Ok, so that Clint Eastwood thing didn't work out very well...

[haymarket]

The same reaction I have now: "How cute. But who cares. Lets move on to the real issues."

I guess you too see it as potentially damaging if you are so in a hurry to bury it.

 

[AdamT]

The whole thing is kind of sad, and smacks of desperation on the part of Republicans. Even if the guy wasn't half-senile ... giving an ACTOR a primetime slot on the final day of the convention? How pathetic is that?

 

[Thorgasm]

You should be more embarrassed for Rachel Maddow.

I didn't watch her. You are probably right though.

 

[Debra]

Rachael Maddow's reaction was fantastic afterwords in that it seemed like she was shell shocked by what just happened. Lat she said "That was the weirdest thing I've ever seen at a political convention in my entire life, and it will be the weirdest thing I've ever seen if I live to be 100."

Eastwoods speech was painful, occasionally witty, unbelievably disrespectful and condescending, rambling, confused, and sporadic. It may have been one of the most morbidly fascinating things I have ever seen on live t.v.

There was that part where he suggested Obama rethink his Afghan policy by asking the Russians about their 10 year quagmire. Or when he told the republican crowd in front of him that they shouldn't vote for a guy they didn't really want in office (which probably irked the Ron Paul supporters). He also said we don't need a lawyer in the white house even though Romney has a law degree from Harvard.

My guess is this has a good chance of being what this convention is remembered for.

In the interest of full disclosure let me first say that I simply have the highest possible opinion of he professional work of Clint Eastwood. Many of his films are among my favorites. He is a very talented actor. As a director, I would say he is one of the three best American directors of the last forty years along with Speilberg and Scorsese. When I went to northern California a few years ago I made a pilgramage to this restaurant and ranch in Carmel and had a meal that I will remember for a long time. I have friends in the Michigan film business who worked on GRAN TORINO and have nothing but praise for the man.

So it pains me to write this: Clint Eastwood make a public fool of himself Thrusday night at the GOP Convention. I have no problem with his being there. I have no problem with him supporting Romney for President. He is a citizen just like the rest of us and his right to participate in politics is no different than anybody else.

What I do have a problem with is his crossing the line with this remark - made not once but at least twice.



Shame on Eastwood for uttering that. Rip Obama a new one for his policies. Criticize his record all you want. Ridicule his style till midnight for all I care.

But you do not tell the world that the President of the USA is crazy - not once but twice.

If I were part of the Democratic party team assembling footage of the GOP gathering to be used in later attack ads, this line would be front and center on on a loop.

Shame on you Clint. You are much better than that.

He's running on his strength of being one of the most successful businessmen in the world. As opposed to, you know, a community organizer and lawyer.

Well putting Clint Eastwood on when they did was a major Fxxx Up which seems to be a regular trend with Romney without going into the history of his whole campaign lets just look at his recent trip abroad! I am beginning to question if Mitt is really up for the job of President , can he really handle this? What kind of an embarrassment will he cause the U.S.? Does he really have good judgement? Will he blame everyone else for the Clint Eastwood mess or will he own it?

 

[Thorgasm]

Why be embarrassed for him? He's 82 freaking years old, and says what he wants to say, without bowing to the expectations of those around him. I personally find it refreshing, but then I like old people with balls and grit.

It wasn't his best moment. He stammered quite a bit.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

It wasn't his best moment. He stammered quite a bit.

LOL - oh no. Imagine an elderly handsome chap stammering.

It just made him even more lovable. Apparently people just don't like realizing that people age - even the famous ones.

 

[Thorgasm]

Haymarket, you need to stop with the "He called him crazy twice" stuff. It was satire.

 

[EdWagemann]

I guess you too see it as potentially damaging if you are so in a hurry to bury it.

No, not at all. You are practicing that partisan hack habit of trying to put words into my mouth that simply are not true. I find the Eastwood thing to be completely unimportant and I want to move on to more important issues.
That is the second time I have told you my motive. If you are not a Partisan Hack then you will strop trying to derive other motives from what I say.
Look, I know Left-wingers want Obama to win and that they are looking for any little angle they can get. Righties are doing the same thing. But there are somethings to truly be outraged about and that should be used to enlighten undecided voters and that can be used to shut the other side up. This is NOT one of those things. Its getting alot of media attention now - which makes Partisan Hack want to exploit it. But it really isnt an issue and the only reason it is getting so much press is because it is Clint Eastwood.

 

[joko104]

The significant of Clint Eastwood giving a speech endorsing Romney and ridiculing Obama was that it was Clint Eastwood. It would not have mattered much one way or the other what he actually said. His endorsement was more valuable towards independent voters than every Republican Governor and Senator's endorsement.

 

[haymarket]

No, not at all. You are practicing that partisan hack habit of trying to put words into my mouth that simply are not true. I find the Eastwood thing to be completely unimportant and I want to move on to more important issues.
That is the second time I have told you my motive. If you are not a Partisan Hack then you will strop trying to derive other motives from what I say.
Look, I know Left-wingers want Obama to win and that they are looking for any little angle they can get. Righties are doing the same thing. But there are somethings to truly be outraged about and that should be used to enlighten undecided voters and that can be used to shut the other side up. This is NOT one of those things. Its getting alot of media attention now - which makes Partisan Hack want to exploit it. But it really isnt an issue and the only reason it is getting so much press is because it is Clint Eastwood.

get real please.

Clint Eastwood was used because he is Clint Eastwood. They (and THEY would be the people whom you would call partisan hacks on the GOP side) thought he would be a great weapon to use against Obama and gave him a very choice prime moment for his schtick. But he proved to be a double edged sword that cuts them more than he cut his intended target.

They took a chance and it backfired on them.

You’re crazy, you’re absolutely crazy.

 

[Dr_Patrick]

LOL - oh no. Imagine an elderly handsome chap stammering.

It just made him even more lovable. Apparently people just don't like realizing that people age - even the famous ones.

I don't think his stammering had to do with his age, but more the fact that he decided to go off script and do improv.

 

[Thorgasm]

LOL - oh no. Imagine an elderly handsome chap stammering.

It just made him even more lovable. Apparently people just don't like realizing that people age - even the famous ones.

Is stammering something that is exclusive to the elderly?

I'm not vilifying the guy. But let's be honest, you find him lovable because you agree with him.

Was Helen Thomas more lovable? She was older after all when she embarrassed herself.

 

[Thorgasm]

I don't think his stammering had to do with his age, but more the fact that he decided to go off script and do improv.

That's what I think as well.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Is stammering something that is exclusive to the elderly?

I'm not vilifying the guy. But let's be honest, you find him lovable because you agree with him.

Was Helen Thomas more lovable? She was older after all when she embarrassed herself.

Hmm - Do you only like people you agree with 100%? I don't - obviously. I can like people even if I don't agree with much of what they believe in.

I like Obama as a person - for example - even though he's a **** president and can be an offensive douche sometimes. . . and I **** as hell won't be voting for him. But I don't loath him.

 

[Erod]

Sounded like every segment of a full day at MSNBC. Someone talking to no one and sounding bat**** crazy.

 

[joko104]

.
{Eastwood said about the president: You’re crazy, you’re absolutely crazy.}

:2bigcry: ..............

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Sounded like every segment of a full day at MSNBC. Someone talking to no one and sounding bat**** crazy.

All 24/7 news sounds like that.

 

[Empirica]

What was the Romney camp thinking, letting an 82 year old actor ad lib at 10:00pm on the last day of the convention. This will eat into what should have been a Friday news day dominated by Romney coverage... Now it will be split 50/50 with Eastwood coverage.

It shows a severe lack of judgement by the team Romney selected to manage the convention, which reflects badly on Romney's judgement. Seriously, someone should have put a stop to that idea, or at least moved Clint to the 4:30pm slot.

I imagine Romney's team had delusions of something simillar to the Super Bowl Half time spot Eastwood narrated... but that was a professionally written and produced piece, and probably took Eastwood 50 takes to get right.

It's was just astonishing what happened tonight.

I'm going to hafta disagree with you on this Avus__IMO, Eastwood's speech is tied for second place with Christie's,,,,,Condoleezza's of course takes the gold_

Most Americans grew up with and love Clint Eastwood and know full well how old he is and therefore won't hold it against him for an occasional stumble in what was otherwise a stellar performance_

 

[Thorgasm]

Hmm - Do you only like people you agree with 100%? I don't - obviously. I can like people even if I don't agree with much of what they believe in.

I like Obama as a person - for example - even though he's a **** president and can be an offensive douche sometimes. . . and I **** as hell won't be voting for him. But I don't loath him.

Isn't it possible to be embarrassed for someone you like?

Some people seem to want to turn this into dislike for Eastwood when it could have been executed better and didn't seem in line with the theme of the evening. (Other than being anti-Obama)

Just because he is elderly, doesn't mean it was a good choice to have him speak last night. Especially unvetted.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Yes - on a serious level - Condoleezza was humbling.

 

[Thorgasm]

Yes - on a serious level - Condoleezza was humbling.

She probably did have the best speech. She isn't a politician.

 

[Peter King]

He's running on his strength of being one of the most successful businessmen in the world. As opposed to, you know, a community organizer and lawyer.

really funny, one of the most successful business men in the world.

He is not one of the most successful businessmen in the world, even suggesting something like that shows no sense of reality whatsoever IMHO. He isn't even one of the most successful businessmen in the US today.

Bain & Company in 2010 had a revenue of about 3.5 billion. Something that has nothing to do with Romney because he keeps saying he left the company years and years ago. But the company he started isn't even in the top 500 companies in the US by revenue.

Mitt Romney is not even one of the 400 richest Americans. His company is not in the top 100 companies people would like to work for, top 50 of best companies in the US.

Mitch is a successful businessman but that does not make him a better man or even a better possible president than a community organizer and lawyer.

Obama is much more charismatic than Romney, he is much more liked and he has been a real passionate politician and campaigner. Romney is none of those.

Romney is stiff, mormon, indulged person who may have made a lot of money on his own but who got to his position largely because of who his father was, the money that his father had. Respect him all you want, I think that Obama's path in life is one that shines more greatness than Romney's life and career has done.

You will of course disagree with it, I wouldn't expect any different. Because when it comes to Obama, the most negative opinion possible always applies in the opinions of conservatives.

 

[lizzie]

Is stammering something that is exclusive to the elderly?

I'm not vilifying the guy. But let's be honest, you find him lovable because you agree with him.

I personally find him lovable because he's Eastwood. :2razz:

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Isn't it possible to be embarrassed for someone you like?

Some people seem to want to turn this into dislike for Eastwood when it could have been executed better and didn't seem in line with the theme of the evening. (Other than being anti-Obama)

Just because he is elderly, doesn't mean it was a good choice to have him speak last night. Especially unvetted.

I'm not following the embarrassed-for thought process. Why?

Clint isn't embarrassed about what he said. . . I don't think that man regrets much of what he says or does and maybe that's why I do like him. He's no-bull and doesn't really care how people take him . . . most people worry TOO much about what people think of them. He just doesn't seem like that type of guy to me.

So embarrassed - why - because he said what was on his mind? Because he might have said something he didn't intend to.

Do you think it bothers him? Do you think he's hiding in a corner wishing he'd take something back?

I wish I was that uninhibited and open-minded . . . I'm so self-concerned I have no friends and I'm always worried about what my husband thinks of me to a point of just not saying anything - I have to always begin serious statements of my feelings and views with 'I don't want to tell you because you might think I'm stupid' - so I can get his reassurance that he won't :shrug:

Now - enough of this. . . no point in getting embarrassed for someone who would just roll his eyes at you and with a look put you in your place and make you feel stupid for wasting time on it.

He'd probably tell us to 'grow the hell up'

 

[MaggieD]

really funny, one of the most successful business men in the world.

He is not one of the most successful businessmen in the world, even suggesting something like that shows no sense of reality whatsoever IMHO. He isn't even one of the most successful businessmen in the US today.

Bain & Company in 2010 had a revenue of about 3.5 billion. Something that has nothing to do with Romney because he keeps saying he left the company years and years ago. But the company he started isn't even in the top 500 companies in the US by revenue.

Mitt Romney is not even one of the 400 richest Americans. His company is not in the top 100 companies people would like to work for, top 50 of best companies in the US.

Mitch is a successful businessman but that does not make him a better man or even a better possible president than a community organizer and lawyer.

Obama is much more charismatic than Romney, he is much more liked and he has been a real passionate politician and campaigner. Romney is none of those.

Romney is stiff, mormon, indulged person who may have made a lot of money on his own but who got to his position largely because of who his father was, the money that his father had. Respect him all you want, I think that Obama's path in life is one that shines more greatness than Romney's life and career has done.

You will of course disagree with it, I wouldn't expect any different. Because when it comes to Obama, the most negative opinion possible always applies in the opinions of conservatives.

My negative opinions in politics are not directed at Obama. They are directed at the Democratic Party. To try to denigrate Romney as a businessman is ridiculous. Please list Obama's business experience. No can do? Huh.