Golden Globes And The Art Of The Quip!

While flipping through the channels the weekend before last, I stumbled upon the Golden Globes. Actually, it was the cheekiness of Ricky Gervais that really caught my attention. With my wife and son sick and having long since gone to bed, especially since our usual programs were reruns, I was looking for something to put on in the background while I did some work on my computer. Now that a program was selected, I pulled out my laptop and proceeded to open up the numerous pages and tabs that had been dormant for the past day. It didn’t take long before some of the quips pulled my attention away from my work.

In particular, his banter with Mel Gibson was something to behold as you could tell there were a number of lines that Gervais was waiting to say hoping that someday the two of them would meet face to face. However, it wasn’t all about the ongoing dialogues. Many times it was a single line that had the audience gasping and my chucking from the kitchen. For instance, who else would introduce one of the nominees in the following way while taking a jab at another celebrity: “He’s also the only person who Ben Affleck hasn’t been unfaithful to. Please welcome, Matt Damon!”

Beyond the quick wit on display, one of the more memorable moments was when Sylvester Stallone won for best supporting actor for his role as, you guessed it, Rocky Balboa in the film Creed. Thankfully, he didn’t forget to thank his imaginary friend, the aforementioned Rocky, because that would have been an interesting apology later. Good think Adrianne is dead because that might have been even more awkward.

But there were also lines that were topical as well as humorous including an interesting reference to El Chapo: “I want to do this monologue and go into hiding, OK? Not even Sean Penn will find me.”

However, there were moments of seriousness during the broadcast beyond tremendous speech by Tom Hanks and the tearful acceptances of stunned stars. Leonardo DiCaprio, regardless of what you may think of him he is one heck of an actor, while accepting the Golden Globe for Best Lead Actor for The Revenant proclaimed that he shares the honor with “all the indigenous communities around the world. It is time that we recognize your history and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and people that are out there to exploit them. It is time that we heard your voice and protected this planet for future generations.”

It will be interesting to see if his actions reflect the words that he spoke during the ceremony and if he makes similar statements should he win the Academy Award next month. That is what it really comes down to… follow through. He can say, preach even, all that he wants but you earn the respect of the people you supposedly represent by taking action. So, similar to the way Gervais ended the night while invoking the sentiments of Mel Gibson, I will end this post with a single word… Shalom!

Time To Get To Work

For the second day in a row, I drove eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and made my way to the Hershey Lodge. While yesterday was an all-day affair, the reason behind today’s journey was much more focused. This morning provided me the opportunity to see the party nomination process first hand for the first time. While annual and campaign budgets were discussed, platforms and bullet points were outlined as a means to focus the messaging for the coming year. Not surprisingly, the messaging is in line with one of my previous posts.

Of course, the culmination of the morning was in the official nomination and backing of Governor Tom Corbett in his bid for reelection in the fall. While some may look at the calendar and see almost an entire year in front of us, this is a short period of time which will prove difficult to get everything done that we want to accomplish. Difficult but not impossible. Unfortunately, every one of us in that room know the difficulties that are been cast in our path every day, we know what the opposition has done and wants to do to us. But what really motivates us, is that we know what the other side wants to do to this state as a whole, what they want to do to all of us. That is what will propel us to victory.

While a naturally reserved person, there is a sense of excitement that comes over you as songs from "Rocky" echo across the hall as the Lieutenant Governor and then the Governor enter the hall and make their way to the stage. The same people with whom I was speaking just yesterday in a relaxed reception. The meeting when a bit longer than expected (which I didn’t notice until the balloons were release and I went to check my messages) but I was still able to stop for coffee and get out the door before noon. It was another new experience and one that I am glad I took the time to do. For those of you that have never been to a political rally of some kind, it really is an experience that is difficult to explain.

 

There has been much debate among friends, family, and numerous other people regarding the work that has been done in the Commonwealth by this administration, there is no question in my mind that we have made tremendous progress since they took office. With spending down, jobs created, industries pulled from the brink, businesses brought into the state, and taxes under control there is no other person that could accomplish as much in Harrisburg. In the end, promises were kept and we are better off now than we were four years ago.