I’ve written a couple of things lately that, in my opinion, come into play in the “Rodeo Clown as Obama” caper down in one of Missouri’s most progressive…ahem…cities, Sedalia.
You may recall that on July 23 I put up a post called “Now there’s a redneck!”
I picked out a few examples of archetypal rednecks, such as the Lake Waukomis guy who drowned his cat by submerging the carrier (with cat) in the lake.
I got some kickback on that post and decided I probably wouldn’t go after redneck nation again…Gotta reconsider, however, after the rodeo clown donned the Obama mask — featuring big, white, donkey-style teeth — at the Missouri State Fair Saturday and asked, to the delight of the crowd, if anyone would like to see Obama run down by the bull. (I don’t have to tell you what the answer was.)
For that display, the only possible conclusion that anyone with any sensibility could come to is this:
“Now there’s a bunch of rednecks!”
I also wrote on Aug. 5 about Missouri having thrown up as many obstacles as possible to implementation of the Affordable Care Act, under which people can start signing up for health care insurance in October. I said, that as far as I was concerned, if every part of the state except Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis slid off the earth, it wouldn’t bother me.
Let me second that emotion and add that Sedalia, along with Greene County (Springfield), should be the first to slide into oblivion.
***
Rodeo clown at Missouri State Fair
The Kansas City Star’s two online pieces about the rodeo stunt — a straight news story by Mark Morris and a commentary by editorial writer Yael Abhoulkah — are on the way to drawing more than 10,000 reader comments between them.
The vast majority of the commenters have strongly and angrily defended the stunt as a harmless political gag. Several have said it probably would have made no splash whatsoever if the clown had depicted a Republican president.
In my opinion, though, one commenter who was critical of the stunt hit the nail on the head when he or she said:
“What a mediocre state.”
A regular commenter to this blog, John Altevogt, contends that Obama is the most intensely disliked American president in history.
That is true, but it is only a minority of American voters who loathe him.
I say that the president who was most disliked by a vast majority of right-thinking Americans was that crook Richard Nixon.
And, finally, I want to say that this outpouring of bile against Obama, while unsettling, doesn’t really upset me too much because, as I’ve said many times, conservatives are on the wrong side of demographics.
Think how pissed off the cowboys and commenters are going to be when Hillary is president.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
“Think how pissed off the cowboys and commenters are going to be when Hillary is president.”
Not nearly as pissed as they’ll be upon discovering Huma’s White House sleep-overs…
Now, wait a minute, Doc…Huma is obviously foolish to stick with The Weiner, doing her best Hillary impersonation, but I haven’t seen any indication that she is, uh, loosey-goosey.
P.S. Welcome to the Comments Dept.
I was not referring to Huma’s (or Hillary’s, for that matter) rumored bisexual tendencies; rather it’s her recently revealed affiliations that would spark the outrage.
While they are saying how intensely disliked the President is, they DO seem to know enough to say it’s because he’s black. Or is he half -black? Or is he half-white? I get confused.
No John. It is not the color of his skin, it’s the ideas inside the skull that a lot of people don’t like. Add to that his apparent belief that the Constitution ought not get in the way of his doing whatever he wants, and you’ve got a recipe for opposition. Why is that so hard for the Left to understand?
Please. Your president, GWB, trampled all over the Constitution. What do you call the Patriot Act? And whose brilliant idea was it to decide corporations are people?
Just call it what it is — many people don’t like President Obama because he is uppity. Just admit so we can move forward.
I get that this event was a rodeo and I get that the pitchmen, this time, really were clowns and I’ve seen both on numerous occasions. Been to a couple of world fairs too. What I don’t get is how this redneck theater deserves national histrionics on simple ‘ol country folk enjoyin themselves. Is the nation just now waking up to what Missouri voters stand for? Just where would one start? Poor taste is just poor taste and this was really poor taste, but unfortunately not a hanging offence. Now watching some simple ol’ congressman shout out the president as liar during national broadcast of a presidential speech to congress….that deserves histrionics and possibly a hanging. Makes one long for the good ol’ Roman Coliseum days. Yep bread and circuses (rodeos) is what I’m votin for next time around. Gonna get me sum. Yee haw.
Democrats are just pissed off that the President is depicted as having a job in the private sector, actually working for a living.
Maybe he is “Organizing” the bulls into groups where they can vote without ID Cards.
A clown in an Obama Mask with a bull hot on his heels is a metaphor for the Dems leaving office and the economy finally turning around.
Chuck, Chuck, Chuck…What the hell are we going to do with you?
I have it from a very reliable source, that the Rodeo Clown was born in Kenya and learned his trade running from Dictators.
:)
The clown has been banned from the Missouri State Fair for life…as well he should be: He’s not an American.
By the media’s standard established in the George Zimmerman lynching King Hussein is a white Negro, self described as a black man. A non-African, African-American, if you will.
I am curious though as to why liberals have embraced the South African apartheid definition of race wherein one drop of no-white blood instantly makes you black.
And why is criticizing an authoritarian and unpopular “leader’ in poor taste instead of the State Fair’s response of permanently banning the clown and demanding that all future employees take sensitivity training not considered fascism?
http://www.mostatefair.com/press-releases
More later.
It’s about time sensitivity training got to the hinterlands.
The “Hinterlands” are on the coast, they all have Doctorates in that stuff.
Whose sensitivity? Mine for civil liberties, or theirs for maintaining totalitarian speech patterns and never thinking critical thoughts?
This was simply comedy. Does anybody think it’s different when SNL does a sketch about the president. Reach into that crack and pull them panties out ’cause they’re all bunched up!
The immensly popular series on HBO, “Game of Thrones” used a decapitated head of George Bush on a pike in it’s first season.
(crickets)
Fitz, are these guys not American?
http://m.newsbusters.org/blogs/lachlan-markay/2009/09/16/media-double-standard-only-rights-signs-are-worth-covering
A little humor from our gay friends. I don’t wanna ban them.
http://www.google.com/search?q=outrageous+demonstrations&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=5mQJUtqMHem42gWuvoCgBQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1093&bih=510#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=GQGuitVaIzdA5M%3A%3BE6PdnvjqTPZ7IM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F0.tqn.com%252Fd%252Fpoliticalhumor%252F1%252F0%252F9%252FZ%252F3%252Fhomo-sex-great.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fpoliticalhumor.about.com%252Fod%252FFunny-Protest-Signs%252Ftp%252FFunny-Political-Protest-Signs.htm%3B387%3B500
Or the guys in back of them.
Just sayin…
Come on!! That is your guy Noam Chomsky!!!
Jim, I’m so glad you write this blog! Thanks for this! As a lifelong Missourian, I am dismayed by the craziness that comes out of my state. If I’ve got to live in a state full of wack jobs, I think I’ll just move to Florida because at least there’s a beach.
Good to hear from you, again, MOTE! (And your Dad, too).
Chuck — Take two aspirin, relax and e-mail me in the morning. I want to make sure you make it through the night.
P.S. I could not, technically, give approval to your “Alec Baldwin” responses to your own comments. WordPress must have some sort of firewall for people who try to play both sides of the ping-pong table. Sorry. For the record, though, folks, it was some gibberish about faggots. I don’t know to whom he was referring, however.
Like I said, a couple of aspirin and a good night’s sleep should do the trick.
Fitz and Friends,
The rodeo clown is a clear example of racism and hatred that will always exist.
I do not accept it, but I am realistic about us all loving each other. Americans do not even like each other!
I do not support President Obama. It has nothing to do with race. I would vote for Alan Keyes, by writing him in or if he makes to a ballot..
But I do not support 99% of all politicians, because they are thieves. I vote for the best candidate, while in the back of my mind, I know that person will steal and be bribed. I am more conservative. But I agree with moderates.
The banks run the show…the derivatives are returning and are still legal. Just in case anyone forgot what truly came days from systemically destroying our economy, a reminder.
The definitions: something that is based on another source. And an arrangement or instrument (such as a future, option, or warrant) whose value derives from and is dependent on the value of an…: “the derivatives market.”
These are the things in which we need to focus. Too much of the media will stretch other events for ratings and diverting attention from news.
Like the Kardashians, singing and dancing talent shows attracting the attention of way too many of Americans. To divert our attention from problems not being solved. It is the White House and Congress. The media uses society’s derivatives to take our eyes and ears away from real important to the District and Columbia – GREED!
We have intensely more important problems than the racial slur of the President in Sedalia.
I want something way out there…honesty, accountability and the willingness to work together. If then, problems are not solved the thieves can tell us they tried. We have suitcase nukes in the U.S., we are owed almost $17 trillion by our own government. We have not had a budget passed in almost five years; the ACA was passed with bribes, how much further should type. The ACA will be extended to 65 million Americans, and illegal immigrants by 2020.
As sickening as the rodeo clown is (I did not expect Donatella Versace to unveil the Spring 2014 Line at the Missouri State Fair Rodeo in Sedalia), let’s move on to real issues. Find common ground and take our government, we can disagee, but let’s be civil and let’s vote. It is our duty to maintain this democracy.
My oldest brother served several tours in the Vietnam “Conflict.” I saw him spat upon as he arrived home, by protestors he told me “had the rights to spit”.
To not try and have a civil debate in 2014, 2016 and other future elections and vote, is to spit on our soldiers, and each other again.
We need people who have no financial agenda. Things need to be paid for; taxes have to be assessed. I do not have the answers, but demanding them from those that possess them is what we need.
Next…
Larry — Did you see Rick’s comment below? He thinks you’re wise. Push that chest out, buddy!
P.S. Long live the Kardashians…
Is this North Korea or are we in some sort of weird Twilight Zone episode where the population of the United States was switched with the people in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq? Because a man just got banned from a rodeo for life because he made fun of the President. He didn’t threaten him. He didn’t wish harm on him. He didn’t say anything racist. He just entertained the crowd by mocking the President of the United States and he had a Senator and a Governor coming down on him for it in retaliation. Since when did it become such a sin to criticize dear leader? Unfortunately for this poor guy, little did he realize how incredibly humorless and thin skinned liberals have become about their failed President.
John Hawkins
How ’bout that great band Pearl Jam?
http://commonsenseconspiracy.com/2013/08/rodeo-clown-impersonates-president-obama-banned-from-missouri-fairs/
The asprin helped Fitz. But I still get a headache when I see this Rodeo Clown story.
:)
Perhaps now that our unemployment rate has ticked up by one more guy who lost his job as a rodeo clown, we, here in this city, could negate that negative and hire this rodeo clown to work the Plaza during Flash Mobs when “youths” are assaulting and intimidating the patrons.
I can see this clown, distracting the “youths” from their targets and profits returning to previous levels in combination with a reduction in casualties.
A win-win!!
I thought it was in poor taste but not deserving of one column inch of news space. POTUS get ridiculed–and they should–that part’s of what you sign up for when you want to be the leader of the free world. I’m sure the shoe being thrown at GWB was met with equal outrage by all. /sarcasm Can’t wait for the next GOP POTUS mask being worn in a Gay Pride parade (all that teabagging going on and all).
As for the star, well, three columnists have chimed in with their “outrage”. Yawn. And comments are closed. It’s funny, when the story is a crime involving a minority, comments are automatically closed. On this story, they allowed thousands to fly and then stopped them. Seems like the goal was to get web traffic hits rather than further any conversation on the topic.
http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/08/13/bush-rodeo-clown-allowed-in-94-obama-clown-banned-forever-81479
Time and time again the buzz and chatter that follows a specific incident speaks volumes about the general state of American culture in the Internet Age. In light of the current 24/7 news cycle with a “supporting cast” that includes YouTube and Twitter, I propose a new Murphy’s Law of sorts: For every action, no matter how innocent or seemingly harmless, there will be an immediate and extended overreaction. Now for the record, I think the clown stunt was in poor taste and was entirely uncalled for, but like an earlier commenter has so wisely observed, there are a whole lot of more important things going on these days that require our undivided attention.
Today, my fellow Americans, as POTCCWAA, I am hereby banning all clowns from working at the Missouri State Fair. One of our members as badly embarrassed us by mocking POTUS on Saturday night, and I think it’s only fair that we all share the blame…And now, let’s all say a good Act of Contrition.
(For those of you new members, our acronym stands for President Of The Clowns and Carnival Workers Association of America. Long live CCWAA!)
Oh, toll the bells of sorrow and make ready the burnt offerings. Rent the lapels from your best suit coats! The self-proclaimed Lord and Savior of the Free World has been the victim of Ozark parody! Rodeo clowns should never be allowed freedom of expression; but Jamie Foxx, Bill Maher, and Jayzee most certainly should.
George Bush withstood eight years of non-stop bashing and comedy spoofing by the likes of Saturday Night Live, Hollywood elites, Television, and quite often the liberal media. But let’s scream to High Heaven when the Dear Leader is besmirched in the least.
What a great and effective diversion a State Fair rodeo clown has provided to draw attention from the five layers of blatant lies surrounding the Benghazi cover-up that left an ambassador, Navy SEALs, and others dead along with the destruction of our embassy, while the Dear Leader was AWOL for almost nine hours during the crisis.
How miraculous that he could somehow still make it to Las Vegas the next day for a campaign party with his rapper pals while the flag-draped caskets were being flown back to the USA.
Look all..it’s not that anybody does or does not have the right to criticize, we all do. The issue is that it was done at a state fair put on with tax payers $$.
I think that’s a good point, which I did not emphasize, Joey.
P.S. Welcome to the Comments Dept.
I read in Helling’s story today that the announcer is the superintendent of the Sedalia school district…Just the sort of guy to keep Missouri Redneck Nation thriving in Sedalia, I guess.
Fear not Fitz, that gonadless piece of garbage is already running for the hills and repenting any uppitiness as he flees and so our children are still in the hands of a spineless coward willing to sacrifice our first amendment rights to King Hussein’s police state at the drop of a hat.
His first day of school is going to take a back seat to the shit storm he’s going through now.
https://www.facebook.com/supporttuffygessling?hc_location=stream
For folks on Facebook who want to show their support for the First Amendment.
I see that the clown, Tuffy Gessling, has apologized…Good for him. I think he should be allowed back at the State Fair. One mistake should not be cause for a lifetime ban.
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/08/missouri_state_fair_clown_tuffy_gessling_supporters.php
I have relatives who are familiar with the rodeo circuit who tell me that masks of every president have been used by rodeo clowns in the past. Only the mask of this thin-skinned buffoon has provoked such an authoritarian assault on the First Amendment. “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” Voltaire King Hussein should have been the first person to come out and defend what these clowns did when the attacks began, At least he would have if he actually believed in our Bill of Rights. The fact that he hasn’t makes the ridicule only that much more well-deserved.