Posted on 02/14/2006 10:11:24 AM PST by Chi-townChief
My favorite element of the photo accompanying this column is the Secret Service agent moving in on me like a bouncer breaking up a brawl.
In classic neighborhood tradition, I did the same move with the president of the United States that I do during virtually any photo op with any man, woman, child or dog. I throw my arm around ya, like we've known each other for years.
THAT'S the Chicago way.
But when you've got your hand squeezing the neck of the leader of the free world, it's the Secret Service's job to make sure you're not going to try some Vulcan Death Grip deal.
I trotted out that photo in the wake of this ongoing debate about whether Ozzie Guillen should have cut short his family vacation to join the team at the White House.
As e-mailer Gayle Feliksikof Willow Springs put it, "Everyone is up in arms about Ozzie not showing respect to the president. I believe the issue is not the president, but the office of the presidency of the United States of America, the country that allowed Ozzie to become the person he is today. It is not a one-on-one issue, man to man. It is the newly declared citizen showing respect for his new country. ... The fans showed their appreciation, it's time for Ozzie to do the same."
A Bush-league move?
I believe that Ozzie Guillen has the highest respect for his country and for the White House.
It was just six weeks ago that Ozzie was bursting with pride after being sworn in as a United States citizen. At the time Ozzie said it was a greater thrill than winning the World Series.
Guillen also said that he plans to quiz his players with questions from his immigration test. You gotta love the idea of Ozzie saying, "OK Tadahito, what were the original 13 states?" Ladies and gentlemen, start your interpreters.
As we've been reminded, Guillen has already been to the White House, as a coach with the Florida Marlins after they won the World Series. He had just been hired as manager of the White Sox, and President Bush wished him well in bringing a world championship to Chicago.
But let's not kid ourselves here. George Bush doesn't give a bleep about the White Sox, and he couldn't care less if Guillen showed up for a quick photo op. Bush would have been a lot more enthusiastic about welcoming the Astros -- or even better, the Rangers -- as world champs.
As for the belief that one should always respect the office: absolutely. One should be honored to have a privilege that will never be accorded to most Americans. Having been inside the White House, I can vouch for the give-you-the-chills factor.
Now, that pic of Clinton and me wasn't taken at the White House -- it was snapped in January 2001 at Phil Stefani's Restaurant at 437 N. Rush. I had a fairly lengthy talk with the president -- mostly about movies -- and even though I had defended him on some occasions and ripped him apart other times, I was pretty damn excited to be in that moment, talking to a two-term president of the United States.
If I had been invited to the White House during the Clinton administration, I would have been there in a heartbeat. Same for Bush I, Reagan, Carter and Ford.
What about today? Let's say the president and Dick Cheney were going to host a screening of "The Deer Hunter," and I received an invite to attend the event and shake hands with our leader.
Would I go? No.
Not for this president, not at this time. As much as I respect the office and as much as I believe in this country, I just couldn't shake hands and smile with President Bush, not when he's sending young men and women off to fight and die in a war that was launched on false pretenses.
I'm grateful I've had the chance to meet a couple of presidents. I'd love the opportunity to meet others down the road. I realize I'm turning down an invitation that's never come my way, but I'm just saying if it happened, I'd decline.
Ozzie declined to go to the White House for family reasons.
I'd decline for political reasons. And I'd feel like a patriot doing so.
rroeper@suntimes.com
Richard Roeper pretending he's important.
'I'd decline for political reasons. And I'd feel like a patriot doing so."
I'd never thought anything could make me miss Gene Siskel,
I stand corrected
I liked Homer Simpson's reference: “I feel like Roger Ebert and or his kiss-ass new partner.”
If I met Richard Roeper, I'd slug him. Oh, I realize that I'm talking about meeting someone that I'm likely never to meet, but I'm just saying.
Every leftist I've ever heard is a psychic or a mind-reader. They all are the ones who really know what people are thinking.
My bad. I thought this story was about Ozzy Osborn.
Did you know his son Jack says he never would have tried hardcore drugs if he hadn't smoked pot first?
Roper thinks he is the emobdiment of Jerry Seinfeld. He is a smug, jerk. I can't stand him. You guys not in Chicago have not had the "pleasure" to hear him as a fill in radio host, but I have. He is as near to gay as you can get and NOT be! He is no man, but a fey metrosexual!
Gosh. I really thought he WAS gay. He's not???
I'm showing my age. I thought it was about Ozzy Nelson..
I don't understand. How is Bush responsible for the fact that Democrats voted for the war on, apparently, false pretenses (proving their falsity by subsequently turning against it)? Bush has always been honest and consistent about his own reasons.
What a self-deluded ass he is. The Bush-hate has permeated journalism so thoroughly that it is impossible to get actual news anymore.
Don't feel bad. At least you didn't think it was Ozymandias.
My question is, Who in the hell would invite that zilch to anything anyway?
Hey!
Wait: You're still ALIVE?
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
This must be a real shocker to the anti-woddies out there in bong land. Bet more than one of them dropped their bag of Cheetos upon hearing that news.
An EASY mistake to make.
But, he considers himself quite the ladies man.Though from looking at the lng list of women he has gone out with he reveals himself to be too surly to KEEP one!
Here is the letter i just sent him...
Mr. Roeper,
You know, I listed to you on the radio for years as fill in host here and there. I have watched you with Mr. Ebert and considered your "reviews" since you got on the show. I never read many of your columns, but I did read them occasionally.
I always felt you were a little too much an “anti-male”. Too “fey” if you will. A pseudo intellectual who fancied himself a Midwestern version of Jerry Seinfeld. I feel your reviews are overreaching and you fancy yourself somehow a reviewer for the ages (That ridiculous Curious George review is a fine example of that — Don’t you even KNOW what movies can be FOR??). But, all that is as it may. And, at this point I have come to expect that you think far more of yourself than you deserve to.
I have to say, though, that you have now crossed the line. Your disrespect for the president of the United States is palpable and quite disgusting. You and your ilk are dangerous to this country, appeasers and terror supporters all.
I could barely stand you before. Now that is complete. Welcome to the club with Michael Moore, Hitler, and so many more.
Mr. Ebert will still get my patronage with his column (though I disagree with his politics as well). But you will not.
I can't watch that Fat Guy and Sidekick movie show now. Siskel and I often agreed; neither of these clowns knowns a good movie from Valley of the Dolls II.
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