Clint Eastwood Hangs 'um High

The reviews are in and in spite claims that Clint Eastwood 'ad-libbed, he rambled at times,' delivered a 'meandering monologue, an unscripted speech', the meat of Eastwood's speech was right on target.  If you put aside the empty chair which was supposed to be occupied by Barack Obama, (he's 82 years old, give him a break) and concentrate on what Eastwood had to say, every word was true and the crowd loved it!  Eastwood was a nice change of pace from the politicians and from the other speakers and in my opinion set the stage for Marco Rubio (text here) and Mitt Romney (full text here).     As Hot Air said, "The comedy fell a bit flat at times, but he put on a heck of a show. Oh… and his comments about Joe Biden were not to be missed".  Video and full text below:

 

EASTWOOD: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Save a little for Mitt.

(APPLAUSE) I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, what’s a movie tradesman doing out here? You know they are all left wingers out there, left of Lenin. At least that is what people think. That is not really the case. There are a lot of conservative people, a lot of moderate people, Republicans, Democrats, in Hollywood. It is just that the conservative people by the nature of the word itself play closer to the vest. They do not go around hot dogging it.

(APPLAUSE)

So -- but they are there, believe me, they are there. I just think, in fact, some of them around town, I saw Jon Voight, a lot of people around.

(APPLAUSE)

Jon’s here, an academy award winner. A terrific guy. These people are all like-minded, like all of us.

So I -- so I’ve got Mr. Obama sitting here. And he’s -- I was going to ask him a couple of questions. But -- you know about -- I remember three and a half years ago, when Mr. Obama won the election. And though I was not a big supporter, I was watching that night when he was having that thing and they were talking about hope and change and they were talking about, yes we can, and it was dark outdoors, and it was nice, and people were lighting candles.

They were saying, I just thought, this was great. Everybody is trying, Oprah was crying.

(LAUGHTER)

EASTWOOD: I was even crying. And then finally -- and I haven’t cried that hard since I found out that there is 23 million unemployed people in this country.

(APPLAUSE)

Now that is something to cry for because that is a disgrace, a national disgrace, and we haven’t done enough, obviously -- this administration hasn’t done enough to cure that. Whenever interest they have is not strong enough, and I think possibly now it may be time for somebody else to come along and solve the problem.

(APPLAUSE)

So, Mr. President, how do you handle promises that you have made when you were running for election, and how do you handle them?

I mean, what do you say to people? Do you just -- you know -- I know -- people were wondering -- you don’t -- handle that OK. Well, I know even people in your own party were very disappointed when you didn’t close Gitmo. And I thought, well closing Gitmo -- why close that, we spent so much money on it. But, I thought maybe as an excuse -- what do you mean shut up?

(LAUGHTER)

OK, I thought maybe it was just because somebody had the stupid idea of trying terrorists in downtown New York City.

(APPLAUSE)

I’ve got to to hand it to you. I have to give credit where credit is due. You did finally overrule that finally. And that’s -- now we are moving onward. I know you were against the war in Iraq, and that’s okay. But you thought the war in Afghanistan was OK. You know, I mean -- you thought that was something worth doing. We didn’t check with the Russians to see how did it -- they did there for 10 years.

(APPLAUSE)

But we did it, and it is something to be thought about, and I think that, when we get to maybe -- I think you’ve mentioned something about having a target date for bringing everybody home. You gave that target date, and I think Mr. Romney asked the only sensible question, you know, he says, “Why are you giving the date out now? Why don’t you just bring them home tomorrow morning?”

 

(APPLAUSE)

And I thought -- I thought, yeah -- I am not going to shut up, it is my turn.

(LAUGHTER)

So anyway, we’re going to have -- we’re going to have to have a little chat about that. And then, I just wondered, all these promises -- I wondered about when the -- what do you want me to tell Romney? I can’t tell him to do that. I can’t tell him to do that to himself.

(APPLAUSE)

You’re crazy, you’re absolutely crazy. You’re getting as bad as Biden.

(APPLAUSE)

Of course we all now Biden is the intellect of the Democratic party.

(LAUGHTER)

Kind of a grin with a body behind it.

(LAUGHTER)

But I just think that there is so much to be done, and I think that Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan are two guys that can come along. See, I never thought it was a good idea for attorneys to the president, anyway.

(APPLAUSE)

I think attorneys are so busy -- you know they’re always taught to argue everything, and always weight everything -- weigh both sides...

MORE

(INSERT ZACH)

XXX I think attorneys are so busy -- you know they’re always taught to argue everything, always weigh everything, weigh both sides.

EASTWOOD: They are always devil’s advocating this and bifurcating this and bifurcating that. You know all that stuff. But, I think it is maybe time -- what do you think -- for maybe a businessman. How about that?

(APPLAUSE)

A stellar businessman. Quote, unquote, “a stellar businessman.”

And I think it’s that time. And I think if you just step aside and Mr. Romney can kind of take over. You can maybe still use a plane.

(APPLAUSE)

Though maybe a smaller one. Not that big gas guzzler you are going around to colleges and talking about student loans and stuff like that.

(APPLAUSE)

You are an -- an ecological man. Why would you want to drive that around?

OK, well anyway. All right, I’m sorry. I can’t do that to myself either.

(APPLAUSE)

I would just like to say something, ladies and gentlemen. Something that I think is very important. It is that, you, we -- we own this country.

(APPLAUSE)

We -- we own it. It is not you owning it, and not politicians owning it. Politicians are employees of ours.

(APPLAUSE)

And -- so -- they are just going to come around and beg for votes every few years. It is the same old deal. But I just think it is important that you realize , that you’re the best in the world. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican or whether you’re libertarian or whatever, you are the best. And we should not ever forget that. And when somebody does not do the job, we got to let them go.

(APPLAUSE)

Okay, just remember that. And I’m speaking out for everybody out there. It doesn’t hurt, we don’t have to be

(AUDIENCE MEMBER): (inaudible)

(LAUGHTER)

I do not say that word anymore. Well, maybe one last time.

(LAUGHTER)

We don’t have to be -- what I’m saying, we do not have to be metal (ph) masochists and vote for somebody that we don’t really even want in office just because they seem to be nice guys or maybe not so nice guys, if you look at some of the recent ads going out there, I don’t know.

(APPLAUSE)

But OK. You want to make my day?

(APPLAUSE)

All right. I started, you finish it. Go ahead.

AUDIENCE: Make my day!

EASTWOOD: Thank you. Thank you very much.

..

Via Drudge:

MEDIA STRIKES BACK AFTER DIRTY HARRY DARES TO MOCK OBAMA...

EBERT: Speech was 'sad and pathetic'...

BROKAW: 'Too many words'...

Comments

[Liberty At'Stake]

You know I loved it. Because I can't do that to myself, either.

[GoneWithTheWind]

My first impression was absolutely that Clint was rambling or delivering poorly. After awhile I realized his skit, interacting with a empty chair, required pauses while the empty chair (obama) responded. Could it have been done better, more snappy, better timing? Yes, but much of the effect was intended but came across poorly in this venue. had he been on a small stage in a comedy club it would have seemed more natural and funny.

[Debbie]

I watched Eastwood a second time, had it on DVR, and understanding what he was trying to do it was much clearer. The crowd loved it. Yes, I think it could have been done better, perhaps without the chair and the pauses which were distractions. But it is what it is.

The crowd needed a few laughs, something different, and they needed to hear a man who always plays the guy who is standing up and doing the right thing.

It has been suggested that Eastwood was chosen because of his appeal to those people who like men who are not afraid to speak out, to act when action is needed.

[R.J. Godlewski]

And, everyone, do not forget that Eastwood was a mayor and, therefore, perfectly legitimate to appear during a political convention.

I do, however, feel that he was a little nervous doing a "live" broadcast.

[Leticia]

At first I was like, WTH?? And then began to hear what he had to say and I was agreeing the whole time.

He did great, and added some comedy, too.

He made my day! LOL!

[CBPO Jon A Underwood, CBP, Ret.]

The proof is in the pudding..

Since the democrats are freaking out and getting all their cronies in Hollywood to cry and whine, yes whine, I guess he got it just right.

Clint brings back an unscripted, good hearted missing element to politics.

My question, if what he said was not true and to the point, why all the whining by the liberals at large? Responses come when the point is painful.... crying and whining is an example of this.... Spot on I say!

Great doing Clint!

[Skunkfeathers]

Eastwood was on target, and that's why the lower-than-snakespit libs are criticizing his speech. They know he hit them on the head and head-on. Which, of course, they don't think is fair.

[PALADIN]

hahahahahahahahaaa ! It was perfect ! No wonder the media has their panties in a knot.
He made Obummer look like a total doofus, without Obummer even being in the room !
i caught on to his gig right away and it was Brilliant.
(he is one of the few in Hollywood i actually like ! ) he's a great American !