Category: Media Watch

* Are there any American movies released in the summer that aren’t sequels or derived from comic books and board games?

* New low in reality TV: The Lifetime Channel is working on “The Houston Family Chronicles.” Yes, that Houston.

* Does “60 Minutes” ever get a gripping, insider-goes-public interview with someone who doesn’t have a book ready for publication?

* “It probably is about time to judge the Euro Zone as a failed idea–and rarely is it wise to double down on failed ideas.”–Tyler Cowen, New York Times.

* “Plata o plomo.”–The Mexican drug cartel’s offer (“silver or lead”) to government officials– meaning a bribe or a bullet.

* “Special Operations forces exemplify the ethic of smart power–fast and flexible, constantly adapting, learning new languages and cultures, dedicated to forming partnerships where we can work together.”–Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Tampa as the keynote speaker at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference Gala Dinner.

* “Romney isn’t a racist, but some in his party clearly believe he can’t win without a heavy turnout of people who cannot stomach the notion of a black guy in the White House.”–Carl Hiaasen, Miami Herald.

* “It’s a tragic commentary to be able to say that young black males have a greater chance of reaching maturity on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan than on the streets of Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, Newark and other cities.”–Walter E. Williams, professor of economics at George Mason University.

* “‘Obamacare is socialized medicine,’ says the Republican Party. No, no–excuse me–socialized medicine is what we have now! People without insurance can go to an emergency ward or throw themselves on the mercy of a doctor, and the cost of all this uncompensated care is shared by all those who have insurance, raising your rates and mine. That is socialized medicine and that is what Obamacare ends.”–Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times.

* “We’ve only had 93 arrests for the entire week. I think the news is not what happened. It’s what didn’t happen.”–Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarty’s assessment of the NATO summit.

* “This is a forced march to digital.”–Newspaper consultant Ken Doctor after the announcement that the New Orleans Times-Picayune was cutting staff and scaling back to three times a week.

* “The (Catholic) Church would be wiser to take the path laid out for us by (President John) Kennedy than the path laid out for us by Santorum.”–Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

* “I can’t conceive of Jeb Bush being the vice president of anything. I see him being a presidential candidate, not this go-round but in the future.”–Incoming Florida Senate President Don Gaetz.

* “The housing numbers for the state of Florida continue to signal recovery.”–John Tucillo, Florida Realtors chief economist.

* “Now we have many more sizable businesses headquartered or operating in Florida. So more growth should be starting to happen internally here. … We will be less dependent on (move-in) growth itself.”–Mark Vitner, Wells Fargo senior economist.

* “The better the company does globally, the better the staffing payroll and stability and employee growth will be locally.”–Jabil Circuit Inc. CEO Tim Main.

* “I’ve got to salute him. He was playing politics, and the rest of us weren’t. We were playing by Marquis of Queensbury rules. He got what he wanted.”–University of North Florida President John Delaney on George LeMieux’s aggressive campaign to replace Mel Martinez in the U.S. Senate in 2009.

* “Maybe it’s time to stop and take a look at how the state assesses students.”–Pinellas County Schools Superintendent John Stewart.

* “It’s just my job to finish the job.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn on continuing work on the decades-long Riverwalk project.

* “He can drive up, give me a call and I will hook him up with a good Cuban sandwich. I know he can’t find them in Miami.–TPD Chief Jane Castor’s message for Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa.

* “Just how they decorated the locker room in all USA stuff and my jersey is hanging there … it gives me chills now just thinking about it, knowing that I was playing for Team USA.”–Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nate Thompson on playing for the U.S. at the recent World Hockey Championship.

* “Netanyahu forfeited September elections that would have given him four more years in power. He chose instead to form a national coalition that guarantees 18 months of stability–18 months during which, even if the world does not stop Iran, Israel will.”–Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post.

* “If the European Central Bank does not abandon its destructive obsession with austerity, Greece will have few options but to leave the euro zone.”–Arianna Huffington.

* “Women and independents want some reassurance that Republicans give a damn about someone other than Republican primary voters.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.

* “Over the last three decades, we have drifted from having a market economy to becoming a market society. A market economy is a tool–a valuable and effective tool–for organizing productive activity. But a ‘market society’ is a place where everything is up for sale. It is a way of life where market values govern every sphere of life.”–Michael Sandel, author of “What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets.”

* “Just because technology gives you the ability to do something, does that mean that you should? Not always.”–NBC Broadcasting Chairman Ted Harbert on the new DVRs that automatically skip commercials.

* “Wall Street executives who make $14 million are not risk managers. They are risk takers–big ones. … Safer banking means lower profits, which means smaller compensation packages. That is precisely what JPMorgan’s London traders were trying to avoid.”–Joe Nocera, New York Times.

* “A bipartisan consensus is congealing: Certain student borrowers–and eventually all student borrowers–should be entitled to loans at a subsidized 3.4 percent interest rate forever.”–George Will, Washington Post.

* “Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people.”–NCAAP President Benjamin Todd Jealous.

* “The (Catholic) church would be wiser to take the path laid out for us by (President John) Kennedy than the path laid out for us by Santorum.”–Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

* “Maybe it’s time to stop and take a look at how the state assesses students.”–Pinellas County Schools Superintendent John Stewart.

* “In my experience, the for-profit test scoring industry could produce results on demand. There was no statistic that couldn’t be doctored, no number that couldn’t be fudged, no figure that couldn’t be bent to our collective will.”–Todd Farley, author of “Making the Grades: My Misadventures in the Standardized Testing Industry.”

* “From what I was told before I moved over here and since I got here seeing it for myself, I’m like, wow, Hillsborough County really is the wild, wild west.”–New Chamberlain High School football coach D.J. Mayo on Hillsborough County’s reputation for sports-related, student transfers.

Interesting response by Mitt Romney to President Obama’s insinuation that Romney might not have authorized the successful raid on Osama bin Laden’s Pakistan compound. Romney’s retort: “Any thinking American would have ordered exactly the same thing.”

Oh?

Recall that Vice President Joe Biden was not alone among inner-circle thinkers in giving a candid “don’t go” opinion on the helicopter-raid option.

You often hear the term “debt to society.” As in, a convicted prisoner has paid his “debt to society” via his incarceration and now needs some societal “help” to adjust. Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts had a column on the subject recently.

Several points.

*People deserve a second chance.

*Society needs to help those who have served their sentences because it’s in society’s best interest to not enable likely recidivism by doing nothing.

*Paying a “debt to society” has innate limits. Nobody can unrape or unkill or untraumatize. Only so much criminal societal debt can be repaid.

* “He (President Vladimir Putin) sees himself as a historical figure already, a man who prevented the collapse of the country. The problem is, now he has to meet the real demands of people who are 30 years younger than him.”–Alexander Rahr, a Russia expert with the German Council on Foreign Relations.

* “Europe wouldn’t be in this fix if Greece still had its drachma, Spain its peseta, Ireland its punt, and so on, because Greece and Spain would have what they now lack: a quick way to restore cost-competitiveness and boost exports, namely devaluation.”–Paul Krugman, New York Times.

* “Tribalism, radicalism and socialism are the growth stocks of the new Europe.”–Patrick J. Buchanan, Creators Syndicate.

* “Every one of these awakening countries needs to make the transition from Saddam to Jefferson without getting stuck in Khomeini.”–Thomas Friedman, New York Times.

* “Over the decades, companies and other entities have implanted a growing number of special-interest deals into the tax and regulatory codes, making it harder for politically unconnected, new competitors, making the economy less dynamic.”–David Brooks, New York Times.

* “It just shows they can’t manage risk–and if JPMorgan can’t, no one can.”–Simon Johnson, former chief economist for the International Monetary Fund, after JPMorgan Chase had acknowledged a recent $2 billion loss by one of its trading groups.

* “From both the right and the left, there has been a continuing, dramatic cognitive disconnect between Mr. Obama’s record and the public perception of his leadership: despite his demonstrated willingness to use force, neither side regards him as the warrior president he is.”–Peter Bergen, director of the New America Foundation of author of “Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden–From 9/11 to Abbottabad.”

* “What principle or purpose unites Obama’s initial campaign with his current re-election effort? There is little obvious continuity–apart from one, unchanging commitment. The cause that has outlasted hope and change is Obama himself.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.

* “Our political system is losing its ability to even explore alternatives.”–Outgoing U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana.

* “You don’t become a teacher to make a world of  money. You become a teacher to make a world of difference.”–Charles Blow, New York Times.

* “I readily admit it. I didn’t think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families.”–Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee.

* “If you cross-tabulate poll results on homosexuality going back several decades, you’ll see a sweeping realignment driven by two underlying factors: a rising belief that homosexuality is innate and increasing awareness that some of our friends, neighbors and relatives are gay.”–William Saletan, Slate.

* “To my understanding, he is still deciding what his position on immigration is. … I misspoke, Romney’s position on immigration is clear.”–Bettina Inclan, RNC Hispanic outreach director.

* “While President Obama has played politics on this issue, the Republican Party and our presumptive nominee Mitt Romney have been clear. We support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and would oppose any attempts to change that.”–RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.

* “The people who wouldn’t vote for him (President Obama) because of this weren’t voting for him to begin with.”–Nadine Smith, head of the gay rights group Equality Florida.

* “Even as Republicans try to wrestle women into chastity belts, the Vatican is trying to muzzle American nuns.”–Maureen Dowd, New York Times.

* “The language of music is universal.”–Enrique Perez Mesa, director of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, who conducted The Florida Orchestra in three Tampa Bay concerts last weekend.

* “Unfortunately, the current political climate is one in which winning at any cost is considered success even if the outcome is destructive, divisive or wasteful. A true leader doesn’t force their will on others but rather works with others collaboratively to reach a shared outcome or goal.”–Sen. Paula Dockery in her commencement address to the last graduating class of USF Polytechnic.

* “Most observers, I believe, would agree that we have accomplished a great deal during my year of service here.”–Steve MacNamara, Gov. Rick Scott’s chief of staff, in announcing his resignation.

* Moonstruck. For once the adjective “awesome” wasn’t misapplied to the mundane (“Those were some awesome turnips.” “Your boxers are, like, awesome.” Etc.) A network (NBC) news item on the recent “supermoon” perigee included some telescopic voyeurs expressing gut reactions. “Awesome,” indeed.

* Could we please have a moratorium on all local media sorts who insist on referencing Ed Turancik as the erstwhile “Commissioner Choo-Choo.” It’s trite. It’s sophomoric. It’s not fair to Turancik, who’s still, alas, ahead of his time on transportation around here.

* It may go nowhere, but why not at least consider the long-shot possibility of Hillsborough and Pinellas truly working outside the enlightened-regional-self-interest box when it comes to the Port of Tampa and a facility to house the Tampa Bay Rays? Within a few years, the Port will be unable to accommodate the largest cruise ships, which won’t fit through the 182.5 feet available under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. A possible cruise port could conceivably be based near Fort DeSoto Park–and Pinellas visitor amenities. Reciprocity could involve the Rays, who would arguably draw better in this asymmetrical market with a modern facility in the hub of the Tampa Bay region–which is Tampa.

“Pinellas and Hillsborough could work together to grow two industries, baseball and cruise ships, that appear to be stymied today,” points out Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist.

Surprisingly, the Tampa Bay Times, after editorially acknowledging the merits of regional creativity, then waxed all silly and smart ass on a swap scenario. Maybe St. Pete could trade the Honda Grand Prix for Tampa’s monster truck events? Or U.S. 19 for Dale Mabry Highway? Or the Salvador Dali Museum for the Gasparilla Parade. Or an unwanted pier for some food trucks?

And as long we’re taking the low regional road, why not swap the Times for the Tampa Tribune? Or is that not funny enough?

*”My voice will always be raised in support of Christian-Jewish ties and against the anti-Semitism that all sensible people fear and detest. But this cannot be an excuse for doing nothing and for standing aside as successive Israeli governments colonize the West Bank and advance racist laws.”–Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, and winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize.

* “It’s not for Germany to decide for the rest of Europe.”–Socialist Francois Hollande, France’s newly elected president.

* “If Cuba ends the restrictions on its own citizens’ travel, that means the only travel restrictions that would remain in place would be those the United States imposes on its citizens.”–Philip Peters, the Lexington Institute.

* “I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties.”–Vice President Joe Biden.

* “CNN appears committed to a business model that doesn’t work.”–Robert Seidman, editor of TV by the Numbers, a ratings website.

* “Satire is thriving right now, probably more so than at any time in our culture’s history. Sometimes the smartest political analysis of the day is being done by comedians.”–Robert Thompson, director of the Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.

* “In an online world, colleges have to think hard about how they are going to take communication, which comes over the Web, and turn it into learning, which is a complex social and emotional process.”–David Brooks, New York Times.

* “What I’ve observed in a lot of cases is AP (Advanced Placement) programs being helicopter-dropped in with the hope that the high standards themselves would generate results.”–Kristin Klopfenstein, University of Northern Colorado.

* “In 2013, we are presented with an unprecedented opportunity to commemorate and recognize Florida’s 500 anniversary, an anniversary no other U.S. state can claim.”–Ken Detzner, Florida secretary of state.

* “I truly believe Jeb wants to be VP as much as anybody wants to be chosen to compete in The Hunger Games.”–Miami Republican strategist Ana Navarro.

* “Central Florida gets anything and everything they want, and we don’t. We don’t have a unified offense. We play defense.”–TBARTA Chairman Ronnie Duncan.

* “Politics is an interesting profession. It’s flexible. It changes. Moods change. Perceptions change. Except for me. I guess I’m the same guy that I was when I first got here. … My votes are basically the same.”–Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores.

* “We’ve cut past the bone. We’re in the cremation stage.”–St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster’s budget analysis.

* “Our job is to protect free speech, and it’s our job to make free speech available to everybody. … Just because the letter of the law is broken doesn’t mean there’s going to be an arrest. The sanity check’s going to be put on top of everything.”–Tampa Assistant Police Chief John Bennett.

* “We’re a Third World neighborhood in a first-class city.”–Dan Jurman, executive director of the University Area Community Development corp.

* “It’s insane. I’d like to see us work with the Legislature and state organizations to try and bring a little bit of sanity to this thing called ‘testing.'”–Hillsborough County School Board Chairwoman Candy Olson.

* “Welcome to the land of your unfettered ability to carry guns at the Republican National Convention.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn in his remarks to Emerge Tampa Bay.

We all get “National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.” It can be a bonding experience for parents and kids. Anyone else, however, feel uncomfortable with those prominent bonding photos out of MacDill AFB? The ones that show cute tykes handling and aiming antiarmor anti-tank weapons and MK-14 grenade launchers?

* “Voters fear the imposition of the veil and a harsh penal code if radicals win the election.”–Hala Jaber, London Sunday Times, on concerns about the forthcoming elections in Egypt.

* “Like most neocons, (Marco) Rubio is fixated on Iran.”–Patrick Buchanan, Creators Syndicate.

* “To listen to Obama, the argument for re-election is as much about avoiding that U-Turn as about charting the path ahead. ‘The last thing we can afford to do is to go back to the very same policies that got us into this mess in the first place,’ he said at a campaign fundraiser in Michigan the other day.”–Ruth Marcus, Washington Post.

* “We’ve always encouraged young people–take a shot, go for it, take a risk and get the education, borrow money if you have to from your parents, start a business.”–Mitt Romney.

* “I don’t think the Romney campaign will want to make health care a major issue. Every time Romney criticizes the president’s health care reform, he opens himself up to the Etch A Sketch attack.”–Democratic strategist Doug Hattaway.

* “Satire is thriving right now, probably more so than at any time in our culture’s history. Sometimes the smartest political analysis of the day is being done by comedians.”–Robert Thompson, director of the Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.

* “I truly believe Jeb wants to be VP as much as anybody wants to be chosen to compete in The Hunger Games.”–Miami Republican strategist Ana Navarro.

* “As I have repeatedly explained, I believe that drug testing state employees is a common-sense means of ensuring a safe, efficient and productive workforce. … That is why the public and Florida’s taxpayers overwhelmingly support this policy.”–Gov. Rick Scott in announcing that he will repeal a federal judge’s decision that an order requiring drug testing for state employees was unconstitutional.

* “We have been solely, and only, a launch site. We want to bring more research and development here and more assembly work.”–Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

* “People tell me, ‘You can’t legislate morality.’ Yes, you can. Every bill we pass is founded in somebody’s value system.”–Rep. Dennis Bexley, R-Ocala.

* “Central Florida gets anything and everything they want, and we don’t. We don’t have a unified offense. We play defense.”–Ronnie Duncan, TBARTA chairman.

* “He has no pretention. He is just a nice guy who wants to make a difference.”–Metropolitan Ministries President Tim Marks describing Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik.

* “We have some great facilities here–the Forum, the amphitheater, Ruth Eckerd, Straz, on and on. But they’re either very large or very small. What the Sun Dome will do is fill a mid-size niche.”–Trent Merritt, general manager of the newly renovated, 10,000-seat, USF Sun Dome.

* “We’ve cut past the bone. We’re in the cremation phase. For this next round, I’ve determined that it’s impossible for this city to meet its needs with the current revenue projections.”–St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster.

* “We know tobacco kills, we know it’s a carcinogen. For us to not encourage them to stop would be silly. … If you have to walk halfway across campus to smoke, you may quit.”–Gina Firth, associate dean of wellness at the University of Tampa, where smoking is banned indoors and within 25 feet of any building or entrance.

* “It’s insane. I’d like to see us work with the Legislature and state organizations to try and bring a little bit of sanity to this thing called ‘testing.'”–Hillsborough County School Board Chairwoman Candy Olson.

* “They’re not in meetings 24 hours a day. What do you think they’re going to be doing at night? You can only eat so many steak dinners. You can only look at so many sunsets.”–Night Moves adult trade magazine publisher Paul Allen on the potential business for local strip clubs during the GOP Convention.