Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Hillary's brain...

Inside Hillary's brain:

Let's see, how will I get Catholics to support me. I know, I'll mock their religion.

How will I get Red Sox fans to support me. I know, I'll mock their team.

How will I get gays and lesbians to support me. I know, I'll mock the idea of them wanting to be married just like normal people who are in love.

How will I get environmentalists to support me. I know, I'll mock their belief in global warming.

How will I get fundamentalists to support me. I know, I'll mock Jesus Christ.

How will I get Obama supporters to support me. I know, I'll mock their movement and their sincere fervor.

~ Tom

Thursday, February 21, 2008

John Alvin

Do you know who John Alvin was? Neither did I until a saw this tribute.

I learn something new every day.

~ Tom

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Clerical error my ass!

Consider the following from the NY Times:

Black voters are heavily represented in the 94th Election District in Harlem’s 70th Assembly District. Yet according to the unofficial results from the New York Democratic primary last week, not a single vote in the district was cast for Senator Barack Obama.

That anomaly was not unique. In fact, a review by The New York Times of the unofficial results reported on primary night found about 80 election districts among the city’s 6,106 where Mr. Obama supposedly did not receive even one vote, including cases where he ran a respectable race in a nearby district.


The article goes on to note that officials explained that these anomalies were just "clerical errors!"

I don't think so. And I'm still stroking my chin over the Clinton win in New Hampshire that was way different than the exit polls. Brings to mind John Kerry up in his hotel room writing his victory speech after he got the exit polls in Ohio, only to find that the ballot count was far different. I hate to be cynical, but I can't help but be when I read this kind of stuff.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Obama and the women

From what I can see, Obama is slowly but surely wooing women away from Hillary. I think if you read this column by Kate Michelman, you will see why. I admire her for speaking out as she does in this cogent, eloquent, and thoughtful piece.

~ Tom

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Obama has "it"

Here is an excerpt from the comment I posted today on Michael Lally's blog:

There is just something about Obama that touches the proverbial nerve. It's akin to observations people make about naturally gifted athletes, or charismatic performers -- you can't teach it or learn it. You either have it or you don't. I've known from the git go that Obama has "it." But the absolute confirmation of it was when Tim Russert played a clip of Harry Truman in July 1960 begging JFK to withdraw from the race and "have patience", bluntly stating that JFK was too green to be president. Then, Russert played JFK's response, which raised goosebumps for me even after all these years. I get the same feeling these days when I listen to Obama's soaring, yet genuine oratory, or just see his lanky grace and magic smile.
After posting that comment, I tried to find the video that I mentioned, but was only able to find a transcript of the relevant portion of the Meet the Press program. Here it is, and you have to admit, it's really quite uncanny...

MR. RUSSERT: ...and we've been able to find exactly what Harry Truman said about John Kennedy back in July of 1960. Let's watch this.

(Videotape)

PRES. HARRY S. TRUMAN: Senator, you--are you certain that you are quite ready for the country, or the country is ready for you in the role of president in January 1961? I have no doubt about the political heights to which you are destined to rise, but I'm deeply concerned and troubled about the situation we are up against in the world now and in the immediate future. That is why I hope that someone with the greatest possible maturity and experience would be available at this time. May I urge you to be patient.

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT: Incredible. Two days later, this is how John Kennedy responded to Harry Truman. Let's watch.

(Videotape)

PRES. JOHN F. KENNEDY: The world is changing. The old ways will not do. It is time for new generation of leadership to cope with new problems and new opportunities, for there is a new world to be won, a world of peace and good will, a world of hope and abundance, and I want America to lead the way to that new world.

Today I say to you, with full knowledge of the responsibilities of that high office, that if the people of the nation select me to be their president, I am ready.

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT: Forty-eight years later, maturity, experience, "be patient," "I'm ready."

MR. CARVILLE: Yeah.

MR. SHRUM: It's the same debate.

MR. MURPHY: Yeah.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

A Whole Lotta Snowing Going On

We got up to our place at Tahoe/Donner yesterday, just beating the big storm. There was a ton of snow awaiting us and I shoveled a path to the front door and shoveled the snow on the deck away from the sliding glass door and window. Then it started snowing again! It snowed hard all night and when we awoke, all my shoveling was replaced with another 2-3 feet!

We had hoped to ski today and Monday, but it's still snowing, the highways are closed, and they are predicting winds of up to 60mph! Tomorrow is going to be sunny, the roads clear, and all the lifts running. So, we scrubbed the mission for today, and will ski tomorrow (a Monday with no crowds) and drive home tomorrow evening. It should be an epic day at Squaw Valley USA where we ski.

Here is a picture I took about a half an hour ago. Notice the half-moon window peeking over the top of the huge snow bank -- the top of that window is 12 feet from the floor inside our unit! You can't even see the deck, which is buried on the other side of the bank.

Nature is a gas!