Wednesday, June 20, 2007

June 20: Politics, Sunshine and Films and Television

*Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has expressed dismay with the presidential primary schedule moving up so much. In an Associated Press story, McCain suggested it would hinder the process of getting to know the candidates better. I agree. It doesn’t do much for general media coverage of the election, either, which is usually pretty bad and gets progressively worse with each cycle. I couldn’t care less about Hillary Clinton’s (check) “Soprano” finale imitation….



*But I do care about her answers to questions. The Associated Press' Ron Fournier writes about Hillary Clinton today:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_artful_dodger_2
I never found her husband evasive on these types of issues.....In fact, former President Bill Clinton has a tendency to go into biblical detail, chapter and verse. But she can't even manage an "I'd have to review the details" (which her husband would probably say) on Scooter Libby? Come on....



*Nice commentary by James P. Pinkerton in the Christian Science Monitor about “Three Americas:”

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0620/p09s02-coop.html

It's the middle class that have been getting the brunt of the hits the last six years. It hasn't been economic prosperity for them. One example is the number of veteran businesses (Stores, etc. that have been in business 40 years or more) that have been going out of business. I don't think there have ever been so many failed businesses of long standing.

*Applause to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for creating a Commission on Open Government – which includes many of Florida’s finest at making sure records stay open, including Florida First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Petersen and Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, former president of Florida State University and an attorney who played a principal role in getting cameras into Florida’s courtrooms in the 1970s. They will examine what is being done, and what needs to be done, on access to government forums and records. Kudos to Crist for keeping the sunshine in.

ENTERTAINMENT

*Memo to the American Film Institute, or somebody: Instead of doing a second, useless look at the "top 100 films," how about taking those 400 you have and letting the public have a crack at them? Put a poll on your Web site.
Also, how about one of the governing bodies for television having a program on the 100 greatest television programs of all time (including miniseries and films)? I think TV Land has done something to that effect, but let's have another program for those of us who don't have cable.

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