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Jan

21

South Carolina CNN Democratic debate transcripts

Filed Under Campaigning, Elections, Media, Politics, WH2008 | 20 Comments

Part I

Part II

Part III

My favorite point?

CLINTON: Now, I just — I just want to be clear about this. In an editorial board with the Reno newspaper, you said two different things, because I have read the transcript. You talked about Ronald Reagan being a transformative political leader. I did not mention his name.

OBAMA: Your husband did.

CLINTON: Well, I’m here. He’s not. And…

OBAMA: OK. Well, I can’t tell who I’m running against sometimes.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Well, you know, I think we both have very passionate and committed spouses who stand up for us. And I’m proud of that.

Obama is being plain old snarky. Just like with the “you’re likeable enough.”

If Obama isn’t clear who he is running against, then he does not have his eyes on the prize. And the more he says he doesn’t know who he’s running against, the more he’s going to empower the Clintons to keep tag-teaming. Now, if that’s his strategy, to keep both of the Clintons out there, because he can see Bill exploding in all the wrong ways and places, well, that’s one way to go. But then it’s also disingenuous of him to pick on Hillary for what Bill does if he, Barack, is trying to take advantage of Bill being out there – you just can’t have it both ways.

Frankly, I want Bill to disappear. Be gone. Give him some potion to make him invisible and make the candidates deal with each other. But many Americans and the media just seem unwilling to do that. It’s a shame.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:15 pm January 21st, 2008 in Campaigning, Elections, Media, Politics, WH2008 | 20 Comments 

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Jan

21

Ben Keeler runs for precinct captain, Team Coughlin, in Summit County

Filed Under 'Roots News, Announcements, Blogging, Campaigning, Elections, Government, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse | 4 Comments

I’ve long thought that blogs are just another step toward self-actualization when it comes to politics or maybe even getting going on any desire. When you put your thoughts and feelings into words, sooner or later, just seeing them on the screen isn’t going to cut it. You’re going to want to be part of the action – which is another thing I love about blogging. It’s like a testing ground.

Now, Ben Keeler, one of my co-editors for the Carnival of Ohio Politics and the author of The Keeler Political Report, is running for office – if I understand this post correctly, he is running to be precinct captain for a Summit County precinct, which he describes this way: “The precinct captain has one duty – to vote in the leadership race for the county party at the Central Committee meeting in May.”

Here’s how Ben describes the crux of his candidacy:

The vote comes down to one thing: a vote for Debbie Fink [his opponent for precinct captain] is a vote for the status quo of losing races. A vote for me is a vote for a change at the top. If that is what it comes down to, then there is no question that I can win a localized race with a limited number of voters. That is why I have a fighting chance despite her “star power.” The people who are showing up to vote in the primary are the more educated voters of the party who are following this leadership race. They will know who supports who through our group’s phone bank efforts, targeted mailers, knocks on doors, and my personal calls. I ask all readers who live in Bath F to consider voting for me and by extension Kevin Coughlin. If you know someone who lives in the precinct, talk to them and tell them the facts about recent losses. In my eyes, it isn’t a tough decision unless you enjoy constantly being on the wrong side of county wide races. In that case, go ahead and vote for Fink and enjoy many more of her letters to local newspapers spinning her side’s pathetic record. She will vote for Alex Arshinkoff and more losing and protection of herself and the party higher ups. But if you are fed up with recent developments, then you have a clear choice to vote for: Ben Keeler.

As between Kevin Coughlin and Alex Arshinkoff, I’ve barely kept abreast. That’s not an endorsement of Ben’s choice, just an admission that I can’t really assess Ben’s choice, so I won’t. If you want to better understand all that, read Pho and Psychohorsey. And Ben.

But I can wish Ben good luck and ask him to please run honest and hard. Of that, I feel sure he will.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:59 pm January 21st, 2008 in 'Roots News, Announcements, Blogging, Campaigning, Elections, Government, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse | 4 Comments 

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Jan

21

Ceiling-crusher for women in journalism, Frances Lewine, RIP

Filed Under Media, Politics, RIP, Women, Writing | Comments Off

Lovely review of Frances Lewine from CNN, where she worked for nearly three decades.

Lewine was assigned to the White House in 1956 to cover the activities of first ladies and the Washington social scene. But in 1965 she became the AP’s first full-time female White House correspondent. Video Take a look at Lewine’s career »

In 1977 she left AP to join the administration of President Jimmy Carter, and became the Department of Transportation’s deputy director of public affairs. When Carter left office in 1981, Lewine moved to the newly created Cable News Network — at age 60 — as an assignment producer and field producer.

I love that – at age 60.

More from the Washington Post and HuffPo.

It doesn’t include any recent comments by her on what she thinks about how women in media have or have not progressed over the last two decades, since she left the limelight.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:26 pm January 21st, 2008 in Media, Politics, RIP, Women, Writing | Comments Off 

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Jan

21

Your waste of a brain: OH SupCo case in court Wednesday tosses it around

Filed Under Courts, Culture, Health Care, Law, Ohio, Social Issues | Comments Off

You can read about the case, Mark Albrecht et al. v. Brian Treon, M.D., et al., Case no. 2007-0507, here.

Here’s the lede from Ohio.com:

During an autopsy to determine why Christopher Albrecht had suddenly plunged his vehicle into a pond and drowned, the Hamilton County coroner removed Albrecht’s brain and never put it back.

Though the practice is standard for coroners, Albrecht’s parents didn’t know for years that they had buried their son without his brain.

When they found out, they filed a lawsuit that raises sweeping ethical, moral and religious questions about the treatment of one’s body after death.

I gotta tell you – I’d want that brain in there too.  But you know what, my oldest son said, “Why, Mom? He’s dead.”

Yeah, well, I just think that brain should be in there.

For the brains:

The Albrechts argue that they had a right under the Ohio Constitution to their son’s brain and a right under the U.S. Constitution to be given an opportunity to reclaim the brain before it was destroyed. The lawsuit is a class action against coroners and commissioners in 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties covering cases dating to 1991.

…

“What this case really comes down to is, for the convenience of the government, are we Ohioans, we humans, supposed to give up our most basic rights to the human remains of our loved ones?” said John Metz, an attorney who brought the Albrechts’ suit. “I am absolutely amazed to have to be standing in front of the highest court in our state to defend against such a socialist view.”

Against the brains:

Defenders of the coroners, including the Ohio State Coroners Association, Ohio State Medical Association and the National Association of Medical Examiners, contend that establishing property rights for families to the organs, tissue, blood and other fluids extracted during an autopsy could jeopardize timely autopsies and risk the resulting criminal evidence.

“The longer you wait to perform an autopsy, the more evidence and information you lose,” said Elizabeth Mason, an assistant Clermont County prosecutor leading the county coroners’ defense.

Brains are particularly difficult to reunite with a body in time for burial, because it takes three to 14 days to prepare them for examination.

Ohio law says:

Under Ohio law, brains, hearts and other body parts and fluids removed during an autopsy are classified as medical waste, which generally means they are incinerated after use.

Medical waste? My dead brain?

Sigh.  This week is starting off very strangely.  Read the whole article – there’s a lot more in there.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:23 am January 21st, 2008 in Courts, Culture, Health Care, Law, Ohio, Social Issues | Comments Off 

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