Apropos of yet another “will-he-or-won’t-he” media psychodrama starring Warren Beatty as a possible candidate, this time for the 2006 California governor’s race, I’m reminded of that dreadful 1995 movie, The American President. One line summarizes the Warren situation, uttered by Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd, while accusing a vocal critic of playing to the cameras: “This is a time for serious men, Bob, and your 15 minutes are up.” That’s why I wince every time Beatty pontificates from the sidelines of American politics, no matter if it’s preening from the commencement podium of UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public...