Harvey Weinstein: Polanski has served his time and must be freed It's a shocking way to treat a man who went through the Holocaust and his wife's murder  Roman Polanski is a man who cares deeply about his art and its place in this world. What happened to him on his incredible path is filled with tragedy, and most men would have collapsed. Instead, he became a great artist and continues to make great films. I was with him the day he won the Legion of Honour in France, which was a spectacular day. I remember the incredible love and affection that people have for him. Now Thierry Frémaux, the director of the Cannes film festival, and I are calling on every US filmmaker to lobby against any move to bring Polanski back to the US, where he could face life in jail. Related articles Video: Polanski asks for release France condemns 'sinister' arrest of Polanski US tipped off by film festival website Dominic Lawson: Let's not forget what Polanski did Video: Film legend held for child rape Video: Polanski extradition fight looms Video: Global row over Polanski's arrest
Whatever you think about the so-called crime, Polanski has served his time. A deal was made with the judge, and the deal is not being honoured. The theory going around is that the reason Switzerland cooperated and acted on a longstanding extradition order with the United States this time was because of their own troubles in the financial crisis. I hope the US government acts swiftly because because film makers are looking for justice to be properly served. I will be organising the effort myself by emailing everybody I know to sign the petition. And I know that Thierry Fremaux has got hold of Nicolas Sarkozy. We will have to speak to our leaders as well – particularly in California. I'm not too shy to go and talk to the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and to ask him once and for all to look at this. The problem is to do with the legal situation in the state. They are doing this because they want a circus, to make their toughness overt – and that is where I draw the line. This is the government of the United States not giving its word and recanting on a deal, and it is the government acting irresponsibly and criminally. It is a shocking way to treat such a man. Polanski went through the Holocaust and the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, by the Manson family. How do you go from the Holocaust to the Manson family with any sort of dignity? In those circumstances, most people could not contribute to art and make the kind of beautiful movies he continues to make. I remember when I took…

 From the Los Angeles Times A divided congressional delegation may hinder help for California Democrats are pushing for federal loan guarantees while Republicans are opposed, leaving Congress' largest delegation with little power to persuade the White House to come to the state's rescue.  By Richard Simon

May 22, 2009

Reporting from Washington — California has by far the largest delegation in Congress, almost 10% of the membership. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, is a Californian, as are five of its committees' chairs -- a collection of powerful positions unmatched by any state. The state's two senators chair important committees, and one holds a coveted seat on the Appropriations Committee.

And in terms of electoral politics, California has been among the most reliably Democratic major states, as well as by far the party's most generous source of campaign cash.

So in California's hour of need -- facing a financial crunch so severe that the state is poised to release convicted criminals and close classrooms early -- how can Washington seem to be turning an unsympathetic ear to its appeal for help?

Especially when almost all of Washington's major power centers are controlled by Democrats?

The Obama White House insists that its response to California's fiscal crisis in no way resembles the tabloid headline when President Gerald R. Ford refused to bail out New York City in 1975: "Ford to City: Drop Dead." But the reaction to a second day of appeals for federal loan guarantees was less than enthusiastic -- from the White House or Capitol Hill.

And two major reasons for the tepid response emerged:

First, California's representation in Congress may be huge, but it is famously fractious. On Thursday, the state's 52 sitting House members (one seat is vacant) were once again split -- mostly along party lines.

Second, the state is joining a long line of supplicants -- including bankers, stockbrokers, insurance companies and Detroit automakers who had already tried the capital's patience and stirred a backlash among voters.

Plainly sensing it was in a bind, the Obama administration was almost plaintive in outlining the obstacles to offering loan guarantees. In addition to technical and legal problems, it said, how could it backstop one state and not all the others -- most of which are financially pinched as well?

At the same time, said White House senior advisor David Axelrod, "Obviously the situation in California is serious. There are crises of different proportions in different states, and California obviously is at the front of the list. We want to do everything we can to help, and we are."

Meanwhile, in Congress, California Democrats were pushing for federal intervention while Republicans opposed it.

"As goes the economy in California, so goes the economy in…

 John Wooden, Who Built Incomparable Dynasty at U.C.L.A., Dies at 99By FRANK LITSKY and JOHN BRANCH College basketball’s most successful coach, Wooden created one of the greatest dynasties in sports. Read NYT Story

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