Bothers me that some who ignore history are repeating dogmatic mistakes of the past. History tells us before Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican President, he had campaigned for other offices as a member of the Whig party. Remembering when our political history needed revisiting. Became apparent in the late 1970s when a University of Texas sophomore challenged my historical knowledge. She and Associate Dean Elam had been conducting workshops encouraging integration of Black students
Category: Politics
Blame Game
‘Tis the season when the ‘blame games’ begin. Most of the votes have been counted. Time to put the blame on…. Turnout? Pass outs? Debate bouts? My close friend Alex and I–shipmates on our high school Sea Scout ship, high school debate team partners–started arguing politics in high school. When Christine and Alex eloped, they asked me to attend their small church wedding ceremony. Still, the political arguments continued through our years together: Dick Elam,
What Ben Said
It’s a Republic, if you can keep it. That’s what historians–and a musical drama 1776–said Benjamin Franklin answered. The question to Ben was “What did we get from the Constitutional Convention?” A Republic concept calls for a Democratic vote–only one vote per citizen–to elect someone to represent your neck-of-the-woods and help make those ‘there-oughta-be-a-law’ proposals. The idea was to prevent rule by an agitated mob. By all means, let’s keep Democracy. Elect our representatives. Charge
Right to Say It
Whatever happened to “I do not agree with what you say, but I will fight for your right to say it?” Not very ‘sociable’ media if you take down what your Facebook or Twitter friend said because you do not agree. Not talking about removing profanity, or libel (laws against publication of ‘defamation’ that I have noted and studied since age 19) or character assassination. Or verified (that varies sometimes) falsehoods. Just talking about censoring
Ghost Writer
At age 92, time to confess one of my sins.—anonymous writing of political speeches. Not only have I written speeches for candidates to deliver at a political rally, but I have coached university students how to write words for others to speak as their own. My first 1968 class filled quickly with political animals majoring in journalism, advertising, public relations, speech and ‘government.’ In Austin they admit it’s more about politics than science. Joe Ethos and Tom
You Stole His Vote
You stole Jack’s Son’s vote. Just heard about the theft at the birthday party for relatives. My Son-in-law’s Son told me about the theft. He went to his polling place, presented his identification, and was told: “You have already voted.” He hadn’t. “Your vote is already in the computer.” Father of three, office worker, home owner was denied the right—his heritage—-the right to vote. Don’t know how his ballot was illegally cast. Or for
Snow Job
Woke up this February First morning and saw more snow atop Northern Indiana ground. Looked out my bedroom window and saw a blue jay eat at the bird feeder. Watched a squirrel below grub for seeds scattered on the snow. Read page 46 of her book entitled Season’s Echoes. My Hoosier Lady Louise long ago penned a poem that she entitled “Snapshot, black and white.” She began with Background prop winter white groups of gray
Press in Politics
I graduated from college, reported at a newspaper, worked in oilfield supply, and then managed a television station. After working for free in politics, in 1967 I went back to my alma mater to earn a Masters degree. I worked as a teaching assistant. The journalism chairman asked me to ‘assist’ his new course. And when I suggested some classroom projects, Norris Davis decided I should teach the course in Political Campaign Communications. My students designed
Vote Paper Ballots
Iowa Democrats now notorious for their failed Iowa caucus app, a computer reporting application. Their fiasco caught the attention of this old political reporter, candidate speechwriter, and political campaign communications professor. Even read about a professor in Austin who tweeted that “paper ballots only way to hold an election.” Hah. She may not know how paper ballots have been manipulated in Texas Democrat primaries. When Lyndon Johnson defeated Governor (Coke) Stevenson in a Senatorial runoff election,
