Perhaps it's because dear old dad hails from the land of Cleese, or because that accent can make anything sound measured and thought out, this video of John Cleese on Sarah Palin caught my attention this morning. His pointed commentary on Palin comes as the Troopergate probe expands and at one of her becoming-signature enthusiastic rallies yesterday, Palin mistook a group of supporters for protesters.
The crux of Cleese's argument is that if one were to take the whole of Europe, regardless of political persuasion, one wouldn't find "5 percent" who think she's good enough to run the US.
Cleese says:
Can they not see that she's basically learned certain speeches — and she does them very well, she's got a very good memory — but it's like a nice looking parrot. Because the parrot speaks beautifully, and kind of says 'Aw, shucks,' every now and again but doesn't really have any understanding of the meaning of the words that it is producing, even though it is producing them very accurately. . . the extraordinary thing is that so many people are taken in by it.
Does Cleese's argument strike a bad chord — or ring true?
An entirely different generation and genre of entertainment is getting into the mix too. To see the Gossip Girl gang's new Obama ad, read more.
In their take-off on those anti-drug PSAs, apparently McCain is the new high? OK, sorry, I know that's not what they meant but. . . doesn't making something off-limits make it more appealing? Just thinking. . .
The spot is part of MoveOn's Youth Vote program. Does it make a compelling case? More compelling than Cleese? Should entertainers stick to that, and leave politics alone?
Ruco Line
Moschino Cheap & Chic
Tamaris
I dont agree with him, but I still love him anyway.
I look at Obama the same way, charismatic parrot.
1I wish Michael Palin was running for VP.
Also, all I could think of was the Monty
Python 'dead parrot' sketch when Cleese said 'parrot'.
I think he has a good point--but of course you're going to think that if you're not a Palin/McCain supporter supporter. Just sayin'.
I also think it's funny that she mistook the supporters for protesters. And, someone should tell her that yes, a lot of people who protest (and who do not protest) support the troops and appreciate what they do. Having a dissenting opinion doesn't make you 'unpatriotic', and I'm tired of having to prove that I support Obama AND veterans/anyone in the armed forces.
2In the Vice Presidential debate, Governor Palin changed the subject almost every time she was asked a question so she could provide one of her memorized talking points. Whenever she is forced to stray from memorized answers or speeches, she's a mess. John Cleese's statement might be a tad extreme, but there is definitely some validity to it.
3You can buy that dead parrot.
4Both great. John Cleese says it incredibly well--Parrot Palin.
And I'm into the Moveon ad too--I don't doubt that it could get kids talking to conservative parents. If only to share the ad.
5CG, I WANT, I WANT!
6Aw! em1282! I can't believe I missed the opportunity for a dead parrot sketch joke. Note to self: get up earlier than em1282.
7I think he's pretty dead on with his assessment of Palin. I have yet to see anything intelligent come from her. Reading speeches written for you does not prove intelligence.
8It's unfortunate that people have to generalize the behaviours of political representatives, but they generalize themselves. So, we're stuck with everyone talking about everyone not giving facts, details, specific reasons to vote for one candidate or another, and this argument itself becomes annoyingly, ironically generalized.
9It's hard to attack anyone that's on my team, but i never really cared before what john cleese might say. I mean, I only really liked him in A Fish CAlled Wanda, and I barely even remember the film.
All politicians are talking parrots, is what I want to say.
well - i think that there's something that we need to remember about how our system works. when someone's elected into office, they aren't making decisions on their own, they have a cabinet of people to defer to and who guide them in the right direction - so for people who just think that palin is only good at reciting memorized points, you have to remember that she's going to have people behind her helping out - and well, i have to think that she's great on paper too. maybe she's good at writing policy and things of that nature. we all didn't think that George W could even put together a coherent statement when he first came into office and over the course of the past 8 years, he may not have anything great to say, but at least he knows how to talk to the public.
10Hahaha, Citizen! It's just the caffeine. Trust me, I'm lost without it!
11That talk-to-your-parents ad is really cute and funny. Not super substantive, but it made me giggle.
If I were a starlet, though, I think I would e shy about doing party specific stuff. I'd just be worried that it would come back to bite me later.
12Yeah, I agree, TS.
I do wish Chuck Bass (er, Ed Westwick) from GG was in that advert. Sorry, I'm a shameless Chuck Bass freak. Can't help it.
13ts what is your new picture?
14It's a scene from West Wing. I think I'm going all West Wing until the election. It's from season 7, episode 13. The campaign staff are looking at a new poll just posted on the NYT.
This is the larger image:
15http://www.screenmusings.net/TheCold/pages/s07e13_013.htm
em I totally agree. Because I am not a conservative that somehow makes me less patriotic.
16Although I usually like to keep up with all my favorite celebrities and I am completely obsessed with Gossip Girl, this promo is not changing my mind on who I will vote for. In fact I believe celebrities( although entitled to their own opinion) should not( including Tom Hanks and Oprah)make it point to declare their candidates choice. This is unfair free publicity to opposing party; it is unfair and unethical. Furthermore, the celebrities who engage in choosing sides, could lose credibility or even liability with their fan-base. I say celebrities should just stick to encouraging the youth of America to vote instead of telling them who to vote for.
17I love John Cleese even more now.
18holy repeat posts batman.
19lol, norisa, what happened?
20And Billyart, you are spot on!
21I love this man. I can't agree with him more.
" so for people who just think that palin is only good at reciting memorized points, you have to remember that she's going to have people behind her helping out"
I am not comfortable with that. Yes all politicans have experts helping them out. But she doesn't seem to be able to grasp the basic concepts on a lot of issues. I think the difference is that...other candidates while they have experts lending their knowledge and expereince DO have some prior knowledge of policy issues and expereince and depth she lacks.
I don't like the comparsion of Palin and OBama...becasue one is running for President and the other is VP so lets compare her to Biden. For example during the VP debate she didn't even answer half of the questions, she can't give concerte examples on anything where as Biden can. The lack of knowledge she shwos is unacceptable for VP candidate...I don't want a second in charge of a head of state to relate to me because she is charming..I want them to be smarter, better than me..and make the right decisions.
22the gossip girl one is awful and offensive. And LMAO, voting for Mccain cuz everyone in your age group is, can we say Obama?? Young people who know diddly squat want Obama, because he is charismatic and cool and it is in style.
23And I bet half those stars did not know much about anything as well, but being a celeb I guess makes them some kind of authority.
Laurel, not all young people just want obama cause he is charismatic and its "in style" thats really unfair to generalize that way!
24Thanks, CG.
25I do not mean all, I mean ones who do not know anything about the issues. They choose Obama because it is "cool"
26In re: to the Palin rally in Richmond: "On a sunny day in which many had stood in place for more than three hours without shade, at least 25 people collapsed from heat-related illnesses and three were hospitalized, according to the Henrico County fire department."
At least no one can say Obama is the only one who inspires people so much they faint!
Side note: my boyfriend coined a "new" term yesterday: palindrone
When Palin says the same thing over and over.
(He doesn't dislike Palin, btw, he just thought that was a funny word.)
27laurelm - that same statment can be said about people choosing the Palin/McCain team cuz they are hockey mom friendly...
28I agree with him but, on some level that's the role of the VP canidate, to talk up the Presidental Canidate, stick to talking points, the umltimate surrogate for the canidate. I think it's the way Governern Palin presents the talking points, and talks up her Canidate that turns people off while there are some people that love her folksy charm, other people hate it and are completely turned off and this is being pointed out by all media outlets so this in some ways it makes her look like a Parrot.
"I look at Obama the same way, charismatic parrot."
I totally disagree
29Hockey mom is referring to the VP candidate, not the Presidnetial candidate.
30I have heard Obama referred to as celebrity and it is ignorant to think in our celebrity culture that young people are not tuned in to that.
Also I rather someone vote for a hockey mom mentality- a working mother, supporting her kids, etc, versus voting for someone cuz they think he is a celeb.
"I have heard Obama referred to as celebrity and it is ignorant to think in our celebrity culture that young people are not tuned in to that."
Some Republicans have used that as a term to disparage him. It's not something being spread among the Dems as a positive point. If you are arguing the opposite then I guess you and the Republican strategists are at odds.
31Even though I find celebrity voting PSAs annoying (anyone see that "don't vote" one--I couldn't even make it through the whole thing because it was like fingernails on a chalkboard), the last line of the GG ad made me laugh.
I could turn water into wine before I could get my parents to vote for Obama (or any democrat for that matter. If the republican party was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for them!)
32I think it is disparaging, seeing as one of your credientials in winning would be "celebrity"
33But is it going to get him votes? Yes.
laurelm -
Point taken about the Obama celeberity thing vs. Palin VP but I think if by any indication with the frevor that surronds her...people will just as likely choose MCain/Palin because they like Palin and can relate to her...
I don't disagree that "YOUNG PEOPLE" vote for celebrity... but just because they are a celeberity doesn't mean they shouldn't have a say...I talk about politics on my blog all the time... Doesn't mean the youth vote doesn't matter as much. That's democract for you..you might not agree with why and who they are voting for..but they still have a voice and they are free to express it as they choose without judgement. One would hope that all those ads increase their awarness and they actually go google up some info on the candidates...before they vote..
I mean I was pissed when idiots elected Bush into a second term in office but I didn't go around calling people who voted for them as all uneducated hicks..
34I would think that its more a majority of older dems who just vote only in thier party, outrank the "youngins" only voting because its Hip. which is worse?
Same for both sides actually.
35Damn typing witout caffine..*democracy for you*
36On a side note..the Canadian electiosn are today..much more boring
37CYL--my best friend lives in BC (White Rock) and is voting today. She says she can't believe how long our process is.
Excellent point about the second Bush term as well and your reaction to the aftermath.
Also, just for argument's sake...from dictionary.com
ce·leb·ri·ty
1. a famous or well-known person.
2. fame; renown.
McCain and Obama are both celebrities in their particular arena. Both are famous for different things, and both have a particular 'celebrity' quality about them. That's just how it is, and as long as neither of them go the route of flashing us their crotches, I don't really care.
38oh em...I just had the most horrible imagery in my head..about the crotch flashing....
39CYL, yea no one wants to see these celeb-utants drapery.
40ilanac13 are you comparing Palin's appeared incompetency to George Bush? Cause if you are do realize how unsupportive that is, I mean just look at how that turned out.
41Oh stop CG....all I can think about is that now...EW. Oh stop the madness and the flashing!!!
42Wow that PSA is bold. I would be nervous about snipers hiding out around my house after I participated in that...well at least it was funny.
43
CYL. Sorry to open up that can of worms!!!
44I've always wondered...If my parents taught me that politics are a private issue not to be discussed with strangers, shouldn't the same courtesy hold true for celebrities? I wish they wouldn't use their fame to influence people who can't think for themselves. I still heart Penn but ah, just a bit disappointing.
45LOL at both John Cleese's Palin Parrot comment and that PSA.
46I'm surprised there wasn't a reaction to the fact he is British, and therefore has no say, like Brand!
47Is Cleese still a Professor at Cornell?
48I've read other pieces in British and Aus newspapers agreeing with his assertion that Palin would never make it in politics outside the US.
They may think of Bush as folksy but they do realise he is bright, this woman, not so much.
Because your British, you can't have an opinion?????
49My comment was cloaked in sarcasm. Some people on this site had huge issues with comments made by people who were not American in regards to the US Presidential election.
50Personally, if the President is going to be known as the Leader of the Free World, then I think the free world should be able to voice their opinion.
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