TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Could Anyone Have Forecast This Outcome?

ADVERTISEMENT

By TOM JACKSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 21, 2008

PORT RICHEY - Last year, they got Victoria Lim, at the time the NewsCenter's multimedia consumer pit bull. Big hit. This year, they invited Steve Jerve, the blond power forward meteorologist for all seasons and platforms; instead, they got a dinosaur, an old-style newspaper columnist. Uh-oh.

Worse, given the stubborn facts of newspaper circulation in Pasco County, they got a newspaper columnist most of the group never had heard of, let alone read. Then there was the columnist's opening admission: Not only is he Mesozoic, he is very nearly extinct, an unrepentant conservative in a media world that tends to tilt the other way.

To their credit, the West Pasco Chapter of Women of Hadassah did not instantly throw down their plastic forks and break for the exits, a scenario the columnist had not entirely ruled out. When an exodus failed to unfold, he was immediately grateful; a half-hour later, anxiety having long since melted into ease as he reacquired his seat, he felt utterly rewarded.

The Women of Hadassah, a 96-year-old international association, performs spectacular deeds of humanity and philanthropy that sometimes are only tangential to their organizing theme: unabashed Zionism, Jewish unity and renaissance, Israel preserved.

They also are active politically, favoring issues that blend felicitously with the American left, particularly in areas of gun control, abortion, fetal stem cell research, civil unions and nationalized health care.

Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz

Happily, the West Pasco chapter's annual membership luncheon is not a cable news show. Besides, despite opposing world views, they shared many aspirations - strength abroad, a growing economy, stability and safety in our communities.

"After all," said the newspaperman, "I am not here to cause heartburn."

The assembled agreed that there are three theaters in the war triggered by the events of Sept. 11, 2001 - Afghanistan and Iraq, of course, but also America, where bellicosity marks our divisions and hampers our dialog. All agreed that property taxes and homeowners insurance remain unrepaired, and that they are impatient for wise remedies. And they agreed to deplore the dismal turnout for the August primary.

Here's why, someone said. Communication between the candidates and the voters was terrible; the primary date came and went and she still hadn't known who deserved her support. "It's not any better now," she said.

Partly Cloudy, Chance Of Storms

The columnist conceded that he didn't know what to do with that. The local papers wrote extensively about the primary races. All the candidates have Web sites. "I don't do the Internet," came a chorus. Hmmm, said the columnist.

They ought to do forums, where they come and tell people firsthand what they think, what their plans are. They do, said the columnist. They tend to be poorly attended. Hmmm, came a chorus. Not to worry, a member popped up to say, we're having our own forum. Oct. 29. Jasmine Lakes Clubhouse. Candidates are advised to show up.

And that was pretty much that. All in all, a pleasant lunchtime experience. Except for the member who approached the columnist and huffed, "You never did talk about the weather."

No. No, I guess I didn't. Maybe next year?

Tom Jackson can be reached at (813) 948-4219.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT