ROCHESTER - The Monroe County Republicans have done quite a bit to alienate non-Republicans in this county. Name calling, hard ball politics, and cronyism all come to mind. They have stacked boards and authorities. They have denied Democrats the ability to introduce legislation. They have pitted the suburbs against the city. They have appointed political hacks all over the county administration. They have, for the most part, quietly forced themselves into every corner of public administration, qualified or not. But this time they are going too far. The news that Republicans are adding Bill Smith as a finalist to be President of Monroe Community College is disturbing. The guy has literally no educational experience (unless of course going to school counts). MCC is one of the best community colleges in the northeast, and petty politics may tarnish that forever. Not even all Republicans think this is a good idea. These reasons demand outcry from everyone that has a voice.
Bill Smith is a lawyer who served on the Pittsford Town Board and in the Monroe County Legislature. While in the Legislature he also served as majority leader. By trade, Smith is a lawyer, as mentioned, and has a decent resume there. Good schools and fairly respected firm. But what does any of this have to do with running a community college?
Making a political appointment out of this tarnishes a wonderful reputation for MCC. Students receive an education that rivals many 4 year schools. What sort of message does this send to students, prospective students, faculty and other staffers? "You may be the second largest community college in the state, but in the end you are our little political plaything," Republicans say. Instead of attracting the best and brightest, folks will be hesitant to step into Monroe County's partisan world of patronage and payback.
Most disturbing is that some Republicans oppose this. The MCC Board (9 R's and 1 Conservative) voted 6-4 in favor of adding Smith (and Kessler, who is at least an adjunct professor) to the finalist list. This means that 4 people saw this for what it is and decided to make a stand, to prove this isn't just Democratic whining. Four people think highly enough of the institution they serve to try to avoid this embarrassing backwoods moment.
We are a backwoods town. We are Mayberry with a snobby attitude and without Aunt Bea's pies. Rochester will always be held back as long as we play these petty, small minded political games, trading short term spoils for long term solutions. Until now, they were reserved for authorities and zoning boards, where even the most inept of political hacks could do little long term harm to our community. Not anymore. The Smith move signals a bold new approach to damaging our area in the long term by attacking an educational institution that for years has helped our community maintain our high standard of innovation, education and enlightenment. The Monroe County Republicans have given this county the finger, and we can not let that go.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Random Thoughts of the Week
ROCHESTER - Laziness can be a virtue. This post proves it. Once again I am just tossing out some randoms thoughts on some news items.
-Are Republicans free market or not? Why do I have to hear "if government was more like a private company..." if the Republicans are going to use the government to bail out private companies? Governments that should have gone out of business last week (not in general so take a breath Tennessee): zero. Private investment firms that should have gone out of business last week: one. Stop being hypocrites and admit that sometimes private business needs government help. Or don't interfere AT ALL.
-Paterson versus Spitzer on extra maritals. This illustrates the private/public debate. Paterson's issues are between he and his wife. He acted amorally, not illegally. We know what Spitzer did and it was amoral but more importantly it was illegal. I contend there is a major difference between the two circumstances.
-Prayers and thoughts going out to Lance Neve who was the victim of a hate crime in Spencerport. He was injured seriously (fractured skull tops the list) and I hope he can make a full recovery. I hope his attacker is punished to the full extent of the law. What kind of world are we still living in?
-The Iraq war is now 5 years old. That means we have been battling longer in Iraq than in World War II. I don't even know what to think about that.....
-Finally, I made my television debut (aside from Cops) last Friday on WXXI's Need To Know. It was a great experience and the host and crew were a pleasure to work with. Thanks for the opportunity!
-Are Republicans free market or not? Why do I have to hear "if government was more like a private company..." if the Republicans are going to use the government to bail out private companies? Governments that should have gone out of business last week (not in general so take a breath Tennessee): zero. Private investment firms that should have gone out of business last week: one. Stop being hypocrites and admit that sometimes private business needs government help. Or don't interfere AT ALL.
-Paterson versus Spitzer on extra maritals. This illustrates the private/public debate. Paterson's issues are between he and his wife. He acted amorally, not illegally. We know what Spitzer did and it was amoral but more importantly it was illegal. I contend there is a major difference between the two circumstances.
-Prayers and thoughts going out to Lance Neve who was the victim of a hate crime in Spencerport. He was injured seriously (fractured skull tops the list) and I hope he can make a full recovery. I hope his attacker is punished to the full extent of the law. What kind of world are we still living in?
-The Iraq war is now 5 years old. That means we have been battling longer in Iraq than in World War II. I don't even know what to think about that.....
-Finally, I made my television debut (aside from Cops) last Friday on WXXI's Need To Know. It was a great experience and the host and crew were a pleasure to work with. Thanks for the opportunity!
Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Patrick's Day
ROCHESTER - St. Patrick's Day is here, once again, so that we may celebrate all things Irish. Of course, like the Fourth of July is bbq's and fireworks, all things Irish means has seemingly come to mean wearing green and getting drunk. I am not going to say those aren't wonderful things (they are), but to Irish folks, this holiday can be a mixed bag. Ireland's history is an often tragic one, filled with sacrifice of a proud people yearning to be free. As a result, however, Irish culture celebrates life through song, dance, poetry and even raising a pint of the black stuff.
The Irish diaspora has allowed the world to experience this lively culture, and to celebrate the contributions of the Irish wherever they ended up. Irish people reflect Ireland's history. They are proud. They are tough. They are intimidated by no one. They will always get back up when knocked down. Today, I urge everyone (especially us Irish Americans) to spend some time thinking about famous Irish people from Brian Boru to Daniel O'Connell to Michael Collins that have made our world a better place through struggle and sacrifice, and even the Irish people you know. I think you will find we are a special people sharing many of the qualities we enjoy most in others: loyalty, toughness, passion and always, a sense of humor.
Also, I propose that every Irish person spread the history of our land to a non-Irish each St Patrick's Day. The best topics fall into the buzz kill category, but if each of us can teach someone one nugget of info, the holiday will be worth it. Here are my choices to help enlighten others to our struggle.
1. "The Troubles." This is how the Irish refer to the Northern Ireland problem. Often this is over-simplified into a Protestant versus Catholic conflict. It is really about civil rights. The majority (who is Protestant) created a system to retain power over the minority (the Catholics) so that now that Catholics out number the Protestants, they can not gain political power. The system has been used to maintain an economic superiority, which has turned this struggle into a class war. Although religion is the easy identifying difference, it is not the whole issue.
2. Cromwell's Genocide. As leader of the English Empire, Oliver Cromwell spent a great deal of energy suppressing Irish freedom. He also decided a great way to keep the rebellious Irish in their place was to eliminate them as a race. This is the time when the English tried to portray the Irish as inferior and gave rise to Irish as leprechauns. Land east of the River Shannon was given to English loyals and or nationals. Eastern Irish were resettled in the West. Catholicism was banned and priests were executed.
3. Civil War 1921-1923. After Ireland won a 'free state' after the War of Independence, people were divided over the value of the free state. Michael Collins himself described it as a stepping stone to full independence, but this wasn't good enough for all. Eamon de Valera led a group into war against the free state and it was a bitter and bloody one. More people were killed in the Civil War than the War of Independence, and Ireland is still divided in some quarters over the effects.
Like I said, not joyous events, but to fully understand the Irish psyche, these events must be understood. Today is a celebration though, so after you drop some knowledge on your listener, get them to buy you a drink, raise a pint, and toast the Irish.
The Irish diaspora has allowed the world to experience this lively culture, and to celebrate the contributions of the Irish wherever they ended up. Irish people reflect Ireland's history. They are proud. They are tough. They are intimidated by no one. They will always get back up when knocked down. Today, I urge everyone (especially us Irish Americans) to spend some time thinking about famous Irish people from Brian Boru to Daniel O'Connell to Michael Collins that have made our world a better place through struggle and sacrifice, and even the Irish people you know. I think you will find we are a special people sharing many of the qualities we enjoy most in others: loyalty, toughness, passion and always, a sense of humor.
Also, I propose that every Irish person spread the history of our land to a non-Irish each St Patrick's Day. The best topics fall into the buzz kill category, but if each of us can teach someone one nugget of info, the holiday will be worth it. Here are my choices to help enlighten others to our struggle.
1. "The Troubles." This is how the Irish refer to the Northern Ireland problem. Often this is over-simplified into a Protestant versus Catholic conflict. It is really about civil rights. The majority (who is Protestant) created a system to retain power over the minority (the Catholics) so that now that Catholics out number the Protestants, they can not gain political power. The system has been used to maintain an economic superiority, which has turned this struggle into a class war. Although religion is the easy identifying difference, it is not the whole issue.
2. Cromwell's Genocide. As leader of the English Empire, Oliver Cromwell spent a great deal of energy suppressing Irish freedom. He also decided a great way to keep the rebellious Irish in their place was to eliminate them as a race. This is the time when the English tried to portray the Irish as inferior and gave rise to Irish as leprechauns. Land east of the River Shannon was given to English loyals and or nationals. Eastern Irish were resettled in the West. Catholicism was banned and priests were executed.
3. Civil War 1921-1923. After Ireland won a 'free state' after the War of Independence, people were divided over the value of the free state. Michael Collins himself described it as a stepping stone to full independence, but this wasn't good enough for all. Eamon de Valera led a group into war against the free state and it was a bitter and bloody one. More people were killed in the Civil War than the War of Independence, and Ireland is still divided in some quarters over the effects.
Like I said, not joyous events, but to fully understand the Irish psyche, these events must be understood. Today is a celebration though, so after you drop some knowledge on your listener, get them to buy you a drink, raise a pint, and toast the Irish.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spitzer Swallowed?
ROCHESTER - Governor Spitzer has shown his fatal flaw. Many figured it could be his arrogance and or his temper that had the potential to bring down the charismatic crime fighter. Turns out he has a thing for the hookers. The biggest question is, will this quicksand pit swallow him and career?
This was a terrible act. He is married. He has kids. He is the Governor of the Empire State. This isn't some two bit Assemblyman getting caught fooling around with his intern (usually legal). This is prostitution (always illegal). Normally I would tell you this is an issue between him and his wife. That goes for 'normal' cheating. This crosses the line from moral issue to legal matter. That is where I leave him on his own. If he needed some side action, that is, like I said, between him and his wife. Not my place to say. Once he commits a crime to feed his desires, however, he has lost the public trust to govern. That is when he should resign and that is why he must resign.
This is also an amazingly arrogant behavior pattern. Why is a Harvard Law, ex-Attorney General, Governor of New York using a call girl service with a paper trail? He used to bust these things up, didn't he remember how those guys got caught? He must have figured he was smarter than that. Somehow he wouldn't get caught.
Former Comptroller Alan Hevesi put a major drag on the Democrats by fighting to stay in power. Spitzer can do no such thing. He screwed up and must fall on his sword. He is caught red handed and no excuses can save him now, unless he has an evil twin brother. At this point, nothing would surprise me.
If Spitzer has any decency in him, and I believe he does, he will resign and spend his time trying to repair his family. I feel terrible for Silda and their three teenage daughters. She should probably kick him to the curb, trust fund and all. Then again, that is not my place to say. That is between them. He crossed my line when the issue went from a private moral issue to a public legal matter. That is when the scandal swallowed him whole.
This was a terrible act. He is married. He has kids. He is the Governor of the Empire State. This isn't some two bit Assemblyman getting caught fooling around with his intern (usually legal). This is prostitution (always illegal). Normally I would tell you this is an issue between him and his wife. That goes for 'normal' cheating. This crosses the line from moral issue to legal matter. That is where I leave him on his own. If he needed some side action, that is, like I said, between him and his wife. Not my place to say. Once he commits a crime to feed his desires, however, he has lost the public trust to govern. That is when he should resign and that is why he must resign.
This is also an amazingly arrogant behavior pattern. Why is a Harvard Law, ex-Attorney General, Governor of New York using a call girl service with a paper trail? He used to bust these things up, didn't he remember how those guys got caught? He must have figured he was smarter than that. Somehow he wouldn't get caught.
Former Comptroller Alan Hevesi put a major drag on the Democrats by fighting to stay in power. Spitzer can do no such thing. He screwed up and must fall on his sword. He is caught red handed and no excuses can save him now, unless he has an evil twin brother. At this point, nothing would surprise me.
If Spitzer has any decency in him, and I believe he does, he will resign and spend his time trying to repair his family. I feel terrible for Silda and their three teenage daughters. She should probably kick him to the curb, trust fund and all. Then again, that is not my place to say. That is between them. He crossed my line when the issue went from a private moral issue to a public legal matter. That is when the scandal swallowed him whole.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Is The Country Ready?
ROCHESTER - 'Is the country ready for a woman?' 'Is the country ready for a black guy?' I hear these questions all the time. I have news for you: it doesn't matter. I could give a rat's ass if some hill billy in Mississippi is ready or not. He ain't gotta be. The fact remains that because the coasts are ready, the South and Midwest don't have a say. The conservative right surges ahead with a scary agenda opposed by the coasts, but they don't care what we think. They write us off and move ahead. We should return the favor.
Basically, as long as Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington DC are ready, we only need to worry about convincing Ohio. All those states voted for Gore and Kerry. Gore won New Mexico and Iowa and Kerry added New Hampshire. If either had won Ohio, we wouldn't be in this mess. Does anyone believe that Clinton or Obama would lose any of these states? I don't. Let's not take them for granted entirely, but let's not waste our time caring if Kentucky is ready for Clinton or Obama. They probably aren't. Let them vote for Skeletor all they want. Again, their opinion doesn't matter.
The Republican coalition of Midwestern and Southern states has delivered back to back victories in the Electoral College, but if the last Republican rust belt state flips, the party is over. Finally, Ohio may have flipped. In 2006 they booted Republicans from their state house left and right. This is a good sign. Scary as it may seem to hand the nation's future over to a bunch of Indians, Bengals, Buckeyes and Zips fans, they are more us than some Hot Pocket worshipping nut job in Alabama. So screw Billy Joe and let's get the Dawg Pound on board. Ohio should matter to Northerners. Ohioans face the same issues we do. Aging infrastructure, loss of jobs, rising crime in the cities, urban decay, and cursed sports teams. Shame on us for not bringing them to our side sooner, but we can not afford to bring them over any later. It should be an easy sell. Is Ohio better now than it was in 2000? I don't think so.
I am tired of hearing 'is the country is ready.' If YOU wonder if the country is ready, I suspect YOU aren't because, thanks to the electoral college, the country doesn't need to be ready. Only 21 or 22 states need to be ready, and they are. Midwesterners and Southerners had their President for 8 years, now it is our turn. But only if we can turn Ohio to our side, where they should have been for years.
Basically, as long as Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington DC are ready, we only need to worry about convincing Ohio. All those states voted for Gore and Kerry. Gore won New Mexico and Iowa and Kerry added New Hampshire. If either had won Ohio, we wouldn't be in this mess. Does anyone believe that Clinton or Obama would lose any of these states? I don't. Let's not take them for granted entirely, but let's not waste our time caring if Kentucky is ready for Clinton or Obama. They probably aren't. Let them vote for Skeletor all they want. Again, their opinion doesn't matter.
The Republican coalition of Midwestern and Southern states has delivered back to back victories in the Electoral College, but if the last Republican rust belt state flips, the party is over. Finally, Ohio may have flipped. In 2006 they booted Republicans from their state house left and right. This is a good sign. Scary as it may seem to hand the nation's future over to a bunch of Indians, Bengals, Buckeyes and Zips fans, they are more us than some Hot Pocket worshipping nut job in Alabama. So screw Billy Joe and let's get the Dawg Pound on board. Ohio should matter to Northerners. Ohioans face the same issues we do. Aging infrastructure, loss of jobs, rising crime in the cities, urban decay, and cursed sports teams. Shame on us for not bringing them to our side sooner, but we can not afford to bring them over any later. It should be an easy sell. Is Ohio better now than it was in 2000? I don't think so.
I am tired of hearing 'is the country is ready.' If YOU wonder if the country is ready, I suspect YOU aren't because, thanks to the electoral college, the country doesn't need to be ready. Only 21 or 22 states need to be ready, and they are. Midwesterners and Southerners had their President for 8 years, now it is our turn. But only if we can turn Ohio to our side, where they should have been for years.
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