LTTE: stupid writer doesn't know that * calls Rove "Turd Blossom."

[CottonBear]

The irony is delicious. Enjoy: :evilgrin: ;)

Story last updated at 11:59 PM on July 27, 2005
'Doonesbury' tearing at the cultural fabric
Henry Shirah

Garry Trudeau's trash-mouth words in reference to Karl Rove (Cartoon, "Doonesbury," July 27) are another crack in our diminishing culture. Appropriate language means something in a stable society. Sadly, our language has wound its way down into the gutter in music, books, TV and movies, and economic status makes no difference.

No big deal? We are watching the demise of civilization. Rudeness seems to be the routine now. One writer recently pointed out how tailgating other motorists falls under that category of social behavior.

When is the last time someone apologized for passing in front of you in a store aisle? Others are invisible as we work through our "me first" attitudes. The fabric of society and culture is fragile. Trudeau ripped it a bit more. One day, we will be bare, and then what?

Henry Shirah
http://onlineathens.com/stories/072805/let_20050728031.shtml
******************************************************************
Once again, my local paper, the Athens-Banner Herald, runs a letter from an idiot, Republican, freeper type. Keep in mind that many of the letter writers don't live in Athens-Clarke County (too many poor folks, blacks, hispanics, gays, bohemian college students and faculty and *gasp* liberals). They live in the rural and suburban (read mostly white and/or wealthy Republican) counties which surround Athens. They didn't publish where he lives like they usually do.
edit: add link

[msongs]

1. did the paper run a line explaining turd blossom ->

our paper sometimes runs a sentence or two after an LTTE commenting on the subject of the letter as in (Note to readers: "turd blossom" is the nickname President Bush uses for karl rove")

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[CottonBear]

4. No. That's the best part!

:evilgrin:
There are so many of these crazy letter writers. I could respond to one a day. There is an online ABH forum that I can post in regarding this idiot. Of course since we are the home of UGA, we have many very factual, logical and well-written letters from liberals and progressives.
:) an example:

Media not doing job on Roberts story
Daniel McKinley

As if the timing of Bush's nomination of John Roberts for the Supreme Court wasn't enough of a diversion from Karl Rove, Bush has now managed to get the media to avoid discussing his nominee's judicial philosophy. Roberts seems likable enough in person, but that has no relevance to the impact of his confirmation on the future of American jurisprudence.

It's troubling enough the Democratic minority seems to be falling over itself to clear the way for Roberts' confirmation, but repeating - celebrating? - that fact ad infinitum in the media, instead of examining the implications of a Roberts confirmation in light of his record, is to abdicate the most fundamental responsibility of journalism.

I've seen scant evidence from the media of anything resembling any sense of its duty to inform the electorate on issues central to self-governance. Is the Bush administration's policy of smoothing the way for ever more concentrated corporate ownership really worth making the entire journalistic profession irrelevant?

When the Bush administration's plainly stupid policies have ruined this country, the media, too, will have to live with the results. I suppose it could be the media are now just in the habit of reducing everything to the most innocuous "human interest" denominator. And it's entirely likely the media are still under tremendous pressure to disprove this ridiculous idea of a "liberal media." And that's exactly why that patently laughable myth was perpetuated in the first place.

As an actual liberal, I can say the media have a long way to go before that charge has any validity. So the media should feel free to move a little closer to the center. The rest of the country already has; the media have been too busy parroting the administration's talking points to notice.

Daniel McKinley

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, July 28, 2005
http://onlineathens.com/stories/072805/let_20050728029.shtml

[Kurovski]

9. So following the letter writer's logic

Their president is tearing down the fabric of our culture.

So is their vice-president who chooses to tell folks on the Senate floor to go fuck themselves.

and both refer to newspaper writers as "major league assholes". Let's also remember George's recent flipping off of the press.

Personally, my eyes glaze over when someone such as that letter writer pulls out that old nugget " The demise of our civilization." Haven't jumpy, ill-informed cranks been using that hyperbolic statement for thousands of years now?

Edit: to close quote.

[CottonBear]

13. Bu$h is destroying our culture and society. Surely Mr. Shirah must agree

since, following his logic, * uses bad words therefore he is tearing down the fabric of our culture.
:) :evilgrin:

[fob]

2. Write a rebuttal to that moran explaining that those are g bush*s

"trash-mouth words" and Mr Shirah would be better if he sent a complaint to the White House then to the funny pages.

[CottonBear]

5. Excellent idea! He should send that letter to * n/t

[louis-t]

6. And send along the photo of shrub with his middle finger in the air

saluting the American people. And the text of Cheney calling a reporter an 'asshole' on an open mike. And the text of shrub sticking his head into Condi's meeting saying "Fuck Saddam, we're taking him out." And any other vulgarisms this bunch has spewed.

[Straight Shooter]

25. Don't forget bush's comment when asked what he and his dad talk about.

I think this was in the 2000 campaign. Someone asked him (off the record?) what do he and his dad talk about other than politics. What does fearless leader say?

"Pussy."

Yeah, he's a real class act. :sarcasm:

[CottonBear]

28. He actaully said that? Figures. LOL! n/t

[Cocoa]

3. Mr. Shirah is a Bush-basher without even knowing it

I hope he has liberal friends that won't let him forget this. :bounce:

[CottonBear]

7. I would love to be there when he finds out that those are *'s words!

Bwahahahahahahahah! :rofl:

[Crankie Avalon]

8. Dear Mr. Shirah:

You are absolutely right, Sir!!! Anyone who would even dream up as filthy a name as what appeared in Garry Trudeau's cartoon strip is obviously someone with a diseased mind who should never be allowed to hold a position of responsibility in our society.

Standards are crumbling.

What's next? A president who talks like that?? Or a president who calls a reporter a "major league asshole"??? Disgusting!!! If we're not careful, we someday may even have vice presidents telling elected officials to "go fuck yourself" on the floor of the Senate.

Yours in pre-emptive outrage,
Crankie Avalon

[CottonBear]

10. Can I use that as my letter to the editor?

It's perfect. I'm not nearly so witty! ;)

[Crankie Avalon]

12. Go ahead, with my compliments...

...let the rest of us know if it gets printed.:thumbsup:

[CottonBear]

17. Thank you. BTW, love your name! n/t

[uppityperson]

11. Write a letter back commending Henry and pointing out that fact

Agree with Henry that our culture and moralities are diminishing, as evidenced by the fact that our Fine President's own nickname for Karl Rove is Turdblossom. Be appalled at the rudeness and fragility of our culture and thank Mr. Trudeau for pointing out the lack of acceptable behavior in mrbush.

[CottonBear]

14. OK. Excellent ideas. I'll use those too! Thanks! n/t

[CottonBear]

37. I took your advice (and verbage) and sent this LTTE:

In response to Henry Shirah's letter published on July 28 ('Doonesbury' tearing at the cultural fabric), I agree with Mr. Shirah that our culture and moralities are diminishing, as evidenced by the fact that our fine President's own nickname for Karl Rove is Turdblossom. I too am appalled at the rudeness and fragility of our culture and I thank Mr. Trudeau for pointing out the lack of acceptable behavior on the part of Mr. Bush.

Xxx Xxxxxx
Athens

I'll let y'all know if they publish it. I've only ever written one LTTE to a weekly paper and it was published. They'll have to call me and confirm my name and address prior to publication.
I was going to use Crankie Avalon's letter (permission was granted!) but I thought the words "fuck" and "asshole" wouldn't make the paper.
:) *fingers crossed* :)

[Pacifist Patriot]

41. Much better tactic than the one I took.

[Oreo]

15. Looks like a regular LTTE writer

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Henry+Shirah%22&hl=en&lr=&start=0&sa=N

Shouldn't be too hard to find his phone number and leave him a message... not that I'd condone anything like this

http://phone.people.yahoo.com/py/psPhoneSearch.py?srch=bas&D=1&FirstName=henry&LastName=Shirah&City=&State=GA&Phone=&Search=Phone+and+Address+Search

[CottonBear]

16. I already looked in 2 directories and he's not listed.

I'll have to check the listing for the small towns around Athens.
Of course I would never even think of leaving him a message. ;):evilgrin:

[Oreo]

19. check post 15 again

I would guess that's him

[CottonBear]

21. Oh, I see that. Hmmm. Young Harris is where Ziz Zag Zell lives.

It is quite a ways from Athens but the ABH is the biggest paper in Northeast GA besides the AJC.
Thanks! Duers are amazing researchers!

[Kurovski]

18. Shirah asks when is the last time someone

apologized in a grocery store? I do it even when I pass in front of someone perusing the shelves, as do easily 95% of others whom I encounter.

Mr. Shirah is poorly-equipped to notice that an acceptance of torture in our nation is the threat to our civilization worthy of our greatest concern and outrage. How would he be able to recognize when someone is being polite? Rudeness also includes the failure to acknowledge common courtesy when it is granted to you.

[The Doctor.]

20. Just sent him this;

Dear Mr. Shirah,

When studying the art of journalism, I came across a quaint notion postulated by many proffesors and accomplished journalists which helped them launch their carreers and gain public esteem among educated people.
It was called 'research'.

After having read your latest blurb, "Doonesbury Tearing at the Cultural Fabric", I found myself compelled to give you a hand with the particular colloquialism you attempted to tackle in the contexts it has been used.

First, I am of course assuming that you are referring to the use of the phrase "Turd Blossom" by cartoonist Gary Trudeau. You should know that that nickname was given to Karl Rove by none other than George W. Bush himself.
It would also behoove you to understand that, in Texas, from whence the term originates, it is an actual thing...
You see, there is a type of flower in Texas that grows and blooms only from cow dung.
When applied to an event or person, the meaning of the term, "Turd Blossom" is to suggest that something good and beautiful has arisen from something bad.
If you had bothered to look into Mr. Rove's troubled youth, you would know that he did indeed have a, well... crappy life. From that life he drew himself up to become a success of sorts.
The term "Turd Blossom" is a term of endearment.
But, with the general myopia consistent with those who are quick to embrace outrage and indignance, such an oversight is no suprise.
And I'm sure that many people who read your petite diatribe will go right ahead and embrace that same outrage in the spirit of ignorance that now pervades our culture and our media.

Feel free to write back.

Regards,

Dr. Eldritch

[CottonBear]

29. That is just a perfect response! Good work! n/t

[The Doctor.]

33. Why thank you. nt

[Swamp Rat]

30. Excellent!!!

PLEASE let us know if your response is published. :D

Btw, you might want to correct some mispelled words before sending it.

[CottonBear]

31. That picture scares me every time I see it.

:scared: I don't know if your photoshop or the original is scarier. That look of rapture on her face is downright creepy. :(

[The Doctor.]

32. I opted out of having it published.

I was not interested in leaving any personal information, which is required for publishing.

As for the spelling errors... I do often write too fast and am very negligent about proofreading my own material...

Unless I plan on having it published.

;)

Thank you very much - I'll let you know if he gets back to me.

[Swamp Rat]

34. Aww! Too bad!

That's too bad that one must leave personal info just to make a comment. I guess he won't be getting back to you then. :(

[The Doctor.]

47. Not necessarily...

I did leave an e-mail address.

Although I do doubt that he will write back.

[Pacifist Patriot]

42. Splendid!

I wonder if he will respond.

[KurtNYC]

22. They love this guy's letters - Googled him

They publish him every two weeks or so it seems. And he HATES being tailgated.... (linked to cached versions because the site requires registration):
Speaking of NASCAR, I don't understand why anyone finds that "sport" remotely interesting. The drivers run fast around an enclosed track, strapped in a safety harness, wearing helmets and fireproof suits. Whoopee. That's nothing.

On the Athens Perimeter the other day, a woman came up on my bumper doing at least 85 mph. She didn't appear to be wearing a seatbelt and was talking on a cell phone, yet managed to pass by without hitting me or the 18-wheeler in front of me. She had no fireproof suit and was driving a minivan. Now that takes guts.

Edit: Links wouldn't paste correctly, try the first two items on this listing:
http://www.google.com/search?q=henry%20shirah&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=iw

[CottonBear]

23. We have many "serial" letter writers who are uninformed idiots.

Teresa Christian (and yes, she is one of the fundamentalist variety) is another letter writer who is constantly published in the ABH.

[CottonBear]

26. I have to agree with him on the tailgating.

We have some of the world's worst drivers here: students from the metro Atlanta area who drive HUGE pickup trucks and SUVs (some of them even drive Hummers, Range Rovers, Mercedes and Lexus SUVs) while speeding, changing lanes without signaling tailgating and talking on the cell phone.

I have been the victim of these people in several unfortunate accidents.
:(

[CitrusLib]

24. LMAO! This is my parent's newspaper.

They frequently contribute LTTE and have been blasted by freepers numerous times as a result. God bless my parents! I'd be really surprised if one of them hasn't already submitted a response.

:rofl:

[CottonBear]

27. Hello from Athens, GA CitrusLib!

I read the LTTE daily for amusement. The writers are split between rapid freepers and highly educated and articulate progressives. What a hoot. You just can't possibly respond to all of them!
:) :) :) :) :)

[CitrusLib]

36. The highly educated and articulate progressives would be my parents.

:hi:

I was actually the only one in my family educated in Athens (Go Dawgs!), but am now in Florida. We had to spread the activism, you see.

[B Calm]

35. I like Mike Malloy's name for Rove better.. Butter Butt

[CottonBear]

38. Ewww! LOL! n/t

[Swamp Rat]

39. That's a good one!

:D

Rove is really just a chip off the ol' Turd Blossom... a Mini-Me Turdlet. :D

[Pacifist Patriot]

40. I sent this to the ABH before seeing sthis thread...

I read Henry Shirah's disappointment with Doonesbury's contribution to our social decline in courtesy with some amusement. He used "trash-mouth words" referencing Karl Rove as an example while oblivious of their source. I suspect Mr. Shirah may well have voted for the upstanding moral gentleman who coined the phrase "Turdblossom." Pardon me sir, but this is our President's own nickname for Mr. Rove.

As for people saying excuse me when passing in the aisles, I experience that all the time. Common courtesy is not on the decline. Perhaps self-righteous smugness prevents some people from receiving it or possessing the ability to recognize it.

Doubt they'll print it, but I enjoyed writing it.

[CottonBear]

44. Nice. We'll see if they publish our letters! Maybe tomorrow. n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

46. Every once in awhile I see them do a theme rebuttal page.

If anything warrants one, this one does. LOL!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

43. I wrote in too.

I happened to read Henry Shirah's letter of 7/28 online. He bemoaned the use of "trash-mouth" words by Garry Trudeau in "Doonesbury." I believe he was referring to a recent strip in which the President (not seen) refers to Karl Rove as "____-blossom." Mr. Shirah says that Trudeau ripped "the fabric of society and culture."

I just wanted to make sure Mr. Shirah understands that the expression Trudeau used is actually the nickname President Bush gave Karl Rove. Yes - our nation's president uses the uncouth language that was simply repeated in the strip.

I wonder if Mr. Shirah's strong feelings about the use of that rather disgusting phrase might change once he knows it originated with someone who would make a far larger "crack in our diminishing culture" than a cartoonist.

Jesse Lewis

[CottonBear]

45. Very good letter. You may want to edit out your real name. n/t

[Rufus T. Firefly]

48. Eh. I'm unemployed.

So I can't get fired like others have.

No worries.