If “Kudos” is way-last-century, then “Thanks, and a tip o’ the hat!” is ancient history. In any case I say "Bravo!" to crusty ol’ men like Clint Eastwood, who have the courage to bring a little light and hope to an awkward, self-aware convention that had already failed in every way, 
except for its continuation of the four-year long progression of personal attacks and little more.
In his acceptance speech four years ago, Obama said, "This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal…” It is true, though Obama doesn’t brag, that his reason and wisdom have brought about positive change in global relations. Romney would never attempt to utter anything similar. Just more hand wringing as to how Obama has destroyed our country and failed terribly. Romney thinks American voters are fools and idiots! Maybe I should say, legitimate fools, and real idiots.
Even as the boredom began to mount, up came 82 year old Clint Eastwood, highly regarded actor and director, to tell us that indeed Obama’s response to the GOP is “Go ???? Yourself!!” (I’m taking certain liberties here.) Danged if that doesn’t make sense! In fact, I believe that that is Obama’s response.
Obama is getting to be “As bad as Biden!” Well, Obama gets better every day, in spite of the mediocrity of the patented Republican bland rebuke. But “Bad as Biden”… that’s a darned funny line. Biden, like Eastwood is his own man, and we men recognize that sort of thing. Some of us with just a working knowledge of the streets agree that the Grand Old Party will put many “back in chains.”
I don’t actually think that Eastwood is anything close to conservative. He says that conservatives play it “close to the vest.” For sure the rowdy Eastwood didn’t play anything “close to the vest.”
Article comments
1 - Stephen
Serious writing? There's probably better political commentary in a Dark Horse comic book. This entire article is built on poorly aimed personal attacks, without a single measurable 'how'. But at least the apathetic 'american voter' has no problem deciphering the JohnnyBad Bias.
2 - Igor
The whole republican notion this year is a combination of irony and condescension. But both methods are passive and they fail: you can't beat something with nothing.
3 - peter petterson
A bit of light relief with the BS that is coming in the next few weeks, John?
4 - peter petterson
Read it and enjoyed it again, John. Your American republican Party is full of wankers at present. Don't let Romney(isn't that a breed of sheep?) get his Mitts on your country. For him it will be power for power's sake!!
5 - Igor
peter, IMO you're right. Romney doesn't appear to have any core principles or even an agenda to put forward. He just wants the next step up on his ladder of accomplishments. Maybe that will make him happy -- he seems to be filled with unsatisfied hungers.
6 - John Lake
Although Romney doesn't appear to have a strong connection to gas and oil, (research on my part is in order) they are his forte'. One has to wonder as to his ties with the Koch Bros. His plan is to build the pipeline and drill. He would prefer to expand the auto industry, and deregulate, producing gas guzzlers. One also has to wonder why with oil sometimes in the $70/barrel range, pump prices are at $5.00. The man is too big to fail. He profits from the bankruptcy laws. He would expand the military beyond what is required, and clandestinely sell parts to the government. We shouldn't discount him; the very rich know what he stands for, and just might succumb to the temptation.
7 - Igor
Ryan is tightly coupled with oil interests. His family leases production facilities to oil companies. (It's prominent on the internet).
8 - Igor
Here's more on Romney, Ryan and oil interests:
Rep. Markey .
Markey: Romney-Ryan Ticket Would Cut Big Bird to Pay Big Oil
Congressman calls Republican attacks on PBS an insult to American families
WASHINGTON D.C. In response to comments made to Forbes by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney reporting his budget priorities include eliminating federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the parent organization of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass,), a leading champion of public broadcasting in Congress, released the following statement:
“A Ryan-Romney ticket buys admission to a budget match-up where Big Oil wins and Big Bird loses. In a budgetary blow to children and parents everywhere, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would take an axe to PBS while feeding billions in taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies with a silver spoon. Congressman Ryan’s budgets protect $40 billion in subsidies for the most profitable oil companies on the planet but would put an end to Elmo’s World.”
Rep. Markey, former chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s telecommunications panel, held a press conference in February 2011 with the world’s most popular talking aardvark and beloved PBS character, Arthur the Aardvark, to oppose cuts proposed to children’s television in the Republican budget put forward by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.).
Green Miles
Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan Pledge to Put Oil Above All
An analysis of the Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan "energy" plan from the League of Conservation Voters:
Number of Pages: 21
Number of Words: 10,272
Mentions of Oil: 154
Mentions of Wind: 10 (5 of them Negatively)
Mentions of Solar: 14 (4 of them Negatively)
Mentions of Wind Energy Production Tax Credit: 0
Mentions of Climate Change: 0
Mentions of Romney’s Plan to Continue Oil Subsidies: 0
Mentions of Oil & Gas Interests Donating More Than $2,600,000 to His Campaigns: 0
Mentions of Koch Brothers Pledging to Spend $200,000,000+ to Elect Him: 0
Check out a more detailed analysis of the Romney-Ryan oil-above-all plan from the Center for American Progress.
9 - Igor
LGF
Flashback: Paul Ryan and His Family to Benefit From the $45 Billion in Subsidies for Big Oil in His Budget
Paul Ryan’s budget, which means austerity for most Americans, turns out to mean prosperity for Ryan and his family.
That budget, which the GOP-led House adopted as its blueprint, slashes funding for everyone from seniors to the disabled to students while preserving $45 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for Big Oil over the next 10 years, as has been widely reported.
But what we have only just learned from Ryan’s financial disclosure forms for Congress (here) that were made public this week is “he and his wife, Janna, own stakes in four family companies that lease land in Texas and Oklahoma to the very energy companies that benefit from the tax subsidies in Ryan’s budget plan,” as The Daily Beast reported today.
Ryan’s father-in-law, Daniel Little, who runs the companies, told Newsweek and The Daily Beast that the family companies are currently leasing the land for mining and drilling to energy giants such as Chesapeake Energy, Devon, and XTO Energy, a recently acquired subsidiary of ExxonMobil.
politics plus
We all know that Willard’s tax plan appears custom designed to allow Willard to pay the lowest, possible rate, far lower than most middle class taxpayers. Willard is not alone. Raul Ryan’s tax plan is equally self-serving. Part of the $45 billion we would give oil companies in corporate welfare, lands squarely in Ryan’s own pocket.
Paul Ryan’s budget, which means austerity for most Americans, turns out to mean prosperity for Ryan and his family.
That budget, which the GOP-led House adopted as its blueprint, slashes funding for everyone from seniors to the disabled to students while preserving $45 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for Big Oil over the next 10 years, as has been widely reported.
But what we have only just learned from Ryan’s financial disclosure forms for Congress (here) that were made public this week is “he and his wife, Janna, own stakes in four family companies that lease land in Texas and Oklahoma to the very energy companies that benefit from the tax subsidies in Ryan’s budget plan,” as The Daily Beast reported today.
Ryan’s father-in-law, Daniel Little, who runs the companies, told Newsweek and The Daily Beast that the family companies are currently leasing the land for mining and drilling to energy giants such as Chesapeake Energy, Devon, and XTO Energy, a recently acquired subsidiary of ExxonMobil.
These energy giants stand to profit directly from the $45 billion in subsidies and tax breaks. How cozy!… [emphasis original]
10 - John Lake
Great! Thanks, Igor.
The Daily Beast