What's with Russell Crowe's being "total buds" with Rick Perry?

[cascadiance]

I've had a lot of respect for Crowe as an actor, but have lost a lot of respect for him as a person with this news.



http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/0911/The_Rick_PerryRussell_Crowe_bromance.html

...

But don’t hold your breath for Rick Perry to snag the endorsement of his longtime celebrity bud Russell Crowe, though they’ve developed a bit of a bromance over the years.

Not only is Crowe an Australian citizen (so he can’t vote in or contribute to U.S. campaigns) whose reputation as a hard-partying bar brawler might make him a less-than-ideal endorser, but he told the Houston Chronicle in 2003,“I don’t think being a celebrity gives you any right whatsoever to air your political views.”

In that same interview, however, Crowe said, “I like very much as a bloke.” Though he’s known primarily as an actor (he won an Oscar for his role in the 2000 action flick “Gladiator”), Crowe explained that he and his Aussie roots-rock band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, got “a great deal of help in getting the visas we needed” to record an album in Austin in the late 1990s from Perry, then the lieutenant governor of Texas.

It turns out that they go back even further. Perry was serving as agriculture commissioner in the ’90s when he first met Crowe, whose brother had approached the state about an agriculture project.

...

I hard to read twice that arguably my favorite director Ridley Scott attended Crowe's wedding, and not some event of Perry's which would have made me feel even more low.

[Avalux]

1. Meh. Never liked Crowe, now I know why. n/t

[Enrique]

2. sounds like it's based on favors

and lol at the illustration. :rofl:

[valerief]

3. I guess he doesn't really have a brilliant mind. nt

[Kennah]

4. Crowe seems to personify the stereotype of Australians as the World's White Trash

Yeah, I get where he and Perry would get along.

Crowe told the Houston Chronicle, the Lone Star State "enthralls and amuses me. I really enjoy the rhythm of life there and the attitude of the folk."

It's hot and there's venomous snakes. Must remind him of home.

[cascadiance]

6. I wonder if he and Mel Gibson would team up for a new "Mad Max" sequel...

... or might they be scared of illustrating the true future of where we are headed if we continue the path of unbridled libertarianism in a world that's economically and environmentally dying now.

I'm guessing its far more likely for that than Gibson and Danny Glover hooking for a Lethal Weapon sequel...

[vaberella]

10. Dunno...not that it matter. Gibson was born in New York.

He's our home bred crazy.

[cascadiance]

11. Yeah, but Mad Max films were products of Australia's film industry...

[vaberella]

28. Hmmm...true. n/t

[Dawson Leery]

30. ....

This is a country where white supremacy is still allowed in the open without question.

[anakie]

35. Is it?

Please explain? (pun intended) and do cite some references.


Peace

[GSLevel9]

34. wow a national slur encompassing 23 million people nt

[Bluestar]

5. No surpriise here--can't stand Russell Crowe n/t

[chowder66]

7. They like each other. So what?

One of my best friends is a hard-core tax hating republican from Dublin Ireland living in New Hamphsire. He gave me a "Bill O'Reilly" book for my birthday one year. I put it on my shelf then donated it later. Sorry bud!!!

I adore him but I hate his politics. We just don't talk about them much. We have much more that we do agree on and easily discuss/debate.

We try to change each others mind or inform each other regarding politics when we discuss the topic and while neither one of us have truly budged, we have found more common ground over the years than we expected. I recently found out he is against the death penalty but "I assumed" he was for it. Phew, good thing we talked.

People can like each other for all sorts of reasons. They can even marry each other. Not that I expect Russell and Rick to marry anytime soon. ;)

[FromMadera]

8. .

Nice reply, I agree..my husband is GOP.

[chowder66]

14. Thanks.

[cascadiance]

13. Perhaps, kind of like U2's Bono was with Jesse Helms on many occasions...

Though many of us didn't like that relationship, arguably, Bono had a purpose of trying to get Jesse Helms persuaded to pass some legislation for his social agenda, which arguably was more for all of us. So I have a bit more respect for that kind of "friendship". Still unclear if there's any "purpose" for Crowe's relationship with Perry that might have similar motivations from what is described here. Purposes arguably are more likely to be selfishly motivated.

[chowder66]

17. Perhaps... however it doesn't seem to be anything but just friends.

If that changes into something political (crowe injecting himself into american politics in a big way) then maybe there is a discussion worth having.

[Myrina]

15. Exactly.

"You're either with us or against us" is the simple-thinking mindset of the other side of the fence.

[chowder66]

19. You know? I really wish that wasn't the case.

I miss kindness and "attempted" understanding. Don't get me wrong there are some things people, including myself, are convinced of and stand by but if everyone would just start showing the tiniest amount of kindness in their daily interactions maybe we could create a little bit of change ourselves.


My polly-anna is flaring up again!~!! It's so much better than stress though.

[Jakes Progress]

21. No. No. We must hate by association.

The friend of my enemy is the enemy of my friend's enemy...er, my enemy's friend's friend....uh, I mean.

Oh hell. Let's just hate some. That's the way to make things work.

[chowder66]

22. Love thy enema?

That usually gets things working....I hear.

[Jakes Progress]

23. Move it along.

[vaberella]

9. Crowe is an Australian. Who cares? Actually he's a worthless actor...

why does even matter...

[Yavin4]

12. So, Crowe Does Not Think That Actors Should Air Their Political Views

But, they can start crappy rock bands?

Do I have that right?

[Life Long Dem]

16. Looks like a story dug up from about 8-10 years ago.

Nothing recent about Perry and Crowe.

[cascadiance]

18. I heard this first on CNN just a while ago...

So I don't think this is an "old story"... Politico just recently published this.

[Life Long Dem]

20. It's a newly published story talking about Perry and Crowe 10 years ago.

[blkmusclmachine]

24. Crowe sux.

Talentless hack.

Birds of a feather flock together.

[awoke_in_2003]

25. the only man who loves himself...

more than Rick Perry is Russel Crowe.

[Politicalboi]

26. I saw Cinderella Man last week

And thought Russell Crowe looked like Paul Ryan in that movie.

[treestar]

27. Visas should be granted on legal standards

Not on who knows who.

[BarbieCat1]

29. Don't assume Crowe agrees with Perry on issues

Hi.. new here. Please be kind.

I've been a fan of Russell Crowe for years, an admirer of his considerable talent. Along the way, I've read enough interviews and seen him interviewed, even having had a conversation or two with him to comfortably say he is not political, but he is a social liberal. Don't confuse him with his film roles or assume he personally agrees with the politics of his friends, including Perry.

This big "news" of their friendship is 10 years old. If you read the article carefully, there is nothing in it to indicate Crowe endorses Perry politically. In fact, I think they'd probably be at loggerheads on a number of issues. Crowe is inclusive, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and an supporter of socially progressive causes. He's demonstrated this, quietly, many times over the years.

His friendship with Perry is apparently based on a sort of good ole boy personality compatibility, not political agreement. They both have ranches and horses. Their wives are friendly.

I don't know about you all, but I have friends across a whole spectrum of political philosophy. If contentious issues come up, we either agree to disagree and drop the subject, or engage in lively debate. I don't make my friends pass a PC litmus test if we have formed our friendships over mutual interests or proximity. Besides, I have great hope that I may turn some of my more conservative friends so they'll see the light. I believe I've succeeded occasionally.

[MissDeeds]

31. Really, who here gives a rat's ass

who Russell Crowe or any other celebrity likes? Crowe has made some terrific movies, and he also has been very vocal in his opposition to GWB's policies and his attempts at 'nation building'. Crowe and Perry being 'buds' (if in fact that is still the case) is of little consequence to the current political climate.

:eyes:

[Swede]

32. Guilt by association is so 1950s.

Perry liked Gore back in the day,time to throw Gore under the bus?

[MrSlayer]

33. Making movies, making songs and fighting round the world.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/104204/the-russell-crowe-show

Brilliant.