There's a new kind of entertainment journalism emerging these days.
Or, should I say that there's a new kind of journalistic entertainment these days?
I think it's the former.
Penn Jillette--the taller, louder partner of "Penn and Teller"--has written one of the more insightful and entertaining blogs featured on CNN this week. It's topics include leadership in the world, the qualifications for a President, and some rather humorous reflections on the relative IQ of current and past Presidents compared to himself.
Jillette is the poster child for a new age of cross-pollinated entertainers who are not bound or limited to their one established profession. Jillette is a magician. He is also a comedian. He is also an actor. He has recently added the titles of "author" and "producer" to his resume.
And now we can add "political commentator" to his repertoire."Obama is a great leader," Jillette says. "He can fire people up and get them to do what he wants. He does smart speeches that promise everyone everything they need and make us feel good about our country and how much greater our government could be.
"But," Jillette continues, "I don't think our next president being a great leader is a good thing."
He goes on to make some points that sound remarkably balanced. Not pure CNN. Not pure Fox News. Certainly not MSNBC. He sounds independent. And creative. And entertaining. And inspiring.
Perhaps there's a new day ahead, when we'll rely less on talking heads and more on our own thoughts and resolve. The bloggers are already there. Jillette has joined the blogosphere. But it's not the only thing he does. It's not his career. It's not his identity. So he's honest. A straight-shooter. A welcome change.
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Do you really agree with his conclusion that people should not vote? And what does it mean to want government to "leave us alone?" All of us want government to leave us alone but most of us are eager to have government interfere like crazy with the people down the block, whether it's because they want to (or don't want to) pray in school, have an abortion, marry someone of the same gender, or chop down all the trees on their property.
I've spent a long time in Washington, in government and out, and 99% of the lobbying that goes on here is about having the government get more involved rather than less -- Governor Palin hired a lobbyist when she was mayor to get $22 million of federal funding for her town. Corporations spend billions of dollars for special tax breaks and limits on their liability. And don't forget all the government bail-outs of failing companies -- far greater than all the welfare payments to poor people. Those tax cuts everyone loves so much? Far exceeded by the costs of the programs that were cut to pay for them, and I am talking about programs that benefit the exact same middle-class people who got the tax cuts. No one should be allowed to ask the government to leave them alone unless they are willing to leave the government alone and not ask for or take any special hand-outs or treatment.
I presume. By "no one". You also mean "Fannie Mae and her husband "Freddie Mac"?
You mean that they didn't ask for Federal help?
Well. Then. By Golly. If they can. As sure as Gosh. Darn it. I can be able to also!
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