Here are some additional photos of George and Amal Clooney on the Cannes red carpet for Money Monster last week. There are new photos of Amal and George in Cannes, casual pics of Amal in Valentino, which I’m including at the end of the post. The point of this post, however, is that at the press conference for the film, Clooney once again spoke out about Donald Trump. And what’s weird is that Clooney is not wrong at all. He told journalists:
“There’s not going to be a President Donald Trump,” he said. “Fear is not going to drive our country. We’re not afraid of Muslims or immigrants or women. We’re not going to be afraid of anything.”
“There’s a great disaster in the way we inform ourselves now,” Clooney said. “Trump is actually a result in many ways of many of the news programmes that didn’t follow up and ask tough questions. Their ratings go up because they can just show an empty podium [and a caption] saying ‘Donald Trump is about to speak’…“Money Monster talks about the evolution of what has become the cross between news and entertainment. It’s become a big problem,” said Clooney. “News stopped being a loss leader – you were never going to make money on news, you were actually going to just inform people. There was other programming that would make money.”
You see? He’s not wrong. While Donald Trump represents a lot of what’s wrong with America, American cable news is making money off of the Trump “phenomenon.” Trump is “good for ratings” and good ratings are good for advertisers. Trump is the “bread and circus” of cable news. Anyway, Trump heard Clooney’s comments and since Trump loves to beef with literally anyone, Trump said some words.
“As far as George Clooney is concerned, let’s put it this way — he’s no Cary Grant… Well at least he’s right about the ratings — that’s the good news. I think I get asked the toughest questions on Earth. I will tell you, nobody asks tougher questions than they do to me. It’s all ‘gotcha.’”
Trump does not get asked “the toughest questions on earth.” In no way does he get asked tough questions. Anyway, I guess Clooney should be grateful that Trump didn’t call him a fat hog with an ugly wife. Progress?
#AmalClooney in #Valentino at #Cannes #Cannes2016 #CannesFilmFestival pic.twitter.com/xeJiKvdCZq
— Evita (@EvitaKst) May 14, 2016
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Well, people also said there’s not going to be Republican presidential candidate Trump, yet here we are.
I know. I know! Sigh. I try to console myself with the fact that the people supporting him are not the majority of voters. I’m pretty sure he won’t win.
The media have made Trump appear more popular than he is by all the free air time he’s given. He’s got a sliver of Republicans and other bigots, and more Republicans will close ranks to vote for him.
But over half of voters are women and they don’t like him. Neither do Hispanics, African-Americans, Muslims, and a lot of other groups.
Sanders fans will probably get over it once they realize how hideous Trump really is, there are plenty of young smart voters.
But the IDEA that someone like Trump can be nominated should send chills down everyone’s spines.
Exactly. No one thought he would get this far! I’m going to do my part to make sure it doesn’t happen but it will not shock me if Trump manages to get elected.
Must agree. Strangely South Park did an episode when DT first annouced his candidacy saying that by the time he won the whole election we wouldn’t have even realized because we were too busy laughing at his hair. You know, instead of engaging our broken political system, which isn’t only about who the next president is. Most don’t know who their congress person is and they’re the one “representing” you regional for the entire nation. But the president is a celeb now, so talk talk talk.
Indeed! Just like everyone keeps saying Hitler won’t happen again…
Sorry but I see the same pattern with Trump. Is there not one other Republican candidate available? I mean really, America…
Unless we all as a society learn and grow from the mistakes of the generations before us.. we will always repeat them. Too many anymore either deny Hitler was such a monster, deny the Holocaust happened, and some deny The Nazi party was under Hitler trying to rule the world eliminating those they saw as lesser. When you have imbeciles glorifying what they stood for and teaching younger people such craziness.. The next thing you know a man that is fascinated by Hitler is too close to being the President of the country I live in & too many of his crazy political pals (Palin) are on his coat tails. He is way to close in this election for my comfort.. God help us all if he’s elected. I just don’t see any good come out of a Trump presidency.
I wish Joe Biden had gotten into this race. I understand why he didn’t but I think he might have made a huge difference.
@Green-Eyes – the problem lies in people not understanding how Hitlers are created in the first place. The German people were not evil then and they are not evil now. Yet it happened in their country and they were largely complicit (those who were not persecuted, obviously). As SuperStef points out, Trump is repeating the pattern. But Americans don’t want to think that this is possible in their country despite about half the country supporting the same ideology as Nazi Germany through their support of Trump.
I know. And his supporters are (more likely to be) armed and intimidating.
The fear-mongering and the hatred of immigrants and other targeted groups … this pot was all there to be stirred, and he has stirred it real good. Now we have a larger group of Americans who have lost their ability to reason and be compassionate because DT and his ilk have manipulated their emotions and they’ve been willing dupes. It really makes me wonder what was lurking beneath the surface all along.
Exactly Think back to October when people said there is no way he would win any primaries.
I wish Clooney would just shut up! He’s testing fate. The gods are going to hear Clooney and teach him a lesson by letting Trump win. I am not a particularly religious person but I’ve got my candles lit, prayed to Allah, Jesus, and Buddah, and I’m ready to sacrifice a chicken (although its frozen and I got it on sale at Ralph’s). We need to tread lightly folks. Let’s not tempt fate. We can’t have a deranged Oompa Loompa with tiny hands for Prez.
I really really really hope you are right George (righter than the missus’ frocks here, which are wrong…)
MANY said Barack Obama would not be elected…. The shock and awe many Liberals are feeling right now, is how many Conservatives, including myself, felt the day he was elected.
–
George honey, you’re a handsome man, but have sh!t for brains. Stupid just can’t be fixed!
Good grief. President Obama is bright, thoughtful, and committed to his work. Trump is… kind of grundy, doesn’t have any real opinions but likes to be as offensive as possible to as many as possible, and has run his company into bankruptcy several times. There’s no overlap between them.
…and you my dear, are certainly entitled to that opinion however, I strongly disagree.
Trump’s many bankruptcies are a matter of fact, not opinion.
President Obama’s Columbia and Harvard degrees and his many accomplishments are a matter of fact, not opinion.
When Trump = “smart” and Obama = “stupid” is where I switch off. Good luck with that, Goo.
Goo, Dear, you are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
I get the impression from the potential Republican candidates that the whole game was supposed to be “fixed”. It’s quite clear that those who were running in the Primarys are not the cream of the crop. The game, in my opinion, was to surround Jeb Bush with duds so he would look like the most attractive candidate. Best way to sell something, think about it. Problem is that Jeb completely dropped the ball, leaving the duds as the only choices. The fact that Ted Cruz was being financed was a good indication of that, he isn’t even legally eligible to be President. Why spend all of that money on a candidate who will be disqualified, who gains from that? I rather suspect that he and Jeb had the same backers.
Trump has run his campaign like a reality show, something he’s had practise at. It’s a sad commentary on just how far the media has “dumbed down” their offerings to the public (think the Kardashians, Kayne et al) that someone like Trump has managed to run his campaign like this and actually win. Decadence is the stage right before the end of an Empire, sadly that seems to be right where the US is.
Clooney is right that Trump won’t win. Too many skeletons in his closet and since we haven’t seen any of that surface yet, those are being saved for when they will do the most damage. I’d be very willing to bet that Trump is named in the Panama Papers somewhere and that the “Consortium of Journalists” who control that information will miraculously release the names of those Americans they have been avoiding naming a scant few days before the elections.
“Too many skeletons in his closet and since we haven’t seen any of that surface yet, those are being saved for when they will do the most damage.”
Geez, talk about wishful thinking.
@AliceToo:
“It’s quite clear that those who were running in the Primarys are not the cream of the crop.”
Rand Paul was a very good candidate.
He’s right. I await the true vetting process of Trump. That is when the lid will be blown off the cesspool of his life. He’s good for ratings and his scandalous life will be even better.
I hope so, anyway. Surely in a Presidential race, his lack of substance will show. I just hope people care.
Bring back Dan Quayle. ; )
He has his crowd for sure but the groups he alienated he will need to win the electoral college. The convention will be telling. Unfortunately substance so far has been absent. 🙁
Trump’s PR rep John Miller is going to be really busy for the next few months.
LOL!
don’t you mean John Barron? 😉
or was it “Joey Pepperoni”? (Did you see SNL this weekend?)
Lol! Makes you wonder how many more personalities he has hidden away..
Too busy to accept John Oliver’s invitation to appear on Last Week Tonight
Nope. You could release a video of Donald Trump wearing a dress while simultaneously kicking a puppy and hugging Osama Bin Laden and it wouldn’t change anything. Nobody supports him because of his morality, integrity, or capability.
That’s right HollyG – they are supporting him because they love his bigotry and are caught up in the “show”. Ultimately millions and millions of Americans have proven that substance is not as important as being flashy.
Or they think that bigotry IS substance. There is a serious commitment to hatred out there.
This is very similar to what happened with Rob Ford. No one on the left took him seriously as a candidate and he managed to split the progressive vote and win. He also had the help of Conservative operatives helping him run his campaign so that he could repeat messages that would work with a certain segment of the crowd.
Oh hey Toronto! We should explain for those who missed that carnival float.
The late Rob Ford (RIP) was the venal, drug-abusing thug who managed to become mayor of Toronto for reasons Nic919 explained.
We all have to take these “buffoons” more seriously, more early too.
The TRUE vetting process? You do realize that BHO was the first one truly not vetted. He had everything sealed! Everything…
Oh please. For an African-American to make it to the White House … everything was hung out to air, truly.
So Barack Hussein Obama had no vetting. The Republicans had no money pouring in from the Adelsons and Kochs of the world, trying desperately to find something, anything, to stick to him.
As every black person ever has ever found, he had to be better. He had to be three times as good to even get a chance. I don’t know how to explain how much this comment offends me.
Obama was the most un-vetted presidential candidate in the internet era. The media was incredibly complicit in not looking into his background and experience (or lack thereof). Which was, of course, incredibly racist of them.
Obama is the only presidential candidate who has been elected to the presidency in the internet era. He’s been less looked at than Trump? Trump, who’s committed marital rape (allegedly). Who’s been declared bankrupt a number of times (confirmed). Who refuses to release his tax returns (as Obama did). How on earth has the media refrained from looking at Obama, as compared to Trump?
@Goo
Go ahead, keep listening to and believing the lies. Or, on the other hand, you could learn how to do your own research and use your own brain. Unreal.
Goo and his/her ilk are why Trump is in position. SMFH.
Your comment makes me laugh. Dubya? Judging from what has come out since, a sock puppet who avoided being drafted during the Vietnam war thanks to Daddy’s contacts and couldn’t even stick out the soft duty he had. Too busy partying and getting “C” grades. THAT’S how you end up with a President under whose watch 9/11 happened, under who’s watch Iraq was invaded under completely false pretexts, under whose watch the entire Middle East went to sh*t, violently. Who’s Presidency sowed the seeds for everything that is going on now because he was easily manipulated by people around him who had an agenda that he didn’t grasp. How different the world would be right now if instead of going after Saddam Hussein, who had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11, he’d have gone after those really responsible. Instead he played “mine is bigger than my Dad’s”, goaded on by his entourage.
I sure hope he is right….my passport has expired.
Well… you know you can renew it, right?
I cannot believe he has not dropped out. Is he so clueless as to think that he will not be vetted and that his entire life will literally be an open book. Finances, everything. The money will be the interesting because I do not think he is no longer a billionaire. I do not think he truly knows what is in store he and his wife.
This is a very fair point. I’ve been thinking for awhile now that he might tank this on purpose because he really truly doesn’t want to be President. Talk about being exposed as a fraud. That his “short list” of VP candidates includes Sarah Palin does not lead me to believe he is serious about this endeavor.
He’s in it to win it.
Unless someone can leak a copy of his tax returns, he can keep that private.
And if someone does leak, the rest of us will not be thrilled to think that tax returns can be leaked.
His wife and her family were recently profiled in what was deemed to be a fair article and the journalist received anti-Semitic death threats.
So there’s already plenty in store for the rest of us.
To all Democrats on this thread, take the warnings of this defeated Republican and seriously be wary of Trump. Entertainers who enter politics aren’t held to the same standards are career politicians–that’s something that consistently has been proven through surveys in the primary post-mortem. Hillary is extremely weak candidate–she is corrupt, has questionable judgment, and has a husband accused multiple times of sexual assault. I don’t want a political fight, and I don’t like Trump so there’s not much to fight about, but just want to give general warning that this man is like Luke in Jessica Jones–nothing sticks, nothing pierces, and nothing seems to take him down.
Yes, this is one of the reasons this election cycle terrifies me.
Exactly. And I feel like he understands how insecure a lot of Americans feel, especially regarding the economy. People need to not be overconfident about this!
I 100% agree with you. No one on the Democratic side should act like this is going to be a cake walk. It isn’t. This is going to be the ugliest election cycle we will have ever seen.
I know many intelligent, older people who are chanting anyone but Hillary. I want my blanket, I am terrified of this election
I just read a story on yahoo stating in the ’80 Donald valued one of his golf course as $50m but at tax time claimed it was valued at $1.5 m. I believe with all his shady deals and lies are going to come back and bite him in the behind, just a hunch. It’s a very interesting story about Teflon Don. Just don’t believe most of the country are that gullible as to accept his cheating and lying as just another Donald being Donald.
Uh oh, George, looks as though The Donald is “not a fan”. I await your Twitter call-out with interest.
I see the petulant child (Trump) still has to answer questions put to him by putting others down, “…let’s put it this way — he’s no Cary Grant…,” along with evasiveness and straight-out lying. Tough questions, my a$$.
He just can’t resist with the digs. Can you even imagine him in any sort of diplomatic capacity? What a joke. And you’re right about the “tough” questions. Like Palin before him, he has no idea.
From your mouth to God’s ears, Georgie boy. Trump is making a mockery of the election. But he won the nomination which makes my head spin. What is going on in our country. There are people who actually LIKE him. Everyone else, please vote and make sure this simpleton doesn’t get in the White House. Can think of nothing more disastrous for our country.
But is it Trump that has made the mockery or the people who cannot see through the level of BS? Personally, I blame my fellow citizens, the RNC and DNC. There were absolutely NO good candidates that were presented to the voters. On one side it is horse s*it and on the other side cow’s s*it – either way it stinks to high heaven.
@em I would laugh but the truth you speak is scary
I DID laugh-out loud, yet, the truth you speak IS scary. I’m waiting to see if I’ll get to continue in my job next year. I’ve lived and worked overseas most of my life and this is the first place and company in America that I actually wouldn’t mind settling in. I wish there was a way to know who was president before any potential contract goes through but it’ll start in August which would probably be too late to find and start a teaching job outside of the country for the next school year. 😞
Oh Donald, let’s put it this way…you’re no Ronald Reagan.
I’m amazed that Trump didn’t have anything to say about Amal, who seems like everything he would hate in a woman.
Amen. This is a man who thinks his daughter is hot. Imagine he’s a Woody Allen fan. Birds of a feather and all like that.
oh god I hope he is right.
Well there probably wouldn’t be a President Trump except for the fact that he’s running against Hillary, and she’s even more disliked than Trump. There needs to be a big push for her to exit and Biden to step in, or we will have President Trump. (Regardless of how much money Clooney throws at the Clinton campaign!)
First of all there isn’t a poll that states Hillary is hated more than Trump, but they are both hated a lot, if you go by the polls. Still a lot of people voted for both of them in the primaries. More her than him, but why let facts bring you down. Still who knows with the coming election. I wish people would stop saying that Hillary is going to win big or life is so bad Trump will win, which by the way is BS because statistically we are better off than we were 7 1/2 years ago. Remember the housing meltdown, stock market down turn, higher unemployment, etc. People have really short memories. I just want as many people to vote as possible, and I think all this crap just makes the average non crazy pull up their hands and give up, and that is what is bad for society and our country.
Don’t care very much for Trump but I actually think he’s going to win come November. I find Hillary a problematic candidate. Many people don’t trust her. The mood in the country seems to reflect a desire for someone that’s considered an outsider. Even if Trump’s a wacko, he does fit that ‘outsider’ profile. A year ago no one seriously considered the possibility that Trump would be the Republican nominee, yet here we are. I think come November, it will be more of the same.
I think you will be surprised by how much she beats Trump.
It is going to be exciting to see which way it goes, at the moment it is any ones guess which way it will go. But if Donald Trump picks Sarah Palin for his vp, theres no way he will win.
Please don’t be so over confident, at this point anything can happen
I agree Jayna. Hillary was a Senator, Secretary of State of former First Lady. She has the credentials to run a country, not to mention the aid of her husband, the former President. Trump is a belligerent misogynist former reality tv host who was fired from his own network, bankrupt, thrice wed, lying tyrant despised by his own party. Now who will win. As November gets closer, eyes will be opened and he will continually prove what we all know, he’s not presidential material. It scares me that Hillary is a woman and for some red neck right wingers, it will hurt her. But in the end, I believe people will vote for Hillary if only to negate Trump’s votes. I literally know not one person who has fallen for his nonsense. Hillary Clinton will be the next President of the United States, of this I am sure.
@Nancy:
I would appreciate your response to an issue that (rightfully) continues to dog Hillary. I am referring to “the email issue”. Why would the most high ranking State dept. official install her own server in her home and utilize it for official State business? I understand that she hired an IT guy from the State dept. to install the server and provide ongoing support for this server which was located in her home. She did this in spite of clear State dept. guidelines. She also utilized her own cell for official business which I assume was not encrypted.
FYI,I read just recently that the Russians have hacked into Hillary’s emails. I will be interested to know whether the information they got was from her personal server.
i worked for the government for a long time. We were instructed on how we could use email, the office land lines and cell phones. The rules were clear, were reiterated continually. I am trying to get my head around her actions that were deliberate in not following the State dept. guidelines which are partly in place for security reasons. This is a huge obstacle for me in supporting her candidacy. And it dovetails with the Clinton “legacy” of being above the law.
Hillary was a senator for 5 minutes to legitimise her run for President. Then she resigned from her position as S.O.S., because it was too much for her, and possibly to avoid being held accountable for the massacre at Benghazi.
@ladysussex – what happened at Benghazi was a shameful terrorist act and a tragic failure on many fronts which probably could have been prevented, but calling it a massacre is a gross over-exaggeration and not an accurate reflection of the events that occurred.
@Amelie – it wasn’t illegals when she did it. Condi conducted State business from a private email address too, as did Colin Powell and most of the Bush WH – only those emails were wiped away, never to be available for FOIA. Suddenly, now, with zero evidence of malicious intent, Republicans care. Just like none of them seems to given a hoot about the dozens of American Embassy personnel who died during W’s tenure, or the fact that they were the ones who voted to downsize and privatize Embassy security. Funny that.
Dara: WORD. 100. All things that ring true you said.
@Betsy:
“It is the Department’s general policy that normal day-to-day operations be conducted on an authorized [Automated Information System], which has the proper level of security control to provide nonrepudiation, authentication and encryption, to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the resident information,” the Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual states.
NO STOP IT NO NO STOP JINXING IT!!!!!!!!!!
But seriously….I hope he is right, but people need to not be overconfident about this.
I used to be, didn’t even think he’d get the nomination. Now I’m truly frightened for our country. This will be a very close race.
I guess that’s the promise Hillary’s camp made to Clooney when his recent fundraiser donated “an obscene” amount of money to her campaign.
True or not, his reasoning sounds like it came straight from her sales team. Big names with big contributions need to be reassured their team will win regardless of what may come.
I’m specifically referring to his comments on fear. Fear DOES drive our country. That’s one of the main reasons Trump is popular. He’s seen as a defender that will triumph in the face of uncertainty, decay and what feels line helplessness.
Trump has a hypersensitive, erratic mess of a mind that acts not on education, depth of experience or an understanding of how to maintain positive *political* relationships with people and systems that run our world. He acts on whim, expediency and a sharp temper that exists only to serve his black hole of an ego.
I don’t see how anyone likes either one of these liars.
That Hillary is not to be trusted is an age old narrative right out of the GOP handbook. Much like Kerry got swtfboated there’s very little substance to the charge. She was much admired by Repubs and dems alike in her 2 terms in the senate and more so as a Sec of State. I’d like to read or hear SPECIFICS when people make this charge and please don’t posit the road weary , Bengazi, emails or Foundation issues as nothing has ever come of them even though they’ve been fully fed to the public….
Preach it again, anniefannie. The narrative is old and it’s worn thin even as people try to shout it more loudly. I get that she may be disliked but in no universe is Trump anywhere near as qualified as she is for the job.
Thanks Esmom! I was a Bernie supporter but this mis-characterization of Hillary as this Trump level disaster really makes me steamed! She’s been a long loyal public servant ! She reluctantly took the SofS position and then racked up more mileage than anyone previously in the role. She was widely praised in the Senate as an effective pol that worked both sides of the floor. Internationally praised for pushing for women’s fair treatment and equality!
There’s NO THERE, THERE,
anniefannie, thanks for that info on Hillary, hope you will vote for Hillary if Bernie doesnt make it.
I can’t understand Americans seeming to endorse or ignore the slurs made by opponents about the military service of John Kerry and John McCain. I am not militaristic in any way, but I am astonished that voters did not react adversely to the nastiness about men who had served their country – by people who had made sure they never went anywhere near the firing line (unless you count saying “you’re fired”). Someone told me – I assume it’s true – that if Trump were to be elected (holds up crucifix) he would be the first President since Eisenhower not to have previously held elected office. Mind you, Trump has been on TV and has his name on tall buildings, whereas Eisenhower was only the Supreme Commander of Allied Land Forces in WW2.
I will tell you *my* issues with Hillary. When Bill Clinton ran for president in the early 90’s it was the first election I could vote in so I paid a lot of attention to it. Hillary was extraordinarily unlikeable then with comments like, “I’m no Tammy Wynette who stands by her man” when women started coming out and accusing Bill of sexual harassment. The climate towards the accusers was terrible and Hillary was right in front, leading the charge against them. Monica Lewinsky was painted in the worst possible light. Again, Hillary was right there with it defending him. She actually was exactly what she claimed not to be. Contrast that with the way people have sided with the women in the Bill Cosby situation. It is hard for me to respect a woman who stayed with a man because it was politically advantageous for her to do so. I want someone in the White House with integrity. If the two of them get back in there, the thought of scandal after scandal erupting just makes me nauseous.
I will not, under any circumstances vote for Trump but I am going to feel like I need a Rosewood shower if I have to go in that booth and vote for Hillary come November.
I know I will be flamed for this opinion but am putting it out there anyway just to show there are those out there who hold this same view. And I welcome any thoughtful conversation on it, too.
@evie right there with you!
I hope you don’t get flamed Evie! I hear you. And I think the issue you mentioned is only a tiny slice of the nefarious pie.
You don’t HAVE to vote Hillary, right? Jill Stein would be an option. I also doubt Sanders will encourage his followers to vote for Clinton if she gets the nomination. I could imagine it would cause him the greatest moral troubles to do so, because he knows she’s part of the establishment, and wants to manifest the status quo. I still don’t really see this happening. On another note, there just was an article in the Wall Street Journal (May 12) about The Clinton Global Initiative having set up a $2 million financial commitment to a for-profit company (Energy Pioneer Solutions), owned by Bill Clintons friends. There was also an article in The Guardian (April 25) about Trump and Clinton sharing a Delaware tax ‘loophole’ adress… there are quite a few details out that can make one think. And I feel the same way about the Lewinsky case- Hillary opted for power over honesty and integrity.
LOL@ myself. Silkwood shower, not Rosewood shower. LMAO
Siri, Jill Stein’s name was not familiar to me so I googled her. I had no idea anyone else was running!! I’m still holding out hope that something happens requiring Hillary to drop out so Bernie and Elizabeth Warren could get together and run. That would be electrifying!
And no, I don’t have to vote for Hillary but I feel any vote against the Democrats is a vote for Trump and I just can’t see him as our president!! WORST ELECTION YEAR EVAH!
So many presidents have cheated or had long-time mistresses. It’s not abnormal, nor does it make a faithful one a great president – George W. Bush.
His father George H.W. Bush had a long-time mistress and cheated with others. John Kennedy.
How you know that Elizabeth Warren hasn’t put up with unfaithfullness in her marriage? What binds Hillary and Bill together is their true passion for politics and service to the country. I look at a lot more about her fitness for the presidency than the fact that she stayed with Bill after his cheating. My friend has put up with crap in relationships, but she is an amazing captain for a major airline and would let her fly me overseas compared to some of the other pilots who might have a better relationship life..
Hillary was highly respected as a senator and knew how to work with the other side. She is a policy wonk and a workhorse. I believe in Hillary.
Considering no charges were ever brought against Bill – despite Republicans working doggedly to do so – I can’t blame her for supporting her husband. He’s a pig, for sure, but there’s never been any proof of wrongdoing. And he’s not running.
Hillary and Bernie are 97% the same candidate. I cannot believe how few remember what happened the last time a large minority voted for the “true progressive.” We got eight years of W. And perhaps if Progressibes made a habit of voting in something other than presidential elections, the government would look as liberal as the populace.
@Jayna and Betsy, I could care less that she stayed with him after he cheated. You’re missing the bigger point here. It’s how she treated the women who accused him of sexual assault/sexual harassment!! Sorry, but just because no charges were brought doesn’t hold water with me. Bill Cosby was able to dodge charges, too. Does that mean he’s squeaky clean?? Come on y’all. It’s not that Bill cheated at all. I have friends whose husbands have cheated and, it’s not the wife’s fault nor do I blame them for working it out. So many pundits wring their hands about “Oh poor Hillary, she was the VICTIM in all of this! Bringing this up will backfire on Trump!” Sorry but no, it won’t. You can’t have her as a victim on one hand with her vilifying the women who accused him, and then have her staying with him as being honorable.
He’s not running BUT just yesterday she said, “My husband, Bill Clinton, I’m going to put him in charge of the economy because he knows how to fix that.” or words to those effect. She cannot have it both ways!!!
@evi: I share your hope regarding Sanders/Warren. But I also think the two-party system is a crux, and just an illusion of choice. And generally speaking, I believe people should vote FOR something that is close to their heart, not AGAINST something/someone. But that’s just my personal take.
I think Trump is scared to take a swipe at Amal since she can both ask and answer actually difficult questions. It’s cute that Trump thinks status quo campaign questions are “the hardest questions on earth” though.
He reminds me of Charles Durning’s character singing The Sidestep in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas movie:
♫♪Now my good friends, it behooves me to be solemn and declare,
I’m for goodness and for profit and for living clean and saying daily prayer.
And now, my good friends, you can sleep nights, I’ll continue to stand tall.
You can trust me, for I promise, I shall keep a watchful eye upon ya’ll…
Ooh I love to dance a little sidestep, now they see me now they don’t-
I’ve come and gone and, ooh I love to sweep around the wide step,
cut a little swathe and lead the people on.♫♪
Trump afraid of Arnal? No way. She might the lawyers he retains to defend him at his own war crimes trial.
Amal would defend this man if he pays enough.
Ha! You’re probably right! He won’t critique Amal because her retort would be intelligent and therefore too difficult for him to understand. Trump is like his followers, a simpleton. He speaks to his followers in a way they can comprehend, such as wall= very very good, Muslims and Mexicans= very very bad, not about policies or laws or world affairs that he knows absolutely nothing about.
Did anyone see Ted Cruz’s attempt to interview a Trump supporter? He asked the supporter why he supported Trump and the supporter didn’t respond but continued waving his pro-Trump poster. Cruz asked if he could ask him some questions and the supporter flat out said no. I don’t think the supporter wanted to be put on the spot because he himself probably doesn’t know what he stands for. He just knows that he likes Annoying Orange Trump because he has “bravado” and he wants to build “a beautiful beautiful wall, gorgeous wall.” I feel like people expect that the wall, which would cost billions of dollars more to build and maintain than Trump’s estimate, will go up and magical unicorns and fairies will swoop in and somehow give his uneducated redneck followers a Ph.D. and jobs making millions of dollars. It just doesn’t make any sense.
A couple of weeks ago, Mathew Bai, who writes for Yahoo news, remarked on the intersection of news & entertainment and that it has benefited Trump. Just last Sunday, on the McLaughlin Report, the entire panel of journalists (mixed liberal and conservative) appeared to agree on the strong liberal slant of the media. The creation of Fox News was sited as a response to the pervasive liberal bias to news reporting entities. I think it is a very important point in understanding the issue of whether the news media is doing its job. And, I doubt George discerned this phenomenon on his own. In fact, I think his PR team has capitalized on this with the ongoing-whatever-it-is marriage etc.
The press themselves needs to accept responsibility for active shaping of the news for what they cover and don’t cover and how they cover the news; it’s hard to find news sources that are objective. Believe me, I’ve looked and have had to resort to France 24, a French news outlet to get hard (and reliable) news on international issues.
Donald Trump reminds me of the old time revivalist preachers. His campaign events draw tremendous crowds because of his skills: he speaks off the cuff, in the way real people do, he says the things the average Joe/Jane thinks, he makes folks feel as if he is speaking directly to them AND he always working on creating a deal with those whom he’s speaking with. Now, all of this is outside what anyone thinks of his politics (please don’t respond with posts that I am a Trump supporter, because it isn’t the case). My point is that he is very good at the things I have described and I think other candidates find this frustrating. From what I have heard from historians on how presidential campaigns went in the past (pre TV and radio), it could get fairly bombastic. I think great oratorical skills were important then.
One last word about George and his mention of this at Cannes and attempt to tie his movie in with the upcoming election and Trump, I would be suspect of his motives and statements about Trump as he is actively supporting Clinton.
Trump’s siren call has been to racists, the uneducated and disenfranchised! It’s been proven that during the primaries you can appeal to these,” there but by the grace of God go I ” types, but it is a losing strategy in the long run.
While there are examples of traditional media getting it wrong occasionally, no network has a disregard for accuracy as Fox. Unsurprisingly their viewers have been polled and are the least educated. A typical Fox viewer is less concerned with actual FACTS so the network has that going for them…
I think it’s too reductive to dismiss that cohort, by your terms, as his only support. The low-information voter may be the bedrock tier of his base, brought in by his more overt statements. However, underlying the overt there is some clever use of dog-whistle which is being heard by others (other demos) less likely to openly admit they’re listening.
Liberal bias of the media? No, sorry. Furthermore, it would be one thing is Fox were fact based, but it is not.
If you haven’t already, please watch Van Jones’ video on 3 Dumb Ideas progressives have on why Trump won’t win: https://www.facebook.com/moveon/videos/10153454110680493/
I wrote a lengthier observation from the other side of the Atlantic, but moderated out for some reason I can’t fathom.
Sum and substance, I think Clooney and others need to be wary of not stepping outside of their own Liberal-media echo-chamber enough as, I fear, Trump will be a ‘guilty’ vote option (however unreasoned that may seem) for many of the ‘silent majority’ who are disaffected by career politicians and Washington Establishment figures. It’s happening elsewhere too. Left and Right don’t sway voters in the same rigid ways of old, and, for all his wrongs, Trump is tapping into this more fluid identity in politics.
I hope, on the day, he’s proven a busted flush, but then months ago few (including myself) in the UK thought he’d get this far. To we Brits he was just the joke which kept on giving for Social Media and satire shows, now he’s being considered a real possibility in more serious terms.
Media not asking the searching questions is only one part of it – and the Liberal-leaning media are far from without fault too.
So, a pop culture actor offers the definitive political critique of who the pop culture President can be?
And neither will you, George.
You know what they say about people in glass houses…
Thank you! My similar comment was edited out.
I will never understand how out off ALL the millions of Citizens in the U.S…we wound up with the clowns that we did this election cycle? So I take it Sarah Palin on the ticket 8 yrs ago was a test? One we apparently failed. God help us if Trump wins, more so if caribou Barbie winds up as VP or in his cabinet.
What really frightens me more than Trump himself is the fact that he has so many supporters. This is how 6 million Jews were murdered along with countless others during WWII. The human race hasn’t progressed too much, has it? I have always wondered how such a thing could have happened only 70 years ago. Now I get it.
Trump reminds me of Jim jones who gave hundred of his followers to drink his koolaid. Hundreds of men, woman and children died following this snake oil salesman. I believe DT is no better than Jim jones. I’m positive if he says I want all of my all followers to follow me jumping of a bridge he would get thousands jumping off a bridge, while he stand by watching the gullible. it’s very scary watching this man manipulating so many with his hate and deceite BS.
I don’t think Trump could be any worse than George Bush Junior. Someone up thread mentioned Rob Ford. One of the reasons people liked him and voted for him is because they felt he was one of them. He did a good job too. He loved his city. I think Trump is similar in that way and has a possibility of winning. He may surprise everyone and actually do a good job. He certainly couldn’t do much worse than Bush who in my opinion was a complete buffoon and where we are today with the immigrant crisis is because of him.
You have an immigrant crisis in Canada?
??
I don’t know how to rephrase my question.
No we do not have an immigrant crisis in Canada. Looks like a conflation of the discussion of the late mayor Ford with the statement about Bush as the cause of today’s ‘immigrant’ crisis, which I suspect is really a reference to refugees.
Rob Ford was a poor mayor and a worse human being (RIP though).
Let’s hope people don’t feel like Trump is one of them. The common man he is not. He was born to wealth, privilege, misogyny and racism and has lived his life accordingly ever since.
Seriously. In the real world, Rob Ford was an awful mayor and Canada has one of the world’s best immigration systems. It is open yet restrictive (you need to speak English or French and be educated) and points-based. Canada is an enormous country that has (among native-born Canadians) the typical low birth rate of Western countries. Trudeau took 25,000 Syrians but only took families, not the young single men who are frightening many in Western Europe. Canadian immigration is a model for the world.
Rob Ford was a train wreck but well liked. There were some who thought he did a good job. Others who didn’t.
Above all, Toronto needs one thing: better public transport. Rob Ford was elected, by idiots, to not implement public transport and favour cars. He was a personable man, but a terrible mayor. As Trump can be an entertaining man, but will be an utterly terrible President of the United States.
I hope George Clooney is right. I can’t believe Trump has got this far. Who is voting for him?
Many Republicans and many independents.
As much as I loathe Trump, I equally loathe Clooney for his assumption that he’s some (self-appointed) voice of international reason and likes to speak – with his entitled ‘we’ – on behalf of America at large, without knowing the first thing about the realities that affect America at large.
On the Trump front, I fear most the complacency on the part of Americans who still think he’s a joke.
So very boring that the likes of Clooney or Angelina Jolie feel they need to tell the people how to vote, in the US election and Brexit. I am sure they would appreciate if Donald Trump or David Cameron would give them movie advice… As for Donald Trump, the situation is very much like in several European countries, telling people how to vote or what to think will only backfire and give the so disliked candidates or parties more votes.
They’re citizens, any of whom can share their political views. They’re not telling ‘people how to vote’ so the analogy doesn’t hold up. If anyone tells people how to think and what to say “or else,” it’s authoritarian candidates like Trump.
As for the boring part … why? A vibrant democracy with a free exchange of views could never be boring. Sounds like you just don’t like to hear from actors who speak their minds.
@Who ARE these people:
CG’s name awareness & money give him a platform that most in our democratic republic don’t have. And the question is when those with lots of money (eg, Clooney) get actively involved in trying to put a candidate in office (he is raising incredible amounts of money for Hillary and advocating for her publically), what does that do to the voices of the plebeians, like myself? On these points, Bernie is so right.
Amelie, I know. Big business is probably putting in even bigger $$$ than Hollywood. Sheldon Adelson has announced support for Trump, right? The Koch brothers are figuring out if they can control him well enough, I guess.
There should be campaign donation (and time) limits.
Somehow Canada managed to hold a critical federal election in 11 weeks (usually its 6 but the former prime minister miscalculated). We also need electoral reform but still light years ahead of what’s happening in the U.S.
@Who ARE these people:
Yes, Sheldon Adelson is hinting that he will support Trump. Charles Koch has indicated possible support for Hillary, not Trump. I agree that campaign finance reform is needed.
Citizens United is the worst thing that has ever happened to American democracy.
When did Angelina Jolie Pitt told people how to vote?
Angie has never said who she supported or who she voted for.
@Siri, have you googled Jane Sanders salary or Bernie Sanders history? You would be surprised to see what shows up. Bernie has never been vetted has Hillary has. He is skating by because no one has checked their background. He would not hold up under the scrutiny that Hillary has. So do some checking and I’m sure you will be quite surprised.
Shouldn’t Jane Sanders be kept out of this? She earned whatever salary was considered appropriate for her position. Promoting greater economic equality doesn’t mean you have to be poor, yourself, or not earn what you deserve.
You are right. Jane should be kept out of this. As you know, Bill and MRs M Trump are not left out, just saying.
Jane Sanders’ salary of $160,000 a year as a president of a college (according to Fortune; she’s retired by now) should surprise me? At the biggest colleges in the country you earn more than $1 million in the same position, at Columbia it’s actually over $4.5 million a year. I’m not sure I understand your point. You don’t think people who want to vote for him know that? Clooney meanwhile makes a couple of millions per film, and people paid $353,400 per couple just to be sitting next to Hillary…what exactly should I be surprised about?
I think it’s all down to a poor public education system. He feeds the idiots. Sorry, but true.
@Coconut:
Critical thinking skills have gone the way of the wind…likewise reading the classics and studying subjects like philosophy doesn’t happen in public education. Kids sit there in front of a notebook and press the screen for multiple choice answers.
Candidates other than Trump also “feed the idiots.” IMO, the problem is that the electorate is increasingly shaped by information gotten thru electronic media.
Visions of 1984….
1984 but also Idiocracy, starring Luke Wilson. I have to say though, President Camacho though not very bright is a far nicer person than Trump!
Jumping onto twitter to respond to Clooney’s comments is so typical of a man who for the life of him, cannot find his way to the high road no matter how people have tried to show him.
Also — doesn’t DT have more important things to do than hang out on Twitter? He’s like the Kanye West of candidates.
He’s very concerned about his image- I guess he shares that trait with George;-)
Amal’s colourful dress needs to be taken way in at the waist. Remove the sleeves, and take the hem down to the knee. And the purse doesn’t go well. I like seeing her quirky side tho.
Amal looked ridiculous in that multi-colored dress and George Clooney is hardly one to comment on politics. His hypocrisy in hosting fund-raisers costing thousands of dollars while ranting about money in politics is absolutely breathtaking.
I am really annoyed with George Clooney. IDK why either. He is just soooo very irritating to listen to and to look at.
“There’s not going to be a President Trump.” Famous last words. I have to say, movie stars making declarative statements on who will and won’t be the winner of a political office before an election has even happened is, arrogant, irritating and unwise. Of course this is the American actor who thought the Chancellor of Germany would love to take time out of her busy schedule for him to tell her she’s doing the right thing by letting all the migrants in she wants. I’ll bet the Germans are relieved now that he’s spoken.
“Famous last words.”
Pretty much. You hear this kind of “wishcasting” from Hollywood twits every election cycle. Like a coin toss — sometimes they’re right, sometimes not.