My Conversation with John Grisham

As the race between the leading Democratic candidates intensifies, author John Grisham spoke to me tonight about why he feels Hillary Clinton is the right person to be president. We also talked about the publication of his 21st book, The Appeal, which marks his return to the legal thriller genre after a three year reprieve.

The entire conversation will be broadcast tonight on your local PBS station. You can see it tomorrow on the Charlie Rose website.

Comments

[Serfie]

Obamanistas are like the Joe Liebermans of the Democratic Party: sanctimonious, arrogant and self-serving.

The only way they can feel good about themselves is if they denigrate Hillary, because their man has no policies to speak of, and thinks all he needs to win is Reaganesque charisma.

Also, I think it is fascinating that Hillary has won a diverse selection of state: Michigan, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire.

Obama, on the other hand, has won two of the most inbred states in the union that don't reflect real America. Inbred America, yes, real America, no.

[schoolmaster]

If it is between John Mcaine and Hillary, Hillary is going to win, as the Americans had it with the republican party for the past 7 years.

[foolchild0]

So a hack novelist wants Hillary? So what?

[BigBen]

How many votes must a candidate get before they are a candidate? She has gotten more than 50%in Michigan and now in Florida.Roll on Feb5th and let the people of a multicultural America speak. The melting pot is about to boil over so stand back.No need for the old losers to tell us how to vote.We won once and we remember how it felt.

[Larry of Corrales]

Who cares who John Grisham endorses. When Dr. Seuss endorses her I will be impressed.

[provgrays]

Why do John Grisham's political opinions matter to a national audience? The man writes legal fiction.

[HeadScratcher]

I still don't see how Hillary wins, especially against McCain, in the general election. McCain get the independent vote - he's not conservative enough to lose them. He holds a solid Republican vote across the country. He wins the integrity vote hands down. He's viewed as a uniter....not long ago, there were many, many people even on this blog who wanted McCain as a running mate for Kerry.

If Democrats fail to offer Obama or Edwards in the general election, I think we lose. If we play the establishment game, we will lose.

An Edwards/Obama or Obama/Edwards ticket is a winner.

[thegaygardener]

"Did anyone notice, in a closed primary, with no one campaigning against her in a diverse state that HRC is limited to 50%. Which is exactly her negatives at large in the country."
"StatsGeek" You are a genius! Thanks for interpreting the math! It is now even more ironic that a vote for Sen Clinton is a vote for McCain since he won FL tonight he WILL be the Republican nominee. And the GOP is gearing up to slaughter Sen. Clinton in November (IF she is the nominee.) (Read any right wing blog right now especially townhall.com) Sadly the only candidate that the GOP fears is Barack Obama. They KNOW that in a contest of the "old man vs. the young man" "David vs.Goliath" They LOSE! Sen. Obama is the only one with a chance to defeat McCain. Not only do Sen.Clinton's "negatives" remain high, but The Clintons have managed to alienate so many "new people" (young, independants, African Americans, first time voters et.al.) That if Sen. Obama is not the nominee, many of the voters they desperately will need, will be sitting this one out...ensuring a Republican victory. They say that "doing what you've always done & expecting a different result" is the definition of INSANITY! I think it's the definition of The Democratic Party.

[whimsicalpig]

has anyone noticed that none of the 3 remaining candidates is worth their salt.

I can't believe that with all the advantages we should have this year, we have voted ourselves right into a corner.

No great candidates and no way to undue this trainwreck of a primary season'

All we can do is painfully watch as these 3 flawed individuals claw at each other until the convention.

How could we not come up with someone, anyone better than these 3

[Pjsandiego]

This is really getting insane. It's utterly irrational to want Hillary to be the candidate. Especially against McCain she is a disaster!
First the democrats lose the best attack on McCain and that is his vote on the war. Hillary can't criticize that vote. Then she basically voted with him on everything until the pull out votes. She will look like a flip flopper just like Kerry. She will get every independent to come out for McCain. (No independents want Hillary). Men are voting against Hillary in huge numbers and the only woman support is amongst democratic woman. That group just can't win the election.
On top of everything else with Hillary we get all of her past dramas, a husband that is out of control, arguments that this is really Bill's presidencies and 50% of the country who really hate her and already declared they will never vote for her. Tell me why she is such a great candidate and why anyone else would not be a better nominee.

[LITU]

Not only do I like Grisham's books, but he has real socialist values when it comes to human beings. So why the hell would he support Hillary Clinton?

Yes, HC is supportive of children and women, but there's a helluva a lot more going on in this country than those two demographics. How about the homeless, the bankrupt, the poverty population? It's not a women's and children's only club. I've not heard a word out of her mouth about ways to solve these problems. As a matter of fact, what I get from her is she supports the industries that gave rise to these problems.

Come on Grisham! You can do better than that! I honestly believe you have your head in the right place (up until now).

[Boringat]

Grisham is famous for his FICTION.

[Marysdude]

Someone here says it's a shame Clinton backers can't seem to say anything positive about her opposition. Then for the rest of the time Obama backers cut the Clintons to ribbons...hmmm

[Nic]

You think Obama offers integrity? Why did he say he only did 5 hours of work for Rezko, than it's revealed that he actually has a 17 year friendship with him? Rezko has been a LARGE contributor all along. Why does he try to hide his involvement w/Exelon, the company that wants to bury nuclear waste at Yucca Mtn and deny he has a relationship w/them? Yet Exelon is a large contributor. Why when he moves his lips,he tries so hard to convince everyone he's all about equal rights. Yet, he has the homophobic,self hating so called man of God Donnie McClurkin on his campaign.
Obama is nothing more than an empty suit. He has detailed NO plan for the economy. He has said he wants illegal aliens to obtain a drivers license. So they can work cheaply,or under the table? Too bad for Americans looking for jobs. Obama is a phoney,a panderer and now,a liar. He reminds me too much of Mitt Romney. But w/Mitt, you expect the lies.

[Delaware22]

I love the Charlie Rose show and have a lot of respect for John Grisham's talent and his opinion. Grisham's right, Hillary is seasoned; she's ready to serve. Since it looks like Edwards can't win, I think I'll be casting my vote for her, as well.