With the success of operas by John Adams about Richard Nixon, Robert Oppenheimer, and Leon Klinghoffer I've wondered what other modern events or people would make for great opera. One that comes to mind is Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings (complete with a chorus of Republican House members). I would not want to wallow in that mess for the years it would take me to write it. More serious operas could be written on the lives of Nelson Mandela, John Glenn, and Winston Churchill. I've proposed the idea to opera quiz shows, but my question was probably too convoluted for them to use. I welcome suggestions of other operatic personalities.
Alexandra Petri, writing a Washington Post Opinion column, notes that it appears Rick Santorum is not running against Obama, but against Dan Savage. Several years ago Santorum compared gays to "man on dog." Savage retaliated by offering a contest to redefine Santorum's last name. You can find the winning entry by Googling "santorum" -- it is at the top of the results -- and it is not rated G.
And now Santorum is trying to run for prez. while having a "Google problem." He is desperately trying to attract attention, but is managing to do it in such a way as to highlight his Google problem, not make it go away. Even then the press ignores him.
In a delicious irony, I've heard elsewhere (alas, no link) that Fred Karger, the gay GOP candidate, has higher poll numbers than Santorum. Yup, Santorum's been topped by the gay guy.
Petri ends her article by saying, "This really should be an opera. … But this isn't a tragedy so much as it is a farce."
I'm not going to write this opera, either.
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