I'm a nationally-known actor. I'm an old man. I am revered for work I did when the people I'm talking to were in diapers. I will never have to worry about money.

I know perfectly well that the people to whom I am talking have contempt for my personal postitions. They think I'm either insane or retarded to have the opinions I have; they talk that way about people on the Left every day. They also think that, because I'm on the Left, I don't listen to them and I don't understand what they think of me.

I am a very good actor. I decide to give them something to play with.

I tell them that "we're going to get" Sean Hannity. They try to "get" people, so I know they believe me. heh heh

Then, later, this puppy asks me a question about what historical figure I most admire. I think about my life (I was born in 1929), my background (I'm Jewish), my political beliefs (I belong to the Democratic Socialists of America), and the puppy's contempt for the Left. And I pick the most ridiculous figure I can that I know will be believable to someone whose first choice of adjective to modify "Leftist" is "vile":

"I think Joe Stalin was a guy that was hugely misunderstood," said Asner. "And to this day, I don't think I have ever seen an adequate job done of telling the story of Joe Stalin, so I guess my answer would have to be Joe Stalin."

Ed Asner, born in 1929, would know a little bit about Joe Stalin as a contemporary, not just from history soundbites. As a Jew, he would know about Stalin's record there, sometimes called "Stalin's unfinished Holocaust".

Anyone who can't hear the tone of voice and catch the sarcasm dripping off his words, anyone who can't see the dangerous twinkle in his eye, has forgotten his portrayal of Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". He was playing Lou Grant. He was talking to Ted Baxter.

Those boys need to wake up.

Regards--
Mary Anne