LOS ANGELES – The biggest Hollywood buzz from Sunday’s 2008 MTV Video Music Awards may have been Britney Spears’ hailed comeback, but taking a close second would likely be the crude antics of little-known British comedian Russell Brand, who took shots at President Bush, Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, and the family-friendly Jonas Brothers, among others.
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(Photo: AP Images / Kevork Djansezian)Host Russell Brand is seen on stage at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards held at Paramount Pictures Studio Lot on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, in Los Angeles.
Brand, who is relatively unknown in the United States but is popular in the United Kingdom, urged Americans Sunday to vote for Barack Obama, called Bush “that retarded cowboy fella,” and labeled Palin a “VILF.”
"Some people – I think they're called racists – say America is not ready for a black president,” the VMA host said in front of the celebrity-filled crowd at the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles. "But I know America to be a forward thinking country because otherwise, you know, would you have let that retarded cowboy fella be president for eight years?”
While Brand’s political comments certainly brewed up a storm, what drew arguably the biggest response was Brand’s repeated jabs at the Jonas Brothers and the purity rings they wear as a symbol of their vow not to have premarital sex.
The band of three brothers, whose father is a pastor, famously wear the rings on their left-hand ring finger to remind themselves of their "promise to ourselves and to God that we'll stay pure 'till marriage." They also abstain from alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
At one point during Brand’s time onstage, the British funnyman pretended he'd stolen a Jonas Brother's virginity as he played with a ring in his hand.
“Let me tell you, it was an enjoyable and pleasant experience and I wish the rest of the Jonas brothers the best of luck because over the course of the evening I want a collection of these bloody things,” he said.
Following Brand’s comments, American Idol winner and fellow purity ring wearer Jordin Sparks took to the stage, and before presenting an award, defended the evangelical Christian brothers with a quick statement.
"I just wanna say, it's not bad to wear a promise ring because not every guy and a girl wants to be a slut, OK?" Sparks stated, drawing the applause of the crowd.
While many have been supportive of Sparks’ stance, some have been angered by the implication that those who don't abstain are "sluts."
Sparks assured News.com.au, however, that while she doesn’t feel bad for what she said, she “didn't mean to offend anybody if I did."
The openly Christian music star also told FOXNews.com's Pop Tarts column later Sunday night at the In Touch magazine after-party that she was more than happy to put Brand in his place.
"Somebody had to do it," she said.
Shortly after Sparks’ onstage comment, Brand apologized, but managed to squeeze some punch-lines into his apologies – both onstage and off.
“I’ve gotta say sorry ‘cause I said them things about promise rings; that was bad of me,” he said before presenting television stars Lauren Conrad and Chase Crawford.
“I don’t want to piss off teenage fans,” he added before making another off-color joke.
“Promise rings, I’m well up for it … but a bit of sex, occasionally, never hurt anybody.”
Offstage, Brand told The Associated Press, "I feel a bit bad that I kept talking about their vows to chastity, and I'd like to take this opportunity to say no one ever have sex again. It's a mad idea. What a way to spend an evening."
It is well known in the United Kingdom that Brand is a former heroin addict, sex addict, alcoholic and has had numerous run-ins with the police, having been arrested nearly a dozen times for public indecency. Brand talks openly about his addictions to sex and drugs in his autobiography My Booky Wook.
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scitsonga,
You said "You arn't making much sense here....hard to know how to respond..."
I know its hard for you to keep up with something over your head. But if you think for a moment you'd understand. Try it.
wb, "I recall the 'experts' on both sides saying"
Well those experts turned out to be correct on almost all accounts from troop strength to cost to post invasion problems such as looting and general lawlessness, all of which the neo-nut jobs from bushie to chinie and dumbsfeld pretty much dismissed.........a bunch of incompetent fools
Scit, I've read his speeches. I've read the news reports. I dont see him saying anywhere how long it would take to win in either iraq or against terrorism.
I recall the 'experts' on both sides saying it would take 5-7 years for Iraq to be handled properly (though I can't seem to find it online anywhere) - though it may be it was only from one side, I recall both sides saying something similar.
Can you please provide links?
wb, bush said the fight against terrorism would be long. you were referring specifically to the iraq invasion and occupation. all bushie's handlers and his masters chinie and dumbsfeld said iraq war invasion/occupation would be short cheap and not require a lot of troops as I have largely outlined below.
do "We found terrorists there being cared for by Iraq!"
Well sure, terrorists are everywhere, there have always been terrorists, there will always be terrorists. bushie & chinie will tell you terrorist are under your bed too.
proph "I thought you were more up on current event than that. Iraq was about WMD. I can't believe in all your "knowledge" that you would ask a question like that. "
You arn't making much sense here....hard to know how to respond...
"exactly my point, so then why did we invade Iraq? "
We found terrorists there being cared for by Iraq! One of the terrorists we found was tied to the first bombing of the World Trade Center. Our government with one united voice (except Obama) said we will go where the terrorists are. If you harbor terrorists we will come after you...and we did.
I read in Time Magazine a quote of Kadaffi (like I spelled that right) who said that Iran was being stupid in their behavior with their neuclear program and was going to end up like Saddam if they didn't change their ways. If Libia is talking like that...!!!!!!
Nothing wrong with that, brother.I was born in Missouri, but have lived in Virginia most of my life.Anyway, just curious.
Eagle,
Naw. I've been through there a few times when I was an OTR Truck Driver. Beautiful state. That whole area, Viginias, Carolinas, Georgia. It was gorgeous.
I'm a colorado boy. Born and raised.
I love your comment about the hair, igh.I just wish I had as much hair as he does.Oh, well.
Prophet, did you ever live in Virginia? You kind of remind me of a guy I once went to church with, named Dan Sloan.That's a good thing, by the way.
steve,
What do you mean?
wb, the only thing I remember Bush saying was that the American people needed to realize the fight against terrorism would be a long one, but I'm not sure he ever gave a specific timeline for that or the war in Iraq.
I think his hair style will catch on.
scit, please provide reference. I can find nothing online where Bush said how long it would take. I distinctly recall seeing TV coverage of it taking at least 5-7 years. I recall it coming from both sides of the isle.
DP and scitsonga, thanks for dealing with the matter raised.
Problems, prophet and jester?
Well, Iraq began about WMD, turned into ousting a genocidal dictator, and now we're dealing with local terrorists and other detractors as we attempt to rebuild their country.
sctisonga,
You said "proph "Terrorists don't behave like typical armies."
exactly my point, so then why did we invade Iraq?"
I thought you were more up on current event than that. Iraq was about WMD. I can't believe in all your "knowledge" that you would ask a question like that.
Iraq and the war on terror are two different things. I figured you would have known that. I guess I was wrong.
proph, how bout this, I think we can both agree that not all so-called athiests are bad and not all so-called christians are good. I do believe, based on the ones I know and have met, that the vast majority of christians are good and decent people and that most atheists, that I know, are decent people who just happen not to think there is a god. I dont think you have to have a faith in god to be a decent human being.
moore
"The US knew going into Iraq that it would take 5-7 years to accomplish the goal. Looks like we're right on track. "
Ah, NO. Not exactly ronald dumbsfeld, chiney and the other neo-nuts told the american people that the iraqi's would welcome us with open arms, would cost less than 50 billion dollars and be funded with iraq oil money. we wouldn't need much more than 100,000 troops. They did not say it was going to be 5 to 7 years
Skeptical ME experts and many military experts that were shut out from dumbsfeld's iraq war "planning" were saying at least 5 to 7 years, need at least 350,000 troops to secure the country and would cost hundreds of billions of dollars, now were talking trillions and we will be in iraq and Afghnistan a long time due to very poor, if any planning. Dude, where do you get your information, because it is way flawed.
proph "Terrorists don't behave like typical armies."
exactly my point, so then why did we invade Iraq?
The US knew going into Iraq that it would take 5-7 years to accomplish the goal. Looks like we're right on track.
"The US needs to get smarter fighting terrorism..."
I'd like to know what that would be? Terrorists don't behave like typical armies. They have no permanent, defined place of command. They are not a country. They are in every country in the world, even ours. They are British, American, Australian, African, German, French. They don't wear BDU's. They wear slacks and a shirt. They blend in with their surroundings, perfect guerilla warriors. They could be your neighbor, and you'd never know it.
In killing a rattlesnake, you don't go cutting off the tail. You go right for the head.
But I guess only those who have lost loved ones in a terrorist attacks would truly understand why we are doing what we are doing. Those of us who were unaffected, sit in our cushioned love seat, watching liberal CNN bash our war on terror, eating our McDonald's Big Mac, and whine about how much this is costing us. Well, I almost want to pray that all those people who think that way would have a loved one murdered savagely by a terrorist. Just to see how they would react. But the love of God compells me to pray that our war against a cunning, suicidal enemy would be successful.
citsonga,
Do you believe that athiests are evil? In their past is the murder of 100's of millions of innocent people (Christians and non-Christians alike). As my list shows, the atrocities of athiests are horrendous. Do you think it fair for me to clump ALL athiests into the category of evil, just because of what some atheists did? Should I look at you as an evil person because of what another bearing your title did?
I think we can both agree that the answer is no. I know that not all athiests are bent on murder and genocide. Many of them are fine, law abiding, peaceful people.
But yet, there are those who would like to clump all Christians as warmongers simply because of what a few have done (errantly I might add) in the past.
The litmus test for Christianity is this. Love, peace, holiness, truth, mercy, faith. A person who kills in the name of "God" is no more a Christian than Stalin was. Anyone can say they are a Christian. Few can actually be one. "We will know them by their fruits."
So I would appreciate it if "militant" athiests would grow up and quit saying that because someone murdered or killed in the name of God, that all Christians are bad.
"You single out clinton"
Actually, it was the luck of the draw. Bin-nutty wasn't in a position during the Reagan years. Actually, they documented those sorts of pull outs all the way back to Carter.
When Clinton pulled out (don't go there people) Bin-nutty took it as a sign of weakness by the US (in a trail of weakness). Just like much has happened by the luck of the draw to Bush...this one get's tied to Clinton.
prophet "And people like you are the little fawns, trembling in the brush, saying "oh poor me...poor me...." Don't martyr yourself. Grow some manhood."
You OK there prophet, sounding a bit nutty...
dp "Apparently, Osama viewed Clinton pulling troops out of places they were blowing things up as a sign of weekness and that we would bow before their terrorist might."
You single out clinton, but perhaps you forgot that reagan pulled the Marines out of Lebanon after a couple hundred marines were killed in the bombing there. Many analyst at the time thought this was viewed as a green light for terrorist.
wbmoore "I dont think its a bad thing that the US is hunting terrorists. But I happen to think that terrorism is different than war. "
Yet the US fights terrorism as if it is the same kind of war in many respects- invading countries with little to show in the long run except more of the same. The US needs to get smarter fighting terrorism, not tougher in a military sense of invading countries. Even US military leaders are now saying this. Consider this: bin Laden might have spent 1 to 2 million dollars carrying out 9-11. What has the US spent in total in response. Two trillion give or take a hundred billion or so and bin Laden is still out there. bin laden has achieved more than the goal of 9-11, he is contributing to the bankruptcy of america and has the US booged down in two wars that show no sign of ending anytime soon and the costs continue............
dp "In the case of the Islamic terrorists they simply want all of us dead."
From oppression comes terrorism, the seeds of oppression the US helped to plant in the ME have come back to bite us.
steveh20 "One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter."
Yes indeed. The US has been a sponsor of terrorist groups many times in its history, but to the US, they were "freedom fighters" Recall reagans contras, he referred to them as "freedom fighters" really a bunch of murderous thugs the US Congress decided to stop funding.
prophet,
you have stumbled upon the truth. Yes, some christians were murdered by the nazi's too. Jews however were specifically targeted for extermination. hitler was able to take advantage of centuries of anti-semitism in europe. Anti-semitism which was quite prevalent among good church goers (and non-church goers), made the Holocaust possible. Without wide spread anti-semitism, the Holocaust would not have occurred.
Perhaps you might want to brush up a bit on the history of Vietnam. Do a little research on HoChiMinh and his repeated attempts to rid Vietnam of its colonial occupiers, the French, going as far back as appeals to W. Wilson and to H. Truman. His appeals were ignored. Had the US backed Minh, he would have been a US ally, instead he had no choice but to ally with the Soviets. HoChiMinh was a nationalist above all else. He and his people were fighting for freedom from the French, then the Japanese, then back to the French and finally to fighting the US. HoChiMinh was doing what you might do if your country was occupied by a foreign power- FIGHT THE OCCUPIERS. Lets see here, about 2 million Vietnamese were killed, many tens of thousands from US bombers, much of the country laid to waste and poisoned by agent orange. Millions of Vietnamese injured, with lost limbs, disease as a result of agent orange, napalm burns, you name it. Over 55,000 americans killed. What did it accomplish in the end? What would Jesus have done?
Looks like you see everything in black & white--
atheist bad, christian good.
agnostic bad, christian good.
muslim bad christian good.
An interesting observation i have made over the years is many christians I know tend to favor military intervention in places such as Vietnam and Iraq, yet when I ask them if they know anything of the history or culture of the countries, they know almost nothing. My atheist and agnostic acquaintances tend to oppose those interventions, many times on moral grounds. Perhaps you might see some irony in this.
He steve...actually it's all terrorism. Even some of what our courts are doing in CA could be considered terrorism. So I understand your point.
Many here in the USA have sand in the ear when it comes to terrorism and what is really going on.
In the case of the Islamic terrorists the goals are different. Crazy as some of them were the IRA had a goal someone could actually give them..."independence". No matter what side of that war you're on...it's still a negotiable goal.
In the case of the Islamic terrorists they simply want all of us dead. Not exactly an 'obtainable goal'. I by far do not agree with the IRA tactics nor do I agree with all of the tactics used in dealing with them. Both sides had their stubborn points.
In the case of the Islamic extreamists...it isn't stubborness on their part...it's just plain stupidity. There is nothing simply laying stubborness aside is going to accomplish.
The IRA was looking for "freedom". The Islamic terrorists are looking to exterminate.
I dont think its a bad thing that the US is hunting terrorists. But I happen to think that terrorism is different than war. If the attacks had occurred in Ireland, I doubt Steve would have been as bothered. However, it was on innocent people in London.
I think Steve is right to be upset that people finance terrorist organizations, whether those terrorists be attacking England or the USA, and whether those doing the financing are Muslim or Irish Americans.
However I don't think that the terrorists that attacked the US is fighting are freedom fighters, as they had freedom before they attacked.
is it really a wonder that americans defeated the british in the revolutionary war? and that we had to bail them out of WWII? not really. at least if they all think like steve.
steve,
" I was in Oxford street, London, when the IRA blew up a bomb, some people where killed, I know fear." Poor baby. "Some people were killed."
I should give you the names of two people that I know personally who were in the near vicinity of the WTC 9/11 attack (one was actually in the first tower when it was hit). "Some people" were killed during that attack. So there are many Americans here who know about fear. People throwing themselves from hundreds of stories to their death because of the terror of dying in a raging fire. Hanging out windows trying to escape the flames, because there was no where else to go.
Here's what the public thinks about terrorism. Flight 93.
So, you can go stick your head back in the sand, continue to worry that "some people" died in a little bombing, and don't worry about fighting terrorism. I think the difference between you and America, is that we go out there to hit them with our military before they hit our innocent civilian population. You just wait for them to come and kill your civilians.
I do agree that Bush should have spent more military assets in Afghanistan than in Iraq, but we are still out there hunting them down. Americans have become the hunter in the war of terrorism. And people like you are the little fawns, trembling in the brush, saying "oh poor me...poor me...." Don't martyr yourself. Grow some manhood.
DP
One mans terrorist is another mans freedon fighter. In 1981 I was in Oxford street, London, when the IRA blew up a bomb, some people where killed, I know fear. I call those people terrorists, but to the people in the bars of New York collecting money for the good old boys, they where freedom fighters. It still grates with me slightly when I hear from the states about the war aginst terror. I know you will understand where I am coming from.
Steve
"the average American believes the US is always the good guy. "
As a rule...everyone everywhere thinks they are the good guy. I was watching a special on FOX News about terrorism that came on last night. It tracked the time-line of terrorism back to the time of Carter.
Did you know the terrorist behind the first bombing of the World Trade Center was found in Iraq after we went in? In fact, as it turns out, there was quite a bit of traffic through Iraq of quite a bit of terrorists over the past few decades. This data is simply "this person did this and we found them in Iraq". Quite indesputable (unlike my spelling).
Apparently, Osama viewed Clinton pulling troops out of places they were blowing things up as a sign of weekness and that we would bow before their terrorist might.
The evidence really is quite interesting. One of the things that adds to its credibility is that CNN isn't running stuff like that! :0
scitsonga,
The holocaust included the mass murder of Christians.
Vietnam was a war against the atrocities committed by atheist China in that country.
You said you won't waste your time...which is good. Because you would be wasting your time posting a lot of incorrect information. So thank you for not wasting both of our time.
dp, "I don't just limit it to the US. It's most every country in one way or another "
We are in definite agreement there, but the average American believes the US is always the good guy. Sometime the US is, sometimes not so good as I have described below...
here prophet, let me repost what I had below and we can start from there. I can develop a very long list of crimes commited by church goers against the american indian alone, then I could make a list of atrosities against the jews in europe by church goers. How about you take a look at my post first and tell me how I have it wrong.
what church going folk did to africans (enslavement and genocide), american indians (enslavement and genocide), Vietnamese (bombing and killing), holocaust (genocide against the jews of europe), etc. But here on CP, the good church goers cant bring themselves to face fact, so I wont waste my time. Its always the other religion or atheist or agnostic thats evil.......
scitsonga,
You said "jester, I can come up with a list as prophet has done listing what church going people did to africans (enslavement and genocide)."
Ok. Let's see it.
"Its the seeds that the US sowed as I described earlier, and we continue to do so."
I don't just limit it to the US. It's most every country in one way or another as a major player or a minor one. Mankind does what is right in their own eye and it comes back to bite them.
In quality control terms, I called it trying to catch the arrow. The arrow gets launched with no real long term plan or careful aim. We then run around with the target trying to catch the thing.... The last thing that happens is everyone blames everyone else for everyones stupidity.
You'll find God's way of doing things in the Gospel is to see problems from afar and seek to avoid them.
dp, i did goto the nam page you listed, interesting reading, thanx.
"Iran and the list goes on has been involved with terrorism and tied to 9/11 directly or indirectly"
Its the seeds that the US sowed as I described earlier, and we continue to do so.
"Why was the US in Vietnam?"
the question was mostly rhetorical...
You will find a fairly objective and correct answer to your question in this article:
http://www.vietvet.org/jeffviet.htm
Unlike the Iraq war, most American involvement in war is due to a government asking for our help as was the case in Vietnam. In the case of WWII it was because we got nailed in Pearl Harbor. In the case of Iraq, we left sleeping dogs lie until they were tied to 9/11. It is nothing more than liberal propoganda that they were not involved. Iraq, Iran and the list goes on has been involved with terrorism and tied to 9/11 directly or indirectly. It's almost like giving kids money to go do what they want.
Our founding fathers knew that. This is why people are suppose to run our country and not 'a government'. America is suppose to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. When government (especially the courts) forget that...our freedom is in danger.
"Because the Democrats dragged us in!"
Got strated with Truman, gradually escalated with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon finally brought it to an end.
"Why was the US in Vietnam?"
Because the Democrats dragged us in!
dp Why was the US in Vietnam? Why did one imperial power (US) replace another (France). France occupied Vietnam since the 19th C, HoChiMinh wanted France out. As far back as the presidency of Wilson, HoChiMinh pleaded with the Americans to help get the French out. They were our ally, we didnt. It was not until the 1950's that the French were defeated and left only to be replaced by the US. Had we sided early with Minh, he would have been a US ally rather than being forced into the Soviet camp. The US dropped hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs , especially N. Vietnam, that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese. Its hard for me to see how the US thought it the right thing to do. Ignorance of history is a dangerous thing. Had the US done its homework, it would have learned Hochiminh was a nationalist above all else, not a communist, and millions of lives and the destruction of a country would have been spared.
"listing what church going people did to africans (enslavement and genocide), american indians (enslavement and genocide), Vietnamese..."
At the end of the Vietnam war 7 missionaries were captured. 5 of them were ours. I was at a school for missionary kids in 75-76 in Malaysia. The 'odd' missionary was a woman who's husband had been killed by the vietcong in 1962 when their daughter was about 3. She was a student at our school and her mother came to work at the school when they were released.
When the missionaries were being moved from one part of the base to another one of them was moving a bit slow so he was pushed by a soldier. The next day there was an assembly of the entire 'base'. The missionaries were held in their 'hut'. The leader of the base had the soldier brought up to the front. He explained that the missionaries had done nothing but teach people how to read and write, take care of medical care in villiages and show love to people. They were not the enemy. They were to be treated with respect. Then he had the soldier shot as an example! The base commander explained to the missionary that was how they did things and it was not the missionaries responsibility nor could he have done anything to stop it. The base commander knew how the missionary would have felt about it and that was why they had been kept in the hut!
Apparently, the "north" Vietnamesse army differs with your assessment....