Dear Joe,
I wish I could sit down with you face to face and explain why so many of us were offended by the UFC fight on the South Lawn of the White House.
For me, it had nothing to do with the UFC or who showed up for the fights. The brand you and Dana have built is a bona fide American success story. More power to you. As for the fighters, in my book, anyone brave enough to put it all on the line in the arena is remarkable to witness. Their dedication and discipline inspire me. I don’t understand anyone who can’t admire that.
And as for the people who attended, I, for one, love Shane Gillis. I think he’s hilarious and brilliant. It was a show. A once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. I can’t blame anyone for wanting to witness it firsthand.
My problem is that I believe some of our public spaces are sacred. And unlike many of the great powers that came before us, these American monuments belong to all of us. Not to whoever happens to hold power at the moment.
The White House does not belong to Donald Trump. It does not belong to any President. It belongs to the people. To treat it as Caesar treated the Colosseum is antithetical to everything our founding fathers fought for.
This is not Rome. Presidents are not emperors doling out bread and circuses for the peasants. The White House is the People’s House. This “celebration” could have happened in any stadium within a stone’s throw of the South Lawn. No one would have had an issue with it.
But that was obviously Donald Trump’s whole point. By holding the event on the South Lawn, what he was saying to the rest of us is:
“This is my house. I own it. I will do with it what I please. I’ll build a colosseum and have the gladiators fight under my gaze. I’ll tear down the East Wing. I’ll pave over the Rose Garden. I’ll cover everything in gold and marble. I’ll erase the names of all the men who came before me.”
The fights were an exhibition of imperial domination, not a celebration of our 250th anniversary as a democracy.
The White House is not Buckingham Palace. It is not the Palace of Versailles. It is not the Forbidden City of Beijing. It does not belong to an emperor, or a king, or a commissar.
The White House belongs to us. All of us. The person who sits behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office is nothing more than an honored guest. A temporary caretaker.
The President is our servant. Not our Caesar.
Respectfully, Hunter
P.S. Cage match between me and Don Jr.? Your call on the venue. Anywhere but the South Lawn.
Who is your all-time favorite MLB announcer?
1. Vin Scully
2. Ernie Harrell
3. Mel Allen
4. Harry Caray
5. Jack Buck
6. Harry Kalas
7. Joe Garagiola
8. Marty Brennaman
9. Jon Miller
10. Bob Uecker
Who is your all-time favorite MLB announcer?
1. Vin Scully
2. Ernie Harrell
3. Mel Allen
4. Harry Caray
5. Jack Buck
6. Harry Kalas
7. Joe Garagiola
8. Marty Brennaman
9. Jon Miller
10. Bob Uecker
Don’t be fooled by the pearl clutching outrage over floor crossing. When Parliament actually had the chance to ban it, the Conservative majority voted the bill down.
This included @PierrePoilievre under @stephenharper’s majority Goverment.
Bill C-306 (Feb 8, 2012): If an MP changed political parties, they would have been required to resign their seat and run in a by-election before joining another party.
Turns out the people screaming the loudest about the rule today are the same ones who protected it when they had the power to change it.
https://t.co/emcTXFILhH
Who’s your favorite comedian of all time?
A) Adam Sandler
B) Bernie Mac
C) Jim Carrey
D) Richard Pryor
E) Kevin Hart
F) Will Ferrell
G) Jerry Seinfeld
H) Eddie Murphy
I) Ben Stiller
J) George Carlin
K) Katt Williams
L) Robin Williams
M) Dave Chappelle
N) Comment another comedian
Does anyone still use a cast-iron skillet these days? I’m trying to prove to my daughter that they’re not just a thing of the past—she thinks they’re completely outdated.