Elvis Still the King

The King of Rock & Roll Elvis Presley is still much beloved by his fans even almost thirty years after his death: he leads other dead celebs as he pulled in almost $52,000,000 from the grave in 2005. Grunge rocker Kurt Cobain raked in around $50 million, much of it from Courtney Love's sale of 25% of Nirvana's song catalog. Brainy, quirky Einstein raked in $25 million from sales of his image. Iconic sex kitten Marilyn Monroe generated $8 million in revenue.

Cf. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199807,00.html.

Jefferson Stripped of Powerful Position

Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) was stripped of his powerful House Ways & Means Committee seat on a voice vote Friday. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.) headed the effort to unseat her fellow Democratic colleague. Pelosi has been waging an election war with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) against Republicans alleging a "culture of corruption." The campaign has been hampered by an investigation of Jefferson that has resulted in the conviction of two people who have pled guilty to bribery-related charges involving the U.S. representative, the videotaping of Jefferson accepting $100,000 in $100 bills from an executive in an F.B.I. bribery sting operation,  and the subsequent discovery of $90,000 (purportedly with matching serial numbers) in Jefferson's freezer at his home in New Orleans.

Cf. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199726,00.html and http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197183,00.html.

Dan Rather Sad

After 44 years at CBS, Dan Rather must be able to commiserate with the man he sent packing over 25 years ago, the once legendary Walter Cronkite. Unlike Cronkite, Rather was not ushered out by his successor but by the network brass after he shamed them and himself with Memogate and his subsequent nonsensical defenses of his tale. When he reluctantly retired from the anchor chair, CBS's rating increased significantly as veteran Bill Sheiffer stepped in admirably on an interim basis. Shortly thereafter, 60 Minutes Wednesday which featured Rather's unsubstantiated story was cancelled, and Rather ensconced himself at the original 60 Minutes show. Last season, Rather did only eight pieces last season (vis-a-vis the twenty of a normal workload). Now he is in contract talks with CBS, hoping to be able to stay at the news network that he once commanded.  Rather said that he has never had a conversation with  Sean McManus, CBS News President since October 2005, and had only said hi twice, once at a tribute to Ted Koppel and once a memorial service for 60 Minutes director Artie Bloom. Rather added, "I have no feelings about it: he's busy." He added, "As ridiculous as it might be, I'm still trying to do great jounalism. I would like to stay. . .."  However, he clearly does not know whether he still can hang his hat at the place that he lead, loved, and left adrift as CBS's face on the national news scene. A CBS News representative stated, "Dan is a 60 Minutes correspondent, and we don't comment on contractual issues."

Cf. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/14818815.htm?source=rss&channel=philly_news.

Popette Banderas

Julie Banderas, host of "The Big Story" on FNC on the weekends, tried to be a female Bill O'Reilly but turned into a Phil Donahue on meth in her interview of Shirley Phelps-Roper, a horribly misguided spokesperson for Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS. (This church pickets the funerals of slain servicemen with repulsive signs such as "Thank God for 9-11," "Thank God for IEDs," and "God Hates Fags.") However, instead of logically arguing with Phelps-Roper, a consitutional lawyer, Banderas pontificates that she is going to hell and attacks her with ad hominem attacks such as calling her "the devil" and saying that she was insane. Then today when discussing the errant polygamist leader of an LDS splinter group similar to the one portrayed in the critically acclaimed HBO "Big Love" series, she denies his Christianity and impugns the motives of the groups' belief system without supplying even an elementary basis for her conclusions. Even though she may have a sense of right and wrong, the poor woman has not a scintilla of sense to logically back up what she says. It's as if she were Jerry Springer moralizing at the end of his show: thinking something is wrong but having no idea why.

Did Ya Hear?

Did you hear that the Bikini Strangler suspected allegedly tried to rape a Birmingham lady but was dissuaded when she began to witness to him? That Al-Zarqawi was placed on a gurney and recognized those attempting to give him medical aid as U.S. military and that he apparently tried to escape before suddenly dying? That Ann got attacked again as vicious this time by a Demorcratic 9-11 commissioner? That the Dixie Chicks' ticket sales in the South are suffering whereas her Canadian concert sold out quickly? Did you hear that I only had a few minutes to compose this? :-)

Al-Zarqawi Killed in Air Strike

Bush's Iraq policy received a major boost Wednesday evening when American F-16 aces used two 500-lb. precision bombs to take out al-Zarqawi, his spiritual adviser, Il-Iraqi, and four other people in a safe house outside of Baqouba, north of Baghdad. The death of "the slaughtering sheik" (as he was affectionately called by his followers) was confirmed by Al-Qaida the terrorist group he led in Iraq.  The death of the ruthless 39-year-old was hailed by Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki who promised to honor the $25,000,000 bounty on Al-Zarqawi's head. Ordinary Iraqi citizens danced in the streets at news of Al-Zarqawi's demise, and Americans have reason for renewed hope for a peaceful, democratic Iraq.

Ann Claws Back

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) attacked conservative columnist Ann Coulter for her "vicious, mean-spirited attack" on a quartet of 9-11 widows who have been outspoken critics of the Bush administration and supporters of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Clinton further opined that maybe Coulter's book, "Godless: The Church of Liberalism" should be called "Heartless." Coulter in her inimitable style had named the widows the Witches of East Brunswick (where two of these women reside); said, "I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much"; and added in a recent interview that they were using their grief to make a political point. In response to Clinton's harsh criticism, Coulter said, "Before criticizing others for being 'mean' to women, perhaps, Hillary should talk to her husband who was accused of rape by Juanita Broaddrick and was groping Kathleen Willey at the very moment Willey's husband was committing suicide." Cat fight!

Cf. http://drudgereport.com and http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/07/D8I3LT281.html.