Month: March 2006

Liberal Hollywood’s ‘Unspoken Fears and Unconscious Prejudices’ Doomed ‘Brokeback Mountain’

Jon Ponder

I don’t usually care which film wins the Oscars, but last night I was rooting for “Brokeback Mountain” so the fact that it lost to “Crash” was a disappointment. Film reviewer Kenneth Turan says what I privately suspected in the Los Angeles Times this morning:

In the privacy of the voting booth, as many political candidates who’ve led in polls only to lose elections have found out, people are free to act out the unspoken fears and unconscious prejudices that they would never breathe to another soul, or, likely, acknowledge to themselves. And at least this year, that acting out doomed “Brokeback Mountain.”

Sometimes you win by losing, and nothing has proved what a powerful, taboo-breaking, necessary film “Brokeback Mountain” was more than its loss Sunday night to “Crash” in the Oscar best picture category…

More than any other of the nominated films, “Brokeback Mountain” was the one people told me they really didn’t feel like seeing, didn’t really get, didn’t understand the fuss over. Did I really like it, they wanted to know. Yes, I really did.

In the privacy of the voting booth, as many political candidates who’ve led in polls only to lose elections have found out, people are free to act out the unspoken fears and unconscious prejudices that they would never breathe to another soul, or, likely, acknowledge to themselves. And at least this year, that acting out doomed “Brokeback Mountain.”

For Hollywood, as a whole laundry list of people announced from the podium Sunday night and a lengthy montage of clips tried to emphasize, is a liberal place, a place that prides itself on its progressive agenda. If this were a year when voters had no other palatable options, they might have taken a deep breath and voted for “Brokeback.” This year, however, “Crash” was poised to be the spoiler.

Movies as exquisitely made as “Brokeback” — I’m talking about the artistry, not the topic — come along once in a generation, if we’re lucky.

“Brokeback Mountain” did not lose last night because “Crash” is a better made film. “Brokeback Mountain” lost because a majority of Oscar voters were uncomfortable with its theme.

As a film geek, I’ll say this: In 50 years — when homophobia is looked at as an old fashioned prejudice the way anti-semiticism is now — “Brokeback” will be in the pantheon of great American films like “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane” and “Gone with the Wind.” And last night will be considered a low point in Oscar history.

[…]

Katherine Harris Says Campaign is A-OK as She Cancels Stops and Grabs a Bus with Sean Hannity

Trish

While her U.S. Senate campaign rains down in chunks around her head, Florida U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris proves she can be as untethered to reality as the man she put in the Oval Office.

At the same time she cancelled campaign stops in Southwest Florida, Harris placed a conference call to supporters telling them things are so great, she�s practically picking out wallpaper for her new office.

She said television talk show host Sean Hannity is planning a Florida bus tour with her. “The campaign is really off to the races,” Harris said.

�Harris described a campaign on a roll and gaining momentum daily. She said prominent politicians, such as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., hosted a fundraising event for her in Washington last week, proof all is well.

Back in the real world, evidence that Harris accepted bribes from the same defense contractor as California’s Rep. Duke Cunningham (whose new address is c/o Federal Prison, Taft, Calif.) continues to erode her already tenuous GOP support.

“She can’t hide and expect this to go away,” said David Johnson, a Republican political consultant�

Harris’ campaign staff declined to comment and gave no explanation of why Harris canceled the trip. They did not say how many other events were taken off her schedule.

Trying to avoid reporters is the hands-on favorite possible explanation. Harris has always had a poor relationship with the press, accusing it of doctoring live T.V. coverage during the 2000 presidential election swindle so that her makeup looked bad.

Once again, she claims the only problem is journalists.

“There is nothing to it except for the press trying to be negative.”

Yeah, that. And bribery.

[…]

Rumors, Allegations Fly about GOP Reps in the Dukester-MZM Scandal

Jon Ponder

Now that former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, has started his eight year sentence for taking bribes from defense contractor MZM Inc., the capitol is awash in rumors about the next targets for the chopping block. Preemptive Karma has unconfirmed scuttlebutt about four powerful House Republicans from California:

Meanwhile, Katherine Harris, the Queen of Sleaze, will headline at a Christian conclave to discuss how to “reset the wildly spinning moral compass of our great land.”

A DC political operative has told me that Brent Wilkes, one of the individuals charged with bribing Republican Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham, has struck a deal with prosecutors to testify.

Wilkes will implicate four more Republicans for possible criminal activity: Richard Pombo, John Doolittle, Duncan Hunter, and Jerry Lewis.

The operative says that they are “highly certain” that this information is accurate. This hasn’t hit any media outlets as far as I know so I have no way of second sourcing it.

So who are these guys?

[…]

US, Brits Will Cut and Run Out of Iraq in 2007

Jon Ponder

Let’s assume the Bush Administration planted this story to boost their poll numbers:

All British and United States troops serving in Iraq will be withdrawn within a year in an effort to bring peace and stability to the country.

The news came as defence chiefs admitted privately that the British troop commitment in Afghanistan may last for up to 10 years.

The planned pull-out from Iraq follows the acceptance by London and Washington that the presence of the coalition, mainly composed of British and US troops, is now seen as the main obstacle to peace.

According to a senior defence source directly involved in planning the withdrawal, Britain is the driving force behind the scheme. The early spring of next year has been identified as the optimum time for the start of the complex and dangerous operation.

The source explained that troop numbers were expected to decrease slightly over the next 12 months but that the bulk of British and American forces, who make up 138,000 of the coalition’s 153,000 troops, would be withdrawn simultaneously.

The British and American military had hoped to begin removing their forces from Iraq this year but those plans were shelved because of worsening security and the failure of both Sunni and Shia leaders to form a government of national unity.

The source added that the British Army had still not recovered – in terms of training and intervals between operational tours – from the war in Iraq almost three years ago.

Reagan’s Campaign Manager: Team Bush Is ‘Incompetent’

Jon Ponder

Ed Rollins, campaign manager for Ronald Reagan’s election team in 1980 and 1984, joined the bandwagon of Republicans who are openly criticizing the Bush Administration yesterday on CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight:

“You know, the reality is, they’ve lost their touch … [Every] week it’s something that just reinforces the message that these guys don’t know what they’re doing. They’re incompetent. I mean, we’re almost to the point, where we’re going to look fondly back on Jimmy Carter’s administration. And I say that with great sadness as a Republican. But it’s week after week after week that they just can’t seem to find their way. Normally a foreign trip gives you something. You go there, but if we’re walking back with mangoes, and they’re getting nuclear rods, that’s not a very good swap.”

Here are Rollins’ bona fides:

He directed the most successful Presidential campaign in the history of the United States, serving as Ronald Reagan’s 1984 National Campaign Director… Mr. Rollins served in the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, joining the Reagan administration as one of the President’s top advisors in the role of Assistant to the President for Political and Governmental Affairs.

Remember the GOP Rule: Critizing Bush = Hating America

Bush Trades Nuclear Technology for Indian Mangoes

Jon Ponder

Quid pro mango: The centerpiece of President Bush’s visit to India last week was the signing of an agreement in which the United States would give nuclear energy technology to India.

So what does the United States get in return?

“The United States is looking forward to eating Indian mangoes as part of liberalising trades and opening markets.”

— President Bush, in India, on Thursday.

That’s right. Mangoes:

After nuclear diplomacy, it was time for mango diplomacy between India and US…. In what can be called a juicy development in Indo-US trade, the US has agreed to consider lifting of sanctions on Indian mangoes. India produces 41 percent of the World’s mangoes and America imports 29 percent of the fruit produced worldwide. The mangoes are, though, just a drop in a much larger fruit basket of US.

Let’s recap: We give India nuclear technology, and in return we will buy their mangoes.

Good Try, Mr. President. You Only Made Two Errors in One 30-Word Statement

Jon Ponder

“I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world.”

— President Bush, in India on Friday

Close but no cigar:

  • Pakistanis aren’t Arabs.
  • Pakistan is not a democracy, as Bill Maher pointed out on “Real Time” last night. It is a military dictatorship under Gen. Musharraf who overthrew the last elected government in 1999.

Later, Scott McClelland swept up the president’s the horse hockeys:

McClellan told reporters that Bush meant to say Pakistan would be a force for freedom and moderation in the Muslim world. Pakistan is not an Arab country.

Here’s what happened: The White House message team drafted a boilerplate statement about Pakistan for the president’s farewell address in India.

President Bush’s job is simple — presidenting 101: Read the statement, remember the statement and speak it in front of cameras.

But he can’t even do the simple stuff competently.

I’m sure two errors in 30 words is not a record for the president but you would think that with all their other troubles, they would be at the top of their game.

Missouri Bill Would Establish Christianity as State Religion

Jon Ponder

The United States Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion….”

And yet, in Bush’s America:

Missouri legislators in Jefferson City considered a bill that would name Christianity the state’s official “majority” religion.

House Concurrent Resolution 13 has is pending in the state legislature…

The resolution would recognize “a Christian god,” and it would not protect minority religions, but “protect the majority’s right to express their religious beliefs.

The resolution also recognizes that, “a greater power exists,” and only Christianity receives what the resolution calls, “justified recognition.”

State representative David Sater of Cassville in southwestern Missouri, sponsored the resolution, but he has refused to talk about it on camera or over the phone.

O’Reilly Threatens Caller with Visit from ‘Fox Security’

Jon Ponder

Bill O’Reilly has gone off the deep end — again. Earlier this week, he threatened a caller to his radio show who had the temerity to mention Keith Olbermann’s name on O’Reilly’s air:

“Fox security then will contact your local authorities, and you will be held accountable,” — Bill O’Reilly

O’REILLY: Orlando, Florida, Mike, go.

CALLER: Hey Bill, I appreciate you taking my call.

O’REILLY: Sure.

CALLER: I like to listen to you during the day, I think Keith Olbermann’s show —

O’REILLY: There ya go, Mike is — he’s a gone guy. You know, we have his — we have your phone numbers, by the way. So, if you’re listening, Mike, we have your phone number, and we’re going to turn it over to Fox security, and you’ll be getting a little visit.

HILL: Maybe Mike is from the mothership.

O’REILLY: No, Maybe Mike is going to get into big trouble, because we’re not going to play around. When you call us, ladies and gentleman, just so you know, we do have your phone number, and if you say anything untoward, obscene, or anything like that, Fox security then will contact your local authorities, and you will be held accountable. Fair?

HILL: That’s fair.

O’REILLY: So, just — all you guys who do this kind of a thing, you know, I know some shock jocks. Whatever. You will be held accountable. Believe it.

We’ll be right back.

PR Editor Jon Striken With Flu

Trish

If it seems a little quiet around the halls of Pensito Review, it’s because PR Editor Jon — fully one-half of our three-person team — was stricken with an exotic California disease earlier this week.

After first making sure with resident expert PR Editor Buck that what Jon, a vegetarian, has is not bird flu, he valiantly submitted to recommendations for various rememdies from both Trish and Buck. Airborne and Emergen-C were both praised, while Zicam was panned.

Later, realizing Jon is after all in California, Buck suggested he avail himself of local custom and have his chakras adjusted, his chi energy redirected, and the feng shui of his apartment realigned.

On a note of familial pride, Jon is to be commended for vigilantly avoiding OTC rememdies that interfere with the body’s natural drinking process.

If you have a favorite flu cure, or just want to send a note of condolence, please post it now.