I got into a bit of a kerfuffle yesterday on social media, offering some critical words about long-time senator Dianne Feinstein who, to the surprise of some (myself included) didn't get a primary endorsement from California Democrats over the weekend at their state convention. But though I was surprised by the action -- or lack thereof -- I understood it. However, most people who don't live in California likely don't have as detailed a view of her over the decades and can't quite understand why not all Democrats are fully-enamored with her.
To be clear, there are many things about Dianne Feinstein that I like and even admire. And the problem isn't that she is a bit right of center on too many issues. It's that she's a bit right of center on too many issues in a state that is one of the most Blue and most liberal in the country. As a result, her representation doesn't often match the liberal constituency that has elected her. There were some people responding who said that Sen. Feinstein being re-elected so many times speaks to how much voters look for a leader and that her leadership was therefore appreciated. But life is rarely that simple, especially with someone who is so controversial that her own party didn't endorse her. There are many reasons she's been reelected. Some are indeed due to her often providing good representation. But some are due to Democrats not challenging strong, well-funded incumbents in primaries (especially incumbent senators for which a challenge requires a great deal of money), and then rarely having worthy Republicans opponents to run against in the state. In fact, the whole issue of Republican opponents may even have come into play as a consideration this year. After all, the lack of endorsement was only for the primary, for which the convention chose to be open-minded, not the general election. That's another matter entirely, most-especially given California's odd election law which most people outside the state are unaware. This is whereby the top two vote-getters in the open primary become the candidates on the ballot for the general election. By not endorsing Sen. Feinstein in the primary, which she's almost certain to win, and win by a lot, it leaves the door open for one of her better-funded challengers to get enough votes to be the other candidate on the ballot, rather than a Republican. And that not only obviously guarantees a Democratic victory in the race, but also accomplishes something else very important -- it helps depress the Republican vote in a low turn-out midterm election by not even having a GOP candidate to vote for in the U.S. Senate race. But I think there's another reason that this year in particular there were many Democrats at the state convention upset with Feinstein, perhaps more than usual. At the age of 84, it was thought she'd retire. After all, another term would keep her in the U.S. Senate until she's 90. And while there's something noble about that if one can continue to serve well, there's also the reality of politics which comes into play. And waiting to run this year if she didn't were two extremely strong candidates: Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both on the House Intelligence Committee, either of whom would give California vibrant representation for decades. And would be shoe-ins in this possible Blue Wave mid-term election, most-especially in California. However, when Dianne Feinstein announced her candidacy, neither congressman wanted a primary fight with a sitting senator of their own party, so they pulled out. Not only does that mean six years are now lost to the upper house for these two strong politicians, but -- although it's likely California will remain Blue and liberal in 2024 -- six years ahead is an uncertainty in politics, compared to a far-more near-100% sure present. Again, there is much that Dianne Feinstein has done that I've liked over the years. And even admired. What she did releasing the Fusion GPS transcript over Chuck Grassley blocking it was wonderful. But in a very liberal state like California, she is too often on the conservative side of centrist to represent the state as well as it deserves. And as much as she has every right to run for re-election, if she cared more for the long-term good of the party, she would have stepped aside.
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We watch the Olympics all day, so you don't have to.
As the Games near an end, there isn't a great deal to comment on about the events. The Olympic Athletes of Russia were playing Germany for the Men's Hockey Final, and I was sort of hoping both teams lost, but no go. Still, I did check out some of the end, which was very exciting. Four goals in perhaps the last five minutes to end regulation in a tie -- when OAR scored with 45 second left when short-handed during a penalty until they pulled their goalie. And then OAR won in overtime. And, yes, I stayed up until 1:15 in the morning to watch the Women's 30K Cross Country (about 20 miles). But then, how could I not? Jessie Diggins, maybe my fave athlete at these Games, was racing. She did well, but finished seventh. However, she's been voted to carry the American flag during the Closing Ceremonies. Good choice! They held the Figure Skating Gala, and I thought the performers they showed were all remarkably talented and artistic, but -- man, that was one of the darkest, most somber "galas" I've seen. While I think it's nice when the skaters have a chance to show their artistic side at this event, they're sort of doing that during the competitions. In the past, when they've held the gala, the skaters seemed to be more likely to show other sides of themselves and have a bit more fun. I don't mean "funny" (though some were), but high-spirited. With last night, I felt like I'd been dumped back in the 1950s Beat Generation and was in a coffehouse with everyone dressed in black, with mood lighting, a single spotlight and a performer onstage raging against the world. But they were talented. Just morose. In fairness, I think the event went on much longer (since there were about 40 skaters in the finale), and these few were the ones NBC chose to broadcast. In the morning on NBCsports, they ran two, hour-long, wonderfully-done documentaries about past Olympics -- though one of them, while absolutely terrific, I felt was oddly misguided. It looked at the hot politics of the 1968 Games in Mexico City, noteworthy for a great many reasons, but particularly the "Black Fist" protests by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, and focuses on the conditions that lead up to it. To be clear, it covers all the various issues -- notably East-West tensions heightened by Russia's invasion of Czechoslovakia) -- and was seriously impressive, but I thought out of place in the wind-up of the Winter Olympics, rather than something to most-impactfully run during the coming Summer Games. I suspect it's because it's the 50th anniversary, so fair enough for that, but it just seemed very out of place. (On a personal note, one thing I did love was a short detour where they discussed and gave full credit -- long overlooked -- to Dick Fosbury for invented the revolutionary Fosbury Flop which all high jumpers now use, and even had footage of Fosbury today talking about it. Equally wonderful, I've been looking for years of footage of Fosbury competing at those Games with sound -- because one of my indelible Olympics memories is the reaction of the stadium seeing this odd style for the first time ever -- and they have some brief footage of that and comment on it.) More fitting was the following-documentary about the figure skating competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics on their 30th anniversary. Though certainly without the impact of the 1968, it was very enjoyable, looking at the women's competition between defending Olympian Gold Medalist Katharina Witt of Germany and Debbie Thomas of the U.S , and for the men the "Battle of the Brians" -- Canada's Orser (who coached by the men's Gold and Silver winners this year) and from the United States, Boitano. One tiny, fun tidbit is Thomas's insistence -- and surprisingly, not totally without reason -- that Nike got its slogan, "Just Do It," from her, since the documentary shows her mouthing that phrase on camera right before beginning her skate...and six months later, Nike released their ad campaign. If you missed them and are interested, both documentaries should be streaming now here on nbcolympics.com. NBCsports also had an excellent and extensive compilation of highlights of the Games. Hopefully they'll re-air it later on NBC or on their nbcolympics.com website, as well. Speaking of NBC, I've been noting along the way things that I think they've done wonderfully and what they've flubbed on. But one thing I haven't mentioned is how in awe I am that they pulled this off yet again. It looks so effortless, cutting back-and-forth, and crisply showing all these events. But the organization and manpower it requires is breathtaking -- and to time things back to the United States and balance productions across three networks is...and do so without many hiccups is seriously remarkable. So, yes, while I do think they handled some things very poorly, we're dealing on a profoundly high level here. And...and...and I turned on NBC early today, putting on a show they had called Olympic Gold -- and it was a very long report by -- Mary Carrillo!! And it was, not shockingly great. Alas, it was about the history of snowboarding, and it wasn't during the main Olympics broadcast, but we'll take what we can get and be thrilled that she wasn't at least ignored. I don't know how long her report was since I tuned in late, during the story which had already started. But what I saw was 15 minutes. Joy! NBCsports aired two terrific documentaries this morning, both of which will stream here on nbcolympics.com. But the first, an absolute gem about the 1968 Summer Olympics and politics, will air on NBC today (Sunday) at 4:30 PM. (The other is fun, but not as substantive, about figure skating at the 1988 Winter Games.)
I'll write more about them later today on Bob Sledding The contestant for this week's Piano Puzzler is Genevieve Wild from Quakertown, Pennsylvania. I could hear the tune, and almost clearly, but just couldn't get it. It's definitely known, and I got it later when pianist Bruce Adolphe brought the music out more, but it was tough, even though known and clear. The composer style seemed to be from an era that I overlap with a lot of composers, so I took a guess. I was surprised that I was somewhat close, but didn't get that either.
We watch the Olympics all day so's you don't have to. Well, we're coming close to the end. I try not to look too far ahead and see that big empty void which I'll have to fill with actually doing something, but that's the way of the world which only gives a goal for two years from now and the Summer Olympics. And it's only fitting that we begin here with the beloved Four-man Bobsled -- one of my very favorite events, and one of the two which are why I love the Winter Games so much, because the both give me a hope that one day I can still be an Olympian. In the Four-man Bobsled, the job of three of the team members is to push the sled for about 15 feet, jump in the sled and then sit. And I can do all that, and would be especially good at sitting. Sure the team wouldn't do well with me there, but my participation wouldn't affect the results as much as on the Two-man team. By the way, having said all this, I'm not quite sure why there are two separate events for Two-man Bobsled and Four. I'm sure the experts can explain the difference, but it just seems like taking the same trip but bringing along a little more luggage. For that matter, if the have bobsledding in the Winter Olympics, I don't know why they don't have auto racing in the Summer. I'm not arguing for that, mind you, just that they seem awfully similar with the main difference being that one is on ice and the other on asphalt. For that matter, even NBC sort of suggested this, by having NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. do a fun piece with the U.S. bobsled team, that among other things discussed the similarity between two sports. (Side note: I worked with his legendary father on the movie BASEketball. Dale Earnhardt had one night's filming for a funny cameo as a cab driver who's asked if he can get to the characters' destination faster because they were in a hurry. I didn't have much dealings with him, but I do recall ask about him having just won the classic Daytona 500 -- one of the sport's crown jewel races -- only days before. It was a risky question since he had the reputation of being very crusty -- his nickname was "The Terminator" -- but instead of biting my head off, a big warm smile cross his face. "How do you think it feels, accomplishing something you've spent your whole life trying to do?" It was all the more poignant since he sadly died in a crash not long after.) Speaking of bobsledding, a female OAR bobsledder failed a drug test, the second athlete to do so these Games. Two thoughts immediately came to mind. The first was -- Bobsledding? You took drugs for bobsledding? For 99.2% of the race you're literally sitting. At most, you're like driving a car. Only for that remaining .8% are you pushing the sled, but even that is in concert with someone else. And you took drugs? And the other failure was for curling! Bobsledding and curling are the two sports for which athletes failed drug tests? What level of insanity does that fall on??! And my second thought was that both failures were by athletes competing under the banner of Olympic Athletes of Russia -- and the very reason they're doing that is because Russia as a nation was banned from the Games for a massive doping scandal. Gee, go figure. By the way, the Russian bobsled federation president, Alexander Zubkov, said that the federation would be preparing a defense for the bobsledding, saying, "She confirms she took no such medication, and the team confirms she was not issued any medication." Very noble. One pesky detail -- Zubkov himself had two gold medals stripped from him in the 2014 Olympics for...wait for it -- doping! And was banned by the IOC from future Olympics. I actually watched almost all of the Men's Curling Finals -- and it was surprisingly worthwhile. The U.S. team won the Gold Medal, made remarkable because they had begun the Olympics by losing four of their first six matches and also because last Olympics they finished second from last. But there were two other occurrences that made the event noteworthy. The first was how the victory came about. Usually, there are no points scored in a "round" (or whatever they call it...), and if points are scored, it's mostly one, or two. This match was tied 5-5 going into the end of the 8th round. That's the when U.S. skip made a shot and the team scored five full points, and put the game out of reach. If you do watch any replay of it, that's the point to do so. The other noteworthy moment was during the awards ceremony -- that's when the team was presented with the wrong medals! Four of the five team members discovered they'd been given the Gold Medals for women's curling. It was corrected. While NBC had a very nice feature as mentioned with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who also did some nice, brief commentary on the Mass Start skating, answering questions comparing it to auto racing), they had a huge miss in a feature with Gadi Schwartz and Rutledge Wood. It was an Idiotic feature on they're made-up game they called Hallway Curling, utterly infantile. Even if they had done some silly like creating a curling game one could play in the hallway, that might have been cute. But this was just goofing around, basically rolling down a hall in a chair on rollers. I recall these two doing some moderately fun pieces in past Olympics, but this was a total waste of concept and air time. And all I could think was -- and NBC didn't use Mary Carrillo at all and just one piece with Jimmy Roberts. Three new events premiered at this Olympics, and I liked them all, for similar reasons. They came in sports which usually award medals according only to time, with athletes competing singly against the clock, and these added in-person competition. One was the Team Alpine skiing competition, with teams made up of two men and two women, and each individual races against their counterpart on another team, rather than just going down the hill alone. Even better was the Snowboarding Parallel Giant Slalom -- an odd name, but perhaps the first "Freestyle" even that I quite like, without tricks and flips thrown it. It was a group races, basically like a ski slalom but done on a snowboard. Very good, very competitive and fun. And notable, too, since Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic because the first Winter Olympian to win a Gold Medal in two different sports, the other being her surprise win in the skiing slalom. And the third event was the speed skating Mass Start. Once again, rather than two competitors racing against the clock for time, this had around 15 skaters on the ice at the same time, skating against one another. It's a bit odd, with people going pretty slow early on, but it picks up the pace and then they eventually fly around the rink the last couple of laps. One more night of competition. Sigh. The guests on this week's 3rd & Fairfax podcast from the Writers Guild of America are screenwriters Liz Hannah and Josh Singer who co-wrote the acclaimed film, The Post. They discuss the script's origin, their uncommon collaboration, and working with Steven Spielberg. The screenplay recently was given the WGA's Paul Selvin Award, for "a script which best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties which are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere." Last year, Josh Singer won an Oscar for co-writing the screenplay of the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, Spotlight.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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© Copyright Robert J. Elisberg 2024
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