Day: June 26, 2011

Congressional Employees And Payment Bonuses: Is That Appropriate In Difficult Times? YES!

As if there have not been enough attacks on state and local government employees and their salaries and benefits, now the attack is beginning on Congressional employees, who are the backbone of our Congress, and whom without, our Congress could not operate!

The average Congressional employee is grossly underpaid, as compared to what could be gained in private employment, but these men and women, primarily in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, feel a calling to serve their country by working for members of Congress!

Without these dedicated public servants, Congress could not operate, as they are the substance and the solid base of every Congressman and Senator and all House and Senate committees!

These are people with excellent educations and skills that keep every Congressional office operating, and keep their member of Congress up to date and informed about the myriad of issues that each member of Congress faces daily!

Does anyone think any member of either house of Congress could do their job without their dedicated staffs? How does one think legislative action is accomplished, that research is done, that speech writing is achieved, that scheduling is set up, that constituent services are smoothly arranged?

If, with pay lower than normal for the talents and skills needed, it is made impossible for a Congressman or Senator to use his or her discretion to pay bonuses to his or her staff members who deserve it for long hours and often constant attention to their work even when supposedly off from the job, then we will see a mass exodus of the best and the brightest from employment on Capitol Hill, and the nation will be the worse for it!

This commentary is based on the reality of what the author knows from years of study and reflection on the American political system, plus the experience of his older son, David Feinman, having devoted three years to the service of the constituents of the 19th Congressional District of Florida under Congressman Robert Wexler!

Human Rights Vs. Popular Vote, Religion, And Constitutional Amendments

With the passage of gay marriage rights in the New York State legislature, the debate is again beginning about the opposition of religious groups, the call for a vote of the people on the issue, and talk of a federal constitutional amendment to prevent gay marriage nationally, and in the states.

Only once has a constitutional amendment been passed to limit human rights–the 18th Amendment ban on the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages–and it was repealed by the 21st Amendment fourteen years later.

The purpose of amendments has always been to improve on human rights, not restrict human rights, and gay marriage is a human right!

Organized religion has often been opposed to human rights internationally, as well as in this country, as witness the religious groups which supported slavery, racial segregation, and denial of equality for women. Of course, not all religious groups promoted denial of human rights, and there are glorious crusades on the opposite end of these issues that dignify America’s history as a country improving its human rights record over time. But should any religious group or individual views on gay marriage be determinant of such a human right existing? The answer is clearly NO!

Should the American people be able to vote on the issue of human rights, and deny unpopular groups their basic human rights? Again, the answer is NO, as it is clear that if one had had a vote on interracial marriage in the 1960s, the vast majority would have opposed it, but so what? It is none of anyone’s business what other adults do in their personal lives and for their personal happiness!

It is likely that large percentages of Americans today do not like interracial marriage, do not like racial integration, do not like that women have become so equal with men, but that is a personal thought, and should not rule on the issue of human rights!

Human rights should be inviolable, not subject to anyone’s whims or prejudices! No one should be able to deny or take away anyone’s human rights under any circumstances, as this is democracy and human freedom on its grandest scale!

Changes Coming In Cable And Television News!

As we enter the second half of 2011, and the Presidential race becomes ever more center stage, Fox News Channel is making every effort to legitimize itself as “mainstream”, just as Jon Stewart went after Fox News Channel on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace last week, as not being accurate or responsible in its coverage of politics and news!

Having “rescued” liberal commentator Juan Williams, after he was summarily fired by National Public Radio, with a reported $2 million a year five year contract, Fox News then went to hire CNN morning anchor John Roberts to be a national correspondent, and former Democratic Senator Evan Bayh to be a political commentator.

Now they have hired CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry to be their White House correspondent, and of course, for the past few years, they have had former CNN morning anchor Bill Hemmer on their station.

Will it work, to make Fox News Channel seem “mainstream”? With the leaving of Glenn Beck from his every weekday show through joint agreement, it might have some effect, although Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, John Stossel, Greta Van Susteren, Brit Hume, Bill Kristol, Liz Cheney, et al, make one wonder if that is possible!

Meanwhile, Keith Olbermann, who had a “divorce” from MSNBC, has now revived his “Countdown” show, following a similar format, on former Vice President Al Gore’s independent station, Current TV. For those who enjoyed his incisive coverage of politics, it is a welcome return, but the question is whether he can “steal’ the audience of MSNBC and Lawrence O’Donnell at the same hour, along with Eliot Spitzer on CNN. As it turns out, Current TV replays Olbermann’s show EIGHT times over the 24 hour cycle, so in theory, one can watch Spitzer, see O’Donnell in rerun at 11 pm, and then watch Olbermann at any three hour cycle up through dinner time the next day!

Additionally, Norah O’Donnell of MSNBC and NBC, who had been a chief Washington correspondent, is now moving to CBS as their White House correspondent. Always pleasant and appealing in her manner of reporting and commenting, CBS has staged a major coup by gaining her employment!

So cable news and TV news in general has become ever more personality driven, and adds interest to the coverage of major political events!

Early Speculation On 2016 Presidential Nomination Contest For Democrats!

With the decision of the New York State legislature, with strong intervention by Governor Andrew Cuomo , to put gay marriage into law in the third largest state, the speculation has begun on who might be front runners in the 2016 Presidential Election on the Democratic side, and Cuomo is at the top of the list!

Along with Cuomo, the son of former NY Governor Mario Cuomo, others speculated about this early include:

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to replace Hillary Clinton, and then was elected to the seat.

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who won an easy re-election in his state.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner, former Governor, who considered running for President in 2008 but backed out of the race.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who has made a great impression on many in the Democratic Party.

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, who faces a tough re-election challenge in the “Show Me” state in 2012, but is seen as a future leader of the Democratic Party.

Political junkies never find it too early to think more than an election ahead, so the speculation is rampant and will grow as the months and years go by!