George Bush and the influence of The Western Movie genre....

[matriarch]

The wife and I are watching a programme about How The Westerns have shaped American history and society. Narrator - Rich Hall, superb American comedian. When he looked into the camera and said the words below, we were so stunned, that we had to replay it - several times - and sat here cheering. We thought at least some of you would appreciate the words (highights are my own). There was a lot Bush and other presidents, and their visionof America, but this was the best bit.


"Since Jimmy Carter, all of our american presidents have vacilated between being folksy, simple talking southerners, or simple talking westerners, you know, good ol boys or good ol cowboys.

So when president bush uses phrases like "Either you're with us or your aginst us, "he knows exactly how that vernacular hits home with americans.

We're at war with iraq because some bible-thumping, tongue-tied, pretzel-choking fuck wit of a president actually convinced enough people he was some kind of iconic Gary Cooper hero come to bring justice against the evil folks, you know, an armed savage uprising. That the majority of Americans bought into this, while the rest of the world looked on a bit sceptically, shows just how much westerns have shaped our perceptions of evil. Bush claims that his favourite film was 'High Noon'. Of course it is, a man standing tall and alone against a gang of thugs come to terrorise the town. First he tries to summon up some help, you know, a coalition of the willing, but we all know what it is, it's a posse."

Woohooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Rich.

 

[S-Des]

I'll pass on the political aspect, I'm just struggling with the phrase, "Rich Hall, superb comedian."

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Given the undeniable (IMO) opinion that the U.S. conquered the world with films it should not be any surprise that the films have rebounded on us.

 

[matriarch]

I'll pass on the political aspect, I'm just struggling with the phrase, "Rich Hall, superb comedian."

Over here, in Britland, we appreciate him greatly for the talented comedian he is.

 

[Guest]

Over here, in Britland, we appreciate him greatly for the talented comedian he is.

Some of us in the U.S. appreciate George Bush for the very same reason.

 

[SlickTony]

No, I never did know Gary Cooper. Even had I been in the film world, he was a tad before my time. But I've watched movies with Gary Cooper in them, and George Bush is no Gary Cooper.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Youre still sore Gore lost. What you say is true, but youre mighty glad it is.

Dubya's problem is he's a liberal trying to make folks think he's conservative. A liberal doesnt have a chance in Hell of getting elected, so they pretend to be gunslingers. But a real gunslinger knows theyre frauds.

 

[S-Des]

Over here, in Britland, we appreciate him greatly for the talented comedian he is.

{shrug} I didn't even know he was still alive. I don't think I've seen him work in 20 years or so. Does he work over there now?

 

[S-Des]

Some of us in the U.S. appreciate George Bush for the very same reason.

LOL!!! Dana Carvey had a special on HBO last night, and he ended with a brilliant GWB impression (I think even Conservatives will have to acknowledge how funny it was). He started by saying that he was paying tribute to a, "Trough that all comedians have gorged at for the last 8 years" or something to that effect. The best part was when he talked about Bush's internal celebration when he actually got a sentence right!

 

[voluptuary_manque]

No, I never did know Gary Cooper. Even had I been in the film world, he was a tad before my time. But I've watched movies with Gary Cooper in them, and George Bush is no Gary Cooper.

Gary Cooper was born in Helena, Montana. My mother knew his family though he was before her time . . . at least her time in Helena.

 

[rgraham666]

That's what Iraq was about.

A gunslinger walks into town with his gang, shoots someone and announces "There's a new law in this here town, and I'm it."

 

[impressive]

Some of us in the U.S. appreciate George Bush for the very same reason.

Yeah, if he didn't hold lives in his hands, he'd be a real hoot.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Some of us in the U.S. appreciate George Bush for the very same reason.

thats the exact thought i had.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Yeah, if he didn't hold lives in his hands, he'd be a real hoot.

he doesnt hold the lives in his hands, they are held in the envenomed talons of dick cheney

 

[SlickTony]

Gary Cooper was born in Helena, Montana. My mother knew his family though he was before her time . . . at least her time in Helena.

Well, there you are. I've never been further west than San Antonio.

 

[bronzeage]

That's what Iraq was about.

A gunslinger walks into town with his gang, shoots someone and announces "There's a new law in this here town, and I'm it."

Wrong movie.

The line is, "On to Little Bighorn and glory!"

 

[slyc_willie]

Yeah, if he didn't hold lives in his hands, he'd be a real hoot.

A year from now, people will be saying the same thing about Obama . . . .

Can we go back to the blissfully ignorant days of the 'Greatest Generation' now?

 

[amicus]

It be really amusing at times to peruse the motives of America haters, really, it is...

The Limey's had their Robin Hood and that silly twit King Arthur and his socialist city of Camelot, all precursors to the macho hero depicted by Hollywood westerns.

The essential, defining difference being the uprisings in Europe were against Kings and Popes, in America, twas the individual hero standing against evil and the bad guys.

The hated essence of American westerns is that the primary focus is upon an heroic individual, rising above the common place, complacent herd, protecting the innocent from the evil.

Europeans, to this day, have never ceased seeking a King or a Pope to bow down to and follow, whilst the Americans idealize the individual efforts of a single man to protect the rights of others.

Bush is, at best, a mediocre President with a very average intellect, representing an ill defined and nearly forgotten legacy of individual excellence.

He is hampered by, but not limited, an archaic belief system, one that does not guide, but supports his moral and ethical pronouncements; at any rate much easier than actually thinking and more honest than the sophisticated European concept of dispensing with moral and ethical problems for utilitarian solutions.

And y'all do, all over the world, flock to Clint and his 'Spaghetti Westerns', a jostle to get into the theater for 'Indiana Jones', where ever Harrison appears.

Such a deal.

Amicus...

 

[CharleyH]

The wife and I are watching a programme about How The Westerns have shaped American history and society. Narrator - Rich Hall, superb American comedian. When he looked into the camera and said the words below, we were so stunned, that we had to replay it - several times - and sat here cheering. We thought at least some of you would appreciate the words (highights are my own). There was a lot Bush and other presidents, and their visionof America, but this was the best bit.


"Since Jimmy Carter, all of our american presidents have vacilated between being folksy, simple talking southerners, or simple talking westerners, you know, good ol boys or good ol cowboys.

So when president bush uses phrases like "Either you're with us or your aginst us, "he knows exactly how that vernacular hits home with americans.

We're at war with iraq because some bible-thumping, tongue-tied, pretzel-choking fuck wit of a president actually convinced enough people he was some kind of iconic Gary Cooper hero come to bring justice against the evil folks, you know, an armed savage uprising. That the majority of Americans bought into this, while the rest of the world looked on a bit sceptically, shows just how much westerns have shaped our perceptions of evil. Bush claims that his favourite film was 'High Noon'. Of course it is, a man standing tall and alone against a gang of thugs come to terrorise the town. First he tries to summon up some help, you know, a coalition of the willing, but we all know what it is, it's a posse."

Woohooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Rich.

I was just watching Bush on British TV saying how he wants to go down in history as a president who did not and would not compromise his core beliefs in the name of politics. It's too bad his politics are based on Western movies.

 

[amicus]

Ah, Charlie, gads, and you would recommend adopting the European model of sacrificing the best and brightest to glorify the common place?

How Gauche...

ami

 

[CharleyH]

Ah, Charlie, gads, and you would recommend adopting the European model of sacrificing the best and brightest to glorify the common place?

How Gauche...

ami

I will go down in history as an AH poster who did not and would not compromise her core beliefs in the name of politics.

There.

 

[amicus]

My dear, dear Charlie, that be the point, from what you and most on this forum expose about your, 'core belief's', you have none.

They are all ever changing and vacillating, as subjective relativists are wont to do, since there is no absolute foundation, you are as a stem of grass in the wind, blowing this way and that...

Your core of belief is that you have no belief. So be it.

However, one should fess up to one's confusion.

ahem


ami

 

[CharleyH]

My dear, dear Charlie, that be the point, from what you and most on this forum expose about your, 'core belief's', you have none.

All the easier to keep true to them, my dear.

They are all ever changing and vacillating, as subjective relativists are wont to do, since there is no absolute foundation, you are as a stem of grass in the wind, blowing this way and that...

Humanity has a never-ending potential to change and invent and adapt itself to the constraints it constantly faces. Who are you to deny any individual's inalienable right to evolve and be true to his/her own self?

However, one should fess up to one's confusion.

ahem


ami

Indeed.

ahem

 

[amicus]

Nevermind....but...when you adapt to not breathing oxygen or drinking water (or some alcoholic derivative) and can live on the surface of the sun, you be sure to let me know, twinkums...

ami