Babylon 5 and Politics

[WorkerCaste]

'Political Officer' anyone?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/white-house-installs-political-aides-at-cabinet-agencies-to-be-trumps-eyes-and-ears/2017/03/19/68419f0e-08da-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_story.html?utm_term=.de8220776ab6&wpisrc=nl_&wpmm=1

I know that many people may not be able to see the full article as the WP only allows 10 free per month so here are a couple of key paragraphs.

Oh, yeah, Jan. My exact thought when I read a synopsis earlier. It just so happened I had watched "Voices of Authority" last week.

[Melanie]

We also had loyalty monitoring.

I believe it was called "Night watch".

[Looney]

So I was just reading some Babylon 5 related posts on Facebook. I won't say specifically where because I don't want it to seem like I am picking on someone nor do I want to directly point out their name. I don't want it to be a personal attack where I am singling them out. I am pointing more toward what they represent.

Anyway, there was a post that basically asked who does 'The Tyrant' better, President Clark or President Trump? So naturally there were responses comparing the the two and responses that where negative. I want to share one of the negative comments; at least I think the author meant for it to be negative. Pardon the language, but I want to give you the direct quote.

"President Clark and president Obama are butt buddy."

That is word for word and all of the exact grammar. And I am guessing English is this person's first language, but I can't guarantee it - pretty sure though.

Please feel free to comment on anything you find wrong in that one short little sentence.

[Jan]

That is word for word and all of the exact grammar. And I am guessing English is this person's first language, but I can't guarantee it - pretty sure though.

Please feel free to comment on anything you find wrong in that one short little sentence.

Betting you were at the formerly big B5 page. Kaz' group? I don't go there anymore. I tried to hang on for way longer than I should have just because I like to know what fans are talking about and I like to interject facts in all the rumors and urban legends. But after Kaz himself posted something odious referring to Robin William's suicide within a day of the event, I couldn't stay and maintain any self-respect. And I notice that group has been shrinking steadily for quite some time.

As for the comment itself, it's beneath contempt of so many levels. No problem with you posting it, mind, it's just not worthy of any attention by anybody with any couth.

[Looney]

it's just not worthy of any attention by anybody with any couth.

hahahahahaha! Ouch!

[Melanie]

Betting you were at the formerly big B5 page. Kaz' group? I don't go there anymore. I tried to hang on for way longer than I should have just because I like to know what fans are talking about and I like to interject facts in all the rumors and urban legends. But after Kaz himself posted something odious referring to Robin William's suicide within a day of the event, I couldn't stay and maintain any self-respect. And I notice that group has been shrinking steadily for quite some time.

As for the comment itself, it's beneath contempt of so many levels. No problem with you posting it, mind, it's just not worthy of any attention by anybody with any couth.

I was never a member of that group and I hadn't discovered Babylon 5 at that time and I don't have a clue what they were writing (nor do I want to know), but thank you for taking a stand and leaving at that point.

[Looney]

So I was up late last night. I was watching a news channel that, like many of these channels will be doing this weekend, was doing a wrap-up of all the big political news of 2017. My politics aside it should have been VERY troubling for anyone to watch. Needless to say it was not something one should watch before trying to go to sleep. When I could stand no more I decided it needed to watch an episode of B5 to get my mind off of it. So I opened up my tablet and hit the old Go90 app. The next episode up, 3.5 Voices of Authority.

I could NOT believe my luck. I was forced to try to forget what I had just seen by watching one of Babylon 5's most frightening villains, Julie Musante. I don't know if everyone finds Musante frightening, but I have always considered her to be even worse than Morden because she is making the choice to do what she is doing. Morden may have initially chosen to serve The Shadows, but I think it becomes clear he isn't entirely in control of what he does after making that choice. Musante clearly believes everything she says. She knows she is lying and she chooses to try to sell it as the truth to society. I could go on and on about this topic and the current state of affairs, but I hope no one needs to be reminded. The point of this is that Julie Musante did NOT send me to a land of pleasant dreams. I hope Shari Shattuck reads this with pride some day. I've seen a few things Mrs. Shattuck has done and this episode is far and away the most memorable thing I've seen her do.

[babylonlurker]

I could NOT believe my luck. I was forced to try to forget what I had just seen by watching one of Babylon 5's most frightening villains, Julie Musante. I don't know if everyone finds Musante frightening, but I have always considered her to be even worse than Morden because she is making the choice to do what she is doing. Morden may have initially chosen to serve The Shadows, but I think it becomes clear he isn't entirely in control of what he does after making that choice. Musante clearly believes everything she says. She knows she is lying and she chooses to try to sell it as the truth to society. I could go on and on about this topic and the current state of affairs, but I hope no one needs to be reminded. The point of this is that Julie Musante did NOT send me to a land of pleasant dreams. I hope Shari Shattuck reads this with pride some day. I've seen a few things Mrs. Shattuck has done and this episode is far and away the most memorable thing I've seen her do.

Agreed, Musante is scary.
Someone once mentioned her role on one of the B5 groups on FB, and called her (Musante) a bitch (not the actress). Ms Shattuck popped up with a comment in the group, and showed her appreciation of the comments about Musante. So she knows the fans appreciate her role.
It is indeed very memorable.

[Jan]

Another one who's every bit as bad as Musante but who doesn't get noticed as much (I think) is Welles from 'The Fall of Night' and 'Appearances and Other Deceits'. He even goes so far as to say "Trust me on this, Captain - if there's anyone who knows how to survive political changes, it's me." <shiver>

Next time, pull up 'A Late Deliver from Avalon', Looney. "No moral ambiguity, no hopeless battle against ancient and overwhelming forces ... they were the
bad guys, as you say, we were the good guys, and they made a very satisfying thump when they hit the floor."

[Looney]

Agreed, Musante is scary.
Someone once mentioned her role on one of the B5 groups on FB, and called her (Musante) a bitch (not the actress). Ms Shattuck popped up with a comment in the group, and showed her appreciation of the comments about Musante. So she knows the fans appreciate her role.
It is indeed very memorable.

Oh that is great. I wish she would come here and read this discussion. She really is one of my top villains of B5, but I do agree Welles is almost right there with her.

Another one who's every bit as bad as Musante but who doesn't get noticed as much (I think) is Welles from 'The Fall of Night' and 'Appearances and Other Deceits'. He even goes so far as to say "Trust me on this, Captain - if there's anyone who knows how to survive political changes, it's me." <shiver>

Yes Welles is a nasty sort and brilliantly played by John Vickery. I think the reason Musante is even worse is because Welles seems like a weasel who blows in the direction that best suites his interests while Musante appears to have conviction for the message she is peddling. She seems to genuinely believe in the lies she is professing; she is even willing to use her body to bring allies to her cause. I think one of her most telling moments is when she tries to deny the Clark video. She seems genuinely disgusted with it as a lie where as I could see Welles reacting differently. He would likely say it is a lie, but in the back of his mind he would be plotting where to jump to next if the reaction to the video were to put his own self-interests in jeopardy.

Next time, pull up 'A Late Deliver from Avalon', Looney. "No moral ambiguity, no hopeless battle against ancient and overwhelming forces ... they were the
bad guys, as you say, we were the good guys, and they made a very satisfying thump when they hit the floor."

Yes I believe that would be a much easier pill to swallow before heading to dreamland.

[B5-Stefan]

Funny B5-ST Crossover

IMDb trivia from

3.5 Voices of Authority

Ivanova's quip to Sheridan about going "where *every* man has gone before" while the Ministry of Peace political officer [Musante] was trying to seduce him, was a direct poke of fun at Star Trek's speech regarding "where no man has gone before" and also references Captain Kirk's tendency to bed women throughout the original Star Trek series.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to All of You
Stefan

--
Albert Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowledge is limited."

[Jan]

HAPPY NEW YEAR to All of You
Stefan

Happy New Year!

[Melanie]

Happy New Year

[alpha128]

Happy New Year to all!

[babylonlurker]

Happy New Year to all !