[lbo-talk] Gravitas redux?

Carl Remick carlremick at hotmail.com
Sun Apr 9 08:30:04 PDT 2006


As we enter the twilight of Bush-the-Idiot-King's reign, I wonder if seriousness is due to make a comeback as a cultural force.

I pose the thought because this weekend I finally saw (twice) "Good Night, and Good Luck," easily the best film I've seen since "Fahrenheit 9/11." David Strathairn was eerily exact in capturing Murrow's riveting, grave-as-the-grave broadcast style, but his astonishing performance was just one of many compelling elements in a movie that was earnest without being sanctimonious and serious without being pompous.

Relatedly, I was also impressed by the dignified intensity of GWB's celebrated accuser in Charlotte, NC, this past week week, Harry Taylor. Taylor's laser-like seriousness burned right through Bush's attempt to deflect him with the just-joshing remark, "I'm not your favorite guy." I can't recall a more withering, precisely stated, face-to-face denunciation of a president than what Taylor delivered to Bush on Thursday, viz.: "While I listen to you talk about freedom, I see you assert your right to tap my telephone, to arrest me and hold me without charges ... in my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened by my leadership in Washington, including the presidency ...."

Carl



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