Free Republic

http://www.countypressonline.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2549&dept_id=514258&newsid=12050637&PAG=461&rfi=9 Second Thoughts 6-23-04 By William W. Lawrence 06/22/2004There are governors, and then there are governors. Colorado has Bill Owens who has a great sense of humor and who can make his constituents laugh. South Carolina has Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican who is doing battle with his Republican-dominated legislature in an effort to cut taxes and spending. Sanford recently entered the statehouse with two pigs, named "Pork" and "Barrel," who defecated on the carpet and got the attention of lawmakers.We have Philadelphia Fats who uses our turnpikes and Interstates as adjuncts of the Indianapolis Speedway.We could use somebody who...

EditorialSecond Thoughts By: William W. Lawrence 06/01/2004When the media covers the same story in lock-step with the same advocacy purpose, it is what I call "pack journalism."John Leo came up with a perfect clarification of "pack" journalism in an article entitled "The Not-So Perfect Storm" which appeared in U.S. News & World ReportHe called it "three green suitcase" journalism. He wrote, "let's say a feature writer thinks green luggage is becoming popular. So the reporter taps out a story citing three people in different states who have given up black suitcases and bought green ones. The second paragraph begins: 'All...

2004.Gov. (Fast Eddie) Rendell said he was angry that the commission had voted before the legislature approved allowing slot machines at racetracks.Eddie has said he wanted the license-granting commission to wait until it had a pool of applications to consider.I guess we could check to see who gave most to Eddie's war chest. Or you skeptics could believe him when he said he was pleased that the Chester location was chosen. "If I could pick, I would have picked Chester, because they need it." (Heh,heh.)***Philadelphia Fats has now proposed a hefty beer tax hike. He wants to raise the tax...