I knew this was coming, but...holy crap.

[WilliamPitt]

I gave a talk in New Hampshire a couple of months ago, and the fellow who paints the "Americans Who Tell The Truth" portrait series, Robert Shetterly, asked to take some pictures of me for a painting. Needless to say, I was utterly floored, given the people he has painted in the past:

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/pgs/portrait_thumbs.html

Well, I just got word that he finished the painting of me.



http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/pgs/portraits/william_rivers_pitt.html

I don't know what to say. I don't think I can imagine a higher honor than to be included in this project.

[azmouse]

1. I had no idea you were so handsome.

Congratulations on your picture!! :hi:

[trof]

2. Whoa. You are amongst some pretty heady company.

Damn.
Congratulations, Will.

[SOteric]

3. It's a great pic, but I can't help being a bit disappointed

that they didn't chose this pose:




:7 :bounce: :hi:

[GCP]

18. LOL - who's the other guy?

It's not Meegbear is it? :hi:

[SOteric]

20. No, it's matcom.

:hi:

[demobabe]

25. Huh.

For a second, I though it was Will Pitt kissing himself. ;)

[WilliamPitt]

29. Me too

*horrified*

[LostinVA]

40. Matcom is such a piggo

[GardeningGal]

4. Wow - you're in some mighty fine company!

Congratulations!

[xchrom]

5. congrats dude -- that rocks.

[hunter]

6. Man, I'd be terrified!

Congratulations.

[SeattleGirl]

7. Wow! That's pretty cool, Will!

:applause:

[buddhamama]

8. Congratulations, Mr.Pitt

that is a real honor. I like the quote from you too. Mr. Shetterly is talented, there's no mistaking it's you.

:thumbsup: a toast to your continued success :toast:

[graywarrior]

9. As an artist, I can honestly say that is truly awesome.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Woah, cool.

Geez, you're in some major company there, Will. Great job!

[Arkham House]

11. It's richly deserved...

...congrats--you're the Tom Paine of our time...

[NewWaveChick1981]

12. Geez, Will! That's amazing!

:woohoo: :applause: I'm so happy for you. That's something to be very proud of!!!! :bounce:

[DemReadingDU]

13. Congratulations, this is a great honor!

[yvr girl]

14. Pretty iconic company you're keeping my friend

WOW.

It's a great painting too. :toast:

[crim son]

15. I'm very impressed but not surprised.

The collection was in our area last year... my ex-Love performed at it. I hope it returns so I can see your portrait up close and personal.

[sweetheart]

16. good likeness

You look ravishing, Mr. Pitt. You're about to be mobbed by groupies! :-)

[mainegreen]

17. That quite a group of people your with there!

Congrats!

[RevolutionaryActs]

19. That's amazing!

He's really talented. What an awesome thing to be a part of! Yay you! :bounce:

[bridgit]

21. marvelous pitt, you've become slogan-ized = when commercialsm...

begins to speak DIrectly to your ego...imo?...change course

[WilliamPitt]

32. You think Mr. Shetterly is selling something? Sloganizing?

I argue here only for him, and the curriculum he has put together for students:

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/curriculum/index.html

If that is salesmanship and sloganizing, then sign me up.

I can't imagine creating a project this worthwhile, and I was a teacher.

Can you? Any ideas?

[bridgit]

38. good cause bad cause william, it is all merchandising regardless...

make no mistake, sir. are certain causes better than others? underwriting free-republic v. the american heart association ppfftt come-come now, let's be serious you & i...of course there are; perhaps it is my greater point already alluded to, that where it is your image...your image sir is associated with it, it is then better by simply extension than all others. please say it isn't so before tearing into me william, however gently.

i, personally, am not allowed here to position myself as quite so ego driven; it would be suggested to me, forcefully, and by whole tracts of people here that i care for, that i would do better to find that notion specious at best.

further i know a young man that shunned it all again regardless: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5600606&mesg_id=5600606

i'm sorry if i didn't jump through this little hoop quick enough mr. pitt, but my mention is further alluded to in the film adaptation of Philip K. Dick's, Minority Report, where commercials speak DIrectly to as; targeted for our trends ala safeway cards & google ads, we will; sooner than we are ready to admit; only be able to hear, or see the ones we are susceptible to

http://www.philipkdick.com/works_novels.html

but it is a proper likeness capturing the essence of: William Rivers Pitt, congrat'z :party:

still, "salesmanship and sloganizing" took their toll on Willy Loman, my prediction is that Mr. Shetterly will not be brought to such an end

[NMDemDist2]

22. you must have made an impression on the man

you certainly have on us DUers :loveya:

congrats Will, you fit right in!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. Well, you may not know what to say, my dear Will.......

But I sure as heck do!

This is one outstanding painting! An extremely good likeness!

You are in excellent company......or are all the other folks?

I am sooo proud to have had the opportunity to meet you...... :yourock:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. Wow!

What a cool portrait!

[Duer 157099]

26. Nice!!

Really nice. Congrats on the recognition that you deserve.

[johnnie]

27. Very cool Will

Very cool indeed.

[donheld]

28. You deserve it Will

:yourock:

[Neoma]

30. That's great.

(Cool that you still have that icon in your sigline, haha.)

[grasswire]

31. this credential will serve you well when you....

...are recruited to be the speechwriter for the incoming Democratic POTUS. I'm counting on that day.

[The Traveler]

33. Good on ya, Will

You deserve it, man. Now don't you be gettin' all comfy in your kudos, Will Pitt. The work is not yet done. Of course, it never will be ...

But for right now, here's to ya.

:toast:

[WilliamPitt]

34. "Now don't you be gettin' all comfy in your kudos"

You're kidding, right? After the company I just got crowded into? To paraphrase Marcellus Wallace, I'm pretty fuckin' far from comfy.

But thanks. ;)

[The Traveler]

50. Sometimes

when I read the words of certain authors, I am reminded of why I am proud to be a human. You do that for me sometimes. Which, of course, is why I have to tweak ya from time to time.

[WilliamPitt]

53. If there was ever a person in need of tweaking...

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

35. So...when can we get your face on the notecards???

Imagine the things DUers could do... :evilgrin:

Seriously, That is terrific! :toast:

[lildreamer316]

36. This is so cool!!

Kick ass, Will!
I've always got your back, btw. Just for your information.

[FedUpWithIt All]

37. Damn, what company...

:toast:

I have read your work for years. To me, yours has become a rational voice for the irrational times we are in. I imagine, when i look back on these years, your name and your perspective will come to mind as a calm during the storm. Congratulations, Mr. Pitt.

[Midlodemocrat]

39. Nice, Will!, However, I think I have to agree with SOteric

:hide:




Kudos well deserved.

[VelmaD]

41. Wowee

I went to the site and that's some impressive company you're in. Your mom must be so proud. :)

It's a lovely portrait. Congrats on being included. :hug:

[catmandu57]

42. You've earned this

You have been at the front of this fight, working for those of us that can't do what you can, congratulations, may your rewards be just starting.

[mwdem]

43. Congratulations Will!

Looks like you're in good company!:hi:

[GalleryGod]

44. Way to Go, Will! Very richly deserved ! *

I wish you'd post more often, Old timer ! I miss your wit and wisdom!
I'm aware your time is tightly constrained these days.:patriot: :applause: :patriot:





*with the exception Bridgit's shiv-in-the-ribs, and SOteric's reminder of the infamous DU Boston Massacare Weekend (will it ever go away?):rofl: glad the ganf came out to support you!

[myrna minx]

45. Wow. That's amazing.

:bounce:

[Love Bug]

46. That is so cool!

Gonna put it on a t-shirt and sell them?

[JitterbugPerfume]

47. wow!!

Handsome , smart and talented !

[NV Whino]

48. Cool!

Great painting. Where do the originals reside?

[DinahMoeHum]

49. Wow, YOU DA MAN !! What more can I say ??

:toast::toast::toast:

[havocmom]

51. Make a helluva Mother's Day card for next spring

;)

[Momgonepostal]

52. That is SO cool!

He did a great job, too!

[benny05]

54. OMG--You Look Like something out "Meet Joe Black"

Nice pic. Very professionally done.

[jus_the_facts]

55. Quite nice Mr. Pitt.....

....congratulations are indeed in order. :hi:

BTW how's your Momma..haven't seen her around here in a while?! Tell her she's missed! :loveya:

[watercolors]

56. Masterful painting !

What more couold be said when the model is a mastermind! Love Will

[watercolors]

57. Just went in and checked all the portaits

What an honor to be amoung such great and talented people, you must be busrting with pride! Mr Shetterly is a great artist, I put him in the class of great portait artist like H. Sanden, Kiesler, and my friend here in Fl. Jon Houghten.

[Schema Thing]

58. Honorific Like a Mutherfucker, Man

[GOPisEvil]

59. OK, that pegs out the ol' "Pretty Fucking Cool-o-Meter"

:thumbsup:

[Gormy Cuss]

60. Congratulations.

You are in very fine company. Shetterly chose a great quote from the woman who was the most influential politician for me as a child:

“The right to criticize: the right to hold unpopular beliefs; the right to protest; the right of independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood…Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own.”

--Margaret Chase Smith, senator.

[Catshrink]

61. Very impressive!

Congratulations! I understand why you feel speechless -- but hey, I think you belong in that company.

:yourock:

[cedahlia]

62. The book of all his paintings is great!

I'm a children's librarian, and I was very excited to put that book on display when it came in. Do you think you might be included in a future version or second volume??

Your portrait is gorgeous, too, by the way! You are thrilled with good reason...what an honor and a beautiful job well done!

Congrats! :toast:

[angstlessk]

63. You are indeed hansome. I did a search portraits and viola...up popped

William Rivers Pitt. What a great legacy you are leaving. And you were afraid to quit teaching and become a writer and speaker. Well see where it's gotten ya?