James Hirsen, NewsMax.com
Tuesday, April 6, 2004

After a post on her Web site urged folks not to accept the “myth that 9/11 turned President Bush into a ‘hero,’” die-hard Democrat Barbra Streisand pleaded with fans to change the attitudes of Americans.

Babs is in a diva-sized dither because people aren’t buying Richard Clarke’s bizarre statements. She blogged, “Can you believe that some polls now show that more people believe Bush/Rice/Cheney’s take on their handling of intelligence pre- and post-9/11 than the many people inside the administration who have come out to tell us the facts about what really went on …”

She then issued a call. “Ask anyone and everyone you know who still trusts Bush why they have such faith in him. Get to understand their psyches ... let them know the truth ... do whatever you can! There is so much at stake,” she implored.

The Left Coast Report suspects that when you ask people “why they have such faith” in President Bush, their answer might go something like this: He’s a man who is willing to take resolute action to protect our country and our people, despite the loudmouths on the left, the partisans in the media and the power-grubbers in Congress.

Jacko Goes to Washington

These days it seems that the “beltway” has become an expanding one.

The link between Hollywood and the nation’s capital has never been as obvious, or as surreal, as it was when Michael Jackson mixed it up recently in D.C.

M.J. didn’t shake a leg atop an SUV, but he did dance with some of Washington’s elite.

At the Ethiopian Embassy, Jackson accepted a humanitarian award from African Ambassadors’ Spouses Association. When presented with the award, he sighed: “This is beautiful. This is a wonderful time. I've been going to Africa since I was 12. I love it very much.”

He promised to help Africa by having a song about HIV on a future CD or tour. He reportedly plans to tour Africa this year to raise AIDS awareness.

Jackson’s D.C. entourage included Louis Farrakhan’s chief of staff and bodyguard Leonard Muhammad and former mayor Marion Barry’s publicist/press secretary Ramone Bain.

As fate would have it, his trip took place at the same time a California grand jury was listening to testimony on the criminal charges pending against him.

In the past, Democrats have generally been happy to appear with Jacko. A few years ago the star performed at a fund-raiser with Bill Clinton.

This time around, though, a number of Dems were seemingly unavailable. One official who did stand at Jacko’s side was U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. It was the same Sheila Jackson Lee who has developed a costly taxpayer-supported habit of being transported the one block from her apartment to her office in a chauffeur-driven government car, as the Weekly Standard disclosed back in February 2002.

A while back Jackson Lee offered an explanation for this kind of extravagance. She told an aide: “I'm a queen. And I demand to be treated like a queen.”

The Left Coast Report notes that it’s not every day the former King of Pop meets the Queen of Hauteur.

Michael Jackson Looks for Hollywood Loot

Rumor has it that Michael Jackson is short of cash.

Fueling the gossip fire is the tale of his attempt to market the film footage of his recent trip to Washington.

Daily Variety reports that the beleaguered singer is seeking $3 million for what would become a documentary of his journey to the nation’s capital.

In a supposed bid to make things more attractive to TV execs, Jackson has indicated that he will throw in a 10-minute interview as part of the package.

The Left Coast Report predicts that, if a deal does come through, Mark Geragos will be spending a fortune on Tagamet.

Madonna’s Latest Anti-war Venture

Last year Madonna appeared to ride the Hollywood peace train with her “American Life” video.

Then she did some harmonic canoodling with Britney Spears on MTV Video Music Awards.

Now Madge is planning to dish out a distinctly anti-war message in her world tour. The same military imagery that she used in her video will reportedly be included in her live show.

The “Re-Invention Tour” is set to begin in Los Angeles in May. From there it will chug on to San Francisco, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, London, Paris, Ireland and Israel.

Madonna plans to perform twice at Israel's Tel Aviv Bloomfield Stadium in September, despite concerns over terrorism in the region.

The Left Coast Report wonders if Madonna is going to thank the soldiers who lay their lives on the line so that she can continue to rake in her anti-war money.

Tim Robbins Gets His Views off His Chest

In keeping with the new awareness of decency on the airwaves, ABC has instituted a five-second delay for “Good Morning America” and “The View.” Actor and political activist Tim Robbins recently appeared on “The View” to promote his “Embedded” piece of propaganda. He also used the opportunity to comment on ABC's tape delay.

Barbara Walters asked him for his opinion on ABC’s policy. He responded by opening his shirt and flashing one side of his chest, which featured a jewelry-adorned nipple.

The Left Coast Report wonders if the network plans to institute tape delays for cliches.

The Left Coast Report is put together by James L. Hirsen and the staff of NewsMax.

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