# David Mamet enters the political fray with this new book, and it's sure not what you expected! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730 "2011-05-30T02:55:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/61 "2011-06-01T14:17:28Z")
The thing about Mamet is that even on the subject of theatre, his opinions are questionable. Brilliant playwright, good director - doesn’t understand an actor’s process at all. He writes these plays that require boatloads of acting technique to pull off and then goes around saying snotty things about acting technique. If what is truly required is to memorize the lines and read them, why isn’t an xtranormal version of ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ better than the film? Could it be that Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Al Pacino et al brought their significant acting techniques (and not all the exact same acting technique, either.) to the table when they did that film? Mamet makes me think of an architect who expresses contempt for the structural engineers and contractors who make his work possible. It’s very nice for the US right wing to have a spokesman who is articulate and has a great ear for the sound and rhythm of the English language but it doesn’t make me want to jump on their bandwagon. As with his opinions about theatre, he is entitled to them just as I’m entitled to disagree with him. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/62 "2011-06-01T14:58:37Z")
> [@David Mamet](#): > > Because when the government starts deciding what’s absurd, you’re on the road to serfdom. :rolleyes: _sigh_ OK, now it is finally time for the phrase “road to serfdom” to be moved into the category of [“Any EARNEST use in political discussion of the following terms brands the user an idiot.”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=593910) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/63 "2011-06-01T19:26:41Z")
How about ‘Serfdom, USA’ sung to the tune of the Beach Boys? ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/64 "2011-06-01T19:55:48Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Has he decided that evolution is a liberal plot and that gay marriage is an attack on America and all that kind of shit. His statements about “belief” don’t seem to parse since it’s the political right in the US which is subsumed in magical beliefs (such as global warming denial, creationism, “American exceptionalism,” free market mythology, superstitious fears about sexual purity, and terrors of homosexuality, etc.). Those are some tough words from a guy who sends his kids to Catholic school. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Well, “Hollywood Intellectual”. It’s kind of like being the most athletic guy in your Dungeons and Dragons group. This just slayed me. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > As for his exact beliefs, he sounds to me like an enthusiastic convert who hasn’t yet figured out how to separate the crap from the reality. It’s good that he’s reading Hayek and Friedman, it’s bad if he’s listening to Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter. Just like religous converts, when the logjam breaks you can want to just soak it all in - but then comes the laborious process of sorting it all out. You see the same thing in idealistic new lefties, who buy every left-wing trope ever uttered. Over time the become disillusioned by some of it and learn to moderate their beliefs. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/65 "2011-06-01T20:40:36Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Those are some tough words from a guy who sends his kids to Catholic school. Cheap shot. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/66 "2011-06-01T21:30:04Z")
I had no idea that practicing what you preach was such a ridiculous notion. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/67 "2011-06-01T23:12:57Z")
**lindsaybluth** , there’s already a long thread about **Diogenes the Cynic** and the Catholic school thing. Don’t insert it into other discussions as a cheap shot. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/68 "2011-06-02T00:48:07Z")
Sorry, I must have missed that thread. I was going on memory from awhile back. Besides, I had no idea bringing up people’s history was so frowned upon. It’s been done to me countless times, so in the future I’ll be sure to report it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/69 "2011-06-02T00:50:16Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Sorry, I must have missed that thread. I was going on memory from awhile back. [Here’s the thread. (I thought you’d posted in it, but I was mistaken). Anyway it’s still active.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13868186) > [@](#): > > Besides, I had no idea bringing up people’s history was so frowned upon. It’s been done to me countless times, so in the future I’ll be sure to report it. There’s no rule against mentioning a poster’s history. Your post was off-topic and was just a personal swipe, so I’m telling you not to do it again. ETA: Obviously I interpreted your post differently when I thought you were a participant in that other thread. It reads differently now that I see you weren’t. Still, it’s time to move along. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/70 "2011-06-02T00:58:43Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Any artist who puts Rebecca Pigeon in any production with a speaking part is an idiot in my book. I can almost forgive him for Rebecca Pigeon. At least she can be moderately easy on the eyes. I hold him accountable for what Lindsay Crouse did to _House of Games_. N.B.: They were both Mrs. David Mamet when these various crimes were committed. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/71 "2011-06-02T02:27:07Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > . I hold him accountable for what Lindsay Crouse did to _House of Games_. I thought it was a technical triumph they way they animated that mannequin. Back to thread. Mamet is a very talented writer. And Prince is a very talented musician. I don’t rely on either of them to inform me about politics. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/72 "2011-06-02T02:42:47Z")
I think we’d agree that Mamet is the most manly-man of any belletrist in our time. And reflecting back upon _Glengarry Glen Ross_, which is the most manly-man work in modern drama, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has embraced conservatism - and conservatism of the most retrograde talk-radio kind - simply because he finds it more _manly_. It is nature red in tooth and claw. It says only money, power, and whoop-ass matter, and insists any higher ideals will carry us off to namby-pamby-land. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/73 "2011-06-02T21:46:37Z")
It’s similar to what happened to Dennis Miller and the late Ron Silver. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/74 "2011-06-02T22:11:40Z")
And it’s known by a variety of terms: a) the veil has been lifted from their eyes; b) the scales have fallen from their eyes; c) they wised up. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/75 "2011-06-03T14:50:55Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Back to thread. Mamet is a very talented writer. And Prince is a very talented musician. I don’t rely on either of them to inform me about politics. For some reason, celebrities think people care about their politics. The reason in question is actually a very good one: They **know** people care about their sex lives. There is no rational reason why I should care about Brad Pitt’s politics – nor is there any rational reason why I should care whether he is sleeping with Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie, but millions **do** care. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/76 "2011-06-03T14:57:21Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And it’s known by a variety of terms: a) the veil has been lifted from their eyes; b) the scales have fallen from their eyes; c) they wised up. d) he sold out; e) he drank the kool-aid; f) he went over to the dark side… ‘Appeal to authority’ and ‘ad hominem attacks’ have the same problem inherent in them - one is supporting or attacking the man, not the idea. I don’t care who supports an idea I don’t agree with, and I don’t care who attacks an idea I do agree with. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/77 "2011-06-03T15:04:06Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > I don’t care who supports an idea I don’t agree with, and I don’t care who attacks an idea I do agree with. 😕 Then how do you know whom to shoot?! ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/78 "2011-06-08T16:09:26Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I’ve always thought, as individualistic as he is, that he’d be more at home on the right. I welcome him with open arms. You equate individualism with rightwing politics? How thoroughly bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/79 "2011-06-08T22:03:42Z")
He’s right. Conservatives espouse individualism; liberals espouse collectivism. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730/80 "2011-06-08T22:06:36Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > He’s right. Conservatives espouse individualism; liberals espouse collectivism. It’s a bit more nuanced than that. Conservatives espouse individualism in lockstep, while every liberal has an individual idea on how to best espouse collectivism/progressiveness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mamet-enters-the-political-fray-with-this-new-book-and-its-sure-not-what-you-expected/583730.md?page=5)