What John Wayne Can Teach Dems

NY Daily News ^ | 1/26/06 | Richard Cohen

[dhouston]

Dog's name was Sam....

[dhouston]

Dog's name was Sam....

[exnavy]

When you compare the Duke's westerns, it's hard for me to pick a "best". But I like Rooster Cogburn a lot... "out here a man values a good woman almost as much as he values his horse..."

[aligncare]

...For my money, there is no comparison to a John Wayne / John Ford Western in all of cinema to date!...

"Can I have an Amen, brothers and sisters!..."

[aligncare]

Hollyweird should take note, but no, they try to shove gay cowboys at their customers.

We've got to keep the pressure on them. Money talks. People, please don't give any of your money to the likes of 'Brokeback', 'Pulp Fiction' or any other film that don't respect community norms.

[Slicksadick]

Rush talking about this thread now...

[Clemenza]

"John Wayne was a FAG!"

[John Lenin]

"Out here, due process is a bullet".
- John Wayne as Col. Michael Kirby in "The Green Berets"

[areafiftyone]

Can I ask why you say that? Just curious.

[aligncare]

Put aside your skepticism.

I grew up a city kid in Brooklyn, But the moment I experienced the west...I turned cowboy.

I don't think President Bush is the type to live a lie - unlike some other past president...Does the name 'Bubba' ring a bell?

[Clemenza]

The Searchers is one of the greatest films ever, PERIOD.

John Wayne also had great taste in women.

[aligncare]

Yes!!!! Thanks for stating that.

[Clemenza]

Pulp Fiction did very well at the box office. Loved by many, including Republicans.

Bring out the GIMP!

[Clemenza]

It's a line from the movie "Repo Man." One of the funniest movies ever.

BTW: John Wayne had GREAT taste in women. He was far from being a homo.

[areafiftyone]

oops! Sorry about that. LOL

[aligncare]

People made fun of him as being archaic but really he represented decency and strength.

Oops, you used the 'Decency' word...That might get you labeled as one of 'those' people. Don't you know, decency (along with 'Truth') does't exist in the 'Post-Modernism' era we live in today.

[WalterSkinner]

You beat me to it. A great story.
A co-worker who used to take care of John Wayne's boat said he was a very nice man.

[aligncare]

Pulp Fiction did very well at the box office

Yes, you probable could sell millions of tickets to a beheading...Doesn't make it good or right.

[YankeeGirl]

Correct! That dog don't take to pettin', son.

[bcsco]

Harry Carey Jr. is still a contributor to 'snipettes' about Western Movie trivia on the Westerns Channel. Although I can't recall specifics, some of his stories about his career as a John Wayne stable actor are quite enjoyable and reflect the greatness of the man.

There are only two 'stars' whom I wish I could have met: John Wayne and Frank Sinatra. I have met a few others; one of whom has been a dear memory to me. But these two are my only regrets.

One may wonder why I regret not meeting Sinatra. Let me tell you a story (although this is somewhat off topic): A close friend's family was in the undertaking business in a Chicago suburb. Another of their family's businesses was a limousine service. My friend was slated to pick up comedian Jack E. Leonard at his hotel and drop him off at a Chicago theater for a movie opening. It was raining quite hard during the drive to the theater. During that drive, Leonard proved himself to be an absolutely insufferable ass; to the point that, when they arrived at the theater, my friend parked the limo across the street, making Leonard walk through a downpour instead of letting him get out under the canopy.

Just prior to driving away, someone knocked at my friend's driver's window. It was the drive for Frank Sinatra, who handed my friend a $100 bill and told him that Mr. Sinatra insisted my friend be given the money as 'he can't stand the SOB either'.

My friend told that story often however I always considered it somewhat apocryphal. Some years ago, however, I saw a TV program about Sinatra which stated how Sinatra always carried a supply of $100 bills on him. If someone provided a service or friendly gesture that Sinatra considered 'exceptional' then he saw to it that someone in his entourage got a $100 bill to that individual. This has caused me to revisit my friend's story as likely factual.

Sinatra has always been my favorite entertainer. Hearing this of him has made me regret I never had a chance to meet him. Again, I realize this is somewhat off-topic but it is a great story and demonstrates that not all 'stars' are/were insufferable egoists.