Doing alright, thanks. And you?

Yeah I did. Why I said loosely based (as most movies of novels are - which can be both good and bad I guess). Still a good and intrigueing flick with solid performances. Or so sez me. And I ain't no Ebert or Siskel, so the opinion is worth what all opinions are.

Russ, I find your opinion to be priceless. It might be because it agrees with mine. Ya think?

Which one (I have soooo many..... )?

The one about the movie, or the one about my "bona fides" as a movie critic, or the one about opinions in general?

Maybe I don't want to know the answer.

i am doing much better today. thank you.

Great movie. And a study in Ethics/Values.

rotfl!!

This is one time I can honestly say the film was MUCH better than the short story. The story didn't impress me too much. Generally, the book kicks the movie's ass thoroughly.

The only thing is they don't have the original on DVD. The one released now is the director's cut which has no narration and explanations by Harrison Ford. You may be able to find the original on Ebay on VHS. I like both versions, but I remember what he said in the movie release. They do have the widescreen though, which ROCKS!! Turn on the stereo and bamm!! Theater time.

I like sci fi.

They had that guy off the Bob Newhart "I'm Larry and this is my brother Darrell, and my other brother Darrell."


poor JF Sebastian.

On top of everything else that's good about that film, the score is outstanding. All the more reason to do as you suggested and use whatever technological marvels one has to enjoy the total experience.

It is dark. hard to believe it was done in 1982.

WARNING!!! CURSING!!!

Bob Livingston was a Republican who is now a lobbist.


You see him on WJ? Today is the 17th. If you have broadband and you missed him, see it. This guy is amazing. He has a neon sign over his head saying "FOR SALE".

This asshole is a god damned piece of shit greedy MOFOing liar.

He said if you do illegal lobbying in DC, YOU GET CAUGHT AND GO TO PRISON.

Right.

What a lowlife, scumbag son of a bitchin' liar. lol.

"If there's no lobbying, you have a police state."

I hope he gets the crabs. What a maggot.

hmmm.... what else? Shove it up your ass you scum sucking piece of garbage.

A caller said she could never get the kind of access he does. What did he say? "You have the right to go STAND ON A STREET CORNER, annnnnd, you can GET OTHER PEOPLE TO STAND WITH YOU. You can protest, call your congressman, write them...."

Welllll, lessee. Let's say one of these corporations gives this fuck $1,000,000, he turns around and donates say 3/4 to old friends who are congressman.


Are the congressman going to listen to me, standing on a corner with a sign, or is he goingto listen to the guy with the cash? Gee, I wonder. Fucking jerk makes me want to puke.


There aren't many professionals who are lower than this specific asshole.

Now he's comparing lobbyists' salaries with Michael Jordan and sports figures salaries.

What a pig. These kind of people disgust me.

hmmm.

a police state? how does he figger?

Oh--without ANY lobbying?

No, we just wantto get rid of highly PAID former government employee lobbying. That should be illegal. Then we don't have to worry about a "police" state.

Can't legislate morality...can one legislate integrity?

Yeah, the poor bugger had to give up his job back in the Clinton days because he had a little intern nookie of his own. I'm just glad to see he's back on top where he can cash in without loosing his side nookie.

You have to see this jerk. He actually said he is a kind of comsumer advocate. He protects our jobs. He is amazing. He's proud of what he does.

Hey, I hope he gives his wife crabs. lol That'll make her happy.

Hellloooo? Anyone home? Has the NYT even heard of the new 31 day revolving door rule?





The Drug Lobby Scores Again

As ever, postelection herds of politicians are migrating from the public sector to the promised land of Washington lobbying, led this year by Representative Billy Tauzin, an architect of the people's new Medicare drug law who is becoming the pharmaceutical industry's chief lobbyist at a rumored salary of $2 million a year.

The eye-popping transition is quite permissible under current laws, which facilitate something dubbed Washington's revolving door. In truth, the process is closer to osmosis, with the "wall" between the public and private sectors serving as a semipermeable membrane in the body politic.

Thomas Scully, who helped steer the drug subsidy bill to passage as the administration's Medicare expert and overzealous public information censor, preceded Mr. Tauzin as a lobbyist for drug companies, leaving his government post in late 2003. The path is well worn. Remember Senator Zell Miller, the maverick Democrat fulminating for the people in a turncoat stint at the Republican convention? He may have to modulate his rants now in addressing corporate clients as a newly minted consultant on government. Joining him is Powell Moore, the assistant secretary of defense who dealt with Congress on big-ticket items and knows its power points well. There's not room on this page to list all the politicians and staff members moving from serving in the government to the richer world of influencing it.

Mr. Tauzin faces a token "cooling off" period of one year, when he cannot directly lobby his old buddies. For that period, he'll have junior lobbyists work the corridors. But Mr. Tauzin, the celebrated back-slapper from Louisiana, remains free to "interact socially" with the lawmakers, and he can eventually brandish his alumnus pin to get access to the debating chamber. He can even make campaign contributions as the pharmaceutical industry's war chest moves him.

The taxpayers who used to pay these new private-sector experts should know that there are worthy proposals for firmer no-lobbying periods of three years and for an end to floor privileges for the alumni strutting like brokers. So far, these ideas have no powerful lobby to give them half a chance with Congress.



http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/opinion/17fri2.html

I bet he ain't making near as much money as ole Slick.

Braaaaawwwwkkkkk!!

Clinton? braaawwwwkkkk!!!

Polly wanna indictment!!

Politicians should be covered in money from the day they first run to the day they dies.

This can only be good for the American system.

OK, as long as I get my cut.


Everyone else can pick shit with the sparrows.

(One of my dad's depression era sayings)

I’m tired of strapping on a tin beak and pecking shit with the chickens!

How about from the day they are born or marry rich? Then they couldn't be influenced, ............. .......... could they?

Even more susceptible to big money, as they feel entitled.

If we take the money out of politics, would we end up with a bunch of seedy guys in cheap suits, like the lawyers we have in the public defenders' office?

See how it is?

Let's see, who did the Gettys, the Asters, the other super rich of that era favor? Who did they favor? The poor? The downtrodden? The working man?

Probably so.

Nader too, of course.


I think we should just appoint some princes, let them accumulate money by not ever being taxed and yet feed constantly at the taxpayers expense by buying government contracts.


We can trust them not to eff things up.

It's no longer a government "of the people and for the people", it's "of the corporations, for the corporations".

Corporate whores.


But dem dam homos won't be gittin murrahed.

Not until presented with their own mortality. Then they felt plenty--of something.



Just like I've been saying...history repeats itself. So do we allow the world economy to collapse with irresponsible spending programs by the elite and private wars fought for the rich by the poor? Do we wait for another "New Deal" in 40 or 50 years? Or do we prevent them from destroying the 'old' new deal?

I notice they don't play 'A Christmas Carol' for free anymore... wonder why?

I don't.

Might be a little too close to home for the mob. Might open their eyes.

Princes are born, not made.

Livingston has no honor.

ONE (for pay) cable channel? Oh how nice.

December 23 at 7:00 when everyone is out last minute shopping?

why is it not on the networks for FREE?

Are you suggesting that it is because of a conspiracy to not inflame the public with socialist sentiment?

Maybe Time Warner wants exclusivity so they can maximize profits on their investment? (assuming they bought the rights to the movie)

Isn't that the same thing?



That's Turner broadcasting, and yes he did. Along with It's a wonderful life.

What do you mean for pay? It's part of basic cable.


Maybe up there in lefty country you don't get it, but that's your problem, not mine.

Turner is a subsidiary of Time Warner.

I'm not ready to buy into the conspiracy. I don't recall the movie inciting revolution, lots of movie rights trading has gone on recently, and it might be that "A Christmas Carol" is too old to have broad appeal.

Besides, there are plenty of sappy Christmas specials and movies. Unfortunately, most of them feature Tim Allen.

Turner sold out last time I checked.

What conspiracy?

If it's pro-capitalist, it's anti-socialist. Hello!

One is the opposite of the other, and of course they want this story out of the public sector. Anything to make a buck. "Public good" does not promote "making a buck."

TCM = Turner Classic Movies

Obviously not, or they would have no interest in buying the rights.

What would be the point, then?

simple. $
I don't see a social aspect.

It was a package deal.

He's an honorable pimp.

There are some, you know.


Money for nothin', chicks for free.

That's the way you do it!

Great post, davey-do.

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