'The Old Man and the Seat'

Actor Clint Eastwood lecturing an invisible President Obama at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday night. ( Getty Images via @daylife)

An editorial in The Record today refers to actor and director Clint Eastwood, whose bizarre performance at the Republican National Convention almost made Democrats forget all of the lies from Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

But Eastwood got only a one-paragraph mention in The Record's convention coverage on Friday (A-6), the night after he stared at, questioned and reacted to an empty chair holding an invisible President Obama. 

"The Daily Show" referred to Eastwood's unscripted appearance as "The Old Man and the Seat."

A different Eastwood

I must be the only one who remembers Eastwood's inspirational Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler -- which appeared to rally a recession-crippled America behind the Obama administration's recovery program.

In "It's Halftime in America," Eastwood acknowledges "division, discord and blame" -- an apparent reference to the divisive partisan rhetoric that paralyzes Congress.

"Now," he says, "Motor City is fighting again.... Detroit is showing us it can be done."

More GOP lies

Of course, Eastwood didn't mention then -- and Romney and Ryan don't give credit now -- for the Obama administration's bailout of Chrysler and General Motors, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs saved by that move.

Nor do the Republicans ever mention stimulus programs that have put tens of thousands back to work repairing the nation's infrastructure, including bridges, roads and highways.

In a pointed reference to Romney's promise to put people back to work, today's editorial reminds readers, "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does" (O-2).

But government action -- such as the bailout of two of the Big Three -- can save jobs, as it did in Detroit.

Here's is a link to the Super Bowl commercial:

It's Halftime in America

Page 1 snorefest

One look at today's front page can put you to sleep.

If Hackensack residents wonder why coverage of their city is so poor, they'll find the answer in the main element on Page 1 about an abortion doctor who now lives in Florida, recounting events dating to 1972 in Englewood Cliffs.

The story, by Hackensack reporter Stephanie Akin, must be another special commissioned by head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes or her clueless deputy, Dan Sforza.

Local snorefest 

On the front of the Local news section, readers find more illuminating coverage of rising gasoline prices, with the obligatory bitching from drivers who claim they're forced to cut back in other areas (L-1).

Of course, there's no mention that the best antidote to gas-pump sticker shock is trading in your gas-guzzling car or SUV for a more fuel-efficient vehicle and using a credit card that gives you a 4% rebate -- or more than 14 cents off on a $3.69 gallon of regular.

If you drive a hybrid, you can get around 50 mpg, plus a Green E-ZPass, which gives you discounts on Hudson River tolls, as well as those on the turnpike and parkway.

At the Hudson River, Green Pass holders are charged $4 off-peak vs. $7.50 for other E-ZPass drivers.

Also on L-1 today, Road Warrior John Cichowski finds another way to write a so-called commuting column without leaving the office.