Ehh... once again someone going on about "hackernews worthiness" of some article. When it comes to politics, humor, or anything that doesn't scream Tech. from or relating to the media, I would take their remarks with a grain salt.

Most telling is how so often these individuals remain silent when various other more respected members of the hackernews community post similar supposedly off-topic posts as well.

So what if Ebert is saying something that has been spammed over another over a number of other blogs? Do you have any idea how many "successful" and "on-topic" posts fit that bill? Give shoving your ideologies down various posters' throats a rest.