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Reviewing conventional wisdom Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 By David J. Sanders I've called it gauging the general consensus or reviewing conventional wisdom. Whatever it's called, it's time to check up on a handful of political (and non-political) players. Let's start at the top. George W. Bush: I'm scratching my head over the president's lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling. Why didn't he do this earlier - like six years ago? Since Bush has been in the White House, he has argued nonstop for the country's need to develop its domestic petroleum reserves, yet until Monday he hadn't applied any significant pressure on the Congress. Barack Obama: Sure he isn't thrilled with The New Yorker's satirical cover, which sports a caricature of him dressed like a mullah and Mrs. Obama sporting revolutionary garb - complete with afro, combat boots and AK-47. That said it's been a pretty good week for the Illinois senator. A number of polls taken in potential swing states show him leading Republican John McCain. His friends in the press have characterized his recent penchant for flip-flopping on everything from taxes to Iraq as nuance and sophistication. And, he had the pleasure of distancing himself from Jesse Jackson, something previous Democratic presidential candidates would liked to have done, but couldn't. If only every week could be as good. John McCain: National polls show the race is close, but reality bites. The Republican nominee will have only around $87 million to spend in the general election, compared to Obama's unlimited supply of campaign cash, which could total as much as $400 to $500 million. His tireless efforts to limit campaign cash over the years juxtaposed against his current situation brings new meaning to the phrases "Be careful what you wish for," and "You get what you deserve." Hillary Clinton: She is trying to hang onto her presidential campaign cash. She'd raised a lot of money in anticipation for her once-inevitable fall presidential campaign. Her campaign claims she wants to roll the money into her 2012 U.S. Senate account. In related news, apparently many of her supporters want a floor vote at the Democratic Convention. This could all get interesting in short order. Bill Clinton: He's still bitter. Gov. Mike Beebe: I keep waiting to read news reports about how he parts the Arkansas River and heals the sick. On a different note, apparently his economic development crew likes low-paying windmill and pipe manufacturing jobs, but couldn't care less about high-paying auto manufacturing jobs. FYI, Alabama is about to get its forth automotive super project and yet, Arkansas is still the only southern state not to have an auto plant. A regional economic development official with close ties to Beebe explained to me in an e-mail that automotive is pass?. I wonder how long Beebe will be able to milk the Hewlett-Packard project. State university presidents with deferred compensation plans: Thanks to all the recent controversy surrounding Lu Hardin's extra $300,000, which is over and above his normal salary and benefits, such plans, even those that pass legal muster, have a lot of people wondering why these state employees should be receiving such a payout. Matt Jones: It's no secret that he's not the brightest light bulb in the box. Apparently the former Razorback quarterback and soon-to-be former Jacksonville Jaguar wide receiver's lack of intellectual candlepower is matched only by his apparent lack of character and judgment. The only thing more disgusting than the hypocrisy of a one-time Christian role model, turned blow-snortin' bad boy, is the throng of apologists who, in an attempt to lessen the seriousness of his offense, are willing to chalk up his cocaine-related arrest to youthful indiscretion. Bobby Petrino: It's good to have a drama-less Razorback football head coach. His all-business approach is alright with me. ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock and is a host of the Arkansas Education Television Network's "Unconventional Wisdom." His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
