Vietnam Vets never looked better

So, TNT played Air Force One last night, and beside the fact that I think they show this movie almost weekly, I wonder if TNT is subtly sending a message to the nation about the real issues involved in this election. Allow me to refresh your memory on the movie’s plot:

“The President of the USA goes to Moscow and gives a stirring speech outlining the USA’s new “zero-tolerance” policy with respect to terrorism. On the flight home, terrorists take over Air Force One and take the passengers (including his wife and daughter) hostage. The terrorists plan to execute one hostage every half-hour unless/until their demands are met. However, the President is a former Medal of Honor winner, so the terrorists may be in for a surprise…” [imdb.com]

What this summary does not include is that the film also features Glen Close as the impeccably-coiffed female Vice President to Harrison Ford’s gruff Vietnam-vet President. Sound familiar? For a film made in 1997, it was way ahead of it’s time…or maybe we are just way behind. Nevertheless, I think that, at this juncture, the movie asks us if we are really ready for Sarah Palin to negotiate with technologically-advanced Russian terrorists if need be. She’d probably just try to pray at them until they stopped being naughty. Or maybe she’d shoot the plane down herself?

Less scary than Palin (keep in mind, Close also portrayed Cruella De Vil in 1996)

In honor of Air Force One and other great political movies (including Dave, An American President, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Independence Day), I have put together the ultimate tough-ass anti-terror presidential speech. Enjoy!

“I’m the President, and as they say, the buck stops here. I’m going to stay right here and fight for this cause even if this room gets filled with lies. Being President of this country is entirely about character. Great principles don’t get lost once they come to light. They’re right here.You just have to see them. America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship. You’ve gotta want it bad, ’cause it’s gonna put up a fight.

In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And we will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Never again will I allow our political self-interest to deter us from doing what we know to be morally right. Atrocity and terror are not political weapons. And to those who would use them, your day is over. We will never negotiate. We will no longer tolerate and we will no longer be afraid. It’s your turn to be afraid.

Soon you’ll see the whole parade of what man’s carved out for himself after centuries of fighting and fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so’s he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color or creed. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: “We will not go quietly into the night!” We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

I'll take Hollywood elitist lefties over these two crazies any day