Another kinda lame story from another top newspaper (the Washington Post) that gets high marks for trying. Finally, trying to get the Howard Dean appeal.

It opens with a focus on a newly-electrified voter named Teresa Pierce, and asks:

The question is: How? What did Dean do to enchant Pierce, and to stir up thousands of avid supporters? Despite the buzz surrounding retired Gen. Wesley Clark's late entry into the campaign, and mounting attacks from some of his other eight rivals, Dean has raised the most money and leads the polls in New Hampshire and Iowa. Conventional wisdom credits Dean's Bush-bashing and his stoking of Democratic anger. But to follow Dean on the stump is to see something more subtle at work.

I should be overjoyed that the beltway boys--and in this case girls--are finally taking the question seriously, and earnestly looking for an answer. But I'm also just disgusted and embarassed for them that it's really only now beginning to broadly happen. (Dean belatedly grabbed the big-media spotlight with the simulateneous Time/Newsweek cover stories a few months back, but they were still pretty dismissive.)

It's also embarassing to read the feebleness of their attempts. This piece focuses on "empowerment." Here's the headline, and the core explanation:

Empower Play: The Pitch That Works for Dean

While the other candidates focus on their humble roots or heroic feats, Dean inverts the telescope: He talks about the voters. He tells them they're okay. Instead of trying to get them to love him, he tells them to love themselves. A doctor by training, he injects psychology into politics.

"I liked it when he said the election wasn't about him, it was about us," said Pierce. "He's empowering me."

. . . Delivering a series of exhortations, he'll turn a garden party into political group therapy:

"Stop being ashamed."

"Stand up and say what you think."

"You ought to be proud."

"The power to change this country is in your hands."

"You have the power."

"You have the power."

Well, that is part of the appeal, but this piece works ever so hard to paint it as The Answer. Nice try goofball. I'm embarassed for her, but at least she's grasping some of it, and at least she's finally trying.

This Times story on Wes Clark being the toast of Hollywood is kind of interesting. They can raise a lot of money and have a lot of influence:

The hottest star in Hollywood at this moment is not Nicole or Julia or the two Toms, Cruise and Hanks. It is a 58-year-old retired four-star general who seems to have Hollywood's Democratic Party loyalists — which means the bulk of the town — in a fever.

"General Clark definitely has the flavor of the month status," Steve Tisch, a producer and prominent Democratic contributor, said about Gen. Wesley K. Clark of the Army, the newest entry in the Democratic presidential primary contest.

This one is a day old, too. What can I do. If you obsessively check the Howard Dean blog, you've known for 24 hours. If not, maybe it's news to you.

The highlight of Howard Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi's summary of the news at the Dean blog very early this morningf:

Our original goal for this quarter was $7.6 million -- to match what you accomplished last quarter. When we saw that we would surpass that goal we raised the bar to matching the record set by President Clinton. 10 days ago we had raised $9.7 million and we set the goal of raising $5 million dollars in just 10 days. You did that. Tonight we sit at $14.8 million -- $5.1 million over 10 days.

Another item from while I was away. This one a day old, from the Hollywood Reporter (I'll include all the paragraphs on The Amazing Race):

CBS' 'Race,' 'Brother' set for Season 5

CBS has picked up fifth installments of the reality series "Big Brother" and "The Amazing Race."

. . . The Julie Chen-hosted "Big Brother" is set to return in summer 2004, while "The Amazing Race," which won an Emmy this month for best reality/competition program, has received a 13-episode order for midseason or summer.

"I think qualitatively, both shows are absolutely at their peak," said Ghen Maynard, head of CBS' alternative programming department. "I think what we've really done well at CBS and what our whole goal has always been with shows like 'Amazing Race,' 'Big Brother' and 'Survivor' is to create long-lasting franchises that have appeal for the long term."

. . . "Amazing Race" has already started casting for its fifth edition, which will feature two-person teams trotting the globe for a $1 million prize.

. . . "We're incredibly thrilled that we got picked up again," said "Amazing Race" executive producer Bertram van Munster. "The fifth race is laid out and ready to go, and it is shaping up to be an extreme globe-trotting event."

He declined to reveal any details about the "drastic changes" he said the producers are making to keep the series fresh, but promised that the show's regular viewers "are going to be in for a big surprise."

Van Munster is executive producing "Amazing Race" with Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman for Bruckheimer Films, Earthview and Touchstone TV.

NBC has also picked up more episodes of the shitty Restaurant for midseason, though it can't decide whether they'll continue with Rocco or try a new restaurant. Dump Rocco! He's an ass!

Yes, they have definitely broken up. Completely. Sorry this came out while I was in LA and unable to update, or I would have had it up sooner. (Much thanks to Michael from All About RC for the early heads up.)

The website All About RC has posted a message directly from our heroes, Chip & Reichen, announcing they have completely called it quits. An excerpt:

We recently gave an interview to the Advocate, which will appear on shelves 14 October 03. In that interview, we have officially announced that we are no longer pursuing our relationship and marriage and that we have decided to separate from each other. Further details are given in The Advocate interview. Without going into the intimate details of why we have decided to separate, please know that we have come to this decision, over a great deal of time, very seriously, to heart, and with great and on-going discussion, analysis, and thoughtfulness. It is the best decision for both of our physical and mental well-being, peace of mind, and happiness.

Well, that's just plain sad, sad, sad. But it happens. The only thing worse than a bad marriage is two people staying in a dead marriage just to say they did and destroying both lives in the process. Probably healthier for both of them. I wish them well.

(But the faint silver lining is, they're both available. Go get 'em boys! You're just going to come back with rebound burns, but don't let that stop you.)

Well he really did get forced out. Just breaking late tonight:

Limbaugh Quits TV Job Under Fire
Washington Post - 5 minutes ago

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1 -- Racially charged comments by radio-talk show host Rush Limbaugh about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb drew widespread media attention today and eventually led to his resignation late tonight from the ESPN National Football League pregame show on which he appeared.

Back from LA, had a really nice time, though nothing like NY.

And another thing to hate this RadioUserland software for: The simple steps they said would allow me to update remotely failed. All I got was Page Not Found.

Sorry.

Will return to posting again in the morning.

I'm beat.