Larry Hagman slams US president over Iraq

BERLIN (AFP) - US actor Larry Hagman, former star of the television series "Dallas", slammed President George W. Bush as a sad but dangerous figure with little education. "If George Bush attacks Iraq, tens of thousands of people will die without reason," Hagman told Thursday's edition of the Tagesspiegel newspaper.

The actor, who played the notorious Texas oil baron JR Ewing in the Dallas series, said Bush was a "sad figure: not too well educated, who doesn't get out of America much. He's leading the country towards facism." When asked whether Bush would appreciate his accusation, Hagman replied: "It's all the same to me, he wouldn't understand the word facism anyway."

He said Bush and JR Ewing both came from the Texas oil industry but that the president was not smart enough to be like JR. "JR was so smart he always found a way to win without violence ... he ruined his enemies financially or socially.

Hagman, 71, was in Germany promoting his autobiography.

(Ok... brace yourself... here comes my comments...)

Wow. Are we really listening to some washed-up actor now? I mean, honestly? If we absolutely HAVE to listen to these people, can't we get quotes from some more relevant stars? Not just ones that need publicity? I mean, you're talking about a guy who used to have millions of fans who now must bash the President's education in order to get ANY sort of write-up, otherwise, no one would give a damn about him. (Incidentally, GWB is Ivy League educated with an MBA and Hagman attended Bard College in New York for one year...) Personally, I'd like to hear what Mariah Carey and maybe Vin Diesel thinks about the impending war. Can't be any worse than what Sean Penn has said! Anyway, here are some facts about this nutball, direct from IMDB.com:

• Has a ring made from the gallstones that were removed during his liver transplant. (Ah, how stylish!)
• He refuses to speak one day a week, simply as a test of his self discipline. (Should consider at least 3 days a week.)
• Requires autograph seekers to sing a song for him or tell him a joke before giving his autograph. He says that he does it so he gets something back from his fans. (Apparently, the income derived from these fans was not enough!)

Bravo, nutball!