Hypocrisy, irony, or both?

You be the judge:

As Madonna bounds on to the huge Wembley stage to save the planet, how the assembled Greenies will cheer.

The superstar is today fronting the massive Live Earth event, with nine concerts played over 24 hours across seven continents before an audience of two billion.

The much-hyped bid to save the world is being masterminded by former U.S. vice president Al Gore - who helped focus attention on the environmental movement with his Oscar-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth - and features artists including The Police, Red Hot Chili Peppers, UB40 and Metallica.

No doubt to rapturous applause, Madonna will call for mass global change to reduce carbon emissions and to tackle 'climate crisis'.

Watching the veteran star lap up the adoration, her entourage could, however, be forgiven for exchanging slightly jaded glances - having witnessed her jet in for the concert from New York.

For her 2006 World Tour, she flew by private jet, transporting a team of up to 100 technicians and dancers around the globe. Waiting in the garage at home, she has a Mercedes Maybach, two Range Rovers, an Audi A8 and a Mini Cooper S.

Indeed, Madonna's carbon footprint is dwarfed only by her ego - she has vowed that she will 'speak to the planet' at Wembley. In fact, an apology might be in order - for the superstar's energy consumption is only the tip of the iceberg in this epic vanity-fest.

The Live Earth event is, in the words of one commentator: "a massive, hypocritical fraud".

For while the organisers' commitment to save the planet is genuine, the very process of putting on such a vast event, with more than 150 performers jetting around the world to appear in concerts from Tokyo to Hamburg, is surely an exercise in hypocrisy on a grand scale.

Matt Bellamy, front man of the rock band Muse, has dubbed it 'private jets for climate change'.

A Daily Mail investigation has revealed that far from saving the planet, the extravaganza will generate a huge fuel bill, acres of garbage, thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions, and a mileage total equal to the movement of an army.

The most conservative assessment of the flights being taken by its superstars is that they are flying an extraordinary 222,623.63 miles between them to get to the various concerts - nearly nine times the circumference of the world. The true environmental cost, as they transport their technicians, dancers and support staff, is likely to be far higher.

The total carbon footprint of the event, taking into account the artists' and spectators' travel to the concert, and the energy consumption on the day, is likely to be at least 31,500 tonnes of carbon emissions, according to John Buckley of Carbonfootprint.com, who specialises in such calculations.

Throw in the television audience and it comes to a staggering 74,500 tonnes. In comparison, the average Briton produces ten tonnes in a year.

The concert will also generate some 1,025 tonnes of waste at the concert stadiums - much of which will go directly into landfill sites.
...
Live Earth say that they will recycle much of the waste generated. Fine talk, but in fact some of the concert venues are struggling to keep up with their commitments.

A spokesman for Wembley says they only have the capacity to recycle around a third of waste produced - the rest will go into landfill sites.

Travel forms the vast majority of the 'carbon footprint' talked of by ecological campaigners - contributing up to 90 per cent of the environmental 'cost'.

Collins says: "It is patently absurd to claim that travel of this nature doesn't have an impact. Each person attending the event will have to make a return journey to the venue, be it by air, rail, bus or car. This burns fossil fuel - precisely what we are trying to reduce.

"There is also the environmental cost of these artists flying around the world - that is absolutely huge." ...

Once again, "do as I say, not as I do" and "good enough for me, but not for thee" rule the day for these jerks.

There's much more in the article, especially the indulgences scheme known as "carbon offsets" (like the ones Gore buys from himself). But I think you get the idea: normal people (i.e. us peons) with Hummers are bad while celebrities with multiple gas guzzler cars and jets are good. Got it?

Jolie: Another Hollyweirdo hypocrite

From FNC:

Angelina Jolie's true colors came out Wednesday as she promoted a film about freedom of the press and then tried to censor all her interviews.

Jolie is touting press freedom these days, playing the widow of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in a new movie called "A Mighty Heart."

But Jolie turns out to be a mighty hypocrite when it comes to her own freedom of the press. Her lawyer required all journalists to sign a contract before talking to her, and Jolie instructed publicists at first to ban FOX News from the red carpet of her premiere.

Ironically, Wednesday night's premiere of the excellent Michael Winterbottom-directed film was meant to support an organization called Reporters Without Borders. Jolie, however, did everything she could to clamp down on the press and control it.

Reporters from most major media outlets balked Wednesday when they were presented with an agreement drawn up by Jolie's Hollywood lawyer Robert Offer. The contract closely dictated the terms of all interviews.

Reporters were asked to agree to "not ask Ms. Jolie any questions regarding her personal relationships. In the event Interviewer does ask Ms. Jolie any questions regarding her personal relationships, Ms. Jolie will have the right to immediately terminate the interview and leave."

The agreement also required that "the interview may only be used to promote the Picture. In no event may Interviewer or Media Outlet be entitled to run all or any portion of the interview in connection with any other story. ... The interview will not be used in a manner that is disparaging, demeaning, or derogatory to Ms. Jolie."

If that wasn't enough, Jolie also requires that if any of these things happen, "the tape of the interview will not be released to Interviewer." Such a violation, the signatory thus agrees, would "cause Jolie irreparable harm" and make it possible for her to sue the interviewer and seek a restraining order.

I am told that USA Today and the Associated Press were among those that canceled interviews, and eventually Jolie scotched all print interviews when she heard the reaction.

"I wouldn't sign it," a reporter for a major outlet said. "Who does she think she is?"

A call to Offer was apparently one that could be refused. He didn't return calls. An associate, Lindsay Strasberg, said, before hanging up: "You're a reporter? I can't talk to reporters. Goodbye."

So much for reporters without borders.

Yeah, so much. Also, add Brangelina to the already long list of Hollyweirdos who sidle up to dictators:

After Shiloh was born, Jolie and Pitt gave a news conference, but limited it only to Namibian journalists. No reporters from neighboring countries were allowed.

The couple sat on the dais with Sam Nujoma, Namibia's first president, aka dictator, who ruled for 15 years.

In 2002, Nujoma abruptly appointed himself minister of information and broadcasting. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Nujoma has routinely attacked reporters from his country calling them "unpatriotic" and "the enemy."

During the time Pitt and Jolie were in the country, a former photographer for the Namibian, the daily newspaper, was arrested twice for trying to get a picture of the couple.

South African John Liebenberg was arrested on municipal property during the Jolie-Pitt stay and pronounced guilty of trespassing. His passport and camera equipment were confiscated as well.

Treatment of the press is so bad in Namibia, in fact, that an organization called the National Society for Human Rights was formed several years ago to protect reporters' rights.

The NSHR, which is usually busy with more important matters, issued a statement on April 24 strongly condemning the deportation of foreign journalists from Namibia who wanted to cover the Pitt-Jolie visit.

"As the principal human rights monitoring and advocacy organization in this country, we strongly repudiate this unprecedented and blatant violation of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media," the statement read.

It's a little unclear how Mariane Pearl, whom Jolie plays in "A Mighty Heart," feels about her portrayer's position on freedom of press for some, but not all. On Wednesday, I spoke to Jeff Julliard, the editorial director of Reporters Without Borders in Paris.

"Paparazzi should be allowed to do their job," he said, adding that he condemned Jolie's banning of FOX News and actions taken on her behalf in Namibia.

Does this bimbo NOT see the irony of her actions, or does she simply not care? If the former, that speaks ill of her intelligence. If the latter, she should abandon all pretense that "freedom of the press" is important to her.

UPDATED: Sheryl Crow's answer to global warming: wipe your pooper with one square!

UPDATE BELOW.

Why Hollyweirdos are better seen and not heard. Well, she makes a living singing, so she has to be heard, but you get my drift. Anywho, from Lance Armstrong's ex, via Hot Air:

Green earth = brown hand!

Although my ideas are in the earliest stages of development, they are, in my mind, worth investigating. One of my favorites is in the area of forest conservation which we heavily rely on for oxygen. I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don’t want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required. When presenting this idea to my younger brother, who’s judgment I trust implicitly, he proposed taking it one step further. I believe his quote was, “how bout just washing the one square out.”

Hey, it’s “think globally, act locally,” not “think globally, act locally except for your pooper.”

Exit question one: Just how, um, tidy are Sheryl Crow’s evacuations that one thin square of toilet paper is enough to do the trick? You think the Goracle gets by with one?

Sheryl may trust her brother's judgment, but I certainly don't. Not if he's telling me to wipe with one square and rinse it off afterwards! I'd like to think she's joking, but with these Hollyweirdo types, you can never be certain.

Come on, people...you just knew I'd be back to my juvenile self in no time.

UPDATE (4/23/2003 - 9:53 A.M. EST): While Crow is imploring us to use one square of TP for our bungholes in order to keep the planet from baking, she has no objections to having four carbon-spewing tour busses, three gas-guzzling tractor-trailers, and six cars for her own personal usage. I tell you, between her and Gore and the Silky Pony living the energy-gorging lifestyles they tell us is killing the planet, they certainly don't seem too concerned about it...ergo, why should we be?

Whoopi: I don't think, I "feel"

Thanks to Jenn of the Jungle for alerting me to this. Whoopi Goldberg was on Blowhard Bill O'Reilly's show, and they were in a spat over whether or not Hollyweirdos are doing themselves a disservice by speaking on policy positions of which they know nothing. Here's the telling part of the transcript:

O'REILLY: But don't you feel it's his responsibility if he or Jane Fonda and the rest and you too are going to take strong policy stands, because people do listen to you...

GOLDBERG: Yes. Yes.

O'REILLY: ... that you know what the heck you're talking about?

GOLDBERG: Well, I think he's very clear that he is not for the war in Iraq. It's not a new stance that he's had. He's also for years been a peace activist. So this can't come as a surprise to anybody.

No. 2, when I take a stance on something, all I can talk to you about it how I feel about it and why. And I don't have to justify it, and you don't have to listen to it. But it is important for everyone to know that they have an opinion and they have a — have a right to express it.

O'REILLY: But your opinion is a little bit more heard than somebody — than Sally in Charlotte, North Carolina.

GOLDBERG: No different than yours.

O'REILLY: No, but I back mine up all day long with facts and everything else.

GOLDBERG: But you know what? Your opinion is your opinion. And if you want to go...

O'REILLY: Based on facts.

GOLDBERG: And if you want to go and get lots of facts and not go from your heart. I go from my heart.

There you have it, ladies and germs! Do you see the title portion of my blog, under the catchy "Crush Liberalism" part, that describes liberalism as a "feeling, but not thinking" ideology? The Whoopstress has confirmed that without ambiguity. She, a liberal, has just admitted that point unabashedly. She's saying "I don't care about facts, because they just get in the way of a good feeling!"

It is nice to have a liberal finally admit to that. One down, a few million to go...

Quotes of the day, from one of those Baldwin guys

You have been warned: Put down your beverages before reading the following. A couple of bizarro quotes from the formerly svelt chick magnet Alec Baldwin, via Newsbusters:

All around us are signs of global climate change. And this administration's response is to send in more troops. If you don't think there is a link between the weather and Iraq, you are wrong.

Well, then, count me as "wrong", because I am apparently laboring under the misconception that was one whopper of a non sequitir! Got that, folks? The scientific reason behind the record snowfalls in Colorado and last week's springlike temps in New York is...the Bu$hcheney McHitlerburton war machine in Baghdad. I am happy to provide that clarification for you, courtesy of Willard Scott...er, Alec Baldwin.

Another precious nugget from "Not so smart" Alec:

Kennedy has it all right. Time is up...Thank God for Teddy.

I get this nagging feeling that Mary Jo Kopechne's family might disagree with that sentiment, but I have no way of knowing for certain...since Mary Jo was unavailable for comment.

Thank goodness for Hollyweirdos that can amuse us in ways they did not even intend.

Dubya doesn't consult Hollywood?

According to the once-respected (but since then, deranged barking moonbat) Chris Matthews, it's an outrage that the president doesn't consult Hollyweirdos for public policy. From Newsbusters:

It goes without saying that if you're the Commander-in-Chief, among the first people whose criticism you'd want to take into account would be . . . Hollywood movie stars. At least, that would seem to be Chris Matthews's opinion.

Have a look at this video clip from this afternoon's Hardball.

The specific object of Chris's ire was the president's suggestion at his press conference today that Americans shop more. Asked Matthews:

"I wonder if he's in touch with the critics out there, like Matt Damon, the actor, who was on this program Monday?"

Well, naturally, Matt's views on shopping should be of top concern to any president. Then again, wouldn't Barbra Streisand have more expertise on the particular subject matter at hand?

"Babs? W here. What's hot on Rodeo Drive? The American people need to know."

Or maybe he can call Leonard Nimoy: "Hey, Spock, could you show our troops how to do that Vulcan neck pinch thingy? That'd sure help in hand-to-hand combat. Chuckle-chortle-snort!"

Hollyweirdos' "rolling fast"

A hunger strike, or "fast", is going on by the leftist anti-war agitators to try to bring about the end of the war in Iraq. I'm sure that Bush is losing sleep over Shehag and her ilk dropping a few pounds. From Breitbart:

Other supporters, including Penn, Sarandon, novelist Alice Walker and actor Danny Glover will join a 'rolling' fast, a relay in which 2,700 activists pledge to refuse food for at least 24 hours, and then hand over to a comrade.

How does a "rolling fast" work? Well, it's like this:

Sean Penn et al will start the fast. When these famous moonbats get hungry and it becomes inconvenient (or if 24 hours passes, whichever comes first), they'll relieve themselves of the burden of fasting to someone else. How's that for Hollywood's "sacrifice" for their "convictions"? Do you mean to tell me they care more about the headlines instead of the results? For those of you on the left, the prior sentence was sarcasm.

Here's how it likely will go down:

PENN: I've been out here for nine hours without food! Do you realize that's longer than I went between meals on the set of Fast Times at Ridgemont High? I'm getting so delirious, I thought I was still married to Madonna and beating her like a pinata!

GLOVER: I just ate a caviar-and-camembert wrap ten minutes ago. You ready to be relieved?

PENN: Yeah, I think I made my point! (screams in the direction of the White House) Bush, I'm hungry, and it's all YOUR fault!