Thursday, February 4, 2010

U.S. Senate becoming a Mideastern bazaar

There's a lot of frustration with the Senate's filibuster rules. The threat of filibuster (endless irrelevant speech designed to prevent a vote) has produced a de facto 60 vote requirement to pass legislation.

Article 1 of the Constitution enables each house to make its own rules. Thus, the House of Representatives can shut off debate and call for a vote while the Senate requires a super majority of 60 out of 100 votes to invoke cloture. During the last century, the filibuster/cloture rule was credited with promoting compromise and moderation in the Senate.

Over the last decade, increased polarization by both parties, a shift away from using filibusters only rarely, and the increase in threats to filibuster instead of actually filibustering, changed everything for the worse. Today, every piece of legislation is close to a 60/40 vote that turns the Senate into a Middle Eastern bazaar with 100 deal-makers, and convinces the minority that its self interest lies in preventing the legislative branch from solving the people's problems.

Clearly, it's time for change. There are technical solutions available to the majority, and Sen. Harkin has proposed a progressive reduction in the votes necessary for cloture. But the simplest and most obvious change that's needed is for the majority, Democrats or Republicans, to stop abandoning democratic principles at the mere threat of filibuster. Calling the minority's bluff and forcing them to publicly perform this ridiculous spectacle in an election year might prove helpful in the long run. The public's reaction to seeing a bunch of mostly old, rich white guys reading cake recipes into the Congressional Record so as to prevent a vote on jobs, mortgage assistance, health insurance, education loans, the deficit and getting too-big-to-fail Wall Street bankers to repay taxpayers' loans will be interesting.

Roger C. Kostmayer

Key West

Key West is blessed with performing arts

An event [Jan. 24] took me back to Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, 1966, when "My Fair Lady" opened at the Waterfront Playhouse and sold out for two weeks. That "My Fair Lady," starring Mary Ann Matchett as Eliza, John DePoo as her father, Dick Theall as Henry Higgins and Bob Evans playing Colonel Pickering, with Peter Pell directing, is one of my fondest and earliest live theater experiences.

Some 44 years later, my wife and I attended the Key West Pops Orchestra's presentation of "My Fair Lady" at the Tennessee Williams Theatre, directed by Diana Roll and choreographed by Penny Leto. The response from those in attendance underscored the genius of Vincent Zito's artistry and the professionalism of the cast and orchestra. One week of rehearsal culminated with a standing, cheering, animated and sustained ovation. That reaction from a grateful audience honoring the evening's entertainment was well-earned.

The cast led by Michael Mulligan (Henry Higgins), Lanna Shofner (Eliza Doolittle), Jack Agnew (Colonel Pickering), Jack Black (Alfred P. Doolittle) and Bruce Moore as Freddy were all outstanding.

As I entered the lobby at Tennessee Williams, reflecting on the show at the Waterfront many years ago, there appeared the star of that 1966 show, Mary Ann Matchett. We talked about that huge success and shared memories and then were seated, and I couldn't help but reflect on what an incredible legacy Mary Ann and all the performers and directors and casts and crews past have given this island. What a great foundation and tradition for superior live stage performance they provided Key West.

This year the Waterfront celebrates its 70th year, the Red Barn is going strong and Tennessee Williams is thriving. Nancy and I feel blessed to be part of a place that has sustained, through the hard work and devotion of so many talented people, a wonderfully diverse performing arts culture. To Mary Ann, who played Eliza those many years ago, you will always be my "star" of "My Fair Lady."

Ed Swift III

Key West

Teachers are grateful to business community

The Key West Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Teachers of the Quarter luncheon on Jan. 27. As one of the teachers in attendance, I am sincerely grateful to the chamber's Education Committee, Krystal Ruffo and Kay Miller, for organizing this lovely event. The support of the business community is deeply appreciated by the teachers of the Key West children. Thanks so much.

Patricia Hall

Glynn R. Archer

Elementary School

Key West