Can Conservatives Be Funny?

OK, here's a different kind of post for you to consider. Can conservatives be funny? Can a right-wing version of "The Daily Show" survive? Fox is going to debut their version of Jon Stewart on Sunday night, so I share this with you to let you know about the show in case you want to tune in.

Personally, I think the show faces an uphill fight if only because they lack Jon Stewart. He is the key to "The Daily Show." He is such a gifted comedian, but also a skilled interviewer who was able to hold his own again the likes of Christopher Hitchens.

So here are a few paragraphs from today's LA Times to tell you more about the show. That opening skit does sound clever.

"Intended by its conservative creators as a counterbalance to "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, "The 1/2 -Hour News Hour" premieres Sunday at 7 p.m. and will satirize current events and pop culture from a distinctly right of center viewpoint. Much like the 24-hour news channel itself, the show is out to fill a void in the marketplace, which the show's creators perceive as decidedly liberal.

"We thought it would be fun to have some unabashedly conservative entertainment," said Manny Coto, one of the show's creators and executive producers. "Our audience will be the millions who tune in to Rush Limbaugh and like-minded people who want that same kind of acerbic commentary and liberal bashing they get on his radio show everyday."

Added Ned Rice, another one of the show's creators and writers: "We're after the half of the country that doesn't think Jon Stewart is the only comedy that is needed."

Their show opens with something unlikely to be seen anytime soon on Stewart's "The Daily Show" or "Saturday Night Live." Limbaugh appears as the president of the United States and acid-tongued author Ann Coulter is his vice president.

The skit takes place in 2009 and is a joke, of course. Limbaugh was corralled into appearing in the skit by Joel Surnow, the show's executive producer and creator. The two struck up a friendship four years ago as a result of Limbaugh's enthusiasm for Surnow's hugely successful action-thriller program, "24."

Hollywood isn't exactly choking on a conservative talent pool, Surnow said, who nevertheless rejected the idea a liberal agenda has suppressed a program like his in the past.

"I just don't think there are a lot of conservative writers and most of them are probably apolitical or lean some to the left," he said. "There may be a little barrier to entry, but talent will eventually mow those down."

The " 1/2 -Hour News Hour" is structured in a mock news format like "The Daily Show," but instead of a single anchor, there are two. As billed, the first show takes aim at Democratic politicians, environmentalists and the American Civil Liberties Union."

Money Trumps Peace Sometimes

KVEC carried the presidential press conference Wednesday morning. Tom Madsen noted that afternoon that he thought the president seemed particularly strained in his answers. My favorite was the question on whether or not Bush thought Iraq was in a civil war -- his answer basically was that "I live in this beautiful White House and I'm not over in Iraq to see firsthand for myself." At which point I yelled to the radio, "Well, W., if you sent your daughters over to serve, they could tell," but I know Rich would consider that a personal attack on the president he loves.

But another statement in the press conference by the worst-president-in-modern-U.S.-history is really provoking my left-leaning listeners. I've heard from several already about this exchange:

Q: A lot of our allies in Europe do a lot of business with Iran, so I wonder what your thoughts are about how you further tighten the financial pressure on Iran, in particular, if it also means economic pain for a lot of our allies?

THE PRESIDENT: It's an interesting question. One of the problems -- not specifically on this issue, just in general -- let's put it this way, money trumps peace, sometimes. In other words, commercial interests are very powerful interests throughout the world. And part of the issue in convincing people to put sanctions on a specific country is to convince them that it's in the world's interest that they forgo their own financial interest.

Money trumps peace? Harmful slip of the tongue? Startling insight? Bush revealed finally? What do you think?

Everyone Take a Deep Breath

Short, but important, post before I turn in. This blog is starting to get downright ugly because some of our bloggers are getting way too emotional and far too personal. Please take the rhetoric down a few notches. I've already had to delete a few comments and I won't hesitate to continue that policy.

Try to stick to facts, opinions and arguments. Bob from SLO should be your model. Don't get angry. Don't make personal attacks. Please. This is not the Michael Savage Show. We are capable of better. Please. Thank you.

Don't forget that the photos from Antarctica on still on display at http:www.920kvec.com/photos.

Next Tuesday, Arroyo Grande Andy returns with his Bible. A week from this Thursday, it's Rep. Lois Capps.

I Warned You This Would Happen

If you were against Measure J, YOU can still help !??

We need your help NOW !??

Citizens for Planning Responsibly? (CPR), acting in the public interest, is filing a lawsuit against the County for allowing an illegal initiative on the county ballot. We have retained an expert land-use attorney who has determined we have a solid case.?

Measure J Initiative overturns County law, namely the County General Plan, prohibits the normal public participation in project review, provides inadequate mitigation for severe problems such as traffic and air pollution, and passes the extra infrastructure costs to the taxpayers.??????

The State of California has provided that for citizens acting in the public interest challenging a governing body (which they put into office to protect their laws), if the citizens prevail in court, they may be reimbursed their attorney fees.?

In order to meet the filing deadline, we need?to raise?the remaining $30,000 cost of litigation by February 13, 2007! ?If we do not raise that amount, your donation will be refunded.

Please consider sending a check for whatever you feel you can afford.? Checks must be mailed by Monday, February 12.? Or, after that date, call us at 544-8365 for a pick-up. You can donate anonymously if you wish. Please call or email for further information or a flyer to share with others.
??????????????????????? ???????????????????????

Thank you for your help!

Rosemary Wilvert (President) ? (805) 544-8365? rwilvert@sbcglobal.net

Michael Sullivan (Secretary) ? (805) 545-9614? mcsgday@yahoo.com

Citizens for Planning Responsibly (CPR), P.O. Box 712, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406


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