Trivial Pursuits

Who cares who John Edwards slept with? Why do I need to know about Dick Cheney's daughter's sexuality?

Somehow Barack Obama's "rock star status" makes a difference one way or the other regarding his qualifications for the Presidency, but not to me. And somehow Paris Hilton's assessment of John McCain is relevant, but I don't get it.

Oh yes, don't forget that Jackson Browne is an expert on nuclear power...right! Bono is a proverbial paragon of virtue and an authority of all manner of public policy issues from AIDS, to hunger as well as economic development in Africa...and I've got this great bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizona I'd like to sell you!

Although I hasten to point out I have no problem with celebrities who have political opinions when put their money where their mouth is and run for office. People like Ronald Reagan, Jesse Ventura and "The" Arnold--whose last name I can't spell and don't want to look up, because you will all know who I mea--are fine by me. For the record, if I had lived in Texas last election I would have supported Kinky Friedman for Govorner. I am still disappionted that he lost.

Here's a news flash for you, Elvis and Princess Di are still dead. Yet every year we have to endure another meaningless retrospective on their lives. Well both Elvis and the Princess have left the planet and I don't need to read about or watch another television special on his excesses at Graceland or whether the Royal Family had her killed. Geez.

My favorite was this past Sunday in the Washington Post when what must have been two full pages in the newspaper were devoted to a meditation on Madonna's observance of her 50th birthday and what that means not only to you and me but also to modern civilization.

And, please...if I ever hear the name Monica Lewinsky again it will be too soon!

In the immortal words of Rhett Butler, "Frankly my dear I don't give a damn!"

And so it goes.