Loading ...All Is Not Well
I kicked myself in the butt for missing the Mayor’s State of the City Address yesterday. I had to teach and couldn’t cancel class. However, I did set my DVR to record it and watched it later. I will give the Mayor credit for being eternally optimistic about the city’s future, but when you think about it, does he really have a choice? You have to be optimistic about the city’s future because you’ll go nuts if you don’t.
Who wouldn’t want to think about 18 homicides, numerous carjackings (including one this morning, a broke budget, etc. When a woman is carjacked, robbed and raped and it all starts in a parking garage just a few blocks from the Mayor’s office you have to think happy thoughts or you’ll be reaching for the anti-depressant.
While I understand the Mayor wanting to keep a positive front, I just can’t help but think of that scene from Animal House during the riot at the parade and Kevin Bacon yelling “be calm, all is well.” All is not well in the Circle City folks. If you think it is, I would suggest you ask the family of Asia Davis. She was the city’s 18th homicide victim.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Abdul,
I listen to you everyday and love your show. However, I have to take issue with you on something. How come when you have the mayor on your program, you do not ask him the “tough” questions?
When I say “tough”, I mean asking him, ” Mr. Mayor, earlier this year, you unveiled an $85 million plan that would help to pay for new crime-fighting initiatives and pay off police and fire pensions.
Of that money, you said $15 million would go toward new prevention programs like those recommended by a recent task force. The $5 million pledge toward youth programs would be a third of that prevention money.
So are you asking for 5 mill MORE to pay for something you already have budgeted ?”
It just seems to me, that the local media always gives the mayor softball questions. Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Brian
February 28th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Here’s another tough question Abdul,
Why not ask the Mayor about the peashakes?
February 28th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Good questions from both of these folks.
…Abdul?
February 28th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Abdul is way too nice to everyone that comes on his show. I think he tries too hard to make sure they like him so they’ll come back on. Kinda like the people who didn’t report on Saddam Hussien so they wouldn’t lose ‘access.’ Abdul doesn’t want to jeapordize his status as a local media elite.
February 28th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I do think that if he was too harsh during his interviews with the mayor, that maybe the mayor would decline to come on his show. So, yes, Abdul does have a very tough line to tow.
The problem that I have is that Abdul talks tough on these issues, only when the guest is not present. If he could point out some times when he has had the mayor on and he did ask some tough questions, then I would stand corrected. But, I have been listening for quite awhile, and I have not heard anything but softball questions. The one time Abdul did ask a semi-tough question, wouldn’t you know it, the mayor had a bad cell phone connection and had to call right back.
All I want is for Abdul to question the Mayor with the same convictions that he shows on a daily basis regarding the crime wave that is hitting this city(among other issues). Abdul has a very large stage (his radio show) to do some good for this city. Most citizens of this city do not have the opportunity to question the Mayor the way Abdul does.
So please Abdul, no more softball questions, and start asking some tough ones. Sure the questions might not be want your guests want to hear, but these are the questions that your listeners want to hear.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Quite right, Brian.
Of course I wouldn’t be surprised if ole Bart calls up Andrew and tell’s him “If Abdul embarasses me, I’ll never come back on.” So Andrew tells Abdul “Hey buddy - I know you get paid more than I do, but I’m still the boss. If you piss of the guests, we won’t have a show. I can’t let that happen so go easy on ‘em when you’ve got them on the line. Capiche?”
And Abdul nods his head with a sad look and says “You know, you’re right. But you also know that it pisses off the listeners.” And Abdul is right about that, too.
Well, at least we’ve got Mancow now. It’s definitely not a favorite, but the guy doesn’t pull any punches in interviews.
Helloooo? Abdul? I love you bro, but when are you gonna start knockin’ a few heads when you get ‘em in your corner?
February 28th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
You know, if you put your name out there and become mayor of a city, we have the right to have some answers to our questions. We don’t walk around with our own bodyguards, we are hanging out there like a big matzah ball.
March 1st, 2007 at 1:26 pm
“we are hanging out there like a big matzah ball.”
Is that you, Bob Parker?
March 1st, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Anonymous: ” we are hanging out there like a big matzah ball. ”
Is that you, Bob Parker?
March 1st, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Wilson46201:
I think we got the picture, ok? Do us a favor and go back over to TDW.
March 1st, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Sorry for the double comment - it didnt show at first.
What’s the matter “Joe” ? Feel uncomfortable with the whiffs of anti-Semitism swirling around some of the local GOP nutterballs?
March 1st, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Uh, Wilson, if you had a life you would realize that the “hanging out there like a big matzah ball” is refering to Seinfeld.