Let Them Eat Cake Alive & Well in Beverly Hills

[housewolf]

aka "The Gilded Age reincarnated today in Beverly Hills"


Foreign/Nuclear Policy, New America Foundation, The Atlantic's Washington editor Steve Clemmons comments on his recent visit to Beverly Hills and contrasts with environment in Washington DC

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/let-them-eat-cake-alive-well-in-beverly-hills/242417/

But now I'm visiting California, sitting as I write this on top of the next gen posh SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, a very nice Starwood Hotel property, and the place is thumping, sort of like the hippest crowd you can imagine on the finest cruise line heading to Ibiza. Many different types here -- but also a lot of Arabic speaking guys grabbing high end bottles of champagne at the bar for their tables and pool spots.

I've talked to some people here, and there is just no interest in Afghanistan, or Pakistan, or al Qaeda; some people asked what the debt limit was (and I'm sort of assuming that most of these folks here have made some of their income off increasing the size of other peoples' and firms' debt).

The gay crowd seemed to be unaware that Obama and the Pentagon certified the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell yesterday -- starting a 60 day clock when gays and lesbians would be able to serve openly and without consequence in the military services. They really didn't know -- but after I raised it, they said that that was a great thing! Some progress.

This crowd is the flapper crowd, the F. Scott Fitzgerald, not a concern in the world crowd -- and few of them seem to worry that their bubble could pop if Boehner and Cantor misstep, if a debt deal is not reached -- and even then, millions of Americans who are driving this economy remain without jobs.

more...
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/let-them-eat-cake-alive-well-in-beverly-hills/242417/

[leveymg]

1. Reminds me less of F Scott Fitzgerald and more of the Independence Day LA high-rise scene

We welcome our new alien overlords, provided they continue to pay their bar tabs.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

2. I dunno, try asking me the same questions on my holidays

Harassing people on their holidays isn't the basis of a sound sociological study.

[gateley]

3. Sad. They just don't care. nt

[pansypoo53219]

4. roll out the guillotines.

i've been reading french history in my 1891 encyclopedia britannica.(great bathroom reading an arm exercise-5lb volume). i just got to the storming of the bastille. it was less louis XVI's fault and marie antoinette was quite the leona helmsley/paris hilton. but it was previous kings. can you say georgee w bush/ronald reagan?