Calling All Ricocheters
Recently I wrote a column about how, as a resident of New Jersey, I was delighted to see my state lose a seat in Congress while states such as Texas and Arizona gained. In it I had an off-hand reference to the pork that the late Senator Byrd excelled in, to wit: the Robert C. Byrd Highway, the Robert C. Byrd Institute, the Robert C. Byrd Courthouse.
I had a disproportionate number of readers write in suggesting that Congress pass a law forbidding the naming of any building paid for by taxpayers after a politician (unless he's dead and has not otherwise contributed to the said project).
Asking for all your help from wherever you live. Can you give me examples in *your* states of the public buildings named for politicians - especially those still in office -- that bug you? Am particularly interested if any of these projects are still ongoing, i.e., that there's time to get that name off the building. I speak as a man who travels through the Frank Lautenbereg Rail Junction in Secaucus every day.
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Jun '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
South Mountain Arena here in NJ is now the Richard J. Codey Arena. Contintntal Arena used to be Brendan Byrne arena, but Continental put up enough cash to have his name removed.....Maybe that'w why I'm a loyal Contintntal customer.
Aug '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Have you tried to book a flight into the John Murtha Airport ?
I think Lousiana had to take the cake for awhile with Huey Long written on pretty much everything built.
Chicago has always had a "Brought to you By Mayor Richard Daley" complex.
There is an Emanuel Cleaver Boulevard in Kansas City, he is one of the Capital Hill rabble rousers who swore up and down about being spat on.
Isnt the cafeteria at Colo Univ in Boulder named after Alfred Packer, the cannibal chief (chef) of the Donner Party ?
Jun '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Just off the top of my head, the Governor Bill Richardson Spaceport comes to mind. I'm sure there are other examples, but I would have to do research.
Jul '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
While Senator Kit Bond of Missouri did not necessarily bug me, he does have a namesake bridge in Kansas City, MO.
That said, most of the items on this list do bug me.
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Anyone out there in Illinois: is that bridge that then-Speaker Dennis Hastert fought for amed after him?
May '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Oh, gosh don't get me started. Here in Oakland, we've got the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_V._Dellums_Federal_Building
It really is a very nice federal building but, after Mr. Dellums lackluster at best performance as mayor here even the local leftists were glad to see him go. That's not saying much; he was hardly ever seen when he was here.
A monument to somnolence.
Dec '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Kervinlee: Oh, gosh don't get me started. Here in Oakland, we've got the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_V._Dellums_Federal_Building
It really is a very nice federal building but, after Mr. Dellums lackluster at best performance as mayor here even the local leftists were glad to see him go. That's not saying much; he was hardly ever seen when he was here.
A monument to somnolence. · Jan 21 at 10:17am
I work in it. It's exactly as you say.
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Right now I'm mostly interested in Congressmen and Senators. It would be symbollic, but a nice gesture by Republicans if they could pass a law forbidding this kind of thing when it involves taxpayer dollars.
The practice also seems to me to reward longevity, not necessarily something we want to encourage in our solons. Think of the Charles Rangel Center for Public Service at the City University of New York. The longer they are in office, the more of our money they seem to spend.
Dec '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
The only thing I can think of locally named for a politician is the Ronald Reagan Highway. Since my political conversion, it is a heartwarming welcome home every time I see the sign. I'm pretty sure he was out of office when it was renamed.
We had a long-time mayor (Bob Isaac), since deceased, who was a true public servant. I'd like to see something named for him.
I agree with your proposal though. It should only be done once the person is dead and under the condition that they had nothing to do with acquiring funds for the project.
Nov '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Bud Shuster Highway (I-99) - a symbol of all that's wrong with Republicans who live off the trough. After Bud's election/retirement tango, the PA Republican party conducted a long,exhaustive search only to find that the single qualified replacement in all of the district was his son, Bill.
These types of stories are what gives me pause when I get excited about what a new congress could accomplish. I really worry that they'll quickly be enamored of the glory and power they can wield if they're willing to ignore the people.
Dec '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Bill McGurn: Right now I'm mostly interested in Congressmen and Senators. It would be symbollic, but a nice gesture by Republicans if they could pass a law forbidding this kind of thing when it involves taxpayer dollars.
The practice also seems to me to reward longevity, not necessarily something we want to encourage in our solons. Think of the Charles Rangel Center for Public Service at the City University of New York. The longer they are in office, the more of our money they seem to spend. · Jan 21 at 10:22am
The Dellums building was to honor Dellums's long service as a Congressman. It was built before he became Mayor -- one could argue that it's a prime example of why not to name projects after serving politicians, since it may have contributed to Dellums's mayoral win, which was a disaster for Oakland.
By the way, Bill, your column in the WSJ on whether a baby is better than an abortion was lovely. Have you been following the story of Dr. Gosnell's House of Horrors, aka the Women's Medical Society of Philadelphia?
May '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
I don't think you want to pursue that idea, because that rule would inevitably apply to US Naval vessels. The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) was commissioned in 2009 and the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) was commissioned in July 2003. It's just too wonderful a big, fat "screw you" to liberal Democrats to have a ship named after a living former president. However, I think you could make a law prohibiting naming a building after someone before he has, you know, done anything. Here in Maryland, Barack Obama Elementary School was christened before it's namesake had a chance to find the bathroom in the West Wing.
Edited on Jan 21, 2011 at 11:13amMay '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
The worst in my book is the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, renamed that in 2000, a near decade before his political demise and death. It was also well before he ceased directing federal tax dollars to a very profitable airport operation. It is for example the International hub for FedEx and has dozens of other international cargo airlines use it, resulting in an average of 100 daily jumbo jet cargo landings a DAY. Lowest cost passenger and cargo airport in the world, yet it still obtained federal tax dollars.
May '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Near me are the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (which locals alternately refer to as either Bush or Intercontinental) and the Barbara Bush Library (which was revamped for the name change).
I've been told that Presidential libraries suck up a lot of money.
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
I am for naming things after politicians only after they are dead. Sort of like saints in the Catholic church.
Stuart, do you feel you need to wear a paper bag over your head when you go into your building?
Aug '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Tripedis Canis: While Senator Kit Bond of Missouri did not necessarily bug me, he does have a namesake bridge in Kansas City, MO.
That said, most of the items on this list do bug me. · Jan 21 at 9:47am
We have a Kit Bond business incubator at Missouri Western in St Joe.
But isnt that a beautiful bridge ?
Nov '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
"Trent Lott Center for Economic Development," a very impressive building that graces the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. I like the building a lot; the fact that it was named after a politician, not so much.
Itis a HUGE building that took five years to build, and has a very "Washington DC" official look to it, just the kind of thing that strokes a politician's ego. Original cost estimate was nearly $23 million, and they went over that considerably (though I do not know the final cost). Construction began in 2004, while Senator Lott was still in office (he resigned December 2007).
I think under certain circumstances it is a fine idea to honor a longtime public servant during his lifetime by naming a building after him, but really, this one is waaaaay over the top.
May '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Here in Illinois the pols put their name on signs. Welcome To Chicago, Richard J. Daley, Mayor kind of thing. The last reasonable act Pat Quinn did as governor was his first, taking Blago's name off all the tollway signs.
May '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
Since nobody has got around to rebranding Detroit yet, I'm going to propose they name it "The John David Dingell Jr. Memorial Federal Enterprise Zone."
Jul '10
Re: Calling All Ricocheters
When I visit my father at his vacation spot in Delaware we inevitably visit the Cape Henlopen State Park, which is a very nice beach. However, every time we enter the park and are on our way to the parking area we have to pass a sign for the "The Biden Center" -- an environmental training center. There are a few other signs for places named Biden in that area as well.
It does seem to me to be in bad taste to have a building named after you when you are just a hired hand tending the government stead.