Since George Carlin’s death in 2008, YouTube has been a treasure trove of his comedy, social criticism and political insight. This interview from 1997 with Jon Stewart isn’t so much a rant but insight into how George thought and evolved. Even now, his wit and wisdom is still relevant.
Tag: George Carlin
Jul 26 2020
Rant of the Week: George Carlin – Wake Up, America
George Carlin didn’t live to see Donald Trump elected president but his words foresaw his coming in 2006. Warning strong language. “The real owners are the big wealthy business interests that control things and make all the important decisions. Forget the politicians, they’re an irrelevancy. The politicians are put there to give you the idea …
Apr 08 2018
Rant of the Week: George Carlin – Truth About Republicans
This may be about the Reagan administration but here we are nearly 40 years later with a repeat performance by the Trump crime family. The only difference is Ronald Reagan was not in the back pocket of the Russian government.
Jun 30 2013
George Carlin: Pro Life, Abortion, And The Sanctity Of Life
Cross posted fromThe Stars Hollow Gazette
Warning the video contains strong language that may not be suitable for young children or the work place
Even from beyond the grave, George Carlin’s message will always be relevant to current events. Take the above clip, for example: Without mentioning him by name, this 1996 clip of Carlin utterly eviscerates Rick Perry and his war on abortion rights by painting a pretty accurate picture of the arguments used by Texas Republicans in their latest reach to massively curb access to women’s clinics in the Lone Star State.
Taken from his HBO special “Back in Town,” Carlin rips apart pro-life conservatives for caring more about life in the womb than after birth:
“These conservatives are really something, aren’t they? They are all in favor of the unborn, they will do anything for the unborn, but once you’re born, you’re on your own! Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don’t want to know about you, they don’t want to hear from you. No neo-natal care, no daycare, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing! If you’re pre-born, you’re fine. If you’re pre-school, you’re fucked.”
[..]
“They’re not pro-life. You know what they are? They’re anti-woman. Simple as it gets, anti-woman. They don’t like them. They don’t like women. They believe a woman’s primary role is to function as a broodmare for the state. You don’t see many of these anti-abortion women volunteering to have any black fetuses transplanted into their uteruses, do you? No, you don’t see them adopting a whole lot of crack babies, do you? No, that might be something Christ would do!”
Jan 02 2013
Should Auld Civil Liberties Forgot
Adapted from Rant of the Week at The Stars Hollow Gazette
By Charles P. Pierce
Of course, while everyone in Washington, and the courtier press that serves them, were endlessly droning on and on about the Gentle Fiscal Incline, the Bill Of Rights closed out 2012 by having one of the worst weeks it’s had in the two centuries of its existence. But the courtier press paid that little mind, possibly because selling out the Bill Of Rights was done on a “bipartisan” basis, and the denizens of the various Green Rooms would endorse cannibal murder if both parties agreed to subsidize it. [..]
This latest thing was to reauthorize the truly spooky FISA Amendments that were passed in 2008 when the president, in one of the actions he’s taken that really was a naked sellout of his previously enunciated principles, joined with a Senate majority to immunize the telecommunications companies that had participated in the Bush Administration’s lawlessness regarding wiretapping, as well as to authorize sweeping new wiretapping powers far beyond those against which the companies were being immunized. What the president did is not excused by the fact that he was running for president at the time. This wasn’t a flip-flop he took because he wanted to be elected. This was a flip-flop he took because he wanted to do some things once he was elected. [..]
Later, came the release of some FBI documents in which it seemed to indicate at least an unacceptable level of involvement by federal law enforcement in the crackdowns by local authorities on the various outposts of the Occupy movement. The hooley on the Left, which is going on vigorously over in the LG&M saloon, seems to center on whether or not federal authorities directed the activities of the local cops, or whether they simply provided logistical and intelligence support. (There’s also a great deal of swatting at Naomi Wolf, on which I will pass, thanks a lot.) To me, this is a distinction without a difference. [..]
Moreover, the documents also seem to indicate that the FBI was coordinating with the banks and the financial institutions as regards to the burgeoning Occupy movement. This, also, would not be unprecedented. The FBI always has been willing to do private favors for the powerful, and it rarely works out well. [..]
Rule Number One For Daily Living: There is no such thing as an “informal” chat with the FBI.
Sep 10 2012
“Brain Droppings”
Adapted from The Stars Hollow Gazette‘s Rant of the Week
This is an excerpt from George Carlin’s Brain Droppings, speech which he gave at the National Press Club on May 13, 1999.
An initiative is an idea that is going nowhere.
How much soft money can I collect in exchange for my core values?
The full video of the speech, in which he talked talked about America’s penchant for euphemism and about labeling minorities, is 56 minutes including his answers to questions from the audience.
Apr 09 2012
George Carlin Classic: Religion is BS
Adapted from The Stars Hollow Gazette
Now for a little irreligious relevance as only George cold do it. I’m here for the chocolate and Peeps.
Between you and me, in any decent universe, this guy would have been out on his all powerful ass a long time ago. By the way, I say “guy” because I firmly believe. looking at these results, that if there is a god it has to be a man, no woman could, or would, ever fuck things up this bad. ~ George Carlin
Sep 15 2011
On Fixing The World, Or, Help George Carlin Stick It To God
Once again The Fates have come our way to provide a story, and once again, we have a contender for the “Ironic Story Of The Year”.
It’s got everything you need for serious irony: an irascible comedian who mocked religion at every opportunity, a city that loved him, and the rich coincidence of his having been born at the crossroads of New York City’s communities of religious education.
And that’s why, today, we’ll be talking about the effort to name the street right next to Manhattan’s Seminary Row…Carlin Street.
(And before we go further, a language warning: we’ll be quoting George Carlin liberally, and that means there may be present today certain of the seven words with which he created one of his best known routines. You are now officially warned.)
May 14 2011
If You Only Knew, George
George Carlin was prescient. He knew all along where this country was headed and the majority of Americans would be screwed. George would have been 74 on May 12th. He is so missed but he was so right.
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