Political conventions occasionally produce memorable moments that endure. The Chicago riots in 1968, Cuomo's "Tale of Two Cities" speech in 1984, Al kissing Tipper in 2000, Obama's "audacity of hope" in 2004 -- these are memories that quickly entered the political history books, reminding us why conventions still matter.
Last night, we saw another such moment, when Clint Eastwood decided to argue with an empty chair.
Chances are you've at least heard about Eastwood's "speech," but for those who missed it, trust me when I tell you it's worth your time. As Rachel explained on the air once it was over, "That was the weirdest thing I've ever seen at a political convention in my entire life, and it will be the weirdest thing I've ever seen if I live to be 100."
Apparently, the Romney campaign thought it would be a good idea to send an 82-year-old man onto the stage without prepared remarks. Eastwood was an odd choice anyway -- he's pro-choice and supports gay rights -- but I can appreciate the fact that the man enjoys an iconic status. He was the "surprise" guest, and convention organizers scrapped a compelling Romney bio film, just so Americans could see the Hollywood star's remarks.
Oops.
Jamelle Bouie, in arguably my favorite line of the convention, said, "This is a perfect representation of the campaign: an old white man arguing with an imaginary Barack Obama."
And even if we look past the bizarre chair shtick and the rambling remarks, the points Eastwood tried to make were a mess. The actor wants to withdraw quickly from Afghanistan, which is the opposite of Romney's position. Eastwood thinks it's a bad idea "for attorneys to be president," overlooking the fact that Romney has a law degree. He even felt comfortable mocking Joe Biden's speeches, even while delivering a meandering, cringe-inducing speech of his own.
But what helped make this a truly epic convention moment was the realization among Republicans that they'd made a horrible mistake. Paul Ryan was shown on camera looking deeply uncomfortable; Romney aides were overcome with a sense of dread; and it only took a few minutes for the campaign to start telling reporters that they weren't responsible for this train wreck.
A month from now, no one will remember a word from Romney's speech, but a decade from now, we'll still be talking about the time a confused Clint Eastwood had a debate with an empty chair, and lost.
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The fact that the lefties have spent several days trying to discredit the performance is proof that it succeeded totally. The empty chair: a perfect symbol for the Obama administration (as well as Obama's mind). " If someone can't get the job done, you have to let him go." Again, perfect.
Oh, MSNBC, really liked your racist coverage where you suppressed images of any Republicans which didn't fit your racial meme. I know, when your darkies leave the liberal plantation and think for themselves, it's troubling. Massa Rachel & Massa Big Ed & Massa Chris just can't deal with em when they get uppity like that.
It's too bad that you did not see the genius of Clint's comments. To him Obama is an empty chair. He's performance was a parody of what you expect the Republicans to be -- angry, old white men.
The president couldn't resist to tweet back a response.
You need to get a broader view of the world rather than reading just the liberal dribble that you repeat. Most of you laughed and joked about Sarah Palin. You think Bill Maher is funny even when he ridicules Republican women. Now you are outraged that someone -- even an icon of Hollywood -- would dare make a joke of the chosen one.
I see the creepy Obama groupies are still, desperately trying to minimize the effect Clint will have across this country in moving votes away from the pretend, incompetent, juvenile "president", so-called. A win by any standards.
Clint Eastwood was a hit! He made my day at the RNC... a bit rough at times, but so what. He is 82 years young!
Of course lib rachael maddow would have nothing nice to say about a wonderful, terrific movie star, director like CLINT EASTWOOD..
But I am so sure Rachael thinks BJ CLINTON is her idol... ;)
Maddow's young viewers are confused and need reprogramming. In 5 minute span, their idol Clint Eastwood endorsed Romney, addressed Obama as invisible rabbit, mocked Biden as intellectual leader, and insulted Oprah. The world is no longer the same!
Madcow only has 30 viewers, not a problem
Empty Chair: But Clint, you're angering legions of tightly swaddled, panty-waisted, Obama-shilling left-wingers
Clint: (through cigar-clenched teeth) ........eff 'em
To the other Steve re Charlton Heston:
Heston made 2 scifi films I really liked, The Omega Man (the middle of 3 versions of Richard Matheson's I am Legend) and Soylent Green.
His other scifi movie, The Ten Commandments, not so much. Too over the top.
"Clint Eastwood had a debate with an empty chair, and lost." Well said!! No need to add anything else to it.
The criticism is ironic .. Clint Eastwood stole the schtick from MSNBC:
MSNBC debates empty chair:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb61b6fxfEo
TOMORROW IS NATIONAL EMPTY CHAIR DAY!
In celebration of Obama's failure to create jobs, Labor Day has been cancelled and replaced by National Empty Chair Day. To celebrate, simply put a single empty chair in the middle of your front yard.
Please make it a chair you can live with out. Someone from OWS will likely set it on fire.
Wow, what a sad show of trolls who have nothing better to do with their life then come to a blog where no one agrees with them or is stupid enough to believe the lies they do.
Must be RNC Tea withdrawal.
He was spot on. Talking to the perfect representation of Prez Zero
Clint was not "used" by the RNC. He was simply trying to redeem himself for the Chrysler commercial he narrated during Super Bowl XLVI. Some Republicans thought it gave too much credit to Obama for "saving" the auto industry. Clint despises Obama and his Marxist ilk, he was very disturbed to think that anyone would think that he was actually supporting Obama in any way. Hey, he was just trying to make a buck (a handsome one too) by doing a car commercial. The line he missed talking to the "chair" was: "a man has GOT to know his limitations".
I absolutely loved it! Eastwood punked the Hollywood libs and the liberal media, of which MSNBC is the most pathetic excuse in a so-called news source. Dirty Harry got the best of you, even at 82 years old, and that's why libs like Maddow can't stop talking about it. LOL. Superb!
Clint was not "used" by the RNC. Get real. Clint does not get used by anyone. (Maybe Sondra once or twice.) He was simply trying to redeem himself from the Chrysler commercial he narrated during Super Bowl XLVI. Some Republican friends (one in particular) were angry because they thought that the commercial gave too much credit to Obama for "saving" the auto industry with the porkulus bailout. Anyway... Clint despises Obama and his Marxist ilk and was very disturbed that anyone might think he would do anything to help BO. Hey, he was just trying to make a buck (and a very hansome one too) doing a car commercial. "Lieutenant Dan" said he missed just one line (ran out of time) when he would look at the "chair" and say: "a man has GOT to know his limitations". End of story.
over 3 million hits already on you tube.
It is called Improvisational comedy. you know, the SNL type...putting aside the race card remarks and messnbc talking heads, the audience at the convention and the viewer abroad the land enjoyed the comedy and howled with laughter at the comedy, especially the "I can't tell him to do that to himself and I can't do that to myself either and the 'you sound like Biden' 'the grin with a body attached.''and the great line...'you know, if you can't get the job done, we will have to let you go'/
Pure comedy....certainly not the minimizing remark about the old white guy.....
I have heard the theory that the "performance" of Mr. Eastwood was an intentional ploy to expose young/younger hate-filled p ricks criticizing an older person.
Obviously this is ridiculous.
Clint's skit was genius on so many levels: It was funny as hell.
The disheveled old man with halting speach can say whatever he wants and get away with it - well played.
Leading up to the DNC everybody is talking about it rather than having to listen to MSNBC and the rest of the Obama drooling groupies all weekend.
The skit was on message, you don't have to vote for someone just because they are a nice guy, if he's not doing the job let him go.
It irritated the heck out of Obama, his staff, and his groupies. They were left with nothing but giggles, ridicule, and grade school retorts, revealing the Obama people for what they really are - little kids in grown up bodies.
And it became a media firestorm so millions of people who hadn't otherwise gotten the republican message now got it.
It exposed Obama for what he is - an empty suit - looks good on the surface but no substance, no leadership skills - for all the good he has done he might as well not be there. Plus he is never in the WH working anyhow. Anyway you look at the Presidents chair has been empty for four years.
An 82 year old man just played the Obamacrats. Genius absolute genius.
Finally on a related note, has anyone notice it's the Dems who will be parading out the rich old white guys spouting the same old s***, many of whom are much richer than Romney. Advantage Republicans.
Funny thing about voters - they have very short memories, and they can only handle one issue at a time. That issue is going to be the jobs picture. Don't be surprised if voters elect Prince Alarming over the Linconesque professor. I think that would be shooting ourselves in the feet, but what do I know.
transcript, your party has lost all credibility with anyone who can add. Your party gave us the huge deficits and the tax cuts that made them permanent. Your party expanded entitlement programs by 8% more than Democrats, according to the Wall Street Journal. Your party wants white men to have all the rights and women and minorities to have none. Your dumping on Obama only proves that you have no ideas!
It was funny as hell, get over it.
It was hell, anyway.
The funniest part of Eastwood's performance was that he doesn't even know Romney's position on the issues. Eastwood told the delegates that Romney wants all troops out of Afghanistan immediately, and the delegates cheered. However, Romney has criticized any withdrawal from Afghanistan, and even wants to go back to Iraq. So that makes both Eastwood and the cheering delegates look like the ignorant fools they are.
And despite being a Republican, Eastwood is a liberal on social issues -- he's pro-choice and in favor of gay marriage.
In summary, Clint Eastwood is not even aware of Romney's policies. I don't know how the trolls can think he was such a big hit. If Barbra Streisand insulted an empty Romney chair at the DNC, you right wing crackpots would be screaming your heads off.
Steve Benen, the author of this article, has been keeping a running count of Romney's lies -- 533 of them in the last 30 weeks. So his PR spokesman was telling the truth when he said the campaign would not be influenced by fact checkers. (And remember, it was a Bush spokesman a few years ago who denounced liberals as the "reality-based community."
The Romney campaign strategy is clear. They won't debate issues on the merits. They can't. So they will lie. And to back up the lies, they will try to keep non-white people from voting.
I have serious misgivings about Obama and at one time had decided to sit this one out. But the consequences of this election go far, far beyond the normal range of issues. The Republicans have made it clear that they have no use for democracy. They never liked it much anyway, and have used a variety of dirty tricks to stave it off (see Nixon, Rove). But the election of a black president was the last straw for them. They will not tolerate it again. The GOP considers this a fight to the death. Something will die, of course -- will it be democracy or the Republican Party?
It has been announced that on Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention, Michael Moore will take the stage and speak with a toaster playing the part of Mitt Romney.