Looking Up To You

Crumbling Cynicism

I grew up in the bluest state that singularly could affirm, “Don’t Blame Us” on a bumper sticker following Richard Nixon’s 49 state landslide in 1972. By that time, my cynicism in government was already developing. I recall a moment in 6th grade when Ms. McCarthy called Mr. Lentine into our Greenwood School classroom to hear my perspective on writing to our Congressmen. I uttered something about the effort resulting in nothing but a “form letter reply,” and the looks on their faces reflected a bleak picture of an 11 year olds government view.

My early journey into government faithlessness began with the tears of my mother in November of 1963 and concluded with my dulled, impassive response to the news that Bobby Kennedy had been killed after winning the California primary in 1968. Between the bookend deaths of those Massachusetts sons were an unending parade of casket flags and more bullets that bled dry the dream of Martin Luther King. The hope of my youth, embodied by the national pursuit of landing a man on the moon and the possibility that RFK would end a senseless war, slowly withered under the strain of Munich, Richard Nixon, Watergate, a gas crisis and blindfolded Americans in Iran.

I was ambivalent to the Iranian students marching on the postcard University of Arizona campus, but the A’s I pulled in political science classes hinted the soul of an idealist wasn’t quite still. I rejected the negative politics of both major parties and voted for independent John Anderson in 1980. Reganomics, dead Marines in Beirut and boycotted Olympics sprayed the embers of optimism, and the election of 1988 featuring a Massachusetts Democrat in a tank pierced by the politics of cold Willie Horton fear fueled my apathy.

William Jefferson Clinton inspired some, but not me, and while the Clinton years were marked by a strong economy and a non-imperialist foreign policy, a stained blue dress and the lies of Bill Clinton produced a Republican Watergate payback and increased the divide between red and blue. (As an aside, I do think the refusal of most Congressional Democrats to pursue impeachment against Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush is to immunize the next Democratic President from retribution efforts by the right.)

The contentious election of 2000 delivered us George W. Bush by a hanging Florida chad and a stacked Supreme Court. The Bush administration has led by fear, lies and contempt for the voice of opposition, whether from its own citizens or long time global allies. In spite of a disastrous war in Iraq, corporate criminality empowered by their impotent Justice Department, and arrogant rejection of our Constitution, their swift boat lies managed to turn John Kerry from a Vietnam War hero to an anti-American loser. My hope is that the administration is not allowed to further damage our country in the long year left they cling to power.

A friend once explained to me that although she sometimes couldn’t articulate emotions, her actions defined them for her. I’ve been swaying between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for a while now, and while I’d be happy with either winning in November, I have a decision to make prior to casting a real vote on “Super Tuesday.” Yesterday in South Carolina, Mr. Obama earned more than twice the votes of Mrs. Clinton and perhaps more importantly, his vote total of 295,000 was more than the top two Republicans combined. Mrs. Clinton didn’t show much class in the 2 seconds she conceded out of a 45 minute speech to acknowledge the Obama victory. I’m sure she’d rather forget the reality of the results.

I guess my actions now define my beliefs. For the first time ever, this morning I made a financial contribution to a political candidate. For the first time ever, there’s a candidate running that I believe can make a difference to this country that will benefit my children and grandchildren. Since death in the 60’s wounded idealism and tears left an indelible impression on a toddler, I believe again in a leader to make a difference. I believe that leader is Barack Obama.

Un-United States of America

After watching the Democratic debate last night, I was left feeling positive about Barack Obama and impressed by Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. With the Dow Jones futures pointing nearly 500 points toward South Carolina this morning, I’m beginning to sway toward Mr. Obama’s message of optimism and unity. His candidacy is energizing young people in this country in a way reminiscent of John F. Kennedy in 1960. After seven years of Orwellian drudgery known as the Bush administration, I’m thinking that regardless of how competent she is, Mrs. Clinton is a polarizing figure who will not be able to bring people together to solve our mounting problems. The Republicans HATE her and her husband and unless the Democrats sweep to a 2/3 majority in the House and Senate, political cooperation with the Grand Old Party will be a prerequisite to getting anything accomplished.

As for experience, recent articles I've read cite the thin experience of Abraham Lincoln, while another concludes if experience was all that mattered, Dick Cheney is currently the most qualified person to become our next President. That puts the whole experience thing in some perspective, doesn't it?

Cease to Respin

Along with a nice iTunes Christmas gift certificate from Jeffro, he pretty much pulled a “Dubya” and issued an executive order for me to invest some of it in the Band of Horses sophomore bits, “Cease to Begin.” “It’s right up your alley,” raved Jeff. I seem to recall this effort being his #1 record of 2007. Track one, “Is There A Ghost” builds an echoey tempo to the one-minute mark then just explodes to the guitar/bass/drums wall of noise that dominates my aforementioned sonic alley. That’s where it ends. To me, the rest of the record is a mostly mellow affair with vocals that remind me of Yes’s Jon Anderson. I listened for what grabbed Jeff, but other than track 5, the reasoning eludes me. Could it be that simple? Track five has hand claps… Jeff always applauds handfuls of rhythm.

Just Another Random Sunday

• You know how after you spend a long time cooking a big dinner like for Thanksgiving and by the time it’s ready, you don’t feel like eating it because you’re a little sick of it? I think that’s how we might feel about whichever “Survivor” is our next President.

• Next time you’re in the Villages, check out Takis Greek & Italian Restaurant. After splitting a flaming saganaki opener, Kyle enjoyed the chicken souvlaki with fries (natch) and I was impressed by their pastichio.

• Worse than a recession, I think we may be in a period of deflation, where slow economic growth is wed to rapidly rising prices. Just in the last 2 days, I’ve been hit with these numbers:

• Heating Oil $546.15 2007 Delivery Avg $281.16
• Gasoline $50.14 2007 Fillup Avg $36.63
• Groceries $246.54 2007 Weekly Avg $132.89

• This must be the Bush version of “trickle down” economics. Oil trickles out of their Saudi pals and we pay more in every area of our economy.

• Recently I was privileged to visit the Salvadore Dali Museum. His 1940 hallucination, Slave Market with Disappearing Bust of Voltaire was a stunning highlight.

• You gotta love the sheer volume of ED spots during NFL games. If I ever have to go to the ER for priapism, I want to take a picture with the woman and the doctor just like they do after a fishing trip when you’ve landed a big one.

• Oh, I expect the Pats 19th win will be against the New York Football Giants.

• Speaking of the NFL, is it me or is Dish Network ripping off AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” in their NFL Network commercial?

• Supposedly the Clinton and Obama campaigns have chilled on the “race card,” yet yesterday after Mrs. Clinton was declared the winner in the Nevada caucuses, I heard a Senior Obama advisor on MSNBC stating she hoped Hillary Clinton would put as much effort into South Carolina as she did Nevada and that the citizens (30% black voters) of South Carolina “deserved to be heard.” The veiled implication is Mrs. Clinton doesn’t care as much about a state with a large black population… While accusing the Clinton campaign of dirty politics, the Obama people seem well schooled in it themselves.

Blog Tired… aka…

…Workin’ like a blog.

It’s been challenging to tickle this keyboard lately. I’m hoping a re-dedication to working out will fill me with natures Red Bull, but that won’t magically happen over one third shift. Also, this “living by talking around” takes time usually devoted to other work still required, so until I get more energy or my hands on a time turner, this space will suffer.

One new interest getting some time is digital photography. I’m experimenting with settings other than “Auto,” and having some success. Here are a few favorites:

December Sunset at The Villages


Christmas Eve





















Birthday Girl – Granddaughter Madison 3 months today...

Daley Double

Resolution Reality
Last night I attended another in a series of amazing dinner parties hosted by my friend Barb. One of the topics squeezed between courses of deep sea delicacies and their wine partners was New Years resolutions. Around the table we went with trips to Spain, getting in shape to ride a Mardi Gras float (2009 mind you…), a triathlon, moving to Boston, and my elusive answer: bringing Exxon-Mobil to its knees. Besides the fact the corporation doesn’t have knees and I won’t be bringing them there, my joke of a response just avoided putting something out there I might have to live up to. Pathetic.

Sitting in my favorite tube-shaped writing hall on route to Tampa and listening to my neglected “Workout Mix” provides me some time to reflect an appropriate pairing with “get in shape.” I think it was Barb who recently said her boss mentioned the mantra of “managing by walking around.” I definitely think that is a goal that would help me as a person and as part of career development. I need to take it beyond work though, so my goal number two will be “living by talking around.” It’s really simple. Just seek out people to talk to and gab away. It’s the “seek out people” that’s tough for me. Once I get past the “initiation” phase I manage the I/O of words pretty well. Who knows, “talking around” with enough women might get me… uh, I think two stretch goals are enough for now.

Hey, what’s that grease spot on the Ceiling?
Just like some office clown trying to snap a photocopy of their “good side,” “Meet the Press” host Tim Russert had his ass cheeks pressed down on the glass for his interview today with Hillary Clinton. Right from the opening question he did all he could to undermine Mrs. Clinton with the American Public, and for every incomplete video clip and out of context quote, the Senator from New York called him on the BS and set the record straight. It was a spectacular performance and I hope Mr. Russert is criticized in the mainstream press for his ambush. Very little of the interview focused on policy positions, and most of the hour was spent on political accusations, past scandals, embarrassments and generally all things anti-Clinton and pro-Barack Obama. I really didn’t sense any sexism on the part of Mr. Russert. No, to me he was squatting hard on his own Clinton Ceiling.

The Ombudsman

I've got stuff to do today and not much time to write, so I'll take one of the easy ways out. No, not a sock drawer cleaning, but a review of recent comments and questions from the adoring public:

Monday, November 19, 2007
“You are strange.”
Yes, but as an apple that didn’t fall too far from the tree, you should just embrace it.

Saturday, November 24, 2007
“Is Kyle holding a NYC rat?”
A rat? Uh, no. We forgot the doggie bag. That would be his movie replica “Voldemort” wand.

Saturday, December 08, 2007
“Wow. My heart skipped a beat when I saw you in this video. You're still adorable.”
Thank you. My videocam is a non-Canon HD model, so it does capture images very clearly in their adorable splendor.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007
“SHE'S SOOO CUTE!!! I produce beautiful offspring.”
As do I.

Thursday, December 27, 2007
“Technically speaking – birthdays mark the end of a year – not the beginning.”
Thank you for reminding me I am already in my 50th year of life.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008
“Please tell me a duet was involved: "S-U-P-E-R...”
Not that I recall. Here’s some video of the event I found over at tmz.com:


Thursday, January 10, 2008
“Any chance we could get through to the primary without too many of your play-on-words about 'Hilary the woman' versus 'Hilary the candidate'?”
No, no chance. The fact Mrs. Clinton is a woman and Mr. Obama is African-American is relevant to their candidacy and make their efforts historic. I will be quite happy with either as President, but the gender/race issues are very real and will be a significant factor in the general election. Is there some particular policy issue of hers you’d like dissected? As for the play-on-words, I do make an effort to add entertainment value to my posts, and granted, the wordplay is of questionable um, value. If you think they are no good, just write that.

Emotional Rescue

Girl, was I wrong!

I thought I was so clever writing, “Regardless of what new political makeup she may apply, it will never paint her the face of change that is Barack Obama.” What I failed to consider was nobody likes an ice princess unless it’s Dorothy Hammil, but one simple human moment and a tear stained eye* seemed to have a profound effect on the voters of New Hampshire who awarded Hillary Clinton with a stunning upset victory over Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Up to Tuesday, the Clinton teams own polling indicated she would lose by 11 percentage points, yet when the chads were all counted, she won by 3.

There’s a huge benefit to all of this for the Democrats. “Finding her voice” with the voters of New Hampshire has transformed Mrs. Clinton into a better candidate and the sobering experience for Mr. Obama, combined with more focus on his actual positions will strengthen him for a potential general election in the Fall.

* Son Volt song

Serendipity...

"Can we just get the plane?" It amazed me Kyle was willing to skip 3 days at WallyWorld to get home to his much missed Madison, but I managed to convince the boy we might just have some fun. The only "ride" Kyle really recalled from our 1999 visit was "TestTrack" at Epcot, and after avoiding the 220 minute wait New Years Eve, we returned the next day for another go. Half way into a 90 minute queue, a malfunction terminated the wait. "I'm done with TestTrack" a disappointed Kyle said flatly, and we headed for the exit over by the UK pavilion. Close to lunch, we stopped for fish n' chips with my Dad, then I fiddled with the LeoTreo for 15 minutes to research which of multiple medications could be jabbing Dad's legs with sharp pains... Nothing. Then she caught my eye...

The wind's changed...

Corn subsidy caucus voters had their say in Iowa and now it’s round two of “I’m running a positive campaign, but you suck,” aka the presidential primary process. An active base of evangelicals in Iowa stunned the party by um, blessing Mike Huckabee with 34% of the vote while rejecting corporate rep Mitt Romney and completely ignoring the FauxNews and military-industrial complex favorite, Rudolph “don’t call me Hess” Giuliani. Those voting in Iowa’s Democratic caucuses were fairly evenly split between two guys and a girl, but the night’s big winner, Barack Obama, earned more votes (nearly 90,000) than the top 3 Republican candidates combined.

Personally, I love each party’s fringe candidates, Democrat Dennis Kucinich and Republican Ron Paul. They were featured on Bill Moyers Journal that I caught Saturday night between 2 and 3am. Both are thinkers and have fundamental beliefs that defined each of their party’s long before corporate interests hoarded most of the Donkeys and Elephants. You can catch the transcript here.

Now the action is occurring just a few miles north of here in a more progressive state anxious to cement its image after losing face in 2003. It will be interesting to see which candidate receives the large segment of “Independent” NH voters. Those Independents favored Republican John McCain in 2000 and Barack Obama last week in Iowa. With “change” (from 7 years of Bush-Cheney) the emerging theme of 2008, I predict Mr. Obama will garner most Independent votes, win the Granite, and position himself to make history.

The Republican “establishment” candidates are an embarrassment to our country. For Thompson, Romney, McCain and Giuliani to smirk and laugh at another candidate (Ron Paul) shows a complete lack of respect to the American people who should be allowed to hear the man’s views, even if the vast majority don’t know what the hell he’s talking about because he actually provides details and not just sleepy slogans and “Islamo-facist” rhetoric. Aside from Dr. Paul, Mike Huckabee seems upright, but with the corporate sponsored Republican machine against him, he’ll struggle. I expect Mitt Romney is pretty, rich and energetic enough to win the Republican nomination, even if John McCain wins in NH.

The general election is the Democrat’s to lose. The country is fatigued by Bush-Cheney and generally is hearing more of the same out of the Republicans. Mr. Obama is building a wave of youthful hope that recalls the optimism of JFK’s presidency in the early sixties. My hope is that Hillary Clinton acknowledges this early and doesn’t help Republicans by tearing down Mr. Obama in a summer long dirty war of attrition just because she’s technically still in the race. Regardless of what new political makeup she may apply, it will never paint her the face of change that is Barack Obama.

Hello New Year

As 2007 met its 365 day quota and 2008 begins, I’m quietly enjoying a final few days of vacation. Most of this week was spent at DisneyWorld with my son and father and not my laptop.

Last week many a website, newspaper and magazine published their “best of” lists and I’m feeling somewhat obliged to contribute. Unfortunately, I didn’t listen to enough music or see sufficient movies to compile a top ten heard/seen, never mind a top ten. To quell the demanding masses, here’s a 2007 favorites compilation:

• Digital Download – Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky”
• Musical – The surprisingly wonderful “White Christmas” at Boston’s Wang Center
• Day – October 19th
• Walk – 10 blocks straight down Broadway with Kyle
• Quote in a meeting the morning after: “I’m not doing math in my head right now.”
• Toy – Nikon D40 DSLR
• Book - "Moneyball"
  
• Business Trip – Cleveland including a ballgame at the Jake.
• Job – (Tie) New doorway to the basement and landscaping makeover
• Concert – Wilco with Megan and Madison
• Movie – Knocked Up, seen with Megan while she was… uh…
• Gift – Tickets to “Mary Poppins” on Broadway for Kyle’s birthday.
• Documentary – I added this category because “Sicko” got nosed out for best movie
• Moment – Kyle standing to walk and hug and kiss Megan
• Doctor – (Tie) Christie Stine and Madelena Martin

2007 was a year that fear turned to hope and a new life began. It wasn’t a bad year, but it also wasn’t a list topper. Favorite year? Hmmm… I’ll have to give that some thought. A couple Sunday’s ago, Kyle, Dad and I watched a “60 Minutes” interview with Tom Brady. When asked his favorite of 3 super bowl rings was, he paused and then answered, “the next one.”

Here’s to 2008…