Big Five: Scrap Public Financing for Presidential Campaigns?
A roundup of opinions in today's Los Angles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and USA Today:
Public Financing for Presidential Campaigns: The WSJ argues that the public financing system for presidential campaigns doesn't deserve to be reformed because it has "made candidates even more reliant on organized special interests" and has reduced "political competition by favoring the rich and famous"... the LAT calls the system "unsustainable," but argues that if lawmakers do want to reform it, they should aim for the 2016 campaign.
Countering Genocide: The NYT argues that while international law is "frustratingly inadequate" when used in an attempt to end genocides like Dafur, strengthening the law's reach and authority helps deter future genocides ... USA Today, noting that the world reacts too slowly in the face of genocide, suggests that the creation of a "rogues' gallery with international attention -- call it Genocide's Most Wanted -- might help force the hands of recalcitrant governments and hold accountable those responsible for mass murder."
Today's Editorials:
LAT ... points out that far too few of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's judicial appointments have been minorities -- not because the governor isn't trying to appoint them, but because the applicant pool is overwhelmingly white.
NYT ... notes that while New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer "has an impressive list of victories so far," he has not been able to "change the way things are done in Albany." The editors argue that Spitzer's reforms "were largely worked out the old-fashioned way -- in the back rooms of the State Capitol" ... applauds pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis's decision to introduce a cheap, easy-to-use pill to fight malaria in sub-Saharan Africa ... notes that some people who are riddled with debt are recording their expenditures on Web sites in hopes that their "online confessions will help them develop some self-restraint."
WaPo ... argues President Bush and congressional Republicans shouldn't oppose a "generally sensible" homeland security bill simply because it offers Transportation Security Administration employees the right to collectively bargain ... criticizes the Florida legislature for allowing the state-run insurance company to offer below-market insurance policies, which encourage development in areas that are more likely to be destroyed by Mother Nature ... applauds the Virginia legislature's decision to raise the amount of money court-appointed attorneys are allowed to collect, arguing that it will improve the quality of representation for poor defendants in serious criminal cases.
WSJ ... applauds the United Nation Development Program's decision to suspend operations in North Korea because the country isn't complying with U.N. requirements, and notes that American negotiators should copy the agency's tough negotiating style with Pyongyang ... criticizes the European Union antitrust office's threat to fine Microsoft up to $4 million because of the "prices the company wants to charge for licensing its technology."
USA Today ... urges lawmakers against banning the use of incandescent light bulbs, arguing that it is wiser to use the market to encourage people to buy environmentally friendly CFL bulbs.
Today's Columns:
LAT: Samantha Power argues that the best way to curb the carnage in Iraq is for the U.S. to announce its intention to leave the country and "use the intervening months to prioritize civilian protection by pursuing a bold set of measures combining political pressure, humanitarian relocation and judicial deterrence" ... Niall Ferguson argues that last week's stock market drop announced "China's entry into the global economy."
Plus ... Ken Layne on parking in Los Angeles ... Michael Newman on the Los Angeles Marathon's new route.
NYT: Paul Krugman argues that the growing scandal over conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center is becoming "another Hurricane Katrina," a "moment when the administration's misgovernment became obvious to everyone" ... Richard May explains why Afghani President Hamid Karzai should sign a bill granting amnesty to those who committed crimes during the country's civil war, noting that "almost all Afghans have blood on their hands."
Plus ... Bob Herbert on how the "role education plays in the life of black Americans is more dramatic than in the population as a whole."
WaPo: Jackson Diehl explains how a non-binding resolution recognizing a genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 "has the potential to explode U.S. relations with Turkey, sway the outcome of upcoming Turkish elections and spill over into several other strategic American interests, including Iraq and Iran" ... Sabastian Mallaby argues that the stock market fell for "no satisfying reason," and that the move lends evidence to the case that financial markets are not "efficient."
Plus ... Robert Novak on how Senator John Thune's (R-S.D.) attempt to secure a loan for DM&E Railroad, a company that used to pay Thune to lobby on its behalf, epitomizes the corruption that ails today's conservatives ... Craig Hooper on why the Navy's plan to destroy its retired warships hurts the military ... Leonard Rubenstein on the Department of Homeland Security's decision to contest "asylum requests by health workers whose lives are at risk for having provided assistance to wounded members of rebel groups."
WSJ: Reacting to reports that U.S. intelligence on North Korea's nuclear program may not be as accurate as previously believed, Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton criticizes security analysts who have changed their "confidence levels" in earlier intelligence, and argues that the new reports shouldn't convince anyone " to conclude that the 2002 intelligence conclusions were flawed or hyped" ... Mohammed Fadhil and Omar Fadhil report from Baghdad that early signs show the "surge" is working: "We feel safer about moving in the city now, and politicians who used to hide behind the walls of the Green Zone are venturing out. Watching Mr. Maliki walking on Palestine Street in central Baghdad gave a positive impression that the state, and not the gangs, owns the streets."
Plus ... Nicole Gelinas on why New York's subway doesn't work in the rain ... Charlie McCreevy on how regulation aimed at Wall Street hurts European businesses ... Armando Valladares on why the left should be ashamed of its record on Cuba.
USA Today: Rebutting the paper's editorial, Peter Navarro agues lawmakers should ban incandescent light bulbs, arguing that the move "would shrink our electric bills, clean our air, reduce Middle East oil dependence and help stop global warming."
Plus ... Henry Brinton on how faith and religion can help end violence.
On TV: On Sunday's political talk shows ... Democrats promised to bolster medical services at Walter Reed Army Medical Center ... Senator John Murtha (D-Pa.) confirmed Democrats' plans to require that all troops sent to Iraq are fully trained and equipped, a move Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called an attempt "to stop the surge" ... Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson soothed investors' fears about the economy, calling it "healthy" and "strong" ... Representative Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) explained his dueling loyalties toward Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
By Rob Anderson |
March 5, 2007; 6:50 AM ET
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Posted by: Barry Cranston | March 5, 2007 03:12 PM
John Bolton's WSJ article about U.S. intelligence on the North Korean uranium enrichment program is a good one that anyone serious about this issue should definitely read before assuming that just because we had some bad intelligence before the war in Iraq that therefore ALL American intelligence is bad. It is just as harmful to UNDERRATE as to OVERRATE intelligence on the existence of a dangerous nuclear program. EITHER mistake will come back to bite you. We must always guard against both and never assume because one was bad, all intelligence is bad. Not always so, especially in this case we need to be watchful. Did anyone notice the U.N. is pulling out of its North Korean aid programs? After the Cash for Kim stink the U.S. mission to the U.N. persisted in having checked out? When even the U.N. concludes North Korea is untrustworthy, we should really be watching our backs.
Posted by: | March 5, 2007 05:25 PM
With the Democrats empowering the unions to pressure employees to join, the unions in turn will continue to fund the Democrat Party. Unions have donated over $500 million to Democrats over the past two Administrations. So they don't need "formal" public financing, they are already taxing the union employees for their campaigns.
This is why we http://dont-vote-democrat.blogspot.com
Posted by: VA Patriot | March 7, 2007 09:29 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Listening to Robert Novak talk of John Thune's supposed unethical behavior is just a little over the top for me. I'll take Thune's moral compass over Novak's any day.