A 1940’s Street-Wise New York Photographer (Joe Pesci in the Public Eye 1992)
Here is the inaugural of a new Trump.45 species of information transfer, a hint of his gracious MAGA restoration effort. Imagine the unforgettable sound of a flashbulb popping on a heavy 40’s style news photog’s camera wielded by a Joe Pesci-type character, revealing in an instant the seamy side of politics, life, love, social gossip, and juicy scandal. Who would ever have believed the intimate connexity of the terms Presidential and Quickie would be a seriously appropriate item of discourse?
Welcome to Trumpville, y’all. Popcorn at the back. Also, Trump.45 hats and other souvenir merchandise available at just a small (really, very tiny) markup, all to support only the very best of causes (personally determined by our Dear Leader, DJT).
First on the agenda, one Michael Flynn, ostensible National Security Adviser to the President (no Senate confirmation needed or attempted).
Michael Flynn, Donald Trump national security adviser, disappears from Twitter
The Washington Times THE WASHINGTON TIMES 31 JAN 2017 AT 12:32 ET
“The Twitter account used by President Trump’s national security adviser, retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, ceased to exist Monday without explanation in the wake of his son’s account disappearing a day earlier.”
The Twitter account used by President Trump’s national security adviser, retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, ceased to exist Monday without explanation in the wake of his son’s account disappearing a day earlier.
First they came for his son. Then they came for him. Their precious Flynn Twitter accounts, that is. Trump insists on message discipline, even from the most elect. If it’s good enough for 2.1 million federal workers, it ought to work for the Inner Circle Great Elect.
So, with his account now in the Black Hole of Goneness, is this a prelude to a Flynn personal disappearance as well? It surely appears that after 10 days, the neo-Fascist, Alt-Right, New American Authoritarian (NAA) wing of the Trump.45 WH, crisply run and dominated by scruffy Stevie Boy Bannon is in rigid command and laying waste to potential rivals, including poor Jared, who is flummoxed and out-foxed at every turn, especially on the weekend turns, Friday night to Saturday night, as Kushner performs his strict religious observance (as a Modern Orthodox Jew). Bannon observes no such pause for moral reflection. He goes full tilt on his secular agenda Master Plan, 24/7.
A potential Bannon versus Flynn struggle is not a religious fist-fight. Both are (were) nominally Catholic, which is Christian enough for most Evangelicals in Donald’s flock for political alliance calculations, if not religious doctrinal purposes.
Anyway, Flynn has been denuded of his distinctive Twitter personality and personal brand reach. Discipline is restored. All’s right with the world. It is even better now that Trump.45’s Immigration Order is being so magnificently well received all over the World. It just took a couple of extra bumps for Spicer to explain it all to the slow-witted among us, who weren’t ever really with the program to begin with.
And Kellyanne is leading the charge on TV to purge smack talking journalists, critics, and other losers and haters from the airwaves and public view. Just getting cranked up there.
One People, One Voice. One Leader.
Kind of catchy, huh? As good as (no, better than) Orwell’s dated Nineteen Eighty Four conventions.
Michael Flynn With A Distinctly Pained Look Upon His Face
Let’s end on a picture to visually sum up.
Here is a classic Flynn shot. It could have been taken by a 1940’s style paparazzi, though it was made indoors, and the background betrays it as a Mainstream Media job.
It would be nice to think the picture is of Flynn’s spontaneous reaction to his sudden loss of Twitter privileges. It is not, dating from an earlier media appearance.
The man’s face evinces a look of the most profound constipation, covered over by a half-grimace. Whether he is reacting to a physical sensation, or in contemplation of an uncomfortable interview to come, or thinking about all those terrorist leaning and sympathetic Muslims he must vanquish, we will perhaps never know.
Flynn, however, good soldier that he is, is still on the job as NSC for Trump, even without his favorite previously loaded Twitter weapon.
At least for now, 10 days into the new Administration’s Road to Glory for America campaign.
Maybe it is all just a reset, and Flynn on Twitter will rise like a phoenix from the ashes soon, cleansed and restored. You never can tell with the crowd.
Heaven or Hell, on the Brink. To keep everybody sharp. A magical business leadership style. The scared always produce better, or so it is thought by Uppermost Management. They have the year end bonuses to prove it too, for any of you doubters out there.
Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt. Works on the Public for political advantage, why not against workers on the Public Payroll?
The Public Eye in America (2017) You Never Know Who’s Watching You.
*The Public Eye (1992). A film noir with stars Joe Pesci, and fine actress, All American sexy stunner Barbara Hershey, who still had it at age 44 (whatever it you want to talk about). The film had only a modest reception from critics and the public. Aw, give ‘em another chance. This is America. President Trump wants one, according to Kellyanne. He hasn’t said so since everything is just hunky-dory, but you never know.
All-American Humdinger Scorcher Barbara Hershey in The Public Eye (1992)
Rotten Tomatoes Score 64%, Public Audience Score 54%
From the Wikipedia entry:
The Public Eye is a 1992 Universal Studios neo-noir film produced by Sue Baden-Powell and written and directed by Howard Franklin, starring Joe Pesci and Barbara Hershey. Stanley Tucci and Richard Schiff appear in supporting roles.
The film is loosely based on New York Daily News photographer Arthur “Weegee” Fellig, and some of the photos in the film were taken by Fellig.
In the 1940s Leon “Bernzy” Bernstein is a freelance crime and street photographer for the New York City tabloids, dedicated to his vivid and realistic work and his unique ability to capture shots that nobody else can. He is very confident of his skills, declaring at one point, “Nobody does what I do. Nobody”.
With a police radio under the dashboard of his car and a makeshift darkroom in his trunk, he quickly races to the scene of horrific crimes and accidents in order to snap exclusive photographs. He is so good at his job that he becomes known affectionately as the “Great Bernzini”.
Bernzy meets a sultry widow, Kay Levitz (Barbara Hershey), who owns a fancy nightclub. It seems the mob is muscling in on her due to some arrangement with her late husband. Kay asks if Bernzy could investigate an individual she considers troublesome. Generally unsuccessful with women, Bernzy agrees to help Kay, and he slowly begins to fall in love with her.
After talking to his contacts, including journalist friend Arthur Nabler (Jerry Adler), he tracks down Kay’s man, only to find him murdered. But when he calls the police, he becomes a suspect in the man’s death. The police and the FBI are also very interested in this case. Bernstein makes a connection with a local gangster, Sal (Stanley Tucci), uncovering a conspiracy involving a mob turf war about illegal gas rationing, and the Federal government. His activities get Sal killed and place Bernzy’s life in great danger as he waits in hiding at an Italian restaurant where a mob hit is about to take place.