Posted on 05/04/2007 8:03:11 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
When asked his favorite novel in an interview shown yesterday on the Fox News Channel, Mitt Romney pointed to “Battlefield Earth,” a novel by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Italian is universal. Did Marco Polo, an Italian boy, have any problem in China? No, he merely dropped the Italian inflexions and spoke in roots. Kubla Khan detected an accent and ignored the gestures and they got along fine for 35 years.
While that may be true, the knee-jerk reaction is to connect Hubbard, with science fiction, with Scientology, with Hubbard. Of all the books he could have chosen, seems to me that he chose the wrong one.
Fiction is just as important for understanding the times as non-fiction.
"I don't think so. It's a ten-hour drive, your father isn't as young as he used to be and my gout is acting up again."
"Don't worry about it, Mom, I'll send Air Force One to pick you up and take you home. And a limousine will pick you up at your door."
"I don't know. Everybody will be so fancy-schmantzy, what on earth would I wear?"
"Oh, Mom," replies Susan, "I'll make sure you have a wonderful gown custom-made by the best designer in New York."
"Honey," Mom complains, "you know I can't eat those rich foods you and your friends like to eat."
The President-to-be responds, "Don't worry, Mom. The entire affair is going to be handled by the best caterer in New York, kosher all the way. Mom, I really want you to come."
So Mom reluctantly agrees and on January 21, 2013, Susan Goldfarb is being sworn in as President of the United States of America. In the front row sits the new president's mother, who leans over to a senator sitting next to her. "You see that woman over there becoming President of the United States?"
The Senator whispers back, "Yes I do."
Says Mom proudly, "Her brother's a doctor."
I enjoyed “Battlefield Earth” as well. It would’ve made a great movie...but they would’ve had to make 3 of them, and they’d had to have been 3 hours long each.
As far as L. Ron’s spiritual leanings...he once told a friend “Yeah, writing can make decent money. But if you really want the big bucks, start your own religion”. And he did.
He also named American Idol as his favorite tv show, as did Hillary. I can’t believe that any politician has time to waste on such a silly tv show.
I appreciate the Bucakroo Banzai citations. I have since learned that 4-D space has sixteen dimensions, which means that Buca is lodged somewhere inside the mountain even now.
Eternal vigilance is badly twisting Romney’s record. For instance on the hiring of gays...of course Romney hired some gays in bureaucratic positions. As long as it wasn’t in postitions of influence what is wrong with that? I am sure that Ronald Reagan had some homosexual people in his administration. After researching his record quite a bit it is obvious to me that people like ET are unwittingly misrepresenting a very good man. I think you need to look more deeply into Romney’s record.
You are presumptuous. I am looking into Romney’s record. And I am not impressed.
I favor Fred Thompson.
That's about right. The story wasn't all that bad, and there were some pretty interesting ideas.
At the time I read it, I was reading voraciously because I had nothing else to do. I'd be reading normal-sized novels in a few hours, and I liked Battlefield Earth because it was long....
The movie was putrid direct to free TV, too poor for Mystery Science Theater quality.
The book was actually OK.
Doubtful Hubbard wrote it other than signing off on his name. Falls appart at the end with the social justice BS.
Kind ends with the hero facing the Life and Times of Judge Henry Bean scenario. (little pencil pusher pains)
Too painful for me, I'm afraid. John Travolta and Barry Pepper are usually fine actors, and Forrest Whittaker is an amazing actor, but BE managed to squeeze bad performances from all of them. I suppose you can't blame Travolta for his performance, but should blame the producer ... oh, wait.
As a movie lover, one of my favorite joys is to read a good critic's review of a bad movie. Roger Ebert wrote, among many other good lines about BE, "The director, Roger Christian, has learned from better films that directors sometimes tilt their cameras, but he has not learned why."
(chuckle)
you forgot the "Harry Potter is the devil" part.
BING! Wrong answer Mitt.
This may sound like a little thing, but you have to wonder what is going on in this guy’s head? Liking the book is bad enough, but being so stupid as to say it out loud? Doesn’t bode well for his reasoning abilities. Or his capability of anticipating consequences for various actions.
This kind of carelessness will get you eaten alive in a campaign against a Democrat [press].
That’s funny! I’m nearly finished rereading Dune after about 30 years and I’ve noticed the same things you’re undoubtedly talking about. Those Fremen and their society are certainly reminiscent of some earthlings who are being a tad bothersome these days, aren’t they? :-)
And I liked Battlefield Earth, too (I even enjoyed the movie). It’s a tale of one brave human being who is responsible for the overthrow of an evil empire that’s strangling the galaxy. Not the greatest sci-fi novel, but a good one. Way to go, Mitt!’
Cheers
Jim
LOL! And the “Rings” trilogy could be distilled to, “A hobbit throws a magic ring into a volcano.”
So? Anyone with half a brain knows the flack he is going to get for any connection to L Ron Hubbard. His statement says a lot more about his politcal acumen than it does his taste in literature. And it’s not a positive.
Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, William Gibson and H.G. Wells were/are very good -- no, great -- writers of sci-fi novels. Elron couldn't carry their jock. He was a hack even before he became a cult leader.
Don't get me started on Heinlein.
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