Leadership failures in Florida Shooting Case

Comments on the recent failure of the Sanford Florida City Council to take aLeadership role during the community turmoil surrounding the Trayvon Martin shooting tragedy. . Read it at http://www.bloggernews.net/128025

This week in the Nuclear Landcsape

An article in yesterday’s National Journal - (http://www.nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/panetta-u-s-has-potential-military-plans-for-iran-20120308) by Yochi Dreazen, details comments made by Defense Secretary Panetta this week regarding both Syria, and the Iranian Nuclear issue. This article mentions The fact that the United States is weighing options and contingencies for conflict with Iran, and obviously this is no surprise. The “no evidence of a weapon being built” comments which U.S. officials mentioned in December, and referred to last week (http://www.bloggernews.net/127814) “a Nuclear Iran - Through a foggy Lens” have fallen by the wayside, and the “but we really think they are building one” shoe, as predicted, has now dropped.

Last week, information provided to the media, (ahead of the White House meeting between President Obama, and Prime Minister Netanyahu) sent a message to Israel, that the U.S. was not ready for an escalation on the Iranian Nuclear issue, and they were letting the public know. This set the stage for an attempt by U.S. officials to turn the topic back to diplomacy and away from a military strike. Now that the meetings have taken place, there has been a shift in the message, and the U.S. posture of preparedness and planning is where it is written.

The comments by Secretary Panetta that a U.S. strike would be more effective than an Israeli one, on the heels of this White House meeting, change the landscape. Up until now Military and Government comments on a preemptive strike, have been limited to how “short term” this approach would be in eliminating the threat posed by Iran. Although a strike may not be imminent, the message is being sent to Iran is clear - Israel is committed, and now the U.S. knows it.

Congressman Convicted - No surprise

Today’s news that former Congressman William Jefferson, was convicted of bribery and racketeering, among other things, comes as no big surprise. Several things are worth revisiting regarding this former “big wheeler” and the support he was given by the House leadership. Most people will remember the media coverage and uproar that occurred as a result of the FBI search which took place at the Congressional office of Mr. Jefferson. The house leadership jumped on the issue right away, and claimed the search was improper, given that a congressional office was involved. The media coverage was extensive, as was the coverage that thousands of dollars in unexplained cash were found in Mr. Jefferson’s freezer. In the poor judgement Department, Nancy Pelosi was quick to denounce the search undertaken by the FBI, notwithstanding the fact, that a federal Judge had signed the warrant. (later upheld by the courts.) Pelosi at the time, also chose Jefferson for a seat on the House Homeland Security Committee, despite his upcoming legal battle, and questionable - ( now proven to be criminal) behavior. This “look the other way when it suits me” attitude that Mrs. Pelosi displayed was a foreshadow of things to come, as we saw with the CIA briefings conflict. In that debacle, Mrs Pelosi was not able to articulate what she knew and when. It did not stop her from throwing stones, after having done nothing at the time, but “look the other way” This is a pattern that the voters of California need to remember when re election time comes.

Training Standards for School Administrators

New York is a State which requires that a School Administrator become licensed by the State, (as it does with principals). Very often this process is undertaken by a successful classroom teacher, who having achieved a certain level of proficiency moves to the next step in the hierarchy to "management"

It is often stated that a school is in the “people business” this is true, yet the business aspect of this cliché is sometimes forgotten. Many customers are served by the business of education, the student, the parent, and ultimately the taxpayer - who theoretically benefits from a well educated community.
The management end of this business, even when steered by an expert “former” classroom teacher, needs a manager concerned with the complete health of his or her business. This Business to be managed has many divisions, as they are known in the private sector. Student services delivery, quality control in hiring, careful management of collective bargaining agreements, the constant education of the community served, and a solid public relations program, to ensure continued financial and budgetary support. These are daunting tasks.
An educated, licensed and successful teacher is often handed these tasks with a map written in pencil. Our new Administrator may now deal with an Elected Board of Education, (perhaps comprised of well meaning parents), and a collective bargaining agreement that he or she had no input into crafting. Top this off by handing this new executive a limited budget.
In this situation it is clear that a mentoring program for leaders in our education system is a necessity. We invest heavily in our education systems, and we must also invest in educational leadership and training.
We are asking our educational CEO’s to run a business for us, in which the stock is changing constantly, there are shifting standards, and new laws and mandates are thrown around on the wind. If we looked at the myriad of tasks that a school leader may perform, and then tried and write a list of skills needed for success in the position, we would end up with a full book. Lawyer, Doctor, Priest, Policeman, Counselor, and Diplomat, all rolled up in a bundle. It would be nearly impossible to write a curriculum for that kind of training.
If we were purchasing stock in this business we would insist that our company leaders have all the training and support they need, and we would make no assumptions that they bring all the needed skills with them to the Job.
Being a skilled and dynamic teacher, will not be enough to guarantee a smooth transition to success
In education administration, without the commitment toward lifelong learning that we often hear about. Continued education for our educational leaders, is a must, and also the fulfillment of a great management principle “leadership by example”.

Rep. Jefferson's new post

What is Nancy Pelosi thinking ? She puts a possible inmate -to be, on the Homeland Security Committee. It is just a matter of time before his legal troubles are front and center in the news headlines. Rep. Jefferson got a brief delay in his down slide, when the politicians on Capital Hill were able to shift the focus of the case from the Jefferson to the Search Warrant issue.
(see http://bridgeforsale.blogspot.com/2006/07/court-rules-capital-search-legal-no.html )

Rather than leave Jefferson on the sidelines during his upcoming trial, the Democrats put him on a sensitive committee. This appointment shows poor judgement. The taxpayers deserve well thought about appointments, not careless ones. Seventy -five thousand dollars in the freezer
goes a long ways now days.

Anna Nicole Smith Death Investigation

How long will it take the authorities to link a heroin addict to the deaths of Smith and her son ?

Two drug overdose deaths with one common denominator - the unscrupulous lawyer. Heck even the LAPD was able to hold someone responsible for John Belushi's overdose. This Smith Character needs to be seriously looked at.

Duke Case Flowchart