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Vote for them, they're famous Anyone Can Play! Anyone Can Win!By Rick Horowitz In the afternoon, the president was standing outside the White House, taking on the tobacco industry, sending veiled threats to the North Koreans. This would be President Clinton. He's still the president. That evening, the president was limping around inside the White House, taking on the religious right, worrying about the safety of Cuban boat people. This would be President Sheen. He's the president, too. Actually, this wouldn't be President Sheen. It would be President Bartlet -- President Josiah Bartlet -- who was being played by Martin Sheen. Martin Sheen is an actor. He's not really a president. He's just playing a president on TV. That was the same night "Adviser to Donald Trump" was on TV. "Adviser to Donald Trump" was on TV the very same night that President Bartlet was on TV, just a few hours after President Clinton was on TV. I didn't watch "Adviser to Donald Trump." I didn't catch "Adviser to "Donald Trump"'s actual name either, but that's how he was billed on the network promos: "Adviser to Donald Trump." Donald Trump isn't the president, or even an actor playing the president. He's a real-estate tycoon with an ego twice the size of his tallest office tower. But he's thinking about running for president. That's why he has an "Adviser." "Adviser to Donald Trump" was going to talk to the "Crossfire" gang about all that. He was going to talk to the "Crossfire" gang about "advising" Donald Trump about running for president. I'm sure it was fascinating. I also missed seeing "Adviser to Cybill Shepherd." "Adviser to Cybill Shepherd" was going to be on the very same TV show that "Adviser to Donald Trump" was going to be on, and for the very same reason: Cybill Shepherd is also thinking about running for president. Cybill Shepherd isn't a real-estate tycoon with an ego twice the size of an office tower. She's an actress with a terrific smile and a pretty good flair for comedy. "Adviser to Cybill Shepherd" may have been planning to tell the "Crossfire" gang that Cybill Shepherd was only joking about running for president. ("Bill, you know what a flair for comedy Cybill Shepherd has!") But it seemed unlikely. You don't sign on to be "Adviser to Cybill Shepherd" if all you're going to do is tell people like the "Crossfire" gang why your client isn't running for president. Do you remember when actors had personal trainers? I remember. Now I'm waiting to hear that Martin Sheen has an "Adviser." That he's "considering all his options." That he wants to "give something back." I'm wrestling with confusion here -- and confusion is winning. Donald Trump. Cybill Shepherd. Who's next? Is the idea to make Warren Beatty look like a serious candidate? Warren Beatty is thinking of running for president, too -- but you knew that. Jesse Ventura (speaking of wrestling) says he's not thinking of running for president -- not this time, anyway -- but nobody's convinced he won't change his mind if the circumstances are right. Jesse Ventura is still another actor -- or did you think that all that mayhem in the ring was totally spontaneous? At least Jesse Ventura's had the good grace to stop off in a governor's mansion on his way to the White House. That's the way Ronald Reagan did it. It worked for Ronald Reagan. You don't want to treat the presidency as an entry-level job. Or maybe you do. Maybe you can switch careers midstream and start right at the top of your newly chosen field. And why not? It's not as if the professional politicians are setting voters' hearts atwitter. I'm wrestling with confusion here, but I'm also sensing opportunity. Personal opportunity. If Cybill Shepherd can run for president, if Warren Beatty can run for president, there's no reason I can't make a move of my own. There's absolutely no reason I can't abandon what I'm doing and take the leap of a lifetime. Run for president? Me? Don't be silly. I'm going where the openings are. I'm running for Hollywood. Posted 9/24/99. Run
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Rick Horowitz