City-County Matters

*Is anyone not nostalgic for Dan Kleman yet?

 

*One additional question in the sordid, sexual discrimination case involving Kevin White. Exactly what was the experienced-challenged, resume-lacking Alyssa Ogden interviewing for?

 

*Bennie Holder, Stephen Hogue, Jane Castor. It keeps getting better. And Hogue is not an easy act to follow. Police Chief Jane Castor: The right choice, the right reason.

TViewing

When it comes to watching television, my frame of reference is limited outside of news, sports and Netflix movies. But for some, what-the-hell reason I actually read the Tampa Tribune’s splashy (“Getaway” section) layout on the new fall TV series. Walt Belcher is a knowledgeable fellow, and this is his beat. I zeroed in on the “Walt’s top 5” sidebar. It was the “five best bets, based on pilot episodes.”

 

Number 1 was Modern Family. I read on. “The premise has a Dutch film crew following a ‘typical’ extended American family for a reality TV show…”

 

I stopped reading.

 

*OK, I do confess the guilty pleasure of having watched the first two seasons of Mad Men — on the AMC cable channel. It’s a well-researched period piece about Madison Avenue in the 1960s. Not exactly life in the steadfast lane. Boozy and floozy with vintage detail plus a couple of captivating characters and several compelling story lines.

 

For the second year in a row, Mad Men won an Emmy for best drama.

 

For the first year in a row, it has run out of virtually all that had previously made it appealing. After a handful of episodes, it’s obviously skating on reputation. Plotlines that were effectively juxtaposed are now forced. Characters who were quirky are now annoying. Those who were intriguing are now predictable.

 

But cocktail hour, which can break out at any time, is still a hoot.

 

*After Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary died, the media paid proper tribute. The NBC Nightly News did a nice piece that paid homage to her music and her social conscience. Anchor Brian Williams noted how we’ve recently lost a number of high-profile people that made a difference. Behind him were the images of Travers, Walter Cronkite and Michael Jackson.

 

Not to disrespect the deceased — or diminish their specific talent — but what the hell was Michael Jackson doing in such a context? Travers and Cronkite deserved better than shared billing with the avatar of aberrant values and lifestyle. And a lot worse.  Global pop-culture fame has never been confused with class, dignity and a sense of something that transcends self.

Sports Shorts: Gators, Bucs, Noles

*Sign of the times: Imagine Florida Gator fans being disappointed in a mere 10-point win against Tennessee.

 

*Sign of vulnerability: Respected color analyst Gary Danielson, who did the UF-UT game for CBS, noted emphatically that the Gators have serious issues with their wide receivers, which is code for serious issues with their defense of their national championship. Not only don’t the Gators have the departed Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy (who have moved on to the NFL), pointed out Danielson, but no one near their ability is around for Tim Tebow to throw to in 2009.

 

Yes, the receiver corps has been depleted, but the cupboard is not bare, especially with Clearwater’s Riley Cooper back for his senior season. But the Gators were expecting a Harvinesque presence out of top recruit Andre Dubose, the Sanford Seminole freshman who’s out injured for the season. They were also missing highly touted sophomore Deonte Thompson, who was hurt for the UT game.

 

 

*Is that Gaines Adams or the ghost of Booker Reese at defensive end for the Bucs?

 

*Special anniversary: Not only did Florida State re-establish itself among the nationally ranked by routing Brigham Young last Saturday, but ‘Noles head coach Bobby Bowden also celebrated the golden anniversary of his first collegiate victory. The first of his 384.

It came — when he was coaching Howard (now Samford) — against Maryville.

 

Amid the controversy over whether Bowden, who trails Penn State’s Joe Paterno by two wins, will lose as many as 14 victories (over an FSU cheating scandal), is this often overlooked footnote. Among Bowden’s 384 wins, 31 are against small-college competition (while he was at Howard). All of Paterno’s are against major schools. Bowden’s initial victory was against aforementioned Maryville, Paterno’s was against Maryland. Bowden gets to count Millsaps as if it were Michigan.

 

For the record, a disclaimer: Yes, I’m a Penn State grad.

Joe Wilson’s Contemptible Ploy

The political rule of thumb when it comes to apologies is to never be on the side of proffering one. The apologizer, such as Rep. Joe “You lie!” Wilson, R-S.C., is typically embarrassed and humbled amid another reminder of what it was that warranted humility and embarrassment in the first place. By being forgiving, the apologizee, such as President Barack “We all make mistakes” Obama, is rendered magnanimous and above the fray.

 

So much for conventional wisdom.

 

Wilson’s apology, actually conveyed through Rahm Emanuel, was at the behest of senior Republicans – not his own presumed sense of dishonor and disgrace. It thus resonated with the same degree of pro forma sincerity as Lane Kiffin’s mealy-mouthed mea culpa to Urban Meyer.

 

Wilson’s contemptible, joint-session shout-out wasn’t so much spontaneous outrage and incredibly poor, uncivil form. Wilson knows the political calculus afoot in the land and what plays well with town hall crackpots: ad hominem attacks against a black “socialist” with a Muslim name. No, Wilson’s disdainful ploy didn’t just demean Congress. It demeaned the president. As was its intent.

 

That consummate act of disrespect was Exhibit A for the greater GOP, de-legitimatization strategy. The sophistic specifics about illegals and health care were a mere pretext. It could have been over Obama’s “death panels” denial.

 

The point is no one would have dared to pull a stunt like that with Lyndon B. Johnson – even over the Gulf of Tonkin ruse – or George W. Bush – even over cherry-picked intelligence that justified the war-of-choice invasion of Iraq. Partisan politics have always been brutal inside the Beltway, and Bronx cheers have been heard in the hallowed chambers before. But some things you just didn’t do – until now.

 

You think Joe Wilson won’t be drawing high-fives out on the stump at all those political possum-roasts he attends in his home district? You think he won’t be sharing a dais with Sarah Palin before long? You think that House rebuke isn’t already on his resume? You think most Wilson supporters don’t think the only thing he did wrong was to “apologize”?

 

You have to believe that President Obama, who did the right thing by not overreacting to Wilson’s verbal spitball, was tempted — however fleetingly — to respond with the sort of heckler putdown you know he could have mustered.

 

It would likely have been a Pyrrhic victory, but it would have been a historic hoot.

 

To wit:

 

Wilson: “You lie!”

 

Assemblage: Taken aback. Many turn and stare. Lots of head shaking.

 

Obama: Closes speech text. Slight but noticeable pivot away from podium and Teleprompters. Physically separates himself from prepared remarks. Clears throat.

 

Assemblage: The hush of anticipation.

 

Obama: “You, over there. Yes, you, whoever you are. Thank you very much for demonstrating, far more effectively than anything I could have said, what it is that is woefully wrong with America’s politics today.

 

“It’s beyond partisan. It’s now perniciously partisan. You look good if I look bad. So, you yell out and disrespect this office and this officeholder. The ultimate, Washington-insider, zero-sum game. But you know what? It’s really not about you and the pitchfork-and-flambeau crowd you pander to or me and this administration. It’s about us. Upper-case U and upper-case S.  The U.S. The United States.

 

“Our challenges — on so many fronts — are more formidable than anything we’ve faced since the founding of America. Frankly, I shouldn’t have to give this lecture, but apparently I do. For openers, this is about our survival. The survival of America as we know it and love it. It’s certainly not about venerating the status quo. That’s a formula for failure.

 

“This is about our national security – which is a function of our economy, our military and our geopolitics. And “our” has to transcend every demographic niche – from socio-economic to religious to racial to, yes, political. It’s about the balance we strike between the unfettered capitalism of irresponsibility and greed gone amuck and the heavy hand of government over-regulation. It’s about the accountability we have to all Americans, especially future generations, to rein in deficits and do something about our environment — other than bad-mouth scientists. And it’s about the moral and fiscal imperative that is national health care reform.

 

“We have zero time to waste on counterproductive, political posturing that is not worthy of this country nor this historical chamber. We are challenged as never before – and we will not — we cannot — meet those challenges as a House, quite literally, divided and divisive.

 

“Surely, we can do better than this.

 

“Now where was I?”

“Eclectic” Partnership May Bail Out Bolts

Imagine, if the Byzantine buyout process that is supposed to yield harmonious, indisputable Tampa Bay Lightning ownership winds up with incumbent Oren Koules in partnership with real estate investor Jeff Greene. Might happen.

 

Koules needs some deep pockets to facilitate his buy out of current partner and erstwhile chum Len Barrie. Greene, reportedly worth more than $1 billion, according to Forbes magazine, could be Koules’ ticket to incontestable ownership. But for the record, nobody is saying anything official yet.

 

But this much is known. Neither Koules nor Greene made their money the old-fashioned way. Koules, the Hollywood producer, made his with the gratuitous-gore, slasher “Saw” movies. Greene was a pioneer in credit-default swaps and got out before the financial implosion. And for what it’s worth, Mike Tyson was the best man at Greene’s wedding.

 

Imagine, this eclectic tandem might be the solution to a dysfunctional-ownership scenario that more than concerns the National Hockey League. The Bolts have to get it right this time.

Economics And The Arts

It’s easy to view the recent diversion of proposed funding for the “Avenue of Arts” project to the city’s parks and recreation department as an unfortunate, but necessary, aesthetic hit for Tampa. Even City Councilwoman — and arts avatar — Linda Saul-Sena signed off on the transfer of Community Investment Tax money from downtown to pools and parks. That had to be a Hobson’s choice.

 

To some, converting Zack Street into an artsy, two-way, pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare was an unaffordable frill during turbulent budgetary times. But as we’ve learned countless times, the arts also have economic clout. A recent national survey, for example, has estimated that Hillsborough County’s nonprofit arts industry generated nearly $300 million in economic activity and was responsible for more than 8,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2008. It also raised more than $11 million in local tax revenues. In short, the arts are no abstraction. Neither are they isolated venues where the effete and elite meet.

 

In other words, Zack Street is about a lot more than arts.

 

Not surprisingly, Mark Huey, Tampa’s economic and development administrator, sees the transfer of CIT funds, however well-intentioned, as short-sighted. He was envisioning a pedestrian-friendly corridor that would connect the Franklin Street business district with the burgeoning waterfront that will soon feature the Tampa Museum of Art, the Glazer Children’s Museum, Curtis Hixon Park and ripple-effect retail.

 

“We’re building an economic engine along the waterfront,” Huey told City Council. “If we don’t connect them, it won’t work.”

 

Huey obviously didn’t connect well enough with the Council.

Talking Down Democratic Ideals

It was an interesting week for talk-radio juxtaposition.

 

The name of Gabe Hobbs, the long-time Clear Channel Communications programming exec, turned up prominently in local print media. He announced that he is launching a national talent management and consulting firm. It will be based in Tampa. Among Hobbs’ well-wishers: controversial conservative commentator Glenn Beck. Hobbs and Beck used to work together.

 

“Gabe is a programming genius,” said Beck in a written release. “There are very few people who understand what audiences like.”

 

Hobbs, himself, explained the formula. “You figure out who you’re talking to, and…try to reflect back to them what they’re doing,” noted Hobbs.

 

Also in the local media: Ted Koppel. The veteran TV journalist and former anchor and managing editor of ABC’s Nightline spoke at the Poynter Institute For Media Studies in St. Petersburg. He was the guest speaker for a discussion soberly titled “Journalism in Crisis: Who’s to Blame?”

 

Koppel dished on the increasing incidence of Americans choosing news outlets that match and validate their own views. “We want news that resonates our own pre-held opinions,” said Koppel. “…That is the worst possible recipe for a country that prides itself in democracy.”

 

To be continued.

Al Austin’s Last Hurrah?

Could there be a last hurrah, Republican National Convention chase left for local GOP icon Al Austin? The GOP fund-raising maestro is definitely interested, and the city of Tampa, rejected for both the 2004 and 2008 gatherings, has been asked to make another pitch – for 2012.

 

Recall that Tampa, a city that has hosted four Super Bowls, came ever so close for ’04, but New York carried the day in the patriotic aftermath of 9/11. Tampa was also a finalist for ’08, but tropical storm-free Minneapolis/St. Paul won the bid.

 

Also recall that having the president’s brother as governor of Florida was worthless. Tampa was never a priority for (Miami-oriented) Jeb Bush – outside of tapping into the fund-raising connections of Austin.

 

Ultimately, September in hurricane-prone Florida may be an even bigger deal breaker than putting together a winning package — necessitating the commitment of eroding tax dollars — during a down economy.   

 

But if Tampa decides to gear up and give it another go, here’s hoping that Charlie Crist sees it in his own interest to help deliver the GOP convention to the biggest swing state – one with 27 electoral votes – in the country. Maybe a Bush-less Tallahassee could matter this time.

 

And maybe Tampa could win one for Al Austin too.

Quoteworthy

  • “If crazy were a pre-existing condition, the GOP wouldn’t be able to get insurance.” — Democratic political strategist and commentator James Carville.
  • “You figure out who you’re talking to, and…try to reflect back to them what they’re doing.” — Former Clear Channel Radio exec Gabe Hobbs on a successful talk-radio strategy, one obviously implemented by Glenn Beck.
  • “We want news that resonates our own pre-held opinions. … That is the worst possible recipe for a country that prides itself in democracy.” – TV journalist Ted Koppel.
  • “No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American people.” – H.L. Mencken.
  • “I tell you, last year when they (Plant High School) went to the state championship and won it, it was far more exciting to me than the Super Bowl…It’s definitely harder being a dad than a coach.” — Eric’s father, Tony Dungy.
  • “Bringing the swine flu in is sort of a diversion. The real issue is, should we let students exempt final exams or should we not? My answer is they should take all the exams.” — Pinellas School Board member Mary Brown.
  • “Ordinarily, I am not much for mandatory minimum sentencing and other ‘tough-on-crime’ measures politicians pass when they want to look as if they are doing something…I make an exception for sexual predators who prey on children…Lock them up. Lose the key.” Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr.
  • “We’re building an economic engine along the waterfront. If we don’t connect them (waterfront and Franklin Street business district), it won’t work.” Tampa economic and development administrator Mark Huey on the beyond-pure-aesthetics rationale for wanting to use CIT money to fund the conversion of Zack Street into a two-way, artsy, pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare.  
  • “It’s a little sensitive.” – Bardmoor Elementary (Largo) Principal Wayne Whitney, in explaining why he couldn’t tell the media whether his school showed President Barack Obama’s educational speech or not.
  • “We don’t think that doctors and hospitals need special courts. It’s a slippery slope. First you have a court for doctors, and then what? A court for plumbers?” – American Association for Justice lobbyist Linda Lipsen, in explaining why trial lawyers object to a proposed tort-reform measure designed to discourage frivolous lawsuits.
  • “Those on Wall Street cannot resume taking risks without regard for consequences and expect that, next time, American taxpayers will be there to break their fall.” – President Barack Obama.
  • “What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility…a patriotism that is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” — Adlai Stevenson.