Is Clint Eastwood a republican, or not?

[bliss_eternal]

His films seem so liberal-- it just seems odd. You'd think he'd try to put more of a rw spin on things, particularly the ones he produces/directs if he is.

Anyone know about this?

Thanks!

[KitchenWitch]

1. Not sure, I believe he is actually Libertarian

[bliss_eternal]

3. Thanks KW--

that would probably explain his more 'progressive' leanings--at least in his films.

[KitchenWitch]

4. Here is a link

http://www.libertarianrock.com/clint.html

[bliss_eternal]

5. Thanks for the link!

Interesting party philosophy--'everyone leaves everyone else alone.'

:hi:

[KitchenWitch]

6. I like that idea myself...

[Telly Savalas]

14. The flip side is that's their approach to poverty and health care too.

But whatever Eastwood's politics are, he's made some pretty good films over the years.

[bliss_eternal]

15. Oh my--that's a little scary, isn't it?

Oh well--no political party is perfect, is it? LOL!

I like many of his films, too. With issues that range from saving a death row inmate at the last moment, euthanasia and exposing political corruption--they just didn't really fit in line with a rw agenda, imo. LOL!

[DainBramaged]

2. Clint Eastwood is done, who cares, just dust in the wind

[mitchum]

7. The Dirty Harry movies are liberal?

[DanCa]

9. If The DH movies were liberal than Bronson's Death Wish series

a heart warming story of a man trying to overcome with his grief . :sarcasm:

[bliss_eternal]

12. LOL-mitchum

I was referring to his more recent films. But thinking of Dirty Harry as liberal is pretty funny.

"You feel lucky, punk--we'll do 'ya? After I shoot you, I'll personally drive you to the hospital, sit by your side, nurse your wounds and then make sure all of your medical expenses are paid. Then, I'll make sure you get enrolled in a program that rehabilitates you, gives you a great job and helps you move your family out of the trailer park. Oh and I'm really sorry for calling you punk. What is your name, sir?"

;)

[mitchum]

16. Now THAT'S funny

well done :)

[bliss_eternal]

18. Thank you--

:blush:

[DanCa]

8. Many people were repubs before the neo cons took over.

Eastwood could be tied to the NRA or have bought into the lie the repubs are the party of fiscal responsibility. The republican party has changed dramaticaly in the last few years, my dad said Ronald Reagan would be rolling over in his grave if he knew what the gop stands for today.

[bliss_eternal]

13. Not to dispute your dad--

(or be disrespectful toward either of you), but Reagan kind of helped usher in the 'hateful' aspects of today's neocons. Ron was no angel. He certainly wasn't 'Republican lite', not from where I sat.

In many ways, I think he'd be rather proud of what they've done--but that's just my opinion.

[LynneSin]

10. He's republican the way they use to be decades ago

Republicans weren't always these disgustingly close-minded pigs. Unfortunately they allowed the party to be hijacked by the neo-conservative fundelmentalists and they took over the party. Republican party use to mean small government and conservative spending but one look at today's republican lead government you can tell it's nothing even close to conservative spending or small government.

[xmas74]

11. Exactly.

I can respect an old-time Repub (not saying that I agree w/ them but can respect them). Their party and ideals once meant something.
There are a few actors that were affliated w/ the Repub party in the past that you now have to wonder if they would feel the same today.

[Zomby Woof]

17. No, and here's why

He is an independent, if anything. He has too many brains and subtleties to be a Republican.

Consider this quote, from an interview he did in 2004:

"I never considered myself a conservative. Of course, I am no extreme leftist either."

I like that. He NEVER considered himself a conservative.

As for Dirty Harry, that was a timely cultural phenomenon. We are SUPPOSED to be provoked and uncomfortable by the character. There was a bit of zeitgeist in the film to the backlash at the time of the rising violent crime rate and the feeling of helplessness urbanites had. But in the end, playing Dirty Harry is not endorsing Dirty Harry.

Consider too, what "Unforgiven" says about the senselessness of violence as a solution to problems.

Eastwood is hard to pigeonhole. As a director though, he has summoned some of the finest performances from some of our most liberal actors, such as Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Morgan Freeman. All of them are good friends, and bound to have his ear.

[bliss_eternal]

19. I found Unforgiven so unsettling--

I think it bothered me even more because people in the theater laughed during some of the scenes I found most disturbing. Couldn't tell if they just laughed out of their own discomfort of if they were just dunderheads that didn't get it.

[hickman1937]

20. He used to be a republican when it meant something.

A pre-reagun republican. I believe he left around the lee atwater days. The marriage of eugenics(as carried on by white supremacist's) with evangelism probably made him realize that this was not his dad's republican party.