But most of all l just love the indomitable spirit that emerges from each character he plays.
So, given he is 97 and about to ride off into the sunset, this is my humble way of saying thanks for the memories.
I guess, it is also no surprise that his intolerance of authority is an important endearing quality for his millions of fans.
But for me, and the main reason for using the title of the classic that made him famous to head this article is because it so accurately encapsulates the current state of politics both here at home and throughout the world.
Sadly, we, appear to be running out of leaders like Clint who are capable of influencing world events simply by using the power of their own personality while at the same time, offering common sense solutions to our problems.
There are no prizes for guessing who I am referring to in the modern context - dare I speak his name.
And so, as people who know me might expect me to say, we should be grateful that the Free World is now reaserting itself from years of bondage under the "UGLY" administration's alluded to in the title of this piece with people like Trump exposing the "BAD" for what they really are and have always been.
That leaves me with the "GOOD".
It would appear to be no coincidence that the arrival of common sense leadership on the world stage is the reason why opportunities for peaceful coexistence among the world's billions is becoming a real possibility, if not reality.
Why is it that the "new world order" is being crafted on the basis of respect for each other's priorities and in spite of the corrupt UN members who masquerade as God's gift to humanity.
Effective world leadership and even those entrusted with the oversight of our own wellbeing here at home can never be all things to all men but we have seen from recent events among waring nations and factions within communities that there are basic parameters that need to be in place before equal opportunity is available to every human being, irrespective of race, creed or status on the social ladder.
It takes real leadership to make that happen. Let those with that ability and commitment to the principles of democracy please stand up. We need you now more than ever.
Exciting times.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
10 comments:
Well said, Clive.
P.S. Clint Eastwood is actually 95. He was born in 1930.
I hear you Clive, nothing tangible will be achieved without the leadership you refer to. Sadly, steady as she goes fails to inspire.
In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king. And Trump is the most one eyed person you can find. Doesn't make him a leader though. Just a one-eyed man in the country of the blind. But if the polls are to be believed, even the politically blind are starting to see that. Why can't you Mr Bibby? Oh, and by the way. Clint Eastwood was just an actor. He made a living pretending to be someone else; generally someone else who didn't actually exist. His job was to create that temporary suspension of disbelief that is the hallmark of any good theatrical production. So you are partly right in your assessment Mr Bibby. Trump also excels in performance art and can make people believe things that never existed. Still doesn't make him a leader though. Just a good actor.
What is it about my regular critics - particularly those who identify themselves as Trump haters, - that virtually guarantees their response to my comments are denials of reality.
One can only assume that their nonsense reactions to my reporting of world events is an indication that they have lost any ability they once had to argue a case based on what actually happened.
To suggest that Trumps’s recent barnstorming trip to Asia that included a trillion dollars worth of trade deals with some of the world’s leading economies and the better than expected agreement that has eased tensions with China didn’t happen makes one wonder whether they live on another planet.
No doubt they will react to this post with indignation and some sort of explanation as to their alternative world view.
I think they should voluntarily commit themselves to a place that offers care for those suffering from TDS . I’m really over being blamed for their condition.
The bad news for you, Clive, is that with your right to publicly state your views goes the right of the rest of us to comment on them. This is something that we should never take for granted as that right has been upheld at great cost in blood and wealth. (During WW2 this country devoted about 30% of its GDP to fighting the war. The cost in blood? See all the War Memorials.) For this reason, I belong to the Free Speech Union, and if challenging your comments, which is often, renders me a candidate for a mental instruction, as you seem to suggest, then so be it.
As usual, your column is devoid of hard facts, names of countries or individuals, other than a single reference to Trump. Aren’t you aware of what is happening in Trump’s America? Where can you start, it’s just so bad? Sure, Trump’s Asian trip may have been a success, but he’s just doing his job. In fact, much of it was patching up his nonsensical tariff policy. Actually, he has already made another trip. He’s hoped into his 747 jet and flown to Florida for a game of golf, at a cost to the taxpayer of $3.8 million. This while Congress is shut down and public servants are not getting paid and emergency food supplies are drying up. Does Trump care about this? He doesn’t give a stuff. I think he is a disaster and will go down as America’s worst president.
And what’s Clint Eastwood, who took up over a third of your mercifully short column, got to do with the claimed inspired leadership that has miraculously taken over the world in 2025? He was a noted Hollywood actor, though he did enter into politics of sorts when he spoke at the 2012 Republican Convention (which nominated Mitt Romney). It took the form of Eastwood addressing an imaginary President Obama, who occupied an empty chair. It was a cringe-worthy disaster and overshadowed all the other speeches. One Obama spokeswoman summed it up when she said, “Clint Eastwood’s speech tonight brought new meaning to the good, the bad and the ugly … but mostly just the bad and the ugly.”
What a joke!
You claim that my column is devoid of facts
This is what happens when people in denial of reality pretend that momentous world events didn’t actually happen or the successes are just down to good luck.
I suppose you’ll be denying Trump won the election next.
I rest my case.
Sure Trump won the election and no-one denies that was a momentous world event. But it was momentous for all the wrong reasons. More people did not vote for Trump than voted for him in the poular vote and his technical victory was based on the weird arithmetic of the electoral college, to say nothing of the effect of his brazen campaign lies, distortions and sheer ignorance. And that Mr Bibby is what actually happened. Some of us look beyond Fox News for our information. You should try it some time.
Trump won the Electoral College with 312 electoral votes to Harris' 226. Trump won every swing state, including the first win of Nevada by Republicans since 2004. Trump won the national popular vote with a plurality of 49.8%, making him the first Republican to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. Unlike the 2020 election his popularity was too big to rig. This didn’t help those with a chronic case of TDS. It appears incurable.
OK Jonesy and Ewan if he is about to add his vitriol to this exchange.
Don’t you think that readers are getting a bit tired of your stalking me at every opportunity just on the off chance that l might stray from my reputation of honest comment - allowing another underhand shot at your nemisis Trump.
But isn’t it time for you blokes to stop demonising the current President and give credit where credit is due - something Ewan promised to do during a private conversation recently but has as yet failed to honour that commitment.
In the meantime, my guess is that readers would prefer we all decided to concentrate on things that deserve constructive comment
That’s it from me.
I tend to agree, although this exchange of views has been quite stimulating!
It shows clearly what a divisive figure Trump is.
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