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Feb
29
McCain follows Obama & Rev. Wright & distances self from Hagee but doesn’t renounce re: Cunningham
Filed Under Barack Obama, Campaigning, WH2008, Elections, Religion | 5 Comments
Sigh. You know - this just makes it all seem like such a game, when it really is supposed to mean something. Renounce, denounce, reject.
I’ve asked this before and I’ll ask it again - at some point, don’t you diverge enough in thought and deed that you leave the aegis of some people? Where’s the threshold? How long can you have it both ways?
I’ve written before that my rabbi doesn’t support the ordination of gays as Jewish clergy. I disagree with that stance, but I remain at my synagogue and like my rabbi. At some point, one can say, I might decide that he and I diverge too much and I would need to leave the synagogue because of that divergence.
But at what point?
Likewise for McCain and Hagee, likewise for Obama and Wright (whose situation is slightly different since his church’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright, has just stepped down through retirement).
At what point is it for you?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:44 pm February 29th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, WH2008, Elections, Religion | 5 Comments
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Feb
29
Sprint blames its subprime subscribers for $30 billion loss
Filed Under Economy, Business, Tech | 7 Comments
How stupid can someone be? Can corporate someones be? I don’t know but when a non-business-y person like me can tell you that you just don’t to this, I know I’m right to slam people for suggesting that running education should be treated like running a business, or running our government should be like running a corporation. Because the biggest, at one time most prosperous companies screw up royally in the name of profit and prestige rather predictably.
From the Washington Post, the numbers:
Sprint’s earnings report yesterday laid bare the historic nature of the loss. The company’s $29.45 billion ($10.36 per share) fourth-quarter loss compared with a profit of $261 million (9 cents) in the fourth quarter of 2006. It was the fifth-largest quarterly loss by a company in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index since 1990, according to Bloomberg. Sales were $9.85 billion, down 6 percent.
For the full year, Sprint lost $29.58 billion ($10.31), compared with a profit of $1.33 billion (45 cents) in 2006. Sales fell slightly, to $40.15 billion.
Sprint’s stock has lost a third of its value this year. Yesterday, shares closed at $8.09, down 86 cents.
In the past two months, [Chief executive Daniel R.] Hesse has cut 4,000 jobs, let go three senior executives, closed 125 retail shops, and agreed to add an activist shareholder, Ralph Whitworth, to the company’s board.
The explanation for the numbers:
The nation’s third-largest wireless carrier last year courted people with poor credit to boost its number of subscribers. Now the company is feeling the pain disproportionately as the economy weakens and consumers default on their debts.
Sprint said it expects 1.2 million wireless subscribers to drop their service in the current quarter, roughly the same number that left in all of 2007. The company offset losses by signing up new customers, but it has steadily lost ground to its two main rivals, Verizon Wireless and AT&T.
The loss of subscribers is projected to continue well past March. Chief executive Daniel R. Hesse, who took over in December, said Sprint’s problems were more serious than he had anticipated and would take time to fix.
…
He said the company loosened its credit requirements last summer to attract customers with poor or little credit histories. Sprint ended the year with 53.8 million total subscribers, 700,000 more than it had in 2006. It made up for the loss of core monthly contract subscribers by adding less-lucrative prepaid and wholesale accounts.
“We have a lot of subprime customers in our customer base and we were disproportionately hit hard versus other carriers,” Hesse said.
Oy.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:55 pm February 29th, 2008 in Economy, Business, Tech | 7 Comments
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Feb
29
Billionaire techie starts NYT newspaper death watch
Filed Under Business, Media, Tech | 4 Comments
This blog post is for Jeff Hess of Have Coffee Will Write. Some of the first blog conversations Jeff and had were about newspapers. We’re still here, the newspapers are still here, and I bet Jeff and I haven’t changed our positions.
Here’s Fortune magazine’s story about Netscape founder (who, according to the piece, isn’t exactly in mourning over its demise; he sold it for $4.2 billion to AOL 10 years ago per Fortune) Marc Andreessen (his blog is here and his latest venture is Ning - would it be an interesting add-on to BFD or MTB?), who has started a newspaper death watch for the New York Times.
From the Fortune article:
“I can’t take it anymore,” he wrote on his blog (blog.pmarca.com). “I hereby inaugurate my New York Times Deathwatch, which will continue until the last Sulzberger has left the building.” [here’s the post that inaugurated the watch] The piece goes on to rip apart the Times’ business strategy top to bottom, attacking everything from the techno-illiteracy of its board of directors (which boasts experts in marsupials and snack cakes but almost no expertise in the Internet) to its recent per-copy price hike. “When you have an obsolete, inconvenient physical product that nobody wants in an era of universal online access, the appropriate strategy is clearly to raise the price,” he snarked. (He’s not the only one gunning for the Times. A coalition of hedge funds just bought up 10% of the company and wants to install four of its own candidates on the board.)
…
So what would he do if he were running the Times? Easy, he says. Kill the print product immediately and deliver the base line of news online only. “Take acute pain now in order to avoid years of chronic pain,” he says. “Basic rule of thumb: Be on offense, not on defense.” And the offense? Graft social networking features onto the online Times, of course.
With Ning, of course.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:48 pm February 29th, 2008 in Business, Media, Tech | 4 Comments
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Feb
29
Tubbs Jones stays loyal, in her own words
Filed Under Hillary Clinton, WH2008 | 4 Comments
I agree with my congresswoman, Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D, 11th CD) on this. I respect her for it, though I would understand if she changed. What she writes here, by the way, is exactly why I continue to stay undecided - because I cannot give the kind of support she describes to any of the candidates and I know that when I vote on Tuesday, it will be because I am fulfilling something I see as a privilege and an obligation, not because I have great expectations or belief in whomever I choose.
An excerpt from her piece in The Root:
Many people do not understand what it means to truly support a candidate. It is more than a bumper sticker, or a yard sign, or even attending a campaign event. By supporting a candidate, you are making a commitment to that candidate. I made that commitment to Hillary to support her through thick and thin, not to be a fair-weather friend only to leave her when the going gets tough.
I have spent over 26 years in public office working for the people of Ohio and working within the Democratic Party. I have gone door-to-door handing out pamphlets for candidates, stayed up late making phone calls and raising money for candidates - including Barack Obama’s Senate campaign through the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. After 26 years in public office, I would hope that my constituents would respect my judgment and my choice to support Hillary Rodham Clinton, just as I respect their decision to support the candidate of their choice.
In politics all you have is your word. And I have never been one to fold when the cards are not being played in my favor. True integrity is measured when the times get tough. There is no doubt that Hillary’s campaign is facing tough times, but I made a commitment to her, and I will support her all the way.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:22 pm February 29th, 2008 in Hillary Clinton, WH2008 | 4 Comments
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Feb
29
RNC denounces use of Hussein in Obama’s name
Filed Under John McCain, Republicans, Barack Obama, Social Issues, WH2008, Campaigning, Politics | Leave a Comment
So even if Bill Cunningham isn’t listening to Karl Rove, the Republican National Committee is:
Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan formally denounced on Thursday the Tennessee Republican Party’s use of Barack Obama’s full name in a recent news release questioning the Illinois senator’s commitment to Israel.
“The RNC rejects these kinds of campaign tactics,” Duncan said in a statement. “We believe this election needs to be about the critical issues confronting our nation.”
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On Wednesday night, the party removed both the photo and the reference of “Hussein” from the statement after Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander called to express his belief that using them had become a distraction, Tennessee GOP Communications Director Bill Hobbs said.
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And McCain, who on Tuesday denounced Cunningham’s remarks, also indicated Wednesday evening that he disapproved of the news release.
“This will be a respectful debate,” the Arizona senator said in San Antonio. “I have pledged if I am able to secure the nomination of my party, it will be a respectful debate; I will continue to treat Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama with respect, just as I have treated my primary opponents with great respect.”
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:05 pm February 29th, 2008 in John McCain, Republicans, Barack Obama, Social Issues, WH2008, Campaigning, Politics | Please comment
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Feb
29
Obama on undergarments: I don’t answer such questions, but whichever, I look good
Filed Under Barack Obama, WH2008, Media | 2 Comments
Okay - because it’s just been a crazy, goofy week, I saw this earlier today in Women’s Wear Daily:
POLITICALLY CORRECT: Reading about Sen. Barack Obama’s undergarment preferences seems to be of more interest to Us Weekly’s readers than Britney Spears’ custody battles. The magazine posted a excerpt on its Web site from its three-page feature on the presidential candidate late Wednesday night, slugged “Barack Obama Refuses Boxers or Briefs Question.” The story generated the second-highest traffic ever for a single article on the site, second only to the news on Heath Ledger’s death. In just 12 hours, the Obama story got 434,002 unique visitors and more than 3.6 million page views. The magazine’s political coverage has expanded as the race between the Democratic candidates draws tighter: Three weeks ago, Us Weekly convinced Sen. Hillary Clinton to comment on her best and worst fashion moments in a Hillary-themed “Fashion Police” spread. So, John McCain, get ready — Us Weekly might be calling you next to critique your best and worst D.C. style.
So I had to go to the original Us Weekly story to figure out what they were writing about:
How familiar are you with Us Weekly?
My wife reads it.Do your daughters Sasha and Malia ever ask about Britney Spears?
Actually, yeah. But they’re very sensible. They’re pretty down on Britney and Paris and all of that. They think that’s very “yuck.” They’re way more into Hannah Montana and Beyonce. They got to go backstage and meet Beyonce and they just love her to death.Your supporters include Oprah Winfrey. Ever been starstruck?
I don’t really get starstruck. Everyone I’ve met has been very nice and friendly, like Kal Penn. During the writers’ strike, he was like a staffer! And Scarlett Johansson has been traveling a lot. George Clooney is a good friend. He and I worked on Darfur issues together. I’m always impressed by people who do their homework… and use their celebrity to advocate for issues. George does that just about as well as anyone I know.So, boxers or briefs? Bill Clinton said he wore boxers in a 1992 interview with MTV.
I don’t answer those humiliating questions. But whichever one it is, I look good in ‘em!
Here are some photos of Obama that are with the online version of the magazine.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:47 pm February 29th, 2008 in Barack Obama, WH2008, Media | 2 Comments
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Feb
29
“Tim Goeglein, director of the White House office of public liaison, is a plagiarist.”
Filed Under Writing, Marketing, Social Issues, Law, Scandal, Culture, Politics, Education, Media, Blogging | 1 Comment
The plagiarism involves Tim Goeglein lifting the work of Jeffrey Hart.
Nall’s conclusion says it all:
I mentioned at the top of this post that I feel bad about what I’m going to do here. (I stole that line, by the way; it’s Nora Ephron’s opening for her devastating profile of Dorothy Schiff’s New York Post. Now that I’ve given credit, it’s not plagiarism, it’s an homage. See how it works?) I feel bad because my old buddy Leo Morris, who edits the op-ed pages, is going to bear the brunt of this — the investigation, the uncomfortable announcement to readers, the search through the archives for more time bombs, the embarrassment of being took by someone any editor would trust, a self-styled intellectual and senior White House aide, for crying out loud. But either this stuff is important or it isn’t, and I say it is.
Post-script: Plagiarist comes clean.
“It is true,” Tim Goeglein wrote to The Journal Gazette in an e-mail. “I am entirely at fault. It was wrong of me. There are no excuses.”
He said he wrote to the author of the essay, Jeffrey Hart “to apologize, and do so categorically and without exception.”
…
Goeglein has worked in the Bush White House since 2001. He formerly worked for then-Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind.The News-Sentinel removed Goeglein’s column from its Web site Friday morning.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:25 pm February 29th, 2008 in Writing, Marketing, Social Issues, Law, Scandal, Culture, Politics, Education, Media, Blogging | 1 Comment
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Feb
29
Ronald Reagan’s son sides with McCain in scolding Cunningham
Filed Under Social Issues, Barack Obama, John McCain, Primary, Campaigning, WH2008, Religion, Media, Culture, Elections, Politics | Leave a Comment
In a guest post on The Moderate Voice, Michael Reagan tells us his thoughts on Republican primary candidate for president, Senator John McCain’s dislike of Ohio conservative radio talk show host, Bill Cunningham hammering audiences with misuses of Democratic candidate for president, Senator Barack Obama’s given name. Reagan’s site says that his own radio show has 5 million listeners.
He makes several good points, but I’ll publish this one here because of the discussion going on in this thread:
Those who are going out of their way to stress Obama’s middle name know full well that they are really suggesting that Obama is a Manchurian candidate — a Muslim disguised as a Christian. That’s garbage politics and McCain was right in denouncing the tactic.
My fellow conservatives had better understand that this election isn’t just about us.
If somebody invited me to emcee an event or to introduce them I would keep in mind that my role would be to uplift the candidate, not to use the event as a pulpit from which I could promote Michael Reagan’s views.
John McCain is following in my dad’s footsteps when even in the heat of an election battle he shows respect for his opponents. Their stands on issues are fair game to him, but as fellow Americans they deserve respect. Anybody presuming to speak on his behalf owes it to him to be just as respectful to his opponents.
My dad understood Christ’s admonition that “whatever you do unto the least of my brethren you do unto me.” He showed respect for everybody no matter who they were or how often they attacked him — Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Gerald Ford; he respected them all. He saw Christ in all of them. That’s why he was able to accomplish all that he did.
Bill Cunningham and all those who think sly personal attacks on their opponents are a justified tactic should take that to heart.
Makes sense to me.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:08 pm February 29th, 2008 in Social Issues, Barack Obama, John McCain, Primary, Campaigning, WH2008, Religion, Media, Culture, Elections, Politics | Please comment
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Feb
29
Cleveland Film Fest honors John Sayles, didn’t select definitive union story, Matewan
Filed Under Economy, Environment, Social Issues, Health Care, Voting, Civil Rights, Writing, Media, Education, Announcements, Culture, Government, Politics | Leave a Comment
Talk about being elated and deflated in the shortest time-span possible.
John Sayles is probably my absolute favorite film director. And, according to this article on Ohio.com, the Cleveland International Film Festival will be honoring him this year with the Director’s Spotlight award. [The festival starts on Thursday].
In honor of his being honored, they’ll be showing six of his films - but not Matewan. I just bet that someone who reads this blog knows someone who can tell us why not Matewan.
I am totally bummed. Sure, I can rent it (and have from time to time to watch it again). But it’s the kind of movie that really needs to be seen.
John Sayles will be in attendance at the 32nd CIFF on Friday, March 7th and Saturday, March 8th to introduce his films, to hold post-screening Q&A sessions with the audience, and to accept the CIFF’s 2008 Director’s Spotlight Award.
Now, I would much rather have gotten tickets to that, than to the CSU Democratic presidential primary debate. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:47 am February 29th, 2008 in Economy, Environment, Social Issues, Health Care, Voting, Civil Rights, Writing, Media, Education, Announcements, Culture, Government, Politics | Please comment
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Feb
28
Cleveland Stonewall Democrats endorse Kucinich for OH-10
Filed Under Primary, Joe Cimperman, Dennis Kucinich, Congress, Ohio, Cleveland+, Announcements, Politics | Leave a Comment
From the Gay People’s Chronicle:
In the most contentious race the groups looked at for the March 4 primary, the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats had to choose between one of the LGBT community’s most reliable friends in the House of Representatives and one of its closest friends in Cleveland City Council.
In the end, the group gave its nod to 10th District incumbent Rep. Dennis Kucinich at its February 21 meeting.
…
Kucinich reminded the Stonewall Democrats of his perfect voting record on LGBT issues and his advocacy on behalf of equality.“I brought the issue of marriage equality to two presidential campaigns,” Kucinich said. “No one else has done that.”
Among the Stonewall members, Cimperman backers cited his pro-LGBT record on city council, including the conversations he is having on domestic partner benefits for city employees, and their strong personal relationships with him.
Cimperman’s back