The Snapper

The Snapper is a movie made from the middle novel in Roddy Doyle's trilogy of life in Dublin Ireland. A comedic view of a teenage girl's pregnancy and her place in her working class family. Directed by Stephen Frears who also directed the The Hi-Lo Country, High Fidelity, Mary Reilly, The Grifters, and the acclaimed My Beautiful Laundrette. The Irish blues music based movie, The Commitments, based on Doyle's the first book. Doyle's third book, The Van has also been made into a movie.
The actors....

• Tina Kelleger, a native Dubliner, plays Sharon Curley, the young lady who has a bun in the oven.
• Colm Meaney, of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", plays the father, Dessie Curley. Colm Meany was also in The Commitments. Originally this part was meant for Stephen Rea, a break of good luck for the director, Colm Meaney is great in this role.
• Ruth McCabe, plays the mother, Kay Curley.
• Brendan Gleeson, plays Dessie's good friend, Lester. Gleeson is an active man, acting in dozens of movies, with significant parts in Braveheart and Gangs of New York.

The term snapper is in reference to the baby. This movie starts in the cramped Dublin home of a Catholic family with 6 children and 2 parents. Sharon, which for most of the movie's Irish brogue, sounded like Shardon, starts in front of the mirror before going downstairs to tell her parents she is three months pregnant. The parents reaction was as you might expect, loud, angry and dismissive. To end the talk, Dessie brings his pregnant daughter down to the pub to drink some Guinness.

Through the pregnancy, Shardin cusses like a drunk sailor and refuses to tell the world the truth, that the fat old man across the street impregnated her one night when she was drunk. For this Shardin is ashamed, but the truth gets out and who did the honors seems to be more shameful than pregnancy itself. The family grapples with the issue but comes to accept and wish for the addition to their home. The ending is very happy, a healthy girl, Georgina.

Score 40 of 50, a very good movie, but watch out there is an unbelievable amount of shite.

• Character Development 8 out of 10. The entire family already overwhelmed with members overcomes ridicule to find happiness.
• Acting 8 out of 10. Maybe they are just being their Irish selves, but no matter, very believable.
• Photography, cinematography 7 of 10. Good work, especially effective in showing the family in cramped quarters. Bar scenes of Tina and her girlfriends are almost intimidating.
• Writing , script 10 out of 10. Better than the Commitments and that was pretty damned good. Doyle manages to build deep souls.
• Concept 7 out of 10. A theme we've seen before but well executed.

Sixteenth Amendment

Ninety-five years ago today, February 25, 1913, the sixteen amendment was ratified.
This act paved the way for adoption of a Federal income tax, and thus the forcible removal of citizen's income.
Prior to this taxation had concentrated in property taxes and tariffs and duties. There were temporary income taxes that had been struck down by the Supremes. The sixteenth amendment assured the legal permanence of the government's right to forcibly remove a portion of earned wages from working citizens. A portion that it deems appropriate.
At the time governmental spending philosophy centered on military support and interstate commerce. The concept of wealth redistribution was an anathema to virtually all politicians. With the Great Depression, Roosevelt and Keynsian economics, access to the cash flow of commerce, as it relates to wages, was an irresistible temptation. Government stepped beyond the intent of the Constitution and began to use income taxation as a vehicle for social engineering.
It's our money, fight for the Fair Tax.

Does Anybody Know

A couple of weeks ago I changed the picture at the top of the site, the old one was a favorite shot of my grandfather's farm. The new picture was taken long ago.
The place no longer exists, can you tell me it's significance?

Sweet Forgiveness

The best gift that I got this past holiday was a Sharper Image turntable built with a USB output and programming for recording in a computer.

A couple of weeks ago I started to record my favorite 1000+ record albums whose collection I started in the early seventies. There is some disco in there that I will probably not re-record. After the records are digitized I plan to sell the albums in sets by artist on eBay, if nobody bids, in the crapper they go.

Sweet Forgiveness is the first album that I purchased of Bonnie Raitt, released in 1977 it was a good 10 years before this daughter of a another famous musician became well known.

The songs are:

• Sweet Forgiveness, written by Daniel Moore, the title track and a fine work.
• Runaway, written by Del Shannon and Max Cook, this is the song that drew me into the blues version of the great 1962 hit by Del Shannon. A fantastic version that has fixed me on Raitt's very personal slide guitar effects, and raspy vocals.
• About To Make Me Make Me Leave Home, written by Earl Randall. After Runaway a very good song.
• Three Time Loser, written by Covay and Miller.
• My Opening Farewell, written by Jackson Browne, yes he of Doctor My Eyes and beating up his girlfriend.
• Takin' My Time, written by Bill Payne.
• Home, written by Karla Bonoff.
• Louise, written by Paul Siebel

The band was made up of Will McFarlane, Jeff Labes, Bonnie Raitt, Dennis Whitted and Freebo.

Notable visiting musicians on the album are JD Souther, better known from the Eagles and Micheal McDonald better known from The Doobie Brothers.

The album was produced by heavyweight Paul A. Rothchild who also produced albums for The Doors and Janis Joplin.

The album is in good condition, still has the plastic wrapper.

Clapton

This is the second to last of the books that were Christmas gifts. Clapton The Autobiography is currently on some best seller lists. That the book is popular is little surprise, this writer, singer guitarist has been in the public limelight for over 40 years.

Born in 1945, the child of an unwed mother and Canadian soldier, the youngster was raised by his grandparents as their own. The revelation of this as an adolescent did cause a typical pattern of self loathing. Drawn to the blues of black American artists like Muddy Waters and BB King, Eric Clapton took up the guitar with used models he bought at local pawn shops. Self taught by the middle 1960's he was playing with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, this was followed by the Yardbirds where he reached critical and popular acclaim with he hit "For Your Love" just before leaving the band. Then he formed a trio with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker named Cream, this was the partnership that propelled all to virtuoso stardom.

Being the sixties drugs were being experimented with and for some becoming addictive. During the time between and the next super group Blind Faith Eric Clapton became addicted to heroin. Also during this time the guitarist fell in love with George Harrison's wife Patti Boyd. Clapton's obsessiveness over Boyd continued through the creation of the album Derek and the Dominos which was created with among others Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Duane Allman. His most famous torch song was create, Layla for the wife of another. After this and following the album 461 Ocean Boulevard, Clapton and Boyd became a couple, with Clapton maintaining a loose friendship with her husband. Times were different. The life of a travelling musician and the continuing drug use doomed the relationship though it did include a marriage and two trips to a rehabilitation hospital in the States.

Shortly after his breakup with Boyd and kicking of the drug habit, Clapton settled on the substitute alcohol as his drub of choice. It was at this time he had a boy named Conner born to an Italian actress. Sadly this boy named Conner died by accidentally running out of a hotel window while playing with the nanny. Such sadness and loss drove the musician into an alcoholic abyss. From this came some of his best lyric, "Tears In Heaven".

By 1988 Eric Clapton was able to quit the drinking for good, this opened his path to self responsibility and as a pleasant result more creativity and collaboration with famous artists.

Since the middle 1990's Clapton met current wife Melia, had three daughters, taken up shooting, fishing and sponsoring a rehab facility. He concludes that the last decade has been his happiest.

On a scale of 1-10, "Clapton" gets a 4. As I suppose most autobiographies are, this book concentrates on self abuse and actualization. From this book you can conclude that Eric Clapton is by no means conceited and holds many musicians in greater esteem than himself. The book is worth reading if you are interested but not what I would call a great read.

Shooter

The movie Shooter arrived in the mail from my NetFlix list, I wish they had saved the postage. This is an action movie directed by Antoine Fuqua, adn screen play written by Jonathan Lemkin. The story based on Stephen Hunter's 1993 novel about a Vietnam era Marine sniper.

A Marine marksman has retired to the mountains, living in exile. The sniper coaxed into action under the premise of protecting the president. The retired soldier is double-crossed and framed for the attempt on the president which was actually a sucessful assassination of a diplomat. To right the injustice Gunney Swagger kills all the bad guys with the help of a hotty and a Mexican G Man.

Mark Wahlberg plays former Marine Gunney Sargeant Bob Lee Swagger. Of course the name has the three part thing going on like John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald.
Michael Pena play Nick Memphis, the rookie FBI agent that all alone sees the truth.
Danny Glover play Colonel Isaac Johnson, goverment agent gone wrong.
Levon Helm, the great drummer he Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Plays the shooting expert. Levon never did look young, but he looks really old now. Best part in the movie.
Ned Beatty shows his fat little face as a corrupt Senator. Squeal like a pig.

Score 8 of 50, not good, my lowest score to date.

• Character Development 2 out of 10. The main character is a true patriot fighting evil from within, the bad guys are shallow and predictable.
• Acting 2 out of 10. Is Mark Wahlberg the same thoughtful Southy in every movie he plays? Danny Glover should be embarrassed for taking the part and applying no effort.
• Photography, cinematography 2 of 10. Nothing special here.
• Writing, script 1 out of 10. The script made everybody in the movie look like an idiot.
• Concept 1 out of 10. A predictable action movie.

McCain's Excitement

This was in Sunday's Atlanta Urinal Constipation, amongst the weekly coverage of national cartoons. Over the past week, I've seen at least three other such cartoons depicting cupid trying to win the heart of Republican conservatives. Drawn by Jim Borgman of the Cincinnati Enquirer a former Pulitzer Price winner.

Surely unintentional, or a product of my own perversion, the candy box could be interpreted as phallic symbol. Which way is he pointing that thing?

Chicago Mayor Murdered

Seventy-five years ago today in Miami, Giuseppe Zangara made a failed attempt to assassinate President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, in the process mortally wounding Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak.
The next month, March 20th 1933, Giuseppe Zangara was executed.

• Executed within 5 weeks, imagine that happening today. Zangara would be at least a year away from trial. Lawyers eager for improved reputations clamoring to administer his defense, pro-bono. The defense would be simple to construct, anybody that attempts to assassinate a President must be insane. John Hinckley, Jr., was committed and currently resides at St. Elizabeth’s Mental Hospital in Washington. The patient now has supervised visits to his elderly parents, at their home. The murderer of Robert F. Kennedy, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, is periodically considered for parole. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray, who sat in prison from 1969 till his death in 1988.
• To attempt an assassination or any murder for that matter requires a detachment from reality whether it be by insanity or callousness. Regardless of the explanation, this is deadly behavior that only execution can prevent the repetition of. The government had it right in 1933, slap them down fast and hard.

Roger Clemens Testifies

Today during lunch I had the opportunity to watch CNN's coverage of the fabled pitcher's testimony. Mr. Clemens apparently places a great deal of importance in how the public perceives his stature in history of baseball. Otherwise there would have been little for him to gain be speaking before Congress.
Here is what we know....

• Roger Clemens pitched for the Boston Red Sox from 1984 through 1996, in that time winning 3 Cy Young awards.
• At age 34, the pitcher left Boston and signed with Toronto, where he won 2 more Cy Young awards in 1997 and 1998.
• At age 37 he was traded to the Yankees where he won the Cy Young award in 2001 at the age of 39.
• At the age of 42, Roger signed with the Houston Astros where he won his seventh Cy Young award in 2004.
• Former outfielder and Blue Jay teammate, Jose Canseco has published a book which includes the suggestion that Roger Clemens possessed expert knowledge of steroids.
• Former Yankee teammate Jason Grimsley named Roger Clemens, and Andy Pettitte, as users of performance enhancing drugs. Grimsley admitted to investigators that he obtained amphetamines, anabolic steroids and human growth hormone from someone recommended to him by former Yankees trainer Brian McNamee.
• Brian McNamee was a personal strength coach for Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Hired by Clemens in 1997, one of Clemens best seasons, including a Cy Young award. Brian McNamee now has testified that he has supplied the star with human growth hormone. Furthermore, the trainer claims to possess physical proof in the form of syringes.

Back to my lunch....

It seems plain that public opinion that is very important to the accused. This will affect sportswriters in their consideration for admission to the Hall of Fame. Of this there is little doubt, nearly all sportscaster opinions that I have heard indicate the feeling that Roger Clemens had achieved enough acclaim before 1997
It seems plain that public opinion that is very important to the accused. This may affect sportswriters in their consideration for admission to the Hall of Fame. Of this there is little doubt, nearly all sportscaster opinions that I have heard have indicated the impression that Roger Clemens had achieved enough acclaim before 1997 to deserve admission to the hall of elite. Sportscasters in their fearful need to maintain relationships with their subjects will not risk taking a negative position. Sportscasters are cowards for not speaking enough out on this subject. Short of Clemens going to jail for perjury, sportscasters will vote the man in. The odds of Clemens going to jail are even less than his chances of getting into the hall, politicians are even less effective than sportscasters at toeing the line. To the pre 1997 “loophole” that sportscaster plan to administer, what about Pete Rose, he was caught gambling after his playing days were over, and his desire to win was never questioned?
The real issues in Clemens’ mind is probably, how does this impact may family? For his family I am sorry, but he has only himself to blame. He made an unethical choice for profit. Unethical behavior when uncovered is either punishable by diminished prestige or worse criminal punishment.
I have no doubt that the pitcher has used steroids and HGH, his consistently high performance at ages above 35, despite his legendary workout ethic are not nearly consistent with normal age progression. If his work ethic was so successful at age 34, why did the Red Sox think he was done and let him go off to free agency with little to no resistance. The reason is because the organization had first hand knowledge of his natural decline. By his unethical use of these drugs Clemens performance improved, his salary increased commensurately, this is the reward that sought and achieved.
Now he is fighting for his reputation, to late, he already made that choice.
Like Bonds, if the sportswriters vote him in, they cheapen the hall

Unethical Behavior = Financial Reward
Unethical Behavior ≠ Prestige Reward

Playing at the Zombie Zoo

The Number 23

The Number 23 is a movie released in February 2007. A mystery thriller directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Fernly Phillips.
Starring Jim Carrey as Walter Sparrow and his alternative Fingerling.
Co starring Virginia Madsen as Walter's wife Agatha Sparrow and her alternative Fabrizia.
This is about an animal control officer named Walter Sparrow. Walter is given a birthday gift of a book that's called, 'The Number 23'. As he reads from the book he comes to belief that the author is speaking directly the dog catcher. This drives Sparrow to search for the author. The book describes a killing and Walter fears that his encroaching madness will cause him to do the same. With the help of Agatha Walter learns that 15 years earlier he killed his college lover and as an extended suicide letter wrote the book. His attempt at suicide, by jumping out of a hotel window only, led doctors to believe that his ramblings were a result of the fall not reality. The hospital cared and rehabilitated Walter to the point that he buried his memory. He forgot. In the meantime another man has been serving a life sentence for the murder. The new Walter admits his guilt, frees the prisoner and begins his own sentence.

Score 15 of 50, I've told you the entire plot, poorly, because I don't want you to watch this piece of crap movie.

• Character Development 5 out of 10. The main character evolves from a nice dog catcher to a raving lunatic, back to a murderer to a repentant man.
• Acting 5 out of 10. Jim Carrey is convincing in this out-of-typecast role. Virginia Madsen is bad as both characters.
• Photography, cinematography 2 of 10. Very dark scenes, literally. The whole movie felt like directorial masturbation.
• Writing, script 2 out of 10. Unintelligible.
• Concept 1 out of 10. It's a thriller so it doesn't have to be possible or make sense.

On review of films that Joel Schumacher has directed I see "A Time To Kill" which doesn't surprise me. He butchered the movie adaptation of John Grisham's best book.

‘be sure your sin will find you out’ [Numbers 32.23]

I Have A Dream

That white and black alike will graduate from elementary school.

American Creation

American Creation, Triumph And Tragedies At The Founding Of The Republic
A 243 page book written byPulitzer Pize winner Joseph J. Ellis, published by Alfred A. Knopf, in 2007.
This historical study details the first 28 years of our nation, starting in 1775 before the Declaration of Independence and ending with the period of organization shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
The events leading up to the Revolutionary War are well known and briefly visited. There were missteps by the King of England and within that a poor understanding of the demographics involved. England was trying to control the colonies which was seperated by the Atlantic had a greater land area and within which was a rapidly growing population. Expansion and the independent spirit that possessed could not be controlled, a point soon to be learned by the first three presidents. It is interesting to point out that Washington considered the Revolutionary War to be a continuance of the French and Indian War.
Following the war the country was operating under the Articles of Confederation, within which the states operated autonomously, with minimal respect for the needs of the national government. Commitment to the nation as a unified body was so low that the capital was not in a fixed location, it kind of floated around sort of like a garden club might shift from home to home. While this was in effect the nation was building debt without an ability to collect taxes, this was causing the fledgling nation have low prestige in its trade with foreign nations.
The future of the country was not looking good. James Madison the Virginian disciple of Thomas Jefferson, through deception and detailed preparation, was the catalyst for organizing the Confederation to meet revise their government system. These men along with James Monroe and Alexander Hamilton were advocating a stronger central government. What followed was not unlike you might expect today, politicians eager to maintain their personal and state’s political power, were reluctant to cede power to a central government. They had just run England out for being a central power not having regard for citizens. Within Madison’s scheming was attaining the commitment of the reluctant George Washington to serve as the first president. A major disappointment to Madison and Jefferson was the compromise that created the two houses of Congress, one representing the population demographics and the additional house which gave equal representation to every state, the Senate. This disappointment was short lived for many soon realized that this design gave the government the ability to be both dynamic in is response to the public while simultaneously being stable and resistant to rapid change.
Washington served two terms as President. At one time, the only time for a sitting president, leading the army into Pennsylvania to quell the Whiskey Rebellion. Other issues included negotiations with growing conflict between an expanding populace and the indigenous Indians. A major treaty was signed in New York between the US government and the Creek tribe of the south. The Creeks lived in the area that is now Georgia west of the Oconee River and west into Mississippi. They were led by a ¼ Creek named Alexander McGillivray, a man born and raised in Carolina of a ½ Scottish father. McGillivray, using is classical training, for a couple of years played the competing interests of the Spanish against the Americans. In the end the Georgians ignored the treaty and affirmed what the English experience confirmed, that demographics can be overwhelming.
Following Washington was Adams, who offered Jefferson a share of responsibility and was declined. Thomas Jefferson at this time, with interests in Virginia and mentality based in agrarian life had come to detest the central bank created and run by Alexander Hamilton. The scheming Jefferson used Madison as his point man, giving life to the two party system, with the central government Federalists and the populist Republicans.
At the time Jefferson became president, Napoleon was rampaging through Europe and preparing for an assault on England. Also having just been trounced in Santo Domingo by revolting slaves, Napoleon realized that running operations so far from his base was folly. Needing cash for the attack on England, Napoleon instructed his diplomat Talleyrand to sell the Louisiana tract just obtained from the King of Spain. For Jefferson to deal without Congressional approval an extra Constitutional act that was to good to resist. Jefferson made the deal and then begged the forgiveness of Congress by then asking for approval. Approval was a slam dunk, the deal was too good to pass up, the land was bought for 4 cents and acre. Jefferson’s administration of the new land created many positive opportunities and some negative omissions. The land provided great expanses for relocating Indians and by selling the land to citizens, provided for income to the government. Omissions centered about Jefferson’s unwillingness make the new lands off limits to slavery, and the initial treatment of established government organizations in Louisiana and New Orleans as colonies having citizens without full rights as Americans.
This was a good book. I would characterize the author as a blue state man because he spent an great deal of time describing how the founders mistreated the Indians and for refusing to deny slavery. I learned a lot and recommend the book
On a scale of 1-10, "American Creation" gets a 7.

The Dog Did It

A middle school in Maine drawn a line in the sand, and just said no to intentional violence, excuse me, intentional flatulence. That's right, Camden-Rockport Middle School, has been overtaken by rowdy eight graders who in sport are trying to expel the loudest and smelliest farts. Student Jordan Tyler said....

They would do it in science class and other places. It's a natural occurrence and we all do it 16 times a day.

The school has begun enforcement by giving detentions as punishment.

Principal Maria Libby could not be reached for comment.

• If the school serves brocolli or baken beans for lunch, would the cooks be given detentions for contributing to the flatulence of minor?


• These boys must be about 13, soon enough the pressures of the opposite sex will curb the enthusiastic emmissions. Forever after these will only be enjoyed in the presence of men or in contented solitude.


• The wife and I have been to Camden, a beautiful windy place on the Maine coast. With all the wind they have it must be really hard to tell which kids cut the cheese when they are outside on recess.

Patriots vs. Giants

Third quarter, the Pats are winning 7 to 3.

With the Sox having already won the series, the Pats winning would be a fitting touch to the last season Bruce watched.

3:10 to Yuma

Because of one of the actors in the movie, this remake of the 1957 western was in my queue long before being released for distribution. The original of 50 years ago starred Glenn Ford, Van Heflin and Richard Jaeckel later of The Dirty Dozen, was directed by Delmer Daves who in his career had many writing credits, he worked on the original Love Affair, An Affair to Remember, and Spencer's Mountain.

This is a story about a man at a point of character crisis, living in Arizona because his youngest son has tuberculosis, his older son of fourteen is carrying a large chip on his shoulder and a wife, Alice, that is questioning his decisions. A veteran of the army of occupation during the Civil War, Dan Evans lost a leg to friendly fire. Now the railroad wants to build tracks through is land. Local businessmen are doing their best to bankrupt him to take over his farmland, by cutting off his water source. They have cut off his land and hired gunmen to burn his farm and threaten their persons. The oldest son and wife are questioning Dan's courage.

Enter Ben Wade, leader of the area's badest outlaws. The gang's prowess at robbing stagecoaches has drawn in Pinkerton's hired guns. By happenstance, and with the assistance of Dan Evans, the Pinkertons, led by Byron McElroy capture Ben Wade. The gang, which is merciless in their pursuit of recovering their leader slowly and with Wade's help, thin the posse responsible to getting the prisoner to the train station in Yuma. By the end only Evans, his oldest son and Wade are left of the posse. Most of the gang are lying in wait to kill anything in the way of their goal. By this time the pitiful Evans, with his actions guided by deep set morality, has made a strong impression on Wade, he of no morality but possessing an eye for beauty in nature. Bouyed by a strong desire to be a heroic saviour of his family, and some timely help from his son, Evans does get wade onto the train, at that point the gang catches Evans with gunfire. Wade who has come to admire his captor, get off the train, kills the remnants of his gang and gets back on the train to go to prison.

The actors:

• Russell Crowe as Ben Wade, does and excellent job as the focal point of everyone's actions. A man without morality who comes to admire a man who by his inner guidance wants to make a positive impression on his troubled son. Crowe plays the part with a cool detachment of a man bored with the violence that he is so skilled at.


• Christian Bale as Dan Evans, farmer, father and husband, another excellent choice for man made deperate by life. His actions driven by a need to provide exemplar spirit and physical security.


• Logan Lerman as the oldest son William. Typical teen, rebellious and smart mouthed, he comes to see the strength in his brave father. We first saw Logan as one of Mel Gibson's children in the 2000 movie The Patriot.


• Gretchen Mol as Alice Evans, Dan's wife. She has come to question her hasband's judgement and does not understand why he must take this dangerous path. Mol gives the feel of a kind hearted woman worn a little thin but not all the way, by her families bad breaks and hard life. She catches Ben Wade's eye and sees the huband's underlying devotion, he uses this to provoke the husband through the end.


• Peter Fonda and Byron McElroy, the cheif Pinkerton, a man of devotion to god and eradication of evil men.


• Ben Foster as Charlie Prince, the thin gunman clad in his Confederate uniform jacket. Foster is riviting as the dark prince of the movie, efficient on the kill with no remorse. This was a good part reportedly sought by every young actor in Hollywood once Crowe and Bale were inked. The young actor was seen earlier in movies such as the Punisher and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Score 38 of 50, a good movie, rent it it right away.

Character Development 9 out of 10. The main character evolves from a out of luck man that mistrusts his own courage to a man willing to die for his familiy to have a better chance. Wade starts as a man largely bored with his profession and little respect for life. The steadfast determination of Evans make the impression required to stop the life.

Acting 9 out of 10. Russell Crowe and Christain Bale are wonderful in this classic western, depicting man's struggle against desperation. Peter Fonda is excellent as the aged Pinkerton. It was good to see Gretchen Mol get a part in a premium movie.

Photography, cinematography 6 of 10. The country scenes are expansive and arid, the canyons carved from time, these are easy. The angles in the cities of Bisbain and Yuma are confused and change angles in a way that confuse.

Writing, script 7 out of 10. As a remake of the original screen play by Halsted Welles and revised by Michael Brandt, this is good work with deep characters.

Concept 7 out of 10. Man's struggle against the oppression of poverty and the brutality of man.

Community Data by Zip Code

French President Marries, Bill Clinton Sees Opportunity

French President Nicolas Sarkozy just married former model Carla Bruni. This marriage came only four months after divorcing his wife. The marriage may have been hastily arranged as a political necessity. Reports were that because of their unmarried status, they would be an unwelcome couple in places like Buckingham Palace.

Former President William Jefferson Clinton, spouse of Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, is reported to be planning invitations for the couple to visit the White House, hoping for a shot at a special visit.

The Arkansan was heard to say....

She's got legs way better than that Willey woman.

Presidential Candidates

Now that Super Tuesday is close I wanted to think out who to vote for.

The Democrats

• Hillary Clinton, female Democratic candidate, has a 50/50 shot at getting the nomination. Politically she is hard to pin down; she plays the game as her husband did, reading prevailing public opinion and co-opting that position as their own. On court nominations I would expect Clinton to follow the example of Bill's in nomination of Ginsburg. On national defense expect her to be more hawkish than her husband. In terms of political culture, expect the Hillary Clinton to employ many of her husband’s advisors. Do we want felons like Sandy Berger advising the President? I have no problem with a woman being President, but my wife has pointed out that the United States will loose credibility with Middle East nations.
  
• Barack Obama, black Democratic candidate, is the other half of the 50/50 choice. A first term senator, without a without a record of legislation origination. This is a well spoken, thoughtful man who possesses more class than Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton ever thought about. In some ways Obama harkens thoughts of John Kennedy, a fresh handsome face, polished delivery and little to no political baggage. There is a part of me that hopes that Obama wins the Presidency, this apparently good man will forever take away the perpetual complaints of victimization by black Americans. The risks of having a Democrat in office would almost be worth it.


• John Edwards, I am so glad that this slippery snake has dropped out of the race. A couple of weeks ago I watched this liar talk about how Bush and his policies were the cause for rising health care costs. He, who as a lawyer was one who organized class action suits in the medical industry.

The Rebublicans

• Duncan Hunter was my first coice, but little surprise that a strong conservative with a no crap attitude did not appeal to the RINO section of Republican voters. Never got a chance to to vote for him.


• Rudy Giuliani, should have run a better campaign, had appeal with reputation as strong on crime and anti-terrorist, his liberal record on social issues would have made him a good candidate against the moderate democrats.


• Fred Thompson, another one that should have run a better campaign. The Watergate lawyer and Tennessee senator waited too long to enter the race and with this did not have access to the best consultant help. He was a like Ronald Reagan without any deciples to create a public vision.


• John McCain has hung in there and looks like he has a better that average chance of getting the nomination. His stands on judge nomination, campaign fianance, and border closure all put him at the left side of the Republican Party. This will make him a straong candidate against both Hillary and Barack, but the Democrats will run against his age. Not for me, smells like a Democrat and he cannot be trusted to make Supreme nominations on par with G.W. Bush.


• Another governor from Hope Arkansas is in the mix. Mike Huckabee has endorsed the Fair Tax which any President probably will not, for the next generation, have the support enough to enact. Huckabee's religious background indicates conviction that I expect from a President. This is the man that I will vote for on Super Tuesday.


• Mitt Romney, the Massachusetts governor. Does anyone remember the last governor from MA that ran for President? A moderate Republican trying to appeal to the conservative right. The Mormon thing will hurt him less than minister looking like a hick. As a New Englander there will be appeal to the blue state citizens as alternative to either Obama or Clinton. This is the Republican candidate that I think has the best opportunity to win.