Infidel George Clooney Wants to Make Osama’s Driver a Star

Jossip ^ | Aug 12, 2008 | David Hauslaib

[IrishMike]

Salim Hamdan was just sentenced to five and half years for chauffeuring Osama bin Laden through McDonald’s drive-thrus, or whatever the Afghani equivalent is, while he plotted the 9/11 attacks. Hamdan has been holed up in Guantanamo Bay for over five years without a trial, so he’s actually eligible for release in five months, although Bush & Co. have threatened to hold him indefinitely after he has served him time. The media has been all over the story because 1) Not every programming minute can be filled by the Olympics; and 2) It potentially sets a precedent for suspected terrorists to receive something looking like a fair trial.

ANYWAY, this story has been blasted to death, but is not dead yet! Much like Oliver Stone’s treatment of the Bush dynasty in W, Hamden’s story has been optioned for film a little too soon for comfort. Like, jeez, this story has been around for five years but has only gained momentum in the last month or so, which is right around the time that hunky leading man and bad motorcyclist George Clooney bought the rights to The Challenge, journalist Jonathan Mahler’s tale of the indicted Yemenite. Can’t we let the headline cool, and its effects settle in, before ripping it into a feature?

Hollywood has a history of diving into the cineplex pool so quickly after terrorism news. Remember September 11? That shit-show was followed up with the 2002 documentary 9/11, which led to Michael Moore’s docu-something Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004, and then 2006 gave way to both United 93 and World Trade Center.

Sure, Clooney just bought the rights to the Challenge, so it could be another couple years before we see anything from it (unless, like W, it becomes a rush job in time for the elections). And by then, Hamden may already be released.

But in trying to churn out a newsworthy feature, Clooney is inviting all the stupid political implications about liberals in Hollywood.

Just look at the Los Angeles Times‘ blog, which brings word of his new project: “Obama backer George Clooney plans a movie on Osama bin Laden’s driver.” Linking Obama and Osama certainly might make things sound more sensational, but a movie about the guy who chauffeured a terrorist around should be enough. But it isn’t. Sorry Clooney.

[sarasota]

Clooney is obsessed with political war commentaries. They don’t make any money but he loves the press.

[Slapshot68]

Clooney’s an idiot.

[lormand]

George Clooney is every bit as much a traitor as Jane Fonda, but has the savvy not to publicly pose in an IED factory.

[angcat]

By all means George why don't you take a a nice vacation to Jalalabad and do your research there!

[Artemis Webb]

As a person I like George Clooney.
However politically he has his head totally up his butt.

[kcvl]

How Clooney offers good friend Obama advice on issues from body language to Iraq

Oscar-winner Clooney, 47, is said to be helping the Democratic candidate to polish his image at home and abroad.

But Democratic Party insiders have revealed that Clooney and Obama regularly send texts and emails to each other and speak by phone at least twice a week.

‘George has been giving him advice on things such as presentation, public speaking and body language and he also emails him constantly about policy, especially the Middle East.

'George is pro-Palestinian. And he is also urging Barack to withdraw unconditionally from Iraq if he wins.

More...

[wmileo]

“Clooney’s an idiot.”

I keep telling the women in my family but they just love this ER mutt.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

You're being way too kind. He and other Hollywood types aiding and abetting the enemy is treasonous!!!

[Doctor Raoul]

Fine, let him lose money like the rest of the Hate America crowd.

[SJSAMPLE]

Just like George Bush is driven around by your everyday cabbie, OBL uses common men, with no Al Qaeda connections, to shuttle him around.

Riiiiiight.

[marron]

I’m ok with a famous Obama-backer defending one of Bin Ladin’s men.

And I’m ok with letting everyone know that a famous Obama-backer is defending one of Bin Ladin’s men. Does it play to all the prejudices and preconceptions about Obama-supporters? Maybe, and maybe its important to point out that Obama-supporters have prejudices and preconceptions of their own.

They tend to look sympathetically on Bin Ladin’s people. They tend not to look sympathetically on the people who are trying to stop Bin Ladin and his people. There is nothing wrong with making that point, and of Clooney wants to help us make that point, then lets don’t get in his way.

[popdonnelly]

“The media has been all over the story because” they hate Bush and work for the Democrats.

[Tzimisce]

This sucks - I want to go in to film and so far I’ve tried school, screenwriting, making my own movies and various other things.

What I really should have been doing is making bombs and planning to blow up innocent Americans....

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Title for this movie:

“Driving Miss Crazy.”