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Strong Men Also Cry . . .

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 03:11:37 PM EST
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The Big Lebowski: Are you surprised at my tears, sir?
The Dude: [Smoking a joint] Dude, f--in' A!
The Big Lebowski: Strong men also cry... strong men also cry.

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    Strong Men Also Cry . . . | 32 comments (32 topical)

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    But strong women are publicly criticized (5.00 / 5) (#1)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 03:40:01 PM EST
    for "tearing up."  Still pisses me off.  

    Hey (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by jbindc on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 03:46:15 PM EST
    Men can have gray hair and be "distinguished" whereas women are just "old".

    Go away Newtie!

    Parent

    Crying seems to run with (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by KeysDan on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 04:05:47 PM EST
    Republican Speakers.

    I don't know (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by lentinel on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 05:50:16 PM EST
    about you, but this brings tears to my eyes too.

    Firstly, the mental picture of little Newt, singing in the choir, just chokes me up. And singing Christmas carols too. And made to do so by his - I can't even say it - "no longer with us" mother.
    Too much.

    I must pause.

    Back now.
    I have gathered my composure.

    Secondly, to once again see that lovable pudgy Frank Luntz fellow, setting the stage and peeling the onions for the even more lovable and pudgy Newtie is almost more than I, a very strong person usually adept at concealing my emotions, can bear.

    When I lived in NYC (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by nycstray on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 10:51:55 PM EST
    one good reason to visit the family in CA (or take a vacation to PR or FL) during the holiday season was the better weather. And I'm pretty sure if Mittens wasn't giving it one last shot to be something, he would be enjoying whatever weather and location he preferred.

    As*hole.

    asdf (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by TJBuff on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 09:14:07 AM EST
    I got better

    Heh. (none / 0) (#29)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 09:24:07 AM EST
    Pretty early out for that kind of thing ;-)

    Parent
    Nothing meanginful here (none / 0) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 04:09:17 PM EST
    Just an excuse to reference The Big Lebwoski, one of the great movies of all time.

    Uh huh. (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 04:12:11 PM EST


    Parent
    Somebody's gotta get out more. (none / 0) (#6)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 04:20:57 PM EST
    But I should talk; I'm still trying to find time to see the new Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy.  

    Parent
    Ditto (none / 0) (#7)
    by shoephone on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 04:27:17 PM EST


    Parent
    Let us know what you think (none / 0) (#13)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 05:35:38 PM EST
    I don't see how it can come close to the PBS series.

    Parent
    You can buy the DVD (none / 0) (#23)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 11:26:53 PM EST
    on Ebay.... PBS also did "Smiley's People" which is also very good and concludes the trilogy.

    The second novel of the trilogy is "The Honorable School Boy" has never been made into a movie.

    All three are excellent.

    Parent

    When my public library finally reopens (none / 0) (#24)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 11:48:51 PM EST
    after their lengthy "vacation" (read budget cutbacks), I will be able to pick up and watch "Our Man in Panama."  Although many people didn't enjoy reading the book, I did.  

    Parent
    Am awaiting Meryl Streep as M. Thatcher. (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 05:26:06 PM EST


    Parent
    I think Thatcher was terrible (none / 0) (#25)
    by lilburro on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 02:36:06 AM EST
    because I completely disagree with much of what she believed in and stood for BUT the real reason I don't want to see the movie is that the trailer I saw for it was awful.  So schlocky.  But I'm sure directors' heads explode rather frequently when their 2 hour movies are distilled into a supposedly attractive 2 minute trailer, so, I will try to bite my tongue and wait for reviews ;)

    Parent
    Did you happen to see the trailer for (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 11:40:47 AM EST
    "Blast from the Past"?  Trailer was really funny (to me).  Movie:  not so much.  

    Parent
    Why do dudes all love this movie? (none / 0) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 09:39:57 AM EST
    Are there any women on here who think that The Big Lebowski is one of the great movies of all time?

    Parent
    ::raising hand:: (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by byteb on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 10:38:16 AM EST
    I love this movie and so does youngest daughter. It's one of those movies that I always enjoy re-watching.

    Parent
    I enjoy this movie in small doses (none / 0) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 01, 2012 at 11:26:30 AM EST
    Sam Elliot's character is my favorite.  Dudes seem to be over the moon about this movie.

    Parent
    I guess I should see it (none / 0) (#32)
    by MKS on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 10:28:36 AM EST


    Parent
    It was funny the first and only time I saw it. (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 11:41:29 AM EST


    Parent
    because it's great, that's why (none / 0) (#38)
    by tworivers on Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 05:08:57 PM EST
    "This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous. And, uh, a lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, uh, limber."

    Parent
    I didn't think it was all that bad (none / 0) (#37)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 01, 2012 at 11:28:17 AM EST
    I thought it was tolerable, for a family movie that I'm being drug to during holiday lull.  I thought it was better than their first one.

    Parent
    The thing about men crying (none / 0) (#8)
    by shoephone on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 04:30:21 PM EST
    is that it usually makes me cry too, and then want to comfort them. A natural maternal response? I don't know.

    But when Gingrich cries, it just makes me cringe. And that's an understatement.

    I hear you, shoephone! (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Zorba on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 04:47:03 PM EST
    Personally, I think that Newt and John Boehner need to go off in a corner somewhere and cry their eyes out, and leave the rest of us alone.  When either of them "cry," all I think of is "crocodile tears."  Oh, heck, maybe it's not altogether false- maybe they're feeling put upon and sorry for themselves.  It's just too bad that they can't feel sorry for anybody who truly deserves tears.

    Parent
    I think it's entirely possible that Newt (5.00 / 0) (#27)
    by Anne on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 08:41:15 AM EST
    does feel genuine emotion when he thinks not just about his mother, but about the difficulties she had that also affected him, but...the part I have a problem with is that in so many areas where politicians like Newt have, or have had, the power to effect and implement policies that would have positive effects on the lives of real people, they have chosen not to.  They have chosen "smaller government" as a way to close doors to people who need help.  They have chosen to cast people as failing to help themselves as a reason why government shouldn't be automatically available for help.  They have chosen to raise, or propose to raise eligibility requirements for aid, in the name of "fiscal responsibility," and abandoned any idea of the government as a tool of greater good.  They have fought for and won less regulation of business, to the detriment of the people those businesses affect.

    I could go on, but you already know all of this.

    So, while I accept that Newt can feel real emotion for a family member, his inability, or refusal, to express that level of caring for the millions he has served while in the Congress and for the millions more he seeks to serve as president, reduces his personal emotion to a level where it's hypocritical and somewhat offensive.

    If he - and others - can't publicly support policies and legislation and governance that reflects government's responsibilities to ALL of its citizens, including most especially those without the big bucks it takes to get a seat at the table, he and the rest of them can save their tears for the privacy of their own homes.

    Parent

    When Gingrich cries (5.00 / 0) (#16)
    by christinep on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 08:24:07 PM EST
    it makes me think about how he might be exercising the sincerest form of flattery by his version of modeling/copying a situation 4 yrs ago when Hillary Clinton showed a tear in the corner of her eye as she spoke with emotion in the final days before the New Hampshire primary, which she won.  Ah...so could it be that the thus far hardened-Gingrich senses a path toward sensitization!

    Parent
    Nah! (none / 0) (#30)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 09:36:09 AM EST
    When Frank Luntz is sitting across from you and tells you to think about your mother for a minute, sensationalism couldn't possibly be the path.

    Parent
    This Political Season ... (none / 0) (#15)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 05:59:25 PM EST
    really is a presidential primary "best of".  Now they're borrowing from Muskie.  

    What next?  Romney could do a "like father, like son" and claim he's been brainwashed.

    Okay, maybe not.  But we will like have:  Claims of plagiarism, a debate zinger borrowed from a commercial, a few more bimbos, a passel of illegal alien housekeepers, a bouquet of faux outrage and a Gingrich in a pear tree.

    Romney, whose current residence is (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 11:13:57 PM EST
    92037?  

    Mitt says: I won't cry. (none / 0) (#22)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 30, 2011 at 11:25:22 PM EST
    LAT

    Strong Men Also Cry . . . | 32 comments (32 topical)

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