It’s April and we already have showers — showers of criticism, much of which is misplaced.
Rudy Giuliani is getting criticized because he likes to do his Vito Corleone impression in public. He sees humor in it. He is reportedly a big fan of "The Godfather." So when he resorts to making a political point in the infamous mumbling style of Brando as Corleone, there are some who think he is play to Italian stereotypes.
These people ought to lighten up. Giuliani was a fearsome prosecutor of the mob. He embodies the anti-stereotype of Italians and, above all, realizes the way to combat stereotypes is in what you do with your life. Rudy doesn’t have to run away from the obvious greatness of "The Godfather" movies. His personal life is not perfect (after all, he is a Yankees fan), and sometimes his judgment is questionable (think Bernard Kerik). But a guy with his law and order credentials ought to be able to have a little fun on the campaign trail …
I’m sorry Michael Smerconish and some other pundits have a problem with John Edwards staying in the race after the return of his wife’s cancer. To them I say, mind your own business. Each of us deals with tragedy differently. Besides, it was his wife’s decision to make, not his. This shouldn’t have anything to do with whether you vote for Edwards …
Edwards’ decision to quit the presidential debates held on Fox News is foolish. He should not be writing off Fox’s audience when he’s running third in the race …
The president and vice president got steamed at Nancy Pelosi for visiting Syria on a fact-finding mission, but are silent when members of their own party do the same. If Pelosi did more than fact-find, if she gave the impression she was making foreign policy, then the criticism is warranted. So far, I haven’t seen any evidence of that. It would do Bush and Cheney some good if once in awhile they received "facts" from a source who differs from their basic assumptions …
The Congressional Democrats haven’t impressed me so far. Instead of spending all their rage on Alberto Gonzales, another incompetent Bush lackey, why not do the people’s business instead? Send up some legislation to the president’s desk providing universal healthcare and splitting the difference on the energy problem (new restrictions on emissions, revenue neutral gas tax in return for expanded drilling in ANWR). Let Bush decide whether to veto popular legislation or sign it. Another tip to tone-deaf Democrats: Get rid of the pork in the funding bill for our troops or you’ll be back out on your keisters in two years …
What’s with all this Sanjaya backlash? Sanjaya is a cute guy who uses his hairstyles more than his talent to survive "American Idol." Duh. Back in the day we had Fabian, who was another cute guy with good hair, who did not exactly sing like Frank Sinatra. What’s changed? The controversy over Sanjaya makes people tune in. The producers know it. When I was a teenager, guys like this would go on "American Bandstand" and lip-synch a bad hit song while the girls swooned. They were called one-hit wonders. In a couple years, Sanjaya will be included in one of those VH1 specials on the craziness of the new century’s first 10 years …
Iran’s treatment of the captured British sailors and marines was terrible. Tell me now that our own bad treatment of detainees doesn’t undermine our moral authority to complain about it to the world community …
Don Imus is not a racist. I agree his remark about the Rutgers women’s basketball team was gratuitous and cruel. Imus is often gratuitous and cruel. He is an equal-opportunity offender as any regular listener knows. His remarks are almost always over the top. But he is not a racist. Underneath his bluster is a guy who has done a lot for kids with cancer — kids of all races. He gets great guests who would not be there if he were a racist. He has supported candidates of all kinds of political views, including Harold Ford, an African American who lost for the Senate in Tennessee. Sometimes I cringe at some of the stuff that goes on when I tune in to Imus, but it’s much better than most of the schlock on the rest of the radio dial around here. If you don’t like it, don’t tune in. It’s a free country …
Isn’t it a darn shame an important issue like global warming has become politicized? I give Al Gore credit for bringing the issue to our attention, but having a politician as the frontman invites political football. How about we let the scientific community take over and take some of the heat (if you’ll pardon the pun) out of global warming? The solution should not rest along partisan lines …
April has been a long month already.
