THE END OF CIVILIZATION? – AT 11:29 P.M. ET:  It is, isn't it?  I mean, this is the day the Miss America pageant abolished the swimsuit competition, and also the evening gown segment.  And, oh, it won't be known as a pageant any longer.  Now it's a competition.

And the young women will talk a great deal about their opinions.  I look forward to hearing Miss Nevada discuss the impact of tax reduction on economic growth.  And I hear Miss Indiana is a killer on regime change in Iran. 

I happened to go into Manhattan today for a meeting, and I could overhear parts of many conversations on the commuter train.  No one was talking about Miss America.  I'm not sure anyone ever will.  Who really cares?  And I think civilization will survive.

What annoys me is the politicization of even an old tradition like Miss America.  If someone wants to hold a beauty contest, and women want to compete, let them.  If men want to hold a bodybuilding contest, let them. 

The main honcho at the Miss America organization is Gretchen Carlson, who was once Miss America herself.  She became, as you know, a Fox News broadcaster until she successfully sued Fox for sexual harassment.  I have no idea whether that experience influenced her decision about swimsuits.

I think today's changes will kill off Miss America.   Let's be blunt.  Who would want to watch?  It had been off network television for a number of years because of lack of interest.  ABC brought it back.  ABC now has a headache.

June 5, 2018