Politically Ambidextrous

Poll Shows Media Making Economy Worse

2009-01-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

It has been five days since Opinion Research Corporation released polling results that showed that “77 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. media is making the economic situation worse by projecting fear into people's minds,” and hardly anyone in the mainstream press has reported it. These results line up perfectly with what Business & Media Institute Vice President Dan Gainor has been saying for the past four years:

“As the U.S. economy slowed, some of the top names in TV business coverage – CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo and Fox’s Neil Cavuto – warned that journalists were “talking us into a recession.” Now that we are in a recession, it is apparent that more than three out of four Americans understand how negative news undermines consumer attitudes about the economy.

“Network journalists have warned of an impending recession since 2004. The Business & Media Institute showed in 2008 that they shifted that theme and focused on comparing economic news to the Great Depression – even though current unemployment has gone up 2 percent and is still about one fourth where it was in the Great Depression. Journalists need to take responsibility for this irresponsible reporting,” Gainor said in a recent press release.

Amtrak's Selection of Boardman as President a Good One

2008-11-25T18:58:00.000-08:00

Joseph Boardman, currently the admistrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, was named President and CEO of Amtrak today by the board of directors of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

Boardman, a nationally recognized transportation industry leader at all levels of government, will begin his duties on Wednesday November 26, 2008. His appointment is for one year while the board looks for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.

Amtrak Vice Chairman, Hunter Biden (son of Vice President elect Joe Biden), said in a release today that Boardman "has the unique perspective of having known Amtrak as a customer and state partner, administrator, and has been involved with Amtrak, in one role or another, over the course of many years."

Unlike the administration of George W. Bush, President elect Barrak Obama is an ardent supporter of Amtrak. The interim appointment of Boardman is a signal that the Amtrak board is determined to find the right leader who not only will provide vigorous management at this critical juncture in Amtrak's history, but someone who will fit well with the incoming Obama administration.

Amtrak has posted six consecutive years of growth in ridership and revenue, carrying more than 28.7 million passengers in the last fiscal year. Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system.

I have never been as optimistic about Amtrak as I am today.

Pelosi Keeping Her Word on "Greening the Capitol"

2008-11-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

In 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pledged to make the U.S. House of Representatives a leader in providing an environmentally responsible and healthy working environment for House employees and a showcase for sustainability. So far she's been true to her word.

Today, the Capitol is moving closer to the goal of being the World's first carbon neutral legislative body. The U.S. House is now just a few years away from reducing its energy consumption by 50 percent, and is even closer in reaching its green goals in waste reduction, transportation, and procurement.

Just a few weeks ago, in an effort to be even more environmentally friendly in its cafeterias, the House has replaced the traditional bottled water, made of oil based plastic that will sit in a landfill for more than a hundred years, with bottles that biodegrade in less than 12 weeks.

The spring water from Virgina-based Grand Springs will be sold only in biodegradable containers (made from corn) by the Iowa-based company Naturally Iowa. The new water containers will be thrown into the compost stream of the capitol's food waste resulting in no negative effect on the environment.

When it comes to "Greening the Capitol," here's a promise that the politicians appear to be keeping.

Pelosi Fairness Doctrine Unnecessary

2008-11-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi need not reinstate the Fairness Doctrine for two reasons. First, we already have the "fairness" Pelosi so desperately wants. NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and two-thirds of the nation's newspapers are almost (notice I say almost) balanced by FOX News and AM Talk Radio.

Secondly, the so called "right wing talk shows" didn't seem to have much of an impact on the last election. If you haven't noticed, the left wing seems to be alive and well. In fact, even if she is successful in bringing her brand of "fairness" to the airwaves, AM Talk hosts will probably pack up their bags and move over to satelite radio, where they will be out of reach of her and the Federal Communications Commission.

If that happens AM radio will become a wasteland, playing only music you hear in the dentist's office and elevators.

What Pelosi really wants is approved speech not free speech.

Obama Tax Plan Assumes Government is an Entitled Class

2008-10-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Senator Obama claims he will give 95 percent of the american people a tax cut or tax credit. But in order to - as he says - "pay for it," he must raise the taxes of those americans who make more than $250,000.

The operitaive words here are "pay for it." Senator Obama comes from a world where you can't give one group a tax cut unless you "pay for it" by raising the taxes of another group. This "pay for it" mentality assumes that the government is entitled to a certain amount of money.

That is not only statist ideology, but it invites even more centrailized control and planning of the federal government. If you enjoyed the malthusian growth of the federal government under the Bush administration, you'll go absolutely ga-ga over the government expansion that Obama has in mind for you and me.

At least John McCain still subscribes to the core principles of the Republican Party: Reward productivity, encourage private investment, and move government accountability closer to the people.

Let Oil Drilling Pay for Bailout

2008-10-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

Instead of using taxpayer money to finance the bailout, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is proposing using royalties from the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), a “piggybank” conservatively valued at $1.56 trillion.

Recenly the congress allowed the OCS ban to expire. But many clear minded people agree that if the Dems win the White House, big gains in both houses, and a few more governors - they'll reinstate the ban in a heartbeat.

Drilling in the OCS will move us slowly toward energy independence and may even play a crucial role in the global financial crisis - most of which had its origin in U.S. ploicy and non-policy.

Senate Approves $13 Billion Amtrak Authorization Bill

2008-10-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's about time. On October 1, 2008 the United States Senate passed an Amtrak Funding Bill to the tune of $13 billion. It's the first bill of its kind in 11 years. And it shows.

Amtrak has been woefully underfunded for the last decade. Much needed maintenance on passenger cars, engines, and terminals have been neglected due to the lack of funding. It's shameful. Governments of every developed nation help fund passenger rail service. We spend $40 billion a year on highways and give what amounts to table scraps for passenger rail service. It's no secret that President Bush (whom I support) is not a friend of Amtrak.

The five year bill calls for $2.5 billion a year to go to Amtrak , which is double its current level of funding. According to the Friends of Amtrak, the money would cover operating and capital expenses, including equipment purchases and rail repairs.

Another $1.4 billion will help pay down Amtrak's $3 billion debt, and $1.9 billion would fund a matching-grant program to encourage states to invest in passenger rail expansion and repair.

The bill will also require technology known as positive train control, or PTC by 2015. The technology instantly stops trains that run a stop signal and is already in use on the Northeast Corridor.

The bill enjoys about the same margin of support in the U.S. House making it veto-proof. It's now safe to say that the federal policy toward Amtrak is officially changed.

It's no secret that I'm a John McCain supporter but here's an area where I disagree with the Arizona senator. McCain voted NO on the authorization bill. Senator Obama voted yes.

Congress must approve budget appropriations each year in order for the funding to reach Amtrak. Surprisingly, President Bush has indicated he will sign the authorization bill. Wonders never cease.

For more on this important bill go to http://www.FriendsO fAmtrak.com

Congratulations to Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey for his leadership on this issue.

Astronaut Tom Jones Says U.S. Still Leader in Space Science But Not in Space Flight

2008-10-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

Former astronaut, Dr. Thomas D. Jones, was a guest on Radio Active Thursday October 2, 2008. Jones flew on four shuttle missions that included 3 spacewalks and work on the International Space Station.

According to Jones, China's recent space activity and the retirement of our space shuttle are indicators that "the United States is still the leader in space science, but no longer the leader in space flight."

Jones will visit Coalwood West Virginia this weekend for the annual "October Skies" festival. He'll appear with Homer Hickham, NASA engineer, author, and founder of the festival.

The hour long Radio Active airs every weekday on WHIS (1440 AM) at 9:06 am.

Rahall Talks Bailout, Amtrak, King Coal Highway, and Post Office

2008-10-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

Congressman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV 3) was the guest on Radio Active today Wednesday October 1, 2008.

Rep. Rahall discussed the $700 billion dollar bailout or "rescue"of the nation's so called financial crisis. He said he voted for it because he felt the risk was to high to to do nothing. Doing nothing, however, is exactly what University of Illinois - Chicago Economics Professor, Lawrence Officer, said Congress should do on C-Span's Open Phone segment this morning. He said Federal intervention should be minimal.

Rahall also reinforced his support of Amtrak (I agree with him on this). I even suggested that Bluefield be added to the number of passenger stations in the 3rd district. There are presently 3 stops - Huntington, Hinton, and Prince (Raliegh County).

Funding for the King Coal Highway was another topic. Rahall said when people drive less, the Highway Trust Fund gets less money for road projects. The Fund is funded with a federal tax on gasoline. He pledged to continue to look for new resources for the highway.

While Congress doesn't have a direct role in deciding what post offices stay open or are closed, Rahall said he would at least inquire about the status of the Downtown Bluefield Post Office. It was announced on Radio Active (WHIS 1440 AM) and on The Bluefield Red Eye last week that there are plans to close the 97 year old post office located in the Elizabeth Kee Federal Building.

William Paine, the show's producer and the station's news director, asked the Congressman if he would be willing to appear on the show with his Republican opponent, Marty Gearheart of Bluefield for an issues discussion. He said he was open to the idea. He also said that he has already agreed to a debate in Huntington later this month.

Contact me, Craig Hammond, at newsbrew@gmail.com