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...

[aligncare]

Hitchens, Bruce, Koch, Lieberman...Maybe there is some fight left in this ol' republic.

[aft_lizard]

Ron is a very smart and moderate man who is able to push aside his personal social politics for the greater good of America.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Indeed, you picked 4 of the best examples. I'm sure there are others, and I hope they live long and multiply!

[StAnDeliver]

"For some reason he's always creeped me out to a degree (maybe it's been some of the characters he's portrayed, I don't know)"

He's been the go-to when Pacino passes on a role.

[khnyny]

Good for Ron Silver. Obviously, an intelligent, patriotic man who will be an asset to the Republican Party. I just wish there were more like Ron Silver in Hollywood.

[aligncare]

I heard Koch, popular liberal democrat ex-mayor of NYC, say the same thing about himself. A common thread, I think.

[Fudd Fan]

lol~ I would bet it was Silver's role as Dershowitz that started it for me!

[StAnDeliver]

"I really like Ron Silver. I think he is quite brave."

Would that his braveness filled his heart with respect for the unborn.

His Green tilt is no harm-no foul because he must compartmentalize & subordinate that within the GOP framework if that's where he wants to add his voice.

But if he seeks a more active role in the GOP, he must come around on abortion (if he wants more than a nasty namecheck article from the MSM once a year). Sure, the Slimes does everything but call him a scumbag in this interview -- maybe that's worth FReep cred, and Silver's erudition permits him to use the interview to his own ends, but he still needs a change of heart on abortion.

The party does not need another RINO New Yawker like Bloomberg or Giuliani (who I respect in every way but his pro-abort attitudes) at this point.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"James Woods (who has a degree in Poli Sci from MIT"

He called Bill & Hillary criminals. That's good enough for me!

" 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."

Amen to THAT!

[aligncare]

Anyone know Dershowitzs' position on Iraq, WOT?

[Burr5]

Actually Hitchens "rolled over" well before the war on terror. He was a consistently articulate, unforgiving critic of Der Schlickmeister. I think he's been consistent about what he believes. NO intellectually honest person (as Hitch is) could have defended Clinton, and none could defend Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan.

[aligncare]

Ahh, the issue that will not fade away.

[aligncare]

Ahh, the issue that will not fade away.

[stephenjohnbanker]

You are, of course correct. He was rough on the Clintons. I was alluding to the point where he abandoned liberalism altogether. (He used to be a Labourite Leftie).

[StAnDeliver]

Ah, perhaps with the nomination of Alito (and Bush's subsequent replacements of Stevens and Ginsburg), it will.

[aligncare]

There should be an award for the After 50th Post Dunce. I'll take first honors.

[GOPPachyderm]

Yes he did and I had the priviledge of hearing him speak.

[kajingawd]

"But if he seeks a more active role in the GOP, he must come around on abortion (if he wants more than a nasty namecheck article from the MSM once a year"

if you honestly think that the abortion issue is the core of the Republican party i think you're sadly mistaken...

[aligncare]

Regarding Hitchens:
"He was rough on the Clintons. I was alluding to the point where he abandoned liberalism altogether."

Amazing what leaving the UK will do to a man.

[StAnDeliver]

One of his better roles was Chicago Hope, although the shark had jumped out of the water by the time his role got any traction.

But he and Patinkin had a scene where a clash over some sort of palace intrigue culminated with a face-to-face, inches-apart, by-the-dozens throwdown in a crowded waiting room, where Kelley employed a circling camera motion to great effect.

You instinctively knew the argument would be lost by the first person to push the other -- and sure enough, after a glorious full minute, Silver's character finally issued the shove; Patinkin gleefully pounced -- "You lose!" -- even though Patinkin's character was on the wrong side of the argument.