Just on the surface you are faced with a quixotic visual. How can you earnestly give an impassioned and vociferous entreaty against the privileged 1% with a glamour figure at the podium? Common sense alone drives you to an immediate impression that these are figures firmly ensconced in that rarefied stratum that is the very focus of so much of the tension. Given the low threshold it takes to achieve 1% status it becomes stark to see bona fide members of that club becoming critical of those situated beneath their rung on the economic ladder. Now some may argue that having these vaunted figures coming out in support of the movement actually lends heft to the message. They effectively are stepping down from their perch and standing with the talent-free rabble to hurl criticism at the ivory towers, and this makes the import of the message more evident. Those remaining elevated need to look into their own gilded mirrors and consider their actions, much like these famous brethren have done.

But honestly the takeaway from most of these appearances is not that of enlightenment. More often these famous arrivals call into question their own motivations and the mixed messages only muddy conceptual waters that were already less clear than vodka. The biggest challenge/problem involving these elites is that often their words do not link up with their own lives. While they often deliver cant that suggests support of the 99% their personal actions show a stark contrast. Here is a rundown of some of the famous and noteworthy figures who have attached themselves in some way to OWS — and how they may not exactly be helpful to the cause.

MICHAEL MOORE
Message: Moore may be the one figure OWS should chase off first. The man clearly knows how to work a protest in his favor, all while posing as a little guy. He has railed against the corporate greed, the power bases, and Washington. He has talked about the need to forcibly confiscate wealth and fix a broken system, pointing accusatory fingers upward at the privileged minority.

Mitigation: Problems began when Moore tried denying he was a member of the 1%, soon becoming forced to admit that obviousness. While he paints his persona as a blue collar schlub in faded jeans and defeated ball cap he is in fact an elite himself, sporting not only a million dollar Manhattan address (where his kids go to private school) but he has a second residence in Michigan. This is not a tract home in the blue-collar Flint area; it is a rather comfortable beach home on the lake.

After his admission Mike tried spinning things that he worked hard for his wealth, becoming rich through hard effort and by spurning the capitalist titans. The problem is it has recently been revealed that Moore actually relied upon those same demonized entities in order to become wealthy. See, Mike does not finance his own films; they are initially funded by studios, and it was revealed that in backing some of his titles the Weinstein Company used financing via none other than Goldman Sachs, a detail of which the savvy film maker surely was aware. Effectively he is deriding a system that he employed for his own financial benefit. Also hurting Mike’s cause; his lectures on greed are hard to swallow considering he is currently suing the Weinsteins. He alleges that, after pocketing tens of millions from one of his titles, they still owe him millions more for that film.

RUSSELL SIMMONS
Message: The entertainment mogul has been a constant presence at OWS rallies and the cameras latch on to each of his appearances. Simmons repeatedly touts the seriousness of the OWS message and claims allegiance with the protestors. He said, “I understand the frustration; I over-stand it!”

Mitigation: Sure, it would be easy to slam the hypocrisy of the owner of golden toilets. Yes, I could point out he wrote the book “Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All”. But the biggest problem with Russell standing in a throng angry at our banking system is that he is the force behind the controversial credit line The Rush Card, a high-fee credit card that many have criticized for being more predatory than the failed Kardashian Card attempt. It is one thing for him to insist he wants to pay higher taxes, but to shout at evil banking practices while engaging in the same is beyond obtuse.

MARK RUFFALO
Message: The actor has been among the most impassioned Occupy supporters, giving numerous interviews and even writing op-ed pieces. He has spoken at length about the needs to fix our economic structure while assimilating with the protestors.

Mitigation: While his words are certainly noble they suffer from the fact that he has risen in fame as a result of the system he derides, and like Moore his message becomes diluted because he benefits from those same forces. Case in point – he has come out against the “elite few” and the corporate structure, while he is set to star as The Hulk in the upcoming “Avengers” movie. That is a property created by a corporation (Marvel) which itself is owned by a corporation (Disney), and will be released by a corporation (Paramount Pictures).

ALEC BALDWIN
Message: The actor visited Zoccotti Park and met with protest organizers. This was a novel visit for the man who is not-a-Republican-but-he-plays-one-on-TV. He went there to figuratively clean up the park while showing support for the movement.

Mitigation: While there Baldwin got into debates over The Fed with participants, but then oddly came out in support of capitalism and defended the banking system, causing more than a few heads to be scratched. This was probably due to the fact that while these protests are under way at the same time Baldwin is all over prime-time television in commercials touting Capital One.

ROSEANNE BARR
Message: The comedienne/actress spoke at one of the early rallies, turning heads and generating some applause when she made the controversial call to behead the wealthy.

Mitigation: Roseanne’s call for violence was not based on an arbitrary plateau of wealth. She stated it should be anyone worth more than $100 million who has their neck severed. This is a level of convenience for the celebrity. As it turns out she happens to be worth $80 million herself, so not only is she expediently excused from execution but following her purge she will find herself situated near the top of the elites as a result.

KANYE WEST
Message: Appearing in New York with Russell Simmons, the rapper was surprisingly taciturn during his visit, lending support by name while Russell did much of the talking.

Mitigation: Maybe dressing like the very privileged set about which people are angry was not the way to go. West sported a lengthy gold chain, a $400 shirt, a $900 pair of jeans, a bracelet valued over $5,000, and a $25,000 Rolex. His entire outfit may have itself qualified as a 1% occupant.

PENN BADGLEY
Message: The television actor has gone to New York and marched with the protestors, replete with his own picket sign.

Mitigation: Surely the least offensive of this lot. It does seem a bit of a disconnect however that he stars in “Gossip Girl”, a drama focused on the lives of the privileged youths from the Upper East Side, the very types targeted by the protestors.

YOKO ONO
Message: The widow of John Lennon has been a vocal supporter of the movement, making the claim that, “John is sending his smile to Occupy Wall Street.”

Mitigation: Her words, while welcome to some, are likely to be regarded as little more than token backing. After all, it is a little tough to absorb the message of struggle and empowerment of the masses from the woman with an estimated net worth of $500 million.

In a post entitled “Life Among the 1%,” Moore told the story of how he happened upon his millions when he sold his independent documentary film, Roger & Me, to Time Warner. Having sold it for three million dollars, he narrates, he spent much of that money on giving back to his community and paying taxes, not before paying his debts, helping his family, and buying some property. Stocks, he maintained, were an evil “casino, and so he abstained from investing there: “I believed the concept of making money off your money had created a greedy, lazy class who didn’t produce any product, just misery and fear among the populace.” None of this is news, though the fact that the 22nd anniversary of selling Roger & Me is only a few weeks away is pretty astonishing.

RELATED: Michael Moore Refuses To Admit He Is Part Of The 1% To Piers Morgan

The meat and potatoes of the piece comes further below, however, where Moore explains how his success has nothing to do with capitalism, and how he could so vehemently pursue the interests of a class to which he has not belonged in decades:

I do very well — and for a documentary filmmaker, I do extremely well. That, too, drives conservatives bonkers. “You’re rich because of capitalism!” they scream at me. Um, no. Didn’t you take Econ 101? Capitalism is a system, a pyramid scheme of sorts, that exploits the vast majority so that the few at the top can enrich themselves more. I make my money the old school, honest way by making things. Some years I earn a boatload of cash. Other years, like last year, I don’t have a job (no movie, no book) and so I make a lot less. “How can you claim to be for the poor when you are the opposite of poor?!” It’s like asking: “You’ve never had sex with another man — how can you be for gay marriage?!” [...]

Exactly — [Kanye West]‘s down there demanding that his taxes be raised. That, to a right-winger, is the definition of insanity. To everyone else, we are grateful that people like him stand up, even if and especially because it is against his own personal financial interest. It is specifically what that Bible those conservatives wave around demands of those who are well off.

Honesty suits Moore well. While “um, no” doesn’t quite explain how capitalism isn’t directly responsible for Moore’s success– try filming the equivalent of Roger & Me about the exploitation of manual laborers in China– his position is far better represented by the idea that, having come from a modest background, he has not forgotten the plight of those around which he grew up, and that plight directs his cause. Nothing hurts a cause more than those being courted having their intelligence insulted the way most Americans felt with Moore flat-out lied and said he wasn’t part of “the 1%,” and nothing quite helps it like a frank explanation of where the ideas fueling it come from that treats said audience like adults.

There is an additional fascinating element to his explanation: Moore admits religion plays a role in the way he understands politics in a way Americans are only accustomed to seeing on their right. A statement like “the Bible says I should do XYZ” is a surefire way to sink a political career in many parts of the country; no informed American likes collusion of church and state. Liberals, particularly, shirk away from shameless declarations of faith. It’s a smart move on Moore’s part, though, of course, one that comes with several reservations. For one, if the Bible is the launchpad for Moore’s belief system, how does he explain the near 100 million deaths and “disappearances” socialism/communism have caused around the world? We need not even go that far– how does Moore explain the fact that Marxists governments universally ban the practice of religion by their subjects? Whatever happened to “religion is the opiate of the masses?”

RELATED: Michael Moore Warns: OWS Is Not Concerned With Candidates Or Voting To Make Change

Needless to say, this statement gets Moore nowhere with most Americans who understand the way capitalism functions and are grateful for having been born in the best of all known political systems. But it does bestow upon Moore– an easy figure to revile, possibly intentionally– a humanity and clarity of thought that has been woefully absent since he became one of the recognizable leaders of the Occupy movement. The PR gods certainly smile upon Moore’s somewhat sulky admission that being rich is nothing to be ashamed of. It gets better from here.

*Let’s not kid ourselves here. Addendum: the term “communist” is not in any way meant as an ad hominem attack, but merely an accurate representation of Moore’s beliefs as he has articulated them. From the website of the Communist Party, USA:

The Communist Party stands for the interests of the American working class and the American people. It stands for our interests in both the present and the future. Solidarity with workers of other countries is also part of our work. We work in coalition with the labor movement, the peace movement, the student movement, organizations fighting for equality and social justice, the environmental movement, immigrants rights groups and the health care for all campaign.

But to win a better life for working families, we believe that we must go further. We believe that the American people can replace capitalism with a system that puts people before profit – socialism.

We call for nationalization of the banks, railroads, and industries like steel and auto. Everyone who wants to work should be guaranteed a job or get unemployment payments until she/he can find a job. We say put the unemployed to work at union wages on massive public works programs to rebuild our cities, provide affordable housing for the homeless, build mass transit, and clean up the environment!

These views appear consistent with ideals that Moore has repeatedly expressed in the past. They are not inherently evil or anti-American, and to insinuate as such is an insult to many patriotic Americans who identify with communist values.

“It was amazing to see how people loved seeing Kanye West at Occupy Wall Street,” Simmons said in an interview with GlobalGrind. “His music and his art has always been about the voice and the power of the people. Kanye just wanted to come down and experience the growing movement that has opened the eyes of many around this country and around the world of the struggles of poor people. The energy at Liberty Plaza was electrifying and the momentum to get the money out of politics is growing quickly.”

According to reports on the scene, the goldtoothed West was there and gone like a flashing light. He didn’t speak to anyone on the scene, tweeted RT’s Lucy Kapanov, and got into a car with Simmons and left. Gothamist snarked, “Isn’t Kanye West considered part of the 1%?”

Watch the video via NBC New York:

(h/t Gothamist)

Behar turned to her guests and asked “‘Why is it always Hitler? Why not that Bachelor? Why not Osama Bin Laden? Why not Saddam Hussein?” Why not, for that matter, the Pillsbury doughboy, that twittering demon-blob who is clearly the very manifestation of pure, unadulterated evil?

Levy weighed in:

Why not Michele Bachmann? ‘People look at me like I’ve got crazy eyes; I’m Michele Bachmann.’

Ughghghghgh, Joe! JOE.

Newsbusters’ Erin Brown sees this as Levy comparing Bachmann to Hitler, and I’m inclined to agree with that assessment. He’s lumping Bachmann in with the likes of Hitler, Hussein and bin Laden because he doesn’t like her and thinks she is bad.

Say what you will about Bachmann, her fundamentalism and her stance on homosexuality, but, as far as I can tell, she didn’t send thousands of gay people, Jewish people, gypsies and others to their deaths. No one has lost his mother because of Bachmann’s thoughts about the debt ceiling. So let’s try and put our arguments and our issues with politicians into some sort of perspective before the national discussion devolves into “lol @ her eyes” and a series of fart noises while things like, gee I don’t know, Dominionism slip by unaddressed. Because, now, this is what happens: anything remotely intelligent Levy may have to say about Bachmann and her policies have essentially been rendered white noise, as he is now the guy who compared a woman he doesn’t like to Hitler and bin Laden. It’s just a joke! Lol, sure, but it’s one that is so lazy and overused that it has become entirely stripped of any shock value or humor it could possibly have, even when obviously used as a hyperbole. That’s the point Behar was making, and it’s a point Levy brought on home. Plus, the reality is that comparing someone to Hitler says a whole lot about the speaker, without providing a whole lot of information about the person being discussed.

Are you worried Dominionism is unconstitutional? Say that. Do you vehemently disagree with Bachmann’s stance on gay rights? Articulate that. Do you worry that she’s not intelligent, or serious, or thoughtful? Do you believe she’s dangerous? Then you had better make damn sure you aren’t undermining your own argument by reducing her to a harmless caricature or by drawing more attention to your joke than to the intent behind it. It’s not about liberals versus conservatives, or men versus women; it’s about not shooting yourself in the foot when you’re trying to offer criticism.

Take a look at the segment for yourselves, from HLN:

h/t Newsbusters

“I just don’t know why this kid seems to be held to a different standard than anyone else,” O’Donnell tells executive producer Janette Barber on the March 29th edition of her program, to which Barber responds that she can’t help but wonder if race is an issue (O’Donnell addressed the issue only this week as she had been on vacation). “I totally think there is,” O’Donnell replied, “and I also think it’s why he felt he was safer with Robin Roberts.” O’Donnell doesn’t flesh out this point at all other than later adding that she felt “badly” for Chris Brown and “mildly angry” at Roberts while watching her interview with Brown. Given the context, however, it wouldn’t be amiss to interpret it as an accusation of some sort of racial betrayal on Roberts’ part not to go easier on Brown, an accusation that leaves O’Donnell’s further point– which could perhaps have some merit– exposed to all kinds of criticism.

That further point that gets lost somewhere along the Roberts accusation trail she later elaborated on, adding that she did “think that there is a societal paradigm in which you have to be an angel or a thug if you’re a black male.” For this, O’Donnell cites Tupac Shakur as an example of a rapper caught in between the two extremes. That more nuanced argument that there is a history of easily maligning black male stars as violent is one that could be corroborated, especially if the fact pattern being examined is only the story in which Brown throws a chair through a window and everyone panics, or the possible career setbacks Kanye West experienced at grabbing a microphone away from Taylor Swift.

But to leave the domestic abuse issue hanging without addressing what really put the last nail in Brown’s career’s coffin makes it very difficult to take O’Donnell’s sympathy for Brown seriously. Though, before going there, it is worthy of note that rumors of the death of Chris Brown’s career have been greatly exaggerated; his album is currently #1 on the Billboard charts. But the image that really set back Brown’s career had nothing to do with skin color or broken studio– it was this photo of a beaten Rihanna after police found her. Sure, white stars have committed domestic abuse and not gotten anywhere near as much public humiliation as Brown (Charlie Sheen, weird drug-infused performance art folk hero, comes to mind). Had O’Donnell laid that argument on the table, she may have been able to cultivate a meager, albeit respectable, point of defense for Brown. Not addressing the battered elephant in the room does a major disservice to what could, with the benefit of the doubt, have been construed as valid racial/sociological commentary and renders it contrarian blather.

Below is the full audio from Rosie O’Donnell’s radio program:



[h/t Radio Equalizer]

I’d like to start with Loesch, whose response seems to rest on the creaky twin pillars that fighting intolerance somehow equals intolerance, and that denying gay people the right to marry is actually a way of upholding religious freedom. In response to this story, Loesch writes: (from BigJournalism.com)

Tommy Christopher’s reasoning is only valid if one presupposes that marriage is a union created and controlled by the state for business purposes; as my liberal feminist mother would say it’s a “piece of paper that lets you do your taxes together.” This is where the entire point is lost by the left. Republicans don’t believe that marriage is a state invention: they believe that it is divine and that to force people of faith to redefine their religious beliefs and practices to include behavior which is discussed in Scripture as being not one with which God jives – is actually the government breaking “separation of church and state.” Why is it that when the subject of rights comes up, people of faith are the ones that must compromise their rights, a practice instituted by a faith that they alone observe? How is it unequal that everyone can enter into the same civil agreement but those who follow a faith that others do not seek divine blessing on their union?

Read the whole thing if you think I’m missing something, but Loesch appears to be saying that the grounds upon which she objects to same-sex marriage are purely religious, while also espousing a separation of church and state. Since the First Amendment guarantees religious freedom, state recognition of gay marriage doesn’t infringe on Loesch’s separated religious belief, but a state ban on gay marriage does infringe on the religious freedom of those denominations that do recognize gay marriage.

Ironically, Loesch suggests to proponents of gay marriage the very remedy that the US Constitution guarantees its opponents:

And if you’re displeased your perception of “inequality” so far as the tradition of “marriage” applies, take it up with God. That’s not inequality, that’s religious observance.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Everyone in this country is free to worship the God (or Gods) of their own choosing, and if Loesch’s God doesn’t recognize Chris Barron’s right to marry, that’s her problem, not Barron’s. Well, currently, it is Barron’s problem. Loesch capably isolates the crux of the scare-quoted “inequality,” the individual’s right to full personhood in the eyes of their own God, and their own government. In Loesch’s own construct, God is the arbiter of equality, not the government, and while the government can’t confer that divine equality, it also can’t deny it.

Loesch’s odd choice of artwork for the post is also worth noting. In contrast to her relatively low-temperature argument, the picture is a South Park rendering of Kanye West kissing a fish. It is a popular red herring (pardon the pun) among opponents of gay rights to equate same-sex marriage with bestiality (and other criminal conduct), but when I asked Loesch about it on Twitter, here’s how she responded:

That’s some intense reaching.

I don’t think it is, but that’s why I asked. (For the record, and despite my support for marriage equality, I actually don’t believe in intense reaching outside of marriage.)

Loesch later updated her post to include this, which also doesn’t really explain how the picture relates to the post:

*UPDATE: If you’re one of the haters so out of touch with pop-culture that you think the screengrab image above is in reference to anything other than South Park’s Kanye/gay fish episode, you might be a drama queen.

I guess because it has the word “gay” in it, and a picture of man/fish action has no other relationship to a post about marriage equality? Let’s just call it an inadvertent coincidence.

It’s also worth noting that, early in Loesch’s post, she accuses me of being unable to accept that not all gay people are liberals, and of “bashing” the RNC as “bigots.” Neither of these things are actually what I wrote. On the latter score, I don’t believe that opposition to legal gay marriage makes you a bigot, but rather, an ignorant person. Ignorant of the state’s unsuitability to arbitrate a purely religious distinction, and ignorant of their own right to do the same to their fellow human beings. Ignorance comes in many flavors, and bigotry is just one of them.

As to the former, my discussion with GOProud Chairman Chris Barron ought to clear that up. I’m going to reprint our Twitter conversation here, but first, I’d like to set this up a bit. Much of our debate revolved around his deflection of the RNC candidates’ views with the myth that Barack Obama‘s position on same-sex marriage is “the same” as the National Organization for Marriage’s.

This oft-used chestnut is derived from the fact that the President has expressed the personal belief that marriage is between one man and one woman. Even that personal belief is in question now, as the President recently told Jake Tapper, and is likely to change, soon, to include same-sex marriage.

His positions on gay marriage, however, have been consistent. He opposes any bans on gay marriage (like Proposition 8), he favors full civil marriage benefits for gay couples, and supports a legislative repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. Remember that last one, which means he opposes the federal government defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.

The National Organization for Marriage, on the other hand, supports banning gay marriage, and even succeeded in dissolving thousands of legal marriages in California with Proposition 8. All five candidates for RNC Chair, despite contradictory lip service about “dignity,” affirmed their support for NOM’s position. Not only aren’t these the same positions, they couldn’t be more different.

The point I’ve been trying to make to Barron is that, while he has a legitimate claim to making progress on gay issues within the GOP, his opponents also have a legitimate claim to the GOP as an organization that’s still hostile to gay people. Personally, I respect his desire to change it from the inside, but I also respect those whose sense of injury at the GOP’s actions prevents them from considering any potential areas of agreement with Republicans on other matters. At their very best, a tiny majority of them were dragged, kicking and screaming, to overturn Don’t ask, don’t tell. It is that sentiment which leads people to call GOProud “sellouts.”

Agree with him or not, however, Barron’s position is legitimate, and worthy of respect. I think he realizes, as many conservatives must, that marriage equality is inevitable. If he truly views conservative policies as vastly superior in every other respect, as he must, then changing the party from within is the only practical course available to him. I do think his time would be better spent arguing with people like Dana Loeasch thsn with me, but since I started the argument, I suppose that’s a moot point: (from Twitter)

Tommyxtopher: Still feel welcome, @chrisrbarron? MT @mediaite:Next RNC Chair Will Oppose Gay Marriage (No Offense) http://bit.ly/gTiLLR #tcot #p2

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher yes absolutely. The RNC Chair candidates position on marriage same as Obama & the job doesn’t involve policy at all.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron That’s not true at all. They endorsed NOM’s position, banning same sex marriage. POTUS does not. Says states decide.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron @BarackObama favors repeal of DOMA, also. NOM does not. Excuse RNC if you like, but don’t lie about it.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher finally, I do not believe that opposing gay marriage makes you a bigot. Not by a long shot.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Bigotry is just one form of ignorance.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher btw what was DNC Chair Tim Kaine’s position on marriage in Virginia????

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron I know he’s chairman of a party whose platform includes civil unions, repealing DOMA, and who repealed DADT with tiny GOP vote

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher Oh, so just so I am clear HIS position doesnt matter but the RNC Chair’s positions do matter? Convenient

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher good to see it took you exactly 3 tweets to start accusing me of “lying”

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron There’s no way you didn’t know that Obama’s position isn’t “the same” as the RNC candidates’. If you didn’t, I apologize.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher Obama – marriage is a between a man and a woman, do you need me to link to it? Or can you use google to find it?

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher Obama’s position that marriage is between a man and a woman is the SAME as the RNC Chair candidates

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher obviously they may differ on DOMA or a marriage amendment…

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron That not what you said. Thanks for clarifying. That’s not a “position.”

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron That’s not a “position,” that’s a personal opinion. You know the difference, I’m sure. If not, I apologize.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron I believe the Jets rule, but I don’t favor a law mandating that they rule. See? Difference between opinion and position.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher Obama’s opinion is that marriage is between a man and a woman but thats not his position? Says who?

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Says his record, says his party’s platform. Repeal DOMA, DADT, etc, and that “opinion” is moving in the right direction.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher and his Justice Dept defending DOMA in court? Obama says marriage should be between man and woman – thats his position.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Check out your “ally” @danaloesch . It’s about religious freedom. Just not YOURS. http://bit.ly/dHLAJN Good luck with that.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher if you can find me ONE time where Obama says his position ISNT that marriage is bw a man and a woman. Good luck with that.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Really? Just one, and you’ll declare me the victor? You promise?

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher one where he says his position is in favor of gay marriage – excluding of course his 96 questionnaire he repudiated

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Moving the goalposts so soon? So you concede that “his position ISNT that marriage is bw a man and a woman. “

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher what are the other options? is he for polygamy?

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron to answer your ORIGINAL challenge,here’s where Obama didn’t say his pos. is that marriage is bw man&womanhttp://bit.ly/hQ9ycK

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Also, the innumerable times he has spoken about repealing DOMA. See, THAT’S a “position.”

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher LOL you so dont win… Nothing here says his position isnt that marriage is between a man and a woman

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Sure it does. Watch the clip. He says he favors Civil Unions, and the marriage question is something he’s open to debate on.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher OH, so thats a position but saying Marriage is between a man and a woman isnt? Convenient and dishonest.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher it doesnt say his position is that marriage isnt between a man and a woman…

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron And I’m not really looking to “win.” I assume we want the same thing re: marriage equality. So I want you to win, too.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher I am married, so yes, its something I personally believe it. Thats my personal opinion and personal position.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Good. And if you can admit that the Democrats are currently farther along than GOP on equality, I can (and have) acknowledge the progress conservatives have made, but to act like they’re the same is just not accurate.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher on certain issues – marriage and DADT – Dems have made more progress

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher on other issues that would help gay families – Fair Tax, Death Tax Repeal, Soc Sec personal savings accts GOP far ahead

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher the GOP has position that would improve lives of gay people when it comes to retirement, healthcare, taxes, etc

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron As for the Dems, I recognize a general lack of courage on this issue, because they fear GOP attacks. That’s to their shame.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron I get that you favor GOP econ policies. And working from within is a valid philosophy.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron But I also think strong opposition of GOP by #lgbtpeople and allies is completely justified.

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Both positions are valid. I just don’t agree with one of them. Denying personhood is a dealbreaker for me.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher and 31% of gay people voted for GOPers this year, 1/3 of “lgbt” people dont “strongly oppose” the GOP

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Since we agree about marriage, though, how about you work on @Danaloesch a little bit?

Tommyxtopher: @ChrisRBarron Am I misreading this, or is that “Kanye/fish” picture equating gay marriage with bestiality? http://bit.ly/dHLAJN

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher I didnt get that at all and even after you mention it, I dont see that…

Tommyxtopher: @brookslpowell Let me just say that @chrisRbarron has made admirable progress. I wouldn’t have laughed at him. Would’ve had a conversation.

ChrisRBarron: @tommyxtopher thank you… I appreciate the kind words and I enjoyed the debate :) @brookslpowell

In the meantime: Let’s go all the way tonight. Tik Tok, don’t stop. Tonight we can go a little longer. I wanna be a billionaire. Let the DJ go to play my favorite song. There’s not a thing that I would change. ‘Cause your’e amazing just the way you are. Or, were. Goodbye, 2010.

Songz:
Ke$ha – Tik Tok
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Train – Hey, Soul Sister
Katy Perry Featuring Snoop Dogg – California Gurls
Usher Featuring will.i.am – OMG
B.O.B. Featuring Hayley Williams – Airplanes
Eminem Featuring Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Taio Cruz – Dynamite
Taio Cruz Featuring Ludacris – Break Your Heart
B.O.B. Featuring Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Enrique Iglesias Featuring Pitbull – I Like It
Young Money Featuring Lloyd – Bedrock
Jason Derulo – In My Head
Rihanna – Rude Boy
Lady Gaga Featuring Beyonce – Telephone
Katy Perry – Teenage Dream
Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are
Mike Posner – Cooler Than Me
The Black Eyed Peas – Imma Be
Jay-Z + Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Usher Featuring Pitbull – DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love
Travie McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars – Billionaire
Eminem – Not Afraid
Iyaz – Replay

Follow Rachel Sklar on Twitter at @RachelSklar.

I reached out to Christopher for comment, and in a Mediaite exclusive, he provided us with his thoughts on Time’s entire list, including their snub of his heart attack live-tweets.

While angry at being left off of Time’s list, Christopher acknowledged that it was a little weird for him to write about himself in the third person. “Still, though,” he said, “what does a guy have to do to make that fracking list?”

Maybe if he gets worked up enough, he can have another heart attack, and perhaps make next year’s list. Here is Time’s list of Top Twitter Moments of 2010, with commentary by Tommy Christopher.

1. Kanye West Joins Twitter: I’ma let you finish, Time, but first, Kanye West didn’t almost die to make Twitter history.

2. Conan O’Brien’s Twitter Wit: Conan O’Brien got crapped on by Jay Leno. Join the club, Coco.

3. Justin Bieber, Trending No More: Twitter finagles its trending algorithm to screw Bieber out of his rightful trending props, then Time compunds the injustice by screwing me out of my Twitter props. I’m right there with ya, Biebs. Fight the power!

4. Library of Congress Archives Tweets: “We know some tweets are important…but are most really important enough to be in the Library of Congress?”

No, just the important ones!

5. New Twitter Design: Big whoop. I had my whole heart redesigned.

6.  From Twitter Feed to Hit Sitcom: What sense does it make for Time to censor the title to “Sh*t My Dad Says,” but also include a screenshot of the titular Twitter account that says “ShitMyDadSays?” About as much sense as leaving me off of their list.

7. Journalist Freed After Tweets: I’ve got to hand it to Japanese journalist Kosuke Tsuneoka, he really knows how to overshadow a guy.  He tricked his Afghan captors into letting him tweet his location, and was released the following day. Still, Time even notes that “his release may not have directly resulted from the posts,” so what’s the big deal? Also, as Mediaite noted, this was the second time Tsuneoka had been abducted. C’mon, Kosuke, fool me once…

8. MTV Selects Twitter Jockey: Gabi Gregg wins a contest to become the first TJ (Twitter Jockey). That’s impressive, until you consider that my main competitor was a guy named @Death!

9. Ivy Bean, Oldest User, Dies: Touché, Ivy. Touché.

10. @BPGlobalPR: Oil-Spill Satire: All the hilarious BP-satirizing tweets in the world can’t “plug the hole”…in my heart.

In it, he thanks his fans, celebrates his career resurgence, defends George W. Bush, attacks the media for misconstruing Bush’s interview about him, compares Matt Lauer to a child molester, compares Matt Lauer to an abusive boyfriend, knocks Taylor Swift, and, hilariously, implies that he’s banged a whole bunch of models. It’s hard to describe (especially since West explains that, when bloggers write about someone, they’re only writing about their own insecurities and desires or something) so you really should just watch this video captured by YouTube user Smshnpmpkn who sums it up thusly: “Cost of ticket – $100.00 Cost of Kanye rant – priceless!”

(via TMZ)

Watch the full video below:

He also announced West would be performing on the Today show two weeks from today – a performance West announced on Twitter this morning he would be canceling. The feud continues! (Sort of.)

Early this morning, Kanye West said on Twitter that he would not be performing on Today. “I’m not performing on the Today Show for obvious reasons. I’m so happy the world got to see just a small piece of ‘the set up’,” he tweeted.

Sadly though (for the media who covers the media), it doesn’t look like he’s holding it against Lauer: “And I don’t hate Matt Lauer… We don’t promote hate. That’s the whole point!!! I promote love and truth!”

I was wondering what the whole point was. Now we know. Kanye ended the Tw-rant with this: “All positive energy … all smiles. Much love to Matt and the whole Today Show. I accept ya’ll future apology in advance LOL!”

Maybe Kanye is setting this up to be a surprise appearance two weeks from now, squashing the beef in an epic Nas-Jay-Z performance! Or maybe he’ll show up unannounced sometime next week and hang around with the people holding signs! Or maybe we’re just blowing this whole ridiculous thing out of proportion!

> Update: An NBC spokesperson tells Mediaite: “At this point, the Today show has not received confirmation from Kanye West or his representatives that he has canceled his performance.”

> Update 2: NBC tells us the concert is definitely canceled.

Check out the beginning of the Twitter rant from 3amET today, and then everyone let’s have a toast:

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Some highlights? Well there’s the apparent situational legal ethics between Bush’s okaying waterboarding because lawyers said it was okay, and keeping federal troops from going into a Katrina ravaged Gulf Coast because legal counsel found it unconstitutional.

There was the Matt Lauer‘s resolution of the beef between former President Bush and hip-hop auteur Kanye West.

Perhaps the most illustrative moment was Bush’s steadfast pride in telling Sean Hannity that he never ceded his core principals, then telling Lauer how he gave up on ‘capitalism’ to save it with the bailout in order to save the depression.

With President Obama‘s approval ratings in decline, there has been a fair amount of reclaiming the regard for President Bush, but the following segment from The Daily Show may remind viewers that, the Bush years may not have been a whole lot better than the Obama years, except when it comes to producing rich comedic material. Watch and see for yourself.

Today Lauer played more of the tape, and issued a challenge to Kanye to continue this epic battle a few weeks from now.

During the pre-taped interview Tuesday on the Today show set, West said he “empathize[d] with the idea of being pegged as a racist.” But Lauer wanted more. He asked West to “look at his face” as he played video of the President speaking out against what West had said. West didn’t like the whole exercise, and while he expressed why, his head started darting around the studio, getting agitated as he spoke:

I mean pre-looking at his face, I came up here because I wanted to say something to him right after the fact. You know what I’m saying, you don’t have to do the TV stuff with me. This is reality. This is the real thing going on. You know what I’m saying, I don’t need all the jazz. I would say to…could we be quiet for a second?

Then he said the quote that played yesterday, although immediately after Lauer tried to prompt him with “…and you’re sorry.” And West didn’t like the words being put in his mouth.

Then things nearly came to blows! (Kidding, obviously, like this whole post.) As Lauer brought up the stage-crashing moment, the producers played the video underneath the interview, but with the sound up. Kanye didn’t let it finish:

West: Yo, how am I supposed to talk if you’re going to run this thing in the middle of when I’m talking?
Lauer: It’s under. You won’t be hearing it.
West: But I’m hearing it when I’m trying to talk!
Lauer: Ok can you take the sound out of the overheads please? Just pick up, you said it wasn’t a race thing.
West: Please don’t let that happen again. Ridiculous.

Thinking back on it this morning, Matt Lauer was ready to THROW DOWN. “There’s nothing improper about it, there’s nothing unusual about it,” he said, issuing a challenge for West to show up and say those tweets to his mf-ing FACE on November 26 (when Kanye’s booked to perform on the Today show).

Get your popcorn ready!

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Lauer took advantage of the live interview this morning on the Today show to address this head-on, with a soundbite from West himself.

Lauer told Bush West stopped by yesterday to respond. Here’s what he said:

I would tell George Bush, in my moment of frustration, I didn’t have the grounds to call him a racist. But I believe that in a situation of high emotion like that, we as human beings don’t always choose the right words.

There’s was clearly more, but that’s where it was cut off during the Bush live interview. Maybe they’ll post it in full online?

“Well I appreciate that,” said Pres. Bush, although he noted it “wasn’t just Kanye West.” He continued: “I’m not a hater, I didn’t hate Kanye West. I was talking about an environment in which people would say things that hurt. Nobody wants to be called a racist if in your heart you believe in equality of race.” (He actually called him Conway West, which was kind of endearing actually.)

Meanwhile Kanye West seems to have found a new person to beef with: Lauer. On Twitter last night, West had one of his trademark Tw-meltdowns over the interview. According to West, there was a lot more that didn’t get shown – including a portion where Lauer and the Today show played his MTV stage-crashing:


A few minutes later…


What will Lauer say?!

Here’s the Kanye section below, and check out the full interview today on Today here:

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The self-proclaimed compassionate conservative sympathized with the anti-establishment movement, citing Senator Scott Brown‘s election as a watershed moment that changed attitudes and inspired concerned voters to “take to the street,” as well as to the polls.

According to early excerpts from the interview, Bush also discussed the different ways in which he and people like President Obama deliver their messages:

Words matter. The modern president is, of course, every word is analyzed. And sometimes I didn’t get my words right. And I never tell these audiences I speak to, you didn’t elect me cause I was Shakespeare.

(Some have argued that they didn’t elect him at all, but that’s a different matter altogether.) Other topics in the interview will include 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and other landmark moments of his eight-year tenure in the White House.

It’s hard to tell whether the Hannity interview will have the same kind of fireworks as the Lauer interview, which touched upon drunken hijinks, Kanye West, and a jarred (and jarring) fetus. But then again, Fox News is never short of fireworks, so hopefully the hour will be both highly informative and highly watchable.

Watch Bush’s thoughts on the Tea Party in the Hannity clip below:

The artwork in question was done by the artist George Condo and is fairly tame, to be honest. And West, who has been known to go a little overboard in his Twitter ranting, kept his argument to a succinct eight Tweets, getting some good points in along the way.

From Twitter:

Yoooo they banned my album cover!!!!! Ima tweet it in a few…

Banned in the USA!!! They don’t want me chilling on the couch with my phoenix! http://twitpic.com/2ykxjk

In the 70s album covers had actual nudity… It’s so funny that people forget that… Everything has been so commercialized now.

I know that cover just blew yall minds … I wish yall could see how hard I’m smiling right now!!!

In all honesty … I really don’t be thinking about Wal-Mart when I make my music or album covers #Kanyeshrug!

I wanna sell albums but not at the expense of my true creativity.

http://twitvid.com/HYN69 – George Condo at his studio right now…

So Nirvana can have a naked human being on they cover but I can’t have a PAINTING of a monster with no arms and a polka dot tail and wings

West may be accurate that some albums in the past have had actual nudity but the censoring of his cover also isn’t without precedent. For example, the famous artwork for David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs was airbrushed to remove the genitalia from Bowie’s half dog/half man creature. God, why won’t the prudes in this country allow people to see animal/human hybrids in all of their glory?!

Still, West makes some good points. For what reason should he restrict his artistic vision just because of the censor happy folks at Walmart (besides money, obviously). And the album is about as offensive as two naked stick figures.

So, what do you all think? Is West right and this is needless censorship or are our children safer for not seeing a phoenix’s nipples?

In related news, Styleite has put together a ‘Kanye West Model Cheat Sheet‘ in order to help you better understand his latest track “Christian Dior Denim Flow.”

It was at last year’s VMA’s that West coined the phrase Kanye’d after he jumped onstage during Swift’s acceptance speech, grabbing the microphone from her and declaring that Beyonce should have won the award. President Obama subsequently declared West a ‘jackass.’

After having a year to mull it over, Kanye would like the world to know he’s sorry. Very sorry. Says Kanye: “I’ve hurt, I’ve bled, I’ve learned. I only want to do good. I am passionate I am human I am real. I wish I could meet every hater.” Also: “Beyonce didn’t need that. MTV didn’t need that and Taylor and her family friends and fans definitely didn’t want or need that.” And: “It feels like the movie Heat when you wanted Deniro to make it… You want the bad guy to make it.”

Also, he’s written a song for Taylor. You can read the entire “stream of consciousness” below, starting from the bottom up, and watch the original debacle here.

I’m sorry Taylor. about 23 hours ago via web

It starts with this… about 23 hours ago via web

I want to win there hearts back so I can continue to bring my take on culture to the masses with a clean opinion. about 23 hours ago via web

I want to help starting with the music and ending with the smile. about 23 hours ago via web

I wish they could accept that I’ve grown and only want to do good for the world. I want to help as many people as I can. about 23 hours ago via web

I wish they all knew how much I really cared about music and pop culture and art and peoples feelings. about 23 hours ago via web

I wish I could talk to every hater face to face and change there a opinion of me one conversation at a time. about 23 hours ago via web

I’ve hurt, I’ve bled, I’ve learned. I only want to do good. I am passionate I am human I am real. I wish I could meet every hater about 23 hours ago via web

When I right songs like Heartless I always say “is this melody good enough to be a country song or a broadway song?” about 23 hours ago via web

TAYLOR LOVES RAP MUSIC… I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC about 23 hours ago via web

Why was it made into such a race issue. Taylor loves rap music… I love country music. about 23 hours ago via web

There’s a layer of… Entertainment… we are entertainers and this is only TV… not the War about 23 hours ago via web

There’s a layer of… hey Kanye said what I was thinking about 23 hours ago via web

A year later where do we stand? about 23 hours ago via web

WHO BENEFITED FOR REAL PEOPLE???!!!!!!!! about 23 hours ago via web

Walk with me people… let’s break this down for real now. I might get in trouble again lol? about 23 hours ago via web

MTV? JAY LENO? BEYONCE? ALL FORMS OF MEDIA? TAYLOR? KANYE WEST? Who gained? Who lost? about 23 hours ago via web

You’ve got the Media play… Who benefitted off of the moment? about 23 hours ago via web

You’ve got a layer of… What is reality? You really want this guy to die over an award show???!! wooooooow ….. about 23 hours ago via web

You’ve got a layer of order… this is how things are spose to go this is how it’s always been etc. about 23 hours ago via web

If I speak in 3rd person it’s because I’m quoting people sometimes I forget to put the quotations you know my grammar.. #ITSAPROCESS about 23 hours ago via web

You’ve got the top layer… Kanye’s rude! about 23 hours ago via web

Why are there so many tweets? Well this isn’t a simple subject. There are layers to this beyond me running on stage. about 23 hours ago via web

Humanity and Empathy are 2 of the 4 principles at facebook. Those were the 2 principles I was missing on that evening about 24 hours ago via web

These tweets have no manager, no publicist , no grammar checking… this is raw about 24 hours ago via web

It feels like the movie Heat when you wanted Deniro to make it… You want the bad guy to make it. about 24 hours ago via web

These aren’t regular tweets… this is stream of consciousness … I want you guys to know and feel where my head is at… about 24 hours ago via web

Beyonce didn’t need that. MTV didn’t need that and Taylor and her family friends and fans definitely didn’t want or need that. about 24 hours ago via web

I am not a bad person. Even in that moment I was only trying to do good but people don’t always need my help. about 24 hours ago via web

When I woke up from the crazy nightmare I looked in the mirror and said GROW UP KANYE … I take the responsibility for my actions about 24 hours ago via web

Yes I was that guy. A 32 year old child. about 24 hours ago via web

It is distasteful to cut people off as a general rule. What’s the point of dressing tastefully if I’m going to act the complete opposite? about 24 hours ago via web

With new found humility … who am I to run on stage? I would never ever again in a million years do that. Sorry to let you down. about 24 hours ago via web

The Wicked witch of the west basically is so convicted to tell her’ truth when she does it she is outcasted by society and turned WICKED about 24 hours ago via web

Who’s seen the play Wicked? I’ve seen it 4 times! Other than loving the music acting and costumes… it’s my story!!! about 24 hours ago via web

I have given my awards to other groups multiple times on national TV… They never showed that this past year during the massacre of Kanye about 24 hours ago via web

It’s not about race America. No one in our position ever stands up and says anything anymore. about 24 hours ago via web

I would have ran on stage for Justin that night because Sexy Back (in my mind) was that important… that impactful to our culture about 24 hours ago via web

I watched Justin Timberlake at the Grammies loose every televised award including album of the year which the Dixie Chicks won about 24 hours ago via web

I am responsible for those who love and represent me and what they have to deal with on a day to day defending “The American Psycho” Sat Sep 4 09:38:10 2010 via web

There are people who have named there kids after me… can you imagine that next day in school. Even though I don’t have kids… Sat Sep 4 09:36:46 2010 via web

I know there are family members friends and fans that have literally fought for me. Sat Sep 4 09:36:06 2010 via web

I’m ready to get out of my own way. The ego is overdone… it’s like hoodies Sat Sep 4 09:35:21 2010 via web

We’re both artist and the media and managers are trying to get between us. Everyone wants to capitalize off this is some way Sat Sep 4 09:33:10 2010 via web

She deserves the apology more than anyone. Thank you Biz Stone and Evan Williams for creating a platform where we can communicate directly Sat Sep 4 09:29:37 2010 via web

She had nothing to do with my issues with award shows. She had no idea what hit her. She’s justa lil girl with dreams like the rest of us. Sat Sep 4 09:27:36 2010 via web

I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that’s so beautiful and I want her to have it. If she won’t take it then I’ll perform it for her Sat Sep 4 09:26:12 2010 via web

I wear my scars… It’s almost like I have to where a suit to juxtapose my image and I won’t lie… IT WORKS! Sat Sep 4 09:25:08 2010 via web

People tweeted that they wish I was dead… No listen. They wanted me to die people. I carry that. I smile and take pictures through that Sat Sep 4 09:24:12 2010 via web

I’m the guy who at one point could perform the Justin Timberlake on stage and everyone would be sooo happy that I was there Sat Sep 4 09:23:22 2010 via web

…taking a 15 second blip the mdeia have successfully painted the image of the “ANGRY BLACK MAN’ The King Kong theory. Sat Sep 4 09:22:37 2010 via web

The media has successfully diminished the “receptive” audience of (3rd person)… KANYE WEST Sat Sep 4 09:21:08 2010 via web

I have a mission in life to bring truth and beauty through my music and the visuals that anchor around it Sat Sep 4 09:20:09 2010 via web

Some people say… Why worry about “the haters?” This is bigger that just the concept of haters. Sat Sep 4 09:19:24 2010 via web

If you google Asshole my face may very well pop up 2 pages into the search. Sat Sep 4 09:17:28 2010 via web

That’s when you realize perception is reality. I’ve been straying from this subject on twitter but I have to give it to you guys raw now. Sat Sep 4 09:16:21 2010 via web

I was chilling with this white girl having a conversation and she cut me off and said… Hold up… I thought you didn’t like us?! Sat Sep 4 09:15:18 2010 via web

There are people who don’t dislike me… they absolutely hate me! Sat Sep 4 09:13:17 2010 via web

Remember in Anchor Man when Ron Burgandy cursed on air and the entire city turned on him? But this wasn’t a joke. This was & is my real life Sat Sep 4 09:12:37 2010 via web

People booed when I would go to concerts and the performer mentioned my name. Sat Sep 4 09:11:16 2010 via web

Had to let employees go… for the first time I felt the impact of my brash actions … I felt the recession from an ownership side 9:10 AM Sep 4th via web

How deep is the scar… I bled hard.. cancelled tour with the number one pop star in the world … closed the doors of my clothing office 9:09 AM Sep 4th via web

With the help of strong will, a lack of impathy, a lil alcohol and extremely distasteful & bad timing … I became George Bush over night 9:07 AM Sep 4th via web

Even though the NBC telethon was widely praised yall didn’t think they was just gone let me get away with that did yall???!!! 9:04 AM Sep 4th via web

Some people’s truth is Kanye is racist… It’s not my truth but I do believe it’s my Karma…. walk with me… 9:03 AM Sep 4th via web

When I say perception is reality I mean whatever you think is the truth… is your truth 9:02 AM Sep 4th via web

I accept the idea (ideal) that perception is reality 9:01 AM Sep 4th via web

Happy B day to sister B … I gotta dope ass gift for you. 9:00 AM Sep 4th via web

Even now a lot of articles start there first 2 paragraphs about how much of an asshole I am 9:00 AM Sep 4th via web

I feel like they were waiting for the opportunity to go in all the way on me and when it came they beat me to a pulp 8:56 AM Sep 4th via web

They wanted yall to believe I was a monster in real life so you guys wouldn’t listen or buy my music anymore 8:55 AM Sep 4th via web

Man I love Twitter… I’ve always been at the mercy of the press but no more… The media tried to demonize me

Over the weekend, West made an announcement about releasing new music in a very new media way – free, every Friday, from now until Christmas.

He called it “Good Fridays,” which also seems to coincide with his label, GOOD Music.

Here’s the Twitter announcement:

Swizz looked at me the other night and said man are you getting sleep and I told him I can’t sleep… My people need this new music

I know yall need the music so I’m dropping 1 new song every weekend until Xmas. It may be my song it may be a new Jay song etc…

I’m calling it good Fridays. Yall know every Friday yall gone have a new joint from our family. We look at the game completely different now

Well, Kanye may not have lost his extreme cockiness that sometimes can get him in trouble, but he does have an interesting way to get fans involved in the process of an album release. And it will surely bring more followers to his Twitter feed, where, in between Friday new music releases, he can communicate about other issues.

West’s first “Good Friday” was last Friday with the Jay-Z “Power” remix – maybe the next one will be the collaboration he promised with the only person he follows on Twitter: Justin Bieber.

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He kicked off Sunday night’s live show with a performance of his new single “Power” – rapping on top of a makeshift mountain with a gorgeous video screen backdrop.

Well, we’re pretty sure it was West. The performance took place mostly in shadows, with West saying nothing except the lyrics to his new song. It was a gorgeous set – combining the awesome power of video that West has adopted recently in live performances while still keeping it intimate: just him and a microphone. And yes, as is awards show tradition now, a few f-bombs got through.

West hasn’t been spotted at an awards show since he was busy starting the “Imma Let You Finish” meme and ingratiating Taylor Swift to America even more than she already was.

Check it out:

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During a performance by the comedian mocking the various offensive things Simon Cowell has said to audtionees over the years one of the people on the stage playing a misfit who didn’t make the cut — or perhaps it was an actual person Simon had offended! — grabbed the microphone and began to yell at Cowell. It was a minute before the producers appeared to realize this wasn’t part of the show and zoomed away to break.

According to the NYT‘s Brian Stelter who is in the audience: “After Dane Cook segment cut to commercial, two of the spurned contestants confinued trying to shout to Simon without a mic.” Video of the moment below.

Which was pretty much the problem to begin with – the 10pm offering started as a similar product to the Tonight Show, and only became more like the old format as time went on.

But let’s not let that stop us from taking a look back at some of the best, most memorable, moments of the past (almost) five months. After an exhaustive search, here are some choices.

Let’s get started!

>>>NEXT PAGE: Kanye West cries.

“DJ Earworm” has created “2009:United States of Pop (Blame It On The Pop)” from the 25 top Billboard hits featuring Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Jamie Foxx, the Black Eyed Peas, T.I. and Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Jason Mraz, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Rihanna, Katy Perry, and of course, Lady Gaga. Purists may find it a little musically claustrophobic (aw! Remember Beyoncé in “Halo?” Look, it’s Beyoncé in “Halo” again!). But who cares it’s good fun, sounds great, will get you dancing if you happen to be the sort that frequents such dance-spots (and blames it on the a-a-a-al etc.) and also looks pretty as music videos ought (pretty easy when you’re mashing up other pretty music videos). Plus, what is more “Aughts” than a user-generated new work of art mashed up from previously existing works of art? And really, what is this post if not pretty much, that? Baby, don’t worry. The year’s almost dead and gone, but I got a feeling that you belong with me. Just dance. Use somebody. Now put your hands up. Let’s live it up. Pray it won’t fade away.

Track list can be found here.

2009 has been a year of controversies. Some of them were big, like Climategate, spurred by a set of hacked emails which caused widespread public questioning of the reality of global warming. Some of them were not very big, but were nevertheless blown up by blogs and cable news, like Jackass-gate, when President Obama referred to Kanye West as a “Jackass” in an off-the-record interview that got out. Many were united by that ever-persistent “-gate” suffix.

In this slideshow, Mediaite fondly looks back on a year of -gates (and wonders if it’s time to give the “-gate” suffix a rest):

>>>Next page: Climategate
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Michael Scherer at Swampland picked up this fairly aggressive response to a Q&A at last Thursday’s job summit (between Afghanistan, the Kennedy Awards, and his visit to the Hill yesterday the President has had a busy week!). After agreeing with a audience member that the recession does offer America a chance to reinvent “If we can recapture that sense that we’re in this thing together and that we are willing to work hard” Obama took aim at the press as the purveyor of the sort of divisiveness that is keeping the country from being successful at doing just that.

But it’s not going to come easily and it is going to require a level of cooperation and a willingness to work strategically together that we have not seen over the last several years. And frankly, this town and the way the political dialogue is structured right now is not conducive to what we need to do to be globally competitive. And all of you are leaders in your communities — in the business sector and the labor sector, in academia, we even have a few pundits here — it is important to understand what’s at stake and that we can’t keep on playing games.

I mentioned that I was in Asia on this trip thinking about the economy, when I sat down for a round of interviews. Not one of them asked me about Asia. Not one of them asked me about the economy. I was asked several times about had I read Sarah Palin’s book. (Laughter.) True. But it’s an indication of how our political debate doesn’t match up with what we need to do and where we need to go.

Scherer points out that Obama’s characterization of his interview questions is not quite accurate — he was asked about the jobs bill and the South Korean trade agreement. Still, does the President have a point? It doesn’t take a genius to note that in the last six months the coverage of the President not only has become a national pastime of sorts but also increasingly polarized. And polarizing sells. So does the sort of stunt-like news stories that have been derailing the President’s various agendas at every turn: Town Halls, Kanye West, Joe Wilson, Sarah Palin, The Salahis. Of course in a world where every type of media is scrambling to keep its head above water, let alone make a profit, it’s hard not to chase the ambulance. Perhaps Obama needs to quit complaining and try and figure out how to beat the press at its own game.

During tomorrow’s prime time address Obama will announce his new strategy for Afghanistan. This is the first time in many, many months Obama has made any major address that was not about health care. An event that, among other things, pretty much guarantees a change in the narrative. The narrative for the last little while has been what is Obama doing? Answer: not much. The narrative was so strong SNL even turned it into a skit. There are early signs however this may be about to change.

In last week Time‘s Joe Klein penned a column titled “Obama’s ‘Mistakes’: Way Too Early to Judge” in which he blamed “the media’s tendency to get overwrought about almost anything” as the reason for Obama’s run of badish press. And further noted that judging Obama’s success, “is a long game, which will yield results, or not, over time.”

After a first year spent demonstrating a new comity, Obama has gained the global credibility to get tough — on Iran, for example — in his second year. But the real evaluation of Obama’s debut must wait for the results of the two biggest problems he’s tackling: his decision on Afghanistan and the congressional attempt to pass health care reform. And even here, it will be difficult to render judgment immediately — as difficult as it was to judge Clinton’s decision to spend his political capital on deficit reduction in his 1993 economic plan, a triumph that didn’t become apparent for nearly five years.

Basically, chill out people he’s only been president for 11 months. This pronouncement was followed by an article penned by Jacob Weisberg in this week’s Newsweek, titled ‘Young Man In A Hurry’ (the Slate version is titled ‘Obama’s Brilliant First Year’):

This conventional wisdom about Obama’s first year is sure to be flipped on its head by the anniversary of his inauguration on Jan. 20. If, as seems increasingly likely, Obama wins passage of a health-care-reform bill by that date, he will deliver his first State of the Union address having accomplished more in his first year than any other postwar American president. This isn’t an ideological judgment. It’s a neutral assessment of his emerging record.

Now if only Glenn Beck would concur that Obama’s been getting a raw deal we’d have a consensus. Kidding! But still, the weekly mags may not have the power to determine the conversation they once did, however they are sometimes indicators of which way the wind is going to be blowing. We shall see. A lot depends on the tone Obama strikes in his speech tomorrow night (and whether or not he gets upstaged once again by a stunt), and the sort of numbers he provides to back his goals up, but don’t be surprised if you suddenly start seeing Obama being depicted in Herculean terms in the weeks leading up to his first year anniversary.

Related:
Why Losing The Press Is A Win For Obama
Time For Obama To Pitch His Health Care Plan Kanye West-Style

THE WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERS THE MOTIF OF MUCH OF THE U.S. COVERAGE TO BE ASININE. A senior administration official: “American leadership was absent from this region for the last several years, despite the fact that it is increasingly central to our economic growth and our security. President Obama put our alliances on a firmer footing, reasserted our leadership in the region, and continued to advance a complicated bilateral relationship with China that will play a large role in shaping the 21st century.”

And this from David Axelrod, who apparently felt the need to point out that the trip to China was not about ticker-tape parades:

DAVID AXELROD, surrounded by White House reports after the two-question “news conference” at South Korea’s Blue House: “The goal on this trip was to lay a foundation for economic progress, to open up markets for American goods, to lay a foundation for progress on mutual security issues, … to lay groundwork on climate change. … Though the president is demonstrably popular in all these countries and polling reflects that, we didn’t come halfway across the world for ticker-tape parades. … So we believe it was a successful trip. … We didn’t have expectations that Barack Obama arrives in China or anywhere else and things change overnight.”

It’s not clear which coverage in particular the White House is upset with — Fox is not singled out — though, there does seem to be a bit of a ‘walk on water’ expectation that follows Obama wherever he goes. Perhaps instead it is just the pervading tone that Obama was too deferential to his hosts on this Asian trip as opposed to, say, merely trying to find some common ground. Considering the week we’ve had in the media, I think it’s safe to say Obama coverage hasn’t really made it ‘asinine’ quite yet.

Whether it was in front of Congress or screaming 20-something year olds at the Video Music Awards, if we’ve learned anything this year…it’s that interruptions are the way to get things done.

Wilson’s rudeness helped him raise over $1 million big ones for his campaign, and West’s hissy fit got him all up in the headlines once again (suspiciously enough just in time for his Fame Kills tour with Lady Gaga, which ended up getting cancelled anyways. Can you say ultimate fail Kanye?).

So when Andy Hertzberg proposed to his partner, Andy Rollman, during his testimonial at round two of the Washington D.C. Council meetings on marriage equality, perhaps he had even more of an agenda.

Wonder if this interruption will help propel the ruling in favor of equal marriage?

Video Clip Below

Fortunately, Mediaite has come up with some costume suggestions for you. Pulled straight from the headlines, these are guaranteed to be hits:

For obvious reasons, the current president of the United States is likely to be a popular Halloween costume this year. But beyond form-fitting Hart Schaffner Marx suits, the challenge remains: How is a trick-or-treater supposed to pull off the look?

Fortunately, cable pundit/voice of reason Glenn Beck is on the case. A well-executed Obama according to Glenn Beck’s imagination should wear a Che Guevara t-shirt, a Hitler mustache, and a Soviet-style ushanka, preferably bearing a red hammer-and-sickle. Gasoline can for torching the Average American optional.

Barack Obama, According to Keith Olbermann’s Imagination

Cable pundit/voice of reason Keith Olbermann, on the other hand, might have slightly different ideas about what constitutes a good Obama costume. Olbermann’s Obama should have billowy, flowing wings, a resplendent halo, and, if budget allows, a heavenly host of sanctified Cabinet appointees carrying blazing swords and playing gleaming trumpets, singing the praise of the anointed one, and also mentioning offhandedly that Bush kind of sucked.

Summer of Death

Year-by-year, the Grim Reaper is always a popular Halloween costume, particularly among people who don’t have any costume ideas when they go to Party City on October 30th and kind of just phone it in. But coming off the Summer of Death, the costume has a special resonance this year. A (sexy) black hood, (sexy) black robe, and (sexy) blood-dripping scythe are of course mandatory, but how to work in the contemporary angle? It would probably be in poor taste to carry photos of Michael Jackson, Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett, Walter Cronkite, etc. A safer bet might be to carry around copies of expired mags Gourmet, Trump, Vibe, Nickelodeon Magazine, etc.

Levi Johnston

Last year’s Levi costume would have been an awkward suit and a hockey stick, but this year it’s much different — now that he’s an aspiring male model. Sarah Palin‘s former-almost-son-in-law is promising to reveal “huge” things about the former VP candidate, but the big news is his upcoming spread in Playgirl. For this popular costume, just wear briefs and bask in your 15 minutes of fame (briefs optional).

Next Page: Great newsy group costumes, and a twist on the Andre Agassi look

But some of the most talented and influential bloggers still work under the radar. Whether they write for niche audiences or are simply less visible than their more mainstream counterparts, these men and women are the unsung heroes of the blogosphere, known to circles of insiders, but uncredited for the vaster influence they hold.

In this in-depth, magazine-length feature (6500 words!), Mediaite has assembled a list of 25 of the best underrated bloggers you need to know, drawing from a variety of backgrounds, and explained why they matter. You’d do well to learn — and bookmark, and RSS — the names you don’t know already. If they aren’t themselves household names in a few years, the odds are good that they will continue to smartly analyze the news, break stories, serve as role models for others, and put their stamps on the flow of information far beyond the Internet.

Below we’ve designated five themes and selected five up and coming or under-appreciated bloggers in each category, including:

Hidden Hands: The workhorses behind blue-chip sites with tremendous clout who often go unrecognized for their accomplishments as individuals.

Blogs Bloggers Read: Bloggers behind sites worshipped by insiders that mold the shape of the online conversation.

Niche Experts: These are the writers whose areas of focus may not garner them the biggest following, but in music, fashion, cars, business, and food, they’re as good as it gets.

Power Hitters: They may be big names already, but they are somehow still undersold considering the amount of work they put in and the amount of influence they wield.

Reinventors: Bloggers who, rather than resting on their well-deserved laurels for past accomplishments, have continued to innovate and reinvent their editorial presences on the web.

>>>NEXT: The first five top bloggers are the Hidden Hands…

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