

Posted by: td | April 9, 2008 11:52 AM

Lol, Sasquatch. Today's mash-up: Cricketology or Celebriticket. It's all fun and games till somebody gets hurt... then we will have to send cricket the way of ponies and pleading pants.

Posted by: rachelt | April 9, 2008 12:05 PM

heh heh. Crotch Cricket. It's just so goll durn fun to say!

Oh, and since the second post of the day is all about Flavor of Love which I don't watch: pony, pony, pony.

There. I said it.

Posted by: methinks | April 9, 2008 12:20 PM

Memo to police chief: the celebrity is the one being chased by 300 people.

Posted by: Eric | April 9, 2008 12:21 PM

Holy cow, when I saw that photo of Angelina Jolie I thought it was Janice Dickinson.

And that is not a compliment.

Posted by: Californian | April 9, 2008 12:38 PM

Mmmm, rice -n- chocolate! Now why didn't I ever think of that?

Who cares if Anderson is gay? (He totally is, BTW.) I think he's smokin'. If I were a gay man, or a man at all, I'd be all over that like, um, chocolate on rice.

Posted by: jaybbub | April 9, 2008 12:41 PM

And also, can Pam Anderson just go away now? I think we've ALL had enough of that. I mean those.

Posted by: jaybbub | April 9, 2008 12:42 PM

Cameron Diaz? Really? Wow, so much for me thinking Gerard Butler is hot.

Posted by: Disappointed | April 9, 2008 12:44 PM

My bad. About the other C'tology post not saying "pony." The other post is about Rock of Love not Flavor of Love.

And for what its worth since I brought it up first, I don't care if Anderson Cooper is gay. I was surprised to see his name on a list of influential gay people since I thought he hadn't come out, which apparently he hasn't. I don't like it when people make these lists based on presumption. That's a bit heavy-handed in my book.

Posted by: methinks | April 9, 2008 12:46 PM

Why link the Angelina thing to a story on usweekly.com that credits the Post with the story? Why not just link directly to the Post story?

Posted by: Bethesda | April 9, 2008 12:53 PM

Hmm, I wonder if that means Naomi is banned from all of BA's code share partners to?

Posted by: EricS | April 9, 2008 1:24 PM

And for what its worth since I brought it up first, I don't care if Anderson Cooper is gay. I was surprised to see his name on a list of influential gay people since I thought he hadn't come out, which apparently he hasn't. I don't like it when people make these lists based on presumption. That's a bit heavy-handed in my book.

Posted by: methinks | April 9, 2008 12:46 PM

I agree with you. Sadly, I have a feeling they like the attention those presumptions bring them.

Posted by: | April 9, 2008 1:27 PM

I guess it's just me, or maybe it's the proximity to the Diana inquest report and memories of her attempts at privacy for her boys, but I really wish celebrity mags would stop following around celebrities with their children. I really don't need to know what pax and maddox look like and they don't deserve it. That's why I won't buy those mags -- but I will come to Celebritology!

Posted by: Ame | April 9, 2008 1:40 PM

For what it's worth I was spoofing on Kathy Griffin saying she speaks fluent gay. I agree w/methinks about the whole outing based on presumption deal.

Posted by: jes | April 9, 2008 1:47 PM

I heart Craig Ferguson. He could read his grocery list out loud and I would hang on his every word.

Posted by: Sappho | April 9, 2008 6:16 PM

Big surprise. More BS from Angelina. Running her mouth about 'humanity'. Dancing her way around the truth as usual. There will be no widespread peace in Iraq anytime soon. That region of the world has remained uncivilized throughout history. For reasons that Angelina will never admit. Starting with a harsh brutal climate and a lack of world prosperity. Aggrivated further by a diminishing supply of natural resources and a rising cost of living worldwide. This is why conflict and religious extremism are so prominent in the desert. This is also why America is the most hated nation in the world. We eat, burn, pollute, occupy, and consume more than any other per capita. In order to secure our way of life, we operate over 100 military bases around the world. Which is why we are refered to as 'The Great Satan'. Also why the towers and Pentagon were hit. I'm not saying that we deserve anything horrible in return for our super-power status. We don't. Americans are basically good people. Our goal was never to cause hardship for others. But as a nation, we have been greedy, gluttonous, and ignorant. Led around like puppies by the 1% club. Our way of life is now physically impossible to achieve worldwide. I'm not calling for an equal distribution of wealth and resources. Not even close. I'm not calling for the developed nations to reverse their progress. Whats done is done. But we should be willing to make some compromise for the good of humanity. Unfortunately, the burden has been placed almost entirely on a single generation of men and women who die as we speak. Some fight for their country. Others for a much greater cause. The vast majority serve with honor. But those men and women die in vain. In order to make any real progress in the Middle East, the troop level and funding would have to be increased even further. Maybe, even doubled or tripled. Followed by the most expensive, long term, global humanitarian effort of all time. Enough to achieve some degree of world prosperity. Only then, would the region produce a generation more likey to work together for a common goal. Progress would be made with each following generation. Unfortunately, there will never be world prosperity. NOT WITHOUT A REASONABLE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH AND RESOURCES. So when a greedy, disgusting, wealth concentrating, resource squandering, global warming, hypocrite, pig like Angelina runs her mouth about 'humanity', its like nails on a chalk board. Her optimistic BS could not possibly be anymore rank even if it came out of her rank ass. It may as well have. Focus their minds? What a joke. You can't just run your mouth at an uncivilized society and expect them to change their ways. You have to raise their standard of living first. Otherwise, their focus will always be on their own hardship and their hatred on those who appear to be responsible. A similar rule will soon apply worldwide. Which is why I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that modern society will go down in a ball of flames. All because of a G** D*** RAT RACE. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. Say that reminds me.

Don't believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike 'lesser' estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America's richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own 'humanitarian' spin on it. Calling attention to her own 'good will'. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don't fall for any of their 'humanitarian' CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can't just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world's richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this 'good will' 'humanitarian' BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars which have been transfered FROM US TO THEM. All over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not 'trickle down' as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They just keep getting richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductible crumbs and call themselves 'humanitarians'. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN'T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. So don't fall for any of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductible contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. SEND A "THANK YOU" NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I'm not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren't for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGenerous, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don't fall for their 'good will' BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you're a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you're a fool. No offense fellow citizens. But we have been mislead by nearly every public figure. WAKE UP PEOPLE. THEIR GOAL IS TO WIN THE GAME. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. High energy prices. Their idea. Obscene health care charges. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. The multi-million dollar endorsement deal. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea. Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of the above shrink the middle class, concentrate the world's wealth and resources, create a dominoe effect of socio-economic problems, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don't fall for any of their 'good will' 'humanitarian' BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP. In many cases, the 'charitable' contribution is almost entirely offset. Not to mention the opportunity to plug their name, image, product, and 'good will' all at once. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These filthy pigs even have the nerve to throw a fit and spin up a misleading defense with regard to 'federal tax revenue'. ITS A SHAM. THEY SCREWED UP THE EQUATION TO BEGIN WITH. If the middle and lower classes had a greater share of the pie, they could easily cover a greater share of the federal tax revenue. They are held down in many ways because of greed. Wages remain stagnant for millions because the executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, and entrepreneurs, are paid millions. They over-sell, over-charge, under-pay, outsource, cut jobs, and benefits to increase their bottom line. As their profits rise, so do the stock values. Which are owned primarily by the richest 5%. As more United States wealth rises to the top, the middle and lower classes inevitably suffer. This reduces the potential tax reveue drawn from those brackets. At the same time, it wreaks havok on middle and lower class communities and increases the need for financial aid. Not to mention the spike in crime because of it. There is a dominoe effect to consider. IT CAN'T WORK THIS WAY. But our leaders refuse to acknowledge this. Instead they come up with one trick after another to milk the system and screw the majority. These decisions are heavily influensed by the 1% club. Every year, billions of federal tax dollars are diverted behind the scenes back to the rich and their respective industries. Loans from China have been necessary to compensate in part, for the red ink and multi-trillion dollar transfer of wealth to the rich. At the same time, the feds have been pushing more financial burden onto the states who push them lower onto the cities. Again, the hardship is felt more by the majority and less by the 1% club. The rich prefer to live in exclusive areas or upper class communities. They get the best of everything. Reliable city services, new schools, freshly paved roads, upscale parks, ect. The middle and lower class communities get little or nothing without a local tax increase. Which, they usually can't afford. So the red ink flows followed by service cuts and lay-offs. All because of the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth in this country. So when people forgive the rich for their incredible greed and then praise them for paying a greater share of the FEDERAL income taxes, its like nails on a chalk board. I can not accept any theory that our economy would suffer in any way with a more reasonable distribution of wealth. Afterall, it was more reasonable 30 years ago. Before Reaganomics came along. Before GREED became such an epidemic. Before we had an army of over-paid executives, bankers, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, doctors, investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and sold-out politicians to kiss their asses. As a nation, we were in much better shape. Strong middle class, free and clear assets, lower crime rate, more widespread prosperity, stable job market, lower deficit, ect. Our economy as a whole was much more stable and prosperous for the majority. WITHOUT LOANS FROM CHINA. Now, we have a more obscene distribution of bottom line wealth than ever before. We have a sold-out government, crumbling infrastructure, energy crisis, home forclosure epidemic, 13 figure national deficit, and 12 figure annual shortfall. The cost of living is higher than ever before. Most people can't even afford basic health care. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED. I really don't blame the 2nd -5th percentiles in general. No economy could ever function without some reasonable scale of personal wealth and income. But it can't be allowed to run wild like a mad dog. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. UNBRIDLED CAPITALISM ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK. TOP HEAVY ECONOMIES ALWAYS COLLAPSE. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we've ever seen before. The American dream will be shattered. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH MAKES WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman.. Of course, they will jump to small minded conclusions about 'jealousy', 'envy', or 'socialism'. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don't believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

By the way, that was an attempt to boil down a complex issue. I'm sorry if it seemed like a bash on America. Of course, I hate the rich. I always will. But I love the people of this country in general. I don't want anything bad for America. But our super-power status is part of the problem. Its like a smack in the face felt worldwide. Anyway, I'm no expert on current events. I don't even understand all of them. But I do know about human nature. Enough to see that we are on a path to destruction. I'm not going to pretend as if any of us are completely innocent. We are not. This giant rat race will be our downfall. GREED KILLS.

Posted by: Doesnt matter | April 9, 2008 7:39 PM

Good God! Who let Courtney Love on here?

Posted by: rachelt | April 9, 2008 8:50 PM

That's the only thing to say. Wow.

Posted by: wow | April 9, 2008 9:25 PM

no pony for 'doesn't matter.'.

Posted by: methinks | April 9, 2008 9:48 PM

So, dm, we'll put you in the 'Jennifer Aniston' column?

Posted by: byoolin | April 10, 2008 8:00 AM

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