FRED THOMPSON TELLS JAY LENO, "THE ANSWER IS YES!"

Like Governor Arnold before him, Fred Thompson appeared with Jay Leno last night, so naturally, this unannounced candidate was asked by Leno if he'd like to become president. Thompson said, "I've never craved the job of president, but I want to do some things that only a president can do. So, the answer is yes." Thompson said he wasn't going to make an official announcement while on Leno's couch, but he let everyone know how to click on the Web site for his political committee. But like he said, "The answer is yes!" and his poll numbers continue to rise, with or without an official announcement.

MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NEWS:

A new poll is out suggesting that most Americans favor the Senate's proposed bill that would allow illegal immigrants to become legal if they paid a fine, learn English and a couple of other things. As everyone knows, a poll can get the answers you want when you pose questions in a way...You know what I mean.

Here's the problem I have with this kind of thinking. Who enforces the new laws if this bill is passed? We have laws on the books now that aren't being enforced. There's a story out today about a lawsuit won by illegal immigrants in a village 23 miles north of New York City, because police officers had the audacity to ask if these people were here legally. The fact than none of them spoke English was a clue, a clue that proved the police officers were right, but a judge ruled the illegal immigrants' right to equal protection had been violated. And my question is this; If police are prohibited from trying to enforce any law, I don't care what the law is, where does that kind of arbitrary thinking stop?!?

Publications like the Los Angeles Times here don't help when they refer (in editorials) "To the know-nothing fringe" as being responsible for objecting to a bill that would give amnesty to (at least) 12 million illegals. Which, unless enforcement of laws are allowed to be carried out, will lead to millions more illegals coming here. Even us "know-nothing's" know that!!!

SPEAKING OF THINGS CONTENTIOUS:

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather says the reason CBS' News with Katie Couric is getting such lousy ratings is because CBS had made the mistake of "dumbing it down and tarting it up in hopes of attracting a younger audience." CBS boss Leslie Moonves shot back at Rather by accusing Rather's remarks as being "sexist". Moonves probably also didn't like Rather saying that Moonves knows a lot about entertainment but he doesn't know anything about news.

MORE PARIS NEWS, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WANT IT:

If Paris Hilton is going to continue to entertain us after she gets out of jail, she'll have to find a new agent. The agency she had, Endeavor, in Beverly Hills, announced yesterday that Hilton's been fired. Meanwhile, outraged relatives of prisoners they wanted to visit were big time steamed at Paris Hilton's mom and dad who were allowed to go straight to the front of the line while others had to wait many hours. It does make you wonder about the possibility of campaign contributions, doesn't it?

THINGS ARE PLANNING TO HEAT UP ON "SHARK":

Producers of the CBS hit show "Shark" announced yesterday that they're looking for an attractive woman to play James Woods' ex-wife who will move back from New York to explore the possibility of new "sparks" between the two while she also tries to be more involved with daughter Julie who's played by Danielle Panabaker. Jeri Ryan will also be a "sparks" provider with Woods' character next season which makes one wonder if an idea from "Grey's Anatomy" has been stolen by the "Shark" folks.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE GAY ISSUE:

Vice President Dick Cheney has been one of these hard-line guys when it comes to gays in the military and gays in general. The gays in the military thing has cost this country more Arabic speaking translators than we now have, but that's a story for another time. Vice President Cheney's problem with gay rights in general is interesting because his gay daughter recently gave Vice President Cheney a new grandchild. Isn't it time for a reporter to ask the Vice President (because of who he is) if his previously announced views about gays has changed?

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