Opinion: In today’s pages: Oscar counters, Super Bowl highlights, religious right
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Columnist Joel Stein hangs out with the Oscar accountants:
PriceWaterhouse seems to have more safety systems in place than the Air Force department in charge of transporting nuclear missiles. The counting location is kept secret. Counters work in groups but don’t know one another’s totals. ‘Winners’ envelopes are prepared for every nominee; the losers’ are shredded after the ceremony. Rosas and Oltmanns also memorize the winners and take separate cars to the show. So I was shocked to find out that no one checks to make sure [Rick] Rosas and [Brad] Oltmanns didn’t just make winners up -- either for fun or under the threat of violence from a Weinstein brother.
Writer Woody Woodburn recalls his Super Bowl highlight -- miraculously surviving a car accident just after the game in 2003. Author Philip Jenkins notes that the religious right has splintered, but tough times could bring it back.
The editorial board says the U.S. can’t afford to lose Canada and NATO’s support in Afghanistan. The board also tells California lawmakers not to micromanage lenders, and praises a wage deal for private security guards.
Readers react to the new animosity between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. San Clemente’s Denise Gee says, ‘Right now, there is not one candidate in any party I could visualize taking charge of our country, bringing back dignity and honor to the office, providing real change and restoring America’s place in the world.’