The Malcontent

Mary Quite Contrary - Updated /w New Video

Cashing in on a nation's and GLBT folks' curiosity, vice-presidential daughter Mary Cheney appeared on Primetime Live last night to promote her new book, Now It's My Turn.

During the course of her chat with Diane Sawyer, Cheney describes coming out to her parents, her fourteen year relationship with partner Heather Poe, why she remains loyal to the Republican Party, her disagreements with right-wing orthodoxy, her reaction to her lesbianism-as-Democratic-demagoguery during the debates, and the careful balancing act of existing between a vitriolic gay left and the venemous religious right.

It's remarkable how poised and likeable Mary comes off in this interview. By virtue of her middling position on the political divide, it's safe to say she's subjected to a great deal of unfair attacks from opponents on the Right and Left. Lesbian Traitor and Unrepentant Sinner, Mary Cheney seems to take it all in stride.

[Watch video – 14:10, WMV format, high bandwidth]

[Watch video – 14:10, WMV format, low bandwidth]

Update: Mary Cheney took live viewer questions today with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. Somehwat related, John Aravosis reacts to Rosen and Birch's recent op-ed. His commenters are not quite as charitable. Andrew Sullivan pens an article on the closet tolerance of the president and vice-president. Though I feel he utterly mischaracterizes Dick Cheney's public statements and opposition to the Federal Amendment (not to mention the equating with Darth Vader shtick), there are some good points offered, especially about the potential effects of the November elections on gay rights.

[Watch video – 5:45, WMV format, high bandwidth]

[Watch video – 5:45, WMV format, low bandwidth]

Hermetically Sealed Dick

Echo chamber watch: Cheney's hotel TV will brook no dissent.

Stewart Opens Fire

You knew it was coming. With unconcealed glee, Jon Stewart and crew tackled the vice president's hunting accident with on-site reporting, extended metaphors, re-enactments, and the kind of repetition that can only "catapult the propaganda."

From the very first frame, Jon wears the expression of a man who saw the face of God after reading the weekend headlines. What follows are ten minutes of comedians savoring every second of the story, not letting go until forced by commercial. Enjoy.

[Watch video – 10:14, WMV format, high bandwidth]

[Watch video – 10:14, WMV format, low bandwidth]

Uncle Dick's Duck Hunt

Oh, what can anyone say? The minute the story broke, I put my face in my hands, shook my head, and began laughing until I couldn't breathe. Finally, a true non-scandal that is ripe for parody and mockery from every ideological hue of the fanatic spectrum. The usual suspects are hard at work proving the conspiracy of it all.

I prefer Boozhy's take from the left, and Ace's from the right (humorous, at least, until we learned there actually are others out there who believe our vice president partakes in The Most Dangerous Game).

Never ever underestimate the outrage from hysterical news media. Finally, something they're willing to get worked up about. Warning, that link is not a parody.

We prefer to visualize the incident via one of the most beloved games of my childhood. I think Mal has captured the essence of the most important event in American history to occur within the last fifteen seconds or so.

What Liberal Media Bias? Part I

Politically motivated suicides seem to be all the rage these days.  Just days after a disgraced Miami politician walked into the offices of the Miami Herald and shot himself to death, America's crazy aunt in the attic (thanks, Taranto) has threatened to kill herself if Dick Cheney runs for President.  [HT: Limeshubert]

“The day I say Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself,” she told The Hill. “All we need is one more liar.”

Thomas added, “I think he’d like to run, but it would be a sad day for the country if he does.”

The Malcontent once had the opportunity to push Helen down and break her porotic hip, right in front of the National Press Club, but resisted.  Sounds like Helen might be amenable to doing our dirty work for us.