Sarah Palin In 2012? Not So Fast

There are those within the Republican Party who are ready to anoint Sarah Palin as the chosen one for their hopes in the 2012 Presidential Election. Others are less certain than ever about her fitness to lead the country. So which group is right?

Put simply…both.

With the release of “Going Rogue”, Palin’s memoir that’s as much an attack on the McCain Campaign staff as it is a look behind the curtain at their run for the White House, many are calling into question just who’s telling the truth in this war of words. Front and center is McCain Campaign Manager Nicolle Wallace who told MSNBC in a statement, Palin’s book is “based on fabrications”.

For her part, Mrs. Palin is claiming that the campaign set her up for numerous falls, including the now infamous interview with CBS Anchor Katie Couric that she says was given to Couric by Wallace because she felt Couric needed “a career boost” due to low self esteem. Wallace denies the interview was any sort of favor and says “…Katie Couric was selected because we did evening anchors … I did not advocate an interview for anyone I am friends with.”

Palin is pictured on this week’s cover of Newsweek in shorts and an unflattering headline, a picture she says was taken for a feature article in a runner’s magazine.

The issue here seems to be one of both credibility and character as well as competence. If Palin is factual in her account of events in her book, she could easily be labeled as vindictive against members of McCain’s Campaign staff, not exactly a quality many people would say is something they want in a President.

On the other hand, if Wallace and others who have seriously questioned Palin’s accounts or claimed outright lying by the former Vice Presidential candidate and Governor are right, Palin is at best deceptive or painting a fictional portrait of the events. Also not a quality endearing to voters.

Still, Mrs. Palin WAS a candidate for the Vice Presidency and has a following that’s hard to deny. That experience takes the once green former Governor and makes her a more viable option than she was in 2008.

The current administration’s policies remain uncertain but so do the 3 years before voters go to the polls for another Presidential election. Time will tell whether this enhances or diminishes Mrs. Palin.

One thing seems certain; for now, she is a force to be reckoned with, positively or otherwise.

“This Is It”: Looking Into Michael Jackson’s Mirror

Today I saw “This Is It” and there are so MANY adjectives that can accurately describe this movie but above all, I’d choose insightful and compelling.

There is no way to know if Michael Jackson’s 50 concert extravaganza would have returned him to his throne as the “king of Pop” but the film shows the foundations of an extravagant and amazing concert. It was a show that was epic in scale but Director Kenny Ortega makes viewing the rehearsal footage an intimate experience that allows the audience to connect with Jackson and his band, dancers, and stage technicians in a way that no ticket holder would ever have been able to.

Clearly, “This Is It” was a show that was intensely controlled and overseen by Jackson. There are a few moments of respectfully but strongly expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangement of songs, technical difficulties with an earpiece’s sound level and choreography. In each instance, Jackson is firm but polite and respectful when expressing his opinion, vision or concerns.

Technology was a HUGE part of this show. Most stunningly, the audience would have seen a virtual army, cloned by computer, backing Jackson during “They Don’t Care About Us” and the finished effects interspersed into the film provide a glimpse of how creatively computer graphics were to have been used. In addition to this effect, Jackson was seamlessly inserted into a Rita Hayworth movie along with Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart to create an amazing film noir intended to accompany “Smooth Criminal” Still more computer effects were used to completely improve on the legendary video for Thriller, which would have been an eye popping 3D experience for the audience, and a video starring a little girl in a rain forest during the emotional ballad “Earth Song”

If Jackson was in pain and on the verge of his tragic death, the signs are nowhere to be found in this footage. There are moments when he steadfastly refuses to hit performance notes during songs stating his concern for his throat and one glaring omission of his signature “moonwalk” during Billie Jean but these scenes are from a rehearsal after all and as such not surprising considering the epic scale of the show he was preparing to stage.

Jackson’s energy, enthusiasm, professionalism and love of his process are all front and center throughout the film. He loved what he was doing and who he was doing it with and for and it shows.

The most curious but of course obviously explainable omission is the applause and crowd reaction to the numbers. Frequently during the movie, I heard audience members gasp, laugh, hum along and I saw feet tapping and viewers subtly swaying in their seats. I felt the urge more than once to applaud and the silence that accompanies several of the performances serves to heighten the impact and emotion but it’s also odd to hear the director’s voice in place of tens of thousands of screaming fans.

It’s not a stretch to say that Michael Jackson will live forever, if only on screen, in this film and that the experience of viewing it is like being invited to sit in the stands and watch the rehearsal of what would have been a phenomenal concert event. Even scaled back and comprised of carefully edited footage to create a complete show, it’s clear that this would have been a stage show that people would have been talking about for certain.

The interviews with band members, dancers, artists, stage technicians and those tasked with bringing Jackson’s vision to life provide a clear reverence and awe for him, including some very emotionally overwhelmed performers who turned to Jackson’s auditions for an opportunity to work with a childhood idol or to experience working for an even bigger star than they had previously taken the stage with. Obviously, the audience is only going to see and hear the people who are most awestruck or appreciative for the chance but all of the commentary is genuine and shows just how revered Jackson was.

Watching “This Is It” is a unique experience. It’s escapist, it’s emotional, it’s awe-inspiring, it’s fascinating and above all it’s entertaining. I never considered myself a Michael Jackson fan but leaving the theater, I was filled with respect and admiration for Jackson’s vision and performances and wonder as to what might have been if only he had lived to bring the show to life.

The movie is an emotional and entertaining tribute to one of the most legendary stars in Popular Music history and in an odd way, a final gift from Michael Jackson to his fans. During a news conference early in the film, he states “This Is It’ is to be his “final curtain call” and ironically but satisfyingly, it is a memorable one that anyone who ever bought one of his albums, discs or tickets MUST see and appreciate!

We Get The Government We Choose

Yesterday, in many cities including mine, it was election day. I didn’t bother to pay attention to the county initiatives or candidates that were on the ballot and, consequently didn’t even remember to cast a ballot. It would have been a bad ballot full of uninformed choices even if I had taken the time.

This is NO excuse and just plain pathetic!

I am, as most who know me, VERY quick to gripe about political issues and the politicians in office but when the chance came to make my voice and choices heard, I didn’t bother to participate in the process.

The moral of this short story…we get the government we choose. If we all stood up on election day EVERY time our leaders come up for re-election and their policies come before us for consideration and vote, we could MONUMENTALLY change the course of the people and policies that I and others complain about. We can’t govern the nation but we can CERTAINLY influence the direction and hold those who do accountable for their decisions.

To put it more bluntly, Democracy is possibly the ULTIMATE game of “put up or shut up”; I don’t have any right to complain about anything or anyone who got elected, ousted, passed or defeated yesterday unless I exercised my right to make my voice heard.

Am I saying that my vote can change the course of politics and our government? Who knows? What I DO know is that enough of us take the time to cast our ballots and participate in this Democracy more actively, we won’t have to sit back and accept sub-par government and politicians. One man rarely changes the world but empires have been built and leveled by armies of them.

For my part, I’m going to commit to paying closer attention to the issues and making sure that NEXT time and every successive chance I get, I will NOT let my apathy get the better of me!

Politics is rarely a fun game but it’s one that we ALL must play and if enough of us make the effort, it’s one that we just may win!

NFL = Not For Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh will NOT be a part owner of the St. Louis Rams.

Citing probable and insurmountable opposition to Limbaugh, the head of the group bidding for ownership of the team dropped the outspoken radio pundant from their group and vowed to press on without him.

Limbaugh said he will have no statement on his show or in the media regarding his removal today but characteristicly had plenty to say yesterday, according to a published report on ESPN.com.

“This is not about the NFL, it’s not about the St. Louis Rams, it’s not about me,” Limbaugh said. “This is about the ongoing effort by the left in this country, wherever you find them, in the media, the Democrat Party, or wherever, to destroy conservatism, to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative.

“Therefore, this is about the future of the United States of America and what kind of country we’re going to have.”

Apparantly the NFL Players Assocation, the union representing the players have an opinion on the future of our country as well. They also oppose Limbaugh and the majority of the St. Louis Rams roster doesn’t like the idea of being helmed by Limbaugh either.

All this opposition is, in my opinion, shocking given Rush Limbaugh’s stellar history of unification and inclusion of all viewpoints and his bi-partisan outlook on all things. He has been a selfless advocate of all people’s opinions…and if you believe that, I’ve got a team to sell you…just as soon as MY bid to buy the Detroit Lions succeeds!

OBAMA RECIEVES NOBEL FOR 12 DAYS

Last week, President Barrack Obama became a Nobel Laureate when the five member committee in Oslo awarded him the world’s formerly most prestigious prize for World peace and substantive accomplishment.

What was Obama’s contribution to the World that warranted this “honor”?

He served as President of the United States for 12 days.

That’s right, the President’s first 12 days in office represented his ENTIRE elligibility period for Nobel consideration. Nothing he has done (and that’s not much) since could be considered by the esteemed committee in Oslo.

So what exactly did President Obama do during those 12 days to warrant an award usually given for a lifetime of work or a monumental change for the good of mankind?

He showed up.

In statements following this disgraceful mockery of their own prize, members of the committee stated that President Obama had restored a climate of positive change and renewed security that was lacking in the unilateral military actions taken by President George W. Bush in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks against this Nation.

So Obama gets the Nobel for NOT being President George W. Bush? That seems to be a large part of the criteria, as speculated by David Greggory, Moderator of NBC’s “Meet The Press” in the video below:

Despite the facts that President Obama didn’t have his rival, Senator Hilary Clinton confirmed as Secretary Of State, hadn’t made his first international trip, to Canada, hadn’t met with a single foreign leader or addressed the UN General Assembly, he apparently achieved such monumental future potential that he “earned” the Nobel Peace Prize. This is like giving a quarterback the Super Bowl MVP trophy before the end of training camp because, someday, he will accomplish amazing feats in the championship, if his team wins the playoffs, makes it to the game and wins it.

To say that the Nobel Peace Prize lost its significance and importance last week is hardly a stretch. I feel genuinely bad for this years other winners because they have been overshadowed by a purely political sham that detracts from their lifetimes of work and GENUINE accomplishments in their respective fields.

To be fair, the President didn’t feel he deserved the award either and stated so publicly but he still intends to pick it up in December as “an affirmation” and a reminder of the job ahead…as if an ongoing recession and millions of Americans losing jobs and health care isn’t sufficient to show him what needs to be done.

The simple fact is that the five members of the Nobel Committee either hated President George W. Bush enough to flip him the bird with their “prize” or they like the ideal of President Obama enough to award him an undeserved award based on potential accomplishments.

Either way, the Nobel is not a prize anymore…it’s a trinket or a political statement and not a very shiny one anymore.

WELCOME…AGAIN!

Welcome to my “new” blog!

The quotes surrounding new are because this is actually about the third time I’ve redesigned this blog and started from scratch on the contents!

So why am I redesigning and restarting this? Simply put, I’ve recently decided that “social networking” sites like Facebook and Twitter, while FAR superior in audience, are not a place that I want publish my thoughts and opinions or share content that might be “controversial”. If you’re reading this blog, it’s by CHOICE and you have the option to leave and not comeback if you don’t like it…but I hope you will! Such is NOT the case on open forums like Twitter or Facebook and BELIEVE me, I’ve lost quite enough friends on Facebook so I’m not looking to tick the few I have off! LOL!

A couple of quick notes. First, while I’m going to write or select the content here, I would like nothing more than for this to be INTERACTIVE and I’m going to be continously looking for ways to involve you, my readers, in the process as much as you want! Secondly and I guess lastly, I hope that you’ll find the content here diverse and interesting but feedback will ALWAYS be welcome and I want to hear from you – love this or hate it!

Here’s to “new” begininnings (although I’m sure that’s redundant) and thanks for visiting…I hope you’ll become a regular reader!