Jim Webb, Roger Ebert Announce Joint Initiative

[davidswanson]

By David Swanson

Senator Jim Webb, (D., Va.) and Roger Ebert, a movie reviewer with the Chicago Sun-Times have announced a joint initiative.

"This partnership makes perfect sense," Ebert said in a press statement. "Over the past year, Senator Webb's role has been, like mine, that of a critic." In fact, a survey of media reports finds that Webb is identified as a critic more often than as a senator:

"Webb is an outspoken critic of the war." - The Daily Press

"Webb has become one of the foremost critics of the Iraq war since taking office in 2006." - Richmond Times Dispatch

"One of the US Senate's harshest critics of the Iraq war." -Christian Science Monitor

"He reminded reporters that he had been an early and outspoken critic of the invasion of Iraq." - Washington Post

"One of the war's harshest critics." - United Press International

"Webb used the anniversary to criticize Bush." - Austin American Statesman

"'This administration has a history since 9/11 of not tolerating any form of criticism or dissent from its military leaders,' said U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, who knows something about the subject." - Virginian-Pilot

Webb and Ebert have announced what they are calling a governmental-cultural exchange. During the next month, Webb will serve as a movie critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and as a substitute host on television's "Ebert and Roeper."

For medical reasons, Ebert has recently lost the ability to speak, and is therefore incapable of fulfilling his duties as a television critic. Instead, Ebert will serve for one month as a substitute United States Senator. While Ebert is not a resident of Virginia, when asked to comment, the people of Virginia said, "He can't talk? Hell yes, let's have him! We tried to elect somebody to stop funding the occupation of Iraq. We're ALL 'critics' of it for gawdsake."

In a separate statement, Ebert has announced that he will fillibuster the next $102 billion for the occupation of Iraq and any other bill devoting "so much as the price of a movie ticket" to prolonging that occupation. Fillibustering, Ebert explained, does not require "Jimmy Stewart antics." It just requires releasing a one-sentence written statement and then finding 40 more senators to join with you for a total of 41.

"I'm happy to do this while unable to speak," Ebert said in the written statement, "because there's been a little too much jaw-boning already, in my opinion. Whoever's producing Congress hasn't quite grasped the basic requirements of the action genre."

[Sam Ervin jret]

1. at this point, try anything and everything to get these thick heads the message

[garybeck]

2. OK, now I like Roger Ebert.......

I always preferred Siskel's comments and I thought Ebert was a little condescending and pompous at times.... however now that I've discovered his politics I like him!!!!

I had the same thing happen with George Clooney. I never liked him on that hospital TV show... but when he started speaking out on politics, I started liking him more and more.

[bryant69]

9. Hmmmm

So if you had a plumber you thought was a lousy plumber, slow and incompetent, you'd dislike him, but if you saw he had a "Re-elect Gore" bumper sticker on his truck as he drove away, you'd like him?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[truedelphi]

3. There isn't much to add except thanks Robert E, And Jim Webb

Adn I always enjoy yr posts David.

[madrchsod]

4. very cool....

one thing for sure--this will get big press in chicago! it`s nice to see him do this

[RufusTFirefly]

5. Pretty clever -- albeit six days late n/t

[otohara]

6. Thumbs Up

and kick to Ebert & Webb

[9119495]

7. Ebert didn't think much of Webb's piece of crap movie...

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20000407/REVIEWS/4070304/1023

But hey, I guess they are both professionals.

[RufusTFirefly]

8. Did someone leave a cake out in the rain or something? n/t