Where were you on 9/11?
Most of us remember well, as do I. Just like when JFK was killed (Cao Lanh, Vietnam), and MLK (driving from Pa to DC) and Robert Kennedy (DC), I remember exactly where I was. I was at a seminar in the FAO headquarters in Rome. One of my American colleagues came breathlessly into the room and said there was a plane that hit one of the trade center towers in NYC, so we rushed to a TV to watch in horror. At some point I called my wife and told her to turn on the TV. My sister and niece were visiting us and they were not aware anything was happening. I soon went home to join them and sit in stunned silence while taking in the series of tragedies that followed that day.
Our visitors, of course, had to stay longer than planned due to flight disruptions; but the most memorable feeling after that tragic day was the outpouring of condolence and good well from all our friends, colleagues and even strangers in Rome. I have spent many years abroad in many countries, but seldom have I felt such deep and sincere comraderie with those around me while living or traveling abroad. In fact, the only similar experience was in Vietnam when JFK was killed, and it was like a loss to the whole world. But here the deaths were unknown to any of us, and still we Americans were treated like family to all of them. People mourned with us and consoled us just as if a dear family member had been suddenly killed in a tragic way.
So sad, then, that only a few years later I can hardly go to Europe without hearing and feeling a strong sense of disappointment and separation that has taken place since that day. It is like the commonality we felt that day on 9/11/01 and in the days that followed has been eroded by years of neglect. It is more than neglect, because the Bush Administration has not only neglected to build upon this moment of shared interest and the widespread consensus on action in Afganistan, but actually thumbed its nose at long held alliances, share interests and agreements among friendly nations while forging its "go it alone" policy in Iraq. Lost opportunities, lost connections, lost hopes: that is the legacy of this Government.
Thanks but no thanks
Well, I was trying to imagine Sarah Palin's first press interview with Charles Gibson of ABC.
Charles, "Governor Palin, there have been various reports of you receiving travel per diem for living at your home for more than half of the time while you have been in office. Aside from the fact that you seem to have been absent from the capital more than half of the time, do you feel it is appropriate to receive travel per diem when you are living at home?"
Governor Palin, "I told Congress thanks, but no thanks, on that "Bridge to Nowhere." If our state wanted a bridge, I said, we'd build it ourselves."
Charles, "Since you mentioned it, there are a couple of things not completely clear about that bridge. We learned that you supported that project during your election campaign, and after the US Congress removed the bridge from the authorization, you still received all the money and just spent it on other things. Also we see that for 2009 you have requested $190 million more in earmarks that you are now campaigning against. There seems to be lots of contridictions here, so how to you explain it?"
Governor Palin, "Do you know the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? [pregnant pause] lipstick. wink, wink, ha, ha"
Charles, "So, let's move on to a different topic. There has been some concern, because voters would like to know you better before supporting you for such a high office. We have learned that before you were Governor a judge twice issued a warning to stop defaming your former brother in law, Officer Wooten, because the judge said denigrating a father to his children is a form of child abuse. Now there is a bipartisan investigation in the Alaska legislature to determine if you actually fired the boss of Officer Wooten, because that boss refused to fire him. How can you alleviate concerns among voters that you may be revengeful or vindictive or otherwise use the power of your office for personal ends?"
Governor Palin, "I told Congress thanks, but no thanks, on that "Bridge to Nowhere." If our state wanted a bridge, I said, we'd build it ourselves."
Charles, "Thank, you so much Governor Palin for speaking with us. I am sure the viewers will agree that this has been a most enlightening conversation with you and that they have a much better understanding of the depth and breadth of your knowledge, experience and honesty as a public servant."
Sarah and troopergate
This morning's news already tipped us off to what is coming next in the saga of how Sarah Palin is "savagely victimized" every time someone tries to find the truth about her background and her record as a public servant. Well before she was plucked from relative obscurity of the Alaska Governorship to become the VP nominee for McCain, she was accused of, according to the WSJ Sept 5:
"In August, a bipartisan committee of the Alaska legislature launched an investigation into whether the governor fired her public safety commissioner on July 11 for not firing an Alaska state trooper.
She and her family had been feuding with the man -- Gov. Palin's former brother-in-law -- following a domestic dispute."
So the charge is inappropriate use of her elected position for personal revenge against a former husband of her sister. Now here is my prediction: since the bipartisan legislative investigation is chaired by a Democrat, it will soon be suggested it is just "another attempt by Ds to destroy her reputation". It will be discussed as if it was something started AFTER she was anointed to the VP slot, though clearly it started much earlier. In this morning's news, her former staff has now refused to cooperate with the committee, though Palin has promised full cooperation with the investigation in order to clear her name. Stay tuned.
Them lucky Rs!
How lucky can they get? So the bad luck of New Orleans is good luck for the RNC!. How else could they have managed to dis-invite Cheney and Bush appearances at the convention?? Wow, I am impressed how fast they took them off the schedule, and if I were a typical Russian I would even think that the hurricane was planned months ago just to get these guys to stay away. Now if McCain moves his acceptance speech to New Orleans, it will be truly suspect! Of course, he would not use the suffering of that unfortunate city and its residents to gain political advantage would he???? Surely if the Ds did that, McCain would be all over them for exploiting suffering of the oppressed.
So what next? First the Georgian - Russian conflict and now Gustav, and it is not even time yet for the October surprise!! Hmmm, maybe a terrorist attack or at least a heightened alert and dire warnings of impending threat would come in handy in October sometime. Don't get me wrong, I am not a conspiracy theory addict, just trying to be prepared for anything.
