Jun

5

At Book Expo America 2007 I sat six inches from the Palindrome and about 14 from James Wolfensohn. Teresa Heinz-Kerry made an impression on me I had not expected, and all three came off as okay, ignoring all the negative and ruinously perverse things the Palindrome is known for. Females rushed up to him after the presentation and gushed at how "wonderful" and "inspiring" he is/was to them.

I noted that he came into the hall virtually unnoticed and then, bemused, watched as Heinz-Kerry was greeted by well-wishers. Wolfensohn was also kissed and hugged by many, but no one greeted the Palindrome or said hello or dared hug him. He mounted the petite podium near me and sat at his name card.

The four panelists spoke of how the business of business is usually profit, but greening can and should play a role in programs especially where feasible. Heinz-Kerry went on about educational initiatives with poor minority children. Wolfensohn spoke of investments for helping the economy of poorer nations to catch up with the wealthier.

Wendy Kopp was the fourth panelist and the moderator was first, C-Span's Brian Lamb. He was mild and effective, pleasant to listen to and possessed of a self-effacing good humor ("Sometimes, in the course of our long time on the air, C-Span is very exciting (pause) and sometimes, it's very… boring!" Laughter all around). Some heavy hitters were present, including the fellow who bankrolled C-Span and kept his hands far off editorial meddling 20 years ago, and some bigfeet from the WSJ and the NYT.

Most surprising were the shocking lack of publicity to this panel and the fact that none of those charged with supplying "information'' to attendees were aware of the panel, although it was arguably the most important (a bigger one in terms of cost and fanfare was Alan Alda's, with Valerie Plame) Paul (the always wrong and not-so-very-smart) Krugman, and hip-hop's Russell Simmons on the dais. But they were flacking books, and the luncheon was the other draw.

The Palindrome's panel had had no food seduction on board. Alda's was a vastly Democrat audience, evidently, judging by the incomprehensible standing-O Plame got for her modest few words. There were, my estimate, 1,000 people at the Alda-emcee'd luncheon. His best remark:

"I have ransacked and rummaged around in my memories and anecdotes to family and friends, and finally figured out the purpose of life. Oh, I see that my time is short… so I will introduce the first speaker…" Groans and laughter.

The luncheon meeting was a uniformly bash-Dubbya event, with Krugman leading the band, Plame not missing an opportunity to castigate, and only Simmons remained Yoda-like in his plea for contemplative rationality and moderation in one's being.


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