Celeb Exodus May Begin (All Praise Bush!)

Remember the ultimate selling point for Bush in 2000?: The promise by Alec Baldwin, David Crosby, Pierre Salinger and a passel of other dwarf stars to leave America 4ever if Bushitler was (s)elected to the White House? If you don't, go here.

And if you do remember that ultra-deep-cover gambit by the GOP, go directly to this National Post story, which suggests--with all the sly, wily indirection that Canadians are famous for--that Robert Redford is looking to move to Ireland to escape a second Bush term. Sadly, the only other celeb mentioned in the story--and the only one to claim he may possibly move--is someone named Steve Crawford.

President Bush, I know we don't agree on anything other than tax cuts (and even on those you were a big pussy). But if you can get the Great Waldo Pepper to fly off for good, I'll promise not to leak word of your secret plan to create a Haliburton-financed theocracy in Rhode Island.

Comments

[Mr. Waldo Peepers]

Nick,
How can we favor emmigrants at the same time we favor immigrants?
Do I hear a giant, sucking flip-flop sound?

[Bob]

I think it was Mark Steyn who said that the best reason to vote for Bush was that "it would piss off all the right people." Looks like it's working.

[Jesse Walker]

I think it was Mark Steyn who said that the best reason to vote for Bush was that "it would piss off all the right people."

To be fair, that was also the best reason to vote for Kerry.

[George Hunka]

Does this mean we're finally rid of Bruce Springsteen?

[Todd Fletcher]

Jesse, so that would make the a win-win election! America can finally unite around something - pissing each other off.

[Pavel]

Or you can just piss off everyone and pull a Brian Doherty.

[methedrine face]

Right, Nick! Lose the talent and keep the Neocons! OF COURSE!

And here I thought ED Gillespie was the only one 'round on more drugs than me.

If I ever get arrested, I'm narcing on him.

Nick, even if you are quite clearly squashing long ropes of glue into your sinus cavaties (or not... wouldn't want to suffer yet another crushing defeat and find out you were, or god forbid in a nightmarish twice, I am, sober or some such ridiculousness), I still love you, man. Decidedly platonic love, though. Like none of them uberhugging Democraxstasy bullshit that was going on at some point prior to November 2, or possibly, at all points.

Alright, I have a rock that isn't going to stay all magically conformed for me for long to get back under here, so, if you'll excuse me, I burn easily.

[crab walk]

[Stormy Dragon]

During the election, we kept hearing that businesses that relocated overseas to avoid laws they didn't like were run by "Benedict Arnold CEO's."

Does that mean celebrities who relocate overseas to avoid laws they don't like are "Benedict Arnold Celebrities?"

[Ken]

I think Pierre Salinger already left

[Rick Blaine]

I am not sure why libertarians and principled conservatives are so sanguine about Bush's tax cuts. Accompanied, as they are, by massive deficits, they are not lifting the burden of government; they're merely transferring it to another generation. In other words, Bush hasn't really lifted the tax burden. He's just redeployed it in a way that is less honest and less accountable.

The upshot is that, for those of us with a libertarian perspective, there is NOTHING about this administration that's worth supporting.

[Jimbo]

I've been trying to look for reactions from celebrities. Anyone know of a good source or article?

[Jason Ligon]

"The upshot is that, for those of us with a libertarian perspective, there is NOTHING about this administration that's worth supporting."

I would throw social security in there as a positive. He's not too bad on guns. Also, he has the advantage of not being the devil on health care. Education is a mixed bag, but at least he's not hostile to school choice. He isn't a libertarian, but by comparison to the other alternative?

[Jason Bourne]

Jason Ligon,

He is the devil on healthcare; witness the bribe he made to seniors regarding medicare.

He supports that stupid "assault weapon" ban.

I thought we were supposed to be getting rid of the Department of Education?

By comparison he is roughly equal with Kerry, especially when you factor in Bush's social agenda.

[Guy Smiley]

Tax Cuts + Increased Spending = Starving the Government

I used to think that starving the government was good for libertarians. But now, I think it would be much better if it were dieting.

Starving is just as bad as obesity.

[Jason Ligon]

"He is the devil on healthcare; witness the bribe he made to seniors regarding medicare."

No, the devil is the guy who complains that the bribe was not nearly big enough. The distinction of degree is what I'm getting at.

"He supports that stupid "assault weapon" ban."

And yet, it is gone under his watch. Can you think of a Democrat that would have allowed 'machine guns to flood the streets'?

"I thought we were supposed to be getting rid of the Department of Education?"

I live in a two option world. You mentioned the yucky stuff in the mixed bag, but there is no way for a Kerry to support any form of choice.

There are two things that REALLY bother me about Bush: 1) The lack of transparency in his government, though there was certainly plenty of that under Clinton as well. 2) The social agenda of the religious right. His gay baiting his way through the close states made me ill. There is no excuse for it, and it is something that I will have to come to terms with.

At the end of the day, we are left with two nearly arbitrary coalitions. Unfortunately, I am left in the position of having issues important to me split between the two. It is not the case that I am unbothered by the social agenda of Bush, but, and you and I have disagreed on this front before, I don't see my values being equally distributed between the two coalitions. Both in weight and in quantity, I find more to agree with in the elephant wing.

These days, unlike previous times in my past, I think I completely understand your position. If I adjust the weights of my values I can now see the appeal of the Democrat. During this election season, I have reflected quite a bit on those value weightings, how they are represented by the parties, and the probabilities of harmful ideas becoming harmful laws. Liberalism terrifies me in a way that social conservatism does not. It is tremendously powerful the world over. I can't shake the idea that social conservatism is on the wrong side of history, but I really fear for the market and economic freedom. To that concept, add both my reasoning for fighting in Iraq and the (to me) HUGE issue of self defence, and I keep coming back to the same coalition.

[Jay Jardine]

As an open-borders kinda Canuck, I extend welcome to those Americans who wish to join our Shiny Happy Sub-Arctic Gulag.

But your lefty celebs? This has gone way too far. I will personally man the Detroit-Windsor border crossings and search the trunk of any vehicle suspected of smuggling Baldwin brothers onto our soil.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

"Does this mean we're finally rid of Bruce Springsteen?"

It's not the Boss's fault. Jon BonJovi brought the ticket down. He is such a tool.

"I will personally man the Detroit-Windsor border crossings and search the trunk of any vehicle suspected of smuggling Baldwin brothers onto our soil."

There's about 12 of them Baldwin boys, so keep a lookout for the Caddy.

[pops]

Ummm, didn't Pierre Salinger die a couple of weeks ago? So he's like off the hook for that promise right?

[hey]

salinger had the courage of his convictions.. he left for paris after 2000 and died in france, going all the way on his promise to live in frace for the rest of his life...

unfortunately, few others have lived up to their words... here's hoping that vast hordes leave, never to enter the US again (and hopefully north america)...

[Don't let the screen door hitc]

Redford should try Cuba, he loves the place.

A press guy once asked him why he didn't expend the same effort at helping the downtrodden in South Africa as he did in Cuba. He was momentarily speechless and then launched into some crap about apartheid to cover his hypocrisy.

[Karl]

Jason Ligon - GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

[Dan]

I am not sure why libertarians and principled conservatives are so sanguine about Bush's tax cuts. Accompanied, as they are, by massive deficits, they are not lifting the burden of government; they're merely transferring it to another generation.

My libertarian answer would be that I feel no moral obligation to pay for any government services in excess of core necessities (e.g., defense, police, education, etc) and the few add-ons I personally support (e.g., funding of general scientific research). The amount I pay in taxes dramatically exceeds the amount needed to cover my share of those things.

So I see no reason to feel guilty that later generations will get stuck with the bills. That's no more unfair or immoral than sticking me with the bills, and at least this way I get to keep my money, invest it, and pass it on when I die. The people who need to worry about the moral implications of debt are the people who support the massive entitlement programs that gave us the deficits in the first place.

[bigbigslacker]

Jason Bourne, Bush "supported" the assault weapon ban renewal in the same way Kerry "opposed" gay marriage. Its one of those wink wink nudge nudge things. The candidates know their supporters know what they REALLY mean vs. what they really (have to) say.