Clint Eastwood, crazy? Like a fox.
Last Thursday, at the Republican Party Convention in Tampa, he spoke to a primetime television audience of millions in the type of direct language politicians never utter. The movie star’s message was simple, but his presentation was more acting routine than speech, using an empty chair as a prop and pretending President Obama was sitting next to him. His delivery came in stops and starts, seemingly ad-libbed with the 82-year old no quicker or more nimble of thought and word than other octogenarians I know.
Much of the mainstream media pounced, diagnosed Eastwood as nearly insane, and noted that the actor’s 12-minute talk upstaged presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Funny, I think Eastwood’s words touched many regular folks — and perhaps a raw nerve for those favoring the president.
While celebrities have every right to speak, I’m tired of the usual sophomoric spewing of famously uninformed opinion — “hot-dogging it,” as Eastwood put it. But we didn’t watch movie star Clint Eastwood last week; we saw businessman Clint Eastwood.
In 1967, early in his Hollywood career, Eastwood created his own production company, Malpaso, which has handled virtually all of his American films. Eastwood knows firsthand the demands of running a business. In fact, he enjoys a reputation for finishing his films on time and on budget and making profits.
When someone doesn’t do the job, Eastwood signs the proverbial pink slip. He thinks voters should do likewise. After all, “we own this country,” Eastwood reminded us. “Politicians are employees of ours.
“When somebody does not do the job, we got to let them go.”
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
9 replies on “The Gray Fox”
And, today, Labor Day has been cancelled due to lack of jobs. Today is now officially called “National Empty Chair Day” as a tribute to Mr. Eastwood….
http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/09/national-empty-chair-day-photos-from-around-country/
Couldn’t agree more.I think Eastwood played very well to middle America.
But, let me add a postscript as cautionary tale about a President Romney. Because Eastwood is a friend to the Romneys, they did not /could not ‘control’ him, and keep him in line. When the media pounced, as did an assortment of other critics, Ann Romney ‘graciously’ dissembled Eastwood’s appearance, as did numerous Romney aides who ran for cover, essentially threw Eastwood under the bus, and disowned the entire episode. If that’s not a precursor of Romney’s M.O., I don’t know what is.
He’ll give Wall Street carte blanche, because he can’t say no. And in the face of criticism, he’ll run for cover.
Gary Johnson for President
…. 82-year old no quicker or more nimble of thought and word than other octogenarians ….
In your dreams.
I reckon Mr Eastwood’s was a demonstration of comedic genius and that the extraordinarily nimble-on-his-feet Mr Eastwood fooled you along with all the others who believe they were looking at an ordinary eighty-two-year-old in his GrandPa’s suit.
Mr Eastwood’s performance is a keeper of the quality of some of those old Shelly Berman and Bob Newhart recorded-on-vinyl gigs I stashed so long ago.
Eastwood favors gay marriage, is pro-choice, and wants the troops out of Afghanistan NOW.
And he is a REPUBLIKOOK?
MAKE MY DAY VOTE REPUBLICAN
To: JATR4
Republicans ARE ALLOWED to have different views. Dems must follow Pelosi, Reed and Soros. (Look at what Move On-a Soros front-did a few years ago to Dems. who didn’t hew the -his-line.
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To Mr. Watts: Obama WAS AND IS Wall Street’s biy–as a Merrill Lynch exec said (paraphrasing-lost the exact quote) in 2008–Obama will keep piling on debt, and there is more money in issuing debt then retiring it.
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I did not see Mr. Eastwood’s sppech; but when I read the Yahoo/AP and National memo criticizing it, and demeaning it, I knew it had to be good.
Poor Jay, drinking the REPUBLIKOOK AID. KOOKS aren’t allowed to have other opinions, you idiot. That is why Romney has switched to pro-life from pro-choice, etc.
You need to get a clue.
Romney’s chief executive experience as governor was setting up Romneycare and RGGI – a regional GHG agreement. Health and energy mandates are one thing, but his expressed intention is also to get the US gov’t deeper into the car business, as well.
If you think you would like to try your luck with a carbon tax candidate, perhaps you should take a look down the road that Australia is now traveling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56TIO_tzsn8&feature=related
Gillard promised no carbon tax, and now this destructive energy and carbon tax system is destroying the Oz economy.
Not only is 10% of this carbon tax slated for the UN, but it is now illegal to discuss how the carbon tax raises prices for goods or services. Romney has already unveiled a camouflaged 20/20 energy statement, which complains that the Obama admin only spends 11.9 billion on R&D for renewables. His solution is 20 billion in spending for “energy” and “car technology.”
To Doug Watts – interesting point about Romney, but I can’t say I agree. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governorship_of_Mitt_Romney
“Romney issued 844 vetos as governor, the large share of which of which were overturned by one or the other of the state houses. Late in Romney’s term, his vetos issued began to annoy Republicans in the legislature and he lost support among them too.”
I didn’t see where Romney thru Clint “under the bus.”
Not that I support Romney. Consider, the Romnney/Ryan budget spends $3.5 trillion next year, and it INCREASES government spending by 3.1% each year. Obama’s budget is to spend $3.5 trillion (where he doesn’t say no to anything).
During his term, Romney increased spending 32% (more than Obama) and increased debt by 52% (same as Obama). Romney claims he balanced the MA budget, showing he lies (like Obama, well maybe not as much, but this a big lie).
I predict that if Obama is elected, government will grow relative to the economy, our debt will increase and our freedom wane. If Romney is elected, I predict the same. I’ll be voting for Gary Johnson who’s the only candidate that wants less government and more freedom.