Grand Mothering

She slept late but loved big breakfasts, eschewed the outdoors yet adored fall foliage, had little interest in material things but always wore her jewelry.
So begins Aimee Cirucci's beautiful story "Grand Mothering" now appearing in Mothering Magazine. Aimee is a lecturer in communications at Temple University where she is also a graduate degree candidate in the Department of Strategic and Organizational Communications. She's also a very fine freelance editor and writer. Congratulations, Aimee!

Poor Grades

Gov. Jon S. Corzine is receiving poor marks from New Jersey residents who don't particularly like his policies or his style of governing, according to a new Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll.
Midway through his four-year term, 40 percent of the poll respondents said they approved of Corzine's job performance, while 44 percent disapproved, the highest negative rating found by the poll since Corzine took office in January 2006.
State residents gave Corzine an overall C-minus grade on issues ranging from cost-cutting, property taxes, government ethics, cost of living, schools and Corzine's level of effort.

Those words are not mine. This is the lead of a Gannett New Jersey story by James W. Prado Roberts. And the story notes that since he took office Corzine has never achieved an approval rating higher than 51 percent. Now, as a professor I can tell you that a grade of C- is not good. Not good at all - especially for a Democrat in a decidedly Democrat state. And 51 percent? Well, that's a failing grade.

But New Jersey's wacky governor never seems to get the message. While the state wallows in red ink he proposes bigger and bigger tax and spend plans, hands out more money and continues to build America's biggest Nanny State. Corzine has just signed a pay-raise bill making New Jersey's judges among the highest paid in the nation. On average judges will get raises of about $20,000 annually. I think the world of judges. But I also think that when a state is billions of dollars in debt some discretion must be shown.

And Corzine also signed into law a bill which brings red light cameras to the state - another Big Brother move. Both pieces of legislation were approved at the 11th hour by a lame duck Democrat legislature. Many of those who provided the margin of victory are leaving office (only to be replaced by more Dems) so they don't care anyway. It was their last "gift" to New Jersey's sucker-taxpayers.

Reaganesque

Fresh off a significant victory in the Michigan primary Mitt Romney came alive Tuesday night with rousing, give 'em hell victory remarks that energized the crowd.
Romney seemed refreshingly unleashed. In shirtsleeves and with his hair tousled Romney appeared to speak without any script or notes and delivered his remarks in an animated style that had partisans roaring their approval. Early indications are that Romney carried all age groups and won a victory across broad demographic lines. He easily won the Republican and core conservative vote and prevented John McCain from making any inroads via independent voters. Among those who decided who to for vote in the final day, Romney won handily. Among those who identified the economy as the most important issue Romney also won handily.
Mitt Romney charted fresh, broad Reaganeque themes in his remarks. He used quick, simple powerful sentences and evoked optimism and a can-do spirit at every turn.
His victory in Michigan must be considered significant not just because it keeps Romney's candidacy alive (and indeed, energizes it) but also because it keeps the GOP race wide open and has the potential to change the future course of the Republican Party and the nation itself.
Now this is really getting interesting!

Bravo, Botti!

I've been listening to Italia, the glorious new album by trumpeter Chris Botti. This talented and charismatic musician, composer and performer says his new collection of music is inspired by the sights, sounds, history and romance of Italy. Since Botti is a jazz artist who has crossed all boundaries, Italia includes classical, operatic, spiritual, cinematic and contemporary offerings -- everything from Ave Maria to Nessun Dorma to Deborah's Theme from "Once Upon A Time in America" to Dean Martin singing I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face.

"We try to make every song have a different feel to it but the overall record has a flavor, a thread," The thread is Botti's simple, hauting, pitch-perfect style - something which makes the record distinct. It's mesmerizing. Botti says "I believe the challenge is to make a record that's individual, finds an audience, and creates something that's meaningful to the listener."

Botti, who was born in Oregon is very proud of his Italian roots and actually spent two years in Italy while growing up.

This young man is an extraordinary artist who seems destined to be enriching our lives for a long time to come.

Conundrum

At the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York I sat alongside members of the Kentucky delegation as John McCain addressed the convention.
McCain seemed to say all the right things. He glossed over whatever differences he may have had with "W" and reaped high praise on the President and the accomplishments of his first term.
But Kentucky was having none of it. In fact, two grande dames of the GOP sitting next to me sat on their hands throughout McCain's speech. I asked one of them why they were not responding. "Don't like him," she replied. "Can't trust him." I didn't press the matter since neither one of my blue-haired friends seemed to want to say anything further. As long as McCain was on the podium, they remained disengaged.
I encountered much the same thing on the floor of the GOP Convention in Philadelphia in 2000 where McCain seemed to garner a mixed reception at best.
I realize that John McCain is very popular with independents and even with many Democrats. But McCain has always had a problem with the party faithful. And he's never been popular with Ronald Reagan conservatives.
On the Mark Levin radio program the other day former Senator Rick Santorum pointed out that McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts and gave voice to the conservative view when he said he thought that nominating McCain would "create a 'huge rift' in the Republican Party."
"I think he’s been solid in the war on terror," Santorum added "… but on domestic policy, he’s very, very dangerous for Republicans. There’s nothing worse than having a Democratic Congress and a Republican president who would act like a Democrat in matters that are important to conservatives.”
Still, one might ask: How will the GOP find a way to win if it doesn't reach out to independents and some Democrats? And in the end, isn't that the lesson of Santorum's failed quest for re-election?

French Connection

Our friend Jenice Armstrong at the Philadelphia Daily News points out in her column today that recently divorced French President Nicolas Sarkozy 52, has reportedly married Carla Bruni, 39, his model-turned-singer girlfriend, in a small, private ceremony.

Bruni has an American link since she has dated Donald Trump, among others. Jenice observes that "Carla's not what some [French] voters had in mind as a first lady."
"In America," she adds "those words conjure up a pearl-wearing, law-school grad in the vein of an Elizabeth Edwards or maybe a traditional, stay-at-home Laura Bush-type - not a pop star with a love resume that could give even Angelina Jolie pause. The Italian heiress' past lovers include Mick Jagger . . . Bruni even dated a French publisher, only to dump him for his married son, with whom she had a child who is now 6. She has been quoted as saying, 'Monogamy bores me terribly.'"

Well, looking at Bruni one is tempted to forgive a multitude of sins. Anyway, Jenice wonders if what's happening in France will temper the reaction of Americans to Rudy Giuliani's third wife, Judith, should Giuliani get the nomination. It's a stretch. But at this point anything that might help Rudy is like fine French wine.

Great Feedback

Marlene Panoyan, Director of Communications for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has informed us that our comments about the passing of Johnny Grant have been placed on the Johnny Grant Memorial Tribute Page, right there alongside comments from Nancy Reagan, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler and Congresswoman Diane E. Watson. We are honored.
And so many of you have been adding your opinions (anonymous or otherwise) on various postings here that we just want you to know how much we appreciate your input.
For example, in response to our Daily News op-ed some of our friends have been suggesting additional words and phrases to banish during the new year. Among those suggested are sexy, drill down, celebrate, recharge your batteries and touch point.
Also, two of our former students have written to comment on the blog.
Pat Rose says: "Just wanted to let you know that I am enjoying your blog, especially your commentary on the Presidential candidates. I think this will be one of the more interesting presidential campaigns in recent memory. I think I heard a stat saying that this is the first time since the 1920's that neither a sitting President or Vice President will be running for the Presidency. My hunch is Obama v. McCain."
Pat graduated from Rowan and is now Public Affairs Coordinator for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
And Meredith Avakian says she thinks the blog is a "wonderful idea" and is enjoying our ruminations. Meredith graduated from Temple and is now Senior Public Affairs Representative with DuPont.
Pat and Meredith were two of my best students. Meredith has been back to guest lecture at Penn State and Pat says he will soon do the same.

McCain's Big Secret

How does John McCain manage to garner such positive media attention? Jonathan Martin answers this question at the Politico blog:
So much has been written about McCain's relationship with the media that it is hard to say anything fresh. But McCain's way of engaging with journalists is so different from that of other candidates that it is worth dwelling on it for a moment. On a typical campaign trip, time with the candidate — "the principal," in campaignspeak — is severely restricted. Anytime a typical candidate agrees to speak to the press, it's a big deal, and journalists are often competitive about access and proximity. Because candidates speak so infrequently their words take on added importance, and journalists spend much of their time trying to trip candidates up or force them to say something that will make news. For the candidate, a press conference is often a matter of avoiding mistakes, more than a chance to communicate a message to the public. None of this is true with McCain. He engages journalists at every opportunity. He speaks informally and does not labor over his words. He is quick with a joke and likes to make fun of the reporters covering him. He sometimes says that he does not want to talk about a subject, but this is rare, and chances are good that if you ask him again an hour or two later, he will answer your question. More often, he talks about things that other politicians prefer to avoid.
So, there you have it. McCain engages the media. He treats members of the press corps as human beings. He remains accessible. He's conversational; he jokes; he seems real.
Secret unvelied!

Rock Star Reception

From the Bradenton (Fla.) Herald:

Supporters gave Rudy Giuliani a rock-star reception when he made a campaign stop in Manatee County on Saturday in a state crucial to his bid for the Republican nomination for president. . . As the former mayor of New York stepped onto the stage in the ballroom of the Senior Enrichment Center on Ninth Street West, the standing-room-only crowd of about 800 cheered after waiting for more than a hour for him to arrive.
Joyce and John Tevald didn't mind the wait to hear from their choice for the Jan. 29 primary.
"We're familiar with what he's done for New York City," said Joyce Tevald, who moved to Manatee County with her husband from New Jersey about a year ago. "He did a fantastic job cleaning it up." . . . Giuliani, who is concentrating his campaign in Florida, took off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves in the overheated room before giving his stump speech.
He spoke about the tax cut plan he recently unveiled, saying the nation's growth economy is based on three fiscal policies: low taxes, responsible government spending and moderate regulations.
"People should be able to keep more of their income," Giuliani said to roaring approval from his supporters. . . . The great turnout for Giuliani had all local Manatee County for Rudy leaders sitting on the stage beaming with pride.
Photo: Brian Blanco, Bradenton Herald

"Back In The Day"

From today's Philadelphia Daily News:
The onset of the new year makes me nostalgic for earlier time: a different time, a simpler time.
Maybe what I really need is to be transported to sometime back in the day.
But when exactly was "back in the day"?
Was it a few months ago? A few years ago? Decades ago? Maybe it was even a century ago. Or maybe it stretches back to the Middle Ages.
I don't know. All I know is that whatever day is back there is different for everyone who's remembering or talking about back in the day.
Back in the day is one of those words or phrases that, after years of increasing use, finally achieved total oversaturation last year - while still managing to communicate almost absolutely nothing. And it's one of those catchalls that should be banished in the new year.
To read the rest of this column and discover more words and phrases that should be banned in the new year click here.

Facts Don't Lie

The following are facts:
The first woman ever elected to both houses of Congress was a Republican.
The landmark Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act of the 1960s were approved by the Congress with the critical support of Republicans. Democrats (who held a wide majority in Congress at the time) simply did not have enough support in their own party to approve these measures. Without Republican support these measures would probably not have been approved.
The first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the presidency by either of the two major parties was a Republican.
The first African-American elected to the United States Senate post-Reconstruction was a Republican.
The first woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court was a Republican, appointed by a Republican President.
The first African-American ever to serve as Secretary of State (the highest ranking Cabinet post and fourth in line to the presidency) was appointed by a Republican President.
The first African-American woman ever to serve as Secretary of State was appointed by a Republican President.
According to USA Today, "With little fanfare and not much credit, President George W. Bush has appointed a more diverse set of top advisers than any president in history. In his first term, Bush matched the record that President Clinton set in his first term for appointing women and people of color to the Cabinet, and Bush had a more diverse inner circle at the White House."
The first Hispanic ever to hold one of the powerful "big four" Cabinet posts (US Attorney General) was appointed by a Republican President.
Again, according to USA Today President Bush was the first President whose innermost circle — the people he relies on in a crunch — included women other than his wife.
Of President George W. Bush Donna Brazile has said: ""The president has done more than diversify his Cabinet. President Bush has opened new doors for minorities and women . . . "

King George Reigns

King George (aka George Strait) garnered three nominations for Grammy Awards at the unveiling of the 2008 nominees. He was nominated for 'Male Country Performance', Country Album for 'It Just Comes Natural' and Country Song for 'Give It Away'. The Grammy winners will be announced on the Grammy Awards show broadcast Feb. 10th from the Los Angeles Staples Center on CBS TV (assuming the dreaded writers' strike is settled by then).

King George will be in Philadelphia for a concert at the Wachovia Center on Saturday, February 16 and all his subjects will be there to pay homage to the man who's often been called "the Frank Sinatra of country music." If you haven't purchased your tickets for the Philly gig, forget it. Any appearance by King George completely sells out in a matter of minutes. There are only a few more stops in the tour after Philly: Richmond VA, Lexington KY, Cleveland, Albuquerque NM and Lubbock TX. Find the complete tour schedule here.

Photo: www.georgestrait.com

Jimmah's Early Trials

It's been said that the older a person gets the longer he or she had to walk to school as a child. Well, it gets worse. Jimmy Carter's got a new book coming out that says he was raised amidst insects and varmints (including rats) and that his mother treated a variety of serious childhood ailments with home remedies.
The New York Post reports: "No matter what kind of hard-luck stories about growing up the presidential candidates can come up with this year, they'll be hard-pressed to match the woeful tales Jimmy Carter can spin.
"In 'A Remarkable Mother,' his upcoming Simon & Schuster memoir about Lillian Carter, Carter says his Georgia home was constantly under siege from armies of insects and rodents, including rats so big they could 'successfully challenge' most cats.
"Worse yet were common ailments like tapeworm, hookworm and lice infestations - with supposed cures just as disgusting. 'I think the most obnoxious medical experience I ever had was when someone convinced Daddy that we children could avoid an outbreak of flu, or some other prevalent illness, by wearing pellets of asafetida, or devil's dung, around our waists,' Carter writes. 'It was a horrible-smelling extract . . . [that kept] bearers of germs at a healthy distance from wearers of the stench.'
"For head lice, 'other than a very short haircut or shaved head, the standard treatment was a concoction of sulfur and kerosene, held in place with a tight stocking cap . . . We didn't have to worry much about red bugs, or chiggers, but Mama made us check for ticks after we'd spent time in the woods and swamps. She knew how to remove them with heat or tweezers . . .'"
Sounds like Jimmah's childhood had all the charm of a Dickens novel. No wonder he turned out to be such a self-righteous sourpuss.

All Hail Chancellor

Philly's lawyers are in Atlantic City this weekend for their annual Bar Leaders' Retreat but earlier this week more than 600 legal luminaries gathered at the Philadelphia Bar Association's Annual Chancellor's Reception to usher in the reign of Chancellor A. Michael Pratt. Chancellor Platt is shown above (on left) with former Chancellor Abe Reich and Chair of the Board Stephanie Resnick.

As always, the reception was held at The Bellevue (aka Park Hyatt at The Bellevue). Food and drink were plentiful and good cheer prevailed throughout the evening.

This event has been held every January for more than 70 years and is a highlight of the social season in Philadelphia. It attracts many of the city's top lawyers, judges and public officials as well as many of those who serve the legal community in one way or the other.

Tradition mandates that all attendees wait in a long line to shake the hand of the new Chancellor and wish him and his new team well. Whatever skirmishes the lawyers may have engaged in during the previous year are forgotten and the new year begins with everyone enjoying food and drink as friends. In the cyber age the event has taken on a new meaning since it gives everyone a chance to meet and chat face-to-face.

For us it is always a welcome opportunity to reconnect with old friends.

BTW: The "A" in A. Michael Pratt stands for Anthony. Go AntNeeee!

"Politician's Waterboard"

This from Kathleen Parker over at Real Clear Politics:
. . . let's get something straight: [Hillary] Clinton wasn't emotional because she cares deeply about the country. She was near tears because she cares deeply about becoming the first woman president.
Thwarted ambition is the politician's waterboard.
Clinton . . . segued into her deeply held conviction that she is the only person who can save this country.
"I couldn't do it if I didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do. I have so many opportunities from this country, I just don't want to see us fall backwards."
What she meant, of course, was that she doesn't want to see herself fall backward.

Star For Suzanne

Since we've been talking about the Hollywood Walk of Fame let's not forget that Suzanne Pleschette will be getting her star on the Walk on January 31.

Army Archerd reports: "It's no secret Suzanne has been battling cancer and had undergone chemotherapy last year. While her appearances have been very few, she did participate in the tribute to her longtime costar and friend Bob Newhart at the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills, and as usual, she brought down the house with her down-to-earth bawdy humor."

Suzanne Pleschette has always been talented, funny and beautiful. And her beauty has always been more than skin deep. She's always maintained a great sense of humor about herself. One gets the impression that she's always kept her life in balance as well. I can't imagine why it took Hollywood so long to give her a star on the Walk of Fame but thank goodness she's having her moment.

Heightened Tensions?

Three days ago, right here, I asked if the Clintons would heighten racial tensions once they started going after Obama full force. I warned that no betrayal or hurt is worse than that inflicted by friends.
Now Drudge is leading with this headline: RACE WAR: OBAMA CAMPAIGN, BLACKS OUTRAGED BY CLINTONS and Politico is reporting that "a series of comments from Senator Hillary Clinton, her husband, and her supporters are spurring a racial backlash and adding a divisive edge to the presidential primary as the candidates head south to heavily African-American South Carolina."
In all fairness, this same question has been posed by Donna Brazile and by Juan Williams. It's beginning to gain some traction.

Jolly Johnny Hollywood

Johnny Grant, the irrepressible, famously friendly Honorary Mayor of Hollywood is dead at 84.

If you've ever seen photos of those Hollywood Walk of Fame events where luminaries get their Star on the Walk then you've seen Johnny Grant. Johnny personally inducted more than 500 celebrities into the Walk of Fame.

Johnny Grant led the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and boosted Hollywood during its glory days, through its sad slide in the 60s, 70s and 80s and into its dazzling re-emergence in the 1990s and renaissance in the new century. He never, ever wavered in his love for the entertainment industry and Hollywood. Since 1991 he lived atop the legendary Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

In the LA Times Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler described Grant as "the bridge between Hollywood's golden past and what's happening today."

Everything about Grant seemed true: from his boyish first name to his jolly manner. Those present at a brief memorial ceremony on the Walk of Fame yesterday said Grant's demeanor was constant, even when he mingled with Hollywood's biggest names. "He never changed. He just added weight," said someone who first met Grant in 1946.

I never met Johnny Grant but I remember seeing him every year in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. To me he epitomized authenticity in the midst of a vast but nonetheless captivating charade. Of course, Ron and Nancy Reagan were among the greats befriended by Grant over the years. Yesterday, Ronald Reagan's uniform from "Brother Rat" was still there in Grant's penthouse apartment along with other treasured Hollywood mementos.

Best Line

Best line at the Wednesday night Fox News GOP debate:
"The Democrats keep talking about change, change, change. But the only kind of change they're interested in is taking the change out of your pockets."
-Rudy Giuliani

Original Hillary

The Associated Press reports: "Sir Edmund Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, has died, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday. He was 88."

I wonder how Hillary Clinton feels about the death of her namesake. Well, maybe her namesake. In other words, sort of her namesake. But actually, probably not her namesake.

You see, like many things involving the Clintons, it's a somewhat complicated story. And it all has to do with the name Hillary.

Hillary (with 2 ls) is a variant of Hilary, a name used by both boys and girls. The name means cheerful. Yes, I did say cheerful. Hillary Rodham Clinton was born Hillary Diane Rodham. Was she named after Sir Edmund Hillary, the man who conquered Mt. Everest? At one point Mrs. William Clinton claimed that her mother named her after the famous explorer. This would account for her name’s distinctive spelling.

But Sir Edmund didn’t climb Everest until 1953, more than five years after Hillary Rodham was born.

Hillary Clinton has a history of nebulous name play. She didn’t adopt the Clinton name until some time after she married William Jefferson Clinton. In the beginning she still called herself Hillary Rodham. Later, it was Hillary Clinton. Still later, it became Hillary Rodham Clinton. Call it evolution.

Anyway, for more on the candidates' names see my op-ed on that subject from the Courier-Post.

No Change

Steven Stark, writing in the Boston Phoenix points out that a year ago the leading candidates for the GOP nomination were Giuliani and McCain.
And Stark feels that little has changed. He believes that the race will come down to Giuliani and McCain. Stark asks: "Will Rudy's 'Wait Until the Big States' strategy work? Here's his answer:
Quite possibly -- we'll know on January 29, when Florida votes. But by the time we get to Florida, Romney and Fred Thompson are likely to be non-factors, and the loser of the South Carolina primary won't be looking great, either. That leaves Giuliani a pretty open field. His problem is that, if McCain is the next-to-last man left, he's a formidable opponent. But a Giuliani victory in Florida, or even in the big states beyond, isn't impossible, particularly if Huckabee can knock off McCain in either Michigan or South Carolina.
And Stark also feels that John Edwards is "finished" and may drop out of the Democrat race. Many people believe that if Edwards left the race it would greatly help Obama since many of the current Edwards voters may be anti-Hillary voters anyway. So, going forward, watch Edwards closely. His decision to stay in or get out could determine the outcome of the Democrat race.

The Wiz

They called him a financial genius.

He conquered Wall Street, bought his way into the exclusive club known as the US Senate and then bullied his way into the NJ Governor's mansion with the promise that he would clean up the financial mess that plagues this endlessly beleaguered state - a sorry kingdom that remains the butt of so many jokes.

But once in office he hemmed and hawed, bobbed and weaved, found himself bedeviled by embarrassments involving former flames and unsavory characters, grew bored and then finally, finally unveiled his secret plan to save the state: monetization.

So here it is: Under the plan proposed by Joisey's wacky Governor Jon Corzine, you will eventually pay $16.59 to drive to Casinoland on the Atlantic City Expressway. The tolls on the Expressway, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway will keep climbing and climbing and climbing, at least until 2022. But of course the first increase won't take effect until the year after Corzine faces re-election. Ain't that clever?

This is the largest single fee or tax increase of any kind in the history of a state that has been known for setting tax hike records. It includes as much as a 500% driving tax increase and $40 billion in new debt.

So the Wiz of Wall Street has produced his solution: ante up, sucker!

Photo: Americans for Prosperity

"Nixonian" Pity?

Maureen Dowd in the New York Times today on Hillary's tears:

There was a poignancy about the moment, seeing Hillary crack with exhaustion from decades of yearning to be the principal rather than the plus-one. But there was a whiff of Nixonian self-pity about her choking up. What was moving her so deeply was her recognition that the country was failing to grasp how much it needs her. In a weirdly narcissistic way, she was crying for us. But it was grimly typical of her that what finally made her break down was the prospect of losing.

Real Tears?

Was it really an authentic moment?
On the eve of the balloting an "undecided" woman voter in New Hampshire asked Mrs. William Clinton (and I'm paraphrasing here): "How do you do it? How do you face this every day?"
At first Hillary seemed to be giving her stock answer but then she looked down, paused, began to get teary-eyed, continued answering but choked-up as she explained: "It's not easy, not easy."
It was certainly a Kleenex moment. But was it real? Was it sincere?
And did it turn the tide in Hillary's favor?
Today, Fox News is reporting that the woman who asked the question actually voted for Obama in the end. She said she voted for Barack because he made her cry as she listened to his remarks. Go figure.
And then read what I wrote about authenticity in the Philadelphia Daily News and/or listen to my interview on the subject with radio talk host Dom Giordano of The Big Talker, 1210.

Playing Chicken

Our friend Gayle Michael sent us a list detailing how famous people night answer the eternal question: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
Here are a few answers that are worth sharing:
HILLARY CLINTON: "I have vast experience with chickens and if elected, I will ensure that EVERY chicken has the ability to cross any road they desire.."
DR. PHIL : "The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems."
JOHN KERRY: "Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it."
PAT BUCHANAN: "To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American."
And finally, ERNEST HEMINGWAY: "To die in the rain. Alone."

Many Hats

Maybe you saw a guy by the name of Mark McKinnon early in the evening on TV last night touting John McCain's stellar come-from-behind performance in New Hampshire.
McKinnon is the PR, advertising and media guru who played a big role in crafting Dubya's image for the 2000 and 2004 campaigns. A colorful character who often sports a hat, McKinnon is now working for McCain.
SourceWatch reports that "in 2006, McKinnon started working on McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. In June, 2007 he said he would quit if the general election pitted McCain against Barack Obama. "I will, however, still support and vote for John McCain," he told the Austin American-Statesman. "I just don’t want to work against an Obama candidacy. I think a McCain vs. Obama race would be a great choice for the country."
Well, McKinnon is a former Democrat but he's also a Texan who signed onto the Bush effort in 1997 and rarely looked back.
After last night, I wonder if McKinnon still plans to leave the McCain campaign if Obama gets the Democratic nomination.

Just A Question

Now that Obama has emerged as a real contender and raised sincere expectations among his supporters and others, here's a question worth asking: If Clinton & Co. follow Carville's advice and "come out swinging" and if the Clinton campaign beats up on Obama again and again how will this impact the Bill & Hill's traditionally strong support among black voters?
What if the Clinton attack machine unleashes its full force?
Will black voters ultimately feel betrayed?
Remember: there is no deeper hurt nor deeper betrayal than that inflicted by friends.

Don't Kick Bucket

Last Night I saw a preview of The Bucket List, the new Rob Reiner flick starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

This is a star vehicle all the way and Nicholson and Freeman give the performances you would expect of two Oscar-winning standouts. Freeman plays his role in an understated, elegant manner while Nicholson is in your face with some genuine scenery-chewing moments.

By now you've probably seen one of the trailers on TV so you know that this movie is about death and life - and the moments left to live. Reiner goes for sentimentality (especially at the end) and wrings every drop out of the movie's lump-in-the-throat moments. He ain't subtle.

This is a buddy movie but there are other elements at work here: the ongoing fear of living a life of quiet desperation; the oppressiveness of authority; the dreariness of daily work; a spiritual emptiness that seems to pervade modern life and, ultimately the quest for redemption.

Indeed, Scott Fitzgerald may have been correct when he asked: "What else does life have to offer, besides youth?"

The script has its moments but there are also obvious cliches.

And that's where Nicholson, Freeman and a great supporting cast (Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, Rob Morrow) come in. They take the script and make it work.

Even though this movie has scored no better than 50/50 among the critics thus far (see Rotten Tomatoes) I'm recommending it for the performances and the universal themes.

Chaotic or Healthy?

When the Democrats have an open, all-out fight for any office the media call it "healthy, democratic, spirited."
But now that the GOP race for the presidency is anybody's to win the media have decided to term this "chaotic." How is it that a Republican race which gives people lots of choices and provides plenty of good old-fashioned competition is "chaotic" while Democrats would be termed "healthy" if they were actually lucky enough to have such a contest?
You figure it out.

Last Mrs. Astor

I've just finished reading Frances Kiernan's new book The Last Mrs. Astor, a combination memoir and biography of the late Brooke Astor.

Kiernan originally thought she might be working with Mrs. Astor on an autobiography but that never came to be. Instead, Kiernan wrote this generally positive look at the life of Brooke Astor, the New York philanthropist, author and socialite. The book is subtitled "a New York story" and that it certainly is. We journey through the world of New York high society but we also travel along with Mrs. Astor as she visits the city's poorest neighborhoods and neediest institutions to check on the work of the Vincent Astor Foundation. With the funding of the Foundation and through contributions of her own Brooke Astor helped to save some of New York's grandest treasures including the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But she also provided seed money and other funding for small neighborhood initiatives that improved the quality of life throughout the city.

Brooke Astor had this advice for how to live your life: "Be nice to everybody. Don't hold grudges. Stay away from people you don't get on with. If they cross your path, greet them civilly, but move on."

Sounds simple, doesn't it?

But just remember what songwriter Stephen Sondheim wrote: "What's hard is simple. What's natural comes hard."

New Scamshire

Just thought you'd like to know: New Hampshire is our 46th largest state and has a population about one-fifth the size of Maryland.
Yet this is the state which may decide the Democratic nominee for President today. In fact, this little state may provide a decisive turning point in the 2008 election and significantly influence the eventual outcome.
It's a good bet that there are almost more media types in New Hampshire today than there are undecided voters. And it seems that every undecided voter in the granite state has been scrutinized, polled and analyzed ad nauseam.
Is this any way to pick a President?

Lane Ends

KYW-TV has axed anchorwoman Alycia Lane.
Our friend Dan Gross broke the story this afternoon. Read all about it on Dan's Philly Gossip blog.

Be Careful . . .

Confidential urgent message to the Hillary haters who are now getting ready to sing "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead." Be careful what you wish for.

The Difference

Adam Cirucci sent us the following illustrative tale:

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asks about his bill and the barber replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The cop is happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door. " Then, a Congressman comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The Congressman is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut. And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the members of our Congress.

"Taking It Back"

Here are some excepts from Mayor Nutter's inaugural address today in Philadelphia:

"There is nothing more devastating to the soul of hope than the killings and shootings that take place day after day after day on our streets."

"We will cut our homicide rate by 30 to 50 percent. No reason in the world we can't do that."

"Today, enough is enough! Enough is enough!"

"To the law-abiding citizens of Philadelphia , I say that we are the majority. ... This is our city and we're taking it back."

"I've had enough and I'm not playing around about it!"

Nutter is smart, determined, purposeful, thorough and dedicated. I interviewed him at the very start of his campaign and found him to be engaging and likable. He will need all of these qualities and more to lead Philadelphia. He will have to be tough. He's got to be able to say "no" and mean it. He has to be tenacious. And he's got to be prepared to stand up to the elites who always think they know better (and always have a self-centered agenda of their own).

Congratulations and good luck, Mr. Mayor. We wish you the best!

Barackamania

The media are gaga over Barack.

On the TV talkfests this morning the praise and adulation flowed like hot buttah.

Rotund Tim Russert declared Obama captivating and said the Clinton campaign is in emergency mode. BlabberinoMan Chris Matthews said Barack "is giving the best speeches any of us have ever heard." FibberinoMcGee Mike Barnacle said Barack was presiding over "The death of cynicism" and added: "There are people coming to listen to him and they have tears in their eyes. They are crying." And Self-Promoting Pollster Frank Luntz said that the emergence of Obama "Isn't just about the future; it is the future."

One of the morning shows even wired the heads of New Hampshire's undecided voters to measure brain waves and found - you guessed it - no hesitancy to vote for Barack.

OK. It's over. What the hell . . .

Let's just cancel all the remaining primaries and general election and coronate this guy.

Batting A Thousand

Even though we've been up for barely a month, overnight we scored our one-thousandth hit on this new site. Thanks for helping us reach this milestone.
Keep watching, keep returning, keep communicating. And tell your friends.
I promise that every time you return here you will find something new and interesting to think about, to talk about, to read, to watch, to listen to - something to enliven your conversation and the way you see the world.

Reagan As Reagan

It was one of the most famous Ronald Reagan moments of all time - something right out of a movie except that it was real.

It happened in New Hampshire at a debate just before the primary in 1980. Debate moderator Joe Breen was trying to lock Reagan out of the dialogue by shutting off his microphone.

When Breen requested that Regan's microphone be silenced the look on Reagan's faced suddenly changed to one of near outrage. The usually genial Reagan grabbed the mike, stood up and asked "Is this on?" Seeing that he was still amplified, Reagan shot back "I paid for this microphone, Mr. Green!"

Forget that Reagan got the moderator's name wrong. Forget why Breen saw fit to attempt to silence Reagan. The audience went wild in support of Ronnie and this clip and soundbite were seen and heard everywhere, changing the tide in the campaign.

People saw that Reagan was human, that he was real, that he was willing to fight for his beliefs and the right to express those beliefs.

Let's face it we've all had a moment when some officious functionary has attempted to push us around - and we've all longed to fight back. Reagan captured that feeling in all of us and fought back.

From that point on the mantra "let Reagan be Reagan" guided Ronnie's campaign to victory.

Watch the entire clip of this classic campaign moment here.

Joy In Work

Asked on CBS Sunday Morning why he has appeared in only four films in the last ten years the acclaimed actor Daniel Day Lewis today answered: "I cannot find joy in work if I work according to someone else's rhythm."
And therein lie the struggle and the frustration faced by so many poor working stiffs: working to someone else's rhythm.

Curtains Up!

If you don't see the new musical Curtains on Broadway you're missing the finest musical comedy to hit the great white way in years. I saw the show this past autumn as part of a birthday outing and adored every minute of it. Critic Jeff Lyons of NBC called Curtains “A BIG DELIGHTFUL MUSICAL packed full of show-stopping numbers and the wittiest book in years! Long may it run!”

I received the original cast recording of this wonderful musical for Christmas and can't stop playing it. The extraordinary score by Kander and Ebb is packed with catchy tunes. And the show's stars, David Hyde Pierce, Debra Monk and Karen Zemba are fantastic. In fact everybody in the cast is wonderful. This is the hardest-working cast I've seen in many years. And this is one of those times when all of the hard work shows and glows.

Curtains is everything that Broadway should be. It's why Broadway was born.

So, skip Spring Awakening and Young Frankenstein and yet another revival of A Chorus Line and go see Curtains. And after that make sure you see The Drowsy Chaperone which is now on a national tour.

You'll have a great time and find yourself whistling many a happy tune!

Dismantle

Are your Christmas decorations down yet?
Absent compelling reasons to the contrary, all decorations - inside and out - should be removed by the end of the day Sunday, January 6. A good rule of thumb: decorations down by the end of the first weekend after New Years Day unless New Years Day falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
We've got to move along since Easter arrives early this year (March 23) and Mardi Gras will be here on February 5.
Nothing looks worse than lights still lit and decorations still up well into January.
Most of these decorations have been up for a month or longer. Get them down - now.

Sad Sight

It was sad to see our former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright standing there on the platform in Iowa last night while loyalists watched Mrs. Bill Clinton attempt to explain her slide down the hill. Albirght looked tiny and out of place - like a forgotten figure from history.
I had the pleasure of meeting Madeleine Albright when she was our Ambassador to the United Nations. She is a brilliant woman and a distinguished public servant. I found her to be gracious, attentive, and compelling. She hardly needs to serve the wishes of any politician.
But after Bubba flat out swore to his cabinet that he had engaged in no improprieties, sexual or otherwise, Albright was the first one to appear before the media and proclaim: "I believe him." Well, she was too quick to take the man at his word. And it just ain't diplomatic for a diplomat to show such poor judgment.
Still, I never thought of Albright as just another Clintonista. And maybe she isn't. But there she was last night, on that platform.

Bernie & Co.

Last night I attended the Cherry Hill Township Reorgani-zation Ceremony where our friends Mayor Bernie Platt and Councilman John Amato were sworn in for new terms along with their running mates.
In his remarks last night Bernie correctly stated that "Cherry Hill is poised for greatness." Under Bernie's leadership the huge new Cherry Hill Mall project and Garden State Park development have begun to transform this sprawling, well-known Philadelphia suburb which first established its reputation in the 1960s.
As I wrote recently in the Philadelphia Inquirer: "over the next 12 to 24 months the Cherry Hill Mall will be revitalized. Fine dining will return to Cherry Hill with the addition of as many as seven new restaurants along a Bistro Row that will wrap around the outside of the mall. Multi-level indoor parking will lead shoppers directly into a new 140,000 square foot Nordstrom store. An addition featuring 40 new stores will be part of a two-story grand entryway connecting the mall to Nordstrom. The entire mall will get a new look and a new food court and valet parking will also be included." Already, a new Crate & Barrel store and Container Store are welcoming shoppers. And all of this is happening at the same time and competing with the huge Garden State Park development just up the road, featuring Wegman's, McCormick & Schmick, The Cheesecake Factory and Brio Tuscan Grille.
Hey, Bernie and John are Democrats but they are also committed capitalists and fiscal conservatives. They believe in the private sector and know how to make it work for the good of all. Bravo!

The Carcases

After the caucuses come the carcases.
For more than a few candidates it will be the end of their moment in the sun (or in this case, snow). The list of candidates will become mercifully slimmer.
And gone will be: Richardson, Tancredo, Hunter, Biden, Dodd, Keyes and Gravel.
The only question is, will Kucinich and Paul get the hell out of the way? Please, Dennis and Ron move along, move along!

Momentum

People keep bugging me, wanting to know who I think will win in Iowa tonight.
You already know how I feel about Iowa and New Hampshire but you still want to know who I think will win. OK, OK . . .
The two candidates with the momentum right now are Romney and Obama. So, that's who I'm going with: Romney and Obama.
The Republican result is likely to come in earlier this evening because the GOP process is simpler (ain't it always?). The Dems could go on half the night.
Going forward: Keep an eye on McCain.
And don't forget all the primaries that come up at the end of January and the beginning of February. There are lots more delegates to be picked. It ain't over.

Pizza Panic

No self-respecting person of Italian descent should ever eat a frozen pizza.

But I was desperate. So the other night I popped a Freschetta ultra thin five cheese into the oven.

Here's what the directions on the box said:

Keep pizza frozen prior to baking. Thawed product may fall through oven rack when prepared without a pan. (Also known as rack-dripped pizza.)

Do not eat pizza without cooking. (Ouch, my teeth hurt!)

Remove pizza from box, overwrap and cardboard. (I knew I had to take it out of the box but you want me to remove the cellophane and cardboard, too?)

Pizza is done when cheese is melted and edges are golden brown. (I'd have never known.)

Refrigerate or discard any unused portion. (Hey, this pizza is too small, the crust is too thin and I'm too desperate and hungry for that to happen.)

Let pizza stand for one minute before serving. (Sorry, can't wait that long. How about 30 seconds?)

Now, here's the bottom-line: This Freschetta ultra thin (and I do mean ultra) five crust pizza wasn't half bad - especially for the typical lazy, hungry, desperate guy of any nationality.

Iowa Shmyowa!

Lest you get all worked up about the Iowa caucuses tomorrow and start thinking the next leader of the free world has already been chosen remeber this: only two presidential candidates (excluding incumbents) have won Iowa and went on to win the presidency. Those two were George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. That's it.
Ronald Reagan lost in Iowa twice. And Bill Clinton not only lost in Iowa but came in third. George H. W. Bush lost Iowa as well, running behind Pat Robertson.
Some of the also-rans who have won the Iowa caucuses have been Richard Gephart, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore and Edmund Muskie.
So, when it comes to picking presidents Iowa does not have a very good track record.

Mummers!

The Mummers were sensational yesterday - brilliantly colorful, tuneful and highly spirited.

Yet, beyond the area around City Hall crowds seemed to be disappointing. Yes, there was a late start so everything was later and that meant that the string bands arrived when the temperature was colder. But there's more to it.

The string bands are not marching bands. They are show bands. And each band itself is but a small part of the show. The string bands now save all their energy for the performance in front of the judges at City Hall. Like much of our culture the Mummers have now become show biz. And the show is performed for the judges, a relatively small group of spectators in front of City Hall and the TV audience. That's it.

For the sixth year in a row Fralinger took first place. I loved Fralinger's cowboy theme but I thought that Quaker City (Adventures in Paradise) or South Philadelphia (Hot Native Nights) or Ferko (Prepare for Glory) or Avalon (Land of Leprechauns) or Polish American (Ghouls Gone Wild) could have won as well. As it was these bands took 2nd through 6th place in the order mentioned. When one band dominates year after year the competition becomes boring. It's sort of like the Patriots. They win, they're perfect, they're boring.

Anyway, I thought that Uptown (Infestation) had one of the most original presentations I've seen in years with giant bugs buzzing round City Hall. But all those innovative costumes, novel choreography and all that wild jazz music landed Uptown no higher than 8th place finish.

Hey, what do I know?

Tax, Spend, Spend

New Jersey's state flag proclaims "prosperity"

But the State of New Jersey faces the first work week of 2008 with the knowledge that it enters its eighth consecutive year with an annual budget deficit.

For all but one of these years (2001) New Jersey has been ruled by a Democrat governor. And under New Jersey's state constitution, the Governor has enormous power. In fact, the Pulitizer Prize winning columnist George Will has called the Governor of New Jersey "an American Caesar."

Today Under Governor Jon Corzine New Jersey faces a monumental debt of up to $3 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. In seven years New Jersey's debt has doubled. But Corzine and the Democrats are looking to spend even more. They want to to increase state aid for schools by about $580 million.

As recently as 2006, Democrats increased sales, corporate, cigarette and other taxes by $1.84 billion, easily the largest total tax increase among states that year. Now, Corzine is looking to boost Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike tolls by at least 45 percent to scoop up even more money. And Corzine has not ruled out additional tax increases on state residents even though New Jersey continues to face population erosion.

The Tax Foundation recently determined New Jersey has the nation's third-highest tax burden. New Jersey also has the third highest state budget deficit. It seems the more New Jersey pays in taxes, the deeper it sinks into debt.

Why can't New Jersey act with the same fiscal common sense of 37 other states that operate without a budget shortfall? Why?

Avanti!

Happy 2008!

If you're looking for more of my jottings from 2007 (and they are a lot of them) you will have to click on "2007" under blog archive.

We've turned a page. We've begun a new month and a new year.

Every year that passes in the 21st century reminds me that this new century really belongs to those who were born in the past 10, 20, or 30 years for they are among those who will live the bulk of their lives in the 21st century. If you were born in 1970 or earlier you are already nearly 38 years old, at the very least. You will have to live to be age 76 or better to spend the bulk of your years in this new century.

If you've already lived 50 years or more it's highly unlikely that you will be able to call this new century yours since you probably will not spend as many years in the new century as you did in the old one.

This is a young century and it belongs to the young.

I'm keenly aware of this since I get to spend a good deal of time with young men and women in their 20s. I can report to you that these young people are very aware, very alive, very alert and ready to embrace a broad and diverse world of people, places and opportunity. They are part of a hopeful, exciting generation. And they inspire me.

In fact, I believe that if you're willing to look forward and listen closely to the heartbeat of new generations, then you will always be ready for every new year that comes your way.

Avanti!