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Fred Thompson Watch: Too Rich and Too Lazy for Iowa?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD4Bo1pJfSw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmarcambinder%2Etheatlantic%2Ecom%2Farchives%2F2007%2F08%2Fheres%5Fhow%5Ffox%5Fnews%5Fcovered%5Ffre%2Ephp[/youtube]
Is Fred Thompson too rich and/or too lazy for Iowa GOP voters?
Marc Ambinder and Fox News raise the question:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oni7nd0SJI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmarcambinder%2Etheatlantic%2Ecom%2Farchives%2F2007%2F08%2Fheres%5Fhow%5Ffox%5Fnews%5Fcovered%5Ffre%2Ephp[/youtube]
Does Fred Thompson know how to campaign, is he out of touch or is his heart not into it?
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: California Field Poll Has Rudy With 21 Point Lead
Fred Thompson Watch: FLOP Response
Fred Thompson Watch: More Trouble With the Non-Campaign; Update: “You Are Not a Real Conservative, Sirâ€
Fred Thompson Watch: Thompson Replaces Campaign Staff Because of Rift With His WifeNewt Gingrich Watch: Quote of the Day
Technorati Tags: Fred Thompson
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Giuliani Notes: Florida – Rudy 30% Thompson 17% Romney 15% McCain 7% in Latest Rasmussen GOP Poll
Republican presidential hopeful, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, center, shakes hands with Lauren Weinberger as her mother Paula Weinberger watches during a campaign stop at Alicia’s Diner in Pelham, N.H., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007.
Rasmussen Reports Republican Florida Primary
- Giuliani – 30% (22)
Thompson – 17% (21)
Romney – 15% (13)
McCain – 7% (13)
Huckabee – 5% (less than 1%)Survey was conducted August 13 of 689 likely primary voters, and has an MoE of 4%. Numbers in parentheses are from Rasmussen’s July poll.
The Florida and Super Duper Tuesday national campaign strategy continues on track. Fred Thompson is starting to fade and Romney is doubled up.
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Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani – McCain Ticket?
But I could see Rudy choosing McCain as Secretary of Defense or another Cabinet position.
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Giuliani Notes: Florida – Rudy 34% Thompson 18% Romney 10% McCain 8%in Latest Strategic Vision Poll
Rudy Giuliani Watch: California Field Poll Has Rudy With 21 Point Lead
Rudy Giuliani Watch: New Radio Ad Highlights Illegal Immigration
Rudy Giuliani Watch: I’ll Stop the Invasion
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy and Huckabee To Be 2008 GOP Presidential Ticket?
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Merv Griffin NEVER Revealed the Man Behind the Curtain
Merv Griffin’s son Tony Griffin, from front row left, former first lady Nancy Reagan and Tony’s wife Tricia are joined by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. left rear, and his wife Maria Shriver, third from left in second row, during funeral services for Merv Griffin at Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007.
Luke Ford has all of Ray Richmond’s piece on Merv Griffin being gay here.
The piece in the Hollywood Reporter was removed earlier in the day but has now been restored here.
Flap will now reproduce the piece in case it disappears again:
Griffin never revealed man behind the curtain
Aug 17, 2007
Merv Griffin was gay.
Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? Why is it so difficult to write? Why are we still so jittery even about raising the issue in purportedly liberal-minded Hollywood in 2007? We can refer to it casually in conversation, but the mainstream media somehow remains trapped in the Dark Ages when it comes to labeling a person as gay.
Maybe that helps explain why Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. Perhaps he figured it was preferable to remain the object of gossip rather than live openly as “one of them.” But how tremendously sad it is that a man of Merv’s renown, of his gregarious nature and social dexterity, would feel compelled to endure such a stealthy double life even as the gay community’s clout, and its levels of acceptance and equality, rose steadily from the ashes of ignorance.
I’m not at all insinuating that Griffin had a responsibility to come out. That was up to him.
But what a powerful message Griffin might have sent had he squired his male companions around town rather than Eva Gabor, his longtime good friend and platonic public pal. Imagine the amount of good Merv could have done as a well-respected, hugely successful, beloved and uncloseted gay man in embodying a positive image.
As it was, I loved the guy, finding him charismatic and charming. And I had more than a passing acquaintance with him, having worked on “The Merv Griffin Show” as a talent coordinator/segment producer in 1985-86 as the show was winding down. Around the office, Merv’s being gay was understood but rarely discussed. We knew nothing of his relationships because he guarded his privacy fiercely, and we didn’t pry.
Merv’s secret gay life was widely known throughout showbiz culture, if not the wider America. It gained traction in 1991 when he was targeted in a pair of lawsuits: by “Dance Fever” host Denny Terrio, alleging sexual harassment; and by assistant Brent Plott, seeking $200 million in palimony. Both ultimately were dismissed.
Over the past 16 years of his life, however, Griffin deflected the sexuality questions with a quip, determining that his private life remained nobody’s business. He certainly didn’t owe us an explanation, but maybe he owed it to himself to remove the suffocating veil he’d been forced to hide behind throughout his adult life. Then again, Merv carved his niche in the entertainment world at a time when being gay wasn’t OK, when disclosure was unthinkable and the allegation alone could deep-six one’s career.
If you’re Griffin, why would you think a judgmental culture would be any more tolerant as you grew into middle and old age? Even in the capital of entertainment — in a business where homosexuality isn’t exactly a rare phenomenon — it’s still spoken of in hushed tones or, more often, not at all. And Merv’s brush with tabloid scandal no doubt only drove him further into the closet.
While it would seem everything has changed today, little actually has. You can count on the fingers of one hand, or at most two, the number of high-powered stars and public figures who have come out. Those who don’t can’t really be faulted, as rarely do honesty and full disclosure prove a boon to one’s showbiz livelihood.
Nonetheless, the elephant that was his sexual orientation never really stopped following Griffin from room to room. He could duck it for a while, but it would always find him. It’s disheartening that Merv had to die to shake it for good.Good piece and good hypocrisy………
Technorati Tags: Merv Griffin
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California Republican Party Call Out For Bloggers and New Media
Flap gets an e-mail today from the California GOP as a call out to bloggers for their bi-annual convention:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shira Rawlinson
August 17, 2007 (916) 448-9496
California Republican Party 2008 Fall Convention
Convention Information
(SACRAMENTO) – The California Republican Party Fall Convention is scheduled for September 7-9, 2007. The convention will be held at The Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, CA. The hotel is located at 44-400 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells. Please call 800-446-9875 or 877-804-4070 by August 17th to receive a hotel room at the discounted price and mention the California Republican Party.
Elected officials planning to attend include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Congresswoman Mary Bono, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, Board of Equalization member Michelle Steel, State Senators Dick Ackerman, Jim Battin, George Runner and Assemblymembers Anthony Adams, John Benoit, Chuck DeVore, Bonnie Garcia, Martin Garrick, Bob Huff, Alan Nakanishi, Sharon Runner, Cameron Smyth, Van Tran and Mimi Walters.
Bloggers planning to attend the convention should fill out a new media/blogger credential application at: http://www.cagop.org/forms/newmedia_credential/. Hard copies of the application can be obtained by contacting Shira Rawlinson at Shira@cagop.org or phone: (916) 448-9496.
Below is an agenda for Friday and Saturday dinner banquets and Saturday luncheon.
Friday Dinner Banquet 7:30pm
Featuring Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rick Perry (TX) & Charlie Crist (FL)
Saturday Luncheon 12:30pm
Featuring United States Senator and Republican Candidate for President John McCain
Saturday Dinner Banquet 7:30pm
Featuring Republican Governors Tim Pawlenty (MN) & Jon Huntsman, Jr. (UT)
Sunday General Session 9:00am
Featuring Senator Tom McClintock, Assemblyman Bob Huff &
Congresswoman Mary Bono
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Flap doesn’t know if he will attend to see John McCain and the Governator. But, I may run down there for Saturday at least.
But, California bloggers if you are interested in attending be sure to apply for your credentials early here.
Technorati Tags: California Republican Party, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John McCain
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Day By Day by Chris Muir August 17, 2007
In some blogging matters:
Flap will be leaving shortly to meet up with Kavon Nikrad of race42008.com who is visiting Southern California.
Blogging will be light.
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