IN 2006, Mayor Joe Riley of the other Charleston came to our city to share some success stories as one of the nation's most respected mayors, and to see our Charleston through the eyes of his experience. He told me that one of the best things he did early in his more than three decades as mayor was to do away with partisan elections. This advice came from an ardent Democrat in a staunchly Democratic city. He shared the old adage that there is no Republican or Democratic way to fix a pothole or pave a street. I add to that: or to collect garbage, respond to emergency calls, create better affordable housing for people in need, deal with aging infrastructure, and make a city more attractive for residents, visitors and employers.
Partisan politics has no place in local government. Consider the progress of the past 15 years in Oklahoma City versus Tulsa. Oklahoma City has a city manager form of government with nonpartisan elections for mayor and council. Tulsa operates with a strong mayor and elects its leaders by party. Oklahoma City has been in lockstep on urban progress with the passage of four sales tax measures and overwhelming support of a hotel tax increase. All that money has gone toward improving the local economy and quality of life and it has been met with little opposition. Look no further than the water. Tulsa was unable to pass a measure to develop its riverfront, missing a huge opportunity. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, built a river out of a ditch, creating several tourist attractions and an Olympic t...
James Madison is known as the father of the Constitution. Richard Brookhiser writes that he might be better styled as the midwife. Brookhiser says it is more fitting to call Madison the father of American partisan politics. His new biography of the country's fourth president provides the evidence to support this assertion.
During the primary election season there was much discussion regarding whether bipartisanship is a positive or negative attribute as it relates to the work of the United States Congress. When I speak to students, I often mention the vital role of partisanship within the legislative branch of government. Since the majority party controls the legislative agenda, partisanship equates to being in a position of legislative leadership. But some - including former Sen. Evan Bayh and Senator Olympia Snowe - blame the increase in partisanship in Congress for the U.S. Senate becoming "dysfunctional." The polarization of Congress has also spread to state capitals, with Indiana arguably starting to show some symptoms. While some believe this development is re-flective of the current moo...
Baha'i scriptures are quite clear about avoiding partisan politics and the reasons why. Baha'is are asked to be loyal citizens, to vote according to one's conscience, and to participate constructively in national dialogues. Yet any connection to partisan politics is prohibited. The "unity and harmony of the entire human race" is the pivot around which Baha'i teachings revolve. Baha'u'llah, the faith's founder, asked Baha'is to abstain from conflict and contention so characteristic of present-day politics. He taught that problem- solving should be achieved through consultation without divisions among the group who are consulting. Therefore, Baha'is avoid political debate and any affiliation with political parties.
I was thinking: If we were to audit the campaign contributions from one Roger Clemens, might we get a clearer picture as to why the Clemens-Brian McNamee hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday turned into a disgraceful display of partisan politics? At the very least, we might understand why our very own Christopher Shays was so moved to embarrass himself during the proceedings. If the hearing was a fact-finding mission with regard to the Mitchell Report, what was Shays hoping to accomplish by insisting, in bullying fashion, that Brian McNamee classify himself as a drug dealer?
If you hold that the singular objective of Congressional Republicans is to resort to whatever tactics they deem necessary to win back the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2012, raise your hand. If, on the other hand, you believe their motives to be altruistic and designed to improve the well-being of all Americans, not the least of which its middle class and the disadvantaged, please raise your IQ.
We don't usually quote statements made in LDS general conference. But last week, Elder Quentin L. Cook made comments directly applicable to politics today. Among other things, he said: "We need to be civil in our discourse and respectful in our interactions. ... It is appropriate to disagree, but it is not appropriate to be disagreeable. American politics have become uber-partisan, emotional, argumentative and downright nasty. We offer our thoughts:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ?
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