In On the Political Act [Hollywood actor Ron Silver bashing Dems and UN in NYT Sunday magazine]

The NY Times Sunday Magazine ^ | Dec. 4, 2005 | DEBORAH SOLOMON

[summer]

Ron Silver

...Indeed, you're a former liberal Democrat who became a Bush convert only recently. What do you have against the Democrats?

The Democratic Party is becoming the tool of an extreme domestic leftist insurgency led by the Michael Moores and the Cindy Sheehans and other neoreactionary, neoisolationist Americans.

...[my] new documentary, "Broken Promises: The United Nations at 60," which portrays the U.N. as the height of incompetence. If you and I put a flag outside our door and we called ourselves a country, we would have a seat at the table.

Is that some sort of cheap shot at third-world countries?

I think that the countries that are democracies need to form a caucus and a coalition to make sure it is not controlled by blocs of authoritarian regimes that are permanently hostile to the United States.

One reason they are hostile is that they feel the Bush administration has marginalized the United Nations.

The United Nations marginalized itself...

[Howlin]

Remarks by Ron Silver as Prepared for Delivery at the 2004 Republican National Convention on Monday, August 30, Evening Session 7:45 - 11:15 P.M. EDT

           

    NEW YORK, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The following are remarks by Ron Silver
as prepared for delivery at the 2004 Republican National Convention:

    I want to thank the President and the Republican Party for holding this
event in my hometown, my father's hometown, my grandfather's and great
grandfather's birthplace.
    Just over 1,000 days ago, 2,605 of my neighbors were murdered at the World
Trade Center -- men, women and children -- as they began their day on a
brilliantly clear New York autumn morning, less than four miles from where I
am now standing.
    We will never forgive.  Never forget.  Never excuse!
    At the end of World War II, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied
Commander of the South Pacific, said:
"It is my earnest hope - indeed the hope of all mankind - that from this
solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of
the past, a world found upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the
dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom,
tolerance and justice."
    The hope he expressed then remains relevant today.
    We are again engaged in a war that will define the future of humankind.
Responding to attacks on our soil, America has led a coalition of countries
against extremists who want to destroy our way of life and our values.
    This is a war we did not seek.
    This is a war waged against us.
    This is a war to which we had to respond.
    History shows that we are not imperialists . . .
but we are fighters for freedom and democracy.
    Even though I am a well-recognized liberal on many issues confronting our
society today, I find it ironic that many human rights advocates and outspoken
members of my own entertainment community are often on the front lines to
protest repression, for which I applaud them but they are usually the first
ones to oppose any use of force to take care of these horrors that they
catalogue repeatedly.
    Under the unwavering leadership of President Bush, the cause of freedom
and democracy is being advanced by the courageous men and women serving in our
Armed Services.
    The President is doing exactly the right thing.
    That is why we need this President at this time!
    I am grateful for the chance to speak tonight to express my support for
our Commander-in-Chief, for our brave troops, and for the vital cause which
they have undertaken.
    General Dwight Eisenhower's statement of 60 years ago is true today . . .
    "United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for
which we fight, we will, with God's help, go forward to our greatest victory."
Thank you.

                Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements for
                   the 2004 Republican National Convention
              2 Penn Plaza * New York, NY 10121 * (212) 356-2004
            Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee

[stephenjohnbanker]

I was overseas almost all of 2004, with a 15 hour time difference. Normally, I would have watched it.

[Howlin]

He was outstanding.

And he trashed the entire DNC for MONTHS.

He lives in NYC and is spending his OWN money trying to help people hurt by 9-11.

He will NEVER forget.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"This is a war we did not seek.
This is a war waged against us.
This is a war to which we had to respond.
History shows that we are not imperialists . . .
but we are fighters for freedom and democracy."

Way to go Ron!! Thanks for posting this, Howlin.

[aligncare]

What is also interesting about these conversions is that all it takes is one issue to cause a former rat to stop and think - rather than feel, then the flood gates open to all sorts of 'rethinking of former positions'. Its great isn't it!

[surrey]

Alec has to watch his mouth. He's involved in a very nasty custody fight with Kim Bassinger.

[stephenjohnbanker]

If Hollywood freezes him out, we should petition Fox to give him a show. He is very articulate and passionate.

[Chgogal]

"Have your political views cost you any jobs in Hollywood?"

I think people in Hollywood are not thrilled with me. I have no direct evidence that a crime has been committed against me. At best I can only indict on perjury and obstruction of employment.

LOL

He is too funny, as is his "paucity of imagination" line. Me thinks he should write Hollywood Land scripts instead of the nonsense that is being put forth.

[NJRighty]

We were attacked on our own soil and it changed his outlook. Reminds me of Ronald Reagan's words: "A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged."

[stephenjohnbanker]

Thank you.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"He is too funny, as is his "paucity of imagination" line."

Silver is a highly intelligent man, and he is dead on vis a vis the lack of decent scripts out there. It has never been worse than it is now. If the best we can do is a remake of the Beverly Hillbillies, we are indeed up the creek : )

[stylin19a]

I think that the countries that are democracies need to form a caucus and a coalition to make sure it is not controlled by blocs of authoritarian regimes that are permanently hostile to the United States.

The UN alrady has a "democracy coaliton project".
I'm sure Silver is talking about a coaliton OUTSIDE the UN. which, I think, is already one of Pres. Bush's recent initiatives

[stephenjohnbanker]

I believe Christopher Hitchens rolled over due to the war on terror. He knew we had to fight back, and his fellow liberals villified him for it.......and Hitchens is a street fighter who doesn't suffer mortification gladly : )

[streetpreacher]

Irving Kristol: "A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged by reality."

[aligncare]

It would seem we get honesty and bold talk from those not seeking political office.

Somehow, we've got to get politicians out of the policy loop. Any ideas?

[Clara Lou]

That makes a great tagline.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"Somehow, we've got to get politicians out of the policy loop. Any ideas?"

ROTF!! The man or woman who solves THIS dilemma should get the Medal of Honor!!

[streetpreacher]

I used that line on some liberal classmates the other night (at a Aviation Tech school for goodness sake!); it drove them batty!

[streetpreacher]

"an Aviation tech school..."

Sorry to be so anal.

[jocon307]

Ron Silver did speak at the Pubbie Convention, and his speech as excellent. In fact, I thought all the speeches were excellent, but I must say Ahnold's was my personal fave.

I think we see that those in hollywood who are actually smart, like Silver and also James Woods (who has a degree in Poli Sci from MIT, I heard him say so on Sean Hannity's show) are more likely to be on the RIGHT side, than some of the air heads. (Although I actually knew Tim Robbins in HS, and he is not stupid, but comes from a completely artsy-fartsy lefty backround.)

Ron Silver isn't stupid, he knows these Islamofacists would just as soon chop off his head as shake his hand, any body who doubts that, or forgets it, is a fool, no matter how high their IQ.