Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton
Subject: Re: PeroT & United We Stand
From: cjp+@pitt.edu (Casimir J Palowitch)
Date: 12 Jan 93 14:33:33 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <1993Jan12.130800.23558@osf.org> buchman@osf.org (Terri Buchman) writes:
>So, what do you folks think about ole Ross starting up his
>"United We Stand" group the week before the inauguration? 
>Personally, I love it.  It gives national politics a lot more
>diversity and sparkle and will hopefully serve to remind
>official DC that the people are watching.

I have been sick to see that a month after the election, hopes, goals
and expections are strategically being lowered by the Clinton
Administration and the media.  I for one am glad to see Perot spending
his own money to continue the political education and involvement of a
great number of people in their governmnet.  For about the cost of a CD
or half of one's monthly cable bill, 15 dollars to United We Stand to
help air informative commercials is IMHO money well spent. 

I am also sick to see that representatives of the Clinton Administration
voiced negative reactions to Perot's continued efforts on the network
news (NBC & CBS) last night.  Allow a paraphrase: "It's not constructive
to have someone looking over your shoulder all the time..."

As citizens, this is what we should be doing *all* the time.

>I voted for Clinton, enthusiastically,  and I think that he has
>gotten off to a good start.  However, I tend to get a little
>antsy during this inauguration phase when the media treats new
>presidents so sycophantically.  God what a bore.  The local
>papers are full of stories about how wonderful all the
>president's people are and how even their 3rd grade piano
>teachers knew that they were "Destined for Greatness".   Yucch.
> (Do pols really like such puff pieces?  I mean, does Hillary
>Clinton really want to see one more article about how wonderful
>she was at Wellesley?  After a while doesn't she begin to
>suspect that the reporters writing these pieces just want more
>access?)

I disagree.  Clinton has not faced down the Pentagon over homosexual
discrimination, how will he face them when it comes time for Defense
cuts?  Clinton has shown *by example* his belief in and commitment to
public education.

And to top all, George Stephanopolous on the news this morning: "The
deficit numbers are a lot worse than we thought they were...and they're
getting worse"

We all (Stephanopolous included) heard Perot time and again. We chose to
ignore the message.  Now that we all understand the seriousness of the
problem, I support United We Stand's efforts to put pressure on the
Clinton Administration and Congress for its solution.

>Now comes Perot (and his ego) to throw a monkey wrench into the
>whole self congratulatory mess.  Bravo!  I have 2 immediate
>feelings about this - a) maybe the media spotlight will stay on
>economic issues even though the election season is over; and b)
>this could be a little chaotic and I think that a little chaos
>is good for the political process.  Washington needs change
>badly and the Perot group applies pressure for that change.  
>
>I think that Clinton's stringent ethics code is (at least
>partly) a result of the pressure that the Perot factor brought
>to bear on foreign lobbyists and government revolving door
>policy.  I hope that United We Stand folks continue to lobby
>for campaign reform and budget responsibility.  The Clinton
>folks are savvy enough to listen to those concerns and, I hope,
>respond.  But it never hurts to remind them now and then.

Can you tell me where there are any teeth in the Clinton ethics code?
The idea of self-monitoring is naive and unrealistic.  The appointment
of Ron Brown is shameful.  His law firm has represented the interests of
Japanese firms in our government for large sums of money.  I don't trust
him to represent my interests for free, do you?

>TerriB.


Casey Palowitch
cjp@unix.cis.pitt.edu


-- 
** Casimir J. (Casey) Palowitch  -  In 1996, there will be two kinds  **
**      Slavic Cataloger         -  of computer professional : those  **
**  U. of Pgh. Library Systems   -       who know NeXT, and those     **
**   cjp@unix.cis.pitt.edu       -              without Jobs.         **
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