These folks were worthy of your voyeuristic attention this year.
Last night, I watched Barbara Walters’ Most Fascinating People of 2009 on ABC, and let’s just say I was underwhelmed.
After wading through *YAWN* Lady Gaga (who looked like Barbara Walters her damn self), Jenny Sanford (played out by her philandering husband), Glenn Beck (racist wasp), Tyler Perry (he’s RICH b*tch!), Adam Lambert (“I’m gay.” Duh!), Brett Favre (bustin’ out at 40), Kate Gosselin (Jon is a punk), the Jackson children (and why exactly are they fascinating?) Sarah Palin (Moronic, yes. Fascinating, no.) and…wait for it, wait for it…Michelle Obama, I was like that was BORING!
Michelle Obama is Barbara’s most fascinating person for 2009. Why? Oh, because of her great arms. What kind of absolute nonsense is this? How can a woman’s arms make her the most fascinating person in the entire United States? Does Michelle Obama have the best arms of any first lady? She might, but who cares?
I was so disappointed that I decided to create my own list, as follows:
10. Jay Z. 2009 was a big year for Jay. It marked the first time he had a Billboard number 1 single, Empire State of Mind with Alicia Keys. He celebrated one year of marriage to Beyonce Knowles, and turned 40. Big things for the biggest name in hip hop.
9. Bernie Madoff. Bernie made-off with an alleged $65M of other folks’ money. Even after he was caught and under house arrest, he tried to smuggle jewels and cash to his family and friends. I think they’re considering changing the name of the hustle from Ponzi to Madoff scheme, because Bernie took duping to new heights.
8. Dr. Conrad Murray. After the heat that Dr. Jan Adams (the doctor that killed Kanye’s mom) received, I thought that Black male doctors would have stepped up their game when it came to dealing with their celebrity clients. I was wrong.
7. Black women who support Chris Brown. What a commentary on the self esteem of women of color, when they rally to the defense of a punk ass b*tch who puts his hands on women. It’s one thing for his immature friends (Omarion, Ne-Yo, Puffy) to stand in his defense, because they’re boys. But the sheer hostility that other Black women demonstrated towards Rihanna, was SCARY.
6. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. He had amnesia and forgot he was a black man. How could I NOT put him on the list?
5. Jaycee Lee Dugard. Props to this girl for living through kidnapping and 18 years of unadulterated torture at the hands of a pedophile (he needs to be castrated). Her story gave hope to thousands of parents of missing and abducted children.
4. Lil Wayne. Who else can be perpetually high, have two baby momma’s (Lauren London and Nivea Hamilton) give birth at the same time, be featured on three top 20 Billboard singles and have a documentary (The Carter) all at the same time?
3. Charla Nash. She’s on the list for courageously surviving being attacked by Travis the Chimp because she didn’t want her daughter to be alone in the world AND for showing us how she looked on Oprah.
2. Maria Belen Chapur (aka Governor Sanford’s mistress). Her milkshake was so good that this fool went AWOL for it. Bump governing South Carolina. Bump the wife, the kids. Gimme some of that Argentinean booty!
1. Tiger Woods. Until he was caught, he displayed panache worthy of the most fascinating person designation (what’s the count at now, 15?). Who knew that the squeaky clean, world’s number one golfer could be so trifling AND sloppy?!
Full Disclosure: I picked my wife’s brain for some of the individuals featured on the list. She vehemently disagrees with Jay Z (she thinks he should be number 15 or 16).
Stephen Chukumba 
Want straight talk on politics? Tune in to Rachel Maddow
This chick knows her ish!
I usually don’t ‘do’ politricks because (IMO) its all just a farce.
We elect figure heads who promise us the moon when they’re campaigning, ignore us for the majority of their term, and come abegging for our votes at the end of their respective terms.
Rarely do they keep their campaign promises.
Rarely do they exude the steely fire and commitment (in office) that they demonstrated while stumping.
Rarely are they the same people they presented themselves to be, before they took office.
It’s not surprising, then, that many are disenfranchised and disillusioned after their heros get elected to office, and then turn their backs on their constituency.
I’m a registered Democrat, but I’m not some fanatic that supports Democrats just because.
Nor do I tow the party line on issues.
I generally think that most politicians are liars, not to be trusted.
Kamau bigged her up so much I had to watch the show.
So it was with great interest that I listened to Rachel Maddow, first on Totally Biased, with W. Kamau Bell show, and then again, last night on The David Letterman show.
For those of you unfamiliar with Rachel, she is an American television host, political commentator, and author.
Her nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, airs on MSNBC.
She also has a syndicated talk radio program which airs on Air America Radio.
What I found particularly captivating about Rachel is that she’s just so friggin’ smart!
I mean seriously, this chick has something special going on in all that grey matter between her ears.
Her perspective about the upcoming presidential election, the respective candidates and their parties, was unquestionably, one of the most concise, objective commentaries I’ve heard in a long time.
Even more impressive, was her passion about the subject, and her ease addressing whatever was thrown at her.
To be fair, she was talking to two comedians.
It’s not like either W. Kamau Bell or Letterman were dropping bombs on her with the questioning.
But it was clear from her responses, that she knew what the heck she was talking about, and she wasn’t merely parroting some liberal party line.
I’ve never watched the Rachel Maddow show.
I was am so disgusted with the state of politricks, that I really don’t care what either side has to say about anything.
So it stands to reason that none of these political talking heads (Wolf Blitzer, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter) have ever really resonated with me.
But with Rachel Maddow, I might actually have a reason to tune in and pay attention.
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Filed under opinion, politics, rant, Smack talking
Tagged as Air America Radio, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, comedian, David Letterman, david letterman show, Democrat, Glenn Beck, liberal, MSNBC, political commentator, politics, politricks, presidential election, Rachel Maddow, The Rachel Maddow Show, Totally Biased, W. Kamau Bell, Wolf Blitzer