Early this morning Bill Clark the contractor and philanthropist who helped change the landscape of Little Rock died.  He was 63.  Clark and his company CDI Contractors were intimately involved in many prominent projects in Little Rock including  the William J. Clinton Center, Heifer International Headquarters, Jack Stephens Center at UALR,  Stephens Tower at UAMS,  the new Immanuel Baptist Church in West Little Rock, the First Security Center/Downtown Marriott in the River Market and many more.  Clark also served on the boards of many institutions and charities including the UA Board of Trustees where he also served as chairman. 

Memorials may be made to the Parks Conservancy, PO Box 7329, Little Rock, AR 72217. This is an effort to restore 13 acres of wetlands on the Arkansas River near the Clinton Library. It will be called the Bill Clark Presidential Park Wetlands as a tribute to his love of the outdoors.

President Clinton issued the following statement today: “Bill Clark was a brilliant contactor, a fine citizen, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a very good man. He built the Clinton Library with the care, concentration, and determination he brought to every part of his life. I cherished our friendship and will miss him very much. Hillary and I offer our prayers and love to Margaret and his family.”

Reports The Washington Times.  “New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is prepared to spend an unprecedented $1 billion of his own $5.5 billion personal fortune for a third-party presidential campaign, personal friends of the mayor tell The Washington Times. ”He has set aside $1 billion to go for it,” confided a long-time business adviser to the Republican mayor. “The thinking about where it will come from and do we have it is over, and the answer is yes, we can do it.”"

Says White House Press Secretary Tony Snow regarding World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.  It appears the White House has softened its stance on Wolfowitz’s position at the bank and appears unlikely to continue to support him.�

The New York Times reports “After six weeks of fighting efforts to oust him as president of the World Bank, Paul D. Wolfowitz began today to negotiate the terms of his possible resignation, in return for the bank dropping or softening the charge that he had engaged in misconduct, bank officials said.” 

“The Rev. Jerry Falwell, the fundamentalist preacher who founded the Moral Majority and brought the language and passions of religious conservatives into the hurly-burly of American politics, died yesterday in Lynchburg, Va. He was 73,” reports The New York Times.

Falwell, a powerful figure in modern Republican party politics, was also a divisive one.  He opposed the civil rights movement, equal rights for gays and lesbians, and abortion among other things.  In 1999, Falwell said that “the Antichrist was probably alive and if so would be in the form of a male Jew.”

After 9-11 attacks, on Pat Robertson’s “700 Club” TV show two days after 9/11, Falwell said that the terrorist attacks were signs that “God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.” Then he had revealed who among us had angered God enough to bring on the attack: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way — all of them who have tried to secularize America — I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.’ ”

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Macel Pate Falwell of Lynchburg; three children, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Jonathan Falwell, both of Lynchburg, and Jeannie Falwell Savas of Richmond; and eight grandchildren.

Looks like Giuliani and Romney are the target as McCain, Brownback and others mentioned their right-to-life credentials and reasons why they should be the nominee.  Romney, as he mentioned, is personally pro-life, but he supported pro-choice policies in Massachusettes.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said, “Congress has spent more money than John Edwards at a beauty parlor.”  The crowd laughed.  Andrea Mitchell of NBC pointed out that up until January, Congress was controlled by Huckabee’s own party.  Who exactly was Huckabee teasing?

If the Republican nominee comes from thus bunch, Giuliani or Romney is the man.  But watch out for Fred Thompson and Newy Gingrich.  Both are expected to enter the race soon.

                                         
It’s not all that often that I take a moment of personal privilege and write about something non-political.  Well, it turns out that one of my good college friends is engaged to another Middlebury alum.  This thing happens at Middlebury.  People find each other in New York or Boston or someother city and they re-unite.

Such has happened to my friend Farah Marcel and her fiance Kyle.  Please check out their wedding site and wish them joy and peace.  September 22nd is the big day.

After months of conflicting signals on abortion, Rudolph W. Giuliani is planning to offer a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights in public forums, television appearances and interviews in the coming days, reports The New York Times.

This is going to get interesting.  I cannot remember the last time a Republican front-runner has run on a pro-abortion rights platform.  I’ve long argued that Giuliani is best choice for Republicans.  First, he’ll be able to compete in California, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, states where traditional conservatives get whipped.

The New York element makes this a real threat to Democrats, no matter the nominee.  Nonetheless, Giuliani’s banking on the February 5th mega primary where socially moderate states with many delegates at stake could propel over the top.  It’s a risk, but changing his mind on abortion just to appeal to right flank would have been political suicide.

After months of coy hints and fevered speculation, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced today that he would leave office on June 27 after a decade in power, reports The New York Times.

The New York Times has a tough piece on the current Little Rock School District situation and its impact on the Central High 50th Anniversary.

From the Media Advisory:

Arkansas Puzzle Day at the Clinton School
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Great Hall, Clinton Presidential Center

Come join the Clinton School for Arkansas Puzzle Day, featuring New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz and the producers of the hit documentary Wordplay.

Puzzle Day Schedule:

1:30 p.m. – FREE Crossword and Sudoku Puzzle Tournament with Will Shortz (See
registration info below)

4:00 p.m. – Screening of Wordplay, with producers Christine O’Malley and Patrick
Creadon

6:00 p.m. – Lecture and Discussion with Will Shortz (Followed by a DVD and book
signing with Shortz, O-Malley and Creadon)

This event is FREE and open to all puzzle enthusiasts. To register for any of the puzzle day events, email Publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu, or call Nikolai DiPippa at 501-683-5239.

The third annual Daniel Cayce Award for Leadership in Public Service was awarded to Jacksonville High School senior Zachary Price this morning at the Clinton School of Public Service. Sixteen other high school students were also recognized as finalists for the award.

Given to a young person who demonstrates selfless volunteerism on behalf of his or her community, the Daniel Cayce Award was established in 2005 and named after inaugural recipient Daniel Cayce of Bearden who worked for 14 years helping needy families in southeast Arkansas. Cayce, who attended the ceremony, is now a pre-dental student at Ouachita Baptist University.

Iowa’s moving up, so is Florida, and New Hampshire and every one else.  The Washington Post has a story quoting leaders from both sides indicating the challenges it provides for the candidates.

I’ve been harping on this for months.  I think states are doing a disservice to the nominating process with their meneuvering.  That, and it doesn’t always ensure a positive outcome, i.e. John Kerry in 2004.

The White House prepares for a visit from Queen Elizabeth II, her first since 1991.  She’s in Kentucky today watching the ponies.  I wonder if she’s put any money on Curlin, the Arkansas Derby winner?

Here’s one.