[mousepod]

I'm with GD on this one. As the resident Disney geek in my circle of friends, I've been sucked into many conversations about SaveDisney. Generally, most of them start with "So what's wrong with Eisner? He turned Disney around."

As an ex-New Yorker, I can't help but feel about Mikey the way I felt about Ed Koch. For you left-coasters who don't know NYC politics (why should you?) - Ed was the most popular mayor that I'd ever witnessed. He took a city that was in financial dire straits and on the ropes in reputation and turned it around. When he ran for re-election, he was endorsed by both the Democrats and Republicans. Then in his last term, something happened. Many say that he lost touch with the people and that he started making decisions based on cronyism and special interest groups. Racial tension mounted and things started to go out of control so the good citizens of Gotham voted in a replacement who appeased the obvious troubles but turned out to be pretty darn ineffectual (to the point that this here liberal even voted for Rudy).

It's clear that Eisner has made many decisions that hurt the creative side of Disney - the things that most of us feel make Disney Disney. But other than making good press, Roy and Co. have done very little to make any serious changes. Considering the incredible positive atteention that Disney is currently getting, with DL's 50th and ABC kicking Nielsen butt, this lawsuit is an example of pretty unfortunate timing.

I'm starting to think that the next true Disney visionary leader isn't going to come from either camp.