Burt Bacharach and the New York Press "Big Hate" Bubbas

1984-ish Big Hate "journalism" has become so rampant in the states that I'm more than a little concerned that Americans have forgotten what true journalism is about. Even the op-ed pages, where viewpoints are expressed, the journalistic requirement should be still be "nothing but the facts, ma'am". But America has lost the virtue of facts, left behind the civilities and respect required by dignified discourse, oblitered the notion of reasoned argument.

The examples are legion, but this one strikes me as "funny" because the subject of the "Big Hate" is Burt Bacharach, a songwriter with whom I've gotten re-aquainted recently. I remember Burt singing the charms of "Martini and Rossi" aside heart-throb then-wife Angie Dickinson. Recently, Burt has been the muse-object of the "Austin Powers" films, said to be liked by Bubba W.

Burt is easily part of the "elite". But, careful there ... Burt also has heart, writes about love and about "what the world needs now". It doesn't surprise me to read what Burt has said recently:

"People ask why a man who has been known for writing love songs all of his life is suddenly rocking the boat," Bacharach says. "I had to do it. This is very personal to me, and this is the most passionate album I have ever made.

"I had to express myself, not only musically but lyrically. It was time for me to ask, 'who are these people who are taking control of our lives and how do we stop the violence?' I've got two little kids and a 19-year-old son and I wonder what they're going to do with their lives. It's so personal to me that I even decided to do some of the singing. This is dedicated to my kids and your kids,"

In another quote:

"Instead of pushing the funding up, they took most of it away to fight this stupid war."

So what do the Big Hate Bubbas have to say about Burt?

There were lots of stupid comments in the wake of Katrina, but few more so than those of the previously harmless Burt Bacharach [...].

I was honestly baffled why a legend would put himself in such an embarrassing position. Turns out it was marketing.

[...]

It [the album] all has the shameless dementia of a Cindy Sheehan blog entry.

[...] I'd rather hear that from Burt than from some sad pierced girl handing out anti-Semitic flyers in Union Square.

Any surprise that the initials of this Big Hate Bubba are "J.R."?