Afternoon Briefing:
Monica's turn: Monica Lewinsky spoke to the British press this week for a show to be broadcast there today in which she says she feels betrayed by Bill Clinton's portrayal of their relationship in his new book, "My Life." Lewinsky describes the affair as a mutual relationship while Clinton calls it an "inappropriate encounter." She says, "He says he was proud of the way that he defended the presidency, at my expense. In the process he destroyed me, and that was the way he was going to have to do that, to get through impeachment ... I was a young girl and to hear him saying some of the things he was saying today -- it's a shame." (Reuters)
Conservatives go Hollywood: In an effort to challenge what they see as liberal control of movies a couple of Texas lawyers are starting a film festival they call American Film Renaissance, to be held in Dallas Sept. 9-11. One film being shown is a feature, "Michael Moore Hates America," and another is a documentary called "Michael & Me" made by talk-radio star Larry Elder that deals with gun issues raised in "Bowling for Columbine." Says Elder, "My film is a defense of those who own guns and of the Second Amendment." Festival co-founder Jim Hubbard doesn't agree with conservatives who are boycotting "Fahrenheit 9/11": "We want everyone to see Michael Moore's film," he said. "We also want everyone to see 'Michael Moore Hates America.' Conservatives complain about institutional bias in Hollywood. They need to stop whining and get out there and produce." (Hollywood Reporter)
Clapton breaks record: A custom-made guitar fashioned by Eric Clapton became the most expensive guitar sold at auction Thursday night. The rocker's black-and-white Fender Stratocaster, called "Blackie," sold at Christie's for $959,500 -- all of which will go to Clapton's drug rehab center in Antigua. (AFP)
Speaking of guitars: The Clash's "London Calling" will be rereleased this fall with newly discovered demo tracks (found in a storage facility owned by Mick Jones and called the Vanilla Tapes) and live footage on DVD as well as photos by Pennie Smith, who made the original album's cover image. (BBC)
Demonstrative Demi: Seems Demi Moore isn't as Republican as she once appeared. At a screening of "Fahrenheit 9/11" she yelled at the screen several times, in support of Michael Moore's Bush-bashing. With Ashton looking on, Moore yelled things like "That was really crucial" when the president was being criticized in the film. Someone who was there guessed "Maybe she was a little hyper because she was drinking Jolt." (IMDB)
Kill the cats? Gov. Schwarzenegger is not going to get the animal-lover vote with his latest proposal to repeal a California state law that requires holding stray dogs and cats for six days before euthanizing them. He says local governments who operate shelters could save up to $14 million if they only had to hold the animals for three days. Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and Media at California State University at Sacramento was quoted as saying pet owners would find Schwarzenegger's proposal reprehensible: "Cats and dogs are like Mom and apple pie," she said. "Don't mess with the pets. Most people prefer them to other people." (AP)
-- Karen Croft
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Turn On:
A&E is running three "Biography" segments devoted to fast-food entrepreneurs, starting with "Colonel Sanders: America's Chicken King" (8 p.m. ET; A&E), then "Dave Thomas: Made to Order" (9 p.m. ET; A&E), and finally "Ray Kroc: Fast-Food McMillionaire" (10 p.m. ET; A&E). If you sometimes can't choose between watching old-school Larry or new-school "The Daily Show," you can kind of have both on Friday when Jon Stewart is a guest on "Larry King Live" (9 p.m. ET; CNN).
-- Scott Lamb
Morning Briefing
First Paula, now this: Former Bill Clinton paramour Gennifer Flowers is threatening to sue the former POTUS over his portrayal of their affair in his new memoir, "My Life." Flowers issued the following statement through the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, which has represented her claims against the president in the past. "I have not yet read Mr. Clinton's book but you can bet that my Judicial Watch attorneys will. I have learned that Bill Clinton has repeated his lies about me and I am sickened by his continued disregard for the truth. Bill Clinton pretends to be contrite but he continues to bear false witness against his neighbor. He is a national disgrace." Flowers claims to have had a 12-year affair with Clinton. Clinton now acknowledges having had a relationship "that I should not have had" with Flowers in the 1970s, but writes in the book, "The fact is there was no 12-year affair." (AAP and Page Six)
Speaking of judicial watch and things that may or may not stand up in court ... The Smoking Gun has posted a highly entertaining complaint by the Oklahoma attorney general accusing a 57-year-old judge of using a male-enhancement pump, lifting and shaving beneath his penis in full view of a court reporter, and masturbating into a trash can while hearing cases brought before his bench. Jurors and witnesses during a recent murder trial say they noticed a "sh-sh-sh" sound coming from beneath his robes and saw his hand pumping up and down. Nice. (The Smoking Gun)
Speaking of unbecoming behavior ... According to congressional aides, Vice President Dick Cheney barked out the "F word" during an argument (or, as Cheney's spokesman called it, a "frank exchange of views") with Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont on the Senate floor on Tuesday. Cheney reportedly snapped after the snapping of a Senate photo. As aides tell it, Leahy greeted the vice president, who then lit into him for alleging war profiteering in Iraq by Halliburton. Leahy countered that he didn't much like Cheney and his ilk having labeled him anti-Catholic because of his pro-choice views, at which point Cheney told Leahy "go F--- yourself." (Reuters)
Rapper rapped: Hip-hop star DMX and a buddy of his were arrested at New York's Kennedy Airport Thursday night for allegedly posing as FBI agents and attempting a carjacking. DMX, who has a criminal history that includes arrests for assault, and his buddy were charged with attempted robbery, criminal impersonation and criminal mischief. DMX will also be charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. No weapons were used in the alleged carjacking attempt, and no one was hurt. (N.Y. Daily News)
Moore news: Michael Moore has reportedly had to hire a bevy of bodyguards after pissing off Bush lovers with his film "Fahrenheit 9/11." According to a friend of the filmmaker, "There have been major threats from some very sick people." Meanwhile, Moore is mulling over the recent move by the conservative group Citizens United to block him from advertising the movie on TV or radio in the days leading up to the Republican National Convention and the general election. "I am concerned about whether or not the FEC will think I paid Citizens United to raise these issues," said Moore. "How else can you explain the millions of dollars of free publicity this right-wing group has given the movie?" (Rush and Molloy)
Material tourist: Madonna may not be taking her "Re-Invention" tour through Israel, but she is planning to travel to the holy land with a group of kabbala students in October. She'll be going as a private citizen (named Esther, of course) and plans to stay out of the spotlight. (Maariv via Rush and Molloy)
Jumping on new opportunity: Former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth has a new life ... as an emergency medical technician in training, a dream he's moved to New York to realize. Roth says he plans to receive his EMT certification in November and volunteer to work one weekend each month. "I want to be working in the outer boroughs. This city promises great color and insight in each and every neighborhood," Roth commented. "On the upper East Side, it's gonna be heart attacks and stomach aches. But in other neighborhoods, it's all trauma." (Lloyd Grove's Lowdown)
Money Quote:
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, backing away from his recent suggestion that journalists covering the war were rumor-mongering cowards, in a written statement to the press: "I extend a heartfelt apology and hope you will all accept it. I understand well the enormous dangers that you face, and want to restate my admiration for your professionalism, dedication and, yes, courage. I pray that you all may return safely." (CNN via Lloyd Grove's Lowdown)
-- Amy Reiter
Bookmark the Fix here. To send a hot tip to the Fix, click here.
Shares