August 4th 2005
Hollywood on The Potomac
by Janet Donovan
Celebrities and politicians "spring from the same
DNA". Jack Valenti
Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and John
McCain: Color them fraternal, although it's
harder to tell them apart these days.
McCain's outspoken, shoot-from-the hip style
enrages many right leaning conservatives, while
Clinton's electric slide to the middle angers left leaning
Democrats.
They'd make a formidable ticket in 2008
if they weren't after the same spot. Taken
separately, here are the odds for each according to
a recent Gallop poll: In WH '08 general match-ups,
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) defeats Sen. Hillary Clinton
(D-NY) 50%-45%. (The Hotline) However, if
this poll is as accurate as those of the last two years
color it dubious.
The McCain/Clinton love fest took their road show to
D.C.'s Uptown Theater for the Premiere of Miramax's
The Great Raid based on the true story about
WWII American POW's. While the twosome was
fulfilling their senatorial obligations with a late night
vote, the audience fidgeted for an hour. Good thing that
arm candy Mark Conseulo and Benjamin Bratt
kept the felines happy while spunky talk show host
Kelly Ripa of Regis & Kelly fame engaged
the guys. Not a bad trade off!
With the credits still rolling, some 300 guests bolted
to the after party hosted by Capitol File at
the old Shoreham Hotel famous for Mark
Russell's "Musical Mischief"
Sema Olson, who may have otherwise gone
unnoticed in the celebrity laden crowd, was
there with her young son who had recently returned from
Iraq shy his left leg - a reminder of the oft unseen
horrors of war. The two will reside in Washington
throughout his recovery, according to her emails
which she signs "From the Proud Army Mom".
We couild be watching his story someday much as
we did The Great Raid , an amazing movie by
Harry Weinstein which not only highlights
the drama of war but the after affects - how quickly
we forget.
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Time Warp
It seems like both yesterday and a zillion years ago
that Speaker of the House Jim Wright resigned from
Congress amidst a monetary scandal. The sad part
is that whatever else he has ever done or will do in
life, that story alone will lead the obits.
What's ironic is that the scandals that have plagued
both Congress and the corporate world since then
make Wright's activities look like child's play. But,
rather than getting into all that jazz, check out Scandal, the
Culture of Mistrust in American Politics, by
Suzanne Garment.
In town for the release of his latest book The
Flying Circus : Pacific War--1943--as Seen Through
a Bombsight , the speaker was warmly received
by both former colleagues and friends. He and
his still glamorous wife Betty were relaxed and
enjoying their visit which included a personal tour of
the WWII Monument by Gen. P.X. Kelley who was on
the commission that completed the project.
According to the Speaker, the only thing he's done
wrong lately is choosing the wrong title for his book
as told to Inside the Beltway's John McCaslin at a private dinner
at Teatro Goldoni: "If I could have just changed two
words in the book's title, I could have sold a zillion
copies: Harry Potter's Flying Circus." Guests included
his former publisher Frank Margiotta, close friends
Janelle and Chuck Conconi (who recently left
Washingtonian Magazine),The Hill's Al Eisele and
CQ's Economics Editor Jodi Schneider with whom he had a lengthy
discussion regarding CAFTA vs. NAFTA. Look it up!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cruise Control: Going Bonkers, Inc.
Trust me: This is not an advertisement for Crest
White Stripes, although Tom Cruise would be
a good catch.
It's Tom Cruise in his latest reincarnation as
therapist, doctor and mentor to those afflicted with
post partum depression, a sometimes dangerous side
effect of child birth. It seems that Cruise has been
dispensing his wisdom not only to actress Brooke
Shields, but to anyone that will listen including
Today Show host Matt Lauer.
Guess that jumping up and down on Oprah's
sofa in a declaration of love for much younger
squeeze Katy Holmes simply wasn't attention
grabbing enough for this devout Scientologist,
whatever that means. Look it up!
Well, gotta go now to check my mailbox. Word has it
that the Runaway Bride's getting married. So that's
all folks!
Photo Credits: Senator John McCain, Senator Hillary
Rodham Clinton - Linda Roth.
Janelle Conconi, Chuck Conconi, former Speaker of
the House Jim Wright - Dan E. Moldea
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Yup, that's all.
