Legal Commentary

is Palin pullin’ a Felson?

By David A. Giacalone

. . “Fast Eddie” Felson and “Slow Sarah” Palin . .

Two of the big stories on the Sunday morning tv news shows — the much-lamented death of Paul Newman and the much-savaged interview of Sarah Palin — blurred for me today. Talk of Newman’s career brought to mind his famous character “Fast Eddie” Felson from the 1961 movie “The Hustler,” and the encore “The Color of Money” (1986). And, all the commentary on Palin’s faltering performance in her one-on-one with Katie Kouric reminded me that the Great Pre-Debate Low Expectations Game is in full swing.

Hustlers are willing to lose a bit to lower expectations and lull their opponents into overconfidence.  Sarah Palin probably plays a pretty good game of pool, but she just might be pullin’ a Felson in anticipation of her really big-stakes match next Friday, in St. Louis, at the Vice Presidential Debate with Sen. Joe Biden.  She’ll be heading to the podium next Friday with expectations lower than a snake’s belly, and heading toward the level of a gopher’s behind.  If Gov. Palin convinces the nation she can either walk or chew-gum, she will be hailed as passing muster and vastly out-performing the predictions of pundits across the political spectrum.

Beating the odds and expectations seems to be what the debates are all about in the media.  Sarah Palin will surely surpass all expectations — rising to the heady heights of mediocrity.  Joe Biden’s my candidate, and I sure hope he isn’t underestimating his Republican opponent.  If Joe’s feeling cocky, he probably should watch the YouTube videos of the First Game and the Final Game between Fast Eddie and Minnesota Fats.

[Speaking of Debates, don't miss our finger-puppet "presidential debate redux," which asks a lot of questions Barack forgot.]

grown wild
the spot where I buried
the last of my pets

flickering buzz
of the pool hall sign
summer night

????????? by John Stevenson -  The Heron?s Nest (December 2007)

p.s. Paul Newman has long been my favorite actor from my parents’ generation — even before I could relate to his performance in Nobody’s Fool.  The f/k/a Gang is going to eschew further posting this evening and curl up on the futon with a tape of his 1982 movie “The Verdict,” which is near the top of every “best films about lawyers” list I’ve ever seen (e.g., our prior post).  You will indeed be missed, Mr. Newman.

Full post as published by f/k/a . . . on September 28, 2008 (boomark / email).