Charlie Wilson’s War, with Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Oscar-nominated
performance as a maverick CIA officer.
SUNDAY REPORTS
** SURVEY USA POLL OF CALIFORNIA SHOWS BIG LEADS FOR OBAMA AND CLINTON OVER MCCAIN. The latest Survey USA robopoll of California, completed a week ago, shows Barack Obama leading John McCain by whopping 27 points, 61% to 34%. Hillary Clinton leads by 23, 58% to 35%.
Meanwhile, I hear that the California Republican Party convention in San Francsico is going about adopting a hard right platform today. Good luck with that.
** BIG OBAMA LEAD OVER MCCAIN, BIG CLINTON DEFICIT IN SWING STATE IOWA. The new Des Moines Register poll shows Barack Obama with a big lead over John McCain in swing state Iowa, 53% to 36%. Conversely, Hillary Clinton runs well behind McCain, 49% to 40%.
Obama wins independents by a large margin over McCain in Iowa. But McCain wins those independents by a similar margin over Hillary.
After finishing third in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses behind Obama and John Edwards, Clinton’s campaign criticized Iowa and its caucuses as unrepresentative.
** HE’S BACK. Ralph Nader announced his candidacy for president this morning on Meet The Press. The Republicans’ favorite lefty — the famed consumer advocate is widely regarded as having siponed enough votes to cost Al Gore the presidency against George W. Bush in 2000 — got 2.7% of the vote in that election, running as the Green candidate. Next time round, Nader garnered only 0.3% of the vote in 2004, finding it hard to get on many state ballots. Nader’s relationship with the Green Party has become problematic, and many Greens want former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, a 9/11 conspiracy theorist, as their standardbearer.
** NEW YORK TIMES OMBUDSMAN RIPS HIS NEWSPAPER’S JOHN MCCAIN STORY. The public editor, or ombudsman, of the New York Times, whose charge it is to render judgements on controversies involving the paper, sharply criticized his newspaper for its sensational story strongly implying a past affair between the Western senator and an attractive, much younger female lobbyist.
Wrote Clark Hoyt: “The newspaper found itself in the uncomfortable position of being the story as much as publishing the story, in large part because, although it raised one of the most toxic subjects in politics — sex — it offered readers no proof that McCain and Iseman had a romance.”
The paper did raise some interesting questions about the relationship between McCain, former chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Washington lobbyists, suggesting that he’s not beyond their blandishments. But the story led in sensational fashion with the imputation of an affair. Absent that, it was a bit of a snorer.
Of course, it was not absent that. And the upshot is that the nation’s most powerful newspaper was rocked by the McCain campaign.
SATURDAY REPORTS
** STARTING TO LOOK BACK AT HOLIDAY MOVIES. It’s Oscar weekend. And we haven’t even looked at the holiday movies. Yet.
Ordinarily, I would have done this around the, well, Christmas and New Year holidays. But with the, hah, genius of American politics kicking in, there was no time.
Above is a video clip of the estimable Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymoour Hoffman, always very good, in his Oscar-nominated performance as maverick CIA officer Gust Avrakotos in the only hit political movie of the year, that NWN fave, Charlie Wilson’s War.
About America’s successful covert take-down of the late Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Which, as the irony of life would have it, emboldened our then new Islamic fundamentalist friends to perform certain other feats that we now think of as “blowback.”
Important point: Keep paying attention.
Oh, best NWN movie of the holiday season? Charlie Wilson’s War. With Mike Nichols directing, Aaron Sorkin writing the screenplay based on George Crile’s best-selling book, and a cast of Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman et al, it was as good as a I expected. And I had high expectations.
Other holiday movies, ah, did not quite meet expectations. One I discuss a bit below.
Others to come on this Academy Awards weekend.
Tomorrow, I’ll talk about my picks in the only movie awards that I actually have a vote in, the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Which also equate to most of the top Oscars, which will be awarded tomorrow night.
** GETTING REAL IN CLINTONVILLE. Most, although hardly all — those would be my longtime, more future-oriented — sources, around Hillary and Bill Clinton are simply in shock over the slow but steady shattering of her candidacy at the hands of Barack Obama.
From the New York Times: Morale is low. After 13 months of dawn-to-dark seven-day weeks, the staff is exhausted. Some have taken to going home early — 9 p.m. — turning off their BlackBerrys, and polishing off bottles of wine, several senior staff members said.
Some advisers have been heard yelling at close friends and colleagues. In a much-reported incident, Mr. Penn and the campaign advertising chief, Mandy Grunwald, had a screaming match over strategy recently that prompted another senior aide, Guy Cecil, to leave the room. “I have work to do — you’re acting like kids,” Mr. Cecil said, according to three people in the room.
Others have taken several days off, despite it being crunch time. Some have grown depressed, be it over Mr. Obama’s momentum, the attacks on the campaign’s management from outside critics or their view that the news media has been much rougher on Mrs. Clinton than on Mr. Obama.
The first five minutes of The Golden Compass, likely to win the
Oscar for best art direction.
** GOLDEN. As successful and fun and satisfying an adaptation of a long and complicated best-selling book that Charlie Wilson’s War turned out to be — hail Aaron Sorkin (disclosure, my little consulting with The West Wing was after NBC bounced him) — The Golden Compass adaptation turned out to be far more problematic. This should have been the great holiday movie in America. Yet it was not.
Most unfortunately so, because all the makings were there — including a fantastic cast which included Nicole Kidman, Eva Green, Daniel Craig and spirited young English girl Dakota Blue Richards — for a classic.
The film was still quite good, if unfortunately choppy and questionably edited.
Let’s see. Remove actual ending of the book and hold for next movie in the series? Eh, maybe not.
Nevertheless, though The Golden Compass has grossed “only” $70 million at the US box office, it has done $335 million at the global box office. Making it a major hit. And that’s before it opens in Japan next month, and Japan is traditionally a huge market for fantasy and science fiction.
I’ll have more thoughts about this later.
** NEW PODCAST. I talk about the road ahead after Wisconsin and Hawaii.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the new Russia Today channel.
You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti.
While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND U.S. ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Crude oil closed at $98.91 per barrel on Friday, after hitting a record $101-plus per barrel on Wednesday. Energy markets are closed on the weekend.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
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| Comments (0) |
You’ve peeked my interest in Golden Compass. Great clip. When can I see it on DVD?
You’ve peeked my interest in Golden Compass. Great clip. When can I see it on DVD?
I love that “Charlie Wilson” scene. Great movie!
I love that “Charlie Wilson” scene. Great movie!
How many windows have you broken, Bill? lol
How many windows have you broken, Bill? lol
I love that scene!
It sounds like the Clinton gang knows it’s going to lose.
The Clintonoids who can’t believe it are stupid people, kept aloft in life through their corruption.
The Clintonoids who can’t believe it are stupid people, kept aloft in life through their corruption.
Bill: is it true what he said about Adm. S. Turner?
Who?
We got a lot of whos on NWN.
Without getting into Doctor Who …
As screwy as your syntax is, you have a point.
>marcus :
The Clintonoids who can’t believe it are stupid people, kept aloft in life through their corruption.
Feb 23, 2008 02:01 PM
As screwy as your syntax is, you have a point.
>marcus :
The Clintonoids who can’t believe it are stupid people, kept aloft in life through their corruption.
Feb 23, 2008 02:01 PM
We’ll see.
>Capitol Boy :
It sounds like the Clinton gang knows it’s going to lose.
Feb 23, 2008 01:44 PM
Great scene, one of the reasons Hoffman should win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
>Capitol Boy :
I love that scene!
Only a few.
>Ann :
How many windows have you broken, Bill? lol
Feb 23, 2008 01:39 PM
Only a few.
>Ann :
How many windows have you broken, Bill? lol
Feb 23, 2008 01:39 PM
Indeed.
>Jonas Blane :
I love that “Charlie Wilson” scene. Great movie!
Feb 23, 2008 01:34 PM
I think it’s sometime in April.
>Jonas Blane :
You’ve peeked my interest in Golden Compass. Great clip. When can I see it on DVD?
Feb 23, 2008 01:27 PM
lol
lol
I love that Charlie Wilson scene!!!!
“Admiral” Turner was one of the yutzes who wrecked the CIA before the last decade.
Kill ‘em all.
No snarky political commentary from the Kandy Kid this lazy, pre-storm Saturday. Not much more to say about the Clinton’s agonizing comeuppance for nearly two decades of cynical politics or the pathetic display that is a California Republican convention.
Today I reply to my friend Solon’s request for a review of the 2005 Walter Hansel pinot noir. In short, it was excellent, on par with the Lynmar and Foley we have hyped to patient NWN readers. These California pinots are very nice and would impress anyone’s snobby wine friends such as us. You can buy some now and never stress a gift wine selection again.
Because many in the Republicans for Hillary krewe have endured the slow, painful end of losing campaigns, we recommend a ruckus night out. Leave work early, say 3:pm. Start drinking Wild Turkey shots and beer. Play some pool and shuffle board. Find a good steak house and order the big New York strip with a fine cabernet. Read TR’s famous “In the Arena” excerpt over dessert. Pay with the campaign credit card. Then stay out late and don’t go into the office until noon. Life will go on.
Your colleagues in the losing political foxhole can be friends for life, so celebrate having experiences that most people who think they know politics can only dream about. Learn your lessons and run a better campaign next time.
No snarky political commentary from the Kandy Kid this lazy, pre-storm Saturday. Not much more to say about the Clinton’s agonizing comeuppance for nearly two decades of cynical politics or the pathetic display that is a California Republican convention.
Today I reply to my friend Solon’s request for a review of the 2005 Walter Hansel pinot noir. In short, it was excellent, on par with the Lynmar and Foley we have hyped to patient NWN readers. These California pinots are very nice and would impress anyone’s snobby wine friends such as us. You can buy some now and never stress a gift wine selection again.
Because many in the Republicans for Hillary krewe have endured the slow, painful end of losing campaigns, we recommend a ruckus night out. Leave work early, say 3:pm. Start drinking Wild Turkey shots and beer. Play some pool and shuffle board. Find a good steak house and order the big New York strip with a fine cabernet. Read TR’s famous “In the Arena” excerpt over dessert. Pay with the campaign credit card. Then stay out late and don’t go into the office until noon. Life will go on.
Your colleagues in the losing political foxhole can be friends for life, so celebrate having experiences that most people who think they know politics can only dream about. Learn your lessons and run a better campaign next time.
Conservative Mark Steyn in the OC Register on the Clintons:
Hoffman rocks. No more words apply.
Mr. Kid,
Thank you for your fine review. I will have to find some and give it a try.
This pre-storm watch is getting boring. Seems very calm and semi-dry out at present. Know the big stuff is coming, just wish it would get here and be gone.
Decided that a good lockdown meal would be roasted baby back ribs with cole slaw and potato salad. Wash that down with a wine recommended by the chap at Taylor’s…it’s a shiraz viognier from Australia called the Battle of Bosworth. Since it’s my first encounter with it, I will shall my impressions later…that’s iffin my fingers still work!
What steak house you being finding that New York strip at???
Mr. Kid,
Thank you for your fine review. I will have to find some and give it a try.
This pre-storm watch is getting boring. Seems very calm and semi-dry out at present. Know the big stuff is coming, just wish it would get here and be gone.
Decided that a good lockdown meal would be roasted baby back ribs with cole slaw and potato salad. Wash that down with a wine recommended by the chap at Taylor’s…it’s a shiraz viognier from Australia called the Battle of Bosworth. Since it’s my first encounter with it, I will shall my impressions later…that’s iffin my fingers still work!
What steak house you being finding that New York strip at???
It is time for a Vegas run. If I am going to concede, I am going out in a honorable fashion…wildly celebrating, very tipsy and somewhat naked.
Sacto,
You win.
Carole,
My cat is in my computer chair, so can’t write much now…
Different year in politics. Your lady just ran up against someone who sparkles in a time folks are in need of such.
However, I know that does little to ease the pain. Go enjoy yourself as that might help more than wods!
Ah, yes, cats. My inherited creature likes to sit on my keyboard.
NOT happening!
Ah, yes, cats. My inherited creature likes to sit on my keyboard.
NOT happening!
Carole, in my not insubstantial history, there is naked and, well, not naked …
>carole w :
It is time for a Vegas run. If I am going to concede, I am going out in a honorable fashion…wildly celebrating, very tipsy and somewhat naked.
Sacto,
You win.
Feb 23, 2008 04:19 PM
There is a big storm and a not big storm. I’ve been waiting all day for a big storm across California …
>Sacramento Solon :
Mr. Kid,
Thank you for your fine review. I will have to find some and give it a try.
This pre-storm watch is getting boring. Seems very calm and semi-dry out at present. Know the big stuff is coming, just wish it would get here and be gone.
There is a big storm and a not big storm. I’ve been waiting all day for a big storm across California …
>Sacramento Solon :
Mr. Kid,
Thank you for your fine review. I will have to find some and give it a try.
This pre-storm watch is getting boring. Seems very calm and semi-dry out at present. Know the big stuff is coming, just wish it would get here and be gone.
Exactly.
>Hap Hazard :
Conservative Mark Steyn in the OC Register on the Clintons:
” *** Their star quality was also, as noted above, mostly a giant bluff. In his heyday, Bill could channel his narcissism into a famously sure “common touch” – he liked to bask in proof of his awesome empathetic powers. But, in the years since he left the Oval Office, he’s played too many gazillion-dollar-a-plate jet-set dinners in France and Switzerland, and the “common touch” has curdled. That
I was all planned in to the California Republican convention Thursday, till I looked at the schedule …
>Kandy Kid :
No snarky political commentary from the Kandy Kid this lazy, pre-storm Saturday. Not much more to say about the Clinton’s agonizing comeuppance for nearly two decades of cynical politics or the pathetic display that is a California Republican convention.
More or less, with due respect to the admiral, true.
>marcus :
“Admiral” Turner was one of the yutzes who wrecked the CIA before the last decade.
Feb 23, 2008 03:05 PM
More or less, with due respect to the admiral, true.
>marcus :
“Admiral” Turner was one of the yutzes who wrecked the CIA before the last decade.
Feb 23, 2008 03:05 PM
A classic movie scene.
>Jack Aubrey :
I love that Charlie Wilson scene!!!!
Feb 23, 2008 02:54 PM
Carole, if it is any conciliation my Mom also is unhappy about the seeming Billary implosion and pissed at Oprah. Maybe my nephew will visit her this weekend and cheer her up with one of his extra-special big hugs. Hugs are good! Naps are good, too.
Sour grapes are bad and hopefully Billary will soon become gracious in defeat if indeed that be their fate. Politics is as much art as science, both calculations and intangibles.
Carole, if it is any conciliation my Mom also is unhappy about the seeming Billary implosion and pissed at Oprah. Maybe my nephew will visit her this weekend and cheer her up with one of his extra-special big hugs. Hugs are good! Naps are good, too.
Sour grapes are bad and hopefully Billary will soon become gracious in defeat if indeed that be their fate. Politics is as much art as science, both calculations and intangibles.
Sorry for the double post. Compter glitch at the cyber cafe I am at.
Sorry for the double post. Compter glitch at the cyber cafe I am at.
Not a whole lot happening with the GOPers here in SF. Senator Thune was pretty good at the dinner last night, and was very well received. I had no idea how much these people hated (hate?) Tom Daschle.
Altogether, though, this event is literally all wet. Perhaps the Dems will have a more interesting event next month.
Short form: Mostly. Yes.
>Minerva :
Bill: is it true what he said about Adm. S. Turner?
Feb 23, 2008 02:18 PM
You know naked is good:) Shed off the winter skin and prepare for spring. This has been a long year.
Dana,
I agree with you.
Bill,
You need to write a show for TV, that is as captivating:) as this blog.