You’ll notice that today’s column — which I mistakenly backdated to yesterday morning rather than this morning, but have now corrected — was an elaboration on a blog post. Watch for more of that; over the next three weeks — between now and the Jan. 26 Democratic primary here — I plan to write more columns than usual, and as often as not, the blog will be the place where the column ideas first take shape.
I also plan to post more than usual. I’m shoving as many of my other duties aside as possible to concentrate on covering (in my own way, which will differ from what you see in news) and writing about the primaries, both for the blog and the paper. (You would have seen more last night and this morning here, but my personal life has been rather full — and joyful — the last 26 hours or so.) I will not, of course, be as free as a reporter would — I’ve got to jam in time for as many as five candidate interviews in preparation for endorsements on the 13th (Republican) and 20th (Democratic). But those interviews should produce a lot of fodder for this venue as well.
I want to make the most of all this effort, and make what I’m doing as useful as possible. I won’t just be doing this to be busy; I’ve got granddaughters to rock, you know. So I’d like y’all’s suggestions as to what you would like to see here. More video? More accessible format? More links to news and other opinions? More pictures of grandchildren (sorry, that just slipped out)? Think particularly in terms of what the editorial page editor of South Carolina’s largest newspaper might contribute that you wouldn’t get elsewhere; there’s little use in my duplicating stuff you can get already.
One thing I want to get done this weekend is replace the Stephen Colbert video that’s at the top of my main page (that guy’s campaign just went nowhere) with some sort of quick-start daily briefing. Maybe links to latest news, latest posts of interest, latest issue-oriented posts, or something like that. Something that you would find useful and that’s doable without my dropping everything else to spend my days coding.
Anyway, I’m looking for ideas, so please pitch them my way.
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Brad … does your position provide access to candidates or campaign managers such that we could submit questions here, and you could request response? That would be a pretty unique service, assuming we can provide intelligent questions, or that you could derive intelligent questions from our requests. … Not suggesting that every question asked should be submitted. You would be the gatekeeper, so to speak.
That would be doable, I think. I could e-mail them to my contacts with the campaigns and let them do the work, and I’ll post what they send. (See, Gordon, I CAN delegate…)
Send me some questions, and I’ll give it a try.
My first question would be for McCain. Senator McCain since democrats have out raised republicans two to one, do you still think your campaign finance bill was a good idea?
My second question is for Clinton. Senator Clinton did your husband ever figure out what the meaning of “is” is ?
My third question is for Edwards. Senator Edwards what will you do about frivolous lawsuits that are driving up health care costs?
My fouth question is for Huckabee. Governor Huckabee will you continue President Bush’s faith based initiatives ?
My fifth question is for Romney. Governor Romney do you favor a Constitutional amendment to make marriage between one man and one women?
My last question is for Dr. Paul. Dr. Paul why do you favor a return to Constitutional government after so many years of Capitalist/Socialist government?
Brad,
First, congratulations on your granddaughters and happy new year!
Second, please write about local politics in addition to presidential.
Regarding state politics, do you think we’ll be able to get the Confederate Flag down this year? I do. In fact, there’s a bill already #3588.
http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/3588.htm
What do you think about this bill?
Thank you.
Regards,
Michael Rodgers
Columbia, SC
I live in Charleston so naturally I’m confused. Didn’t they already take the flag down from the State House?
Richard,
Yes, in 2000, the SC Legislature took the Confederate Flag off the flagpole atop the State House dome.
After that, we’re all confused, because then, defying all common sense, logic, and responsibility, the SC Legislature put the Confederate Flag up on another flagpole on the Statehouse grounds, right in front, and, as some neo-Nazi proudly declared, “IN YOUR FACE!”
Also, the SC Legislature decided that somehow they could take the authority, out of thin air, to bind future legislatures to a supermajority 2/3 vote hurdle — instead of the near-universal majority vote requirement — to change anything about the re-raising of the Confederate Flag on a flagpole on the Statehouse grounds.
Please come to Columbia and see for yourself. The King Day at the Dome celebration is the morning of Jan 21!
Regards,
Michael Rodgers
Columbia, SC