All things in moderation. Too bad the Moderates are leaving.

Republican Maine Senator Olympia Snowe is calling it quits. She joins a growing list of political moderates from both the Republican and Democratic Parties who have had enough of the bizarre political partisanship that has sadly become the norm in government.

Not that long ago, Senators like Ted Kennedy and Alan Simpson would verbally duke it out on the Senate floor, but at the end of the day they would find a way to compromise and do what's best for America. Senator Simpson once told me that "If you like to get your own way, don't go into politics."

Polar political opposites, Senators Kennedy and Simpson were also close friends.  After a tough day of doing the nation's business, they were as likely to go out together for dinner and enjoy each other's company, knowing full well they'd be battling the next day in the Senate. But things got done.

Another political odd couple was President Reagan and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. Both folk heroes in their respective parties, with differing views but when the going got tough, they could get together (often over a nip or two) and figure out a way to craft legislation that benefited the folks on Main Street. Again, it involved compromise. Both fully understood what their duties were.

I met Speaker O'Neill briefly at an event at the Kennedy Center. We were standing in line at a bar and chatted briefly. It was a black tie gala, but I noticed O'Neil had dirt under his fingernails. The true sign of a working man.

I don't know about you, but I watch and read with great sadness the political hoo-ha from both parties this election year. It's all about painting your opponent as being evil. Can you remember any candidate looking into the camera and telling you how they wanted to make life better for you and your family? I thought not.

Government is described these days as dysfunctional, by definition something "that is flawed and doesn't operate correctly, or someone that deviates from normal and accepted social behavior."

Maybe it's time we start all over again, time to throw all the bums out. Goodness knows they're not hard to find.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

CVN 65-TV bad case of "Enterprise" Television

The Navy has relieved Captain Owen Honors from command aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise. He was at the center of a series of what are described as "raunchy" videos shown over the ship's television system. You can click on the story link to get full details.

My post here is just how surprised I was this ever happened and that Captain Honors was involved.

As a reporter I was embedded on three different aircraft carriers--the USS Kennedy, USS Constellation and USS Ranger. These huge ships are like huge floating cities with today's ships of the line carrying upwards of 6-thousand plus crew members. Like any city, the ships have post offices, recreation, education, hospitals and even television studios. Programming ranges from great camera shots from the flight deck to educational, entertainment and sports programming. A normal deployment is 6 months, and while the crew work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, there is some downtime and television is a great way to relax.

Life aboard a combat ship is highly regimented. Officers and enlisted crew members are essentially segregated from each other except while working. "Officer's County" lines are clearly marked. It has to be.

On the Kennedy for example, the Skipper used the television facilities to communicate with the crew and again using the city metaphor, reporting to the citizens of the ship. One of the chaplains aboard the Kennedy even had his own talk show!

I'm not sure what motivated Captain Honors to do what he did, but he clearly crossed a line of command and good taste. Honors is an Annapolis graduate and taught at Top Gun. A highly accomplished officer.

It's sad that some ill-advised videos will sink his career. Many may think, "What's the harm?" But when you are charged with leading thousands of crew members in an extremely dangerous work environment, there's a good reason for solid lines of discipline and conduct.

Ironically, while the men and women of our armed forces defend our right of free speech, it doesn't actually apply to them. It's part of the sacrifice they know they make when they swear the oath.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"