Wednesday, March 19, 2008

No More ***, Please

We interrupt the regularly scheduled post with this news-related rant. My apologies for the delicate subject matter.

OK, I've had it. No more ***, please. You know what I'm talking about -- the word that begins with an "s" and ends with an "x." No, I'm not taking a vow of celibacy. I just don't want to read about other people's *** in my morning paper. Or hear about it on the car radio. Or see it on the TV news.

I live in New Jersey, about 25 miles from New York. Both states where, apparently, if you are a governor, you can't keep Mr. Happy in your trousers.

First there was New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, who announced to the world a few years ago that he was a gay American. (Apparently, his wife was the only one in the state who didn't know.) Frankly, I don't care. I just really didn't want to hear about it when driving up the Parkway with four teenagers in the car, coming back from a vacation down the shore. Sheesh.

Then last week, it was New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, the former law and order prosecutor who was linked to a high-priced escort service. Yes, I understand what a terrific story it was -- Mr. Ball-buster gets, well, busted. I get it. I just really don't need to have breathless helicopter coverage of his motorcade stuck in traffic while trying to reach his office in midtown Manhattan, where he might (might not?) resign. Enough already.

Monday, it was McGreevey's turn again. The former governor's driver announces that he enjoyed "Friday Night Specials" (his words, not mine) with both Mr. and Mrs. McGreevey. At the same time. Eeeeuwww.

And finally, the new governor of New York, whose name hasn't even registered with me yet, told reporters yesterday that he and his wife have both had exta-marital affairs. The tabloids rushed to fill in the details. Let's just say that now I have another reason to never stay at a Motel 9.

To any future officeholder: For the love of God, I'm begging ya, buddy -- keep 'em zipped. Your pants and your mouth. Sharing a little too much with your secretary? I don't want to know about it. A little too interested in the family dog? Please don't go there. Anything that involves both the secretary and the dog, while dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz?
I. Don't. Want. To. Know.

That's not too much to ask, is it?

54 comments:

  1. HiHi I agree! We even here about them over here!

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  2. Mary I could not agree with you more! I am so sick of our *** saturated society and hearing about everyone nasty habits! It is almost impossible to turn on the radio or t.v. or pick up a newspaper or magazine without that being all you hear about. We live near Detroit, the mayor is getting outed for his affairs and lies and I wonder why we cant find a politician who can keep his nose to the grindstone instead of where it doesnt belong! Our kids are so overexposed to nasty tabloid like tales I dont kow how they even have an innocent childhood anymore.

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  3. Amen to your rant! It's why my head stays firmly entrenched in the sand. I don't want to hear about all that ..... along with negative politics or even news that isn't really news anymore...... it's the anchors sharing their opinions (You know, I really don't care what they think). So, I just don't turn them on anymore.

    I read headlines on my RSS feed and 50% of that is talking about Brittany Spears underpants....so, one day I probably won't even read the RSS.

    Thanks for letting me know someone else has had it with the "news".

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  4. Good morning... I'm a new reader and have been enjoying your blog! (And, I'm a former Jersey Girl LOL)

    I agree with you...

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  5. You are so right! For the most part, I don't care what they do or who they do it with so long as they do their job (and keep it out of the news). At least with this latest round of political scandal, it's bumped Britney Spears and her crew out of the headlines. Crazy.

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  6. Totally agree - I never buy a daily paper because they are full of what other people are up to and I am just not interested in it. Why can't I buy a newspaper that just gives me news not sleaze.
    I alos hate it over here how the people presenting the news are so friedly and giggly with each other as well as being celebrities!! Don't start me on that subject! they try to be your friend and ask you to ring in tell the world what wee think - why?? They don't care waht we think - just read the news and leave and go home!! Sit at a desk and be sensible when you are reading out somethng tragic instead of smiling like some one on drugs!!
    Wow that felt better!!

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  7. Can I ask a question now?? does anyone there in USA subscribe to Country Living. I tried to some months ago they sent me an email to accept my request and since then nothing. I can't email them because you need a zip code and state and in UK I don't have any of that info. I have written to their office twice now and still no response - I don't want to re-subscribe in case I end up with two subscriptions! Has anyone else had these problems in USA or UK. Thanks for the opportunity to rant about the previouse subject x Catherine

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  8. Totally agree Mary. Couldn't care less!
    Donna

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  9. Amen and amen.
    Joan

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  10. What a GREAT post...I so agree with you.

    I remember the Clinton days and my little girl coming home and asking me what that was all about, I still can't get past that pig.

    And the latest with McGreevey's wife am I missing something there; what was she just a spectator ???

    I love the news so I won't stop watching it but my MUTE button will sure get a workout !!!

    On a happy note anyone else loving Dancing with the Stars ??

    Thank you for the post,
    Kathy :)
    jokaj@comcast.net

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  11. I'm with you sister. That pretty much sums it up!

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  12. You are sooo right, Mary!
    The news is not news anymore. It's let's print or broadcast anything that will sell, sell, sell.
    The officials need to DO THEIR JOB, and keep the personal business out of the OFFICE!! Is there any Morals anymore?

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  13. Oh Mary, I laughed out loud at this post. I am sooooo tired of it that I don't watch the TV news and rarely read the newspaper. But our sicko society craves that stuff. (Just like rubbernecking at an accident.) So the media keeps cranking it out. Call me an ostrich with my head in the sand, I don't care.
    Hugs, Laura

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  14. I live in NY state and I totally agree. Enough, already! Last night on Keith Olbermann's show on MSNBC he called it "Governors gone Wild."

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  15. I so agree.....it's like Senator GARY HART...he said once,to news reporters.... "If you don't believe me that I've never cheated, just follow me!" Well, they DID. Right to a motel room where his "girlfriend" was waiting for him! It all makes me want to puke!!
    bj

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  16. ROFL! You're so right, Mary! Enough is enough!! My sympathies are with the good people of New York.

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  17. Mary,
    As a current resident of NJ and former resident of NY thank you for saying what I am sure we all feel!
    Annie

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  18. You said it! And I agree!

    I just love the term "Mr. Happy" and always laugh out loud just like a 13 year old boy!

    Fran

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  19. You gave me my chuckle for the morning. I live about 30 miles from Philadelphia, so our local news is also all about New Jersey. Did the NJ taxpayers pay for any of this?? Well then, we don't need to know. We have I95 that is falling apart to worry about.

    Connie

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  20. Mary,

    I so agree and I am also tired of seeing everyones boobs being exposed and Priapism!! If someone, including Bob Dole needs ED meds, I don't want to know and I don't want the ads on my TV. I feel like I am really getting old and opinionated about modern society and I am a liberal. Go figure.

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  21. Can you imagine that an educated, well-adjusted, former teacher would *choose* to read blogs rather than the daily *news*?
    Well, I did just that!.....I choose to think about beauty, the wonder of the world and helping it become a little better because I love my family.

    **Thanks for having one of the best blogs!!!
    (And for agreeing with me about the state of all media coverage these days)

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  22. That is why I don't like watching tv, reading the newspaper or listening to the radio!
    I really would rather NOT hear about ones sex life, and affairs and other rather personal stuff!

    Like you said "KEEP IT ZIPPED"

    Happy Easter,
    Hugz, Dolly

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  23. I agree-Too Much Information! And why aren't more people horrified at these behaviors? Are we now accepting of this kind of behavior as "normal"?

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  24. I am laughing out loud now...although it is too much...I love your take on it. Your first few sentences made me laugh and I needed that!

    Well, at least there was one good thing about the governors' sex lives being all over the media...we have not heard a thing about Britney Spears or Paris Hilton is days!!

    No wonder I just watch old I Love Lucy and Andy Griffith reruns on television!

    Love,
    Sue

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  25. OK Mary, this post brought me right out of lurking mode.
    I couldn't agree more. It is so hard to try to raise our kids with good morals with the heads of our states and country (Clinton) doing these crazy things all the time. I am also sick of watching coverage of the poor wives standing up there supporting their men when I wonder if many of them would rather be kicking them square in the seat of their pants. I also wonder whether if the cards were turned the husbands would be sticking by their wives.
    Anyhow, great post and I feel so much better now.
    Have a great day and know that I enjoy your posts every day, but this one really got me going. Ha ha.

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  26. Right on Mary!! I stopped watching the TV news about 10 years ago. I agree - I don't want to hear about it incessantly. OK - the story is out, he resigns...move on.

    Unfortunately when I log on the morning AOL's home page is plastered with this stuff. Having said all that, what am I doing reading "Reflected Glory", which is the biography of Pamela Churhill Harriman. (Well, I got it for 89 cents at Goodwill and I didn't really know much about her story). HOLY COW...this woman makes these politicians look like Boy Scouts. And Clinton appointed her Ambassador to France!!! Figures.

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  27. P.S. Unfortunately, these types of admissions and discoveries give terrible messages to our children. I always made sure my kids knew this type of behavior and lifestyle was NOT OK no matter who was involved.

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  28. Hi Mary,
    I could not agree with you more!

    Nice blog, I'm going to take a look around. Thanks for making me laugh, but it is so, so true!
    xo~Tracie
    My Petite Maison

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  29. Can it be dressed as Dorothy, her little dog Toto and a MUNCHKIN! Because then it would be ok, right?

    No, really. I agree totally.

    Enough, already!

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  30. I agree completely!
    How does this ***** even rate as news worthy?
    T-in NJ

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  31. "Mr. Happy"...you had me laughing out loud with that line! I agree with you, I can't even keep up with it all!

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  32. Thank you Mary! As another New Jersey resident I am sick to death of hearing about these overpriveledged, self indulgent people's intimate details. Enough already...be as "alternative" as they want, just keep it to themselves...PLEASE! And don't run for public office either!

    And now for something completely different...Spring is almost finally here...hooray!Have a wonderful holiday weekend! Bramble

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  33. No it is not too much to ask. One of the many reasons we do not watch the evening news in our house - with 3 small kids, it is out. The Detroit news will just about curl your hair with all of the ***, drugs and violence. Oh and right now, the mayor of Detroit is also in hot water for a pants problem, but the idiot decided to text message the woman bout their trysts and then lied about it while under oath. Ugh! I'm sick of it too.

    Heather

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  34. Well said, well said.

    A good way to lose my vote for certain.

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  35. Dear Mary in NJ from Barbara in NY - Sorry. It's not even like I can say don't blame me, I voted for Client 8 - I actually voted for these guys. I'm just so very, very sorry.

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  36. Amen sister. Our Goverment needs to go home to their wives sometimes. I to am sick of all the mess.

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  37. Mary,

    "Mr. Happy"? that is so funny! I totally agree with everything you said. Amen!

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  38. I'm so tired of it too Mary! Salacious news seems to sell papers though :-(

    I'm startign to wonder if all politicans have too much testosterone.

    Hugs, Pat

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  39. Interesting....I also wrote about this very same thing today on the blog Mental P Mama and I share.... Mental Mama also wrote about this, as you know (came to your blog from the comment you left there); and we had no idea what the other was writing about!

    Must say, I loved what and how you wrote - very succinct! There's news and there's trash talk. And as you so eloquently said, keeping Mr. Happy in one's pants should be a requirement if one is male and elected!

    annbb

    P. S. MPM and I both live in Connecticut. While our "unesteemed" ex governor managed to keep Mr. Happy in the house, he also resigned in disgrace for other awful reasons.
    I've heard the three ex governors are now known as the "Tri-State Trifecta of Disgrace"
    Isn't that special.

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  40. AMEN! I don't understand why it takes s#x to sell everything from newspapers to tires for heaven's sake! Our society has become so sick and perverted. Our young children learn more from watching the news or commercials today than I knew even after "the talk" when it was time for "mother nature's curse" to come calling.

    P.S. I'm voting for YOU for president!

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  41. It makes you almost want to get rid of your tv doesnt it?!?! Im so sick of the drama !!

    Stephanie

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  42. You go girl~! You're reading my mind!!!

    Leanna
    (A Jersey girl now living in Arizona)

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  43. You are so right we all get sick of hearing these stories.
    Even here in Australia their stories are on the front pages or first few pages of our newspapers. Beats me why the newspaper people think Australians care about politicians from other countries cos our own are bad enough!
    Fabulous post.
    Alison

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  44. Mary--thanks for the note. I love your post, and all the comments here! I think we could come up with enough people here on this blog to pretty much run The Entire Country. much better than any of these yo-yo's, thank you very much.

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  45. thank you so much!!! some things are meant to be private.

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  47. Amen! I could not have said it better. Thank you.

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