James Hirsen
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002

A couple of deluded do-gooders in Hollywood are demonstrating again just how out of touch a celebrity's life can be.

Apparently, they've forgotten how tough it is to work your tail off, only to have the government grab the bulk of your already insufficient wages.

Two of Hollywood's liberal stalwarts, Richard Lewis and Ed Asner, have written a letter to Gov. Gray Davis and the leaders in the California Legislature pleading with them to raise taxes.

Although the actors are asking for an increase on the state's top income earners, socialist-minded suggestions like these always seem to have a way of biting the average guy in the rear wallet.

Whenever fiscal irresponsibility causes deficits, we can count on the usual gang of Hollywood simpletons to come up with the higher-tax solution. And boy, does the crown of mismanagement ever fit the Gray head perfectly.

And what about trimming some of the excess spending that is rampant in the state instead?

California Democrat Assemblywoman Helen Thomson tells the Los Angeles Times that if the proposed Republican cuts are made, there will be "so little left in terms of health care, parks and education."

The Left Coast Report thinks it all sounds way too familiar - celebrities advocating the taking of somebody else's money to give to politicians so they can squander it away.

Terminator-Meathead Match-up

Two of Hollywood's well-known residents have recently shown signs of interest in the political big leagues.

Although both celebs have amused themselves with political pastimes before, there's a scent of more serious aspiration in the air. Each has hired election strategists.

If things play out as indications suggest, the race would be for the governor of the state of California. The year would be 2006. And the rivals would be none other than Bunker son-in-law "Meathead" Rob Reiner and unceasing cyborg "Terminator" Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Left Coast Report expects that in this match-up, when Arnold's done, Rob will be known as Mincemeat-head.

Woody Pecks at America

As an actor, Woody Harrelson is used to doing a lot of shooting. But now the star of "Natural Born Killers" is engaging in a different kind of rapid fire.

Following in the tradition of prior celebs who have bad-mouthed America abroad, Harrelson is shooting off his mouth to the delight of the elite in Britain.

He's out defending the latest load of debris put out on video by George Michael, which roundly ridicules Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush. Harrelson apparently sees the singer as "incredibly brave," according to the Daily Mirror.

But Woody flung his worst remarks at the U.S. He characterized the war on terror as "terrorism" itself and added, "The whole thing is just bull****."

The Left Coast Report believes if Harrelson doesn't keep his wooden-headed comments to himself, his career, like Michael's, may wind up in the loo.

Just Like Rush

Heather Whitestone made headlines as the first deaf woman in the history of the pageant to take the title of Miss America.

The stately beauty had lost 95 percent of her hearing before her second birthday. But like so many others with a similar disability, she overcame the obstacles set before her and prospered.

When she married and had children, though, she longed to hear the sounds of her little ones. So Whitestone decided to undergo cochlear implant surgery.

The implant transforms sounds, which are picked up by a microphone outside the ear, into signals that can be transmitted to the brain.

ABC's "Good Morning America" plans to cover the moment on Sept. 19 when Whitestone's implant is switched on for the first time.

Not that long ago, another prominent figure shared his struggle with deafness, and his successful implant surgery, with the world. It was legendary talk radio personality Rush Limbaugh who gave inspiration to those who might be contemplating the cochlear procedure.

In an Associated Press column, Rush said, "I'm just going to continue to lead my life the best I can and let that be an example."

The Left Coast Report believes he obviously is.

Serena's New Serve

It looks like the world's top-ranked woman's tennis player is about to take up a new sport.

Reports say that the Serena half of the Williams sisters is about to bring the determination she's displayed on the court to the game of acting.

It seems that Serena has been taking drama classes and has even hired a private acting coach. On her list of favorite leading men are Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman.

When asked if she was serious about a career in the entertainment biz, Williams replied that she's "serious as a heart attack."

There's a question as to whether Serena's politics are similar to those of sister Venus, who, after winning the U.S. Open, surprised then-President Clinton with the question, "Can you lower my taxes?"

The Left Coast Report hopes that conservatism runs in the family and Serena is able to surprise the Hollywood community with more than just her acting skills.

Fight or Flight

Alec Baldwin has made another public statement he may live to regret.

Baldwin recently boasted that he would make short work of Richard Johnson, the editor of the New York Post's "Page Six" column.

Now the Post reports that odds-maker Danny Sheridan has calculated the wagering line on such a would-be event. Sheridan puts Johnson as the 3-to-1 favorite.

In his column, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Johnson laid down a mano-a-mano challenge to Baldwin.

He used some words that are sure to ring loudly in the new "Hollywood Squares" resident's ears: "Anytime. Anywhere."

The Left Coast Report wonders where Don King is when you need him. As for the betting, the smart money's on RJ.

No Pulling Us Apart

Sources report that Oscar-winning lover of liberty Charlton Heston has symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Heston recently demonstrated his trademark courage as he made the startling revelation out of concern that he may be unable to do so later.

"I'm neither giving up nor giving in. I wanted to prepare a few words for you now because when the time comes I may not be able to. I worked my whole life on the stage and screen before you. I found purpose and meaning in your response. For an actor, there is no greater loss than the loss of his audience. I can part the Red Sea, but I can't part with you."

Words could never express the gratitude that conservatives hold for Charlton Heston.

But the Left Coast Report has a message back for the man of conviction, stature and dignity: There'll be no talk of parting, because we hold fast to the faith that eventually we'll reach the Promised Land together.

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

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