AC360's Wednesday edition opened with news of natural disasters striking in the South Pacific. Yesterday's undersea earthquake that caused a tsunami in American Soma and the Soma Islands and today's earthquake in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia have taken lives, wiped out homes and villages and brought disaster teams to the area in hopes of assisting the victims. Though there are large cities in the area there are also very primitive and remote villages and it will take time to reach all the victims and determine the death toll.
James Carvell and Bill Bennett joined Anderson Cooper to discuss speculation that the POTUS is in imminent danger. Bennett said that he thought many of the news articles on the subject are exaggerated. He said there was similar hate toward George W. Bush but that didn't catch the attention of publications like the New York Times. BB also said he is sponsoring a tea party in NYC next week and invited AC to join him and see the people attending are not extremists.
Carville was concerned for the President's safety sighting a recent spate of violence and a rough political atmosphere.Gary Tuchman was in Chicago to talk of the violence on the streets that is taking the lives of so many young people.
Anderson interviewed Chicago's top cop, Superintendent Jody Weis, on the subject. Weis talked of the procedures followed and of the frustrations of the job. He put the blame on society and said there has to be a change in morals and values taught to kids.
Anderson mentioned in the intro to the piece that a Congressional candidate has called for Marshal Law to be imposed in Chicago. That's not a bad idea or at least a strict curfew should be imposed on young adults. That would not have saved the latest victim though, who was murdered in broad daylight.Randi Kaye was next up with news of the Hollywood community rallying around Roman Polanski. She also talked of the nuances of the original case and shared footage from a documentary on the subject.
The highlight of Wednesday's 360, for me, was the follow up panel with Joy Behar and Lisa Bloom. I agreed totally with this one sided panel, who probably didn't win any friends in the movie industry for their tough stance against Polanski.
It was great to hear AC say, at the end of the panel, 'Nice to have Joy Behar with us'. I agree.Tom Foreman brought us a very interesting report on health insurance nightmares. He told the story of a woman in Virginia who broke her wrist ice skating and was denied coverage because the insurance company labeled it a pre-existing condition. He also talked of health insurance companies who use mounds of paperwork, confusing forms, voice mail runarounds and other methods to avoid paying claims. Most of you have experienced this and know how frustrating it can be.
Erica Hill was at the 360 Bulletin desk and reported that the EPA is targeting the big polluters, Saturn is going out of business, B of A's CEO is stepping down and Tufts U has new sex rules for students living in dorms.
In the second half hour there was news of John Travolta's heartbreaking testimony in the trail of his alleged extortionists, Palin's new book is already a best seller 6 weeks before it is released and a 5 year old boy in Texas killed an 800 pound alligator.
The Shot tonight was dramatic animal video of elephants gone wild. Not bad but DH sent me a video today that I think is more worthy of The Shot. Nothing cuter than men who can't change a diaper without serious drama. Enjoy!
We didn't get 'standing Andy' at the beginning of 360 but we did get a very dapper Mr. Cooper on Wednesday's program. Not sure if it was the lighting, the great blue background or the pinstripe suit but it all added up to a very GQ AC. And on that note I'll start my weekend. ~Phebe