Via Ezra Klein, this clip from BloggingheadsTV featuring Garance Franke-Ruta and Ann Althouse.
This video clip is just spectacular for several reasons, but the Althouse meltdown that starts at the five minute mark (over a controversy I had never even heard of until today) is particularly delightful, especially after having just listend to her explain to us all how nasty the left blogosphere is to her.
For extra fun, count how many times Althouse says “I” in the short clip. And in case you are enjoying yourself too much, the offending statement was:
“I am not aware of anything until the whole Jessica Valenti breast controversy.”
That was the outrageous smear that started the Althouse meltdown.
Da Bombz Diggity
I never heard of it myself until yesterday. Althouse did make something out of nothing with the photo of Jessica with fellow bloggers and Bill Clinton. And then in the chat exchange with Franke-Ruta, her instability shined through. The bigger question is why does Althouse care about Jessica’s boobs? Repressed desire or stupid comment. Whatever it was, she should fess up and either ask Jessica on a date or apologize for making a few regrettable, stupid comments. As far as I see it, that chat with Franke-Ruta was her chance to come clean or apologize!
Perry Como
How shrill.
Tim F.
John will hate me for this, but Garance Franke-Ruta’s colloquial affected style made me want to like totally mute the audio. Can TAP not afford a media consultant? At least Althouse presented well when she wasn’t flipping her obviously unstable lid.
Tulkinghorn
What was it that made Althouse notable in the first place? I remember Instaputz linking to her a few times a few years ago, maybe that was it.
Paul L.
I find it amusing that same people condemning Ann Althouse for this are the same who cheered when Bill Clinton did it on Fox News.
Maybe she should have stabbed the desk with her finger like Clinton did.
Anderson
What was it that made Althouse notable in the first place?
The 101st Fighting Keyboarders are always thrilled to get to talk to a GIRL.
cleek
wow… it only took 5 comments to get a Clinton Did It Too reply.
DougJ
I didn’t like Garance’s way of speaking either, but I do like her writing.
I couldn’t believe how nuts Althouse went about the Valenti breast controversey. That was truly bizarre.
DougJ
I was laughing my ass off at Paul L’s comment…until I realize it wasn’t spoof. That is exactly what I would have written.
DougJ
I find it amusing that same people condemning Ann Althouse for this are the same who cheered when Bill Clinton did it on Fox News.
Maybe she should have stabbed the desk with her finger like Clinton did.
Paul L.
Bill Clinton is a goldmine for showing hypocrisy on the left.
The “Clinton did it too reply” defense works better when someone uses Bill Clinton to defend the Bush administration.
Ann Althouse is not a member of the Bush administration.
Note that Bill Clinton’s mock outrage with Fox News occurred last year.
Am I forbidden from current events that include Bill Clinton?
So you believe that Bill Clinton should not be mentioned in a debate unless the mention is in glowing terms?
Are you willing to do the same for Nixon or Reagan?
DougJ
I think I’m going to do this all the time from now on.
DougJ
Am I forbidden from current events that include Bill Clinton?
So you believe that Bill Clinton should not be mentioned in a debate unless the mention is in glowing terms?
DougJ
Just checking that my new website link works.
DougJ
I’m trying to link to that Borges story about the guy who writes Don Quixote and gives it a totally different meaning. But I’m having trouble getting the link to cooperate.
Screw wiki, I think this link is better anyway.
cleek
Note that Bill Clinton’s mock outrage with Fox News occurred last year.
who cares. just STFU about Clinton.
demimondian
Yeah, you know, Paul, it’s terrible that young women have…breasts. Scandalous. I mean, Prof. Althouse has a pair of her own, you know, and so knows how utterly dreadful it is to have them.
Why don’t you go looking for the missing bodies in Qana? That’s a story I think you really should follow up on.
Tulkinghorn
Paul L:
You should only be forbidden (by self-respect and self-control) from mentioning Clinton when it is inapposite and it reveals you for a troll.
Paul L.'s Self-Respect
I left town hours hour, and Self-Control’s ridin’ shotgun.
Paul L.
I think it is great that woman have breasts. Now you will take me to task about viewing women as sex objects.
Do you prefer women who have bodies of 12 year old boys like modern fashion designers?
I am mentioning the double standard of left over someone’s behavior/outrage depending their politics.
Zombie Santa Claus
That’s a pretty cool idea. It reminds me of one I’d give my students if I were a professor of literature somewhere. I’d planned on having them rewrite “Dune,” only changing all references to desert and making Arrakis a frozen planet where heat was valuable instead of water. We could call it “Iceberg” or “Blizzard” instead, or even something simple like “Snow.” I’m not sure what would replace the Spice, though. Probably some kind of special giant seal blubber that absorbed heat, making it a frost planet. The giant seals are connected with the blubber, but it takes approximately 2/3 of the book before anyone figures out the connection.
Anyway, that was my idea. Then, the next year I could make my students re-write “Dune” using a planet where giant fungus absorbed all the light. Then, the year after that, an all-water atmosphere planet where oxygen was priceless. Then, the year after that, I could force them to reread all these other books. At this point, the course would become completely circular, but somehow I’d still hope for tenure.
Ho ho ho, bitches!
Perry Como
I thought imaginary things couldn’t post on blogs.
Zombie Santa Claus
Yet the liberals are fine with Clinton thinking that way.
Modern fashion designers have the bodies of 12-year-old boys? That’s pretty eerie, if you ask me. Is the fashion world recruiting designers from the sixth grade now? Or is it just that fashion designers are notably malnourished and poorly developed, due to an excessive devotion to their work and an insufficient devotion to basic nutrition and other physical requirements?
Zombie Santa Claus
Ahem.
Perry Como's wit
Well now we can.
Perry Como
Sorry, you’re more believable than Paul L.
Sweet Zombie Jesus!
Hey, Z.S.C., it’s all good in the hood.
Tom Hilton
The best part is where Althouse says GFR’s colleagues (at The American Prospect, I guess) are “trying to assassinate me”. Yeah, I know what she was trying to say (and that was pretty crazy in itself)…but it’s much more awesome the way she actually said it.
Perry Como's wit
No but Modern fashion models that Modern fashion designers pick to model their clothes do.
AkaDad
Chris Wallace practically accuses Clinton of not doing enough to prevent 911. Garen gives her opinion on why she thinks the left criticizes Althouse.
Clearly those are comparable…
Paul L.
No but Modern fashion models that Modern fashion designers pick to model their clothes do.
Da Bombz Diggity
You’re missing the point. What happened to Clinton was a smear because Wallace asked Clinton “Why didn’t you do more to put bin Laden and al-Qaida out of business when you were president?” As if our problems with bin Laden and al-Qaida was soley Clinton’s fault, when there were presidents before him and the one we have in office now. President Bush still has not caught bin-Laden 6 years after the fact.
What happened to Althouse was not a smear because she was involved in a “Jessica Valenti breast controversy” that her and commenters to her blog created. Valenti didn’t make an issue of it, Althouse did.
If you really want to see Clinton lose his cool the same way that Althouse did then see this clip or read the transcript. In this case, valid questions surrounding Clinton’s actions while President were asked, and Clinton lost his temper because he was being forced to be held accountable.
We never witness valid exchanges like this in the MSM so I can understand why you’d be confused.
Andrew
Ooooo! What else happens? Did the Santaclausian Jihad destroy all of the snow blowers in the universe? Do the reindeer take the giant seal blubber to expand their consciousness to pull their sleighs across the universe?
Tell me more!
Paul L.
They are not
Bill Clinton’s outrage was mock.
Krista
Paul, if you’re going to post sockpuppets in an attempt to be funny, it tends to work better when the URL attached to the name doesn’t immediately give away who wrote it.
An amateurish attempt, my son.
Paul L.
I know you will not believe this. But I wanted to make it easy to figure out who posted it.
Then I am in the same league as Doug J.
Punchy
Where’s the you-know-its-coming “Foley” post saying something about just rather having the 12-year old boy, period?
AkaDad
I guess Paul L. is a mind-reader since he knows Clinton’s outrage was fake.
Krista
Ah yes, the “Fuck you, I meant to do that” argument.
maf54
Perv.
Perry Como
Yes, that would have been very difficult to figure out.
John S.
Another thread where Paul L. savages himself with his colossal stupidity…
{sits back and munches on popcorn}
Perry Como
It only happens on days that end with a “y.”
DougJ
Why is modern capitalized here? We’re talking about Ralph Lauren not Demoiselles d’Avignon,
AkaDad
As a typical Republican, this new Monica “scandal” doesn’t bother me, because this Monica is keeping her mouth closed.
Ted
This is the funniest thread here I’ve seen in a while.
Thanks, Paul L!
Chris
Anne Althouse is Touched By An Angel, Peroxide.
What a great lawyer, professor trait to have such exquisitely thin skin. She must have been fabulous in closing if she ever practiced.
I think someone should start a new blog –
AnneNutHouse.blogspot.com
and just post the tit (sorry babe!) post and and the wmv.
Or….
WomanOnTheEdgeofANervousBreakdown.blogspot.com
MiddleAgeMiddleAmericaMiddleClassMiddllingIntellectFREAKOUTS.blogspot.com
CrazyAssBadgers.blogspot.com
TheDairyControversyState.blogspot.com
FendingOffAttacksFromEverywhereGoddamnit.blogspot.com
JustAVoiceOfReasonAloneInTheUniverse.blogspot.com
GlennGotMyBackInTheCrazyAssSecondTierLawProfessorsSocietyHehIndeed.blogspot.com
ThankFIhavetenure.blogspot.com
NoUppityandFirmYoungbloodGonnaGetShitFromMe.blogspot.com
WaitAMinuteOtherThingsIIDon’tAccept.blogspot.com
JFKGotShotIGotCharacterAssasinated.blogspot.com
IFindItVeryOffensive.Blogspot.com
WhenGlennDoesItItMakesMeTingleWhenYouDoItIWillFREAK.blogspot
UglyNastyThings.blogspot
GlancingReferences.blogspot.com
ThingsThatAreOldandWouldTakeTooLongToExplain.blogspot.com
ItsJustABlogosphereFlameWar!.blogspot.com
LeftSideVisious.blogspot.com (could branch into the southpaw minority rights)
BlackIsThinningFakeBlondeIsEmpoweringFeminists.blogspot.com
ISearchForMyName,IknowMF!.blogspot.com
VisciousUglyPeople.blogspot.com (REM covers)
MiddleAgeCarCrashes.blogspot.com
Ihopeshedon’thavekids.blogspot.com
WhyDon’tWeTransitionandTrytoCaptureThisPositiveEnergy.blogspot.
yet another jeff
Ye Gods…I can’t believe that Althouse is still wigging out about the fact that someone posed for a picture. It’s been MONTHS! That’s 53 years in intertron time.
MM
Having seen this and read about her freak-out with Ron Bailey and Katherine Mangu-Ward of Reason, I have to think that Althouse is well versed in the art of emotional bullying.
best defense
Look, if it weren’t for Althouse’s vigilance, clinton-breast-assassins would’ve overrun the world by now. This is the same person who wrote:
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2005/07/how-dangerous-is-that-shoot-to-kill.html
It’s terrible that the poor man was shot to death yesterday by the London police who had reason to think he was a terrorist. But should we worry that the shoot-to-kill policy will result in more deaths?
Really, it should be quite unlikely for the same sort of thing to happen again, just as it’s very unlikely that anyone will ever again hijack an airplane with a small knife. That method of hijacking an airplane ended on the morning of September 11, 2001, when everyone who might in the future ride on an airplane received an unforgettable lesson that they must respond actively and rush the hijackers and restrain them at any cost to themselves. Similarly, everyone — at least in London — now knows not to run from the police, especially not onto a train and while wearing bulky clothing.
Is it not true that yesterday’s sad mistake has already solved the problem it represents? In fact, a further good has been created: as ordinary persons change their behavior and drop the bulky clothing and unnecessary running, the real terrorists will stand out more. Indeed, if anyone ever behaves like Jean Charles de Menezes again, the presumption that he is a terrorist will be so overwhelmingly strong that the police really must kill him.
__________
and who can forget the blinking-in-code threat
http://whiskeyfire.typepad.com/whiskey_fire/2006/12/i_will_be_etern.html
Buck
Althouse gives absolute proof that the hit dog hollers.
And watching her yelp was priceless.
Pooh
Teh Left wins the thread in two short posts. Well done sir.
canuckistani
Perhaps it means that modern fashion designers keep the bodies of 12 year old boys in big meat lockers.
Tulkinghorn
Mock! Mock! Mock, I tell you!
All I can think of is Ritz Crackers Mock Apple Pie!
As for Alehouse, that genuine outrage was far, far, sillier.
Shine
I can explain why Althouse is the way she is in two words: Law Professor.
chriskoz
In Paul’s defense… he didn’t say the quote himself. He found it on a Intertubes web site. So, you know… it must be true.
Paul L.
It is my opinion that Bill Clinton’s public displays are contrived and fake.
Like your opinion that George W Bush is a idiot despite getting better grades at Yale than John Kerry.
chriskoz
Odd… earlier you were stating it as if it was a known fact. (Hell, you even provided a link to “back” your claim)
Please show me where I expressed the opinion that Bush is an idiot. (Or unable to get better grades than Kerry) Or is this just something else you pulled out of your ass along with your Clinton mock outrage “facts”.
Jon H
“It is my opinion that Bill Clinton’s public displays are contrived and fake.”
Not as fake as Chris Wallace’s “integrity”.
“Like your opinion that George W Bush is a idiot despite getting better grades at Yale than John Kerry.”
That just shows that Bush had enough familial pull to get his grades bumped up. Kerry’s grades were earned, Bush’s should have been F’s. And Bush was working to his full potential to get them.
Jon H
What’s amazing about Althouse’s implosion is that, essentially, GFR was using the Boob controversy as nothing more than a milestone, a date marker, for when she tuned into Althouse and the alleged liberal abuse thereof.
Jon H
Oh, the other thing that amazes me is that Althouse was whining about her mistreatment, and then GFR mentions the breast conflagration, which could have been a great opportunity for Althouse to note the egregious behavior of the ‘perfidious’ left.
Instead, she flames out, insisting that bringing it up is, in itself, abuse.
She just wants to play the martyr, without letting anyone examine the nails, lest they discover that they aren’t real and any injury is self-inflicted.
RSA
From the Boston Globe:
Cumulative average of 77 (Bush) versus 76 (Kerry). Jesus. I got better grades than those dumbasses, only half-trying. (Not at Yale, but instead at an Ivy-wannabe that only occasionally breaks into the top 10.)
Jonathan
Like your opinion that George W Bush is a idiot despite getting better grades at Yale than John Kerry.
“Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?” -GW Bush —Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000.
scrutinizer
Althouse is on the warpath against young women with nice breasts because she’s hosing some student and probably worried that he’ll leave her for a woman who can’t tuck her boobs into her pants. Check out their “Portraits” on her Flickr page. She put the link on her blog.
Richard 23
I always assumed that you were the type who preferred uppity chicks who wear glasses. But I suppose they have breasts too. Go go glasses moe!
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
Truer words were never spoken.
Rarely is the question asked: do lampshades flurk uquadda mnyut ashtray elephant dingus cement-mixer embargo?