Ben Affleck (who knew?) SME on the Congo

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by MR2

I think experience as an actor is probably the best skill set for getting elected...

EXACTLY!! I recall lamenting that when the Clintons were elected (I meant the plural. What, you didn't really think we were just electing Bill did you?) that we have finally come to a point that in order to get elected to public office, the only skill that was required was the skill of getting elected.

And as DocIllinois pointed out:"This is giving me flashbacks of all the times I've had to explain to patients that Suzanne Somers is not, in fact, an authority on healthcare."

I am getting to the point that I think Celeb opinions should come with a warning "What I am about to say may have no bearing on anything at all and may be the stupidest thing that you have ever heard, but hey, I am famous so I am going to say it anyway"

And, Sig, as you pointed out, Reagan was not a Celeb and was a journeyman actor, was the President of SAG, and Governor of CA. Apples and Oranges.

[MTN Medic]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

My point is that Reagan wasn't taken seriouslyin many quarters because he was a B lister. How did that work out for those who opposed his political POV (which went from left to right)?

MOO, it is well past time to dismiss as hacks, idiots, or "libtards" those who work in the entertainment industry. As an actor, Affleck's work has grossed over 1 billion USD in domestic ticket sales. He is now moving up the food chain as a director and a producer. (In some parts, he'd be called a "maker".)

But on second thought, let's do keep on insisting upon ideological conformity. Let's keep insulting and pushing away those who live their lives as they see fit. After all, that approach has worked wonders in the last two presidential elections.

Or you could listen to someone who has actually been there, has a first hand assessment of the security situation and ground truth knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of all players in the region.

What do we need that for? God forbid anyone hear the truth and not some playboy's interpretation of what is going on over there that he gleaned from some 'documentary' on Netflix.

[sinjefe]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

As an actor, Affleck's work has grossed over 1 billion USD in domestic ticket sales. He is now moving up the food chain as a director and a producer. (In some parts, he'd be called a "maker".)

.

I fail to see what him being an accomplished actor or director has to do with him being an expert on the Congo or Congress looking stupid for asking him to testify about something he knows nothing about.

[ZonieDiver]

Why does Congress like to put celebrity 'mouthpieces' in front of their worthless committee hearings? Because the 'news' shows tune in then. The Congress-critters don't care if the 'public' is informed, they just want their mugs on the tube.

As for Affleck-ted, I'll wait to hear what he has to say to pass judgement. Hell, he may happen to know a lot, I don't know. I'm sure a posse of "experts" would get NO 'coverage' - and Congress isn't going to do shit anyway, so what the F?

This is nothing new. Sally Field, Jessica Lange, and "she who shall not be named" appeared in the late 80's/early 90's to 'testify' about conditions with farmers, since they had all recently been in movies about farmers.

God Bless Steven Colbert for the balls to show them what idiots they were for asking someone like him to testify! (If you haven't seen the video, you should.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1T75jBYeCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTDCgOvVOx8

[MR2]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

Last edited by ZonieDiver; Today at 20:46. Reason: None of your business! Do I ask why YOU edit your stuff? Or, more importantlym, why you don't?

importantlym - no dictionary results

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by sinjefe

or Congress looking stupid for asking him to testify about something he knows nothing about.

Jefe... You assume the congress critters know something?

[Richard]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

Why does Congress like to put celebrity 'mouthpieces' in front of their worthless committee hearings? Because the 'news' shows tune in then. The Congress-critters don't care if the 'public' is informed, they just want their mugs on the tube.

And for someone like Ben Affleck, it also helps him bring this 'cause' to the attention of many out there who are otherwise involved in the current cottage industry business du jour of either decrying the fate of our nation at the hands of a sheeple-elected Kenyan, Muslim, Communist, mulatto, divisive, anti-American, nefarious, spendthrift of a POTUS or touting the end of the world as predicted by somebody's interpretation of their accepted scriptures or a stone calendar of a civilization no longer in existence.

And so it goes...

Richard

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by JimP

I am absoultely ashamed and embarrassed FOR these idiots. I'd be seriously insulted were some lib politician to parade this mental midget in front of me to 'educate" me as to the foreign policy implications of congolese security.

Originally Posted by Trapper John

Celebs with expertise on foreign intel/security? Makes sense to me. Why not? Next it's Gumby for SoS and Mr. Bill for SoD. That should work out well too Hey, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express! Maybe I should testify on something/anything??

Keep in mind that Mr. Afleck has a inside line on intelligence, foreign affairs and national security......CIA Agent Sydney Bristow.

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by Paslode

Keep in mind that Mr. Afleck has a inside line on intelligence, foreign affairs and national security......CIA Agent Sydney Bristow.

I actually had to look this up- just shows how out of touch I am with pop-culture

Good one!

[MR2]

Originally Posted by Richard

[COLOR="Lime"]And for someone like Ben Affleck, it also helps him bring this 'cause' to the attention of many out there who are otherwise involved in the current cottage industry business du jour of either decrying the fate of our nation at the hands of a sheeple-elected Kenyan, Muslim, Communist, mulatto, divisive, anti-American, nefarious, spendthrift of a POTUS or touting the end of the world as predicted by somebody's interpretation of their accepted scriptures or a stone calendar of a civilization no longer in existence.

You forgot the assh*le adjective and that the Mayans are still around, but other than that you are correct.

Originally Posted by Paslode

Keep in mind that Mr. Afleck has a inside line on intelligence, foreign affairs and national security......CIA Agent Sydney Bristow.

That was a great show.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by MR2

You forgot the assh*le adjective and that the Mayans are still around, but other than that you are correct.

Maya descendents - yes; Mayan civilization...

Richard

[Sigaba]

MOO, a mover and shaker in the entertainment industry should be taken seriously as a political force if he/she decides to develop expertise on a policy matter. Such an individual will have the resources to reach out to experts, politicians, eggheads, and others who will contribute to the process. If said mover/shaker is also a celebrity, doors will open all the faster.

If one wants to say the person is unqualified to speak as a SME because the person is a lefty or an entertainer, they are opting out of a conversation that is going to happen anyways.

@sinjefe

To me, a person like Affleck is especially formidable because he can write a narrative (as a scrrenwriter), he can tell a story (as an actor), he can put asses in seats (as a celebrity and as a director), and he can get things done (as a producer). While we can debate from a variety of perspectives the quality of the products that people like Mr. Affleck produce, I think we dismiss the influence and impact of those products at our own peril.

YMMV/$0.02

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by JimP

I am absoultely ashamed and embarrassed FOR these idiots. I'd be seriously insulted were some lib politician to parade this mental midget in front of me to 'educate" me as to the foreign policy implications of congolese security.

Can't any worse than placing a body builder as Gov of Kalif or a third rate comedian as a senator or a singer as a congressman....

[sinjefe]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

MOO, a mover and shaker in the entertainment industry should be taken seriously as a political force if he/she decides to develop expertise on a policy matter. Such an individual will have the resources to reach out to experts, politicians, eggheads, and others who will contribute to the process. If said mover/shaker is also a celebrity, doors will open all the faster.

If one wants to say the person is unqualified to speak as a SME because the person is a lefty or an entertainer, they are opting out of a conversation that is going to happen anyways.

@sinjefe

To me, a person like Affleck is especially formidable because he can write a narrative (as a scrrenwriter), he can tell a story (as an actor), he can put asses in seats (as a celebrity and as a director), and he can get things done (as a producer). While we can debate from a variety of perspectives the quality of the products that people like Mr. Affleck produce, I think we dismiss the influence and impact of those products at our own peril.

YMMV/$0.02

None of which has anything to do with whether or not he is an expert on the Congo and whether or not he ought to be testifying on such in front of Congress.

[cbtengr]

It's been two days since his testimony, which I missed. Did anyone on this site see his testimony and if so come to the conclusion that,

A: He is an expert on the subject
B. He is not an expert as to the subject

To folks such as myself who see that a Hollywood type is testifying before Congress on most any subject, we are immediately skeptical as to the why them. Living in the midwest I recall the testimony in the 80's from all the actress "farm experts" who testified about the farm crisis. It's a valid perception for many of us, at least at first glance.