Inside the Beltway

STOSSEL VS. GORE

Look for investigative ace John Stossel to resurface on the public radar in a big way Thursday, when “Stossel,” his one-hour weekly foray into economic issues, debuts on the Fox Business channel at 8 p.m.

“I plan to explain what true economic liberty means to my viewers,” Mr. Stossel tells Inside the Beltway. “I want to talk about things like Ayn Rand and ‘Atlas Shrugged,’ and the true costs of global warming.”

The former ABC veteran has signed on for 44 episodes.

“And about that global warming, in heading up the news this week. It really has become a kind of secular religion,” Mr. Stossel says. “And a lot of the faith is fueled by people with a distinct hatred of capitalism. It’s religious zealotry, and anyone who disagrees with these people about climate issues is chastised and dismissed.”

He has his keen eye fixed upon one person in particular, though.

“Al Gore says the debate about global warming is over. But he won’t debate anyone about it,” Mr. Stossel observes. “And for the record, I’d debate Al Gore anytime.”

BUMPER PATROL

“Excommunicated by the Church of Global Warming” - bumper sticker spotted in Fairfax.

PALIN PILE-ON

Could this ambitious effort indicate that some folks are, uh, nervous about Sarah Palin’s political prowess? Maybe.

“Going Rouge: Sarah Palin, An American Nightmare” was released smack in the middle of the former Alaska governor’s book tour showcasing her best-selling autobiography, “Going Rogue: An American Story.”

Richard Kim and Betsy Reed, senior editors at The Nation magazine, edited this clone book loaded with liberal counterpoint against Mrs. Palin, including a cover nearly identical to the original. They call her “an American obsession that just won’t go away.”

But is it all that clever? This marks the fourth time in recent weeks that the waggish “Going Rouge” has been used in a new book title about Mrs. Palin - and one of those titles is a coloring book.

The newest “Rouge” volume includes observations by Joe Conason, Mark Hertsgaard, Naomi Klein, Frank Rich, Hanna Rosin, Katrina vanden Heuvel and others of the liberal and progressive persuasions. Curiously, the book is distributed by Health Communication Inc., publishers of the best-selling “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series.

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