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Wednesday 28 July 2010
Leading article: Ready or not?
The news that the singer and philanthropist, Wyclef Jean, is contemplating a run for the Haitian presidency prompts thoughts about those from the world of entertainment who attempt to cross over into the realm of politics. The record is a mixed one. Ronald Reagan did well. And Arnold Schwarzenegger made it to the governor's mansion in California. Clint Eastwood had a brief spell as a Californian town mayor in the 1980s, but soon (thankfully) returned to films. Jerry Springer went the other way, becoming a talk show host after being a politician in Cincinnati. Here in Britain, we have Glenda Jackson in the House of Commons. The former AC Milan striker and world footballer of the year, George Weah, has been active in Liberian politics, but missed out in the 2005 presidential elections.
If there is a pattern it seems to be that the more successful the star is in their first career, the less successful they are when they start grubbing for votes or climbing the greasy pole. So the prospect of Wyclef, with his millions of record sales, going into politics would not seem to bode particularly well for Haiti. Perhaps, they should ask him to stick with the ambassadorial and fundraising duties. After all, there is more than one way for someone to serve their country. And few politicians can rap well.
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This week's big questions: How best to react to Woolwich? Has Miliband got what it takes? And is Stephen King right about ebooks?
Ian Rankin -
What, let gays get married? We must be bonkers
Mark Steel -
Dogma will always lead to murder. In the end, scepticism is the only answer
A C Grayling -
The Daily Cartoon
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Farewell, Shameless. Your heirs have work to do
Owen Jones
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Editorial: Salutary lessons from a libellous tweet from Sally Bercow
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As Hay-on-Wye opens this week, it's time for book festivals to open a new and exciting chapter
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Tim Key: 'If you don't have to tranquilise an animal to get it into your zoo it shouldn't come in'
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The Holocaust can’t be a joke – least of all in Berlin
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The new version of Ibsen's Public Enemy is a drama where democracy doesn't win any votes
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