Slandering Ann Coulter has been almost important to the press this week as covering Paris Hilton’s release from prison. When Big Mama Edwards shoved herself into the debate by collaboratively staging a phone with Chris Matthews, the drive-by media went into emblematic histrionics. The so-called media covered this political fundraising stunt as if it were actual news. Elizabeth Edwards played the media like Itzhak Perlman plays a Stradivarius.
When the media types are so willing to misrepresent a story as inconsequential as the words of Ann Coulter, it is obvious what do they do when mis-reporting the major issues of the day. Be sure to read Ann Coulter: Diva!
Lawrence Henry has penned the thoughts of many mainline Christians who understand and value the meaning of traditional worship. The total absence of meaning in value in “praise music” and the secularized celebrations of patriotism, Santa Claus, and “I/Me” songs have overwhelmed the genuine qualities that should be present in worship. Although family and friends have repetitively expressed these same thoughts, Mr. Henry does an excellent job of stating the case in his article, “Praise Music Flunks.”
My sister came for a quick visit this last weekend to attend a going-away party for our older son, who is off to prep school. On Sunday, my wife took the gang to church for 9:00 a.m. Sunday school. My sister and I dawdled behind, aiming to be late for the worship service at 10:00. Why? We were both agreed: We hate praise music.
Praise music, for those who don’t know, has sprung up in the last couple of decades as a replacement for traditional hymns in “Bible” or “Gospel” churches. In its tunes, it resembles modern pop, soft rock, or country music. It is generally played by combos — in church! — that include guitar, bass, drums and piano. There are generally a handful of singers, usually including unschooled sopranos.
It used to be said that singers like Aretha Franklin, who made the jump from gospel to pop, sang music much like they used to sing in church, only substituting “Baby” for “Lord” or “Jesus” or “God.” Gospel music at least has the benefit of soul, that ineffable quality of passionate excitement that adheres to the black voice. Praise music, by contrast, is pure whitebread.
Elizabeth Edwards is a charlatan, a swindler, and a cheap tart for her husband’s campaign. She has spent the last few days on all of the broadcast and cable networks trumpeting her staged confrontation with Ann Coulter. I personally received an email today asking for money based upon this synthetic debate that Elizabeth had with Ann. Surely, the democrats will not turn to Edwards as their Presidential candidate.
On second thought, it would be great if they did. He has staked out such liberal positions on every issue that he could never be elected. Maybe I should reconsider making that donation to the Edwards campaign.
Here’s what John Edwards has to say in his email begging for funds…(more…)
Beverly Sills, the opera diva who won over fans worldwide with her sparkling voice and charming personality and later became a powerhouse in the New York arts world, is gravely ill with cancer, The Associated Press has learned.Sills, 78, was chairwoman of the Metropolitan Opera until she resigned two years ago, citing health and family reasons. She remains the Met’s chairwoman emerita.
The Met would neither confirm nor deny news of her illness, but people close to the situation said Sills was at a Manhattan hospital, with her daughter at her side.
In an e-mail this week to members of its board, the Met said Sills was “gravely ill.” One person said she was suffering from lung cancer. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to announce news of her health.
Sills, a nonsmoker, underwent successful cancer surgery in 1974.
Born Belle Miriam Silverman in Brooklyn, the coloratura soprano made her opera debut in 1947 in Philadelphia in a bit role in “Carmen.” She became a star with the smaller New York City Opera, where she first performed in 1955 in Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Die Fledermaus.” She was acclaimed for performances in such operas as Douglas Moore’s “The Ballad of Baby Doe,” Massenet’s “Manon” and Handel’s “Giulio Cesare.”
She didn’t appear at the Met until 1975, shortly before her retirement from singing — which made it surprising when the Met asked her to sit on its board in 2002.
Beyond the music world, Sills gained fans worldwide with a personality that matched her childhood nickname — Bubbles. The relaxed, red-haired diva appeared frequently on “The Tonight Show,” “The Muppet Show” and singing with her friend Carol Burnett. As recently as last season, she hosted some of the Met’s new high definition theater broadcasts.
Sills retired from the stage in 1980 at 51 and began a career leading New York’s performing arts community as general director of City Opera. She became chairwoman of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in 1994.
You will love the recording of Ms. Sills singing the variations on Ah vous dirai-je, maman. The coloratura is stunning.
Update: George Voinovich was the last Senator to vote today. He had no convictions at all about the amnesty bill. Voinovich is a total embarrassment. Grandpa Voinovich has no convictions, no class, and should not be a Senator at all.
George Voinovich was lousy when he was Ohio’s Governor. He is now even more clueless to contemporary issues. In his interview with Sean Hannity, Voinovich appears to be totally lost!
I have tired to call the Senator’s office several times, and no one ever answers the phone, and his voice mail is full. He does not respond to email messages. I am outraged at Voinovich’s behavior. Hopefully, he will plan to retire from the senate-and soon!
Voinovich should remember what happened to Mike Dewine last November. Ohio Republicans can not and will not tolerate Voinovich. Listen to the interview over at Hot Air, and judge for yourselves: Grandpa Voinovich seems to have lost it. I have never voted for Voinovich since his first election as Governor, and I would never vote for him again.
“A travesty. He’s the personification of the bill’s ills: ignorant of and incurious about its weaknesses, confused as to what’s in it and what isn’t (per his comments about Kay Bailey Hutchison’s amendment), and worst of all brimming with arrogance at the nerve of conservative proles to be angry about this issue. This clip ought to push those confidence-in-Congress poll numbers into single digits, assuming they’re not there already.”
“He also appears to have only the vaguest sense of what the Fairness Doctrine is. Rest easy tonight knowing that in these capable hands may rest the fate of the nation’s immigration policy.”
Conservatives in America are fortunate to have Ann Coulter. She is witty, bright, engaging, and is even willing to go on that stupid MSNBC program, Harball with Chris Matthews, to articulate the authentic conservative view of the current political situation. Chris blind-sighted Ann during her Tuesday night appearance with a phone call from Elizabeth Edwards who called in to whine about Ann’s supposed commentary on her husband.
John Edwards is going no where fast. Despite his personal wealth, Edwards really can’t compete with the star quality of Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama. There is a video on your tube of Mr. Edwards primping to the tune of “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story. He is a caricature of a candidate. He and Elizabeth have used Elizabeth’s cancer to raise money, and now they are reduced to outlandish cable news network political stunting to try to get some of the spotlight they crave.
Ann is often widely misquoted and misrepresented. The liberal drive-by media has been doing this same thing to Rush Limbaugh for years. They use their elitist appeal in the most despicable and disingenuous approach.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, God Bless Ann Coulter! Listen to Elizabeth’s total lack of class, and arrogant attitude.
The two Jennifers: Hudson and Holliday sang their signature anthem: “And I am Telling You, I’m Not Going” last night at the BET Awards. This Broadway classic from the 1983 Broadway show, DREAMGIRLS, is one of the greatest show-stoppers in the modern American Musical theater repertoire. Enjoy these two divas as they blow the house down.
Leave it to Fred…Like Ronald Reagan did with Jimmy Carter, Fred can put any modern elitist in proper perspective for the average American. Michael Moore has every appearance of a latter day buffoon. Thanks for the common sense Fred!
McCain/Feingold is one of the worst laws passed in our nation’s history. Fortunately, the Supreme Court has dismantled a portion of this mangled legislation with their ruling today. AJ Strata has it all together.
Hot Air has complete coverage. Be thankful for Roberts and Alito. While Scalia and Thomas rarely disappoint us, even Kennedy joined in on a series of conservative decisions. Right Voices has more. News Max has the whole story.
You have to read the slanted coverage of the “Bong hits for Jesus” case from the Huffington Post. These “free speech” liberals are for the free speech of liberals only, otherwise, they are arguing for the “fairness doctrine.”
Audra McDonald and Patti Lupone at their best singing the arrangement that was written for Babara Streisand and Judy Garland of “Happy Days are Here Again” and “Get Happy.” You’ll love it.
Links, Commentary, and News on all things political, theatrical and educational. Artistic Interludes are interspersed.
Ronald Reagan
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
