Our second installment of RPTV’s Great Debates features a regular here at The Recovering Politician, former Atlanta Deputy Mayor and contributing RP Lisa Borders debating our newest team member, GOP pollster, rising political star and Friend of RP Kristen Soltis.
Speaking of music, below the debate video you can find links to the No Labels theme song that Lisa co-wrote with the rap star Akon, as well as the music video of “The Frustrations,” featuring Kristen on lead vocals.
(Oh, and by the way, since the RPettes weren’t around to help the RP figure out how to Skype properly, there’s no video of Lisa, only her disassembled voice. This is not a Newsweekian attempt to demean a powerful female leader, just simple incompetence on the RP’s part. We have provided a picture of Lisa below to allow you to pretend that you can watch her on the video.)
By Robert Kahne, RP Staff, on Wed Aug 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
The Politics of Baseball
Barry Bonds’ lawyers are trying to get his conviction overturned. This is a sad saga, and I hope it ends soon. [Wall Street Journal]
A few days ago, the Phillies and the Giants got into a big fight, and Shane Victorino was suspended for a few games. He, as well as all of Philadelphia, were none to pleased with that. Read Philly’s take. [Philly.com Sports]
Alex Rodriguez was caught about a week ago as a participant in a high stakes poker game which may or may not be illegal. At this ESPN link, Colin Cowherd tells us its no big deal, and we get some information about the future of this incident. [ESPN]
In Cincinnati, two MLB.com writers were robbed at gunpoint. Watch out at Great American Ballpark, especially if you are a media member (I’m looking at you, Thom Brennaman). [The Big Lead]
If you read that above link about the Phillies, and though they were disgruntled, you should see what the loser Cubs think about their new-ish owner (hint: its nothing good). [Chi City Sportsfan]
A few days ago, David Ortiz got a hit, and two runs scored. The scorekeeper gave an error on the throw, which resulted in David Ortiz being given only one RBI instead of two. He was none to happy–which you can see in this video (which is NSFW). He has since been given the second RBI. [Deadspin]
By Patrick Derocher, on Wed Aug 10, 2011 at 9:31 AM ET
Washington Democrat Patty Murray will likely be the Senate co-chair of the new bipartisan committee tasked with reducing the US deficit.
On a deadline to appoint members to the bipartisan Super Congress by next Tuesday, August 16, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed Patty Murray of Washington, Max Baucus of Montana, and John Kerry of Massachusetts to the panel, designating Murray as co-chair. Murray, currently head of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and a senior member of the Senate’s Budget Committee, is expected to chair the new committee, formally known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, alongside a yet-to-be-named House Republican. Baucus was selected for his position as chair of the Finance Committee (and he has been a member of several bipartisan coalitions, including the original Gang of Six in 2009), while John Kerry, who was the party’s 2004 Presidential nominee, was chosen because of his seniority within the caucus. [National Journal]
Following its near-catastrophic 634-point drop the day before, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied by 429 points (3.98%) on Tuesday. Mirroring its rise was a 4.7% increase in the S&P 500. Price levels had been inconsistent over the course of the day, with the final surge resulting from the Federal Reserve Bank’s mid-afternoon announcement that interest rates would remain very low through the middle of 2013. Early Wednesday trading saw increases in stock indices in Japan, South Korea, and Australia. [NY Times]
Following Standard & Poor’s decision to downgrade United States debt from AAA to AA+. the Securities and Exchange Commission has released, in part through an 84-page letter to S&P, guidelines on changing rating agencies’ reporting requirements; perhaps unsurprisingly, S&P has not reacted well to the proposal. Notably, the regulations would require such groups to state publicly and on their website when an error has been found in their calculations. This particular stipulation has been met with ire from Standard & Poor’s in large part because the US government has accused the agency of making a $2 trillion error in its calculations that the Treasury Department believes should have affected the decision to downgrade American debt. The entire set of regulations is 517 pages long and is more broadly aimed at reforming the ratings agencies that massively overestimated the dependability of certain loans in the months and years leading up to the 2008 fiscal crisis. [Reuters]
In a moment of stunning irony, the S&P downgrade may have brought some level of bipartisan agreement to the halls of Congress. Members from both sides of the aisle, including some with ideologies as disparate as those of Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) are calling on investigations as to the why and wherefores of the downgrade decision, including whether or not S&P may have benefited from it. Overall, the consensus seems to be that ratings agencies should play a smaller role in the United States’s government and economy. [Wall Street Journal]
In other government dysfunction news, the results of the Wisconsin State Senate recall elections are in, and though Republicans will maintain control of that body, Democrats have picked up two seats in that body, though they may lose more as two Democratic senators are up for recall elections on August 16. Although the results are, on the surface, a loss for Wisconsin Democrats, there has been speculation that the close results of some races may bode well for an effort to recall Republican governor Scott Walker [MSNBC]
As the dog days of August trudge onward, there’s one universal truth:
We are all sick to death of politics.
So, beginning next week, and proceeding the week after, like any good politico, The Recovering Politician will temporarily change its format to reflect the prevailing public mood. But unlike too many politicians these days, we are also soliciting your help.
Next week — the week of August 15 — we will be celebrating Politics-Free Week at The Recovering Politician. There will be no talk of anything policy or politics oriented, as we focus on everything else under the sun.
And you, the RP Nation, are invited to join us. If you are game, please send us your best Top 5 pop culture list by Saturday night, August 13 to Staff@TheRecoveringPolitician.com.
Then the following week, the week of August 22, we will dedicate the site every day to what’s wrong with politics and how it can be fixed.
Of course, we want to hear from you as well. Please send us your essays on how to fix the American political system — one specific part, or the whole darn thing (1500 words or less) — by Saturday night, August 20 to Staff@RecoveringPolitician.com.
August may be dull, hot, and humid. But with your help, The Recovering Politician will experience a cool breeze of fun dialogue and fresh ideas for the nation’s future.
By Robert Kahne, RP Staff, on Tue Aug 9, 2011 at 3:30 PM ET
Captain America
I’m pretty good at Marvel superhero trivia. I was one of those nerds who was mad when the 2002 Sam Rami Spiderman film did not have mechanical web shooters, and was geekily excited to hear that the reboot would ditch the organic webbing. In the same vein, I was livid at what X-Men 3 did to the continuity of the comic book, and that Iron Man wasn’t really an alcoholic. I’m THAT GUY. But, for whatever reason, I don’t know that much about Captain America 1. I don’t know why, since he is one of the original Marvel heroes, but his story never interested me very much. However, that was a mistake on my part. It’s a pretty awesome story.
These guys are not stylish in the 21st century.
Making this film must have been tough. You have essentially a jingoistic, America is #1 in the world character who is campy and ridiculous–he has wings on his helmet and wears blue tights and has a shield. While during the 1940s, that stuff probably seemed really hip, it’s relevancy has certainly waned as time has worn on. America’s relationship with jingoism has really soured as the 20th century has worn on, and superheroes and tight quit being awesome after the original X-Men series went off the air. So, making a movie about Captain America that was both relevant and also respected the hero’s story could not have been easy. However, Joe Johnson really got it done with this film. They gave us the real story–the one from the comic book–and managed to make it relevant to today by adding several modern sentimentalities to the plot.
Hugo Weaving: The Villain of our Time.
The acting was top-notch, especially by the older guys. Hugo Weaving stole the show, in my opinion. His portrayal of the villain Red Skull captured the evil madman pitch-perfectly2. Not to be outdone, Tommy Lee Jones did great as Col. Phillips. Chris Evan’s portrayal of Cap was good–I think he fulfilled his duty of capturing the essence of Captain America–but it wasn’t as outstanding as Weaving or Jones. Evans is given to overacting and melodrama. The supporting cast did well also, especially Neal McDonough as Dum Dum Dugger and Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark.
The film was not without its flaws, however. The love story felt shoehorned into the film. It was never very fulfilling or resolved, and the plot could have done without it. As I said earlier in reference to Chris Evans, the film is rife with melodrama–the script really didn’t help Mr. Evans out in this regard. However, the action was still good, and this is a movie a 24 year old superhero aficionado can watch and enjoy.
If you enjoy comic books and superheroes as much as I do, you need to see this movie. Even if you only like superheroes half as much as I do, you should go see this movie. However, if superhero movies have started getting on your nerves and you are starting to wonder why so many of them are getting made, this film will do nothing but frustrate you. When I reviewed Green Lantern several weeks ago, I said that there is still a future for comic book movies–but only as fan service, not as big-blockbuster pictures that merit gigantic media blitzes and multi-million dollar advertising budgets. Captain America may have been pretty ubiquitous in commercials and branding, but it is the type of movie that the future of comic book films need to be–a film for fans of the character. This film did a great job of getting me super excited for The Avengers next year. Joss Wheadon, you are up.
This Movie Is Good.
Beginners
The film Beginners is absolutely fantastic. At its core, its a film about people who have no idea what to make of relationships–a subset of people which absolutely includes me. The film gives a treatment of relationships between lovers and family which is sweet and genuine and which has heart, and I think you should go see the movie, already!
In this film, Ewan McGregor plays Oliver, a man whose elderly father comes out as gay to him after the death of his mother. The ploy is threefold–it includes scenes about his father’s homosexuality and his eventual death from cancer, as well as scenes about his present relationship with a French actress with whom he begins a relationship, and scenes showing Oliver’s youth and his relationship to his mother. The film is able to weave these three time periods together in a way which is focused and meaningful–reveals are made about the past which relate to scenes the audience has already seen which take place in the present which provide us with greater nuance with which to treat the various characters. The skipping between time periods really works for this film.
Ewan McGregor does a fantastic job of portraying Oliver, a man who is obviously damaged by his parents strange relationship, which fiercely loving both of his parents. He and Melanie Laurent (who plays his girlfriend Anna) are also dynamic. We often hear of chemistry between lovers on screen referred to with terms such as “sparks” or “sultry,” but this relationship is very honest. It is hot and sensuous at times, and cold and distant at other times. All of the feelings seem honest and real, and that is a credit to these actors.
However, the heart of this film is in its treatment of LGBT issues. I have a lot of trouble empathizing with LGBT characters in film–probably because their experiences are very different from my own–and have always been frustrated by my lack of sympathy for their character’s unique struggle and the impossibility of me understanding the complexities and motivations of LGBT characters. This film, however, presents a straight man, dealing with LGBT issues. In this movie, I found a person who is grappling with the role which homosexuality plays in the 21st century with whom I could relate, and with whom I could empathize. This is the greatest gay film for a straight audience, in my opinion, and there is a lot of credit due to this film for that.
This film is one of my favorites of the year. I cannot recommend it any more than that. If it is showing in your city, I strongly suggest you make a trip to see it. You won’t regret it.
1However, I have been watching the cartoon The Avengers: Earth’s Greatest Heroes, which has caught me up a lot on Cap’s backstory. Like I said, I am a total nerd. 2The things I would do for a movie with Christoph Waltz and Hugo Weaving as European bad-guys are unspeakable.
Yesterday, the RP appeared as a guest again on “The Daily Wrap” with Michael Castner on Wall Street Journal radio. The RP shared his insights on the market crash that was transpiring in real time, talked about his Huffington Post piece, “Credit Downgrade for Dummies,” and bemoaned the state of American politics.
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Tue Aug 9, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
The first website ever created celebrated its 20th birthday this weekend. Remember the days when a web page was just a bunch of links on a white background? [Time]
A man from California is suing the Hilton hotel chain… over a 75 cent newspaper. [San Francisco Chronicle]
Hey Wall Street Journal readers… fill out this survey about what you’ve heard about Rupert Murdoch in the news, win an iPod Touch! [NY Magazine]
Confused about why so many print newspapers are suddenly charging readers for Web access? The Poynter Institute explains why the new business model makes sense. [Poynter Institute]
How much power does the News Corporation, the media empire behind the recent tabloid scandal, have on media in the United States? [NY Times]
By Patrick Derocher, on Tue Aug 9, 2011 at 11:00 AM ET
Monday saw historical drops in stock indices around the world, in many cases a direct impact of S&P's downgrade of American credit from AAA to AA+.
With the passage of a debt ceiling agreement a week ago, the country has (at least for the time being) averted a short-term debt and default crisis. This has not, however, stopped our budget and debt woes. And so, with a credit downgrade, stock market slides, and the ongoing formation of the budget Super Congress comes a new Budget Crisis Update from The Recovering Politician.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, as all reader are probably aware, experienced a gigantic 6% drop on Monday of 634 points. Here is what six economists from across the country have to say about it. [Daily Beast]
Reaction to the American debt crisis is global. Here is a look at how the world is responding. [Washington Post]
Accusations have flown that Standar & Poor’s, in downgrading the United States’s credit rating, has made major errors, with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner claiming that the ratings agency made a $2 trillion error and other Obama administration officials echoing the belief that the downgrade was made in error. As a result, the Senate Banking Commission, chaired by Tim Johnson (D-SD), is considering making an official investigation. This maneuver has been considered before in the House of Representatives, as House Republicans have, before the credit downgrade, taken issue with the Obama administration’s efforts at averting the downgrade. [Politico]
The mechanisms behind decisions made at Standard & Poor’s is not widely known and highly secretive. The New York Times has provided as good a look as any inside the organization, in particular the deeply-hidden committee that decides which countries deserve which credit ratings. [NY Times]
The most recent stock market declines are but the most recent in a long series of falls that has defined the 2011 bear market: world markets are down by 20% since this May. Even developing countries, which are usually something of a bulwark against market slumps, are down by 16% in that same period of time. [Reuters]
With an air of uncertainty, conflict, and general pessimism surrounding the United States economy, businesses across the country are hesitant to expand in any meaningful way, even in a year that was initially expected to see 4% economic growth. In addition to the widely-publicized (and often weak) job numbers, wages are remaining stagnant, as a 9.1% rate of unemployment gives employers little incentive to pay their workers better than they absolutely must. [NY Times]
As speculation swirls in the public and private spheres in Washington as to who will be selected for the Super Congress tasked with tasked with making further cuts to the US budget and deficit, The Hill has assembled a list of possible candidates, ranging from likely picks Chuck Schumer and Paul Ryan to longshots Jim Cooper and John Thune. [The Hill]
Blame for the S&P downgrade and pursuant stock slides is rampant in Washington, and no one seems to be assigning blame to his or her own party. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has instructed Republicans not to compromise on debt negotiations, Republican presidential candidates are calling for Tim Geithner to reign or be fired, and President Obama continues to lay blame solely at the foot of Congressional Republicans. [Washington Post]
By Jonathan Miller, on Tue Aug 9, 2011 at 8:30 AM ET
Maybe it’s the fact that Mrs. RP and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary this past weekend. Or perhaps I’m just getting a little tired of the hot and muggy weather.
Whatever the cause, my bow to pop culture this week reveals the Top Five Romantic Screen Scenes in the Rain.
I’m not sure of the precise scientific link between romance and precipitation, but it’s real; it’s widespread, and it’s soaking wet. There’s just something in the water…that makes a love scene so powerful and/or tear inducing.
So here goes–the top five screen love scenes that are all wet:
5. Casablanca
The granddaddy of all romantic rain scenes loses a few points because both Bogie and Bergman stay inexplicably dry amidst the gray, foggy drizzle. But aaaahhhhh, the romance…Humphrey Bogart’s cynical Rick risks his own life during WWII and makes the ultimate sacrifice: providing safe passage for the woman he loves and her Resistance hero husband. And as “As Times Go By” plays solemnly in the background, the Kentucky Derby of movie scenes (the most exciting two-minutes in film) packs in three of cinema’s greatest lines: “It doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world”; “We’ll always have Paris”; and “Here’s looking at you, Kid.” Watch it here, and then play it again, Sam:
4. Spiderman
As we await the latest reboot of this epic Stan Lee franchise, it’s important to remember that the Tobey Maguire/Kirsten Dunst trilogy stood out less for its supernatural feats of strength and power — C’mon, it was Tobey Maguire, for goodness sake — but rather for the aching, unconsummated three-way romance among the forlorn Peter Parker, his alter ego Spiderman, and the beautiful ingenue, Mary Jane Watson. The climax of their romance comes in a kiss: As Spidey hangs upside down on a building’s edge in a dark, dreary alley in the middle of a rain storm, a dripping wet Mary Jane removes just enough of his mask to reveal his lips, and then plants a sloppy one on him. Watch it here, and just try not to gush.
3. The Notebook
OK, gotta admit: Didn’t care too much for this click-flick schlock. But I had to throw it in here for the RPettes, for this is the scene that will define their generation’s vision of young romance. After seven years of waiting for each other, the two lovers stand in a wholesome field…Rain Pouring…They exchange sorrowful shouts…He lifts her in his arms…Draws her closely to kiss…They lock lips…BLECHHHH!!!. At least it has inspired a fairly funny satire about cell phone use during the previews of pretty much every movie I’ve seen this summer. OK, you young’uns out there in RP Nation, here it is:
Read the rest of… The RP’s Five Most Romantic Screen Scenes in the Rain
