It All Matters To Me

Just Put Your Foot On The Damn Gas Pedal!

2007-02-08T10:36:00.000-05:00

I have a proposal for a scientific study that I think would be welcomed by a vast majority of the motoring public. The subjects of the study would be the bewildered idiots who have managed to obtain a driver’s license. The purpose of the study would be to determine, and hopefully repair, the malfunctions in their brain synapses and neuromuscular pathways that cause the interminable 5 second delay between the time they see a green light and the time they put their feet on the damn gas pedal.

A Whole Lot of Nerve

2007-01-30T20:11:00.000-05:00

I received my federal union newsletter today and was shocked by an article which talked about the Iraq Study Group's recommendation calling for directed assignments of federal employees to Iraq. As an attorney I always like to read the primary source so I downloaded the Iraq Study Group's report. On page 60 there is a section titled U.S. personnel. The introduction to that section states, among other things, "The nature of the mission in Iraq is unfamiliar and dangerous, and the United States has had great difficulty filling civilian assignments in Iraq with sufficient numbers of properly trained personnel at the appropriate rank." The kicker is Recommendation 74 which states "In the short term, if not enough civilians volunteer to fill key
positions in Iraq, civilian agencies must fill those positions with directed assignments. Steps should be taken to mitigate familial or financial hardships posed by directed assignments, including tax exclusions similar to those authorized for U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq."

Pardon my language because I do not know any other way to truly capture my anger and frustration, but these people have a lot of balls. I think it is the height of irresponsibility to suggest that federal employees should be deployed to Iraq when our troops should not even be there. And if you pay close attention to the language, it is not limited to State Department or foreign service personnel, who, in fact, may have an expectation of overseas assignment. The fact that this was a bipartisan group of high profile former politicians makes me question the state of political leadership in this country.

The key members of the group are James A. Baker, III, Lee H. Hamilton, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Edwin Meese III, Sandra Day O’Connor, Leon E. Panetta, William J. Perry, Charles S. Robb, and Alan K. Simpson. Here is my recommendation to them and the dozens of others involved in this undertaking: all of you have decades of experience in politics and business, you go the hell to Iraq and fix what Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld broke.

Pass It On

2007-01-29T19:54:00.000-05:00

If you have any unwanted items that you cannot sell or donate to charity, I recommend giving it to someone else using www.freecycle.org. Freecycle is a nonprofit group that allows individuals to post ads offering or requesting goods free of charge. The idea is that by giving your unwanted items to someone else you are saving space in landfills. There are Freecycle groups throughout the United States and there is likely a local group near you. By joining a local group you have the ability to post ads. My wife and I have used Freecycle for about 2 years giving away a variety of goods. The people who have responded to our ads are pleasant and we know the items will be put to good use. The next time you have an unwanted item instead of throwing it away, pass it on using Freecycle.

The President That Cried Wolf

2007-01-11T07:03:00.000-05:00

In his speech on Wednesday President Bush said "If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home." Pardon me if I am a little skeptical about this statement but how many times have we heard from the Administration about so called "crucial moments" in Iraq. Also, we have been hearing about new plans for Iraq for months and all we get is an increase in troops by 21,500. I am not a military planner but if your military commanders on the ground are competent shouldn't coming up with a request for more troops take a matter of days and not months. We have been in Iraq over 3 years surely we have learned something. News reports state that the troop increase will cost about $5.6 billion. Wouldn't this money be better spent on alternative energy research, universal health care coverage, or any of the other pressing problems facing the nation. Noon on January 20, 2009 can't come soon enough.

Year End Thoughts

2006-12-31T21:31:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to everyone. Here are some miscellaneous year end thoughts.

I think it was a shame that many of our elected leaders including President Bush, Senator Harry Reid, Representative Nancy Pelosi and literally hundreds of others did not attend the services for President Ford at the U.S. Capitol. He was a crucial figure at a time of turmoil in this country and he deserved the respect that should be afforded all former Presidents.

Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator and deserved to die but it does not change the situation in Iraq. Our soliders are still dying and Iraq is still in ruins.

We keep hearing about new plans for Iraq from the Bush Administration but nothing seems to materialize. I hope someone will come up with something in 2007 but I am not holding my breath. Iraq may be a problem the next President has to solve.

I hope the Democrats do not screw up when they take control of Congress in 2007.

The Hillary-Obama frenzy is quite interesting but I am concerned about their electability. It is too bad that people like Mark Warner and Evan Bayh have scuttled their plans to run for the Democratic nomination. It says something about them that they are scared off so easily. On the other hand, I am keeping my eye on Governor Tom Vilsack of Iowa. He declared early stating that he did not need an exploratory committee and he is talking about energy security which I think is among the top 5 issues this country needs to address.

That's all for now. See you in 2007.

Time To Wake Up

2006-12-15T14:20:00.000-05:00

My Mom and Dad are retired and receive retiree health care coverage through my Mom's former employer. Each December they are sent a package of information about coverage for the next year and the applicable premiums. Because my Dad is on Medicare, this year they were faced with some choices. They could either continue the current coverage for both my Mom and Dad or my Dad could join a Medicare Advantage Plan. My Dad sent me the information package which was 50 pages. I looked it over and really could not figure out what was the better deal. Joining the Medicare Advantage Plan would mean cheaper monthly premiums. My Mom's former employer would pick up the entire cost of my Dad's coverage. The skeptic in me wondered why. I subscribe to the old saying that you cannot get something for nothing. The big question is whether it would it actually cost them less per year for medical care? There are so many variables to be considered such as choice of doctors, type of drugs used, type of care needed that it seems impossible for for the average person to figure it out. Why aren't the forms and information in plain English instead of medical-legal mumbo jumbo? Why should our senior citizens be put through such stress at a time in their lives when medical care and health insurance, unfortunately, take on increasing importance as the years go by.

Don't even get me started on the fact there are tens of millions of people who do not even have health coverage. This should be unacceptable to us as a country. When are we going to wake up and say that health care is a basic human need that everyone should have fulfilled and that health care policy should not be driven by the greed of big business. In the long run we are not saving money by letting people without health insurance get sick. I think it is like the old Midas Muffler commercials: you can pay me now or pay me later.

New Democratic Congress: Are you listening?

Lousy With Colors

2006-12-12T20:36:00.000-05:00

I admit that I am not good with colors. I have an 8 Crayola box view of the world. My wife, on the other hand, is the 64 Crayola box with the sharpener. Before I got married I did not realize that I looked good in earth tones. My style was Washington, D.C boring: navy, black or gray suits with white shirts and some variation of red tie because it could easily go with either of the three colors of suits. My casual clothing consisted of either jeans or a light blue oxford with khaki pants (my wife called this the uniform). The fact that this wardrobe is probably worn by a majority of straight men in Washington, D.C. was not justification for its continued existence.

My wife usually picks out our 2 year old daughter's clothes for the day. This morning, however, she forgot. I, therefore, had to dress my daughter without adult supervision. I picked out pink pants with white flowers and a pink shirt which also had flowers of various colors on it. They were different shades of pink but it looked close enough to me. I am sure the trained eye will tell you the clothes were fuchsia, magenta or something like that. My brain does not compute such concepts. When my wife called me she realized she did not lay out my daughter's clothes and asked me what I dressed her in. I gave her the description of the clothes and then she asked me if I wanted to burn out people's retinas. Having memorized my daughter's entire wardrobe, she immediately told me to change the shirt to the white Lands End mock turtleneck in the second drawer on the right.

Clearly, I am not going to be writing for GQ or Vogue anytime soon.

My Vote is for "Go Home"

2006-11-20T20:11:00.000-05:00

It is being reported that the Pentagon has drawn up an options paper for Iraq which has been given the nickname "Go Big, Go Long or Go Home." This is shorthand for either more troops, a longer stay or a pullout. My vote is for "Go Home." I do not think the American presence in Iraq is doing any good and by all accounts it is making the situation worse by inflaming anti-American hostility in the Muslim world and thereby creating a fertile ground for the recruitment of terrorists. There have been so many reasons given for being in Iraq that I do not even think the Bush Administration knows why we are there. In my view it was a combination of arrogance, greed, irresponsibility, incompetence and recklessness fueled by President Bush's bravado, oil and military/industrial interests, apocalyptic Christianity, and neoconservative imperialism. Let me be blunt. I do not care if the Iraqis have democracy. If they want it they can get it for themselves. And, yes, Saddam Hussein was a bad guy but that did not stop us from supporting him when he fought against Iran and he is not unlike many of the bad guys the United States supported during the Cold War because they were anti-communist. Let's stop compounding the error at the cost of American lives. I also do not want to here the Republican line that we have to finish the job for the sake of the troops that died. That is just flawed thinking. First of all, we do not even know what the job is. Second, every soldier, sailor, marine or airman that makes the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq gave his life for his fellow citizens because that was his job and it does not matter if the war is good , bad, right or wrong. The politicians will have to live with those lives on their consciences because of an ill advised policy. All of us should honor the valor and courage of our fallen men and women.

Finally, if we are to use our military and intelligence resources properly, it should be for going after Bin Laden and other known terrorists. Why hasn't the U.S. military been scouring Afghanistan for the last 5 years. I think that when the new Democratic Congress begins in January each day someone should make a speech on either the floor of the House or Senate indicating how many days it has been since September 11, 2001, and that Bin Laden still has not been captured. According to my calculations it is 1896 days. Think about that.

Fixing the Mess

2006-11-08T22:18:00.000-05:00

Now that the Democrats have taken the House and look like they will take the Senate as well, it is time to start fixing what the rubber stamp Republican Congress and the Bush Administration wrecked over the past six years. I do not want to see President Bush impeached nor do I want months of hearings on why we got into Iraq. However, I do want the Democratically-controlled Congress to be a strong check on the unbridled presidential power that President Bush has tried to wield these past few years. I want real answers on what we are supposed to be doing in Iraq and when we are going to get the hell out. Secretary Rumsfeld's departure is a start but that does not address the fact that the war in Iraq is still the brainchild of Bush, Cheney and their neocon cronies. I want to know why we are not actively going after Bin Laden and the Taliban. I think Nancy Pelosi's call for bipartisanship is admirable and honorable. I am skeptical of the President's statement's on that issue because it only comes now that he is backed into a corner. Where was the spirit of bipartisanship when those opposing the war in Iraq or raising questions about the Patriot Act were labeled unpatriotic? Where was the spirit of bipartisanship when President Bush vetoed the stem cell research bill passed by both houses of Congress? The Democrats need to aggressively push an agenda that will help ordinary, hardworking Americans instead of the Republican agenda of greed helping corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. On November 7 the American people rejected Roveian Republican politics and gave the Democrats a chance; let's hope they do not screw it up.

At A Crossroads

2006-10-30T13:13:00.000-05:00

I have been an attorney for the federal government for 17 years. I believe that government service is a worthwhile career that provides a decent salary and benefits, flexibility, and the satisfaction of helping your fellow citizens. In addition, my personality and second generation American, lower middle class background likes the stability provided by a civil service job. However, I find myself at a career crossroads. I have reached the highest level as a staff attorney and the next logical step would be a management position. I have expressed my interest in a management position to my boss but nothing has happened. Meanwhile, people from the private sector with connections are being brought in at supervisory levels and attorneys who have a decade less experience are being promoted to management positions. While my area of specialization is not highly valued at my agency, I have not been given a good opportunity to develop in another area despite promises to the contrary. Believe me, I understand that life is not fair and no one ever said it was going to be.

The big question is what do I do? Do I express my dissatisfaction to my boss? Do I just stay where I am and bide my time until change occurs? Do I look for opportunities elsewhere in the agency or even elsewhere in the government? While I know I would be a good manager because I am fair, treat people decently and like to teach, am I not fully considering the pitfalls of dealing with personnel issues? Am I putting too much emphasis on my job and allowing that to define my success? Am I incorrectly believing that the grass would be greener somewhere else? These are the questions that I am pondering.

However, I don't want you to think that I am not happy. I have a beautiful, wonderful wife and fantastic daughter who will soon be two. Every moment I spend with them is precious to me. I am able to indulge my interest in writing through this blog. I just started a three year term on a citizen advisory board in my county and am hoping to make a contribution there. I am the general counsel of the union at work and know that I have been making a contribution on that front. I am very interested in getting involved in the 2008 presidential election and am just looking for the right Democratic candidate.

I obviously have a lot of thinking to do. Stay tuned.

A Solution for Many Problems

2006-10-18T19:39:00.000-04:00

The other day I was watching a program from the Science Channel called "What If The Oil Runs Out." It was a fictional scenario of a worldwide energy crisis in 2016 and the effects on a fictional family in Minneapolis. It also included commentary by various experts on the possibility of such a scenario. While we have not endured a real energy crisis since the 1970's, that does not mean that one is not on the horizon especially with most experts believing that we have reached the peak of oil production.

Unfortunately, I do not think the United States is taking the issue as seriously as other countries in the world. President Bush says we are addicted to oil but fails to tell us that he and his oil company and Saudi friends are the "pushers." I hope the next Congress and certainly the next President see the real need for a comprehensive energy policy that will either drastically reduce or eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. If the U.S. government committed itself to a Mercury/Apollo or Manhattan type project for energy, it is hard for me to believe that we would not come up with many feasible long term solutions. It may not happen overnight but I do not think it will take that long. It was less than a decade between President's Kennedy's speech committing this country to a space program and the Apollo 11 mission landing on the moon.

I do not think we are going to get one magic bullet that completely replaces oil. However, many things put together can remedy the current situation. It will be a combination of biofuels, windpower, solar power, geothermal power, tidal power, and other alternative energy sources. It will require changes in industries, changes in people's thinking and changes in our lifestyles. However, a real comprehensive energy policy will help the economy, mitigate the possibility of a global warming doomsday scenario, and could totally change U.S. foreign policy in the Mideast. Do you really think we would be in Iraq if there was not oil there? And I would really like to see the day when we can tell the Saudis to fill their swimming pools with oil because we do not need it.

I also do not want to hear naysayers or NIMBY people complain about a spoiled view or a bird crashing into a windmill. Would you rather have the polar ice caps melting and Americans dying in even greater numbers in future wars about oil? I am all for protecting wildlife but there has to be a limit. I am quite sure that a few birds got caught off guard and crashed into the first skyscrapers. But they may have been the dumb ones anyway and it probably did not take long for the others to avoid that mistake.

May Cause Side Effects

2006-10-08T21:26:00.000-04:00

I have nothing against the pharmaceutical industry. The drugs it produces and the research and development it conducts has, for the most part, improved people's lives. However, I would rather not see the drug commercials that have invaded our living rooms over the past few years. Luckily, we have TIVO so some of it can be avoided. Nevertheless, I really do not want to hear about sexual dysfunction, "whether the moment is right," and erections lasting 4 hours or more. I do not want to hear about shorter periods, longer periods, or no periods. I do not care if the butterfly flies through your window and puts you to sleep. I do not want to hear about side effects including nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, headaches, dizziness, stomach pain, blurred vision, or any of the dozens of other possibilities. And on a related matter, I probably can do without commercials for feminine hygiene products and hemorrhoid remedies. Is advertisement really necessary? If you have a serious medical problem I hope you are going to the doctor and not diagnosing it via a 30 second commercial. And if your issue is not so serious, go to a darn drug store. The aisles are well organized and I am sure you can find what you are looking for. And, if not, ask the pharmacist but not too loud because I may be behind you and do not want hear where you are going to put the ointment.

Embracing Spinoza

2006-09-26T20:35:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading Betraying Spinoza by Rebecca Goldstein. It is a wonderful book that focuses on Baruch Spinoza's philosophy and Baruch Spinoza the man. In describing Spinoza's philosophy, Ms. Goldstein writes:

It is the self-deceptive fabrications that emanate out of these two weaknesses in our human nature - self aggrandizement and death terror, both of them aspects of our own frightening and incurable finitude - that account for the fearsome force of the superstitious forms of religion "It is fear, then, that engenders, preserves and fosters superstition," observes Spinoza in the preface of his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. Spinoza distinguishes between religion, which he endorses, and superstitions, which he condemns. Superstitions, as opposed to religion, offer us false cures for our finitude. They make us believe that we are more cosmically important than we are, that we have bestowed on us - whether Jew, or Christian, or Moslem - a privileged position in the narrative of the world's unfolding. And they make us believe that we can, if we have jumped through the right hoops, live on after our bodily deaths.
Spinoza also wrote:

Superstitious persons, who know better how to rail at vice than how to teach virtue, and who strive not to guide men by reason, but so to restrain them that they would rather escape evil than love virtue, have no other aim but to make others as wretched as themselves. Wherefore it is nothing wonderful, if they be generally troublesome and odious to their fellow-man.

Spinoza’s ideas still resonate today and it is unfortunate that mankind has not progressed very far in its thinking in the 350 years since Spinoza lived. Perhaps the world would be in a better state today if it had embraced Spinoza’s form of rationalism.

God and Field Hockey

2006-09-18T13:24:00.000-04:00

My wife and I had a wonderful weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia thanks to my in-laws who watched our daughter for the weekend. We stayed at a great inn outside of Charlottesville in a picturesque setting, walked around the Downtown Mall, and had some great meals. One of the dinners was at a restaurant on Main Street in Charlottesville. It was in an old townhouse and our table was on the second floor with two other tables. Needless to say this is designed to be a quiet and intimate setting where one's voice volume should be moderated. Unfortunately, we were sitting next to some fundamentalist Christian Bush voters who felt compelled to talk about their religion at high volume for nearly two hours. Except for a slight diversion when it was declared that the New York Times was run by communists, all my wife and I heard was talk about the Scriptures, the Resurrection, the love of money is the root of evil, you cannot serve two masters, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseam. The topper for me was when one of the women was talking about a tense e-mail exchange and then phone conversation with her daughter's field hockey coach at the University of Virginia. The conflict was resolved and the woman declared that it was "God's provision." Lady, I have a news flash for you, even if there is a God, and I have some big questions about that issue, I certainly do not think that he is getting involved in women's collegiate field hockey. And by the way, God is also not getting involved in NFL football, who wins the lottery and Presidential elections. If, as some people think, God put George W. Bush in the White House, then God needs to be fired because he has some really piss poor hiring skills.

No Fear

2006-09-10T19:39:00.000-04:00

On this 5th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we all should take a moment to remember those who perished. We also should hope for the best for the families of the victims; the firefighters, police officers and other emergency responders who lost their comrades; and the thousands of others who still feel the effects of the attacks today both physically and emotionally. More importantly, all Americans should honor our fallen countrymen by not giving into fear. When we live in fear the terrorists win. When we give up our rights for the sake of security the terrorists win. When honest and open debate is quashed the terrorists win. On that fateful day five years ago, while lives were lost and buildings were reduced to rubble, the American spirit survived. The terrorists will never win as long as we do not let fear destroy that American spirit that still lives within each one of us today.

Still Made in the U.S.A.

2006-09-06T14:16:00.000-04:00

Globalization and outsourcing are an unfortunate part of economic life in the United States. It saddens me to hear stories of factories closing, jobs being moved abroad, and dedicated American workers left with few viable job options after devoting many years of their lives to the companies that employed them. However, the story is not all doom and gloom because there are still American companies that are successful because they treat their workers well and build quality products in the good old U.S.A. A very informative and entertaining show that features such American companies is John Ratzenberger’s (Yes, Cliff Clavin from Cheers) Made in America on the Travel Channel. John Ratzenberger travels around the country in his customized motor home visiting factories and shops making American products. Each episode usually features three companies. Last night, my wife and I were watching the episode that featured Caterpillar. It was truly amazing to watch how those monstrous bulldozers and other heavy equipment are manufactured. It was even more impressive to hear the President of the company talk about how employees come out of high school or college and then work for Caterpillar their entire careers. Caterpillar’s dedication to its employees was evidenced by the granite wall with 150,000 names inscribed on it, representing everyone who has ever worked for the company. Wal-Mart may be helping its bottom line by having things made in China but Caterpillar and the dozens of other companies featured on the show are wonderful examples of American pride and that a Made in the U.S.A. label is not a relic of the past.

A Waste of $20 Million

2006-08-31T10:32:00.000-04:00

It is truly amazing how the U.S. taxpayers' money is being wasted by the Bush Administration. It is even more amazing that such actions come from Republicans who claim to be the party of fiscal responsibility. The Washington Post reports that U.S. military leaders in Baghdad have put out for bid a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for extensive monitoring of U.S. and Middle Eastern media in an effort to promote more positive coverage of news from Iraq. The proposal reflects Donald H. Rumsfeld's concern that the media does not cover positive aspects of Iraq. This is further evidence of the Administration's fantasyland mentality that if they say things are good they actually are. I know $20 million is a drop in the bucket of the federal budget but couldn't that money be better spent on helping victims of Hurricane Katrina, improving inner city schools, feeding the hungry, or supplementing the scientific and medical research budget of the National Institutes of Health.

Salvaging Iraq

2006-08-30T19:58:00.000-04:00

While the disaster in Iraq gets worse by the day, the Master of that Disaster, Donald Rumsfeld, lacks any plan for the future and his brilliant strategy seems to be attacking critics of the war. Let me let you in on a little secret Secretary Rumsfeld; criticizing the Iraq war critics does not help with the war in Iraq. Stay the course and we will not cut and run are slogans not a plan. I would suggest the Bush Administration go to Plan B, or C, D, or E for that matter, but that presumes that they had a Plan A to begin with. The Democrats' plans for a pull out or redeployment in the near future will get our troops out of harm's way and that is a step in the right direction. However, we need to figure out a way to salvage the situation. There is no particular reason Iraq needs to remain intact. It was arbitrarily created by the British after World War I. From what I read Kurdistan is operating as a sovereign nation and we ought to recognize it and help the Kurds out since we hung them out to dry during the first Gulf War. We then may need to cut a deal with the Sunnis and even some former Baath Party members and let them get their piece of Iraq. The pro-Iran Shiites in Iraq seem to be the problem and it would not hurt to get some pressure on them as well as Iran. We may have to deal with some unsavory people but that never stopped the United States before, especially during the Cold War. Having a three way civil war is not ideal but I like it better than having our brave soldiers blown up everyday.

Standing Up For Principles

2006-08-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

I could write pages about all the life lessons, values, and principles taught to me by my Mom and Dad. One of the most important things that I learned from my parents is the principle of standing up for yourself and what you believe is right. While my parents taught me to respect authority, they also told me that you can challenge it. They do not accept the conventional wisdom that you cannot go against management, you cannot fight city hall, or you cannot win against those who are rich, powerful and well connected. I have seen my parents use these principles throughout my life. Sometimes they have won, sometimes they have lost, but more importantly they always put up a good fight.

I recently used the principle of standing up for yourself and what you believe is right with respect to my annual performance evaluation. I have been at my job for 17 years and have always received excellent ratings. This year was no exception but when I looked at the ratings a little closer I noticed that I had been downgraded in one category. This was a surprise to me because there was no indication during the year by management that my skills had diminished. Moreover, the justification for the lower grade was identical to the justifications I received for a higher grade in prior years. I knew the downgrade could be attributed to management’s thinking that there is “grade inflation.” While I have no doubt there are employees receiving grades that are not deserved, I know that does not apply to me.

I decided to talk to one of my bosses. I explained why I was dissatisfied with my grade in one category. Then he said the wrong thing to me: “Do you really want to make a big deal about this?” This is something that would irritate my Dad and it had the same effect on me. The answer should have been obvious to him otherwise I would not have asked for a meeting on the subject. He said he had to talk to some of the other managers and would get back to me. It is unfortunate that many times when you stand up for your principles people show you a lack of respect by trivializing your concerns.

I will be pursuing my concerns until I receive the appropriate satisfaction. As my daughter gets older, I will teach her about standing up for herself and what she believes is right. I hope that I will do as good a job as my Mom and Dad did with me.

A Tasty Treat

2006-08-17T19:43:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday my wife, daughter, and I went to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in Maryland. The weather was great and it was a lot of fun because my wife and I got to see our daughter enjoy the animals and go on her first pony ride. I also discovered a tasty treat at one of the food vendors: Fried Oreos. Do not dismiss the idea until you have tried it. I saw the sign for Fried Oreos and was a little skeptical. After all, aren't Oreos designed to be eaten right out of the bag with a nice tall glass of cold milk. But being an adventurous eater I decided to try it. The Oreos were dipped in a funnel cake type batter and deep fried for a minute or two. They were then sprinkled with powdered sugar. The Fried Oreos are unbelievable. The cookie and cream get very soft, almost melting, and blend together with the fried dough. The powdered sugar gives it another hint of sweetness. If you see it at a state or county fair try it. You will not regret it. I am sure this delectable delight would alarm most cardiologists. But if you do not eat some good "bad food" at a fair, what is the point.

Why Lieberman Lost

2006-08-11T21:48:00.000-04:00

Most people will tell you that the reason Senator Joseph Lieberman lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont was because his strong pro-Iraq war positions did not play well with Democratic voters in Connecticut. While that is certainly true, I believe another important reason he lost was that voters realized he was an arrogant, self righteous, pompous a**hole (pardon my language). I think it began with his "how dare someone challenge me" attitude and just went downhill from there. He chastised groups like MoveOn and liberal bloggers who challenged his positions and countered with how he had a 90 percent plus record for voting with the Democrats. Yet at the same time he was getting signatures for petitions to run as an independent. Other Democrats supported the war but none became President Bush's personal cheerleader. I think his lack of character and class was confirmed when he said he was going to run as an independent because "For the sake of our state, our country and my party, I cannot and will not let that result stand." He even had the nerve to say that Lamont's anti-war views help terrorists. I have something to say to Senator Lieberman and other smug politicians out there. Your jobs are not permanent, people can and should challenge you in primaries, you work for us, and we can fire you come election time. His actions during the primary are an example of the feeling of entitlement exhibited by many entrenched incumbents on both sides of the aisle. I wonder if one day soon the electorate needs to kick all the rascals out and start over. I think we would gain more than we would lose.

Enough Mel Gibson

2006-08-08T10:53:00.000-04:00

I think the media has spent way too much time on Mel Gibson and his drunken, anti-Semitic outbursts. Aren't there more important things going on in the world? Does it really matter how he apologizes or what he does to show he is not anti-Semitic? The carefully crafted written apology is obviously the product of a Hollywood PR spin machine. Moreover, how much credibility would you give a public apology by Mel Gibson himself at a press conference or similar forum. He is an actor for heaven's sake! He gets millions of dollars not to be himself. I think people have also overlooked the fact that this supposed family-oriented, religious man was driving drunk putting himself and others in danger. That conduct is just as deplorable as anti-Semitism and has a greater possibility of immediate destructive consequences. I also do not care if Patrick Swayze or Jodie Foster do not think he is anti-Semitic. Obviously Mel Gibson has a number of personal problems that need to be addressed. So let's just forget about it for now and judge him by his future actions. If he engages in similar conduct in the future we know it was not just an isolated incident. Meanwhile, if you do not like what he did, do not go see his movies when they come out.

Fighting Radical Islamic Terrorists

2006-08-01T11:04:00.000-04:00

As you can tell from my posts I am not a fan of the Bush Administration. However, I support President Bush's decision to allow Israel to continue its operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel's fight against Hezbollah is just one more battle in the war against radical Islamic terrorists. Lest we forget, it was Hezbollah who blew up the American Embassy in Beirut in 1982 and killed over 250 of our Marines. Al Qaida, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, the groups operating in Iraq, the terrorists who blew up trains in India, and others must be dealt with swiftly and harshly. You cannot negotiate with people who are not only not afraid to die but think that blowing themselves up is an express ticket to heaven. The United States, Israel and other western nations must defeat the radical Islamic terrorists now before things get out of control. We also must let the Muslim nations of the world know that they cannot have it both ways. They must stop supporting the terrorists by giving them money and safe haven. In this case, the principle "if you are not part of the solution you are are part of the problem" applies. The No. 2 leader of Al Qaida, al- Zawahri said "It is a jihad (holy war) for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq." I think we have to take this type of rhetoric seriously. Otherwise, we could be headed down a similar road as when the European countries did not take Hitler seriously in the 1930s.

The Delusion of Moral War

2006-07-22T20:32:00.000-04:00

I have many political discussions with one of my best friends. He is to the right on the political spectrum and I am to the left. We agree on some things and disagree on other things. Even where there is disagreement, I respect his position because it is always well reasoned. This is in sharp contrast to a lot of political debate today that consists of unsupported statements, repetition, and shouting. We disagree on the war in Iraq. I believe that Saddam Hussein was not the biggest threat to the United States and, as brutal as he was, provided stability in an unstable region. His position is that Iraq is strategically important because of its central location and oil, and that Iraq was an easy target militarily. He scoffs at the slogan of “no blood for oil” because he believes that is an unrealistic position. Based on our discussions and other reading, and given the tense world situation with the war in Iraq, war on terrorism, and recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict, I have been thinking a lot about whether morality should be part of the equation in international conflict.

We all want to believe that we are good people. We accomplish this by following certain religious tenets or acting in a moral or ethical way based on the norms of society. We also want to believe that the country we live in is a good country. When it comes to the individual, laws are the dividing line between good and bad conduct. If one engages in bad conduct, society punishes the offender through the criminal or civil legal systems. Although there is something called international law, there is really not an equivalent system of enforcing morality between nations. On the international level actions are determined by military or economic power. We are dishonest with ourselves when we proclaim the moral superiority of one country over another or seek moral justification for international conflict. Whether we like it or not, might makes right when it comes to war.

Let’s take the slogan “no blood for oil” discussed above. If an international crisis cut off the flow of oil to the United States, and our gas tanks ran dry, even the most moral and humane of us would be screaming for prompt and decisive military action even if that meant killing thousands of soldiers and civilians of the enemies. The United States dropped the atomic bomb on the Japanese for reasons of brutal efficiency. We wanted to end the war quickly and valued the lives of our own soldiers over those of the Japanese. Many people in the United States and throughout the world were horrified by the images of torture at Abu Gharib prison. The actions there were determined to be immoral and beyond the pale for a moral country like the United States. I am not here to justify the actions. However, I believe that every one of us is capable of engaging in or condoning brutal conduct under the right circumstances. If your loved one’s life was at risk, would you not feel justified in engaging in torture if that would ensure his or her safety?

With respect to the current situation in the Middle East, it is ridiculous to argue that Israel’s response is disproportionate because it suggests some type of moral yardstick for military action. The simple answer is that Israel responded in a certain manner because it is able to do so. Do not think for one second that if Hezbollah had similar capabilities it would not hesitate to inflict maximum damage on the Israeli armed forces and Israeli citizens. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not be solved on moral grounds based upon who lived on a plot of land first or last; nor will it be solved on religious grounds based on whose holy book gives better title to the land. Peace, even if begrudgingly, will come when the military and economic cost of warfare becomes too high.

My ultimate point is that as much as we want everything to be neat and tidy things are rarely black and white. Much of life, especially in the realm of international conflict, occurs in the gray areas. In the long run we would be better off abandoning a feel good approach to international affairs as a way of soothing our collective consciences, and simply accept the harsh reality that it all comes down to power, economic might, and military efficiency. As Niccolo Machiavelli said “War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.” It is sad, it is disturbing, but in all likelihood true.

Predictable, Tired Arguments on Israel

2006-07-19T19:26:00.000-04:00

On the way home from work I usually listen to the Ed Schultz Show. With the showdown between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon there have obviously been a lot of calls on the issue. I like the show because Ed always gives callers a chance to say their piece without regard to their position. I have heard a number of pro-Arab callers on the show the last few days and they never fail in returning to the same predictable, tired arguments which sound like everyone received the same talking points memo.

The first point that gets recited is that Israel is killing innocent Lebanese civilians. This is generally said without any acknowledgement that innocent Israelis are being killed by the Hezbollah rockets aimed at northern cities and towns in Israel. It also does not take into account the sad and unfortunate fact of war that innocent people get killed despite the latest technological advances in warfare. The next argument is that Israel's military response to the current situation is disproportionate. My question to them is what would be the response of any other country to a terrorist group operating with impunity on one of its borders. Should the Israeli government and military planners have done some kind of worldwide conference call to find out what the "appropriate" response should be?

It then does not take the callers very long to get to the heart of their argument which is that the current situation is all due to the plight of the Palestinians. This is followed by a recitation of how the Palestinians were thrown out of their homes and it would all be solved if they could go back. One caller even talked about a relative still having the keys to a house. With this type of thinking, it is logical that no solution has yet been reached. Whether the Arab and Muslim communities of the world like it or not, in 1947 the United Nations partitioned British-controlled Palestine into independent Jewish and Arab states. I suggest people read UN General Assembly Resolution 181 which details the plan. The stock pro-Arab answer to the UN Partition Plan is that it does not matter that an Arab state was created because people still had to leave their homes and it does not matter they were given another home. An unfortunate fact of history and world events is that nations are created, nations cease to exist, international borders get drawn and redrawn, and people get displaced. If the Palestinians and the world Arab community do not come to grips with this reality, then the Mideast will continue in a cycle of violence, death and destruction.

I believe that it is still possible to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through negotiations. It will take courageous leaders on both sides who are willing to die to further peace such as Anwar Sadat and Yitzhak Rabin. The fundamental question that the Arab world must answer is whether Israel is entitled to exist as a nation within secure borders. If we keep hearing the same old tired arguments, we regrettably already have our answer.

The Word on Wordplay

2006-07-14T21:17:00.000-04:00

And now for something less serious in nature. The other night my wife and I saw a very entertaining movie called Wordplay. The focal point of the movie is Will Shortz, who was been the New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor for 25 years. However, the movie also tells the history of crossword puzzles, focuses on the people who make and solve crossword puzzles, and culminates with the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament created by Will Shortz. It was fascinating to see how crossword puzzles are created, and the collaboration that goes on between the creators and Will Shortz. It was amazing to see how fast the top crossword puzzle players can solve the New York Times puzzles. In one scene, the gentleman clocked himself in at just over two minutes. There were interesting interviews with famous crossword puzzle players such as Bill Clinton, Jon Stewart, Mike Mussina, and the Indigo Girls. Finally, it was great to see the camaraderie and sense of family of the people who come back year after year to play in the tournament created by Will Shortz. You are not likely to find this film at the local megaplex but it is worthwhile to see if there are theaters nearby specializing in independent films. If you cannot find a theater playing Wordplay, then definitely put it on your Netflix list.

Conservative-Yes, Compassionate-No

2006-07-11T20:51:00.000-04:00

We may get to see another wonderful example of President Bush's compassionate conservatism, since Karl Rove stated that he is likely to veto a bill to expand federal funding of stem cell research. This is just another obvious move to shore up President Bush's religious conservative base. "We were all an embryo at one point, and we ought to as a society be very careful about being callous about the wanton destruction of embryos, of life," Rove said. He said research shows "we have far more promise from adult stem cells than from embryonic stem cells." It is offensive to me that this bunch would have the nerve to talk about the wanton destruction of life given the American soldiers and innocent Iraqis killed in the ill-advised, ill-conceived war in Iraq. I also wonder when Karl Rove picked up his M.D. or Ph.D. in order to give us his opinion on the use of adult versus embryonic stem cells. In fact, the National Institutes of Health state that human embryonic stem cells are thought to have greater developmental potential than adult stem cells. In my view, compassion for one's fellow man and the alleviation or elimination of suffering should be one of the prime goals of any religion. How can anyone with any shred of human decency or feeling trample on the hope of those suffering from diseases that may be cured through stem cell research. Tell your Senators to support the bill. Hopefully, President Bush won't have the guts to veto it.

We'll Get Together Then

2006-07-06T13:42:00.000-04:00

As I was driving to work today, the late Harry Chapin’s song “Cat’s in the Cradle” was playing on the radio. While I have heard it dozens of times, I thought about how many people are living out this sad song of missed opportunities. In an endless quest for money, power, and prestige, many people seem to be sacrificing the precious commodity of time. For some people, it is always going to be about the bigger title, the BMW, the fancy vacations, or the next deal. For other people, their employers set the price of success and that price is, more often than not, a lack of personal and family time. In these days of cell phones, computers, e-mail, Blackberries, and WiFi, it appears that certain jobs are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I wonder about the toll such a life takes on an individual’s health and well being as well as on personal relationships. We hear a lot of rhetoric about “family values” but how can they be established when quality family time is in increasingly short supply for many people. The measure of success in life should be people and not things. Years from now I would rather be counting my memories than my money.

July 4th: A Time To Think

2006-07-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

Independence Day is a great holiday. It is the official start of summer and is filled with fun things such as barbecues, picnics, fireworks, and going to the beach. While we are celebrating tomorrow, we should take some time out and think about the true meaning of the holiday. Over two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers, a collection of the greatest minds the world has ever seen, chose freedom over tyranny and broke away from the British Empire. While this was done at considerable personal risk, the Founding Fathers knew that the reward of independence was even greater. I was reading the Declaration of Independence and the following part struck me:

"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

Our Founding Fathers had the courage to stand up to King George. Yet today, very few of our political leaders have the courage to stand up to the latter-day "King George." Where would we be today if our modern-day politicians lived over two hundred years ago?

Obama, Faith and Politics

2006-06-29T10:18:00.000-04:00

Senator Barack Obama is making the papers again with his current emphasis on faith and politics. As a progressive and liberal I do not have a problem with the Democratic Party reaching out to people of faith. It has been too easy for the Republicans to characterize the Democrats as a group of godless heathens. Alienating a huge group of potential voters is not smart politics. An individual's religion is just one of the many characteristics that shape a person's world view and it should not be a disqualifying factor for being included in the national political debate. The problem these days is fundamentalism rather than faith is driving the political agenda. Religious fundamentalism is about dictation not debate. There is no reason why religious groups could not come up with constructive solutions to pressing issues such as health care, global warming, fair wages, energy and education. After all, isn't that the ultimate application of the Golden Rule shared by many religions? It would be a welcome replacement to the narrow-minded agenda of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and others.

The Power of One

2006-06-23T15:10:00.000-04:00

Last night, my wife and I attended a performance of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra where it played music from Hollywood Epics. As I sat there and listened to John Williams’ emotional score from Schindler’s List, I thought about the story of Oskar Schindler and how it exemplifies how one person can make a difference in the world. At risk to his own life, Oskar Schindler saved hundreds of people from certain death at the hands of one of the most brutal, inhumane, depraved regimes mankind has ever seen. Closer to home, Rosa Parks sat down on a bus and, by that simple act, stood up to the injustice of the Jim Crow laws and became one of the catalysts of the civil rights movement. I am not suggesting that you risk life or limb or face the threat of imprisonment. However, any individual can do something that can have a tremendous impact on someone else’s life, even if the end result is never seen or known. If you have clothes you do not need, give them to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans or any other worthy service organization. If you have an old cell phone, (and who doesn’t), donate it to one of the groups that reprograms them so that women subject to domestic violence can use them in an emergency. Forego a lunch or two drinks at Starbucks, and send a check to a charity. It is impossible not to find one that is doing something you support or believe in. Even a small donation makes a big difference. Doctors Without Borders states that $35 can provide two high-energy meals a day to 200 children. Finally, in this election year, take the time out of your schedule to vote. That precious right has been paid for with the lives of the gallant men and women who have served in our armed forces. And if we have learned any lesson from the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, it is that one vote can make a difference. Remember, you have the power.

Democrats '08 - Picks and Pans

2006-06-20T19:58:00.000-04:00

The Washington Post’s June 18, 2006 article about Senator Barack Obama as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2008 got me thinking about who I would like to see run and who I would not like to see run.

My Picks:

Senator Barack Obama – An engaging personality and a charismatic speaker. His compelling personal story is a great example of an America filled with possibilities.

Senator Russ Feingold – He displays solid, common sense values. I admire him because he is one of the few politicians standing up for truth and freedom on issues such as the war in Iraq, the Patriot Act and NSA wiretapping.

Governor Brian Schweitzer – My long shot pick. First Democratic governor in Montana in over 30 years. He is pushing lobbying reform and alternative fuels. Refused to fill out interest group questionnaires when running for office. Could he make enough of an impact in Iowa to gain momentum?

Not Sure:

Mark Warner – Seems a little bland. He appears to be 2nd runner up if Hillary Clinton does not make it. I am willing to give him a chance but it has to be about more than being from Virginia and liking NASCAR.

My Pans:

Senator Hillary Clinton – She certainly has the name recognition and the money machine. Many Democrats do not seem to like her. How are Republicans going to feel? Do we really want to give anyone the opportunity to dredge up the Clinton era scandals? Let’s make a deal: No one named Bush or Clinton in the White House for a long while.

Senator Joseph Biden - Snooze

Al Gore and Senator John Kerry – They are both honorable, decent, dedicated public servants. I put them together because they both should have won but did not. It should not have even been close. There may be second acts in politics but I am not willing to take the chance.

Finally, I have some advice for the Democratic Party and any potential candidates. Taking the high road in an election is a noble and worthy goal. Discussion of the issues is always preferable to mudslinging. However, sometimes you have to fight back. You cannot follow the Marquis of Queensbury rules when your opponent pulls out the brass knuckles.

My First Post

2006-06-16T22:16:00.000-04:00

I think that it is reasonable for my first post to have some discussion of who I am and why I am here. I will leave it to you to decide if I have anything worthwhile to say.

I am an attorney in my early forties living in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. I have a wonderful wife and daughter. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York and went to college and law school in Maryland. I am a registered Democrat who considers himself a liberal and progressive. There are, however, a few issues where my leanings may be moderate, libertarian or even conservative. I do not hate Republicans nor do I think the Democrats have all the answers. I do believe, however, that the policies of the Bush Administration and the Republican controlled Congress are damaging our great country.

This country opened its arms up to my grandparents; Eastern European Jews seeking a better life in what they called "the golden land." My maternal grandfather idolized FDR. My parents admired JFK. I was raised to believe that unions were a good thing that helped ordinary working people realize the American Dream. I am a product of public schools, a state university and state law school. The public education system has allowed me to realize my own American Dream and it is a resource that should be cherished and nurtured.

I am worried about the future. I wonder if our beloved country is a ship about to run aground. Will we be just another empire cast into the trash heap of history due to our own arrogance and greed? I hope not. By creating this blog I hope to add my voice to the millions of others who think anyone can make a difference.

I hope to post to this blog weekly but perhaps more often if time permits. I will leave you with a poem I wrote recently that captures my feelings on the events of the past few years.

End of Days?

It all began when the election was stolen.
But we didn’t realize the system was broken.

The Towers came down.
The die was cast.
The Bill of Rights became a thing of the past.

Yellowcake uranium, aluminum tubes.
WMDs they said he would use.

The threat was imminent we were told.
We didn’t know the lie was bold.

Mission Accomplished, the sign said.
Tell that to the wounded and dead.

Shattered lives on both sides.
The pictures are kept from our eyes.

Flag draped coffins, in a hangar they’re laid.
But we cannot see the price being paid.

A storm, a flood, a great city in tatters.
They’re poor, they’re black, they really don’t matter.

Pensions gone, jobs offshored.
Millions more for corporate boards.

Quakers and Grannies are labeled as threats.
Not a second thought about the national debt.

Truth, justice and the American way.
Is it just a quaint notion of bygone days?

We used the bomb first.
He may use it again.
Do they really want to bring on the end?