Food Eater Lad

http://barbrastreisand.com/statements.html



My responce?



Barabas Streisand has made known her decree concerning the "Reagan" movie. I disagree with her ever so slightly...


She's deeply disappointed with CBS? Certainly not as disappointed with CBS as those who have already been subjected to the trash she's defending. Here's a quick business primer for Babs: CBS didn't give you control of creating your TV specials because they respected your artistic freedom, they did it because they felt that your artistic freedom could make them some cold, hard cash. In this case it is the opposite...it became staggeringly clear to CBS that showing the Reagan film, even edited to the bone, could amount to a huge liability. If anything, those who exposed this travesty of film-making have done CBS a favor by preventing them from making a huge mistake.



Well, I guess it takes an extremist, small minority activist to know one. Of course, I would hardly call the radio talk show hosts who broadcast to more people in a day than Babs performs for in a year "minority activists." They are simply performers exercising complete artistic control in creating audio entertainment. For someone who feels that the movie which depicts real people of important stature as grotesque charicatures unrecognizable by those who knew them...you are awfully intolerant of real individuals expressing real opinions in the real world.



Simply put, why any lack of conviction and resolve on the part of liberals to protect their own from attack should surprise us is a mystery to me. Their lack of conviction and resolve on any number of current issues and their willingness to stab each other in the back for even the most momentary of political gains is proof enough.



Censor literally means "a person authorized to examine books, films, or other material and to remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable" (emphasis mine.) Who exactly was authorized to censor this film? Where is the law giving them that power? What agency stopped or would stop CBS from airing the film if they chose to do so? The short answer is: no supporting evidence on any count. If CBS so decides to run this piece of filth in the time slots it was originally scheduled, they will run it with no consequences but the opinion of the viewing public. "Artistic freedom" is alive and well. James Brolin (Bab's hubby) is still allowed to portray one of the premier figures in our nation's history as a buffoon and Babs still allowed to catterwaul her self-admittedly boring songs...and corporations and the public are free to accept or deny these performances as they wish.

Of course, Babs still feels that the President was not elected legally (despite vast evidence to the contrary, such as, well, he's the President), the California Recall was a "dangerous precident" (as opposed to the precident of the insane economic policies of Gray Davis), and Texas redistricting is "hijacking of the democratic process" (unless being processed by Democrats as they have for 40+ years I must assume)...it seems that unless it serves her needs, the laws by which we are governed are a mere formality. In this case, the opinions of the vast majority of Americans are insignificant with respect to "artistic freedom." But what Babs is asking for isn't artistic freedom, it is artistic imposition...she feels that CBS and the viewing public should be FORCED to endure this travesty even though both have clearly spoken. Babs needs to remember that Andres Serrano may be able to display a crucifix in a jar of urine in Soho or San Francisco to acclaim...but in the vast majority of towns his work would evoke only outrage at it's simple-minded, juvenial hatred.


It just goes to show you what living most of a life of luxury, free of the demands placed on average, working class persons...a life spent immersed in fantasies can do to your perceptions of the real world. Go back to your fantasies Babs...the majority has spoken.

j8ear

Barbara Striesand is a beautiful singer, wondeful actress, and all around fabulous entertainer. Can't take that away from her.

Unfortunately she become so marginalized with her rediculously nonsensicle, fully predictable, political drivel that so few take her seriously. I wonder if anyone ever really did.

It's as if you could pull every sound bite from the left's 'talking points' and easily craft without to much effort, exactly what ole babs will opine.

While I disagree completely that CBS was ~censored~ by the right or had it's free speech rights violated by an miniscule group of the extreme republican fringe (see what I mean by fully predictable ). I also do not think this is an assault on artistic liberty.

I do think that CBS showed absolutely zero balls for caving like a battalion of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Pathetic. For fuck's sake...the pre-airing publicity alone was enough to give that time slot to CBS for sure. Probably even allow them to double the price of ad space. Hmmm...come to think of it and with that in mind, maybe they caved because they realized what a 'hit' piece the whole production really is? Interesting.

-bear

edited a word and apostrophe or two...

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Phaenx

Portray a well loved ex-president as something he isn't and people get mad? What has teh warld com to!?!?!?!?!?!!11!~oneone

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"I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

Kadath

e.g., well-loved, at least by everyone. Reagan isn't everyone's favorite X, you know.

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Phaenx

Incompationate, specifically the "those who live in sin die in sin," bit they pulled. Never happened, if I made a film about Clinton where he did all kinds of drugs for example... er.. well lets say he had sex in...well...

Anyways, the point is if I made up a bunch of negative shit about him you wouldn't like it, and for good reason.

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"I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

irseg

You know what I wish for more than just about anything else?

I wish that liberals could grasp the concept that private entities are not obligated by the first amendment to allow freedom of speech--the government is.

"Freedom of speech" means you can't get arrested for talking about how much you hate George Bush (barring death threats and the like). It does not mean you can say whatever you want on here or any other private forum and think that your "right" to free speech trumps the owner's right to allow his own damn property to be used as he sees fit.

mml

Wow, as I have said before, that is quite a wide brush you are painting with. As a liberal, I DO understand the difference, actually let me restate that, as an educated person, I DO understand the difference. Please, please do not consider Babs the spokesperson for Democrats or liberals and I wont hold up Pat Robertson as the stalwart of conservatives and the Republican party. Both parties have wackos, and unfortunately for libs she has a really big platform from which to speak.

Now, should CBS have pulled the Mini-Series? Yes, if in their view, it would hurt them financially. I don't think they really cared if they had all the facts right, they just want to make money;
which is why they are in business. If the general public would be opposed to a story that may or may not be the truth, and may or may not paint a former president in a bad light then in the interest of good business, they shouldn't air the program.

Finally, does Babs have the right to express her opinion? Damn right she does, and I would defend her right to express that opinion to the death. That is one of the essential precepts of being an American. For the record, I would also defend the right of Mr. Hannity, Ms. Coulter, Rev. Robertson etc... to say what they wish. Hell, I'll even support another Hollywood wacko to say whatever he wants: Charlton Heston.

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Food Eater Lad

What did Heston ever do to deserve the slur whacko? Was is his damn fine acting? Or was it his participation in the Civil Rights movement? Or his defending of free speach and the constitution? What were you refering to?

Macheath

They were completely wrong to have him saying "They that live in sin shall die in sin.".

"Maybe the Lord brought down this plague [because] illicit sex is against the Ten Commandments." is what he really said.

Get it right CBS, sheesh.

Peetster

If you are going to quote, we expect at least one source.

Macheath

Oh heck, I feel like such a damn heel for doing that. A thousand apologies to everybody.

http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/...6631502987.htm

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2003/11/05/reagan/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/...068199,00.html

seretogis

Check the original thread on this. The Morris biography is part fictional and part fact. While no one knows if this particular statement was part of the fiction of the biography, no one has come forward to say that "yes, Reagan would say this sort of thing" -- quite the opposite actually.

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seretogis - sieg heil
perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

OFKU0

Well some may disagree with that statement. I think her PR people have done a wonderful job telling the world she is the greatest entertainer in the world.I feel she is overated if not a mediocre talent . I think Celine Dion uses the same people that say she is the greatest.

As far as pulling the plug,I think the Reagan family was the force behind that decision since they felt it highly suspect. Maybe someone should make up an unflattering story, not a documentary as the 'babs' puts it, about Striesand herself, and see how fast and how hard she pushes to not get it aired. Then I'll listen to her whines or lack thereof regarding cencorship.

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