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If you are unfamiliar with the Sunshine Law and why it's important, this video PSA from the Radio and Television News Directors Association will explain. There's also a rado version (Download PSA mp3). Sunshine Week is March 16-22.
It's true. Sometimes you just get lucky ... or, at the very least, you get a story handed to you.
Missourinet broke the story about former Missouri Tigers and Detroit Lions running back Brock Olivo thinking about running for the 9th District Congressional seat being vacated by Congressman Kenny Hulshof, who is running for Governor.
I received a call from "a reliable source" ... (Geez, I hate that reference, but I think it's such fun to use it, so I do) ... Anyway, I got a call and was told the story was mine. I immediately told my "reliable source" ... (There I go again) ... to get lost. No, seriously, I asked the person when and where and we set up an interview with Brock.
There are several places in which good and interesting stories are found. Many times you work hard for stories and you come up empty. Other times, something comes your way rather easily. Such is the importance of being friendly with people who might reward you with a tip. And when you're friendly and nice to people ... not expecting anything in return ... that's probably the best kind of tip you can get.
- Steve Walsh
Political junkie that I am, I rushed out of the Learfield building Tuesday afternoon and got home in time to watch the first returns from the so-called Potomac Primaries held in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (my old stomping grounds.)
I got home and prepared to do the 32-33-34 Cha-Cha-Cha - as those are the channel positions on my cable system for CNN-32, Fox News-33, and MSNBC-34. But I quickly limited my dance card to the 32-33 Cha-Cha when I saw that Keith Olbermann was masquerading as a journalist on MSNBC's election coverage. I have no problem with Olbermann as a commentator or pundit - but he is not a journalist and should not be engaged in activities best left to objective journalists - or at least those who give the pretense of being objective.
Olbermann is a left wing bomb thrower. He even writes a piece for the Daily Kos. Having him co-anchor election coverage would be the equivalent of right wing bomb thrower Ann Coulter co-anchoring. Hearing from these extremists can be entertaining during election coverage, but let us not pretend that either of these individuals is a journalist.
Now to CNN. It was another good night for America's first all news network. But it could have been great if not for the sickening self-promotion from Wolf Blitzer, Jack Cafferty, and even Lou Dobbs. Wolf would repeatedly remind viewers they were tuned to "The Best Political Team on TV." He would then solicit similar sentiments from other CNN anchors and personalities ... including Lou Dobbs. At one point, the two got into a conversation about how people were watching "The Best Political Team on TV." It was embarrassing. Fortunately, CNN actually found time to provide viewers with some of the returns. Here's an idea, how about CNN stops talking about providing us with the best political coverage and starts providing us with the best political coverage. Just a thought.
Let us not forget John King with his new device that allows him to focus on a state, then zoom in or out to pinpoint a particular region of the state. Either this wonderful invention was not working properly or John was not given adequate time to train on it. At times it appeared as though he was someone who had never used a computer without a mouse ... trying to use a computer without a mouse. If it weren't for the laughter brought about by this silly toy I would just as soon have watched the returns without the gadget.
Finally, there was Fox News. The presentation was great ... as were the anchors. But sometimes a fine product can become a victim of TMI - too much information. Megyn Kelly - the lovely Megyn Kelly - had the breakdown on voting by gender, race, income, urban versus rural, and so on. But Fox went a little overboard when Megyn - the lovely Megyn - started breaking down the returns to include such details as voting by those who had played Little League Baseball, voting by people who regularly eat five fruits and vegetables a day, and voting by those who visit the Drudge Report at least twice a day. Just kidding about the last three ... but I want to hammer home the point there were too many breakdowns ... and I wanted another opportunity to say the lovely Megyn.
One more thing I could have done without on Fox - Greta Van Susteren. She took over the anchoring duties as we got late into the evening. Not that she didn't do a good job, but it's hard for me to watch Greta without thinking to myself, "Shouldn't she be flying off to Aruba to do in depth coverage of the latest rumor on the Natalie Holloway non-story?" Geez ... Before Natalie Holloway disappeared I had no idea there were loads of rich American parents who helped their kids celebrate high school graduation by sending the teenagers to Aruba where they could legally drink. When I graduated from high school my girlfriend and I celebrated by going off into a wooded area ... where we came away with poison ivy. I'll bet Greta wouldn't do a story about that kind of thing happening.
Any thoughts on Missourinet coverage? Do you think we could do a better job in some areas? Let me know.
- Steve Walsh
I hate holidays! Well ... I don't hate the "real" holidays. You know what I mean by the "real" holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Opening Day at Busch or the K. My problem is with holidays that shut down state offices when everyone else in the world is working. Today is one such day - Lincoln's Birthday. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against the Great Emancipator - one of America's greatest presidents, if not the greatest. But the federal government has rolled his birthday, along with that of George Washington, into a holiday known as Presidents Day, which will be marked throughout the country next Monday. Is there really any reason for Missouri to be different? I'm thinking the one holiday observed by the whole country is sufficient. And if giving state workers this holiday has become somewhat of an expectation ... how about making it a "floating holiday" which can be taken by some state workers on one day and others later in the week or on some day in the future? This solves the need to provide state employees with a day off without shutting down government services. We live in the 21st century, a century in which America and the world are moving in the direction of the 24 hour society. Shutting down state government on a day when we have commerce and industry conducting business doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. - Steve Walsh
Sitting at my desk back in Jefferson City I have the chance to reflect on this past weekend's Republican Lincoln Days activities in Springfield. To say news was made this weekend would be an understatement. After all, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder withdrew from the race for Governor - and Friday's surprise announcement was hard to top.
What was equally important, I think, was the announcement that was not made. I attended the weekend event with hopes of gauging GOP opinion on John McCain's all but certain clinch on the Republican presidential nomination. Granted, the evidence is anecdotal, but if reaction to the returns from Saturday's primaries and caucuses are any indication of how Missouri Republicans feel about the maverick from Arizona, said Maverick has some fences to mend.
While people were enjoying themselves with tasty food and beverages during Saturday's socializing in the hospitality suites, folks were also paying attention to the TVs (tuned to Fox, of course) in each suite to follow the returns. Each time the numbers were updated and Mike Huckabee either gained ground on or moved further ahead of McCain, I saw smiles coming across the faces of some of the attendees.
I asked a number of these people, in a social "not for attribution" kind of way, how they feel about the prospects of John McCain at the top of the ticket in November. Some said they expect they'll vote for whomever wins the nomination. Others held back, saying they want to see who McCain chooses as his running mate ... and went so far as to suggest it had better be someone with conservative credentials.
Again ... it's only anecdotal ... but the sense I got from Missouri Republicans this weekend is that they don't really mind McCain being a maverick ... but they're pretty upset with a guy thinking that being a maverick means it's okay to poke members of your own team in their eyes with a stick.
- Steve Walsh
Who is that man wearing the long coat ... the guy rolling video at Republican political events? His name is Vinay Vaz, who has been hired by the Democratic Party to "track" Republicans and to shoot video at GOP events.
I've seen Vaz at a number of news conferences at the Capitol in Jefferson City, and wanted to talk to him, but kind of lost "track" of him before I had a chance to do so. So, one of my missions on Lincoln Days weekend in Springfield was to "track" the "tracker." It didn't take long.
I ran into him Friday afternoon in the hotel in which the weekend Republican love fest was being held, introduced myself, and asked if I could speak with him. His immediate response was, "I'm not authorized to speak to the media." Hmmm. Okay. So much for my interview idea ... a story I think might have been fun. He suggested I contact the Democratic Party for any information.
I just might call Jack Cardetti, the Missouri Democratic Party's communications director, but there's no fun in that. Don't get me wrong ... I consider Jack a friend and enjoy spending time with him. But Jack doesn't stand in the corner at Republican events, taping people who are speaking ... as well as those coming and going.
It would be great to know what happens to all the video that is gathered at these events. A conservative estimate would be that dozens of hours are collected each week - probably at Lincoln Days, alone. Does somebody sit through it all? Do people actually enjoy watching and listening to all these speeches (some of them less than exciting)? Are they paid well to be ... voyeurs?
Maybe I will call Jack. Meanwhile, if you're a Republican attending a political speech or other event ... keep an eye out for Vinay Vaz ... He's keeping an eye out for you!.
- Steve Walsh
One of the best things about political lovefests like the current Missouri Republican Party Lincoln Days weekend in Springfield is the non-political stuff. Well, in a way it's political, but it has a tendency to go beyond the bareknuckel politicking. A good example of a non-political "happening" this weekend is the attempt by campaigns to outshine opponents - not through campaigning - but through giveaways and novelty items.
This year's Lincoln Days weekend giveaways have featured political badges, buttons, and stickers ... and stress balls ... and coffee mugs ... and my personal favorite - a battle of a sweet kind involving the gubernatorial campaigns of State Treasurer Sarah Steelman and Congressman Kenny Hulshof. Sarah's goodies are homemade cookies with a sugary political message on top ... Kenny has a calorie free chocolate bar - the calories are free along with the chocolate ... which is, of course, free.
Which one wins? We show ... you decide!
- Steve Walsh
There's an old saying in radio, television, newspapers, alternative media ... you name it! The saying is, "The only thing worse than being talked about ... is not being talked about." So true!
I had a chance to interview Mississippi Governor and former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour prior to the Lincoln Days banquet ... asking him what he thought about being on the media's short list of possible Vice Presidential candidates for Senator John McCain, who is on his way to winning the Republican Presidential nomination. He basically told me he is concerned with running the state of Mississippi, but would certainly consider any such offer an honor.
A short time later during the dinner speech, most other members of the media had left, but I kept my recorder running in case something important was said ... and Barbour alluded to how the media, especially the electronic media, watch the clocks on their recorders to make sure they are keeping track of when - during a speech - something important is said. And I just had to play along ...
Gosh these things are fun!
- Steve Walsh
Well ... Lincoln Days is in full swing ... and we had what we expect to be the big news of the weekend in the first few hours. Friday night's dinner featured speeches from Missouri Republican Party Chairman Doug Russell, Senator Kit Bond, Governor Matt Blunt, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, and the star of the evening, Mississippi Governor and former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour.
The speech by the Governor of the Magnolia State was supposed to be the big event of the night, but things don't always go as they are planned. Peter Kinder stunned the crowd with his announcement that he will withdraw from his race for the Governor's office and will, instead, run for reelection as Lieutenant Governor. It's a "for the good of the party" type thing. Chatting with the folks afterward during the hospitality portion of the evening, there were quite a few stunned people as well as a few people (those from the Steelman and Hulshof campaigns) who were happy to see Kinder pull out.
Former State Representative Jack Jackson, who has announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor, was surprised by the announcement. In his words, "I didn't have a clue." Jackson says at this stage he is staying in the race. He says he will not make any decision this weekend, but for now he is in.
And so ... we are down to two ...and the weekend's not over yet.
- Steve Walsh
Today marks the start of the annual Missouri Republican love fest known as Lincoln Days. Lincoln Days weekends are held, on a rotating basis, in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield. This year's event, in Springfield, begins today and runs through Sunday. And it should be a lot of fun.
For those of us in the news business, it's usually a great chance to catch so many of the party members in one place and to collect lots of interviews. And there is always a special guest or two. Last year, in St. Louis, it was then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The year before, in Kansas City, it was then-Senator Bill Frist who was thought to be preparing for a run for the White House. Vice President Dick Cheney appeared at a Lincoln Days dinner in St. Louis a few years back. It's a big event and some of the big names in politics show up. This year's list of guests includes former U.S. Attorney General (and former Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator) John Ashcroft. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, the former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, will be in Springfield as well. I'm watching the e-mail to see if any other "stars" are scheduled to shine.
So much for the politics ... a big part of Lincoln Days has to do with the suites set up by various candidates or organizations (like the Young Republicans). In these suites you'll find plenty to eat ... and drink ... and drink ... and drink a little more. And there's a lot of great chit-chat to be had ... much of it off the record. That's the really fun part of this job because when alcohol consumption goes up ... tongues tend to wag a little more than they might otherwise.
Oh ... one other thing ... in the wake of Governor Blunt's decision not to run for a second term, we already have three Republicans running for that seat (Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, and Congressman Kenny Hulshof) ... and numerous others looking to fill the vacancies created by those candidacies. For political junkies it really doesn't get much better.
By the way ... I will be in Springfield for Lincoln Days ... taking notes and sharing. Stay tuned!
- Steve Walsh
