The Sad Bad Story of Governor Spitzer
By Gus Tyler
“I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and that violates my — or any — sense of right and wrong,” Eliot Spitzer said.
The obvious question is just why or how a highly intelligent man like Spitzer worked his way into such a situation.
What follows is my own highly speculative attempt to explain Spitzer’s strange conduct: We begin with the fact that Spitzer is not only a highly intelligent man but also a highly emotional bull of a man. He is devoted to his family, although obviously his wife is not fully able to satisfy his sexual needs.
He might have found himself a girlfriend on the side. But she would have to understand that a marriage was not in the works. How long would a worthwhile woman put up with such a lopsided arrangement?
As a practical-minded man, Spitzer probably decided that a realistic outlet for his emotional needs could be satisfied by a professional prostitute or two who would allow him to vent his libido without any further obligations.
Is there a political future for Spitzer? The old saw says, “To err is human, To forgive is divine.”
September 25, 2007, 8:26pm
The Call of the Cold
By Gus Tyler
The latest trend among tourists is the Arctic Circle. Why? The answer may perhaps be found in a quatrain we recall from childhood.
Man’s a fool.
When it’s hot he wants it cool.
When it’s cool he wants it hot
Always wanting what is not.
This strange behavior is not hard to understand. Novelty, as they say, is the “spice of life.”
But this shift of tourist interest in the Arctic Circle is a real reversal of trends that characterized our behavior in the past. Generally, the idea was to get out of the ice and snow of northern winters. “California, here I come,” was a national slogan. Florida was and still is a magnet for northerners from the Atlantic Coast to the northern areas of the Midwest.
But a reversal of the historic trend from traditional climates to the Arctic Circle seemed unlikely. The reason is the much discussed “global warming.” In the past the Arctic Circle was a great big glacier or two. It was impenetrable by humans with the exception of a few incredible explorers. But, now, thanks to global warming, glaciers turn to icebergs and icebergs turn to floating pieces of ice.
But before we call for three cheers for global warming, we had better be warned about the global impact of rising oceans fed by melting glaciers that lift the level of oceans so that one day not so far distant Manhattan Island will be turned into a swimming pool spiked with skyscrapers.
September 5, 2007, 8:55pm
Mid-Term Madness
By Gus Tyler
In the last national election in 2006, the Democrats captured control of both houses of Congress. Their margin of victory, however, was insufficient to override a presidential veto that requires a two-thirds vote. Which means that the Republican Party really was still in control of legislation.
Despite this, the present Congress did enact a raise in the federal minimum wage. But the GOP extracted a price for its support by attaching a rider to the bill that would provide a tax reduction for small business.
All of which poses the question of whether the Democrats will carry both the presidential and legislative elections in 2008.That may come to pass but the legislative victory of the Democrats in 2006 is not an indicator of a presidential and legislative victory in 2008. Here’s why:
In a mid-term election where the president is not up for election, the party in the White House is likely to lose seats in the legislature. The reason is super-simple although irrational. Millions of voters who favor the party in the White House figure that so long as their president is in power they have no reason to worry. So they don’t bother to vote.
A striking example of how this works occurred in the Roosevelt years in the White House. He was elected in 1932. In 1934 the Democratic delegation, in an exception to the rule, increased its strength in Congress. Voters were still voting against the Republicans and the Great Depression. But by 1938, when things began to settle down and America was returning to normalcy, the party of FDR lost seats in Congress.
All of which means that the Democratic Party can’t assume that the Democratic gain in Congressional seats in 2006 is a guarantee of victory in both Congress and the presidency in 2008. Remember on Election Day every vote counts!
August 11, 2007, 7:56pm
Congress Cutting Special Interest Ties
By Gus Tyler
For many years, lobbyists in Washington have had a free hand in the ways they employed to influence Congress. One of the most blatant was conveyed in a tactic called “bundling.” The lobbyist would solicit support for a candidate observing carefully the legal limits on how much an individual contributed. But, the lobbyist bundled the separate gifts and delivered the impressive total to the candidate who indeed felt indebted to the lobbyist for the support. But, in addition, lobbyists treated candidates to meals, to trips, to membership in country clubs, etc.
When in the mid-term election of 2006, the Democrats won a majority of the seats in both House and Senate not much in the way of progressive legislation was expected. President Bush still had the veto power and the Democrats did not have the necessary two-thirds to override the veto.
But on the second day of August, the Senate passed a bill imposing numerous restrictions on the traditional ways in which lobbyists operated. That, in itself, is no surprise because the Democrats do have a majority in the Senate. But what was unexpected was the lopsided nature of the vote. The vote was 83 for and 14 against.
This means that if the President vetoes the bill there are enough votes to override his veto. The White House has lost control over its party’s delegation in the Senate.
Yes — the political pendulum is swinging from right to left in Washington.
August 10, 2007, 8:08pm
Big Push For Preschool Education
By Gus Tyler
The United States has been a world pioneer in schooling for the people. It started in colonial days in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Every child was compelled to attend a school, starting at an early age. The reason was double: First, it was necessary to teach all children that humans were born in sin and that they must learn to overcome this inherent trait. Secondly, the hours spent in school kept the kids off the streets where they would commit untold mischief. The schools were, in effect, parochial.
In the early years of the 19th century a new dimension was added. Thanks to the rise of a labor movement, workers won the right to vote, although they did not own property. They were organized city by city. Philadelphia was the first. Their platforms differed to reflect their different circumstances. But they all called for free, universal public school education. Their reason was double: Education would enable workers to tackle jobs that needed learning. They also felt that education would prepare the children of workers to hold posts of public responsibility.
At first, the education was applied to the elementary grades. Then high school education followed. And then came public colleges and universities.
Since the financing of schools was local, wealthy neighborhoods had better schools than poor neighborhoods. Some states came to the rescue by helping out with financial aid where needed. Then came federal aid to education.
The latest step in the progress of American education is a movement promoting preschool education for 3- and 4-year-olds. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton proposes to spend $15 billion over five years on universal preschool education.
Yes, the United States still is a nation that wisely values education.
July 22, 2007, 1:41pm
Move To Clean Up Student Loan Racket
By Gus Tyler
Aid to students is a big business in the U.S. This year it comes to $18 billion dollars in bank subsidies, mainly for students in low-income families. It is customary for schools to provide an office to advise students on how and where to get the money.
Investigations by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and others have uncovered a widespread practice by lending institutions who engage in what is, in effect, bribery of school officials to win the contracts for their companies. They paid for meals, trips, cash payments, the employment of college personnel and similar perks.
Both the House and Senate took action to halt this distasteful practice. In the Senate, Edward Kennedy played a leading role in the enactment of such legislation. His bill won overwhelming approval, 78 to18. In the House of Representatives, a similar bill passed by 273 to 149.
Cuomo moved quickly to implement the legislation. As of July 21, Cuomo announced a settlement with College Loan in the sum of half a million dollars. It is the 11th settlement, and the money will go into an education fund set up by Cuomo.
July 12, 2007, 2:20pm
Surgeon General Used as Political Tool
By Gus Tyler
Former Surgeon General Richard A. Carbona told a Congressional panel that top administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations, according to The New York Times,
There were important public health concerns on which he was silenced. He was not allowed to voice his opinion on subjects like stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education or prison, mental or global health problems.
Dr. Carbona wrote a landmark report on the evils of second-hand smoke. Its release was held back for years, while administration officials tried to water it down before public release.
Dr, Carbona, however, was not totally silenced. He was instructed that in the speeches he made he was to mention Bush’s name three times on every page. Our guess is that such a silly demand was made with the hope that Dr Carbona would throw up his hands in despair and leave his post. He was also assigned to make speeches for Republican candidates.
Dr. Carbona displayed an interest in attending the Special Olympics whose participants are disabled. “I was specifically told by a senior person ‘Why would you want to help those people?”
Actually, the underlying reason for pressure on Carbona not to attend was based on the fact that the Special Olympics is one of the pet projects of the Kennedy family.
‘Nuff said!
July 10, 2007, 7:45pm
The Cost of Our War
By Gus Tyler
The dollar cost of our war in Iraq and Afghanistan comes to $12 billion a month, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. So far, the total cost comes to $610 billion. The cost for Iraq alone is half-a-trillion dollars.
If we were to add the cost of human lives, of course, the sum would be much greater. But in times of war, lives of GIs are not counted because they cannot be described in dollars and cents.
A simple query: Has our multi-billion-dollar expenditure in this war been worthwhile? Afghanistan is still dominated by its warlords. In the case of Iraq, we have not even been able to enjoy access to its rich oil potential. So far, our major role in Iraq has been to spread endless chaos.
Just think for the moment that the multi-billions we have spent on war were available for schools, health services, subsidized housing for the poor. Put plainly, our ventures in Afghanistan and Iraq were — still are — carried on at the expense of our nation’s neediest families.
But not all Americans are suffering financially because of our ventures in the Mideast. Every war we have ever been in has produced its well-named Daddy Warbucks. The perfect candidate in our current war is our Vice President Dick Cheney whose firm Halliburton has been the recipient of billions in war-connected contracts — contracts that were awarded without competitive bidding.
July 8, 2007, 6:00pm
How Impeachment Works
By Gus Tyler
Impeachment is in the air. Usually, it is a process reserved for delinquent presidents. Currently, the “i” word is also being invoked against Vice President Dick Cheney.
The popular notion is that “impeachment “ means removal. But it doesn’t. Impeachment is only the first step in a more extended process. Here’s the way the U.S. Constitution puts it:
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
There is no special provision for cases involving the Vice President. The current push to impeach Vice President Cheney is, to our knowledge, without precedent.
According to the Constitution, removal of the president or vice president does not necessarily end the process:
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
The entire process is further complicated by a factor probably unknown to our founding fathers; namely, the filibuster.
None of the above is intended to discourage those who are busily conducting all kinds of spectacular events to impeach either the president or the vice president or both.
The above is just a reminder than “impeachment” is just the beginning of a tough tricky task. Lotsa luck!
July 5, 2007, 4:00pm
Let the People Elect the President.
By Gus Tyler
In a country that has long been dedicated to the ideal of a nation “of the people, by the people and for the people,” our Constitution is so written that the presidential candidate who gets the most votes from the people is not necessarily elected as president. In the election of 2000, Al Gore got a half-million more votes for president than George W. Bush, but Bush was elected because he got more votes in the Electoral College.
The Electoral College, as it was first envisioned, was entirely different from what it is today. Present-day electors are just a rubber stamp pledged to vote for a given candidate of a given party. Originally, the Constitution decreed:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
The electors were to meet in their respective states. They were to cast two votes for president — at least one for someone who was not a resident of their state. The results were to be transmitted to the president of the U.S. Senate. The person getting the most votes would be elected as president provided he gets a majority of all the votes cast.
The Constitution then spells out the proper procedure in cases where the leading candidate did not get a majority of the electors’ votes.
The process revolved around electors who were generally distinguished citizens not pledged in advance to any candidate. They were free souls and not just meaningless names on a ballot — as it is today. Indeed, our present method is a stark contradiction of both the letter and spirit of the original intent.
July 3, 2007, 3:00pm
It’s Blair Versus History
By Gus Tyler
Upon Tony Blair’s departure from his post as prime minister of the United Kingdom, he was immediately given another assignment. He is charged with the responsibility of straightening out the bellicose situation between Israel and Palestine.
A quick glance back at the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict suggests that Blair has been assigned to one of the toughest tasks ever undertaken by any statesman in modern and ancient times.
The story begins with Noah who built an ark and preserved life on earth. He had three sons — Ham, Shem and Japheth. On one occasion, Noah got real drunk and was found by his son Ham. Ham called to his brothers to come see the state of the old man. They were embarrassed. They put on Noah’s clothes and laid him to sleep.
The next morning they told Noah the whole story. Noah swore a curse on Ham and his descendants. They would be eternally condemned to servitude under the command of the descendants of Shem and Japheth.
We don’t know what happened to the descendants of Japheth, but we do know what happened to the descendants of Shem — the Semites. Under the leadership of Joshua, the Semites assailed the walled city of Jericho. And, as the Negro spiritual says, “And the walls came tumbling down.”
From those days to the present, the conflict continued in the clash between Israel and Palestine.
After the Six Day War, Israel annexed territory on the theory that to the “victor belong the spoils.”
Blair’s task won’t be easy. Even if he persuades the governments of Israel and Palestine to work out a two-state solution, he will still have to deal with the armed terrorists of Gaza who wish to continue a war started thousands of years ago.
June 22, 2007, 6:38pm
Is an Embryo a Person?
By Gus Tyler
President Bush, contrary to popular impression, is not opposed to the use of stem cells in the treatment of patients. He is opposed to the use of embryonic stem cells. These are stem cells to be found in an embryo.
This is based on a belief that human life begins at conception. The embryo is a person. Obviously it is not a full-grown person, but a human being nevertheless. To use stem cells from an embryo is or should be illegal.
The crime is not a piece of trivia. If life begins at conception, the doctor who performs an abortion is a murderer.
Is the belief that life begins at conception founded in scientific evidence? The answer to that question is not easy to come by. There are doctors who perform abortions but refuse to do so after a given point of development. Obviously, the date varies depending on the doctor and, perhaps, on the condition of the woman. Those who hold that life begins with conception are generally resting on religious tenets.
For a many years, some states outlawed abortions. In the landmark case of Roe v Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court found these laws to be unconstitutional. In the light of all of the above, there is no reason why the use of embryonic stem cells should be illegal.
Individuals who do not wish to be treated with embryonic stem cells should have the unabridged right to refuse such treatment. But to outlaw the use of embryonic stem cells is to tear down the wall of separation between church and state.
June 18, 2007, 6:46pm
High Hope From High Court
By Gus Tyler
It isn’t often that the U.S. Supreme Court gets involved deeply in matters dealing with environmental pollution. But several weeks ago, it ruled that the federal government could regulate greenhouse gases.
This historic decision prompted California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to proclaim that he will sue the Environmental Protection Agency to give him the power to regulate automobile emissions in his state.
The court decision and Schwarzenegger’s speedy follow-up come none too soon. The world’s foremost environmental scientists have leaked a report that warns that what governments do about auto emissions in the next 20 to 30 years will determine whether the world can avoid the worst consequences of global pollution.
Whether or not speedy action takes place rests in good measure in the hands of Stephen Johnson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. He has, so far, not acted on Schwarzenegger’s request that was initiated in 2005. At that time, the EPA denied the request on the grounds that it lacked the authority to comply with the request.
But, the decision of the Supreme Court has cleared the way for action. In addition to California, there are 11 other states that have been awaiting clearance.
Once the ball gets rolling we, our children and grandchildren will be breathing cleaner air.
June 6, 2007, 10:28am
A Word From Jefferson
By Gus Tyler
One of the cardinal principles underlying the Constitution of the U.S. is the separation of church and state. We apparently need to be reminded of this fact at this moment when many loud voices are calling on the American electorate to judge candidates for the election of 2008 based on their religious beliefs.
This is not the first time that religious factors have been a force in American elections. When the Irish began to flow into the U.S. at the time of the potato famine in Ireland, there was a powerful anti-Irish movement in the U.S. led by Protestants who were convinced that the Irish immigration was part of a plot by the pope to turn the U.S. government over to the Catholic church.
When John Kennedy ran for president he made it clear that his religious affiliation would not be a factor in shaping public policy.
In the early years of the American nation one of the spokesmen for separation of church and state was Thomas Jefferson. In a letter to his nephew Peter Carr, he wrote: “Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God, because if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blind faith.”
In his notes on the state of Virginia, Jefferson wrote: “The legitimate power of government extend to such acts injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
May 18, 2007, 2:30pm
Coping With Illegal Immigration
By Gus Tyler
There are some 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. A bipartisan effort by the White House and key U.S. Senators has been working on a plan to cope with this circumstance. Their plan is simple. Instead of basing policy on reuniting families, the proposed new emphasis will be on providing a skilled and needed labor force for the U.S. economy.
A quick look into the past offers an insight into the changing attitudes of our “nation of immigrants” toward immigrants. In New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants to the U.S. On the base of the statue is a poem by Emma Lazarus that welcomes the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Despite this noble sentiment, restrictions on immigration are an unbroken part of the nation’s history. One of the earliest was a restriction on Chinese immigration on the West Coast. The reason was the negative impact of cheap “coolie labor” on native labor.
One of the most ambitious plans to deal with immigration was a clever design to keep immigration from changing the character of the nation. A quota system was set up allowing the number of immigrants to be in accord with the percentage of residents from that ethnic group in the U.S.
These and other ambitious plans, however, have not worked. The reason is clear from today’s headlines. There are 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S. Our borders are porous. Illegal immigrants have found their way into the U.S. by land, by water, by air.
Although ours is a “nation of immigrants,” newcomers have been smeared with derogatory names. The Italians were “wops” — With Out Papers.” The Jews were “kikes” or “sheenies.” The Hungarians were “honkies,” the Irish “micks.” Spaniards were “spics.”
In time, in America’s “melting pot” and its high percentage of ethnic intermarriage, they became Americans.
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