OPRAH IS HOSTING A BARACK OBAMA FUNDRAISER AT HER SANTA BARBARA HOME!

According to a story in today's Los Angeles Times, a fundraiser e-mail was sent out yesterday that included different ways folks could get close to the man (Barack Obama) who would like to be president and the woman who is already (in the eyes of many) The Queen. Queen of what? Who cares? She's Oprah Winfrey.

If you'd like to get an invitation to Oprah's fab Santa Barbara estate on the 8th of September, to get in the door, it costs you only $2300. If you'd like to stay for a VIP reception, $25,000 will get you that ticket! Oh, you'd like to stay for dinner? No problem. $50,000 will allow you to fill your stomach.

This is no small endorsement, folks. Ask any author that Oprah has championed. Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman isn't exaggerating when he says Oprah's endorsement of Barack Obama is "better than the Good Housekeeping seal."

Meanwhile, in the new Newsweek, Anna Quindlen's "The Last Word" column advises Hillary Clinton to approach Barack Obama about being her running mate. But she also mentions there could be an argument for turning that around.

WHILE WE CHEW ON THAT, WHAT'S UP WITH OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT?

President Bush's top counterterrorism advisers have given the president some bad news. The strategy for fighting Osama bin Laden's leadership of al-Qaida in Pakistan has failed. A cynic's first thought would be, "That's news?", but like with all things, it's a bit more complicated than that. President Bush rolled the dice big time on Pakistan's president, a General, who's as qualified to be a General as much as Brownie was qualified to run FEMA. As qualified as Bush is to run the country? I'll let you answer that question!

MICHAEL VICK INDICTED FOR A DOGFIGHTING OPERATION GOING BACK TO 2001!

Oh, those Vick brothers. Both of 'em appear to be familiar with the word trouble and that's with a Capital "T"! Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is facing up to six years in jail if he's convicted of being "the lead dog", pun intended, in a dogfighting operation that goes back at least six years. If you're a dog lover like I am, when you read what law enforcement officials say these animals were put through by whatever form of savages were running this operation, it will make you sick.

Atlanta Falcons fans are pretty much concerned with one question: Will Michael Vick play football this season? No answer to that question has been provided because the silence from Falcons' headquarters is whacha call, "deafening".

SHOWBIZ STUFF:

NBC seems to be making changes on a daily basis as far as what their new fall schedule will look like. But, when you're at the bottom and you have new leadership, that's to be expected. NBC's latest change is to add "The Singing Bee" this fall instead of after the first of the year. I haven't seen it, but apparently it's some kind of singing reality show.

Yesterday, NBC hosted a gathering of stars to promote "Bionic Woman" and most of them showed up, but the one who didn't make an appearance is the one who most of the questions were about. That would be Isaiah Washington who was added to "Bionic Woman" just a few days ago. The questions about Washington's no-show prompted questions that NBC would rather have not dealt with. Short Commentary: Washington was in a lose-lose position here. I can understand why he didn't show up. "Bionic Woman" is a new show and they're looking for all the good publicity they can get. I believe that Washington felt his appearance would be a distraction. It turns out that this is just another example of the saying, "No good deed goes unpunished."

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A new blog is written every morning, Monday through Friday and is posted between 7 and 7:15, Pacific Time. Sometimes earlier. Questions and comments can be sent to scottstjames@sbcglobal.net. I do write back.

TOMORROW: It didn't take long for the child molesting priests and (especially) their enabling cardinal to get out of the news, did it?