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Roger Ebert Now Cooler than Ever

Ebert Talks Politics / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | September 30, 2008 | Comments (46)

Roger Ebert has been in the news more in the last month (since he officially quit “At the Movies”) than he has been in the last five years. A couple of weeks ago, New York Post critic, Lou Lumenick, took a swipe at him. And now, Ebert is taking swipes at John McCain, assessing Friday’s debate on his website, Ebert.com. He writes, in part:

I do not like you, John McCain. My feeling has nothing to do with issues. It has to do with common courtesy. During the debate, you refused to look Barack Obama in the eye. Indeed, you refused to look at him at all. Even when the two of you shook hands at the start, you used your eyes only to locate his hand, and then gazed past him as you shook it.

Obama is my guy. If you are rude to him, you are rude to me. If you came to dinner at my house and refused to look at or speak with one of my guests, that would be bad manners and I would be offended. Same thing if I went to your house. During the debate, you were America’s guest.

I had to do two things at once while watching the debate. I had to listen to what was being said. And I had to process your rigid and contemptuous behavior. If you were at a wedding and the father of the groom refused to look at or speak to the bride, how would that make you feel? Especially if you were the father of the bride?

We all know the truth, though. McCain couldn’t look directly at Obama because his heart would melt. That Obama, he’s a handsome fella. And that, folks, is why I’m voting Obama/Messiah ‘08.


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Comments

You know, someone posited to me that perhaps McCain can't move his head/neck because of whatever injury he received that gave him that whole tyrannosaurus-arm thing he has going on. I think it might have been my mom, who apparently is a republican now.

*sigh* oh, crazy mom.

Posted by: "Sybil" "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at September 30, 2008 4:06 PM

Not being able to turn his head is an interesting point, that I hadn't heard before. I was intrigued, but I found many pictures of John McCain turning his head with a "John McCain" Google Image Search.

So yeah, I guess he's just a dick.

Posted by: Roni at September 30, 2008 4:20 PM

Firstly, McCain got the shit kicked out of him for three or four years while in a Hanoi (Vietnam) Prison. (He was the targeted son of a Naval Admiral.) His arms were repeatedly broken as well as legs and he clearly has a temperament problem.

Secondly, George Stephanopoulos asked him about that behaviour and he didn't have an answer. He basically shrugged and said "I just do that sometimes in debates, I like to look at the camera." George didn't follow up and ask about the handshake.

Thirdly, it was buried last week but McCain had an interview with Spanish newspaper (El Pais) where he confused Pres. Zapatero as a Zapatista and referred to Spain as Mexcio/in our hemisphere/allied with Bolivia and Venezuela. The interviewer reminded him gently that they were talking about Spain three times. Doddery.

So he's temperamental, dismissive and doddery. It's another Bob Dole nominee.

Posted by: amanda47 at September 30, 2008 4:24 PM

Yeah, I mean even if that were true in any way, one would probably compensate by turning one's entire upper body, or entire body if necessary, to face someone one is debating with. At least, in polite society.

My mom is kind of nuts.

Posted by: "Sybil" "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at September 30, 2008 4:24 PM

I think it might have been my mom, who apparently is a republican now.

*sigh* oh, crazy mom.

Oh, that happened to me eight years ago and "you're voting for Gore?!", around the time she started referring to people like Julia Roberts as "leftist". Then this morning my sister gave me a ride to my endoscopy and she had Fox & Friends on on the XM radio. She turned! Once again I was happy that the elections happen several weeks before Thanksgiving. In 2000 I'd had to work or something and got there late, missing all the dinner conversation I'd been dreading.

Regarding the Spain/Latin America "I'll meet with friendly people" interview I read a spokesperson saying McCain knew he was talking about refusing to talk to Spain...in Europe. So it's a charming story either way. I haven't seen any more about the "collaborator POW" story, which did seem perhaps too wacky, but a friend of mine is convinced he's the Manchurian candidate.

Posted by: Jay at September 30, 2008 4:33 PM

Man, fuck 'em BOTH. They were like shy little 3rd graders meeting on the first day of school.

My favorite part of the debate was when Mr. Lehrer was exhorting them to "Tell him that", with hand gestures and everything, while neither of them would look at each other, like they didn't quite understand what a fucking debate was, besides who could use the word "fundamental" the most (I think it was a pretty close tie).

And this is the best we have to choose from? Sad.

Jim Lehrer for President, I say!

Posted by: TMax at September 30, 2008 4:34 PM

TMax - you must have missed the several times that Obama spoke directly to McCain during the debate. There were a few.

I don't think McCain can't turn his neck - I've never heard of his neck being broken while he was a POW. My dad has broken his neck twice and several vertebrae have been fused as a result - he can't turn his head more than a few degrees. He compensates by turning his whole body - he's one of those people who thinks it's respectful to look someone in the eyes when speaking to them. Sigh.

Posted by: Kolby at September 30, 2008 4:42 PM

And can I talk about something that's been bothering me for a while? I don't really appreciate how often McCain trots out his POW experience when giving interviews. I come from a military family and married a Marine, I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyone who chooses to serve our country, and I admire McCain for the sacrifices he made while in prison. But he talks about it ALL THE TIME. This is not a common characteristic of men or women who have served in combact zones. Seeing what they've seen on a daily basis, it's not unheard of for them to not speak about their experiences at all. My grandfather was wounded in Korea, yet he never spoke of his time there or the friends he lost. It was too painful, even 50 years later. I just think it belittles the sacrifices made by members of the military - and the many, many men and women who will never come back - for McCain to use his time in capitivity as a talking point to get votes. That's all I have to say about that.

Posted by: Kolby at September 30, 2008 4:48 PM

Right on, Kolby! I've noticed that, too. I'm not part of a military family (we're mainly an anti-military family - just kidding - no I'm not - yes I am - well...), but I'm always a little uncomfortable when he starts talking about it. It just reminds me that there might be someone else out there that has had a similar experience and may be forced to live it all over again whenever he opens up his piehole.

Plus, it seems rude. I can't place it, but it really seems rude. Or; maybe I'm looking for the word crass. I mean, there are people in my family with missing limbs, who've been to prison, who've lived all sorts of horrible times, but they don't blab on and on and on about it.

Posted by: Estelle at September 30, 2008 4:59 PM

I don't know if Ebert was this irreverent when he was in the critic's chair w/Siskel, but I personally like the "I don't give a fuck anymore" Ebert version 2.0.

If you've got a mic, use that fucker!

Posted by: Recondite at September 30, 2008 5:05 PM

I'm liking Ebert a lot more now. We should totally invite him to have a column here.

Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at September 30, 2008 6:50 PM

On Dennis Prager's show today (yes, I listen to Dennis Prager, sue me), a caller and the guest host suggested a pretty interesting reason for the avoidance. Their theory was that McCain could have been offended, as they were, by Obama's addressing the senator as "John," rather than Senator McCain (or, presumably, mas--no, not going there).

Posted by: isaiah at September 30, 2008 7:21 PM


Kolby, I think he trots out the POW horse
so often because that's all he's got. He sure
can't run on the issues, and even his
own supporters don't buy the "Maverick" line
anymore.

Posted by: Drake at September 30, 2008 7:27 PM

I've been a loyal Ebert reader for over 20 years (insert self-deprecating quip about being an ancient Pajiber here). In the '80s I would buy his book of reviews every year just to read the 10-15% that was new material. When Ebert went online is when I learned how to use a bookmark. I've read probably 90% of everything he's published in that time. I, gentle readers, am an Ebert addict.

When he first got sick, he posted a couple of times that he'd be back soon. He was, briefly, but then suffered some complications, and Jim Emerson took over his site. Even though Roger occasionally checked in to update everyone on his condition, it began to seem to me that he might be wrapping it up soon.

So as happy as I was to see him return once again, I've been completely blown away by how prolific he's become. Keep in mind that he's been unable to speak for going on two years now. He can't speak. But for the last few months, he's been cranking out a half-dozen full-length movie reviews per week, along with the Answer Man, two or three other movie-related columns, and more and more pieces outside his usual bailiwick.

And what great stuff it has been! Check out his takedown of that supreme douchebag Jay Mariotti:

http://tinyurl.com/63t3ar

And his Rorschach-test satire of creationism:

http://tinyurl.com/53zwtq

Go visit his Wikipedia page if you want to see all the physical ailments he's had to endure since 2002. An ordinary man would have hung it up well before now. But I'll bet if you asked him, he'd say he owes it to his readers to make up for lost time, and as Recondite said, he's come back with guns a-blazin'.

Viva Roger!

Posted by: sansho1 at September 30, 2008 8:19 PM

I agree with you Kolby, and here's an interesting read: Why I Will Not Vote for John McCain.

Rock on Roger.

Posted by: Cindy at September 30, 2008 8:21 PM

John McCain earned my hatred when he shut down the Senate hearing into POWS in Vietnam in the 1990s. There was documented intelligence - HARD intel - of 20 POWS still in prison in 1980. There were hundreds of sightings. He said he was doing it for the families - and then he yelled till he was red in the face at a family member who dared confront him. Read this, and hate McCain:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081006/schanberg

Posted by: Farfalina at September 30, 2008 9:32 PM

Kolby, I totally agree with you. I am married to a Navy veteran and he would NEVER glorify his experiences in any conversation, let alone for political gain. It's considered tacky and disrespectful. The only time he discusses his military experience is with other veterans when they are getting their liquor on.

McCain, for all of his "Look at Me! I Was a Prisoner of War" exclaiming (even though at the debates it sounded as if he was just in prison, period) (we all let out a collected groan, nonetheless), he has consistently voted against the interests on the American war veterans. In March, 2005, McCain voted to kill a budget amendment increasing vets medical care by 2.8 billion for 2006. In 2006, he killed another budget increase for veteran medical spending. In 2007, he voted against an emergency spending bill for vets. This year he avoided voting altogether on a proposed modern GI Bill, something you would have thought would be a priority for him. When McCain said in the debates that the GIs know he is looking out for them and will look out for them as president, I laughed out loud. What an outright lie.

Posted by: happy_blackbird at September 30, 2008 10:04 PM

sansho1, I am so with you on the Ebert love, and probably for about as long. I actually wept with joy the first review that appeared in my newspaper after he was away form writing. Literal tears came out of my eyeballs. (Technically, out of my tear holes, I guess, but I like saying eyeballs.)

To be fair in regard to McCain about the constant talking about his stint as a POW, I am certain that neither of them are saying anything at this stage that they're not being told to say. Not that as human beings they have no choice, and not that I don't find it exploitative, but it is something to consider. He may not be entirely to blame for that. Only in the debate context, of course.

Just so everybody is clear, I'm not really defending him per se. He certainly has the ability as a human being to tell the handlers to back off. I still won't vote for him. And I still think he can move his neck.

Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at September 30, 2008 10:30 PM

Also, it's possible that I've caught some of the crazy from my mom.

Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at September 30, 2008 10:49 PM

You all just wanna go ahead and change the name of this place to pajibama, or obamajiba, until this election happens? O

Or at least a little something to ward off film fans who would rather read a ebert film review than an ebert political review? Let him take his ass to CNN and quit the review business, because frankly, I don't give a shit.

Grasping straws.

I heard Obama get McCain's name wrong a few times, and actually retort to a lame argument from McCain involving bracelets, by claiming that he wears a bracelet, too? Does that mean Obama is retarded? Nope.

Did you all read that the family of the soldier KIA that originally gave Obama the bracelet asked him to stop wearing it quite a while ago, and at the very least keep it private? Where does that register on your little moral scale of personality traits, ebert? Hmm...Not looking your opponent in the face during a debate, or exploiting the death of a young soldier for your own personal gain despite the wishes of the family. Which is worse.

Wait, why do I ask?)

Posted by: Some Guy at September 30, 2008 11:10 PM

John Kerry was mighty fond of referring to his Vietnam service every chance he got, as I recall. Didn't he arrive at the convention in Boston by Swift boat or something? Just sayin'.

Posted by: bucdaddy at September 30, 2008 11:10 PM

Didn't he arrive at the convention in Boston by Swift boat or something?

No it was apparently a water taxi that he and some of his crewmates took a ride on.

War hero campaigning is a little cheesy for anybody to do. War prisoner campaigning is just...bizarre, not to mention pretty damn Sobcek by now.

Some Guy obviously loves something about this place. Don't know what it is though.

And dogs can look up.

Posted by: Jay at September 30, 2008 11:25 PM

"...You all just wanna go ahead and change the name of this place to pajibama, or obamajiba, until this election happens? ..."


I'm willing to just change it to Mcainama was a motherfucking collaborator.

Wanna explore that?

Let's do that..

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at September 30, 2008 11:55 PM

And that, folks, is why I'm voting Obama/Messiah '08.

Uh...I thought you hated Biden.

Posted by: vic at October 1, 2008 12:27 AM

Y'all are so cute when you try to be snarky with your politics. There isn't anyone here who can keep from revealing themselves in the effort, though. I'm not being critical when I say that.

In my mind it comes down to this: there isn't anything Obama can screw up that McCain can't screw up worse. No matter your initial bias, you shouldn't have to spend a lot of time deciding between smart and smarmy.

Posted by: Che Grovera at October 1, 2008 1:12 AM

McCain didn't look Obama in the eye because he was worried the handshake would turn into one of those goofy, complicated hand-dances that black people like so much. What if Obama raised the roof and expected McCain to reciprocate? We all know the man can't lift his arms over his head.

Be considerate, Obama. Don't raise the roof at the elderly.

Posted by: Lucas at October 1, 2008 1:33 AM

In my mind it comes down to this: there isn't anything Obama can screw up that McCain can't screw up worse. No matter your initial bias, you shouldn't have to spend a lot of time deciding between smart and smarmy.

Posted by: Che Grovera at October 1, 2008 1:12 AM

-------------------------------------------------

In MY mind,it comes down to what kind of Republic you wanna have in 20 years. I see it this way: A place where fear and stupidity has replaced spirit and intelligence. A place where the thinking have to cower in fear.
It used to be, that people would aspire to have their offspring become educated, go to college, become professionals. Now, doing that, has become something to be ashamed of.

When did this happen?

Beware of what you wish for my friends, you wanna keep electing assclowns whom you can: "have a beer with.." "you can, identify with" well, that's exactly what you are gonna get. That's what we have, NOW, a drunken/coked-up, fratboy..HOW DID THAT WORK OUT?
If YOU, or the people that hang out with you, were so smart, they'd be president.... YOU SEE ANY PRESIDENTS NEXT TO YOU?

Our leaders SHOULD be BETTER than us, that's the whole fucking point.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 1, 2008 1:47 AM

We can fix this: Zod / Zod '08.

http://www.zod2008.com/

Ebert can be his minister of propaganda or something.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at October 1, 2008 3:05 AM

Did you all read that the family of the soldier KIA that originally gave Obama the bracelet asked him to stop wearing it quite a while ago, and at the very least keep it private? Where does that register on your little moral scale of personality traits, ebert?

Soldier's mother 'ecstatic' about Obama's bracelet.

Posted by: Cindy at October 1, 2008 8:36 AM

Our leaders SHOULD be BETTER than us, that's the whole fucking point.

Have I mentioned lately about my huge crush on BSlim?

Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at October 1, 2008 9:22 AM

I'm liking Slim too. Maybe we'll let him come watch some Tuesday? He might enjoy that.

Posted by: bucdaddy at October 1, 2008 9:57 AM

Awww, yeeeaahhh.

Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at October 1, 2008 10:05 AM

A"KP"vB, if he's into it, I'll totally share BSlim with you! I think we've established that you and I have about the same taste in mens.

PS: I've missed you guys the last few days. Stupid work expecting me to do stupid work.

Posted by: Lainey at October 1, 2008 10:19 AM

I don't know if I so much have "taste" in mens, Lainey, or if I'm just kind of a hoo-er. But I do enjoy the sharing!

I solved the work problem by getting a new job that doesn't require too much work of me. It's delightful!

Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at October 1, 2008 10:41 AM

"And I went through this whole thing, you know. I was like: Am I gay? Am I straight? And I realized I'm just slutty. Where's my parade?"

I like to think I'm a picky and cerebral hoo-er, but maybe I'm giving myself too much credit...

Posted by: Lainey at October 1, 2008 11:16 AM

B-Slim, aside from your unsettling "invisible penis" fixation, I find you quite delightful. Even moreso after your little rant above.

Posted by: firedmyass at October 1, 2008 11:33 AM

I think both of these guys are probably what we deserve for not knowing our ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to economics. I see no significant difference between them really, so I suppose rudeness is as good a deciding factor as any.

Posted by: Eep at October 1, 2008 1:22 PM

Right On Roger and Dustin!

I saw Katy Couric ask Sarah Palin what publications she reads to keep her updated on what is going on. She replied "all of them" but when Katy asked her any ones in particular, she couldn't name one of them, just kept on saying "all of them." Huh? And this woman may be assisting in making decisions that will affect all of us. No!!!

Posted by: Julia at October 1, 2008 4:51 PM

SHAME on you, Cindy, for introducing TRUTH into the conversation that SomeGuy started re: Obama and the bracelet. When you start trying to talk sense to the Fox & Friends Followers, they get agitated. Their Fox-Fed Minds explode,and it's a mess cleaning up that amount of sticky republican goo, I tellya what...

Posted by: no goo on yoo at October 1, 2008 4:55 PM


If, after even the most cursory glances at Obama and McCain, you truthfully "see no significant difference between them," none of those words mean what you think they mean.

Posted by: firedmyass at October 1, 2008 5:45 PM

Here's a thought -- Barack Obama lacks the experience to be a credible candidate for Governor and the media is totally in the tank for him, and John McCain thinks that sucks. You silly sychophants on the Left who can't get out of your own way quickly enough to sweep this no-experience having dempty suit into office deserve what you get. I just wish you weren't fucking up my country in the process. (Let's hope and pray that the Democrats manage to screw this election up like they usually do.)

Posted by: Marty at October 1, 2008 6:20 PM

Here's a thought...

Posted by: Marty at October 1, 2008 6:20 PM

Still waiting, Marty. Or are you seriously trying to imply that your post involved thinking?

Posted by: Che Grovera at October 1, 2008 7:26 PM

So you want 4 more years of free market deregulation swindling, over-stretching our military, even less taxes on the rich, cutting of social warfare programs, education in the toilet and a man who couldn't even fucking look his competition in the eye.

I'm not a leftie or a rightie. I'm a fucking no party asshole and even I can say if I wasn't going to write "fuck this election" in the write-in portion on the presidential election line, I'd sure as hell vote for Obama over McCain.

Posted by: Devo at October 1, 2008 8:08 PM

And dogs can look up.
Posted by: Jay at September 30, 2008 11:25 PM

Fucking brilliant. I love that movie.

Ed: Why didn't you just shoot him, man?
Shaun: Ed, for the last time...
[Shaun squeezes the trigger of the gun, and it actually fires!]
Ed: I fucking knew it

Posted by: popejenn at October 2, 2008 2:00 AM

firedmyass-
One panders to one group and the other to another. Neither of them gives anything but lip service to principles. Neither of them knows a thing about economics in a time when they are involved in the most important economic decisions of our lifetimes. Notice what the congresses we've elected have done? Pandered to us long enough to get our votes and then sold us up the river. That's what both of these guys are; part of a group of people in this country that has become best at the primary skill required to govern in a democratic republic: winning votes. The only connection in the feedback loop between good governance and who is allowed to be part of it is us, and we've failed miserably.

Posted by: Eep at October 2, 2008 8:29 AM

McCain's demeanor at the debate illustrated a general lack of respect and maturity. McCain seemed angry that he even had to debate Obama. Lord knows he tried harder than hell to get out of it.

McCain is known to have a pretty rotten temperament (even going back to his pre-POW days). I'm beginning to think the word "Maverick" is Republicanese for "asshole".

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/8/30/123006.shtml

Posted by: Cleveland at October 4, 2008 11:42 AM