Ted Turner
Do you think America will be able to maintain its position as a global economic leader with the current financial upheaval? Brent Perry, SINGAPORE
Yes. There'll probably be an evening out of the wealth somewhat. But I still think that the United States has so much momentum going for it. If we do the right things, there's no reason we shouldn't still be the global leader economically. You know, we had a great run on borrowed money for 30 or 40 years, but you can only go so long living beyond your means. And that's what we've been doing.
What did you think of the $700 billion bailout plan? Kimberly Willardson CARRBORO, N.C.
When I was running CNN we never had any money and I never asked for a bailout. Where does it end? AIG, you know, they need $40 billion more and we only gave them a hundred billion last week, didn't we? It's just ridiculous. And now General Motors. They said we're going to give them $25 billion to retool. Retool what? They'll run through that money so fast they'll be back wanting more. We can't keep every loser alive.
Would you agree that 24-hour breaking news has diminished the value of in-depth journalism? Kristina Popski SOFIA, BULGARIA
No. I think it has made people more interested in news in general. And breaking news doesn't give you depth or perspective. You need magazines and newspapers because regular television news doesn't do it either, usually. People, if they're interested in news, they'll get the headlines on television and then go to print for depth and perspective.
Does immense wealth truly bring peace of mind? Henry Assen, BRUSSELS
When I did have it I gave over half of it away. I lost 85%. And I've lost 12% of what was left in the last couple of months. But I never worshipped money. I started middle class. I didn't finish college because I couldn't afford to. I didn't really have it for very long, because I made it real fast when CNN turned the corner, and that's when I gave so much away. Then right after that we did the AOL merger and it went down the toilet.
If you were starting out today, what would be the new business you'd start? Corey Tate, MINNEAPOLIS
Clean, renewable energy. In fact, I'm in it a little bit and I want to get in it more. I have a multimillion-dollar stake in First Solar, which is one of the publicly held solar companies.
Do you still think Christianity is a "religion for losers"? Michael Flessas KATRINEHOLM, SWEDEN
No. That was probably my most unfortunate comment. I apologized for it. I apologized for a lot of things that I've said. But I don't apologize nearly as much these days because I don't say as much and I'm more careful about what I say. I didn't mean to hurt anybody's feelings with that, but it did hurt people's feelings and I'm sorry.
Could you describe the taste of bison? Alex Robinson STILLWELL, KANS.
All you have to do, my friend, is go to Ted's Montana Grill. To tell you the honest truth, I can't tell the difference between bison and good beef. But I know that the fat and the cholesterol in the bison is half as much, so it's much better for you. And it's better for my bison. Not the ones that are being eaten, but the other ones.
Do you have any regrets about your marriage to Jane Fonda? Nadir B. FRANCE