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The Republican Gazette
COMMENTARY
Otherwise great movies ruined by unnecessary language, nudity
My wife and I recently rented "Walk Hard," the spoof of all those rags-to-riches musical biopics of folks like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc., etc.The stories are all so familiar as to be perfect fodder for parody. Poor boy born to poor family. Tragedy strikes early and stays with him throughout his life. Sudden burst of musical genius propels him to unimagined fame and fortune. Drugs and/or alcohol nearly, or completely, lead to destruction."Walk Hard" sets up each episode with hilarious accuracy, with John C. Reilly deftly handling the starring chores and Jenna Fischer filling the role of the long-suffering woman in waiting, knowing the greatness that exists inside her man. The film is sprinkled with plenty of completely unnecessary foul language, but that's almost unavoidable, it seems, in today's Hollywood. What was really jarring about "Walk Hard" was the sudden intrusion of completely gratuitous nudity. And not only nude women, which is practically common, but full frontal male nudity as well -- and with no apparent point other than, hey, look at this!The sad thing is, "Walk Hard" is a truly hilarious film, with some great moments and dead-on takes on rock-n-roll and country music cliches. It's something you would like to watch with your children, but you can't because Hollywood has decided we can't live without naked bodies crossing the screen from time to time.The recent Will Ferrell comedy, "Semi-Pro," has the same problem. It's not nearly as funny as "Walk Hard," but its storyline centering on the old American Basketball Association was particularly appealing to me. It was Ferrell's first R-rated film, and it bombed. Hopefully, that's a lesson for Hollywood."Leaving carbon footprints
every chance we get"
Lineup for WVHU
guest host days
Yours truly is guest hosting the Tom Roten Morning Show today and Thursday from 6-9 a.m. on News Talk 800 WVHU, Huntington. Here's the guest lineup so far:Today
6 a.m. Delegate Kelli Sobonya.
6:30 a.m. 3rd District Congressional candidate Marty Gearheart.
7 a.m. Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis.
7:30 a.m. Attorney General candidate Dan Greear.
8 a.m. John McCain's WV Executive Director Ben Beakes.
8:30 a.m. Secretary of State Betty Ireland.
Thursday
6 a.m. House candidate Lisa Peana.
6:30 a.m. GOP gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks.
7 a.m. Secretary of State candidate Charles Minimah.
7:30 a.m. State Senator and political consultant Vic Sprouse.
8 a.m. Delegate Craig Blair.
8:30 a.m. Marshall professor and author Jean Smith.
Let it be known also that I made an effort to invite Democrats on the show, particularly Gov. Joe Manchin (or a spokesperson), Dem Chairman Nick Casey, and House Speaker Rick Thompson. The gov's spokesperson, Lara Ramsburg, returned my call and politely declined, which I respect. Thompson's secretary said he was tied up on business both days, which I also respect. Casey did not return my call.Hey, I don't blame Democrats for not wanting to come on the radio and be quizzed by a partisan Republican operative such as myself. But I did want to extend the offer out of fairness (and I would have treated them kindly), and I do respect those who offered the courtesy of a reply.Weeks: Answers to WVU scandal to be found in Charleston, not Mo-town
RUSS WEEKS
Republican gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks said today he is encouraged by the reported investigation of West Virginia University by the state ethics commission, but added that more questions need to be answered in regard to the eMBA degree scandal.“The citizens of West Virginia deserve to know the full details of what happened in this case, and everyone involved needs to be held accountable, both inside and outside of WVU itself,” said Weeks.As reported today by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the West Virginia Ethics Commission has begun an inquiry into the West Virginia Weeks on WAJR
Russ Weeks will be a guest this morning at 9 a.m. on WAJR-FM radio, 103.3, in Clarksburg with host Reuben Perdue.
University degree scandal involving the governor's daughter.
Weeks noted, however, that members of the ethics commission are appointed by the governor, and said he was disappointed that the State Legislature failed to act on a resolution proposed by Delegate Jonathan Miller to open a joint Judicial Committee probe of the scandal. “Taxpayers have millions of dollars at stake at WVU, and the failure to act on behalf of their constituents to get to the bottom of this mess is a failure to properly represent the people who elected them,” said Weeks.Weeks said that the resignation of WVU President Mike Garrison does not resolve the scandal.“This incident did not start or end with Mike Garrison,” said Weeks. “When the daughter of the governor is improperly awarded a degree she did not earn, signed off on by individuals overseen by a Board of Governors mostly appointed by that same governor, under ‘palpable pressure’ from individuals with strong connections to the governor, there’s only one place to find all the answers, and that’s in Charleston, not Morgantown.”Weeks has been meeting in recent weeks with members of WVU faculty, and has pledged that as governor he will fight for a new means of appointing the Board of Governors, and take politics out of the arena of higher education in the state.“State government needs to be held accountable,” said Weeks. “As governor, my top priority will be to return trust, honesty and integrity to our state government in West Virginia.”Libertarians crashing WV
The Libertarian Party has changed course and decided to attempt to have its candidate, former Republican Congressman Bob Barr, listed on the November presidential ballot here.Starting today, petitioners will try to collect the 15,000-plus names necessary to have Barr listed on the fall ballot.According to Ballot Access News, "The Bob Barr campaign has raised enough money to attempt the West Virginia petition. The drive starts on July 9. The deadline is August 1."The internet news site says that originallythe "national Libertarian Party, some months ago, determined to do everything in its power to get its presidential nominee on the ballot in all states except West Virginia and Oklahoma. The latter two states were deemed too expensive."
The article says Barr expects to bring a lawsuit in Oklahoma, where any independent candidate can have ballot access with no petition, but 43,913 names are required for an independent presidential candidate, or for the presidential nominee of an unqualified party. 