Ron Howard: Happy Days are (almost) here again
If you’re into military cuts and the Eurothenasia of America, it’s a good time to be alive. Just ask director Ron Howard — who’s happy with the direction America is headed, but thinks that we have to put the “progressive” pedal to the metal if we’re to reach Shangri-La by sundown.
From Real Time with Bill Maher via Newsbusters:
Film director Ron Howard is “very optimistic” about the future of America, so long as the nation makes an “adjustment,” to fulfill his hope a “more progressive” nation will mean “at a certain point I don’t think we’ll be so consumed with being the pre-eminent super-power and, you know, driven by sort of militarism and this need to export, you know, democracy.”
Howard’s reasoning, on Friday night’s Real Time with Bill Maher, came in response to Maher’s formulation that America has “seen better days. We’re sort of in place that has made a lot of people nervous. Some people would say this country has jumped the shark.”
Is it too much to hope for that part of the “progressive adjustment” Howard envisions includes giving me some of his money?
Howard seems to be not only fooling himself but also threatening his own career (as do the majority of his Hollywood colleagues) with the assumption that a weaker America with a dramatically scaled-back military won’t have a negative effect on his “artistic freedom,” but I don’t expect Hollywood to catch on to this fact because they’re always so preoccupied with feverishly sawing off the same branch they’re sitting on.
What other kind of logic are we to expect from people who live their lives in a town that built its fortune on fiction? The whiffle-brainers in Hollywood will only appreciate the existence and necessity of a powerful U.S. military the day there are “progressive” Chinese tanks turning the Universal Studios lot into Tiananmen Square West. By then it might be too late to save Hollywood. And even if it isn’t, eh, whatever.
The problem with celluloid-dwelling liberals is that they come from a world where, if you make a mistake, you can just yell “cut” and keep doing re-takes until you get it right. In real life, there is no such luxury, which someday they may find out the hard way. Lucky for them, disaster flicks do great box office.
In closing, I thought it was particularly rude of Bill Maher to reference the term “jump the shark” right in front of the person who starred in the show that inserted the phrase into the American lexicon.
(Video of Howard’s appearance is here)
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Opie needs a spanking and hard… what a tool.
Yep …
Opie has added a “Scarlet Letter D” to his name and is now officially Dopie …
Too bad he didn’t actually learn anything from the character he played as a child …
Opie can star as FDR, who was asleep at the switch, while a Nipponese armada steamed towards Hawaii.
There is much relevance today in that story.
nitwit
Well … there’s another Hollyweird director scratched off my list … no more Ron Howard films for me.
Living and growing up in Mayberry with a sheriff that doesn’t carry a gun and everyone is so nice, even the bad guys. Yeah, that’s the kind of world Hollywood is made of, pure fiction.
If you want to see them change their tune real fast, get Obama to put salary caps in place on the movie industry.
Then listen to them sqwak…
Actors and directors wages not to exceede $250,000.00 per film…Ha Ha Ha…
Oops! I forgot and the deputy carries his pistol, but no bullets in the gun. His one and only bullet is in his shirt pocket. One shot, one kill Barney.
And that’s a good thing….because…..??
Fot him to believe that, he must see the USA – his country – as a big bad bully.
I’d like to know who he’d rather have as THE super power.
But who am I kidding, in his mind, he envisions a world that doesn’t need a super power.
A world that’s a happy place. Where they have flowery meadows and rainbow skies, and rivers made of chocolate, and where children dance and laugh and play with gumdrop smiles.
Hanoi Fonda
Sean Penn
Ron Howard
..next?
Yeah, that, you know, democracy stuff is so overrated.
Stupid blithering idiots.
I love it when these rich leftists who have theirs could care less about those in backwater dictatorships not getting theirs with the march of democracy.
And they think AMERICA has jumped the shark? Any mirrors for sale?
“Ga-a-a-u-lee! Shazam!” Ronnie want to turn “Mayberry” into May Pole Land? Why is it, these Hollywood visionaries, these merchants of fantasy, always buy into this nonsense?
The U.S. motto is being changed from “In God We Trust” to “Welcome to Fantasy Island.”
Rahm Emanuel as Tatoo: “Look boss, the plan, the plan!”
Obama as Boss: “Yes, Tatoo… ‘change’ is in the wind! Now go. See to our guests.”
Elitist idiots.
Pearls of wisdom from Dopie Taylor… does anyone really care to listen to this drivel?
Maybe for him they *will* be good times.
Andy Griffith Show was popular in the ’60s, a time of upheaval and economic contraction.
Happy Days was popular from the mid-’70s to mid-’80s, another economic downturn including Jimmuh Carter.
More people staying home watching television has been very, very rewarding for Ron Howard.
Mew
One time Barney loaded the single bullet into his pistol and accidentally fired it. Nearly shot himself.
I bet Opie wishes he was a lot younger, back in the day when he had hair on his head instead of having to wear a baseball cap to bed or in the shower. Maybe his brains AND his hair departed simultaneously.
#10 …
Good call … none of these idiots ever seem to realize that it was freedom and democracy that allowed them to be where they are financially and otherwise …
Guess when Hollyweird is populated by row after row of run-down shanties like the one BO’s relatives live in over in Kenya they will finally get a clue …
Hey … I can still dream can’t I ???
Doug, that is one of the best explanations I have heard. CEO’s who are having their free market jobs threatened (many of them supported Dem politicians), through the course of my studies I have met so many lawyers who are dedicated liberals (liberal ideology will kill their livelihood) and other professionals who have made a good life for themselves who are asking for everything they have worked hard for to be taken away from them and distributed to the “poor” masses. I guess I am not a hater, but a congratulator. I just don’t understand any of this.
Translation:
I’ve become so disappointed with Ron Howard and Tom Hanks, I can’t watch their movies anymore.
Now, here’s where you can watch a patriot.
I think this proves that it’s time to nationalize the movie industry. We need to be certain that stories produced/directed by people like little Ronnie can be reviewed and certified to be in the best interset of the public good.
What’s wrong Ronnie? You see nothing wrong with them meddling in my life but don’t like the idea of the government meddling in YOURS huh you CLUELESS aparatchik.
I’m sure Opie loves Obie’s idea of unilaterally disarming ourselves so the rest of the world will know that we mean them no harm. Then, everybody will live in peace, harmony, and freedom of expression (whatever that “expression” may be) for all.
I know that this is wrong, but part of me wants to witness the results of liberal stupidity, when the blackshirts drag them out of their mansions, throw them into paddy-waggons, and haul them off to Dhimmiville.
He’s lived in Fantasyland all his life. What do you expect?
When’s he ever spent a minute in the real world since he was four.
He seems preoccupied with bashing the Catholic Church these days too.
Opie turns into Goober before our very eyes…
Yeah I like CSI: New York so it’s easy to support his work. Must be odd to have people filming you while you eat though…
Guys like Maher and Howard are living proof that his old adage is true.
“For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.” … Unknown
The man has been spoon-fed all his life. His concept of reality is based on fantasy in movies/tv. They have no clue that cheering a government that will censor them is a good idea. I was watching a history documentary this morning on a PBS station that I had to turn off after 30 minutes. They presented nothing but negativity (The U.S. in 1876) and absolutely wrong information. Is that what the Hollywood types want,to stand there shocked when a “commissar” comes in to tell what they will film and what they will not film? I had hoped Ron Howard was more intelligent than that, but I see he’s just part of the “suckered”. Stick with films, and stay out of things you know little about, Ron.
I can’t remember the columnist who wrote this, but I recall a column about how the most capitalist city in the US is actually Hollywood. Stars are paid according to the money they can bring in at the box office (rather than a limiting pay scale), people are constantly innovating, creating new ways to tell stories, yet a lot of stars espouse socialism and/or communism. They have all benefited greatly from the same capitalist system that they are constantly bashing – I can think of no bigger group of hypocrites than guys like Ron Howard, Sean Penn, Babs Streisand, etc.
Is it wrong to wish for both Maher and Howard (who just looks ridiculous with no hair on his head) to fall in the tank WITH the sharks? With open wounds?
From Real Time with Bill Maher? Damn, I missed it AGAIN!
People with millions of dollars for doing nothing particularly important do not impress me much.But if these people are so enthralled with Europe I wish they would move there–and take the OTHER OpieDopy with them.
Opie Whiffle-Brainer does not matter much at all–Bill Maher is a different issue. I would really enjoy meeting that man somewhere private.
But perhaps I am being harsh–these people do live in Fantasy Land and think Tinker Bell is real.
*Hey Ron Whoreward, unlike you, we don’t want the USA to be transfomed into Kenya as your dear leader is attempting to do; Try shooting a movie about Adam and Steve on location in North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, or worse yet, Communist China; Your perspective might change somewhat, if you make it out alive.
I’ve sat and thought about why so many darn Hollywoodites are all so gung-ho (to reference a forgotten silly Ron Howard film from the ’80s) about progressive statism where the U.S.S. of A. is no stronger a nation than Bangladesh, the U.N. runs everything, and the Constitution is so much toilet paper. It doesn’t make any sense…how can people who make their living from the free market and benefit from the First Amendment support something that is not in their interests?
Then it hit me. About half of them honestly don’t understand the full ramifications of a progressive statist society. Their leftism is an affectation, kind of like Cameron Diaz’s Maoist bag that she bought in China because it looked cool, not because she understood what it meant. They’re not smart enough and/or too eager to hold on to their careers to even question the liberal/left echo chamber.
The other half though do know the ramifications and don’t mind because they are true believers. These are your Sean Penns or Susan Sarandons. A progressive statist society will absolve any guilt they might have for their wealth and status because the little people will be “taken care of” by the government. They believe the Left holds artists in very high regard and as a result, they will continue to enjoy what they have now under the new order, along with what they truly crave: political power.
I just read a piece where someone commented that directors seem to like dictators because directors know what it’s like to have power over the final cut. I guess that plays into Howard’s love for progressive statism too.
A few months ago I read a joke.
A sixth grade civics class has a mock campaign and election.
They choose candidates and during the debate the first young politician makes an impassioned, cogent plea for votes and gets the appropriate applause.
The other contestant walks up to the podium and says, if I win, you get ice cream!
The popularity of Howard, Maher and their foolish child Americanism is stereotypical of the ice cream disease politics we’re suffering from.
Among many others, but Howard has always come across as a sissy.
My take on all of this is that the so-called Stars in Hollyweird think they are members of the elitist class which will never be touched by the rules for the peasants.
They and their ilk in Congress think they are above all of you silly little people out there. Of course they don’t think they will be hurt by Obommunism. They are, after all, STARS!
The list grows:
1. US Magazine
2. O Magazine
3. The Oprah Show
4. Susan Sarandon, Timothy Robbins
5. Sean Penn
6. Jane Fonda
7-500. Other Hollywood types.
501. D-opie Taylor.
Typical.
To sort of paraphrase other commenters:
The gays and atheists should have been on the front lines against most Islamic efforts, but decided otherwise.
Ignorance is bliss.
I just came back for our service of the Stations of the Cross…. how peaceful, for me… a former Marine, who wants to just take care of things… and for one night and tomorrow I’ll be peaceful. But I know that my God never has accepted evil… and I’ll be there to fight. I was able to talk to my son in Iraq and we are of one….. we will bleed, and have bled to defend a country that a Judeo-Christian faith blessed. You don’t like it? Then find a place to cower… because that is what you will have to do.
Whenever I consider the prospect of America as the strong superpower versus a totalitarianism-dominated new dark age, my first impulse is to seek out little Opie Cunningham’s views on the matter. Hey, I wonder what Potsie thinks?
Shazam. That’s not the Opie I know.
Democracy everywhere is better for the world than anything else. Millions of people falling all over themselves to get here every year proves that! What–does he think we’re better off with more sharia, communism and other non-liberty-promoting ways?? Opie, you’ve drunk way too much leftwing koolaid. You want the blessings of this country while poo-poohing it all! whaaa?????
Hmmm. I wonder how Ron will feel when they take away his house and redistribute his massive wealth and then force him to make what the rest of America makes — minimum wage. That’s the socialist way!
Say goodbye to your gated Hollywood community, your Porsche, your other houses around the world, your stock, your assets, your security guards, dinners at 5-star restaurants, and your company because government will take over that too.
Is this a life he would really enjoy? Then I suggest he go and live in N. Korea for a while and see how he likes it.
Apparently Kipling (1942): Men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less civilised, are there to guard and feed them.
I think Ron Howard is talented in his line of work. I really do. I just wish he’d shut his pie hole otherwise.
Sounds to me like Opie needs one of Aunt Bee’s famous inedible biscuits stuffed into his piehole!
Apparently those homespun values that I treasured growing up watching Andy Griffith/Mayberry didn’t rub off on the little redhead (who’s now even uglier than his famously hideous brother Clint!).
Yes, it is wrong. And I wish for the same thing.
I wondered who was going to be play Goebbels in Obamas new documentary, The One’s orgy!
David…You are truly one of the good guys! God bless, and Happy Easter!!
MNUSMCDavid and all others that have served, and now some with children serving – thank you for your sacrifice and wishing you God’s richest blessings.
As if it’s news that some leftist kook in Hollywood thinks things are going in the right direction.
He doesn’t have to worry about his “creative freedom”, though. I’m sure he’ll be just as creative making a more pure brand of propaganda when he’s called upon to do so.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
He’s right. America has seen better days. They were called “The Reagan Years”. He was also right concerning the whole “America has jumped the shark” statement. That occurred on November 4th of last year. It has been in a downward spiral ever since.
But Opie and the rest of the Hollywood Elite need not worry. For in the standard Socialist regimes, those of wealth and prominence in the Party need not worry about living as the People do. They will always be given perks, better homes, better Party-made cars and such. All one need do is look at how the Soviets ran their country, how the Proletariat was treated and you will have a great view of how all these rich Liberals are going to be treated in the “New Order of Things” in this country.
Too bad Ronnie didn’t learn from Opie! After all, the gubmint is now after all of US…that is we on the RIGHT!
True story, folks. Homeland Security is not monitoring US, not Islamo-Facists!
Got a Tea Party near you? GO
oops…is NOW monitoring US
happyscrapper and 24K Lady
Thank you, I have tears as I read what you said. I can say no more. Blessings to you and yours and may I say…. Joyous Easter. Be safe be well. I wish this to all who contribute to this site. I am gone for a few days!
Let me be the first to say what a filthy disgusting repugnant excuse for a human being Ron Howard is. The man is essentially saying freedom is overrated and that we should be ashamed of ourselves for helping others to attain it.
But exporting the sleaze that Hollywood produces? — the glorification of sex, drugs, America-hating and every other selfish, antisocial behavior possible — exporting THAT is something to be proud of!
Calls to Theo Van Gogh for comment were not returned by press time.
Poor little Opie Cunningham….I heard he went brain dead a few years ago. This seems to prove it.
Idiotic statements such as these pretty much make Opie the posterboy for California public education. Of course he feels this way. He’s got his head up his a$$.
Perfect.
Another Hollywood fantasy-land idiot weighing in. These people are truly disconnected from reality, playing make believe all their life. Hey Ronnie, shut up and direct. Utopia is a myth. You “progressive” panty waists will get us all killed.
David,
Sayin prayers for your son. He’s doing the same thing that the man we celebrate tomorrow did. Sacrificing for alot of people who don’t realize how important that sacrifice is. God bless ya, man. I’m Air Force, but for you, brother: Semper Fi.
Okay, Hollywood is liberal, but how stupid do you have to be to not see that the freedoms we enjoy in the USA are worth defending?
Saw the Maher show, billed as being about “Angels & Demons”, but they spent 10 times as much time talking about Howard’s stupid Obama video. I had fun playing a cardinal for a month last Summer in “Angels & Demons”, got to briefly meet him and shake his hand, but … I wonder if he really appreciates the artistic freedom he currently enjoys only because of that very democracy which he is loathe to export. He needs to work more with Gary Sinese – and take some advice from Mr. Sinese.
MNUSMCDavid …
From one Marine to another Happy Easter and best wishes to you, your son and your family … and that goes out to all of our former and current military and their families …
Semper Fi my friend …
DesertLover
SSGT USMC
Viet Nam
Ron Howard as Dr Phil would inquire, what is the color of the sky in your world?
Opie is a closet Pinko? Say it ain’t so…well maybe Closet was harsh, he doesn’t appear to be hiding it.
After reading Levine’s book Liberty or Tyranny, Howards’ words–”this need to export, you know, democracy.” really speaks of the statist desire to impose rules and regulations on everyone. Their goal, as Rush says, is to “make everyone equally poor”. They will import tyranny so don’t export democracy.
The leftist/statist slant is nothing new and should not really be very surprising to anyone who pays attention. What may be useful in persuading them to take another look (but it is very doubtful) is to point out to them that historically, the radicals who helped the oppressive regimes take over have always been the first ones to the re-education camps and ultimately, lined up against the wall.
On a different note, I would like to stress the difference between a democracy and a constitutional republic. While many here would argue that it is simply a matter of semantics, I believe it is exactly what has allowed us to go down this path to destruction. In a democracy, the will of the many can oppress the rights of the people such as we have seen here. By allowing people to believe that we live in a democracy, we have allowed our “rulers” to run it like one. In a republic, wards of the state would not be allowed to vote. Those who do not own land or produce are not allowed to vote. By removing the safeguards that were put into place with the creation of the Constitutional Republic of the independent but united States of America, we have allowed it to become a democracy and allowed our bloated bureaucracy to usurp the powers of the states and of the people. It is much more than a simple matter of semantics people.
As for Easter, I do not celebrate Easter (for reasons I posted in another post) but for those of you celebrating the Resurrection of Christ as our Savior, I do pray with you and for you all. As for those that have done their time in the service, may God be with us all in these days. Thank you for your Service and I hope you can make some room for me on the front lines. While I have hope and faith in God through Christ, our once great and proud Nation may be well past the point of safe return.
And gee, I thought I was done being verbose. Sorry :”>
Anyone with that much money should buy himself some hair.
Shrink the nation down to the microcosm of his home with his family in residence.
Does he feel the same about having a weak defense around his home?
Has he torn down the fences, brick walls and gates around his home?
Does he have an alarm system on the grounds and in his house?
The idea may sound like a progressive one on a national or global scale but does he really practice in the microcosm what he espouses politically?
I doubt it.
So on a national level he says we should live a certain way while at home he proves he doesn’t believe that at all.
Happens all too often, opie leaves Mayberry to go to an Ivy League school, becomes brainwashed by the socialist trained professors, and is now a director of films designed to brainwash the masses.
I stopped supporting the hollywood elite along time ago. They hate and slander what I love so I will not give them what they love.
WOW! Yeah, Opie. We are so selfish. How dare the people of this country attempt to export something as horrible as Democracy. After all, there are millions of people living under despotic conditions who just HATE the thought of being able to have a say in what happens to them and their country. Why, if it wasn’t for this sickness we have here of thinking that people everywhere, no matter what race, color or creed, people would not be killing themselves trying to get into this country either legally or illegally. You know…strapping themselves to doors, rubber rafts, anything that floats, crossing blazing hot deserts, dangerous rivers, braving criminals and thugs…all because of that damn freedom thing.
That same “democracy” boogie-man that made you the wealthy, self-righteous, self-serving, sanctimonious pig that makes incredibly stupid comments such as this on a nationally viewed cable show.
Seems to me that Fonzie should have made you “sit on it” and spin, you bald little punk.
Another “useful idiot”!
Remember people, entertainers are just one step above a court jester. They are good on camera, can memorize lines but very few have a real education and are insulated from reality.
Only a fool listens to a fool.
Ron Howard is a bald dink. His best days are way behind him, evidenced by his appearance as Maher’s fool-for-an-hour.
I prefer not to voluntarily subsidize dodoheads with my hard earned dollars. I stopped buying Dixie Chicks, Springsteen, don’t see Penn films, and now Opie’s gone bad, I won’t buy his stuff too.
Hollywood?
Don’t need ‘em!
My wife and I have plenty of fun photographing and video taping our children, our adventures as a family, e.g., trips to Maui, Kauai, the Florida Keys, San Diego, Yosemite, Ricket’s Glen State Park, their softball games, swimming and diving skills, nature, animals, dolphins and undersea life, the sky at night, and more.
For motion pictures there are wonderful films from Brazil, Argentina, China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, India – yes, Bollywood does make some wonderful, family entertainment, and so on.
Who needs to pay a gazillion dollars to watch a movie that pushes deviant behavior, disorders, ruthlessness, and more, all packaged as art and expression, acted out by multimillionaires who think they are walking oracles, Gurus to be worshipped and whose “example” should be followed, and who think they know everything, so much so that they get on stage and condemn our President (Bush), our nation, and our military personnel who sacrifice much to protect us.
If Hollywood drops off into the ocean overnight, with all the snobbish, snarky, self absorbed, condescending, arrogant, over paid multimillionaire actors, actresses, directors, producers, etc., in tow, I won’t shed a tear.
I will now channel for the ghosts of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Woooo…..
Stalin: I denounce Aunt May!
Mao: She is running dog of capitalism!
Hitler: Vee have ways of making even Aunt May hate exporting democracy, yah?
Hollywierd is part of the media and will be a protected class. Normal Americans, however, are the ones under assault.
Latest headline:
Obama apologizes to Howard (and Hollywood) for letting the military free the pirate captive Captain and offending their pinko politics. Promises it won’t happen again.