Perennial presidential candidate, former Minnesota Gov. Harold E. Stassen, shown here in 1939, ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party nomination 10 times between 1940 and 2000, when he made his final run at age 92, one year before his death.  From 1948-1953 the so-called “boy wonder” of politics served as President of the University of Pennsylvania, despite running in 1948 and 1952.

IS THE FORMER MARYLAND GOVERNOR
SEEKING TO BECOME A UNIVERSALLY
LAUGHED-AT NOMINATION LOSER?

GM’S PLAN TO IMPORT BUICKS FROM CHINA
IS FAR FROM A ‘MARK OF EXCELLENCE’
WITH REGARD TO AMERICAN LABOR

Democrat and Republican TV propaganda networks?

GOP’S JEB BUSH SHOULD THROW HIS SUPPORT
TO MARCO RUBIO — AND BOW OUT OF THE RACE
 
By David Maril
 
While wondering why former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley continues his futile attempt to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, it’s interesting to note the following:

 Even though he has never been in contention, you have to figure O’Malley’s angling for something as he stubbornly continues to campaign for a party nomination he can’t win.

Does he figure there is still a chance some bombshell bit of news or scandal will make headlines, knocking frontrunner Hillary Clinton out of the race?

There has to be some reason, such as getting plenty of publicity, going around making speeches and participating in nationally televised debates. Maybe it will help his bookings for his band.

Is he trying to become a modern-day Harold Stassen, breaking the late politician’s record for futile presidential campaigns?

If so, O’Malley however has a long way to go to catch the former Governor of Minnesota. Stassen ran 10 times, unsuccessfully, for the Republican presidential nomination. At 52, O’Malley does have plenty of time.

 How did Baltimore manage to earn a “D” grade, avoiding an F, in the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance’s 2015 Transportation Report card?

Gov. Larry Hogan, fresh off his short-sighted cancellation of the proposed $2.9 billion Light Rail Red Line, has submitted a proposal for revising the dysfunctional bus-system, that is creating a furor in several neighborhoods.

Some bus routes are being flipped around, like pancakes cooking on a grille, and some of the most heavily used transit stops are being shifted.

There’s room for plenty of skepticism on a public transportation plan submitted by an advocate like Hogan of beefing up highways and encouraging more cars on the roads.

 General Motors’ Buick Envision SUV, which is built in China, will be sold in the U.S.

 Some of the most under-reported factors in causes of poverty, crime and the breakdown of family in struggling urban neighbor- hoods, are transportation systems that make it difficult for parents to commute from home to work.

When unreasonable, lengthy commutes become the norm, parental supervision time at home is severely reduced and hampered.

 It was not good labor news for U.S. workers when General Motors announced its Buick Envision SUV line, built in the Shandong province of China, is going to be imported to this country to be sold.

This evidently is a corporate response to recently signing a new union contract that will probably drive up labor costs in the U.S.

Something here is radically wrong with the import system and the lack of protection for American workers. If it’s cost efficient for America’s largest carmaker to make cars in China to sell in this country, the system is badly in need of fixing.

If something isn’t done, you can expect other American car manufacturers to start making more and more cars in cheap-labor countries to be sold here.

 Make sure you wish Spirit and Frontier Airlines “Season’s Greetings” for their extra holiday cheer. The two discount companies will be sticking with their plans to charge passengers extra fees for each carry-on piece of luggage during the high-travel holiday period.

With people toting gifts during the holiday-giving season, this figures to be extremely profitable for the two airlines.

How long will it be before they, and other gouging airlines, start charging extra for breathable clean air in their jets?

It certainly makes you appreciate Southwest Airlines for not charging on standard-sized checked luggage or carry-ons.

Robert Redford, left, and Dustin Hoffman in the 1976 film “All the Presi- dent’s Men,” based on the best-seller by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein detailing their investigative coverage of the Nixon Watergate scandal for the Washington Post.  President Nixon resigned in disgrace in Aug. 1974.

 It is ironic that nearly 40 years after Robert Redford starred in what is considered the greatest movie extolling the virtues of investigative journalism, he is back on the big screen in another film about news gathering.

Even stranger is the fact that “Spotlight,” billed as the second greatest movie on the virtues of journalism, is also being released.

Unfortunately, the 79-year-old Redford, portraying the beleaguered CBS news anchor Dan Rather, in the movie inappropriately titled “Truth,” is not getting the acclaim he received for “All The President’s Men.”

In “President’s Men,” Redford co- starred as Washington Post reporter Bob Woodard, along with Dustin Hoffman as reporter Carl Bernstein.

This was the story of two dedicated journalists uncovering Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal coverup.

Their work brought down his presidency and showed that even a commander-in-chief is not above the law.

It was an inspirational film for students who were thinking about the merits of journalism.

“Truth,” focuses on CBS’s missteps on “60 Minutes” and the “Evening News” leading up to the 2004 presidential election. The network rushed its story on the air, without the proper source substantia- tion, about George W. Bush’s alleged shirking of his military obligations.

“Truth” is being criticized for inaccuracies and a skewed theme. The movie attempts to portray Rather and Producer Mary Mapes, who are responsible for the rush to air their sloppily researched story, as heroes and courageous victims.

Both ended up losing their jobs.

“Spotlight,” conversely, covers the Boston Globe’s persistence, in overcoming the powerful political clout of the Catholic Church, to report on the depth and history of the priests’ pedophile scandal and coverup of the offenses.

“Spotlight,” like “All the President’s Men,” will probably encourage a new generation of college students to go into journalism.

“Truth,” could drive some away.

 Even though action speaks louder than words, Paul Ryan, the new Speaker of the House, made comments on a recent “60 Minutes” that are somewhat hopeful.

Ryan expressed optimism that even though they disagree on many issues, he would be able to work with President Barack Obama on goals they are able to find common ground on.

Most interestingly, he declared that both parties have to stop questioning the motives and character of each other when they disagree on points of view.

 Hats off to New York for becoming the first state to launch a serious investigation on the loosely regulated “fantasy” gambling businesses.

These money-making ventures are advertised as sports competition for fans and endorsed by the greedy moguls of the NFL, Major League Baseball and other pro sports.

The officials of these sports used to preach about the dangers of gambling. But when they saw there is money in it for them, opinions rapidly shifted and now commercials for these so-called “fantasy” leagues are part of network and local broadcasts.

You can be certain that our greedy elected local politicians will soon chime in with support once they figure out a way the state can get a cut of the action.

 Why is it a surprise in the protesting over the University of Missouri’s inaction against campus racism, that it was the football team’s threat to boycott its games that made the school’s president step down?

Let’s not forget that successful big-time college football coaches get paid a lot more than the school presidents. When Missouri Tigers’ Head Coach Gary Pinkel announced he was supporting his players in their boycott, the university president knew he had to resign.

When these football coaches win and the teams generate revenue, they have unlimited clout and influence.

It would be interesting to hear what college presidents at Division 1 football schools around the country really think of such an inflated salary structure for football coaches, and the clout those coaches wield.

With University of Maryland hoping to become a money-making football power, one wonders what the college’s president, Wallace Loh, must think of a successful football coach having so much influence when campus issues arise.

FOX BUSINESS NEWS FAWNS OVER GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

 After watching the Fox Business News network fawn all over the GOP presidential candidates and party leaders during debate coverage, you wonder why the two major parties are not thinking about creating their own networks.

If this is what they want, why not go all the way and own the coverage?

Intolerant of any semblance of journalism and having little patience for tough, objective questioning, it seems amazing that the Republicans and Democrats don’t start up their own networks for unlimited promotion of what they want the public to see and hear.

Lou Dobbs, who hosted the last Republican debate, should have been wearing a monogrammed-style college sweater with GOP lettering and holding a megaphone, leading cheers for all the participants.

There was absolutely no semblance of objectivity and professionalism.

The Democrats’ last debate, with “Face the Nation”’s John Dickerson, an objective journalist serving as moderator, was conducted on a more professional level.

Still, it has to be tempting for the two parties to consider creating their own networks and controlling the programming and tone of the message.

We sort of have that now with Fox aligning closely with the Republicans and MSNBC linked more with the Democrats.

But you have to figure it is only a matter of time for the parties to want to take total control.

STOOGE VIEWERS WHO PREFER PARTY PROPAGANDA

And if the two political parties form their own networks, drawing in the audience of stooge viewers who prefer their party’s propaganda, maybe this would force Fox and MSNBC to hire journalists to replace their army of shills.

 The only way presidential not-so-hopeful Jeb Bush can save face would be to huddle with Marco Rubio, mend fences, and declare he is putting his support behind the Florida Senator — and then bow out of the race.

Several media outlets have declared Bush’s quest as a “joyless campaign.”

Chances are he would be ecstatic about finding a way to drop out, taking the high road, and making a stand against the reckless and feckless tones that Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and, to some extent, Ben Carson are projecting.

 How many people in Baltimore figured the Orioles would retain the switch-hitting Matt Wieters, their All-Star-caliber catcher, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery of two seasons ago?

It remains to be seen whether the Orioles can eventually sign him to a long-term contract. However, you can be sure that Wieters’ respect for Buck Showalter, his manager, played a role, along with the fact he likes playing in the City of Baltimore.

Is there hope that Chris Davis will mix in some of the same type of loyalty if the Orioles make him a respectful offer during the upcoming free-agency period?
 
davidmaril@voiceofbaltimore.org
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opinion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.
 
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