Friday, December 02, 2005
Outting Myself...
Um, okay, it's tough to say this in something of a public setting, but I feel it is the right time.
I've resisted verbalizing the feelings for some time -- afraid of what family and friends might think. I thought it was just a one-time thing...a minor experimentation. But, it's become a regular thing now and I can't continue being deceptive. Enough's enough.
I'm an adult and I should be able to take whatever consequences there may be.
Yes, it's true: I, Robert A. George, must confess to having become...a really big fan of ABC's Commander-In-Chief.
Yeah, yeah, I know. It's not as "serious" as The West Wing. But that's why I like it -- it is not nearly so pretentious. It has a much nicer blend of family soap-opera and political intrigue. The cast is excellent:
Geena Davis pulls off the lead role really well. In more recent episodes, the show has backed away from the overt "Oooh, isn't it cool -- she's a woman AND she's the president" every week. Well, at least as it applies to policy matters. Instead, the show's become a bit more subtle and shows President Mackenzie Allen balancing the tension of being president, while dealing with her kids and her husband. The change may be attributable to new producer Steven Bochco who this week brought in Mark-Paul Gosselaar (late of Bochco's NYPD Blue) as the hotshot political consultant.
It's wonderful to have Kyle Secor -- the erstwhile amazing Tim Bayliss on Homicide: Life on The Street -- back in weekly drama. Donald Sutherland is great as the House speaker. (However, it would be good if the show identifies a strong Senate majority leader as well. Whether, Democrat or Republican, it could create three-sided intrigue between the two chambers and the White House -- in short, a lot more like "real life.") Harry Lennix is someone I hadn't stumbled across before, but he's sterling as the White House chief-of-staff (whose been sleeping with the speaker's top aide (somehow, I don't think that would get by the media in the real world).
Oh yeah -- "President Allen" is an "Independent" (though liberal) president. So what? This is Hollywood. I'm not expecting American TV to be creating a Margaret Thatcher-type. However, again, it would be nice to see a hard-edged Democrat emerge as an additional rival -- besides Sutherland's Republican "Nathan Templeton" character (The Media Research Center was irritated by Templeton being revealed as a former segregationist. I thought it was actually not bad that the episode included a line where Templeton admitted that he he had been a conservative Democrat and played the segregationist card for pure political opportunism.)
Anyway, is this profound and unforgettable drama? No. But is it a cool guilty pleasure for those who like their political intrigue seasoned with a dash of soapish angst? Sure.
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I've resisted verbalizing the feelings for some time -- afraid of what family and friends might think. I thought it was just a one-time thing...a minor experimentation. But, it's become a regular thing now and I can't continue being deceptive. Enough's enough.
I'm an adult and I should be able to take whatever consequences there may be.
Yes, it's true: I, Robert A. George, must confess to having become...a really big fan of ABC's Commander-In-Chief.
Yeah, yeah, I know. It's not as "serious" as The West Wing. But that's why I like it -- it is not nearly so pretentious. It has a much nicer blend of family soap-opera and political intrigue. The cast is excellent:
Geena Davis pulls off the lead role really well. In more recent episodes, the show has backed away from the overt "Oooh, isn't it cool -- she's a woman AND she's the president" every week. Well, at least as it applies to policy matters. Instead, the show's become a bit more subtle and shows President Mackenzie Allen balancing the tension of being president, while dealing with her kids and her husband. The change may be attributable to new producer Steven Bochco who this week brought in Mark-Paul Gosselaar (late of Bochco's NYPD Blue) as the hotshot political consultant.
It's wonderful to have Kyle Secor -- the erstwhile amazing Tim Bayliss on Homicide: Life on The Street -- back in weekly drama. Donald Sutherland is great as the House speaker. (However, it would be good if the show identifies a strong Senate majority leader as well. Whether, Democrat or Republican, it could create three-sided intrigue between the two chambers and the White House -- in short, a lot more like "real life.") Harry Lennix is someone I hadn't stumbled across before, but he's sterling as the White House chief-of-staff (whose been sleeping with the speaker's top aide (somehow, I don't think that would get by the media in the real world).
Oh yeah -- "President Allen" is an "Independent" (though liberal) president. So what? This is Hollywood. I'm not expecting American TV to be creating a Margaret Thatcher-type. However, again, it would be nice to see a hard-edged Democrat emerge as an additional rival -- besides Sutherland's Republican "Nathan Templeton" character (The Media Research Center was irritated by Templeton being revealed as a former segregationist. I thought it was actually not bad that the episode included a line where Templeton admitted that he he had been a conservative Democrat and played the segregationist card for pure political opportunism.)
Anyway, is this profound and unforgettable drama? No. But is it a cool guilty pleasure for those who like their political intrigue seasoned with a dash of soapish angst? Sure.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Does Rose's Ghost Haunt Sacramento?
So, counting Maria Shriver, this news means that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a "Kennedy woman" for each ear on all his important decisions.
True, Susan Kennedy is not a blood relation to the Hyannisport clan, but, as a former Gray Davis aide, she might as well be!
It'll be great seeing the new chief-of-staff push through all those Milton Friedman-influenced reforms that Schwarzenegger was always talking about -- right before next year's triumphant re-election...
Sigh....
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True, Susan Kennedy is not a blood relation to the Hyannisport clan, but, as a former Gray Davis aide, she might as well be!
It'll be great seeing the new chief-of-staff push through all those Milton Friedman-influenced reforms that Schwarzenegger was always talking about -- right before next year's triumphant re-election...
Sigh....
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Upon Further Review...
Arlen Specter suddenly realizes that Congress coming to the defense of Terrell Owens might not be the best idea.
In a related story, Specter dismisses idea of a "second foot-in-mouth" theory.
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In a related story, Specter dismisses idea of a "second foot-in-mouth" theory.
DC "Ch-ch-changes": How much more?
First, the Enron/Worldcom/Adelphi Scandals bring about Campaign Finance Reform that changes the "business rules" of political marketing in regards to campaigns.
Second, the Plame Scandal bring about further changes in the "business rules" of political marketing in regards to media spin and distribution of product. (The media is undergoing a through self-examination and possible reformation -- or legislation -- over the needs of a journalist, a source, a story and a shareholder.)
Third, the Abramoff Scandal is going to complete the trifecta. Can you imagine the "business rules" of political marketing in regards to lobbying and the legislative process not changing? If the Democrats were smart they'd market a reform campaign along the lines of the "corporate accountability" laws that Enron triggered.
That's a near complete overhaul of the "business" that runs Washington -- the business of politics. IF and this is a BIG if, Rumsfeld is successful in reforming the Pentagon's procurement process and the REAL Intelligence industry was reformed THAT would make it royal flush -- and quite revolutionary. All of it on GWB's watch and "legacy."
I would add to my friend's astute observations that the three examples he sites all spin out of Watergate-era reforms/structures. It's hardly a coincidence that Bob Woodward appears as the perfect "bookend" of the role of Super-journalist -- or that whatever likely reforms are on the horizon will target Reporting Monsters like he and Judith Miller. Bloggers will be the leading crusaders for these reforms.
Oh, and on the last point: The defense procurement process might also be ripe for a true overhaul? Hmmm....
Well, right on cue: Take it away, Josh Marshall!
Monday, November 28, 2005
"I Feel The Need...The Need...For Greed!"
The Top Gun flames out.
And, here we thought it was just actor Tom Cruise who was having a bad 2005. Now, we see that even real-life people who provided the inspiration for Cruise hit movies are doing, um, not so well!
UPDATE: Tim, I take your point here, but sorry, this is one thing that you can't try to blame on a brotha!
Though something tells me that the Congressman wishes he had his gridiron namesake's, um, "escapeability."
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And, here we thought it was just actor Tom Cruise who was having a bad 2005. Now, we see that even real-life people who provided the inspiration for Cruise hit movies are doing, um, not so well!
UPDATE: Tim, I take your point here, but sorry, this is one thing that you can't try to blame on a brotha!
Though something tells me that the Congressman wishes he had his gridiron namesake's, um, "escapeability."
