The Coalition of the Swilling

Ah yes, Alec. Ever the compassionate liberal.

Geez, because of "what he has been put through for the past six years," he takes it out on his daughter? And then blames his assholery on the mother? That is FUBAR.

Well, it's also FUBAR of Kim Basinger to make the recording public just to score PR points against her husband in a messy divorce. As if the poor kid wasn't hurt enough just having to hear it, now she's got the added grief of knowing everyone else in the world heard it, too. Shame on those people for using their kids as the rope in their tug-of-war.

I agree with Emily. I have zero love for Mr. Barrwin, but we don't anything about the story behind this message. This isn't news -- it's gossip. It's ridiculous that this is all we're hearing on Fox all freakin' day long.

I agree, Emily. I read that, and just had to wonder WTF Bassinger was thinking about (who else could have released the recording?). Those two don't deserve a daughter. I hope the child isn't horribly messed up after this.

If it was submitted to a court regarding child custody matters, then perhaps it was a public record.

I may be wrong, I haven't had a family law class, yet.

Not the case, Mike. The material was supposed to be sealed and was deliberately leaked by Basinger and her lawyer.

Oh, I agree with you on that, Emily. She ought to go to jail for it, actually. I just think that he undercut her pretty well by blaming her for his dicketry (may as well cover both ends of it), and then, when it was made public, putting out some transparent Bravo Sierra about "taking the high road" in the dispute, as if his rant didn't start it in the first place. They are both obviously so bitter that they're using their own child as a battleground. It's pretty much a textbook example of FFO material.

Oh, that "high road" he tried to take after this became public was disgusting. "I'm better than her because I won't talk about it." Um, you called a 11-year-old little girl, your own friggin' CHILD, a spoiled pig. Well, look in the mirror, Mr. Baldwin. You might have something to do with her turning out that way. Don't congratulate yourself just because you didn't issue a press release giving all the details.

All parents lose their temper with their kids from time to time, they just don't have recordings of their outbursts put on national TV. Damn you, Kim Basinger...you're making me feel sorry for Arec Bardwin.

That's true, Bill, but even when you are angry with your kid there's no excuse for saying things like this. On those rare occasions when I'm REALLY ticked at Daughter I am very very careful in what I say to her...and when she hears me speak in such a matter she knows she done something for which she is toast. The difference is focusing on her actions, not on berating her.

Bill,
Even at my worst that provoked my dad at his angriest, he never called me names like what we heard in that recording. Thank goodness he didn't. I think I would have died of a broken heart.

In that case, could you guys spot my father a little advice?

Baldwin is assuming that his child is his equal. He talks about "disrespect" and "humiliation." A child, however bratty, is not the equal of an adult. The adult must never forget that. The adult must take the high road.

I love how Baldwin isn't quite sure how old his daughter is. That alone speaks volumes. If you don't live with your child and aren't invested in her day-to-day life, how can you expect her to drop everything and be available to you?

I have to say, both Baldwin and Basinger have behaved inappropriately here, and I feel very sorry for their child.

I'm such a chicken, I couldn't listen. Just so did NOT want to go there.

Stupid, self absorbed prick.

Gah.

Shame on "Barrwin" for going off on a CHILD - for yelling at her the way he'd yell at one of his minions if said minion messed up his coffee order. (And even then, he'd not have a right to yell like that).

And yeah, I agree with NJ Sue - not knowing how old your pre-teen kid is kind of takes away any moral high ground you have for claiming she doesn't consider you an "important" part of her life.

Double shame on Basinger for leaking this to the media. Nice way to use your kid as a pawn. Nice way to make your daughter's agony even worse because now every talking head on the news media is discussing it.

I see two "spoiled pigs" in this situation and neither one is the daughter.

Well, if she's not that important to him, who the f*** does he think he is demanding to be that important to her? Her father? Well, she's your daughter. It cuts both ways.