11th Hour--11th Day--11th Month

All we've been given
By those who came before
The dream of a nation
Where freedom would endure
The work and prayers
Of centuries
Have brought us to this day

What shall be our legacy?
What will our children say?
Let them say of me
I was one who believed
In sharing the blessings
I received
Let me know in my heart
When my days are through
America
America
I gave my best to you

Each generation from the plains
To distant shore with the gifts
What they were given
Were determined
To leave more
Valiant foughts together
Acts of conscience fought alone
These are the seeds
From which America has grown



Let them say of me
I was one who believed
In sharing the blessings
I received
Let me know in my heart
When my days are through
America
America
I gave my best to you

For those who think
They have nothing to share
Who fear in their hearts
There is no hero there
Know each quiet act
Of dignity is
That which fortifies
The soul of a nation
That never dies

Let them say of me
I was one who believed
In sharing the blessings
I received
Let me know in my heart
When my days are through
America
America
I gave my best to you

America
I gave my best to you....

--Norah Jones, American Anthem

Homeland Insecurity

My last stroll through airport security proved memorable, per usual.

I actually thought I'd mastered the drill.

Grab a couple of buckets, dump purse and shoes in one and laptop in the other. Prepare to walk through without any real sustainable eye contact with TSA.

Except I was stopped cold. As a Floridian returning home from an area where the temperature had dipped below 70 degrees, the sweatshirt--donned to ward off what this Sunshine State girl perceives as cold--remained on my person.

Nothing Michelin Man about it, mind you.

Just a comfortable black GAP hoodie with a couple of motorcycles racing, but on this particular day, not racing through security.

"Your garment, ma'am."

Uncertain what he meant, someone from behind whispered me an off-stage cue. "It's your sweatshirt."

"Oh. OH! Okay." Flustered, (like who isn't on the perp walk?) I inquired, "Should I remove it or just walk through?"

"Take it off or we can pat you down." Gesturing over his shoulder, "Right over here."

I downshifted, disrobed and dumped my outerwear into bucket Number 3.

As reported by The New York Times:

"Intelligence agencies intercepted communications intercepted communications last year and earlier this year between Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who is accused of shooting to death 13 people at Fort Hood, Tex., and a radical cleric in Yemen known for his incendiary anti-American teachings.

But federal authorities dropped an inquiry into the matter after deciding the messages warranted no further action, government officials said on Monday."

What warning signs were missed will prove discussion for dissection for some time.

My guess is, the alleged was not wearing a GAP sweatshirt.

In The House: 220-215

Tap, tap tap.

Hey. You.

Take a look directly above this post, right below the title of this blog, Talk to Me.

A quote from singer Marian Anderson has long headlined my thoughts.

"There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for the other fellow to make the make the first move - and he, in turn, waits for you."

Saturday night, Anh "Joseph" Cao, (R-LA) didn't wait for his fellow Republicans to make the first move.

He cast his vote as the single Republican in support of House health care bill, HR 3692, The Affordable Health Care for America Act.

In his own words: "I have always said that I would put aside partisan wrangling to do the business of the people...My vote tonight was based on my priority of doing what is best for my constituents."

Via the pen of The Washington Post (11/8/09):

(...)

Freshman Rep. Joseph "Ahn" Cao (R-La.) said becoming the only one of the 177 Republicans in the House to back the bill was a vote of "conscience" that would help the poor and uninsured in his district.

(House Minority Whip Eric) Cantor, in charge of rallying Republicans against Democratic proposals, had been by Cao's side when the voting started. As the two men chatted, they kept looking upward at the tally displayed on the wall high above them.

While neither man or their staffs has said what the two discussed, it became clear that Cao would not vote until after the Democrats had reached the required 218 to pass the bill. But once the Democrats reached that threshold on their own and started cheering, Cao cast his vote, one of the last five members to do so. Cantor stood and walked away, while Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.) crossed over from the Democratic side of the chamber to shake the hand of the only Republican to back the health care reform bill.

"I felt last night's decision was the right decision for my district even though it was not the popular decision for my party," Cao said in an interview Sunday on CNN. He had become the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress in a stunning victory in December in a heavily Democratic district.

"I have a great belief in the future of my people and my country," Marian Anderson once said.

True that, Marian.

And the future is Cao.

Read more about Joseph Cao over at Daily Finance.

(...)

Among the 535 elected representatives deciding the future shape of the American health care system, some 44% are millionaires, according to a new study by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), a nonpartisan reseach group that tracks the effect of money in U.S. politics and policy. Rep. Cao is not among them. Neither are his constituents."I listened to the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health-care costs are exploding -- if they are able to obtain health care at all," Cao, the first Vietnamese-American to be elected to Congress, said in a statement after the legislation passed the House with a 220-215 vote.

"Louisianans need real options for primary care, for mental health care, and for expanded health care for seniors and children," he added. Cao fled Saigon with two siblings three days before the city fell when he was 8 years old and came to America. Last year he defeated William J. Jefferson -- the Democratic lawmaker busted with $90,000 in his fridge -- who ran while under indictment on federal corruption charges and has since been convicted.

The Bill is Passed."

Roll Call.

Weekend Zen

Hold on to that feelin'.

Journey. 1981.

Don't Stop Believin'.

Happy Friday

“We're a work in progress. We're trying to get there [and] we're gonna get there. We're working our way toward getting better; we're going to keep trying, that's what I can tell you. It's not turning [around] overnight; we've just got to put the effort in.”

--Mo Cheeks, basketball coach.

Imagine the possibilities for this country if we just do right by one another.

The back story:

"...young Natalie Gilbert, had been fighting the flu and was still sick the day of the performance. When Cheeks was asked what motivated him to go over and start helping Natalie, CNN quoted Cheeks as saying, “You know, I don’t know. I think as I saw her stumble on the words, she looked helpless, and I just started walking. I had no idea what I was going to do, what I was going to say. But as I approached her, I just wanted to help her, and I didn’t know if I even knew the words…You know, I just wanted to help her out. I didn’t want her to stand there helpless, nothing to do. So I just wanted to help her out.”

Political Squawk: Herding Cats

Tuesday may have been a double score for Republicans, but what about conservatives?

The GOP chalked up two states in the governor column by the end of Election Night, but as far as the New York 23rd, the win by Democrat Bill Owens in Republican territory was like fingernails scraping across a blackboard for those who supported Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman.

What does the Hoffman loss mean for the conservative movement? And secondly, what does the Hoffman loss mean for third party candidates?

Mike Huckabee shared his thoughts with WSJ's Wallstreet Wire (11/4/09):

(...)

The former Arkansas Republican governor and 2008 presidential contender (and maybe 2012) expressed concern for a potential surge in third-party candidacies next year that were hinted at in Tuesday’s elections in New York and New Jersey.

“There is potential danger if people believe that the way to sort of get the attention of Washington is through third party candidacies,” he told reporters at a breakfast with the Christian Science Monitor. “I hope they will rethink that because typically what a third party candidacy does is ensure the election of the one you liked the least in the first place.”

As so evidenced in the New York 23rd Congressional District, a house divided against itself will indeed fall.

Will the conservatives pay heed to the party establishment?

Or will the wildcatters eventually bring the GOP down?

Talk to Me.

The Off Season

It's Election Day 2009.

The off season elections, if you will, the sort of ED where Voters Weather and Turn Out can make (or break) political careers.

One year after the election of Barack Obama, the talking heads are practically foaming at the mouth at the prospect of drama in these select races.


--The Virginia Governor Race: Will the Democrats keep the Governor's Mansion? Or will Republican Bob McDonnell's Wednesday morning call to Two Men and a Truck be the result of a sweep past Democrat Creigh Deeds?

--New York 23: Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the congressional race for the 23rd and threw her support behind Democrat Bill Owens. Interpreted as an attempt by the Republicans to distance themselves from the Palin-endorsed Conservative Doug Hoffman, keep your eyes on this one.

--New Jersey: The New York Times calls this race The Nail-Biter. Although President Obama hit the road to politick for current Governor Jon Corzine, Republican Chris Christie has been projected to win by credible pollsters. Quinnipiac University poll has Republican Christopher Christie leading Gov. Jon Corzine by two percentage points, 42%-40%, with 12% for independent Christopher Daggett. Will it happen?


Voter Weather predicts a "nice fall day on tap" in the Northeast and as whole, the nation can expect sunny skies.

It's now all up to Voter Turn Out.

Talk to Me.

Soft Money Shuffle

Quite the expansive interview of home boy state Senator Mike Haridopolos ran in Sunday's Florida Today (11/1/09).

My guess is the black and white newsprint gets rolled out when one of Brevard County's own stands ready to assume the post of Senate president, that is, should the GOP continue to hold the majority up Tallahassee way.

What I found most interesting (peculiar?) about reporter Jeff Schweers' biographical sketch of Haridopolos (read it here) is the following commentary:

(...)

Once in Tallahassee, Haridopolos met frustration and controversy.

Virtually ignored by House leadership, Haridopolos and a handful of freshman House members banded together, started having breakfast together once a week and formed the Freedom Caucus.

They pledged to not vote for any tax increases and fought tax reforms proposed by then-Senate President John McKay.

Lobbyist Ron Book at the time called them the "conservative, urban model for Republicans."

Book has watched Haridopolos evolve, and although he doesn't agree with him on every issue, he said he is impressed by Haridopolos' intellect, consistency and drive.

"He has driven the debate on tax policy in the state," Book said. Book said he expects Haridopolos to remain polite but partisan. "He understands the importance of working with the other side of aisle and will work with the other side as long as they don't attempt to take advantage of his willingness," Book said.

(...)

Why would Ron Book--one of Florida's most powerful lobbyists--be asked to comment on Mike Haridopolos?

Just seemed odd to me. So I went a-googling.

Seems Ron Book's done a bit more than watch the Senator evolve. He's also a contributor to several MH committees.

--$2500 Florida's Fiscal Future
--$10,000 Freedom First
--$5000 to Alliance for a Strong Economy

It's the old soft money shuffle.

As the St. Pete Times (1/6/2008) describes the dance, a politician can't accept a free cup of coffee from a lobbyist. But donations can be accepted via a political committee under an individual politician's control. "While state election law limits individual contributions to candidates' campaign accounts to $500, there is no similar limit on committees of continuing existence or CCEs."

More from the Times/Herald: (3/15/2009)

(...)

Florida law says money raised for the committee can be spent only in support of its often-nebulous mission, but there is no oversight of the expenditures. Lawmakers defend the growing practice of using the contributions for personal expenses, citing their own modest means and the demands of being visible in the fourth-largest state.
"We are traveling the state, and we're going to eat and sleep over in different places," said Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, a possible future Senate president. "We're not charging the state. This is not taxpayer money."

He also pointed out that lawmakers quickly post their individual contribution and expense records on their own Web sites. The enormous amounts of money have also spawned a cottage industry for advertising, media and political consulting firms, many of whom create their own political committees to send money back to the accounts of the legislators who hire them.

A Times/Herald review of fundraising and spending patterns over the last two years of 40 lawmaker-connected political committees shows legislators have spent substantial amounts on consultants, advertising, staff, travel and meals not directly tied to the committees' stated missions. No law prohibits the practice, and legislators themselves write the campaign finance laws.

The committees operate under noble-sounding names such as Senate President Jeff Atwater's "Preserve the American Dream," Sen. Mike Fasano's "Floridians for Principled Government" and Sen. Dan Gelber's "A Better Way for Florida."

The one controlled by Haridopolos, the Committee for Florida's Fiscal Future, which is also connected with Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, spent the most on food in the past two years, $12,495. The biggest dinner tab, for $530, was at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Coral Gables.

Their committee also used donations to buy flowers and gasoline, and to pay cell phone bills, and Haridopolos reimbursed himself for thousands of dollars in expenses.

"I'm going out there currying my leadership votes and gaining support around the state," said Haridopolos, who noted that most donor-paid meals are in the $25 range. "We're not wining and dining too many people."

(...)

(Judge for yourself. The 2007 expenditures for Florida's Fiscal Future can be found here).

For those readers with super sharp eyes and time on your hands, tap dance back and forth between Mr. Book's principals and the contributor list spread sheets of Mike's above mentioned CCE's.

Legal rock 'n' roll hoochie coo.

Consider my original question answered.

Weekend Zen

Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?

Happy Halloween 2009.

Monster Mash.

Hate

I have a pretty good idea what the late San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk would say about the resulting furor over the signing of the The Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act into law.

“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.”

I would strike through young to include us all.

Per The Washington Post: (10/28/09):

(...)

According to the FBI, law enforcement agencies around the country reported 7,624 hate crime incidents in 2007, the most recent year for which data were available. More than half were categorized as racially motivated, and about 17 percent were based on sexual orientation.

The Democrats attached the hate crimes legislation to an offer many Republicans couldn't refuse: a $681 billion defense spending bill. Yet some voted against the bill. Minority Leader John Boehner referred to the bill as "radical social policy" on the "back of our soldiers."

Try telling that to the parents of slain college student Matthew Shepard. Or to the family of the late James Byrd. (Read the circumstances regarding their deaths here).

I believe if anyone could share and understand loss at the hands of others, the parents and families of those who lost their lives in service to this country would be the first in line.

Talk to Me.

Pony Up

I love the commercial featuring the two little girls asked if they want a pony.

Yeah, says the first who is perfectly happy with the plastic filly received in reply to her yes.

But when her friend is handed the reins to a real live pony--if looks could kill--the guy delivering the far less than equitable gift would be a dead man.

You didn’t say I could have a real one, says Girl Number One.

You didn’t ask.

A state option to choose or not to choose a public health care option could prove the large pony in the room.

It’s a long lived strategy to rally against abstract political concepts tagged as socialism or liberalism.

But when a friend or relative living in another state gets the pony called a public option while you get a lesson about how much it costs to feed the pony, well...as Andrew Sullivan over at The Daily Dish (10/27/09) puts it, “Won't many people - many Republican voters - actually ask: why can't I have what they're having?”

(...)

“Imagine Republicans in state legislatures having to argue and posture against an affordable health insurance plan for the folks, as O'Reilly calls them, while evil liberals provide it elsewhere. Now, of course, if the public option is a disaster in some states, this argument could work in the long run. But in the short run? It's political nightmare for the right as it is currently constituted. In fact, I can see a public option becoming the equivalent of Medicare in the public psyche if it works as it should. Try running against Medicare.

I doubt even Secretariat could win that race.

Neigh.

Solar Me Up

The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center powers up today with a visit from President Obama.

But the big story behind the photovoltaic center may be the back story.

One would think the Sunshine State would be way ahead on the solar energy grid, but less than "...4% of Florida's energy has come from renewable sources in recent years. Unlike California and many other states, Florida lawmakers haven't agreed to setting clean energy quotas for electric companies to reach in the years ahead." (AP, 10/24/09).

Why not?

Clean energy was addressed back in Session 2009. The Florida Senate approved SB 1154: Relating to Energy 37-1, with state Senator Mike Haridopolos voting the single nay. The bill would require 20 percent of Florida's power to be "clean" energy by 2020.

The legislation permitted utilities to spend up to 2 percent of their annual revenues to meet the renewable energy quotas. One percent of utility revenues would be slated for solar energy projects.

The Florida House didn't like that idea so much, and as a result, proved unable to find the time to allow the bill to come up for a vote; however, late in session, the House did manage to broach a proposal to lift the ban on oil drilling in Florida waters as close as three miles to the coast. House Republicans proved divided over the issue and Senate President Jeff Atwater indicated his chamber didn't want to deal with it so late in the session.

After one year of debate, the sun set on Florida clean energy policy with the death of SB 1154 in committee.

Imagine that.

A few quick stats on the DeSoto.

The facility will:

-- power a small fraction of FPL's 4-million plus customer base approximately 3000 homes and businesses.

--generate 110 megawatts of power, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3.5 million tons, the equivalent of taking 25,000 cars off the road each year.

--cost $150 million to build.

--cost the FPL customer an extra 5 cents per day.

--created jobs for 400 jobs for draftsmen, carpenters and others. Once the flip is switched, only a few full-time employees are required to run the facility.

Read more about converting sunlight to electricity here.

Half Back

The falling leaves drift by my window

The falling leaves of red and gold....

This leaf-peeper will see you tomorrow.

Until then...zen.

Weekend Zen

Edgar Winter Group.

Frankenstein.

All 9 plus minutes.

Political Squawk: Florida Energy Associates...and Mike

State Senator Mike Haridopolos neatly side-stepped an oil slick of a question posed by Florida Today columnist Matt Reed during a recent interview regarding issues effecting the Sunshine State.

(...)

Q: There's a consortium of unnamed energy interests who have been lobbying hard for drilling. Who is that group? What do you know about them?

HARIDOPOLOS: I've met the lobbyists for them, sure. But I'll tell you the biggest group pushing for it: Everyday Floridians. Three out of four Floridians support the idea . . . We're setting up a bunch of different committees to thoroughly look at this. We invite people to ask us questions.

Q: The lobbying group, though . . . Are they Florida companies? Is it Exxon-Mobil? Or is this some wildcat outfit from west Texas that wants access to Florida waters?

HARIDOPOLOS: Well, first of all, it will be an open bidding process. The group's called Florida Energy Associates. I believe they've given as much money to Democrats as Republicans, if that's what you're getting at. I have not received any contributions from them. This is an issue we've heard all about for the past few years, especially when gas was over $4 per gallon.

Once, twice, how many more times will we hear this evasion.....?

Just. Answer. the Question. Mike.

Who's behind Florida Energy Associates?

Let me help the state Senator name names with an assist from the St. Pete Times.

The two front men for FEA:

--Doug Daniels--a Daytona Beach lawyer and a Democrat--tours the state for Florida Energy Associates to promote overturning the drilling ban.

--M. Lance Phillips--third generation oilman, Republican and Friend of George W. Bush-- "... boasts that his family has been involved in drilling "since there's been oil in Texas."

Phillips also zips up fairly quick when it comes to the Big Reveal of his associates.

(...)

The one question Phillips shies away from is revealing who else is intent on reeling in the big prize from whatever oil formation might be beneath Florida's waters. In fact, he apparently hasn't even told Daniels, who identified the group as consisting of fewer than 10 people or companies, all from Texas and California. Phillips said it's actually 10 to 12 entities, from Iowa and Louisiana as well as Texas and California.

"We're not sure we're going to have this opportunity (in Florida), so that's kind of hard to pin down right now," Phillips said. "But that will all be divulged at the time of the lease."

You heard right. "...The only way Floridians will ever learn who's behind Florida Energy Associates is if the Legislature approves letting the company drill near the state's gulf beaches." (St. Petersburg Times, 9/18/2009).

Oh, there's more. (Isn't there always?)

(...)

The group has sponsored legislative leadership dinners and has recruited two of the most powerful state lawmakers to sponsor the oil-drilling bill in 2010: Sen. Mike Haridopolos, a Melbourne Republican slated to become Senate president in 2010, and Rep. Dean Cannon, a Winter Park Republican set to become House speaker in 2010.

Cannon and Haridopolos say they'll earmark the revenue raised by oil and gas to programs such as the Everglades cleanup, conservation land-buying, renewable energy development and children's health care. (St. Petersburg Times, 8/30/2009).

Say it ain't so, Mike.

Actually, not too much more can be said. It's all there in glorious black and white, completely without the utterance of one word.

Thar's oil in them there waters and last one in is a rotten ______________.
(You fill in the blank to best support your position on offshore drilling).

Read more (or not) about Florida Energy Associates here.

Let There Be Jobs?

It's not so easy being green if no green lines your wallet.

For those with no job, no back-up plan, no place to turn, any discussion of offshore drilling- shouting promise of thousands of jobs--is a no-brainer.

Show us the money.

For those charged with the conservation of Florida, drilling in the Gulf is an environmental gamble, way outside any realm of what defines a "green" job.

I've never bought the energy-independence argument offered by pro-drillers. One viewing of Let There Be Blood pretty much smacks of it just ain't that easy, with so many behind-the-scenes-players standing to make a profit.

And what consequences would befall those who currently earn their living from the sea, i.e. professional fisherman? One spill and their green is gone.

As the Florida Legislature has opened up debate on the touchy subject of drilling, I offer the same to you.

Someone once said that a tree is a source of beauty for many but for others, it's just a green thing standing in the way.

What's your shade of green?

Talk to Me.

Blockheads

Piggybacking off the subject of language development, nothing shouts ORANGE! brighter than a roadside pumpkin patch.

Memories of traditional fall zing home for autumn-deprived Floridians catching sight of the occasional seasonal patch dotting the Space Coast. But oooOOooooOoo, there's an oh so scary back story swirling about a local vendor who stumbled across a vine of the legal sort.

The Great Pumpkin--reportedly in the form of Brevard County Code Enforcement--allegedly appeared in a down Viera-way patch, spun tales of code violations and splat! closed down the stand faster than one could yell, you're a blockhead! (Listen to the WMMB podcast for a full report here).

Wondering what sort of code ordinance governed large squash, I ventured over to the county site to take a look for myself.

Chapter 62. Zoning Regulations

• Enforcement of land use regulations for each specific zoning type
• Garage sales/yard sales
• Glare and lighting
• Outdoor display and storage
• Use of right-of-way as an extension of a business
• Farm animals and fowl
• Parking/storing of recreation and commercial vehicles and cargo trailers

Or quite possibly:

Chapter 114. Accumulations and Growths

• Overgrowth of weed and grass
• Dead trees

Good grief.

Sounds to me like somebody got served a rock.

BOO! (and hiss.)

Language Stealers

I once observed a young mother stroll her child through Savannah's beautiful Forsyth Park. What an enchanting backdrop to walk and talk, name and describe objects, identify colors or simply scoop up a fallen leaf and touch a tiny hand to its delicate surface.

The mom was heavily engaged in conversation. Not with her child, mind you, but to someone else.

Via her cell phone.

A prime opportunity wasted on the young. In retrospect, I hoped both were on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's house, with a refrigerator stocked full of language development.

Yet, years from now, when parents like this young Savannah mom snap closed their cell after receiving a text back from their child (some conglomeration of letters substituting for Sorry. Can't walk and talk. I'm busy.), I'm sadly certain most will wonder why their kids won't talk to them.

A bit of good news for those who enforce language for a living. Per the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, the economic stimulus has saved or created 250,000 jobs in education.

For puzzled parents with time on their hands, that figure translates into a possible two hundred and fifty thousand social networking sites to peruse and further steal time away from active engagement with their kids.

Limbaugh Punts

Rush Limbaugh dropped back to punt an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal regarding his most recent towel snap by those who tossed a flag on his play for NFL team ownership. (WSJ, October 16, 2009)

What began as a look behind the noise of the crowd "...David Checketts, an investor and owner of sports teams, approached me in late May about investing in the St. Louis Rams football franchise. As a football fan, I was intrigued. I invited him to my home where we discussed it further...." dissolved into a typical diatribe of personal persecution. "...Even after informing him that some people might try to make an issue of my participation, Mr. Checketts said he didn't much care. I accepted his offer. It didn't take long before my name was selectively leaked to the media as part of the Checketts investment group...."

Limbaugh listed those persons elicited by the media to comment upon his inclusion as an investor. Via utilization of the old standard play "I'm rubber you're glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you!", nicely disparaged the credibility of those the talk show host felt led to this very public thanks, but no thanks:

(...)

Having brought me into his group, Mr. Checketts now wanted a way out. He asked me to resign. I told him no way. I had done nothing wrong. I had not uttered the words these people were putting in my mouth. And I would not bow to their libels and pressure. He would have to drop me from the group. A few days later, he did.

Mr. Limbaugh wrapped up his shot at the NFL with locker room talk of racism and managed to drag in the cheerleaders of patriotism-- "citizens who attended town-hall meetings and tea-party protest"--into his own attempt at self-justification.

With the response from his faithful fans, I'd imagine at this point, Rush has enough self-deprecating material to fumble about on-air until the play-offs.

Read it and weep here.

Weekend Zen

War Memorial Auditorium.

Rochester, NY.

August 1, 1970

Eli's comin'...

Three Dog Night.

Of Boys, Balloons and Wild Things

We can credit Falcon Heene with more than scaling heights to hide in the family attic.

He brought Talk Radio hosts together, if only for a couple of hours.

The Boy in the Balloon story predominated the air waves during the afternoon drive home. Shows taped live focused all eyes figuratively skyward as concern for the boy's safety united listeners of all political leanings.

It was a Girl Trapped in the Well moment.

And then, it wasn't. Once the boy was found hidden among the timbers, the slanted business of the day reemerged, seemingly louder and more obnoxious than ever. Maybe even a bit over the top in the usual bluster, a sort of self-imposed overcompensation for the High Crime of United Reporting.

Much like Max in the much-acclaimed Maurice Sendak tale of a precocious boy in wolf pajamas who steps over the line of familiarity shared between parent and child--the six-year old had been scolded by his father for climbing inside the craft, tethered out in the backyard prior to his disappearance.

Sequestering himself above it all, he played with his toys and took a nap.

Falcon's Wild Rumpus may have just begun. Questions of whether the airborne event had ties to a reality show publicity stunt may have punctured the happy ending.

But for the rest of us, we will always have the reminder of a Thursday afternoon with far less bluster.

Snap! Limbaugh's Out

Getting the bum's rush out of the NFL before stepping one designer shoe through the pearly gates of NFL team ownership, Rush Limbaugh got snapped in the end by the rolled tight towel of his own utterance.

Words mean things.

The L.A. Times: (10/15/2009)

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been dropped from a group seeking to buy the St. Louis Rams.

Limbaugh was to be a limited partner in a bid led by St. Louis Blues Chairman Dave Checketts, but Checketts said in a statement Wednesday that Limbaugh's participation had complicated the effort. The group will move forward without him.

(...)

Limbaugh's bid ran into opposition from within the image-conscious NFL on Tuesday when Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said he would vote against the radio personality. Commissioner Roger Goodell said the commentator's "divisive" comments would not be tolerated from any NFL insider.

Limbaugh fumbled about his dismissal as a nothing more than an organized effort to quell his voice as a cheerleader for conservatism.

(...)

"This is not about the NFL, it's not about the St. Louis Rams, it's not about me," Limbaugh said. "This is about the ongoing effort by the left in this country, wherever you find them, in the media, the Democrat Party, or wherever, to destroy conservatism, to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative."

Scoring exactly the point Dave Checketts eventually recovered. As a limited partner, Limbaugh would've been benched with no voice. Per a statememt released by Checketts, such a play "...was a reasonable plan, except for the reality that "Rush Limbaugh" and "silent" do not go together in any context."

Bringing us back to the original line of verbal scrimmage.

Words mean things.

The Voice of One

"My vote today is my vote today. It doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow."

Senator Olympia Snowe's words regarding her vote for the Finance Committee's 10-year, $829 billion health legislation reminded me of this snip from the poem Mending Wall, penned by fellow New Englander Robert Frost.

...I let my neighbour know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance...

The Senator's vote demonstrates progressivism at its finest.

Just don't fence her in.

Meet the Republican from Maine here.

Financial Beast

Financial author and talk show host Dave Ramsey advises down-on-their luck listeners to give every dollar a name.

With his sound budget advice in mind and tonight's likely action by the Brevard County School Board to impose increased insurance costs on the frozen salaries of teachers and support staff, I've renamed a few of my dollars.

Bye-Bye Charlie. Hit the Road Jack. Hop on the Bus Gus.

I'm fairly certain Dave would suggest "making a plan" to address the greenbacks in flight, so I went ahead and named my new budget as well.

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul.

When Luck Runs Out

Although Florida prisons are packed, apparently there's always room at the inn.

Mark Anthony Griffin recently received a sentence of 15 years for stealing a box of Lucky Charms and a can of evaporated milk.

No stranger to court proceedings (Griffin's rap sheet listed 50 plus convictions, most minor charges), the Bartow man rejected a plea deal for three years in prison, two years probation.

Just previous to his trial, Mr. Griffin punctuated his "robbery" charge with four additional counts of misdemeanour trespass and disorderly conduct.

Sentenced as a prison releasee reoffender, Mr. Griffin--a homeless man--is homeless no more.

Cost to the taxpayer? $301, 620. (Per the Florida Department of Corrections, June 2009: $55.09 on average per day or $20,108 per year to house an inmate in prison).

Cost of one box of Lucky Charms: $4.49. Add $1.59 for one can of evaporated milk and the grand total rings up to $6.08.

Magically ridiculous.

Weekend Zen

Oh, I got a brand new pair of roller skates

You got a brand new key....

Melanie. The Roller Skate Song. 1975.

Giving Momentum to Cause

(...)

"...I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize — men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build — a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action — a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century..."

--President Barack Obama

Remarks made upon winning the Nobel Peace Prize

"...for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples..."

10/9/2009

Political Squawk: When Worlds Collide

Filmmaker Michael Moore discusses (among other issues) Capitalism: A Love Story with conservative commentator Sean Hannity.

Part One

(...)

MOORE: You think the capitalist system just opened the door up for me and allowed me to do this.

HANNITY: Well, let me give you an example. You — if you went to Cuba — and we'll get into this in a minute.

MOORE: Yes.

HANNITY: Do you think Fidel Castro would allow you to produce a movie and millions of dollars trashing his system?

MOORE: Well, I don't know, that's a good question.

HANNITY: You'd be killed.

MOORE: Oh, I don't think so. Oh, come on. Are you still following that line?

HANNITY: It's not a line. I had a friend of mine whose family was killed by Castro when he came to power.

MOORE: When he came — oh, so what are we now, 40 years ago?

HANNITY: OK, 40 years ago, he's still a murderer.

MOORE: Yes. What about the murder that's been done in our name in the last decade?

HANNITY: You're getting diverted here.

MOORE: What do you mean diverted? That's what you don't want to talk about, that's the real issue, isn't it?

HANNITY: Not really.

(...)

Part Two

(...)

HANNITY: And you have all this money. And you have other rich, influential friends that perhaps agree with you.

MOORE: Yes.

HANNITY: And you don't like capitalism.

MOORE: Mm-hmm.

HANNITY: When I saw those people in your movie being evicted, and it — I didn't like it either, but we have a different view.

MOORE: Yes.

HANNITY: Why don't you just take your money and donate? Why don't you start an organization to help people in that situation?

MOORE: Actually for my very first.

HANNITY: And I donate.

MOORE: For my very first movie, "Roger and Me," I made it as part of my deal with Warner Brothers that the four people that were evicted in that film, that Warner Brothers would house — would pay their mortgage or their rent for the next two years to give them a chance to get on their feet. In this movie, the man from Peoria, Illinois.

HANNITY: Right.

MOORE: Who I believe his home was stolen from him by Citibank, I have retained an attorney for him and I am paying for all this.

HANNITY: Which I think is great.

MOORE: I'm going to court to get his home back for him.

HANNITY: That's good stuff.

MOORE: But that's just me, one person, doing this. Right now, Sean, right now, as people are watching us, there — do you realize there's a foreclosure filing in this country...

HANNITY: Sure, it's huge.

MOORE: ... once every seven and a half seconds?

HANNITY: I don't know if that's exactly right.

MOORE: No, that's the statistics.

(...)

Part Three

(...)

MOORE: OK. Well, they've said that this mortgage crisis, this mortgage fraud that's been perpetrated has not been because of the subprime borrowers, the people that are poor or working class. It's been caused by the banks. This is their statistic now, Sean. Eighty percent of the mortgage fraud has been caused by the banks and the lending institutions. Eighty percent.

HANNITY: Everybody got greedy. I'm not going to disagree.

MOORE: Everybody. Wait a minute.

HANNITY: No, no.

MOORE: Eighty percent.

HANNITY: But the government.

MOORE: Eighty percent.

(CROSSTALK)

HANNITY: I don't necessarily know where the FBI got into the business of figuring out who did this.

MOORE: Well, then, you'll have a whole white-collar fraud unit which Bush W. depleted that unit and moved them out of white collar crime.

HANNITY: But you're not answering my question.

MOORE: ... during the worst white-collar crime that was going on, crime wave.

HANNITY: Is there no responsibility at all from the borrower? If they buy a house that they can't afford, who do you want to pay for the house that they decided to buy? They signed their name. Who should pay for that house if they can't afford it? Instead of evicting them?

MOORE: First of all, a lot of them were swindled and they were lied to. These contracts with the balloon payments. If you read — if I brought one of these in here right now, you couldn't even find...

HANNITY: Do you sign a contract without reading it?

MOORE: I think we often — a lot of us do.

HANNITY: I don't.

MOORE: You don't?

HANNITY: No, I read it.

MOORE: Do you have a mortgage?

HANNITY: I have read every page.

MOORE: You read the — you read the 50 pages.

HANNITY: I'm a loser.

MOORE: No, I'm impressed. I'm — have you read your health care contract with FOX?

HANNITY: Uh, that I didn't care about but I have...

MOORE: OK, why? Because you're not going to get sick? You better read it, buddy. Because —

(LAUGHTER)

Because when you get sick, there's a clause in there somewhere where they might not sign for you.

(...)

Read the transcript of the October 6th interview in its entirety here.

Book-of-the-Month Club for Conservatives

Steven Hayward--columnist for the Washington Post--recently popped the question, "Is Conservatism Brain-Dead?" (10/4/2009)

“The single largest defect of modern conservatism, in my mind, is its insufficient ability to challenge liberalism at the intellectual level, in particular over the meaning and nature of progress. In response to the left’s belief in political solutions for everything, the right must do better than merely invoking “markets” and “liberty.”"

Ouch.

In pseudo-acceptance of the challenge, RedState compiled a reading list for conservatives, a political Book-of-the-Month club.

As I enjoy browsing the stacks as much as any voracious reader, let's take a look at the offerings.

A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard
Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg
Economics in One Lesson by Hazlitt
Liberty & Tyranny by Mark Levin
The Road to Serfdom by F. A. Hayek
The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk
Free to Choose by Milton Friedman
Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater
Federalist Papers
Democracy in America by Tocqueville
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
God and Man at Yale by W.F. Buckley
Witness by Whittaker Chambers
The Political Writings of St. Augustine (a compilation available here)

(The assumed playbook for the left--Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals--must've made last year's list).

Also MIA: Going Rogue by Sarah Palin, a title in itself which likely served as inspiration for Mr. Hayward's column.

What's on your political reading list this fall?

Talk to Me.

White-Coat Gate: Enough is Enough.

I'm loving the scuttlebutt over the doctors who left their lab coats at the office.

Medical professionals who arrived at the White House sans white coat were provided traditional garb prior to the President's Rose Garden speech addressing the overhaul of the health-care system.

My bet is the ensuing furor over the photo op was less about the outfitting and more about the projected image.

White-coated doctors shouldered together like stark white crosses, symbolic of those with lives lost as a result of little or no health insurance coverage.

A pictorial epitaph hitting home for way too many American families.

Enough is enough.