‘Hannity & ?’
Regular Fox News Channel viewers can get ready to miss Alan Colmes — as in “Hannity & Colmes” — after this week’s announcement that the liberal half of the liberal-conservative duo is leaving the show at the end of the year. Co-hosted by Colmes and Sean Hannity for 12 years, the show is top-rated in its time slot, a tribute to the chemistry the two have developed arguing all sides of national political issues. Colmes, known for deft, left-of-center counterpunches to Hannity’s leading role, decided it was time to do something different, according to reports. He plans to continue as a commentator on a variety of Fox News shows while also hosting his radio program. The “Fair and Balanced” network said Colmes also will develop a weekend program. No word yet on a new sidekick for Hannity.
‘Hannity & ?’
Regular Fox News Channel viewers can get ready to miss Alan Colmes — as in “Hannity & Colmes” — after this week’s announcement that the liberal half of the liberal-conservative duo is leaving the show at the end of the year. Co-hosted by Colmes and Sean Hannity for 12 years, the show is top-rated in its time slot, a tribute to the chemistry the two have developed arguing all sides of national political issues. Colmes, known for deft, left-of-center counterpunches to Hannity’s leading role, decided it was time to do something different, according to reports. He plans to continue as a commentator on a variety of Fox News shows while also hosting his radio program. The “Fair and Balanced” network said Colmes also will develop a weekend program. No word yet on a new sidekick for Hannity.
Fattest city in America
In Huntington, W. Va., the residents don’t talk much about living in the fattest city in America. Most of them probably don’t even realize it, according to health officials. Most people, says the city’s overweight mayor, are much more worried about the economy. Businesses and even hospitals fought smoking bans.
We can’t help but see the parallels. Whether it’s looking at obesity, diabetes or heart disease, Oklahoma’s among the nation’s unhealthiest states. There are myriad efforts to improve Oklahoma’s health statistics and the general health of Oklahomans. From smoking restrictions to school-based nutrition education to Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett’s citywide diet challenge, ideas abound for making us a healthier city and state. But an obstacle both here and in West Virginia is one of culture that takes time – and a lot of it – to change.
Southern food’s always been on the fatty side, with fried chicken and chicken fried steak longtime staples. Fast food is also a mainstay with so many families struggling to pay the bills. By comparison, fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive.
Health officials here and in West Virginia aren’t giving up on the idea of improving health statistics. But it won’t happen quickly.
Burying the hatchet with Lieberman
Senate Democrats have decided not to get even with Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut for breaking with his party to back Republican John McCain for president. The Democratic caucus reportedly voted 42-13 for a deal that lets Lieberman keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, as well as leadership of an Armed Services subcommittee — though he will give up his position on the Environment and Public Works Committee. Some Democrats and liberal activists wanted Lieberman drummed out of the party for supporting McCain. But tactical considerations surely intervened. Democrats have 58 votes in the Senate (counting Lieberman and fellow independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who both vote with the party to organize the chamber), putting them close to the 60 votes that can prevent filibusters. It made little sense to alienate Lieberman, making legislative work that much harder. With Lieberman showing contrition at a closed-door meeting with his colleagues, Democrats decided to look to the future instead of the past. The truce should hold until the next big vote on Iraq or the war on terror — the key issues prompting Lieberman to back McCain over Obama.
Continuing a tradition
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry’s ascension to the chairmanship of the Interstate O
il and Gas Compact Commission continues a long tradition of the state’s leadership of this important organization. Every Oklahoma governor has served as an IOGCC chairman; the group was founded by 1935 by then Gov. E.W. Marland. Henry’s appointment, to succeed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, also puts him in a better position to influence President-elect Barack Obama on energy issues of concern to the state and its taxpayers. Henry supported Obama and might be well-suited to sway his opinion on the need to aggressively pursue domestic oil and gas exploration even as the administration builds a bridge to the future with alternative energy projects. The Democratic Congress will likely continue to demonize oil and gas (until the next wave of high gasoline prices results in constituent pressure). Henry and other state Democrats know there’s a place for all kinds of energy and that fossil fuels have not outlived their usefulness.
Help us please!
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is seeking a bailout from Barack Obama, but just in case it’s asking the party faithful to cough up money for staff members. Plagued by debt in the past, the state party apparatus has been staffed by workers paid by the Democratic National Committee rather than local sources. The party seeks donations to keep the three employed until Obama is sworn in and will perhaps agree to continue subsidizing the salaries. Obama failed to win a single county here, the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat won only four and the Legislature went Republican for the first time in history. Given these results, the DNC hasn’t been getting much of a return on its investment.
Virginia run for ‘The Macker’
Democratic victories in Virginia by Barack Obama and Senate candidate Mark Warner apparently convince master fundraiser and former party chairman Terry McAuliffe that the coast is clear for him to run for governor in the Old Dominion in 2009. Known for his mile-a-minute delivery on television, McAuliffe filed paperwork this week for a potential gubernatorial run. As Bill Clinton’s main money man, McAuliffe knew no bounds when it came to pulling in the dough. The Washington Post’s Marc Fisher recalls the time McAuliffe wrestled a 280-pound alligator to land a $15,000 donation from a Florida Indian tribe. “The Macker” will face Democratic primary opponents and the likely Republican nominee, current state Attorney General Bob McDonnell. “Terry McAuliffe doesn’t know Norton from Norfolk,” a McDonnell spokesman told Fisher. “It he runs, remind me to send him a Virginia state map.” Likely to be more pivotal will be the hours and hours of video of McAuliffe’s partisan riffs against Republicans — attack ads that will practically produce themselves.
Virginia run for ‘The Macker’
Democratic victories in Virginia by Barack Obama and Senate candidate Mark Warner apparently convince master fundraiser and former party chairman Terry McAuliffe that the coast is clear for him to run for governor in the Old Dominion in 2009. Known for his mile-a-minute delivery on television, McAuliffe filed paperwork this week for a potential gubernatorial run. As Bill Clinton’s main money man, McAuliffe knew no bounds when it came to pulling in the dough. The Washington Post’s Marc Fisher recalls the time McAuliffe wrestled a 280-pound alligator to land a $15,000 donation from a Florida Indian tribe. “The Macker” will face Democratic primary opponents and the likely Republican nominee, current state Attorney General Bob McDonnell. “Terry McAuliffe doesn’t know Norton from Norfolk,” a McDonnell spokesman told Fisher. “It he runs, remind me to send him a Virginia state map.” Likely to be more pivotal will be the hours and hours of video of McAuliffe’s partisan riffs against Republicans — attack ads that will practically produce themselves.
Palin leaker unmasked
You’ll remember the post-election report on Fox News, citing unnamed McCain campaign staffers as claiming Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country as opposed to a continent. Apparently there’s a pretty elaborate hoax behind that. The New York Times dutifully investigated the leak and learned someone put up a phony blog by a fictitious campaign staffer divulging the Africa anecdote. MSNBC had more on the story, naming the leaker as Martin Eisenstadt (who doesn’t actually exist), of the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy (which is nothing more than a Web site). YouTube video of Eisenstadt is faked as well, MSNBC reported. Another reminder that much of what circulates in the blogosphere should be taken with a grain of skepticism.
Private schools downsizing on purpose
Many private schools in Oklahoma are shrinking their district boundaries. They’re doing so in order to lessen concerns about how the sizes of some private school districts aid these schools in athletics. This won’t keep critics from alleging that these schools have an unfair advantage over public schools, or that they recruit their best athletes. A popular target of such claims lately has been Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City, which won eight state championships last school year. Some of those came in sports where it has traditionally been strong, such as girls tennis and girls cross country. But the baseball and football titles were only the second in the 58-year history of the school, and the championship in boys golf was McGuinness’ first. Athletic director Gary Savely said it best: “We weren’t hearing a whole lot about any advantages when we weren’t winning.” Still, this good-faith effort by the private schools is commendable.
