And it’s … Gillibrand?
In settling on U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand from upstate New York to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, Gov. David Paterson appears to have rung the bell for the race to fill the seat on a permanent basis. Gillibrand is described as moderate to liberal, having first won election to the House in 2006 from a previously Republican district near Albany. She supports Second Amendment gun rights for individuals and middle-class tax cuts and opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants. Yet she’s also considered a protege of New York’s other senator, Charles Schumer, who’s definitely a liberal.
Depending on what you read, Gillibrand either was Paterson’s choice for some time — the governor believing popular pick Caroline Kennedy wasn’t ready for prime time — or moved to the top of the heap when Kennedy first gave hints of bowing out earlier this week.
More certain is that Gillibrand’s got her work cut out for her to keep the seat. She must run in a special election in 2010 to complete Clinton’s term and then again in 2012 for a full six-year term of her own. New York Democrats who weren’t bashful about opposing Kennedy probably aren’t any more sanguine about a relative newcomer landing the plum. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, whose husband was killed in the 1993 Long Island Railroad massacre, says she’ll challenge Gillibrand because of her support for gun rights. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has interest in higher office, as do a number of other Democrats on New York’s congressional delegation. Republicans also may see Gillibrand as vulnerable. Rep. Peter King is known to be interested in running. And, they’re off!
Child safety seat laws
AAA Oklahoma’s Chuck Mai wrote this week that it’s been 31 years since Tennessee passed the nation’s first child safety seat law. For parents of young children, it’s hard to imagine not stressing out over which car seat to buy, whether a child needs a rear- or front-facing seat and when they can graduate to the much cheaper and much easier to lug around booster seats. Mai thinks Oklahoma’s law regarding child safety seats is due updating. Current law allows children ages 6 and older to be seated in booster seats or a seat belt. That means many parents let their 6- and 7-year-olds use regular seat belts before they’re big enough, he said. The safer route, he said, would be to require booster seats for children up to 80 pounds. That would be a huge change for Oklahomans, and one not all parents will be happy about. But Mai’s concerns are worth listening to.
Caroline drops out
A flurry of reports Wednesday night seemed to confirm Caroline Kennedy has decided to end her bid for the New York Senate seat vacated by new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The New York Post reported Kennedy was dropping out, but then the Associated Press quoted someone close to Kennedy as saying she was still in contention. Later, a Kennedy press release said she was dropping out for “personal reasons.”
So, the “Return of Camelot” story line goes back into the file cabinet for all the journalists, essayists and pundits who thought it would be neat if JFK’s daughter took the Senate seat once occupied by her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy. Unfortunately, Caroline didn’t seem to have inherited the Kennedy family genes for politics. A recent upstate interview tour was a bust, and Kennedy failed to articulate a compelling reason for her candidacy.
That and the fact a number of other New York Democrats refused to let her have the seat in a walkover. Most of the incoming fire directed at Caroline was from fellow Democrats. They didn’t have anything against Camelot; they just liked the idea of being appointed to the Senate themselves even better. New York Gov. David Paterson will make the call, and reportedly state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is the leading candidate now. Others being talked about include U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Steve Israel and Gary Ackerman.
Priest plea: A few bad apples …
As pastor of a Catholic church in Delray Beach, Fla., the Rev. Francis Guinan in 2005 implored his church to discontinue an investigation into alleged financial improprieties. Now we know why.
On Wednesday, Guinan’s colleague Monsignor John Skehan pleaded guilty to embezzling $370,000. His plea came on the day jury selection was to begin in the case. Authorities believe Skehan may actually have made off with millions during his 40 years at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, but the statute of limitations restricted the timeline to 2001 through 2006.
Guinan is accused of stealing $488,000 during his 19 months as pastor. He is to be tried next month and has pleaded not guilty.
In his 2005 letter to his church, Guinan noted that priests “devote their lives to the church with little thought for personal gain. They are generous, charitable and compassionate.” About that he was absolutely correct, which makes stories like this all the more disappointing and sad.
Priest plea: A few bad apples …
As pastor of a Catholic church in Delray Beach, Fla., the Rev. Francis Guinan in 2005 implored his church to discontinue an investigation into alleged financial improprieties. Now we know why.
On Wednesday, Guinan’s colleague Monsignor John Skehan pleaded guilty to embezzling $370,000. His plea came on the day jury selection was to begin in the case. Authorities believe Skehan may actually have made off with millions during his 40 years at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, but the statute of limitations restricted the timeline to 2001 through 2006.
Guinan is accused of stealing $488,000 during his 19 months as pastor. He is to be tried next month and has pleaded not guilty.
In his 2005 letter to his church, Guinan noted that priests “devote their lives to the church with little thought for personal gain. They are generous, charitable and compassionate.” About that he was absolutely correct, which makes stories like this all the more disappointing and sad.
Legislator butting in again
State Sen. David Myers is back with another effort to clamp down on restaurant smoking areas.
Myers, R-Ponca City, wants to abolish such smoking areas by Sept. 1 of next year, and prevent new or existing restaurants from adding these rooms after Sept. 1 of this year.
Myers pursued a similar course of action during last year’s session, without success. The Oklahoma Restaurant Association stayed out of that fight but has come out against this newest version. Perhaps that’s why Myers told the Tulsa World, “To be honest, it is going to be difficult to get this bill passed.”
Let’s hope so. Banning smoking areas would further pinch restaurant owners who paid handsomely to have their separately ventilated rooms operational by March 2006 as required by law. Lawmakers ought to stomp out this latest proposal.
Censored!
Not everyone is down with President Barack Obama’s “change” theme. China continues to censor news it doesn’t like, including parts of Obama’s inaugural address on Tuesday. The state-run media dealt with references to “communism” and “dissent” by pretending they didn’t happen. At the point in Obama’s speech where he mentioned the “defeat of fascism and communism,” central broadcaster CCTV cut away from the feed to an unsuspecting presenter, who awkwardly questioned an unprepared commentator, reports The Daily Telegraph in London. Another line later in the speech noted regimes that silence dissent are on the wrong side of history. Both references were deleted from transcripts appearing on major Chinese news Web sites. Obviously, change will come more slowly in some places than others. But you’ve got to think the preponderance of news sources will dent China’s media force field. Then again, if China’s censors are checking this blog, this item’s probably out, too.
New leader for Oral Roberts University
He’s no televangelist. But the man officials want to take over at Oral Roberts University is no stranger to turning around a struggling Christian university. Mark Rutland is president of Southeastern University, a Florida private school with roots to the Pentecostal church. Officials there called Rutland a “catalyst” for growth, pointing to substantial enrollment growth and infrastructure improvements. Rutland is set to visit the Tulsa private school at month’s end as trustees consider whether to hire him as the school’s next president. Rutland has said he wants to move ORU forward. If he becomes president, we wish him luck. Overcoming the recent scandal and financial difficulties in financially troubling times will be a huge challenge.
Doesn’t hurt to ask
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett says the city is in much better shape than many around the country, but that won’t stop City Hall from seeking federal stimulus money. Same goes for Tulsa. The U.S. Conference of Mayors invited municipalities to put in requests for any money Congress sees fit to send their way. Oklahoma City’s request was modest relative to Tulsa’s - $501 million vs. $944 million. That Tulsa wants nearly a $1 billion of Uncle Sam’s money strikes us as bit overreaching, but you can’t fault a city for asking. In his 2009 State of the City speech, Cornett noted that “with the rest of the world dealing with such severe economic issues, it is only fair for us to acknowledge that our envious position should be valued and protected. And at City Hall we are asking those in charge of our city government’s finances to maintain the same conservative principles that got us here.” We wish those in charge of the federal government’s finances had asked for the same thing.
Doesn’t hurt to ask
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett says the city is in much better shape than many around the country, but that won’t stop City Hall from seeking federal stimulus money. Same goes for Tulsa. The U.S. Conference of Mayors invited municipalities to put in requests for any money Congress sees fit to send their way. Oklahoma City’s request was modest relative to Tulsa’s - $501 million vs. $944 million. That Tulsa wants nearly a $1 billion of Uncle Sam’s money strikes us as bit overreaching, but you can’t fault a city for asking. In his 2009 State of the City speech, Cornett noted that “with the rest of the world dealing with such severe economic issues, it is only fair for us to acknowledge that our envious position should be valued and protected. And at City Hall we are asking those in charge of our city government’s finances to maintain the same conservative principles that got us here.” We wish those in charge of the federal government’s finances had asked for the same thing.
