Be thankful that Save Richmond is ever on the watchdog job. Now the intrepid investigators are looking at Richmond's mammoth new convention center, another of The City's build-it-and-they-will-come projects. "Turkeys," by Andrew Beaujon, asks some questions about the design and operation of the convention center that deserve answers.
"The Greater Richmond Convention Center will be empty on Thursday [Thanksgiving Day]. That’s not news; there’s a reason it loses $4-5 million a year. It’s not because there’s not an arts center across the street, by the way -- you need only read this report to know that the supply of convention center space in the U.S. far exceeds demand. That’s why enlarging the Richmond convention center was such a dumb idea. Asking an empty building to spur economic development is a classic example of Richmond strategery [sic]. So anyway, it’s more than somewhat galling to read that there won’t be a free Thanksgiving dinner at the convention center this year, because the group putting it on couldn’t swing the six large they needed to rent a facility that will otherwise go empty."
Since 1985, in various formats, SLANT -- an independent voice based in the heart of Richmond, Virginia -- has offered its readers original commentary on politics and popular culture. Warning: Occasionally, that means wiseass cartoons and satirical content. Naturally, all rights are reserved.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Still Got Soul
There are always so many reasons to be thankful, can we ever be thankful enough? Probably not, so it’s good that we set aside one day to count our blessings. To be thankful one has to care about something outside of one's self. As long as we take the risk to care, in spite of our despair, we have hope. Without hope we become disconnected from our context, our lives fall apart. If you feel thankful today -- Thanksgiving Day -- be glad you still can, because there are surely those who can’t manage it anymore.
Charles Bukowski
(1920-94)
Which reminds me of a wonderful line from one of Charles Bukowski’s short stories: “If you don’t have much soul left and you know it, you still got soul.”
Happy Thanksgiving Day to SLANTblog's readers. Keep the faith. Keep your powder dry and keep on truckin'.
Charles Bukowski(1920-94)
Happy Thanksgiving Day to SLANTblog's readers. Keep the faith. Keep your powder dry and keep on truckin'.
Illustration by F. T. Rea
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
America's Costly Addiction
Consider this unusual story, as noted by Triscula in "Timing Is Everything" at Three Wheels: QUINCY, Massachusetts (AP): “Thousands of low-income Massachusetts residents will receive discounted home heating oil this winter under an agreement signed Tuesday with Venezuela [Citgo], whose government is a political adversary of the Bush administration.”
Folks in Massachusetts are probably glad the much-reported suggestion of Conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson to President Bush -- that Venezuela’s President Chavez ought to be assassinated -- was not followed.
Then there's this strange tale coming from across the pond: LONDON (Reuters): “Britain has warned media organizations they are breaking the law if they publish details of a leaked document said to show U.S. President George W. Bush wanted to bomb Arabic television station Al Jazeera.”
What could possibly link a story about a South American president’s move to directly help the poor in Massachusetts and a story about Britain’s media being threatened to lay off a breaking story about an American president itching to bomb an Arabic television station in Qatar? Even if it is denied a thousand times in Washington and London, what could be the common denominator?
Oil baby! Only oil, and our costly addiction to it. Do you wonder what Robertson thinks of the idea of blowing Al Jazeera into smithereens?
In closing Triscula asks: "Remember, just a couple of weeks ago, American big oil companies were sitting in front of congress trying to justify their massive, record-breaking profits right after Katrina hit the Gulf region. Now Chavez bypasses the middle-man and looks like a hero to the working man. Love him or hate him, the guy knows how to work the room."
Folks in Massachusetts are probably glad the much-reported suggestion of Conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson to President Bush -- that Venezuela’s President Chavez ought to be assassinated -- was not followed.
Then there's this strange tale coming from across the pond: LONDON (Reuters): “Britain has warned media organizations they are breaking the law if they publish details of a leaked document said to show U.S. President George W. Bush wanted to bomb Arabic television station Al Jazeera.”
What could possibly link a story about a South American president’s move to directly help the poor in Massachusetts and a story about Britain’s media being threatened to lay off a breaking story about an American president itching to bomb an Arabic television station in Qatar? Even if it is denied a thousand times in Washington and London, what could be the common denominator?
Oil baby! Only oil, and our costly addiction to it. Do you wonder what Robertson thinks of the idea of blowing Al Jazeera into smithereens?
In closing Triscula asks: "Remember, just a couple of weeks ago, American big oil companies were sitting in front of congress trying to justify their massive, record-breaking profits right after Katrina hit the Gulf region. Now Chavez bypasses the middle-man and looks like a hero to the working man. Love him or hate him, the guy knows how to work the room."
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
42 Years Later
For us Baby Boomers it’s not easy to get through any November 22 without being reminded of 1963, when the president was gunned down on the street in Dallas.The gut-gnawing dissatisfaction with the official explanation of who exactly killed President John F. Kennedy, and why, left a cynical stain on an American generation that entered adulthood already suspecting its government couldn’t be trusted. Culturally, in many ways it was probably an unprecedented situation. To be sure, more reasons not to trust followed.
Cantor $31,500; Goode $1,000
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is currently investigating the far-flung dealings of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. According to the Associated Press, among the 33 members of congress recently implicated in the burgeoning scandal, to do with casinos and who knows what else? are two Virginia congressmen -- Eric Cantor and Virgil Goode.
The two Republican lawmakers are said to have signed letters sent to the Bush administration on behalf of Abramoff’s clients shortly after the beleaguered lobbyist wrote them a check or hosted fundraisers for them. For their parts in this unraveling story Cantor seems to have done a lot better than Goode, bang-for-the-buck-wise. Cantor is reported to have raked in $31,500 from Abramoff, while it seems poor Goode only got $1,000 for whatever he was selling.
To get an idea of who exactly has what sort of clout, here is AP’s entire list of lawmakers recently linked to this investigation, in order of how much dough Sugar Daddy Jack sent their way:
The two Republican lawmakers are said to have signed letters sent to the Bush administration on behalf of Abramoff’s clients shortly after the beleaguered lobbyist wrote them a check or hosted fundraisers for them. For their parts in this unraveling story Cantor seems to have done a lot better than Goode, bang-for-the-buck-wise. Cantor is reported to have raked in $31,500 from Abramoff, while it seems poor Goode only got $1,000 for whatever he was selling.
To get an idea of who exactly has what sort of clout, here is AP’s entire list of lawmakers recently linked to this investigation, in order of how much dough Sugar Daddy Jack sent their way:
SENATE
Trent Lott (R-Miss.) $92,000
Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) $82,500
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) $67,441
Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) $62,500
Mary Landrieu (D-La.) $32,000
John Breaux (D-La.) $27,500
John Ensign (R-Nev.) $16,293
David Vitter (R-La.) $6,000
(Vitter refunded these donations on 2/18/02)
Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) $2,750
HOUSE
Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) $103,500
John Doolittle (R-Calif.) $64,500
Tom DeLay (R-Texas) $57,000
Chris John (D-La.) $56,625
Jim McCrery (R-La.) $36,250
Eric Cantor (R-Va.) $31,500
Ernest Istook (R-Okla.) $29,000
Pete Sessions (R-Texas) $22,500
Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) $20,100
Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) $6,000
Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)$4,000
Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) $3,000
John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) $2,500
Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) $2,500
Sue Myrick (R-La.) $2,000
Ronnie Shows (R-Miss.) $2,000
Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) $2,000
Melissa Hart (R-Pa.) $2,000
Sam Johnson (R-Texas) $2,000
Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) $1,750
Walter Jones (R-N.C.) $1,000
Virgil Goode (R-Va.) $1,000
Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) $1,000
Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) $500
Trent Lott (R-Miss.) $92,000
Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) $82,500
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) $67,441
Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) $62,500
Mary Landrieu (D-La.) $32,000
John Breaux (D-La.) $27,500
John Ensign (R-Nev.) $16,293
David Vitter (R-La.) $6,000
(Vitter refunded these donations on 2/18/02)
Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) $2,750
HOUSE
Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) $103,500
John Doolittle (R-Calif.) $64,500
Tom DeLay (R-Texas) $57,000
Chris John (D-La.) $56,625
Jim McCrery (R-La.) $36,250
Eric Cantor (R-Va.) $31,500
Ernest Istook (R-Okla.) $29,000
Pete Sessions (R-Texas) $22,500
Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) $20,100
Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) $6,000
Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)$4,000
Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) $3,000
John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) $2,500
Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) $2,500
Sue Myrick (R-La.) $2,000
Ronnie Shows (R-Miss.) $2,000
Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) $2,000
Melissa Hart (R-Pa.) $2,000
Sam Johnson (R-Texas) $2,000
Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) $1,750
Walter Jones (R-N.C.) $1,000
Virgil Goode (R-Va.) $1,000
Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) $1,000
Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) $500
Monday, November 21, 2005
Call of the Bull Moose?
Lowell Feld at Raising Kaine asks:
My answer is, maybe.
Moreover, Feld is raising excellent questions and it's a good time to ask them. In my book, the effort to create a third party now, by shouldering into the largely abandoned middle ground, would be a righteous pursuit. While it would lack the usual passion of strident right- or left-wingers wearing blinders, it would have more potential to become a real player, if it ever really got underway.
By "underway" I mean this Neo-Bull Moose Party would have to field candidates and win elections on the local and statewide level before it tried to win a national election. It could have national leaders, such as a John McCain or Joe Lieberman, but the first efforts should be directed toward winning somewhere. Anywhere.
Face it: Without the focus of winning specific elections, third parties look too much like blustery flocks of poseurs to John Q. Public, who doesn’t follow politics avidly. But the third party that Feld wants to see would need to appeal to just such a guy, or it wouldn't work.
This new party might want to advocate letting in more sunlight on the dark role behind-closed-doors lobbyists play in directing zillions of government dollars to benefit mammoth corporations. It might call for slashing the budgets for defense and foreign aid. It could call for ending another war the USA lost -- the drug war. It would probably have to champion campaign finance reform in a big way, calling for drastic measures to reduce the role that soul-sucking, big-budget advertising plays in so many elections. Maybe this imaginary party ought to incorporate some aspects of the thinking behind the Libertarians and the Greens.
It probably wouldn’t take winning many elections for the buzz to make such a new political party the darling of the media, and quite attractive to many voters who are disgusted with how the two-party system has been working/not working for them.
If the Bull Moose could win a handful of congressional races, mayoral races, state assembly, etc. in 2006, such a new political party would then have a genuine potential to grow. Hey, when you stop to think how hard the Republicans and Democrats would try to kill off such a thing and what extremes they’d likely stoop to, it already sounds like fun to me.
Would a New Bull Moose Party ever have any chance of working in this country, especially given the entrenched nature of the Republicans and Democrats?If that party sought to seize the middle ground and govern sensibly, Feld wonders if some well-known politicians would be comfortable becoming affiliated with such a party. Among them are: John McCain, Colin Powell, Jesse Ventura, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Lieberman (depicted to the left), Bill Clinton, Wesley Clark, Olympia Snowe, John Warner, and possibly even Mark Warner?
My answer is, maybe. Moreover, Feld is raising excellent questions and it's a good time to ask them. In my book, the effort to create a third party now, by shouldering into the largely abandoned middle ground, would be a righteous pursuit. While it would lack the usual passion of strident right- or left-wingers wearing blinders, it would have more potential to become a real player, if it ever really got underway.
By "underway" I mean this Neo-Bull Moose Party would have to field candidates and win elections on the local and statewide level before it tried to win a national election. It could have national leaders, such as a John McCain or Joe Lieberman, but the first efforts should be directed toward winning somewhere. Anywhere.
Face it: Without the focus of winning specific elections, third parties look too much like blustery flocks of poseurs to John Q. Public, who doesn’t follow politics avidly. But the third party that Feld wants to see would need to appeal to just such a guy, or it wouldn't work.
This new party might want to advocate letting in more sunlight on the dark role behind-closed-doors lobbyists play in directing zillions of government dollars to benefit mammoth corporations. It might call for slashing the budgets for defense and foreign aid. It could call for ending another war the USA lost -- the drug war. It would probably have to champion campaign finance reform in a big way, calling for drastic measures to reduce the role that soul-sucking, big-budget advertising plays in so many elections. Maybe this imaginary party ought to incorporate some aspects of the thinking behind the Libertarians and the Greens.
It probably wouldn’t take winning many elections for the buzz to make such a new political party the darling of the media, and quite attractive to many voters who are disgusted with how the two-party system has been working/not working for them.
If the Bull Moose could win a handful of congressional races, mayoral races, state assembly, etc. in 2006, such a new political party would then have a genuine potential to grow. Hey, when you stop to think how hard the Republicans and Democrats would try to kill off such a thing and what extremes they’d likely stoop to, it already sounds like fun to me.
Illustration by F. T. Rea
Kudos to Save Richmond
The Virginia Coalition for Open Government has awarded the Laurence E. Richardson Freedom of Information Award to Save Richmond for its tireless effort to shine a light on some of the darker aspects of the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation story. Richmonders should be grateful for what Save Richmond's Don Harrison and Andrew Beaujon have contributed to the dialogue. Bloggers everywhere should take heart at what they accomplished with determination and a web site.
Meanwhile, following the shuffling of the cards that Mayor Doug Wilder has given the performing arts center business, what has Save Richmond got to say about how the new game has been played, so far? Here's what:
"For followers of the arts center saga who have been saving up tossable rotten fruit lo these last few months, I present to you a most inviting target - Martin J. Rust. Perhaps no single individual other than Jim Ukrop and poor Brad Armstrong is more responsible for the gaping hole on Broad, the lights being turned off at the Carpenter Center, and the general pervasive acrimony than is Mr. Rust."
Click here to read the Save Richmond post about the awkward departure of Rust.
It’s a mystery to me why Wilder hasn’t made a point of also recognizing the positive role that Harrison and Beaujon have played in revealing the arrogance and folly of the VAPAF's plan and its practices. Why isn't one of them on the new board devoted to picking up the pieces? Hizzoner should look again at what Save Richmond's workhorses have contributed to saving Richmond from another publicly-financed fiasco.
Meanwhile, following the shuffling of the cards that Mayor Doug Wilder has given the performing arts center business, what has Save Richmond got to say about how the new game has been played, so far? Here's what:
"For followers of the arts center saga who have been saving up tossable rotten fruit lo these last few months, I present to you a most inviting target - Martin J. Rust. Perhaps no single individual other than Jim Ukrop and poor Brad Armstrong is more responsible for the gaping hole on Broad, the lights being turned off at the Carpenter Center, and the general pervasive acrimony than is Mr. Rust."
Click here to read the Save Richmond post about the awkward departure of Rust.
It’s a mystery to me why Wilder hasn’t made a point of also recognizing the positive role that Harrison and Beaujon have played in revealing the arrogance and folly of the VAPAF's plan and its practices. Why isn't one of them on the new board devoted to picking up the pieces? Hizzoner should look again at what Save Richmond's workhorses have contributed to saving Richmond from another publicly-financed fiasco.
(Photo Credit F. T. Rea)
Sunday, November 20, 2005
'Tis the Season?
And now this late-breaking news flash from Andy Borowitz:
"President George W. Bush cut short his trip to Asia today to rush back to Washington to execute the White House turkey for its role in the leaking of the identity of a CIA officer. While the President usually pardons the turkey in a pre-Thanksgiving ceremony, Mr. Bush said that after launching an extensive investigation of his own he determined that the turkey and no one else was responsible for the leak."
Read the rest of this touching Thanksgiving piece at The Borowitz Report.
"President George W. Bush cut short his trip to Asia today to rush back to Washington to execute the White House turkey for its role in the leaking of the identity of a CIA officer. While the President usually pardons the turkey in a pre-Thanksgiving ceremony, Mr. Bush said that after launching an extensive investigation of his own he determined that the turkey and no one else was responsible for the leak."
Read the rest of this touching Thanksgiving piece at The Borowitz Report.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Linked to Indicted Lobbyist
While they count and recount the votes in the Virginia Attorney General race, there are some emerging details about Republican Bob McDonnell -- the leader at this writing by a scant 345 votes -- that may be making Team Elephant uncomfortable. Below is a Post story that offers some background.
"Two key campaign consultants for Virginia attorney general candidate Robert F. McDonnell established a nonprofit group five years ago that its director now says was used almost exclusively to secretly fund political efforts -- including one organized by indicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. McDonnell, a lawyer and state delegate from Virginia Beach, provided legal advice and his law firm did work for the nonprofit group, according to its former executive director, Robin Vanderwall. Vanderwall said he does not know whether McDonnell knew of the group's activities but said everything he did was at the direction of McDonnell's current political strategists.
There's more. Click on the link above.
Friday, November 18, 2005
CAA News
VCU's Nick George, a senior forward, was selected by the media to be on the CAA Preseason All-Star team.
While the men's college basketball season officially tips off tonight, the CAA has already made its presence known on a national scale. UNC Wilmington, Drexel and George Mason have combined for a 6-1 mark in three prestigious preseason tournaments, setting the stage for an exciting 2005-06 campaign.
UNCW won the eight-team BCA Invitational Tournament on Wednesday night, defeating Big Ten foe Northwestern 56-48 in the championship game. The Seahawks also posted victories over perennial Horizon League power Butler (75-59) and host Wyoming (62-59 in ot) of the Mountain West Conference. UNCW senior guard John Goldsberry was selected as the tournament's MVP.
Drexel advanced to the semifinals of the Preseason NIT after a 54-41 win at Princeton on Monday and a 72-61 triumph over Sam Houston State on Thursday before a sell-out crowd at the DAC and a national TV audience on ESPN 2. The Dragons will meet No. 1-ranked Duke on Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden and then will face either No.12 Memphis or No. 18 UCLA on Friday. Both games will be televised nationally on ESPN.
George Mason rolled past UC Irvine 79-56 in the first round of the Coaches versus Cancer Classic before giving 18th-ranked Wake Forest all it could handle in an 83-78 overtime setback. Four more CAA teams open their seasons tonight. Defending conference champion Old Dominion, which is ranked as high as No. 21 nationally, faces Georgia in the first round of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas. Northeastern faces Brown in the opening game of the Mohegan Sun Classic, while William & Mary entertains Maine in the first game of the William & Mary Classic. Delaware plays The Citadel in Raleigh, N.C.
On Saturday, Hofstra hosts Florida International and Towson opens at home against Loyola. James Madison starts its season on Monday night with a home game against Georgetown, while VCU visits Appalachian State. League newcomer Georgia State opens on Tuesday night with a conference game against Delaware.
Banned For Life
This time of year flushes all sorts of haunts out of their hiding places. Accordingly, a serial-, or perhaps spree-killer I once knew came to mind today. The man died violently 13 years ago this month, long after I had last seen him. Click here to read a story about him. Here’s an excerpt of it:"... the Richmond Times-Dispatch carried Mark Holmberg's sad and sensational story of Woody Drake. As usual, Holmberg did a good job with a bizarre subject. In case you missed the news: Lynwood Drake, who grew up in Richmond, murdered six people in California on November 8 [1992]. Then he turned the gun on himself. His tortured suicide note cited revenge as the motive. An especially troubling aspect of Holmberg's account was that those Richmonders who remembered the 43 year old Drake weren't at all surprised at the startling news. Nor was I. My memory of the man goes back to the early days of the Biograph Theatre (1972). At the time I managed the West Grace Street cinema. So the unpleasant task of dealing with Drake fell to me."
Pulsating Again
Update: Olsen's band will play both Friday and Saturday nights at Shenanigans (Nov. 25th & 26th).
The notice below is in from an old friend Bruce Olsen (Offenders, Flood Zone, horse whisperer, etc.), who, with his son Adrian and others, will be performing live on stage next weekend:
"Hey Now! We got the young and the old coming together again at Shenanigans on Saturday, Nov. 26th. Bruce's the Buzz Factor, Adrian and the kids. Fun for all. Love to see you there."
For some history on the older Olsen check out this Richmond Time-Dispatch article on the opening of the Flood Zone in 1986. Then here's one from STYLE Weekly that looks back on the Flood Zone's high water marks.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
McDonnell's Shrinking Lead
With the incredible shrinking difference between the vote totals of the two Attorney General hopefuls, down from 2,023 votes on Nov. 9 to just 341 votes today, a recount seems inevitable. The State Board of Elections will certify the results on Nov. 28. The losing candidate then has 10 days to request a recount.
Why all the adjustments since the original count was posted have moved the numbers to the benefit of Democrat Creigh Deeds (now with 970,507 votes) is anybody's guess. While Republican Bob McDonnell (now with 970,848 votes) has declared victory, he can't be happy about that trend.
The closeness of this year's vote for AG made me dust off a cartoon of mine that was done during the wild aftermath of the 2000 presidential election.
Click on the image to enlarge it.
Why all the adjustments since the original count was posted have moved the numbers to the benefit of Democrat Creigh Deeds (now with 970,507 votes) is anybody's guess. While Republican Bob McDonnell (now with 970,848 votes) has declared victory, he can't be happy about that trend.
The closeness of this year's vote for AG made me dust off a cartoon of mine that was done during the wild aftermath of the 2000 presidential election.
Click on the image to enlarge it.Wednesday, November 16, 2005
The Return of Dr. StrangeRove
Known in some circles as Bush’s Brain, Karl Rove has escaped indictment in the on-going leaking/outing case, to do with CIA agent Valerie Plame. At least for the time being he has. Apparently Rove, who has made his living as a partisan dirty trickster since the 1970s, knows how to play the game without getting busted a little better than does poor Scooter Libby. Some readers may remember when a younger version of the ever slippery Rove was a behind-the-scenes presence for the GOP in Virginia politics, briefly, in the late-70s.
Dr. StrangeRove gasped, "It would not be difficult, Mein Führer! Nuclear reactors could easily provide, heh... I'm sorry, Mr. President."
'Toon by F. T. ReaThat Rove is back at his White House desk was evident with George Bush’s unusual remarks on Veterans Day. When I say “unusual” that means I can’t remember another president using his obligatory Veterans Day speech to savage his political opponents. It would seem that for one day Bush could have forgotten about his sinking approval ratings and just honored the contributions and sacrifices of American veterans.
But Rove, the Brain, doesn’t let opportunities go by unused. So instead of a humble and grateful Commander in Chief, we got an angry politician.
Rove's has openly acknowledged that a key inspiration for his career in politics was Ohio political boss Mark Hanna, who was President William McKinley’s brain in the day. Writing for Slate, Jacob Weisberg penned a nice piece on Rove and his revealing fascination with Hanna on Nov. 2:
“...McKinley was an affable, none-too-bright former congressman when Hanna helped elect him governor of Ohio. In 1896, Hanna raised an unprecedented amount of money and ran a sophisticated, hardball campaign that got McKinley to the White House. One could go on with the analogy: McKinley governed negligently in the interests of big business and went to war on flimsy evidence that Spain had blown up the USS Maine. The key to McKinley's political success was the alliance Hanna forged between industrialists like himself, who provided the cash, and workers, who provided the votes. In Rove's alliance, the rich provide the cash, and religious conservatives provide the votes.”
What Karl Rove believes in, or wants in the long run -- other than raw power itself -- is anybody’s guess. The Hanna link is a nice piece of history, but when I think of Rove, I imagine him sitting behind the president in meetings, speaking in the campy German accent Peter Sellers used in the title role of "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)." Then I can almost hear Dr. StrangeRove whispering warnings in Bush’s ear about a “mine-shaft-gap.”
Dr. StrangeRove gasped, "It would not be difficult, Mein Führer! Nuclear reactors could easily provide, heh... I'm sorry, Mr. President."'Toon by F. T. Rea
But Rove, the Brain, doesn’t let opportunities go by unused. So instead of a humble and grateful Commander in Chief, we got an angry politician.
Rove's has openly acknowledged that a key inspiration for his career in politics was Ohio political boss Mark Hanna, who was President William McKinley’s brain in the day. Writing for Slate, Jacob Weisberg penned a nice piece on Rove and his revealing fascination with Hanna on Nov. 2:
“...McKinley was an affable, none-too-bright former congressman when Hanna helped elect him governor of Ohio. In 1896, Hanna raised an unprecedented amount of money and ran a sophisticated, hardball campaign that got McKinley to the White House. One could go on with the analogy: McKinley governed negligently in the interests of big business and went to war on flimsy evidence that Spain had blown up the USS Maine. The key to McKinley's political success was the alliance Hanna forged between industrialists like himself, who provided the cash, and workers, who provided the votes. In Rove's alliance, the rich provide the cash, and religious conservatives provide the votes.”
What Karl Rove believes in, or wants in the long run -- other than raw power itself -- is anybody’s guess. The Hanna link is a nice piece of history, but when I think of Rove, I imagine him sitting behind the president in meetings, speaking in the campy German accent Peter Sellers used in the title role of "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)." Then I can almost hear Dr. StrangeRove whispering warnings in Bush’s ear about a “mine-shaft-gap.”
Flicker
I have a few slots left if anyone has a Regular 8, Super 8, 16mm, Super 16mm or 35mm film to show (we can screen on� all formats but the 35mm plus films that have been transferred to VHS, DVD and miniDV). Let me know ASAP if you want a slot -- (804) 232-7642.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
Bright Future for Donkeys?
That Sen. George Allen's enthusiastic backing on the stump and in commercials didn't seem to help Jerry Kilgore much is well worth noting. Moreover, it should encourage those Democrats thinking of running against Allen in 2006.
If Virginians get the sense Allen is running for reelection to the US Senate, only to pick up and start running for president immediately after the 2006 election, it might not sit all that well. Remember when then-Governor Doug Wilder flirted with a presidential run in 1992? He was roundly criticized from every direction. Virginians generally want their elected officials to do the job they were elected to do, and not look beyond the state line in the middle of a term in office.
Which is exactly why Gov. Mark Warner is being smart not to run against Allen, if Warner really means to run for president in 2008. Obviously, it would be a killer to lose. Even more important, should Warner defeat Allen, he would look like just another cynical politician to begin running for president the very next day. Sincerity is Warner’s strong suit, image-wise. He’d be crazy to do anything to undermine that perception of him.
Allen won't be easy to beat, but as long as he's tied to Bush policies he's carrying a load that will slow him down. If Allen turns his back on Bush, he then has to fear Karl Rove. Uh, oh. Speaking of fear, Allen's handlers already know that they have much to fear from a sharp Democrat with the backing of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. I wonder if Congressman Bobby Scott is considering such a run.
Vintage Kaine
This link will take you to a piece about Governor-elect Tim Kaine I wrote for Richmond.com in 2000. Out of curiosity I went back to read that five-year-old article, just to see how much Kaine seems to have changed, or not, since his days as mayor of Richmond. Now the reader can decide the same.
"...Having been favorably impressed with his performance as mayor of Richmond, I was curious about his plans. To get some answers, and to get a feel for Kaine as a player, I asked him to set aside some time to meet with me and spend a few minutes talking politics. The busy councilman/attorney was kind enough to agree to get together on what is familiar turf for me -- the Baja Bean at Friday happy hour."
"...Having been favorably impressed with his performance as mayor of Richmond, I was curious about his plans. To get some answers, and to get a feel for Kaine as a player, I asked him to set aside some time to meet with me and spend a few minutes talking politics. The busy councilman/attorney was kind enough to agree to get together on what is familiar turf for me -- the Baja Bean at Friday happy hour."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)