Seth Greenland

Seth Greenland

Posted: May 7, 2008 03:59 PM

Hillary Is John Cleese

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Watching Hillary's inspirational victory speech last night I immediately thought of Monty Python. And not because her campaign resembles a dead parrot. The happy talk performance reminded me of the Black Knight scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

If you remember, King Arthur (Graham Chapman) is passing through a forest when he is confronted by the Black Knight (John Cleese). After observing The Black Knight destroy one of his own knights, Arthur tells him, "You fight with the strength of many men, Sir Knight... You have proved yourself worthy. Will you join me?" The Black Knight refuses to join him, and refuses to let the King pass. "I move for no man," he intones. The two then go at it mano a mano, as our current president would say. King Arthur first cuts one of the Black Knight's arms off with his sword, then another. He then cuts off his leg. Bleeding from three stumps, hopping around on one foot, the Black Knight magnanimously announces, "All right, we'll call it a draw."

I can't think of a more resonant metaphor for the Democratic primary today.

 
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gives new meaning to the term "stump speech" ....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:42 AM on 05/13/2008
- MrKnuckles I'm a Fan of MrKnuckles 11 fans permalink
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Yep, Hillary is John Cleese, except that she's not remotely funny. Its true, she may have a leg up on him but he's got a much better stump speech.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:56 PM on 05/11/2008
- Anastasia I'm a Fan of Anastasia 69 fans permalink
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Groaning out loud.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:59 PM on 05/11/2008
- FarOutFish I'm a Fan of FarOutFish 9 fans permalink

Don’t forget “Nobody knows when the expect the "SPANISH INQUISITTION"

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:09 PM on 05/11/2008
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Perfect reference Seth.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:23 AM on 05/11/2008

Hillarious

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:41 AM on 05/11/2008

wha? I always thought "All right, we'll call it a draw." is Arthur's line.... Watching the clip again, now i'm not sure.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:39 AM on 05/11/2008
- lisakaz2 I'm a Fan of lisakaz2 74 fans permalink
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Nah, it's not Arthur's line. He's leaving by then and he's being yelled at for "running away." My favorite Arthur line: "Or what? You'll bleed on me?"

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:14 PM on 05/11/2008
- Sioen I'm a Fan of Sioen 14 fans permalink
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Yeah, uh, Chip Collis wrote this right here on HuffPost two weeks ago (do a search).

So while it's true (I thought of it, too, weeks ago), it's weirdly redundant.

It reminds me a little of a scene from "Holy Grail," where the person isn't supposed to say "it" but keeps saying "it."

"Oh, I said it! Oh, I just said it again! I keep saying it!"

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:00 AM on 05/11/2008
- gevan I'm a Fan of gevan 18 fans permalink

I thought that she was using the Energizer Bunny as her role model. Incessantly bang her own drum she "just keeps going...and going...and going." It seems as if "girls' rules" apply to her. Any male candidate in her situation would have realized the "logic" of the situation and dropped out.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:29 PM on 05/09/2008
- timinhi I'm a Fan of timinhi 10 fans permalink
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You don't even describe the scene correctly. It isn't until after all 4 limbs have been hacked off that the Black Knight utters the "draw" line.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:02 AM on 05/09/2008
- lisakaz2 I'm a Fan of lisakaz2 74 fans permalink
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It is all 4.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:16 PM on 05/11/2008

"Bring out your dead!" :^)

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:08 AM on 05/09/2008
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This campaign wouldn't voom if you put 4 million volts... uhhh, dollars into it!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:49 PM on 05/08/2008
- Rutabaga I'm a Fan of Rutabaga 4 fans permalink
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This is simply brilliant. Bloody brilliant!!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:22 PM on 05/08/2008

While thinking back to "Holy Grail" while pondering the state of the Clinton campaign, somehow
"Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead!"
seems like a good analogy.

On further thinking though, the same line could apply literally to the McCain campaign.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:35 PM on 05/08/2008
- Ndw I'm a Fan of Ndw 10 fans permalink
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I feel happy! I FEEL HAPPY!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:18 AM on 05/11/2008
- WRPrintz I'm a Fan of WRPrintz 12 fans permalink

You're not foolin' anyone, ya know.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:37 AM on 05/11/2008

Except you would have to be pondering "Life of Brian" not Holy Grail for that line.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:59 PM on 05/11/2008

No, that line is from Holy Grail.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:43 PM on 05/11/2008

Ironically, you are aware, Seth, that John Cleese publicly announced he will join the Obama campaign in the fall as a speech writer should Barack win the Democratic nomination.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:08 PM on 05/08/2008
- koromuso I'm a Fan of koromuso 4 fans permalink

No, you've got it all wrong. Hillary is The Bride of Chuckie.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:20 PM on 05/08/2008
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