Month: February 2009

I have spent the past week trying to recover LOL  from the latest Presidential poll from C Span, following up on the earlier 2000 poll.

While I had some problems with the last poll in 2000, I have MANY problems with the new poll, which includes former President George W. Bush for the first time.

My major issues with the 2009 poll are as follows:  Ulysses S. Grant shot up from 33 to 23; John F. Kennedy from 8 to 6; Dwight D. Eisenhower from 9 to 8; Ronald Reagan from 11 to 10; Bill Clinton from 21 to 15.  Also, Woodrow Wilson fell from 6 to 9; Lyndon Johnson from 10 to 11; Jimmy Carter from 22 to 25; Richard Nixon from 25 to 27; Rutherford Hayes from 26 to 33.

Grant, in my opinion, was the WORST President we have had and was in office longer than other failed Presidents due to his Civil War heroism and the Republican dominance in the years after the Civil War.  The historians in the poll were supposed to ONLY consider his Presidential record, which is absolutely horrible!

While I admire JFK, to make him number six with less than three years in office and not much success in domestic affairs and only late improvement in foreign affairs boggles the mind.  Again, are these historians thinking about how he died, his looks, his beautiful children, his glamorous wife, or what?

Eisenhower may have an element of nostalgia about him, as his times look much more innocent and appealing than we have had to deal with since the 1950s, but did he really address the major issues of his times?  The answer is NO!

Reagan has had a fan club, but recently new books that have emerged have started a sustained attack on  his record, and already many are saying that his supervision of the government has helped to lead to the present economic emergency we now face, the greatest since the Great Depression.  I think he is definitely overrated.

Bill Clinton also has a fan club, but having lived through and watched him for eight years, I consider him a great disappointment who was better at talking up a storm than accomplishing very much in office.

Woodrow Wilson has had his critics of late, but his accomplishments, particularly in domestic affairs, are still one of the best in US history, so I think lowering him to almost out of the top ten and below Kennedy and Eisenhower is not warranted.

Lyndon Johnson dropped only one point, but out of the top ten, and to put him under Reagan seems unjust, as much of the Great Society programs still have a great impact on the nation today, in a positive way.

Jimmy Carter certainly was in many ways a disappointment, but to knock him further down on the list, even below Grant, seems ridiculous to me!

Richard Nixon has plenty of faults, no question about it.  If anything, I have always been a major critic but further reflection in recent years makes me think that he is horribly underrated, again even under Grant!  How ridiculous can we be!

Finally, Rutherford Hayes is far from a great President, but to knock him down seven places makes no sense, and again under Grant!  This is preposterous, and he is the biggest victim of this poll, just as Grant is the biggest beneficiary.

Again, the poll, in my opinion, needs reworking, and I challenge its accuracy for sure!

Michelle Obama has made a fantastic debut as First Lady, visiting various government agencies, hosting gatherings of children at the White House, and visiting public schools, all within the first month of her husband’s term.

She has already changed the image of First Lady and is on the road to being considered one of the most prominent and influential First Ladies.  She is proving to be a great asset to her husband, and it is refreshing how she always refers to her daughters, Malia and Sasha, as her first priority, while enjoying her public interactions with various groups and causes.

At a time of great national emergency, she presents an image that may historically, if it continues as it is now, put her into the category of Lucy Hayes, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Hillary Clinton in the sense of activism and social commitment, and in the category of Frances Cleveland and Jacqueline Kennedy in the sense of glamor and social grace.

Watching her and her beautiful daughters will be lots of fun over the next four to eight years, for sure! 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has just completed a tour of several Asian nations, her debut on the world stage.

She has made a very good impression in the process, demonstrating patience, realism, firmness and principle in her dealings with the various nations, including China, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia.

First impressions lead to the conclusion that our image in Asia and the world in general will be greatly improved by her approach to international issues, and the Obama administration will rapidly make progress in improving our standing in the world, not only with our friends, but also with our rivals.

Hillary Clinton faces a tremendous challenge over the next four or more years, but I think the American people can feel confidence that our ship of state in foreign policy is in excellent hands!

Former President Bill Clinton has recently praised President Obama’s early performance in the White House as excellent, but suggests that Obama cease and desist from alarmist rhetoric.

I think that it is true that constant reference to the reality of the economic situation has had some effect on causing the further downturn on the stock market.  In other words, speaking in a negative manner can have a counterproductive effect. 

At the same time, there is also no point in hiding the reality of the economic mess we are in, as it is essential that the nation fully understand the need for a major involvement by the national government in dealing with the situation, as doing nothing, as some suggest, is certainly not a solution.

My advice would be as follows:  President Obama, tone down somewhat your message of gloom and doom.  President Clinton: In the future, consult with the President in private and avoid your apparent dire need for constant public media attention.  Your advice is welcomed, but in private, not public.  Thank you! 

It is very encouraging news to hear that President Obama has created a new Office of Urban Affairs, which will work out of the White House.

The nation’s cities have always been treated like step children, as narrow minded and prejudiced groups, particularly in the South and in the geographical heartland of the nation, have wished a  plague on the wide variety of ethnic, racial, and religious groups which populate urban areas.  This rural resentment of the cities goes back a  long way, and part of it is due to the jealousy that it is the nation’s cities which have been central to the economic, social, political and cultural growth of our nation to super power status.

I can remember when Southern Democrats made clear in the 20 th century their condemnation of the cities and saw the election of a Catholic President in  1928 (Al Smith) and 1960 (John F. Kennedy) as the end of the world as we know it.  It took the federal government intervening with the National Guard in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama  to force change on the race issue, and there is still great resistance and resentment in the Bible Belt to the reality that we will rise or fall in the future based on dealing with urban problems, instead of ignoring or condemning our cities.

So Obama has taken a giant step toward confronting a reality that must be faced:  Our future is in our cities!

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Florida Governor Charlie Crist both have demonstrated statesmanship and common sense in endorsing and backing President Obama’s Economic Stimulus Plan.

Both on Sunday talk shows have made it clear that the time for politics and division is not now, when the country is in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  Charlie Crist said he has to think about the welfare of the people of his state, not about partisan politics.  Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that when there is an emergency and people start bickering and act small minded, that sends the wrong message to the people and creates an element of fear and uncertainty that only makes the road to economic recovery more problematical.

It is time for more Republicans besides Schwarzenegger, Crist, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter to come to the rescue of the nation and stop the partisan bickering, particularly when it is the GOP who is primarily responsible for this economic mess, going as far back as Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich.  The Age of Reagan from 1980 to 2008 has led to this irresponsible financial mess, just as the era of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover from 1920-1932 led to the earlier Great Depression.  The American people reject the reckless, insensitive reaction of all Congressional Republicans except for the few courageous ones already given credit for courage and principle!

The NY Post, published by Rupert Murdoch, not known for quality journalism, has created controversy by its publication of a political cartoon depicting two police officers killing a chimpanzee ( an actual happening when a chimpanzee assaulted a woman a couple of days earlier), but with the commentary that now someone else must be found to come up with an economic stimulus package.

Most observers have taken this symbolism to be referring to President Obama, although others think it refers to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the prime creator of much of the economic stimulus package.  Any symbolic reference to either Obama or Pelosi is, of course, unacceptable and shows poor taste.

But then again, remember we are talking about Rupert Murdoch who also owns Fox News Channel, not famous for its "balanced" coverage of the news.  The astounding fact, however, that nowadays, the NY Post actually sells more copies than the NY Times or the NY Daily News, comes as a shock, as I can remember when the Post was the poorest circulation newspaper and was in danger of folding.

Apparently, all one must do to make a failing newspaper successful is to promote distortion, sensationalism, exaggeration, poor taste and low quality of journalism.  What does that say about the people who choose to read it and somehow, believe, it is "reliable" as a source of news and opinion?   We are in deep trouble with the lack of insight into the news being rewarded financially.  "Yellow" journalism has arisen again as in the late 19th century Gilded Age!

Attorney General Eric Holder has created a firestorm by his recent statements about race in America, calling the people of the country “cowards” because the issue of race still permeates American society, nearly 60 years after the beginning of the civil rights movement after World War II.

Holder points out that while racial integration and contact has increased at work and in school during the week, that on the weekend, it is rare for people of different races to pray together or socialize together.  His use of the word “cowards”, however, does not make sense to me, while what he said about segregation on the weekends does ring true in a broad sense.

No one ever could have thought that we would make as much progress as we have achieved in the last 60 years to the point that we have an African American President and Attorney General  At the same time, prejudice, racism and discrimination still exist, although I would contend in lesser amounts than when I was in college and since then.  The battle goes on, but I am encouraged by the fact that the younger generation does not separate themselves by race or ethnicity as compared to older people.  Social acceptance of racial integration has increased dramatically, particularly among people under the age of 40.  As time goes on, the acceptance of race in social situations, including houses of worship  and social situations, will improve.  Patience is required, and the ability to see the broad picture of widespread improvement.

Holder brings up an important issue, but I think his language does  not help promote racial understanding, and he needs to be more careful, therefore, in his use of terminology in the future.  His position as Attorney General demands a more considerate, thoughtful usage of language.

As one looks back on and reflects on the handling of the NY Senate seat replacement for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, it is clear that Governor David Paterson treated Caroline Kennedy with disrespect and disdain.

First, Paterson indicated that Caroline Kennedy was the front runner and did everything to encourage her pursuit of the Senate appointment.  Later, he publicly trashed her and his staff spread rumors about why she was not qualified to take the seat.  Meanwhile, he showed absolutely no respect either for any of the other leading candidates, and then settled on little known upstate Congresswoman Kirsten Gillebrand, only in her second two year term, and an advocate of the National Rifle Association in a state which has long been against open access to guns. 

While I did not think Caroline Kennedy was the ideal candidate and supported the selection of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for that seat, the Governor’s conduct and poor judgment in what he said publicly, and what his staff did in his name, makes him a prime candidate for challenge for a full term as Governor of New York in 2010.  It is hoped that he will be opposed in the primary by Attorney General Cuomo who has made a name for himself going after Wall Street.  Cuomo would restore the dignity and prestige of the Governor’s office, now sullied first by the behavior of former Governor Eliot Spitzer, and then poorly administered by his successor, David Paterson, who would never under normal circumstances have had a chance to be Governor. 

New York State deserves better than David Paterson for Governor and also Kirsten Gillebrand for Senator.  2010 should be a challenging and interesting year in New York politics!

Now that the Economic Stimulus bill has become law, offering financial aid to the states, we are confronted with six GOP governors who have threatened NOT to accept the aid, despite the dire needs that their states face.  This includes the governors of Alaska, Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

Sarah Palin is apparently willing to do this despite her pledge to work with President Obama.  Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, considered the hope for the future, seems willing to reject aid in the face of the lack of rebuilding of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, and the reality that his state is one of the poorest in America.  The same goes for Mississippi and its governor, Haley Barbour.  South Carolina and its Governor Mark Sanford are just giving further evidence that they wish to remain backward and uncooperative in the spirit of the Civil War legacy.  Texas has Governor Rick Perry, the gift of George W. Bush when he left the governorship to become President.  Idaho is well, Idaho!

These governors should be ashamed of their lack of cooperation and playing of politics in the midst of financial crisis, and it is hoped that their legislatures will override their resistance and agree to the financial aid.  It seems to me that these governors, most of whom have at least theoretical ambition to run for President in 2012, had better rethink their intransigence.  Again, it seems to me this is the road of political suicide!