It's Public Shaming Day on the Times opinion pages, as the editorial board, columnists and op-ed writers ridicule politicians and local officials who've made news this week (and not in a good way). Columnist Tim Rutten berates would-be Republican National Committee Chairman Chip Saltsman for violating one of the five rules of politics: never make racial or ethnic jokes. (Check out Lisa Richardson's Opinion L.A. blog post, too, for more on "Barack the Magic Negro.") The editorial board chastises indicted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for appointing Roland Burris to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, although it argues that Burris should be allowed to take the post because the "distasteful" appointment was, ahem, lawful. Insert your Blago joke here. And former Times reporter Joe Mathews, now at the New America Foundation, blasts the Tournament of Roses Assn. for downsizing the Rose Parade to appease broadcasters at the expense of the event's lifeblood: its fans.

But no matter how accommodating parade officials are, in a world of fragmented media and diminished TV audiences, the Tournament may not be able to maintain its network TV presence.

In fact, the cure may be worse than the disease. In trying to retain network coverage, the Tournament could lose the support of its local base.

Rounding out the op-ed page, author Pico Iyer searches for the meaning of the New Year's holiday. And over on the editorial page, the board urges the next president to abandon the futile efforts waged by his 10 predecessors to "overthrow, undermine or cajole" Fidel Castro:

Fifty years of failure is too long. The incoming Obama administration should move quickly to embark on a rapprochement with Cuba and bring an end to punitive policies, especially the economic embargo. The United Nations condemns it, the European Union is trading with Cuba, and Latin America is urging the United States to allow Cuba back into the fold. This policy change will take time and political will, but it is in our national interest and, ultimately, in Cuba's.

Finally, in Letters, readers react to recent Times pieces about Inglewood police, the value of midwives, the late Eartha Kitt, a lost cat and the Interstate system.

Illustration: Christopher Serra For The Times