Wednesday, July 6
Clooney, Geldof, and Bono
Actor and fellow Kentuckian George Clooney and Djimon Hounsou made an appearance at a Q&A session with the One campaigners. Despite the fact that I am not a huge fan, I have to admit that he was very cool. He was respectful of President Bush on the issue of Africa, and even had nice things to say about Pat Robertson (Robertson and Clooney had just recently appeared on "Nightline" together). I actually overheard Clooney ask Robertson’s granddaughter (a producer with CBN) how her grandfather was. That was a nice touch. He even mentioned that he would be doing a segment with CBN for the 700 Club after our session and noted the irony by saying that "my parents will laugh."

Here is an interesting report from CBN about the pair.

With authentic humility, Clooney admitted that he was a late entry in the Africa cause. I like the honesty of all that. I certainly don’t fault these celebs for being as insulated and solipsistic as the rest of America. I don't like getting berated by Bianca Jagger or any other over-indulgent, spoiled celeb any more than the next guy, but Clooney was winsome and humorous and clearly newly-activated. It can only be applauded when celebs break out of their shell and attempt to get informed about the suffering in the world.

Simultaneously, it makes me want to puke when I read about some of these over-inflated egos (just read this report about the backstage antics of some of the celebs in London).

Let me also say that I don't think their opinion is any more profound than that of a short order cook, taxi cab driver, or an investment banker. Causes use celebs to draw publicity, not to rely upon them as a braintrust. It is what it is. (Bono and Geldof would be exceptions to the rule, let me add.)

I went back to the media room of the Balmoral Hotel – five star, luxurious accommodations – hoping to get my computer to work. This is so frustrating. When all else fails, eat. I joined Charmaine Yoest and Tony Carnes at the Guilford Arms and had a delightful dish called Orkney Dark Island Steak and Ale pie. How can you pass up something that sounds so cool?

When we got back to the hotel, Charmaine and I headed downstairs and asked for someone to hold the elevator. When we got on, there was Bob Geldof – scrubbed up and pinstriped for his meeting in a few hours with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush.

We went outside and were greeted by hundreds of fans. Of course, they were not there for us but word had gotten out that Geldof was in the house. When he emerged a few seconds after us, the crowd erupted with applause. He waved and walked right past us to be helicoptered to Gleneagles where the G8 bigwigs were meeting.

After Geldof was whisked away, I heard the guards (in kilts, no less. So bitchin’!) say that there would be one more. Sure enough, Bono came scooting out to the gasps and moans of the tenderhearted female fans. I wish I would have gotten more shots, but these are the best I could muster considering my location and circumstances.

I was disappointed that this would be my only Bono sighting while I was in Edinburgh. Nevertheless, I considered it a blessing considering that on this day he went to the Gleneagles Hotel to meet with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura, spoke at a news conference, and would show up at the Live 8 show that evening with a box of CDs with the 37 million electronic signatures of everyone who signed the Live 8 List.


While the rest of the media types were down at a reception for Paul Wolfowitz, the president of The World Bank, I headed over to the final Live 8 show at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. That was very cool. The crowd was roughly 60,000. According to the newspaper, 150,000 people had texted Live 8 in an attempt to get tickets.

“We’re all here,” Sir Geldof told the audience. “We finally got here, the gathering of the clans, from all over the world, from all over Scotland, from all over the UK. We told them we’d come. We came.” That is weird, considering I was just on the elevator with him hours ago.

George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, Claudia Schiffer, Djimon Hounsou, comedian Eddie Izzard charged up the crowd. They booed President Bush every time his picture appeared on the jumbotron.

Music was provided by Snow Patrol, Travis, the Thrills, Feeder, Embrace, Texas, Wet Wet Wet, McFly, Neneh Cherry, Sugababes, and Youssou N'Dour.

Scottish singer Annie Lennox ( Eurythmics) was stunning. Jaw-droppingly awesome. Her rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” was magnificent.

Bono came out to the sheer adulation of the worked-up Scottish crowd. “There’s a rule in the U2 group along the lines of ‘You can get away with anything in our band but you can’t play golf.” Everyone laughed. “So I have just come back from the most famous golf course in the world, Gleneagles, and I want you to know I did not play golf,” he reported. “I told them [the G8 leaders] they can play golf but they can’t play poker. The stakes are too high. There are too many lives at stake.”

He continued: “I gave them your permission to spend your money ending extreme poverty in our lifetime.”

There was a very moving video presentation from 86-year-old Nelson Mandela. "Sometimes, it falls upon a generation to be great," he said. "You can be that generation. You have that opportunity."

Bono came out to sing "When The Stars Go Blue" with the Corrs. He brought Andrea Corr a rose and waltzed with her. I could hear the women around me sighing. He is a class act, and cleans up nicely.

Running more than 90 minutes over the planned schedule, the show was closed out by, who else but the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. He was unbelievable – and in his 70’s. I don’t know how the man does it, but he was mesmerizing. What a better way to say goodbye to Edinburgh than to hear him tear the place apart.

"Tonight is the ceremony of life. Tonight is the denial of the pornography of poverty," Geldof offered as a benediction.

Despite the fact that I have to get up at 6:30 a.m., I went out to the Whistle Binkies to hear some more music with a friend and even wandered around a spooky cemetery. I am going to miss Edinburgh.

Next>