Why neither party can fully seize control?

The latest episode of political foot-in-mouth disease with Trent Lott explains part of why the GOP can't get over the hump. If the GOP is serious about becoming the "big tent" party, they MUST jettison the residual boarderline/outright racism that rears its head in things like the recent Trent Lott mouthing off. That is the GOP hurdle just as the democrats have to banish their looney lefties if they want any hope of recovering their standing with the majority of the public.

As an ethnic minority, I once was asked by a democrat why I wasn't a democrat which is the party that welcomes all the minority groups. Though it is true I'm likely to see more people who "look" like me at a democratic gathering, I couldn't support many parts of their party platform. At a republican gathering, I'd experience the opposite, I'd find more common ground in policy issues but I would stand out as an ethnic minority.

The GOP, if it is serious about winning over the ethnic vote should dump Lott as Majority Leader and roundly criticize his remarks.

Last week, I heard Michael Beschloss give a talk based on his book, "The Conquerors." Beschloss is a very effective speaker. He made the history come alive. If I had history teachers like that, I probably would have wanted to be a historian!

Several points that were interesting... FDR was very ill in the latter part of his presidency. This is interesting in light of the recent release of JFK's medical records. Will this mean that health concerns about Presidents and candidates will diminish? Certainly, in those old days, it was easier to "cover up" health stories. Not so today. Yet, now that we know how sickly FDR and JFK were and we regard them highly, will we be less worried about health issues?

Most disturbing was FDR's knowledge of the Holocaust and relative inaction to it. Churchill wanted to bomb the rail lines and the camps to stop the horror but apparently wasn't able to convice FDR.

The key decision by FDR was to defeat Germany totally to hopefully prevent Germany from rising again to threaten Europe and the World again. However, he always feared that Hitler (or if Hitler got removed in a coup, a subsequent regime) would make a deal with Stalin and the USA and British would have to fight both the Red Army and the Nazis. Thus, FDR often accomodated Stalin in their negotiations.

Beschloss was asked about Iraq. He acknowledged that he has heard rumors that his book is in the hands of Bush administration officials and indeed they may absorb the lesson tha unconditional victory was only the first key to a reformed Germany. The other key was that the USA and the West stayed in Germany for many decades to help rebuild the nation.

Civil War within Islam or a Clash of Civilizations? That is how Friedman sees the current terrorism situation.

Wednesday (12/4), I plan to hear Michael Beschloss discuss his book "The Conquerors" which describes the complex relationship between FDR (later Truman), Churchill and Stalin as they decide how to prosecute the war against Germany in WW2. One crucial decision they made was to seek TOTAL destruction of the Nazi government. They believed anything less would mean that Germany would rise again to threaten Europe and the World. It should be an interesting discussion on that pivotal time in world history. I imagine he may also touch on how that bit of history should influence our thinking on the current war on terrorism.

I exited the subway at the Brookyln Bridge/City Hall stop, re-appeared on the city streets and was greeted by the biting chill of wind and rain. A Noreaster storm system was rolling through the Tri-State area this past weekend.

My knowledge of New York City streets is limited but I knew this subway station should leave me a mere few blocks from the World Trade Center site. How much of the tingle in my spine was due to the cold? How much was due to the palpable sense of my nearness to the WTC?

As I turned a street corner, at eye level, I saw a fence covered with items: t-shirts, hats, flags, photos, notes, banners ... the memorabilia of living people remembering the lost lives. I looked up and saw ... the open space. In the usual tall building field of view of New York, the open space was a source of dissonance. That chill ran up and down my spine again.

Like all of us, I can remember the day and time I heard the news. Tuesday, September 11, 2001 was a beautiful blue sky day in New York City as it was for me in Los Angeles. That morning, thousands of lives were snuffed out, live, on television, for all the world to see. Now, I was at that place.

There weren't many of us on that chilly morning. It was a Saturday, still pretty early for a gray sleepy morning and pretty lousy weather for being outside. But we were there to remember.

A memorial fence has been established at the western boundary of the WTC. There are informational placards with photos describing the site in the early days of New York when tall buildings were few. There were photos and explainations of the building of the Twin Towers, the first terrorist bombing, the dreadful day and the tribute in light.

At the center of exhibit, above eye level, are the names. Like the Vietnam Memorial, the names, the many names give the sense of individual loss but the number of names also gives the sense of the scale of loss. As I looked at the names, next to me were two people scanning for a name. The woman found it and said, you know one of my friends named their newborn son after him.

I watched the people at the site. For some, like me, it was to see the place and event we saw on TV and to honor and remember what happened. For others, it was far more personal. Some people sobbed and others their eyes were rimmed red from tears as they remembered someone. The wooded observation area was closed off that morning as there was a group of firefighters holding a private rememberance.

On the southern boarder of the site, there is a wooden wall and it has become the register for the site. People take out pens, pencils and markers and write on the wall. The full range of human emotion is on display on that wall and they come from all over the USA and the world. Some of the remarks are angry while others remember a loved one. Many expressed some varient of the sentiment that we will never forget.

The eastern boundary of the site is a busy street. One can cross over that street in an enclosed walkway that leads to the World Financial Center complex. The northern end of the site contains buildings next to the WTC that were damaged and seems to be an area were some of the construction vehicles can park.

I arrived back to where I had started. More people were now at the memorial, reading, looking, taking pictures, sharing with their companions where they were and what they remembered. The wind and rain and cold still filled the air yet people wanted, needed to be here and were coming. There was a diversity to the assembled people.

Those who wanted to destroy the WTC did take down two buildings, killed thousands of people and grieved those who knew the lost. But those who did that evil deed could not take down the unshakable thing that makes America great: the welcome that is available to all who come to our shores who wish to make their lives and the lives of their families better. America is far from perfect, but seeing the tapestry of peoples in New York and how reasonably well we all get along compared to other parts of the world where ethinic and religious strife is par for the course, we can only say, God has truly blessed America.

Angels WIN!!!

Was in SF during game 6. In fact, was in SF Chinatown at a wedding banquet and the emcee announced to the Giant partisan crowd that they were leading 5-0! At that point, I just knew... because you announced the score before the game was over, the Angels will rally. So I checked my wireless internet phone and saw the score 5-0... 5-3... 5-4.... 5-6!!!!! And when the game ended, I said to my tablemates, "Its a final, Angels 6 Giants 5. The powers of the rally monkey must not be mocked!"

Was nervous listening to the radio for game 7... wondering if the Giants would mount a rally. But 24 y/o rookie Lackey, 31 y/o bounced around many a minor league team Donally, 20 y/o K-Rod with less than two handful of innings under his belt before the playoffs and then wily vet Percival closed them out.

Plaschke summed up the season nicely in the LA Times today.

Congrats Halos!!

Show me the money -- props 46, 47, 49, 50, 51

On the California ballot are a number of propositions that will involve spending money. Prop 46 is a bond for homeless shelters and housing issues. Prop 47 is a bond for educational infrastructure. These two were submitted by the legislature for approval of the voters. The rest are on the ballot via the initiative process. Prop 49 seeks to allocate more funds for after school programs so it isn't a bond. This one is supported by Arnold "I'll be back" to run for governor someday Schwarzenegger. Prop 50 floats bonds for water projects and wetlands protections. Interestingly, on KPCC 89.3's AirTalk with Larry Mantle's Tuesday show October 22, he was discussing Prop 50. I emailed a question about why this bond was an initiative and not from the legislature. Mantle read the question on the air and the proponent of 51 acknowledged they went the legislative route but it got stuck. Considering that the California legislature is controlled by the Democrats, it is surprising that anything with strong support would get stuck. Prop 51 is devoted to transportation and public transit projects by trying to earmark funds so it isn't a bond.

In an ideal world, we could spend all the money we want to fund all these things. However, we don't live in that world and we have to pick and choose which items to approve. So this time around I plan to support 46, 47 and 49.

No on Prop 52

Voter participation in California like elsewhere in the USA is dropping. Prop 52's remedy is to allow for day of election registration.

What is your gut reaction to that?

My reaction is, if you don't care to plan ahead by registering to vote, then you DON'T have the right to vote. I'd rather have a low turnout where people have given their votes some thought than a high turnout where the ballots are marked by people who haven't given any thought to their vote.

Interestingly, Iraq recently had an election with a massive voter turnout. Gee... Iraq must be a very democratic nation.

Prop 52 is stupid and even the Left Angeles Times recommends a NO on 52.

Bin Laden: Dead or Alive?

Everyone has a theory on whether UBL is dead or alive. Recent reports from Al-Jezera seem to say he is still alive. Oddly, though, the messages are only voice and a signed fax. What has happened to the video clips that were the typical MO of UBL messages?

There are at least three possibilities: UBL is alive, UBL is dead or UBL is alive but injured.

If the Al-Queda leadership knows that UBL is dead, they would be very resistant to admitting that UBL was killed and buried in a mountain cave. In order to keep their movement alive and motivated, they have to keep its symbolic leader alive. Thus, the spate of murky messages would be their way of trying to keep UBL "alive" without having to resort to video tapes of a look-alike of UBL. It would be interesting to know if within the CIA, there has been thoughts of producing fake UBL remains and announcing it to the world in the hopes that UBL would be forced into making an appearance to dispel reports of his death. Such a plan of course would probably be rejected because it would entail embarrasment to those who forged the remains!

UBL may well be alive. UBL might simply be waiting for another large operation before making an appearance. Al-Queda has shown considerable tenacity over the years and willingness to wait. However, if indeed UBL is alive and well, why send out these messages where authenticity could be questioned?

Lastly, if UBL was injured and if a video appearance would reveal that, then the recent messages would be the way Al-Queda can get the message out without revealing too much.

Angels Win!! It wasn't looking too good in the 7th when the Angels fell behind 5-3. But they just refuse to lose and roared back with 10 (TEN!) in the bottom of the ninth. The obvious play of the game was Adam Kennedy's at bat. Fox put up a graphic listing who has hit three homers in an ALCS and voila, AK launches his third homer into the seats for 3 runs to take the lead and win the game and the series. Wow!

The blend of pitching, hitting and tenacity has been inspiring to watch. Go Halos!

The House and Senate voted strong resolutions opening the way for the Bush administration to take action in Iraq including military force if necessary. Now, the action turns to the UN where I'm guessing the UK will back equally strong language. It seems that China is remaining pretty silent and will abstain or offer a yes vote but not say much about it. The problem is the French and the Russians who threaten a veto in the Security Counsel in the hopes of getting a weaker resolution.

It remains to be seen whether the latest news about the oil tanker attack off Yemen may influence the French thinking on Iraq. Certainly, they could claim, we should focus on Al-Queda and leave Hussein to another day. Nonetheless, the French have historically taken foreign policy positions in opposition to the USA where you wonder if they are doing that merely to say they aren't kowtowing to the USA.

The world waited far too long to take action against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Of course, there are still problems and will be for a long time in that broken country. However, few would dispute that the lot of the average Afghani, espcially women, has improved.

Iraqi's people have suffered much under Hussein's rule. Money that should go to the purchase of food and medicine instead gets diverted to building weapons of mass destruction and military power to keep himself in power. Why do the Iraqi's need chemical, biological and nuclear weapons? Most countries in the world do not have them and see the folly of wasting valuable resources in getting them.

I do not want war as the first option. Who does? But you listen to some of the critics and you think the USA is going to bomb Bagdad for breakfast tomorrow. The strong show of resolve is essential. Making this point with much more flair was NY Times Friedman.

Hussein has a sorry history of mis-calculation. Hopefully, he won't this time. Or perhaps some in his inner circle will take it into their own hands to make sure he won't mis-calculate.

The Anaheim Angels got the split in Minnesota and come home for three games. Hopefully, they will put down all the decades of frustration and pick up their first World Series appearance. I am old enough to remember all too well 1986 when the Angels were one strike away from the World Series. I watched that game on TV. They lost that game and then the ALCS to that other famed cursed ballclub, the Boston Red Sox. Go HALOS!

Meanwhile, as a southern Californian, I am rooting for St. Louis to comeback against the San Francisco Giants. Whether they were throwing at Kenny Lofton or not, the Cardinals got to get fired up and set down the Giant hitters hitting behind Bonds. Go CARDS!

October 9, 2002

I was web surfing one day and stumbled across Lisa Napoli's Resume of Napoli on the Net fame. In her resume, she said she didn't want to do a blog unless she got paid for it. So what the heck is a blog?

I looked it up and found out a whole sub-culture! Try these other sites to get introduced into the world of blogs: Andrew Sullivan's Blog as he opines on the latest going on in politics and culture. For the libertarians out there, try Virginia Postrel's Blog which doubles as a site promoting her book, The Future and Its Enemies.

Stay tuned. I'll be writing sporatically in the days ahead. Hmmmm.... if a blogger writes in cyberspace but nobody surfs to that URL, does the site make a sound when it crashes....