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Assistant Editor / Co-moderator: Terence Nuzum
Established A.D. 2000, March 19. Now in our eleventh calendar year!
Number 513 (Vol. 11, No. 4). This edition is for the week of January 18--24, 2010.
Quakes Scott Brown's win ensures that the Democrats have lost their fillibuster-proof majority. This all but dooms President Obama's Health Care bill.
With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans in Massachusetts 3-to-1, it fell to the huge numbers of "Independent" voters (reportedly 40% of the population) to voice the tide of public opinion -- that is, discouragement over joblessness and the looming Health Care bill -- and take votes away from the previous front-runner, Democrat Martha Coakley. That this happened in the late Ted Kennedy's state is the ultimate irony, since it was the "Liberal Lion" who championed public health care.
Brown has already stated his opposition to the current version of the bill. The relatively lackluster Coakley campaign may have suffered from a presumption that Massachusetts' citizens would stay loyal to the Democratic platform regardless. The fear among Dems now is that this is basically a forecast for how the 2010 midterm elections will go.
As reported and commented on last week, the island nation of Haiti suffered a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that left the country in ruins. The death toll, originally estimated at around 50,000, has been revised upwards to nearly 200,000. This is a catastrophe of epic proportions rivaling the Indonesian tsunami of 2004. Even with help pouring in from all over the world the situation is being made much more difficult due to nearly all government buildings being demolioshed and near lawlessness in the streets.
Just days after the initial quake in Haiti, it was reported that a 6.0 magnitude quake hit the southern tip of Argentina -- after that still another quake hit Quatemala! WTF...?? What's next?
As I write this, it is voting day in Massachusetts. The race is to replace the formidable presence of the late Senator Ted Kennedy (D). A win by Republican Scott Brown over one-time front-runner Martha Coakley would eliminate Democrats' 60-seat supermajority in the Senate and likely kill President Obama's Health Care bill. A poorly-received speech by President Obama supporting Coakley could signal a major turn of public opinion toward Democrats. If Brown wins, it will be the first time in decades a Republican has held the seat from Massachusetts.
Of course, I will be returning here tomorrow to comment on the election.
As reported and commented on last week, NBC television was planning on bringing back Jay Leno to late night, and bumping The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien to midnight. Now it looks like they're bumping O'Brien altogether. Following a nasty-but-funny TV campaign by O'Brien -- not to mention seething public outcry -- NBC is prepared to pay O'Brien $30 million to, basically, tear up his contract and walk away. With great relish, O'Brien is in a position to come away from this smelling like a rose, since other offers from other networks have already started pouring in for him. While the situation is horribly embarrassing for all parties involved (especially with O'Brien now historically the shortest-lived "permanent host" of The Tonight Show), O'Brien is now free to develop a totally new program, and laugh all the way to the bank $30 million richer for the experience. (Note: according to the new deal, O'Brien must wait until September to start any new show -- ironically, to not compete with Leno's return.) Not clear at the time of this writing is whether Jay Leno's return is as host of The Tonight Show or as a "lead-in" show (as originally planned).
Not sure if this counts as a "movie earthquake" or not. This year's Golden Globe Award winner for Best Drama and Best Director went to Avatar and James Cameron. I love Cameron, but this is nuts. I have to believe the major money this pic is making has blinded the voters. Worse, it signals a likely similar vote at The Academy Awards. They've all lost such credibility over the years, I marvel that I still care.
In any event, congrats to Jeff Bridges (Best Actor, Crazy Heart) and Sandra Bullock (Best Actress, The Blind Side). Also, congratulations to the producers of UP who won for Best Animated Feature, the odds-on favorite in this category.
On a personal note, congratulations to director John Lee Hancock (see PCR interview) for his movie The Blind Side, one of this season's humungous breakout hits.
Republican Scott Brown wins Massachusetts
More Earthquakes
Political Earthquake
Television Earthquake
The Golden Globes: Avatar
Readers' Comments
REPUBLICAN SCOTT BROWN WINS MASSACHUSETTS
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010
Surely a political earthquake (as mentioned in my earlier post, below), The first Republican in thirty years to occupy the Senate seat from Massachusetts, previously occupied by the late Ted Kenndy, has won election.
As submitted by PCR writers, compiled by Chris Woods
TERENCE'S TIRADE: THE ENLIGHTENMENT - TRUE HORROR STORIES
From 2001, Terence Nuzum's article about the real stories behind some of your favorite horror films. Plus: A special Halloween edition of PCR featuring the Top Ten Horror Movies of all time!
MORE EARTHQUAKES
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010
POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010
TELEVISION EARTHQUAKE
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010
THE GOLDEN GLOBES: AVATAR
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19. 2010
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