Though it's nothing new for a candidate to stump as "not another political insider," Buzz had to stop and look twice at a campaign sign planted in the Midcities. Bob Stewart, a Republican running for the District 42 state House seat representing parts of Hurst, Euless, and Bedford, has framed his campaign around the slogan: "Not another lawyer."
Even Buzz will admit there's an overabundance of petty foggers in the Lege, and that shysters historically have been plagued--unfairly we're sure--by a somewhat seedy reputation. But, Bob, is it wise to base your shot at public office on the fact that you aren't from a particular profession (even if your opponents both hail from that unsavory line of work)?
"Out in this area, we are tired of being snowed with the fancy words, the blah-blah-blah," Stewartite volunteer Barbara Dale explained. "We want someone who represents the ordinary people's interests."
If Stewart's not another lawyer, you might ask, what is he? Try a former Federal Aviation Administration manager. Guess that makes him just another retired government bureaucrat.
You're late with 8
In the battle for ratings, local television stations are once again proving that they are willing to lavish huge budgets on the things vital to news coverage. This time it's snappy slogans.
In the early days of the battle, it was critical, apparently, to connect not just with Dallas-Fort Worth but the larger mystique of the Lone Star State. Remnants of that can be found in the fanciful "Eye on Texas" motto at CBS's Channel 11 and the highly imaginative "News 4 Texas."
But Channel 5, hot off a roll of scoops, upped the ante with the daring "First on 5."
Uh-oh. We knew it wouldn't be long before the 800-pound gorilla of local news, Channel 8, would have to respond in its predictably pompous way. Billboards went up featuring Belo's beloved motley crew of anchors mugging beside the maxim: "We're first when it counts."
Er, exactly who decides when it counts? Channel 8's news director? Might this just be a way of saying: "OK, so we didn't have it first--but, so what, it doesn't count!"?
That, of course, is just a variation on the unofficial motto of 8's Belo sibling, The Dallas Morning News: "It isn't news until we say so."
Merciful God--as if!
Public displays of outrage and frustration continue to surge over the unsolved kidnapping and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman. Take, for example, this to-the-point sign Buzz spotted on a message board--usually reserved for thoughts of a more pastoral nature--at the Cathedral of Praise church at I-30 and Fielder Road in Arlington: KIDNAPPERS MUST BE EXECUTED. EX 21:16. The Old Testament verse rephrased in the sign would be one of the "take-no-prisoners" laws laid down in the Book of Exodus--in this case, "And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
