It happens to be a funny one, because Welles was endeavored long after his “masterpieces” failed at the box office. So depressed was Welles that he abandoned the USA and began working in Europe – now there’s good ole American spirit. Also, Welles is not remembered as politically vocal but his works are politically supercharged:

” Even in Kane, but especially in Ambersons, the young, brash Orson Welles had imparted to American movies a long overdue intimation of the mortal limits and disillusioning shortcomings of the American Dream. He dared to suggest that even Americans became old and embittered as the inexorable forces of family, capitalism and ‘progress’ trampled them.”

Maybe Clooney is just a vocal and opinionated putz who has the podium and isnt afraid to use it. He came from nothing, stepped in shit and now is living it up.

If this is Noonan’s opinion of Clooney, I wonder what she thinks of Gibson’s religous preaching from the director’s chair.

Peggy Noonan’s journalistic opinion carries as much weight for me as Clooney’s political opinions – or to quote welles its like “van gogh’s ear for music” (said of Donny Osmond’s talent).