Okay, let me get this straight.

The Empire State Building was bathed in red and yellow light last night…to mark the 60th anniversary of Communist rule in China. What? China? 

I find it a bit odd that one of the great, iconic structures in the United States of America is paying homage to sometimes ruthless regime with a terrible history of human rights abuses.

I know some one probably paid some one else a whole lot of money to make this happen. And, I know we’re in a new era of cooperation with China.

Blah blah blah.

In the words of that noted social philosopher, Mike Ditka…“Who ya crappin’?”

I don’t recall seeing the ESB illuminated to mark the anniversary of many other countries…from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Why China? Communist China? What’s next? Cuba?

I’m with the protesters who stood outside the Empire State Building last night. This was a bad idea.

You have undoubtedly heard about the numerous April 15th “Tax Day Tea Parties” being held across the country today. Many of them are being organzed and promoted by radio talk show hosts.

Do these “Tea Parties” make legitimate points? Or, are they just silly, self-serving stunts being pushed by publicity-seeking radio hosts?

Here’s one take from the noted radio observer Tom Taylor, from his daily Taylor on Radio-Info e-newsletter:

Tax day = Stunt day?

California Republican lawmaker says “Tea parties” are radio stunts that don’t solve real problems.

Today may be “tax day”, April 15, but State Senator Abe Maldonado looks at the kind of headline-grabbing stunts being egged on by KFI, L.A.’s John & Ken and says “It’s crazy. While my state melts and burns, these folks are making money selling ads. All they care about is money in their pocket.” The KFI (640) duo’s latest effort is to agitate for the recall of one of the six GOP state legislators who voted to pass the current state budget. Maldonado says (in a column by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Carla Marinucci) that elected-official recalls “are just games to these people”, but they cost the taxpayers money and time. He says John & Ken – who no doubt revel in the attention – “are in it for the ratings, not for the people of California. I’m sure they live well, and the people of California have to pay.” Maldonado says “The Republican Party needs to be working on creating more jobs and improving the economy” – and one of his proposals is to allow open primaries. He says that idea will be hated by “the radio guys and the web guys…they can’t win elected office. They’re wannabe elected officials who can’t make it.” Of course John & Ken aren’t the only radio wiseguys convening “tea parties” today.

I wish I could remember John F. Kennedy. I wish I was around when he was inaugurated.

I was born about nine months after JFK was sworn in as our 35th president. So, I missed the optimism, the feeling of hope, and the excitement that surrounded January 20, 1961. For those of us who missed the arrival of Camelot the first time around…take heart. We’re getting another chance.

Let me make one thing clear: This is not a partisan political “I love Obama” essay. I may or may not agree with his politics. I may or may not have voted for him. That’s really not important now. What is important now, is that Barack Obama seems to be doing something for this country unseen since JFK 48 years ago.

Look at the parallels - both young, relatively inexperienced senators. Both physically attractive, with gorgeous families. Both facing daunting odds (one a Roman Catholic, one an African-American). Both elected president while still in their 40s. Both promising change. Both energizing our nation.

I have never, in my lifetime, seen a country so fired up, if you will, about the inauguration of a new president. Sure, there is optimism with every new administration. After all, they just got elected - people must like them.

But, what Barack Obama achieved even before taking the oath of office is nothing short of amazing. He has taken a country, suffering through its worst economic decline in generations, and pulled it up by its collective bootstraps (if you understand that reference, you are old enough to remember JFK!). He has brought hope, optimism and the realism that any one can achieve anything to the lives of 300,000,000 Americans…and countless billions around the world.

If this Ken-Kansan…a self-proclaimed “skinny guy with a name that’s hard to pronounce”…can be elected president of the United States…well, maybe anything is possible. Maybe I can achieve every dream I’ve ever had. To borrow from Mr. Obama…Yes, I can.

This has to be what it was like in 1961. This is the remake of Camelot, right? The cameras just have fancier lenses now.

You see, it really doesn’t matter if I voted for him or not. Barack Obama is my president. And, I’m pretty excited to say that.

Yesterday, as I stared at the US Airways jet sitting on a barge directly across the Hudson from my home…I started to think about the incredible story of the plane splash…and how it will be indelibly tied to that other big story going on this week. You know, the one down in Washington. 

There is so much optimism in the country right now. The nation seems energized, as Barack Obama prepares to become the 44th president of the United States. And, the incredible story of Flight 1549 seems to have boosted that energy to a whole new level.

If, tragically, the plane splash had ended with mass casualties, it would have been a national tragedy. It would have cast a pall over the country, just days before the inaugural. Flags would have been at half staff. The glitz and glamour of the ceremonies in DC would have likely been toned down. The new president would have taken the oath with a heavy heart.

But, amazingly…all walked away from the splash with barely a scratch. It’s being called the “Miracle on the Hudson”…and no one is arguing with that superlative. It truly is miraculous that every one survived. People “oo” and “ah” when they see video of the plane hitting the water. The pilot is a hero - in fact, he and his family will be at the inauguration. The amazing story of Flight 1549 has buoyed the nation’s collective sense of optimism and hope even higher.

Yes, it seems that despite the troubles facing our country right now, the nation is on a “high.”

Tomorrow…my thoughts on the inauguration of Barack Obama as 44th president of the United States.

Okay, it isn’t quite the Rod-and-Roland Traveling Circus and Roadshow that Illinois has…but, New York has quite a “senate situation” on its hands, too.  After breezing through her confirmation hearing, there appears to be no doubt that Hillary Clinton will be confirmed as Secretary of State (As, in my opinion, she should - I thought she said all the right things in her hearing).  And, just as in Illinois, that leaves it up to the governor to appoint a senator to replace Mrs. Clinton.

Governor David Paterson has plenty of choices.  Of course, the two names that seem to have floated to the top of the list are New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and former First Daughter Caroline Kennedy. A recent poll from Quinnipiac University has shown a shift in the public’s choice to fill that seat. When Caroline Kennedy made it known that she was interested in the seat, the public was smitten. Polls showed Kennedy as the overwhelming choice. Kennedy, for the most part, avoided the media and enjoyed the polling honeymoon. Then, she started talking to the press. Not a lot, but a little. 

Perhaps she should have kept quiet.

Caroline Kennedy, for all of her personal and professional accomplishments, is not comfortable as a public speaker. Nor is she comfortable answering questions from reporters. That discomfort level was obvious in her brief interviews, which were filled with “Ums,” “Ahs” and “You knows”…and very little substance.

Honeymoon over.

While it’s doubtful any one would label Andrew Cuomo as one of the great orators of his generation, he is a media-savvy politician who is in front of cameras and microphones on a nearly daily basis. And, as Attorney General, he has a wonderful pulpit from which to go after “bad people” from all walks of life…scammers, college loan lenders and even the people who measure radio listenership. 

So, back to that Quinnipiac poll, released on January 14th. It shows New York voters favoring Cuomo over Kennedy for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, by a margin of 31% - 24%. Cuomo holds and overwhelming lead upstate and in the NYC suburbs…while Kennedy holds a very slim lead in NYC proper. Men back Cuomo. So do women.

And, perhaps some one suprisingly, Cuomo has a much higher “favorability” rating…57%, compared to 39% for Kennedy.

Still, a majority of those surveyed said they think the governor will pick Kennedy to replace Clinton in the Senate.

So, what should Governor Paterson do? There are other names on the list, of course. Rep. Carolyn Maloney gets 6% in the Quinnipiac poll. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand gets 5%. The numbers go down from there.

Keep in mind, the person appointed by the governor will face a special election in 2010…and then a regular election when Senator Clinton’s term expires in 2012. So, they’ll need to wage two very expensive campains in as many years. The governor could appoint a 2-year “caretaker” for the seat (the names Mario Cuomo and Bill Clinton) have been mentioned. He could appoint one of the big two (Andrew or Caroline). He could appoint some other, lesser-known person. He could appoint himself. Heck, he could appoint Roland Burris (or Plaxico Burress), I suppose.

I have no inside information…but, in the end, I think the governor will pick Andrew Cuomo. The public seems to be leaning that way. And, the Attorney General has been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial primary challenger for Paterson, who has to run for re-election in 2010. Appointing Cuomo to the Senate would, in essence, kill two birds with one stone for the governor. He can fill that Senate seat…and take a possible gubernatorial challenger out of the picture.

We should know soon. Governor Paterson has said he’ll make the appointment when Hillary Clinton officially resigns her Senate seat to become Secretary of State…and that could happen in the first week of the Obama presidency.

I welcome your thoughts.

(photos courtesy of Getty Images)

It was a tale…of two Rods. 

On the same day the Mets apparently wrapped up a deal with record-setting reliever Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez, another Rod was in the news.  And, this one may really need a save.  

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY’-a-vitch) was hauled in by the Feds for allegedly trying to sell his appointment of Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate replacement to the highest bidder.  Blagojevich is also accused of interfering with the Tribune Company’s attempts to sell the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field…because he was angry at the Chicago Tribune for some critical editorials, and wanted some members of the Tribune editorial board fired.

When I got my first whiff of this story from radio news compadre and Facebook friend Rob Hart of WGN-AM (a Tribune Company station, by the way), I figured Blagojevich had been nabbed in some run-of-the-mill corruption bust.  The governor had been linked to a shady campaign fundraiser named Tony Rezko.  Surely that was the basis for his arrest.

Whoa.

 CLICK HERE and listen to my full interview with Illinois Lietanent Governor Pat Quinn.

   These allegations against Blagojevich blow my mind.  I lived and worked in Chicago for more than 20 years.  I know the political culture there, and the nasty track records Illinois governors have for corruption (Blagojevich’s immediate predecessor, George Ryan) is in federal prison on a corruption conviction). 

But, these charges are incredible.  Trying to sell his appointment of Obama’s replacement in the Senate?  Interfering with the Tribune’s business, because the editorial board was critical of him.  You couldn’t write a movie script this good (although, if you do, my chosen title is “Roddergate”).

Even U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald - a guy who’s been around, and has handled some huge federal cases - seems to be shocked by the scope of Blagojevich’s alleged criminality.  Or, should I say alleged dopiness?

So, while Blagojevich, a die-hard Cubs fan, is in the doghouse…the Mets get much-needed help for their bullpen

Bullpen, Doghouse.  Good Rod, Bad Rod.

I’m not sure even K-Rod can save this one for Guv-Rod. 

(Photos courtesy Getty Images)

I’ve waited a week to write this.  I wanted the let the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States sink in a little.  

Now, I can say it.  This was, without a doubt, an historic and defining moment in the history of our nation.

This has nothing to do with political leanings or for whom one voted.  In fact, if you know for whom I voted, I must not be doing a very good job of presenting the news in an unbiased way.

Putting partisan politics aside for the moment, just look around you.  Have you ever seen more energy and enthusiam among people on the street or in your office in the week following an election?

In my mind, it doesn’t matter for whom you voted.  There’s a new energy in the country.  And, the history books will remember this year.  From now until the end of time, I believe Barack Obama will be remembered on the same level as the likes of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt.  Yes…perhaps we’ll someday see a fifth face on Mt. Rushmore.

 For now, I’m just enjoying watching every one who’s so thrilled by the election of Mr. Obama.

We had a good story on WCBS yesterday about how newspapers across the city - including the New York Times - sold out on Wednesday, as people gobbled up copies featuring Barack Obama’s historic presidential win.  WCBS reporter Ginny Kosola found a long line of people outside the the Times building, waiting for extra editions to be delivered.     That reminded me of a really cool web site, where you can see the front pages from hundreds of newspapers around the world.Here it is…check out the Newseum.  It’s fun to see how newspapers around the world are treating the same big story.  And, they have an archive feature…so, if you missed the front pages from the day after the election, you can check those out, too.

Did you? 

Job Fair?

Unemployment line?  

Nope.  WCBS Vice President & General Manager Steve Swenson took this photo this morning…of people waiting online to vote at West 20th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan.

 Turn-out looks strong!