Althouse: Trailer for the new Dinesh D'Souza movie, "America."

May 1, 2014

Trailer for the new Dinesh D'Souza movie, "America."

48 comments:

Curious George said...: The last best hope on earth...; 5/1/14, 12:36 PM
Illuninati said...: Dinesh D'Souza is too much of a threat to the left to walk and talk free. He is a person of color who has come from a former colonized country and yet he is willing to glory in the prosperity and freedoms available in our country. The entire power of the IRS and the Federal Government is poised to crush him.; 5/1/14, 12:43 PM
Mark said...: It's like a smorgasbord of 'USA USA USA!', warm fuzzies about the founders, and put downs of liberals and natives all on one plate.

For the hundred thousand people that see it, I am sure they will love it. Hope it pays the bills.; 5/1/14, 12:45 PM
tim maguire said...: Well let's see: on one side, we have simplified ancient transgressions and deliberate misuse of the English language to push false ideas, and on the other we have great technological achievement, unprecedented prosperity and opportunity, and growing peace and stability throughout the world.

Hmmm...I wonder which side I choose.; 5/1/14, 12:46 PM
Richard Dolan said...: Quite the grab-bag of conflicting images, commentaries and perspectives. The concluding line, "... but we do have us," suggests that the trick will be getting from the grab-bag to 'e pluribus unum.' The "us" in that concluding line doesn't sound like a united Volk singing from the same songbook, but instead D'Souza's version of the new Puritan 'elect' who will lead us to the promised land.

It's an old -- really, the original -- metaphor for the American story (if you leave out the native americans, and those featured in the trailer most emphatically want to be left out).; 5/1/14, 12:59 PM
Robert Cook said...: "...on the other we have... unprecedented prosperity and opportunity, and growing peace and stability throughout the world."

Uh, Tim McGuire...WAKE UP! YOU'RE HALLUCINATING! YOU MUST HAVE EATEN THE BROWN ACID!

Income inequality is rapidly reaching calamitous levels worldwide, and the world is becoming so increasingly unstable--at least partly due to our expanding worldwide war, (which, uh, takes care of your "growing peace")--that apocalypse is not an unfeasible possibility in our lifetime.; 5/1/14, 1:18 PM
garage mahal said...: Looks like some hawt Revolutionary War reenactments. Love love the tri-corner hat.; 5/1/14, 1:29 PM
SomeoneHasToSayIt said...: Robert Cook said...

Income inequality is rapidly reaching calamitous level . .

Yup. And what do you know! It's baked right into the Progressive cake.

As more and more folks are both forced (by Progressive job-killing policies) and encouraged (by vote-buying giveaways and disincentives to work and personal responsibility) to take up residence in the increasingly comfortable Social Hammock, the fewer and fewer people left paying the bills, need to find more and better income sources.

Presto! Widening gap.

Until it inevitably stops.; 5/1/14, 1:31 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The prominence and ubiquity of the America-haters proves their point: What kind of shit country elevates Chomsky or Ward Churchill to positions of influence?

The same one with racists like Obama and Holder in charge.

Until America changes drastically, a reversion, I side with the America-haters.

I understand the GOP cheerleaders will defend the racist Obama and his administration, and all the other corruption in America, as they've been conditioned to do so blindly and cannot help themselves. They don't see the country doesn't love, appreciate, or have any use for them anymore except as foils in the great Progressive soap opera.; 5/1/14, 1:50 PM
Robert Cook said...: "What kind of shit country elevates Chomsky or Ward Churchill to positions of influence?"

Who says they have any influence?; 5/1/14, 2:33 PM
Alex said...: It's like a smorgasbord of 'USA USA USA!', warm fuzzies about the founders, and put downs of liberals and natives all on one plate.

For the hundred thousand people that see it, I am sure they will love it. Hope it pays the bills.

That's the tea party in a nutshell these days. Rah-rah, self-masturbatory exercise.; 5/1/14, 2:57 PM
Titus said...: Dinish wrote an entire book about how American's social cons and the middle eastern social cons should get together and fight against homos in America-definitely an amazing man!~!!!; 5/1/14, 3:06 PM
Browndog said...: I saw his 1st movie, 2016, in a movie theater. First time at a (movie) theater in 15 years.

The cinematography was outstanding. Beautifully filmed. The story...lacking.

If he tells the story as well as his visual presentation he'll do well. Maybe well enough to pay off the DOJ for his sins.; 5/1/14, 3:12 PM
FleetUSA said...: SomeoneHasToSayIt is spot on. This election, any election, should be about jobs and education and growth. Not giveaways, gotchas, & scandals.; 5/1/14, 3:15 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Tedious visually and musically and with insufficient rebuttals of those whose views he opposes.; 5/1/14, 3:17 PM
tim maguire said...: Actually, Cook, you are wrong on almost every detail. Income inequality is growing in the US, but, as problems go, it is not very significant. It's only a problem because the progressive all-powerful government offers great abuse for sale.

As for the rest, how about looking past the Daily Kos for your news? Even at the height of tne Iraq War, the world was steadily becoming a more peaceful place, even at the height of the market meltdown, the world was becoming a more prosperous place.

We could use a little less whining from 1%ers like you about how everybody is suffering from your luxury problems.; 5/1/14, 3:24 PM
David said...: "Income inequality is rapidly reaching calamitous levels worldwide . . . "

Except that with any long view of history, income inequality has declined dramatically. It's not so long ago that most people in the world were living on subsistence. There are now billions of people who have a reasonable standard of living and can expect a life twice as long and much healthier than their ancestors. You can date the beginning of this change to around 1600, or if you do not like the slow pace of 1600-1800, you can start in 1800.

Yes there are a few thousand people in the world today with fabulous wealth, wealth beyond the dreams of the rich of the past. But why does this wealth exist, and why has so much been generated so recently and so quickly? It's because we now have a massive worldwide market of billions of people with high living standards and disposable income. This in turn is because of the creativity that has been unleashed by the expansion of human freedom. Freedom will not end disparity of outcome, but if given a chance, for just a few hundred more years or less, it can eliminate poverty and want.

Will the outcomes be unequal? Why yes they will. But unless we shackle people to restrain their free choice and creative opportunities, nearly everyone will be much better off.

Predominantly the people who say they want to control equality of outcome are most interested in having the power to determine the outcomes. Beware of them. They will not improve the lot of humanity if they triumph.; 5/1/14, 3:28 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Patriotism porn.; 5/1/14, 3:28 PM
chickelit said...: Jail the filmmaker!; 5/1/14, 3:30 PM
Browndog said...: Ann Althouse said...

Patriotism porn.

Initially, I was inclined to agree.

Then I thought about your use of the the word "porn", as it applied to Patriotism.

Now, I'm repulsed.; 5/1/14, 3:35 PM
David said...: Ann Althouse said...
Patriotism porn.

Stirring, eh? The deeper urges get a chance to bubble up.

So was Reagan patriotism porn. But he was actually doing stuff too. That's why people found him so sexy.

D'Souza. He personally is not sexy.

Which makes me think of Titus' comment. Had Reagan been around today, he would have turned the gay argument deal in the Republicans' favor. At least I think he would have. Reagan was about freedom. And about winning. He would never have held on to the losing hand today's Republicans are still playing.; 5/1/14, 3:51 PM
Marty Keller said...: "Patriotism porn"? So what you're saying is that people can fetishize patriotism, objectify it, and then have sexual fantasies about it? Wow. What's next--love porn? Courage porn? Altruism porn? The Age of Cynicism is indeed upon us.; 5/1/14, 3:52 PM
garage mahal said...: Jail the filmmaker!

When will these targeted prosecutions end! Obama goes after D'Souza because he criticized Obama and Bush went after Wesley Snipes because he's black. Grrrr.; 5/1/14, 3:59 PM
Coach B said...: Patriotism porn? I sometimes find patriotic images stirring, but not arousing. Nor do I furtively go online to patriotism porn sites. Am I supposed to feel ashamed because the juxtaposition of Ward Churchill speaking his mind and images of America's greatness gave me a little twinge of pride? I think the [fill in the blank] porn analogy is overused.; 5/1/14, 4:15 PM
Rosalyn C. said...: Patriotism is group self esteem. Nations, like people, achieve more with self esteem than self loathing so why would anyone want to destroy patriotism? Guilt over privilege? Why not be more charitable instead? Let's not forget what we have to be proud and happy about, nor what needs improvement. We don't want or need to become suicidal because we get a B or even an F once in a while, instead of all A's.; 5/1/14, 4:18 PM
Robert Cook said...: "Predominantly the people who say they want to control...outcome are most interested in having the power to determine the outcomes. Beware of them. They will not improve the lot of humanity if they triumph."

The people who want to control the outcome are the plutocrats/oligarchs who are looting from the rest of us. Except they're not interested in "equality" of outcome, but in inequality of outcome.; 5/1/14, 4:29 PM
Robert Cook said...: "...how about looking past the Daily Kos for your news? Even at the height of tne Iraq War, the world was steadily becoming a more peaceful place, even at the height of the market meltdown, the world was becoming a more prosperous place."

I don't read Daily Kos.

I'm not anywhere near being in the 1% and never will be, though I do consider myself to be fortunate in that I do have a job...though I don't take anything for granted and am aware I could join the huge (and under reported) cohort of under- and unemployed at any time.

It's no wonder you presume so incorrectly about me given your obtuseness to the condition of the world right now.; 5/1/14, 4:35 PM
Titus said...: Oh and he got fired from teaching at a christianist college because he was fucking around on his wife.

totally family values.; 5/1/14, 4:43 PM
Titus said...: Lastly the man is butt ugly. That profile alone is a total disaster and needs reconstructive work STAT!; 5/1/14, 4:51 PM
Rusty said...: "Income inequality

Anybody. Definition please.; 5/1/14, 4:56 PM
madAsHell said...: In a February 2014 interview, Churchill commented that after living more than forty years in the northern plains/Colorado region, he had relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 2013. Churchill also stated that he had a half-dozen uncompleted books which he intended to finish and publish in the next three years.

Damn!! I have a half-dozen uncompleted books too!! If I could just find someone to plagiarize, then I could find a way to finish them.; 5/1/14, 4:58 PM
tim maguire said...: I've got news for you Cook, you are the 1%, you just don't know that because you ignore most of the world. I know it's unpopular on the left side of the aisle to admit that it's a good thing when half a million fewer Africans die violently and even if 10,00 more Syrians do, the world is still becoming safer.

It's unfortunate that some Angelino has to turn to Craig's List instead of Best Buy for his second air conditioner, but it's a bigger deal that a Sri Lankan can get basic medical care.

You think the world is going to hell in a hand basket because it suits your needs to focus on the stuff that bugs you personally, but if you agree that an Andean villager's life is as important as yours, then you have to agree that the Industrial Revolution and basic American values are a powerful force for good in the world. A world that is better than ever before and getting better still in large part because of the U.S. hegemon.; 5/1/14, 5:09 PM
mccullough said...: This guy strikes me like Palin. Cashing in on low self-esteem conservatives. He was a big Christian until he steeped out on his wife with a married woman and embarrassed the Christian College that employed him as president. He's another snake-oil salesman.; 5/1/14, 5:18 PM
Drago said...: tim maguire: "Actually, Cook, you are wrong on almost every detail."

Marxists usually are.; 5/1/14, 5:36 PM
Drago said...: Cook: "Except they're not interested in "equality" of outcome, but in inequality of outcome."

Yes cookie.

Marxists are very very big on equality of outcomes...for the 95% who are not part of the nomenklatura.

You just know cookie was getting goose bumps watching the May Day activities in Russia with all the sickle/hammer flags being proudly waved.

Hope springs eternal for the garages and Cooks of the world.

Workers (unionists!) of the world unite! All you have to lose are your chains!

Peace! Land! Bread!; 5/1/14, 5:39 PM
Drago said...: Rusty said...
"Income inequality

Anybody. Definition please"

Leftists do not yet possess complete totalitarian control.

Hope that helps.; 5/1/14, 5:40 PM
lemondog said...: One of the interviewee is Chomsky

Who is the old hippie with the long hair? It doesn't look like Ayers....; 5/1/14, 5:51 PM
virgil xenophon said...: SomeoneHasToSayIt@1:31pm/

"Social Hammock"

I'm ah ABSOLUTELY stealin' that phrase!

(Said in best Yosomite Sam voice..); 5/1/14, 6:11 PM
Browndog said...: mccullough said...

This guy strikes me like Palin. Cashing in on low self-esteem conservatives. He was a big Christian until he steeped out on his wife with a married woman and embarrassed the Christian College that employed him as president. He's another snake-oil salesman.

I've never met a Christian that felt they were above sin. Further, I haven't met any conservatives lacking in self-esteem.

Worlds apart...; 5/1/14, 6:24 PM
Robert Cook said...: But, Tim...haven't you realized? We've abandoned "basic American values."

We applaud torture; we applaud the waging of baseless illegal wars; we utter no peep of protest that our illegal wars are metastasizing into other countries that we haven't even claimed to be at war with; we don't demand that the authorities prosecute the bankers and Wall Street parasites who continue to loot this country years after their looting caused a collapse of the stock market, but applaud them as champions of the mythical "free market," as "job creators" who destroy jobs in America only to "create" them abroad, where they can pay cents on the wage dollar.

We live in an oligarchy, and it's going to get worse.; 5/1/14, 6:37 PM
chickelit said...: lemondog asked...

Who is the old hippie with the long hair? It doesn't look like Ayers....

Ward Churchill?; 5/1/14, 8:05 PM
Browndog said...: Robert Cook said...

Why so low?

1st May Day celebration in Red Square since the fall of the Soviet Union-

Sandra Fluke tweets a tweet honoring the the historic event-

Your ilk are marching, and free people barely notice--what's the problem?; 5/1/14, 8:37 PM
Rusty said...: Drago said...
Rusty said...
"Income inequality

Anybody. Definition please"

Leftists do not yet possess complete totalitarian control.

Hope that helps.

I was hoping Bob would enlighten me.; 5/1/14, 9:45 PM
Rusty said...: Robert Cook said...
But, Tim...haven't you realized? We've abandoned "basic American values."

Lie, liberty and property?; 5/1/14, 9:47 PM
firstHat said...: Income inequality in progressive land.... The rich elite today are the same as the rich elite ten years from now. Income inequality in the free market .... The rich elite ten years from now are not the same as today. This is a statistical fact.; 5/1/14, 9:47 PM
David said...: "The people who want to control the outcome are the plutocrats/oligarchs who are looting from the rest of us. Except they're not interested in "equality" of outcome, but in inequality of outcome."

Just about every human who strives for anything temporal is seeking inequality of outcome. Inequality of outcome is a given. It can not be eliminated. It's the result of competition, which is a powerful inherent human trait.

My main point is that those who find today's inequality of outcome to be the worst ever are either ignorant or manipulative. It's simply not true. That does not mean that we lack for oligarchs and oppressors. They are present everywhere, though far less in our relatively free and fluid society.

Our problem is still inequality of opportunity. We are imperfect. Those with power or wealth have more opportunity, and always will. The trick is to also provide robust opportunity to those who do not start the game with an advantage. There is much improvement needed there. But punishing the successful is not a god path to increasing opportunity for everyone.; 5/1/14, 10:30 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: I don't understand this preview. Lots of people saying why they have problems with America intercut with shots of patriotic imagery. If I didn't know who D'Souza was, I might think the imagery was supposed to be ironic. Is the draw supposed to be that his movie will reveal why the points in the preview are wrong?; 5/1/14, 10:53 PM
Rusty said...: Life; 5/2/14, 5:56 AM