Anderson Cooper The Journalist

I also find the new opening format refreshing.  I noticed it on American Morning, too.  The show opened with Anderson Cooper standing and providing a preview of what was coming on the show.  It certainly made getting this review ready that much easier.  Maybe people felt that the show was a bit too rushed.

Intro

Raw Politics – Candy Crowley

Crowley on the death of the public option:  “Nothing is ever dead on Capitol Hill, it just goes away to the next session.”  Then she said not to bet on its resurrection.  Dems have to hold onto the public option on the House side in order to have something to bargain with in the Senate.

Health care

There do not appear to be the votes to pass any legislation with the public option in the Senate.  Anderson asked if the White House is going to try to pass some health care reform, even if it doesn’t include a public option, as long as their are some options for consumers to drive down prices.

In what is an odd trend to consult Hollywood celebrities for political analysis, Anderson Cooper spoke with Michael Moore on this issue.  Moore was standing on a Washington D.C. street at the time.

Moore has threatened to get rid of any Democrat who gets in the way of the public option.  Michael Moore fancies himself a champion of the public option, one who will lead the voters valiantly into the voting booth, all the while chomping on a Whopper.  AC asked Moore if the public option is the bottom line of health care.  Moore answered in the affirmative.  Moore said that every intelligent nation has either a single payer or a national health care plan.  Moore: “Trust me on this one thing.”  Moore claims to have prophetic vision, referenced his predictions regarding GM and the absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

I’m only including the first half of the interview.  The second is much the same.

After the break, Moore threatens to campaign against any Democrats who don’t support the public option.  I can imagine he’ll drive around in an ice cream truck.  Seriously, what direct impact has Moore ever had?  He supposedly got a store to stop selling bullets.  I’ve been a hater ever since he digitally edited a copy of my hometown newspaper in one of his movies. Note: I know I just linked to Rush Limbaugh.  I’m sorry, but the truth needs to be told!!!!

Moore to the public: “Turn off Dancing With the Stars.”  Anderson asked why public option supporters haven’t come out with such gusto as the teabaggers.  Moore said that it’s because nobody has rallied the troops.  He plans on using his film’s opening as political leverage.

Democrats who voted no on today’s bill did so out of fear, says Anderson, fear that the bill wouldn’t pass anyway.  “Where is the spine,” asks Moore.  AC asked Moore if he thinks Obama is spineless.  Moore answered that he is rather just a nice guy.

Digging Deeper

Candy Crowley and David Gergen.

Gergen was mystified at Moore’s focus on the public option.  Gergen posited that the dream of universal health care is that every person has health coverage, but not that that coverage is necessarily provided by the government.

Crowley added that President Obama is going to sign a bill that provides universal coverage, by any means necessary.  She said that certain White House aides were surprised that the public option took center stage.

Anderson asked if this new type of reform is health reform or insurance reform.  Gergen answered that the bills major weakness is that it doesn’t do much to bring down care expenses, doesn’t provide preventative treatment, and doesn’t address malpractice issues.  He predicted a health care phase after this insurance phase.

360 Bulletin

Tsunami warning on eastern pacific rim

2 US troops dead in the Philippines

Zazi pleads not guilty to terrorism

Toyota is recalling four million vehichles due to problems with the floor mat

American Girl doll collection adding a homeless doll.  It still costs $95.

Crime and Punishment

Polanski

Roman Polanski is under arrest in Switzerland for raping a 13-year old girl 32 years ago.  Woody Allen is campaigning for his release.  I can’t make this up.

Jeffrey Berg, Polanski’s agent, reminded the crowd that Pulanski faced justice 32 years ago.  Polanski fled for fear of not getting a straight deal in court.  Jeffrey Toobin answered that the way to challenge things in the American legal system is in the courtroom.

AC asked Berg that if he thinks Polanski has a leg to stand on legally, then why doesn’t he just come back and face the court.  Berg answered that there are other mitigating factors in the decision.  Toobin shamed the L.A. DA’s office for waiting this long to pick Polanski up.  Toobin “argued” that Polanski has been a fugitive for 32 years, even though he has lived an open life this whole time.

iPhone App plug with Erica Hill

iPhone demo

CNN is really going nuts with its iPhone App, so much that they’re offering tutorials on the air.  Larry King spelled App out when he mentioned it.  AC, it turns out, does not have an iPhone.  Maybe next we’ll have anchors plugging baking soda.

Up Close

Tonight’s Up Close was about the American man who went to Japan to rekidnap his children, which were kidnapped on the first day of school in Tennessee.  Christopher Savoie tried to reclaim his kids from his crazy ex-wife, Noriko, who stole the children away and took them TO JAPAN.

Look at those eyes! Vicious!

Japan is not party to an international agreement on child abductions, so in order to get his kids back Chris went rogue and picked the kids up at school in Japan and tried to spirit them away to the American consulate, in an action that closely mirrors that of his ex.

Amy Savoie, Christopher’s new wife, was on the show and said that Christopher has been to the hospital since being incarcerated, but she didn’t say why.

Jeremy Morely, Christopher’s attorney, said that his chances of getting the kids back is slim.  Morely says that Japan”s legal system will by default find in favor of a Japanese mother over an American father.

Ms. Savoie came back on and told stories of several American men who’d married Japanese women and were blackmailed for $10,000 in order to receive a Christmas card.  Morely said that Noriko is likely safe if she remains in Japan.  The minute she tries to leave, however, she is likely to be arrested.

AC asked Ms. Savoie if she would like to say anything to the world.  She asked men who are 24-years old now to consider what life without a father is like.  I guess she is trying to inspire pity in her husband’s  Japanese jailors.

Lesson to American men: foreign women may be exotic and intriguing, but they bring with them a complete dimension of drama that American women thankfully lack.  Date local and take a cruise on your honeymoon.  You’ll get the best of both worlds.

Keeping Them Honest

Big Scam – Arthur Group Executive Search – Drew Griffin

This company targeted former executives in Minnesota.  Mike Myser, former vice president of a tech firm who had left to pursue an independent business,  found the Arthur Group online.  He was then talked out of $3,000.  The directors’ MO was to stoke the applicant’s ego and then offer resume services.

Arthur Group

A former employee of the Arthur Group said that people who were looking for jobs online were already vulnerable.

The group’s offices are now empty, with a court summons taped to the door.  So is the home of Barry Trimble, owner of the Arthur Group and convicted sex offender.  Barry called Griffin, but declined an interview.  He said that Arthur Group closed down due to severe economic conditions.

360 Bulletin

American Samoa a disaster zone

U.S. High-level talks with Cuba

A man in Toledo, OH climbs a bridge and stops traffic.

Man on a Bridge

Starting in November, Jon Gosslin is dropping out of the show.  AC was crushed.  I’ve never, ever watched this show.

Happy Ending

The Shot

Naked guy buys a taco.  World’s fastest nudist.  Wearing nothing but a fanny pack.  Fancy sound bite.