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I hope you enjoyed women’s week at The Recovering Politician. If there is a theme for next weeks, it’s the United States Senate. All of our new contributing RPs introduced next week have either served in that august body, or ran a race that fell just short. I think you will enjoy their stories. Hope you enjoy a fun and dry(!) weekend. See you on Monday. The virtual economy of Facebook: how much is it worth? [CNN Money] The bidding war over James Bond. [Forbes] The battle of the sexes at Harvard Business School. [Fortune] Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s latest press conference: a non-event? [The Street] In the Pacific Northwest, buildings are starting to become “net-zero water”. This involves recycling rainwater and “grey water” as well as composting waste. [yahoo.com] For all the ladies out there, instead of buying clothes at the mall, make your next wardrobe from recyclables. [cnn.com] Those flowers that you plant in your garden may not be exactly what you think they are. Lowe’s and Home Depot are in an “arms race” for the best plants. [wsj.com] Birds that act as “tape-recorders” allow us to examine changes in lifestyle and habitat. [npr. org] Good news for the California Condor. [cnn.com] Those readers familiar with national politics might remember “Walkin’ Lawton” Chiles, the Florida legend who walked from the western most point of the Florida panhandle all the way to Key West during his 1970 bid for the U.S. Senate. The walk became his signature action, so he incorporated it through his many future statewide campaigns. In 2010, our own contributing RP Loranne Ausley took the gimmick another “step,” and ventured on a bike trek from Tallahasse to West Palm Beach to convince her opponent to finally engage in a civil debate. (Read about what Loranne is up to in her inaugural post.) Here is a report of her efforts: Today, astronaut Mark Kelly will launch into space. And his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, will be there to watch. [Time] The newest fitness trend coming to a gym near you: Anti-Gravity Yoga? [NY Times] Natural cures that may – or may not – work wonders: [CNN] The 2011 State of the Air Report reveals that even though air quality in U.S. cities is improving, we still have a long way to go. [Huffington Post] New Kids on the Block’s Donnie Wahlberg found a kidney for one of his fans using social media. Talk about a valid use for Twitter! [MSNBC] You know, dear readers, that the American Experiment has been in cultural decline for many, many years—especially if you’ve paid any attention to some on the lunatic fringe over the last few decades. Remember (way back in 1992) when Pat Robertson declared that a state Equal Rights Amendment for women in Iowa was part of a “socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians”? You’ve gotta love this guy. Capitalism seems to still be hanging around, but he really does have a problem with lesbians. [Salon] Michael Scott, you will be missed. Love, Michael Scott style. [The Proposal] And if you’ve never seen the original UK version of The Office with Ricky Gervais as the half-witted, self-absorbed git of a boss, check out Free Love on the Free Love Freeway. Absolutely barmy! [David’s Song] And, finally, by the time you read this the pomp, paparazzi and millions of pounds will be fizzled, flashed, and spent on this morning’s Royal Wedding between William and Kate. So what better time to examine Royal Divorces through the ages—starting with Henry VIII on none other than the Official Website of the British Monarchy. Enjoy! [Royal.gov.uk] The one question that recovering politicians always get is “do you miss it?” Many elected officials have politics in their blood, and they go through a sort of withdrawal when they’re not in office. Fortunately for my peace of mind, I don’t have it that bad, and I can honestly say that I don’t miss it. My business partner in my public affairs firm, Julie Raque Adams, ran for state representative last year and won. I love hearing her tales of all the hijinks in Frankfort, but that’s enough for me for now. I wouldn’t change a thing about the six years I served on Louisville’s Metro Council. I’m very proud that I had a hand in the fabulous KFC Yum! Center, the smoking ban, and the Fairness Ordinance. I am also grateful that I had the opportunity to advocate for an expansion of our library system. But I am so happy in the private sector that it’s hard to imagine jumping back in. So count me in the ranks of a very content recovered politician. Smoking Ban Senate President and gubernatorial candidate David Williams deserves kudos for coming out in favor of a statewide smoking ban. That’s not an easy position for a candidate to take in a Republican primary, and I really appreciate it. When I served on the Metro Council, we finally passed a comprehensive smoking ban in Louisville. One year, I served as the Chair of the committee studying the smoking ban, so I had the opportunity to meet with many bar and restaurant owners who were concerned about the economic impact of a ban. One local restaurateur I met with told me at a high volume that his business would be doomed if we passed a smoking ban. He got so hot with me at one point that he said, “If you were a man, I’d punch you in the face!” I said, “Well, it’s a good thing I’m a girl!” By the way, his restaurant business has expanded in the years since the smoking ban passed. Good for him. CPAC I am so glad that Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul ignored the silly boycott of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington in February. Several conservative groups skipped the conference because a gay Republican group, GOProud, was invited to co-sponsor the event. GOProud was co-founded by my friend and former Louisvillian, Jimmy LaSalvia. The groups that protested GOProud’s inclusion need to remember that politics is a game of addition, not subtraction. Julie Hits Frankfort When Senator Williams filed his papers to run for Governor, a reporter at the press conference got a good chuckle from a freshman State Representative. Right before the press conference began, the new legislator blurted out, “Oh my gosh, my dress is on backwards!” Now, in her defense, the front and the back looked exactly alike. Of course, it was Rep. Julie Raque Adams, the only woman I know who would say that out loud instead of just thinking it. Thanks to Courier-Journal reporter Joe Gerth for that scoop!! Friday we complete our week-long series of outstanding women contributing recovering politicians. You will hear from a former metropolitan city councilwoman who decided to seek greener pastures in the private sector. We will also have another Friday Video Flashback, this time featuring an incredible politicial — and physical — feat by one of out female contributing RPs. See you tomorrow! The Politics of Speed As we gear up for the Kentucky Derby on May 7th the Daily Racing Forum is offering a detailed breakdown and video look at the top 20 race contenders. [Daily Racing Forum] Check out the top 10 contenders for the Derby ranked by Steelers great Terry Bradshaw. [Courier-Journal] This week in, ESPN’s NASCAR power rankings, Jimmie Johnson again sits atop the list. [ESPN] All Left Turns has a good wrap-up of the 2011 season thus far. [All Left Turns] A couple of bros were able to convince a New York cab driver to drive them to… wait for it… Los Angeles. The cost? $5,000. [Autoblog]
There can be no argument that Latinos and Hispanic culture have had an enormous impact on North American culture—from history to literature to music, cuisine, pop culture, language, y más y más. A federal commission is currently preparing a report on whether to open a national Latino museum in the Smithsonian Institution to celebrate and quantify Latino contributions in the United States. Check out this interesting “Room for Debate” on whether such a museum is necesario or even economically feasible in this economy. What do you think? [Room for Debate] As The Recovering Politician observed last week, Arizona has experienced a significant backlash in response to its anti-immigration bills and laws—including boycotts and cancelled conventions and conferences, costing the state more than $140 million in revenue. Several other states are considering bills similar to Arizona’s SB 1070. Why hasn’t the experience in Arizona deterred other state legislatures? [POLITICO] President Obama released his birth certificate yesterday, ending or contributing to the whole “birther” debate—depending on how you look at it. The “debate” has not been framed much in terms of anti-immigration, but the elements are certainly there (and were there long before the ink on the president’s birth certificate was even dry). [Multi-American] Check out this wonderful, playful version of “Englishman in New York” featuring Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra live in Berlin. Cracking! [YouTube] |
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