Week In Politics: Economy; Herman Cain; Mitt Romney
Robert Siegel speaks with our regular political commentators, E.J. Dionne, of the Washington Post and Brookings Institution, and David Brooks, of the New York Times.
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ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Time now for your letters. And first, a parting thought about Filene's Basement. Attention shoppers: The Boston retailer is shutting its doors for good. Yesterday, we heard from many of its loyal customers, including Jean Pierre Onzati(ph).
JEAN PIERRE ONZATI: You know, you can go to Filene's Basement. You walk in with regular clothes, you come out with Canali, and you become like one of the super rich.
GUY RAZ: Well, Mary Hart(ph) of Dalton, Pennsylvania, says that she can still feel the thrill of emerging from the MTA and the crush of the crowd at Filene's Basement's front doors or The B, as she calls it. She goes on to write: My sister's biggest fine was one of the Neiman Marcus bargains. Her gown for her engagement portrait in 1956 had its $275 price tag firmly attached. The mark-down price: $25. No wonder we Bostonians love The B.
SIEGEL: Earlier this week, I talked to Andrea Blaugrund Nevins about a new documentary called "The Other F Word," that would be fatherhood. It's the story of a group of punk rock performers making the transition from rebel to responsible family man. Well, Joe Thomas, of Coupeville, Washington, wants to make one thing clear. Though punk rock appeals to angry teenagers, it's not just for teens, he says. He writes this: This music has been around for 35-plus years, do you think everyone grew out of it? Do people stop listening to Miles, Gershwin or anti-everything Dylan? No, some do and I feel sorry for them.
RAZ: We'll never stop listening to you, so keep writing. Go to NPR.org and click on Contact Us.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BLITZKRIEG BOP")
THE RAMONES: (Singing) Hey ho, let's go, shoot them in the back now. What they want, I don't know. They all revved up and ready to go. They're forming in a straight line. They're going through a tight wind. The kids are losing their minds, the Blitzkrieg Bop. They're piling in the backseat...
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