Month: June 2007

During the last season of “West Wing,” reporters tried to pin down candidate Arnie Vinnick (Alan Alda) on the subject of his religious beliefs. Vinnick–who wanted to keep the fact that he’d lost faith in God under wraps–stated that his personal views on God were off limits, he’d never discuss them, that they weren’t relevant to the job he was to do as president, and that as far as he was concerned that was the end of it. To all intents and purposes it was. It never came up again in the series.

I commented at the time that in the real world, that would never happen. That such an assertion would only be the beginning of the story, not the end of it.

Now it seems that we’re seeing the scenario played out in real life as Rudy Giuliani asserts that his personal religious beliefs are just that–personal–and should have no bearing on his campaign.

This promptly became front page news on “Newsday” and now we’ll see just how fast the question goes away. I suspect it won’t anytime soon.

The ironic thing is that Giuliani is both right and wrong. The fact is that his personal beliefs *shouldn’t* be a factor. If he doesn’t want to discuss them, he should be entitled to that. The problem becomes that the automatic assumption is that he is either agnostic or atheist, and in a society where the vast majority of people assert a belief in SOME sort of divine spirit, that’s not going to go over very well.

On the other hand it really IS a relevant question because look who we’ve got running the country now: A man who believes that he’s operating at the personal behest of God. Bush doesn’t simply believe in God; he KNOWS there’s a God and that he and God are tight. If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, too much “knowledge” can be a lethal thing.

If Giuliani is an atheist and doesn’t want to discuss that beause he figures it’s nobody’s business and that it might cost him votes, I can understand both viewpoints. Still, knowing that a candidate will not run this country and world affairs under the belief that he’s taking his marching orders from God might not be such a bad thing.

PAD

Some years ago, Comedy Central did a Bush-based sitcom called “That’s My Bush.” Created by Parker and Stone of “South Park” fame, it was a parody of old-style sitcoms that was distinctly hit or miss in its execution. It did, however, deftly capture what many saw as the essential banality of George W. Bush.

Then the Twin Towers fell and suddenly making fun of the President was no longer deemed acceptable. The show quickly evaporated.

So now it’s five years later and Comedy Central is launching a Bush-based sitcom called “Lil’ Bush.”

No, I don’t REALLY think there’s cause-and-effect involved…

…but it’s making me nervous.

PAD

Well, okay, technically the second after the starred review in “Publisher’s Weekly.”

http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/372.html

The novel is on the stands on June 12, I believe, although I suppose it’s possible some stores might have it ou t already. It’s not like “Harry Potter,” put it out one minute before midnight and you all die sort of thing.

PAD

Or, to go by its full title, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”

Kath and I have seen it twice. The first time I liked it. Second time I loved it.

Spoilers follow:

Continue Reading “PC3” →

The conclusion of the three parter about the Angel’s predecessor, “Lin.” Whad’ja think?

Oh, and I just got a sample cover for “Darkness of the Light,” the first novel in my new fantasy series due out in a week or so. Looks spiffy.

PAD