With the economic recovery still very much on Americans' minds, humbled auto titans Chrysler, Dodge, and Ford turned to old reliable himself Clint Eastwood. Like the country's grizzled old grandpa who's seen rough days and gotten through them, Eastwood dished out this rousing poetry: ''This country can't be knocked out with one punch. We'll get back up again and when we do the world's gonna hear the roar of our engines. Yeah. It's halftime, America. And our second half's about to begin.'' Instantly buzzy, the spot was called Obama propaganda (an accusation swiftly challenged by those involved), then
spoofed on Saturday Night Live. Memes and mudslinging aside, its evocative imagery and elegant delivery stand for themselves.