In this episode, Victor Davis Hanson and cohost Jack Fowler talk with Justin Shubow about American Monuments and the NEA, and then they examine the mandates for the new administration, assassin Mangione a reflection on university graduates, defending Netanyahu against countries complying with ICC, Christmas movies and the hope that DEI is over in the film industry.
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Merry Christmas, Victor. I sincerely hope you have a great time with friends and family, thank you for your time!
Re Art: East Palestine does not have a committee to erect a monument to the Great Train Wreck of 2023. If I had the talent, the wealth, or the patience, I would sculpt a tall, black, basalt monument. On the front would be a stylized burning tanker car, with bright yellow flames, while the rest of the stone would be the column of black smoke. The back would be highly polished, so that the viewer’s face would be reflected under a fireman’s helmet. There would be the words: “East Palestine, Ohio….February 3, 2023…In the Midst of Fear, We are Here!” Then there would be a list of all the First Responders who came to help. It would be a cross between a tombstone and a monolith. Perhaps it would be the first Trumpian Fist Punch Sculpture. Or a Middle Finger To Fate.
Happy Christmas VDH.
The war years produced many fine films. I’m surprised VDH didn’t mention Fresno’s Wm. Saroyan and his “The Human Comedy” (1943) directed by silent-era veteran Clarence Brown. It still packs an emotional wallop.
Mickey Rooney, memorable as the telegram delivery boy, reads the War Dept. message to a Mexican woman that her son has been killed in action. She weeps and sings in Spanish. It also co-starred Donna Reed, plus a young Robert Mitchum in a bit part.
The old Wizard of Oz himself, Frank Morgan is the boozy telegrapher sage, who dies mid-message upon receiving the War Dept.’s sad telegram regarding the death of Rooney’s brother played by Van Johnson.
Put that on a double-bill with George Steven’s “I Remember Mama” (1947) and Irene Dunne’s finest performance. Though neither film is a Christmas movie, each is finely crafted sentiment tempered by realism and humor, and both are set in northern California — Ithaca, which was Saroyan’s fictionalized Fresno, and post-quake-era San Francisco, where Stevens himself was raised.
Richard C Hottelet, Charles Collingwood, William Shirer — a couple other names to add your CBS wartime reporter’s list.
“Airplane” took inspiration from many disaster flicks of the previous decades including “The High and the Mighty”, but the overall plot came from “Zero Hour”, with Dana Andrews and Sterling Hayden. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051221) In fact, Airplane matches Zero Hour scene-by-scene for much of the movie, so much so that you’ll insert the Airplane jokes yourself.
Merry Christmas!
I agree with you on Birthright Citizenship. Many court decisions based on the 14th Amendment need to be readdressed! Roe v. Wade was base on a BAD interpretation of the 14th. Reynolds v. Sims on The state Senate Apportionment mandate, United States v. Wong Kim Arc Birthright citizenship and Wesberry v. Sanders Dissent One man, One Vote. Would love to hear you take on these! Thanks
Joe