In Memory of Tim

What would Tim want us to be doing to honor his life’s work and mission? He was a graduate of my alma mater law school — Cleveland Marshall College of Law / Cleveland State University — no doubt its most famous alumnus. I think he might be pleased if Americans began to have serious, substantive discussions about the kinds of issues he often covered on his network broadcasts. One topic which I’d like to have readers of this blog / website weigh-in on is a measure that the U.S. could adopt which would instantaneously reduce its dependence on imported oil in a very big way, and which only one of our presidents was brave enough to champion. He’s still the most courageous living former president and I don’t think I have to be more specific than that.

Why not immediately lower speed limits nation wide to 50 miles per hour? The Bush / Fox talking points endlessly harp on the idea that the oil producing companies would realize the U.S. is serious about ending its oil addiction if the Democrats / environmentalists etc. would get behind drilling in ANWAR, etc. I think it would do far more to send such a message if we got serious about speed limits, gas mileage standards, and jump starting an Apollo Program to achieve independence from imported oil. Trucking companies are already imposing lower limits on their drivers, and this is something that is a no-brainer as I see it. Of course it could be political suicide for either McCain or Obama to support it during the campaign, so it won’t be mentioned if our candidates can possibly avoid it. But I think it’s time to begin a conversation that would pave the way for Congress and the next president to push for it in the first 100 days of the new administration. Comments anyone? I think I know how Tim Russert would pursue this if he were still with us.
Aloha O`e, ‘Big Guy’. You are, and will be missed.

And … how about some serious detailed discussion about exactly how Barak Obama should extricate us from the Iraq debacle in a way that will not label the Democratic Party for decades to come as the party that “lost Iraq” (or lost the Middle East?) For starters we could read two book discussed back to back on C-Span today. Check out my blog (teachlaw@blogspot.com) for more details.