Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Everybody saw this coming.

A consequence of cucumbers

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

After roe, women are no longer free.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Spilling the end game before they can coat it in frankl luntz-approved dogwhistles.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

Optimism opens the door to great things.

How can republicans represent us when they don’t trust women?

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

No one could have predicted…

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

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Reader Interactions

36Comments

  1. 1.

    efroh

    R.I.P. Andy Whitfield.

    (Yes, yes, I know, it’s not the tv series “Spartacus”. But you should still watch the tv series! It’s on Netflix/DVD/Blu-Ray and despite a shaky beginning, it’s ends up being a fantastic show. Seriously, you won’t regret it! (Not for kids though as there’s a ton of nudity and swearing.))

  9. 9.

    JPL

    From the comments

    …..Jack The Hat……………………………………
    …8/7/11…………………………………………
    Where do I start, well lets say congradulations to Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Duglas for the return of there Hollywood communist friends (black listed)as being a part of this film. Did you know that there is a communist organization called “Spartacus”. The love of communision in Hollywood is very much like a religion. It’s mentioned that Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Duglas were courgeous in bringing back there black listed friends well, what would have been more courgeous is to see a film coming out of Hollywood that promotes the American way?

    Jack needs spelling lessons.

  20. 20.

    Jay B.

    When half of the commentariat here is whining about cops being persecuted and protests against unchecked capital/authority are met with blank stares or criticisms, it’s safe to say they have no idea what the fuck the movie is going on about.

  22. 22.

    Cacti

    Yet again, the Braves are all but gift wrapping a playoff spot for the Cardinals…

    and yet again, the Cardinals are struggling against the Lastros.

    Yarrrrrggggg!

  23. 23.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    Sorry to hear about Andy Whitfield. I love the Starz version of Spartacus. Blood rains down from an angry sky, My **** rages on!!! My **** rages on!

  25. 25.

    Davis X. Machina

    @MikeJ: From the Wiki-thingy:

    By the end of 73 BC, Spartacus and Crixus were in command of a large group of armed men with a proven ability to withstand Roman armies. What they intended to do with this force is somewhat difficult for modern readers to determine.
    __
    …no historical account mentions that the goal of the rebel slaves was to end slavery in the Republic, nor do any of Spartacus’ actions seem specifically aimed at ending slavery.

    My belief is that they were demanding the creation of a high-level consular commission to study the problem.

  26. 26.

    khead

    Kirk Douglas is 94 years old and had a stroke 5 years ago – yet I’m sure he could still kick Jack’s ass.

  27. 27.

    Anoniminous

    Ending slavery in the Ancient World would be like the average American giving up the internal combustion engine.

  28. 28.

    karl

    The TCM page BBDJ links to doesn’t mention Tony Curtis at all. What’s up with that?

    And is anyone here familiar with Kirk Douglas’ recollections about screenwriting credit for Dalton Trumbo? I don’t know if they’re accurate or just reflect the animosity that grew between the real-life combatants over the script’s vision.

  29. 29.

    KS in MA

    @karl: Haven’t read Douglas’ recollections about Trumbo, but the original novel was written by another old Red, Howard Fast. The Wikipedia page says:

    “The novel was self-published in the USA by Howard Fast during the McCarthy era in 1951. He began writing it as a reaction to his imprisonment for charges stemming from his involvement in the Communist Party USA. He refused to disclose the names of contributors to a fund for a home for orphans of American veterans of the Spanish Civil War (one of the contributors was Eleanor Roosevelt), and he was imprisoned for three months in 1950 for contempt of Congress. The final page of the first edition describes some of the difficulties in its publishing:

    “‘Readers who may wonder at the absence of a publisher’s imprint are informed that this book was published by the author. This was made necessary when he learned that no commercial publisher, due to the political temper of the times, would undertake the publication or distribution of the book. …'”

  31. 31.

    Larry Craig

    It’s a good movie, although a bit long. Gore Vidal isn’t credited as a screenwriter, but he actually was…and claims he threw in some S&M elements as a joke.

  32. 32.

    Mnemosyne

    If it’s the restored version, the dialogue had been lost for several of the scenes and was dubbed back in with — not a joke — Anthony Hopkins doing his very good Laurence Olivier impression.

  33. 33.

    sherparick

    Jeanne Simmons was seriously beautiful. A great cast. The Oliver and Curtis scene, “oysters and snails” alone makes this an extraordiary movie. Watching the scenes with Laughton and Ustinov together are also a delight.

  34. 34.

    HeartlandLiberal

    If you have never seen Kirk Douglas’ “Spartacus”, please do so.

    It is one of the greatest of the Hollywood historical epics, and Kirk Douglas shining moment in film history. It rose far above the weaknesses of the genre films of the period, with an all star cast including a magnificent performance by Tony Curtis.

    I saw it in theaters in original release as a teenager. I did not realize until many, many decades later when I watched it on DVD how many images from the film had so thoroughly impressed themselves in my consciousness and how my mind thought of ancient Rome and its history.

    The final battle scenes towards the end, when Kubrick recreates a classic Roman military operation and formations, are absolutely compelling.

    Thematically, the film is a classic effort to confront the notions of how we as humans enslave and oppress our fellow humans, and how there will always be those who not only yearn to be free, but will risk all, including life and family, to gain freedom.

    There is of course the fact that Spartacus really did lead a slave revolt, that for a couple of years threatened the Roman Empire to its core. Many historians suggest that the aftermath of Spartacus’ revolt helped lay the groundwork for the collapse of the Republic and emergence of the Empire.

  35. 35.

    HeartlandLiberal

    Since we are on the subject of Hollywood historical epics, let me also recommend Burton, Harris, and Taylor in “Cleopatra”.

    Also a very long movie, and as much as my wife and I love the film, the second half starts to bog down, especially when you realize you really do not like Burton’s character Marc Antony, as he devolves into self pity. We watched the film again last year, and about 45 minutes from the end we were both cheering him to go ahead and kill himself NOW and get it over with, either that or Cleopatra should just put him out of his whining misery.

    But here, again, the second half of the film is worth watching for the recreation of the naval battle at Actium, one of the most famous naval engagements in history, and the turning point in history that gave Octavian sole control of the Empire.

    The first half with Rex Harrison as Caesar is simply magnificent. You will never forget the scene when his ships arrive in the harbor of Alexandria. You feel like you are there, two thousand years ago, walking right into history.

  36. 36.

    Shlemizel

    Reading that review by Jack the asshat reminded me of a guy I used to work with. He had just seen “Time Bandits” and spent a hour explaining to me how it was a condemnation of “liberalism”. These poor putzes will find politics in Word Of the Day and Hints From Heloise. The only thing more pathetic is their lack of understanding of history . . . or much of anything.

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