By Sylvia Gurinsky
Besides the questions voters and journalists ask candidates for elected office about policy, they should now ask another one: Barring illness or catastrophe, do you promise to serve your entire term?
The latest elected official planning an early exit is U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, who is taking a job as the president of the Center For Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation. He will leave his seat in January, a year before his term ends.
Naturally, this is setting off a scramble before a costly special election that will determine Wexler's replacement. Like ants at a picnic, the candidates are coming.
Add this to the premature exits of former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, not to mention numerous local elected officials who try to jump to bigger things.
It seems to be a new policy among elected officials: Vote for me and I'll serve at least part-time.
Voters deserve full time and attention to the job from those they elect. Those seeking to replace Wexler need to think about that before they officially throw their hats in the ring.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Oct. 14: Media Sniglets On Newspaper Endorsements, Tim Russert and the Newseum, Erin Andrews, Rush Limbaugh and the NFL and "Winning" a Nobel Prize
By Sylvia Gurinsky
*The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is planning not to endorse political candidates. In an editorial the other day, the paper said to readers: You can make up your own minds.
Readers can and do make up their own minds, but they like to hear how editorial boards think. An endorsement doesn't necessarily mean that a reader will agree or disagree, but with a newspaper's still-major role as a community touchstone, it's an important statement.
A newspaper endorsement of a political candidate (or the occasional statement that the bunch that's running is so bad, the newspaper can't endorse any of 'em) is also usually well thought-out - as opposed to millions of words of opinion online these days that pass for fact.
Other newspapers, including The Miami Herald with presidential races, have tried the no-endorsement idea and ultimately reversed course. The reason: These opinions are important.
The AJC should reverse course as well. There are too many ill-informed opinions about elected officials out there. Newspapers still provide informed ones, and they're needed more than ever.
*Being added to the mystifying and overly expensive structure in Washington, D.C. known as the Newseum is a reconstruction of the office of Tim Russert, the late host of NBC's "Meet the Press."
Why?
Did he do anything more special than CBS anchor Walter Cronkite or "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt, whose offices I could see in the Newseum? Or ABC's Peter Jennings, who also died prematurely? (Disclosure: I was a Peter Jennings Fellow at the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia last year.)
Plus, all of them were lifelong, full-time journalists. Russert was a political worker who switched to news during the 1980s, part of the "revolving door" that has increased and raised questions about ethics and closeness to sources.
The Newseum has already drawn criticism for its high admission prices and for veering from what made it so popular when it was located in Virginia. If they're going to recreate something, let it be from a more deserving journalist.
*Good column today by Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post about her own experiences with a stalker:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/13/AR2009101301768.html
I agree with her comments about Erin Andrews. Folks, Andrews is the victim here. Period.
*The National Football League should say an unequivocal "No" to any ownership, even partial, by Rush Limbaugh of one of its teams (in this case, the St. Louis Rams).
Some might remember that Major League Baseball threw out Marge Schott as the owner of the Cincinnati Reds after she made anti-Semitic comments. That was one instance. Limbaugh insults most Americans, and most of the world, on a daily basis.
He is toxic. ESPN already tried him, and that didn't work. The NFL should stay away.
*Finally, a style point: How many journalists have said that President Barack Obama "won" the Nobel Peace Prize?
Though people, groups, etc. are nominated for the Nobel Prize, it technically isn't a contest. Authors, scientists and so forth are "awarded" a Nobel Prize. That's the way it should be written.
*The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is planning not to endorse political candidates. In an editorial the other day, the paper said to readers: You can make up your own minds.
Readers can and do make up their own minds, but they like to hear how editorial boards think. An endorsement doesn't necessarily mean that a reader will agree or disagree, but with a newspaper's still-major role as a community touchstone, it's an important statement.
A newspaper endorsement of a political candidate (or the occasional statement that the bunch that's running is so bad, the newspaper can't endorse any of 'em) is also usually well thought-out - as opposed to millions of words of opinion online these days that pass for fact.
Other newspapers, including The Miami Herald with presidential races, have tried the no-endorsement idea and ultimately reversed course. The reason: These opinions are important.
The AJC should reverse course as well. There are too many ill-informed opinions about elected officials out there. Newspapers still provide informed ones, and they're needed more than ever.
*Being added to the mystifying and overly expensive structure in Washington, D.C. known as the Newseum is a reconstruction of the office of Tim Russert, the late host of NBC's "Meet the Press."
Why?
Did he do anything more special than CBS anchor Walter Cronkite or "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt, whose offices I could see in the Newseum? Or ABC's Peter Jennings, who also died prematurely? (Disclosure: I was a Peter Jennings Fellow at the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia last year.)
Plus, all of them were lifelong, full-time journalists. Russert was a political worker who switched to news during the 1980s, part of the "revolving door" that has increased and raised questions about ethics and closeness to sources.
The Newseum has already drawn criticism for its high admission prices and for veering from what made it so popular when it was located in Virginia. If they're going to recreate something, let it be from a more deserving journalist.
*Good column today by Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post about her own experiences with a stalker:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/13/AR2009101301768.html
I agree with her comments about Erin Andrews. Folks, Andrews is the victim here. Period.
*The National Football League should say an unequivocal "No" to any ownership, even partial, by Rush Limbaugh of one of its teams (in this case, the St. Louis Rams).
Some might remember that Major League Baseball threw out Marge Schott as the owner of the Cincinnati Reds after she made anti-Semitic comments. That was one instance. Limbaugh insults most Americans, and most of the world, on a daily basis.
He is toxic. ESPN already tried him, and that didn't work. The NFL should stay away.
*Finally, a style point: How many journalists have said that President Barack Obama "won" the Nobel Peace Prize?
Though people, groups, etc. are nominated for the Nobel Prize, it technically isn't a contest. Authors, scientists and so forth are "awarded" a Nobel Prize. That's the way it should be written.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Oct. 13: Where Is Congress On Wall Street Reform, Now That Wall Street Is Betting Our Lives?
By Sylvia Gurinsky
On Sunday's "NBC Nightly News," senior investigative correspondent Lisa Myers reported on life settlement securities, Wall Street's latest gambling stunt that speculates on how long people with life insurance policies will live:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619#33268420
The report speaks to a bigger concern: The fact that Congress hasn't gotten around to reining in Wall Street for the abuses that brought about the collapse of the economy last year.
The complexity of the issues and the legislation that has been proposed don't help. But there's another problem: There doesn't seem to be a major point person in Congress for whom this is a priority. Without a grand poobah of legislation (in the way, for example, that the late Sen. Edward Kennedy was promoting health insurance changes), reform isn't going anywhere.
To make matters worse, Wall Street firms continue to line the campaign coffers of members of Congress for 2010 and beyond.
The business-as-usual mentality contributes to the continued economic crisis and makes a new Wall Street collapse possible.
Americans sick and tired of CEOs playing roulette with their lives and keeping their bonuses and their fancy mansions and yachts need to visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, find their representatives and call for reform now.
On Sunday's "NBC Nightly News," senior investigative correspondent Lisa Myers reported on life settlement securities, Wall Street's latest gambling stunt that speculates on how long people with life insurance policies will live:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619#33268420
The report speaks to a bigger concern: The fact that Congress hasn't gotten around to reining in Wall Street for the abuses that brought about the collapse of the economy last year.
The complexity of the issues and the legislation that has been proposed don't help. But there's another problem: There doesn't seem to be a major point person in Congress for whom this is a priority. Without a grand poobah of legislation (in the way, for example, that the late Sen. Edward Kennedy was promoting health insurance changes), reform isn't going anywhere.
To make matters worse, Wall Street firms continue to line the campaign coffers of members of Congress for 2010 and beyond.
The business-as-usual mentality contributes to the continued economic crisis and makes a new Wall Street collapse possible.
Americans sick and tired of CEOs playing roulette with their lives and keeping their bonuses and their fancy mansions and yachts need to visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, find their representatives and call for reform now.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Oct. 12: With Nobels, Reversal of Fortune For US
Sylvia Gurinsky
With the possible exception of the International Olympic Committee and some right-wing radio and cable television talk show hosts, the world seems to like the United States again.
The awarding of an abundance of Nobel Prizes to Americans, including the honoring (however premature) of President Barack Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize, is a message from the international community, to paraphrase Lady Margaret Thatcher, that "we can do business with them."
The most accurate assessment of Obama's prize may have come from the opening skit on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," when "Obama," played by Fred Armisen, said he received the honor for not being President George W. Bush. It speaks to how much the Bush Administration poisoned the international atmosphere in just about every way possible, including the environment, science and medicine, not to mention diplomacy.
International reaction is as important to America's success in fighting a bad economy, terrorism and global warming as home reaction is. It leads to better cooperation and better solutions.
The Nobel Committee showed it appreciates open doors and open minds. So does the world.
With the possible exception of the International Olympic Committee and some right-wing radio and cable television talk show hosts, the world seems to like the United States again.
The awarding of an abundance of Nobel Prizes to Americans, including the honoring (however premature) of President Barack Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize, is a message from the international community, to paraphrase Lady Margaret Thatcher, that "we can do business with them."
The most accurate assessment of Obama's prize may have come from the opening skit on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," when "Obama," played by Fred Armisen, said he received the honor for not being President George W. Bush. It speaks to how much the Bush Administration poisoned the international atmosphere in just about every way possible, including the environment, science and medicine, not to mention diplomacy.
International reaction is as important to America's success in fighting a bad economy, terrorism and global warming as home reaction is. It leads to better cooperation and better solutions.
The Nobel Committee showed it appreciates open doors and open minds. So does the world.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Oct. 8: Florida Must Protect Chinese Drywall Victims
By Sylvia Gurinsky
When even Florida's insurer of last resort won't help, higher-ups need to step in.
As Beatrice E. Garcia and Nirvi Shah of The Miami Herald reported today, owners of homes affected by defective Chinese drywall are having trouble processing claims - and potentially face more problems:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1271892.html
Leave it to those insurance companies, including Citizens Property Insurance, to insure themselves more than the homeowners they're supposed to protect - particularly when those homeowners aren't to blame for this situation.
So far, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature haven't done anything about even regulating Chinese drywall, though the problem came to light almost a year ago. On Tuesday, the Florida Senate's Community Affairs Committee had its first hearing on the matter for next year's legislative session.
Insurance protection for homeowners needs to be added to the agenda of those hearings, along with public safety.
The legislature needs to come up with a solid bill that protects the homeowners and their homes.
Florida residents sickened by the environmental effects of Chinese drywall and squeezed by their insurance companies can't afford any more delays.
When even Florida's insurer of last resort won't help, higher-ups need to step in.
As Beatrice E. Garcia and Nirvi Shah of The Miami Herald reported today, owners of homes affected by defective Chinese drywall are having trouble processing claims - and potentially face more problems:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1271892.html
Leave it to those insurance companies, including Citizens Property Insurance, to insure themselves more than the homeowners they're supposed to protect - particularly when those homeowners aren't to blame for this situation.
So far, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature haven't done anything about even regulating Chinese drywall, though the problem came to light almost a year ago. On Tuesday, the Florida Senate's Community Affairs Committee had its first hearing on the matter for next year's legislative session.
Insurance protection for homeowners needs to be added to the agenda of those hearings, along with public safety.
The legislature needs to come up with a solid bill that protects the homeowners and their homes.
Florida residents sickened by the environmental effects of Chinese drywall and squeezed by their insurance companies can't afford any more delays.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Oct. 7: Hello, World? Afghanistan Is Your War, Too
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Eight years ago today, Afghanistan was the world's war. It should still be so.
When President George W. Bush announced the start of military action in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001, he had the support of the entire world.
We know the rest; that support declined with Bush's decision to go into Iraq.
Bush isn't in the White House anymore. But the Taliban is still menacing Afghanistan - and possibly greasing the skids for a new emergence of Al Quaida. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is trying to decide whether to have a military "surge" in Afghanistan.
The rest of the world could make that decision easier by not making the United States, or NATO, go it relatively alone. What happens in Afghanistan affects them, too. The worldwide terrorist attacks that have followed 9/11 are proof.
Eight years ago today, Afghanistan was the world's war. It should still be so.
When President George W. Bush announced the start of military action in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001, he had the support of the entire world.
We know the rest; that support declined with Bush's decision to go into Iraq.
Bush isn't in the White House anymore. But the Taliban is still menacing Afghanistan - and possibly greasing the skids for a new emergence of Al Quaida. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is trying to decide whether to have a military "surge" in Afghanistan.
The rest of the world could make that decision easier by not making the United States, or NATO, go it relatively alone. What happens in Afghanistan affects them, too. The worldwide terrorist attacks that have followed 9/11 are proof.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Oct. 6: Obama Should Try FDR's Alphabet Soup Recipe On Jobs
By Sylvia Gurinsky
It's the jobs, stupid.
President Barack Obama and economists can say all they want about jobs being a lagging economic indicator, and that patience is needed. It doesn't matter.
Patience is impossible when you can't pay the bills.
Obama has been reading about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Presumably, that includes FDR's so-called "Alphabet Soup" of organizations created to restore jobs. Those included the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Obama's statements that health care reform, energy reform and the stimulus package would create jobs do no good. That's because America's economy has flipped from bottom-up to the top-down "voodoo" economics originated by President Ronald Reagan and advocated by both Bushes (including President George H.W. Bush, who came up with the "Voodoo" label during the 1980 Republican presidential primary). We now know that a lot of economic success during the Clinton Administration was like steroids: Artificial enhancement.
Obama hasn't seemed to grasp, just yet, that Wall Street won't help Main Street out of this mess. Wall Street will only help Wall Street. But it takes Main Street to really make a successful economy.
Obama needs to go back and re-read his FDR books, and devote 2010 to the theme of job creation - not through second-hand, top-down methods, but through primary methods. Then, either through Congress or by executive order, he needs to create a new alphabet soup of productive jobs for Americans.
It's the jobs, stupid.
President Barack Obama and economists can say all they want about jobs being a lagging economic indicator, and that patience is needed. It doesn't matter.
Patience is impossible when you can't pay the bills.
Obama has been reading about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Presumably, that includes FDR's so-called "Alphabet Soup" of organizations created to restore jobs. Those included the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Obama's statements that health care reform, energy reform and the stimulus package would create jobs do no good. That's because America's economy has flipped from bottom-up to the top-down "voodoo" economics originated by President Ronald Reagan and advocated by both Bushes (including President George H.W. Bush, who came up with the "Voodoo" label during the 1980 Republican presidential primary). We now know that a lot of economic success during the Clinton Administration was like steroids: Artificial enhancement.
Obama hasn't seemed to grasp, just yet, that Wall Street won't help Main Street out of this mess. Wall Street will only help Wall Street. But it takes Main Street to really make a successful economy.
Obama needs to go back and re-read his FDR books, and devote 2010 to the theme of job creation - not through second-hand, top-down methods, but through primary methods. Then, either through Congress or by executive order, he needs to create a new alphabet soup of productive jobs for Americans.
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