After Newtown

What happens next to those kids who survived last week's horrible Newtown tragedy? I thought this piece on NRO about a fire at a Catholic school in Chicago in the 1950s was quite interesting. The fire on December 1, 1958 killed many: 

Ninety-two children and three teachers died in the Our Lady of Angels fire. Many died of smoke inhalation — the solid exterior of the building kept the smoke inside or funneled it into rooms where the children were trapped. Some children, guided by teachers, escaped through the hallways. But others found it impossible to outrun the deadly smoke. As one fireman was ready to rescue a group of children, they died suddenly, incinerated by the incredibly high temperatures.

 How was this remembered?

About 40 years after the Our Lady of Angels fire, a small group of survivors came together to create a durable memory and reminder of what had occurred. They created a website with scores of photos of the fire and funerals. There was also photos from “better days” to remind everyone that their entire identity need not be consumed by tragedy. A discussion board now ten years old expresses what happened to many specific individuals. This showed the many different ways of grieving and rebuilding lives, affirmations that this was possible. Perhaps these stories may offer some kind of roadmap to those affected by Newtown.

I think back at the awful tragedies of Columbine, the CO movie theater showing Batman, smaller incidents like that GMU student who drowned my first semester there, VA Tech, etc. You survive, somehow. I remember when Star closed and how I felt like it was the end of the world. It wasn't, and it wasn't as horrific is this. But you survive, one day at a time. But you never forget. 

Unimaginable

From a story in today's Post:

About 3 p.m., Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy came into the room. The gruesome announcement was his to make: 27 people inside the school had been killed, and 20 were children. All would be taken to the medical examiner’s office.

With the news came the most raw display of human grief that Weiss had ever seen or imagined — wailing, weeping, screaming, people sinking to the floor.

Some parents wanted to go inside the school and see their children. They insisted or begged. They wanted to go inside the school. The answer was no. The school was a crime scene and couldn’t be disrupted. The parents did not yet know an assault rifle had been used to kill the children.

The room began to clear out. At 3:20, a mother’s cellphone rang with the reminder to take her son to Cub Scouts.

Remember the victims, and all of the first responders and priests and religious who bore witness.  You don't need to be a parent to feel this kind of pain. We all do.

On Race

This was an excellent column in response to the comments about RGIII not being black enough, or he's a Republican, or engaged to a white woman.

Because the woman he wants to marry is white and because he might be a republican, ESPN's Rob Parker determined the superstar Washington quarterback is "not really down with the cause. He's not one of us. He's kind of black, but he's not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he's off to something else."...

Let me get this straight, a brother who handles his business on and off the field, who earned a college degree, has national advertising campaigns and has way too many grown men walking around with his name on the backs of their jerseys can be deemed not black enough....

Parker, who made his comments Thursday on First Take, comes across as a hater. Griffin III is exactly who my ancestors would want a young black man to be: successful, talented, respectful and rich. Who wouldn't want to hang out with him?

To counter the stereotype, let's not pretend that color does not matter or pretend we do not see it.

In this country, black people have been seen as a monolithic group. If one person behaved badly it reflected on all of us. Conversely if one person made it or moved on up, he or she was the exception. Newsflash -- Griffin III is not the exception. Not all black male athletes have been arrested or fail to take care of their children. That is often the image we get from newspapers, TV shows, radio, the internet. Another one that irks me is that of white coaches saving all these young men. Lazy story tellers have long gravitated to that storyline.

No words

Prayers for all involved, because there's no way to make sense of this, even if these children are with God now.  There is no way to justify this, none, not even with a note. When I think of kids not much older than Joe's age...no words at all.

What's Left in Detroit

Some sobering statistics about the continued decline of Detroit:

Very few of the people who are staying out of the labor force in Detroit are staying out because they are stay-at-home moms with working husbands. Of the 264,209 households in Detroit, only 24,275 — or 9.2 percent — are married couple families with children under 18. Another 78,438 households — or 29.7 percent of the total — are "families" headed by women with no husband present. Of these, 43,742 have children under 18.

There were 12,103 babies born in Detroit in the 12 months prior to the Census Bureau survey, and 9,124 of them — or 75.4 percent — were born to unmarried women.

Of the 363,281 housing units in Detroit, 99,072 are vacant. Indeed, vacant houses have become a powerful visual symbol of what advancing socialism has done to the city. Traditional family life is nearing extinction in this once vibrant corner of America.

Wow. 27% of Detroit homes are vacant. 75% of babies are born to unwed mothers. Only 9.2% of families are traditional, two parent, married homes.  Only 7% of 8th graders are proficient in reading, and only 4% are proficient in math.

No wonder that the city is on an accelerating downward trajectory. The traditional family works, more often than not. And that's not present. I didn't even go into the workforce statistics, but if 45% of Detroiters over 16 aren't active or seeking employment, then damn. You can't recover from this. Something drastic needs to change, and soon.

Last Full Week

I am already, mentally, ready for the Bahamas. Unfortunately, I can't quite get to that point yet because of a pesky thing like my 9-6 job. But I digress...

It's been an interesting year. The song "fire and rain" has been in my head for so long. Good things and bad things.

Like a burst pipe.
A week with my family over the 4th of July in DC. Joey's lemonade outburst. And Joey's police routine.
Easter with our parents.
A new niece. And soon to be a new nephew.
Steve's 20th HS reunion.
A good friend losing her dad. Another friend dealing with illness.
Evenings like Saturday with new and old friends, way too much wine, potluck, and random conversations.
An election party. And an election wake.
More work travel than I care to truly remember.
The Tigers coming so damn close....
And the Lions going nowhere.
The book release.
Painting the entire damn house. And refinancing, again.
An awesome block party and a chance to feel at home in our neighborhood.
Obsessed with Mad Men. 
Dad's retirement.
The Springsteen concert, and seeing Fanfarlo and Frightened Rabbit.
Steve getting into the National. 
The anticipation and the agony of the Obamacare verdict.
And an unforgettable trip to Africa, from the flight to the safari to the wedding to the time spent with friends. And ebola.
And hopefully one more wonderful getaway and more time with family, more time with friends.
It's been quite a year.

Bankruptcy?

Supposedly Governor Rick Scott is laying the groundwork for managed bankruptcy for the City of Detroit. The articles states, "It would be the largest municipal bankruptcy in the nation's history, an unambiguous symbol of the city's epic failure and a chance for a fresh start."

Planning for a possible bankruptcy of Detroit should not be surprising coming from Snyder, an accountant-turned-CEO, and [Treasurer Andy] Dillon, a former investment banker. Both possess keen financial minds, strategic savvy and a habit for planning further ahead than most politicians, particularly the elected officials in Detroit flailing from one crisis to the next.

In anticipation of Detroit's financial collapse, for example, Dillon retained an investment banking firm in December 2010 — before taking office — to advise the Treasury on ways to restructure Detroit's balance sheet, reduce its liabilities and return the city's credit rating to investment grade.

City Council, by comparison, is blocking the mayor's effort to hire a local law firm, Miller Canfield, citing conflicts of interest. Nor has the city, likely about a month away from Snyder appointing an emergency financial manager, showed any inkling of forward planning and retained bankruptcy counsel.

This is what the City Council thinks:

Councilman Kwame Kenyatta said he will be among those fighting hardest against appointment of an emergency financial manager. He called the state's threat a matter of "do all that we say when we say, or we're going to take our marbles off the table and we're going to bring in an emergency financial manager.

"You have a governor, a treasurer and a mayor who say to hell with democracy and the citizens of Detroit," he said.

The most irresponsible thing that could happen would be an Obama bailout. That's what the City Council wants. The morons on the city council may think that will happen, but they will be sorely disappointed. Obama owes the city nothing. He’s been reelected. And Detroiters will vote for him no matter what.

The city should feel lucky that Snyder, not Granholm, is governor. But yet when he saved the city, they will have no loyalty or gratitude for that.

When you have no solutions, you really lose any right to say what is going to happen. It's a desperate situation. And desperate times call for very desperate measures. 

For the Love of Bacon

Detroit City Council Member JoAnn Watson wants some bacon from Washington.

"Our people in an overwhelming way supported the re-election of this president and there ought to be a quid pro quo and you ought to exercise leadership on that," said Watson. "Of course, not just that, but why not?"

Nearly 75 percent of Wayne County voters pulled the lever for Obama in November.

"After the election of Jimmy Carter, the honorable Coleman Alexander Young, he went to Washington, D.C. He came home with some bacon," said Watson. "That's what you do."

Young served as Detroit's mayor for 20 years and served as vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1977 to 1981.

Yes, indeed, that is how it works. Since the federal government is just rolling in dough and pork these days...

Life in a Prison Camp

Frightening portrait of North Korea on 60 Minutes last night. He grew up in a North Korean prison camp and lived to escape and tell about it.

It's Not About the Sexism

I am so livid at these bogus charges of sexism being levied against the big, bad white senators who oppose the prospect of a Susan Rice nomination as Secretary of State. 

A presumptive nominee can be opposed because of her substantive policy, her views, her covering up for the Administration over Libya. Is Kelly Ayotte expressing skepticism because she's a sexist? What about Susan Collins? What about Dana Milbank?

Rice’s pugilism provoked the Russians to weigh in this week in opposition to her nomination as secretary of state. The Russian business daily Kommersant quoted an anonymous Russian foreign ministry official as saying that Rice, who quarreled with Russia over Syria, is “too ambitious and aggressive,” and her appointment would make it “more difficult for Moscow to work with Washington.”

Compared with this, the flap over Libya is relatively minor — but revealing. It’s true that, in her much-criticized TV performance, she was reciting talking points given to her by the intelligence agencies. But that’s the trouble. Rice stuck with her points even though they had been contradicted by the president of the Libyan National Assembly, who, on CBS’s “Face the Nation” just before Rice, said there was “no doubt” that the attack on Americans in Benghazi “was preplanned.” Rice rebutted the Libyan official, arguing — falsely, it turned out — that there was no evidence of such planning.

True, Rice was following orders from the White House, which she does well. But the nation’s top diplomat needs to show more sensitivity and independence — traits Clinton has demonstrated in abundance. Obama can do better at State than Susan Rice.

What about Jennifer Rubin?

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar as Dr. Freud said. Maybe the uniform criticism from Republicans and the refreshing candor coming from liberals in good standing at the New York Times is actually based on the merits, Rice's that is. Truth be told, she was a washout in the Clinton administration (where she sat idly by while the Rwandan genocide unfolded), signed on with Obama's campaign where she was an uncommonly partisan foreign policy adviser, had to be hushed when she attacked another woman, Hillary Clinton, and then wound up at the United Nations, where she has had the most undistinguished career of any U.N. representative in recent memory. (She rounded up all of eight "no" votes on the Palestinian declaration of statehood and has made serial excuses for the heinous Human Rights Council. A convenient list of her underachievements can be found here.) That's before we got to Benghazi. And her investment portfolio.

What about Maureen Dowd?

Are the Republican senators unreasonable? Or is the secretary of state-manqué undiplomatic? Did the senators sandbag Susan Rice? Or did Rice further inflame a tense situation? Is it a case of shooting the messenger and playing politics? Or is national security dangerously infected with politics?

It seems as if it would have been simple enough for Rice to quickly admit that the administration talking points she used on the Sept. 16 Sunday shows about the slaughter in Benghazi were misleading. But she went silent. She has no wartime consigliere and, aside from the president’s angry postelection defense of Rice, the White House — perhaps relieved that she was taking the heat rather than the president — wasn’t running a strong damage control operation that clarified matters.

Were critics of Condoleeza Rice accused of being sexists? No?

It makes me ragey that you can't criticize a women, or a black women, and the leftist members of the press not accuse you of racism and/or sexism. It's a McCarthy-ite tactic designed to shut down opposition by placing the label of bigotry on you. Don't like Obama? You are a bigot. Don't like Hillary? Sexist. It's almost an SNL sketch ludicrous, is it not?

But that's not how some see it. Frankly, most Americans would have no clue that Susan Rice was black if it was not for the relentlessness of the media expounding upon that point. The hypocrisy of this is my rage of the day. It's not about the sexism. Not even close.

No More Detroit?

Detroit could be wiped off the map.

WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports some state Republicans are talking about giving the city the option to vote itself into bankruptcy. And mid-Michigan Senator Rick Jones said all options should be considered — including dissolving the city.

More bad news...the bond rating keeps getting cut. 

And the Packard plant could be seized.

Next year, I believe, is a mayoral election. Dave Bing is a goner. I'm not sure what the city can do to find new leadership, other than let Governor Snyder appoint a mayor and all new city council. Anyone and everyone he'd pick would be better options than the inept leadership the city is stuck with.

But again, elections have consequences. And if the voters want these incompetent hacks running things, go for it. But accept the fact that the city is unsustainable in its current incarnation.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121129/METRO01/211290431#ixzz2Dd7bVJpn

The Iron Curtain

I went to Heritage at lunch today to listen to Anne Applebaum speak about her new book, "Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe." This New Yorker piece captures much of the book's tone. I've finished the first half, where she details how Eastern Europe--focusing on Poland, East Germany, and Hungary--were subsumed by totalitarianism exerted by Stalin. From youth subjugation, to the suppression of religious, to the takeover of radio, police control, and the entire eradication of everything civil society stood for, the entirety of these countries was overwhelmed.  She paints a vivid portrait of that region after it was literally destroyed in World War II. She also articulates the fear, desperation, and utter exhaustion of a people who were tired of losing their homes, businesses, and families in the agonies of war. And though she does not focus on it, one can only wonder why and how the United States let this happen. It was some sort of grand deal, some grand exchange, to just let the Soviet do want they want.  And so many what could have been.

I kept thinking of North Korea during her remarks, and the parallels to that regime, which also clamped down on human rights and has relied on fear and brainwashing to maintain their strangle hold of control. We sat back and let Eastern Europe lose nearly two generations, and have again for the North Koreans. Could we have prevented either? I don't know. Should we have?

The New Yorker piece makes clear that totalitarian control is not absolute. Even Applebaum marveled and how young Polish citizens, only one generation removed from Soviet control, travel freely across Europe as de facto Westerners. And questions of Soviet control have been replaced with questions on EU absolutism.

But for multiple generations of North Koreans, they suffer, largely in silence. What to be done?

North Korean Holocaust

I've read a few books this year on North Korea, including Melanie Kirkpatrick's Escape from North Korea and Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader. Both dramatically bear testimony to the dire human rights situation in North Korea. Starvation, torture, forced sexual slavery, false imprisonment, etc.

Adrian Hong recently spoke at an event, and his remarks offered more urgency to addressing the desperation there.

Hong discusses the immense dangers that North Korean refugees face after crossing the border into China, where they can face imprisonment, sex trafficking and often a return home to much worse. “To go through that much risk, whatever you’re escaping from back home has to be pretty bad,” he says. “Extraordinarily bad. Far worse than whatever you’re facing to get out of that place. So North Korea is that thing. It is that bad.”

I'm going to keep on the look out for programs in DC about this, and I wish I had seen Kirkpatrick at a book event.  Yes, the media is laughing at China's party paper buying the Onion's portrayal of Kim Jong Un as "Sexiest Man Alive."  But there's nothing humorous about the situation over there. It truly may be a Holocaust with so many people dying, and so few caring.  That's the parallel to the most infamous 20th century Holocaust.

Thankful in Dallas

We spent four days in Dallas over Thanksgiving. We participated in the 8 mile Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. A great race, though crowded. I am sure I negative splitted, considering the heat and the slow go at the start. 1:14:39 is by no means great, but I'll take it. It was the top 1/3 for ladies, and there were some very in shape runners. Slow ones were in the 5K.

Besides hanging out with the nephews and niece, I also did Pinot's Palette with my SILs. I guess it was fun to be artistic and engage in a 6th grade art project, but really, it was not for me. Maybe another time with a less complex piece, right?

Other than that, we ate at the infamous Kuby's where our nephew was kicked out of. We also had lunch at Dodie's, worked out, and ate and drank to our heart's content.

And now we're back to reality. Can Christmas vacation hurry up and come?

One Day More

So I was hoping today would be nice and slow, but with the impromptu car pick up at Dulles and the last minute call to help tonight, not so much. But we'll soon be off to Dallas, and that will be enough to clear my head for a few days. Forget what's election related, work related, house related, financial related, etc. etc. Just be thankful for another year with my family, my job, my health, my friends, despite all of the crappy stuff that can happen. Just thankful.

So one day more. And that day is half over already. Thankful for that, too.

Conspiracy Silliness Edition

Is Krauthammer right? Did the Administration hold the affair over Petraeus' head in order to receive favorable testimony on Benghazi? They would not do that, would they?

I really am surprised that People magazine went ahead and put the sexiest man alive on the cover of their upcoming issue, as opposed to the Petraeus affair.

And how in the world is this woman Jill Kelly asking for diplomatic protection? I mean, Ambassador Stevens did not even receive it as his embassy was attacked on 9/11.  But a social party planning queen is able to ask for it. Silliness.

It's time to move on items with more substance. Like discussions on substantive due process, the protection of religious conscience rights, and the separation of powers.

The Petraeus Scandal

Count me as slightly obsessed with the Petraeus scandal. Yes, I was going through withdrawals of news consumption in the few days after the election, before which I just stared at my twitter feed and refreshed blogs and Drudge Report. (Yep, one of those conservatives who only reads the same RW material!).  But this scandal is juicy. Yep, between the daughter's blog, the DC setting, the scandalously threatening emails, and the sad spouse, it's scintillating. But there's a humanity to it that you just feel bad about the entire thing. It's like he made one huge mistake, took full responsibility, and gave up his post. And his family is being punished by seeing his photograph and the mistress (in her 15 minutes of fame) splashed everywhere.

And then you add  Libya, and with the specter of the Benghazi hearings this week, and a lame duck Congress, and the "when did the President know?" questions, then yeah, it's a DC soap storm. Ultimately, sadly, in DC sex sells and maybe that will finally put light on the scandal.

For now, I hope the family can heal, and all of those innocents brought to the middle of this unwittingly, they can go back to being anonymous. The only good thing is that all of the RIP conservative stories have been pushed off the front burner. Scandals sells more than ineptitude.

Ready for the Weekend

It's the last free one for a while. And there's stuff to do..Crafty Bastards is open at Union Market. I am going to the Limited 50% off sale and Target. And watching football and reading. Not to mention a quiet Saturday evening, while the husband is off to a bachelor party.

So yes, I will spend some time thinking about this week before moving on. The more I read and think about, the angrier I get. Elizabeth Warren, for example, is an incapable fraud who could not even complete a press conference. And massive layoffs to prepare for Obamacare.  And Petraeus is probably going to take the fall for Libya. Unreal.

So maybe I do need a break from all of this. 

Edited to say...Petraeus had an affair? OMG. I mean, I just find that implausible. How can the head of the CIA be that stupid? Is this a massive cover-up for Libya? I mean, the timing of this is suspect. Three days after an election on a  Friday afternoon. I mean, I am speechless.... 

Two Day Post-Mortem

So one of those most horrifying things about eight years of Obama (yeah, I said horrifying) is thinking about his legal and judiciary legacy. It's widely expected that Eric Holder will step down. The list of replacements for his is just awful. Awful. Janet Napolitano? Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Really? I am almost hoping it's McCaskill, purely to get her out of MO, but that is not likely.

I don't want to think about the courts. You need to pray that Scalia and Kennedy stay healthy. And the latter has a big enough ego not to go. I suspect Ginsburg will step down, and I hope it's not til 2014. Status quo can work for now.  

There's alot of heartbreak after the election, for jobs that will go unfilled and opportunities lost. And a lot of talented individuals won't have the opportunity to serve, because four years from now, anything can change.  

But yeah, just on the issues I care about, the judicial/legal landscape is frightening. The politicization of DOJ will continue, second tier affirmative action candidates will continue to serve, and incompetence will be rewarded. But hey, you get what you vote for. 

And it's not like Romney picks in these areas would be perfect. Reagan appointed O'Connor and Bush appointed Souter.  But the odds would be remarkably better with a President Romney for a Thomas or Alito.

After

I'm taking a little break from social media. I need to stay away from the gloating, the heralding of a liberal savior sent to save the world from big, bad conservatives. 

Roger Kimball seems quite eloquent.

For conservatives, it is a depressing situation. Ron is right, too, about “the coming crisis of a growing entitlement state” and the myriad foreign policy challenges, not least the challenges of radical Islam, that Obama, and the country at large, will continue to face. I fear that what an English friend just wrote me is true:

You just don’t care about being a Great Power any longer. That’s what this is about. The world should start sucking up to China instead now, as Americans have shown they’ve no appetite for world leadership any longer. You’ve had a century in the sun, and now you’ve decided to become Sweden instead of shouldering the burden. The 47% have won and you’re going to slip into social democracy and in 4 years time no-one — Christie, Rubio, Ryan — will be able to do anything about it.

RIP American Exceptionalism

It is said that the one unforgivable sin is despair. Depression is not quite despair, but it is an allied and a corrosive sentiment. I agree with Ron that “it is essential that conservative intellectuals do not abandon the effort to change the culture . . . and do all possible to challenge the ascension of a failed intellectual liberal ideology, whether it be in the form of Progressivism, liberalism or socialism.” But I misread and misread badly both the mood of the country and the depth of support for Obama’s failed policies. I will doubtless get around to rejoining Ron in the battle, but a little hiatus for reflection will not come amiss.

And Jonah:

That Mitt Romney got fewer votes than John McCain is dismaying on any number of levels. We were told, by strategists and by what seemed like common sense, that the McCain coalition was a floor for Romney to build up from. The possibility that it was in fact a ceiling is pretty awful to contemplate. It is also pretty infuriating when you think about what the Romney campaign was telling us about their path to 270.

I’ll be blunt: I do not think Mitt Romney ran a good campaign. Don’t get me wrong, I think he worked his heart out as did many who worked for him. I think he made himself into the best candidate he could (which is different than saying he was a great candidate). But I also think that Romney’s theory of the contest was wrong. As I wrote at the time, the Republican convention was a mess. I think Romney strategist Stu Stevens’ contempt for ideas – never mind conservative ideas – was absurd. I think the failure of the Romney campaign to offer a compelling explanation of any kind (at least until the second debate) for how it wasn’t a third Bush term was fatal (as I discussed here and elsewhere). Politics is about persuasion. And persuasion requires making serious arguments. Stevens, by all accounts, has contempt for serious arguments.

I think ultimately, ideas win. America may move "forward" but it is off a cliff. And I fear we took a big step backward tonight. But the world will continue to turn, and ultimately, as we debate and discuss what the next four years will bring, those of certain ideas will unite behind a better candidate in four years. And the bench is deep--Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Bob McConnell, Rob Portman, many others will step onward and we'll rebuild a better country. I hope.

Four Years Hence...

Four years ago, this country elected Barack Obama president. And we worried this would take place...And so much occurred. The worst was Obamacare. And bad judicial appointments.

I don't know what will happen tonight. I know or I guess it will be close. I said yesterday that the world will go on regardless of who wins. But damn, do I want it to be Mitt Romney!

Tomorrow

I am not sure if anyone's mind is really on work today. I think we're all distracted, refreshing Drudge or twitter or FB. We know what tomorrow means, what could or should or won't happen. There are parties to plan, polls to analyze, predictions to make.

We know the world won't end tomorrow, even if the Obama presidency does not end. But a world of Obamacare, rising debt, increased taxes, stagnating growth, increased unemployment, and a less safe world could be consequences. It is ridiculous that the media is helping to cover up what happened in Benghazi, and I suspect if Obama is reelected, that will be his second term shame. 

We freak out because of so many anticipations we have, as we all want to change the direction of this country.  We want more freedom, more growth, respect for life, respect for initiative in small businesses built by the hard work of ordinary Americans, all of whom just want a better life for themselves and for the next generation.  We all want to see that shining city on the hill beam its brightness across the sea.

The Battle Hymn of the Republic has a rarely seen final verse which is appropriate here.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on. 

We want to see God in this election. And I am not callous enough to think the other side does not want that, too. But bigotry against people of faith is something I fear is growing accepted in this country, and I fear that four more years along the path we're currently treading upon will lead to further violations of conscience rights and a newer, accepted discrimination. The left of the Kennedy, of Rose Kennedy, would not accept this, would she?

We all have one vote (well, unless voter fraud is further perpetuated). We must trust in the people, and well, their lawyers too. And we know we can contribute time, talent, and treasure, but that is all we can do. Until tomorrow.

More Scenes From Sandy

Wow, these images are really devastating. #12...wow.  Those images of intact, standing homes only a door down from a burnt out shell. It reminded me of touring New Orleans after Katrina. We saw lots with only a set of stairs, but no building. Dwellings where once families resided. Where a Congressman resided, right? It can happen to anyone, with little warning, and no way to prevent it.

I know perspective if needed, when crappy things happen like a burst pipe or even minor house issues. And yeah, some times it is legitimately OK to be bummed about it. But wow...things are just things and most anything physical can be replaced. But mourning those things will occur. God bless all of those who lost anything in the storm.

Super Storm Sandy

Some of the photographs of the carnage waged by Sandy are just incredible.

Some of these before and after shots say it all.

The waters will recede, the subways will reopen, and life will go back to a new normal.

But images like these tell you that there is a long way to go before all of that happens.

The Coming Storm

I guess this title can refer to the Frankenstorm coming: It's the worst storm in a century! Or the election. Obama's firewall of Wisconsin is coming down.

Or it could come to the disaster befalling the Tigers unless they win. One fan is ready to offer their home for World Series tickets. Ah, Detroit. 

The storm could be a $500 trillion tax cut (thanks, Bidenism!) that is threatening our fiscal stability. It could really be anything.

To the weekend...

Thirteen Days to Go....Thirteen Observations

1. I have absolutely no prediction on how the presidential election will go.  Current polls suggest that Romney retains a small lead, about 50-46 or 50-47. Whether any candidate can translate this into a majority in the electoral college remains to be seen. 
2. Donald Trump and Gloria Allred are both publicity idiots.
3. I don't think the Republicans will win back the Senate, though.
4. I can and can't believe that the media is giving Obama such a pass on botching up Libya. Would not be such a big deal if no one died. No, still would have been a big deal.
5. Napolitano is such a hypocrite and sorry excuse for a DHS Secretary.
6. The Nobel Peace Prize winner is tops in world opinion.
7. I find it interesting that Romney discusses poverty more than Obama. But of course. He knows how to create jobs to bring people out of poverty. Obama just wants to cover up his bad jobs record.
8. I find it remarkable that a newspaper would endorse Obama but keep an interview off the record. While they changed their mind, it took resistance.  Who is hiding what?
9. Most undecideds are in Ohio. No surprise.
10. Will Romney/Ryan lose their home states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts and still win? I guess they could. I wonder if that's unprecedented?
11. OK, I'll guess Dems retain Senate 51-49.
12. I'll guess Romney wins 52-48. But I retain the right to change my mind.
13.Truth on the moderators. The men--Bob Schieffer and Jim Lehrer-were far, far better than Abby Raddatz and Martha Crowley. 

California and Home

Work trips always blend together somewhat, and I'm glad to be back. It was a hectic 48 hours in humid northern California. I ate enough, drank some Peet's, survived two events, and endured 10+ hours on planes. I saw People Like Us, which starred a fantastic Elizabeth Banks. The acting was good, though the plot a bit confused at times. I never figured out what the point was in Chris Pines' corporate bartering problems, and the subtext of the secret sibling relationship seemed weird. All I could think was: Wow, there is now way this single mom is not going to start to have romantic feelings for this mysterious stranger who all of a sudden is being so very nice to both her and her bratty pre-teen son.  It just defied common sense, right? The EW review is right on about how hard it tries to be heartfelt, but just too much was going on.

I also read a lot of the new Melanie Kirkpatrick book on Escape from North Korea. While Nothing to Envy featured tales more from the refugees' perspectives, Kirkpatrick's sensitive description of those rescuers provides another view on this horrible situation.  It's shameful that the U.S. took North Korea off of the terrorist list. The nuclear weapons and the torture of their own people warrants higher scrutiny. I have about 1/4 left to read.

On to the week ahead...Lions tonight, the World Series starts, and one last presidential debate.

Last Night's Debate

Romney blew the Libya answer, no thanks to a botched quote by the biased moderator. His answers on energy and the economy were much stronger. At best it was a draw, but media will want to claim an Obama win. I don't think it will sway many undecided his way.

That was last night's debate reaction...today, I am heartened that Romney still seems to have the lead. Anything can happen...less than three weeks to go.

Girl Time

With Steve gone, I've been catching up with friends. An unexpected dinner on Friday night with Cindy, the White House garden tour with Elizabeth on Saturday, and a fun dinner at Liz's with Ann and Mary on Saturday. I was grateful to have yesterday to veg out watching football and cooking butternut squash lasagna. So good.

So that was my weekend, and with any luck, I'll get another workout in tonight and then have dinner with Katherine tomorrow night, all before going to California later this week. I wish I could say that things were going by fast, but not quite. Not fast enough. Miss husband.

Two Great Victories

I grew up a baseball fan; I'll admit that. I loved the Tigers, and remembering their 1984 World Series victory was a highlight of being a kid. 

Yesterday marked two great baseball victories. For my first Nationals game of the season, I saw a walk off home run by Jayson Werth to force a decisive Game 5 of the NLDS.  And several hours later, Justin Verlander pitched a gem of a complete game shutout to send Oakland packing. He truly is the greatest pitcher in baseball--is there anyone else you'd want on the mound to win a game for you?

So hopefully the momentum of the yesterday won't be a damper on tonight and tomorrow's games. NY and Baltimore are going to have to rebound quickly, and I think that'll be a positive for Detroit.

Go Tigers! (and Nats...for now!)

15 Year Old Self

I saw this on CNN and thought it was neat: What advice would you give to your 15 year self?

I would tell her to embrace being a nerd. Care about the world, and don't care so much about what other 15 year olds think of you in a classroom.

I would tell her you'd make your best friends and college.

I would tell her she was attractive enough and confident enough to meet a boy. She never needed a boyfriend at 15, anyway.

I would tell her to take risks, and don't be so concerned with whatever people think. Because only you can stand up for yourself.

I would tell her it is ok not to be perfect.

And I would tell her that it gets better.

So Bad I Vacation in Detroit

As always, cheery Detroit headlines. Like cops warning people not to enter into the city because it is so risky.  The mayor warning residents that things won't turn around overnight (shocking, I know). The chief of police resigning in a sex scandal. And Detroit residents have lost their faith yet again.

Washington, DC's Building Museum will show an exhibit on the disintegration of Detroit.

The urban worst-case scenario known as Detroit has been compared to Pompeii and circa 1946 Hiroshima. But the erstwhile Motor City wasn’t destroyed by a natural disaster or an atomic bomb. It succumbed to sheer carelessness. It’s as if a major metropolis shriveled in the dryer or rotted in the back of the refrigerator.

While the exhibit is only on view in Washington through February 18, it will be on view in Detroit permanently.

Once again, the city looks to its sports teams. The Tigers need to win, this can be their year. And as my brother pointed out, it could be vs. the Reds or the Nationals. Chances are slim. But it would be something. The conversation needs to change somehow.

Friday Anticipations

There is nothing better than a holiday weekend, particularly when the next two weekends husband is gone and work will be hellish once again.

I am looking forward to...

Quiet Friday night
Saturday football and date night
Frightened Rabbit
Dinner with C&L
Target shopping
Getting in at least three good workouts.
Limited shopping? Columbus Day sales!
Maybe some work around the house
Lounging around when I should be productive
Getting some reading time done
Grocery shopping

Life is too exciting, is it not?

Chicago

What made the work event in Chicago worthwhile was seeing my friends. It was nice to be with friends, hanging out and eating and getting frozen yogurt. Seeing hipster Wicker Park and visiting the Bongo Room (oh what a delicious brunch!) and dinner at Bar Toma. It was nice being with "my" friends for a change, too. And to feel like I was being an ear to listen. 

Life is so hectic sometimes. OK, most of the time.  And it's trendy to say just how busy you are all of the time. But having a Saturday where there was no real agenda was nice. Seeing a friend you had not see for at least five years, wow. And being there for the good times and the bad. Love Chicago. Love it.

Local Flavor

The Post Style section featured a neat profile of Brian Weitz from Animal Collective on his life in the H Street corridor (he lived three blocks from us!). I thought it was interesting that he kept his Hill job while he was starting with the band. You have to pay the bills somehow, right? I also thought it was interesting how rarely he was recognized in DC. Perhaps I've seen him on H Street or Eastern Market, right? I guess this is another indication we're up for the hipsters.

And this is a neat anecdote:

But most interactions have been harmless, even sweet. Weitz remembers the shock of his first encounter with an excited fan. He was buying bagels in Brooklyn when the clerk blurted out a question about Animal Collective’s next gig.
Years later, Weitz was at a Williamsburg bar where Chris Taylor, bassist for the band Grizzly Bear, approached him: “ ‘I don’t know if you remember me, man, but I was working at this bagel place . . .’ ”

And this:

He didn’t always love it. After a Philadelphia childhood (he’s loyal to the Flyers), a Baltimore adolescence and his studies in New York, Weitz says he’s struggled to find his footing in the transience of Washington.
“I just decided if I’m going to be here, I should stop complaining about it and engage,” Weitz says. So he bought a house and signed on as investor in Toki Underground, the ramen shop on H Street NE.
“He’s just very polite, quiet and to himself,” says Erik Bruner-Yang, chef and owner of Toki. “But when he does say something, you should pay attention. . . . He understands the balance between doing what you love and trying to be able to make a living.”

Reading Lately

With several hours flying and hanging out in an airport ahead of me, I'm going to have some time reading. I've picked up Melanie Kirkpatrick's Escape from North Korea and Robert Kaplan's The Revenge of Geography.  I have also started re-reading (well, finishing) The Tempting of America. I think I read that in 2001? I found an old airline stub from Phoenix. Maybe that was when I was in Colorado? How strange and long ago that was.

I haven't read much since I finished Gone Girl. I did finish In the Garden of Beasts in my recent New York and Milwaukee travels, after starting it in Africa. Both thrilling, captivating reads.

Sadness

Yesterday morning, the baby panda passed away at the national zoo. Not even a week old. It appears she may have had a problem with her liver.

In terms of earth-shattering, horrible news, this wasn't the worst. The Ambassador to Libya's murder was sad. Torrey Smith's brother's death was sad. This was just...sadness.

This world can be too much sometimes, and a baby animal's birth and the joy it brings lit up the screen in DC last week. It was a bipartisan moment of joy in a bitter presidential campaign. A moment we all can agree that we are happy about.

Sadness. RIP Baby Panda. We wish we could have met  you.

Is It Time To Go Yet?

So yeah, I am ready to get out of here. What I am looking forward to this weekend...

Target and Grocery shopping.
Working out.
Suit shopping.
Cooking.
Reading magazines.
Watching football.

Sense a theme? Next week will be busy because of Chicago. But this weekend, not so much. And it only gets busier from here....

True Love

These pictures have been everywhere, but they need to be noted here. I can say a lot of things about mushiness, love, bravery, and honor, but really, those pictures just speak for themselves.

The Weekend III: The Race

Steve ran his first half-marathon and rocked it yesterday...the Navy Five Miler and Air Force Half. It was not at all crowded. He finished in 1:52:26, for 8:35/average. Wow. He finished in the top 30% of finishers, which was impressive in a half with a lot of serious, military athletes. He has the bug!

I did the Navy Five Miler, which was my best race in a little while, after some rather lackluster earlier attempts. I finished in 42:49, for an 8:34 average. It was good for 7th place, out of 146, in my age group. Top 5%, I will take it! About the top 21%. Again, I will take it. Much better than the 10Ks, and my speed was decent. Maybe I could have been a little faster, but I will take being competitive in my age group anytime.

Weekend Part II: H Street Festival

Wow. That's all I can say. If estimates of 65,000-70,000 are to be believed, and I do, that was one hell of a street party. We blow Adams Morgan Day away, absolutely. I've never seen crowds like that, and it was nearly impossible to move down the street. The sun was hot and we all got some color, so staying out for more than a couple of hours wasn't feasible when you could not move around much and the lines were so long. Next week, I think they need to extend it down to 6th or 7th, at least, to give folks some breathing room.  And I have no doubt they could fill that street space.

All of the credit goes to the organizers, to the fantastic music--I was impressed by the Michelle Raymond Band, to the food, to the new restaurant previews like Newsom,  to the entertainment, to the vendors and stands representing everything from the fabulous Union Market to information about the trolley.  It was utterly amazing.

If the worst criticism is that it was too crowded, well, that says a lot. Til next year!

Weekend Part I: Springsteen

So much to say about the weekend. We started with a fantastic Bruce Springsteen show on Friday night. Yeah, maybe it was not his best ever show, but we were blow away. Look at the crowd! And we were way up, in Section 318.  The music set list is here. He started with "Prove it All Night," and the he did, for nearly 3 1/2 hours. "Hungry Heart" was fantastic; he came into the crowd people loved it. We really enjoyed some of his newer tracks like "Death to my Hometown," "Shackled and Drawn," "We Take Care of our Own," and the Irish inspired "American Land."  Highlights included, of course, his encore songs of "Thunder Road" and "Born to Run."  "Dancing in the Dark" got everyone dancing, as did his Detroit Motown hits. "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" featured his tribute to Clarence Clemons, which featured a touching moment of silence.

It was one of the best concerts we've been too, I think. Just rousing, fun, and fantastic music.  Credit goes to the E Street Band.  They put on one hell of a show. When we were leaving, some guy said this was their 58th concert. Twice a year since about 1979, give or take. Wow. He's been in the music business longer than we've been alive, since the early 1970s. Springsteen was big in the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and now today. And he remains as relevant as ever. It certainly was a bucket list concert, and we'd certainly go again.

Busy Busy Weekend

Springsteen. H Street Festival. Maybe a Navy race.

Yikes.

After a quick trip to Milwaukee, it is good to be home. But I certainly can use some relaxation time, which is not likely this weekend. That being said, a sunny day and festivities on H Street are my highlight. And a concert on a nice, early Fall-esque evening.  So here's to the weekend!

And finding out if we will have a nice or nephew!

Disgusted

The bombing that killed our US Ambassador in Libya was a hideous, disgusting act of cowardice, explicitly designed to attack our country on the anniversary of 9/11.  Just because the media forgot the anniversary, it does not mean the terrorists did. The attack was planned and certainly with the cooperation of al Qaeda.

And yeah, all of the media cares about is Mitt Romney's supposedly bungled response. Unbelievable. Because Obama never questioned George W. Bush's conduct in the war against terrorism, did he? Oh, wait...the war on terror is over? Come again?

It is unfortunate, and that is putting it mildly, that foreign policy has been put on the backburner recently. In light of the murder of an ambassador, a president who can't be bothered with attending daily intelligence briefings during the anniversary week of the worst terrorist attack in our country's history, and in light of continued protests in the Middle East, well, I hope that is reevaluated. And soon. And the blathering about Romney's response needs to end. A response I entirely agree with, by the way. Especially this:

America will not tolerate attacks against our citizens and against our embassies. We’ll defend also our constitutional rights of speech and assembly and religion.

It makes all of this ridiculousness over contraception even more absurd. I should have told that to the Planned Parenthood lackeys outside Starbucks.

9/11 Amnesia?

The media seems to have gone past the 11th anniversary of 9/11. The Washington Post doesn't really have any coverage. Neither does National Review, though Weekly Standard has posted several pieces. And the New York Times ponders how to cover these anniversaries? The shift is away from comprehensive coverage, and not it is personal moments of remembrance.

I've written before about 9/11, where I was and how I remember it. What I remember so much about the morning was the blue sky and the perfect, perfect September weather. Like it is today: blue and mild and sunny and warm.  Like September 11.

We remember Barbara and all of those others, the victims and survivors and those who left behind. And even if the Washington Post doesn't see this as a front page story today, they won't forget and we won't forget. Let the Chicago teacher's strike, the election, NFL football, etc. take the headlines. Drudge's simple cover photo of the carnage of the World Trade Center is all you need.  And I realize that the generation of kids in high school were no more than 6, or 3, on that day, but they will never forget, either.

I saw a little plane flying today on my walk to work. Flying high out of DCA.

God bless America. Today and always.

And if you read one thing today, read this. 

Five Things I Am Looking Forward to this Weekend

Wine with friends on Saturday, just celebrating at home.

Getting my haircut.

Getting into at least two good workouts.

Getting rid of this nasty June-esque humidity.

And spending all day on Sunday on the couch and watching football.

Today

Remarkably, the book is officially out. And oh yeah, Kramerbooks is selling it.

And we're back to football...finally football...Cowboys vs. Giants. Tonight. 8:30 p.m.

And so it begins.

H Street History

I love the idea of this historical walking tour through my neighborhood of H Street. The history of the 600 block of H, near the old Safeway and where the riots waged, near the historical black churches and the old barbershops, near the old Ourisman Chevrolet, is particularly fascinating.With Union Market reopening, the neighborhood grows even more fascinating by the day.

Rubio and Romney

The story last night was about Rubio and Romney. Not Clint Eastwood and Invisible Obama. That was just bizarre. A Reagan hologram would have worked better.  But it wasn't important.

Senator Marco Rubio was eloquent. He was passionate and he spoke truth.

These are tired and old big government ideas. Ideas that people come to America to get away from. Ideas that threaten to make America more like the rest of the world, instead of helping the world become more like America...

A few years ago during a speech, I noticed a bartender behind a portable bar at the back of the ballroom. I remembered my father who had worked for many years as a banquet bartender.

He was grateful for the work he had, but that's not the life he wanted for us.

He stood behind a bar in the back of the room all those years, so one day I could stand behind a podium in the front of a room.

That journey, from behind that bar to behind this podium, goes to the essence of the American miracle — that we're exceptional not because we have more rich people here...

 And in conclusion:

The story of our time will be written by Americans who haven't yet been born.

Let's make sure they write that we did our part. That in the early years of this new century, we lived in an uncertain time. But we did not allow fear to cause us to abandon what made us special.

We chose more freedom instead of more government.

We chose the principles of our founding to solve the challenges of our time.

We chose a special man to lead us in a special time.

We chose Mitt Romney to lead our nation.

And because we did, the American Miracle lived on for another generation to inherit.

Romney delivered maybe the best speech of his life. He was likable, and earnest, and powerful, and everything he usually does not portray himself to be. And the video tribute beforehand was one of the best I've seen. It humanized him, and showed him at his best: leading at work and being with his family. Too bad Eastwood came afterwards, but I digress.

In his speech, he heralded women:

My mom and dad were true partners, a life lesson that shaped me by everyday example. When my mom ran for the Senate, my dad was there for her every step of the way. I can still hear her saying in her beautiful voice, “Why should women have any less say than men, about the great decisions facing our nation?”
I wish she could have been here at the convention and heard leaders like Governor Mary Fallin, Governor Nikki Haley, Governor Susana Martinez, Senator Kelly Ayotte and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

 Truth:

How many days have you woken up feeling that something really special was happening in America?  Many of you felt that way on Election Day four years ago. Hope and Change had a powerful appeal. But tonight I’d ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn’t you feel that way now that he’s President Obama? You know there’s something wrong with the kind of job he’s done as president when the best feeling you had was the day you voted for him.

And the bottom line:

What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn’t take a special government commission to tell us what America needs.
What America needs is jobs.
Lots of jobs.

Onward to November!

 

Condi's Speech

Of course, I've been watching the GOP convention, and by far the most buzzed about speech was Condi's address last night. Jay Nordlinger summarizes many of the salient points, and he ends with an observation about her tenure as Secretary of State was "so flat." Yes, that. She was an ideological wimp in that role, and it meant that Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney often had to exert the American exceptionalism needed in leadership.

Yet her speech last night reflected the VP buzz that was generated after her summer speeches. It was eloquent, emotional, delivered with conviction and thrust, and she spoke without the dreaded teleprompter. With her, Susana Martinez, Nikki Haley, and other talented GOP women on the front lines, who is to say we're losing this "war on women?"

Notable quotes:

"Now, to be sure, the burdens of leadership have been heavy. I know, as you do, the sacrifice of Americans, especially the sacrifice of many of our bravest in the ultimate sacrifice, but our armed forces are the surest shield and foundation of liberty, and we are so fortunate that we have men and women in uniform who volunteer, they volunteer to defend us at the front lines of freedom, and we owe them our eternal gratitude."

"I know that it feels as if we have carried these burdens long enough.  But we can only know that there is no choice, because one of two things will happen if we don't lead. Either no one will lead and there will be chaos, or someone will fill the vacuum who does not share our values."

"My fellow Americans, ours has never been a narrative of grievance and entitlement.  We have never believed that I am doing poorly because you are doing well...No, no, ours has been a belief in opportunity.  And it has been a constant struggle, long and hard, up and down, to try to
extend the benefits of the American dream to all.  But that American ideal is indeed in danger today. There is no country, no, not even a rising China that can do more harm to us than we can do to ourselves if we do not do the hard work before us here at home."

"America has a way of making the impossible seemed inevitable in retrospect, but we know it was
never inevitable. It took leadership.  And it took courage.  And it's a belief that our values.  Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have the integrity and the experience and the vision to lead us. They know who we are.  They know who we want to be.  They know who we are in the world and what we offer. That is why -- that is why this is a moment and an election of consequence.  Because it just has to be that the freest most compassionate country on the face of the earth will continue to be the most powerful and the beacon for prosperity and the party across the world."

Five Random Thoughts

Tropical Storm Isaac beckons New Orleans. I swear, some liberals are praying for this storm just to give a big F-U to the GOP meeting in Tampa. Unreal.

Fantasy Football draft one is Saturday. So not prepared. Draft two? Sunday....

How in the world is John Stamos 49 years old? Wow.

Way overpriced.  It has been interesting to see the renovation process, though.

Detroit Unbuzzed. Sounds interesting!

Michigan for Romney?

Recent polls show the race to be a dead heat in Michigan. And with Michigan's history as Reagan Democrat country, maybe there's a chance that the state will vote for its hometown son this election year? Marc Thiessen sees several reasons why MI may go for the GOP this year beyond just the economy:

But the Romney campaign has also been highlighting two other issues that have particular resonance in Michigan. One is the administration’s contraception and abortifacient mandate, which hurts the president with the socially conservative Reagan Democrats in such places as Macomb County. There are 2.4 million Catholic voters in Michigan, and Obama’s assault on religious liberty has alienated many of them. In May, the Michigan Catholic Conference filed suit against the Obama administration over the Health and Human Services mandate — and Catholic priests will be preaching against it in parishes across the state between now and Election Day. Look for Romney to underscore his opposition to the HHS mandate — and his endorsement by Lech Walesa — with these Catholic voters, many of whom are of Polish and Ukrainian descent.
The second issue is welfare reform. Welfare fraud is fresh on people’s minds here, thanks to the news of a Detroit area woman who was recently caught continuing to collect benefits despite winning a $1 million state lottery prize. Michiganders have a strong work ethic and remain justly proud of their state’s role as a pioneer of welfare reform in the 1990s. The charge that Obama is gutting welfare reform hits a nerve here.

I would love, love to see Michigan go Romney. When I was there in June, some of the lawyers suggested that possibility.  Hopefully it can become a reality.

Fire and Rain

This week has gone by so quickly, but it also has been a long one. I went to Chicago for Donna's father's funeral on Tuesday and Wednesday. I don't want to write about it--the tragedy of seeing her strong mother, her sweet little nephew waving to the Knights of Columbus, feeling the embrace, witnessing the tears, and knowing that ache does not just go away. But people are stronger than you think, right? There is something comforting in the ritual of the Catholic funeral. "On Eagle's Wings" and Psalm 90 and Psalm 91.

James Taylor's classic "Fire and Rain" has been running through my head lately.  You know those lyrics. And the last month, Africa and weddings and a new niece and a friend's sad goodbye...all of those eternal things. Like the priest said, they are a part of our journey. And gosh, what a journey we're on. I looked at my church a little differently after these past couple of days. I was so grateful to have my faith. So grateful to have something to believe in.  And so grateful for friendship. The ability to be there for someone and to smile in those tears. So grateful.

Arrested Inside Jokes

This is a great feature on little missed Arrested Development inside jokes. I need a laugh today.

Cincinnati & Family

We had a very nice weekend in Cincinnati. Paul and Megan are fantastic hosts--from all of the fabulous food (like filet, quiche, key lime pie, chicken enchiladas), drinks, and tour. We went to the top of the Carew Tower, to the Hofbrauhaus for ridiculously large beers, to brunch at Teller's with good friends, to very good thai cuisine in Mt. Adams at Teak. They did not steer us wrong in recommendations.

I will remember playing pool, discussing the baby, watching Friday night fireworks, their beautiful view, cool Chase, running ridiculously rolling hills and getting my a$$ kicked multiple times as we went through the park and to the stadiums, a certain someone's overzealous workouts, and just hanging out with my brother. Not sure when we'll see each other next. Family is too important to wait too long.

And on that note, I am sad for Donna. My heart aches right now, and I can't imagine how she feels. I don't want to imagine how she is feeling.  All I can do is try to be there. Hopefully that will work out.

Cincinnati

We are off to Cincinnati for the weekend. I'm really looking forward to seeing my brother, SIL, and niece or nephew-to be.

And while I am there, my sad thoughts are in Chicago. I cannot and do not want to imagine how hard it is for all of them today and what the days ahead are like. My prayers and love go there.

Joe Biden III

Ah, so now a routine lunch meeting with his boss garners all sorts of speculation about Joe Biden.

Is Joe Biden OK?
Meltdown!
Even Douglas Wilder is scolding the VP.
And Joe Biden his his share of handlers.

But it's all a bad thing when the boss has to defend you. 

And his greatest hits. 

Shooting at FRC

A horrible tragedy was averted yesterday, when a brave security guard prevented an unhinged gun man from use his semi to kill an office full of people at the Family Research Council.

About 10:45 a.m., the shooter arrived at the Family Research Council’s brick-and-stone building at 801 G St. NW and walked through the tall glass-and-metal front doors, under an archway chiseled with group’s motto: “Faith, Family, Freedom.” Johnson, the guard, confronted him in the lobby, Lanier said.

The building is not far from the Gallery Place Metro station in one of the busiest areas of the city, thick with restaurants, shops and museums.

In the lobby, the intruder began “making statements” in opposition to the Family Research Council’s social conservatism, a law enforcement official said.

In the struggle that followed, Johnson “did a phenomenal job,” FBI spokeswoman Jacqueline Maguire said. She and Lanier said that if the gunman had gotten past the lobby and into the offices, a mass shooting might have occurred.

I generally think the "hate crime" designation is a little silly. The authorities are still determining whether to charge the assailant with a federal crime, "The FBI said it was evaluating evidence to determine whether to charge Corkins with a federal crime, such as attempting a terrorist act. Authorities said the decision will hinge on what the FBI concludes was the assailant’s motive for entering the building with a loaded Sig Sauer semiautomatic."

But yeah, entering an office building with a loaded generally infers that you want to shoot a lot of people. And I don't care what your motivation is--that is so wrong. But if you are going to designate certain heinous crimes as "hate" crimes, then yeah, entering a pro-traditional marriage, socially conservative group with the aim to shoot to kill is a hate crime. Period.

Joe Biden II

Let's go ahead and lead the world in automobiles in the 20th Century, Joe Biden!

And Bernie Goldberg insults Yogi Berra. 

And John Fund gets in the act, too.

But there has been a double standard for Joe Biden for decades, and almost every reporter in Washington knows it. Last night, a frustrated Rudy Giuliani acknowledged it on CNBC. “I’ve never seen a vice president that has made as many mistakes, said as many stupid things,” he told Larry Kudlow. “I mean, there’s a real fear if, God forbid, he ever had to be entrusted with the presidency, whether he really has the mental capacity to handle it. I mean, this guy just isn’t bright. He’s never been bright. He isn’t bright. And people think, ‘Well, he just talks a little too much.’ Actually, he’s just not very smart.”

Joe Biden Offends

There has to be a blog somewhere that tracks every stupid thing that comes out of Joe Biden's mouth. In the last few days, he's insulted Paul Ryan's deceased father. He also states that Romney & Ryan want "to put y'all back in chains."

He truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

"Joe Biden gaffes" come up with 321,000 Google hits.

There's "The Never-Ending List of VP Joe Biden's Verbal Gaffes" courtesy of the Daily Beast. He's already referred to "President Romney."  He insulted his boss as an African American.

"Joe Biden is an idiot" brings up 1.3 million results. There's a delightful Youtube video.  He's made bad policy moves and insulted the Irish Prime Minister (he has trouble remembering if parents are alive or dead).

Even Time magazine has gotten into the act. That says something.

Sure, he has foot in mouth disease, and sometimes he just mangles words. Every politician or candidate will occasionally screw up--Romney even introduced Ryan as the president (we wish!)

But sometimes, Biden borders on the offensive. He had his father for 60 years; Ryan did for only 15. Why bring that up? Why make bad slavery analogies in the last Confederate capitol and forget if you were in NC or VA?

Joe Biden is an idiot. And thankfully, he's not the candidate I would support.

Paul Ryan

We were pretty happy, after a fun night out at a favorite restaurant, to hear the news that Romney was going to pick Paul Ryan to be his running mate. I've speculated about his selection, and I admit I was not so sure it would happen. I remember Paul Ryan speaking in DC at least a dozen years ago, when I was 24 or 25ish, at Heritage. He was young, good looking, and stridently conservative. And he was the best selection that Romney could make.

He will stomp all over Joe Biden in the debate, and he will help ideas be debated. Not just attack, not just cliched statements about being wealthy and out of touch. He is Catholic and pro-life. He is a reformer. He is the first nominee from Generation X. He is one of the few who invoke Ryan.

I predict that Ryan will end up in the Oval Office at some point. Sure, he will make mistakes. But this is the next generation of leadership, and it is long past time that we turn forward.  And his opening salvo: perfect. Wonderful way to introduce yourself to the American public.

Uganda: Part VI

We went to Ethiopic last night to rehash the trip.

Ten things I'll remember...

Getting off that Ethiopian Airlines plane and seeing that air base, knowing we were in Africa, thousands of miles away from home. And it not looking so different. But also completely different.

Narrating to myself as we drove down the streets to the safari, seeing the barefoot children, seeing the women carrying parcels above their heads, the soccer teams, the school children in uniforms, the fresh produce we could not eat, the livestock at the side of the road,  the boda boda riders with three passengers and sometimes a baby.

It was not nearly as hot as we thought. Lots of rain. We didn't use much sun block.

The women hanging out at the gas station. They were over-employed. The vendors, frantic to make a sale. The desperation to make a sale.

The colorful dresses worn by the wedding. Culturally significant, maybe. The Buganda culture. The Luganda language.

The mosquito nets over all of the beds.

The many, many bottled waters consumed. Washing our face, brushing out teeth, taking out the contacts. The nasty yellowed water.

The Waragi and the Bell and the Nile. All cheap drinks.

The excitement when we had wifi access.

Seeing those volunteers in the airport and being slightly uneasy, maybe more like disturbed, by their volunteer t-shirts, the saving the orphans.  I almost felt like it was a bit patronizing, advertising their "look at me do-gooderness" good service.  Is that silly?

Seeing three college friends together, two decades later and all of them grown up and married and so far from where they started. Good times.

Other Things Going On...

The Uganda series will wrap up tomorrow after our debrief dinner.  What else is going on...

We had a quiet anniversary dinner with lousy service. Mo's Fish Shack worked far better.

Veepstakes speculation is the chatter. I am not surprised it hasn't been announced yet, but the convention is heading here rapidly. I'm going with Pawlenty, Portman, then Ryan.

We are watching a lot of Olympics. Every year I get sucked in.

Just started reading Gone Girl. Love it already.

Three dinners in a row out this week. Busy busy.

NFL preseason football starts tonight. 

Uganda Part V

On Sunday, N & I decided to wrap up the trip with a tour of Kampala. Husband stayed at the hotel,

A bulk of the day was spent touring the Anglican and Catholic memorials at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo. It took a little longer than we anticipated...anyway, we learned a lot about the heroic, yet tragic story of the young martyrs and St. Charles Lwanga.  Our tour of Kampala also took us to the Anglican cathedral. We also passed mosques and even a Mormon church. I was actually very struck by the religious faith of our tour guide. I will also remember an aside by the Catholic guide who mentioned that "gays never were in Africa until the Asians came." The Uganda anti-homosexuality bill has certainly been in the news, though I admit I didn't know a great deal about it before our trip.

We also visited the Kasubi Tombs. What was striking was the cemetery, where Christians and Muslims were buried side by side. The tombs are the site of the burial grounds for four kabakas (kings of Buganda).

We also briefly stopped by a market, and I picked up a cheap turquoise elephant purse and some jewelry. We also stopped at the market on Monday, our last full day. After one final dinner with the whole group on Sunday night, we were about to make our way home...

Uganda Part IV

The wedding was one of the most beautiful, unique ceremonies we have been lucky enough to witness. Cardinal Wamala, the bishop, and a dozen priests participated, along with a beautiful choir and music in both Lugandan and English. And some Latin, too. Yes, the dress was traditional. Of course, I don't know what I was expecting.

The reception featured 1500+ bottles of beer. Nile, Bell, Guiness, different varietals of each, etc. Lots of beer. And some boxed wine. Food was plentiful--traditional foods like matooke (eh, tasteless, I guess you need peanut or groundnut sauce), chicken, beef goulash, yams, rice. There was always a bit of an Indian influence. 

The toasts were plentiful full, and the guys did a classy job. I thought the Kenyans one was a bit over the top. That Kenyan crew was great, and I wish I had gotten a picture of them. They bought us Bourbon and we tried to finagle details from them on the newlyweds.

Music was traditional for the most part, though we had more dance music at the end of the very long reception. We danced a bit, talked to family members and friends, and circulated.  It was everything a wedding reception should be.

We wrapped up the evening when we talked to Pete's brother as we were leaving. Uganda is a beautiful country, but its governance presents problems and an impediment to progress. More on that...

We had another couple of days left to tour Kampala in Part V...