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Chihuahua Cloud
The people who will make Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney, 10.3) a hit when it opens are are not "bad," but their support of this film, which I see as a metaphor for the shopping-mall plasticity and icky phoniness that has taken over this country's middle-class culture, will signify a kind of spiritual tragedy in this country. Just as you can look at, say, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and say, yup, on some level that was America in 1937, Beverly Hills Chihuahua is a kind of reflection of us.
Because the indications are that this movie is the worst. The trailers are giving me a kind of celluloid Cancun vibe, and I've been to Cancun and seen the dead expressions in the faces of the people staying in those awful swanky hotels, so don't tell me.
I used to take my young boys to every crappy kiddie movie that came along back in the '90s, and so I obviously get why today's parents will be doing the same with Chihuahua. It's just a movie and who cares...right? But the grotesque attitude and sensibility behind this film, to judge by the trailers, is wretched and stupefying. A spiritually healthy country -- one with its head and heart in the right place, and its communal soul connected to something other than the latest cheap consumer high -- would pay it little mind. And here I am sounding like a grouch for saying this.
But there's another grouch who will benefit, I strongly suspect, from the people who will love this film, and I mean John McCain. Fairly or unfairly, delusional or dead-on, I have come to believe that the mentality that supports McCain draws water from the same well that will "heart" Beverly Hills Chihuahua. You have to be a little bit dumb and lame of spirit to not be appalled by the Chihuahua trailers, just as I believe that a significant slice of McCain's support (though obviously not all of it) is coming from the easygoing, sandals-and-white-socks-wearing clueless class.
The racial-minded, low-information, 55-and-over whites who react to media-cycle spasms and shift allegiances at the drop of a hat are moving away from the skinny mulatto guy and shifting towards the old white guy. It may as well be faced. The election could go the wrong way, and the wrong people -- led by a curmudgeonly old coot who doesn't know from computers and gets details wrong left and right and who will surely bog us down in the muck of the Middle East and add an attitude of smug belligerence to foreign policy, and who will surely allow the climate-change situation to worsen, and who will almost certainly serve only one term -- could take hold of the reins next January.
The latest Zogby-Reuters poll suggests it could happen. The last best chance this country has to turn things around could be lost, and the sentiments of the dug-in rural dumb-asses could indeed turn the tide. Barack Obama has the older women and men against him and isn't making the headway that he should, and people like me are seriously scared. It could even be over as we speak, as N.Y. Times columnist Maureen Dowd has sardonically suggested. I feel grim as hell. Especially if the feared Bradley Effect means than Obama may lose 5% of his lead in the polls (if he has such a lead come Election Day) when people actually go into the voting booths.
If I were Obama I would swallow my pride and self-emasculate by choosing the hateful, hollow and thoroughly demonic Hillary Clinton as his vice-president. Then, at least, he'd have a real scrapper on his team, and he'd pull in a good portion of the resentful Hillary hold-outs, and his numbers would kick up. It's hard to suggest this with a straight face, but at least, then, he'd have a decent shot at winning. And isn't that better than losing to the white-haired guy and ushering in the same old instincts and syndromes that have taken this country down?
A major turning of the page -- an historic cultural turnover, a generational changing of the guard -- would happen with an Obama victory. I wish there was some way to analogize this without comparing Team Obama -- a fairly unradical bunch with moderately progressive ideas and intentions -- to 20th Century communists, but the fact is that the "reds" in this country -- dominated by the insufficiently educated rurals over 55 -- are opposed to Obama in much the same way that the counter-revolutionary "white" Russians were opposed to the Bolsheviks, the conservative, plantation-owning Cubans were opposed to Castro, and the friends and allies of Chang Kai Shek were opposed to and tried to undermine the Chinese Communists after they took over in 1949.
In each case the Russian, Cuban and Chinese socialists went after the counter-revolutionaries like gardeners go after crab grass and dandelions, and it wasn't pretty. Acts of political vengeance never are. All I can say is that as horrible as any act of political repression is and always will be, there's a part of me that at least understands why the Russians, Cubans and Communists Chinese acted as they did. Because I despise the American "reds" as a cultural pestilence. They stand for and support everything that is regressive, selfish, racist, shallow, corpulent and hee-hawish in this country. They are the Chihuahua-embracers, the WALL*E tele-tubbies -- and God save us if their boy wins.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 20, 2008 at 9:14 AM
comment #1
Richardson says ...
I have this sudden vision of Obama's handlers convincing him to be photographed having just come out of the theater watching 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua", to show he's "just like us".
Posted by Richardson at August 20, 2008 10:56 AM
comment #2
cjKennedy says ...
The fact Disney has a pronounciation guide for Chihuahua on the poster tells you just how stupid they know the audience for this will be.
Of course, they did the same for Ratatouille...
Posted by cjKennedy at August 20, 2008 11:02 AM
comment #3
PerfectTommy says ...
"Fairly or unfairly, delusional or dead-on, I have come to believe that the mentality that supports McCain draws water from the same well that will "heart" Beverly Hills Chihuahua."
I vote for unfairly. Why not commission a poll of viewers of the film and their polical views? You may find you have discovered an important political barometer. Until then, it's just more looniness.
I've always hated Chihuahuas. Closer to rats than dogs as that old urban legend (tourist goes to Mexico and mistakes rat for dog and takes it home) suggests.
Posted by PerfectTommy at August 20, 2008 11:03 AM
comment #4
dp4m says ...
Wait, what? Hillary? His current "short list" Veep candidates are already pretty-establishment and may ruin his chances at running on the "change platform" but Hillary?!? Really?
Posted by dp4m at August 20, 2008 11:05 AM
comment #5
Geoff says ...
"If I were Obama I would swallow my pride and self-emasculate by choosing the hateful, hollow and thoroughly demonic Hillary Clinton as his vice-president. "
Bill Maher made alot of sense to me on Larry King last night when he started talking about Obama. Something needs to happen.
Posted by Geoff at August 20, 2008 11:08 AM
comment #6
JHRussell says ...
Wait...what about the Berlin Bump all you libs were talking about? What happened to da bump?
If Obama picks Biden, he loses all claim to the "change" theme...Biden is a Washington insider / liberal hack who represents everything Obama claimed to be running against...
Hillary was and still is the correct pick...I bet you that Obama is getting an earful from key Dems that with this slide in the polls, he needs to do something bold, and that means to pick Hillary...I will not be surprised if she is the "surprise" pick...it would be a brilliant political move...Ralph Nader thinks it will be HRC, and is quoted as saying that "He (Obama) can't be that dumb" to pick from the clown posse of Bayh/Biden/Kaine...
Posted by JHRussell at August 20, 2008 11:13 AM
comment #7
Walter Sobchak says ...
Are you out of your fucking mind? I was with you all along until you went political. I know your site benefits from having a high number of hits and nothing gets the denizens going like a right vs. left piss off but this getting really thin.
What next, a study conducted by Jeffrey Wells proving that McCain supporters prefer a higher quantity of farts in their movies than Obama supporters?
Seriously, I don't mean to be a dick but nothing makes your political musings dissolve into pap faster than when you fall back into these middle-school "Obama's cool and McCain is lame!" diatribes.
Yes, it's as simple as that. Your average Obama supporter is sitting in a leather club chair right now sipping brandy, reading Chaucer, and preparing to ride his Vespa to the local art house to watch a Godard retrospective.
Meanwhile, every person who plans on voting for McCain is at Wal-Mart buying stretch Dickies, eating corndogs, drooling and wondering when the hell "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" is opening at the local 30-plex.
Posted by Walter Sobchak at August 20, 2008 11:17 AM
comment #8
btwnproductions says ...
Educated Democratic friends who support Obama and like funny dog movies assure me that whether or not they see BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA they will vote for Obama. Sometimes a funny dog movie is just a funny dog movie.
But surveys show that 76% of all adults who saw the very popular ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS are solidly in McCain's camp. So Obama might hope for a BEVERLY HILLS bump.
Posted by btwnproductions at August 20, 2008 11:24 AM
comment #9
NotImpressedYet says ...
Gruver's political "musings" reminds me of a comment Jon Stewart made about MoveOn.org's anniversary - "10 years of making even people who agree with you cringe."
Posted by NotImpressedYet at August 20, 2008 11:31 AM
comment #10
Catman says ...
Ya gotta wonder what meds Jeff is taking these days when his brain connects BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA with the Obama/McCain contest. I mean, he might as well taken on SPACE CHIMPS and tried to decide whether it would attract more McCain or Obama supporters based on support for the space program.
But really, the hard-on you guys have for the Dalibama is rich. The guy's a Chicago Machine Politician in the august political vein of Mayor Daily and Harold Washinton. I thought people learned the lession about these crooks a long time ago. Obama just gives better speeches, that's all. At the end of the day, his hand is still reaching into your pocket on behalf of him and his buddies. Believing Obama is going to be anything other than the standard issue Democratic crook is delusional.
Posted by Catman at August 20, 2008 11:39 AM
comment #11
gruver1 says ...
Wells to Sobchak and Not Impressed Yet: Why don't you leave then? Just go away. I would be totally down with that. I know precisely what I'm talking about, and I don/t give one infinitesimal fuck whether you're fair-minded enough or not to at least give me points for being somewhat on the money. Which I absolutely know that I am. Really...just get up, put your folding chair against the wall in the rear, pick up your jacket and say "sayonara." It's all cool.
Posted by gruver1 at August 20, 2008 11:42 AM
comment #12
sutter kane says ...
My impulse is to be a little appalled at Jeff's summation- "I despise the American "reds" as a cultural pestilence. They stand for and support everything that is regressive, selfish, racist, shallow, corpulent and hee-hawish in this country. They are the Chihuahua-embracers, the WALL*E tele-tubbies -- and God save us if their boy wins." I mean, I know a few conservatives. They're not all like that. It's at least a legitimate school of political thought , if not social policy.
But then I think back on the train wreck that Bush's presidency has become, and try to wrap my mind around the fact the we re-elected this guy... i mean never mind the seven minutes on 9/11, the war in Iraq and the lack of WMD's... what about Katrina, Harriet Myers, Alberto Gonzalez, unprecented political influence on the hiring of US Attorneys and on the EPA, the biggest accounting scandals in history costing thousands of americans their jobs and pensions while this fuckwit is pushing for less regulation, taking a budget surplus and turning it into the biggest deficit in history while still advocating tax cuts for the wealthy, suggesting that we alter the Constitution to keep gays from marrying, and now going out on an economic nose-dive predicated on millions of Americans losing their homes thanks to- you guessed it- poor regulation of financial institutions...
These are not blowjobs in the oval office-type scandals, marital infidelities or even real estate scandals. These are costing people their LIVES and livelihoods. Sure, taken individually, maybe you can explain away one or two of these, but for such an avalanche of incompetent boobery to come cascading down from our nations highest office is inexcusable, especially when we all knew what a moron this guy was after his first term.
I hold myself and most other democrats at least partially responsible for this because we didn't speak up loudly enough last time around, and I applaud Jeff for doing what he can from HE. But I also kind of hate the people who voted for Bush in '04 and plan on voting for McCain. I can't see their point of view, and I'm a pretty open minded guy.
Basically, in spite of my knee-jerk liberal reaction to Jeff's comments, if I think about it for half a second, I pretty much agree with him.
Posted by sutter kane at August 20, 2008 11:47 AM
comment #13
JaggedUnderpants says ...
Bernie Mac apparently agrees in some fashion, tongue in cheek... >>
http://shareddarkness.com/2008/08/10/george-lopez-on-bernie-mac.aspx
Posted by JaggedUnderpants at August 20, 2008 11:50 AM
comment #14
Indeed says ...
Honest question here: Jeff, do you have a PhD? Masters? Bachelors?
Just wondering as you throw around the term "insufficiently educated" an awful lot lately. I would like to have some benchmark to compare it to.
And even though its your blog, your probably way wrong on this. Rich little teenie boppers whos families live in 6 bedroom mansions in Beverly Hills are going to go see this flick. Their parents are probably strict Obama supporters.
My wife wants to see this also. She does have her masters, by the way. She cant vote though as shes a Canuck, so its a little bit of an anomaly on both fronts there. I'll tell her you say hi.
Posted by Indeed at August 20, 2008 11:52 AM
comment #15
Joshua Mooney says ...
When a McCain ad leads to the authors of the "Left Behind" series being asked repeatedly if Obama is the Antichrist (they're pretty sure he's not, as far as they know?), then it's time for Obama to get serious, get real, and get mad. Josey Wales said it best: "Now remember, if things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is."
If instead, Obama rolls over like a leeetle beeyatch pooch, or like Kerry, then fuck 'im.
Posted by Joshua Mooney at August 20, 2008 12:03 PM
comment #16
docpotato says ...
I felt a small jolt of happiness when this trailer dropped like a stone before my screening of Tropic Thunder. It played to total silence. The room was cold and hostile.
Posted by docpotato at August 20, 2008 12:07 PM
comment #17
NotImpressedYet says ...
Jeffrey Wells wrote "I absolutely know that I am [correct]"
Our current president seemed to be absolutely sure about so many things too.
And the whole agree with me or leave bullshit? I was half expecting you to follow that up with "either you are with us or you are against the terrorists".
Posted by NotImpressedYet at August 20, 2008 12:09 PM
comment #18
JaggedUnderpants says ...
Errrr... whoops. Actually, meant this link:
http://shareddarkness.com/2008/08/14/george-lopez-on-bhills-chi.aspx
Weird, don't know how that happened.
Posted by JaggedUnderpants at August 20, 2008 12:11 PM
comment #19
NotImpressedYet says ...
Oops, "against" = "with" in my last sentence.
Posted by NotImpressedYet at August 20, 2008 12:11 PM
comment #20
Adviltablet says ...
"God save us all"
Zero chance that will happen.
Posted by Adviltablet at August 20, 2008 12:12 PM
comment #21
Chapman Carruthers says ...
I'll wager a guess that "insufficiently educated" has nothing to do with degrees. Some of the most educated people I know couldn't afford the cost of college and gained their knowledge by listening to NPR and (gasp) spending hours inside their local public library. Yes, libraries. They're still around.
It's probably akin to a person who eats too much, thinks too little, considers the walk from their car to his work-desk "exercise," responds with a magazine (or worse) when asked the name of the last book he read, considers discussions "arguments" and thus avoids them at all costs, can't identify the local library on a map, can't name his government representatives, and prefers the radioactive brightness of his 40 inch TV screen to actual sunlight.
Let me also add, routinely sees shit like this Disney dog movie, and votes Republican, against his economic self-interests, 'cause they all look so damn dignified.
Posted by Chapman Carruthers at August 20, 2008 12:15 PM
comment #22
TakeMeBackToManhattan says ...
All this is to say nothing of the fact that, by the admission of the candidate himself, the last film he saw in theaters was "Shrek 3", yet another sure sign of a toxically puerile, knuckle-dragging Wal-Mart mentality....oh wait, that was Obama.
Posted by TakeMeBackToManhattan at August 20, 2008 12:18 PM
comment #23
Rich S. says ...
"It's just a movie and who cares...right?"
Right.
Posted by Rich S. at August 20, 2008 12:30 PM
comment #24
T. S. Idiot says ...
"the shopping-mall plasticity and icky phoniness that has taken over this country's middle-class culture"
You mean the guys on MAD MEN won?
Posted by T. S. Idiot at August 20, 2008 12:39 PM
comment #25
Richardson says ...
"The fact Disney has a pronounciation guide for Chihuahua on the poster tells you just how stupid they know the audience for this will be."
I keep seeing people complain about this on the Internet, so I feel the need to finally respond to it... but it's not limited to CJ.
Everybody who comments on that says that it's stupid, but every single person I've ever seen comment on it seems to believe that the poster is displaying a fact, that "chee-wow-wa" is the correct pronunciation. There is no "wow" in "chee-wah-wah". It's a joke. A stupid joke, sure, but it's not a genuine pronunciation guide. Treating it seriously like that makes you come off dumber than the poster.
Posted by Richardson at August 20, 2008 12:47 PM
comment #26
Indeed says ...
"Gained knowledge by listening to NPR."
That was funny until it hit me that its possible that youre not joking.
Posted by Indeed at August 20, 2008 1:00 PM
comment #27
Movie Watcher says ...
I haven't thought of Hillary in awhile, but now I do think that Obama will pick her. I can't believe that I even typed that! Maher on Larry King last night had some good points about this. His show is back a week from friday. Chihuahua is a fucking embarassment. What kind of moron is going to see this piece of shit? How can hispanic actors lend their voices to this...the money must have been good.
Posted by Movie Watcher at August 20, 2008 1:02 PM
comment #28
NotImpressedYet says ...
I have to make one more comment about Gruver's occasional hyperbole - if Hillary Clinton is "thoroughly demonic", where does that leave Hitler?
Posted by NotImpressedYet at August 20, 2008 1:06 PM
comment #29
Rob says ...
I'm just resigned to the belief that Hillary must remind Jeff of an ex or a mean kindergarten teacher or something.
Posted by Rob at August 20, 2008 1:09 PM
comment #30
AuggieBenDoggie says ...
And yet the creators of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Norbit, Talladega Nights and all the other 'films' that infuse and pander to the lowest common denominator are without a doubt very liberal.
So really, the only thing you can take away from this is that liberals are exactly like their counterparts; anything is acceptable to make a buck.
Posted by AuggieBenDoggie at August 20, 2008 1:10 PM
comment #31
TommyD says ...
Don't despair, my fellow liberals. I was also a tad depressed when I heard about this poll until the Daily Kos eased my mind with the following:
"I saw a couple people freaking out -- freaking out!!!! -- that McCain has the lead in some national polls.
So I sauntered over to Pollster.com to see what all the hoopla was about, and clicked through to their national polls page. Then I rolled my eyes when I saw that the poll causing such aneurysms was ....
A Zogby poll.
Some people are frackin' hopeless. Really. At the same time, a new Q-poll has Obama up five, Gallup has him up three (after being tied a couple of days ago), Ras has him up two, as does Bloomberg/Times.
Look, the race is tightening at the national level, but it's much less tight when you look at the state-by-state numbers that, you know, actually decide the presidency. So while it's not exactly a cakewalk, freaking out over single polls from shitty, discredited pollsters like Zogby is pretty pathetic.
We've got the veep announcements and the conventions to get through, and then the race will start in earnest. Be zen. Freaking out over crappy pollsters is just lame. Keep your eye on the composite -- Obama still leads that by 1.4 percent -- and maintain perspective -- McCain has never crossed the 45 percent threshold while Obama bobs between 45 and 50.
I'll be officially worried when McCain shows the ability to break that barrier of support. If he suddenly starts hovering in the upper 40s, then we might have trouble. But ultimately, this is a state-by-state battle. And in the electoral college fight, Obama still has a solid lead -- without even taking into account the ground machine Obama is building (pollsters aren't)"
Posted by TommyD at August 20, 2008 1:15 PM
comment #32
Legowombat says ...
I too assumed the mispronounciation was a desperate attempt at extreme marketing 'attitude'. 10 years ago, the dog would have been wearing a backwards baseball cap, so it would have been easier to detect.
Still, it seems odd to single out this film for attack. It's Disney Product. It's designed by committee to be nothing. They're offering parents an 80 minute babysitting service, free of any possibily offensive plots or language, full of bullshit life lessons like 'Be yourself and everyone will like you', that audiences know deep down aren't true, but pass the Mom-friendly test of values she wants to instill in her child. Everything's black and white, the good always triumph and the bad are always punished, and everyone lives happily ever after.
This is all Disney have *ever* offered us, they've just upped their market dominance to suffocating level. The movies are there to guarantee a 5 week repeat business cycle at the Fast Food Chain, and force Pester Power Meltdowns in Toy Stores for related mass-produced-in-china merchandising, and a collectable set of 'quality' DVD releases.
Their movies are naught but air. You might as well attack dust.
Posted by Legowombat at August 20, 2008 1:24 PM
comment #33
cjKennedy says ...
RIchardson, I'm not as dumb as I sound, I promise.
I realize it's part joke, but I also believe the idea was formed in complete seriousness.
My two alternatives were to say nothing at all or to get drawn into another one of Jeff's political rants.
Posted by cjKennedy at August 20, 2008 1:30 PM
comment #34
George Prager says ...
Just watch this you dumb motherfuckers:
"Is an imperial presidency destroying what America stands for? Bill Moyers sits down with history and international relations expert and former US Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich who identifies three major problems facing our democracy: the crises of economy, government and militarism, and calls for a redefinition of the American way of life"
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08152008/watch.html
Posted by George Prager at August 20, 2008 1:38 PM
comment #35
dangovich says ...
I wish Bacevich were running for President.
Posted by dangovich at August 20, 2008 1:40 PM
comment #36
dangovich says ...
Was...duh.
Posted by dangovich at August 20, 2008 1:40 PM
comment #37
raygo says ...
I prefer "chi-hu-a-hu-a" as my pronounciation guide.
Posted by raygo at August 20, 2008 1:47 PM
comment #38
Richardson says ...
"I prefer "chi-hu-a-hu-a" as my pronounciation guide."
I enjoy pronouncing things like Al Pacino also.
Posted by Richardson at August 20, 2008 2:21 PM
comment #39
Richardson says ...
"I realize it's part joke, but I also believe the idea was formed in complete seriousness."
This response was more a remnant of reading this same point at the AV club and a few other places, don't worry.
I know there was some movie that just came out where they felt the need to explain how to pronounce the title on the poster, I just can't remember what it is.
With this, I don't think the idea came from "Wow, nobody knows how to pronounce Chihuahua", I think it came from somebody making a stupid pun that they liked (as Lego said, a Poochy-like "extreme!"), and they were high-ranking enough to force it onto the poster even though it doesn't actually translate to text very well.
Posted by Richardson at August 20, 2008 2:24 PM
comment #40
rr3333 says ...
I hate little dogs!
Give me a Golden retriever or Labrador any day...
Oh, and the latest polls show McCains winning, which good or bad, is probably happening election nite .
Posted by rr3333 at August 20, 2008 2:32 PM
comment #41
maribou says ...
I'm so thoroughly bummed now -- I happen to have a chihuahua who I love...and, in fact, over the years, on many an occasion while playing with him, I have said "Who's my sweet little Chee -wow-wah? You are...yes, you are!" (Using the same pronunciation on the poster -- so when I saw the poster I just thought it was written by someone who talked to their chihuahua the same way...now that I know the phrase has such negative connotations, I'm so ashamed...)
But, I agree , it does look a bit vapid from the trailers... totally doesn't seem like this will show the true character of the breed at all...
But for real chihuahua fun -- check out this video on Funny or Die starring my chihuahua Zeppo, playing the role of Bit-bit... and granted one could easily find the humor in the video offensive -- but c'mon, that's just how the Hollywood Redneck thinks -- he's not a bad person, just a redneck-- but you at least have to give props to Zeppo's performance (which was inspired by his hatred of microphones)
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/8c44f52cc0
As for the political connection to "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" ...um, okay... interesting...
Posted by maribou at August 20, 2008 2:34 PM
comment #42
cjKennedy says ...
Turns out you're probably right Richardson.
Posted by cjKennedy at August 20, 2008 2:37 PM
comment #43
Yves says ...
A spiritually healthy country indeed... whatever happened to kid movies like The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo? Why does everything have to be sarcastic and materialistic, and worst of all, contemporary, like Shrek?
cj-- thanks for pointing out the pronounciation guide. I wouldn't have noticed it as directed at people who didn't know how to pronounce the term. I thought of it more as word art-- part of the poster. And Richardson-- I'm sure there was some high up executive who said "What the f--- is this word? I thought we were going with "Beverly Hills Bitches." Maybe C. Kaufman should do that for his upcoming "syn·ec·do·che," New York.
It would be sad to see people leaving the comments of this site (or being asked ot leave) because something as silly as a vanilla/chocolate debate (really wasn't going for a racial metaphor there). I mean, weren't we just name dropping Chomsky a few posts ago? It's not that simple. NotImpressedYet, I like it better as "either you are with us or you are against the terrorists." It sums up what's really going on in our country rather well.
Posted by Yves at August 20, 2008 3:29 PM
comment #44
Gaydos says ...
Jeff, you really want to be seen as "somewhat on the money?"
I have bad news for you. that phrase doesn't work for me, however, "Out of your fucking mind," "off your meds," "trying to stir up shit to drive traffic," "nowhere near the money," all apply.
I hope speaking truth to your blog power doesn't also get me banished to the land of Nod cos I enjoy visiting here, but like you, I can't stand by and watch a decent guy (you) drive his unicycle into the quicksand pit without saying anything.
Posted by Gaydos at August 20, 2008 3:36 PM
comment #45
George Prager says ...
Have you considered leaving the United States permanently?
No. This is the best country in the world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/02/magazine/02QUESTIONS.html?ex=1219377600&en=dee239b5b8624c70&ei=5070
Posted by George Prager at August 20, 2008 3:41 PM
comment #46
Terry McCarty says ...
Assuming that the Taco Bell Chihuahua comes out of retirement for the inevitable tie-in campaign.
Posted by Terry McCarty at August 20, 2008 3:54 PM
comment #47
T. S. Idiot says ...
"I'm just resigned to the belief that Hillary must remind Jeff of an ex or a mean kindergarten teacher or something."
He killed a man like her in Korea.
Posted by T. S. Idiot at August 20, 2008 4:04 PM
comment #48
Walter Sobchak says ...
The reason I don't leave is because of things like the first few sentences of your piece above.... I find the existence and presumed success of shit buckets like "B.H. Chihuahua" enough to make me want to give up all hope for the future of our great republic. But then you lose me when you devolve into your infantile "I love Obama and anyone who doesn't is just STUPID!" diatribes.
I met people in Houston and St. Louis recently who have PhD's and / or Masters degrees who will swear that the only people who would vote for Obama, (besides latte-sipping, Limo-riding, guilty white Hollywood types), are fat, breeding, welfare-queens and homeless immigrants wanting to suckle from the government teat. They KNOW they're right, too. Are they?
Self-righteousness is boring.
Posted by Walter Sobchak at August 20, 2008 4:21 PM
comment #49
Walter Sobchak says ...
This country is neatly divided into two groups - those who will vote for Obama and "dug-in rural dumb-asses".
But let's not generalize.
Posted by Walter Sobchak at August 20, 2008 4:26 PM
comment #50
KC says ...
The thing that actually does piss me off about this is that this POS features more Latino actors in one place than any wide release movie not starring a funky Chihuahua in recent memory
Posted by KC at August 20, 2008 4:39 PM
comment #51
The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...
"But there's another grouch who will benefit, I strongly suspect, from the people who will love this film, and I mean John McCain. Fairly or unfairly, delusional or dead-on, I have come to believe that the mentality that supports McCain draws water from the same well that will "heart" Beverly Hills Chihuahua."
Spot on, and I'm now reminded of that one FAMILY GUY sequence from a couple years back:
http://www.milkmandan.org/dev/null/archives/family_guy_hummer.wmv
Brian: "Look at all these Hummers. What kind of jerk would drive one of those?"
[Cutaway shows a man in an SUV]
SUV driver: "Dude, this car kicks ass! And I can watch 'Madagascar' while I'm driving! [cuts to the screen]
SUV driver: [laughs] "Dude, those animals are so f**king funny they make me want to merge without looking!
[He swerves, causing the car behind him to crash into a tanker truck and explode]
"YEEEAAAHHH -- RUMSFELD!!!!"
Posted by The Bandsaw Vigilante at August 20, 2008 5:33 PM
comment #52
BurmaShave says ...
God the world would have sucked if the White Russians and Chang Kai Shek had won.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 20, 2008 5:48 PM
comment #53
D.Z. says ...
"The racial-minded, low-information, 55-and-over whites who react to media-cycle spasms and shift allegiances at the drop of a hat are moving away from the skinny mulatto guy and shifting towards the old white guy. It may as well be faced. The election could go the wrong way, and the wrong people --"
True, but the odds have been against Obama for a while now, and he still came out on top. I think McCain would have to lead as much as 10-15% to make the case that he's really that much more popular than Obama. Right now, though, it's just a perception game.
"If I were Obama I would swallow my pride and self-emasculate by choosing the hateful, hollow and thoroughly demonic Hillary Clinton as his vice-president. Then, at least, he'd have a real scrapper on his team, and he'd pull in a good portion of the resentful Hillary hold-outs, and his numbers would kick up. It's hard to suggest this with a straight face, but at least, then, he'd have a decent shot at winning."
I think I support Mike Moore's suggestion of Caroline Kennedy as his "veep", since Hillary would have to endure the scrutiny of the "was for it before being against it" problem Kerry faced.
"are opposed to Obama in much the same way that the counter-revolutionary "white" Russians were opposed to the Bolsheviks, the conservative, plantation-owning Cubans were opposed to Castro, and the friends and allies of Chang Kai Shek were opposed to and tried to undermine the Chinese Communists after they took over in 1949."
Those analogies aren't exactly going to help bolster support for Obama, given the kinds of regimes which replaced the status quo in those countries.
"All I can say is that as horrible as any act of political repression is and always will be, there's a part of me that at least understands why the Russians, Cubans and Communists Chinese acted as they did."
The people who ran those places before the commies were truly scummy, but they at least didn't turn them into Third World shanty-towns.
Catman: "The guy's a Chicago Machine Politician in the august political vein of Mayor Daily and Harold Washinton. I thought people learned the lession about these crooks a long time ago."
Yes, they're nothing like the wonderful oil barons who own Bush's soul.
sutter: "... but for such an avalanche of incompetent boobery to come cascading down from our nations highest office is inexcusable, especially when we all knew what a moron this guy was after his first term. I hold myself and most other democrats at least partially responsible for this because we didn't speak up loudly enough last time around, and I applaud Jeff for doing what he can from HE."
To be honest, the Dems should really be held responsible for encouraging Republican-lites like Clinton to dominate public discourse. It's really why Gore, Kerry, and most of Congress allowed themselves to be turned into punching bags all this time.
Posted by D.Z. at August 20, 2008 6:53 PM
comment #54
citizenmilton says ...
Jeffrey's right. There is a connection between the awful forces of evil in our culture and their enablers and world-creators in politics.
There's no difference between Karl Rove and Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Miley Cyrus, Hillary Duff, and the Jonas Brothers; vacant, content-free, glitter, with a fake smile and the evil intention to wave a lot of bright lights in your face, just long enough to rob you blind and leave you disoriented, depressed, with a tiny flicker of yearning to have the same glittery crap that they have and a strong sense of fear to not question the spectacle. It's shiny, after all. How can it be wrong?
Posted by citizenmilton at August 20, 2008 7:45 PM
comment #55
Gaydos says ...
Citizenmilton: So is the Dark Knight George Bush or not? What about tortureporn? Is that right wing or left wing? Spider Man? X Men? Star Wars?
Didn't Reagan use that last one to justify taking the military into outer space?
Is it a coincidence that Born in the USA was hijacked by the right or was the American flag theme really just a perfect way for Bruce to reach/sell to the heartland in 1984 Reagan America, never mind the lyrics?
My point: your simplistic analysis of our pop culture doesn't begin to fathom the complicated relationship between showbiz, corporate interests and political /social conditions. For an analysis that digs in more provocatively and incisively, read this:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200804/iraq-movies
Posted by Gaydos at August 20, 2008 8:05 PM
comment #56
Chapman Carruthers says ...
Prager:
Thanks for comment 34. I downloaded the podcast but somehow it got lost in the shuffle. It's one of the best pieces I've heard tying together the economy, foreign affairs, and political inaction.
Posted by Chapman Carruthers at August 20, 2008 8:57 PM
comment #57
Mgmax says ...
I'm so glad I was on the road the whole time we were deciding the issues of the day based on one candidate's resemblance to a comedy movie dog.
Posted by Mgmax at August 20, 2008 10:52 PM
comment #58
Gaydos says ...
mgmax, you said it brother, but we have figured out a couple of things: the ultimate vp candidate for McCain would be Speedy Gonzalez and Obama, being progressive, might give the nod to the bitch from Legally Blonde.
Posted by Gaydos at August 20, 2008 11:00 PM
comment #59
gansibele says ...
I get tired of continually correcting Jeff on the historical facts when it comes to Cuba/Castro/Che, but here it goes once again: the "plantation owners" supported Castro. The oligarchy in Cuba was by that time pretty much tired of Batista and had been pushing for him to leave. Castro is the son of a plantation owner himself and married into one of the most powerful families in Cuba which incidentally is the reason he wasn't killed when he was captured after the attack on the Moncada garrison in 1953 and was pardoned by Batista two years later.
Ironically it was Batista who was the proletarian; the mulatto bastard son of a poor family, who could only rise to sergeant in the army because of the color of his skin and became the soldier's union representative. The Cuban oligarchy hated him (he famously was denied membership in the exclusive Havana Yatch Club) and used him as the strong man" to keep the country running the way they liked it. Once his usefulness ran out, they wanted him gone.
The weapons and vessel Castro used to come back to Cuba were purchased with money raised in the US by Cuba's exiled ex-president Carlos Prio, one of the most corrupt oligarchs. His "army" was composed mainly of the sons of the oligarchy and middle class. The rich continued to finance him throughout the war by buying bonds (really). They were betting on the next strong man and never expected the power grab by one of its own.
Posted by gansibele at August 21, 2008 6:24 AM
comment #60
Sean E says ...
"are opposed to Obama in much the same way that the counter-revolutionary "white" Russians were opposed to the Bolsheviks, the conservative, plantation-owning Cubans were opposed to Castro, and the friends and allies of Chang Kai Shek were opposed to and tried to undermine the Chinese Communists after they took over in 1949."
So you're saying that Obama's opponents, flawed though they may be, are the last holdouts defending against a wave of Nazi-like evil? Seems a stretch, but who am I to argue with Jeff's detailed knowledge of history and economics?
Gaydos, I would totally vote for Speedy Gonzales.
Posted by Sean E at August 21, 2008 8:23 AM
comment #61
Yves says ...
citizenmilton: Jeff must believe that the subliminal machine in Josie and the Pussycats is real.
gansibele: where can I read your book?
Posted by Yves at August 21, 2008 8:43 AM
comment #62
citizenmilton says ...
Gaydos: my comment was of course simple; I'm leaving a comment on a blog, not writing a feature for The Atlantic. And it wasn't an attempt at analysis. I went too far in saying there was 'no difference' but the point I was trying to convey is that there is indeed a connection between our politics and a particular strain of neon-glowing bubblegum plastic crap in our pop-culture. Iraq movies, thematic elements in "Dark Knight," or "300," or M Night's "Village," are a separate issue. The connection in those instances is obvious; I'm just agreeing that Jeffrey is connecting dots that aren't usually connected - but that he's correct. Most people see no political connection to such bankrupt plastic as "BH Chihuahua" or Miley Cyrus. But to me, they're pervasive and inescapable. Hell, Miley Cyrus's current ad campaign slogan?? "Bring it on!!" The recession is in your mind. Everything is fine. Sing a song! Go shopping. Watch America's Got Talent!
Posted by citizenmilton at August 21, 2008 5:00 PM
comment #63
Yves says ...
oh, sorry citizenmilton, I thought you were being sarcastic. I had no idea you were being serious. Don't you think what you're saying is sort of paranoid and rings of conspiracy theory?
Posted by Yves at August 21, 2008 10:00 PM
comment #64
Gaydos says ...
citizenmilton: i didn't write an article for atlantic either but i think you got the basic idea: pop culture isn't just a right-left proposition based upon nutritional values of the pop consumed. lots of hip edgy movies loved by left-leaning voters are actually quite desensitizing and fascistic if you follow through on their implications.
anyway, we all fell for jeff's game. say something so flat-assed stupid that people will respond and then begin carving each other up in desperation to find the point in all of the malarkey that's been stirred up.
right now, i'm more disturbed by jeff's man-on-political hack love for biden.
hopefully this will be a moot point soon when gore emerges as the surprise pick for obama vp.
Posted by Gaydos at August 22, 2008 1:48 PM
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