candidate

The Candidate
$13.95
As a longtime reader of lesbian romance novels, I understand the need to save the genre and I appreciate Bella Books efforts to lead the way. This book, however, is not a flagship franchise book--it's not even Harlequin Romance quality.

The dialogue is chunky and awkward; the author doesn't appear to make any effort to research what being a Secret Service Agent or a Presidential Candidate would be like; and the supporting characters are mere cardboard cutouts meant to provide exposition and set up scenes between the protagonists. Further, there's nothing realistic about the "but I'm straight" dilemma that the main character tries to deal with. There's lots of potential here, but no follow through.

If you'd like a challenging story about two living, breathing women in a similar situation, try Radclyffe's Above All, Honor (Tunnel of Light Trilogy) series and skip this book.

The Manchurian Candidate (Widescreen Edition)
$9.98
The film begins with soldiers gambling. The flames suggest the Iraq war of 1991. There is an ambush. Sergeant Raymond Shaw won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle. Years later Major Marco tells the Boy Scouts about this event. Corporal Melvin tells of his bad dreams. A news program tells of problems for the American people. Congressman Raymond Shaw makes a speech to cheers. "We can prevail." [Who is "we"?] Politicians pick the party ticket. Elly Shaw pleads for her son Congressman Shaw as the VP. It works. Does Major Marco recover a forgotten memory? "Don't touch me." Marco gets his orders and meds. Shaw practices his rhetoric on the public. Later he has a strange experience. What about his brain? "Do you remember me?"

Marco meets Eugen���e Rose on the train to New York city. Who would implant a chip in his back? [Does the film start to drag here?] Does the conversation between Shaw and Marco seem real? Is the confrontation too dramatic? "He hit me!" Did the Army experiment on its soldiers? Will that physician work on Marco? Can a brain be rebooted from a crash? Can he recover his memory? [Is the story becoming weird?] Marco reads about "Manchurian Global". Senator Thomas Jordan explains it to Marco. Later he discusses this with Raymond and Eleanor Shaw! Does Jordan have a suggestion to regain the VP slot? Will this problem be neutralized? Jocelyn runs out of the house without a cell phone or firearm! Does it look like an accident?

Is the Shadow Unit watching Marco? Could a powerful corporation use scientists to create global changes? Will friendship trump sworn duty? Does Elly have more balls in her game? There is another meeting between Shaw and Marco. Was this foreseen? Is there a diabolical plot? Will the country be saved? Will there be a dramatic and shocking ending? [You know its coming.] Will the plan go wrong? And so another "lone gunman" changes history again. Will history be rewritten again?

This more complex recreation of the original isn't as good. But it is good enough if you never saw the 1962 film or read the novel by Richard Condon. Was the personality of Elly based on a well-known politician? There was no need for "Manchurian" in the title given the extensive changes in the story. "The Corporate Candidate" would be more apt. Corporations have been controlling politicians since the Civil War era. Before that the privilege of limited liability was reserved only for those who served the public need (water supplies, canals, railroads).
[I wonder if the original story of a lost patrol that led to political success was a subtle parody of PT-109? What would happen to America if someone became President because his father was a powerful politician or Executive?]

Oxengate
$26.99
This is the 2007 follow up to their Under The Skylon album from '05 but musically, it is closer in spirit to their 2002 classic Muada. Oxengate sees Candidate collaborating with musicians ranging from long-time Beth Gibbons collaborator Jason Hazeley to Broken Family Band mainman Steven Adams. Snowstorm.

The Candidate
$19.98
I saw this when it came out and was utterly riveted by it. It was the first political film I had ever seen and got me interested in politics, of which I became quite the junky.

This time around, I got it for my kids. I admit that I watched it with some trepidation, hoping I would like it as much as I did the first time. Fortunately, it passed the test! We all became engrossed and discussed it afterwards.

One scary thing about the film, as my left-wing wife put, is how little has changed - the US has scarcely moved on from the issues as presented in the film. First, abortion is a big deal, as is gun control. Second, there is the issue of government involvement in the economy, decried as socialist etc etc. Third, there is the environment, also hotly debated in much the same terms as today - developers v. tree huggers. Finally, the best portrayed issue is the campaign process itself, which transmogrifies the candidate's message with the necessity of TV's dumbing down. As we can see with the incendiary tactics used today, not even the internet has changed things much.

Warmly recommended. This film demonstrates the potential that film can have in sparking thought and debate. That it is so relevant is depressing.