Top Comments: Alamo Drafthouse and Ann Richards vs. Greg Abbott

by Chrislove for Top Comments

Community

(This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday, Jul. 25, 2014 Friday, Jul. 25, 2014 at 7:00:10pm PDT

If you've never heard of Alamo Drafthouse, it's a theater chain founded in Austin, Texas, that has become well-known not for the food or beer they serve, but for having a very strict policy against talking and texting during movies. You may or may not have seen this video from the company that went viral a few years ago, in which a customer who was kicked out for texting leaves an angry voicemail:

I've been to an Alamo Drafthouse in Austin a couple of times, and I enjoyed the experience. I also appreciate their policy on theater etiquette. Because no, the customer is not always right, and it's nice to see crappy customers get put in their place. There is nothing worse than paying good money to see a movie and having to deal with people who will not shut up or get off their phones.

Now I love the theater for a different reason. Follow me below the fold to see what they have to say about Greg Abbott and for a bonus badass Ann Richards video...

But First, A Word From Our Sponsor:

Top Comments recognizes the previous day's Top Mojo and strives to promote each day's outstanding comments through nominations made by Kossacks like you. Please send comments (before 9:30pm ET) by email to topcomments@gmail.com or by our KosMail message board. Just click on the Spinning Top™ to make a submission. Look for the Spinning Top™ to pop up in ~~diaries~~ posts around Daily Kos.

Make sure that you include the direct link to the comment (the URL), which is available by clicking on that comment's date/time. Please let us know your Daily Kos user name if you use email so we can credit you properly. If you send a writeup with the link, we can include that as well. The ~~diarist~~ poster reserves the right to edit all content.

Please come in. You're invited to make yourself at home! Join us beneath the doodle...

First, some background. Start with this short ad produced for Regal Cinemas' big screen by Gregg Abbott for Governor, in which Abbott yaps away in a movie theater and encourages moviegoers to text "FREEDOM" to a number. In other words, he's a double-asshole in Alamo Drafthouse's eyes.

So Alamo Drafthouse fired back.

"The only thing worse than talking in a theater is a politician talking in a theater telling you to text," Alamo Drafthouse founder and CEO Tim League said via a press release. "This isn't about where you sit on the political debate, it's about when you sit in a movie theater. At the Alamo Drafthouse, we believe in two things: freedom and quiet cinemas."

But they didn't stop there. They produced this PSA, which will be shown to moviegoers on their big screen:

In anticipation of cries that this is a political statement targeting Abbott and Republicans, Alamo Drafthouse explains:

Unless Wendy Davis starts yapping in theaters, we're not compelled to give her equal time.

But they did reach out to Davis to ask her opinion of their policy on talking and texting. To which she responded:

Needless to say, conservatives are whining in those Texas Monthly comments. Which is reason enough for me to like this Alamo Drafthouse PSA.

Now, the promised bonus badass Ann Richards. Keller Davis, an Austin filmmaker, was inspired by the Alamo Drafthouse PSA to put this little gem together. Ann Richards hears Greg Abbott talking in the theater, and she's not happy. A reminder to all moviegoers: "Don't talk during the movie...or Ann Richards will take your ass out."

TOP COMMENTS
July 25, 2014

Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU
when you find that proficient comment.

From a2nite:

This is an excellent comment from LeftHandedMan that could be a diary.

From d3clark:

In this comment, Senor Unoball responds to a comment that refers to a white supremacist as an ignoramus.

From Steveningen:

In kos' diary Judge: Executions are 'brutal, savage events', so stop trying to hide that, this excellent comment by luvsathoroughbred deserves recognition.

TOP MOJO
July 24, 2014

(excluding Tip Jars and first comments)

Got mik!

  1) And the victim killed herself by Diana in NoVa — 125
  2) Yes. . . by IndyScott — 92
  3) International Law by LieparDestin — 87
  4) Not going to happen under Obama, and DEFINITELY by 420 forever — 84
  5) Yup. That pretty much sums it up. by Its the Supreme Court Stupid — 81
  6) When Israel prohibits your importing construction by Christy1947 — 81
  7) Ever tried to cancel a dead person's service? by Radiowalla — 79
  8) If UN officials turn out to be... by Retroactive Genius — 78
  9) its a retention tactic (obviously) by rexymeteorite — 75
10) 40-45 Years But Who's Counting? by Gooserock — 74
11) Oh dear do I have to quote it AGAIN by Lib Dem FoP — 73
12) I'm no expert, but its my understanding by konving — 72
13) Hamas rose to popularity on its social programs by Mindful Nature — 70
14) He can't even admit what a by indycam — 70
15) You lose, but thanks for playing by Mokurai — 69
16) And I'll bet this judge thinks he's "Pro-Life" by Happy Days — 68
17) I record every conversation I have by PsychoSavannah — 68
18) You have no idea what you are talking by poco — 68
19) Certified letter with accout number, by PsychoSavannah — 68
20) And Barry Dile uses his own name by Senor Unoball — 69
21) I guess I should be happy that he got a slap by praying manatheist — 66
22) I like Philly by chicago minx — 65
23) Um, Sen. McCain, the proper term is by commonmass — 64
24) Hope this translates by DisNoir36 — 63
25) Sad but true by windwardguy46 — 63
26) He invited y'all to the Lincoln screening by Chitown Kev — 63
27) Despite Brownback's awful performance this by Morgan Sandlin — 63
28) Yes! Cancelled! by merrylib — 59
29) They often let people upgrade service by joedemocrat — 59
30) It is ALL about power.... that's all. n/t by SaraBeth — 59
31) his national security views aren't a surprise by dougymi — 59

TOP PHOTOS
July 24, 2014

Enjoy jotter's wonderful PictureQuilt™ below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. Have fun, Kossacks!