While conservatives believe that the Pledge of Allegiance “drives Liberals crazy,” Sesame Street seems to have the same effect on them. Conservatives are outraged by what they view as a dissing from Oscar the Grouch and an unnamed muppet who referred to a network called “Pox News” in a dismissive way.
On the show, it is clear that the Grouch in fact watches GNN — the Grouchy News Network. However, GNN (a reference to CNN) is turning off by the other muppet who announces “I am changing the channel. From now on I am watching ‘Pox’ News. Now there is a trashy news show.”
One critic complains “The message is clear, I can’t even sit my kids in front of “Sesame Street” without having to worry about the Left attempting to undermine my authority. And don’t tell me, ‘If you don’t like it change the channel.’ There are no channels left! It’s everywhere.”
The absence of any muppet audience for MSNBC may require some attention by the network and review of their business plan. Of course, Glenn Beck is believed to be an actual muppet, which should give Fox an advantage:
There may also be an advantage to open pandering to the muppet demographic:
For the full story, click here.
We certainly don’t want children questioning authority. That’s a slippery slope that could lead to …
I’ll have to get back to you on that.
lol Well played, nal.
Any effort to expand children’s minds is a threat to today’s faux conservatives and fundamentalists. They see intelligence and a questioning authority as subversion. A docile child, parroting Mom and Dad’s viewpoints is the ideal. Look what it’s done for William Kristol.
If kids “get” the joke, then their parents may have already exposed them to fatal levels of the FOX Fraud & Fantasy Folks.
I’d say POX News would be a more appropriate name for that cable news(?) network.
Don’t you just love the rantings of the human muppet Glenn Beck? That fellow has gone way past crazy. Here’s a little poem I wrote about him several months ago:
Dead Beckoning: A Poem about Glenn Beck
He’s nuttier than a fruitcake.
He’s as crazy as a loon.
He’s got bats up in his belfry—
And he howls at the moon.
He’s a little low on neurons
And his brain’s stuck in first gear.
This nincompoop Neanderthal
Takes joy spreading fear.
He cries for love of country…
While pondering its doom
With other “prescient” experts
In his fantasized War Room.
He talks about disasters
That might befall our nation
At some dates in the future.
It’s just right wing titillation.
His ratings keep on soaring
And his TV show’s a hit.
Some folks are fascinated
By the rantings of this twit!
He praises folks like Cheney.
Our President? He knocks.
His comrades at the channel—
Chris and Bill O.—think he rocks.
You can watch Beck blaze on cable.
He’s the bright new star at FOX.
Here’s one of Beck’s War Room segments:
… a network called “Pox News” … LOL!
To answer Nal;
Children who question authority leads to more…liberals.
Elaine;
Clever poem! I look forward to a future one about CNN’s resident lunatic, Lou Dobbs.
Taxpayers should not subsidize television programming.
A show with the audience of Sesame Street is clearly commercially viable. Why do we need to subsidize it through PBS? Is the educational programming on Nickelodeon subsidized? Noggin?
More broadly, government financing of a network channel invites interference in public affairs programming, including programming on the government itself. PBS content should be privatized, and not promoted by government.
Taxpayers should not subsidize religion through the tax system.
A business offering salvation and canned morality is clearly commercially viable. Why do we need to subsidize it through 501(c)(3) tax exemptions? Is the joy of worshipping sports idols subsidized? Hollywood celebrities?
More broadly, government financing of religion invites interference in public policy, as we have experienced with faith based initiatives and abstinence education. Religion should be treated like any other business, and not promoted by government.
“A show with the audience of Sesame Street is clearly commercially viable. Why do we need to subsidize it through PBS? Is the educational programming on Nickelodeon subsidized? Noggin?”
Having Grandchildre now I’ve had a chance to look at commercial programming for children. It is putrid and puerile. Besides that rather than develop an appreciation of literature and learning, it commercializes, homogenizing and rotting children’s minds. See how disney, for instance, now presents Winnie the Pooh. This doesn’t even speak to the fact that children’s commercial programming exists to sell the kids through subtle and not so subtle propaganda. Part of the dumbing down and fattening up of America stems directly from children’s programming.
Secondly, some of the best adult programming on television is broadcast on PBS. Compare any of the historical documentaries produced by Ken Burns, to the crap on the so-called history channel. A non-commercial broadcast system is essential to the production of programming that uplifts us all, rather than simply being another source of commercial propaganda that is helping to destroy this country. GE for inatance “Brings good Things to Life” sometimes and other times produces the weaponry of death. conservatives must begin to understand that Corporatism is not in the Constitution, nor is commercialism.
That path is the straightest line to tryranny, oppression and loss of freedom.
There ain’t no free market, never was and the belief in it has not only caused much tragedy, but also represents corporate hypocrisy, because they don’t want a free market, just to be left alone to carry on their hideous con game.
Elaine, I just want to let you know that I’ve been getting a real kick out of your poems. You have the rare ability to skewer ideas and personalities with spare and clever phrasing.
I always knew there was a reason why I liked Oscar the Grouch!
“Sunny days … sweepin’ the clouds away ….”
I am amused by the concerns of those who truly believe that their “authority” over their children can be undermined by an institution like Sesame Street. In fact, through all of their growing up years, I repeatedly urged my three kids to challenge authority, to distrust the official line and to rethink what their elders have insisted to be the “truth.” And the result of my efforts to instill the lessons learned in the ’60s? One anarchist libertarian, one completely apolitical conformist and one staunch Republican who subscribes only to the Wall Street Journal and wonders at my seeming lack of acquisitiveness. Glenn Beck and his minions are afraid of their own shadows.
TX Dem–
Thanks for the Dobbs suggestion. I didn’t have him on my list of subjects to “skewer” with verse. He’s had a touch of Beckamania of late.
Mike A.–
I’m glad you’re enjoying my verses. It was Sarah Palin who first inspired my poetic vitriol last fall. I called my poems about her Palinoems. After the election, I stopped writing political light verses for a while until I saw Tom DeLay’s face on the television screen one evening in late February. He got me revved up to wax poetic once again.
I’ll have to leave you with one of my Limbaughrhymes. It’s a terse verse.
A Couplet about Rush Limbaugh
A pompous, porcine bag of gas.
I tell myself—this, too, shall pass.
“… they [corporations] don’t want a free market, just to be left alone to carry on their hideous con game.”
It would be one thing if corporations were content to be left alone. Instead, they use the power of government to create advantages (like taxes and regulation), that favor them. ADM / ethanol mandates. Banks / fractional reserve lending. Pharmaceuticals / FDA barriers to entry. This is not the role of government, and it is not a free market. It’s corporatism.
“[Commercial children's programming] commercializes, homogenizing and rotting children’s minds. See how disney, for instance, now presents Winnie the Pooh. This doesn’t even speak to the fact that children’s commercial programming exists to sell the kids through subtle and not so subtle propaganda.”
I checked with The Count, and he notes that Sesame Street’s 2007 licensing and merchandising revenue was $137M and growing. My guess is that overall commercial sales of Sesame Street products (like Tickle-Me-Elmo), exceed $1B annually. Sounds like commercialism to me.
PBS has actively used its subsidized network channels to seek even more tax dollars! In times when the legislature sought to limit PBS funding, the network actively aired ads to “save public broadcasting!” with legislative contact information.
If taxpayer-subsidized content has such critical value to society, shouldn’t the government begin to buy up other media? Newspapers? Websites? Movie studios?
Elaine, LMAO. Limbaugh in 13 words.
Elaine,
Truly that was art. Concise and with vivid imagery, even Basho would applaud.
You get the A+ and a gold star.
His war against Fox News is absolutely stupid. For this reason (and several more), I certainly will not vote for President Obama again. Make no mistake, only if Hell freezes over.
John–
I think it unlikely that hell will freeze over–especially because of global warming. The freezing of the netherworld would be a terrible thing anyway. Where would all of us secular humanists, agnostics, liberals, socialists, atheists, progressives, etc., go to “toast” one another at the end of our lives?
Jeeves, get me my battery-operated fan and a pitcher of mojitos–I’m heading for Hades!
Mika A.–
I have to admit I do take pleasure in penning some of my political verses.
Buddha–
Thanks for the gold star and the A+. If you were here with me now, you’d see that I’m blushing…because I’m so bashoful
Elaine M:
I can tell that you are not one to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.
I am aghast at what I have read here. What no one bias slant towards either party. The extremes which seem to be in control of coverage will have no audience and if no audience then where must Nancy Grace go? These are advertising dollars you are talking about. Surely you jest….I am telling.
nal, good to see that you are speeding up the read. Hail nal, hail nal.
Elaine M,
I would just love another poem. If even more provoking that. Good quality teachers are gone. I see you had said you retired.
AY–
Yes, I retired and now have plenty of free time to write–both political verses and children’s poetry.
I wrote some couplets about political pop singers. Following are two of my “two-liners.” They may not be “provoking”…still, I hope you enjoy them.
**********
Glenn Beck & Michele Bachamann
Crazy Glenn harmonizes with a bug-eyed chanteuse—
A duo of right wing musical abuse
**********
Liz Cheney & Pa
The spawn of Lady Macbeth and her snarly fella
Singing torture songs a cappella
Elaine M. on Rush L
“A pompous, porcine bag of gas.
I tell myself—this, too, shall pass.”
For this verse alone I nominate you as Poet Laureate of this blog with all the honors, responsibilities, and distinct duties implied. A laurel crown be on thy head.
Blouise: “Elaine M. on Rush L
“A pompous, porcine bag of gas.
I tell myself—this, too, shall pass.”
For this verse alone I nominate you as Poet Laureate of this blog with all the honors, responsibilities, and distinct duties implied. A laurel crown be on thy head.”
———–
I second that nomination.
Elaine M,
Good Vim. Ever heard of the Machine Heads? I am open to most music and like to read the lyrics (go figure) toooo bad the music is heavy metal. If people would only learn to understand what they read. This reminds me of Led Zeppelins Stairway to Heaven “words have two meanings.”
Machine Head Vim lyrics
Words of the righteous
We will not bend
The odds keep stacking up against
Strengthen our self endurance
Break down the cycle
Of errors past
We have to face up to the truth
Relinquish every grudge or bruise
Every ounce of strength grasps
One solid dream
Violent soul
Will be whole
We have to face up to it
For every second we’re alive
Let our light shine
To our grave, we must pave
A path for us to rise from
Power surge, kills the urge
Life and death collide
Smash all the boundaries
That hold us down
Hold on to everything that loves
Let go of anything that starves
People with envy will hold us down
Freedom is just a cut away
Nothing can pass our life away
Every ounce of strength grasps
One solid dream
Violent soul
Will be whole
We have to face up to it
For every second we’re alive
Let our light shine bright
To our grave, we must pave
A path for us to rise from
Power surge, kills the urge
Life and death collide
We take life’s ebb and flow
Testament to the things we know
With the fight, we must roll
Strength will follow
Tooth and nail for the ground that we hold
Failures from the start but we still grow
Heads held high, rally for throne
Holding our own
Not just words we’ll show you so
I can’t remember
These doubts I must dismember
And trust in whole
Follow your own lightness
Follow your sound
Believe in me
‘Cause I believe in you
Speaking of POX News and schills, I found this an interesting read about their pet lunatic Glenn Beck. mepso, you in particular might appreciate an article that links Buckley and Beck to Socrates and Cleon. And I must confess, I do get a little teary eyed over Buckley now whenever I see that clown Beck. At least he was a rational and honorable opponent if often completely wrong. Beck makes me hear circus music every time I see him.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laphams-quarterly/perfecting-the-paranoid-s_b_347037.html
Buddha:
I hear the calliope too when that clown comes on. I ‘ll read that article. Come to think of it, a calliope is a pretty fair description of Beck:
“A calliope is a musical instrument that produces sound by sending a gas, originally steam or more recently compressed air, through large whistles, …” –Wiki
From the Article:
“While Buckley was of course right to point to Socrates as someone who endorsed the idea that there are absolutes, he missed the most important part of the story. The Greek philosopher was equally convinced that only a fool and a demagogue would claim to know them.”
That’s great writing. Thanks, Buddha for the morning treat!
AY–
I have not heard of the Machine Heads. I’m not into heavy metal music. I must admit I can rarely make out the lyrics to songs sung by rock bands. Maybe I’m just an old fuddy duddy–only musically speaking, of course!
John–
I often send MYSELF to the dictionary. As someone who writes poetry–not just political verses–I am always trying to be as precise as I can with the language I use. Poetry is such a distilled form of literature–every word counts. English is a rich language. It includes many words that have similar meanings. I do my best to select words with the most precise meanings for the point(s) I am attempting to make when I speak and write.
I learned when I was a teacher that I HAD to be clear and precise with the language I used so that my students would comprehend what I was saying/teaching and would understand my directions.
I took this seriously…until the usual ridicule followed, that is characteristic of people who don’t know how to criticize things fairly and logically.
Obviously, a lot of people in here are clearly irresponsible with their own children. No wonder my classrooms have parents that don’t show up at PTA meetings.
They don’t need to learn how to question authority; they just learn to ignore it, just like how you ignore your children’s upbringing.
I suppose someone more reasonable like Keith Olbermann isn’t too bad, huh? I just kind of wonder why Kim Jong Il never made his list of “Worst Person in the World.” You know, that guy that starves his own people.
Let the ridicule begin!
I’m worried that Sesame Street is loosing (or has lost) it’s Yiddish undercurrents. It seems to me that the obvious parody name in that joke isn’t “POX” it’s “SCHLOX … Now there is a trashy news show!”
Not sure if this is mentioned but the name for CNN was GNN- Garbage News Network… Is this any more positive than Pox news?