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December 16th, 2008


In 1962, he promised that we wouldn't have him "to kick around anymore." But Richard Nixon refused to disappear. And, for that crime, some of us on the left haven't stopped kicking. Not after his resignation in disgrace. Not after his death in 1994. And, as the film indicates, perhaps not even today -- despite a Democratic president-elect who preaches a "no drama" spirit of reconciliation rather than the usual partisan rancor.What exactly is our problem?The release of , the Ron Howard film version of British screenwriter Peter Morgan's stage play, offers yet another chance to explore our obsession with this man who, for many, functions as America's Satan: that brooding dark angel driven by his overpowering ambition. The movie tells the story of how lightweight British talk show host David Frost bested the American television networks by landing a series of exclusive interviews with Nixon in the spring of 1977. The former president was, at that time, preparing to publish his memoirs and launch a campaign to rehabilitate his legacy. Employing boxing and other sports metaphors, Morgan casts the tale as a battle to regain the public spotlight that only one man can win. On Broadway, the narrator, prototypical liberal James Reston, Jr., who serves on Frost's research team, identifies a moral purpose to their efforts, telling his boss that the interviews must function as "the trial Richard Nixon never had," insisting that "the integrity of our political system" requires convicting the former president of his crimes. And, after Frost lands his knock-out blow, getting Nixon to admit tearfully that "he let the American people down," the play ended with Reston's reassurance that the demon had been exorcised: "Nixon never again held public office of any kind, nor achieved the rehabilitation he so desperately craved."Yet there's something about Richard Nixon that won't let good liberals rest. In moments of honesty, some of us find something in him that we, perhaps, admire -- certainly that we can't dismiss. , as it moved to the screen, seems to have tapped into this vein, showing a much more sympathetic, admirable former president than appeared on Broadway. In a new scene (set at San Clemente during a break in the interviews' taping schedule), Nixon (portrayed brilliantly by Frank Langella) plays piano for his handlers while Pat Nixon (Patty McCormack), wanders into the celebration. When the president's chief corner man, Jack Brennan (Kevin Bacon) exults that Nixon is "sitting on an 11-0 lead," Mrs. Nixon quietly expresses satisfaction that "things are going according to plan." Up to this time, Langella's Nixon has been almost gleefully wily and evasive, deftly stymieing Frost's attempts to corner him with tough questions. But, as his wife speaks, Nixon turns somber and pensive -- as if the sight of the woman whom he has most injured by his public misconduct makes him realize that he can't go on without admitting some kind of guilt. As a result, the climatic scene in which Nixon admits that he failed the American people doesn't play out as the moment of sweet revenge that the typical Nixon-hater would desire. Perhaps to increase screen-time for the magnificent Oliver Platt (playing Frost investigator Bob Zelnick), the film dilutes the influence of Sam Rockwell's Reston character. As a result, Howard's movie become less a story about bringing Richard Nixon to justice and more about the one-on-one struggle between David Frost and the ex-president to revive their lagging reputations. Moreover, what in the theater worked to Frost's advantage, in the intimacy of the camera's close-up, now plays in Nixon's favor. As the former president prepares to give the closest thing to a confession he would ever offer, Michael Sheen plays Frost with eyes lit with the excited bloodlust of a piranha on the attack. Truth and justice are beside the point; Frost's concern is for capturing that great television moment that will redeem his career and guarantee the financial success of the interviews. By contrast, Langella's Nixon, seen in a way that the audience could not observe on Broadway, goes through a tangled mix of emotions as he struggles against, but then clearly offers, a heartful mea culpa. This time, Nixon carries the moral weight, telling the truth, though inconvenient to his hopes for rehabilitation, because he must. But feeling sympathy for Richard Nixon makes good liberals uneasy. Perhaps this is because Nixon's comeback was much more successful than we want to admit and Peter Morgan would have us believe. After the Frost interviews, Richard Nixon went on to write nine bestselling books and serve as a private counselor to Ronald Reagan and other Republican politicians. Truth is, we're scared that he hasn't really gone away. We're more comfortable when we demonize him, keeping him in his place. At a screening on the second day of the film's limited release, the New York City audience clearly wanted to create this safe emotional distance. During the heated exchange about the 1970 Cambodian invasion, Langella's Nixon insisted that operation had been successful and that his only regret was in not having "gone in sooner -- and harder." At what would have been an applause line had the film been showing at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace, a voice from the back of this Manhattan theater cried out, mock-heroically, "Sock it to 'em Dickie" and a garnered bigger response than any of the movie's actual laugh lines.So, as many are eagerly awaiting the change in presidential administrations, Frost/Nixon puts liberals in a potential quandry. Barack Obama has done more than anyone to move beyond Nixon's politics of division. As one downstate Illinois newspaper editor explained to Joe Klein back in 2006: "Obama is reaching out. He's saying the other side isn't evil." In his conduct over the past two years, our president-elect has proven that he means it. But, as we sit in movie theaters and resist humanizing our favorite devil, we have to ask ourselves whether we do too.

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perpetual

  • Dec. 16th, 2008 at 2:54 PM

Carrots has yet to be on today, so far as I can tell.
Its kind ofodd.  And disappointing.  But thats okay.  I guess.  Nothing to be done about it, at any rate.
It feels strange, today.
Its finally the weekend after the week, yes.  And, it feels as if it should be over already.  I have done nothing really all day.  I started a project thing, for which I am totally bored of already.  There wasnt enough of an idea beforehand to use to make it, and now theres even less of an idea - no idea what to say for it, so Im hoping Ill get back to it later, but not sure if I will.
Just, like, Ive gotten used to this late night thing, so I guess Im waiting for night to come to have to go to bed and then get up and go to school the next day.
Also, 5 day weeks are odd after so many non5day weeks in a row.  Its like waow, its finally the weekend, but now what do I do?
For I have no idea what to do.  Im only doing what I normally do on the  nights afterschool/beforebed.
So, really, nothing out of the ordinary.
Other than not eating.
All Ive had today is a sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate that I never finished.  And its 3:30.  Thats ridiculous, for me.  Im sort of hungry, yet not.  My stomach hurts a little, but thats cuz its cold.
Oh yes, cold.
It snowed sometime this morning.  Like, only an inch, but still snow.  Its supposed to do that again tonight, and tomorrow nightFor like a total of 6, 7, 8 inches.  Its fine, the weather can do whatever it damn well pleases.  Just, the power better not go out.  I dont want to have to sit around, with nothing to do, with nothing to do, and a laptop battery that lasts about 3 and a half hours or so.  Thats without using the internet.  Ive never been on it long whileOh yes I have. But that was the wireless, but it lasted about an hour or so, a little longer than that.
Just, whatever happens, happens, but the power better not go out.  This is too early for snows and stuff, let alone poweroutages.  I HATE it when the power is out.  Theres nothing to do, theres nothing to do, nothing going on, nothing at all.  And, you have to pretend to be contented watching the woodstove.  GRR.  Its NOT entertaining, Im sorry.
We better not have times like we did 10th grade.  The night before the last day of school before christmas vacation, there was a huge storm with like 90 MPH gust winds, and then the rain, and falling trees and the power was out and GAHHH scariness.  AND the thunder and lighting.
Wind here SUX.  As does lightning.  Its scary.  The thunder is hellascary.  Im upstairs, and I feel it shake the house.  Im sorry, but thats scary.  VERY scary.
Especially when it feels like youre in the house alone, because youre in the upstairs all alonem sure it wouldnt be so bad if there were other people around (depends on who the other people were) but still, SCARY.
Mom thinks that maybe well be up in portland leaving the night of the 19th and getting back Sunday or Monday.  Im sorry, is she trying to drag me away from my life?!?!?!?  If my aunt has internets, its fine.  Just, Im not sure if she doesOh, I think she does!!  Cuz shes talked to me on YM a few times when shes at home, meaning she has interwebs at her house!  Just means I have to take my lappytop with me.  Not sure my mom would like me taking it to school with me, cuz she would have to pick me up afterschool Friday (what she said) but I dont really care, shes not the one at home anyway.  LOLOLOLOLOLOL.
Anywhoz.  I have no idea WHEN the portland trip is, beccause she doesnt know.  I probably wont know until Thursday.  I tend to not know until the last minute on things of importance.  Oh well!
Ill post it when I know it.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL.
For a person who said theyd never say I sure use a lot.  Then again, they arent really the same thing, are they?
No, I think they arent.
Yes, I am right, again.
My internets seems to have lost its four hour rule, seeing as Ive been on for 5:52 straight!!
No idea what the new rule is, though, if there is a new rule at all.
Oh well, Im not complaining.  Means I dont have to deal with leaving every four hours.
I suppose this is all.
Other than Celery is using an old email account of mine to get a different Sporum account.  SPAM account, I presume.  Whatever.  Old email account is old, and should be deleted.  Also, I dont really care.
He told me not to ever tell Carrots anything we talk about ever again.  I wonder if posting about what we talk about would consider telling him about it?!?!?!?
HMMMMMMMmmmMMMMmmMMMmMMMMMMmmmmm.
It probably would.  No idea.
Id tell you the reason why, but he told me AFTER he said starting now in response to never telling Carrots anything Celery and I talk about.
Confusing, much.
Carrots, please get better.

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Guitarist Warren Haynes annual Christmas Jams are known for their jaw-dropping moments, but this years star-studded, 20th anniversary throw-down held December 12th and 13th in Haynes hometown of Asheville, North Carolina had more than usual. The one that silenced the 7,200 partiers who packed the Asheville Civic Center on the first night came when Haynes and one of his rock roll heroes, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, appeared onstage together and played a stirring, acoustic guitar and mandolin version of the Zeppelin classic, Going to California.
When Haynes changed the lyrics to Going to Carolina with an aching in my heart, the crowd erupted. The duet came about three-quarters of the way into the Friday night show, which began with a performance by Haynes band Govt Mule, at about 7 p.m., and didnt end until more than nine hours later, at 4:20 a.m. Saturday morning, when Haynes other group, the Allman Brothers Band, hit the last note of One Way Out.
Sandwiched in between were performances from the Derek Trucks Band, Joan Osborne, country singer Travis Tritt, bluegrass king Del McCoury jamming with gospel group the Lee Boys, and New Orleans funk band Ivan Nevilles Dumpstaphunk.

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Craig Ashley David (born 5 May 1981) is an English RB singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums: Born To Do It, Slicker Than Your Average, The Story Goes..., Trust Me and a Greatest Hits album.He has a hairdo which rocks. The best thing about his haircut is that it works best for all weather condition and suits almost every face cut. He is attractive and his hairstyle is just out of the world. This is an overall short length of hair style that adds volume to the face, especially those who have a thin one.

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