Volume
1 Issue 4 - June 2001
|
U.S. SENATOR JEFFORDS SPLITS FROM REPUBLICAN PARTY, POWER SHIFTS
IN WASHINGTON Democrats Take Control of Senate By Larry Margasak, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - In a seismic shift of power, Democrats gained control of the Senate for the first time since 1994 when Vermont Sen. James Jeffords abandoned the Republican Party and declared himself an independent Thursday [May 24]. He said he found himself increasingly at odds with President Bush (news - web sites) and Republican leaders on issues from abortion and education to tax cuts. He said it had become difficult in recent months for Bush and other party leaders ``to deal with me and for me to deal with them.'' more... |
SPECIAL BULLETIN:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS WITH GOOD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS
...click here the story
SIEGELMAN FAILS LEADERSHIP TEST
The May edition of Voter News Network announced a critical review of the leadership skills and job performance of Governor Don Siegelman (D-AL). The first installment addresses leadership skills. Voter News Network measured Siegelman's leadership skills against the following criteria:
1. Does he have vision?
2. Does he demonstrate political courage?
3. Does he possess political integrity?
4. Does he demand accountability?
5. Is he effective in solving problems?
Does Siegelman have vision as Governor?
No one disputes Governor Siegelman's political instincts and skills as a perennial candidate for elected office. He has demonstrated his keen political instincts by successfully campaigning for Secretary of State, Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor and Governor. Running for the top office and governing once you win are two different things. Now that Siegelman is Governor, the real question is: does he have vision? Vision is a plan for governing that meets the states needs, now and for the future.
After more than two years as Governor, the answer to the vision question appears to be no. Siegelman sailed into office on the strength of his lottery pledge. It was the centerpiece of his campaign. Legislators gave Siegelman a chance to get his lottery plan before the people for a vote. It was soundly defeated. Since then, Siegelman has offered little by way of vision.
The "Education Governor" had no backup plan for funding education once the lottery was defeated. He haplessly watched the state's public schools and colleges sink into a huge funding crisis. He has offered no real solutions. Everybody knows that the state's proration problem in education results from our use of sales taxes to fund education. When the economy is down, so is our funding source. What is Siegelman's solution to the problem? Float a bond issue. Borrow more money. This is not a permanent fix to the funding problem for our schools.
Siegelman is turning into nothing more than a crisis manager. Someone who can put a bandage on the problem of the day. He has demonstrated his ability to patch political potholes, whether it's the $100 million short fall in the corporate franchise taxes or the shortage in state troopers on our highways. He rarely has a permanent solution to any crisis. Leaders with vision do. more...
back to the top
SIEGELMAN FAILS LEADERSHIP TEST
Commentary By: Donald V. Watkins
U.S. SENATOR JEFFORDS SPLITS FROM REPUBLICAN PARTY, POWER SHIFTS IN WASHINGTON
SPECIAL BULLETIN:
LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS WITH GOOD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS
ALFRED SEAWRIGHT KNOWN AS "RISING POLITICAL LEADER"
WATKINS RESIGNS ASU TRUSTEE POSITION (the actual resignation letter)
Q: WHY WOMEN? A: WHY NOT WOMEN?
By: Natalie Davis
MIDDLE CLASS BLACK VOTERS KEY TO VICTORY IN 2002 ELECTIONS
By: Artur Davis
DEVIL RAYS NOT FOR SALE, WATKINS EYES OTHER VENTURES