Mort Sahl explains politics in 1967:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5yd3Nqp19s

This is kind of interesting to watch because this scene was something I grew up with.

I mean, Lenny Bruce, who ends up as a partner of Sahl died the year before.

So Lenny ends up with a needle in his arm and Sahl, his Jewish cohort IS STILL ALIVE.

I mean, according to Wiki anyway, Mort is still alive!

My feeling is that Mort had more to do with the development of humor in this society than Bruce ever did!

In '67 and before, I was a kid who was mesmerized by the black board and Sheen and Mort were impressive.

I mean my teachers would use the black board.

You have to put yourself into context of course. I mean in this segment, Sahl makes great fun of Robert Kennedy but for good reason.

I have problems understanding the Kennedys until we get to Teddy whom I adored.

But then again, in that era Humphrey and Gene were my favorite icons on the planet earth! I mean they were both Minnesotans and my own father attended classes with Gene McCarthy as the professor for chrissakes.

I still think Humphrey would have done a fine job as POTUS but as I look back Nixon was not that bad. (excuse me please, I had a little stomach problem after admitting that)

Mort had this thing about Right/Left politics and then he would create this graph with the left on the left and the right on the right. However he would further elucidate with left left left and left left middle and left left right and then he would of course define the center in the same manner and then go right ahead to the right right right; including the John Birch Society. Hahahahahahah

The more things change, the more things remain the same I guess.

Anyway, Sahl decides to make a comeback of sorts on this new medium called cable.

Mort Sahl had been writing the entire time and involved in many many projects.

He even got into Kennedy assassination crap for years. It is funny how one might get involved in conspiracy theories and just get lost!

And he stars in this political/comedian show on some 'small' cable network called 'Monitor'.

Just as we have all these blog sites on the web, back then all these minor cable stations would appear.

I assume one would do better in a NYC situation than St. Louis or Minneapolis situation.

Anyway....

Sahl had this show in early 90's just as he was going through a divorce. So I deduce that he is rather misogynous at this point in his life.

Here he is with Ailes; a personage who would become the single most evil person on cable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJl7ZEr3bCQ

Here with Gene McCarthy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NEGtMhl06w

Diversity is supposed to be a good thing; on the other hand every 'new' person I meet in this day and age is nothing but a rerun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnHUStTmm3A

If you grasp the themes of these shows that appear now on youtube, you can see where Bill Maher came from. I love Bill but he is no Mort Sahl and I do not even think Bill would have the hubris to dispute this statement.

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David Cross on a racist piece of....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHWF0IBZ6xM

I knew I did not like Larry the Cable Guy.

I knew it when I first saw him and found that he went to private school and blah blah blah...

I guess he wrote some right wing piece of crap; called it a book and made a mint. What a surprise!

Anyway I discovered that he devoted an entire chapter to David Cross!

I never did like David Cross.

It was not political.

I guess I just could not understand his nihilism.

Well, this essay he writes (or rather speaks on youtube) is wonderful.

I have to give this guy kudos. Really.

Cross is much more intelligent than I ever gave him credit for and it turns out that he really does care about humanity although I disagree with his approach. And why I should disagree with his approach is up for grabs. I have no standing.

But he takes on this sombitch who attacks Blacks, Jews, real news sources, the truth, poor folks.....like I could never do.

Just listen to this last half of Cross's letter and then go ahead and click the rest of the letter from the right hand side or the blocks available following the end of the session.

It is good.

And I think it underlines what I despise about Palin and Bachmann and a thousand other repubs.

Take a look!

I shall always remember Mort Sahl!