tdog

Don’t know what to make of the announcement of significant international agreement on inter-governmental oversight of the world’s financial markets at a meeting of world leaders in Washington. It seems that the group of leaders agreed to a joint statement akin to “mistakes were made [by you miserably stupid, greedy, American bastards] for which we will all have to pay for cleaning up.” Or something. But evidently, the leaders of at least the world’s three most populous nations (that would be China, India and the United States) were present, with presumably the other 17 being pretty big themselves, i.e., most...

Well, this was one of the rare movies that Mom took me to on one playdate, and Daddy took me to on another one. I am officially an expert on matters “HSM,” and of course, getting my parents to take me to G-rated movies as many times as I want to see them (given that there are so few of them.) Daddy kept asking if the dance moves were more like the ones in Western Nights… or Subways and Rooftops… what is he talking about? Well, we’re a full week after “the Cool Guy Daddy Went to College With But...

I may be paraphrasing the last words of the Robert Redford character in The Candidate… or perhaps of Team Obama now that it holds the mantle of power; a possible laundry list of options is set forth in this Grey Lady piece, including tax cuts for the rich an economic stimulus, dealing with climate change and energy independence, expanding access to health care and numerous other matters. With the (apologies to Yogi Berra) caveat that this blog is so popular that no one reads it anymore, I invite whatever few commenters who accidentally make it over here [probably looking for...

President-Elect Barack Obama… man, those are some of the happiest words this blogger recalls typing in some time. Without doubt, the organization mastery and the near-perfect pitch discipline of his campaign prevailed in both a seemingly never-ending primary challenge from Hillary Clinton (take heart, ladies; our very next President may well be a woman), and then, a seemingly mad sprint-since-Labor-Day against John McCain (old white dudes, you’ve finally got some competition…). But it didn’t just happen since August. Indeed, it didn’t even happen since January and Obama’s primary roll-out (though, the fact is, the battle-testing that Hillary put him through...

The United States of America has defied the expectations of many, defied many of its own imperfections, and while it has hardly exorcized its centuries of racial-based demons, it did become the first First World country to elect a man of color to its highest office, as Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States, in a resounding electoral victory. Spontaneous celebrations are afoot here in Brooklyn, as well as the organized celebration in Grant Park, where three weeks ago, I began and finished the Chicago Marathon. I learned much of the happy news while driving back...

And so, the Greatest Election Ever (TM) is around 36 hours or so from completion, and at least according to our friends at fivethrityeight.com, a McCain surge is under say (he appears to have doubled his chances for winning over the weekend, from around 3% to 6%)… as the late Tim Russert posited in 2000 that it was “Florida, Florida, Florida” and as John Kerry moved to Ohio in 2004, in 2008, it might be “the commonwealths,” Virginia and Pennsylvania (in our two other commonwealth/states, Mass. is in the bag for Obama and Kentucky for McCain). He who wins both...

Thus sayeth Studs Terkel (one of his book titles, actually). An expression our friend Candace was fond of, as well. Studs finally shed his own mortal coil, and passed away at 96. Studs (actually born “Louis,” Studs was his adoption from the novel “Studs Lonigan”) interviewed and wrote about the common and working man and woman, wherever he or she might be… Just someone who’s been around forever, who I had always assumed would be around forever. He hadn’t been doing well of late, and was actually hoping to live long enough to see his fellow Chicagoan elected President. Well,...

The team from the City of Brotherly Love wins its first title since 1980, and its second title ever. Which segues into… you know what! My college classmate Barack took to the airwaves last night to demonstrate that cash = air superiority, and ran a half hour infomercial. For those of us who are quite-decided, this seemed overkill; then again, it will likely crowd the news cycle today, giving John McCain precious little time to come up with that last-minute smear (we’re running out of October for October surprises). Oh, and as to Philadelphia, as I did in 2006, despite...

First it was the rather grim diagnosis for Democratic stalwart Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy (D-MA) who was diagnosed with a brain tumor which will likely be terminal. And now, we have the conviction on all counts of corruption charges of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), the longest serving Republican in the history of the Senate. Stevens made a fundamental mistake: he let his ego get in the way, and insisted on testifying in what had been a rather weak case against him until he took the stand and convicted himself. Stevens, whose personality (the word “prick” comes to mind) has been...

Today, IIRC, “Grama Obama” (actually, Senator Barack Obama’s grandmother’s name is Madelyn Dunham) turns 86 (and get well soon, Ms. Dunham!), Senator Hillary Clinton turns 61, and your talking dog turns 46. Discuss.