Archive for February, 2008
Here’s how some extremist wingnut bloggers intend to wage their war during the presidential campaign: First, try to scare the ignorant and the stupid not only by using Obama’s middle name, but also by omitting his last name altogether. Then, after a brief digression into the liberal danger of your choice, proceed to compare him to the “charismatic” trifecta of Adolf Hitler, Ayatollah Khomeini, and Jim Jones.
Until you get to the end of this fearmongering campaign ad, it’s easy to think, given the history of such ads, that it’s an anti-Democrat attack ad from John McCain. Then, at the end, the voice of Hillary Clinton announces that she approves the message.
“I don’t think these ads will work this time because the question is not about picking up the phone. The question is, what kind of judgment will you exercise when you pick up that phone. In fact, we have had a red phone moment; it was the decision to invade Iraq,” responded Barack Obama. “Senator Clinton gave the wrong answer. George Bush gave the wrong answer. John McCain gave the wrong answer. I stood up and I said that a war in Iraq would be unwise.”
And then there’s Hillary’s chief strategist claiming that it’s a “positive” ad, with “soft images” — despite the ad clearly intending to say (in Greg Sargent’s words) “that you can’t trust Obama to answer that red phone while your children sleep”.
At least, for those of us following along, we now know what chapter in the GOP campaign playbook Hillary has most recently read.
Remember the lovely Lost recap that popped up (and then even aired, in a slightly different form, on ABC itself) just before the new season began? As near as I can tell, this Battlestar Galactica recap is done by the same people. Or, at least, it appears to be the same woman’s voice, and the same rapid-fire snark.
Addendum: Fixed the link, since I had managed to link to the Lost one both times. Also, it’s definitely the same people doing both.
In the aftermath of Ausiello describing the main characters in Joss Whedon’s new series Dollhouse, the casting sides (script scenes used for audition purposes) have managed to leak out online. If they are an at all dependable indication, the series is going to be quite dark. Possibly the darkest thing Joss has ever done.
So little news on The Heretic, even though it’s scheduled to shoot beginning in March. The earliest mention I can find is Willamette Week a couple of weeks ago, followed by a mention that Tim Robbins might have been putting in an appearance at Kelly’s Olympian.
Apparently, he was spotted at City Hall today, and nearly a month ago Bend Weekly reported that Susan Sarandon would have a “small part” in the film.
But for a movie slated to begin shooting in a couple of weeks, there seems to be a huge lack of information as to its cast. You’d think we’d know by now, but it doesn’t even have a listing on IMDb yet.
Addendum: By the way, the bookstore at which I work has been known to do rentals to local movie shoots. So, you could always just come by to arrange book rental (presuming we’re even still providing that service) and let us know who the Hell is in the movie.
Addendum: Apparently while at City Hall today, Robbins watched part of a police accountability protest. But, still no news on who is in the movie.
“Barack Obama was questioned at Tuesday night’s debate by Tim Russert and Hillary Clinton about repudiating Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement — which Obama said was unsolicited — in the strongest terms possible. He was repeatedly badgered by Russert, and was forced to disown Farrakhan over and over again,” says Eric Kleefeld. “The very next day, John McCain appeared onstage in Texas with Pastor John Hagee, an influential activist in the Christian Zionist movement. Hagee’s comments about world affairs can make Farrakhan seem pedestrian at times: He eagerly awaits the Armageddon, considers the Catholic Church to be the Anti-Christ, and has said that Jews brought their own persecution upon themselves.”
“It seems kind of absurd that you’re saying that Barack Obama’s patriotism should be questioned because he’s not wearing a lapel pin,” says Dan Abrams, “and then you come on the show not wearing one.”
“Well Dan,” replies Representative Jack Kingston, Republican from Georgia, “I’m not following that at all.”
And spring training games get underway, with the 24-0 final score of today’s split squad game against Boston College. Coming up later: The other split-squad game, against Northeastern University. And come tomorrow, the first real spring training game of the year, against the Minnesota Twins. It’s on NESN, so it had better be playing at New Old Lompoc.