Think Progress

Good-bye Sesame Street.

By Amanda Terkel on Feb 7th, 2007 at 12:57 pm

Good-bye Sesame Street.

President Bush’s new budget proposes to “cut federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by nearly 25 percent.” Throughout Bush’s term, the administration has worked to cut funding and put an “ideological stamp” on the content of the programs.

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88 Responses to “Good-bye Sesame Street.”

  1. s says:

    IMPEACH THESE BASTARDS…………It’s one thing after another. Have we had enough yet!!!????


  2. ForTruth says:

    PBS has always been under these threats. Whats new?


  3. Kevin says:

    Sesame Street does not need tax money. PBS can get by without the government paying for it. If it can’t……oh well.


  4. pluky says:

    Haven’t they learned; you don’t mess with Big Bird.


  5. Liberal in New Mexico says:

    I’ll just bet George wouldn’t be doing that, if the Cookie-Monster was named the Pretzel-Monster. This all reeks of smoke-and-mirrors. I’ll just bet donuts to bagels that something else is really on the burner, in the backroom.


  6. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Who does need tax money, then, Kevin?


  7. Pity the Fool says:

    Less money and work will give Karl Rove’s friend Thomlinson who runs this organization more time to focus on his horseracing interests while on the job.


  8. JMOHR says:

    You fail to understand the clever manner that Bush has used to reform PBS in an appropriate, corporate friendly organization. The constant cutting in the budget forces PBS to depend heavily on corporate contributions. We know that will load on pressure to conform to a corporate, conservative outlook in their presentations. This is as it should be. Individuals exist to serve the corporation and not the other way around. Bush appointments signal to the corporate elite that PBS will serve its place to indoctrinate the public in appropriate right think. The “people” believe that they are still receiving fair and balanced news while their thoughts are appropriately reformed to conform to the new group think.


  9. Barfly says:

    Good-bye Sesame Street.

    What will Big Bird do now? I mean, if ever a performer were typecast; four decades of playing the same character will do it to you. Maybe he can do the “trash a neighbor’s house, and go into rehab” celebrity bit, to make him more believeable for grittier roles . . . Kinda like an avian Dirty Harry: Dirty Bird.


  10. Raven says:

    Who’s the one in the back with the funny grey costume on?


  11. Kevin says:

    Who does need tax money, then, Kevin?

    Comment by TripMaster Monkey — February 7, 2007 @ 1:12 pm

    Boarder security and enforcement.

    I wouldn’t mind giving the military a pay raise. They have earned it.

    How about upgraded equipment for government service offices. Have you ever been to an IRS building?

    Training and equipment for disaster rescue and support.

    That’s just off the top of my head.


  12. Liberal in New Mexico says:

    Like George said: NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, to watch educational television and enjoy the learning process. He likes the people of tomorrow growing up to be just as stupid and ignorant as he. That puppet resembling Laura Bush almost looks real, doesn’t it?


  13. hacker bob says:

    OK, enough is enough. They are messing with “The Bird” now.

    First, it was the Bert and Erney AIDS “Controversy” (don’t kow how many remember that one). Now, they want to take away the entire neighborhood!

    What about Mr. Snuffleupagus? Where will he go?

    Ok people, time to give until it hurts!


  14. Raven says:

    And so, Kevin, where are you going to get the personnel for all of your civil service and (admit it, enforcement) entities?
    Oh, I forgot about all the new detention facilities Halliburton is building….
    ……never mind………


  15. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    Good, maybe those homos Burt and Ernie can go back in the closet. And maybe Big Bird will finally grow up and leave the nest. And Oscar quit his bitching and get a job. And Cookie Monster will join Weight Watchers. And all those “diversity” humans can go back to their own countries.

    /sarc off


  16. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    At least Kevin wants tax dollars be used to protect renters (i.e. Boarder security). Big and compassionate of him, don’t ya think?


  17. Raven says:

    Dang, I had this great global warming skit all written up…………….
    ….the best part was where this warm, shallow stinky, brackish sea washes right up to Oklahoma and this crazy politician has to be rescued from the top of an oil well…
    …and he’s so grateful to be rescued he leaves his mean ol’ oily corporate friends and brings all his money to invest here on Sesame Street………..


  18. ForTruth says:

    Big Bird can always “release” a sex video.


  19. Raven says:

    Maybe it was the “boarders” in the White House he is trying to provide secutity for….


  20. Kevin says:

    You know, if the government stopped funding Sesame Street right now they would still be on the air just from there main 26 sponsors. And If that don’t work, they can sell another Elmo doll.


  21. Kevin says:

    Comment by Raven — February 7, 2007 @ 1:32 pm

    Do you drive at all? Need heat? Buy products that had to be delivered by a truck?


  22. Kevin says:

    My point is that PBS does not need and should not use government funding.


  23. Bruce Gorton says:

    Look, neocons are basically a shitty group of people. When they get into power, they abuse it, it inevitably gets found out, and they don’t want their grandkids growing up knowing just what side of the aisle was most culpable in making the weather turn nasty.

    They didn’t want people to remember Nixon, or Ford, or the real Jimmy Carter for that matter. They don’t want people to wake up and realise that the 60’s hippies, were actually the bright kids arguing against corrupt political leadership. They don’t want people pointing to 3 Mile Island when talking about how a president should behave in a crisis.

    They want people to forget this generation, just like people forgot the generations before. Killing public broadcasting, and its educational component, can only speed the process. Recognise, neocons can only win, when people forget how bad they were the last time.

    And also recognise, that I do not say Republican or Democrat when I say neocon.


  24. karlX says:

    kevin you forgot:
    prisons
    expanded nuclear capabilities
    domestic surveillance training and equip.
    torture, woops, interogation training

    and you hacker bob, we’ve got a nice trip for you to our bright clean re-education camp ( i mean facility)


  25. marcus robinson says:

    Oh the children, what will we tell the children??


  26. Oscar the Grouch says:

    I’m going to have to go to work for Rudy Guilliani as his campaign manager now.


  27. ggibson says:

    You know, if the government stopped funding Sesame Street right now they would still be on the air just from there main 26 sponsors. And If that don’t work, they can sell another Elmo doll.

    Comment by Kevin

    One bridge to no where covers the entire deal. This is for children not payouts to buddies back home who will give you a kick back job as a lobbiest when you leave office… you know the republican way.

    The federal government should be streamlined using modern technology that auto audits everything. The money saved from that one move would give us plenty enough for PBS, kick ass schools and day care, as well as universal health care… on and on… it is in the interests of the few to keep the system inefficient so that the system can be easily milked…. just look at the anti balistic missle system… it should be done by now .. but they are still milking us for more and more. The Fed should be made into a tightly run ship. No more toys without justification. No more political kick backs.


  28. karlX says:

    kevin #22

    it is called, Public Broadcasting for a reason. In theory it is supposed to be based on a not for profit citizens channel. Do you really think that the idea of “public space” is irrelevant?


  29. theswan says:

    Indoctrinated into the new world of privitization for the children of america. Kids will need to have grown up by the age of three. And if they work it the “right” way they will include christian lessons as well.


  30. Raven says:

    #21..
    I drive a truck to get firewood.


  31. karlX says:

    So, we take kev’s funds, gear up a big bird, give him some surveillance and interogation training, send him off to the re-education compound where bob is being held….


  32. Reginald Yoyodyne says:

    Privatize the military.


  33. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    My point is that PBS does not need and should not use government funding. Comment by Kevin

    But Halliburton, Big Oil companies, Big Pharmaceuticals, Big Farms, the auto industry, the airline industry, and other for-profit corporations need and should have access to government bailouts, handouts, and sweatheart deals?

    Maybe if the fairness doctrine was in place and if other TV networks provided documentaries and educational programs to replace PBS, I might be in favor of eliminating PBS’s government sponsorship. Otherwise, the public airwaves are being used only for corporate interests and balance is needed.


  34. Bruce Gorton says:

    Reginald Yoyodyne

    They already did.


  35. karlX says:

    so bob is strapped to a metal chiar, bolted to the floor, single bright lamp on the floor, two guards at the door, bolt slides open, in walks big tall guy, feathery, beak, thick black boots, club in his hand; “are you ready to repent bob?”
    bob, thinks about all those comments he made on tp deriding george bush
    “oh god, i’m sorry! please, all those liberal, they tricked me with their fancy talk, I hate them all?! send more troops!? uhh… freedom isnt free!?”
    the tall yellow figure moves closer, and in a high pitched nasely voice:
    “you’re gonna have to do better than that… Robert”


  36. Bluedog49 says:

    Kevin is a great example of conservative as perfect tool. No funding for PBS? That’s just fine. He lists a number of other things he’s agree with, all of which were tanked by the very repubs he supports. They’ve cut military pay and funding for disaster relief, things Kevin says he wants, but the perfect tool will keep defending them.

    And Reginald’s idea of “privatizing the military” is an idea which was roundly rejected by every one of the nation’s founders. God, where do these people come from?!


  37. Bluedog49 says:

    ggibson: “One bridge to no where covers the entire deal.”

    Exactly. That’s how you know that these conservatives objections are not really about fiscal responsibility. They’re all about the mean-spiritness which comes from self-loathing.


  38. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    God, where do these people come from?!..Comment by Bluedog49

    Well, apparently men are from Mars and women are from Venus. I can only assume that neocons are from Someone’s Anus.


  39. karlX says:

    #36
    yes blue dog, i’ve been asking the same all day, how does someone end up so empty and used like kevin? a tool, poor tool; the tool troll


  40. karlX says:

    #38
    hahahhahahahah, ahhh, thanks for the laugh, that was good PLC


  41. hacker bob says:

    and you hacker bob, we’ve got a nice trip for you to our bright clean re-education camp ( i mean facility)

    Comment by karlX

    OK, don’t know what I did today, but sure.

    And #35, can you at least throw in a margarita?


  42. hacker bob says:

    My point is that PBS does not need and should not use government funding. Comment by Kevin

    WRONG, PBS SHOULD get government funding as it is an educational outlet. But I guess you think public schools shouldn’t get government funding either.


  43. Kevin says:

    It’s an outlet that can get funding from private donation. And don’t tell me you can’t find educational stuff on TV unless the government pays for it.


  44. karlX says:

    yes bob, comments like that will get you a quick visit from SWAT team – Big A Bird, Elmo and Cookie monster in riot gear towe, and tazers with nike swoosh


  45. karlX says:

    bob, no marghirita, but maybe a cigarette to make the scene complete


  46. powkat says:

    Maybe PBS could get a couple hundred pounds of the 3 tons of cash that was shipped to Iraq?

    Three tons of CASH – who thinks in those terms? How does some one even concieve of flying 6,000 lbs of paper money across the world? Why didn’t they use scrip like WW II or Korea? Maybe because they were all chickenhawks who had no military experience?

    Naw, just crooks who knew they could skim and scam and screw both Americans and Iraqis. I do pray that when everything that those criminals have done is revealed, the Republican party will be dean for 20 years.


  47. powkat says:

    Oops that should be ‘dead for 20 years.’ Dean is ours!


  48. * Hater says:

    I don’t think that it has a prayer of happening.

    * is simply such a little miscreant, such a tantrum-throwing child, that every single bit of its new “budget” is mean-spirited garbage inspired only by personal grudges and the hysterical graspings of a man falling off the Titanic. As is the case with most things * touches, it is based in hatred and self-interest, not in anything that would benefit the American people.

    It’s all about the gall, you guys. People have spoken out about *, and it is reminding us that it is the Duh-cider.


  49. hacker bob says:

    It’s an outlet that can get funding from private donation. And don’t tell me you can’t find educational stuff on TV unless the government pays for it.

    Comment by Kevin

    1) Who’s obligation is it to make sure educational opportunities are available to all Americans?

    2)Tell it to the guy in Middle-Nowhere that can not get/afford cable or satellite TV. No matter where I have lived in this country, PBS was always available. Sometimes it was the ONLY thing available.

    3) No one backs Snuffy into a corner!


  50. Bluedog49 says:

    Bob, I appreciate your defense of publicly funded television. I don’t hear conservatives expressing that often. Thanks.


  51. Spudge_Boy says:

    Maybe PBS could get a couple hundred pounds of the 3 tons of cash that was shipped to Iraq?

    That was 363 tons of cash.


  52. RUCerious says:

    Another nail in the GOP coffin for 08.
    How many moms in the country will be thrilled to see PBS, the Good Night Show, Sesame Street and Barney cut to ribbons and off the air.
    Maybe Mommas Bush.


  53. gg says:

    I suppose this is the part of Dubia’s statement of us making more “sacrifices”…
    PBS is going to need us now more than ever before.
    Support PBS and become a member.

    Fight against Bush’s totalitarism…
    (I can’t believe I just said this…I’m an American for Christ sake!)

    I don’t work for PBS ;)


  54. hacker bob says:

    Comment by Bluedog49

    Thanks!

    I am a PBS kid.
    My KIDS are PBS kids and they are some of the brightest 4,5, and 12 year olds (advanced language arts, advanced math, advanced spanish) I have ever met.

    There has to be an outlet for those that can not afford the luxuries like cable. The government does have an obligation educate the public (provide for the general welfare).

    There are enough Corporate networks out there. THEY do not need government funding.

    Sometimes doing the right thing is not doing the popular thing.


  55. Melikey says:

    Billions in subsidies and direct funds for oil corporations, farmers, ranchers, airlines, car manufacturers, logging comapnies, defense contractors, and on, and on, and on … but for a corporation that provides educational television to Americans of all ages–you get your budget cut by 25%. Cheers!


  56. veritas says:

    Who’s on this photo anyway?? I see a few “animal characters” I recognize….Ernie, Elmo, and Laura, the Maneater but whose the women with the gray hair?


  57. veritas says:

    People had better become accustomed to having everything cut with ButcherBush’s new budget – that is, except the tax cuts to the most wealthy. Of course, we just love having our tax dollars spent to kill human beings and help propogate the worst carnage since Hitler’s time….of course, we’d rather spend our hard earned dollars on death and destruction and take that slice of bread out of the mouths of our own elderly and poverty-level citizens – of course, we would!

    If this Chimp and his cadre of crooks are not impeached soon, this is precisely where we all will be – down the tubes without a dime!

    Whatever happened to the concept of “taxation without representation”???? The people need to stop paying their taxes and cut these bums off at the knees.


  58. veritas says:

    #36 Kevin is the same psycho with the same linguistic patterns and IP address as some of our other favorite butthead posters here at TP.


  59. valiant venus says:

    PBS, NPR et al should educate themselves about the real world. Viewers could watch en masse and advertisers could let the audience in on available products and services. (That’s how it works in the evil corporate media.) Sure beats listening to the pledge beggars.


  60. veritas says:

    I can see we have an abundance of intellectually oriented posters here – I believe their mantra is “If I only had a brain” – they certainly do not.


  61. veritas says:

    #60 I guess you don’t get the concept of being capable of learning something since you believe that you know it all. When did your classes get out today? Does your mother know you’re online?


  62. Karim says:

    Lack of education: Another one of the Bush family values.


  63. Raven says:

    Laura must gotten the street address wrong….
    “That was K Street, dearie, you know, a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j, Kayyyyy Street….”


  64. Xenon says:

    I wonder how big a tax break “the CW” is going to get?


  65. ForTruth says:

    Venus,

    You wreak of cigarette smoke and bourbon. Please bathe.


  66. DM says:

    You can take your budget cuts and snuffleupyergus.


  67. Raven says:

    #60.. valium venality…..
    we watch PBS and listen to NPR because it is the real world.
    Commercial television and radio is unreal, with it’s focus on fantasy, illusion and facade.
    The advertising of products to create an image fitting a particular feeling of reality, is not reality……..


  68. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    #60

    PBS and NPR are older than you are so guess who needs the education about the real world. Thanks for showing us your level of maturity.

    *********************************************************

    What’s your NEXT screen name going to be, something PROFOUND like – Harranging Hera, freeper demeter, phony perephone, Argumentative Athena?


  69. ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus says:

    PBS, NPR et al should educate themselves about the real world. Viewers could watch en masse and advertisers could let the audience in on available products and services. (That’s how it works in the evil corporate media.) Sure beats listening to the pledge beggars.
    Comment by valiant venus — February 7, 2007 @ 3:02 pm

    That implies you’re listening at all. But thanks for making the point that we should fully fund PBS & NPR publicly to avoid pledge drives. That would be great!

    As for your ‘begging’ that advertisers be given more access to children, most ‘concerned’ parents would argue they already have too much access. But an anorexic 23 year old with self esteem issues wouldn’t know about parenting or parental responsibility. Especially when they devote their seemingly complete existence to shirking their tax and societal responsibilities as you do.


  70. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    Venus,

    You wreak of cigarette smoke and bourbon. Please bathe.

    And NOT in the public fountain this time!


  71. Raven says:

    #69…

    I’m going to go with Deranged Diana….


  72. ForTruth says:

    Hasn’t enough advertising “creeped in” to PBS. I mean they have these little commercials now, which used to be even less and smaller.


  73. TSop says:

    Margaret Spellings’ dirty paws are all over this one.


  74. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    #72

    LOL – that’s one I was going to add but forgot (I hate February!) when I googled to remind my of some other goddesses! Great minds and all!


  75. Raven says:

    PLC:
    Hopefully we’ll all be around long enough to get to the Norse gods…….


  76. John says:

    Actually, the cut should be 100%. Government has no business producing OR censoring entertainment with our tax dollars.


  77. tarazan says:

    #77….John> ” actually the cut should be 100%. Government has
    no business producing OR censoring entertainment with our tax dollar”

    Is it OK then for our government to pay for radio staions,newspapers and magazines overseas…Like Voice of America, Al Hurra radio and others costing taxpayers a lot of money aired to other countries abroad…?!!

    If your taxpayer money pays for newspapers abroad and magazines…why is it not right to pay for family programs by PBS?


  78. gg says:

    #77

    (a): Actually the “proposal” calls for a 100% cut within the next four years…
    This 25% cut would be the first of four….

    (b): PBS and NPR are “public services” and deserve tax moneys support.
    I view that it’s not the president that should have the power to decide on this matter. Especially THIS president…


  79. Bluedog49 says:

    Not that you care, Valiant Venus, but the reason one has to listen to what you call “pledge beggars” so much is that conservatives have been cutting funding to public broadcasting for 26 years now. When I was a kid, the local station had one pledge drive a year that lasted for about 2 hours on one night. Now they ask once a month. Congradulations. Your conservative politics have made still another American institution less effective.


  80. Bluedog49 says:

    Hey John, how about promoting U.S. wine sales in Japan? Are our tax dollars well -spent helping American wine producers make sales? Just trying to get a handle on your values, or lack thereof.


  81. Unholy Moses says:

    And don’t tell me you can’t find educational stuff on TV unless the government pays for it.

    I will tell you, because it’s true — and I know there aren’t options outside of PBS because we don’t have cable..

    The “Educational/Informative” shows on the main networks are such bastions of educational information like Power Rangers and Yu-Gi-Oh.

    Sorry, but there simply are NOT nonviolent educational outlets on corporate TV. They don’t exist.


  82. Granola Hippy says:

    HAHAHAHA! Great picture!

    Terrible story though, how can they turn a kids show into propaganda? That’s like what the Soviets would have done…


  83. Rabbit says:

    The P in PBS means “Public.” Duh. Do you really want the “Publics” TV financed by the Government and corporate “contributers”? I don’t. Do you want The McNeil News Hour subject to approval by Archer Daniel Midlands? I don’t.
    Rabbit


  84. Molly Ivins says:

    TP? Could you do something with this posters name?

    ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus

    It is mischaracterizing someone elses name in a bad light.

    Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

    ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus needs to be BANNED!


  85. Marie says:

    Funny how the Indian woman in that picture may look like she’s from another country, but at least from this planet… whereas Mrs. Bush does not. In fact, she looks like she has Downs, but that makes me feel bad for those who really do. People with Downs are nice, but WTF is wrong with Laura? *grabs puke bucket*


  86. Dale Hill says:

    Sesame Street is a legend and with its product sales alone, would probably make it. But there are others that wouldn’t. The odd thing about this, is that the Sesame Street harmonica tune was played by Toots and he only made 40 dollars for doing it. Even a penny each time it has been played, would make Toots a wealthy person. I’ve worked the tune out on my Chrome MIWHA, Korean Harmonica. The Blues and a harp go hand and mouth! It’s so sad to see Molly Ivins name up there. The world will miss her; Bush won’t.


  87. Justin B says:

    Bombs or Big Bird ?

    I’ll take Big Bird


  88. Tom Allen says:

    Long live PBS! (Not so much ziss uhhh, NPR – my best Borat!) Curious… Does anynoe know of any links where one might find an estimate in dollars of the Sesame Street fortune? Not just the money allowance from the gov, but the money that’s made from the show, marketing toys, books. etc…



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