Was I too nice to Helen Mirren yesterday? Probably. I like her so much, I do tend to ignore it when she makes problematic statements. My defense of her is usually along the lines of “well, now she knows, maybe she’s learned how to speak about this issue now.” Anyway, Britain’s Channel 4 released the video of their interview with Mirren, and she talks about a lot more than #OscarsSoWhite and the Academy. She was also asked about American politics. Just for the record, Helen has been married to an American for nearly 20 years, and I’m almost positive that she lives most of the time in America (I believe she and Taylor Hackford own homes in New Orleans and LA). Mirren is also an American citizen, likely through her marriage. So… I feel like it’s totally fine for Mirren to talk about American politics, considering she likely votes in American elections. And as it turns out, Mirren kind of hates Ted Cruz and to a lesser degree, Donald Trump.
Whether the rise of Donald Trump signals a return of 1950s-style conservatism: “Yes, Donald Trump… and Ted Cruz. I suspect more Ted Cruz in a way than Donald Trump. I think the people who support Ted Cruz think Donald Trump is a little bit of a liberal. I think Donald Trump has a populist voice, massively populist, and that slightly demagogue, populist voice. But I think Ted Cruz is more the really old-school extreme right conservative.”
The extreme right wing: “There is an extraordinary, extreme, right-wing voice in America – extreme. If that does get into power fully – in the Congress, in the Senate, in the White House and has all the power that it wants, I can’t imagine how the world would look. I think it’s a very, very frightening idea, myself. This whole idea of ‘making America great’ it seems to me it would actually be sort of the end of America as a great country.”
[Via Channel 4, People Magazine]
Helen has previously referred to Trump as “stupid,” but in this interview, it sounds like she’s more worried about Ted Cruz. I’m kind of feeling it too – the interviewer clearly wants to talk more about Donald Trump and hopefully takeaway a juicy, bitchy quote, but Mirren is more concerned about Cruz’s neo-McCarthyism. She’s right to be concerned. And personally, I’m still hoping that Donald Trump’s final gift to the American people is a spectacular takedown of Cruz. Please let it happen!
Here’s Mirren’s interview.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Yep! America’s political spectrum is very small. From extreme right to just a bit left of center.
“Just a bit left of center” ? You have GOT to be kidding. There is a HUGE extreme left-wing aspect to the political spectrum here.
yeah. just watch the millennials and their internet and social media power. But unlike Obama’s case, IMO the #feelthebern movement will be penalized by the social media hype at the end.
+1 x 10000000000000000
In comparison to other countries, no, there isn’t a “huge extreme left-wing aspect to the political spectrum” in the US. Unfortunately, there are many who mistake anyone who is at all left of center to be “extreme left-wing,” but that is not the case.
The American version of “left wing” is what other countries consider moderate. The US doesn’t even have a Greens Party AFAIK.
Actually, Cornyblue is right. Ideologically, we range from very right wing and socially conservative, to slightly on the left.
https://www.politicalcompass.org/uselection2016
@Anna: Not true. America does have a Green Party. Jill Stein is the leader:
http://www.jill2016.com
Sanders is a very very decent man. You are confusing progressiveness with leftism.
Die Zicke
I love that Political Compass website. I come out on the quiz at -8 and -8, so way down in the green quadrant where, it seems, Americans fear to tread!
I have seen many people take their test and come out on a completely different place to the candidates they’ve been voting for.
The test is a little bit weird, some of the answers actually don’t fit in my way of viewing things, middle term answers are a bit non-existant… Or the translation into Portuguese is off…
I’m Gandhi?? Well, makes sense, always been left winged..
Robin, America’s so-called ‘left-wing’ Democrats are considered right wing to hard right in my country and in many others. I am in Australia. I don’t think there are any actual left-wingers in America. I also don’t think you understand how very very hard EXTREME right wing America is to the rest of the world. Your ‘right wing’ is so very hard extreme-*extreme* right wing, that is breaks the richter scale and beyond.
+1
I absolutely agree with EOA and hotowngooner. Remember, Helen is British. In Britain a Liberal is considered to be in the centre (or a tiny bit left of centre) whereas, it seems to me, in the USA a liberal is considered to be extremely left wing. So an American right-winger seems extremely right wing to a Brit. Would you agree?
Canada confuses people because the Liberals are a centrist pro-business party. Bet a lot of Americans thought otherwise when they were elected to govern last fall.
Well Bernie Sanders calls himself a socialist, and I’d hardly call Hillary Clinton “just a bit left of center”.
I feel like the political climate at the moment is turning more progressive and that’s partly due to the young voters. I’m not right wing or even a centrist when it comes to my political views. Ted Cruz and the Donald Trumps of the world are ridiculous and scare me. I know I might be a drum thumping liberal, but I don’t think the government should have anyone’s religious beliefs in it.
Let’s have our own drum thumping liberal party! We can make our own logos, I’m suggesting a puppy since the elephant has been taken already. We’ll drink wine & talk about real issues here. We’ll wear pink on Wednesdays (it’s a must) & Malala’s pictures decorating our oval office. I’m seriously considering that instead of all this Trump/Cruz crap that has been going on. It’s too much & unbelievable that people support Trump who is a complete joke & ignorant.
Sounds like a plan!! I’m all for sanity and pink Wensday! !! Let’s brainstorm on our animal mascot. 😉
@aims I love all puppies obviously, I’m willing to consider other animals too. I’m down with dolphins, giraffes, seals, penguins, etc. Definitely out of the race will be sharks & spiders nope just nope.
I’m cool with dogs. They’re honest, loyal and friendly just like us.
I think our animal should be the octopus– they are amazingly smart creatures.
It can be an octopus, a puppy & a dolphin.
Its a truly amazing thing isn’t it? That a party that spends so much time screaming about less government and the erosion of the constitution seems hell bent and entitled to insert their brand of religion into governing a country founded on the separation of church and state. It is terrifying in its arrogance and stupidity.
Yes… apparently the Constitution starts at the Second Amendment.
They want less SECULAR government to make room for more RELIGIOUS government.
It’s confusing because on the surface it sounds like people who hate government but will do anything to get into it.
They’d love a good theocracy. Theirs.
And yeah, apparently there’s nothing else in the Bill of Rights.
It’s the left-wing, not the right, that ignores the First Amendment. Those idiotic college students screaming about “safe spaces” and wanting to self-segregate aren’t conservatives.
Has anyone read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood? That’s the kind of theocracy I could see coming down the road….Terrifying.
“He’s what we used to call a Democrat and Hillary Clinton is what we used to call a Republican. Cruz and Rubio are what we used to call the Inquisition and Trump is what what we used to call an attention-seeking moron.”
Bingo! Love your work!
I will give Helen room and space for her opinion.
I am a consistent democrat since 1992, but I hear extreme voices on both sides. Cruz/Rubio/Huckabee/Santorum consistently shock me bc I just wonder — who was raised with values like that? But then I listen to someone like Sanders, and I think, “no, we cannot slide all the way into that either”.
I worry that we live in a very lost time, where people are not taking enough responsibility for themselves. We cannot legislate people out of personal prejudices, we cannot make them value something they don’t, even if it is their own lives. There is always someone to blame and a finger to point, which is a frightening attitude bc it demands this insane level of perfect idealism that no one – on either side – can ever reach. Certain rights like guns and abortion– maybe a person absolutely hates them and would never conceive of it entering their lives– but something may change, and you find that you or someone you know needs one, you’d want that right in tact. That we give up privacies, and that people cannot follow how obtuse and confusing governmental policy is on economics and energy is unnerving bc we are setting legislation down that ultimately keeps power out of the people’s hands.
I am worried not only about the extreme right, I am worried to death of the extreme left. Both are suffocating.
You really consider Sanders to be as extreme as Rubio/Cruz/…?
Not even remotely. This really seems to be a hand wringing ‘but both sides do it/are the same!’ argument, which is a false argument.
I’ve read up a little on some of Sanders ideas…I don’t see how they are that “extreme”. A lot of them have been in practice in Europe for decades now and most of Europe hasn’t fallen in to liberal extremist chaos. Basically he wants to make certain things more affordable (education,medical care) and help the everyman not get screwed by the 1 percenters all the time. Considering the racist, misogynistic rhetoric being spewed from the right, he hasn’t been too bad so far.
Analog: Im sure you are going to get blasted on here but I agree 100 percent. My husband calls me the “extreme middle” but I consider it the most logical, realistic place to be.
Worry not. The extreme left doesn’t exist in the USA. Even the existance of a moderate left is debateable (financially, at least).
Sanders isn’t extreme by the standards of anyone but plutocrats and the head of Goldman Sachs. The media is setting up a false dichotomy to sell ads.
He’s what we used to call a Democrat and Hillary Clinton is what we used to call a Republican. Cruz and Rubio are what we used to call the Inquisition and Trump is what what we used to call an attention-seeking moron.
I think where Sanders is would be the most logical realistic place to be, or at least the most fair. Even further left wouldn’t be bad.
@ cr & @HeySandy – I consider Sanders extreme because I don’t find what he says as financially sound. Wall Street is still – as evil of an image that we have cast it in – the back bone of economic strength of our country and Main Street is directly tied to it. His proposal, for example, of taxing every trade isn’t sound to me because the overall effect would go eventually affect anyone who comes in contact with a bank – via mortgages, car and student loans, credit cards, business loans, etc … take black Friday sales for example, a business anticipates higher sales that time of year, but they still rely upon credit to pay for inventory to meet that demand when the weekend comes. Wall Street, through bank rates, touches everything and everything trickles down if not completely punches or carries Main Street. No doubt regulation is needed on the riskier ventures investors make, but I just don’t see how his well intentioned numbers wash in a credible way that doesn’t result in increased cost of living across the board for everyone. Higher costs – even the minimal ones he claims – on one end are like the butterfly wings causing a tsunami on the other side of the world.
As for Europe, I am not going to say I am an expert in European economics, but recently I have only heard of Germany’s economy being the strongest, with Italy, Portugal, Greece, Ireland and I think the other country was Spain, experiencing weaknesses. Believe me, Europe is still very strong and the US has a lot of fixing to do as far as regulation on Wall Street for the riskier ventures and investments, but the opportunities presented for growth and business in the US are unique because of a capitalistic environment. Capitalism can be good, but it must be contained to a degree that we do not see what happened in 2006-2008 again.
Ethically speaking, I could never support Cruz or Rubio, I think they speak to far too much McCarthy-like bigotry, but the I also think the democrats should not demonize prosperity and the drive or want to be upwardly mobile. I have many people even on my FB feed that see that being rich is literally a sin, but I’m not quite sure where they draw the lines on defining rich. A person pulling $120K may be rich to a person making $20K, absolutely, but so much depends upon where you are at and what you have. Sanders means well, but respectfully, I cannot help that he is laying seeds for further lack of personal responsibility and government dependency as an overall approach to life, especially with our younger generations. I had a student once who was trying to ask me on advice on how to hide her income so she could be eligible for assisted housing. I didn’t want to place judgment on her bc I don’t know her life, but I guess I just did bc what I did know, I didn’t think those ethics were honorable. I just don’t I think he’s laying sod that will lead to a decline in long term prosperity, and I think those chickens will come home to roost in 10-20 yrs time if he can get what he envisions passed.
@Susan – I am the same way, I just cannot side with the either bc I see values I do not agree with on both sides.
@ annaloo certainly I’m not against upward mobility and personal responsibility, but it has to be said that some have more inherent oppurtunity then others. And yes, I do believe the rich and powerful in this country are very much in control of who gets to join there club. I’m not a huge fan of the way the welfare programs in this country because they have been set up so that it is very hard to get out of the cycle of poverty and complacency. Because poor, under educated people are easier to control then people who are truly upwardly mobile.
Now, I’m not necessarily saying Bernie’s ideas are feasible, but I get were he is coming from. If we want to improve the lot of the poor in this country, we have to spend money that will make education and other programs accessible to the people who need it.
Thank you Analoo! I’ve been saying this for a while and my friends think I’m crazy. I’ll get heat for this, but I don’t think Bernie has substantive policies. The things suggested are not feasible in the least bit (I can say that for sure with regard to health care policy because that’s my area of expertise). To me, he’s like Cruz and Trump, it’s just because he’s wrapped in an angry grandpa package saying what people want to hear that people don’t see it.
I don’t see any extremity in universal health care, the same as any other developed country, and many disadvantaged ones as well. For pete’s sake even Cuba has a way better health system than the US. Nor do I think its extreme to put the brakes on the too big to fail banks, that the taxpayers had to bail out, yet nothing is ever done to help them. Like students then adults drowning in student loan debt, threats to cut social security… politicians always get a raise, yet the most vulnerable people never do. No, Bernie isn’t extreme at all, he makes sense.
I’m Canadian, but am a political junkie and follow your politics with great interest. The republican party has gone totally bonkers. Hillary is a warmonger and a weather vane. Bernie is the only one who is genuine in the whole lot.
Hahaha… Who ARE These People, you explained it all perfectly!
Annaloo put into words what I have been struggling to say for months. Things don’t look good for us. Even on this site some have been convinced by their government that the rich are to be hated and sneered at while it is right to sit on one’s butt and whine. I will be glad when the current administration goes on permanent vacation and we can begin to like ourselves again. We’re really not as bad as we are made to believe.
(I think my last comment did make it through, so here’s a repieced repost!)
@Tessy— Your points are absolutely noble and I think Sanders has great intention for people and is raising awareness to issues that must be addressed no doubt. – Universal health care is a great concept, but there is more behind why medicine is so unaffordable – from crazy malpractice suits to insurance redtape to just mad mega money needed for R&D so US pharma stays at the lead and front for development. Granting healthcare to all is important, but making sure that we do not suffocate our providers with regulations is crucial too. (This is nothing to say on the debate about the affront some feel of personal liberty for the person who WILLINGLY eats 5 cheeseburgers, and drinks soda all day then needs healthcare for diabetes and obesity… some people genuinely disagree with being responsible for some who make such irresponsible choices…but I digress)
I absolutely agree with you that the concept that any bank is too big too fail is ridiculous.. but when a bank gets so big, like I said with Wall Street, what happens there punches or carries everyone. A bank like Chase should probably be broken up to regional areas, it is one of those businesses that if it took a hit for any reason, it would affect way too many people.
Students in debt and the concept of free college is noble, but this a two pronged skepticism for me bc 1) taxing wall street to pay for this still affects ALL taxpayers across the board and 2) what does it mean anymore to “go to college”? People graduate with degrees and knowledge that is outdated before they even get a chance to take off the cap and gown. THe market is such that we have elderly and seniors taking part time jobs– there should be more attention paid to vocational and to continuing ed. Obama was spot on to focus on community college bc there is a way to get practical knowledge in bite seze affordable pieces. The world can only support so many ballerinas and liberal arts majors.
Finally, tech– tech is replacing more middle class and manufacturing jobs than you can imagine. This is the rift in the Democratic party many are predicting bc of tech’s disrupting nature. Take Uber for example. It is a FABULOUS company for the consumer, but for legions of taxi drivers and their unions, no way. The world of publishing for print houses and the like has been affected greatly. Why buy a copy of US magazine when we have Celebitchy to click on to (It’s no comparison, bc Celebitchy is far superior, but I hope you know what I am getting at). And the areas tech thrives: Silicon Valley, NYC— these areas are ground zero for some of the most severe gentrification and housing disparities I’ve ever seen. The tech oligarchs vs labor is a very real thing, so what good is free college for everyone when the sand is slipping in that way?
I say this all with the deepest sincerity, worry and hope that something rights the ship. I do think we live in a world of more instant gratification and less personal responsibility from many angles- corporate and individual – which is not empowering. I don’t think the current crop of presidential candidates – not a single one of them – is good. I am just despairing this upcoming election, but please know – I LIKE BERNIE, but I do not in my bones think his approach is practical or balanced.
I’m with some of you here. I do like some of Bernie’s policies and will be voting for him in the primary. Mainly because of the healthcare issue. Why we don’t have universal coverage in this country is baffling to me. I will gladly pay more in taxes not to get astronomical bills from the bureaucratic nightmare that are insurances. I have worked for both medical offices and Medicare, and honestly people, Medicare for all would be a vast improvement.
I also hate the bailing out of banks. They don’t learn any lessons that way.
I don’t, however, think everyone should go to college. I do think administrative costs need to be reined in, and low interest loans made more readily available and keeping pell grants. But not everyone is cut out for college. We need to steer some people towards trades. I’m also fairly conservative on immigration, but socially liberal. I wish we had a centrist party in this country. Sigh.
My thinking is with Bernie that there are policies of his that just won’t get through, so I’m ok with voting in someone faarrrrr left knowing that policy wise his stuff would probably be compromised to the middle.
Actually, Sanders isn’t even that far to the left. Compared to the other US candidates, he seems that way. I just rediscovered this website again today, so I’ve been trying to share it because I think it helps people get a better perspective of where they fall on the political scale
annaloo, I am sympathetic to many of the ideas you present. I disagree on national health care, but I completely agree that not everyone needs to go to college and on your tech jobs issue. The manufacturing jobs that existed in the post-war period are not coming back, and we need to figure out a plan for employment that does not involve crushing student loan debt.
These issues are just as prevalent in the UK, where I live. I am worried that the berniebros are starting to demonise the GOP and even Clinton supporters the way that people on the left demonise those who voted for the Conservatives here, calling them “murderers” because they supported benefit cuts (and the benefits in the UK are vastly more generous than anything in the US). It’s important to disagree civilly.
I meant far left for America.
Can I just say I have a new girl crush and her name is Annaloo? 🙂
Bernie is simply centre left wing. The most important issue I feel for America, is one of Universal Health Care, and anyone who understands health knows that Universal Health Care is a MUST. A MUST. In fact, there should be one simple insurance body, the government. It works in Australia, and Australia is rated number 2 in health care. From memory, America was 47. We have the government that provides healthcare. Hardly anyone in Australia has health insurance, because it is unnecessary, and you really don’t get much more benefit than government/public. You see the same doctors etc. It’s a waste of money. We have govt health care, and about 4 other private insurers in total. As I said, you really don’t get much more benefit from private health insurance. Maybe a private room (but who cares about that if you are in life or death situation?). America should just disband all the insurance providers, bar govt and a handful of others. It is doable, and it should be MANDATORY for any incoming President. This is 2016. That a supposed modern western first world country like America does not have Universal Healthcare like every other normal, modern, first world civilised country, has all of us bewildered. Not having it is 3rd/4th world. Your country in many respects is so incredibly backward and uncivilised.
“I know I might be a drum thumping liberal, but I don’t think the government should have anyone’s religious beliefs in it.”
The right wing’s favorite old white guys, the so-called Founding Fathers, didn’t think so either. It’s absolutely insane how many people swallow up such distorted definitions of “American values”.
I’m sorry for my question (may sound stupid). I’ve been reading your comments and it confuses me how come people find it impossible for capitalism and socialism to coexist. I find it weird that people prefer to pay taxes (millions of dollars) to build armament, but not to fund education or the health care system.. I’ve always read on this site, people complaining about the lack of opportunity poorer people have in life (let’s take afro-american as example); don’t you complain that only the rich, white priviledged have all the opportunities? That poor, black people don’t stand a chance? Well, if education was free, then everybody would have a chance, but no.. Capitalism is good, makes banks and private companies richer and richer, and poor people poorer and poorer, but as long as the country is doing fine, that’s all that matters.. Please, don’t ever, ever complain about the lack of opportunities, since most of you are the first ones to agree with the segregation between rich and poor because of Wall Street…
Obviously those politicians are terrifying.
But she’s talking about mcartyism because she’s in the trumbo movie.
I don’t know about Helen mirren anymore. First her whitesplaining. Then I watched the Hollywood reporter round table and I don’t know, she just doesn’t come across that clued up. She seems very much in a Hollywood bubble. Jane Fonda, cate blanchett even Brie Larson came across more clued up and down to earth.
I’m going to disappoint you even more by saying that you shouldn’t look up her views on rape victims. Because those will terrify you even more, she’s completely ignorant. Not a fan of hers at all.
Extremism in any form, religion, politics, views is dangerous and frankly exasperating. I am very much in the middle. Of life, and everything else. No one has all the right answers.
So if she weren’t an American citizen she wouldn’t get to comment on it? America influences the world more than any country. I think we all get to comment on it.
And it is frightening how the extreme right wing is occupying the entire right spectrum while what used to be center is now the left. There is’t a left wing party left in America now, is there? Maybe if Bernie becomes president, but that’s unlikely, is it?
And those things are happening in Europe too. Just look at Poland.
Indeed. And Hungary. I’m German and there were days after the New Years Eve thing that I couldn’t talk to my parents for fear of the racist bullshit coming out of their mouths. Still, politicians in my country would be publicly curcified if they even dreamed about using Trump’s rhetoric. I’m old enough to know that this too shall pass. But the historian in me remains anxious
There parties in America that are to the left of liberal Democrats (although our definition of “left” is typically much more watered down). However, those parties typically get only insignificant numbers of voters and don’t usually factor into major elections.
I don’t necessarily disagree with Sanders on a number of issues, but he’s too left of center, by American standards, to actually get anything accomplished if he were to make it to the White House. Even if both houses of Congress ended up with a Democratic majority, I still don’t think he’d be able to get most of the policies he wants enacted.
Well … it wouldn’t hurt to try. : )
In the past the US taxed corporations and rich people at much higher rate — including in the 20C under Republican presidents — nothing terrible happened except for the rise of a secure and stable middle class.
Wiping out private-pay insurance would actually simplify the ‘business’ of health care enormously and some of the administrative layer could be put to work building out the existing Medicare infrastructure to cover people of all ages.
Curbing Big Pharma profits would probably pass a Democratic Congress, with jerks like that guy who just testified calling them imbeciles.
Other Western democracies manage to keep higher-ed costs down without much of a problem.
He’s just not that far “left” and he’s not misreading the mood and desires of much of the electorate.
Who- totally agree about the healthcare. It would also free up employers to pay higher wages/hire more people/ make more profits if they didn’t have to worry about paying out for all employee’s healthcare.
@Malificent:” I still don’t think he’d be able to get most of the policies he wants enacted.” I don’t know if that believe should keep people from voting for him, because otherwise, nothing is gonna change for the better. Sanders’ biggest asset is his genuineness. That’s always a good start, and I truly believe that is what’s needed.
I was about to say the same thing. The whole world (especially Europe) is paying the price for the decisions made during George W Bush’s presidency. If America wants to claim that it ‘leads the world’ etc., then it is perfectly valid for non-US citizens to have an opinion on US politics, since we ultimately end up affected by their foreign policy decisions.
Ted Cruz, former Calgarian. So glad he’s not in Canada anymore.
I’m not typically big on “birther” conspiracies of any sort, but I’d be happy to find any excuse to send Ted Cruz (along with the Biebs) back to Canada.
I wouldn’t do that to Canada but I think it is time to colonize the moon and I volunteer the remaining Republican candidates and their families. I’m sure Trump will enjoy putting giant gold TRUMP signs everywhere
Lilac, I like that idea. Justin Bieber can be the lounge act for Trump’s casino on the moon!
C’mon you guys the moon doesn’t deserve that! Let’s send them to Uranus, I bet Bieber & Trump will love that.
Sorry, we have a strict “you break it, you bought it” policy in Canada (sorry) 😉
There was a petition submitted to the White House to deport Justin Beiber in 2014. https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/deport-justin-bieber-and-revoke-his-green-card
Same site also had a petition to build a Death Star with a wonderful response from the White House team https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/isnt-petition-response-youre-looking.
I’d be all for deporting Rafael Edward Cruz back to Cuba if they would take him, along with Rubio. Trump can be put in a Tardis and sent back to prehistoric times to be T Rex food.
As I am bombarded with radio and tv political ads for the NH primary (Boston stations broadcast into southern NH), I must add Rubio to the list of extreme and scary.
It’s funny how he’s being positioned as the sane, moderate one who can come up the middle between Cruz and Trump. He’s not going to hold up well upon inspection.
Thank you! Rubio is the attractive face of terrible, extreme policies. I’m so worried people are going to fall for the idea that he’s moderate.
I agree, as someone from the outside (Europe) … I’m very scared for you guys. The very best of luck for your elections!
I’m scared for them and us, europeans… These type of lunatics tend to start world wars and world crisis…
I think if you’ve been aware you’ve seen the uprising and growth of a sector of American politics that is angry, misinformed, and easily rallied.
I often hear people gasp about Trump and are shocked he has supporters, but frankly Trump is an orange man speaking bluntly. He speaks plainly and it makes his points ugly, but I rebuke the idea that his ideas haven’t been building in the Republican Party for a long time.
What always impresses me is how wealthy, perfectly educated men in expensive suits with glossy teeth managed to get lower income, working class, minimally educated people to believe they were on their side. Of course we don’t need to increase a minimum wage or look for better healthcare alternatives to our curren system. That’s liberal talk ammiright?
Long before Trump there was such a movement to encourage and support ignorance. To push ‘Joe The Plumbers’ and ‘Sarah Palins’ to the forefront, ignoring all these people’s flaws and hypocrisies just so long as they could stand on a stage and humbly brag about how they don’t have much book learning but they love America. All while some millionaire stood like a puppet master behind them grinning.
I agree with you. I have to give the right some grudging props for getting people to vote against their best interests.
There’s a book titled, “What’s the Matter with Kansas”, which explains how Kansas has consistently voted with the Republican party, who not only isn’t helping the average Kansan, but is actually working against their best interest.
Eternal Side-Eye, the answer to the question is within your question itself – “minimally educated”, and I would add, intellectually incurious, low information voter.
Trump’s campaign constantly makes me think of Michael Douglas’s speech in The American President, where he says his opponent isn’t interested in coming up with solutions to the problem. He’s only interested in making people afraid of it and telling them who to blame for it. That’s how Trump gets such a following. He doesn’t need to actually need to offer anything of value to win people over. He just needs to scream about how horrible this country is and that ISIS and immigrants are to blame for it. And sadly, people buy it.
I’m only giving my opinion here, but here goes. Fear is one. Fear of what, I don’t know. At least genuine fear. I don’t think it is genuine fear so much as paranoia. I wrote on another site that asked if Russians were our enemies. I wrote that they weren’t. Most people are just people getting up in the morning trying to make an honest living worried about how to provide for themselves and their families. We are fellow human beings first. Some woman responded that “meanwhile, your enemies have guns pointed at you”. Um, okay. I refuse to live with that kind of fear. The second issue is relatability. Unfortunately, some people vote for someone they want to go drinking with. I personally want a president who is more intelligent, educated, rational, and level-headed, but to each their own. Bill Clinton tapped into that. He was highly intelligent and educated, but felt like “one of us”. Again, this is just my opinion.
Yes! It reminds me of Isaac Asimov’s quote: “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’”
It’s amazing to me that people want to elect people like Trump and Palin because they’re “just like me” or “rill.” No! I want the people running something complex like a federal government to be smarter than me!
People who are proud to be ignorant are the WORST.
Totally agree hogtowngooner, one of the more ridiculous attempts at being a “regular guy” was George W pretending that being the son of a former POTUS didn’t make him part of the despised “elite”.
+1000 And Trump, or Palin ARE not even like you, or me;-)
Santorum called President Obama an elitist for having an advanced degree from Harvard, all the while having an advanced degree from Princeton, himself.
No he doesn’t – Santorum has an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a JD from Dickinson, which is now part of Penn State. He never did anything at Princeton.
I agree with her that times are scary here and the right wing of our country is either growing stronger or finding a louder voice. But I thought most everyone was too soft on her yesterday, and once again, I have learned that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Yes, she’s a great example of how to age gracefully on the outside. Why was I foolish enough to think that meant she was a cool person? I know better than that, yet I find myself constantly disappointed in people. Dumb.
Lots of people are under her spell simply for the fact that looking good in her sixties somehow makes her ‘cooler’ than the rest. I don’t know.
I didn’t realize she was married to Taylor Hackford, he has made some wonderful films, like an Officer and Gentlemen. It is fine with me that Helen Mirrens makes political comments. She is just thinking out loud how Europeans view the U.S. I know how the right wing will respond to her. “Those Hollyweird Liberals think they run the Country.”
As a non-American I agree that there’re definitely some scary extreme right wing stuff coming from the Republican candidates. On the other side, I’m always baffled when I read that Sanders is considered a radical leftist because none of the things he says are considered radical in most of Europe. They’re considered standard centre or moderate left policies.
I agree with your comment. Bernie Sanders is looking a little aged to become president though. Eveyone else frightens me. Especially when they constantly bring religeon into the mix.
He’s 5 years older than Clinton, but he doesn’t try to look younger, and 70 is like a cutoff for our mental sense of what’s kinda getting old.
Yeah, it’s so strange that Sanders is considered an extreme leftist.
They use “radical left” for discrediting, it’s more of a phrase than real understanding of political ideas, since his are moderate. But they are also socially conscious, and that scares people, because it would indeed mean change.
I’m curious, what would you consider radical left policies?
Yup. The political spectrum in the USA is a lot more narrow than it seems, especially in regards to economics. What’s considered left there is barely center-right in the rest of the world.
As messed as it may seem from a democrat, I’m in favor of bozo GOP presidential candidates. It makes it easier to elect a Democrat. Look at the last two elections. McCain was considered a shoe-in. Enter Sarah Palin. The Democrats made it clear she was one heartbeat away from the Presidency and it worked. Mitt Romney was the next shoe-in. Then, when talking to the base, made a stupid comment that showed the public how the party really feels about the rest of us. The bigger the clown, the more people will show up to vote for the other person. Sanity wins out. Although it would help if we finally got rid of the much outdated electoral college.
In 2008, as I remember, being the first time I voted, Obama was put into the White House by the youth vote, who wanted specifically somebody like him. I reckon there was a solid Palin scare that sent some undecided to the voting booth, but most who voted for Obama wanted Obama in power Otherwise, yes, I agree that the insaner the Rep candidate, the easier for the Dems to win the presidency.
But don’t you wonder how these “bozos” have such a large amount of people buying in to their garbage? That’s what scares me, and I am embarrassed for our country by how many people are showing up at these rallies to shout about how awful those scary brown people are and how it’s Obama’s fault that the world isn’t perfect.
When my nice suburban wealthy friend with her 2 kids tells me how she admires Trump, I am shocked at how she can’t see how hollow he is, and that being respectful to others is not being “politically correct”.
I have to agree that the more Cruz’s support grows, the scarier he gets. Did you see the headline about how Trump would be open to Cruz as his running mate? It’s really awful and I am quite worried about this angry rude turn of half the American electorate.
Contrast the democratic debate last night with the previous Republican debates. Substantive debate vs personal angry attacks. How are these guys not shamed by that?
I would like to correct one thing in the post. You do not become an American citizen just by marrying an American citizen. You can probably get a green card, but citizenship is not automatic.
Signed,
Still Not A Citizen but Married to an US citizen
You’re right – a green card is guaranteed, but you still have to have 10 years of residency after that to be eligible for citizenship.
Signed,
US citizen married to a non-resident alien 🙂
All countries have them from what I’ve read. Not always the same style as Americans, but it’s out there. She’s heard of ukip? I’ve read conservatism is on the rise everywhere. America’s politics, even leftists here, are conservative comparied to the rest of the world. Not sure this is exclusively an American problem.
“Hollywood Liberal Doesn’t Like Republican Presidential Candidates” = “Dog Bites Man”
True. But I never tire of listening to people criticize right-wingers. Quite frankly there should be more of it.
this is a reaction to the high levels of illegal immigration.
Ugh….I feel like I am done with this site. More progressive-leaning posts and the continued sentiment that if you are conservative then you are crazy – in one post you preach against stereotyping and bigotry and then in another you do the exact type of degradation against those who are only guilty of having a different perspective on politics. And if you don’t think you are stereotyping, go insert the word ‘democrat’ for ‘republican’ and ‘Obama’ for ‘Cruz’ or ‘trump’ and perhaps that will be the eye opener you need. Because if it is not okay to write about how liberals are neo-communists, than how is it acceptable to write that a candidate is a neo-Mccarthyist?!?! I know this is a crazy thought to the writers of this blog, but you can have a right-leaning perspective on public policy, foreign diplomacy and economics AND not be a nut job. You can support left-leaning celebrities and politics without lumping ALL conservatives/republicans into one cesspool of crazy town. Take some advice from Chris Rock – people tend to be liberal and conservative on many issues. Attacking conservatives OR liberals and lumping them into a stereotype doesn’t help advance any agenda or conversation to move an issue to a level of prosperity for the greater good. I love celebrity gossip and you definitely have the right to write what you want but I just have to be done with reading this site.
I tend to agree with you. I have many conservative friends (I am not, generally speaking) and we should be able to talk to each other — with a safe word for when things start the death spiral — but I also think it’s a two way street not helped by social media and the internet newsbiz. And it *is* newsbiz, and I don’t exclude anyone from that either. The days of a relatively unbiased nightly news are gone and news/politics tends to be controlled by the screaming mimis on both sides. I think it’s very sad to think about how low politics has sunk and how hypocritical it all is.
Although I’m not going to leave the site. I just avoid political threads for the most part. I’m not even sure why I clicked on this one. 🙂
You’re spot-on, Mrs. D.
I so agree–it makes me sad. People can come to different conclusions with the same information. It does not make them crazy.
My parents are very conservative in many ways, but they are also very enlightened people. So my feelings are hurt for them on this site sometimes. But then, when I’m at their house and watch FoxNews, I realize that the right demonizes the left just as much. I wish everybody would just knock it off. We aren’t ever going to fix anything if we don’t. (And if you’re thinking I should practice what I preach, you have a point.)
Sing it, Mrs.D. I used to enjoy it here because of the witty posts and comments, but I’m about done too. Inserting politics into every last story is boring and repetitive.
This site is turning into Huffington Post, which is I guess their right , it probably brings more money this way.
But I came here for entertainment.
For politics I prefer something less shrill. I read the Guardian, BBC and Bloomberg.
Incidentally the Guardian has an awesome Arts section.
I do agree thst it has gotten a little too political around here and I wish they’d lean back towards celebrity fluff stories. But there is a pretty big difference in racial stereotyping and political stereotyping, in that the former is insidious and the latter is mostly juvenile and petty. So I can’t take generalizing people’s political stances to seriously. In either case, fluff is what I want when I come here.
I have to agree with all of you. I’m not even personally conservative, I just choose not to hate those who are. I also feel like there’s a lot of pearl clutching on this site lately. Whatever happened to this being a celebrity gossip website? If I wanted to read about how everyone is racist and how offended we should all be because of someone having an opinion that is different from our own, I would head over to the Huffington Post comments sections, or Gawker or Jezebel.
I miss the days when this site was lighthearted.
Me too, Daria. And honestly the more people here endlessly slam some celebrity for a dumb, off the cuff comment as a racist elitist who’s enjoying their white privilege, the less I want to read about it, because if you are looking to be offended, you could spend all day being offended by various dopey things people say. You wouldn’t always really have the truth of who they are, but you’ve just dismissed yet another human being as basically worthless. Why not focus on more positive things? Or positive people?
Thank you Mrs. D.
I love you, Mrs. D! I completely agree with what you’re saying. I used to come to this site first thing every day to read funny/snarky remarks on celebrities, and more and more, it’s become so political that it’s uncomfortable. To sneer at, disparage, and show extreme intolerance for differences of opinion is driving people in the US further from each other, and unable to have discussions. I agree with so many of the commenters who mention how the media is exacerbating and inflaming things in how they report things. The media uses the most explosive words to describe comments, stances, ideas, etc., and it inflames people more and leads to more name calling. The real problem we have in the US is that we’ve forgotten how to compromise and more people refuse to respect those who don’t agree with them. Beyond sad.
Another person in support of Mrs D. Let’s get back to debating what movie is better than the other and who is banging who in Hollywood!?
Very well said, Helen!
I can’t figure out how she’s standing in that second photo… it looks like her legs are on backwards or something!
I wonder – why do we even care what Helen Mirren thinks about things? She is a fabulous actress. Done.
It’s interesting to me to hear what some think Trump means by ‘Make America Great Again’. Cruz is an extremist who wants to bomb everyone, Rubio has the same neoconservative view as Cruz and Trump just wants to destroy ISIS. I hear Mirren and even the British Ambassador to the U.S. assume that Make America Great Again is crazy, extreme right crap. But when I tune out Trump’s tone and hear what he’s actually said, it’s actually better than assumed, imo.
Trump has said he doesn’t think America should be the world’s policeman, that Iraq never should have happened and China should handle North Korea and the Middle East should handle their own backyard, lobbyists and PAC’s have corrupted govt., our trade deals that were made in the 90’s & continue today gutted the middle class by shipping companies and jobs overseas and endless illegal immigration is going to bankrupt the nation. I have a hard time finding fault with these sentiments. All of Europe now is reversing on their immigration stances, from Sweden and Norway to Germany and Denmark, because it’s breaking them financially and culturally altering their nations. Bernie won’t work because we don’t have the money for what he’s offering, we’re 19 trillion in debt and Hillary is a warmonger. That leaves me with Trump out of all the options.
Trump is an odd duck. I can quite figure out what he’s on about. Up until this presidential run, he’s pretty much been a democrat. His actual policies, as you stated, for the most part, are pretty centrist. If he had toned down the hate rhetoric and not gone full Rile up the republicans crazy and run as an independent he really may have had a real chance at winning. Did he realize the Dems (I mean Hilary) were never going to let him run as a Dem? Is he really just the red herring so Hilary can get elected?
Personally, I’ve just always hated him. My husband loves to watch celebrity apprentice and I just cannot stand his personality. He is the most narcissistic, misogynistic douche bag and he is truly only out for himself. Which is why he would make a terrible world leader. Not that other world leaders aren’t the same, but they can hide it and act civil to each other. I don’t think Trump has that ability.
No matter how one feels about immigration, Trump’s solutions for it are unworkable. He’s going to get the Mexican government to pay for building a wall to keep out illegal immigrants, and he’s going to ban Muslims from entering the country? Neither one of them can be done (in addition to being wildly offensive). He has no grasp of diplomacy or foreign policy. I agree that Cruz and Rubio are very similar, though. All three of them would be disastrous as President.
The US has the money for what Sanders is offering. The US just has to spend less on defense and more on domestic needs, as well as tax the rich and close offshore business loopholes. Health care is a lot cheaper once you get rid of the private insurance infrastructure, and if other advanced democracies can afford to send their kids to college without debt, why NOT the USA?
And that’s the problem. Congress is where the real power is. I’m still not in favor of socialist Bernie & big government but I would love a political revolution in overturning Congress with people who actually put the welfare of the people & the country they swore to serve above corporate interests & that of foreign governments. Anything less to me is treason. I would like to see a number of anti-corruption amendments added to the Constitution and place a fixed dollar amount for campaign financing. Until then, it will stay corrupt no matter who becomes president. The PM of the UK gets around $150,000. to run his election campaign, that’s it.
Helen, you in danger girl.
And yet she fails to mention the extraordinary, extreme, left-wing voice in America.