Epic Disaster Politician And Other Second Acts In American Life

In today's Wilshire & Washington, we can't help but weigh in on the Sarah Palin epic disaster movie. It's a fantastic train wreck of a story, and we can't look away. What is Palin's future hold? She used to want to be a journalist, so maybe she'll start her own Huckabee-style Fox News show. Is her move in any way politically savvy? Maybe "scrappy"? Can America simply not have a hot chick as a serious leader? In another second act in American life, Al Franken is a Senator. Even though the Republicans are already attacking him, Franken hasn't cracked one joke since he arrived in Washington. Ted gives us some perspective of Franken's candidacy as a native Minnesotan. How will he play if he stays all serious? Wouldn't it be sad if he never displayed his sense of humor? Isn't that what makes him such an interesting candidate?

President Obama is in Russia and he's trying to reset US-Russian relations, but what happens if the Russian national press doesn't cover his presence? Has anything substantive come out of his visit? The media's already back on the familiar trope of "all style, no substance" and it seems like an oversimplification. This meet-up feels so different than former meetings of the superpowers. Obama, to his credit, did not comment on Medvedev's eyes at least. Of course, we'll probably never know the substance of these meetings, simply because International Man of Mystery Vlady Putin won't be showing us his hand any time soon.

Since it's Michael Jackson Month, we have to touch on that. The MJ memorial has become a bit of a controversy, with some politicians criticizing a proposed recognition of the late singer in Congress. Was MJ a civil rights icon (another second act?) as so many people are claiming? Was his presence in the pop sphere transformative? What weight should we give to his private life scandals? It's easy to overhype a notable figure's impact upon their death, but hopefully, we can eventually have a true understanding of Jackson's legacy.

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Wilshire & Washington, the weekly Blog Talk Radio program that explores the intersection of politics, entertainment, and new media, features co-hosts Ted Johnson, Managing Editor of Variety; conservative blogger Teresa Valdez Klein (www.teresacentric.com), and liberal blogger Maegan Carberry (www.maegancarberry.com). The show airs every Wednesday at 7:30am PST on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Comments

[ImJustSaying007]

Why does everybody think she's so hot?......people, it's all makeup and short skirts.

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Health Care: The Public Plan Option

These Democratic Senators have NOT agreed to support it:
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

These names are reported by The Hill here and here

Update: Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) says she supports a public option.
Update: Senator Jeff Binghaman (D-NM) says he supports a public option.

You can also contact the White House and voice your opinion
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

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On The Show
Coming up Thursday, July 9, 2009
•Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) joins the show to talk about health care reform
•Joint Economic Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) joins the show to discuss the latest on the economy, and the NY Senate seat race
•Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern joins the show to discuss their stance on taxing health care benefits, and the overall health care reform package
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
•Huffington Post blogger and KRXA AM 540/Monterey, CA talk show host Karel joined the show to talk about Michael Jackson's funeral
•Ploughshares Fund President Joe Cirincione joined the show to talk about the President's overseas trip

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And it took three to report this.

[scaulk]

I don't know where you three are gettin your info, that President Obama's Russian visit was so "uneventful" as you seem to imply.....the first day he signed three very important documents about missiles in and near Russia, and our stockpiles of nucks. Proper names escape me at the moment, but I watched this on the tube, those commentators were very complimentary for what was happening. We have not had this with Russia in years. Advertised as the most accomplished with them "since the end of the cold war"....... This was a follow-up agreement that was started in the first meeting of the Russian president and president Obama in London earlier this year. Who cares if there are not throngs of crowds in the street to watch our new president, he gets that everywhere else and at home.....Russia's population is controled by the gov, as is their media, newspapers and TV.....Did you see that for the Iranian president who recently visited Russia?...­.....NO...­...DUH!