Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Little Rock Government Greening Main Street
- MAIN STREET: Could it live again?
Mayor Mark Stodola has announced some help from the EPA to do some planning on the revitalization of Main Street.
I don't want to be a grump. I hope this works. But you can plan and you can strategize and you can have charettes and you can have workshops. But until somebody — taxpayers or private interests (particularly those who own the most of the land along the corridor) — are willing to cough up cash, well ... And first you have to hope some people will want to live there.
It's a hard issue. I think downtown could be a great place again. The River Market neighborhood is proof of the potential. It should be a great place again. Gas prices should go higher if we start swearing off oil . Living close in to big job hives would make sense. A lively neighborhood with mass transit, entertainment and retail in easy reach is an attractive thing. My kids live in New York city and it's exciting to walk home from the bus stop to their homes each night (and I don't mean that in a scary exciting way). But ...
No more buts. Here's the city news release.
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John Boozman is a liar
For the record: The John Boozman-is-a-Razorback ad just aired on Channel 7 at 6:27 p.m. Taken down my ass. Will UA sue, as it would sue a punk with a T-shirt it didn't like?
UPDATE: Seymour Butts reports it's still airing on Channel 11, too. Pants on fire.
(Yeah, I know. They have a new ad scrubbed of the logo and Razorback stadium, but the original kept running through this evening.) Again, I don't care of the use the Razorback logo. It's the lying I don't like. And the lingering question of how they finagled this in the first place.
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We're on the downhill
And the Wednesday line is open.
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Police beat The mean streets of West LR
- Fox 16
- HUMMER-DAMAGED HOUSE
Road rage. Shot fired. Hummer runs into house. Just another day in the St. Charles neighborhood. Fox 16 reports.
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Arkansas Lottery Motion to fire lottery boss fails
Comp time on top of high executive pay supposedly justified by long hours of important work? The state Lottery Commission chairman today chastised Gamecock Passailaigue for this high-handed maneuver before going into an executive session. Will they hire, fire, promote, demote or discipline an employee, the only legal reasons for private discussions?
UPDATE: The honeymoon is winding down. When the Commission returned from executive session, a motion was made by Ben Pickard and seconded by Joe White to terminate Lottery chief Passailaigue, but it drew only those two votes and failed. It is, nonetheless, not a good note for Ernie P's permanent record. White told Gerard Matthews that the commission is interested in getting the state's help in resolving problems over personnel issues, where lottery practices have diverged from state general practices.
When asked if the motion was made because lottery salaries had always been an issue and this news was likely to further public distrust, White said, "I can only speak for myself, but I had a disagreement with [Passailaigue] concerning the issuance of comp-time to exempt employees which included the top three members of the lottery. There are other folks involved also. It has been reported that there are up to 500 hours have been awarded."
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Arkansas Politics Elliott campaigns in shadows
Former President Bill Clinton is in town today, as you know, for a string of money-raising events for Democratic candidates — Joyce Elliott (2nd District Congress), Carolyn Y. Staley (state rep.), Chad Causey (1st Dist. Congress) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln.
Elliott's campaign, which has been virtually invisible, is closing every bit of the Clinton event to the media. The wisdom of this secrecy escapes me. We can argue about Bill Clinton's continuing voter pull in Arkansas, but I don't think it's arguable that it's better to be photographed with the Big Dog than to let your opponent define you by hanging Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi around your neck at every opportunity.
(Lincoln's event is open, by contrast.)
UPDATE: Clinton stopped to chat with a few reporters gathered outside Elliott's event at the Copper Grill. Jason Tolbert grabbed a good film clip. Clinton's remarks would do well to be passed around to other Democrats — emphasizing positive impacts of stimulus; better financial oversight; better student loan procedures; more control of health insurance companies. He emphasized Sen. Lincoln's importance as Ag chairman and gave her and Elliott ringing endorsements. Elliott has a record of doing things; Tim Griffin has a record of "ethical problems" and wants to go back and "do things that got us in trouble in the first place." Voter "anger, apathy and amnesia" require Dems to "get out and tell our side of the story."
Democratic Party ads a throw-down on Griffin and others in the following news release:
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Human rights Human Development Center on trial
Opening arguments were today in the Justice Department lawsuit over the Conway Human Development Cente. Stephens Media is providing coverage. The arguments are long-standing. The state and families of residents generally defend care there. The Justice Department thinks the institution has many shortcomings and wants to integrate more residents into communities.
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Bargain groceries
A word from our sponsors:
Argenta Market has been added to (link repaired) the halfoffdepot.com lineup.
Which means you can buy certificates good for half-price groceries and deli food. No gimmick. Half off.
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Politics Booze the target in WLR smash
Another smash-and-dash burglary, but this time the van driver hit the Grapevine, a west Little Rock liquor store, and made off with some booze, not cigarettes as in some recent similar crimes.
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Politics Republican manners
John Boozman's recent advertising reminds me of a little something from the Bush years. Boozman talks of fighting "Obama" and "Pelosi." Not President Obama or Speaker Pelosi. It's no problem from my point of view; Boozman can treat his political adversaries like schoolyard punks if he wishes. Just recall that Republicans spent the eight years of the Bush Reign of Error bemoaning Democrats' lack of respect for the president in failing to use his title when speaking of him.
But that was when we had an American-born Christian in the Very White House.
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Religion The face of intolerance
I'm conflicted. Should a nut "Christian" pastor with a flock of 30 be commanding the attention he's receiving? Or should he be treated with the disdain now widely accorded the similarly influential Phelps clan?
It is striking, however, how silent Republicans have fallen on this calculated religious insult against millions of people. Has the Islamic card become that powerful for the GOP? If that's so — and if it's a productive strategy — it's a mark on us all.
UPDATE: Pressed in TV, interview Wannabe Speaker Boehner says Koran burning "unwise." Haley Barbour: Not a "good idea."
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Politics Thank you, sir, may I have another?
Republicans apparently will go for broke (and I do mean broke) in response to President Obama's plan to increase tax rates for rich people, with a freeze on all tax rates, plus spending cuts.
10 years of Bush tax cuts and the country is in the economic dumpster. How can you seriously argue that more of the same is called for? Story doesn't say, but I presume Bonehead wants two more years of no estate tax.
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Arkansas Sports A Razorback can survive
Harry King at Stephens Media backgrounds a Facebook/YouTube Razorback song hit.
The Hogs will survive even this video. They could survive even use of the Razorback logo and game dress in a commercial by Senate candidate John Boozman. It will be withdrawn because of the university's slow-developing concern about Boozman's appropriation of the logo. The UA's stated policy is to bar use of stadium grounds without prior approval for political purposes and to bar use of the logo and colors without approval, too.
Do you doubt if a sub shop had aired an ad remembering the owner's days at the UA, with a photo of himself in an approved Hog T-shirt, that the cease and desist lawsuit would have been filed instantly? Nonetheless, the UA said:
After becoming aware of a political advertisement containing University of Arkansas images, the university reviewed the matter and requested the Boozman campaign to immediately discontinue its use of the ad. This action was taken due to concerns that the ad’s use of university images and logos might be viewed as an endorsement of the candidate. The Boozman campaign voluntarily agreed to withdraw the ad and has begun removing the ad from circulation. The University does not endorse candidates for public office. The university appreciates the Boozman campaign's cooperation in this matter.
Said the Boozman campaign:
"Congressman Boozman and his campaign have the upmost respect for the University of Arkansas and Razorback traditions. Although all legal requirements were met, we understand the University’s concerns, and do not want to put them in a position where they are perceived as endorsing any candidate," said Boozman campaign manager Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Obviously, our campaign does not want to create a controversy for an institution that we all have such a deep admiration for, so we voluntarily changed our ad.”
Unanswered: Who gave the Boozman campaign the go-ahead in the first place? PS — Anybody still have a copy of the ad, no longer on YouTube? Somebody thinks they spied Boozman backer Stanley Reed, a former UA Board chair, and his son in the farm scenery portion of the ad.
Posted By Max Brantley | Permalink | Comments (8)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Take it away
The Tuesday line is open. It is Tuesday, isn't it?
NEWS NOTES: Two dead in small plane crash in Baxter County; Beebe emphasizes work on economy ("new jobs to Arkansas in the face of recession") in campaign "kickoff." Funny, I didn't think the economy was so hot and I thought he'd been campaigning for months.
Posted By Max Brantley | Permalink | Comments (25)
Arkansas Politics Let's talk Justice
The UALR Law School and the Clinton School of Public Service will have a panel discussion, "The Ousted U.S. Attorneys," at noon Sept. 20 at the law school featuring former U.S. attorneys, including Bud Cummins, who were ousted in the 2006 Bush administration politicized shakeup of the Justice Department. To date, Cummins has been decidedly circumspect about the submarining he took to advance the cause of Tim Griffin, now the Republican nominee for 2nd District Congress. It would be a timely opportunity for Cummins to be more candid.
Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu, or calling 501-683-5239.
And, in the event you've forgotten what a sordid, sleazy deal this was, Ernest Dumas this week has a primer on the Arkansas angle of ouster events.
Special for blog readers, an early look at Ernie's column this week. It reviews the inspector general report on that scandal.
Posted By Max Brantley | Permalink | Comments (9)
Event Calendar
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Re: We're on the downhill
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News Blackout Alert-
"Union workers have been locked out at the uranium enrichment…- on September 9, 2010
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Re: We're on the downhill
Nice try but you get a measly strawman award NormaB, make that a straw girlyman…
- on September 9, 2010
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Re: John Boozman is a liar
Are some of you saying it's OK if the U of A sics a team…
- on September 9, 2010
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