Tag Archives: history

Is Russ Feingold finished?

Posted on October 15, 2010 by admin| Comments Off

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (CNN) — It doesn’t get more outside the Beltway than Wisconsin Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson.

“I’d never been to Washington D.C…. until this election. I’ve gone three times just to familiarize myself and meet with some groups. But that’s it,” Johnson said.

A millionaire businessman running in his first election, Johnson is favored to take down three-term Democrat Russ Feingold. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released this week shows Johnson with an eight point lead.

Don’t tell that to Feingold. At a fundraiser headlined by first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday, Feingold boasted, “As of this moment I am no longer behind.” A Feingold campaign spokesman told CNN its own internal polling shows the race is much tighter.

In an interview with CNN, Feingold brushed off the latest polls. “See Washington always has to catch up with the reality on the ground in Wisconsin,” Feingold said.

Johnson owes much of his quick political success to the Tea Party. He picked up the support of the conservative movement earlier this year with fiery speeches at Tea Party rallies. “America needs to be pulled back from the brink of socialism and state control,” Johnson told a Tea Party crowd in Madison, Wisconsin, last May.

An unabashed conservative who runs a medical packaging company in Oshkosh, Johnson’s outrage over health care reform led him to run for the Senate. “I view that as the single greatest assault on our freedom in our lifetime,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s positions are straight out of the Tea Party movement: repeal health care reform, cut taxes, shrink government and oppose climate change legislation. “It’s unsettled science,” Johnson says of humanity’s effect on global warming.

Feingold has surprised many of his fellow Wisconsin liberals by making his own appeal for Tea Party votes.

“He’s for the Patriot Act. I’m the only guy who voted against the Patriot Act. He’s for these trade deals that shipped Wisconsin jobs overseas. I’m against them,” Feingold said. “I agree with (Tea Party voters) on many key issues.”

But Feingold voted in favor of health care reform. He’s one of the few Democrats running an ad touting his vote. “That’s something (Tea Party voters) don’t like,” Feingold said. “But you know why? Because they weren’t told the truth about what’s in it.”

An architect of campaign finance reform, Feingold is being hammered by outside special interest groups running TV ads and billboards opposing his campaign. Johnson is also spending millions of his own fortune on his bid.

“I gotta tell you the history of my races. Every time some super rich guy goes, ‘hey Feingold looks like easy pickins,’ but they haven’t gotten me yet. And they’re not gonna get me this time,” Feingold said.

It’s not clear whether the bombardment of campaign messaging is resonating with Wisconsin voters who worry about the economy.

James Farrell, a co-owner of a brick masonry company and a Johnson supporter, says his business has suffered in the recession.

“It’s hard to be in business anymore, and something’s gotta change or a lot of people won’t be in business,” Farrell said.

Johnson says his experience in running a manufacturing business is exactly what Washington needs.

“I’m just a guy from Oshkosh,” Johnson said.

Is Russ Feingold finished?

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Henry in the House: Who Is Pete Rouse?

Posted on October 1, 2010 by admin| Comments Off

Chicago, Illinois (CNN) — President Obama is going from a chief of staff dubbed “Rahmbo” who once sent a dead fish to a political opponent to the exact opposite: a shy, self-effacing guy known for being a gentle boss and a cat lover.

The style differences between outgoing chief Rahm Emanuel and incoming chief Pete Rouse could not be more stark. Emanuel is hard-charging and profane, often dispensing shrewd political advice with a string of F-bombs to accentuate the point.

Rouse is the low-key, behind-the-scenes player who carefully maps out each move in an understated and yet equally effective way. After all, he was the guy who while serving as then-Sen. Barack Obama’s chief of staff meticulously laid out an improbable but meticulous battle plan about how a largely unknown freshman senator could put together a winning presidential campaign.

In public, Rouse never took any victory laps after playing such a pivotal role in helping to get Obama elected as the nation’s first African-American president. He simply went back to work, this time as a senior adviser in the White House, with little fanfare — a perfect fit with the “No Drama Obama” style we came to know during the campaign.

Drama, of course, is Emanuel’s middle name. He’s loud and rarely shy about being quoted in the media — either named or unnamed — in stories highlighting his vast influence over the Obama agenda.

While there were some people inside the White House who privately chafed at that approach, the fact is there’s no denying that Emanuel’s efforts have brought Obama major successes in the first two years of the administration.

I remember being in Chicago, Illinois, almost exactly two years ago, right after the 2008 presidential election, and I remember Obama immediately pouncing on the opportunity to try and woo Emanuel into leaving his seat in the House of Representatives to become his chief of staff.

Emanuel confided in me and others at the time that he was severely conflicted because he really wanted to stay in the House and become the first Jewish speaker of the House someday. But Obama was tugging him in the other direction with another piece of history, the opportunity to steer the country back on course with once-in-a-generation policy changes like the $787 billion stimulus and landmark health care reform.

Admittedly the jury is still out on the Obama-Emanuel “Big Bang” approach to governing, that the severity of the financial crisis demanded swift, bold and unprecedented action. There are Republicans who believes they far overstepped their mandate, while there are Democrats who agree with the policies but are privately waiting to see the Nov. 2 midterm election results before they’re willing to say whether the approach made sense politically.

Emanuel jumped at the chance to be running the White House at such a pivotal time, and he never looked back much on the decision to bolt the House. And his approach has been at least partly vindicated with a series of legislative victories that most presidents would love to have for the history books.

“I think his leadership, his energy has helped us accomplish so much in helping our economy recover,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. “In passing landmark Wall Street reform, health care reform, credit card reform, student loan reform … there is not an important thing that has happened in this administration that we’ve been able to accomplish for the American people that has not involved heavily his signature.”

Nevertheless, there are senior people in the Democratic Party who privately believe that Emanuel’s win-at-all-costs mentality is perfect for the rough and tumble world of Chicago politics, but it is not the best long-term approach for the president as he tries to bring the country together heading into his 2012 re-election battle.

That’s why there is a feeling among some top Democrats that Rouse may wind up being more than just an interim White House chief of staff.

According to this theory, a couple of months of Rouse on the job may show the president that for all of Emanuel’s successes, a more low-key manner may be the best way to approach the next two years with either a Republican Congress or a severely weakened Democratic Congress.

Think of Erskine Bowles, the equally quiet and self-effacing White House chief of staff who helped President Clinton forge some legislative victories, such as a balanced budget, with a hostile Republican Congress.

Rouse’s fans note to me that he spent a few decades as a powerful staffer on Capitol Hill, and was known as the “101st Senator” during his days as top aide to then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, because of his quiet influence behind the scenes. He became known for sharp political instincts, fierce loyalty and absolute discretion on sensitive matters.

It’s important to remember that Daschle has deep ties to Obama. They bonded during the 2004 Senate campaign season, when Obama was first elected while Daschle lost his re-election bid. Daschle encouraged Obama to hire Rouse, who wanted to try something new, but was coaxed out of it by the freshman senator who clearly had designs on higher office.

Daschle later became the first major Democrat to encourage Obama to actually run for president when others were laughing at the notion, and it was Rouse who then carefully put together the playbook. He later played important behind-the-scenes roles in the presidential campaign and the presidential transition, and his power has only grown inside the White House.

“There is a complete loyalty and trust with somebody like Pete,” Gibbs said. “Pete’s strategic sense has played a big part in the direction of virtually every big decision that’s made inside of this White House. So I think the type of trust that the president and others throughout this administration have in Pete is enormous.”

Rouse is a bachelor who rarely seems to mind the long hours he has to put in at the office. Friends note that one of the only nonwork things that he goes on and on about is his love for Maine coon cats, which are “large and energetic,” according to catfacts.org.

Emanuel certainly brought plenty of energy to the job. I just can’t imagine him being a cat lover — or even a puppy lover for that matter.

Henry in the House: Who Is Pete Rouse?

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Final act begins in 2010 election

Posted on September 15, 2010 by admin| Comments Off

Washington (CNN) — The curtain slammed down on the 2010 primaries Tuesday night crushing centrist Republican Rep. Mike Castle and handing the Tea Party movement a final victory in its battle with the GOP establishment.

Castle’s upset loss to Tea Party favorite Christine O’Donnell was the exclamation point on a bitter and bruising primary season that saw seven incumbents lose re-election and angry political bases turn deaf ears to national leaders.

Republican Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska fell to Tea Party candidates as did South Carolina GOP Rep. Bob Inglis. West Virginia Democratic Rep. Alan Mollohan could not convince voters to re-nominate him for a 15th term, while Michigan Democratic Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick failed in her bid for an eighth term.

Party-switching Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith was unable to convince GOP voters he was a solid Republican, and Pennsylvania’s new Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter was unable to shed his longtime Republican political identity. And let’s not forget the Tea Party’s wins in primaries for open Senate seats in Colorado, Florida, and Kentucky.

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And then there was Castle, a soft-spoken former Republican governor turned nine-term congressman, who left the safety of his House seat to run for the Senate seat once held by Vice President Joe Biden. Castle was favored to win the general election, which would have handed the GOP a huge symbolic win. Instead, Castle lost, which now casts doubt over whether Republicans can win this contest.

Once O’Donnell was declared the winner, my friend Stuart Rothenberg, the respected non-partisan political analyst, immediately described Democratic Senate nominee Chris Coons as the favorite to win the race.

“Castle had broad appeal, including to independents and even Democratic voters, while O’Donnell’s appeal is limited to tea party conservatives,” Rothenberg wrote.

And Rothenberg is not the only one who thinks that the Tea Party’s efforts to defeat Castle — who they charge is a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) — will likely hand Democrats a win in November. A top Republican official told me not to expect to see national Republicans rally around O’Donnell’s candidacy.

“Until she demonstrates some viability in the polls, we are not going to have any money for her,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “It is now incumbent on Sarah Palin, Jim DeMint and the Tea Party Express to help support her. They got her here. Now make it happen.”

Castle is not technically considered an incumbent, but he fit the description of a Washington insider, had the backing of the national GOP and will go down in the history books as the Tea Party’s final GOP scalp of the 2010 primary season.

Now all eyes are focused on November 2, as Republican leaders try to harness the anger and energy of the Tea Party movement and translate it into electoral wins, while Democrats work to build a beachhead in an effort to minimize losses and maintain control of the House.

There is no question that Democrats will lose seats in the House and Senate this year, what remains unanswered is how many?

Republicans need a net pickup of 39 seats in the House to take back the majority, an achievable number if momentum continues to move in the GOP’s direction. It will be harder if not impossible to win the 10 seats needed to wrest control of the Senate from Democratic hands.

Democratic leaders and top party officials have been very clear about their strategy over the next seven weeks: Turn out voters who supported President Obama in 2008 and define each race on its own merits.

“Democrats will individualize each of these House races, make it about candidate A versus candidate B and when voters are left with that choice, Democrats will retain the House,” said Jennifer Crider, deputy executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

But Democrats will need help from the liberal Democratic base, which at times has been estranged from the national leadership, to help hold back the GOP wave that analysts predict will sweep across the nation.

The influential liberal blogger Markos Moulitsas Z

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Biden marks transfer of U.S. command in Iraq

Posted on September 1, 2010 by admin| Comments Off

(CNN) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Robert Gates helped usher in the next chapter for the United States in Iraq on Wednesday, presiding over a ceremony launching a new military operation designed to train, assist and advise the Iraqis.

The ceremony, held at Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, marked the conclusion of the U.S. combat mission dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom and the transfer to the assistance mission, named Operation New Dawn.

Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III replaced Gen. Raymond T. Odierno as commander of U.S. Forces-Iraq in the changeover, held at one of the many palaces of late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein — whose regime was ousted from power in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Biden said Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, but promised that “American engagement with Iraq will continue” with the new stability mission.

“This change of mission, to state the obvious, would never have been possible without the resolve and tremendous sacrifice and competence of our military — the finest, if our Iraqi friends will forgive us, the finest fighting force in the world, and I would argue the finest fighting force that ever has existed,” Biden said.

He acknowledged the pain Iraqis endured during the long war, saying tens of thousands of troops and civilians died, and many more were wounded and displaced.

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However, he said, “I believe that their darkest days are now behind them.”

Noting the divided opinion toward the war in the United States, he said people from both parties had always backed the troops for their “extraordinary service” after “a high-speed invasion that toppled a tyrant became a grinding struggle against violent extremists.”

“Our fighting men and women were given a mission in Iraq that was as complicated as any in our history, an assignment that taught us that war is the realm of uncertainty,” he said. “Troops steeped in military doctrine were asked to deal with challenges ranging from electricity to unemployment, currency exchange to trash collection.”

The vice president also praised the new electoral system in Iraq, urging political parties there to settle their differences and form a government soon.

“Iraqis have cast their lot as well as their ballots for a better future,” he said.

Biden highlighted Gates’ contributions, saying the defense secretary’s decision to serve under both Republican and Democratic administrations during the war is a testament to his patriotism.

Odierno, who said Iraqi security forces are ready to take the lead there, recalled the wartime period as one of Iraqi heroism.

“This period in Iraq’s history will probably be remembered for sacrifice, resiliency and change. However, I remember it as a time in which the Iraqi people stood up against tyranny, terrorism and extremism, and decided to determine their own destiny, as a people and as a democratic state,” he said.

As Biden did, Odierno urged Iraqi political blocs to form a government, which has yet to be established since elections six months ago.

“It is time for Iraq to move forward,” Odierno said.

Odierno said a democratic Iraq “can become an engine for peace and stability” in the Middle East.

“We can no longer dwell on our past accomplishments, but must remain focused on the tremendous opportunity at hand. Iraq has always played a vital role in this uncertain part of the globe,” he said.

Austin said Iraq still faces hostile threats from insurgents working to undermine the country. But he said that “the past few years in Iraq have been marked by steady progress” and he envisions a “stable, secure and unified Iraq.”

“Operation New Dawn marks the next phase of an enduring relationship” between the United States and Iraq, he said.

While the U.S. combat mission is ending, roughly 50,000 American troops will remain in the country until the end of 2011 for the assistance mission.

When asked Wednesday if the United States is still at war in Iraq, Gates responded, “No, we’re not.” Gates added it is up to historians to determine whether the war was worth it.

Along with U.S. political and military dignitaries, Iraqi officials — including Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, Defense Minister Mohammed Abdul Qader al-Obeidi and the Kurdish region’s Prime Minister Barham Saleh — attended the ceremony.

The U.S. combat mission in Iraq officially ended at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday. The drawdown and end to the U.S. combat phase marks a new page in what has been a controversial seven-year conflict. Weapons of mass destruction, a major justification by the Bush administration for going to war, were never found. Saddam Hussein was toppled, along with his massive Baghdad statue, but sectarian violence soon erupted.

On Tuesday night, U.S. President Barack Obama addressed Americans about the transition in a televised speech.

“The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people,” Obama said from the Oval Office. “We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We have persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people — a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization.”

The war in Iraq has claimed the lives of more than 4,400 U.S. troops.

Obama said he was “awed” by the sacrifices of service members and their families and that the U.S. has met its responsibility.

“Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country,” Obama said. “We have removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We have closed or transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.”

Before Obama’s speech, some Republicans had urged him to acknowledge that the 2007 U.S. troop surge in Iraq ordered by then-President George W. Bush had worked. Obama, as a U.S. senator and candidate for the presidency, had opposed it.

Obama, who spoke with Bush in a phone call earlier in the day, did not mention the former president’s role in the surge.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, delivered a speech Tuesday suggesting Bush deserves more credit for reaching this milestone.

“You might recall that the surge wasn’t very popular when it was announced,” McConnell said. “You might also recall that one of its biggest critics was the current president. So it makes it easier to talk about fulfilling a campaign promise to wind down our operations in Iraq when the previous administration signs the security agreement with Iraq to end our overall presence there.”

Obama said the most urgent matter now is restoring the economy and “putting millions of Americans who have who have lost their jobs back to work.”

To strengthen the middle class, he said, “we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy.”

Obama’s emphasis on the economy appears to dovetail with the mood of the American public.

In a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll earlier this month, 56 percent of respondents said the economy would be extremely important to their vote for Congress this year. Fewer than four in 10 said that the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan were extremely important to them.

CNN’s Ed Henry, Dan Lothian, Dana Bash, Jason Hanna and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.

Biden marks transfer of U.S. command in Iraq

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Former Sen. Ted Stevens remembered

Posted on August 10, 2010 by admin| Comments Off

(CNN) — Former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska was killed in a plane crash Monday. Stevens served more time in the U.S. Senate than any Republican in history.

Colleagues from his Senate days and others who knew him remembered Stevens on Tuesday, as news of his death was confirmed.

President Barack Obama

“A decorated World War II veteran, Senator Ted Stevens devoted his career to serving the people of Alaska and fighting for our men and women in uniform. Michelle and I extend our condolences to the entire Stevens family and to the families of those who perished alongside Senator Stevens in this terrible accident.”

President George H.W. Bush

“Barbara and I mourn the tragic loss of Senator Ted Stevens, a respected friend of longstanding, and send our most sincere condolences to his family. Ted Stevens loved the Senate; he loved Alaska; and he loved his family — and he will be dearly missed.”

Gov. Sean Parnell, (R) Alaska

“Senator Ted Stevens fought hard for our future in Alaska. He was larger than life. Ted was a lion who retreated before nothing. He was a devoted husband… a loving father. His impact on Alaska will live on in future generations.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R) Alaska

“(Monday) night, Alaska lost a hero and I lost a dear friend. The thought of losing Ted Stevens, a man who was known to business and community leaders, Native chiefs and everyday Alaskans as ‘Uncle Ted,’ is too difficult to fathom. His entire life was dedicated to public service — from his days as a pilot in World War II to his four decades of service in the United States Senate. He truly was the greatest of the ‘Greatest Generation.’ The love and respect that Alaskans of all persuasions feel toward Ted Stevens is on a par with what the American people felt towards leaders such as John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ronald Reagan. Ted had the vision of a John Kennedy that Alaskans are an exceptional people who would achieve great things in his lifetime; the compassion of a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in devoting his life to alleviating the Third World conditions that plagued Alaska’s Native people; and the unwavering strength of a Ronald Reagan whether fighting for the men and women of our military or for Alaska’s right to develop ANWR and its abundant natural resources.”

Sen. Mark Begich, (D) Alaska

“Alaska has lost one of its greatest statesmen and a true pioneer of our state with the passing of Senator Ted Sevens. Over his four decades of public service in the U.S. Senate, Senator Stevens was a forceful advocate for Alaska who helped transform our state in the challenging years after statehood. Senator Stevens’ many contributions to Alaska are enormous and his legacy of fierce devotion to Alaska will be long-lasting.”

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

“We at NASA are deeply saddened by today’s news that former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens and others were killed in a plane crash in Alaska that also injured former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and his son, Kevin. As a longtime supporter of NASA, Sen. Stevens made lasting contributions to our agency and our country. We at NASA mourn his loss and send our deepest condolences to his family, as well as the families and friends of all who perished in the accident. We also send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Sean, Kevin, and other survivors of the crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.”

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky/Minority Leader

“It is with deep sadness that Elaine and I note the passing of a friend and former colleague, Senator Ted Stevens. In the history of our country, no one man has done more for one state than Ted Stevens. His commitment to the people of Alaska and his nation spanned decades, and he left a lasting mark on both. From his early military service as a pilot in World War II, to his involvement in the statehood of ‘The Last Frontier,’ to his fierce support and defense of our nation’s military, Ted Stevens was always there, fighting for what he believed in, and usually winning. He was a force to be reckoned with, and we will miss him greatly.”

Sen. Daniel Inouye, (D) Hawaii

“Irene and I are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our dear friend, and my brother, Ted Stevens. Our friendship was a very special one. When it came to policy, we disagreed more often than we agreed, but we were never disagreeable with one another. We were always positive and forthright. Senator Stevens and I worked together to ensure that the small non-contiguous states of Hawaii and Alaska were not forgotten by the lower 48 and to ensure that the nation awoke to the importance of the Pacific for our economy and international relations. I will never forget him.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch, (R) Utah

“Today, America lost a legend, a patriot and a gentle warrior who never stopped fighting for his beloved state of Alaska or for what he believed in. Ted Stevens is irreplaceable — his fierce loyalty and spirit remain unrivalled in the United States Senate. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will always live on.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina

“I’m very sad to hear of the passing of former Senator Ted Stevens. Senator Stevens was a decorated World War II veteran, and he was truly loved by the people of Alaska. As the longest serving Republican senator in history, he lived a life of incredible accomplishment. He will be greatly missed.”

Sen. Joe Lieberman, (I) Connecticut

“America has lost a great patriot; the state of Alaska has lost a founding father; and I have lost a dear friend. I am deeply saddened by Ted’s death. I knew him for many years as a valued friend, a neighbor and a colleague. We shared many great experiences and I am grateful for all of the wisdom he offered me personally. I treasure the example he set in his career of devoted service to this country in the United States Army Air Force, the United States Senate, and through the many important causes that he championed for the state of Alaska and throughout our country. We, his colleagues and his friends, were particularly blessed with the opportunity to have learned from Ted, who was always doggedly determined to serve the best interests of the people and state that he loved so much. Our occasional differences on legislative issues never adversely affected our abiding friendship. Ted was a giant of the United States Senate, and at a time of extreme political polarization, he inspired a spirit of bipartisanship by reaching across the aisle.”

Sen. Mary Landrieu, (D) Louisiana

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of my former colleague and friend, Senator Ted Stevens. Ted was a skilled legislator who mastered the art of principled compromise for the betterment of Alaska and the nation.

“I took a trip to Alaska with Ted in 2007 and quickly found his fingerprints in every corner of the state — from Alaska’s largest cities to the most remote Native villages. Ted always said, ‘To hell with politics. Do what is best for Alaska.’ He never apologized for fighting for his state, and Alaska is better for it today. Ted’s work continues to touch the lives of millions of Americans through his strong support for our military, revolutionizing the nation’s fishing industry, his establishment of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and his persistent efforts to achieve American energy independence.”

Michael Steele, RNC Chairman

“It is with deep regret that I learned of former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens’ tragic death in (Monday) night’s plane crash in Alaska. Our sympathies go out to the Stevens family and all who have lost a loved one. Senator Stevens had a long and active career serving the people of Alaska in the United States Senate and was revered for his unparalleled effectiveness at fighting for his home state interests. He was a colleague and friend to many in the Senate but he was a champion for the people of Alaska. He will be missed.”

Rep. Dave Obey, (D) Wisconsin

“Ted Stevens and I agreed on issues about once a century, but I always enjoyed and appreciated working with him because you always knew exactly where he stood. There was no guile about him. He devoted his life to the State of Alaska, which he dearly loved, and fought for it every day of his life with conviction and passion.”

Sen. John Cornyn, (R) Texas

“This is a sad day for the state of Alaska and our entire nation. When I came to the Senate in 2002, Ted Stevens was already one of the longest serving Republican senators in history. His public service began with his military service in World War II and ended more than 60 years later. He was a dedicated, passionate and faithful public servant for the people of Alaska. But the role he cherished the most was that of husband, father and grandfather.”

Ken Salazar, secretary of the Interior

“Senator Stevens was a friend and colleague. From his courage in World War II, his work for Alaska statehood and his time at the Department of the Interior to his years of leadership in the U.S. Senate, Senator Stevens left behind a lifetime of service. We have lost a dedicated public servant for our country, the United States Senate, and Alaska.”

Dennis DeConcini, former senator (D) Arizona

DeConcini said he had been contacted by Stevens’ staff to see whether he wanted to go on a trip to China with other former senators in November. “I said yes,” DeConcini said, “and I wrote him a note about it; I said, ‘Thanks for thinking of us, we look forward to seeing you.’” DeConcini said only three days ago he got back a handwritten note from Stevens, saying, “I look forward to seeing you. I’m on my way to a fishing trip in Alaska, I’ll call you when I get back.” DeConcini told CNN’s Rick Sanchez he had dinner with Stevens in April. He praised Stevens for being helpful to Arizona’s veterans and Native Americans. “I’m always indebted to him,” DeConcini said. When asked how Stevens was in April, DeConcini said, “He seemed to be doing relatively well, considering all the tragedies and difficulties he’d been through.” DeConcini said he talked to Stevens not long after charges had been dismissed against him. “He said, ‘Well, those things take a toll on you, Dennis.’ And I said, yeah, I know what you mean.” DeConcini called Stevens a “tough guy. He was a strong man. He believed in his state. Sometimes he went overboard when it came to the ‘Bridge to No Place,’ but I saw the clinics he built for the veterans and Native Americans. …

“We used to kid him. We said they’re going to rename that state ‘Stevens,’ you’ve done so much for ‘em.”

Bob Francis, former NTSB vice chair

“Sen. Stevens was probably the biggest advocate in the Senate for aviation safety. And he basically volunteered the state of Alaska for the test program for the next generation of air traffic control. He was enormously knowledgeable. You can see by the amount of activity that is associated with him in Alaska. But he was always not only in the vanguard of aviation safety in Alaska but nationally.”

Sarah Palin, (R) former Alaskan governor

“It’s with great sadness that Todd and I hear the reports coming in of Senator Ted Stevens’ passing in the plane crash near Dillingham. In our land of towering mountains and larger than life characters, none were larger than the man who in 2000 was voted ‘Alaskan of the Century.’ This decorated World War II pilot was a warrior and a true champion of Alaska. In 40 years of service in the U.S. Senate, he fought tenaciously for Alaska’s future. Alaskans know how much we owe to Senator Stevens, but all Americans owe him a debt of gratitude for his leadership on many issues, including the crucial energy issues that fuel American prosperity. Two years ago, he sat at my kitchen table over a salmon lunch, and we talked about our long anticipated Alaska natural gas pipeline and our mutual commitment to have the Last Frontier’s rich resources contribute to America’s quest for energy independence. Our senator was also known for spearheading efforts to ensure equality in education, and his Title IX legislation allowed girls to be on a level playing field in the athletic arena.”

Jack Gerard, president and CEO American Petroleum Institute

“We are saddened (Tuesday) by the news that former Senator Ted Stevens has died in a plane crash. Ted Stevens loved Alaska and cared deeply about his constituents. He understood the importance of the oil and natural gas industry, and he worked tirelessly to help secure a stronger energy future for Alaskans and all Americans.

Former Sen. Ted Stevens remembered

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Where is Obama’s ‘teachable moment’ on race?

Posted on July 25, 2010 by admin| Comments Off

By

Brad Knickerbocker,

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All You Wanted to Know About Taxis

Posted on January 22, 2010 by admin| Comments Off

ny-taxi

The taxicab gets its name from the “taximeter”  which was the instrument used to measure the distance and time a vehicle has traveled. Still in use today, in a slightly more sophisticated form than its original, which was invented in 1891.

Cab comes from the horse driven carriage called a cabriolet. These were used during the 19th and 20th centuries as taxis. Cabriolet is now a term used by some car manufacturers to describe convertibles. The carriage had a soft roof that could be folded down in good weather. The last cabriolet to be licensed was in 1946, then surrendered in 1947.

In Morocco smaller taxis are used for inner city runs and are metered for such. There are also larger taxis that are used for longer journeys outside the city. These can be shared between travelers and have been known to stop and pick up other passengers on the way. It’s a great way of meeting the locals or new people.

In 1999 241 million passengers traveled in New York taxis, amounting to a total revenue of over a billion dollars. The average number of fares the average cabbie gets in a 12 hour shift is around 30, with an average fare of $6. In that 12 hours, the average mileage for a cab is a mere 180 miles, much less if the taxi works a metropolitan area.

The first motorized taxis appeared in Paris, France in 1899, then made their way to London in 1903 then New York in 1907. Since then, petrol cabs have dominated the market to this day. There are slow moves toward more environmentally friendly methods of combustion such as bio-diesel, which is slowly gaining ground here in America. In California you can get a Prius taxi if you want to do your bit to save the world.

The two-way radio first appeared in taxis in the 1940’s. It allowed better co-ordination between drivers and their dispatchers, meaning a better service for the customer. Despite leaps in other technologies, the basic mechanics of the two-way remain the same. It is illegal in many states to operate a taxi while using a cell phone, but not to use the two-way radio.

Around 26% of taxicab license applications are from immigrants from Bangladesh, India or Pakistan. Only 10% of applications were made by American born people. This is a thorny issue and one we aren’t going to touch here, suffice to say it is the opinion of many passengers that the service has suffered because of this.

On the subject of demographics, in the 1960’s around 10% of taxi drivers were women, now it’s less than 1%. We don’t really know the reasons why, but it is something that should be evened out if possible. Women passengers would feel much safer with a woman driver, not necessarily because of the driving either.

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