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A Further Perspective
We’ll Always Have Clint
Tampa cleans itself up from a dizzying, rewarding week.
(Page 2 of 2)
Democrats and lame-stream media types have declared themselves puzzled to outraged by Clint’s performance. Late night comics, who are not as funny as Clint’s routine, hammed it up. OK, Clint’s 12 minutes was wandering and a bit eccentric. But it was clear enough. Clint is for Romney, thinks Obama ought to be fired, and ridiculed him a bit. What’s the problem? The people in the hall Thursday clearly loved Clint and were ready to applaud anything he said.
For all the nattering on since Thursday about Clint’s contribution, hardly anyone has asked the only important question about it: Did it win or lose any votes for Romney? Clint is not a professional politician, or a red-hot partisan. Which is exactly why his support is so helpful. This is a guy who is influential with the independent voters any candidate needs to win the presidency. Jon Stewart can mug all he wants. Clint’s presentation was a net-plus for Romney/Ryan.
Before the applause for Clint had died down Florida Senator Marco Rubio was on stage for a bi-lingual introduction of Mitt Romney. Marco was good, not the best I’ve seen him, but good. As was Mitt, though I was prepared to like what he said. Did what he said change any minds? Too soon to tell.
The patriots who made up the crowd clearly liked the show, liked the candidates, and liked their chances in the fall. Joy seemed unconfined while the red, white and blue balloons descended. It made a body think that perhaps, heat and discomfort notwithstanding, maybe coming to this outsized shindig was a reward after all.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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Von Mises Jr| 9.4.12 @ 8:00AM
Clint was instrumental in demonstrating Alinsky's fifth rule" Ridicule is man's most potent weapon." Obama is a caricature of a puppet in a marionette show. He is an intellectual clown show.
You have to be a blithering moron to believe his worn out clichés. But most people are lemmings, so they need someone to point out that it is a clown show after all.
This is the conundrum of the French Revolution. Most people would never think of, no less participate in cutting off people's heads. But when the mob leader demands it, to object may cost you your head. So Clint told the stupid and cowardly people that it is OK to fire the clown. The circus is going out of business.
c. j. acworth| 9.4.12 @ 8:03AM
I see we both had the same idea at the same time Von. Great minds think alike, no?
Von Mises Jr| 9.4.12 @ 3:06PM
Absolutely, c.j. But if you or I ever wind up with the same comments as Perp or D'Redful, we will need to be institutionalized.
CJW| 9.4.12 @ 9:12PM
I agree that Clint's ridicule was funny and effective. That is why Obama and his pets at the MSM are furious. An empty suit with no ideas in an empty chair= Obama.
Clint did not need a speechwriter to say Obama has not done the job and should be let go, that Biden is a joke, unfit to be president, and that the Afghan war is lost as a result of Obama's announced withdrawal date. So why not leave now instead of next year and save American lives?
Obama and his MSM sycophants cannot answer the substance of any of Clint's points.
c. j. acworth| 9.4.12 @ 8:00AM
For all that folks profess to have been puzzled by Clint's routine, I notice here and there that Obama is being referred to as "Empty Chair", as in "Empty Chair to visit hurricane-struck areas". This is all to the good, as Obama has a rather thin skin, and mockery is right in line with Alinsky's rule #5.
Or as Martin Luther put it 500 years ago;
"The best way to defeat the Devil, if he will not yeild to texts of scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn."
Pecos Pete| 9.4.12 @ 8:17AM
It was surprising that there was little disruption of the convention by OWS and similar complainers. To me this indicates a lack of interest, or maybe disillusionment, on the part of the activists. I don't think it was the weather. They just don't have the enthusiasm that I had expected.
JimH| 9.4.12 @ 8:40AM
Larry, for people of our generation Clint is best remembered for his Dirty Harry lines. He didn’t say much in the spaghetti westerns. For younger generations, he is better known for ‘get off my lawn’ from Grand Torino; a phrase which in its defense of property rights could be a good motto for the GOP. The world what it is, I know things would be different now, but to contrast the effect of the convention on Tampa, I was working in mid town Manhattan at the time of the Dem. Convention in 1980 and I don’t recall being much affected. In fact, one day I was walking towards work, down 42nd street heading towards the UN, when I noticed an unusual cluster of people near me on the street. As they came up next to me I saw that it was Ted Kennedy with some flunkies and by current standards, a small security detail. If a candidate came out on the street now they would clear it for blocks around.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.4.12 @ 1:56PM
Apart from his celebrity derived from portraying characters in TV and film (as well as directing films), Clint served as mayor of Carmel, CA, and ran a small business there (I believe it was called the Hog's Breath Inn). Both of these items of executive experience in his resume' made him more qualified to run for President in 2008 than Obama.
wolf| 9.4.12 @ 2:03PM
Clint's warm-up was a lounge singer named Taylor Hicks, who did a number called “Taking it to the Streets” in an outfit he apparently lifted from the “Blues Brothers” movie wardrobe. He did some Belushi, Aykroyd shtick, only without the shades, backed by a bluesy ensemble called the G. E. Smith Band. Hicks and the band were well received, but both struck me as a little too hip for the room.
Ironic... "Blues Brothers” movie wardrobe. He did some Belushi, Aykroyd shtick..GE Smith(guitarist) led the house band on Saturday Night Live for several seasons...too hip indeed
Butch| 9.4.12 @ 2:45PM
Clint worked. His endorsement is worth more than all the rest Hollywood combined. And you're right, Mr. Thornberry, he put us on notice that it's OK to ridicule Obama.
Been to Tampa many, many times on business. An OK place. Anyway, someone once suggested that the motto of the city of Cleveland should be "You gotta live somewhere." Truth is, that's most places. Know you're all glad its over down there, and all-in-all it was a success.
RJ| 9.4.12 @ 6:13PM
Clint Eastwood made a lasting impression of Obama, which is not good for "The One." Well done, Clint.
Who Knows?| 9.4.12 @ 10:05PM
It took me a day or two, but after absorbing the aftermath of Hurricane Eastwood, it dawned---
Clint was the BEST thing about the GOP convention.
Think about it---
How many YEARS and how many classic MOVIES with Clint do we have in our national storehouse of memories?
Even though his classic performance was only seen live by a few million people, my guess is that as time passes, more and more of us will recognize what a one of a kind gem it was.
My main point, though, is this—
For the vast majority of voters, say those 40 or older, most of whom have probably seen most of his flicks, via Blockbuster or theaters or what have you, this man is firmly ensconced in their programmed brains. Is short, he has heft, so when he dissed Obama---especially the empty chair---he plucked a deep “chord” in many people’s mind.
Here’s a simple proof---what percentage of people have a favorable impression of Eastwood? Close to at least 80% of movie viewers, I’d say.
So, when he SPEAKS---he has to get through the clutter in many Obama supporter’s minds, and make them wonder.
Which ain’t good for BHO!
RJ| 9.5.12 @ 1:49AM
Yes, I didn't realize it at the time, but Clint's routine strikes a previously unplayed chord against Obama. It is the song that keeps playing in your mind days later. Eastwood could not have been more effective in helping to bring Obama down to Earth.
Sonderegger | 9.5.12 @ 3:30AM
And then came the only unscripted part of the evening, and the most entertaining, if not the most uplifting. With the teleprompter off, Inspector Callahan winged a piece of comic theater that featured an empty chair representing President Obama. There were some rude references to a physically impossible act that got laughs from the audience, nervous looks from the candidates, and, my sources tell me, sent the back stage army of political consultants reaching for their reflux http://www.chaussuresfree.com/ medicine. (Not to worry -- almost anything with any life in it gives political consultants the shakes.) Clint's improv came from the heart, with no focus group editing.