This particular rhetoric about The Sinister Influence of Hollywood seems based on an unexamined premise: The political influence of Hollywood celebrities. But I'm hard-pressed to think of a celebrity who can be considered truly influential, i.e. somebody who wields actual power and can deliver actual votes. Remember, you're saying all this at the nadir of Liberal power--how do you reconcile their failure with your demonization?

Actually, I can think of some Hollywood celebrities who wield or have wielded real power, but they don't support your premise. Schwartzenegger and Reagan come naturally to mind, and even Sonny Bono got a kiddie seat at the Republican power lunch. On the Democratic side we have...?

Near as I can figure, this misconception of Hollywood's power has been fostered in part by Hollywood itself. They're hoist on their own petard to have made themselves such a flamboyant target, by occasionally in their own product portraying Hollywood movers and shakers pulling the strings, portray politicians crawling to them for money and PR expertise. "Wag the Dog" was an infomercial for Hollywood's political power. But I think it's likely just the wish-fulfillment of people in the business of creating wish-fulfillment.

Can you demonstrate that Hollywood has any real power? I want to specify that I mean in terms of results. No question that celebrities won't shut up for an instant about their political views, but the real question here is whether it makes any difference.