Civilization and Good Booze.
I won't embarrass them (or indict them) by linking.
I go over to their blog and start some trouble. They give it back as hard as I dished it out. I accuse them of being GOP water carriers. They accuse me of suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome. Everyone gets bitchy.
A couple days go by and we're okay. We could all sit down and enjoy a lovely glass of Scotch and trade stories about work or women or our favorite movies.
It's the difference between politics in this country and politics in too much of the world. It's what the Congress used to have, but somehow lost. It's what the Limbaughs and the MoveOns never had. Which is a shame.
You don't know if you're right about something until your idea is tested in combat. You want your idea tested. You need to be slapped around. Because getting at the truth is the point. And even when both sides remain far apart you remind yourself that you're all just trying to understand, and all just trying to do what's right.
I raise a glass (Macallan 12, neat) in the direction Kansas.
I go over to their blog and start some trouble. They give it back as hard as I dished it out. I accuse them of being GOP water carriers. They accuse me of suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome. Everyone gets bitchy.
A couple days go by and we're okay. We could all sit down and enjoy a lovely glass of Scotch and trade stories about work or women or our favorite movies.
It's the difference between politics in this country and politics in too much of the world. It's what the Congress used to have, but somehow lost. It's what the Limbaughs and the MoveOns never had. Which is a shame.
You don't know if you're right about something until your idea is tested in combat. You want your idea tested. You need to be slapped around. Because getting at the truth is the point. And even when both sides remain far apart you remind yourself that you're all just trying to understand, and all just trying to do what's right.
I raise a glass (Macallan 12, neat) in the direction Kansas.
This entry was posted by Michael Reynolds, on
Wednesday, October 17, 2007.
You can leave your response.
10:09 AM
Bravo. I suspect Congress still has some of it- but it doesn't get displayed in public. I hear the occasional story of GOP senatorial flamethrower back-slapping Teddy Kennedy- the HORROR!
You're right- it does distinguish us from much of the world. Too bad it's moving into the closet.
3:26 PM
And you're right- they are a great group of guys, particularly the one out here with me in the Great Plains.
8:40 AM
Aw, Michael, we like you too. I am occasionally surprised that you keep coming back, but I'm always glad that you do. Keeps us on our toes.
Your point is spot on, particularly the penultimate paragraph. Too many people in this country on both (or rather all) sides have deluded themselves into thinking that those who differ with them and their politics are bad people trying to do bad things for bad motives.
P.S. Don't forget we're not all in Kansas. Next time you're down Louisiana way, the Scotch is on me.
8:54 AM
Pat:
I had you guys all in corn field in the middle of Kansas with a Wizard of Oz kind of tornado thing going on. No?
As it happens we're trying to open a documentary in Louisiana. It's done NYC, Madison, it's going into DC and LA, but Nola apparently isn't ineterested because the doc suggests that even before Katrina life may not have been all peaches and cream in New Orleans.
2:40 PM
Not only are Simon and me not in Kansas any more, we've never been in Kansas to begin with. I've got a cousin and his wife stationed at Fort Riley, though.
Louisiana is a fantastic place to shoot moving pictures these days, because we've offered some whopping big tax credits. We don't particularly like the politics of the Hollywood types, but we adore their money. Even if your production doesn't end up owing any Louisiana taxes, you still get the tax credits, which you can easily sell to Louisiana taxpayers. If you're interested, e-mail me (stubborn.facts at gmail dot com) and I'll give you the name of the person at Dept. of Economic Development who you need to call.
What's the nature of the documentary series? Is it just what life's like in those particular cities, or is there a larger narrative? Think about Baton Rouge. We're very much a city in transition, and not just because of the hurricane.
2:40 PM
That should be Simon and I, of course. Sorry, grandmother!
3:31 PM
Thanks for dropping by, Michael. I'm back now. A change in medication appears to be all that was required.
7:41 PM
Pat:
http://www.desertbayoumovie.com/
It's a feature doc about the 600 African-Americans from New Orleans who were airlifted to Salt Lake City -- the whitest place in America. Great reviews from Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly and others. Not so good from NYT.
I get the "story by" cred, which in this case means I called my friend, the director, and said, "Hey, have you heard about this story?" Exhausting work for me, that phone call.
7:45 PM
IR:
Good. Take care of yourself. You had me Googling "vascular spasm" and of course the first thing that pops up is "cocaine use." I'm sure you just love that bit of Google guilt-by-association.
It was cool of you to blog the 911 call, though.