9/28/01

LC010928

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> HE'S CRISSCROSSING THE STATE WITH A MESSAGE ABOUT RENEWING THE CALIFORNIA DREAM, BUT BILL SIMON FACES SOME MAJOR HURDLES IN HIS BID TO BECOME OUR NEXT GOVERNOR. THE BIGGEST ONE MAY BE THE OTHER MILLIONAIRE WHO WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR, FORMER L.A. MAYOR RICHARD RIORDAN.

VAL>> IN THE MEANTIME, OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR TRIES ONCE MORE TO RESCUE EDISON FROM BANKRUPTCY WHILE CURRENT L.A. MAYOR, JAMES HAHN, PUSHES AHEAD WITH PLANS TO PUT LAPD OFFICERS ON A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE. MADDOX & HEWITT DISCUSS NEWS OF THE WEEK.

JESS>> AND STICK AROUND. TONIGHT'S SHOW WILL HAVE A SURPRISE ENDING, SOMETHING WE'RE SURE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW, ALONG WITH OUR POLITICAL REGULARS, HUGH HEWITT AND KERMAN MADDOX.

CALIFORNIANS MAY NOT BE THINKING A LOT ABOUT POLITICS THESE DAYS, BUT OUR GUEST TONIGHT IS TRYING TO NUDGE THEM GENTLY IN THAT DIRECTION. BILL SIMON IS A LOS ANGELES BUSINESSMAN. HE IS OTHER L.A. MILLIONAIRE WHO WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR.

VAL>> ONE OF SIMON'S CAMPAIGN THEMES IS RESTORING THE CALIFORNIA DREAM. HE EMPHASIZES FOUR AREAS WHERE THE STATE NEEDS WORK: SCHOOLS, WATER, ROADS AND POWER. BUT A POLL RELEASED THIS WEEK SHOWS THAT SIMON HAS A LOT TO DO IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. WHEN VOTERS WERE ASKED HOW THEY VIEW THE GOVERNOR AND THE THREE REPUBLICANS LIKELY TO OPPOSE HIM, ONLY FIVE PERCENT HAD A FAVORABLE VIEW OF SIMON. MORE THAN EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE VOTERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE POLL HAD NO OPINION ABOUT HIM AT ALL.

JESS>> MR. SIMON, YOU'RE PROBABLY GETTING TIRED OF BEING DESCRIBED AS THE OTHER MILLIONAIRE, BUT YOU'VE ALSO TRIED TO LABEL YOURSELF A COMMON SENSE CONSERVATIVE.

BILL SIMON>> THAT'S RIGHT, JESS.

JESS>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

BILL SIMON>> WELL, I HAVE A CONSERVATIVE PHILOSOPHY IN MANY RESPECTS, BUT I LIKE TO THINK AS A BUSINESSMAN AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN ACTIVE IN CHARITIES AND HAS SPONSORED MANY, MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF VENTURES, THAT I'M A BUILDER AND A PROBLEM SOLVER. SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, HAVING BEEN INVOLVED WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, I LOOK FOR COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS.

JESS>> HOW DOES THAT COMPARE WITH COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVE?

BILL SIMON>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO THINK I'M COMPASSIONATE TOO. YOU KNOW, IN MY CHARITY -- I'VE SPONSORED OVER TWENTY CHARITIES OVER THESE YEARS AND I ALWAYS LOOK FOR SITUATIONS WHERE WE CAN HELP PEOPLE, TO GIVE THEM A BOOST.

JESS>> BUT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BORROW GEORGE W.'S SLOGAN, THOUGH?

BILL SIMON>> WELL, I THINK THAT -- I HAVE MY OWN SLOGAN. (LAUGHTER)

HUGH>> BILL SIMON, LET ME ASK YOU. YOU WERE ALSO A NEW YORKER BEFORE YOU MOVED TO CALIFORNIA MANY YEARS AGO, AN ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. WATCHING THE EVENTS OF NOW TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AGO, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS AND WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THAT HAPPENED?

BILL SIMON>> WELL, HUGH, I ACTUALLY WAS IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE TIME THAT THE PLANE HIT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. I WAS ACTUALLY HAVING BREAKFAST WITH MAYOR GIULIANI.

VAL>> WOW. YOU WERE THERE WHEN HE GOT THE NEWS?

BILL SIMON>> I WAS THERE WHEN HE GOT THE NEWS. YOU KNOW, HE'S AGREED TO ENDORSE ME AND COME OUT HERE AND CAMPAIGN. WE WERE DISCUSSING STRATEGY AND WHEN HE MIGHT COME OUT. FOR EXAMPLE, HE WANTED TO COME OUT WHEN THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES MIGHT BE PLAYING ONE ANOTHER. BUT WE GOT THE CALL ABOUT TEN OF NINE. WE'D STARTED BREAKFAST AT ABOUT EIGHT. RUDY LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, "BILL, YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS. A PLANE HAS HIT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER." SO WE GOT UP AND WALKED OUT TOGETHER.

AT FIRST WE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT IT ULTIMATELY WAS. YOU KNOW, RUDY THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PRIVATE PLANE, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE FULL STORY. HE HEADED DOWNTOWN AND I HEADED TO SOME MEETINGS THAT I HAD IN NEW YORK. LATER ON IN THE DAY, WE SPOKE AND I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HIS STAFF. IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SERIES OF EVENTS. I DON'T NEED TO TELL ALL OF YOU, I'M SURE, HAVE BEEN TOUCHED IN MANY WAYS. I LOST MY COUSIN, MICHAEL, AND I LOST FIVE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS THAT I GREW UP WITH IN THE TRAGEDY.

VAL>> I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT, BUT YOU GOT ON A PLANE AND FLEW BACK, OBVIOUSLY. YOU'RE HERE.

BILL SIMON>> WELL, I STAYED THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. MOST OF US COULDN'T GET OUT OF NEW YORK RIGHT AWAY. IT WASN'T REALLY UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT THAT I GOT HOME AND TUESDAY, OF COURSE, WAS THE DAY OF THE TRAGEDY.

VAL>> ANY TREPIDATION ABOUT FLYING?

BILL SIMON>> NO, NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY TREPIDATION ABOUT FLYING.

JESS>> BUT THIS MAKES CAMPAIGNING DIFFICULT, DOESN'T IT? TO GET PEOPLES' ATTENTION?

BILL SIMON>> WELL, YOU KNOW, JESS, IN SOME WAYS IT DOES, BUT I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IN SOME WAYS, IT'S BEEN A REINFORCEMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL REASONS WHY I WANTED TO RUN. YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT YOU WANT TO STAND UP AND TRY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CALIFORNIANS AND TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AS I'VE TRIED TO DO IN BUSINESS. I FEEL EVEN MORE STRONGLY BECAUSE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT OF SEPTEMBER 11 IS AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE EVENTS IN PALESTINE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING AND BURNING OUR FLAG, YOU KNOW, I'M REMINDED OF THAT EXPRESSION THAT FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE.

KERMAN>> MR. SIMON, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA HAS GOT SOME REAL SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION IS DIVERTED TO THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION IN NEW YORK, BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU'RE GOVERNOR TODAY, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD DO TO ADDRESS CALIFORNIA'S TRAFFIC PROBLEM?

BILL SIMON>> FIRST THING I WOULD DO, KERMAN, IS LOOK FOR TWO THINGS. I WOULD TRY TO ADD LANES AND I WOULD TRY TO DE-BOTTLENECK, AND I WOULD ALSO START LOOKING AT OPTIONS. I THINK PRIVATE TOLL ROADS ARE AN OPTION. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT I WOULD CONVENE A TASKFORCE. WE'VE GOT 17 TASKFORCES NOW THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER TO ADDRESS VARIOUS AREAS OF LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS TRANSPORTATION. BOB POOLE OF THE REASON FOUNDATION HAS AGREED TO CHAIR OUR POLICY TASKFORCE FOR TRANSPORTATION. THE KINDS OF IDEAS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO PUT FORWARD ARE THE ONES THAT I JUST MENTIONED. I'D LIKE TO TRY TO FOCUS ON PRIVATE SOLUTIONS AND OPTIONS.

KERMAN>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. THE ECONOMY. THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY, OBVIOUSLY, IS HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE AIRLINES HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THE SAG IN CALIFORNIA ECONOMY. IF YOU'RE GOVERNOR, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD DO TO JUMPSTART THIS ECONOMY?

BILL SIMON>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESS. ONE OF THE THINGS I DISAGREE WITH GRAY DAVIS IN TERMS OF HOW HE'S HANDLED THIS ENERGY CRISIS IS BY TRYING TO CALL COMPANIES THAT HE HASN'T EVEN INVESTIGATED THE BIGGEST SNAKES ON THE PLANET EARTH. THE FIRST THING A GOVERNOR SHOULD DO IN ENCOURAGING BUSINESS IS TO TALK IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING THEM TO COME TO THE STATE AND TO DO BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW, YOU REFER TO THE SOFTNESS IN THE ECONOMY, KERMAN, AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. WE HAVE GOT A CRISIS ON OUR HANDS TODAY WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET. NOW WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT MUCH AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE OTHER CRISES HAVE OCCUPIED THE HEADLINES. BUT THIS WEEK, THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST HAS MODIFIED DOWNWARDS EXPECTED TAX RECEIPTS BY $4 BILLION DOLLARS. NOW WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ORIGINALLY A BUDGET DEFICIT FOR NEXT YEAR OF $5 BILLION DOLLARS, NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A BUDGET DEFICIT OF $9 BILLION DOLLARS.

KERMAN>> SO WHAT DO YOU DO? RAISE TAXES? CUT SPENDING? WHAT DO YOU DO?

BILL SIMON>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME CUTTING OF SPENDING AND I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. I DO NOT WANT TO RAISE TAXES. I BELIEVE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN TOO BIG. WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW BIG THE GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS SINCE GRAY DAVIS FIRST WENT OFFICE, IT'S GROWN BY 37 PERCENT. DURING THAT SAME PERIOD, KERMAN, THE POPULATION HAS GROWN BY ONLY FOUR PERCENT. I BELIEVE GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN TOO LARGE TOO QUICKLY AND NOW, OF COURSE, WE'RE HEADING INTO SOFTNESS AT THE VERY TIME THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

JESS>> BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING $9 BILLION DOLLARS OUT, YOU'RE CUTTING NOT JUST FAT, BUT MUSCLE AND MAYBE BONE.

BILL SIMON>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME AWFUL TOUGH DECISIONS, JESS. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE HAVE $400 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PHANTOM EMPLOYEES AND YOU'VE GOT $100 MILLION IN PORK THAT WAS PASSED IN THE MOST RECENT BUDGET --

KERMAN>> -- WHAT'S A PHANTOM EMPLOYEE?

BILL SIMON>> THAT'S SOMEONE THAT YOU MAY WANT TO HIRE AT A FUTURE DATE. WHEN YOU DO THE BUDGETING PROCESS DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS OF A FISCAL YEAR, YOU PUT IN FOR EXTRA HIRES IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU'LL NEED THEM. WELL, WE'VE BEEN CARRYING EXTRA HIRES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

VAL>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE CUTTING PAYCHECKS TO THESE PEOPLE?

BILL SIMON>> NO, NO, YOU HAVEN'T HIRED THESE PEOPLE YET. THEY'RE PHANTOM EMPLOYEES.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE NOT SPENDING THAT $400 MILLION EITHER.

BILL SIMON>> WELL, IT'S RESERVED IT. SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD AND SOME THINGS MAYBE THEY'RE JUST HOPING TO MAYBE BE ABLE TO HIRE THEM WHEN THEY MAYBE NOT NEED THEM.

VAL>> HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THE ENERGY CRISIS? BECAUSE YOU'RE FOR SMALL GOVERNMENT. I KNOW THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD DELIVER ENERGY --

BILL SIMON>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> -- AND YET THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP EDISON AND OTHERS AFLOAT IS BY A BIG HUGE GOVERNMENT INCURSION IN TERMS OF A RESCUE PLAN.

BILL SIMON>> WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF A GOVERNMENT BAILOUT. I DON'T THINK THAT GOVERNMENT IS THE ANSWER TO OUR ENERGY PROBLEMS. IN FACT, I THINK THEY'RE THE CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEMS.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MUCH THE STATE HAS COST US IN TERMS OF PURCHASING ENERGY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS VIS-À-VIS WHAT THEY PAID VERSUS WHAT THEY WERE GOING FOR TODAY OR WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE GONE FOR TWELVE MONTHS AGO, YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF $20 BILLION DOLLARS. AND WHAT IS GRAY DAVIS'S RESPONSE TO THAT? WELL, HE SAYS, WELL, WE'RE A BUNCH OF AMATEURS COMPARED TO THE ENRONS OF THE WORLD. WELL, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD FIELD A BUNCH OF AMATEURS WHEN WE KNOW THAT.

HUGH>> BILL SIMON, LET ME ASK YOU. PATAKI WAS THERE WITH YOUR FRIEND, GIULIANI, WHEN THESE TOWERS COLLAPSED. THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE GOES TO THE DISASTERS LIKE PETE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NOT A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE IN GRAY DAVIS. HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES WHEN DISASTER HITS TO MARSHALL CONFIDENCE AND TO LEAD THE WAY THAT PATAKI HAS HELPED GIULIANI LEAD?

BILL SIMON>> YES, I DO BELIEVE I DO, HUGH, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE DURING THE COURSE OF MY BUSINESS CAREER AND ALSO WITH RESPECT TO MY CHARITABLE INVOLVEMENT AND ALSO I WAS AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY AND INVOLVED WITH SOME VERY HIGH-PROFILE CASES INVOLVING THE MOB, INVOLVING DRUG TRAFFICKERS. DURING THE COURSE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES, I BELIEVE THAT I'VE DEMONSTRATED GRACE UNDER PRESSURE AND AN ABILITY TO HANDLE THAT PRESSURE AND COME UP WITH THESE COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A MOMENT AGO.

I THINK THAT'S WHY RUDY HAS INVITED ME TO COME BACK TO NEW YORK TO NOT ONLY TOUR THE SCENES, BUT ALSO TO STUDY WHAT HAPPENED. HE SAID THERE'S THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREPARE BETTER AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU BECAUSE MAYBE YOU COULD BE OF HELP TO CALIFORNIA, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.

VAL>> BILL SIMON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BY AND TALKING WITH US. GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

BILL SIMON>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VAL, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, JESS. THANKS, HUGH. THANKS, KERMAN.

VAL>> COMING UP MONDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT THE SCIENCE OF EARTHQUAKE PREDICTIONS. SO FAR, QUAKE FORECASTING IS MORE GUESSWORK THAN SCIENCE, BUT THAT COULD SOON CHANGE.

JESS>> GOVERNOR DAVIS IS CALLING THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE INTO SPECIAL SESSION NEXT WEEK. HE'S MAKING ONE MORE STAB AT A PLAN TO KEEP SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON OUT OF BANKRUPTCY.

VAL>> AND THIS WEEK, L.A.'S POLICE COMMISSION APPROVED MAYOR HAHN'S PLAN FOR A THREE OR FOUR DAY WORKWEEK FOR OFFICERS.

JESS>> SOME PEOPLE QUESTION THE WISDOM OF GOING AHEAD WITH THAT PLAN. HUGH AND KERMAN, WHAT ARE YOU TWO HEARING ABOUT IT?

KERMAN>> I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY GO BACK TO THE INTERVIEW WE HAD WITH BILL SIMON JUST FOR A SECOND --

VAL>> OKAY. SIMON AND THEN THE LAPD.

KERMAN>> YOU'RE THE RESIDENT REPUBLICAN, HUGH. YOU'VE GOT RICHARD RIORDAN WHO CAME OUT IN A RECENT FIELD POLL, HUGH. HE'S AT 46 PERCENT. SECRETARY OF STATE BILL JONES IS AT 19 PERCENT. BILL SIMON IS AT FIVE PERCENT. I KNOW IT'S LATE SEPTEMBER. YOU GOT A LOT OF TIME, BUT CAN HE REALLY CATCH THESE OTHER GUYS, HUGH?

HUGH>> YOU KNOW, I SOMETIMES AM WRONG IN MY PREDICTIONS. (LAUGHTER) YEAH, I'VE BEEN WRONG A COUPLE OF TIMES. I WAS RIGHT IN '94 AND OTHER TIMES. BUT BILL SIMON WILL BEAT BILL JONES HEAD TO HEAD. IT JUST WILL HAPPEN. I LIKE BILL JONES A LOT, BUT BILL SIMON WILL WIN.

VAL>> YOU'RE SAYING IF IT WERE BETWEEN BILL JONES AND --

HUGH>> -- BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

JESS>> BASED ON FUNDRAISING?

HUGH>> JUST BASED ON WHAT YOU NEED THIS YEAR TO WIN, AND BILL DOESN'T HAVE IT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK BILL SIMON DOES. THE CONSERVATIVES LOVE BILL SIMON. CONSERVATIVES LOVE HIM.

VAL>> WELL, HOW ABOUT BILL AND RIORDAN?

HUGH>> THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS GOT A HUGE HIGH-PROFILE. HE'S GOT PLENTY OF FUNDING. YOU'VE GOT FOLKS LIKE DAVE DREIER BEHIND HIM AND BILL SIMON'S GOT GOOD ENDORSEMENTS. IT'LL BE A KNOCK DOWN-DRAG OUT EDGE RIGHT NOW TO RIORDAN. BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE, AND NEITHER DO MOST REPUBLICANS, THAT BOTH OF THESE MEN ARE GOING TO BE IN THE RACE. WE JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE --

KERMAN>> -- ONE OR THE DROPS OUT?

HUGH>> ONE OR THE OTHER DROPS OUT. THAT'S WHAT WE THINK.

KERMAN>> IT'S GOT TO BE SIMON, DON'T YOU THINK, AT THIS POINT?

HUGH>> NO. YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR, THE HEALTH STUFF, WE GOT TO WAIT AND SEE.

VAL>> WELL, HE SAID THAT. IF HE --

JESS>> -- WE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG. TEN DAYS FROM NOW THEY HAVE TO ANNOUNCE --

HUGH>> -- BUT THEY CAN ALWAYS GO IN TEN DAYS FROM NOW AND THEN WITHDRAW WITHIN THE FINAL THIRTY DAYS. WE'RE STILL FORTY DAYS AWAY. BUT EDGE RIORDAN RIGHT NOW, BUT SIMON WOULDN'T BE OUT OF IT. SIMON TAKES JONES.

VAL>> INTERESTING. LAPD?

HUGH>> YEAH, WHAT IS THIS CRAZY THING, 3-12? THIS IS NUTS.

KERMAN>> JIMMY YAWN, NOW THE MAYOR JIMMY HAHN?

HUGH>> MAYOR HAHN.

KERMAN>> MAYOR HAHN MADE A CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TO THE POLICE UNION THAT SAID BASICALLY HE WOULD SUPPORT A COMPRESSED WORK SCHEDULE, WHICH IS 3-12, THREE DAYS A WEEK, TWELVE HOURS A DAY. IT WAS APPROVED THIS WEEK BY THE POLICE COMMISSION. NOW THAT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE ANYBODY BECAUSE THIS IS MAYOR HAHN'S COMMISSION. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WHO WERE APPOINTED BY MAYOR HAHN, APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. 

POLICE CHIEF BERNARD PARKS STILL IS NOT A SUPPORTER AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPOSITION ON THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE NEXT STEP. I KNOW OF AT LEAST FIVE MEMBERS, POSSIBLY SIX, ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHO DO NOT THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA AND CHAIRWOMAN, CINDY MISCIKOWSKI, OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SAID THERE'S A REPORT THAT'S COMING OUT IN NOVEMBER, A RECENT STUDY, THAT'S LOOKING AT THIS AND THE SUGGESTION SHE'S MAKING IS, BEFORE WE MAKE A FINAL DECISION, LET'S LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY IN NOVEMBER AND THEN WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND WE CAN MAKE A MORE INTELLIGENT DECISION.

JESS>> NOT A DONE DEAL, THEN?

KERMAN>> NOT A DONE DEAL AT ALL.

HUGH>> I GOT A QUESTION. EVERYONE WANTS TO SUPPORT THE POLICE RIGHT NOW, LONG OVERDUE, BECAUSE OF THE HEROISM IN NEW YORK AND THE RECOGNITION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DO THE RANK AND FILE WANT THIS --

KERMAN>> -- YES, THEY DO.

HUGH>> -- OR DO THEY WANT MONEY? IF THEY WERE OFFERED MONEY, WOULD THEY TAKE THE MONEY OR DO THEY WANT 3-12?

KERMAN>> NO, THEY WANT 3-12. NOW THIS IS THE CRITICISM OF 3-12. IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, RANK AND FILE WANT IT, BUT LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. ON YOUR TENTH HOUR, ON YOUR NINTH HOUR, ON YOUR EIGHTH HOUR, ARE YOU AS ALERT AS YOU ARE ON HOUR ELEVEN AND TEN?

VAL>> AFTER TWO DAYS OF --

KERMAN>> -- AFTER TWO DAYS. THE PROBLEM IS, ON YOUR THIRD DAY, ON YOUR TENTH OR ELEVENTH HOUR, YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND IN A BLACK AND WHITE. YOU'VE GOT A GUN. YOU'VE GOT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. THE REAL QUESTION IS ABOUT HOW ALERT THAT OFFICER IS GOING TO BE. AND THAT'S WHAT CERTAIN MEMBERS ARE BRINGING UP IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GOOD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S GOOD FOR THE OFFICERS. THE OFFICERS WANT IT, BUT IS IT GOOD FOR THE CITY?

JESS>> ONE OF THE REASONS THEY WANT IT IS SOME OF THEM WILL, ON THE FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH DAY, WORK ANOTHER JOB.

VAL>> RIGHT.

KERMAN>> ABSOLUTELY. SECOND CAREERS.

HUGH>> WELL, I KNOW WHO WANTS SOMETHING ELSE. GRAY DAVIS WANTS A BAILOUT FOR EDISON AND I DON'T WANT TO GO PAST WITHOUT SAYING IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. (LAUGHTER) I'VE MADE A LOT OF BAD PREDICTIONS IN MY LIFE, BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THAT IS SO DEAD ON ARRIVAL. I HAD A DINNER LAST NIGHT WITH ONE OF THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, REPUBLICAN, WHO SAID TO ME, NOT OUR PROBLEM, NOT OUR FIGHT, JOHN BURTON WILL NEVER LET THIS PASS. JOHN BURTON HAS WRITTEN THAT IN BLOOD. EDISON IS NOT GOING TO GET A BAILOUT.

VAL>> TELL US WHO JOHN BURTON IS.

HUGH>> JOHN BURTON IS THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE SENATE --

VAL>> -- WHO HAS THE POWER TO STOP IT.

HUGH>> HE HAS STOPPED IT BEFORE AND THEY WERE STUNNED WHEN GRAY DAVIS CALLED THIS INTO ACTION TO BEGIN WITH. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S A 47 PERCENT NEGATIVE RATING, WHICH YOU SAW IN THE FIELD POLL. IT'S GOING TO GO HIGHER.

VAL>> SO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS BANKRUPTCY?

HUGH>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING. I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE EDISON IS GOING BANKRUPT.

KERMAN>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING BANKRUPT EITHER, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO GET BAILED OUT.

JESS>> WE'LL HOLD YOU TO THESE PREDICTIONS. (LAUGHTER) THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

TIME NOW TO HEAR FROM OUR VIEWERS. ON TUESDAY WE TALKED WITH A LEGAL SCHOLAR ABOUT USING RACIAL PROFILING TO SINGLE OUT POSSIBLE TERRORISTS. M. RUSSELL THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA. M. RUSSELL WRITES:

"PROFILING IS JUST THAT. LOOKING FOR A PERSON OR PERSONS WITH USUALLY BASIC CHARACTERISTICS. LET'S JUST DROP THE WORD 'RACIAL'."

VAL>> ALSO ON TUESDAY, WE REPORTED ON THE BUDDING PEACE MOVEMENT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. WELL, DANIEL FLORES OF SANTA MARIA THINKS ITS SUPPORTERS ARE MISGUIDED. HE WRITES:

"I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THESE STUDENTS STUDY HISTORY MORE CLOSELY AND THEY WILL DISCOVER THAT APPEASEMENT AND INACTION WILL ONLY EMBOLDEN OUR ENEMIES."

JESS>> AND LAST THURSDAY, WE TALKED WITH SEVERAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE TELLING THEIR CONGREGATIONS. DALE JENSEN OF LAWNDALE THINKS THE DISCUSSION SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED A NON-BELIEVER:

"A NON-THEIST VIEWPOINT OFFERS THE ALTERNATIVE OF FAITH IN REALITY, RATIONALITY AND REASON AS A BASIS FOR REAL HUMAN BEINGS TO MAKE CHANGES IN SOCIETY."

VAL>> WELL, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US. E-MAIL US AT LIFEANDTIMES -- THAT'S ALL ONE WORD -- LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG, AND HERE ARE THE OTHER WAYS YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> WE WANT TO PAUSE NOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN WITH LIFE AND TIMES SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. HUGH HEWITT WILL NO LONGER BE WITH US ON A REGULAR BASIS. HIS NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO BROADCAST IS MOVING TO THE AFTERNOON, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO GET HERE IN TIME FOR OUR BROADCAST. NOW FOR ALL OF US WHO WANT TO SAY GOODBYE, YOUR OLD FRIEND, KERMAN, PROBABLY HAS THE MOST TO SAY. KERMAN?

KERMAN>> WELL, I DON'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE LEAVING. I'M GOING TO MISS WORKING WITH YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS ON THE FRIDAY SHOW. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH HUGH SINCE 1993. IT'S BEEN ABOUT EIGHT YEARS. ALTHOUGH HUGH AND I PROBABLY DON'T AGREE ON ANYTHING, HE COMES PREPARED, HE'S PASSIONATE, HE BELIEVES IN WHAT HE ARGUES. 

HIS PREDICTIONS ARE ALWAYS WRONG (LAUGHTER), BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, REALLY, THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO WORK WITH HUGH EARLY THIS YEAR ON THE MADDOX & HEWITT SHOW, OUR SATURDAY SHOW, WHERE WE HAD A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, THE CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL AND, OF COURSE, THE CANDIDATES FOR CITY ATTORNEY. I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO I WISH YOU WELL. IT'S NOT SO LONG, BUT IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU.

HUGH>> WELL, THANK YOU, KERMAN. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT KERMAN AND I GO TO LAKERS GAMES TOGETHER, ANGELS GAMES TOGETHER. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN THE HEAT OF POLITICAL TURMOIL, WE'VE BECOME FAST AND GOOD FRIENDS. THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. I'M GOING TO MISS, VAL AND JESS, WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL ON A REGULAR BASIS AND ALL THE PEOPLE TEN YEARS AGO.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU CHANCE TO HEAR OUR WORDS, BUT FIRST --

HUGH>> -- THIS IS A SURPRISE. OKAY. OH, NO.

VAL>> -- WE'VE PREPARED A LOOK-BACK ON SOME MEMORABLE HUGH HEWITT MOMENTS.

HUGH>> OH, NO.

[FILM CLIPS]:

HUGH>> "WELCOME TO THE VERY FIRST EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES, KCET'S NEW DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION PROGRAM. WE'LL BE BRINGING IT TO YOU EVERY MONDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:30."

HUGH>> "THE "MAYOR-ATHON" BOARD, PLEASE. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN LIFE AND TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, THEN THIS WILL BE A SURPRISE TO YOU. IT'S OUR HIGH-TECH VENTURE INTO VERY, VERY ELEGANT MAYORAL WATCHING."

HUGH>> "YOU GLORY IN THE USE OF EMOTION IN DRIVING HOME YOUR POINTS, PERHAPS EVEN AT THE EXCLUSION OF FACTS AND YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE THEN TO PROPAGANDA. YOU KNOW YOUR CRITICS HAVE COMPARED YOU TO LENI RIEFENSTAHL, HITLER'S FILMMAKER. ARE YOU AWARE -- ARE YOU SUSCEPTIBLE TO THAT TEMPTATION TO TURN YOUR MOVIES INTO PROPAGANDA?

OLIVER STONE>> LISTEN, I THINK LENI RIEFENSTAHL DID A GREAT JOB."

HUGH>> "I GET TO KICK OFF BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, YOU GUYS BEAT THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. YOU HAD SHOVELS AND AX PICKS AND HAMMERS AND YOU BEAT ME DOWN. TWO YEARS LATER, THE PHOENIX HAS RISEN AND RISEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU ALL MUST BE STUNNED. SPEAKER GINGRICH. WHAT A WONDERFUL RING IT HAS."

HUGH>> "RIORDAN OR HAYDEN?

>> WHAT?

HUGH>> RIORDAN OR HAYDEN?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, IT HURTS ME IN THE RIORDAN. I HAD A HAYDEN THING."

>> "NOW, YOU'RE WITH KCET, RIGHT?

HUGH>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO YOU PREFER HAYDEN, RIGHT?

HUGH>> WELL -- (LAUGHTER)"

HUGH>> "WELL, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL NIGHT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE SHOULD DO ONCE AND PROBABLY ONLY ONCE. LIFE AND TIMES OSCAR SPECIAL WE CAN'T PROMISE YOU EVERY YEAR. WE CAN TELL YOU THAT MAYBE NEXT YEAR WHEN PATT MORRISON IS HERE, MORE PEOPLE WILL STOP TO TALK TO HER."

HUGH>> "NOW WHAT I WANT TO GET TO IS WHAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS. YOU'RE GOING TO BAN TOBACCO PRODUCTS, CORRECT?

>> BAN BILLBOARDS THAT ADVERTISE TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL PRODUCTS, THAT'S CORRECT.

HUGH>> CHEWING TOBACCO INCLUDED?

>> HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT CHEWING TOBACCO. LET'S ASSUME CHEWING TOBACCO WOULD BE INCLUDED AS WELL. WE'RE MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL.

HUGH>> HOW ABOUT FRENCH FRIES?

>> HOW ABOUT FRENCH FRIES."

HUGH>> "JUST THIS WEEK IN THE WEEKLY STANDARD, A MAGAZINE YOU MAY OR MAY NOT READ, JOHN POTHORN, WHO'S NORMAN'S SON, THE GREAT INTELLECTUAL, WRITES ABOUT "JAWS". "JAWS" INAUGURATED THE ERA OF THE BLOCKBUSTER IN OUR TIME, A HIT MOVIE THAT MADE MORE MONEY THAN ANYONE EVER DREAMED A MOVIE COULD, AND THAT IN TURN HAS LED TO THE SYSTEMATIC AND SYSTEMIC DUMBING DOWN THAT MAKES GOING TO THE MOVIES SUCH A CHORE. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO MAKE A BAD MOVIE. IT'S ANOTHER THING TO DESTROY THE GENRE.

RICHARD DREYFUS>> WHAT I THINK HE JUST SAID WAS, THE FACT THAT THIS MOVIE WAS SUCCESSFUL HAS DESTROYED THE FILM BUSINESS.

HUGH>> YES.

RICHARD DREYFUS>> (COUGH, COUGH)"

HUGH>> "FIRST, DO YOU THINK O.J. KILLED NICOLE AND RON GOLDMAN?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER A QUESTION LIKE THAT.

HUGH>> WELL, WHY NOT?

>> I WASN'T SITTING THERE DURING THAT TRIAL.

HUGH>> DO YOU OWN A GUN?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S A MATTER OF SECURITY FOR MY FAMILY, ISN'T IT?

HUGH>> WILL YOU ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT ROSE BIRD OR OTHER DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES IN THE PAST? ARE THERE ANY TOUGH QUESTIONS YOU'LL ANSWER?

>> LOOK, I'VE ANSWERED A LOT OF TOUGH QUESTIONS. I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER YOUR SILLY QUESTIONS."

HUGH>> "JOHN, DO YOU OWN A GUN?"

HUGH>> "MR. COOLEY, DID ROBERT BLAKE KILL HIS WIFE?"

HUGH>> "YOU KNOW, I HAD ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA ON MY RADIO SHOW THIS WEEK AND HE CAME ON AND TOOK ALL THE TOUGH ONES RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. WE REPLAYED THE INTERVIEW. HE WANTS TO COME ON MY RADIO SHOW IN THE MORNING ON 870. NOW THAT'S VERY ODD --

VAL>> -- 870 KRLA.

HUGH>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. WE CAN SAY THAT. SHAMELESS PLUG."

HUGH>> "THAT'S IT FOR THE VERY FIRST EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES. JOIN US NEXT TIME. PATT MORRISON, JOHN OCHOA AND ME. GOOD NIGHT."

HUGH>> OH, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS TO YOUR HAIR.

VAL>> PATT JOINS US.

JESS>> YOU BET. ANOTHER LONG-TIME COLLEAGUE. YOU CO-HOSTED LIFE AND TIMES WITH HUGH FROM THE VERY FIRST PROGRAM.

HUGH>> THERE HAVE BEEN TEN YEARS, SINCE MARTIN BURNS, SAUL GONZALEZ, JOHN OCHOA, REUBEN MARTINEZ, JOYCE CAMPBELL, BILL KOBEN, AL JEROME, ALL THOSE PEOPLE. IT'S A GREAT --

PATT MORRISON>> I'M THE LAST SURVIVOR.

HUGH>> YOU ARE. YOU'RE HANGING ON BY YOUR FINGERNAILS. BUT YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME. I'M GOING TO SNEAK IN AND BANG DOWN THE DOOR ON ELECTION NIGHT. OTHERWISE, NO ONE WOULD KNOW THE REPUBLICANS WON.

PATT>> THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE DEMOCRATS WON, RIGHT? YOUR DEPARTURE?

HUGH>> NO, NO, IT MEANS THAT I'VE DONE MY WORK KNOW.

PATT>> YOU AND I HAVE FOUGHT LIKE CATS AND DOGS, FOUGHT LIKE BROTHER AND SISTER, BUT WE ARE CLOSE FRIENDS, VERY AFFECTIONATE. I WOULD TRUST YOU WITH MY LAST DIME. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'D GET MY VOTE FOR DOGCATCHER, THOUGH, HUGH. (LAUGHTER)

HUGH>> YOU KNOW, I WILL MISS THIS A GREAT DEAL.

KERMAN>> I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT SOME OF HUGH HEWITT'S MOST FAMOUS PREDICTIONS. IN 1994, HUFFINGTON OVER FEINSTEIN, DIDN'T HAPPEN. IN 1996, MATT FONG OVER BARBARA BOXER, DID NOT HAPPEN --

PATT>> -- HE'S BEEN WAITING YEARS FOR THIS MOMENT. (LAUGHTER)

KERMAN>> -- IN 1998, DAN LUNDGREN, HE'S GOING TO KILL GRAY DAVIS, DID NOT HAPPEN. IN 2000, BUSH WILL WIN CALIFORNIA, DID NOT HAPPEN. THEN IN 2001, JIMMY YAWN, JIMMY YAWN, JIMMY YAWN, HE'S NOW MAYOR HAHN.

HUGH>> CAN I --

PATT>> -- WAIT. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY KERMAN WON FROM YOU ON ALL THESE BETS. (LAUGHTER)

HUGH>> I NEVER PAID HIM.

KERMAN>> HE NEVER DID.

HUGH>> MY FAVORITE OPENING WAS, IF IT WAS A FIGHT, THEY'D STOP IT IN 1994. BUT MY BEST PREDICTION WAS ELECTION NIGHT THIS PAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE ALL HERE AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I BELIEVE I TURNED TO YOU AND SAID, "THIS AIN'T OVER". IT WAS AFTER THEY HAD WITHDRAWN. AND SIX WEEKS LATER, IT WAS THE ONE PREDICTION I SAW COMING.

IT'S A GREAT SHOW. CONTINUE IN THE FINE TRADITION OF SERVING THE PUBLIC. I'M SURE WE'LL BE BACK AND HAVE SOME FUN --

VAL>> -- WELL, HOLD ON, WE'RE NOT QUITE FINISHED YET. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ONE FINAL PREDICTION THAT YOU WON'T BE AROUND TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR?

HUGH>> SURE, I DO. I THINK THAT GEORGE BUSH HAS DEMONSTRATED THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT, IF THIS COUNTRY IS WHAT WE THINK IT IS, IS GOING TO RETURN HIM FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS TO PROSECUTE THIS WAR TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. HOW COULD YOU NOT BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN THE WAY THE PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED? THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO MOVE TO RADIO FIFTEEN HOURS A WEEK. BECAUSE THE NEXT TEN YEARS, LIKE THE LAST TEN YEARS, ARE GOING TO BE VERY CHALLENGING. THAT GIVES ME FIFTEEN HOURS A WEEK.

VAL>> AND WHAT ARE THOSE CALL LETTERS AGAIN, HUGH? (LAUGHTER)

HUGH>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE I JUST ADDED SAN FRANCISCO, BOSTON AND CHICAGO. SO I LIKE TO SAY THIS NOW. THE MOST INFLUENTIAL RADIO PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA IS CERTAINLY THIS ONE, AND KRLA LOCALLY ON 870 BEGINNING FROM THREE TO SIX. YOU CAN PLUG IT WHEN I'M GONE. JUST REMEMBER IT. THROW IT IN RANDOMLY.

JESS>> THE HEWITT VIRUS IS SPREADING. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> HUGH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY IT'S BEEN A COMPLETE PLEASURE. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOUR OPINIONS, BUT YOU DO EXPRESS THEM IN THE MOST ENTERTAINING WAY. AND IF THERE'S ONE THING YOU BRING, WHICH NOT ALL REPUBLICANS DO, IT'S A SENSE OF HUMOR.

HUGH>> WELL, FRENCH FRIES ARE A GOOD WAY TO GO ON THE ODD -- (LAUGHTER) RICHARD DREYFUS WAS THE FAVORITE HERE. REALLY, IT WAS ALL IN GOOD FUN. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> YOU WERE ABOUT TO PUT RICHARD DREYFUS TO SLEEP.

HUGH>> WE WENT FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS THAT DAY.

PATT>> EDWARD TELLER WAS ABOUT TO BLOW YOU UP.

HUGH>> I KNOW. WE GOT TO GET THAT FILM. I LIKE THAT, OLIVER STONE AND THE REST OF THEM. BUT THANKS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. KCET IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK. I'LL COME BACK, IF NOTHING ELSE, TO DO PLEDGE SO THAT YOU PEOPLE WILL KEEP THIS STATION ON THE AIR.

PATT>> BRAVO.

JESS>> HUGH, AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THIS TEAM, I TOO HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU TREMENDOUSLY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOU AS YOU COME AROUND AGAIN.

HUGH>> THAT IS AN HONOR FROM A PROFESSIONAL LIKE YOU, JESS. THANK YOU.

JESS>> ONCE MORE, JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, HUGH WILL NOW BE ON NEWSTALK 870, KRLA, FROM 3:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND TO --

PATT>> -- BUT WE CAN'T SEE HIS HAIR. WE CAN'T SEE HIS HAIR CHANGE. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. OH, TOO BAD. YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK JUST TO -- WHENEVER YOU GET A HAIRCUT, COME BACK. (LAUGHTER)

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING. FOR ALL OF US, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING US HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, AND THANK YOU, HUGH HEWITT, FOR BEING SUCH A WONDERFUL PART OF OUR PROGRAM FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS.

HUGH>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> GOOD NIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.