Paul Krugman and I would make a great team if only he were aware of my presence.
I have always believed that the radical right is equally or more dangerous out of office than in power
It’s not surprising, then, that politicians are doing the same thing. The R.N.C. says that “the Democratic Party is dedicated to restructuring American society along socialist ideals.” And when Jon Voight, the actor, told the audience at a Republican fund-raiser this week that the president is a “false prophet” and that “we and we alone are the right frame of mind to free this nation from this Obama oppression,” Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, thanked him, saying that he “really enjoyed” the remarks.
What will the consequences be? Nobody knows, of course, although the analysts at Homeland Security fretted that things may turn out even worse than in the 1990s — that thanks, in part, to the election of an African-American president, “the threat posed by lone wolves and small terrorist cells is more pronounced than in past years.”
And that’s a threat to take seriously. Yes, the worst terrorist attack in our history was perpetrated by a foreign conspiracy. But the second worst, the Oklahoma City bombing, was perpetrated by an all-American lunatic. Politicians and media organizations wind up such people at their, and our, peril.
Krugman’s a Nobel prize winning economist but he can’t stay away from politics and I can’t blame him. We have an African American president. I think he’s a force to be reckoned with and will be above the kinds of scandals that disempowered the Clinton admin. But McConnell is the Senate Minority leader. For worse he represents the mainstream Republican party. Jon Voight’s remarks were sickening and should have been disavowed. They weren’t. No wonder why Angelina (Jolie) is estranged from him. The Republicans I have known–mostly are or would have been proud of this moment in history.
America took a fundamental leap forward this past year. Let’s not go back. And we can never discount the importance of fringe groups.
Those were extremely creepy remarks. I have heard he was slightly deranged but now I can actually believe it.
I remain a Pia Savage fan, but I only like Krugman’s early work, when he was an economist. He’s forgotten it but I remember it fondly.
Paul Krugman and I would make a great team if only he were aware of my presence.
I feel the same way about me and Larry David. Also, Demetri Martin.
I remember when Voight bit Kramer on an episode of Seinfeld. Now I’m wondering if that was even in the script
Did you read the NYT op piece last week about the real reasons for the budget deficits. Some blame was placed on Obama (mainly for continuing Bush polices) but much of it fell on Bush and on policies over the past 2 decades. I have the url saved, but it’s not on my laptop.
The acting guild should ban their folks from playing politics–I don’t care what side they’re on–just because someone has nice teeth and hair and looks good on camera doesn’t mean they should be taken seriously in political discourse.
Wow! I just need to pay closer attention! I wrote a piece about Cloris Leachmans opinion of Russell Crowe. The question was “Should actors opinions make any difference?” Take a look!
http://www.justgivemethefacts-b.com/2009/06/cloris-leachman-on-russell-crowehes.htmla
Oh by the way the John Voight quote made me sick! I almost dread having these people OUT of office…they are more dangerous out than in…but that is just what you said.
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