Studs Terkel on Kucinich, Dean & Dem party "Eunuchs"

[villager]

Breakfast with Studs

Leah Garchik Friday, October 31, 2003


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Studs Terkel came to breakfast at Dottie's in the Tenderloin Thursday. It was not exactly the ideal venue because it was packed, music played, dishes rattled, silverware clanked and Terkel is deaf. Rejecting a suggestion we try someplace quieter, "You'll sit next to me," he said as he made his way to a table, greeting other patrons and embracing the din.

He's 91, his new book is "Hope Dies Last," and he's a hero to many Americans, particularly the kind who vote in San Francisco.

<snip>

Terkel does tend to quote himself and his book, but so what? He's here promoting it. He's also full of opinions not in the book: Rupert Murdoch is an "Australian Neanderthal"; the late New Yorker editor William Shawn, who refused to stand up for a writer under investigation during the McCarthy era, was a "miserable craven toady"; the young editors and writers who have replaced the likes of Murray Kempton and Harrison Salisbury are "los pocos cucarachas," the little cockroaches.

Despite the strength of his opinions, "I have a way of horsing around," he says, so not many people take offense any more. "Lately I've taken a whack at the Teflon woman, Oprah Winfrey. In an election year, Schwarzenegger didn't discuss politics? What kind of joke is that? But no one criticizes her. . . . She has this muscle-headed guy on with his trophy wife, and doesn't ask them about politics."

OK, about politics: Terkel's rooting for Dennis Kucinich, who "has the chance that the Bears have of winning the Super Bowl. He'd be our first blue- collar president. But he's out. . . . and Dean will do. If George Bush, with Depression and war can win, the Democratic Party should be dissolved. It has no balls."

Breakfast is served, there's brief marveling at the slab of ham, and then Terkel continues about the "eunuch" Democrats, and the "lack of memory by the very ones whose granddaddies's asses were saved" by the New Deal. "The whole scenario was designed by W.C. Fields and nobody is laughing."

<snip>

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/31/DD22366.DTL

1. from the old guard

I like this quote

Terkel's rooting for Dennis Kucinich, who "has the chance that the Bears have of winning the Super Bowl. He'd be our first blue- collar president. But he's out. . . . and Dean will do. If George Bush, with Depression and war can win, the Democratic Party should be dissolved. It has no balls."

Studs saying this type of stuff has some relevance in light of the possibility of the AFL-CIO endorsing Dean.

[blm]

2. Dean's not getting the AFL-CIO endorsement.

That will go to Gephardt, since he has the most unions backing him, or it may be nobody. Maybe you're confusing the possible SEIU endorsement next week with the entire AFL-CIO?

3. I'm not sure

I thought I read that if Dean got the SEIU endorsement that then there was a good chance the entire AFL-CIO would endorse him also.

[Upfront]

4. Not So Sure

The troops want to win, and can't see Gep. pulling it off. Dean has as good a shot as anyone.

[CWebster]

5. From Studs Terkel

Kucinich...

Chomsky observed it as well.

[redqueen]

6. Love it!

Thanks for sharing this. :)

[villager]

13. You are completely welcome...

as a younger man, I actually got to walk and share a meal with Studs (he interviewed my Dad for one of his books, though the interview was never used).

Main regret: Never getting to puff stogies with Studs.

Role model for growing older: Studs Terkel

[Flying_Pig]

7. I love it. Eunuch Democrats. I like that better than Pink-Tutu...

Studs is an old line Dem like me. We can remember when the Party was full of fighters, and whether in the majority or not, had no fear of going "nose-to-nose" for what was right. Now, we've got some Dems that smell an awful lot like Republicans. In the old days, they would have been thrown out on their asses.

[Padraig18]

8. "But he's out. . . . and Dean will do."

:thumbsup:

[ozone_man]

9. Kind of an underhanded endorsement.

But an endorsement, nonetheless.:thumbsup:

[Padraig18]

10. Where I come from...

... that's an endorsement. :)

[DebbieCDC]

11. AFL-CIO

MSGOP was running on its ticker last night that the AFL-CIO (apart from the SEIU) plans to endorse Dean. I hope they're right, that would be great news. :bounce:

[Ardee]

12. Studs is cool and Dotties makes great food!

I wonder at the absence of vituperative commentary about Terkel making Nader like criticism of the democratic party's lack of balls......

[villager]

14. why should anyone be upset...

...with Studs nailing the Dems? He's not running on a third party ticket to throw it to the GOPpers...

He smokes his stogies, says his piece, and knows his realpolotik... a model for all DU men in their sunset years...

[Ardee]

17. thanks for the right wing propaganda

I am so very sick a those who lack the ability to think, analyze, or even read the things that Nader said parroting the vichy democratic line on him...but thanks for trying.

[Guaranteed]

15. Ever since the war started I've wondered what Mike Royko

would have thought about it.
I miss him so much.

[Pastiche423]

16. Studs won my heart

AGAIN, last summer. When asked about whistle ass on Donahue, he refered to him as the wanton boy. I believe he was being courteous.