It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
I noticed that the media has started to tire of McCain’s camp constantly playing the POW card. For me it was something I have thought in the past but never said. It seemed like crossing a line (not that that would ever stop someone like Rove) but I wonder if that has any traction. Some compared it to Giuliani overusing 9/11.
I know others here have said otherwise, but David Brooks and I agree on one thing. I think Biden is a great choice for VP.
David, like her or hate her (as you do) but Clinton won many big states over Obama. You need to deal with that. Calling out people who supported her (and I was not one who did) is not going to win Obama votes. It’s obvious that if Obama picked Clinton as VP they would landslide.
It would show that Dems are capable of bridging differences and unifying. I would just as soon not have another Clinton in line. But a shitload of women want her in. Just like many African Americans rightfully want Obama to win.
And sadly, I do think Clinton would be doing better in the polls against McCain. She’s been through more political mud than Obama and knows how to deal. Obama is a gentleman, and in danger of appearing to weak-minded Americans as weak. I would think after 8 years of mass GOP destruction, it would be an easy choice here…not that I believe in polls.
Democrats don’t lose the White House because of a “loser mentality.” They lose it because they run lousy campaigns.
Election after election, the GOP uses the same tactics, and election after election, the Dems either don’t anticipate it or don’t know how to respond.
A couple things:
“to stick with an Iraq timetable which they are ALL now supporting”
There’s always been internal timetables/goals. The difference is a chicken/egg argument– does a public timetable hasten Iraqi progress, or does Iraqi progress dictate what a reasonable timetable looks like? Obama wanted a public timetable before the “surge” strategy– others are saying that NOW is an appropriate time for a timetable. Big difference.
“to be against the war from the start”
This would be a stronger argument if Obama had actually voted for or against the war. But he wasn’t in the Senate yet. He even said that, had he been privy to all of the intel, he might have voted for the war. He did vote to fund the war on several occasions.
“to take the heat for being willing to negotiate with enemies in Iran which is now being done by Bush Administration”
The Bush Administration is NOT doing what Obama said he would do. Of course we’re talking to Iran, but they still don’t get a face-to-face with the President. I know you disagree, but there’s precedent.
“to be serious about pushing the oil companies”
Ain’t gonna happen.
“to actually have a profile that the rest of the world welcomes after 8 years of Bush”
So anxious to oblige a world of fellow socialists, along with those superior Chinese and morally equivalent Russians. Who is “the rest of the world” anyway? This attitude is part of the reason why Obama is tracking down in the polls.
mystery, isn’t it fair to say though that Obama has been accused of being an appeaser even as diplomacy has been more prevalent as the Bush presidency winds down? It seems that some want to bash Obama as weak for saying he’d talk to our enemies even as Bush does the same.
And has there really “always been internal timetables/goals?”
You think Obama is down in the polls because he cares about world opinion of the United States?
“Democrats don’t lose the White House because of a “loser mentality.” They lose it because they run lousy campaigns.
Election after election, the GOP uses the same tactics, and election after election, the Dems either don’t anticipate it or don’t know how to respond.”
This is probably why Joe Klein and James Carville have stated that Obama needs to display more passion and energy.
“So anxious to oblige a world of fellow socialists, along with those superior Chinese and morally equivalent Russians.”
The classic right-wing line. I guess “they” would be those poor souls Bush always talks about liberating.
And then when we demand the world support an illegal invasion/occupation of a country like Iraq, what is our moral criteria?
And don’t you want the world’s support to fight terrorism? Or to bask in the free trade market?
Don’t blame the fall of Obama on The Left, Dave. They just keep making the same mistake they’ve always made… talking to Americans as if they were thoughtful and educated. God bless em.
This is all on The Right. They’ve mastered the art of appealing to our lesser nature. And Americans have mastered the art of listening to them. In 2000 it was apathy. In 2004 it was fear. And in 2008 it will be racism. Go team!
The country elects the president it deserves. And being that Obama’s not polling in landslide numbers against a party responsible for 8 years of foreign and domestic catastrophe, we clearly don’t deserve him.
In fact, we don’t deserve our constitution.
“those superior Chinese and morally equivalent Russians.”
Can someone parse this out for me? I don’t really understand what it means.
I think mystery meant the morally equivalent George Bush partying in Beijing or looking into Putin’s soul to discover he was a good man. Or somethin’.
For a President to be that insightful takes years of earned experience.
Democrats lose elections because:
1) Republicans are very good at staying on message and attacking relentlessly (the old maxim – “What you say times how many times you say it is the only thing that works in advertising today.”). And if the candidate doesn’t attack, the surrogates do and they are given plenty of airtime by…
2) The Mainstream Media – seriously. I’ve seen the discredited author, Jerome Corsi, on “the most trusted name in news”, CNN. Each night there is equal time given to “both sides”, as if there is truth on either. The Swift Boaters were all over FOX (who are in their own special category). Until they start reporting “the truth” and not just both sides of the story, it is lost.
3) The Left, who believe they are the only ones who speak for the “big tent” Democratic Party. Look, I believe every American should vote for Obama, but the disparagement of Hillary Clinton (see blog post above) is just beyond outrageous. The message sent to everyone who didn’t vote for Obama is thus: fuck you, shut up and get on the train. It’s so remarkably immature that I can understand where the soft support lies and why Obama might not make it. However, the left will also be apoplectic if Obama chooses Hillary. They’ll have no problem voting for Nader like they did in 2000. So give it a break and recognize that it is a big party and the discrimination by the far left is no less reprehensible than that of the far right (I’m not saying they’re wrong ideologically).
If Obama is smart he will pick her. Otherwise, we get what we deserve.
“Republican conventions have been delusional…”
Dave,
Delusional? I mean have you seen that latest pop video American Prayer with all of the celebrities praying – PRAYING – to Barack to deliver them. I have have never seen anything so embarrasingly delusional in my life.
When Jason Alexander put his head down in prayer to Barack and brought his hands together I laughed. When Forest Whittaker kept rubbing his head and over-emoting and I started to think there was something really off with these people. When Pamela Anderson blew a kiss to the screen I thought, these people are really off their minds and around the bend. It was frightening. Pure cult mentality. And this is his BASE!
Hey…maybe the people in Jesus Camp pray to Bush…but damn…these music videos are putting it out there for all of the world to see.
Obama is faltering because he never was what you thought he was and the media skews the delivery. The left lives in an isolated universe where they see themselves as all knowing and all encompassing of beauty and moral goodness. Everyone who disagrees is pure hate and evil.
They depict themlseves this way in the mainstream media and then when the reality hits home, they just. don’t. get. what happened. Barack was never the saviour you all thought he was.
I think BO will get a boost at his convention next week…but for the first time, after watching that celebrity praying to Jesus II video…I actually think he might not win. I always thought it would be close…but if I were a Dem, I would be afraid.
“The left lives in an isolated universe where they see themselves as all knowing and all encompassing of beauty and moral goodness. Everyone who disagrees is pure hate and evil.”
How is this not a totally irrational and delusional generalization? The entire left? Millions and millions of people. Why should I take anything you say seriously when you spew out asinine statements like that? If I made some overly broad generalization about “the right,” you’d call me out on it. That is seriously one of the dumbest things I have ever read Nicol. It’s why I don’t think you know nearly as much about politics as you claim to.
Nothing will be as embarrassing as An American Carol.
“Obama is faltering because he never was what you thought he was”
Aside from the mysterious ‘what you thought he was’, this isn’t really true. He’s slipped in the polls because McCain has been outspending him on ads painting him as an effete celebrity, while Obama has been on vacation.
“The left lives in an isolated universe where they see themselves as all knowing and all encompassing of beauty and moral goodness. Everyone who disagrees is pure hate and evil.”
Nicol, I really feel you lack any sense of perspective in what you write when you write this kind of thing. It’s exactly the kind of stuff that, if someone on the other side wrote it, you’d be mocking them mercilessly…and rightfully.
“mystery, isn’t it fair to say though that Obama has been accused of being an appeaser even as diplomacy has been more prevalent as the Bush presidency winds down?”
I think its always been a case-by-case basis. I’m not sure how accurate it is to assert that diplomacy is more prevalent now than at the start of Bush’s presidency. Don’t allow media coverage quantify diplomatic relations. DP’s assertion seems to be that Bush has conformed to Obama’s ideas on diplomacy. I don’t think that’s the case. Iran will not get a face-to-face with Bush.
“And has there really “always been internal timetables/goals?”
Yes, there has. Obama believed a year ago that public timetables would put needed pressure on the Iraqis to meet goals. I can’t say if that strategy would or would not have worked. But contrary to DP’s assertion, what’s happening now is not what Obama has been calling for.
“You think Obama is down in the polls because he cares about world opinion of the United States?”
Not exactly. This is anecdotal, but I think many Americans bristle at the sight of the people of another country seemingly picking sides in our political race. I’m referring specifically to Obama’s trip to Berlin.
“Can someone parse this out for me? I don’t really understand what it means.”
Kind of what christian said, without so much rancor. Today in a speech, Obama questioned our moral latitude to call out Russia’s invasion of Georgia, when WE invaded Iraq. He also marveled at China’s superior infrastructure (just goes to show you what a country can accomplish with a little money, substandard building practices and few environmental considerations, the ability to kick millions of people out of their homes and pay meager wages.)
The China thing definitely doesn’t hold up (we could have double-digit economic growth too, if we were starting out as a stable third-world economy) but the I think the Russia thing is lamentably correct – we opened the door for them to invade a country under dubious pretenses.
“Nicol, I really feel you lack any sense of perspective in what you write when you write this kind of thing. It’s exactly the kind of stuff that, if someone on the other side wrote it, you’d be mocking them mercilessly…and rightfully.”
I think he could have been more specific. I think his assertion would most accurately apply to many in Hollywood, the more militant environmentalists, and some in academia. They’re vocal, but it doesn’t add up to very many people.
By the way, you’ve just given Nicol your blessing to mock christian.
Well, Mystery, in my experience, Nicol considers the fringe groups that you just mentioned to encompass the entire “Left”.
As for the other part, if the shoe fits…
Stella,
“Why should I take anything you say seriously when you spew out asinine statements like that? ”
I don’t – expect – anyone on these boards to take me seriously. As for my generalization of “the left”; of course I do not mean – every – voter. Just the ideological base….like the ones who make and star in videos like this.
Does this behaviour seem intellectual to you, Stella? If you do not like it when people on the right make these generalizations, then perhaps you should actually criticize the people who do represent your side and act this way.
Jeff,
The way these videos (and magazines and interviews etc.) depict BO tells me exactly how or what his base of followers think he is; a saviour…a messiah.
“He’s slipped in the polls because McCain has been outspending him on ads painting him as an effete celebrity, while Obama has been on vacation.”
Again, the evil Republicans brainwash the people. I mean…it’s not like Obama actually – is – an effete celebrity. I mean it’s not like there are celebs making music videos called American Prayer where they worship him as a deity and messiah. No…those videos don’t exist at all.
Typical Jeff. Do not deal with the subject of what I wrote (the video) and try to deflect the topic.
Jeff, do you actually think these videos help or hurt Barack Obama? Do you think they accurately reflect what his base believes about him? What do you think a casual viewer of these videos is supposed to take away from them about what BO’s base feels about him?
“The China thing definitely doesn’t hold up (we could have double-digit economic growth too, if we were starting out as a stable third-world economy) but the I think the Russia thing is lamentably correct – we opened the door for them to invade a country under dubious pretenses.
Its just not an apples-to-apples comparison. We called out Iraq 18 months before we invaded. Iraq broke the terms of the ’91 cease-fire, along with 17 UN resolutions. We had debates, voted on resolutions, sent in inspectors, and said “Here we come!” a day before we invaded. Everyone agreed that Saddam was a tyrant. Mistakes? Dubious pretenses? Yes. But that doesn’t look anything like what Russia has done.
To say that we can’t call a spade a spade because we’ve made mistakes is dubious, imo.
Nicol, I’ve never heard of the video. Until someone who isn’t you mentions the video as worth paying attention to, I’m not going to. I don’t go to 9/11 Truth websites either because I got burned with stupid Loose Change.
Nicol, your attitude regarding this video reminds me almost exactly of what I said back when Jesus Camp came out and you totally disregarded the concerns it raised and my reaction to it, so I don’t see why my reaction should be any different to yours at that time.
“I don’t – expect – anyone on these boards to take me seriously.”
Wouldn’t you prefer it to be otherwise? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the content of what you’re saying, just in how you express it.
“Well, Mystery, in my experience, Nicol considers the fringe groups that you just mentioned to encompass the entire “Left”.”
No, just the base. That word again. The people who create the art, determine policy, get judgeships and teach our students.
That is who I mean.
And their beliefs – are – fringe but are represented as normal in the mainstream media.
No, they are not many people. But they are the ones who determine laws and policies. And those are the ones who mislead the people.
Need I be clearer?
Some farmer who votes for Obama may love what he hears in a speech…but he will never influence BO. He is just a margin-vote BO needs to win. The Marxist celebrity and radical judge will get Obama’s ear and have influence. They are the base, the ideologues. Both the left and right have them.
Remember, politics is won in the margins, that is why BO is now moving to the center, but the center is not where his beliefs truly lie. That is how politics works.
Mystery, I would respond by saying that (a) worldwide public opinion doesn’t care that Saddam was a dictator and the government in Georgia is more-or-less democratic. An invasion is an invasion, UN sanctions or not; and (b) that this is one of the tragedies of how misguided the Iraq situation is, is that it reduced our credibility to act in morally justifiable situations, like re: Georgia now. Or if we needed to take military action against Iran, it would be much more of an uphill push.
“Until someone who isn’t you mentions the video as worth paying attention to, I’m not going to. I don’t go to 9/11 Truth websites either because I got burned with stupid Loose Change.”
Not quite an enlightened view Jeff. Should you not want to know what ideas are out there, even if you disagree. If I know many journalists and academics believe in the 9/11 truther movement and they want BO to win…that tells me something about Barack Obama and his base.
Jeff, you really oughta YouTube the video Nicol is talking about.
Should any world leader really look as scrawny and ineffectual as Barry does in that skin-tight spring jacket? Dude needs to BULK. UP. Or at least stop dressing casual till after Election Day.
Nicol, your last two posts really just make me roll my eyes.
“just the base. That word again. The people who create the art, determine policy, get judgeships and teach our students.”
This is nonsense. First of all, I work in Hollywood and know people who teach (elementary through college) and I have an aunt who served as a judge and I’ve had minor connections to political figures in my home state (not California), and none of those people are the slavering monsters you’re describing. It sounds like you’re describing a tiny cabal with the power to sway and delude the masses, but that’s not how it works. And once again, if someone on the Left was saying this about the Base of the Right, you wouldn’t tolerate it.
“Should you not want to know what ideas are out there, even if you disagree.”
It’s enlightened as far as my use of time goes, Nicol, and the simple fact is that I don’t trust you to deliver information to me that is actually relevant and non-fringe. Sorry.
“If I know many journalists and academics believe in the 9/11 truther movement and they want BO to win…that tells me something about Barack Obama and his base.”
Yeah, I know you think that, but a lot of those people support Ron Paul too. So what?
“But they are the ones who determine laws and policies. And those are the ones who mislead the people.”
I would like you to be clearer. Some examples maybe. Who exactly are these powerful people determining laws and policies while misleading the people? They seem to dominate the left and are Obama’s base, according to you. Who the hell are they?
“If I know many journalists and academics believe in the 9/11 truther movement and they want BO to win…that tells me something about Barack Obama and his base.”
You personally know many people like this? How? In what capacity?
Doesn’t that right-wing lunatic who wrote the recent anti-Obama book also believe in a 9/11 conspiracy? Clearly he represents McCain’s base.
Okay, at Lex’s bequest I Youtubed the video. Yeah, it’s silly. Cyndi Lauper?
But I don’t think it’s more than a goofy bauble. It doesn’t scare me, though, because if there’s one thing Hollywood has more of than liberals, it’s airheads.
Bequest? Request.
Like that UC Berkeley academic radical John Yoo, despoiling the minds of future leftie lawyers…
“The Marxist celebrity and radical judge will get Obama’s ear and have influence.”
Even the ones who fell over themselves trying to get his opponent nominated instead of him? I wonder how many state dinners Rob Reiner and Nicholson will be invited to?
Hollywood isn’t anybody’s base. It’s a rich industry and has available funds, so, yes, they get attention from candidates. (Maybe not from the famously camera-shy McCain or Schwartzenegger, but…)
Part of Obama’s appeal is that a large part of his support (and campaign funds) come from the non-powerful. Whether you believe it true or not, he offers the opportunity to elect someone who isn’t financially beholden to the usual suspects. (And even Rezko can’t claim any great quid-pro-quo for his ties.) Besides, if it came down to it, I’d rather have a president who counts a few Hollywood types among his associates than one who gets advice from the same deviants who have produced this excreble state of affairs we live in now or who feels he has to pander to people who actually want increasing levels of conflict in the Middle East so Jesus will come back sooner. It’s not like the untrammeled devotion to that latter philosophy has produced a paradise on Earth this decade.
As for this Prayer video, jeff is right. It’s clearly not getting any play or more people would know about it and then maybe it would be worth devoting some attention to. Probably not. A bunch of actors and celebutards going all drama queen over anything is not terribly interesting or germane to anything the next president will do or have to deal with.
I’d also like to point out, as per L.B., that there’s a big difference between an actor ‘praying’ in a performance video for the sake of getting his (admittedly overwrought) point across, and a documentary about a bunch of kids, literally and without irony praying to a cardboard cutout of a political leader.
One is acting, the other isn’t.
Good point. But, then, I never really equated those two things at all. Not that anyone would. Much to some Canadians’ chagrin.
Here’s a cut through the shit moment. Sponsored by Finland. Finland: IT’S THE BALLS!
The polls are full of shit. Deal with it, embrace it, and realize that what’s really happening in this country is not being discussed. If you think it’s that close. You are a bloody idiot and worthy of a serious discussion about something rather boring.
The one thing the “American Prayer” video tells me is that we’re a long, long way from February when “Yes We Can” rolled out.
“We had debates, voted on resolutions, sent in inspectors, and said “Here we come!” a day before we invaded.”
I adore Republican revisionism. I was there, along with others, watching this country get propagandized into a bullshit war. And talk to Phil Donahue about the public debate. Or the “liberal” MSM that rolled over like dogs in heat.
And Hans Blix was not finding those WMD’s — so why did Bush pull him out and attack? Because Blix was not finding those WMD’s Bush claimed was there. Disconnect much?
I agree with hepwa! Its the Media’s fault, ultimately.
The Right Wing really won a major battle by working the refs this time around (J. Downey, a conservative writer at SNL) wrote the “We All Love Barack” sketch during the primary and that had all the cowards in the media scared to do their job.
Understand this, Barack’s rise and fall can be traced to the Writer’s Strike.
Yep, seriously, THE WRITERS STRIKE.
For 6 or whatever healthy months, the American people were not fed the nightly cynicism of the Daily Show, late night shows, and SNL.
The result is we started to believe in something.
Once the writers came back, the very first thing was that SNL sketch, and the media, being forever self-loathing, decided, “yeah, what have we been thinking – this guy is an empty-suit”.
Note how Armisen plays Obama. As empty. Void of expression. Blank. And the Media thought that truth in reporting was no longer their priority.
Proving they were NOT in love with Obama was.
Now of course shows like the Daily Show and others tend to make fun of everyone equally. But it still injects a prevailing cynicism. And that cynicism DOES affect hope.
And look at SNL. It gave Hillary the chair facing the audience. It gave McCain facing the audience. It gave Obama…a walk-on with Amy Poehler’s Hillary.
And Lorne Michaels said during the Primaries that he was supporting McCain in his run against Romney.
And McCain’s daughter is a former SNL writer! Its all family.
And it’s all gamed. Too bad the Media still thinks of itself as “pro-Obama.”
Here’s a cut through the shit moment. Sponsored by Finland. Finland: IT’S THE BALLS!
The polls are full of shit. Deal with it, embrace it, and realize that what’s really happening in this country is not being discussed. If you think it’s that close. You are a bloody idiot and worthy of a serious discussion about something rather boring.
Sorry for the double post, but these things happen. Nevertheless; Nicol has just been deported to Newfoundland in a trade involving three key players from that part of Canada’s youth curling league. Tim Hutchen being the key kid Canada needed from Newfoundland in this trade, and they got him for an older Nicol D.
I like everyone who’s pissing on the American Prayer video. You all laugh like little girls at Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech? So I guess anyone who represents hope, or represents us, is a messiah? Jesus Christ! *pun intended* Aren’t we electing someone who we hope is going to bring the country back on track? I’m sorry, but I’m not cynical enough to think that real change can’t happen.
No word on the idiocy of this “we’ll txt you kids” as the “dying” MSM runs the VP pick long before the Kool Koz Kidz even got a txt? That stooge Markos claimed this showed Obama had a “model operation” — almost a sure sign Obama blew it again. Biden? LOL.
Christian — what exactly is the deal with you and Kos, anyway? Did you get banned?
I haven’t read the site regularly for a couple of years. I got fed up with all the “I am so outraged!!!” and “action alert — if we don’t do something, America will cease to exist!” diaries.
The legitimate stuff got lost in a sea of overreaction and attention grabs, and I didn’t feel like wading through it all.
But lately, your comments have been especially harsh, and I’ve seen this sentiment echoed elsewhere on the web. Was there some specific incident or turning point that soured you once and for all? And where to you go these days to get your info?
I was a fan of DK until I saw the groupthink bullying and banning, and Kos’s odd “progressive” ideas on attacking feminists, protestors, Kucinich and then pimping Chevron ads and the bullshit over “trolls” and the sliming of Cindy Sheehan and then suddenly all Clinton supporters were no longer real Democrats and then Kos’s idiot “go vote for Romney” stunt. Like Jeff Wells, the Kos kids are the worst spokespeople for Obama. Smug bastards who love to shut down actual debate or discussion. Why should I trust them as liberals?
As for info, there’s a dozen less inflamed sites.
The “Ovaltine Secret Decoder VP Txt” thing was such a pander to the blogosphere and the result was predictable.
Anyway. Thanks for letting me vent. Biden?
I said the same thing. Biden?
Well, he’ll finally get a shot at the White House. Hasn’t this guy run for president every election for the last 20 years? I remember when he was a serious contender before the plagiarism thing, which was blown out of proportion. He credited Kinnock for the paraphrase several times before the speech during which he forgot to do so. But the latter was recorded, and down he went.
The choice seems a bit boring, though he’s supposed to be good on the attack. I guess he’s intended to be Obama’s Cheney.
Still, the knowledge that this guy was taken down by Dukakis is a little scary.
Yeah, if Biden couldn’t hack it against Cheney and came in, what, fifth this January in Iowa, it doesn’t speak well of his abilities. I would have preferred someone more exciting, like a Sebelius or a Wes Clark, but we’ll see…
In other news, Kucinich deserves to be trashed. I’m sure he’s a nice guy but one Nader is enough.
I meant Dukakis, not Cheney, sorry.
Jeff, why does Kucinich deserve to be thrashed? How is he like Nader? All he did was try to run for president like all the others. And he was the only honest person up there. And the only real progressive. It was shameful the way he was demonized by centrist Dems — like Kos — and the very scared corporate media. Shameful.
Kucinich was crucified by the Liberal Media because he is antiwar. The same goes for Ron Paul on the Republican side.
I think Biden is an outstanding choice. The best criticism that the McCain campaign could come up with is that he is outspoken and during the Democratic debates wondered if Obama is experienced enough.
Former Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. In the Senate since 1972. Excellent on international affairs. A blue collar background. A strong family man. He is a great VP choice.
I’m perfectly happy with Biden. After Hillary, he was my first choice for the nomination, despite his past problems (unpopular votes are inevitable, but sometimes they have to do what the “constituents” want — doesn’t make it right, just sayin’…).
I’m desperately hopeful that Obama/Biden win in November, and I think they will. But I just want to put this out there, maybe I’m reading too much into it, but the text message went out at 3am (“a phone rings at 3am…”) and Hillary knows it wasn’t her phone. Even unintentional, it feels a little “you’re nice enough, Hillary”.
Chew.
This is why you people can get me so damn angry! YOU DO NOT PAY ATTENTION. Go watch season seven of freakin West Wing, and realize why it’s Biden. Biden is also not going to back down. Fournier can bitch about it at the AP, but Biden will not back down. He will know his place, but Mr. Biden will let Obama know if he’s being a douche. This is something everyone needs when they are bringing about change: a person who will call BULLSHIT when BULLSHIT needs to be called. That’s Joe Biden. If you do not get that… this is the Hot Blog. Where not paying attention happens.
Christian, I simply think Kucinich is something of a kook who wouldn’t be fit to govern the country.
He’s not a kook. I’m surprised Jeff, that you’d say that. He’s one of the most intelligent, outspoken and re-elected politicians out there. He’s been governing Ohio for awhile. At every debate when he was allowed to speak he garnered great applause. Even my GOP cousin from Idaho called me to say how much she liked him. The guy just tells the truth in a way none of the others dare. In today’s political world maybe that is crazy.
To be fair, I also think Ron Paul is an unelectable kook.
In today’s corporatist nation, they are both unelectable. And so it goes.
I always thought Biden did a good job in presiding over senate subcomittee hearings. I think his voice carries a lot of weight in any room. I think he’d make a fine VP.
There was no way Hilary was going to be the choice, none. These two weren’t complimentary. It’s not like teaming a hawk & dove or having a statesperson teamed w/big business. Any combo featuring these two would’ve been the preverbal winning the battle but losing the war. From the moment they’re sworn in, the media and right wing conservatives would’ve tried to or portrayed them as being pitted against each other. Power struggles behind the scenes. Lack of unison thinking. Self serving practices, you name it. Anything run up the flag pole would
christian, I agree with you on Kucinich. But in all honesty, after that UFO/Shirley MacClaine story get played over and over again…what chance would he have? I know, it’s a minor, petty thing, but that’s regularly how these things get decided. But Dennis was one of the only candidates who made a stand on rolling back the power grabs of the executive branch over the last two cycles.
I’m not a “if it’s not perfect, it’s garbage” person, so I think the Biden choice is a good move. And it puts the onus on McCain to make a really smart choice. If he fumbles even a bit, he’s in massive trouble.
Well, if Kucinich just wanted to counter, he could have retorted to Tim Russert, “I saw something that I don’t know what it was. That doesn’t stop me from believing in an all powerful deity who created and controls the universe with invisible powers…like all the other candidates up here.”
He could, yes. But I’m not sure it would help.
Not trying to argue. Most of the people I wished ran things are pretty unelectable, too.
“Go watch season seven of freakin West Wing, and realize why it’s Biden.”
IOIO, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while now. You can take is as a personal attack if you like, but it’s an honest question:
Is there ANY pop culture from the last ten or fifteen years that you are NOT familiar with? Any movie or TV show you haven’t seen, any top 40 music you haven’t heard, any videogame you haven’t played?
Are you a brain in a tank, parked in front of a TV and computer with internet access?
I’d ask the same of Lex. (In his case, there would also be an IV running to a bottle of vodka.) Sometimes I think that you are Lex — though if that’s true, you’d have to be pretty good at varying your writing style in a consistent manner.
Frank: I just pay attention. That’s it. I did have a brain in a tank once. His name was Jerome. He has now sent himself to the future, bought a fancy cyborg body, and has decided to take over Hawaii in the year 2298. He’s a real dick that guy.
I hear you LB, I’m just saying that’s what Kucinich shoulda laid down, just to throw the meme off.
I like Kucinich and hope there are more people like him in the 21st century. We need more people like him. Hopefully at some point the US populace will get over themselves, and think even more outside of the box.