As we wait for the ominous hurricane Irene to come ashore (a truly frightening prospect for people almost across the entire East Coast) we’re biding our time over at Twitter trying to work up a treatment for a screenplay with the newly-discovered all diamond planet and Newt Gingrich.
So far I think the best entry we have is from @szorowitz who proposes …
@joshtpm Diamond planet threatens Earth market. Africa sends astronaut (call him Omaba) to destroy planet. US drafts Newt to stop him 1/2
@joshtpm Newt wins battle, claims planet for US, marries Diamond Planet Queen after fiance back on Earth succumbs to planted Ebola virus 2/2
That’s a pretty good plot treatment piled into two tweets. Have to imagine Willis or Affleck get cast in some role. But maybe it lags a little toward the end. Anyway, you got any good ideas? Join us here. And let us know your idea.
Late Update: @mseyfang dubs inhabitants “Blingons”.
Fresh in from the Department of Awesome, a team of astronomers has discovered a planet roughtly 4,000 light years away that appears to be a gigantic, solid diamond.
And the planet is about five times bigger than the Earth.
They could call it Zsa Zsa 1.
This afternoon I had the opportunity to attend a journalists’ Q&A with former Utah Gov. John Huntsman (R) put on by Bloomberg View. I’ll probably write about it more going forward. But I just wanted to share some quick impressions while they are fresh in my mind.
My first impression was that Huntsman comes off considerably better in person than on TV. Not that he comes off badly in broadcast media. But he’d looked a bit like a waif, maybe with a bit of a joker’s grin when I’ve seen him on television. But he cut a considerably more impressive, substantial figure in person. The Obama folks are right to hope he doesn’t get near the nomination. Because I think he’d be a formidable challenger in an economic climate as bad as the one we’re in. At this point most base Republicans would probably vote for one of Obama’s Kenyan 3rd cousins over Obama. So any nominee will have those folks banked. And Huntsman would appeal to moderates and Democrats far better than Perry or I think Romney. Setting aside looks and atmospherics, he’s just clearly a very knowledgable guy. So sounds like I was impressed? Yeah, I was.
What’s the sales pitch? I’m the moderate, reality-based Republican who’s not a total phony who changes his position based on the political considerations of the moment. Read More
Virginia televangelist Pat Robertson, on the earthquake damage to the Washington Monument:
Now there’s a crack in it, there’s a crack in it and it’s closed up. Is that a sign from the Lord? Is that something that has significance or is it just result of an earthquake? You judge, but I just want to bring that to your attention.
David Prosser: “Justice Ann Walsh Bradley made the decision to sensationalize an incident that occurred at the Supreme Court. … I was confident the truth would come out – and it did. I am gratified that the prosecutor found these scurrilous charges were without merit.”
Indiana state legislator who’s not running for reelection after soliciting a young man for bump-n-grind on Craigslist says they just talked about baseball.
AFL-CIO Chief Trumka: Obama took the side of the Tea Party in debt fight.
At a townhall yesterday, when questioned about his salary, Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL) played the Sean Duffy card, telling constituents it’s a pretty lean salary given how many hours he puts in and the risks he runs.
“And by the way, did I mention? They’re shooting at us,” Southerland told constituents. “If you think this job pays too much, with those kinds of risks and cutting me off from my family business, I’ll just tell you: This job don’t mean that much to me. I had a good life in Panama City.”
Laura Ingraham asks Rick Perry to pledge not to vacation on Martha’s Vineyard if elected President.
“I’m not even sure where it is,” Perry responds.
“That’s good enough for me,” Ingraham laughs.