General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOk I guess it's time to play "How Useless Is Matt Damon"..
Well, apparently not that fucking useless.
Campaigned for Obama. Donated $9500 to his campaign. Voted for him. Also donated another $90,000 to other Democrats.
Founded H20Africa which merged with WaterPartners to become Water.org. (full disclosure, the tour I am currently on is collecting donations for Water.org). Bringing clean water to people who desperately need it.
From Wiki:
"He, along with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, David Pressman, and Jerry Weintraub, is one of the founders of Not On Our Watch Project, an organization that focuses global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities such as in Darfur.
Damon supports the ONE Campaign, which is aimed at fighting AIDS and poverty in Third World countries. He has appeared in their print and television advertising.
Damon is also an ambassador for OneXOne, a non-profit foundation committed to supporting, preserving and improving the lives of children at home in Canada, the United States, and around the world.[65] Damon is also a spokesperson for Feeding America, the largest USA-focused hunger-relief organization, and a member of their Entertainment Council, participating in their Ad Council PSAs."
Also:
http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Matt-Damon-honored-for-charity-work-at-Greenwich-494758.php
"Damon was honored for his work with Westport-based Save the Children at a fundraiser organized by the agency's Greenwich Leadership Council. The actor, who rose to stardom after writing and starring in "Good Will Hunting," spoke not about the movies, but his role in helping Save the Children raise money to aid people fleeing crushing poverty and political turmoil in Zimbabwe."
Matt Damon is human. He is not perfect and I'm sure there are times I disagree with him. But the attacks on him today are at best bizarre and at worst.... nuts.
I posted this as an OP because I didn't want to have to respond to every post that claimed he was "useless". I'd be at it all night. Because of my inadvertent involvement in water.org I knew he was involved in some charities but after looking his record up I thought maybe a small list would be in order...
progressoid
(49,824 posts)roguevalley
(40,656 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)I don't get it.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)One can't even count the number of those poor banksters that have needlessly suffered simply trying to contain the evil of teachers and unions.
And even worse, this is actually necessary.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)when I got slammed by someone who didn't realize I was satirizing the tendency of some to deflect serious discussion about policy into ad hominem attacks on Snowden.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)and the last was by 4 jurors that simply didn't understand the meaning of a word I used.
I keep forgetting that the nation has turned so stupidly insane (or maybe it's insanely stupid), that no matter how ridiculously over the top a statement, many are going to think you're serious. The last 20 - 30 years, I feel like Arthur Dent.
LearningCurve
(488 posts)I have found it necessary everywhere I post to make my meaning crystal clear if using sarcasm, because someone, somewhere, is going to take the comment seriously.
Ferretherder
(1,445 posts)...and I'm SOMEWHERE!
You got a problem with me taking your comments out of context?!
Bring it on, sarcasm boy!
LearningCurve
(488 posts)Ferretherder
(1,445 posts)...a little late, but, oh well...
LearningCurve
(488 posts)Always nice to hear.
R. Daneel Olivaw
(12,606 posts)are Reagan Democrats.
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)n/t
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)How awesome!!!!
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)But not Damon's.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)I am glad your kids go to school and you care about unions!
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)roguevalley
(40,656 posts)taught in public schools. As a teacher in a public school system for 27 years, I find him on my side and an ally who does more good in this world than you and me combined.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)and multiple posts here quoting Damon as saying, "Obama broke up with me."
morningfog
(18,115 posts)I would like to see more such disclosures by posters when applicable.
RetroLounge
(37,250 posts)RL
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)Hulk
(6,699 posts)How many of males on these threads have NOT had that fantasy, as we sat in a dark corner with our beer glass in hand and our dollar bills in front of us, with a silly grin on our face?
I realize it was more sarcasm, but I wanted to just post a reality check to those who might think a sexual encounter or fantasy would be grounds for removal. How absurd a nation we are, as a whole.
Logical
(22,457 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Just Saying
(1,799 posts)I don't generally look to Hollywood for political information but I loved "Goodwill Hunting."
I must have missed the attacks?
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)There are a few others in some of the more interesting Matt Damon threads...
I'm not even a fan of the guy, it's just that the response to what he said reminded me of Elmer Fudd trying to kill a flea with a shotgun. A little over the top...
usGovOwesUs3Trillion
(2,022 posts)now where have i heard that one before?
Those love to post her picture online, too.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)I was OTT because of what seems like an appeal to authority-- Damon says Obama's the problem, so Obama must be the problem.
Pretty much anyone who says Obama's the problem seems to get a round of applause around here, and I haven't checked, but I think my ignores have just skyrocketed because I refuse to jump on the bandwagon.
FWIW, I'm on the local Democratic committee and running for a small local office. We have a fairly decent sized Black community out here centered in one of the downtowns, and they were extremely excited and active the first time Obama ran. Haven't seen much of any of them lately. In fact, I haven't seen much of any of them for years. About 5 years.
So, it seems like it's not just DU that's disappointed with our President.
But, here's the problem as I see it...
There's party loyalty and there's blind party loyalty. The blind loyalty is for the teabaggers and the party hacks who take it like a religion. Real loyalty is to still stand behind the party and its people when they are having problems. We got hammered in this Republican town for the past two elections and the party leader offered to step down. We wouldn't let him-- partly because no one else wanted to do the work, but mainly because we knew it was an uphill fight from the beginning, and not his fault. Besides, morale was up and we were getting better at this election thing.
The catcalls over Obama seem to follow the pattern of "He didn't..."
Well, he damn sure didn't do a lot of the stuff he promised, but the job of President is not to guarantee the wishlists of his supporters. He is President of the entire country, not just leftwing Democrats and much of the stuff he promised, or at least suggested, was made impossible by recalcitrant teabaggers in the House.
Besides, how many Presidents ever came through with every thing they promised? Or cowed to the entire list of demands from one faction of their supporters.
So, you can call me any list of names you want because it doesn't make a damn bit of difference to me in the real world, but I'll continue to support Obama just for GP and because he's my President, and because no matter how much complaining there is around here, nobody outside of DU notices anyway.
Dustlawyer
(10,493 posts)He sold out to BP on the oil spill. He gave them the Coast Guard to do their bidding and say whatever they wanted them to. I know this for a FACT!!! He has behaved like the good Democrat Corpratist that he is. When is the last time you heard him talk about the oil spill, before the 2010 mid terms? Maybe a brief mention since? The oil spill problems are still there and there is NO GOVT., HELP!!! Our firm asked Holder to revoke BP's probation for the spill back in the summer of 2010, while the oil was still spewing (our firm found the document that BP had to plead guilty to a felony for out of the 4/23/2005, BP Texas City plant explosion that killed 15 and injured 6,000! BP was still on probation for that when the Deepwater Horizon blew. Holder's response was to let them off probation early. Obama was intimately involved at that point according to what the DOJ told us at that time.
This is only 1 example of how Obama has sold us out. The 1% own both party's politicians and blind faith in someone who has at least raised some serious questions with his policies is dangerous!
GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)The problem is the corporate takeover of politics in the USA, starting with the Eisenhower's MIC and proceeding by way of the Powell Memorandum to end up at Citizens United.
No president should be expected to maintain his autonomy against the the hurricane of corporate money. Obama is no exception.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)private contractors that have literally drained our economy with exponential gouging. By his mere capitulation to BigBanks, BigPharma, etc etc .. he's not a consequence but also a problem. Now that we see how he verbally manipulates audiences into believing he actually stands for something, yet ends up doing the exact opposite. No, I want a real progressive in the white house.
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)I'm not convinced he's THE problem. Congress, corporations, lobbyists, the SC have all been influenced by money (and much of that money is involved with the MIC) and they have been behaving badly. What the US needed was a president to come in and say, "party's over" and then follow through with his promises. Instead he's acted more like the enabler of a dysfunctional family unit. While he's not THE problem, he allows the REAL problem to perpetuate and grow.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)silent. He has the biggest bully pulpit in the world and the aching need in this country's people for SOMEONE TO SPEAK OUT even if they fail. He can change the world if he wanted to but he doesn't.
GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)Is he:
a) Evil?
b) Uncaring?
or
c) Subject to forces beyond his control?
Personally, I don't think the evidence supports either a or b. That's why I lean towards c.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)Snake Plissken
(4,103 posts)He was probably born in Kenya
millennialmax
(331 posts)burnodo
(2,017 posts)than you or your support for your president will ever be
Marr
(20,317 posts)Seriously?
What is it you do for a living that makes your opinion worth listening to, by the way?
Divernan
(15,480 posts)cheapdate
(3,811 posts)He is obviously a person with great empathy and compassion. His good works are obviously more than a "show". Fuck all the haters.
MissDeeds
(7,499 posts)Well said.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)that's all it is. We are getting a really good look at what they call 'political strategy'. Notice how it's not just someone's opinion, it is PREPARED propaganda.
When you see a sudden flood of posts all aimed at someone who recently dared to express an opinion opposing something the government doesn't want you to oppose, you KNOW this was a rush job, a memo prepared by some Private Security Corp, like Booz Allen or HB Gary and distributed to some of their 'soldiers' who pass it around, it is then picked up word for word almost, by those who can't think for themselves, but can always be counted on to 'catapult' the propaganda, for free.
I feel most sorry for them as they don't even get paid for their efforts, all they get is aggravation as NO ONE, outside the fringes who are behind this stuff, is ever going to change their minds as a result of this childishness.
What bothers me most about it is I believe our tax dollars are paying for this stupidity.
Skittles
(152,964 posts)I put them on Ignore; they increasingly make me sick
Oakenshield
(614 posts)He's definitely an Obama hater, and a whiner, with an overinflated sense of entitlement. Donating and helping those fundraisers....what an asshole.
Really, the people trying to smear him are no better than Republicans.
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)a Tea Party Game?
burnodo
(2,017 posts)What kind of nonsense are you trying to push now?
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)a game the Tea Party would play? What part of that do you not understand?
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)You can watch it in full here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017138270
But still that his no excuse for him criticizing the government
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)<...>
Matt Damon is human. He is not perfect and I'm sure there are times I disagree with him. But the attacks on him today are at best bizarre and at worst.... nuts.
...and you could switch out his name for almost anyone. See:
Damon turned me off with his "balls" criticism. http://www.democraticunderground.com/100256724
Clooney is a lot cuter and he made a valid point:
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)Now you want to try to discuss this rationally?
Earlier you wanted to talk about his "hypocrisy" for having the nerve to support public schools and teachers unions but put his kids in... horror of horrors... a private school!
Enjoy your evening.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)I think the criticism was disgusting in the way he framed it.
I made a point. You don't have to discuss or accept it.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Your standard for thinking someone is cute or not cute is how they feel about Obama?? Are you related to Obama or something? To me he's a politician, nothing more. I don't know him, I thought he could be a great president, didn't turn out that way so I'm moving forward and on to the next.
burnodo
(2,017 posts)but, believe me, John Kerry is number one on her hit parade
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"I don't think she's related to Obama. but, believe me, John Kerry is number one on her hit parade"
How do you know this?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Matt Damon is the one who said Obama "broke up" with him.
Maybe you should have a talk with him.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)- Matt? Is that you??
K&R
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)if only for standing up against Duncan and Obama's education policies, but it sounds like he is doing much more than that.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)10 minutes later >>....Oh Brother...Leave the Guy alone...
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)If a picture can be worth a thousand words, a movie like Elysium can be worth a billion words.
northoftheborder
(7,566 posts)fighting each other in endless scenes of ear-deafening mayhem. waste of time and money. I like Matt Damon, but this movie did not show his acting talents.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Not everyone is going to be captivated by social commentary and the hard-hitting parody of our Capitalist economic system.
I have yet to see Elysium, but will be doing so in the next day or two.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Last edited Mon Aug 12, 2013, 03:38 AM - Edit history (1)
or at least ALL of the "usual suspects" listed in the article (Clooney, et. al.)
The other Hollywood shoe-to-fall may be bigger than the first.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Well done.
otohara
(24,135 posts)....love him....
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)The Bourne stuff was a good choice. The cinematography in part III was distracting however.
People in the theatre and their political opinions carry no more weight than that of my closest acquaintances.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)burnodo
(2,017 posts)Sports broadcasters? Single moms? Service technicians? Whose opinion of politics DO you care about?
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Maedhros
(10,007 posts)not on the person making them.
Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)or anything like that. People like Bruce Springsteen who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Vinnie From Indy
(10,820 posts)than the target of the attack.
K&R
Tikki
(14,537 posts)with.
Tikki
Bryn
(3,621 posts)I've always admired Matt Damon..not because he's an actor, but for so many things I knew he did. He's very for "The People". I feel same way he feels about Obama's drones, NSA, etc. Thanks for your OP
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)I wish he would run for office, he'd be great. Wouldn't need big corporate money to keep himself there, either.
a la izquierda
(11,784 posts)I wish some people would quit frothing over the unimportant things.
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)He's too flaky for that.
cali
(114,904 posts)I think YOU are too flaky to be posting about politics on DU.
See how that works?
YOU think he's too flaky. I think you're too flaky. Everyone should just shut up, right?
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)The President 'broke up' with him? Does he really believe he's remotely equal, or that special? His phrase certainly implies it.
He's more interested in being a drama queen - he hurts the progressive cause when he doesn't get his way and goes into tantrum mode. In his case, I'd say yes, we're better off if he knows when to zip it.
Response to michigandem58 (Reply #46)
Post removed
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)"There are a lot of things that I really question, you know: the legality of the drone strikes, and these NSA revelations theyre, you know, its like, theyre, you know, Jimmy Carter came out and said we dont live in a democracy. Thats, thats a little, thats a little intense when an ex-president says that. So, you know, hes got some, some explaining to do, particularly for a constitutional law professor."
Questions the legality? Are they legal or not? And if he doesn't know (he obviously doesn't) how does he use that as rationale for the break-up? Starts to talk about the NSA 'revelations' and doesn't even make a coherent comment - just wanders into what he thinks Carter said. He's just jabbers along, not really saying anything.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)I see that a great deal. I am so glad you do too!
burnodo
(2,017 posts)HE DISAGREES WITH OBAMA!
TheKentuckian
(24,934 posts)Why do you elevate public servants over those they work for?
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)I'm not sure where to start with you.
Pholus
(4,062 posts)Then there is that whole tedious bit about
"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)"Created" equal. That's different.
Certainly government should derive it's power from the governed. Yet once elected, the Preisdent has some stature and influence we don't, wouldn't you say?
Pholus
(4,062 posts)Certainly I voted for a very competent person -- the best one for the job from the available field, but yeah I'm going to have to say he's not superior to me.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.
Response to michigandem58 (Reply #57)
Post removed
Hell Hath No Fury
(16,327 posts)In fact, I am his employer -- as are all tax-paying, American citizens who employ Barack Obama to run our country on our behalf. As for being "equal", the homeless guy lying in the street in his own urine is equal to the President of the United States -- that is the absolute foundation of our Country.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)There is a lot of fishing going on in this thread. I say let the fisherman sink.
TheKentuckian
(24,934 posts)any office holder.
We aren't subjects here, yet.
michigandem58
(1,044 posts)we aren't their equal.
TheKentuckian
(24,934 posts)of their authority.
Their power is strictly a stewardship and flows from the people, we grant them the influence of their position to hold in trust on our behalf not to elevate them above us.
Importance? The representative cannot be more important than those he or she serves in the name of.
These folks are stewards, the people are the sovereign, if anything we are above them.
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)The difference is, he has a microphone that people pay attention to.
A lot of us feel we were sold a fraudulent bill of goods with Obama.
We thought we supported, fought for, and elected a progressive constitutional scholar,and community organizer. What we got was a Neo-liberal, New Democrat war-monger, free trader who couldn't give a flying fuck about the 99% of us. He's Herman Cain with a congenial personality.
Pissed? Hell yeah we're pissed. The President broke up with a lot of us. We thought that we might be entering a new progressive era. Action on climate change, poverty, wages, health care and foreign policy. What we got was a clown to the right of Richard Nixon.
Damon has a little bit of a unique perspective, growing up next door to one of my heroes, Howard Zinn.
Obama and the New Dem, Third Way, DLC broke up with a lot of us.
Pholus
(4,062 posts)Holy shit, we ARE republicans now, if this is our "accepted" way of thinking.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)I am disappointed and stunned at some of the posters here.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Waiting For Everyman
(9,385 posts)at doing what he can to make a positive difference. Rock on, Matt!
Glad you made this OP, SomethingFishy. The smear-leaders are demonstrating that they have no integrity, and they can't stand it in other people either. They're so clever at finding new ways to lower my opinion of them.
Inkfreak
(1,695 posts)DEPARTED from some hearts. he should do a little GOOD WILL HUNTING. Don't worry President Obama, he'll be STUCK ON YOU again before ya know it. If he just shows some TRUE GRIT and follows the correct DOGMA, I know he could be THE GOOD SHEPARD he always wanted to be and lead us to THE PROMISED LAND. Lets just hope he hurries.... before JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)City Lights
(25,171 posts)And he sends his kids to private schools! While speaking in support of public ones!
None of the stuff you mentioned matters!
Bottom line...haters gotta hate. And Matt Damon is their latest target.
I at them.
gtar100
(4,192 posts)Frankly, it was unimaginable to me until teabaggers found out they could be loud and proud of their bigotry, selfishness, and ignorance.
riverbendviewgal
(4,251 posts)And obama is much better than Romney but he definitely has disappointed me in some areas. They both send their kids to private schools for mainly safety. There are a lot of people with twisted ideas who would hurt their children for money or revenge. My first matt Damon movie I saw was GOOD WILL HUNTING, which he co wrote. Many scenes he spoke in it were awesome . Like with his psychiatrist and with the CIA/state dept. (Not sure which) interview. Just like I love the opening scene in THE NEWSROOM first season and Will's dialogue to the college students.
America is slipping rapidly. I hope it does not drag down my country with it.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)Time to play that game. Not unless your whole purpose at DU is to serve the Obama propaganda machine by posting praise and detecting and deflecting criticism of Barack Obama, regardless of context or merit.
I appreciate your efforts to inject a bit of reality, though.
Hell Hath No Fury
(16,327 posts)Last edited Mon Aug 12, 2013, 01:24 PM - Edit history (1)
well, almost the beginning.
In all that time I had put only ONE person on ignore -- granted, that person was a total jackass who half of DU also had on ignore.
But after reading a few of the utterly noxious Matt Damon threads -- and the endless other threads proceeding it that slammed good people who just so happen to disagree with Obama on some of his policies -- I decided it was time a few of the more vocal sycophants be given The Total Ignore. It is harsh but, IMO, they are one-note posters who have absolutely nothing to add to the discussion. Their absence from my DU experience will not be missed.
I do not know exactly what it is that drives these people. Perhaps it's many things. Whatever their motives, it says a lot about them when all they can do is resort to deeply personal attacks on those with legitimate criticism of the President.
Response to Hell Hath No Fury (Reply #77)
HangOnKids This message was self-deleted by its author.
Ian_rd
(2,124 posts)RedstDem
(1,239 posts)he is a stud
markiv
(1,489 posts)and he no longer seems to be with us
we cannot make exceptions
he's been scheduled for tomorrow's 'Two Minutes Hate' at 9:00am
be promptly at your telescreen
MisterP
(23,730 posts)and make it such an obvious botch job at content-free character assassination, all while relentlessly defending Bushite policies
Rex
(65,616 posts)UNDER THE BUS WITH HIM! I read they are going to have Mount Rushmore II and it will be Greenwald, Snowden and Matt with a fourth to be named later on. Probably Brad.
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)took down his President Obama "I Got This!" poster.
So glad that HC is coming. I will need to see someone about this in a therapy setting.
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)for the $s I spent buying a ticket to see that POS movie Elysium! Oh, and I want 2 hours of my life back, too.
Jodie Foster is still a GREAT actress. I actually believed that she was a female Dick Cheney character in the film.......
alfredo
(60,065 posts)stonecutter357
(12,682 posts)read this crazy people