LATE, OR EARLY POLITICAL NEWS You had one final day to file for office, March 30th. Haven't done it, like Tom Formicola of Little Rock? Too bad. That means one less Republican challenger in the Senate primary. One of those who filed? Former Ledge member Jo Carson of Fort Smith. Ms. Carson filed Tuesday morning to run as as Democrat against Jim Medley in District 64.

THE BIG TAX FIB Friday "In Focus" Northwest Arkansas Times How much "spin" can you swallow? If you listen to Washington anytime soon, you'll have to make sure you finish your training as a detective to get anywhere near the truth about taxes and the economy, regardless of what some other armchair economists might think. We have plenty of room for disagreement in American politics right now. Richard Clarke for instance...upstanding man who had enough of the lies and felt compelled to set the record straight, or self-promoting Bush-basher with a new book to sell? Other testimony before the 9-11 commission raises more questions. Did the administration know about the possibility of Al-Qaida using planes as missiles, or do we believe those who say, "Hindsight is 20/20?" Perhaps only time will help us solve those mysteries. However, one big-fish story making the rounds of both D.C. and your local television stations won't have to wait that long before working people take it down a notch. The story consists of a big scare (big-bull) and goes something like this: "John Kerry will raise taxes $900 million dollars - and that's just during his first 100 days in office" - a legalistic and oversimplified argument which assumes none of us will look further into the issue. It comes across as disingenuous, regardless of what side you support in the campaign. These guys are pros. Can't they come up with something better? A Bush-Cheney operative on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews put it like this: Mr. Kerry plans to raise taxes on Americans making over $200,000 a year. And why would that amount to injustice? The operative went on to describe those lucky few as 'Americans everyone knows,' good people just up the street who own small businesses, essentially true in a stereotypical way, and in essence arguing that asking them to shoulder more responsibility would come across as unneighborly. What Mr. Rapidly-Moving-Mouth failed to say has everything to do with why the accusation won't go very far. Do you know how many people in America make more than $200 thousand a year? I bet you either don't, or I bet you only know a handful. And, not that it matters in the greater scheme of things, but the Kerry campaign says only two percent of us do. Before any of you rush to the Bureau of Labor website to e-mail me yet more figures on jobs in America, keep a couple of things in mind. First, we can disagree on numbers. You can look at the number "4" and tell me I'm seeing 3 plus 1, a great gain! I can look at "4" and tell you what I've seen is 6 minus 2, a sorry loss. Follow me on that? People disagree on what numbers actually mean, but in this case, would it actually matter if ten percent of Americans made the big, gold 200k? As for hurting America's small businesses, what has the current administration done to ease the tax burden on sole proprietors and small businesses? Essentially one thing -- it provided an oh-so important tax break if you buy a Humvee or a Cadillac Escalade, a little out of reach for the rest of us populist wage slaves. And, how many of those 200k small business owners haven't joined the 21st century and formed corporations of some sort? If they've taken the leap, Mr. Kerry's plan will benefit them with a five percent across the board corporate tax cut. We have to smack the Senator from Massachusetts around on that one. He seems to think it would force big companies including IBM and even local stalwart Whirlpool into bringing all those "out-sourced" jobs back to the United States. Many economists remain highly skeptical that would actually do the trick, and reverse the less than spectacular job growth we've seen in the manufacturing sector. But, on taxes, the current centerpiece of the campaign, it would seem Mr. Kerry wouldn't raise them under his economic plan for more than 90 percent of the country, and he'd shift the burden back on those making out like bandits right now. Remember, that shift goes to the $200 thousand and above group. If you believe former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil, Mr. Bush himself once agreed with that argument. O'Neil, during an interview for a recent book, said Mr. Bush raised questions during a high-level meeting at the White House to talk about pushing the full tax-cut package through Congress. O'Neil says the Chief Executive wondered aloud whether the administration should do something different after having already given a big gift to the wealthy in America. Even America's CEO has to know the campaign rhetoric over taxes has become pathetic, and he should live up to the "compassionate conservative" label he gives himself by having some compassion for the rest of us. Someone has to pay for America. Someone has to pay for defense, schools, medicine and highways, Medicare and social security. At last glance, we still had a graduated tax system, so Kerry isn't - repeat 'is not' - a socialist. In this instance, he's just plain old fair. However, the wise old rancher in D.C. could do something with his losing end of this political argument. Mr. Bush could take a page from the Clinton playbook, adopt the move as his own, re-name it and pass it off as the latest non-mars or moon related giant step for mankind. It's called pre-emptive action, something the White House put to use in Iraq.

NEW ADDITIONS We've returned to our own domain, so welcome back to Arkansastonight.com. We've added more to it this time, and it'll be pretty scattered for a little while until we get our design jets going. If you scroll all the way to the end of the page, you'll see a list of the most up-to-date news stores from AP along with the latest political news from NPR and other sources. Some of the headlines require RealAudio to listen to. Also look for stock quotes on-line.

WILL "TRADING SPACES" DESTROY THE ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE AMENDENT? Interesting thought. I was, and have been against my will many times, exposed to TLC's "Trading Spaces" and "While You Were Out" home decorating and renovation programs. If you are a married man, you probably know what I'm talking about. These can come across mildly entertaining if you are a man, deadly serious if you are a woman. If you watch enough, you'll get a good idea which demographic these shows go after. Start with women in general, and then subdivide the groups into "straight" couples and seemingly gay and lesbian couples, of which producers have nor shortage. The gay dollar in America has continued to be big business, with some of the major broadcasting, publishing and advertising companies creating independent departments to target gay americans and as such, bring their dollars into the economy. If this demographic actively watches TLC's programming, and actively patronizes sponsors like Home Depot and Lowes, one would have to wonder exactly how large a segment of the home development sector draws support from gays and lesbians. And, more interesting still, do these companies support the party and presdient most set on noodling with the bill of rights. I'll take a wild guess and say no. Given a couple of days, I'm nearly positive I can dig up the figures and report a good "follow-the-money" story which would place a fiscal imprimatur of doom on the gay-ban, stepping just a bit further, that would add to evidence the move is nothing more than a political stunt aimed at working up those Americans making more than 200-thousand dollars a year, provided they are Christian, white, heterosexual, and looking for a scapegoat. It's been done before when Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson both decided to publicly blame America, with special emphasis on gays, for the 9-11 attacks. That would be the demographic aimed at by a patently ridiculous proposed amendment.

RETURN OF THE HAIR! I was just browsing the latest on-line issue of All About Town, one of several papers for which I do not actually write. I still enjoy it, though in some respects I have to consider it the competition because I write for Citiscapes. No love lost between the two. However, I'm a big fan of the "Daddy Warbucks" business column. Daddy, if you get a chance to read this, bravo-zulu! I'd love to model the stuff I do on television after your brand of from-the hip business reporting. Thought I'd reprint a segment of this issue regarding yours truly. Here goes... Arkansas' NBC 24/51 anchor Don Elkins wants to set the "do" record straight. He, and not local network officials, came up with the idea of his new style. Elkins is less than enthused about it but claims he was tiring of the old "helmet hair." An old baldy, Daddy W, can relate, as a teenager he was always - a week or two away from a good haircut - after the barbers gave me "sidewalls" when everyone else had Elvis locks. But some of the other monkey-shines at 24/51, are not Elkins doing. Such as the miniature, yuppish, Mitch Lilly’s goatee and his arm swirling move to "going back to bed" after his taped sports segment airs each morning. Cute, but too cute, Mitch, stick to more sports and less cheer leading. Calling Coach Gardner "Susie" isn't cute - it's well, juvenile. Apologies to Mitch Lilly, who's a great guy, and is learning a lot as he goes along -- he's one of the hardest working sports guys in town, and he's a friend. Mitch, all I can say is you should read the mail I get in response to my newspaper column and the calls we get on the radio show. You remain sterling and should be happy for a mention in the local press. And, DW -- thanks for the "hair" plug as it were. The entire messy story followed me to a Red Cross charity function last week, and I had a lot of "splainin'" to do -- just wait till I get a blonde dye job! That should get e-mail!

HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS CALLING ALL CANDIDATES -- If you've filed to run for office, or plan to do so by the deadline, get in touch with us. We've started making the rounds of the local and statewide races to learn more about those who put the lives, honor and good names (or bad) on the line at the ballot box. INTERNS -- Arkansas Tonight has two intern positions open. Must be college student, but it doesn't matter which level. You'll learn digital production, deal with scheduling and guests, and generally see the seamy underbelly of the glamorous world of broadcasting. Contact the show through any of the e-mail links on the right hand side of this page. NEW BOOK -- Buy Richard Clarke's new blockbuster book on terrorism and Iraq in the Bush Administration. Buy it here, and a portion of the regular Amazon.com price goes to Arkansas Tonight to help continue bringing the show to the public.

HAD SOME TIME OFF, VOICE ALMOST BACK This is what happens when you take five days off. The world, political and otherwise turns upside down. A tough few days for Mr. Bush and the Republican party. Recent testimony before the 9-11 commission seems to ahve mad the press a little more bold. I watched MSNBC's Chris Matthews beat the hell out of the Bush committee's Tucker Eskew this evening over why we see Laura Bush so much on political ads, even though she plays no role in policy, but more interesting is the fallout -- excuse the pun -- over this past week's Washington Correspondent's dinner. Mr. Matthews, and others, took umbrage with the President kidding around about WMD's ("Where are the WMD's? Nope, not here -- they must be some place" followed by laughter as Mr. Bush showed a slide of himself mugging in the Oval Office) while thousands of American soldiers sit in military hospitals wounded after service in Iraq. The point Matthews made was a strong one -- why, when these American service men and women suffered, and in some cases died, because the President thought Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, did the President make light of that? The anger was so thick you could cut it. Also, the press has essentially given Richard Clarke credit for valid and creditable testimony on the Hill. Clarke also took the lead, becoming the first and only person in the government to apologize for his role, and the administrations role, in failing to prevent the deaths in the 9-11 attacks, something at least half a dozen widows have said they wanted to hear. Whether Mr. Clarke really carries that responsiblity remains in question, however, every good reporter who ever covered a murder or story involving violence has learned how much genunine compassion and empathy do for any cause. Other bad news comes courtesy of the Republicans everywhere, and it has to do with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The Representative from Texas and presumptive heir to the Newt Gingrich crown of glory as biggest big-mouth may have to step down from his leadership position (maybe his office?) as the result of an expected investigation into allegations of campaign finance shenanigans in Texas. Democratic Unity Dinner: Yeah, that's what I spent a big portion of my evening watching. It was interesting to see the major Democrats of the last two decades, including two presidents and a vice president share the stage in DC. The handshake from Al Gore to Mr. Clinton was very, very brief, and Mr. Kerry, the guest of honor, seemed unable to convince the dream team to rejoin him on-stage with Mrs. Kerry at the end of the night after his speech. It was most likely a major feat just to get so many disparate personalities and strong egos together in the same room on the same night, but "united" it was. Rest assured, my bluster and annoying presence will return to the TV airwaves Monday afternoon. Hope to have the voice back by then. Also, hoping to have Israeli Vice Consul Dana Kursh on the radio show not this weekend, but the next. The Vice Consul plans to visit Fayetteville for a few days, and plans to talk about Israeli plans for peace, something that may be a bit in question in light of recent attacks in the West Bank, and the death of the leader of one of the more violent Palestinian factions. It promises to be an interesting conversation to say the least.

I COULD USE SOME ANTI-BIOTICS -- YOU? Funny how things work. I meant to take an extra day off last Friday to take the kids to Tulsa for a quick trip to the aquarium. Instead, we sat home for three days as I slowly got sick with that upper-respiratory stuff going around here. Went back to the TV studio Monday, but didn't make it much longer that two hours before my voice gave out. This stuff hits me a couple of times a year, and every time migrates to my vocal cords. So, I have to apologize ahead of time, those of you expecting to hear from Israeli Vice Consul Dana Kursh this week, we'll have to make it another time. A couple of political things grabbing headlines right now. First, and foremost -- Richard Clark. Lay it on the line, be honest. Doesn't matter which party you choose to vote for, and it doesn't matter if the man is a self-serving self-promoter with a book to push and it doesn't matter if one of John Kerry's campaign advisors happens to be his "best friend" in the world as Bush mouthpiece Scotty McClellan told the media -- he made a couple of points that should have everyone a) asking tough questions, and perhaps b) getting madder than hell, to wit, did the administration ignore serious and impending warnings about an Al-Qaeda attack and then turn around and draw off funds and manpower for fighting that war to go and pursue a pet project in Iraq? A pet project that as of yet has done little in terms of foreign policy except cost a lot of young Americans their lives? Iraqis are free to shoot each other up, show their own television and radio, worship in public (with weapons) and more. Except, now, if you follow principle, we'll have to go to Iran, North Korea, Syria and nearly every other police-state government in the world. You remember, those fine governments loved so much by the Kennedy people trying to win the war against the Soviet Union? Call it what you will, but it's a bombshell, and it shouldn't have suprised anyone paying attention to the newspapers and media since 9-11. Most of this stuff became public ages ago, we're just now finding a few people to speak up, and heaven help Congress as it tries to get to the bottom on things. Perhaps George will catch Osama. Depends on how honest he decides to be.

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