Afternoon Misc.
August 27th, 2008 – 4:24 PM by James LileksRode into town with a British MP named Francis Maude. It was my first experience talking to someone who was a Shadow Minister; much more substantial chap than the name suggests. His take on the situation: the European establishment is content with either Obama or McCain, since both have an internationlist outlook, and neither are inclined to go all nativist and isolationist at the last moment. I made several remarks that seemed overly concerned with using proper grammar. There’s something about an British accent– not chav blabber, but playing-fields-of-Eton accent – that puts you on your best behaviour, and before you know it you’re saying “aluminium” instead of “aluminum.”
Aside from that, not much to report; this is the hardest day for the media, because all the basics have been exhausted. There are no surprises left - in case anyone thought Hillary was going to lash herself to the podium and refuse to move until she got the nomination - and the fun, bright feature stories that characterized the start of the week have dried up and blown away.
Oh, we could go over to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts to hear some anti-poverty ideas from Madeleine Albright and Ben Affleck. (Seriously, Ben Affleck. The only reason I’d go would be to ask Ben to do that duck-voice from the insurance commercials.) (Hah: just looked at the roster: it also includes Dennis Maude. Well, I’ll have something to bring up if I meet Ben at a party. Did you speak with Dennis? Lovely chap.) There’s a “Rally to Fix Health Care Now” featuring music by Death Cab for Cutie, which seems an odd choice of bands. Or an entirely appropriate one, depending on your view of health care, I suppose. If we do not change the system now there will be death cabs not just for Cutie, but for all!
Biz Markie is playing tonight at the “Season for Change” reception; Sean Penn and Val Kilmer will be at a Nader rally at 7 PM.If Clooney shows up, this will mean that half of the nation’s supply of recent Batmen will be present.
Off to find the reporter with whom I’ve been trading story ideas. Each of us thinks the other is researching ideas; each of us will be sorely disappointed.
6 Responses to "Afternoon Misc."
Is a “shadow minister” anything like a “minister without portfolio”? I like that. All pomp, no circumstance fits my ethos nicely.
Ben Affleck is the voice of the Aflac insurance duck?
That’s how rumors get started, ya know! : D
Well, of course John McCain’s not going to turn into Ron Paul overnight.
Velociman,
Here in the UK members of the Executive are also members of the legislature: in other words our Ministers are sitting Members of Parliament. Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition (the largest party out of power) appoints a Shadow minister for each portfolio in order to oppose effectively: in other words a Shadow Health Minister should master the Department of Health brief. However, these positions are unpaid (over and above MP’s salaries) and, more importantly, the Shadow Minister does not have access to the Civil Service (and therefore much of the relevant information)- which makes effective opposition quite tough. One other difference between our two systems is that our Civil Service is (supposedly) non-partisan and professional, and in place despite changes of Government. Ministers are responsible for setting policy, Civil Service for execution of policy. My understanding is that a new US Presidency will lead to a very much larger staff turnover in the various Federal Govt departments, as appointments are political much further down the ladder, than the 100 or so Ministers appointed by an incoming British Prime Minister.
The voice is of the Aflac duck is Gilbert Gottfried. All right, Death Cab? I’m game for that.
Death Cab for Cutie? Aren’t those the guys who have the song romanticizing a love suicide? I’m not sure that’s the group I’d like to have advocating my health-care plan. “Yes, the new part of our plan involves euthanizing husbands when their wives die, and vice versa. We call it ‘Together Forever Means Never Apart’.”