By Steve Clawson on 10/3/2009 7:16 AM

I ask the question facetiously of course but almost wonder if there isn't a grain of truth to it, at least by some on the right-wing fringe. It's based on the reaction to Chicago's failed bid to win the 2016 Olympics.

Some big-name conservatives took delight with Chicago being knocked out in the first round. They were thrilled President Obama's personal pitch had fallen short in Copenhagen.

The Drudge Report blared the headline "The Ego Has Landed." The National Review Online called it an "embarrassment for Obama." Glenn Beck called the news "so sweeeeet" and Rush Limbaugh declared it "the worst day of his presidency." To top it all off, a gathering of the conservative group Americans For Prosperity applauded Chicago's loss.

Really folks? Cheering because an American city didn't win? Rush, are you serious or are you back taking drugs again? I'm sure when President Obama calls th ... Read More »

By Steve Clawson on 9/10/2009 6:17 AM

A Defining Moment:

Mark it down. September 9, 2009 will turn out be a defining day in the presidency of Barack Obama. The man known for his excellent oratory skills delivered one of the finest speeches ever by an American president.

During his address to a joint session of Congress on health care reform, President Obama laid out a clear vision of his plan. He was strong and decisive.

After a hot August filled with partisan rhetoric and distortions, an adult finally stood up and showed leadership, common sense and strong convictions. When the history is written, this will be the night Obama won the health care debate.

Ironically, the battle has been sandwiched between two unscripted events in the past few weeks.

President Obama held a prime time news conference in late July that was designed to move health care forward as Congress prepared to adjourn for the Augus ... Read More »

By Steve Clawson on 9/7/2009 9:45 PM

By Steve Clawson on 8/11/2009 9:33 PM

By Steve Clawson on 7/25/2009 9:47 AM

A Rare Misstep For Obama

At his prime time news conference this week, President Barack Obama was asked about the arrest of Louis Gates in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Obama stated police had "acted stupidly." It's a comment he now regrets as he should. But give him credit for owning up to the mistake and taking steps to rectify the situation quickly.
It was a rare misstep for Obama because he's not known for making this kind of a mistake. It's even worse because it deflected attention from the real purpose of his news conference--health care reform.

Let's hope the incident in Cambridge is a "teachable moment." Racial profiling is a serious issue whether it occurred in this case or not.

A couple of quick points on the Gates arrest. It's interesting to note the charges were quickly dropped which indicates he never should have been arrested in the first place. A ... Read More »

By Steve Clawson on 7/5/2009 7:48 AM

     As the United States of America celebrates its 233rd birthday, I mark a personal anniversary. It was 20 years ago I left the only life I had ever known in Flint, Michigan.

    I had just recently been fired from my radio job. It was actually a group firing as the new owner of the station sent everyone packing when he took over, but hey that’s the nature of the business. It’s been said you haven’t been in broadcasting unless you’ve been fired. This meant I had finally made it.

     Even as a kid, I had always wanted to move west, specifically Los Angeles, so I started laying the groundwork to leave. On the morning of July 4th, 1989, my Pontiac Grand Am was loaded with as many personal possessions as I could pack in it and I began driving west. I had about a thousand dollars to my name and I didn’t know anyone, but I was determined to make it wo ... Read More »

By Steve Clawson on 5/21/2009 9:10 AM

Giving Credit Where Credit's Due

Congress this week passed a credit card reform bill which was overwhelmingly approved by both the House and Senate. It's always interesting to look at these high profile pieces of legislation to see how your elected officials voted on them. Among Arizona's lawmakers, Senator Jon Kyl and Congressman Trent Franks, Jeff Flake and John Shadegg all voted against the bill. Everyone else from Arizona including Senator John McCain voted for it.

It's a pretty simple piece of legislation designed to reign in the credit card industry. It actually didn't go far enough, but it's a start. Makes you wonder why Kyl, Franks, Flake and Shadegg all decided to side with the credit card industry while telling the Arizona voters they're elected to protect to basically go to hell. Apparently they approve of the shady practices of the industry. Keep that in mind the next time they're up for reelection. You n ... Read More »

By Steve Clawson on 4/27/2009 5:53 AM

Tortured Logic

The United States has engaged in torture. That's the only conclusion that can be drawn from documents detailing the so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques" of terror detainees. The information paints a dark and disturbing chapter in American history.

As Americans we should be setting the standard for the rest of the world. With these sad and disturbing revelations, we are doing the very things we have decried and fought against throughout our history.

The torture techniques are a violation of the Geneva convention. If law enforcement tried to use waterboarding and the like on criminal suspects, courts would deem it cruel and unusual punishment.

President Obama needs to stop trying to straddle the fence on this issue and authorize a full scale investigation. While I understand why he wants to look forward, to ignore this ugly chapte ... Read More »

By Steve Clawson on 4/10/2009 7:46 AM

As the week winds down, here are a few random thoughts on items making headlines.

You gotta love this latest item from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. During a meeting with Florida Republicans, he urged the Sunshine State GOP to send delegates who "look like Florida" to the next Republican convention. His quote was "Could you help a brother out? No more national conventions with 36 people of color in the room." At least he recognizes the GOP has an image problem. Next I expect him to say "And no more running an old white guy for President anymore."

I get a chuckle out of the right wing noise machine going after President Obama for being open to dialogue with countries like Cuba and Iran. Of course they're right. Just think what would happened if Richard Nixon had met Chairman Mao Tse-Tung in China in 1972. Or even worse what would have happened if Ronald Reagan sat down with Mikhail Gorbachev ... Read More »

By Steve Clawson on 4/2/2009 10:31 PM

Here are two words of advice for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich who was indicted this week on 19 counts. Go away!

Hey Arizona--How's it feel to be turned down by Tim Floyd? You're the U of A. Lute Olsen built it into one the premier basketball schools in the country over the last quarter century. The 'Zona job is one of the really good ones in college b-ball. You should easily be able to get a top coach. And make sure you do. It would be a shame to the see the program slide into mediocrity. Sorry Sun Devil fans, but a strong U of A program is good for college basketball.

It's amazing how quickly my interest in the NCAA basketball tournament dies after my March Madness brackets go up in flames. I'm now officially ready for football to start again.

Don't know if you've been following the soap opera in Denver but the messy divorce between the Broncos and Jay Cutler is officially over. With the trade to Chicago, ... Read More »