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Posted on 08/22/2003 8:33:31 PM PDT by kristinn
Liberal anti-war activist and actress Janeane Garofalo was presented with Free Republic's Golden Garofalo Award today in Washington, D.C. at the studio of CNN's Crossfire program by members of the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic.
The Garofalos--stuffed crows on a platter--were awarded to ten individuals for their over-the-top predictions of disaster if America went to war to remove the tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein. The Garofalos were awarded based on nominations and voting by members of Free Republic after the fall of Baghdad last April.
The winners were announced in a ceremony outside the White Correspondents Dinner on April 26 and featured on Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends program on April 29.
After announcing the winners, delivering the Garofalos to the winners in person became a bit of a dilemma. However, this week we were fortunate to have the first place winner, Ms. Garofalo, in D.C. where she was co-hosting CNN's Crossfire program. The show is broadcast live from a studio at George Washington University, a few blocks from the White House.
On Wednesday, D.C. Chapter member Ned13 was able to get the last two tickets available for this week's shows--which were for today's show.
Angelwood and I met at the studio a few minutes before 4 p.m. for the 4:30 broadcast. She had brought the Golden Garofalo in a gift-wrapped box and decorative bag. People going into the studio were required to leave any bags or backpacks at a coat check room. However Angelwood was able to persuade the security and staff to allow her to take the Garofalo in the studio.
She explained to them what the award was and why we were giving it to Ms. Garofalo. When she opened it up to show them there was nothing threatening in the box, they all laughed heartily at the sight of the five dead crows on a golden platter.
I informed the staff that I had faxed a letter to Crossfire and Ms. Garofalo this morning informing them that we would be in the audience today with the Garofalo and would like to present her with it.
That somehow made it seem more official or something and, after the Garofalo cleared the metal detector, we were in.
A different staff member came out from backstage and inquired about the Garofalo. She explained that there wasn't time to meet Ms. Garofalo before the show and that she wasn't sure if there would be time afterward. However, she said she would be happy to take the award backstage and make sure Ms. Garofalo got it.
Angelwood and I said that would be fine and gave the bag containing the Garofalo to the staffer. We made sure to describe the award to her and what it was for so she knew what she was doing. She too laughed heartily as we explained the Garofalo to her.
The staffer took the bag backstage and came back to us five minutes later. She graciously told us that after the show the Crossfire staff was going to present Ms. Garofalo a gift to commemorate her week as guest host and she would give our award to her at the same time.
Ms. Garofalo and regular co-host Tucker Carlson came out on stage just before showtime. Mr. Carlson wore a suit and looked professional. Ms. Garofalo was grungy looking: Her chopped, bleached blonde hair was partially pulled back in a pony tail, accentuating her raccoon-eyed mascara; black fingernail polish and a sleeveless top that showed off her tattooed arms completed her street urchin style.
Her style doesn't bother me, in fact she didn't look as bad in person as she has on camera this week, but in her case it underscored her immaturity. Throughout the show, Ms. Garofalo made gestures and sounds that teenagers, not grown-ups, use to express themselves.
The sole guest was retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark. He played the game of will he or won't he run for president and is he or is he not a Democrat. Ms. Garofalo was quite enamored of the military man's potential candidacy, perhaps it's because the independent non-candidate was more proficient in the DNC talking points than she.
During a break before his segment began, Gen. Clark bantered with the co-hosts. Their conversation was heard by the studio audience. He told them that he had been watching Bowling for Columbine, but he totally botched the pronunciation of the town, saying "Coalumbeene." Ms. Garofalo dutifully corrected him.
The show ended at 5 p.m. and Mr. Carlson bolted from the set. Ms. Garofalo stayed and mingled with the audience, talking with them and signing autographs. Angelwood and I patiently waited our turn until a staffer started to try to take her backstage. Angelwood got her attention and Ms. Garofalo stopped to talk with us.
We introduced ourselves and shook hands with her. We told her that we had an award for her backstage. Her eyes lit up until we told her she probably wouldn't be very happy about it.
We describe the award to her and why she had won it. She replied that that it seemed we were making fun of her. We told her not really, that it was a serious point being made in a light hearted way--that her predictions of doom had not come true.
She mentioned the recent troubles and we said that noone expected a cakewalk. She responded that someone in the administration had said it would be a cakewalk on some talkshow.
Angelwood mentioned that Ms. Garofalo's award had been featured on Fox & Friends. That prompted her to vent about her experience on that show.
Ms. Garofalo complained that her feelings had been hurt because she thought she was going on a 'fun' show but instead they were mean to her and made fun of her--and still make fun of her.
I told her that since she was in the arena she should expect to take some shots. She replied that she didn't expect to be made fun of on that show. I was going to tell her that they made fun of her because her arguments against the war on that show came off as foolish, but the staffer finally succeeded in dragging her away.
Ms. Garofalo was very pleasant, considering the situation, as were we. Now to deliver the other nine.....
I watched the 1500th show celebration this morning. They had a generous serving of Janeane.
However, that was brave of her to face you guys and for her to keep her cool and remain pleasant. Likewise that was good that you guys remained pleasant.
Glad to hear you guys are going strong.
What business does she think she's in? If youse dishes it outs, youse gots ta take it. She could learn something about graceful concession from Mr. Carlson.
Sounds like the staff and security agreed with the consensus of FR in choosing her as the winner.
I wonder what she will do with it.
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(ROTFLMAO, BTW)
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You never give up and to be able to give the award in person.. priceless. Great team work.
DC FReepers rule planet earth!
That would be the past administration:
You’re looking at a couple of weeks of bombing and then I’d be astonished if this campaign took more than a week, astonished, ....
Bill Clinton on the David Letterman show.
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