Actor Alec Baldwin, a staunch Democrat, is eyeing a possible run for Congress. Baldwin could announce that he's leaving 30 ROCK sometime this year if he intends to get an early start on a run for a Congressional seat during the 2010 midterm elections. However, it is not entirely clear from which district Baldwin might decide to run from.
But the perhaps the biggest elephant in the room is the volatile temperament of Baldwin, who had an infamous breakup with actress Kim Basinger that made steady tabloid news a few years ago. And when CNN's Jack Cafferty suggested that Baldwin may not be as qualified as Al Franken to serve in Congress, Baldwin had a few choice words in response to Cafferty.
The fact of the matter is that Baldwin has the intelligence to become an excellent member of Congress. And he has the passion to make a hard run as well. But that sometimes volatile temperament is a huge liability to Baldwin who needs to keep it in check if he really intends to be successful. Some actors who have been successful have easy going types such as singer Sonny Bono or "B" grade actor Ronald Reagan. Baldwin is a straight type A personality by comparison with too much passion for what he believes in. And that might present his biggest political liability by far.
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Alec Baldwin
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Comments (7)
"Hey, I look just as bloate... (Below threshold)1. Posted by LaMedusa | July 11, 2009 12:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Hey, I look just as bloated as Al Franken, so why not? Besides, I'm an alien in an evil plot to take over the world!" (hulu commercial)
1. Posted by LaMedusa | July 11, 2009 12:47 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 11, 2009 12:47
2. Posted by GarandFan | July 11, 2009 4:25 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"The fact of the matter is that Baldwin has the intelligence to become an excellent member of Congress."
Oh? And on what do you base the "fact" of his intelligence Paul? The fact that he's a "staunch Democrat"?
If so, your standards for intelligence are very low indeed.
2. Posted by GarandFan | July 11, 2009 4:25 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on July 11, 2009 16:25
3. Posted by Paul Hooson | July 11, 2009 5:50 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Hello LaMadusa and GarandFan. Alec Baldwin has acted as a spokesman for plenty of organizations and causes in the past, so his ability to manage question from audiences, or to speak well on issues is not in question. It is however his temperament, which is sometimes volatile that needs to be held in check. For example, Baldwin was very quick to respond to some comments by Jack Cafferty the other day, whereas most persons would simply let such comments pass.
Baldwin appears qualified enough to run for Congress. But that temperament issue is something that Baldwin needs to be careful with.
3. Posted by Paul Hooson | July 11, 2009 5:50 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on July 11, 2009 17:50
4. Posted by LaMedusa | July 11, 2009 10:45 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well, we'll have to see if he gets the job, Paul. If he does and morphs into Franken's twin, then the trend will be more than obvious.
4. Posted by LaMedusa | July 11, 2009 10:45 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 11, 2009 22:45
5. Posted by Eric | July 11, 2009 10:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I read during the election campaigns that many of the establishment Democrats really weren't happy with Al Franken running or the Senate. They were afraid that if he won it would set a precedent among the Hollywood crowd and they would be faced with a bunch of rich bored celebs thinking it would be fashionable to run for politics.
5. Posted by Eric | July 11, 2009 10:56 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 11, 2009 22:56
6. Posted by Michael Laprarie | July 12, 2009 8:31 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Paul,
One thing that people seem to forget about people like Sonny Bono and Arnold Schwarzenegger and even Ronald Reagan is that they were all very successful in other endeavors besides acting.
Sonny Bono knew the business side of the entertainment industry inside-out and worked for years as a songwriter, talent agent, and record producer. Arnold Schwarzenegger earned a degree in business and international economics and became a millionaire outside of the film industry by investing his winnings as a bodybuilding champion in California real estate, and then shrewdly managing those investments. Ronald Reagan served as president of the Screen Actor's Guild from 1947 - 1952 and then again in 1959. Wikipedia notes, "Reagan led SAG through eventful years that were marked by labor-management disputes, the Taft-Hartley Act, House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) hearings and the Hollywood blacklist era."
As far as I know, Baldwin has not been involved in business or public service, which would seem to limit his qualifying experience as a political candidate. Yet though I'm not really a fan of Alec Baldwin, I appreciate his commitment to the belief that one does not have to be an Ivy League graduate in order to serve as an elected representative. That kind of elitist attitude is as dangerous as it is deceptive.
6. Posted by Michael Laprarie | July 12, 2009 8:31 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on July 12, 2009 08:31
7. Posted by BPG | July 12, 2009 10:25 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I can't support Alec Baldwin for political office. I already know he will not keep any campaign promises. He couldn't decide if he was leaving the U.S. after President Bush won in 2000.
But if he calls Bawney Fwank a "thoughtless little pig" in front of Congress, it might be worth the price of admission.
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/leave.asp
7. Posted by BPG | July 12, 2009 10:25 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on July 12, 2009 10:25