Posted by
Kilroy on Monday, March 26, 2007 9:42:29 AM
OAKLAND – The boisterous crowd at the Grand Lake Theatre fell into a disappointed silence this evening as Rep. Barbara Lee brought guest speaker Sean Penn to the stage at this, the 1,460th Daily Peace Now Rally. “
We thought we was getting the chubby funny one, not the skinny one what doesn’t talk and all” complained audience member Brad Hamilton, who traveled from London for the event. The confusion was apparently widespread as the audience was expecting to see famed Illusionist Penn Jillette of comedy duo Penn and Teller, then mistook Sean Penn for the slim and silent Teller.
The Oscar winning actor gave it the old Hollywood try as he tried to warm the audience back up first by apologizing for being late “
Just couldn't make it on time. Well, there's like a full crowd scene at the food line”.
Penn then made a call for national unity by proposing a peace summit between the Bush Administration and Hollywood: “
Hey, Bud, -- "You and your smarmy pundits -- and the smarmy pundits you have in your pocket, and us and our smarmy pundits, let's party!"This apparent olive branch to the much hated George Bush did little to win over the Peace Now crowd including Mr. Hamilton, who was escorted from the room after shouting “
Mister, if you don't shut up I'm gonna kick one hundred percent of your arse!”.
Not to be daunted, Penn responded "
Hey! You know, we left this England place because it was bogus. So if we don't get some cool rules ourselves, pronto, we'll just be bogus too."
In light of the violent mood, the meeting was called to an abrupt close with the clearly disappointed crowd grumbling on their way out. Local resident Maxine Waters offered, “
I can’t believe I came here to listen to this doped up cracker – I missed Amazing Race for this?”
Others were more philosophical. Mike Damone of Ventura said “
me and my friend caught the 524th and they had this Grateful Dead tribute band, it was awesome. And Susan Sarandon flashed us from the podium at the 789th. It was wicked funny -- I guess they can't all be good”. Even Mr. Hamilton seemed to take it all in stride “
Sure, I flew 5,000 miles for this but I am here for a fortnight, after all. It’s not like I can’t catch Monday’s show” referring to the 1,461st Daily Peace Rally to be held tomorrow.
