The arrival of spring weather in the nation’s capital seemed to coincide with the conclusion of a week filled with grief from the tragic deaths of Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, department aides, business executives and two Croatian nationals, all passengers in the U.S. Air Force plane that crashed into a mountainside before reaching Dubrovnik for reconstruction trade talks.
A couple of thoughts that may not have been appropriate last week, but perhaps now are.
Maybe I missed it, but where are the Republicans? I heard not a peep from the GOP, though I’m told Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) expressed his condolences and reminded folks of his bill to require that military aircraft be equipped with navigation gear as sophisticated as that built into commercial flyers.
This is where some Republican pols show their true colors. Either they lack compassion or cannot express it, or are just plain petty. It’s why House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) are politically limited. That is to say I don’t think they’ll ever be president; they lack the ability to reach out and connect on a human level with ordinary citizens. They know political strategy and how to get a bill passed once in a while, but GOP tough guys lack the one ingredient President Clinton displayed so splendidly during the week of mourning for Ron Brown and the others: heart.
That may help to explain Clinton’s amazing resiliency as a politician (for sure, his political instincts are uncanny), and why he’ll handily defeat Dole this November. Unexpected events could change the equation. But right now it’s a safe bet, particularly as Bill Clinton makes himself look increasingly presidential.
… Congress returns tomorrow from its two week Easter-Passover break. Look for sparks to fly as the fight over leadership of the Telecommunications Development Fund reaches a crescendo.
… House telecommunications subcommittee Chairman Jack Fields (R-Texas) returns from his China trip ready to resume sparring with FCC Chairman Reed Hundt.
… In the Senate, Pressler is expected to introduce legislation to end the paging application freeze. At the same time, the FCC may adopt interim licensing rules for paging in advance of guidelines for geographic licensing and auctions.
… PCIA wants FAA antenna clearance procedures streamlined.
… CTIA is getting satisfaction after complaints about fed compliance with new antenna siting guidelines.
… The District of Columbia is concerned about interference from APC digital phones.
