Media mogul Turner derides attack on Iraq (Canadian reporter maligns Lee and Jackson)

The Globe and Mail ^ | 10 Feb 2003 | Simon Houpt

[Rebeleye]

He (Ted Turner) made his comments during an interview to promote Gods and Generals, a rambling and often incoherent 229-minute U.S. Civil War drama that is sympathetic to the pro-secession rebellion and makes heroes out of Confederate leaders General Robert E. Lee and Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson.

[Rebeleye]

WASHINGTON -- Former AOL Time Warner vice-chairman Ted Turner, once known as the Mouth of the South, unleashed his famous tongue again yesterday, criticizing the growing likelihood of a U.S. attack on Baghdad and suggesting that military action is a ridiculous way to bring down Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"We got all the bombs and they don't have very much but a few guns. It's the high-tech wealthy Western nation against the Third World country; it's kind of a foregone conclusion that we'll win. It's a question of how many civilians get killed over there -- that's what worries me," Mr. Turner said. "We're trying to get one man, right? And we're going to kill tens of thousands of people to get him. It seems like a pretty inefficient way to do things."

Mr. Turner compared the heavy-handed approach to dropping a nuclear bomb on Washington in an effort to neutralize the two snipers who terrorized the U.S. capital region last fall.

He made his comments during an interview to promote Gods and Generals, a rambling and often incoherent 229-minute U.S. Civil War drama that is sympathetic to the pro-secession rebellion and makes heroes out of Confederate leaders General Robert E. Lee and Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson.

Mr. Turner, who has a one-line cameo role in the film as a Confederate colonel, personally put up the entire $90-million (U.S.) production and distribution budget after AOL Time Warner declined its option to make the movie. The film's 1993 predecessor Gettysburg was a financial flop, taking in just $10-million at the box office on a budget of $25-million.

"When I greenlit this film three years ago, it represented 1 per cent of my net worth," Mr. Turner said in the interview. "Now it's more like 15 per cent of my net worth. That's how much of my other assets I've lost." The share price of AOL Time Warner has fallen from a high of $55 shortly after the two companies merged in January, 2001, to Friday's close of $10.64.

Mr. Turner has been uncharacteristically quiet since the merger, which he opposed. Two weeks ago, he announced his intention to step down as vice-chairman in May, leading to rampant speculation about his next move.

The tycoon denied rumours that he plans to buy back CNN and reinstate the network's original core values, in which showmanship took a back seat to journalism.

"Connie Chung's just awful," he said, referring to the high-priced star CNN hired last spring. "I'd love to get [the network] back. I just don't see how I can make it happen."

AOL Time Warner executives have insisted that CNN, which lost its No. 1 cable news ranking last year to the upstart Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News Channel, is one of the company's crown jewels and is not for sale.

Mr. Turner said that in addition to his chain of six bison-meat restaurants he opened last year, he will work to restore the value of AOL Time Warner shares, and would not let his loss of power stand in his way.

"I didn't have any power before, so I have no less power than I had before. But now, I have the power of the tongue. I can speak."

[Arkinsaw]

Gods and Generals is a prequel to Gettysburg. Jeff Daniels great portrayal of Joshua Chamberlain led me to study them man and I have come to admire him. Gettysburg is a very even-handed film. I have no doubt that Gods and Generals will also treat the participants of the war on both sides respectfully as they both should be.

Methinks this Canadian is just trying to stir up trouble.

[Ciexyz]

The chain of six bison meat restaurants he opened last year....

So, has anyone actually dined as these establishments and can give us a review?!

[Ciexyz]

I was impressed with the film Gettysburg and am looking forward to seeing Gods and Generals.

My question is, how can a fine film like Gettysburg only make ten million dollars, when Jackass can make a hundred mil the first week?!

[SwinneySwitch]

What did the Canadian reporter say?

[Grand Old Partisan]

Should there be "respect" for the Democrat-rebels of the Confederacy who killed 400,000 U.S. troops? As was known quite clearly at the time and for decades until Democrat professors started writing all the history book, all rebel were Democrats, every single one. The Democrats' disrepect for the Constitution and Old Glory goes back to the Civil War.

Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Tom Daschle, Nancy Pelosi, Jefferson Davis -- Democrats!

See www.republicanbasics.com to read about U.S. history from the Republican point of view.

[jlogajan]

Canadian reporter maligns Lee and Jackson

How do you "malign" two supporters of the institution of slavery??

[Grand Old Partisan]

Nathan Bedford Forrest, murderer of dozens of Union army prisoners, was elected the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan at the suggestion of Robert Lee, who told him "I hope you will succeed."

[Savage Beast]

When you started CNN and built it, Ted, many of us applauded and were eager to help.

The promise--or so we understood it to be--was an alternative to the National Propaganda Machine, centered in New York and Washington, through which information ("the news") is filtered and distorted before presentation to the public--an alternative that would bring truth and objective information to a public hungry for it.

In time, the public realized that CNN had been taken over by the National Propaganda Machine and had become its foremost and most effective propaganda organ.

The general perception is that you, Ted, betrayed to original promise and the trust of your many followers and supporters, who believed in you. You are not likely to regain that trust.

[Pilsner]

Canadian reporter maligns Lee and Jackson

I saw this headline and thought I was was going to see a Canadian attacking Shelia Jackson Lee and Jesse Jackson.

Should have known better.

[BfloGuy]

often incoherent 229-minute U.S. Civil War drama that is sympathetic to the pro-secession rebellion and makes heroes out of Confederate leaders General Robert E. Lee and Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson

That may not be over the top praise, but I'd hardly call it maligning.

[woofer]

My question is, how can a fine film like Gettysburg only make ten million dollars, when Jackass can make a hundred mil the first week?!

Gettysburg didn't play in the theatres. It was a 2 part mini, mini-series for TNT. I didn't have cable then, so I had my brother tape it for me.

[Grand Old Partisan]

I saw it in a theater. It probably made little money because of high production costs.

[Ciexyz]

The video Gettysburg is still available for rental in video stores.

I wonder if it will be re-released on VHS and DVD as a companion to Gods and Generals.

[Cultural Jihad]

So you pulled the title out of thin air?! Congratulations!

[BIGZ]

Ironic! When I saw Lee and Jackson I thought of two other individuals.

[Arkinsaw]

This from the only organization given the authority by Union Veterans to speak for them. You should have as honorable a spirit in regard to this as them.

RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT
DISPLAY OF BATTLE FLAGS OF THE CONFEDERACY
119TH NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT OF THE
SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR
LANSING, MICHIGAN AUGUST 19, 2000

A resolution in support of the display of the Confederate Battle Flag.

WHEREAS, we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, condemn the use of the confederate battle flag, as well as the flag of the United States, by any and all hate groups, and

WHEREAS, we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War support the flying of the confederate battle flag as a historical piece of this nation's history, and

WHEREAS, we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War oppose the removal of any Confederate monuments or markers to those gallant soldiers in the former Confederate States, and strongly oppose the removal of ANY reminders of this nation's bloodiest war on the grounds of it being "politically correct," and

WHEREAS, we, as the descendants of Union soldiers and sailors who, as members of the Grand Army of the Republic, met in joint reunions with the confederate veterans under both flags in those bonds of Fraternal Friendship, pledge our support and admiration for those gallant soldiers and of their respective flags;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in 119th Annual National Encampment hereby adopt this resolution. Dated in Lansing, Michigan, on this nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord Two thousand.

By Order of:
Danny L. Wheeler
Commander-in-Chief


Attest:
Todd A. Shillington
National Secretary

[BnBlFlag]

"The movie makes heroes out of Lee & Jackson"..... Lee and Jackson do not need a new movie to make them heroes. They've been heroes all along.

[jlogajan]

Lee and Jackson do not need a new movie to make them heroes. They've been heroes all along.

To the slave holders.

[rebelyell]

You are an absoulte idiot. Why don't you go troll somewhere else?