Here's what Stephen Sondheim, the song's composer, said about "Send in the Clowns":
"I get a lot of letters over the years asking what the title means and what the song's about; I never thought it would be in any way esoteric. I wanted to use theatrical imagery in the song, because she's an actress, but it's not supposed to be a circus [...] [I]t's a theater reference meaning "if the show isn't going well, let's send in the clowns"; in other words, "let's do the jokes." I always want to know, when I'm writing a song, what the end is going to be, so "Send in the Clowns" didn't settle in until I got the notion, "Don't bother, they're here", which means that "We are the fools.""
I am not at all nervous about the State of the Union. I don’t own a TV and I trust Joe. We did not elect him because he gave rousing speeches. He’s competent. His predecessor was not.
Your description of Sister Sarah lying straight into the camera is spot on!
As a former management consultant I can tell you from experience that the best and most successful executives were those who surrounded themselves with a team of employees who were smarted than they were and then brought the team together to accomplish great things. Those leaders provided the seeds of a corporate vision and the team executed the vision. This is what Biden has accomplished and instead of criticizing him for his stuttering or his age recognized him for his leadership. For Biden it isn’t about him it’s about the country and it’s citizens. A question never asked enough is beside tax cuts what legislative actions and laws have the Republicans implemented that have benefited the average citizen? His speech should be about what has been accomplished for the citizens of this country, what to expect in the future and why it’s important to continue the momentum.
Great line: "Everything she says should be suspect; indeed, she was likely selected because of her unnatural ability to look straight into a camera and lie."
Feb 6, 2023·edited Feb 6, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
I get a lot of pleasure out of the GOP bloviators like Ted Cruz and Jim Jordan being very shocked and very outraged for the TV and then humiliated by the facts. I know I shouldn't, but I do.
I think Main Stream Media has also blown its “balloon coverage.” While largely accepting that Biden handled everything right, Axios and others have written that this comes at a tough time for Biden, it’s an embarrassment for the administration, etc. I don’t get it—I had to reread some of these stories to see if I was missing something. Sorta like suggesting Ukraine should be embarrassed for being attacked. Oh, wait, that WAS a right wing talking appoint….that this would not have happened under Trump.
This is my point and I suggest another propaganda ploy—when facts don’t support their narrative, they switch to hypotheticals with certainty as to what would or would not have happened with their guy.
I will listen to the State of the Union on my phone. I cannot possibly watch McCarthy sitting up there grimacing in his seat, looking mean and angry.
On the balloons: Were Pence and Pompeo aware of the three Chinese surveillance balloons flying across the US in the previous administration? They are both considering Presidential runs. It seems that could be a serious question for any possible Senate investigation.
Relentlessly tough. On those clowns criticizing Biden. On Trump. On Sara Huckabee Sanders. On John Roberts.
Let's not be nervous about Joe Biden's State of the Union. He rises to the occasion. Though, when there is an informal moment, he is prone to gaffes. The State of the Union is not an informal moment.
Good overall synopsis of what's facing the nation and President Biden 🤔 Thanks for the heads up on the GOP rebuttal person she definitely learned how to twist the truth from her years fronting the orange clown 🤡
Hopefully Biden can make some headway on all the misinformation that has been spread at every opportunity by the radical party of 10% holding the rest of America 🇺🇸 hostage
"Chief Justice John Roberts has lost control of the Court. It is time for him to step aside to allow Congress to reform the Court." Do we have the needed votes?
But don't tune into them either. Please. Let's give them as little air as possible--and spare our tattered nervous systems for a change. It's really easy: Just switch from MSNBC to Mozart after the speech. Your soul will thank you--and so will your amygdala.
Wealthy white men gathered together in cigar smoke filled, wood paneled rooms selecting political candidates is in our DNA. The only difference now is the Supreme Court made it ok to do it openly. I'll bet anything the Democratic Party has its own back rooms as well.
I look forward to President Biden's SOTU speech. I don't look forward to the rabble rousers mouthing off from the newly emboldened Republican House members.
Why watch the commentary on either side? All it serves is a chance for TV stations to put up people who have 1 inch of depth and knowledge about the real issues, actually know the impact of what President Biden has accomplished, and who spend more time on their pancake makeup than really learning about the issues they are bloviating about in front of their cameras.
Interesting, and very worrying, that as I was reading this a WaPo news alert came across my screen saying that according to a Post/ABC poll most Americans don’t feel Biden has accomplished anything in his first two years. What??? I’m hopeful that this poll is as flawed as the election polls have been recently and only reaching Fox-watching, landline-dependent respondents.
Here's what Stephen Sondheim, the song's composer, said about "Send in the Clowns":
"I get a lot of letters over the years asking what the title means and what the song's about; I never thought it would be in any way esoteric. I wanted to use theatrical imagery in the song, because she's an actress, but it's not supposed to be a circus [...] [I]t's a theater reference meaning "if the show isn't going well, let's send in the clowns"; in other words, "let's do the jokes." I always want to know, when I'm writing a song, what the end is going to be, so "Send in the Clowns" didn't settle in until I got the notion, "Don't bother, they're here", which means that "We are the fools.""
I always hit t he mute button whenever a Republican Goober is on screen.
I am not at all nervous about the State of the Union. I don’t own a TV and I trust Joe. We did not elect him because he gave rousing speeches. He’s competent. His predecessor was not.
Your description of Sister Sarah lying straight into the camera is spot on!
As a former management consultant I can tell you from experience that the best and most successful executives were those who surrounded themselves with a team of employees who were smarted than they were and then brought the team together to accomplish great things. Those leaders provided the seeds of a corporate vision and the team executed the vision. This is what Biden has accomplished and instead of criticizing him for his stuttering or his age recognized him for his leadership. For Biden it isn’t about him it’s about the country and it’s citizens. A question never asked enough is beside tax cuts what legislative actions and laws have the Republicans implemented that have benefited the average citizen? His speech should be about what has been accomplished for the citizens of this country, what to expect in the future and why it’s important to continue the momentum.
Great line: "Everything she says should be suspect; indeed, she was likely selected because of her unnatural ability to look straight into a camera and lie."
I get a lot of pleasure out of the GOP bloviators like Ted Cruz and Jim Jordan being very shocked and very outraged for the TV and then humiliated by the facts. I know I shouldn't, but I do.
I think Main Stream Media has also blown its “balloon coverage.” While largely accepting that Biden handled everything right, Axios and others have written that this comes at a tough time for Biden, it’s an embarrassment for the administration, etc. I don’t get it—I had to reread some of these stories to see if I was missing something. Sorta like suggesting Ukraine should be embarrassed for being attacked. Oh, wait, that WAS a right wing talking appoint….that this would not have happened under Trump.
This is my point and I suggest another propaganda ploy—when facts don’t support their narrative, they switch to hypotheticals with certainty as to what would or would not have happened with their guy.
Dangerous stuff, as it removes rebuttal.
MSM, don’t fall for this.
I will listen to the State of the Union on my phone. I cannot possibly watch McCarthy sitting up there grimacing in his seat, looking mean and angry.
On the balloons: Were Pence and Pompeo aware of the three Chinese surveillance balloons flying across the US in the previous administration? They are both considering Presidential runs. It seems that could be a serious question for any possible Senate investigation.
Relentlessly tough. On those clowns criticizing Biden. On Trump. On Sara Huckabee Sanders. On John Roberts.
Let's not be nervous about Joe Biden's State of the Union. He rises to the occasion. Though, when there is an informal moment, he is prone to gaffes. The State of the Union is not an informal moment.
Thank you Robert, especially for your critique on Sarah Huckabee
Sanders. She is now the governor of the red state I live in and is starting to adapt some of Ron DeSantis' educational plans here,
always with a big smile. Her daddy
got her elected here 2 years ago,
there were no other candidates.
She is a lying boil on the state and
will pour vinegar on the State of the
Union.
Good overall synopsis of what's facing the nation and President Biden 🤔 Thanks for the heads up on the GOP rebuttal person she definitely learned how to twist the truth from her years fronting the orange clown 🤡
Hopefully Biden can make some headway on all the misinformation that has been spread at every opportunity by the radical party of 10% holding the rest of America 🇺🇸 hostage
"Chief Justice John Roberts has lost control of the Court. It is time for him to step aside to allow Congress to reform the Court." Do we have the needed votes?
But don't tune into them either. Please. Let's give them as little air as possible--and spare our tattered nervous systems for a change. It's really easy: Just switch from MSNBC to Mozart after the speech. Your soul will thank you--and so will your amygdala.
Wealthy white men gathered together in cigar smoke filled, wood paneled rooms selecting political candidates is in our DNA. The only difference now is the Supreme Court made it ok to do it openly. I'll bet anything the Democratic Party has its own back rooms as well.
I look forward to President Biden's SOTU speech. I don't look forward to the rabble rousers mouthing off from the newly emboldened Republican House members.
Why watch the commentary on either side? All it serves is a chance for TV stations to put up people who have 1 inch of depth and knowledge about the real issues, actually know the impact of what President Biden has accomplished, and who spend more time on their pancake makeup than really learning about the issues they are bloviating about in front of their cameras.
Interesting, and very worrying, that as I was reading this a WaPo news alert came across my screen saying that according to a Post/ABC poll most Americans don’t feel Biden has accomplished anything in his first two years. What??? I’m hopeful that this poll is as flawed as the election polls have been recently and only reaching Fox-watching, landline-dependent respondents.
A good read in The Atlantic. "The GOP is Just Obnoxious." https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/03/republican-midterm-election-performance-trump-dr-oz/672771/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=atlantic-weekly-newsletter&utm_content=20230205&silverid=%25%25RECIPIENT_ID%25%25&utm_term=This%20Week%20on%20TheAtlanticcom