"The footage of Eastwood rambling and mumbling to his "Harvey" - President Obama - will be played to audiences a hundred years from now as the Most Bizarre Convention Moment Ever."
Actor Clint Eastwood speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., 08/31/12. (photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Creepy Clint Made Our Day
31 August 12
peaking to Invisible Obama last night, in a performance that seemed to have been written by Timothy Leary and performed by Cheech & Chong, Clint Eastwood was able to drive home to tens of millions of viewers the central message of this year's Republican National Convention: "We Are Delusional and Detached from Reality. Vote for Us!"
The footage of Eastwood rambling and mumbling to his "Harvey" - President Obama - will be played to audiences a hundred years from now as the Most Bizarre Convention Moment Ever. The people of the future will know nothing about Dirty Harry or Josey Wales or a Million Dollar Baby. They WILL know about the night a crazy old man hijacked a national party's most important gathering so he could tell the President to literally go do something to himself (i.e. fuck himself). In those few moments (and these days, it only takes a few moments - see Anthony Weiner), he completely upended and redefined how he'll be remembered by younger and future generations.
A few years ago, at the annual National Board of Review film awards held at Tavern on the Green in New York, I was there to hand out one of the honors. When it came time for Eastwood to accept his, he went up to the microphone and growled to me in front of the audience, "If you ever show up at my house with that camera, I'll shoot you on sight." The audience laughed, I laughed, but the person who issued the threat wasn't laughing. That creeped me out a bit. I made sure never to go stand on Clint Eastwood's lawn.
But as I said, the best outcome from the incident last night was that it showed just how out of touch Republicans are these days. It's as if they want a divorce from us, the American mainstream, so they can go live in the land of legitimate rapes and ice caps that don't melt. Most Americans don't live there on Planet Koo-koo, and I don't suspect many will be visiting there any time soon.
Thanks, Clint: you made our day!
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I am usually in agreement with you. However,.... as I kept a bucket near...I watched pretty much all of the convention televised...sto mach churning though it was. You DO need to know what your opponent says and is up to.
And they sure were up to NO GOOD. the lies were flying faster than a supersonic plane. They were incredibly vicious and nasty, and it was difficult not to kick the TV screen in.
I DO HOPE that the democrats will be FACTUAL and upbeat, not mean and nasty like the republicans were.
Reince Priebus is a nasty little SOB and Boehner and Mitch McConnel were as mean as we would expect...and then some.
Boehner had the nerve to liken the president to a rowdy bar patron that he would throw out like so much trash...his words. THAT is the Boehner, some call a nice guy REALLY???
As infuriating as it was to watch, I am glad I saw what a bunch of disgusting stupid disrespectful bastard the republicans were. You CAN be against someone without being that sickeningly mean.
The utter disrespect they all had for our president is truly sickening. You can disagree without being THAT vicious, but they are reveling in it, like pigs rolling in filth.
I also see what is going on in the Senate and the House and it is appalling to see the fools that are let in there.
Louis Gomert of Texas is a certifiable idiot, and it is scary to think of all the ones who elected him?? SEVERAL times.
If you ever come to California Barbara, I would love to have you visit me, We could talk all night, I think
Our system is broken when the choice of all leadership reverts to money spent. One BILLION dollars to reelect a person ? Jefferson et al. are rolling over. Something is really wrong here with all our fat cats, all the Bipartisan bitchin', and a system that does not elect the Best and the Brightest, just the worst Liars and biggest Pretenders and the most consummate Exaggerationali sts.
No one talks about Mittens shifts, from Pro choice to poor life, from War hawk to peace dove, and back, from big spender to frugal T party-ist. There is no Repunant Social Agenda.
This is the America we have, because of how we voted. This did not start with GWB, but it sure as heck is ending up as the demise we can no longer control. Our munis are bankrupt from spending more, our banks are purchased for the greed movers, our treasury is favoritist elite inclined as too big to fail (PRINT MORE MONEY!) and the world is burning up with need and blame, by our example in the choice of our leadership.
I fear for this country because many see this, and few can bring about CHANGE. . .
I share your feelings of despair and disgust. As I mentioned, it was sickening to watch, but if I had not, I could not respond to people perpetuating the republican lies. I too fear for the country my children will be living in a lot longer that I will.
The BILLIONS spent on spreading lies could make you sick. Imagine all that COULD HAVE BEEN achieved with that money.
It is pretty sad that those people would rather spend the money on nasty ads, when there is so much need
Hi X Dane, I totally agree with you!
But the apex was Their Man Clint, I couldn't concentrate on Rubio or Romney too much after that, except to hear some of the typical talking points and general gratuitous patriotism.
Michael, you may want to keep Clint off of your lawn.
Laughable in that, but also very...VERY scary!
N.
Unfortunately, dementia and delirium often rob even the most reasonable people of their highest cerebral functions first, while leaving more primitive ones alone, replacing good judgment and kindness with impulsiveness and rudeness, mental tranquility with anxiety and anger, and in general, frontal lobe emotional intelligence with a raging amygdala.
Clint Eastwood never got very close to being a perfect man (fathering 7 children by 5 different mothers is proof enough of that). But what virtues he obviously did possess are clearly and badly diminished and will continue to fade. And it's a shame that someone in his family or circle of friends could not keep him from demonstrating that diminishment so sadly Thursday night.
That said, I never much esteemed any of his movies, except some of the more recent offerings. And for my money, he didn't really make such a great case for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan since he had no "there" there in his speech, ha!
He does seem like a major league curmudgeon though! Can't say as I think he's that important a person for me personally, although lots of people have enjoyed his movies/director ial pursuits. But hey, 5 marriages make him fit in with Republicans to a degree!
As for Clint, Id be interested in knowing if he's a recent convert to getting out of Afghanistan? I've wanted that myself for a long while. But I see that some in the tea party are (belatedly) excoriating Obama for NOT getting out. OTOH some are excoriating him for the opposite! We'll just say excoriation is the Republicans and Teapublicans appetizer, main course, AND dessert,ha! The president can't catch a break from them no matter what he does.
Eastwoods remarks about Joe Biden upset me most. Now there's a guy with a heart AND brains. He's a really stellar public servant in the true sense of public service. Yeah, he makes gaffes and sometimes wear his heart on his sleeve, but he's no dummy. Lack of critical thinking skills makes Clint a dummy though. Even old style Republicans still weren't very nice, so I'm not sure I can agree that Mr. Man ain't one of them though. I'm enjoying reading about the performance art aspect of his somewhat muddled commentary though. He's definately not senile though it could be said that anyone who votes R suffers from either delusion or dementia! ;-)
The truth of Inspector 71's limited world outlook was revealed by his comments on railway proposals made at Lake Tahoe and Pacific Grove.
Clint Eastwood is in a legion of megabucks Americans who cannot relate something commonplace as lack of railway connectivity to loss of US status of Lending not Borrowing Nation.
The Tahoe railway proposal included restoration of the San Francisco PCC Streetcar #1169, shown as Harry's ride with the yellow bag in Clint Eastwood's signature movie...
Tahoe still needs a railway connection, and Yosemite too!
http://readersupportednews.org/pm-section/78-78/13236-they-should-have-seen-it-coming
Now I see why you weren't invited. If people don't grovel at your feet and do everything you want you trash them for not being your "yes" person.
Frankly, Michael and RSN should not have wasted the space on Clint's odd ball entertainment skit for the faithful. Do you notice the fat faced fools as the camera panned the audience?
Not a pretty sight.
NO SORRY THEY WON'T LET US USE BOLDFACE OR BIGGER FONTS.
This is the internet. We all have to do what we have to do to get noticed and make our point. Your strategy seems to be to change the subject.
Like I said, DON'T READ IT. Otherwise, don't lecture us about writing until you correct your punctuation.
http://www.clinteastwood.net/welcome/alt/
A Look at Clint's Life in the Political Arena; 1986-88
Being sworn into office in 1986
On April 8th, 1986, with twice the voter turn out showing up, Clint got a whopping 72.5 % of the vote. To show that there was no hard feelings, a week later at his inaugural ceremony, he gave Townsend and two of her close allies some potted redwood seedlings as reconciliatory gifts.
For his two year term in office, Clint fulfilled to his own satisfaction, all his major campaign promises. Among them, he made it easier to build or to renovate property. He got a tourist parking lot constructed. He remodeled The Mission Ranch and preserved the precious landscape it was on which was supposed to be demolished in favor of 80 condominiums. He also opened the library annex which is dedicated for children's use, and it is said to be the accomplishment of which he is most proud.
Though he enjoyed his experience, he opted not to run for a second term.
In the election you speak of, Clint was elected mayor of Carmel-by-the-S ea, a small community of artists. Getting 72.5% of the vote doesn't sound unusual; at that time, Eastwood was already a legend, and a familiar figure to Carmel residents.
I'm sure he was a great - or at least, a colorful - mayor for the 2 years he decided to serve. BUT: that was then, this is now. It was cruel for the Republicans to use him in this way. He deserves to be remembered for the things he did in his younger, less senile, years.
What a shame! To be honest, his legacy is really made up of movie roles, not one based on accomplishments that benefited mankind or anything. He did good works as mayor of Carmel, but if he went back in time and could stand there and watch the youngish Clint perform as mayor, I'm sure the over-the-hill, senile Clint would vigorously attack his former self as too liberal, too concerned about others, and too concerned about leaving the world a better place.
But the crackpot who showed up last night not only exercised poor judgment, he made it clear that the people who decided to turn the microphone over to him can't be trusted to make sound judgments either.
I wondered why after everything settled he didn't run again since he did do a lot of good. I appreciated his later movies that I thought showed the man. Guess I was misled.
Clint was not up there endorsing Romney. If you read between the lines he was criticizing and warning Republicans about Romney. Yes, he did criticize Obama as well.
Let's look back at some of the things he said. Clint referred to Romney as "a stellar business man, 'quote, unquote' a stellar business man." Kinda made me chuckle when he said that.
Later he went on to say that he never trusted attorneys. Obama and Romney are both hold law degrees.
Finally, he finished off warning everyone in the convention not to vote for someone they don't agree with or like simply because he looks like a nice person. Sounds more like he was warning the party not to sell out.
Clint wasn't rambling if you read between the lines.
These conventions certainly do stir things up and create as much yak yak as abortion and circumcision. Snort.
How easy it is for folks to forget the good and stomp on the elderly.
Being republican does not make him evil. It just means he was there to entertain.
QDP below does mention that conventions at one time were serious, in a manner of speaking, but now it is entertainment as even the talking heads in the media have become. Mika and Joe are the twittering ditto heads as presented in The Hunger Games.
Don't be too hard on Eastwood. He was, and is still an amazing writer/actor/di rector.
No one can take his movies, his acts of humanitarianism away from him.
He has always seemed to be a straight shooter. However, he has his downsides like everyone else.
If he played the Republicans ... he did not come out swinging. He played the Dems...same comment as above.
Republicans have used a lot of our Heros, I hope Clint comes back at them. He was not the eloquent speaker as normally seen.
He is a republican. Who cares? He has no influence.
Nevertheless, it is shameful to portray his speech as being demented and rambling. It was not.
Where was that in his rhetoric perhaps we should email him on that one. Cannot play innocent on Wars one is no better than the other.
He will be ridiculed for how he looked. He did look tired, he looked older than he should. If he was trying to warn us all, I hope he reiterates himself soon.
I heard what Media allowed on News after RNC. I believe we should be armed against the enemy but turning off the RNC gives better thought to ratings, they do count them. See the creeps have to watch DNC so they can bad mouth us, so they add to numbers. However, a shut off on Speeches by Palin, Bachman, RNC gives Party and the Media a hint. So those who watched, you did us more harm than good. You could have gone to any internet site and seen reruns, not made their Convention matter.
Clint...come back to us.
Listen at 3:26 when he says "whether you're a Democrat or a crook Republican..."
Did I hear that right?
You've just spent a week listening to that, and maybe fell victim to the relentless soundbites on the media. I DISAGREE, and its because I've paid close attention and cheered most every accomplishment.
Obama has actually been more productive than many of the last several Presidents. Don't let anyone tell you he hasn't, and here's 50 reminders of things that we may have forgotten:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/march_april_2012/features/obamas_top_50_accomplishments035755.php
I agree with you that the current 2-party system is failing us - as is the corporate media. Perhaps that's why we're HERE.
Conventions used to be where platforms are negotiated, agendas are defined and political positions articulated. Hmmmm, no more.
Today we have actors pretending (never do consider why an actors' opinion is solicited, they just mouth off lines, some rather well, and others).... I digress. Honestly, why SHOULD I Listen to Dirty Harry?
why listen to Ann, his wife, "trust me, he's a good man?" -who doesn't show his taxes, does not tell us how he will miraculously reinstate an awful economy, takes credit for lies, and leveraged buyouts of companies with so much debt they had to lay off and then went BK.
Add Fat Christie's "respect me" vibe from the Gov of the most corrupt State in the Union, and their illusory contention is complete. If Mittens foreign travels was a gaffe, this convention certainly showed all of us exactly what to expect: nuthin'
Ryan is a selfish kid who know how to use the stage. TeaParty Clones all from the same shelf, no new ideas, just destroy everything with no idea on how to fix it. Wow that is a real new idea, morons That is why we need leadership...I do not see any in front of me yet
They block, they distort, they outright lie, then obfuscate the issues, all of them, with sweet talk about mom's love and R-E-S-P-E-C-T. What have they actually offered as a concrete alternative?
The problem is Republican approach to bipartisan leadership. IT DOES NOT EXIST.I'm voting every single one OUT OF OFFICE. Enough of this empty chair PRETENSE.
He rode with 1%ers a long time ago who today still believe that theory. personally they should be sterilized...th ey bring up their children in much the same manner...even with their suits on, their minds are not just or fair.
I saw the abuse of women from many, white men are the worst as they should have been role model. A Man who treats a Woman like dirt is dirt himself. A Man who hits a woman is not a man at all.
And the massive bail-out of Bain & co. to profit you know who, Mitt Romney himself. He scammed the banking industry for about 30 mil or so.
Perhaps if the Republicans focused more on getting something done instead of obstructing everything they can, they might have a better record?
"Paint Your Wagon"
"The Unforgiven"
"Heartbreak Ridge"
"White Hunter, Black Heart"
but last tonight, Thursday, August 30, 2012, it's R.I.P. to Mr. Eastwood - I have lost all that store of respect for him. Tonight Clint Eastwood stuttered through a speech at the Republican National Convention, starting out with saying the nature of conservatives is not to be "hot-doggin' it" ... and then using John Voight as an example of that. Maybe it was supposed to be a comedy routine, but I think Clint Eastwood definitively proved that one has to be senile these days to be a Republican. I have not been so embarrassed for the Republicans since their elder abuse of wheeling old Nancy Reagan out to shore up George W. Bush's image.
I'll miss Clint Eastwood, but always appreciate his entertaining and sometimes classic movie characters and stories brought to life by him. Thanks Clint, farewell you high plains drifter you.
Do you "get" that these movie characters are *fictional*? We say that actors *play* their parts for a reason.
Eastwood the actor might be *playing* Gandhi, but that (bizarre casting) would not make Eastwood the *man* into Gandhi.
Sadly, many people commenting in this string seem to think that they "know" Eastwood the *man*, by referring to the fictional characters he has portrayed in *movies*.
Note likewise that movies are *entertainment* . Movies are not straight up historical accounts of *anything*.
Efforts at filming actual historical accounts are called "documentaries" , and they make very little money.
Movies, similar to this Repub Convention, are fully scripted "feel-good" fantasies - conceived, written and designed to please people with whatever fluff and fantasy it takes to make money.
Just a quick reality check.
Showing zero respect for the President the Man, or the Presidency the office shameful; but par for the course of totally unpatriotic republicans, it seems as though the GOP can't help but display their ignorance at even the most staged and scripted situations.
Feeling lucky Mr. Eastwood show up at my door with or without a Camera, Make My Day.
He is just pretty lousy on stage at a National Convention. Somehow he seems to represent the ramblings of these inept Republicans including New Jersey's Christie who is keynote speaker. He is gov in my home state where the unemployment is 10%. What a joke. Christie is beloved by the GOP. Christie is a joke in NJ an overwieght guy with a big mounth bully with no experience at all.
Not only that, but as I have stated to many negative ratings, celebrities do not necessarily believe the things they act or write or direct in their movies ... they do those things to sell product to us.
I believe if Bush W was not so over used he might have been able to do things to help people. But he was not in charge so he went stupid, made an ass of those who voted for him and the Party.
OB was told by Republican that no matter what he did they would go the Opposite Way. That should read a Story to All of Us. But here we are, trying to decipher if Clint was using his sense of Humour or if he was over the edge.
Whatever seems we certainly do not have much leadership out there. I see no Banner leading me to a Good Place. I see Democrats lamer than ever. I see the Evil that the Preachers spoke of amongst their own.
Not a very good picture...guess we got to get ourselves together before the aholes put the world asunder
How un-American free market corporatism is that? Next thing you know he’ll be criticizing the Wall Street slicksters and their banking buddies who sold us down the river.
When I was growing up my dad had a decent job, because one was available. We had affordable health care. We ate nutritious food, slept in a comfortable home, and went to the same public schools that produced engineers and scientists who put a man on the moon and conquered polio. When my parents retired they lived on his pension and Social Security, and they both had Medicare. They lived live frugally, but were secure. Social Security and Medicare, and an employer-provid ed pension made that so. Oh, and did I mention he was a union member? So where thirty-three percent of all the other workers in America. That was at a time when wages and productivity rose in tandem.
Don’t let Romney or Ryan or some privileged actor or Republican Party operatives tell you the answer is shared sacrifice. When is the last time any of them went without anything they desired?
Michael Moore is aligned with America’s working class. Republicans represent the elite.
Take your pick, but please know you have a better chance of winning Mega-millions than you do of being invited into the class of 1%.
They are for themselves, they break the rules, they do not know how to do anything for themselves.
But remember the Princess loves you women
The other Hollywood Republican we all have familiarity with was Arnold, who did a supremely incompetent job as governor of Cah-leefonee-uh.
Reagan was another one who was used and did not even know what he was doing when they shuffled him into the Oval Office ... but at least he had sense enough to know not to destroy to the economy with debt, as did Bush 1.
He never ran again because Perhaps he didn't want something to tarnish his record. Too bad he didn't think before he rose to this occasion.
There are articles an pictures of some of his tarnished days. Couple black eyes to woman, didn't respect him for those attitudes. If that is what makes him today, his feeling about women's place Than maybe he deserves what he gets for his undignified speech last night. Remember everyone is a critic.
If these morons are elected, I will renounce my American citizenship. The country is nearly lost now. They will drive the final nails into the coffin. They will finish the work that Bush started. But the Constitution is "just a goddamned piece of paper." isn't it?
Bye bye.
Instead he went there like the 1% of his biking days, who puts us, the viewers on the same level as women. We have a place and we should know it.
If he was being sarcastic, sardonic, or sadistic, I am not impressed. I was not impressed by any of the speakers. It went from bad I guess to worse. The most insulting was the She Person who loves us Women. I am still nauseous from that. At least none of the other pres elect wives ever stooped that low.
That was more like some need for us to by products line.
Whatever. I do not watch Conventions, they are more Car Shows Everyone has a plan, until it is finally time to show up and put it in order.
I wish we could get to all women, because this woman would be the first to strike the match at the witch hunt.
Clint relax, take some time then I hope you revisit your speech. You actually were down to Christie's level
He probably was!
As for Clint Eastwood, I never cared for the mythical tough guy he played way too many times. Like John Wayne, he created a myth of the self-reliant tough guy that too may of our chicken-hawk politicians have, unfortunately, emulated with the loss of too many innocent lives.
and what about that fat guy from new jersey in the blue suit and the double chin?
is obama really in trouble here?
Eastwood spoke with total disrespect about our president who was duly elected by a majority of Americans. In so doing, he also showed a total disrespect to all Americans and made a mockery out of free speech.
He was right at home, however, among a Republican party that has spent four years disparaging and obstructing the administration while doing nothing to support efforts to help the country.
In good conscience, it is difficult to see how anyone could vote Republican with this current party of hate-filled, bigoted, and obstructionist people. Vote them all out.
did that make your day, clint?
I've long known that despite his gritty, renowned, 'can-do' personality, Eastwood is a super-conservat ive, and super-wealthy landowner, who surely would feel right at home with the Koch bros, or Ryan, or Mitt Money...
I've accepted that Clint is the way he is, both acting persona (tough guy, individualist) and in his personal politics.
What puzzles me, after viewing the clips 3x, and seeing all the cheering and admiration - why the tsunami of criticism, and mostly by 'the left'? I saw people "get" his allusions to the sound-bytes of the attack ads use (quoting Biden, or mocking Obama in with his empty-chair language). Clearly he endorsed the 'sterling businessman' (while getting a cheer for deriding lawyers), and clearly he rallied the GOP troops. Yet so many others are shaking their head and pronouncing him "senile" or counter-product ive - ironically, for being 'off-script'! This was the only part - with TV on in the background - that caught and sustained my attention. I was grateful he didn't use the time, as others all were doing, just to sell big lies. He entertained, and fit right in with the vibe. What totally amazes me is that the reaction is on him (Cint), and not the Ryan/Romney lies.
Still, the sin was Romney's for rolling the dice with an unscripted insertion in precious prime time, hardly a recommendation for such a highly-touted supposed executive smart guy.
at the RNC show, was that an ad for his new film flashed before my eyes soon after his 'speech'. This spectacle and denouncement of Obama is sure to boost his movie at the box office. Smart Republican at work! Businessman " Weird Clint" Tired hero fallen star.
I wont pay to see anything hes in.
It wasn't Eastwood's age that caused babbling to spew from his mouth anymore than it was Ryan's babbling - cuz they ain't got anything to say that makes sense or is honest.
They hide behind stupid lies -trying to "look" good and trying to convince the FAUX viewers they will fix the USA ---
Oh they'll fix us alright -- fix us so we all (but the 1%) live like paupers and die as quickly as possible with little to no medical attention.
I suppose they will eventually take away innoculations that prevent polio etc to save money
VOTE OBAMA DEM
Never thought much of his acting -- almost the same character every time. Still, that character, with Clint's libertarian leanings, would have made a fine Prez. I cringe to see what he has become. But from a PR standpoint, this never should hgave happened.
Contrary to the fictions disbursed by the totalitarian Reicht that Hollywood is some kind of Bolshevik bunker, many of the more famous and powerful actors and icons are way over in fascist land in their personal politics. The only reason for the myth of dominant leftism there is that in more recent years, there have been a few well-spoken, prominent and principled leftists as well. To the totalitarian mindset, the existence of even one independent voice is an intolerable affront, and will cause them to scream that they are being systematically excluded from the media that they overwhelmingly dominate.
Anyway, I still have a great deal of respect for Eastwood's art, and real art has never accepted confinement to either political correctness or social acceptance.
I've had many many connections with creative people. From my experience it is pretty obvious that more creative people (this includes scientists and mathemeticians as well, by the way), really are overwhelmingly liberal. The best explanation for that I've heard is that liberalism takes the ability to IMAGINE what it would be like to walk in someone else's shoes. That's the only way to empathy. Someone without a creative or imaginitive bone in their body will be incapable of seeing anything that doesn't affect him directly. He'll have no empathy, and will only agree with liberals, when HE'S one of the beneificiaries of liberal philosophy.
CONT.
Even Dead-Eye Dick cheney is liberal about gay rights. REASON: HIS DAUGHTER IS GAY.
Even george bush jr. is sort-of liberal about immigration. REASON: HE'S OWNED A FEW IMMIGRANTS.
Even rush limpo and glenn (cry-me-a-river ) beck are now a bit more open-minded about the affectiveness of drug rehabilitation. REASON: THEY'RE BOTH DRUG ADDICTS.
Female conservatives tend to be somewhat more liberal about things like equal pay, etc.
Being liberal about a whole slew of issues that don't necessarily impact you directly requires the ability to think about someone other than yourself. This requires an imagination. People who inherited billions of dollars never needed one. For people in the arts and sciences it's a prerequisite.
http://archive.truthout.org/article/cheney-leahy-go-fuck-yourself
And here's a nice image of 'Shrub' giving the one finger salute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeJmmQ5y9eQ
I hope the Democratic Party reminds the public of this at their convention.
I think Clint has starred in and directed some very entertaining films. Bravo! But, I also liked Charleton Heston's work, too. Go figure.
I hate running. Running keeps me in shape. I run even though I hate it.
The conservative version of that would be, either I run because I like it, or I hate running and, therefore it's evil and only losers engage in it.
There are really only two conservatives that bother me: Alice Cooper (I just don't get how he could betray me and be conservative. He seems so decent), and Orville Redenbocker (He's dead, but that really is some good popcorn).
Maybe one of the reasons I like Mr. Popcorn, and Alice Cooper is that I've only heard they're conservative. I've never actually heard either one of them discuss it. If they sounded like ann coulter fans, I'd have no problem hating them...
But I'd still like the popcorn, and maybe continue liking some of Cooper's music.
I only hope that when you label me a liberal it is in the classical sense of Liberalism and not the perverted, twisted, demonized sense that Newt Gingrich has framed the term "Lib-rawl".
I do think that conservatives can hold two ideas in their minds at the same time, like Robert Redford was a good looking, capable actor or that Barbra Streisand had a beautiful voice even though they are outspoken "liberal" Democrats. What many conservatives cannot accept is that there might be a middle ground, shades of gray as you say. Or even a better way. Many do not see that it might be best to move quickly to change the prevailing societal and institutional structures. For example, in the US, civil rights took 100 years from the emancipation of slaves to the Civil Rights act.And there is still more progress that neeeds to be made.
Newt came up with the term "Radical Conservative" as someone who wants to take away every change made to progress beyond whatever point in time he felt was "the good old days". Most radical conservatives want to go back to the 1950's era but some, like the T-Partiers, want to go back to 1770-80's.
I'm willing to give real conseratives a place at the table to give perspective and slow radical change that would upset the status quo too abruptly and create instability. But conservatism should not get in the way or completely block needed, essential liberal progress.
It is refreshing to hear that you are a conservative (I assume) who sees the hipocracy and inaccuracies of the current and historic Republican message.
As much as GWB let the economy go into a ditch among other things, he was not the first Republican to do so. GWB was put into place by a think tank called Project for the New American Century started in 1997. PNAC was created to continue the "good ol' Reagan years".
Those Reagan era policies of BIG Government, unfettered defense spending, increasing taxes on middle class wage earners (SS) and lowering tax rates on capital gains, and restricting women's right to reproductive health care.
GWB was probably not PNAC's first choice but he would do as long as the fascist (corporatist) wing of the Republican party could work their policies into place.
I encourage you to look at the economic data and numbers over history to include the Reagan years and prior to get a fuller picture of how we got here.
Also I think you shouldn't write him off- I also thought he got clever digs in AT the Mittwit- a "stellar businessman". You really think that wasn't tongue in cheek? Give Clint a break- he made some great movies- couldn't resist a chance to be on the national stage one last time and I think tweaked Romney more than Obama. "Tell him to fuk himself". That ain't derisive of Obama, but the NitMitt. I got that maybe the American people should tell Willard that.
Clint stick to directing and acting in movies.
Eastwood stole Romney's thunder, made the Republicans look even more like clowns than they had before, and completely derailed the narrative that the Republicans had been trying to build. I really think this was far more a shout out to Ron Paul than anything else, and it may very well have served to completely seal Romney's fate.
The problem is Republican approach to bipartisan leadership. IT DOES NOT EXIST.I'm voting every single one OUT OF OFFICE. Enough of this empty chair PRETENSE.
"We OWN this country", and a few thousand overfed overcompensated white people stand up and cheer. In past repug conventions you could always see the camera panning in on the two black people to show the party's "inclusiveness" (during their break from sweeping up). In this clip, it was just amazing to not see ANYONE who looked even OFF-white.
The audience looked as white as a car from the '90s, or HOA-approved drywall.
These people are living in a fantasy world and trying to pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist. Afterall, "they own us".
Condi!
"According to Nielsen overnight ratings, TLC’s controversial reality show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” drew 2.9 million viewers Wednesday night at 10 p.m. In second place: Fox News’ coverage of the Republican National Convention, to which 1.2 million adults tuned in."
(source: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/08/honey-boo-boos-ratings-beat-out-the-rncs/)
This was possibly the best thing about the convention.
And, please allow me to confess: my Irish fey (secondsightedn ess) kicked in when viewing your attached video. But rather than concentrating on the grade F speech (as you so correctly label Clint E. and his 'creepy' caca), I suddenly found myself totally absorbed with the G.O.P. convention audience/attendees.
Sad and then some to see how crippled with MSD (manipulation, spin, distraction) these folks are. The average I.Q. in that crowd was definitely lower than average, which, as the camera did not lie, my Irish fey flashed in on.
Conclusion: Eastwood's 'creepy' speech was well suited to that audience. Karl Rove, shining light of the far right's evil villainaire rulers, gets an A+ in dirty trickery brainwashing (MSDing), when those so karlroved are of average or less than average intelligence. Guess I'll have to change my nickname for the G.O.P.ers from Greedy Old Party folks to...
G.ots O.ther P.roblems dummies.
They are giving the "bread" to the 1% and then there's the "circus" - their convention! for the 4200 who were in Tampa Bay.
Come to think of it...
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!
By the way, I'm still waiting for ANY examples of conservatives being "more charitable". If you can site ANYTHING, I'd really appreaciate it.
A Romney/Bain takeover of America would be the greatest corporate triumph in history.
He seemed like a nice choice. An old, iconic movie star who (especially in the past decade)transcen ded age demographics with some masterful directorial efforts.
Known as a quiet Republican of the libertarian persuasion-seen by the Romney opeatives of perhaps helping cross over to the undecided "independents"- those borderline imbeciles who have no core beliefs-but vote on personality.
The move (we hope)backfired. Clint's "colors" were dramatically Red only(as in Red state.)
Not just Libertarian- but racist. I have never witnessed a convention where a sitting President was "talked down to" in such a condescending tone. Putting profane words into the mouth of the President with such obvious insinuation (how did that fly with some of their "base"?-the right wing Christian Fundamentalists.)
All the "shut ups" and "f" word insinuation can not possibly sit well with Republican main stream? But if it is OK with them, no not be fooled. Our worst fears are reality-they really are hard core racists. And perhaps Clint was a calculated risk. Obama just became "Willie Hortonized."
Eastwood has made millions making movies about killers or better yet, murderers, like The Unforgiven, Josey Wales, Dirty Harry, Gran Tureno, and even Million Dollar Baby where he murders his female boxer in the end. etc. He knows how to commit murder. He also murdered five marriages. And if Moore ever comes on his expensive property in Carmel, he promises he will kill him.
The GOP is not pro life. It is pro death.
Don't tell me you are pro life but you want the death penalty and you want to bomb innocent people.
To deny global warming is to endorse the murder of seven billion people in the near future.
It is irrational to say "If we don't make the profit, someone else will!"
as an excuse to do great harm. That is the GOP mantra.
If that is the way you roll, you too are a murderer. (and yes, I believe in killing in self defense. that would make me one as well. it is survival and adaptation.)
But then again, we do have canine teeth and eyes in front of our head.
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