It's is too early to know who really is behind the terrorist attack in Mumbai, but it does not appear to have the hallmarks of an Al-Queda operation, specifically large explosive devices, primarily car or truck bombs, in highly visible symbolic public edifices.
Until more information comes out, my deepest sympathy to the families of the dead, to the wounded, and prayers for those still held hostage.
My strongest support to the Indian government in battling the terrorists.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Grappling with Reality
One of President-elect Obama's characteristics that give me great comfort is that the is fully engaged with reality. No more of George Bush's religious fantasies. No more of Bush's wishful thinking. No more of his idiocy. Obama will make many mistakes, to be sure, but both his mistakes and his successes will result from an assessment of facts, or the facts as they are known.
Monday, November 24, 2008
All the Right Moves
Barack Obama has not committed a false step since becoming president-elect. The country is on the precipice of economic disaster. We are fighting two wars in woe-begotten lands. Yet Obama shows what he has shown all along: a cool rationality and appreciation of the complexities that await him when he finally shoulders the mantle of the presidency.
Politically, he reached out to John McCain to show one and all that the war has ended and that it truly is time to bind up the nation's political wounds. Any speculation that McCain would soon find a place in Obama's cabinet were just that, speculation, baseless and uninformed. But the image of the two former combatants sitting side by side and making uneasy conversation showed that the self-righteousness of the Bush administration was over. I suppose if Obama could talk to McCain so soon after the calumnies that the Republicans dumped on him, then the president-elect should have no problem talking with some of the nastier fellows on the world scene such as Putin and Ahmadinejad. Besides, he could always tell al-queda's Al-Zawahiri, "Your mother!"
On the economic front, Obama has taken several important actions to address the critical state of the nation's and world's economies. He has put in place what seems like a first rate and experienced team whose focus is on action rather than ideology. The president-elect is not promising the immediate alleviation of the economic woes that afflict us but he is promising immediate attention during the interregnum and, once he takes office, immediate action. It is far more important at this juncture that he addresses the psychology of the recession than the policy of recession. For the latter, the appropriate time is January 21, 2009. The markets have apparently given their imprimatur to both his appointments and his statements regarding where he intends to lead this nation, his ideas for job creation, infrastructure repair, and the survival of American industry.
Obama is setting the bar very low regarding the impact that he will make during the mythic first 100 days of his adminstration. He has stated that the economy will get worse before it gets better. This may well be true, but knowing that he is working on ideas, and that he will be prepared to implement polices in less than 60 days already begins to lift the gloom that was beginning to take on an unbearable and palpable physicality.
So the enormous impact of president-elect Obama can be stated simply: We have not yet turned a corner but we know things will get better.
Politically, he reached out to John McCain to show one and all that the war has ended and that it truly is time to bind up the nation's political wounds. Any speculation that McCain would soon find a place in Obama's cabinet were just that, speculation, baseless and uninformed. But the image of the two former combatants sitting side by side and making uneasy conversation showed that the self-righteousness of the Bush administration was over. I suppose if Obama could talk to McCain so soon after the calumnies that the Republicans dumped on him, then the president-elect should have no problem talking with some of the nastier fellows on the world scene such as Putin and Ahmadinejad. Besides, he could always tell al-queda's Al-Zawahiri, "Your mother!"
On the economic front, Obama has taken several important actions to address the critical state of the nation's and world's economies. He has put in place what seems like a first rate and experienced team whose focus is on action rather than ideology. The president-elect is not promising the immediate alleviation of the economic woes that afflict us but he is promising immediate attention during the interregnum and, once he takes office, immediate action. It is far more important at this juncture that he addresses the psychology of the recession than the policy of recession. For the latter, the appropriate time is January 21, 2009. The markets have apparently given their imprimatur to both his appointments and his statements regarding where he intends to lead this nation, his ideas for job creation, infrastructure repair, and the survival of American industry.
Obama is setting the bar very low regarding the impact that he will make during the mythic first 100 days of his adminstration. He has stated that the economy will get worse before it gets better. This may well be true, but knowing that he is working on ideas, and that he will be prepared to implement polices in less than 60 days already begins to lift the gloom that was beginning to take on an unbearable and palpable physicality.
So the enormous impact of president-elect Obama can be stated simply: We have not yet turned a corner but we know things will get better.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Economic Self-Flagellation
Yes, the mortgage crisis revealed the house of cards that so many of the banks had constructed. Yes, the economic crisis revealed the lack of proper regulation and transparency that leads to confidence in the markets. Yes the stock market is down from its high from about a year ago (just when I made a major investment! Note to readers-when I buy, you should sell!). Yes, unemployment is rising.
But talk of a new "Great Depression" that is rampant in the media is just bizarre. First, consider that the government is taking some action to increase market liquidity and, without doubt, government actions to restore stability to the markets will be much more aggressive once the new Democratic administration and congress are both in place in January. On both legal and philosophical bases, the concept of government intervention in the marketplace is light years ahead of where it was in 1929.
People who have actually lived through the Great Depression must be both concerned and, at the same time, somewhat amused at the current panic, and panic, an irrational fear- is exactly what we are witnessing. During the Depression more than 20% of American were unemployed, while at present the rate is 6% and growing. During the Depression hundreds of banks failed, but according the the FDIC, here ONLY TEN BANKS HAVE FAILED SINCE SEPTEMBER 2008, many have been acquired by other banks. Further, during the Great Depression, the FDIC did not exist, and people actually lost their life's savings. Today, the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000.
One must ask if the media are blowing this economic crisis out of proportion? Are we actually in a severe recession, brought on by unwise practices in the mortgage and investment sectors? And will aggressive action by the Obama administration mitigate the impacts of this recession?
Recessions, for whatever reason, are an inevitable part of the business cycle. As someone who has lived through previous recessions, it seems to me that that a recession is exactly what we are living in today. After previous recessions passed, many economists said that government interventions had no real effect on the outcome of the recession. What is important is the the positive psychological impact that occurs when it seems that the government cares about the people and is trying to do something to alleviate conditions. I believe that whatever Obama's policies might be, the psychological impact will exceed the political impact and that the recession will be over in two years. Any thoughts?
But talk of a new "Great Depression" that is rampant in the media is just bizarre. First, consider that the government is taking some action to increase market liquidity and, without doubt, government actions to restore stability to the markets will be much more aggressive once the new Democratic administration and congress are both in place in January. On both legal and philosophical bases, the concept of government intervention in the marketplace is light years ahead of where it was in 1929.
People who have actually lived through the Great Depression must be both concerned and, at the same time, somewhat amused at the current panic, and panic, an irrational fear- is exactly what we are witnessing. During the Depression more than 20% of American were unemployed, while at present the rate is 6% and growing. During the Depression hundreds of banks failed, but according the the FDIC, here ONLY TEN BANKS HAVE FAILED SINCE SEPTEMBER 2008, many have been acquired by other banks. Further, during the Great Depression, the FDIC did not exist, and people actually lost their life's savings. Today, the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000.
One must ask if the media are blowing this economic crisis out of proportion? Are we actually in a severe recession, brought on by unwise practices in the mortgage and investment sectors? And will aggressive action by the Obama administration mitigate the impacts of this recession?
Recessions, for whatever reason, are an inevitable part of the business cycle. As someone who has lived through previous recessions, it seems to me that that a recession is exactly what we are living in today. After previous recessions passed, many economists said that government interventions had no real effect on the outcome of the recession. What is important is the the positive psychological impact that occurs when it seems that the government cares about the people and is trying to do something to alleviate conditions. I believe that whatever Obama's policies might be, the psychological impact will exceed the political impact and that the recession will be over in two years. Any thoughts?
Narrow Minda, Broad Lawns
The writer H.L. Mencken called the broad expanse of America "the land of narrow minds and broad lawns".
I saw this on Eric Alterman's "Altercation" blog and couldn't resist sharing ti here. let me know if this makes you shudder, too.
I saw this on Eric Alterman's "Altercation" blog and couldn't resist sharing ti here. let me know if this makes you shudder, too.
Name: Andy
Hometown: Carrollton, GA
Eric,
A student in my freshman world geography course came by to visit me yesterday. Initially, she was concerned about whether she would be able to earn a B in the course and regain her scholarship. As we talked, she let slip her profound despair over the larger "stuff happening" in the economy, which was leading her to view choosing a major as a futile exercise. What's the point?
As she explained, "This is happening because we have turned away from Christ, and he's not to be caught off guard by that. And now, 'many people' believe that we have elected the anti-Christ as our leader." When I asked, she explained that Obama's "Muslim upbringing," charisma, and "promises to do big things" revealed his true identity. She appeared stunned to hear that Obama is and was raised a Christian. Nevertheless, she continued, the only way out of the world financial crisis is for Christians "to drop to their knees."
I asked her if she thought Christians could, in that way, improve the job market by the time she graduated in five years. "No," she said, "I shouldn't even be here by then. I'm a true-believer, and we're supposed to not be around when the Antichrist comes. He'll reveal himself."
Yikes, what a depressing meeting on my daughter's first birthday.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
60s Redux?
I know a lot of people are saying Obama is the new John Kennedy, but this business of bringing back the 60s may be going a bit too far. In the past few days I've seen too many guys in their early 20s sporting brush cuts and wearing those silly almost brimless hats and skinny ties that we wore in those days. This is just bad fashion. Or anti-fashion.
Paul Krugman
Is it just me or have you noticed the absence of Paul Krugman from the Times lately? Did I miss some notice that he was taking a vacation? Or perhaps he is being vetted by the Obama people for a position in the administration. I can see him heading up the Council of Economic Advisers.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
New Directions for Saudi Arabia?
Last week, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah held an inter-religious conference in New York City. A participant in that conference said King Abdullah conveyed several important thoughts that would indicate a change in Saudi policy;
1. The King recognized that Saudi policy for the past century had been ineffective and had led to unnecessary conflicts.
2. The election of Barack Obama, an African-American, to the Presidency revealed the United States to be the democracy that we had always claimed to be.
3. The Kingdom was funding less extreme forms of Islam outside Saudi Arabia proper to tamp down the fires of radical jihadism.
The King's remarks seem to indicate a marked change in policy from that adhered to previously by rulers of Saudi Arabia. However, Abdullah is 84 years old, and it is not possible to surmise who long he might live and to what degree his course change can take hold before he dies. Undoubtedly, a new leader will arise from the House of Saud, and it is uncertain whether he will follow the course set by his predecessor. That being said, it is extremely interesting to hear a Saudi King remark about the negative impact of the extreme Wahhabi Islam that the Kingdom has bought off for the past century in order to maintain power there.
Finally , it is interesting to hear the King remark about the election of Barack Obama in the glowing terms he used. While some pundits are comparing Obama to Franklin Roosevelt based on the current economic crisis, Obama's influence can be far more wide ranging, so that he is really compared to John Kennedy insofar as the positive feelings that erupted worldwide after his election.
But positive feelings go only so far when one is confronting adversaries, and less then true friends may be more than willing to stand aside while the United States continues to bare the full weight of the battle against totalitarians, or as a friend of mine once put it, "I'll hold your coat, let's you and him fight."
1. The King recognized that Saudi policy for the past century had been ineffective and had led to unnecessary conflicts.
2. The election of Barack Obama, an African-American, to the Presidency revealed the United States to be the democracy that we had always claimed to be.
3. The Kingdom was funding less extreme forms of Islam outside Saudi Arabia proper to tamp down the fires of radical jihadism.
The King's remarks seem to indicate a marked change in policy from that adhered to previously by rulers of Saudi Arabia. However, Abdullah is 84 years old, and it is not possible to surmise who long he might live and to what degree his course change can take hold before he dies. Undoubtedly, a new leader will arise from the House of Saud, and it is uncertain whether he will follow the course set by his predecessor. That being said, it is extremely interesting to hear a Saudi King remark about the negative impact of the extreme Wahhabi Islam that the Kingdom has bought off for the past century in order to maintain power there.
Finally , it is interesting to hear the King remark about the election of Barack Obama in the glowing terms he used. While some pundits are comparing Obama to Franklin Roosevelt based on the current economic crisis, Obama's influence can be far more wide ranging, so that he is really compared to John Kennedy insofar as the positive feelings that erupted worldwide after his election.
But positive feelings go only so far when one is confronting adversaries, and less then true friends may be more than willing to stand aside while the United States continues to bare the full weight of the battle against totalitarians, or as a friend of mine once put it, "I'll hold your coat, let's you and him fight."
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Best Real News Headline Ever!
From the MSNBC.com website we have this gem.
My previous favorite was the famous New York Post headline which described a decapitated body in ecdysiast's bar:
Helicopters collect whale snot from blowholes
My previous favorite was the famous New York Post headline which described a decapitated body in ecdysiast's bar:
Headless Body in Topless Bar
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Pardoner-in-Chief
President-elect Obama is throwing his arm around Sen. Joe Lieberman to keep Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from 86in the Connecticut senator from the Democratic Party.
As reported by MSNBC.COM,here, Obama is more interested in creating a sense of bi-partisanship than in engaging in intra-party squabbling. Although it is a noble gesture by Obama, his move puts Reid in an unenviable position for how is he to maintain party discipline when he can't boot a Democrat who spoke in favor of the Republican candidate at the Republican convention.
I admit that the concept of "party discipline" is alien to the Democrats, but if Reid can't toss Joe out of the party, he has to take the rogue Dem to the woodshed for a sound trashing. Admittedly, Joe votes almost a straight Democratic line on all the issues except the Iraq war, but he committed the unpardonable sin of speaking bad about another Democrat and in campaigning for the Republican. Of course, Joe will lose his committee chairmanships, and perhaps come January his office will be a former janitor's closet, but despite Reid's desires, Joe Lieberman will still sit with the Democrats.
It seems that Barack Obama has just issued his first pardon, and he hasn't yet taken the oath of office.
As reported by MSNBC.COM,here, Obama is more interested in creating a sense of bi-partisanship than in engaging in intra-party squabbling. Although it is a noble gesture by Obama, his move puts Reid in an unenviable position for how is he to maintain party discipline when he can't boot a Democrat who spoke in favor of the Republican candidate at the Republican convention.
I admit that the concept of "party discipline" is alien to the Democrats, but if Reid can't toss Joe out of the party, he has to take the rogue Dem to the woodshed for a sound trashing. Admittedly, Joe votes almost a straight Democratic line on all the issues except the Iraq war, but he committed the unpardonable sin of speaking bad about another Democrat and in campaigning for the Republican. Of course, Joe will lose his committee chairmanships, and perhaps come January his office will be a former janitor's closet, but despite Reid's desires, Joe Lieberman will still sit with the Democrats.
It seems that Barack Obama has just issued his first pardon, and he hasn't yet taken the oath of office.
Veterans Day II
I attended the Veterans Day parade in New York City today. It was a beautiful, sunny, crisp day, perfect for a parade, and more perfect to honor the veterans. As usual, the parade was sparsely attended, nothing like the ethnic parades that jam the rich residential part of Fifth Avenue. The veterans parade is relegated to a lower part of Fifth, more gritty and commercial, and no crowds press against the barricades that line the street.
Of course they had fresh troops there looking great and marching to the music. But also there were a lot of real vets there, older, more stooped but trying to walk tall. A few of the vets rolled by in wheelchairs with less than half their bodies. Some were transported in buses.
There is a difference between seeing the young and healthy guys who are fresh from boot camp march up the avenue while the older guys who have suffered so much and can only roll. The dead feel no pain. Those so grievously wounded feel nothing but pain.
It was a good day for a parade.
Of course they had fresh troops there looking great and marching to the music. But also there were a lot of real vets there, older, more stooped but trying to walk tall. A few of the vets rolled by in wheelchairs with less than half their bodies. Some were transported in buses.
There is a difference between seeing the young and healthy guys who are fresh from boot camp march up the avenue while the older guys who have suffered so much and can only roll. The dead feel no pain. Those so grievously wounded feel nothing but pain.
It was a good day for a parade.
Heard it Through the Grapevine
I love this interregnum between administrations. More rumors than you can imagine pop up as to who will to named to which cabinet post. The other day a friend called me and said, "Did you hear that XXX will be named to YYY position?" I told him to forget that he had ever heard that rumor and to take two aspirin and call me in January.
The rumors pop up for the usual reasons for these things. People are afraid of the unknown future and they want to exercise a degree of control over their lives. All of the names are, of course, nonsense, and they have as much of a chance of being correct in their assumptions as those unlimited number of monkeys pounding away at that unlimited number of typewriters who eventually write Shakespeare.
Names hit the rumor mill for a variety of reasons. Some are placed there by people who want to inject an idea for a possible position. Some are released by those famous "unnamed sources" to see how they would play in the media: would they be shot down like so many clay pigeons at a skeet range or would they fly like the real ones? Some rumors come from too-active minds who think they have all the answers.
One of the more interesting rumors about is that President-Elect Obama will ask Current Secretary of defense Gates to stay on for at least one year. One source of this particular rumor is the Republican inspired and oft-cited belief that Democrats just don't or can't "get" the army-navy-air force thing and that they would rather weave hemp quilts down by the riverside.
While Secretary Gates has proved to be far better in his job than his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld, there is no reason to believe that a Democrat can't do the job. One Democrat fully capable of handling the position is former former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, but Nunn is 70 and that could be a deciding factor for Obama.
I believe that Obama is the kind of person who will hold his cards close to the vest and that we will know who he has in mind when he makes an announcement. The one thing that concerns me is whether Obama will chose a cabinet based on race and gender so that it "reflects" America, as his confidant, Valerie Jarrett, said recently. In other words how far will he go in designing a cabinet for appearance over functionality?
Until you hear names coming directly from the president-elect's mouth, it is better to follow the advice in that old r&b song:
The rumors pop up for the usual reasons for these things. People are afraid of the unknown future and they want to exercise a degree of control over their lives. All of the names are, of course, nonsense, and they have as much of a chance of being correct in their assumptions as those unlimited number of monkeys pounding away at that unlimited number of typewriters who eventually write Shakespeare.
Names hit the rumor mill for a variety of reasons. Some are placed there by people who want to inject an idea for a possible position. Some are released by those famous "unnamed sources" to see how they would play in the media: would they be shot down like so many clay pigeons at a skeet range or would they fly like the real ones? Some rumors come from too-active minds who think they have all the answers.
One of the more interesting rumors about is that President-Elect Obama will ask Current Secretary of defense Gates to stay on for at least one year. One source of this particular rumor is the Republican inspired and oft-cited belief that Democrats just don't or can't "get" the army-navy-air force thing and that they would rather weave hemp quilts down by the riverside.
While Secretary Gates has proved to be far better in his job than his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld, there is no reason to believe that a Democrat can't do the job. One Democrat fully capable of handling the position is former former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, but Nunn is 70 and that could be a deciding factor for Obama.
I believe that Obama is the kind of person who will hold his cards close to the vest and that we will know who he has in mind when he makes an announcement. The one thing that concerns me is whether Obama will chose a cabinet based on race and gender so that it "reflects" America, as his confidant, Valerie Jarrett, said recently. In other words how far will he go in designing a cabinet for appearance over functionality?
Until you hear names coming directly from the president-elect's mouth, it is better to follow the advice in that old r&b song:
Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.
Supersize It!
From a friend:
Say what you will, but remember this.......Today, you could buy a share of GM and a share of Ford for less than the cost of a Big Mac meal.......
Ford $1.80
GM $2.92
_____
$4 .7 2
Say what you will, but remember this.......Today, you could buy a share of GM and a share of Ford for less than the cost of a Big Mac meal.......
Ford $1.80
GM $2.92
_____
$4 .7 2
Veterans Day
We salute all those who fought for our freedoms. More important, we remember and honor those who died for our freedoms.
We hope that the day will soon come, when the longing expressed in the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah achieve fulfillment:
We hope that the day will soon come, when the longing expressed in the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah achieve fulfillment:
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Election 2008- Winners and Losers
The rush of election night is over. It was a wonderful and cleansing experience, more from the sense that George W. Bush will be leaving the most powerful political office in the world and that he will not be replaced by a political clone, which is what the otherwise estimable John McCain morphed into with his desire to capture the Bush/Rove constituency.
The election of Barack Obama is not the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Nor have we been blessed by the presence of the person Oprah Winfrey has declared to be "The One."
Obama will face hard choices from the moment the parades end on January 20th. He will have to lead this nation and the world from the brink of an economic abyss not seen since the Great Depression. He will have to set a course between Scylla and Charybdis as he finds a way to deal with global warming at a time when American industry is failing. He will have to balance the reality of a government dead broke from the insane economic policies of his predecessor while he tries to implement a full panoply of social welfare programs. As VP-Elect Joe Biden quiet accurately stated, this president will be tested and tried by our many enemies shortly after he takes office. Obama is often compared to President John Kennedy. The question that must be asked is whether Obama will prove to be the Kennedy who allowed himself to be mugged by Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna, or will Obama prove to be more like the Kennedy who coolly dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis and averted nuclear war?
So despite the post-election giddiness that currently prevails at home and abroad, perilous times are upon us. But perilous times are always upon us: war, depression, war, the threat of nuclear annihilation, war, racism, economic failures. It never ends, nor will it ever end.
But there are some clear winners and losers that will emerge from this election, and I believe the winners are worthy of celebration. Let's take a look:
WINNERS:
The Constitution of the United States
The Rule of Law
Science
Reason
Education
The Middle Class
Rush Limbaugh and right-wing talk radio. They will have plenty to talk about for the next four years.
Rational market regulation
LOSERS:
The evil myths of the Nixon / Atwater / Rove / Schmidt Republican political machine
Creationism
Right Wing Evangelicals
Laissez-faire investment markets
We could have done a lot worse.
The election of Barack Obama is not the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Nor have we been blessed by the presence of the person Oprah Winfrey has declared to be "The One."
Obama will face hard choices from the moment the parades end on January 20th. He will have to lead this nation and the world from the brink of an economic abyss not seen since the Great Depression. He will have to set a course between Scylla and Charybdis as he finds a way to deal with global warming at a time when American industry is failing. He will have to balance the reality of a government dead broke from the insane economic policies of his predecessor while he tries to implement a full panoply of social welfare programs. As VP-Elect Joe Biden quiet accurately stated, this president will be tested and tried by our many enemies shortly after he takes office. Obama is often compared to President John Kennedy. The question that must be asked is whether Obama will prove to be the Kennedy who allowed himself to be mugged by Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna, or will Obama prove to be more like the Kennedy who coolly dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis and averted nuclear war?
So despite the post-election giddiness that currently prevails at home and abroad, perilous times are upon us. But perilous times are always upon us: war, depression, war, the threat of nuclear annihilation, war, racism, economic failures. It never ends, nor will it ever end.
But there are some clear winners and losers that will emerge from this election, and I believe the winners are worthy of celebration. Let's take a look:
WINNERS:
The Constitution of the United States
The Rule of Law
Science
Reason
Education
The Middle Class
Rush Limbaugh and right-wing talk radio. They will have plenty to talk about for the next four years.
Rational market regulation
LOSERS:
The evil myths of the Nixon / Atwater / Rove / Schmidt Republican political machine
Creationism
Right Wing Evangelicals
Laissez-faire investment markets
We could have done a lot worse.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Hail to the Chief
Barack Obama, your life is no longer yours.
You are now enveloped in the formidable security bubble that the Secret Service controls, a bubble designed to protect you. Yet, the same bubble will isolate you from the very sources of your strength.
Barack Obama, you now carry on your shoulders the hopes and burdens of the people of this nation. You will age beyond your years. Barack Obama, you now carry on your shoulders the weight of the hopes of so many people of the world. The burden will be unbearable at times.
Barack Obama, sleep well tonight. It might be the last time you sleep well for many years.
You are now enveloped in the formidable security bubble that the Secret Service controls, a bubble designed to protect you. Yet, the same bubble will isolate you from the very sources of your strength.
Barack Obama, you now carry on your shoulders the hopes and burdens of the people of this nation. You will age beyond your years. Barack Obama, you now carry on your shoulders the weight of the hopes of so many people of the world. The burden will be unbearable at times.
Barack Obama, sleep well tonight. It might be the last time you sleep well for many years.
John McCain, American
In a concession speech of incredible grace, John McCain finally reveled the man who could have been the President-Elect this evening. McCain reached out to Barack Obama, a man who was his opponent, not his enemy, and he tried to teach his followers, finally, that a difference in politics is not dishonorable or traitorous.
Well done, John McCain. If you had made some different decisions, and had some better luck, you would have made the last speech tonight.
Well done, John McCain. If you had made some different decisions, and had some better luck, you would have made the last speech tonight.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
9:25 PM EST November 4,2008
MSNBC has just projected that OHIO and its 20 Electoral VOtes will fall to Barack Obama. If true, Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States of America. As President John Kennedy once said,"The torch has been passed to a new generation."
As a nation we can not ignore our history, but we are no longer constrained by it.
As a nation we can not ignore our history, but we are no longer constrained by it.
The Army at Dawn II
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
The ancient Shoup voting machines that New York City uses record each voter's choices.
Into the booth walks a middle aged black man with his 10 year old son.
Ka-CHUNK-the big red handle is pulled to the right.
Snik-snik-snik-snik- as the small lever next to each candidate's name is pulled down.
Ka-CHUNK and the big red handle is pulled back to the left and the vote is recorded.
The man and his son walk out, smiles on their faces big enough to reflect history.
Into the booth walks a young black woman.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
She backs out of the machine, looks a bit puzzled, turns around and smiles. It was her first vote.
Into the booth walks an elderly white woman.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Mere seconds pass and she exits. She has done this many times.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
The six voting machines for six election districts in this part of the Bronx, New York are singing.
At 8:00am, I stand on line in the basement of a large apartment building. I am voter number 115 and there is a long line behind me for my district. The poll workers says that the polls were open at 6:00am and the lines were more than 100 feet long.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
An elderly man shuffles out from behind the machine's curtains and I walk in. I have never missed voting in an election. I have been accused of being an idealist. I plead guilty.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK.
I have made my choices. I know I am now a part of history. Yes, a minuscule part of history, but a part of it nonetheless.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Sometimes democracy sounds funny.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
I smile.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
The ancient Shoup voting machines that New York City uses record each voter's choices.
Into the booth walks a middle aged black man with his 10 year old son.
Ka-CHUNK-the big red handle is pulled to the right.
Snik-snik-snik-snik- as the small lever next to each candidate's name is pulled down.
Ka-CHUNK and the big red handle is pulled back to the left and the vote is recorded.
The man and his son walk out, smiles on their faces big enough to reflect history.
Into the booth walks a young black woman.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
She backs out of the machine, looks a bit puzzled, turns around and smiles. It was her first vote.
Into the booth walks an elderly white woman.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Mere seconds pass and she exits. She has done this many times.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
The six voting machines for six election districts in this part of the Bronx, New York are singing.
At 8:00am, I stand on line in the basement of a large apartment building. I am voter number 115 and there is a long line behind me for my district. The poll workers says that the polls were open at 6:00am and the lines were more than 100 feet long.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
An elderly man shuffles out from behind the machine's curtains and I walk in. I have never missed voting in an election. I have been accused of being an idealist. I plead guilty.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK.
I have made my choices. I know I am now a part of history. Yes, a minuscule part of history, but a part of it nonetheless.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
Sometimes democracy sounds funny.
Ka-CHUNK-snik-snik-snik-snik-Ka-CHUNK
I smile.
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