Minnesota voters were doing the equivalent of a write-in for Bozo the Clown as a protest vote?
You give today's voters far too much credit. Do you protest restrictive gun laws by shooting your toe off?
One suspects the election was rigged, but it wouldn't be that surprising that in a traditionally liberal state like Minnesota--and one that is probably becoming more so because of demographic changes--that even a truculent stand-up comic could win a big political job these days. Let us hope that more of the SNL crew doesn't plan political careers, because they, in today's America, will probably win too. There was a time in this country when people could separate entertainment from more sober aspects of life, but that time is fast fading, and I at least expect this trend to continue to play out until the kids are finally all sent to their rooms after a series of major disasters.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hjH5schNIYeN11mFx_b6WcDigyoAAlec Baldwin could be the next US actor to enter politics after saying he was giving "serious thought" to running for Congress.
The film and TV star told Playboy magazine that he was determined to run for office, but a lot depended on whether he'd be given the opportunity.
He said: "The desire is there; that's one component. The other component is opportunity."
In his blog for political website The Huffington Post, Alec denied speculation that he was preparing to run against former vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman.
He told the magazine that he would love to run against Mr Lieberman, but added that at this stage it was "all fantasy".
Alec later confirmed that he would not be running in Connecticut. On his blog, he wrote: "As much as I think Lieberman is an enormous letdown to the party that gave him their nomination for vice president, I am sure the Democrat Party leaders in that state will take care of themselves."
But he did not rule out a more active political role going forward.
"Running for public office involves among the most sacred trusts that one can enter into and I would like to give that a lot of serious thought before I decide if that is right for me and the voters I would potentially serve."
But given his past controversies - including a leaked answerphone rant in which he berated his then 11-year-old daughter - Baldwin appears to be under no illusions over the scrutiny a move into public service would place him under.
He told Playboy: "If I run for political office, they'll have a forest of material to kill me with."