Taylor’s Not Worth His Gold.

Listen to Ankarlo’s Take every weekday morning during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20.

On Wednesday’s show I told the story about why this year’s Olympic gold medalist in the hurdles, Angelo Taylor, missed the activities four years ago for more than just a physical problem. He had other issues like getting arrested for child molestation after he was caught two times in sexual situations with 15 year old girls. No, I don’t think NBC highlighted that fact. But, it’s what a caller said to me when I expressed my outrage that Taylor was even allowed to race. Said the caller, “He doesn’t represent me, you or the United States.” That’s the problem.

I’m all for privacy but I also believe we have a responsibility to keep one and other in check. This guy can’t run around messing with children and be allowed a free pass. If you go to another country and act like an idiot you certainly represent me and my flag just like I do you when I’m out and about. If no one requires me to behave responsibly and with some decorum as an Ankarlo then I bring scorn to the name. If American citizens are allowed to run amok with no limitations and I get angry looks and angrier words and you support that behavior then as a country we deserve what’s waiting for us.

Henry is Golden!

Listen to Ankarlo’s Take, each weekday morning at 7:20 during Arizona’s Morning News.

Phoenix’ own Henry Cejudo travelled to Beijing and ended up conquering the world. Cejudo won the men’s freestyle 55 kilogram wrestling gold–the first win in that category in 104 years and at 21 he’s the youngest wrestler ever to win. Congratulations Henry.

Here’s the rest of the story: he is the son of a woman who came to this country illegally, a woman who would later receive amnesty. Henry fell to the floor with tears of joy and then took the US flag and wrapped it around his shoulders while running around the mat as he declared his love for the US and the Dream that is distinctly American. Indeed, while our anthem played—he wept. He later told me how much he loves this land of ours as he gushed with patriotism. Again, congratulations Henry. “But Darrell,” some will say, “His parents were illegal.” Yes they were and while the problem was still manageable our country gave them a break. I’m against another break now but will tell you one thing—Henry’s family chose to make the most of their gift. The kids learned the language, got good grade, held jobs and embraced the US of A. Many in our midst should look to young Henry for more than his medal—but for a lesson in country pride.

That is Not Art!

Listen to Ankarlo’s Take, Every Weekday Morning at 7:30 on Arizona’s Morning News on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR:

Local artist and ASU professor Betsy Schneider loves her kids—a boy and a girl—so much that she wants to share them with the world—naked. On Friday night she did just that at a local Phoenix art house. Hanging on the wall were scores of naked pictures so true art lovers and pedophiles could warmly embrace with lasting appreciation the subtle curves and under developed bodies of innocent children. Meanwhile, Phoenix police and the Maricopa County Attorney are deciding whether or not Professor Schneider has violated any laws by exposing her minor children to the public. Someone is really debating this? What part of minor do these various adults not understand? This mother took advantage of her children in a most inexcusable manner and she needs a smack down for it. If she posted these pictures on line, instead of a gallery she would be up on charges and if she were a he—as in father—the jail door would have already slammed shut.

Crude? Yes. But Stop Whining!

I am about to use words that some will find highly offensive so please, if you are easily angered or wear your feelings on your sleeve please turn down the radio for the next 45 seconds. Still there? Okay, here goes: Fart. Retard. N****. Mo#$% Fu#$#$.

And, if you go see the movie protest groups are trying to shut down—Tropic Thunder, you will hear those and more—a lot more. You will also see a white guy in black face. A drug addict tied to a tree uttering the most profane thoughts about sex you will ever hear and a baby summarily thrown from a bridge. Not to mention simulated war scenes that, frankly, dishonor the true cost of battle. I don’t care if you see the film or not, it doesn’t matter to me and yes, it is a very crass comedy experiment. But, to protest a movie that uses debased humor to take shots at the immoral, impractical and immature land known as Hollywood is a lesson in stupidity and political correctness gone haywire. If we follow the protestors’ logic no new films can ever be made because actors must—ACT. If you don’t want nasty don’t see Tropic Thunder but don’t not see it because some crybabies are offended.

Where is the Justice?

If you missed Wednesday’s show then no doubt you haven’t heard about the miscarriage of justice in a Maricopa County court room because most news outlets let this one slip by without comment. On Tuesday, Judge Tim Ryan screwed us all when he let a child killer off with probation. Not to single him out alone, please be assured, CPS and lawyers were adequately involved too. Sure there’s more to the story—the killer is the two year old girl’s mother—I mean, walking womb—who starved her baby to death. Somehow she forgot to feed her child but was able to remember to take out a nice little life insurance policy only a week before little Nakeisha perished. Apparently, that didn’t seem to matter to the good judge. He liked probation.

But why? Perhaps it’s because the little girl’s brain was damaged–possibly from the drugs mamma took while the baby kicked inside her. So the argument could be that it was only humane to kill the kid because she was “different” and had too many special needs. CPS visited the family 5 times but to no avail. Judge Ryan heard the excruciating details but wasn’t moved and mom—well mom gets to go home to her other two kids because they are normal and less trouble.

Just Fake It!?

Word comes from Beijing that the cute little Chinese girl in the red dress from the Olympics opening ceremonies was lip syncing.  Apparently the real seven-year old who sang wasn’t perfect enough.  This coincides with the computer generated fireworks display from night one and a bunch of 10 year old Chinese gymnasts prancing around like they are really 16—the age the Olympic Committee demands. 

Why?  Because China wants to be seen as one of us: with the times and special.  Oh, so special.  In order to accomplish those goals they are willing to forge passports, hide little girls and charm their way into the world’s good graces.  The sad commentary:  as Americans we expect this kind of show biz and actually do a little razzle dazzle of our own.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all play nice—and fair—and honest?!

Edwards is a bum!

By now you know that John Edwards is a bum, a pig actually but it’s also important to know just how this lying politician tried to manipulate you.  You see, after he realized that he was not going to escape the story about a mistress and the possibility that he fathered a baby boy he hastily called ABC for a sit down discussion about his wayward activities.  After ABC bit, he promised them the exclusive only IF they would agree that the story could not air inside World News Tonight. 

Ask yourself—why would he play that card—only a late airing of the story?  Any ideas?  Still thinking?  Friday night was the evening of the Olympics and Edwards people knew this story would come and go and few would notice because of the competition from China.  Brilliant political move right?  Nope.  He forgot the power of talk radio and the anger citizens feel when we get lied to—repeatedly.  Once we know we’ve been manipulated on top of all the deceit it’s pretty hard to get back in our good graces.  That probably won’t matter to him because on top of being a lying politician he’s also rich so we don’t matter all that much—which is how most elected people view us too.

Not forgotten, just don’t care

Salim Hamdan, a convicted war criminal is now the poster boy for all that is wrong with this country. The long time driver and part time bodyguard to Osama bin Laden was sentenced to 5 ½ years last Thursday and since he has been detained for 5 he is eligible to be released before the next person occupies the White House.

How sad are we that a man who is one of the inside guys to the world’s number one terrorist, a person who was captured with two shoulder launched missiles in his backseat took on a war crimes court—even as the war still wages and brought us to our knees? Hamden said he didn’t know what bin Laden did and was sorry about the September 11^th attacks. If this is the case, why did the interrogator who worked on him share the contents of a tape where Hamden showed “remarkable enthusiasm” when discussing him? 3,000 people were murdered on our soil and we said we would never forget. That was 7 years ago. Ah, how times have changed because though we haven’t forgotten—we have decided not to care.

McCain, Obama just like Paris

Ladies and gentleman—President Paris Hilton on energy.

Now, you’ve seen the Hilton spoof ad aimed at the “wrinkly white guy” which is no doubt a funny bit. The debate has turned to whether people like the blonde beauty or not, which is sad because that shouldn’t be on the table since this is a political farce piece. Instead, we should be pleasantly surprised at her brilliant command of a national energy policy. Strong stuff. We all know it was written for her and that is why it is so interesting. Half the stuff Obama and McCain spout is written for them too. So, when Senator John makes a funny remark or Senator Barack mesmerizes with his oratory genius are we hearing from the man or his writers and would knowing the answer change your vote?

We Buy Manipulation!

Recently I had the chance to watch a documentary on the 2002 Bolivian election process called “We Manage Crisis.” It’s a film about James Carville’s political consulting firm and how they used American resources and tactics to direct that country’s future.

In the film they are upfront about planting stories about rival candidates in order to sully their names, using focus groups to find key issues that the politician can claim even if they don’t care about it and basically, the art of lying to the citizens in order to win. As I watched the strategy sessions and consulting meetings unfold I kept thinking about our process and how people like this are manipulating us daily. They want us to get angry about the price of oil, race, old age or crime and magically—that’s what we are debating. If one guy creates his message to get us to go north, the other one crafts one headed south.

The Bolivian experiment ended in anarchy and death in the streets—here, it just ends in our electing a person whose image is carefully crafted and his words are exactly what we tell him we want to hear. So, as we lose more and more of our rights—are they just doing what we’ve told them we expect?

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