Eastwood and the Chair
John Yoo ·
September 7, 2012 at 11:23pm
For those of you who loved Clint Eastwood's outside-the-box speech at the Republican National Convention, as I did, you will want to read his first post-convention interview (which Mollie also linked in her post below). He gave it to Paul Miller, the publisher of the Pine Cone, the local paper in Monterey Bay. Reading it will show you how truly unrehearsed the whole thing was, which is why I loved it.
One amazing fact: Eastwood thought up the empty chair routine only while waiting in the green room to go on stage.
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Oct '11
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
I thought it was brilliant when I saw it live and I still think so now. I'm really completely flummoxed by people on the right who said he flopped.
May '10
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
I didn't watch it live but I followed the Ricochet live cast. I was a bit panicked when y'all started relating what was going on. I watched it on YouTube the day after and I thought it was brilliant. That fact that it's still being talked and written about is a testament to its brilliance. I wonder if any of you out there in Ricochet Land who didn't think it was a good thing initially change your mind?
Oct '10
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
Oooooh, and the Romney team was so embarrassed! I loved it, even though (or maybe because) Eastwood appeared to be on the edge.
Aug '12
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
Here's the really brilliant part: Let's pretend you are not someone inclined to watch the Republican convention. If you overheard a conversation a few days later about Mitt's speech or Rubio's speech you most likely would not have pursued it any further. But if you heard two guys talking about Clint Eastwood's speech, you probably would have been curious enough to find out more. You may have even gone to YouTube and watched it. And thereby heard the message that you otherwise would not have heard. And heard a message that resonated with you.
THAT's the brilliant part: He was able to get people to listen to the message that would not have done so had it come from someone else.
Edited on September 8, 2012 at 12:19amRe: Eastwood and the Chair
The only thing that was truly memorable about either convention -- as in, we'll remember it months from now -- was this brilliant bit done by my fellow American Clint Eastwood.
And I'm being really petty about reaction to this speech. Because the groupthink against this speech was so oppressive and over the top, I'm remembering those pundits and reporters who said it bombed and I'm judging them harshly for it.
Aug '12
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
As you should.
Jul '10
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
I thought it was the most important and successful event of the convention, said so at the time on the Rico chat, and can now say the same for both conventions. DNC got a negative bounce on the merits of making biology the topic in the worst jobs market since they started monthly statistics in 1948.
Bumbling Barry's solution: Mention God less and himself more.
Clint eclipsed the whole magilla, the whole DNC serving as one big empty chair event from the stadium they couldn't fill to the bygone sex offender used in an attempt to imbue proper gravitas on the Golfer in Chief, and in return the Left has, in near talking point unison, declared him senescent. Which Clint waves off with a hearty, all-American, what do you expect, they are the Left.
Sep '10
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
I couldn't hear a word Biden said last night: it was drowned out by the ethereal voice of Clint Eastwood saying:
"A grin with a body behind it."
Clint's too modest. He didn't just get 3 points across: he got 3 points and a fistful of one liners. King Barack of Taxalot, St Barack of Jobsalot, and Tiger Barack of Golfalot were all sitting in the chair and found wanting.
May '10
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
I also love that the interview blasts at the well-repeated trope that Clint is some sad, muddled 82 year-old man. He's starring in one film and about to direct another.
I only wish that he had thought to credit Bob Newhart who, of course, was a master of the form.
Jun '11
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
I truly enjoyed Eastwood's quote from the interview to the effect that Obama was the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.
Can EJ Hill transform one of those annoying "HOPE" posters into "HOAX"?
Jun '12
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
I was at first a bit angst ridden, because I wasn't expecting comedy. But then the sheer brilliance began to become apparent. It will go down as one of the most consequential moments in politics and theater both.
Apr '12
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
Bay Street, Toronto, has sent around the video and it is a big topic at business get togethers. We are hoping that US public realize how they are being discussed as a massive Greece.
Canada wants its reliable, serious older brother back, not this dope smoking, Che Gevere loving, hipster on welfare.
Clint said it. Time to let him go. One Clint trumps ten Scarletts.
May '10
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
The word "inspired" comes to mind.
Don't take yourself too seriously, and God will whisper in your ear.
Dec '11
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
The thing with communication is the takeaway, what do you remember, so this speech is the closes too perfection that I have seen in years. One of the beauties is the other side and undecided listened to it.
For some reason props make us also listen closely. (Sesame Street with props of puppets have know this for years. ) The speech would not have the same impact without the empty chair. Only a master( or novice) of communication would have the confidence to go extemporaneously and change things at the last moment.
Finally the reason John Yoo is probably posting about this is because as a college professor he is an expert on empty chairs. :-)
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
It was masterful. And the best way to know how effective it was? It unhinged the Democrats. When they sneer, it means we've hit a target.
Apr '12
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
Clint Eastwood is brilliant in everything he does, and his speech to the Republican Convention was no exception. Only a master of the stage could do what he did, go on without rehearsal and entertain as he did. EVERYONE was talking about the speech, and would have got his crystal clear message at the same time as they heard it.
"The American people own their country. They employ the politicians. If a politician is not doing his job well, fire him."
The Democrats were so raving, ranting, furious, because it was too much to the point. Their shrieks had everyone watching it - and getting the message - even if they didn't see it the first time.
Brilliant!
Edited on September 8, 2012 at 6:46pmMay '10
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
John Yoo: "One amazing fact: Eastwood thought up the empty chair routine only while waiting in the green room to go on stage."
I gave it, and still give it, mixed reviews. The idea was brilliant. Maybe the most brilliant piece of political theater I've seen in more than four decades of paying attention. Idea: A++
The execution, however, was mediocre, especially for a man of Eastwood' s considerable talent and experience. And the reason, quite simply, is what you alluded to, John. He didn't care enough about the opportunity to speak to the nation in support of Romney and in opposition to Obama to give adequate attention to what he would do and to be prepared. I have done some acting myself. I recognize a half-baked performance when I see one. There is no excuse for that quality of performance by a man of Eastwood's caliber in a venue like that. And a little forethought and rehearsal would have allowed him to avoid the CoC non-compliant innuendo that was, frankly, just crude coming in support of someone of the character of Romney. Execution: C--
Mar '11
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
Bombs away!
Aug '11
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
The speech was good. Not amazing, but he made some good points. A lot of the commentary was way too hard on the speech.
Jun '12
Re: Eastwood and the Chair
Think about the number of empty chairs at the airport, at a doc's office, in a subway, a bus,a bank....Every time someone has a silent moment, he would look at nearest empty chair and think ......empty chair, empty suit, running on empty...