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
No, he’s stating the obvious. Obama is the one that rejected some 10 extra debates that McCain wanted. Inferring that McCain is chicken makes absolutely zero sense.
I don’t think he’s chicken, but he does seem to be avoiding the debate – or trying to eliminate the VP debate.
The press would crucify McCain if he tried to eliminate the VP debate. Better to let Palin look bad in a debate. The suggestion that he’s trying to avoid a debate is very tenuous.
What I think he’s doing is attempting to showcase his priorities.
Okay, so then we both agree it’s a purely political tactic with little basis in the actual reality of the bailout situation?
It’s frightening how much of a bubble Poland has been able to create.
What’s going on is no bullshit. It’s not going to be 700 trillion with guaranteed return. In the end, it’s around 1.5 trillion. This isn’t a bailout, it’s a national parachute and we’re fumbling for the ripcord. I guess reality won’t sit in around here until we’re down to three studios.
Whoever thinks this is about Palin, honestly, grow up.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video_log/2008/09/schieffer_says_paulson_called.html
As for what’s horrifying – how about a guy who wants to be President and says “call me” during the biggest crisis imaginable. Let’s forget that he’s collecting a government check . That’s some “nuanced” leadership.
Funny, Martin S… McCain didn’t go to Washington until after making a campaign stop to the Clinton event this morning, went to the photo op at the White House that did nothing, and is now leaving Washington again for God knows where, never putting a foot down in the Senate.
yeah…not a stunt at all.
Martin – nonsense. This isn’t everybody huddling around a map in a war room. It’s a bill that got drafted and then they vote on it. A momentous bill, sure, but most of what you just posted sounds meaningless.
Martin is pretty much ignoring how McLiar ruined the freakin deal that they HAD ON THE TABLE! Good going, dick. I am sure everyone voting for you are so happy, that they are voting for a dick.
As for what’s horrifying – how about a guy who wants to be President and says “call me” during the biggest crisis imaginable.
Martin, come on. Obama was on top of this as McCain was saying the economy was sound — how’s that for horrifying? Obama had been talking with Paulson everyday and others.
Why don’t you explain the reason why McCain would announce a suspension of debate long after Obama called him earlier to suggest a joint-statement?
You know why? So all of the AM minions would come out and say, “Obama must follow or he’s running!”
And America has officially called BULLSHIT on that.
And Martin, you better accept that a Palin as President scenario is likely. And she is not fit to lead. Not at all.
“Okay, so then we both agree it’s a purely political tactic with little basis in the actual reality of the bailout situation?”
You know, I actually believed that the seriousness and urgency of the matter might force some bipartisan cooperation. That opportunity was eschewed with disheartening speed. It’s now full-on C.Y.A. time.
But no, I don’t think McCain’s decision was purely political. I think the will to participate was genuine, and that the “suspension of the campaign” was a political tactic.
I agree with Martin that any legislation that gets passed is only going to pull this baby out of the tailspin, with a possible landing in an open field. There is no ‘rescue’. And I’ll leave you with this: the knee-jerk fingering ‘deregulation’ is a red herring.
My point was pretty clear – this has nada to do with Palin, yet the obsession with her is all-consuming. The left needs a boogeyman, and they found a boogeywoman. If you didn’t have her to build conspiracies around, you’d say the Street freefall was Rove’s October Surprise.
I didn’t say there was no politics involved. McCain at CGI was just as political as the no-show, half-assed satellite read by the internationalist du jour to a major meeting of internationalists.
As for not being in the Senate – it’s the House Repubs at issue.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080925%5CACQDJON200809251939DOWJONESDJONLINE000948.htm&SourceCode=&mypage=newsheadlines&title=McCain%20Says%20There%20'Never%20Was%20A%20Deal'%20On%20Wall%20Street%20Bailout
After that, he went to his home in Arlington to work the phones for the 8pm meeting. Dave, why do you presume to know every iota of McCain’s day?
Jeff – this isn’t a bill akin to the stimulus package, and it’s not the typical Washington game. I’ve been waist-deep in this all week. The fallout is going to be big if this is a “bailout-only” proposal. There will not be enough liquidity in the market to make companies take the needed risks so we’re going to see another freeze in a few months. That one will have more impact because by then it should envelope personal loans.
Christian – you feel the need to believe the 527 health-scare ads, have fun. I won’t talk about Biden’s aneurysm, or Obama’s decades-long smoking addiction.
Joint statements…this is exactly why I’ve stayed away from posting. What fucking good does a statement do, other than get Barack out of making a decision? It changes zero in the market or Congress.
Your point about the Paulson phone calls brings up something interesting; if Obama knew it was so perilous, which he must have by calling it the Great Depression, why didn’t he go on Monday? Buffet, his boy, called it Pearl Harbor. This decision has massive repercussions for whoever wins, but he literally couldn’t be bothered to leave Clearwater. It’s the equivalent of buying a business, getting a call that the building’s on fire, and deciding to watch it burn on television.
If Obama’s such a bipartisan master, why didn’t Paulson ask for him to come and help?
What it boils down to Martin is the de-regulation preachers of the GOP are once again forcing the taxpayers to foot the bill for their free markets. McCain is a central figure in the racket and him saving us from himself is goddamn funny.
And McCain’s fast, cynical choice of Palin, who he should have seen would have some pr problems, shows he is unfit to steward the nation. His impetuous decision to “suspend” the campaign was an obvious stunt to force Obama into following his lead. And Palin is clearly being caged.
It all reeks and Obama can’t save us anymore than McCain – but I trust the man who understands why de-regulation continues to strangle the nation over the man who has been propagating the worst of the GOP economic principles.
But be of good cheer – I may not need you to buy me that first-class ticket to Amsterdam….
Why not debate tonight? The election is only 39 days away. The Amercian people want and deserve to hear what these guys would do about the economy. A debate seems more important now than ever. mystery, Martin, wouldn’t you like to see it happen tonight? Or do you support McCain not showing up?
Christian – de-regulation preachers of the GOP are once again forcing the taxpayers to foot the bill for their free markets.
But that’s the point the House Repubs are trying to make – the taxpayer should not be on the hook. They want this to be a loan, plus incentives so investors put more of their money into play. As it stands now, it’s all on us.
Wall St is not a Republican blockade. Leahy is tits-deep in Street money, just as is most East Coast Dems. It’s a willing suspension to believe that this is all one parties fault. Freddie/Fannie was a Dem bathouse who blocked oversight that Bush had been calling for since 2001. That was Clinton’s point yesterday.
What you, of all people here, should be asking yourself is this:
WMD, Fisa, GITMO, Patriot Act, Geneva Conventions – all of these decisions were made by this administration. The left considers most of these to have been rammed down the countries throat as a power grab. So what’s the difference now?
Since most info here about the Repubs is disseminated by the MSM or left outfits, let me part this – McCain does not trust Bush on this, just as the House does not. W’s leaving. Whatever happens, he won’t be around to answer for. The guy is burnt out and the Repubs know it.