tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85577274176919035152024-02-20T14:05:01.654-08:00Random SamplerRandom Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-43789753241426140682020-05-21T07:15:00.000-07:002020-05-21T07:15:36.981-07:00
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 115%;"><font face="Calibri">The
Random Sampler<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Recently, The Star-Ledger’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve Politi, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>offered up “Gym Owner a Hero? Now that’s Quite
a Stretch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was beginning to think
that in these days of lawns signs, public announcements<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lauding<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>so many heroes, and rightfully so; they deserve it: the healthcare
workers, teachers, firemen, police and the others who were at the
forefront<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the Covid-19 pandemic. Apparently,
there is no room<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for hard working ,
take- the- initiative American types. Don’t be surprised when this pandemic is
behind us that this latter group will be so lauded.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Up until now it was hard for the commoner to become a hero, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>unless of course, you belonged <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the elites: political, media and
cult-of-personality celebs. Nice to see the accolades spread around a bit and
not monopolized by the liars, provocateurs and those<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>practiced in sleight of hand. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri">The gym owners in question in Bellmawr, N.J., are in
defiance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of Gov. Murphy’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>edict No. 73. Which states,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I’m paraphrasing, You must relinquish and
lose all control in the entity in which you have devoted and invested your
whole life. The two co-owners of the gym,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti , re-imagined their gym, making it as safe
as they could, but still, according to Murphy, they didn’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>comply with his mandate. They were
ceremonially summonsed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>twice, at last
count. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri">There have been, reportedly, 100,000 small businesses
nationwide that have been wiped out, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>never to return. Something doesn’t feel right
when citizens are relieved of many of their<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>rights by political fiat. Never have <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Americans acquiesced so easily in the past few
months as they did in the war years -- with no war. And this is a mysterious
“open-ended” enemy as elusive as the combatants in Afghanistan and Iraq. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when we meet all the benchmarks <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the state has laid out and want to hear some
positive news and get back to normal we are given yet another jeremiad.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri">The frustration is growing twofold: people are tired of
being pent up in their homes especially as the weather<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>grows <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>warmer ;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>they are also skeptical<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the
directives of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our political leaders who
really seem clueless as to what happens next. The unpreparedness we have experienced<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>exposes how truly inept our leaders are
especially when they blame anyone but themselves for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>disastrous results like what was going on
in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nursing homes in New Jersey and New
York. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, anybody can be a leader when
there aren’t any problems ; the real leader steps up in a crisis and takes
responsibility for the outcomes of his or her policies. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Perhaps ,it is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Politi who should read up on how democracy works. It’s government by the
people, not decree by our elected leaders. If we can go to the supermarket,
Home Depot, Walmart wearing protective gear, why not the gym?<o:p></o:p></font></p>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-56148653037145343532014-12-03T07:21:00.002-08:002014-12-03T07:21:39.179-08:00Grand Juries with Guns to Their Heads
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You know when Al Sharpton is invited by the president of the
United States to offer his ideas on how police should conduct themselves on how
to do their jobs in high crime areas, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we
are in trouble. For a president so concerned with optics, after frequent,
insensitive mishaps, this is disturbing.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sharpton, the polarizing race baiter and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tax evader has no place in the White House.
The outhouse would be more appropriate. He has done nothing to bring harmony to
the great racial divide that now exists in our country. In fact, he has helped
create it. From planting the seeds of hate in the nascent stage of his then medallion
wearing career in the Tawana Brawley case to the present situation in Ferguson,
MO. Closer to his New York City home he is fanning the flames in the tense
situation awaiting the grand jury decision whether or not to indict a police
officer <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the strangle hold death of
Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who was arrested for selling illegal
cigarettes.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, Mr. Brown and Mr. Garner would both be alive
today, if they had heeded police requests to cease and desist. Both were caught
in the commissions of a crime. Should the police have just let them go as some
liberal pundits have posited? Should we allow certain citizens because of the
color of their skin get away with crimes to avoid the rage and destruction we
witnessed in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the aftermath of the grand
jury decision in Ferguson?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the president is trying to assuage the marauding gangs
of rioters but little has been done to help the business owners who lost their
livelihood in the looting and rampaging. Most of these businesses were
minority-owned. These are the citizens who should be held up as role models for
African-American youth to emulate; not the “scumbags,” former basketball star
Charles Barkley’s words. Perhaps the most egregious offense in the rioting was
the burning down of the African-American church attended by Michael Brown’s
father. What possible reason <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could there
be for this? And if you can believe it the pastor of the church blamed white
supremacists for the torching! This demonstrates the level of delusion and anarchy
in the African-American community.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In an ironic twist, Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, NJ, has<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>requested additional police officers to
respond to the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanksgiving weekend of
violence where there were 11 shootings and 3 fatalities and multiple injuries.
Mayor Baraka should be lauded for this action. While the police aren’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>perfect by and large they are our only hope
to keep us safe – all of us.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-10680245408891452802014-11-11T13:18:00.004-08:002014-11-11T13:18:54.140-08:00To The Victors Belong the Vanguished Excuses
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that the dust has cleared from last Tuesday’s Republican
victory at the polls we are sure of only one thing: more dust is on the way.
The spin coming out of the Liberal media that the blowout doesn’t necessarily
mean the last two years of the Obama administration cannot still be productive
is akin to what our youth soccer and little leagues have evolved to. Nobody
loses and we are better for the experience of being in the game. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When one political side loses these days, it’s not a
repudiation of their philosophy, it’s a communication problem. Their message
wasn’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>enunciated properly. In fact, in
this past election it was overly enunciated by the deafening silence on the
administration’s six-year record . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost
every Democrat candidate running would rather have been seen with Jack the Ripper
than President Obama.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An editorial in the Chinese newspaper, Global Times, put it
in stark terms: “He (Obama) has done an insipid job, offering nearly nothing to
his supporters. U.S. society has grown tired of his banality.” Ouch.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Obama used to be fond of saying that elections have
consequences. But that only applies to Democrat victories. The arrogance and
threats that he will act unilaterally on issues he feels important harkens back
to the Nixonian era.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this virulent
strain is more monarchical, even tyrannical.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps the president’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most troubling statement <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is that he is also thinking about the two-thirds
of the electorate that sat out last Tuesday. He seems more beholden to this
apathetic<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>constituency than the folks
who exercised their voices so their government could hear them.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the next stalemate materializes, look for the
president to blame his ubiquitous foil, the obstructionist Republicans. This was already
evident at the White House luncheon the president hosted for the leaders of
both parties, who looked like they’d rather be in a dentist’s chair getting a
root canal. Unless consensus can be found in the next two years to get the
country moving again we might all opt for the root canal.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-48632180860415278662014-10-09T11:34:00.000-07:002014-10-09T11:34:09.700-07:00Nectar of My Grandfather and the Gods
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When October comes around with its welcomed chill and
variegated pallet, I delve into my most cherished<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family tradition – making wine. If you are of
Italian extraction as I am you don’t have to delve too deeply into the past <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to find a forebear who made wine. For me it
was my grandfather.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is my 37<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> year of wine making and each and
every year has brought a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>unique
satisfaction. My friend and I whom I started making wine with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all those years ago now make it separately
but still exchange notes and bottles throughout the year. And yes, lament the
fact <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the ever increasing price
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>California grapes. When we started,
the price for a 42-lb case was $12; today for a 36-lb. case<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the price is $40. Together, there were
times<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we made 100 gallons; now, we each
make separately about 25. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throughout the years we have accumulated<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a wealth of experience and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a more discerning palate. We have
tinkered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and tweaked our recipes to
produce<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a most enjoyable wine every
year. And it’s absolutely all pure, fermented grape juice, no additives. As a
result it has a short life span: from December to May. It peaks in March but by
that time more than half of the stash of bottles has<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>been dispensed as welcomed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or birthday gifts to friends and family. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I see<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>someone
take that first sip of the new wine and exclaim how wonderful it is, it makes
the painstaking <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>job of making it all
worthwhile. But it also reminds me of my grandfather in his wine cellar. Myself
and my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two older cousins would look on while
pilfering small bunches of grapes to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’d watch him turn the crank of his grape crusher until he was
finished<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with the first step in the
process. He’d clean his equipment and we’d help; then he would pour us kids a
small glass from the vintage of the year before. It sure didn’t taste like the
wine I make now. It had a much rougher edge to it. It wasn’t as smooth<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or had<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>hints of cherry or blackberry notes like the Cabernet Sauvignon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve made in the past and am making this year.
No his <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was a heartier fare to enjoy
after a hard day’s work, contributing to the building of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this great country.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sorry I never had the opportunity to clink glasses of my
wine with my grandfather, he would have been very proud<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I had kept up the tradition as I am of
him for handing it down to me. Salud, grandpa.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-57544543034007957642014-09-15T06:12:00.000-07:002014-09-15T06:18:29.113-07:00A.C., R.I.P.<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1974 a referendum on legalized gambling failed to pass in
New Jersey. Two years later it did. And the power brokers who were pushing for
it then <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have made sure it was on the ballot until it did pass. It was important, it was said, to add to the state’s
coffers and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>support new state initiatives and
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>education. Ah, education – the black
hole of American politics. Thirty–eight years later, politicians<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are still carping about the need for more
funds for education.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The salty air was full of promise of revitalizing Atlantic City.
All those mom and pop businesses: shops, cafes and restaurants <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that had been relegated to the dust heap of
urban decay<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would once again enjoy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a booming patronage. Never happened.
Once<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a casino was built it became an
all-encompassing entity. All your needs could be obtained therein with a
plethora of dining<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>options in the hotels
themselves. Why would you want <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your
clientele<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>leaving <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your premises for any reason while they still had two rubles left <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in their pockets to lose. If anything,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gambling in Atlantic City spawned pawn shops
and prostitution. And catered to the addictions of thrill seekers. And its
fabled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steel Pier, a family attraction
for generations, was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dismembered. Why
would you want kids distracting from their parents' time on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the casino floor. Better to let the whippersnappers stay at home while
mom and dad <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thinned out their college
funds.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Big players were offered comped rooms. How many times did I
hear friends and acquaintances<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>boast of “being comped,” as if it was some endearing invitation from
their friends at Caesars or Trump’s or Harrah’s or Resorts the first
casino to open in 1978. “Being comped ,” to these slubs, carried James Bondian
status but even Moneypenny would have seen through the subterfuge.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there were the senior bus rides from all over New
Jersey, enticing senior citizens to enjoy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>an exciting day away<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from the
doldrums of old age. With an added bonus of getting $25 in quarters<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for the slots <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and, in some cases, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a complementary free lunch. Coming up with
activities where our seniors could blow their Social Security checks – now
that’s community-minded altruism.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final straw in the demise of paradise by the sea was a
host<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of casinos going down for the third
time, drowning in an ocean of red ink, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>especially the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two-year-old Revel, a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>casino built<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>costing $2.4 billion. It<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just sold<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Florida's</span> Polo North Country Club
for $90 million and will be reborn, so a spokesman says, as a “mega casino,” pending
court approval. The new owners<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>must
still believe the adage that a fool and his money go separate ways. Or, as P.T.
Barnum<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>once said, “There’s a sucker born
every minute.”</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-65856176908150076672014-09-02T12:52:00.000-07:002014-09-02T12:52:26.907-07:00Substitution, Please
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another American journalist has reportedly been beheaded by
another blood thirsty, ISIS jihadi. Early reports indicate it may be the same
man who beheaded James Foley. I am curious as to how the Obama administration
will spin and vacillate over this latest horror. We know how the president
handled the last execution – a tepid speech followed by a round of golf. With
nary a wince for Mr.Foley’s parents.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These last few months have seemed to unravel any notion that
we are safe and secure in America. The southern border continues to spurt
strangers with little or no documentation. Then there’s the thousands of
Central American children who trekked north, many all alone. Some with diseases
and other problems saddling border towns with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>economic<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hardship. In such a
scenario are we being alarmist thinking that the very people who are murdering
in the name of religion have found their way here as easily as unaccompanied
children.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The international picture continues to be bleak. China and
Russia continue their expansionist policies. Remember when both the Soviet
Union and China accused the United States of being an imperial power? And there
were plenty of voices<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in this country
who agreed with that assessment. That liberal argument has collapsed under the weight of its own incredulity.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least in those days, though, we had a cohesive foreign policy, presided over by an engaged chief executive. Now our foreign policy seems to be formulated<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the fly by a host of incompetent advisors . Sometimes not. The president announced
last week he has no strategy as of yet to deal with ISIS. Pronouncements like
these should scare the hell out of all Americans. Just as the horrific images
being splashed across social media of Steven Sotloff being murdered.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr.President<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do
something to assuage the grief of Mr. Sotloff’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family. Do something to help the innocent
people being herded into dead marches and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mass graves. If you’re not up to it; or have
checked out like so many of your critics have said, then step down. Our
constitution allows for the transfer of power when a president is
incapacitated. For whatever reason we seem to have breached this territory. You’d
have so much more free time for fund raising and socializing with your elitist
friends. And, for golf of course.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-44270597121863707552014-08-06T12:19:00.001-07:002014-08-06T12:20:10.113-07:00A Farewell to Arms, Not Likely<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The conflict in Gaza seems to be following the usual
paradigm. Charges and counter–charges by the principals. Civilians being murdered,
armaments stored in hospitals and schools. Who can say with certainty what is
true and what is not. As the ancient Greek Aeschylus said, “In war, truth is
the first casualty.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another fragile cease
fire seems to be holding for the time being. How long will it last? A few days;
a few weeks; a few months? All that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be said with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>certainty is -- it will not last. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a quandary for the ages.
Indeed, the whole of the Middle East is a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rubik’s cube of misery ever since the British
and French divided the spoils of the Ottoman Empire into colonial fiefdoms they
figured to exploit to enrich the home front with the mother’s milk of
industrialization: oil. It was to their advantage to have friendly, and, in
some cases, ruthless<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>autocracies in
place to maintain the status quo. But with the Arab spring and its aftermath we
are seeing an unraveling of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the region. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> The one constant has been the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the latest chapter, the pendulum of
support seems to be favoring the Palestinian side. Because of the disproportionate
amount of fatalities , world opinion is shifting toward Israel’s enemies for
the first time. In Europe and the US, demonstrations against Israel are
becoming<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more frequent and vociferous.
There is palpable support
for the Palestinians and it continues to grow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, only more misery lies ahead for them. Their
country is non-contiguous, governed(and I use that term loosely) by two ruling factions which cannot unite
in any meaningful way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hamas in Gaza has
remained strident<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in its goal to destroy
Israel. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, more moderate than Hamas
but just as intransigent, can only lament the proliferation of more Jewish settlements
on their land.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What’s next. Another tenuous truce. More non-productive
peace talks; then, if Israel decides <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not
to re-occupy Gaza, more Hamas rockets will rain down on the Israelis. And they will respond more forcefully again.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">General MacArthur had it right when he said, <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“War’s very object is victory, not prolonged
indecision.” In this war the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>object is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more indecision, not victory.</span></span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-61407497374317312022014-07-25T06:23:00.000-07:002014-07-25T06:23:24.697-07:00Is Romney Running?
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we approach the upcoming mid-term elections in November,
the most interesting development is the sight of Mitch Romney stumping for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Republican candidates. After his defeat in
2012, he affirmed his attention not to run for president again. But the thought
that he might give it another try <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is
intriguing.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this notion
is fueled by my reading of Patrick Buchanan’s, “The Greatest Comeback.” It’s the
story of Richard Nixon’s improbable election in 1968, after being humiliated in
the 1962 California gubernatorial race, and after being narrowly defeated by John
Kennedy, just two years earlier. Incidentally, Nixon's biggest challenger for the GOP nomination in 1968 was Mitt's father, Gov. George Romney of Michigan.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romney must see the weak field in both the Democratic and
Republican camps. The two early front runners: Hillary Clinton and Chris
Christie are attenuating as each day goes by. Secretary Clinton is practicing
self-immolation. Her tepid memoir, “Hard Choices,” is a complete flop. No
substance whatsoever and her record<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at
the State department hardly stellar. And her penurious pronouncements while she rakes in $250,000 per speech beyond ridiculous. Christie on the other hand, is trying to distance
himself from former best bud, Barack Obama, criticizing the president for his handling of the
influx of immigrants pouring over our southern border. But Texas governor, Rick
Perry, also a possible candidate in 2016, has this issue in his backyard and back pocket.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition, Christie has alienated many Republicans by his
lack of support for Rob <br />
Astorino, the Westchester County Executive who is challenging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
in November. He has termed Astorino’s quest a “lost cause.” This
pronouncement might very well be the biggest Christie blunder to date. The
whole Bridgegate affair notwithstanding. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cuomo is now under fire for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>his lack of support for the Moreland Commission. A commission he set up
to root out corruption in his state’s political system after a host of elected
officials were implicated in unsavory practices. This could very well damage
Cuomo in the coming months. Enough to catapult Astorino?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows? But it certainly changes the game.
It will be interesting to see if Romney offers his support to Cuomo’s
challenger.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There has been much said about the mistakes Romney made in
the last presidential election. His message may be resonating with the nation
now and he has certainly proven his ability to adapt to changing scenarios. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But make no mistake it would be an uphill
battle of Nixonian proportions.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-33389347285092661792014-06-20T06:31:00.002-07:002014-06-20T06:31:58.552-07:00Era of Shallowness
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the last few years my friends have been lamenting the
fall of America. “It’s over,” they say resignedly as if we should all lay down
our pin numbers for the masses invading our southern border and plead<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for mercy from the new progressive elitists
who seem firmly entrenched in the new power structure.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our mesmerizing president, well still mesmerizing now to
only a handful of stalwarts, has lulled our country into a quiescent
unconsciousness. The Middle East is in chaos yet President Obama found time
last weekend to play golf and attend a few fundraisers; our <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>economy , the nuts and bolts of it anyway, is
disintegrating before our eyes. Food and fuel prices continue<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to rise unabated. Yet, because the
moneychangers on Wall Street are propping up the stock market with help from
the Federal Reserve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we are being sold a
bill of goods about a faux recovery. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everything<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it seems
has a shiny veneer . But when you look closer you can see the peeling paint. The
same façade exists in the world of show business. Instead of any type of
entertainment with intrinsic value like the mini-series, “Roots,” or “Shogun, “
or “Lonesome Dove,” of yesteryear, we are being fed the pablum of reality
television or being tortured with the constant bombardment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of hype about J Lo or Kim Kardashian. This
fits in well in the Obama era.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An older friend, long gone, used to say we always had the
right president for the times. Prescient thinking. Our president , like the
aforementioned divas of de-evolution, has a pretty face and little else. He is
the right president for <em>this time</em>. This being the Era of Shallowness. He is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a man who constantly stumbles and mumbles and
bungles; whose initiatives always miss the mark; he always never knows what’s
happening around him or just out and out lies. He should<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be censured by <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Republicans and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>clear-conscious Democrats alike. They should
be talking about impeachment for abuse of power. And lack of leadership.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, old friend we do have the right president<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for the times. As an added bonus we also have the right
Congress to match.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-37389062696145514052014-06-09T08:09:00.003-07:002014-06-09T08:09:40.676-07:00Hard Choices Indeed<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The liberal media is awash<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>praising Hillary Clinton for her service<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>as secretary of state <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To anyone
who has outgrown crayolas and coloring books one might be a bit put off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by such approbation. From the moment her
staff sought to “reset” with the Russians early in 2009, and bungled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the translation it set<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in motion one of the most lackluster forays
in world diplomacy. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But according to an editorial that appeared in the Sunday
New York Times<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Nicholas Kristof, a
frequent Hillary cheerleader, she was a “trailblazing diplomat.” According to
Kristof, some politicians have trouble articulating all the wonderful things
they’ve <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>accomplished. This was basically
a defense of her tepid response when asked this past April about her legacy at
the State Department. It reminded me of the same inarticulate,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sputtering Ted Kennedy when he was asked
in 1980 why he wanted to president. Red-faced and flustered, he hemmed and
hawed at this softball <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>question but
couldn’t come up with a valid reason. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thankfully for Hillary her sycophants will fill in the
blanks for her. That is if she decides to run. So far she is following the
paradigm of a presidential candidate two years in advance of an election. Her
book, “Hard Choices,” due out soon, will reveal little, keeping any
controversies at bay. One, though, bound to be scrutinized is her choice for
the title of her memoirs “Hard Choices.” This was the title of Cyrus
Vance’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>book; Vance served as President
Carter’s secretary of state. One can’t help but draw parallels<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the challenges they both faced in the Middle East . Vance had to
deal with the Iranian hostage crisis. Hillary was the architect of the Arab
spring and was taking kudos for it until this wonderful, regional, democratic revolution took
a turn southward in a massive blood bath.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But back to Kristof. Unlike<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>James Baker, “she didn’t craft a coalition of allies”; “didn’t seal a
landmark peace agreement.” “No her legacy is different.” Indeed it is steeped
in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>esoterica like addressing poverty,
the enviroment, education and family planning. Important,? Sure hardly earth
shattering concepts. And, oh yeah, and she also noted, like millions of others,
the importance of using social media.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“But give her credit,” according to Kristof.“She expanded
the diplomatic agenda and adopted new tools to promote it – a truly important
legacy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or is it?</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-88949373147839205052014-06-03T08:53:00.001-07:002014-06-03T08:53:12.892-07:00The Strange Case of Bowe Bergdahl
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We have met the enemy and he is us,” so said a Pogo cartoon
of some years ago. It couldn’t be more true today than it was for the Roman
empire a millennium and a half ago. Are we really celebrating the heroism of this man. The puzzling aspect of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s
release is disturbing when one takes into account the revelations emerging from
this incident and what, if anything, it has to do with obfuscating the VA
scandal of last week. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First there’s questions of how he was captured. Some of
the members of his platoon have said he deserted his post. Six GI’s were killed
trying to rescue him. Five Taliban savages were released from Guantanamo to
secure his release. They’ll soon be back in the jijad looking to separate
infidels from their heads. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bergdahl’s father inexplicably spoke to him in Arabic
welcoming him back to freedom. Outgoing press secretary, Jay Carney, spoke in
the platitudes he has become infamous for, about the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>release. He was quoted, as was President Obama
saying Americans never leave anyone behind. It’s a great ideal to adhere to but
hardly etched in stone; and is usually reserved for the most elite military
personnel who take on the most dangerous missions. Never thought it would be
applied to a soldier with questionable character who may have deserted. Right now there’s a marine
being held in a Mexican jail by our friends south of the border. Why hasn’t his
release been secured. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was reported that Bergdahl was a private when he
disappeared but he returns as a sergeant? How was he promoted leaving his post,
endangering his American brothers and sisters. There’s more twists and turns in
this story than there is in a Rubik’s cube. But can we depend on the feckless
media to dig into this story? Or the VA scandal for that matter? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every Obama bungle ( and they’re getting too numerous to
count) gets swept under the rug with the rapidity of a hobo on a ham sandwich.
Any media person who questions any administration proclamations is figuratively
tarred and feathered as a right wing extremist.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If the president thought this prisoner exchange would make
the VA scandal disappear he is wrong like so many other times. Every effort he
makes to mitigate the coming fallout in the upcoming fall elections results in
more separation with mainstream America. </span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-5990309688672912372014-05-22T06:36:00.000-07:002014-05-22T06:36:21.962-07:00Enough Lip Service, Mr. President
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a sportscaster who used to say, “the wheels are
coming off now,” to denote a sports team in the throes of a thorough thrashing.
One could borrow the phrase to describe the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>floundering Obama administration especially now with the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>latest<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>revelation regarding military veterans not getting the adequate and
timely care they deserve from the Veterans' Administration.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the president found out about inconsistencies in record
keeping, long waits and fatalities, according to CNN <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as many as 40 veterans died waiting for
medical treatment, he was appalled and promised to get to the bottom of the
situation. Indeed , anytime an inconvenient truth rears its ugly head the
president resorts to his default position, feigning ignorance, then promising
to resolve said situation. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t expect to see the president with those affected by the
tragedies that occurred at the VA. He only appears in the public spotlight when
those victimized support one of his initiatives. In this case, he’ll send some
junior-level officers to try and assuage the family members affected. And, of
course, they’ll have no information about what happened or why it happened.
These are common threads in this administration.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He seems to have not known about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fast and Furious,” the IRS harassment of conservative
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fund-raising groups, the glitches
inherent in the Obamacare website roll out. He was incommunicado during the
Benghazi tragedy. This pattern lends credence to the criticism many of his distractors
adhere to:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that he is not engaged in his
position or is incompetent. Or my feeling, that his incompetence is matched
only by his high-handed tendencies. And his sheer distaste for accepting
responsibility for anything other than a terrible golf game.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps in between the
accolades bestowed upon him by the Hollywood elites at fund-raising events; his
frequent vacations, putting on the verdant greens of some of the best courses in
the country, he can convene an occasional cabinet meeting to find out what’s
going on under his watch, if only to make Jay Carney’s spin doctoring look less
tendentious and more informative.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>expect the
Oblivicrats to circle the wagons and point at the president’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>predecessor as being responsible for the
current situation in the Veterans Administration. After all, President Bush got
us into these wars.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With an overly
sympathetic media, the president may straddle yet another maelstrom. But I
think to the American electorate, looking forward to the upcoming mid-term
elections, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the wheels on this administration
may very well be in need of replacing.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-22831399582561890442014-05-06T05:55:00.001-07:002014-05-06T05:55:24.212-07:00Rutgers Wrong on Rice
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once again Rutgers University<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has diminished itself<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and shown it doesn’t belong in the upper echelon
of second tier universities. And I’m not talking only about their lackluster
football and basketball programs. I’m talking about the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>controversy regarding Condoleezza Rice as
the university’s choice to be this year’s commencement speaker.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The opposition’s major problem with Condoleezza Rice was her
involvement in the Iraqi War and the use of water boarding by the Bush
administration. While most of the Democrats did indeed object to water boarding
, they did vote strongly in support of the Iraqi War. Mind you not on principle
but because the overwhelming majority of Americans were behind President Bush’s
military operation. In addition, intelligent sources both domestic and foreign
claimed the Iraqi regime had weapons of mass destruction. In fact, they had already
used them on the Iranians and Kurds.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We know how that story ended. But to place blame on
Secretary Rice would be like blaming Secretary Clinton for the failure of the
Arab spring.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An accomplished, multi-talented woman, Secretary Rice
deserved better. But the voice of the minority (reportedly about 300 students
out of 10,000)has once again scored an unlikely<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>victory. How many times will the feeble-minded, 97-lb. weakling <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>score victory after victory over a more accomplished<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>adversary. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Egging on the dissident students were <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a few non-descript academicians who could not
even entertain the possibility of teaching in a prestigious university like
Stanford where Rice teaches and has served as provost.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preening around these days<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>as a card-carrying member of the intelligentsia seems pretty simple. All
you have to do is take the ultra-liberal contrarian view on common sense issues.
It might even land you a spot on the Al Sharpton Show. Some of the Rev.
Sharpton’s best friends are African-American but I doubt Secretary Rice would
be in that number. Any accomplished, free thinkers in the African-American
community seem anathema to Sharpton<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
his associates.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rice took the high road. An elevation the undistinguished,
faculty members who<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>condemned her
appearance will never reach. But what perturbs me is why take the high road?
Why be at the mercy of the minority. Why always acquiesce? Why compromise? Why
give the opponents of free speech and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
open exchange of ideas <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>even the slimmest
of victories? If we don’t stand up for our beliefs as free Americans that right
may be taken from us.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>former NJ Gov.
Kean will be the commencement speaker. It should be a safe choice. Perhaps the
president of the Left-Handed Plumbers Union had prior commitments. </span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-83654228821073796442014-05-01T05:47:00.000-07:002014-05-01T05:47:19.096-07:00Less Than Sterling
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course the statements by Donald<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sterling were abhorrent to men and women of
good will. And NBA Commissioner Silver rightfully declared him persona non grata in
his league. But this whole episode “stinks on ice” to use a phrase from my
grandfather.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This has all the earmarks of a set up. Was this
visor-wearing vixen put up to this mischief; or was she just trying<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>muddy the waters<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to impede the Sterling family from <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recovering her ill-gotten gains? Or was this a
gambit to force Sterling to sell his team. Some names of potential buyers being bandied about:
Oprah, P Diddy, Magic Johnson and Floyd Mayweather. Hmnn.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, why was the NAACP set <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to award Mr. Sterling with a second lifetime
humanitarian achievement award even though they were<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>aware of his past indiscretions. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In at least two instances, Mr. Sterling was implicated in
biased behavior. First involving Clippers’ general manager, Elgin Baylor and
then again for discriminatory practices regarding<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>property rentals to minority tenants in his
vast real estate empire. Was the NCAAP as easily bought off as hucksters like Reverends
Jackson and Sharpton that they would give this bigot an award to ameliorate his
image?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This kind of hypocrisy does more to perpetuate racism as
does the off putting remarks from African- Americans who adhere to the same
vitriol as Sterling. Rev. Jackson and his “Hymietown” remark. Rev. Sharpton and
his involvement in the Tawana Brawley case and the incineration of Freddie’s, a
Harlem haberdashery, run by, Sharpton’s term, “ a white interloper.” In the
case of Freddie’s, seven fatalities resulted from the fire. And what about that
firebrand, Rev. Jeremiah Wright preaching sermon after sermon of
divisiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In terms of sheer hatred
Rev. Wright, though, comes in a distant second to Louis Farrakhan whose
machinations rival Herr Eichmann.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where are the men and women of color to speak
against these bigots? Too often they are silent. Until they can find it in
themselves<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to condemn racist remarks by
other than white racists there will be no real progress in the fight against
bigotry. And are we to believe no racist remarks were ever
uttered by African-Americans or Asian-Americans?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Racism is not a one way street but is only portrayed that
way. </span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-58538473413614712642014-04-28T11:22:00.000-07:002014-04-28T11:22:44.183-07:00We Don't Need No Stinkin Tequila
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wasn’t it amusing to hear about the rift between casino
magnate Steve Wynn<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and actor/ Tequila
salesman George Clooney in regard to his so-called “friend” President Barack
Obama. Typically, like the high strung, naïve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>child actors are, George stormed off.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sure the president is his good friend because of all the
money he raises for the Obama agenda. And he, like other Hollywood stars, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>make unusually large sums of money
manufacturing, for the most part, mediocre material. They like talking the talk(
especially when someone else is writing the words for them, making them sound
far more intelligent than they are). But how about walking the walk?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seem to be at
one with every liberal cause. They happily sit at fund-raising dinners
sometimes for as much as $100,000 a ticket. Why not take a portion of these
exorbitant dinner prices and help the poor and downtrodden at the local level
and eliminate the middle men and women who spend most of the booty
disseminating propaganda and consolidating power.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prior to the heated exchange. Wynn,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clooney and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>partner Rande Gerber, was discussing future
business opportunities<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>supplying Wynn
hotels and casinos with Casamigos Tequila,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a company Clooney and Gerber are affiliated with. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gerber<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>intimates that
the argument was not about politics, “it was about George standing up for a
friend.” Everything about Obama is politics. If Mr. Wynn wished to express his
displeasure <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with the Obama
administration he has the right. I’m surprised Mr. Clooney didn’t go to DEFCON
1 and assert Mr. Wynn was a racist the default comment when anyone criticizes
this woeful administration.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All politicians have two things in common they want power
and they want legacy. In Obama’s case the subterfuge has reached critical mass.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With his poll numbers dropping
precipitously and his cache abroad diminishing, George has his work cut out for
him if he wants to stand up for his friend.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the meantime, Mr. Wynn should re-think serving Casamigos
in his establishments. And taking a page out of the Rev. Sharpton <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>playbook , we should all boycott George’s
tequila. </span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-76383895517382877942014-04-24T05:43:00.000-07:002014-04-24T05:43:05.419-07:00Your Mother Should Know
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When your own mother doesn’t want you to run for president
you should heed her advice. Jeb Bush is as likely to be elected president as Harry
Reid is to go through a day without lying.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I cringe every time the idea of another Bush<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>running for president is uttered. Nothing
against the man personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I happen to
like soft, pudgy men who remind me of the Pillsbury Doughboy. But in 2016 we’re
going to need<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more than someone who
reminds us of flaky pastry to right the ship of state and I don’t think Jeb
Bush is the candidate to do it. Can you see him facing off against Iron Man
Vladimir Putin. Granted he couldn’t do any worse than our present-day, straw
man president – Mr. Red Line. But the international community will need a
dynamic, American leader who will go toe-to-toe with the likes of: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping and Bashar Assad and
the aforementioned Mr. Putin.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, a Bush candidacy
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reeks of the dynasty issue that seems to
be of little consequence to American voters in this day and age. Couple
another<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bush run with another <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>likely Clinton run and the underlying<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>message is that the great unwashed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>need not apply.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve been seeing with more and more frequency<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the sons and daughters, nephews and nieces of
former office holders and hacks<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>running
for any office that avails itself. Members of the Carter, Kennedy, Cheney, Graham and Nunn families <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have announced their
intentions to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>follow the family <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tradition and seek office. Add to that the
names Begich, Graham, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pryor, Cuomo,
Landrieu, Brown, political scions all -- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>already been elected and you get a general idea that our democracy is
taking on an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>oligarchic flavor.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We know name recognition is important in a political
campaign. That’s the reason a lot of “name” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>candidates get the nod to run in the first
place. And it’s distressing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this paradigm <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trumps dedication and a burning desire to
solve problems and help people. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The political class is an emerging entity in the United
States. And why not? It seems politics is the easiest way to riches these days.
Dirt poor candidates like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama who had never held any
job other than a political or public one come in with nothing but leave with
much. In <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>local political offices this is
even more palpable. Politics like the old neighborhood butcher shop has become
a hand me down career. But when thinking about a political run your mother’s
advice is worth listening to.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-39515759496802566112014-04-17T07:20:00.000-07:002014-04-17T07:20:10.456-07:00If the Shoe Fits or Flies
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s comedic all the controversy surrounding the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>shoe throwing incident involving former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Pundits have come out of the woodwork
speculating that the whole incident was staged. For exactly what purpose – who
knows. What difference at this point does it make. To borrow<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a phrase. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it comes to the Clintons everything they do seems
calculated for ulterior motives. In this latest episode in Las Vegas a woman,
identified as Alison Ernst, threw a shoe at Madam Hillary who was speaking to a
group about solid waste management. Initially <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she thought the projectile was a bat. A thrown
shoe actually behaves differently in flight than a bat. Former Senator Clinton
seems to know a lot more about solid waste<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>than airborne rodents. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But was the whole incident staged? The Clintons have a
history of being accused of staging events. There was the time when President
Clinton was seen on Omaha Beach in Normandy during the 50th anniversary of
D-Day when he, extemporaneously bent down and formed a cross near a pile of
stones in commemorating<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all those who
lost their lives in that bloody invasion. We found out later <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>those stones were put there by the president’
staff.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there was the time, post-Lewinsky, when the Clintons,
in an effort to save their marriage were seen dancing affectionately close on a
beach in the Virgin Islands, signaling to the world that indeed they had
weathered the marital maelstrom. Was there any doubt that this most political
of marriages wouldn’t survive?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, there was the Congressional<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hearing about the attack on Benghazi where
our ambassador and three others were murdered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secretary Clinton stalled her appearance
because of a blood clot many thought was contrived to fashion a plausible
account of events that wouldn’t damage any future political aspirations.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fact that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her tenure as Secretary of State yielded
meager results was inconsequential. Yet it was applauded by most media outlets
for the sheer amount of miles she logged globe hopping. Abraham Lincoln might
have said of her accomplishments, “they were about as thin as the broth made
from the shadow of a starving crow.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, whether the incident in Vegas was staged or real – it
makes no difference. The media will always spin it positively . Of course when
the Iraqi journalist tossed a shoe at George W. Bush it was deemed a great disrespect.
For Madam Hillary it was just another day on a lucrative promotional speech
tour.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-50444772954461562852014-04-08T08:50:00.000-07:002014-04-08T08:50:53.081-07:00The Czarina Michelle and Mom
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When reports surfaced about the shabby treatment of hotel
workers at the Beijing Westin Hotel by members of Barack Obama’s family<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and their omnipresent hangers-on entourage I
wasn’t surprised. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those of the left-leaning persuasion always seem to be above
the rhetoric they spew for the benefit <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the rest of us. The $8350 a night suite the
first lady and her mother luxuriated in was paid by the Obamas we are told. The
concomitant security -- probably ten times the cost of the opulent digs -- was
borne by U.S. taxpayers. Of course this is a hallmark of the profligate Obamas.
They love a free ride.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They talk incessantly about everyone doing their fair share
and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>leveling the playing field. Then they
vacation, it seems ad infinitum, at the tonier places in the world. Where they
expect to be treated like royalty.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was no surprise to hear that the staff at their hotel <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in China complained of being mistreated by the
czarina’s mother as was reported in the foreign press, which has become the
go-to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>source for any objective reporting
(dare I say Fox News)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about the reign of
the Obamas. I have often thought the adage that a person’s character is
revealed by the way they treat people who cannot<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>offer them anything in return<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is a true barometer of integrity. And
integrity is a gift a person gives to his/her self.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Obamas mirror the same “white trash” veneer, with the
obvious difference, that marked the early Clinton era. While they are polar
opposites to the Bush,Reagan and Carter eras where class and probity were
palpable to the unbiased eye. </span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-15254230052735625072014-04-02T13:34:00.001-07:002014-04-02T13:34:43.469-07:00They're Always Fighting for the Middle Class
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next time you hear a politician say he or she needs to
be elected so they can help the middle class, I’d recommend voting for their
opponent. But most likely the opponent will be spewing the same schpiel.
Because the only thing a politician can do, especially liberal Democrat
politicians, is to deliver the middle class to the lower classes. In 2008 ,
presidential candidate Barack Obama chose Sen. Joe Biden for his running mate.
Sen. Biden would be entrusted, we were told, with helping and sustaining the
middle class. Six years later I have yet to hear of one initiative as the
middle class continues to contract. I tend to agree with Clint Eastwood, who,
when addressing the Republican Convention in 2012 described Vice President
Biden as a “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/10/clint-eastwood-at-rnc-biden-a-grin-with-a-body-behind-it/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">grin with a
body behind it.”</span></a></span><span lang="EN"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pithy platitudes aside, we have not seen any real economic
progress. There is no recovery. Remember shovel-ready jobs? There are just talking
head politicians and wannabe politicians skulking around promising a piece of
the American Dream. Unfortunately, the American Dream is on life support.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was predicated on the premise that if you worked hard you
could succeed. All you had to do was take advantage of the cornucopia of opportunities
available. A lot of those opportunities have packed up and left and they ain’t
coming back.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the most often used lines by candidates is that they
want to give everyone an opportunity to succeed – just as their immigrant
families have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wheel out their
time-honored family history. The patriarch or matriarch entered the country; penniless,
of course. And worked their way out of the old neighborhood; saved some money,
bought a house; sent their kids to college. Garnered for themselves a piece of
the American Dream. And that’s what they want for everyone. And this time
they’re going to fast track you to the American Dream. With short cuts so it
won’t be so hard this time.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It won’t be a generational wait. It begins to happen as soon
as you cast your vote. They’re promising away the very essence, the core value
of the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>middle class. That working hard
is your ticket to the next rung on the ladder. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every time I hear<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>about all these new, non-existent opportunities to help every one get to
the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>middle class, it has a strange
similarity to the housing give-a-way disaster a few years back. We know where
that left us. Unless people work for what they get they never appreciate it. And
if you give them something for nothing, they’ll always abuse it.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-70690139425615352092014-03-25T05:45:00.000-07:002014-03-25T05:45:04.662-07:00The Doctor Was Always In
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve all heard the story of the selfless, peripatetic,
country doctor trudging through the chilly night to tend to one of his patients
in need. Well, during a now bygone era, there were also many urban doctors who
were equally dedicated<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to their profession
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>put their patients and Hippocratic oath before
all monetary emoluments.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One such doctor was Dr. Herbert E. Poch, a local legend, who
passed last week at the age of 86. Dr. Poch was a caring, loving,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pediatrician. He was also a great teacher of
young parents of which I was one when I made his acquaintance shortly
after<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the birth of our first child. He
came highly recommended from everyone we asked. And my wife and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will forever be in his debt.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my oldest
daughter collapsed into a seizure one early spring morning, we panicked. I
grabbed the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>five-year-old, strapped her <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>into her car seat and rushed her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the emergency room at our local hospital.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My anxiety level continued to spike upon my arrival. The
emergency room doctors were unknown to me. And facing a serious situation of
which I knew nothing, I began raising my voice for assistance. After a seemingly
inordinate amount of time<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had passed, they
took my daughter into an examining room and suggested a spinal tap. At that
point I really knew it was serious. As I paced the waiting room with my wife
who met me there, both of us had no idea of the extent of the danger. As we
stared at the door waiting for someone to come out and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tell us what was going on, we both were
imagining worst case scenarios. Until the door opened and out came Dr. Poch. No
one had summoned him. He was just making his normal rounds when he heard about
the little girl who was brought in by a frantic father. The girl just happened
to be his patient.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was wearing a surgical gown and had been present for the
procedure. The first thing out of his mouth, “she’s out of danger; she’s going
to be alright.” A quarter century has gone by but I still vividly remember his
reassuring image. And indeed, everything was alright – thanks to him.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were sad when he retired. No other pediatrician could
follow that act. But he went on to do so much more after he retired from
practice. He began teaching full-time, disseminating his wisdom to post-graduate
medical residents. He remained active in charitable work, being honored with
several awards. He was even honored<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with
a proclamation on the floor of the U.S. Congress for his extraordinary service
to children and his community.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every once in a while you meet a real life saint. Dr. Poch
was such a man. Early mornings on my way to work, passing his office, I’d see
him enjoying a walk with his dog. Such a soothing sight. After his walk, he would
sit at his desk for an hour or so to field questions over the phone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from parents, dispensing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>advice and setting worried minds at ease. If
I hadn’t known him in the flesh, Norman Rockwell would surely have created him.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-91719645691502672622014-03-20T11:44:00.000-07:002014-03-20T11:50:22.153-07:00Melo and the Messiah<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phil Jackson was recently hired by the New York Knicks to
head up a floundering franchise which last won a championship in 1973. Everyone
has trumpeted his arrival as some cataclysmic event -- indeed there were <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>standing ovations at the Garden when he was
first introduced as the new president of the Knicks. I don’t think the desired
results -- another championship --<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will be
attained in the new Jacksonian era despite blanket approval for the hire.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unless I’m missing something this guy looks way too laid
back to navigate the alleyways <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
Manhattan. He’d be much more comfortable in sandals and cutoffs in Santa Monica
or Venice Beach.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yeah, he’s been part of 11 championships. And yes he did
play for the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knicks under Red Holzman<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his esteemed mentor. And has dealt with
mercurial characters: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaq and Dennis Rodman. And
he has produced results, monumental results. But that was as a coach, not an
executive who will have to make personnel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and financial decisions. Of course, he and GM Steve Mills will be able
to hire other executives to handle the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>mundane chores of running a franchise. While <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he pockets a cool $12 plus million a year.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Phil Jackson, this is a win-win. He gets the money, snubs
his nose at the Lakers for passing him over for a similar role, most notably by
the brother of his fiancée, Jeanie Buss. (By the way how long has she been his fiancée,
anyway?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This whole affair looks like one big ego stroking for a guy
who hasn’t been in the spotlight for a while but loves it. And going against
the grain here, I don’t see any championships down the road in the term of Jackson’s
contract. The Knicks were much better off with Donnie Walsh running the
franchise. He was astute enough to know that trading for Carmelo Anthony was a
stupid move, when he could have been gotten him as a free agent in the off
season without sacrificing young talent. But Knicks’ owner James Dolan insisted
on getting Carmelo which hastened the departure of Walsh, whose Pacers, by the
way, are vying for a championship THIS year. And to his credit Walsh had the
sense to know that Anthony<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is toxic to a
championship team.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can Carmelo sacrifice his game for the good of a team
concept? The Knicks are not missing role players they’re missing
weight-supporting columns. Players like those don’t like prima donnas who think
the game revolves around them. Who, as soon as they get their hands on the ball
crossing half court monopolize it. How many last second shots has Carmelo
missed this season with the game on the line? When the chips are down in the
fourth quarter, great players find a way to win.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well here’s hoping good luck to the long suffering Knick
fans. Hope it works out but I doubt it will.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-46198161785141270562014-03-13T14:03:00.001-07:002014-03-13T14:03:59.086-07:00We Need A Re-Re-Set Button
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guess we need a re-re-set button now that apparently our
president has exhausted all his promised flexibility with his good friend
Vladimir Putin. From the very beginning this administration had all the
trappings of the high school kids who take over the city council for a day and
go through the motions of running the town until the grown ups<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>re-assume their rightful places.
Unfortunately there aren’t any grown-ups<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>in the Obama administration who can step in and make things right.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indeed they’ve been taken to school by Vlad and his merry
regime. In the 2012 presidential debates President Obama ridiculed Mr.
Romney for pointing out the grave dangers Russia and her expansionist oligarchs
posed in the world. He was oblivious to Romney's superior insight and said the former Massachusetts governor was locked in a 1980’s time warp. The
president’s naiveté<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>knows no bounds. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obviously the administration wasn't prepared for the conflagration going
on in the Ukraine. Just as they never seemed to be prepared for any unforeseen situation.
They give new meaning to “ad hoc.” The administration’s cigar store Indian,
dressed up as secretary of state seems equally inept<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when he invokes phrases that the Russians are
using anachronistic methods in the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> century. Doesn’t seem to
bother the Russians. They have long coveted a warm weather port and now are on the
verge of getting one in the Crimea and the Russian-speaking population there is
siding with the aggressors.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Oblivicrats: Reid, Pelosi, Wasserman Schulz will
continue to see wisdom when the majority of Americans see ineptitude. Even many
media outlets are distancing themselves from the president<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because there’s still too much time left in
his term and there is nothing positive in sight: the continued displeasure with
Obamacare, the lethargic economy;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>high
unemployment, gas and food prices; no immigration reform. Indeed the
administration seems more concerned about the sovereignty of the Ukraine
than ours.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s keep our fingers crossed as we eliminate one day at a
time when the mid-term elections arrive next November and hope we can re-set
our own course.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-50818933396923877872014-03-04T05:13:00.000-08:002014-03-04T05:13:41.417-08:00The Kennedy Defense
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’m very, very happy justice was served,” so said a jubilant
Kerry Kennedy after a six-member jury handed down a not guilty verdict in her driving
under the influence court case. Not much of a shocker. We have been conditioned
to think there is no Kennedy on planet earth who can ever be held
responsible for their own behavior. There seems to be extenuating circumstances
that lurk everywhere like amateurish detectives when the Kennedy clan is
involved.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple of years ago her brother was acquitted for an
altercation with two nurses because they would not let him take his newborn son
out of the hospital<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for some fresh air.
Her cousin William Smith was cleared of rape charges in 1992; her cousin Michael
Skakel is awaiting a new trial for his conviction in the murder of Martha
Moxley; her Uncle Ted had a little accident in <em><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Chappaquiddick</span></em><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong> </strong></span>in 1969. In 2006, her cousin
Patrick, a Rhode Island congressman at the time was also found dazed and
confused, though no charges were brought, when his car was involved in an
accident at 2:45 A.M. in the Capitol. Again, like Kerry, a medical mix-up was
the cause. You would think<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>educations<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at prestigious
universities<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would enable them to
discern<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the differences between pill bottles
and pills since pill popping seems to have replaced touch football as a Kennedy
family<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sport. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No one will believe Kerry was targeted because of her <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family name, as her attorney<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>claimed after the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>acquittal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If she was just an average single mom would she have been able to summon
expert testimony to support her claim from a pharmacologist who had worked on
the clinical trials for Ambien one of the drugs <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>allegedly taken in error. Would your average
single mom engage the services of a top tier attorney. Would the average single
mom have access to a propaganda machine extolling her virtues<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as a globe-trotting activist superwoman?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To say she was targeted because of who she is, is absurd.
The next time we hear<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a similar case of
a person slumped over the steering wheel of a car asleep after careening another
vehicle, and leaving the scene, do you believe<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the Kennedy defense<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will stand up
in that case?</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-82072525960311156892014-02-26T06:25:00.001-08:002014-02-26T06:25:40.215-08:00More Liberal Elitist Hypocrisy
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There may not be a better example of liberal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>elitist hypocrisy than the recent episode of
Mayor de Blasio in New York. It’s the apotheosis of the adage “do as I say not
as I do.” One of the first initiatives of the new administration was to promote
a 62-point safety program to reduce traffic accidents in the city. One of the
main components of the plan is to reduce the speed limit to 25 m.p.h. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We want the public to know,” the mayor said,
“that we are holding ourselves to this standard.” Well not for long. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the mayor’s entourage was clocked speeding, running red
lights and stop signs two days after announcing his plan, he was justifiably
lampooned in the media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of all
the bad press in the aftermath, he decided to address the issue then,
inexplicably, directed reporters to the comments made by the police
commissioner <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who defended the actions of
the mayor’s detail <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as being proper
protocol. So far Bratton has been used twice in the span of a few weeks to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>add some cover<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the mayor’s indiscretions. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A short while prior to this incident, the mayor interceded
for a bishop who, when stopped for a traffic violation , was found to have some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>outstanding warrants and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would have been incarcerated had the
mayor<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not made a call to the police.
Just as he would do for you if you found yourself in a similar circumstance,
I’m sure.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Commissioner Bratton was asked by reporters if he had a
problem with the mayor calling the precinct commander for the bishop’s release,
in the vaguest of terms said no. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
seems to be acting as de Blasio’s mentor. I know it’s early but I wonder if
Bratton is positioning himself for a run for mayor. Especially when de Blasio’s
act is already starting to get stale two months into his administration. And he
hardly looks like a chief executive especially when juxtaposed against his
predecessor, Mayor Bloomberg.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When de Blasio beats his drum about inequality and injustice
as if he has a monopoly on righteousness, he’d be smart to look within because
the hypocrisy of the far left to act<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so
concerned with the downtrodden seems to have a double standard. They are in the
1 percent. They and their disciples are immune from the constraints<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the 99 percent of the rest of us must deal with day in and day out. Unless,
of course, someone is willing to pick up the phone on our behalf.</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557727417691903515.post-31075978831730517122014-02-21T08:57:00.000-08:002014-02-21T08:57:27.749-08:00The Empty Suit Presidency
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">President Obama his rattling his tongue again much like the Soviets
use to rattle sabers in the days of the Cold War. He has decided to voice his
opinion in the latest international skirmish. This one in the Ukraine. And why
not? with all the successes he has had lately in Syria, Iran, Libya and Egypt.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If one were to look in a dictionary for the definition of
the term <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>empty suit,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you’d
see a picture of our beleaguered president. You look at him and wonder how a
man with no ability to lead or solve problems could ever have been elected
president. Blunder after blunder after blunder and still<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the fourth estate, well ,what passes for the
fourth estate these days, makes his every move sound intelligent and
inspired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">JFK was inspirational, Steve Jobs was inspirational the
Beatles were inspirational. If the Obama administration been in charge of
procuring talent for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Ed Sullivan
show 50 years ago, they more than likely would<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>have chosen Freddie and the Dreamers over the Fab Four, given their keen
eye for talent. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In California to speak about the drought emergency, the
president was playing golf on a course using thousands of gallons of water to
maintain its greens. Is he so inept he doesn’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>see the disconnect there. Myopia, apparently, is the hallmark of this
administration.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now he’s again talking about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>consequences should the crackdown on the
Ukrainians<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>abridge their democratic
freedoms as our <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>own government continues
to spy on our people, send drones to kill U.S. citizens without the benefit of
due process and ignore the unsavory<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IRS
tactics against opposition parties right here in America.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Should we expect President Putin to impose sanctions against
the U.S. soon?</span></div>
Random Samplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403886279005122174noreply@blogger.com0