"Hail Chicago Cardinals!" - Thanks New York Times and Vince Banonis!

The hard character on the far-right is Chicago Cardinal Vince Banonis! The Bidwills could pick them!


Hail Chicago Cardinals, crimson and white,

We’ll back you ever, down the field, we’ll fight, fight, fight.

We’ll whip the Green Bay Packers, Rams and the Bears,

We’ll take Detroit and Pittsburgh, and do it fair and square.

Yea, Cardinals!


This John Branch story in today's New York Times is pure Grantland Rice!

The burly old two-way player, a center and linebacker who is now 87, is one of the few people alive to know how it feels to be on the Cardinals and play for a championship.

For Vince Banonis, 60 years and another title tilt with the Eagles were reasons enough to break out the old fight song. He and some teammates recorded it back in another time, another place.

Over the phone from Southfield, Mich., Banonis sang:

Hail Chicago Cardinals, crimson and white,

We’ll back you ever, down the field, we’ll fight, fight, fight.

We’ll whip the Green Bay Packers, Rams and the Bears,

We’ll take Detroit and Pittsburgh, and do it fair and square.

Yea, Cardinals!

Like his surviving Chicago Cardinals teammates, Banonis has long cheered the Arizona Cardinals from afar. Now there is increasing curiosity, even suspense, six decades in the making.

The Cardinals play the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s National Football Conference championship game. Millions will watch on television. A handful of viewers will see it differently than anyone else.

“It’s kind of a reminder of the games we had with the Eagles, oh, 60 years ago,” Banonis said.

Before they moved to Arizona, and before they moved to St. Louis, the Cardinals were Chicago’s team — or its other team. They played mostly at Comiskey Park, mostly in the broad shadow of George Halas’s Bears, who played at Wrigley Field.

But for one season, at least, the Cardinals outshined everyone.

“In 1947, we had a good run,” said Charley Trippi, now 86, then a nimble halfback from Georgia in the first year of a Hall of Fame career.

It never occurred to anyone that the Cardinals’ championship victory — a 28-21 defeat of the Eagles on Comiskey’s frozen and slippery field — would be the last that most of the franchise’s coaches, players and fans would live to see. No current N.F.L. franchise has gone longer without a title. The Cardinals have not even played for a league or conference championship since 1948, when they were 11-1 and lost a rematch with the Eagles.

“I didn’t think it would be forever, which it has been,” Jimmy Conzelman Jr said. He was 10, a “locker-room pest,” when his father, a gregarious future Hall of Famer with a shock of silver hair named Jimmy Conzelman, coached the Cardinals to the title.

This is a great story . . .and it is in the New York Times. John Branch is almost as good as Chicago Tribune's Dan McGrath - almost.

Click my post title for the full story.

My Dad, who could not be more happy about the Cardinals and for the Bidwill Family ( 'I knew Old Charley and the two kids, Billy and Stormy, - he was a hell of a nice guy and great to Veterans') called to remind me of the old Bidwill Stadium that served as a great Chicago Women's 12" Softball stadium over east in the South Shore neighborhood which brought me to this great South Shore Neighborhood Site - Shouth Shore Newspsot:

http://bradwell66.org/SouthShoreNewsSpot/NewsSpots/2006/November%202006.html


Nota Bene!!!! I deleted e-mail addresses from the excerpts.



BIDWELL UPDATES

Regarding Bidwill Stadium, it was the home stadium for the Bluebirds who were in the Chicago area women's baseball league. They played with a 12" and hard baseball. They had played with somewhat oversized gloves since the 12" ball is larger than the smaller ball used in the major leagues. Jerry Barich Hyde Park HS 1956



Bidwell stadium and it was named after Charlie Bidwell. It was also the home stadium for the Women's fast pitch (12" not 16") league during and immediately following WWII. There was another stadium around 76th St and Loomis called Shewbridge Stadium, another home stadium for the league. I recall one team was the "Bloomer Girls" and the other was the "Blue Jays". My father was part owner of one of the teams (the one that played @ Loomis Ave) but we used to go to Bidwell to see games in the late 40s & early 50s. John McNeal, Asst. Atty. Gen. (ret), originally from 73rd & Luella, Graduate of Mt. Carmel 1960 J



I remember going to Bidwell Stadium to watch DONKEY BASEBALL! Does anyone remember that? Also, I think they used to hold carnivals there. My brother and I and the neighborhood kids used to walk along the railroad tracks to get there. We all lived on East End Avenue between 73rd and 74th Street. Sara Zaremberg



I wrote back to Sara asking her if the donkeys played baseball and here is her reply.



Hi Caryn, your response really made me laugh! The GUYS ran the bases riding on the donkeys and of course, the asses didn't always want to cooperate! I don't remember if the BATTERS were on the ASSES when batting. It was an advertised event if I remember correctly. It was generally used as a softball field. Sara



All of my life I've pronounced the name of the stadium Bid-well and spelled it that way. In fact it's actually Bid-will. Still, nice to know some of the old time memorabilia is of interest to some people. Don Turner



Don Turner's recollection of Bidwell stadium is correct. The "Bluebirds" played there during the early 1940's. The Bluebirds was a woman's baseball team. I saw a baseball game there that was played on donkeys. That was quite a sight. The Bidwell family still owns the Cardinals. They are now the Arizona Cardinals. I would appreciate any pictures of the stadium that you might have. I made a slide-show of Chicago pictures. Any additional pictures would be a welcome addition. My wife, Gail Miller class of 1954, and I, class of 1953 enjoy your newsletter very much. Joel Wolff



I spent a lot of time at Bidwell Stadium growing up. The Bidwell family still owns the Cardinals, the Arizona Cardinals. I will send you some expansion of details on the area bounded by the B&O tracks, Jeffrey and 75th Street. Also some information on the "Stone Factory" in the triangle bounded by the B&O tracks, 77th Street and Chappell. Ronnie and Kennie Sone lived north of the tracks on Chappell. Their father was a doctor or dentist, I believe. Jim Gibbons /blockquote>

Bidwill's Bonanza - Cardinals Carry Charley's South Side Dreams to the Top Floor!

Mario 'Motts' Tonelli Italian American Hall of Fame Member, Bataan Death March Survivor and Chicago Cardinal


The Cardinals are America's oldest Professional Football franchise -founded in 1898 and they are based in Glendale Arizona outside of Phoenix, but the root of Cardinal Mystique is the south side of Chicago. They began as the Morgan Athletic Club and played on Racine Avenue and were owned by Chicago painting contractor Chris O'Brien. In 1932, the Bidwill family bought the Cardinals. Charley 'Blue-Shirt Charley' Bidwill, a former VP for the Chicago Bears, worked to build a Chicago Powerhouse. He did just that by the end of World War II.

Elmer Angsman,Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg, and Charlie Trippi were members of the Million Dollar Backfield. They took down the Philadelphia Eagles in 1947. They were brought together by Charley Bidwill after World War II. In 1947 the Cardinals won the NFL Championship and in 1948 a Division Title for the south side football franchise that began as the O'Brien Cardinals playing at what is now Morgan Park Academy in the 1920's. Charley Bidwill died in April of 1947, before his Dream Team coached by the great Jimmy Conzelman could realize their potential.

Charley's sons Charley and Bill took command. The Cardinals moved to St. Louis and eventually to Phoenix. The Bidwill Family retain their ties to Chicago and are powerful but quiet participants in all Chicago Philanthropic initiatives. Stormy Bidwill runs Sportmans Park racing track and helps poor kids at Leo High School get an education.

The Bidwill Family always seemed to take the high road. When Notre Dame running great Mario 'Motts' Tonelli* returned to Chicago from the Japanese Death Camps from Bataan to Japan after being captured in the siege of Bataan, Charley Bidwill, though putting together a Million Dollar backfield, signed the skeletal Tonelli and had him carry the ball against the Green Bay Packers:

Slightly more than one in every three men captured on Bataan returned home. But few did so to recognition of their peculiar ordeal. In the flush of V-J Day, Americans yearned for their antebellum status quo. In just such a spirit Cardinals owner Charley Bidwill** asked Tonelli, home not even a month, to rejoin the team. It was a publicity stunt, but one in which all parties eagerly conspired. War hero Tonelli, The Chicago Sun declared, had been "nursed back to full strength and health." Tonelli played along. "My weight is back up to 183 pounds," he told the papers, though he weighed more like 140. He still had malaria. Since that day his wife, Mary, and his parents had met him at Chicago's Union Station, doctors had twice cut him open to treat his intestines.

Bidwill's gesture was well-intentioned, but football doesn't run on sentiment. Three days after signing in front of the cameras, Tonelli carried twice against the Packers in Green Bay, each time for no gain, and so ended his NFL career. The next morning's Chicago Tribune carried both news of the Cardinals' 33-14 loss and the headline WAR VETERANS RETURN AND GO HOUSE HUNTING.

Click my post title for Toneli's heroic saga.

The Football Chicago Cardinals remain the south side team, along with Charlie Comiskey's White Sox and our Holy Mother's Notre Dame, due to the Bidwill Family. Their franchise might be in Arizona, Missouri, or Lower Slobovia, but so long as they are running the show, the Cardinals are the south side's team.


*Star fullback for Notre Dame who survived the Bataan Death March during WWII. He was best known for a 77-yard run that helped Notre Dame beat the University of Southern California. At the beginning of the death march, a Japanese guard ordered him to remove his Notre Dame graduation ring only to have the ring returned moments later by a Japanese officer who said in perfect English that he had attended the USC game and watched the famous run. He spent 42 months as a POW and saw his weight drop from 212 pounds to only 92 pounds. He is a member of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.


**

One man Tonelli holds dear to him is Charles Bidwill, the owner of the Chicago Cardinals. Bidwill came to Motts in the hospital after the war and said, "Motts, before you left the Cardinals, you still had a three-year contract. We expect you to honor it." By renewing the contract, he provided Motts with a wonderful opportunity because, under the rules of the NFL, you had to play both before and after the war to get credit for your pension. They both knew it was nearly impossible for Motts to play again but he was determined to do his best. On one Sunday in October of 1945, after a few practices with his coach, Motts earned his pension. Mario "Motts" Tonelli has become a hero on both the battle field and football field.

http://und.cstv.com/sports/monogramclub/spec-rel/122604aaz.html

Brian Dennehy and Robert Falls - Serious Play

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director and American Actor Brian Dennehy Play well together.

Play is serious stuff - it is what we call Art. Only Man takes earth and makes a world of it - that is eventually what gets to be called Art after much play and hard work. These two men have taken play to the very serious levels that become Great Art.

Since 1986, when Robert Falls directed Brian Dennehy in the Goodman Theatre production of Bertold Brecht's The Life of Galileo the two men have collaborated to create the greatest examples of Theatre Art in modern Time.

This week the Goodman Theatre opened production of Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms

Desire Under the Elms
Directed by Robert Falls
Featuring Brian Dennehy, Carla Gugino, Boris McGiver, Daniel Stewart Sherman and Pablo Schreiber

Tony Award-winning Artistic Director Robert Falls' Desire Under the Elms starring the acclaimed, Tony Award-winner Brian Dennehy will be the centerpiece of an exploration of Eugene O'Neill in the 21st century.

Master American playwright Eugene O’Neill conceived Desire Under the Elms as he slept one night, imbuing it with the emotional pitch of a fever dream. Ephraim Cabot returns to his remote New England farmhouse with his third wife—the alluring, headstrong young Abbie—launching his three grown sons into a bitter fight for their inheritance. When Ephraim’s youngest son sets his sights on Abbie, the resulting tempest brings tragic consequences.

In 1986, I saw the Dennehy/Falls Magic on the stage of the old Goodman Theatre with Galileo. It was overpowering.

Dennehy was exuberantly graceful, witty and brilliant. I recall this wonderful passage ( Galileo has built a telescope and shows the moon to his disciple and confounds human thought and assumptions with this discovery):

GALILEO: How do you explain those luminous spots?
SAGREDO : It cannot be.
GALILEO: But it is. They are mountains.
SAGREDO : On a star?
GALILEO: Giant mountains. Whose summits are gilded by the rising sun,
whilst all around night still covers their slopes. You see the light descending
from the topmost peaks into the valleys.
SAGREDO: But that contradicts all astronomy for the last two thousand
years.
GALILEO : Yet that’s how it is. What you see has never been seen by any
man besides myself. You are the second.

That's how it is. Get to the Goodman!

Sully - Hero of the Hudson

With a handle like Chesley B. Sullenberger, there was no way the Hero of the Hudson River could have been anything but just that.

America salutes Sully! This gentleman was the last person off the sinking jet that the cool,calm and collect Chesley sailed onto the Hudson River.

Capt Sullenberger, 57, who ditched US Airlines Flight 1549 safely into the Hudson River in New York, has over 40 years of flying experience and heads his own safety consulting business.

The former US Air Force fighter pilot from California has served as an instructor and as an Airline Pilots Association (Alpa) safety chairman and accident investigator.

He has taken part in several USAF and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident investigations.

According to the New York Times newspaper, Capt Sullenberger is also a certified glider pilot.

Search for passengers

Capt Sullenberger has been widely praised for his "masterful landing", which was a "miracle on the Hudson", according to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Less than a minute after his Airbus A320 to Charlotte, North Carolina, took off, Capt Sullenberger reported a "double bird strike" and asked to return to the ground, an air controllers union spokesman said.

HERO PILOT
Chesley B 'Sully' Sullenberger III
Age 57, from Danville, California
Former Air Force fighter pilot
29 years with US Airways
Has own consulting business, Safety Reliability Methods Inc
Based on agency reports


Tale of miraculous escape
In pictures: New York plane crash
'We knew we were going down'

Both engines had apparently been disabled by a flock of birds.

According to air traffic controllers, an "eerie calm" defined their communications with the cockpit as their options dwindled and the pilot decided to ditch into the Hudson, a union official told Reuters news agency.

Incredibly, Capt Sullenberger managed to land the aircraft safely on the water.

Mayor Bloomberg said that the pilot told him that the captain then "walked the plane twice after everybody else was off and tried to verify that there was nobody else onboard".

Capt Sullenberger's wife, Lorrie Sullenberger, a fitness expert in Danville, California, said she learned of the crash when her husband called her on Thursday afternoon.

"He said, 'There's been an accident'," she told CNN.

"At first I thought it was something minor, but then he told me the circumstances and my body started shaking and I rushed to get our daughters out of school," she said.

One of their neighbours, Candace Andersen, said the right pilot had been in charge at the time of the accident.

"You look at his training, you look at his experience - it was the right pilot at the right time in charge of that plane that saved so many lives," she said.

When America needs heroes there never seems to be any shortage of quiet professionals.

Thanks Sully for reminding all of us that heroes are not found imposing themselves into the public imagination - they emerge from the fog of terror and confusion to calm the waters.

Henry Waxman - Be My Wingman!

This guy's strictly MGM; ain't he Margie?!!!! 'En he plays the bagpipes too, I think - an ardent female fan was heard to say.

Congressional Climate Change Torquemada - California Rep. Henry Waxman (D.30th) has vowed to end this cycle of 12" of snow and -30 Degree temperatures afflicting my planet at 108th & Rockwell in Chicago Illinois!

"Our committee will be acting quickly and decisively to reduce global warming and end our dependence on foreign oil," Waxman said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has indicated that reining in climate change is among her top priorities. And Waxman deposed Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) as chairman of the committee in part because of his aggressive approach on the environment, which he billed as more in line with President-elect Obama's view.

Waxman made the announcement at his first hearing as chairman, which featured the heads of manufacturing companies that support new climate change rules.

Henry, get this polar-like ice cap off my street!

Also, when in town, Brother Waxman, join me and the lads for Cokes and Jokes up at Keegan's Pub. Our widowers and divorced Dads can use a Wingman!

PineLeaf Boys: Screw The Salt -Thaw Cajun!

Ca viens? Mais, jamais d'la vie! Pas a pomee!' Fait pas une esquandal! Clique mah post title! Je t'aime toujours, Patrack Hique

Snowbound in Morgan Park: Chicago Idle - Well, I am anyway.

Within our beds awhile we heard
The wind that round the gables roared,
With now and then a ruder shock,
Which made our very bedsteads rock.
We heard the loosened clapboards tost,
The board-nails snapping in the frost;
And on us, through the unplastered wall,
Felt the light sifted snow-flakes fall.
But sleep stole on, as sleep will do
When hearts are light and life is new;
Faint and more faint the murmurs grew,
Till in the summer-land of dreams
They softened to the sound of streams,
Low stir of leaves, and dip of oars,
And lapsing waves on quiet shores.

John Greenleaf Whittier

Wittier Than Whittier? -Naw It's Too Cold.


The snap and crackle on sidewalks white
Signal colder fingers all through this cold night,
And Dawn's Toes that froze all the way from the car,
Do now warn the brain-pan -'Tis Cold out Th'yar!'
Stiffer than Wanstead when given the Slip,
By Mrs McCaskey through Angelo's Lip;
Bears that care do not maul the foe,
And all of Chicago nods,'Wanny Must Go!'-
Lovie-Like snows once froze the Hydrant's pipe
And Water Department guys mended it Right,
On Rockwell 108th just the other day,
And Obam's Transition had nothing to say.

Sub-zero Factors ride Big Shoulder's gelid wind
And close Ord's Runways -Extended Stay Inn.
The Short Man on Five wants new kinds of salt
For Streets and San Men to cast from the Vault
Of Horded Plenty white crystals that melt
Nature's cold spittle with Taxpayer's gelt.
North Wind and Sun did Battle in Aesop's Fable
To tell all and sundry who better was able
To get Man to strip his garments gay and bright
The Sun, it was, proved who could get the thing Right.
Sol/Boreas, Madigan/Blago, contend in like manner for Public Approval
The Sun heats all Truth -watch Blago's Removal.

Boreas blew like the Bears' Recent season
And forced ice and wind on Jim chilled by all Reason.
But Man yanked his duds tighter 'round his shivering bones
And warded off North Wind until Jim he got home,
Where the Missus and kids thawed Dad's Polar Limbs
And Souped, Peoples Gassed, hugged, thawed tired Jim.
Sol did much better with gradual heat
Last Summer than Boreas the North Wind Sol Beat.
Jim stripped his Drapes in easy gay layers
To his Banana Hammock as a willing and gradual player
Witched to the whispers of persuading fellow
Warm Sol's Barrelhouse invite 'Get Naked and Mellow!'

Persuasion gets Man to do as might,
While Blowy Dictums pull Drapes around tight
The Freezing Man. Who endures Boreas and Daley
And Blago, and Taxes frozen pipes daily.
Warm Sol and persuasion and brotherly chat
Get more peels of raiment's and Taxpayer Fat
For the Fires that energize Government Bunnies
Who gobble your clothes, your cabbage and monies.

This Thursday is Cold, Frost-Hoary and Mean!
North Wind and Sun do battle on Man. Lean
Government like Orange rhymes with no word
The Thaw is coming. Peel dollars clothes-ward.
That Rhyme was forced, like a bartender's treat.
Screw it. Must scrape the clogged ice on my street.

Stand With Our Jewish Neighbors -'How Come Cole Porter Never Wrote A Song About Rosh Hoshanna?'

Steve Miller Reporting
WBBM Newsradio 780


(WBBM/AP) - Both the American Jewish Committee and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee issued statements renounced the recent vandalism of several Chicago-area synagogues.

Police say vandals who set fire a fire at a prominent Chicago synagogue last month may also have sprayed "Death to Israel'' on the north suburban Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation over the weekend.

The head of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Chicago says he needs to speak out now.

"I don't think we can speak out against any desecration of any mosques or churches in our community and then stand idly by and not speak out against desecration of religious institutions in other communities."

Well said, Pal! Let's take it a little further along the sidewalk.

The other day I remarked on the brilliant book/essay by America's greatest essayist, Joseph Epstein, on Fred Astair as part of the American Icon Series published by Yale Press. The book is prose writing at its best.

Joseph Epstein wrote a profound passage asking why American gentile song writers like Cole Porter never wrote a song about Rosh Shoshana or Purim. Given that the best Christmas Songs, White Christmas by Irving Berlin and Christmas Song by Mel Torme were written by Jewish Americans and Berlin also wrote Easter Parade.

It appears that American Jews celebrated their American neighbors and their traditions while remaining on the outside.

In our Celebrate Diversity, Happy Horse-shit Culture it would be nice to see a little return on this investment of the heart.

Loyola Man, Rabbi Elisha Prero*, confronted the vandalism done to his congregation over the weekend. His East Rogers Park Congregation was vandalized by idiots or anti-Semites - the roles are reversible. I wanted to see how many other ethnic groups stood in solidarity with our Jewish Neighbors.

One of my best friends growing up in Little Flower Parish on the south side - the Irish Catholic Riviera - was the late Danny Levi. Danny was one tough guy who poured out mounds of help to his Mick neighbors whenever anyone got sick or kids found themselves without parents. Danny Levi owned and operated the Irish Temple Pub which had a logo of a Shamrock in the Star of David.

I'll never forget Danny Levi's goodness to his pals and their families.

I hope that I never forget. Danny's relatives were tossed into ovens by people who went to Mass every Sunday and attended Protestant services with sober regularity.

Let's let Rabbi Elisha Prero know that his neighbors here in Chicago - Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhist and Atheist understand what 'Never Again' means.

We don't need to write songs. We need to stand up once in while; let's let them know we do just that.


Young Israel of West Rogers Park
2706 W. Touhy Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60645
(773) 743-9400


* Rabbi Elisha Prero

Rabbi Elisha Prero graduated with a B.A. in philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, from Loyola University of Chicago and received a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He studied at Kerem B'Yavneh and Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel and received his Rabbinic Ordination from Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik at Brisk Rabbinical College. Rabbi Prero joined the law firm of Schuyler, Roche, Zwirner, and has been a partner since 2001. He is a member of the CRC, the Youth Commission of the Midwest Region of the NCSY, the musical group Evën Sh’siyah and has been rabbi of Young Israel of West Rogers Park for the past 10 years.

Chicago Tribune and Chicagoist Cover Vandalism of Chicago Jewish Congregations

HUGE HAT TIP to the Crews Chicago Tribune and at Chicagoist!

http://chicagoist.com/2009/01/11/pro-israel_rally_photos_local_synag.php?gallery0Pic=6#gallery"Free, free Palestine," thousands of marchers chanted. "Hey [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01/pro-palestinian-march-to-close-loop-streets.html

That was Friday night.

This was Sunday Morning:

Late Sunday morning, Talmud classes were under way at Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, a rabbinical school and synagogue at 2756 W. Morse Ave. in Chicago. Spray-painted on the brick wall facing California Avenue was the same phrase, "Death to Israel."

"We continue on," Rabbi Shalom Halberstam said. "We do our thing. Studying. Learning. We didn't shut school down. We keep the faith."

Over at the Young Israel Congregation of West Rogers Park, 2706 W. Touhy Ave., head of security Stuart Singal was putting tarp over two smashed windows Sunday morning.

Rabbi Elisha Prero said synagogue officials believe the "Jewish response" to the defacement of their building was to make something positive of it. They would use the bricks thrown into the window in the cornerstone of the synagogue's library.

"We want to turn this disgusting act into a redemptive one," Prero said.

alwang@tribune.com

jjlong@tribune.com

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-synagogue-rally-12-jan12,0,3703577.story

Gaza is in the Mideast - Palestine/Israel but it sure as hell is not here in Chicago, Skokie, or Lincolnwood.

Catch the vandals. Charge them. Save all the 'Profiling' nonsense on the part of the Peoples Law Office and Lefty Lawyer League. This is an American Criminal Act. Show it the American Justice System.

God Bless the Congregations and the great Jewish People who had to endure this affront! Got a beef with that?

President Elect Obama -Everybody’s Going to have to Give. Ludacris?

"Well, right now, I’m focused on a pretty heavy lift, which is making sure we get that reinvestment and recovery package in place. But what you described is exactly what we’re going to have to do. What we have to do is to take a look at our structural deficit, how are we paying for government? What are we getting for it? And how do we make the system more efficient?"
"And eventually sacrifice from everyone?" I asked.

"Everybody’s going to have to give. Everybody’s going to have to have some skin in the game," Obama said.

Obama Spokesman and early supporter of the President Elect,Christopher Bridges AKA Ludacris had this to say -

'You can’t stop what’s bout to happen, we bout to make history
The first black president is destined and it’s meant to be
The threats ain’t fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
So get off your ass, black people, it’s time to get out and vote!

Paint the White House black and I’m sure that’s got ‘em terrified
McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped
Ball up all of his speeches and just throw ‘em like candy wrap
’cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevant
and you the worst of all 43 presidents

Get out and vote or the end’ll be near
The world is ready for change because Obama is here
’cause Obama is here
The world is ready for change because Obama is here, yeah
cuz Obama is here'

Well, Christopher Old Son, My wrinkled Skin's well in the Game and My Pale Skin is already Sizzlin'! As a rapper of the last century put it, Chris, 'Commitments the voters don't know about can't hurt you.' Tru Dat, Playah!

Joseph Epstein's 'Fred Astair' - 'A bit of color at the throat'

"I have always thought,that if one wants to be a writer, he must first make himself incompetent in everything else." Joseph Epstein

"In his essays, Epstein possesses a wealth of apt, obscure and effortless knowledge. In person, he is a man of anecdotes: conversation with him invariably anchored here and there by winsome, real life accounts. Indeed it seems nearly every story in this new collection has behind it an anecdote of equal charm." Doug Wagner from his interview with Joseph Epstein

Joseph Epstein is arguably America's best essayist. The litany of Professor Epstein's essays is a trail of delight:

Divorced in America: Marriage in an age of possibility (1974)
Familiar Territory: Observations on American Life (1979)
Ambition: The Secret Passion (1980)
Middle of My Tether: Familiar Essays (1983)
Plausible Prejudices: Essays on American Writing (1985)
Once More Around the Block: Familiar Essays (1987)
Partial Payments: Essays on Writers and Their Lives (1988)
A Line Out for a Walk: Familiar Essays (1991)
Pertinent Players: Essays on the Literary Life (1993)
With My Trousers Rolled: Familiar Essays (1995)
Life Sentences: Literary Essays (1997)
Narcissus Leaves the Pool: Familiar Essays (1999, paperback 2007)
Snobbery: The American Version (2002)
Envy (2003)
Friendship: An Exposé (2006)
Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy's Guide (2006)
In a Cardboard Belt!: Essays Personal, Literary, and Savage (2007)
Fred Astaire (2008)

Fred Astair was a Christmas gift to me. It is an Apollonian dance, a hard-crafted drift of breeze made warm and wonderful by the magic of practiced attention to detail. In pointing to Fred Astair's imaginative dress habits, Joseph Epstein's prose hovers above the dusty floor's saw-dust words of lesser craftsmen attempting a similar literary two-step on the subject:

' Astair was also good at throwing together what might appear normally discordant colors but which on him worked well. Brown suede loafers, say, with a taupe blue double breasted suit. Or, a buff colored, slightly beaten up fedora with a tuxedo. A French semiologist could doubtless do a lengthy and jargon-laden study of the colors of his socks. The point is that he made the normally discordant seem not in the least discordant but instead interesting, striking. Elegant is as elegant does.

Lots of people think Astair's sometimes wearing a necktie in place of a belt a fine flamboyant touch, but I am not among them. I thought it went over the line of flair and into the land of fey. He didn't do badly, though, with colorful silk bandanna's tied loosely around his throat. In later life, he understood that a bit of color at the the throat, along with covering over the sagging skin at the neck, enlivens an older face. His pocket squares were never too showy. He looked good in bathrobes, too though on him they were elevated to dressing gowns' Epstein (40-41).

Joseph Epstein is the Fred Astair of the essay. Though Fred tapped, waltzed, fox-trotted, and, sadly, assented to boogaloo at the end of his long career, Joe Epstein river-dances an endless but controlled shower of sound and sense from the wealth of his experiences and insights.

Though a book for the Star-struck guzzler of Hollywood fabulae and fauna, it is more of a treat to the audience of discerning readers and deep drinkers of the Pyrian Spring. Aunt Myrt will love the stuff about the back-stage life and servings of 'dish,' but lovers of prose will delight to witness Joe Epstein's graceful glides through the pages.

http://januarymagazine.com/profiles/jepstein.html

Governor Alfred Lord Blagojevich Repsonds to Impeachment

YouTube - Animal House: Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor: ""

Click this link!

Andrew Breitbart's 'Big Hollywood' - A Voice for the Traditional

I got me WOW Cable service here in Chicago, which was Wide Open West, which was Ameritech, which was Illinois Bell in the Book of Genesis.

WOW Cable costs a lung each month for basic and HBO. That means my kids get to watch One Tree Hill, Disney Stuff, and Laguna Beach. I get Turner Movie Classics (TCM). I can not watch American Movie Classics (AMC)as there is more censorship and many more commercials than when Channel 9 ( WGN) had Lynn Burton selling cars during Old Movies.

The History Channel explains UFOs, Gangs that I meet 'n greet on an almost daily basis over near Leo, the DaVinci Code and the smelly basements of the World in History.

There are hundreds of channels and generally nothing to watch. Most Movies getting made and played for our Mall Theatres ( Kerasotes & etc.) stink on ice, but that does not prevent Hollywood from churning out soy-heavy political/social/moral opinion on HBO or Arianna Huffington's Pravda.

Films with real substance are almost non-existent and Film industry professionals who hold opinions and values that are not stridently counter-culture are blacklisted.

Andrew Breitbart, a young guy born during my senior year at Little Flower High School (1969) has opened Big Hollywood and alternative to the America bashing, 'Seth Has Two Daddies and Loving It,' Isreal is Facist, Catholics are Evil and Drugs Are Health Food points of view.

Breitbart is a writer who helped Arianna Huffington develop Huffington Post - named for Arianna with the handle of her husband who was decidely man-directed in his sexual inclinations, but loaded with gelt. Huffington Post is the Hollywood Squares of third tier talent and 40 Watt Political thinking.

Andy Breitbart wrote,"[Left-leaning Hollywood personalities] are uninteresting, they’re vicious, they’re vitriolic, they’re really, really not good people. I’m willing to say that on the record. You could probe them scientifically and anthropologically and prove that they’re not good people....[The Hollywood left] is a stale group of people who are recycling the same old bad ideas that don’t work. Why else would those people go to the stinky side?"
—Meet Andrew Breitbart, self-proclaimed rebel-king of L.A.'s underground conservative movement (interview), 2008.

Why are all those Hollywood Lefties named Seth?

For a look at Underground Hollywood, friends and neighbors, get thee to Big Hollywood.

Newman (from Seinfeld) for U.S. Post Master General!

I heard a guy call in to WLS -Don Wade & Roma this morning with a comment on the designation of Dr. Sanjay Gupta for U.S, Surgeon General: 'Why not Newman from Seinfeld for Postmaster General?'

Brilliant, Sober, Consistent and Change I Believe In! Hell, He can't can't screw up a trainwreck that is in progress. Why Not?

Newman is a U.S Postalworker, which never work in the rain for obvious reasons, this came in conflict when george castanza made a deal with him for him to by a calzone for him from a place which he was thrown out of. he has been involved in many plots with the four main characters, while also being adversarial to jerry; they are famous for saying eachothers names in an despicable voice upon meeting. 1 scheme where newman is involved is where he, elaine, and kramer kidnap a dog that was really annoying to elaine. newman's love is elaine, and this is shown when he recites poetry about her. Newman recieved a birthday wish when he suddenly got a convertable, and a hot new girlfriend who is interested in the mailing system. kramer and newman,who are close friends, tried to travel to michigan on mothers day with a mailtruck full of empties of which he wanted to cash in for the 15 cent payback. when kramer was in debt, betting on arrivals and departures at the airport, newman came in with Son of Sam's mailbag to give as collateral, newman said that he once double dated with son of sam. Newman hates keith hernandez, of which he called "pretty boy" for making a crucial error that made the mets lose, and in retaliation, he was spit on along with kramer by what jerry calls a magic luggie.

Retrieved from "http://seinfeld.wikia.com/wiki/Newman_%28Seinfeld%29"http://seinfeld.wikia.com/wiki/Newman_(Seinfeld)

The Song of Roland - Not Burris; The Song of Burris -Not Roland

Ah, the poetic soul is enriched by the exploits of men whose names deserve chisled honor in the granite of human imagination!

Roland holds off the waves of Saracens for his Lord Charlemagne! Roland Burris holds off the disgust of millions!

One guy blocked a pass and Senator We had his pass to the Senate blocked! Epic!

Voila! Chansons de Rolande!


2215 The count Rollanz, when dead he saw his peers,
And Oliver, he held so very dear,
Grew tender, and began to shed a tear;
Out of his face the colour disappeared;
No longer could he stand, for so much grief,
2220 Will he or nill, he swooned upon the field.
Said the Archbishop: "Unlucky lord, indeed!"

CLXV

When the Archbishop beheld him swoon, Rollant,
Never before such bitter grief he'd had;
Stretching his hand, he took that olifant.
2225 Through Rencesvals a little river ran;
He would go there, fetch water for Rollant.
Went step by step, to stumble soon began,
So feeble he is, no further fare he can,
For too much blood he's lost, and no strength has;
2230 Ere he has crossed an acre of the land,
His heart grows faint, he falls down forwards and
Death comes to him with very cruel pangs.

CLXVI

The count Rollanz wakes from his swoon once more,
Climbs to his feet; his pains are very sore;
2235 Looks down the vale, looks to the hills above;
On the green grass, beyond his companions,
He sees him lie, that noble old baron;
'Tis the Archbishop, whom in His name wrought God;
There he proclaims his sins, and looks above;
2240 Joins his two hands, to Heaven holds them forth,
And Paradise prays God to him to accord.
Dead is Turpin, the warrior of Charlon.
In battles great and very rare sermons
Against pagans ever a champion.
2245 God grant him now His Benediction!
AOI.

CLXVII

The count Rollant sees the Archbishop lie dead,
Sees the bowels out of his body shed,
And sees the brains that surge from his forehead;
Between his two arm-pits, upon his breast,
2250 Crossways he folds those hands so white and fair.
Then mourns aloud, as was the custom there:
"Thee, gentle sir, chevalier nobly bred,
To the Glorious Celestial I commend;
Neer shall man be, that will Him serve so well;
2255 Since the Apostles was never such prophet,
To hold the laws and draw the hearts of men.
Now may your soul no pain nor sorrow ken,
Finding the gates of Paradise open!"

CLXVIII

Then Rollanz feels that death to him draws near,
2260 For all his brain is issued from his ears;
He prays to God that He will call the peers,
Bids Gabriel, the angel, t' himself appear.
Takes the olifant, that no reproach shall hear,
And Durendal in the other hand he wields;
2265 Further than might a cross-bow's arrow speed
Goes towards Spain into a fallow-field;
Climbs on a cliff; where, under two fair trees,
Four terraces, of marble wrought, he sees.
There he falls down, and lies upon the green;
2270 He swoons again, for death is very near.

CLXIX

High are the peaks, the trees are very high.
Four terraces of polished marble shine;
On the green grass count Rollant swoons thereby.
A Sarrazin him all the time espies,
2275 Who feigning death among the others hides;
Blood hath his face and all his body dyed;
He gets afoot, running towards him hies;
Fair was he, strong and of a courage high;
A mortal hate he's kindled in his pride.
2280 He's seized Rollant, and the arms, were at his side,
"Charles nephew," he's said, "here conquered lies.
To Araby I'll bear this sword as prize."
As he drew it, something the count descried.

CLXX

So Rollant felt his sword was taken forth,
2285 Opened his eyes, and this word to him spoke
"Thou'rt never one of ours, full well I know."
Took the olifant, that he would not let go,
Struck him on th' helm, that jewelled was with gold,
And broke its steel, his skull and all his bones,
2290 Out of his head both the two eyes he drove;
Dead at his feet he has the pagan thrown:
After he's said: "Culvert, thou wert too bold,
Or right or wrong, of my sword seizing hold!
They'll dub thee fool, to whom the tale is told.
2295 But my great one, my olifant I broke;
Fallen from it the crystal and the gold."

CLXXI

Then Rollanz feels that he has lost his sight,
Climbs to his feet, uses what strength he might;
In all his face the colour is grown white.
2300 In front of him a great brown boulder lies;
Whereon ten blows with grief and rage he strikes;
The steel cries out, but does not break outright;
And the count says: "Saint Mary, be my guide
Good Durendal, unlucky is your plight!
2305 I've need of you no more; spent is my pride!
We in the field have won so many fights,
Combating through so many regions wide
That Charles holds, whose beard is hoary white!
Be you not his that turns from any in flight!
2310 A good vassal has held you this long time;
Never shall France the Free behold his like."

CLXXII

Rollant hath struck the sardonyx terrace;
The steel cries out, but broken is no ways.
So when he sees he never can it break,
2315 Within himself begins he to complain:
"Ah! Durendal, white art thou, clear of stain!
Beneath the sun reflecting back his rays!
In Moriane was Charles, in the vale,
When from heaven God by His angel bade
2320 Him give thee to a count and capitain;
Girt thee on me that noble King and great.
I won for him with thee Anjou, Bretaigne,
And won for him with thee Peitou, the Maine,
And Normandy the free for him I gained,
2325 Also with thee Provence and Equitaigne,
And Lumbardie and all the whole Romaigne,
I won Baivere, all Flanders in the plain,
Also Burguigne and all the whole Puillane,
Costentinnople, that homage to him pays;
2330 In Saisonie all is as he ordains;
With thee I won him Scotland, Ireland, Wales,
England also, where he his chamber makes;
Won I with thee so many countries strange
That Charles holds, whose beard is white with age!
2335 For this sword's sake sorrow upon me weighs,
Rather I'ld die, than it mid pagans stay.
Lord God Father, never let France be shamed!"

CLXXIII

Rollant his stroke on a dark stone repeats,
And more of it breaks off than I can speak.
2340 The sword cries out, yet breaks not in the least,
Back from the blow into the air it leaps.
Destroy it can he not; which when he sees,
Within himself he makes a plaint most sweet.
"Ah! Durendal, most holy, fair indeed!
2345 Relics enough thy golden hilt conceals:
Saint Peter's Tooth, the Blood of Saint Basile,
Some of the Hairs of my Lord, Saint Denise,
Some of the Robe, was worn by Saint Mary.
It is not right that pagans should thee seize,
2350 For Christian men your use shall ever be.
Nor any man's that worketh cowardice!
Many broad lands with you have I retrieved
Which Charles holds, who hath the great white beard;
Wherefore that King so proud and rich is he."

CLXXIV

2355 But Rollant felt that death had made a way
Down from his head till on his heart it lay;
Beneath a pine running in haste he came,
On the green grass he lay there on his face;
His olifant and sword beneath him placed,
2360 Turning his head towards the pagan race,
Now this he did, in truth, that Charles might say
(As he desired) and all the Franks his race; --
'Ah, gentle count; conquering he was slain!' --
He owned his faults often and every way,
2365 And for his sins his glove to God upraised.
AOI.

CLXXV

But Rollant feels he's no more time to seek;
Looking to Spain, he lies on a sharp peak,
And with one hand upon his breast he beats:
"Mea Culpa! God, by Thy Virtues clean
2370 Me from my sins, the mortal and the mean,
Which from the hour that I was born have been
Until this day, when life is ended here!"
Holds out his glove towards God, as he speaks
Angels descend from heaven on that scene.
AOI.

Here's Senator 'We'! Ouis! Sing this ditty to the tune ofRawhide, Kids!

Roland, Roland, Roland - though the streams are swollen & etc.: "I intend to be sworn in"

Roland, Roland, Roland: "I will present myself to the Senate tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow morning"

Roland, Roland, Roland: "And should they turn me away, I will then proceed to leave"

Roland, Roland, Roland: "If that happens, my lawyers will decide on next course of action"



Keep Roland, Roland, Roland . . .Roland, Roland, Roland! Good Vitals, Gals and Kissin' are waitin' at the end of your Ride!

Officer John Knight Benefit at Cullinan's Stadium Club January 9th

Huge Hat Tip to Second City Cop - click my post title.

Police Officer John C. Knight
Chicago, IL Police Department
Age: 38, Tour Of Duty: 10 Yrs. Badge#: 5119
E.O.W. 9 January 1999
Cause Of Death: Gunfire

The 10 year anniversary of the untimely death of Officer John Knight is coming up Friday, January 9th. We are having a get together at the Stadium Club, 116th and Western, where all of John's friends can get together, enjoy some good food, and trade your favorite stories of working with him. Food is being donated by the bar owner, Danny Cullinan, and we are going with a "Feed the Kitty" system for paying for the refreshments (everyone drops $20 in the bucket by the bar, and the bartenders pull from there to pay for refreshments. If money runs out, the hat gets passed around for an extra $5- 10 to cover more refreshments and/or tips for the bartenders).

Count on a very good time, and please be kind to the people working there. They are always FANTASTIC to us.

Please contact Sgt Dawn Melchert (022 Tact) at 773-218-5066 to RSVP. We need to give the Stadium Club a good headcount to know how much food to prepare.

United States Senator Roland W. Burris, ( D.IL)

On November 5th Governor Rod Blagojevich publicly stated that we would begin the process to appoint a replacement to the U.S. Senate for President Elect Barack Obama.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2008

Governor Blagojevich Congratulates President-elect Obama and Discusses U.S. Senate Seat
To fill President-Elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat, Governor will use deliberate process to select suitable replacement

CHICAGO – After congratulating President-Elect Barack Obama on his decisive victory, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that he will take his time and use a diverse senior staff made up of key members of his administration who will assist him in selecting a suitable replacement for Obama.

“Last night’s victory was bittersweet for Illinois - as we gain a great President, we lose a great Senator. And it goes without saying that our next Senator has big shoes to fill. Because it’s important that the best person for Illinois is selected, I want to be clear that the calendar won’t dictate our search. Instead, I want to ensure that Obama’s successor will understand and fight for the needs of average Illinoisans,” Governor Blagojevich said.

Governor Blagojevich will be looking for candidates that will:

Support the President-Elect’s agenda for the people;
Effectively represent the interests of the state of Illinois in the U.S. Congress;
Work with my administration to achieve our shared goals of ensuring access to affordable healthcare, rebuilding Illinois’ infrastructure, improving the economic security and livelihoods of Illinois workers, and caring for our most vulnerable; and,
Prioritize the average Illinoisan who is too burdened by taxes and economic hardship.


The U.S. Constitution, 17th Amendment, provides that a state legislature may empower the executive of the state to make the appointment.

http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=72&RecNum=7260

Yadda-yadda-yadda . . .

On December 9th Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald ordered that Governor Rod Blagojevich be arrested at his home.

December 9, 2008 at 2:11 PM | Comments (123)
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents for what U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald called a "staggering" level of corruption involving pay-to-play politics in Illinois' top office.

Blagojevich is accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy, including alleged attempts by the governor to try to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. Blagojevich also is accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.

Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning--one day shy of his 52nd birthday.At a news conference late this morning, Fitzgerald said Blagojevich "has taken us to a truly new low" and went on "a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree."

Fitzgerald also accused Blagojevich of attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama vacated.
Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, said the arrest of Blagojevich should serve as notice that "business as usual will no longer be tolerated. That selling your office for personal gain is a thing of the past."

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn today called on Blagojevich to step aside, at least temporarily, because the governor is "seriously impeded from carrying out his oath of office."

"I think that should certainly be considered by the governor today. I think he knows what he needs to do for the people," Quinn said at a news conference this afternoon.

Quinn would assume control of the governor's office if Blagojevich were to step aside under the Illinois Constitution.

Obama told reporters he was "saddened and sobered" by Blagojevich's arrest.

"I was not aware of what was happening," Obama said. "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening."Tribune Editor Gerould W. Kern said today that the newspaper delayed publishing some stories at the request of the U.S. attorney's office during the course of reporting on the accelerating investigation of Blagojevich.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html

And Yadda-yadda-yadda . . .

On December 30th Gov. Blagojevich, as portrayed on Saturday Night Live & etc., appoints former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to replace President Elect Obama as U.S. Senator from Illinois.

Fitzgerald has not indicted Blagojevich. Governor Blagojevich has not yet been impeached. Roland Burris is the Senate Replacement according to the 17th Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Illinois Constitution.

United States Senator Roland Burris ( D. Illinois).

Now, just what a genius like Harry Reid will do between now and Tuesday when Congress returns to session should be fun to watch.

Reid released a Dec. 30 statement saying that Burris would not be seated.

"It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety," the statement said. "We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris' ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6570544&page=1

President Elect Obama endorsed Roland Burris for Governor over Paul Vallas and Rod Blagojevich. Fitzy needs more time . . . you think?

Everything seems to be in order.

The Party of Ideas!

Arianna Huffington Responds to Queries Re: Bill Ayers @ HuffPo

Arianna Huffington - 'Gude Af-tar Nune! Beel Ay-arhs Hes Joyn'd Da Mony Gude and Tahlented Peoples uf My Blug. Beel Ay-arhs Hes Hed Mony Bed T'ings Sed a'bout Heem 'en Hees Wy-fe Bern-ahdeen. Na-ow det Press-a-dent O-bama hess ben Helected . .. Aye hef dis to say . . .Ay gamisou GEDDAOWDA MY SSSSSSSSPAISE!!! Fur Aye Tro -Haht Water on Alla Yew! .EEEEEYEIEEEEEE!

As to thialo , malakas poustis



Seth! Seth, vlakas! Cal dee Kops Hon 'Em! GEDOOWD! Fila mou to kolo !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dead White Man - Gaius Sallustius Crispus - Speaks to Voters About Yamheads in Elected Office

( Photo of Two Political Yamheads - Chicago Sun Times)


'We are the Senator!'

WASHINGTON -- Roland Burris, being Roland Burris, put it to me this way Friday when we talked: "We are the senator."

We are? We are not impressed.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/index.html

It appears that not only is Roland Burris prone to the Royal/Papal We, a sure sign that an American is prone wearing crowns and gowns without the Mental Health Professionals in attendance, but also is another Lame Ranger: Todd Stroger, Junior Jones, Caroline Kennedy& etc.

Well, Milorad might have picked worse, but he sure as hell could not have selected a more worthy micro-head on which to place the Senatorial laurel wreath- which will fall down onto Roland the First's tiny shoulders sometime on Monday when he intrudes himself into the U.S. Senate.

Roland will pal up in short order, no doubt, with another Lame Ranger - Princess Caroline Kennedy .

A dead white guy, who went by the handle Sallust back in Roman Times, wrote a preface to his study of the Jugarthine War* and it is a pretty solid study of what solid people in political life need to understand.

Sallust is no Maya Angelou, but then again who is?

I. Mankind unreasonably complain of their nature, that, being weak and
short-lived, it is governed by chance rather than intellectual power;
for, on the contrary, you will find, upon reflection, that there is
nothing more noble or excellent, and that to nature is wanting rather
human industry than ability or time.

The ruler and director of the life of man is the mind, which, when it
pursues glory in the path of true merit, is sufficiently powerful,
efficient, and worthy of honor, and needs no assistance from
fortune, who can neither bestow integrity, industry, or other good
qualities, nor can take them away. But if the mind, ensnared by
corrupt passions, abandons itself to indolence and sensuality, when
it has indulged for a season in pernicious gratifications, and when
bodily strength, time, and mental vigor, have been wasted in sloth,
the infirmity of nature is accused, and those who are themselves in
fault impute their delinquency to circumstances. Emphasis my Own


If man, however, had as much regard for worthy objects, as he has
spirit in the pursuit of what is useless, unprofitable, and even
perilous, he would not be governed by circumstances more than he would
govern them, and would attain to a point of greatness, at which,
instead of being mortal,he would be immortalized by glory.


II. As man is composed of mind and body, so, of all our concerns and
pursuits, some partake the nature of the body, and some that of the
mind. Thus beauty of person, eminent wealth, corporeal strength, and
all other things of this kind, speedily pass away; but the illustrious
achievements of the mind are, like the mind itself, immortal.

Of the advantages of person and fortune, as there is a beginning,
there is also an end; they all rise and fall, increase and decay.
But the mind, incorruptible and eternal, the ruler of the human race,
actuates and has power over all things, yet is itself free from
control.

The depravity of those, therefore, is the more surprising, who,
devoted to corporeal gratifications, spend their lives in luxury and
indolence, but suffer the mind, than which nothing is better or
greater in man, to languish in neglect and inactivity; especially when
there are so many and various mental employments by which the highest
renown may be attained.

III. Of these occupations, however, civil and military offices,and
all administration of public affairs, seem to me at the present time,
by no means to be desired; for neither is honor conferred on merit,
nor are those, who have gained power by unlawful means, the more
secure or respected for it. To rule our country or subjects by
force, though we may have the ability, and may correct what is wrong,
is yet an ungrateful undertaking; especially as all changes in the
state lead to bloodshed, exile, and other evils of discord; while
to struggle in ineffectual attempts, and to gain nothing, by wearisome
exertions, but public hatred, is the extreme of madness; unless when a
base and pernicious spirit, perchance, may prompt a man to sacrifice
his honor and liberty to the power of a party.

IV. Among other employments which are pursued by the intellect, the
recording of past events is of pre-eminent utility; but of its merits
I may, I think, be silent, since many have spoken of them, and since,
if I were to praise my own occupation, I might be considered as
presumptuously praising myself. I believe, too, that there will be
some, who, because I have resolved to live unconnected with political
affairs, will apply to my arduous and useful labors the name of
idleness; especially those who think it an important pursuit to court
the people, and gain popularity by entertainments. But if such persons
will consider at what periods I obtained office, what sort of men[13]
were then unable to obtain it, and what description of persons have
subsequently entered the senate, they will think, assuredly, that
I have altered my sentiments rather from prudence than from indolence,
and that more good will arise to the state from my retirement, than
from the busy efforts of others.

Gaius Sallustius Crispus - The Jugurthine War

*

Sallust's Jugurthine War is a brief monograph recording the war in Numidia c.112 B.C.. Its true value lies in the introduction of Marius and Sulla to the Roman political scene and the beginning of their rivalry. Sallust's time as governor of Africa Nova ought to have let the author develop a solid geographical and ethnographical background to the war, however, this is not evident in the monograph despite a diversion on the subject because Sallust's priority in the "Jugurthine War", as with the "Catiline Conspiracy", is to use history as a vehicle for his judgement on the slow destruction of Roman morality and politics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallust#Jugurthine_War*

Beachwood Reporter Details Blago T'aint as Much Tainted as Illinois - The Besmeared Realities of Progressive Politics

Steve Rhodes did a real nice summary of the Obama Internal Whitewash - 'We did NOT inhale'- the fumes of Stinky Politics. But Illinois has been Smoke Free for a Year Now! Progressive Nanny Staters sent Old Man Tobacco the Way of Demon Rum and Effective Government!

That is Progressive. You see Progressive Political Reality is this - 'We can not win an election more than three hundred yards from the Lakefront without the 'Old Timey Saloon Keeper' methods, but we like to stand far and away from them and allow the Machinery to get us in.' Take politics out of the smoke-filled back rooms of the saloons and a Commonwealth akin to Sesame Street ( brought to you by grant from the MacArthur Center for Justice) will grass-root itself and make Teutopolis, Carmi, Rock Island, Ottawa, Papineau, and Coal City, IL virtual Hyde Parks.

Prohibit the rights of citizens by legislative fiat and Free Illinois!

Reform Crusaders, like Mike Quigley, Joe Moore, Ed Smith love to Prohibit and yet they always require old school Ward operatives of the smoke filled room variety to get out the vote and then Mike, Joe, and Ed can sink their Progressive incisors deeply into the hands that passed out the palm cards on election in the Chicago Media, once re-elected.

President Elect Barack Obama's political life was made possible from a grant of the local Ward Committeemen.

Now the chickens have come home to roost. No one within spitting distance of local Chicago politics is shocked or surprised, but propriety and the solemnity of the up-coming Change is Hope Inauguration on January 20th dictates a whiff a smelling salts in public. 'Saul, Saul why have you forsaken us!'

Beachwood Reporter's Steve Rhodes offers a nice redaction and commentary on the explosively obvious Obama Whitewash - 'We're Okay!'

"Obama also said 'he had no interest in dictating the results of the selection process and he would not do so, either directly or indirectly through staff or others,' the report said, adding that Whitaker relayed that information to Peters."

*

But we know that Obama indeed did try to influence the selection process.

*

Then again, if Jarrett bailed because the process was dirty, why this?

"After Jarrett removes herself from consideration from the Senate seat, Obama discusses other qualified candidates with Emanuel and Obama adviser Axelrod, including U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., state Comptroller Dan Hynes and Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth. Obama understands that Emanuel will relay these names to Blagojevich's office."

And again, if Obama "understands" that Emanuel will relay these names to Blagojevich's office, how is that not trying to influence the selection process?

*

"But the report, when meshed with allegations in Blagojevich's criminal complaint, portrays Jarrett as being far more involved in seeking to be appointed to the Senate than has been previously known," the Sun-Times reports. "She removed herself from consideration after a conversation with a union official who had spoken with Blagojevich."

*

Emanuel listened to at least one recording, according to an AP report.

*

"Blagojevich, the complaint indicates, met with Balanoff around Nov. 5, at which time the governor understood Balanoff 'was an emissary' to discuss Jarrett's interest in the Senate seat."

*

"'Though their conversation would seem to suggest that Blagojevich - who holds the sole power to appoint Obama's replacement - was seeking a quid pro quo, 'Ms. Jarrett did not understand the conversation to suggest that the governor wanted the cabinet seat as a quid pro quo for selecting any specific candidate to be the President-elect's replacement,' the Obama report states."

*

"Obama, who has downplayed his role in the Senate selection process, 'believed it appropriate to provide the names of multiple candidates to be considered," according to the report."

*

"Unlike other contenders, who went hat-in-hand to Blagojevich - under an ethics cloud even before he was arrested Dec. 9 on public corruption charges - Jarrett did not approach the governor directly. I can see why. Would have been off message," Lynn Sweet writes.

*

In other words, don't taint the image with reality.

Thank God and Greyhound the Obama linens are unsoiled!

Rod Blagojevich is the Governor of Illinois. He was keel-hauled immediately after the election of President Elect Obama by Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald - the all purpose bleach of the life political in Illinois. I feel that Fitzy might have pulled the trigger too quickly on Gov. Rod.

The Guv is the same guy who appeared to be as nutty as a Stuckey's Log when he ran against Paul Vallas in 2002. In fact, he just might be a little more restrained these days; however, the politically expedient in Illinois took a shine to young Milorad:

Here's my 'guy who gets the news with the other guys at Kean Gas at 5AM' political scratch sheet from Wikipedia:

In 2002, Blagojevich ran for his party's nomination to become governor. Blagojevich won a close primary campaign against former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, whose base was largely African-American voters,[citation needed] and Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas, who ran well in the suburban "collar" counties of Chicago.[citation needed] Blagojevich finished strongly in southern Illinois, winning 55% of the primary vote downstate, enough to win a primary victory by a thin margin.[16]

During the primary, state Senator Barack Obama backed former Attorney General Burris, but supported Blagojevich after he won the primary at Burris' suggestion,[21] serving as a "top adviser" for the general election.[22] Future Obama senior adviser David Axelrod had previously worked with Blagojevich on Congressional campaigns, but did not consider Blagojevich ready to be governor and declined to work for him on this campaign.[22] According to Rahm Emanuel, he, Barack Obama, Blagojevich's campaign co-chair David Wilhelm, and another Blagojevich staffer "were the top strategists of Blagojevich's 2002 gubernatorial victory," meeting weekly to outline campaign strategies.[22] However, Wilhelm has said that Emanuel overstated Obama's role in the sessions, and Emanuel said in December 2008 that Wilhelm was correct and he had been wrong in his earlier 2008 recollection to The New Yorker.[22] ( emphasis my own - to point out the incidental 'well-lookee here' on future U.S. Senator Roland Burris of Illinois - The Land of Linens)

In the [general election, Blagojevich defeated Republican Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.[16] Blagojevich's campaign was helped by his connected father-in-law, Chicago alderman Richard Mell.[16] Ethics scandals had plagued the previous administration of Republican George Ryan (no relation to Jim), and Blagojevich's campaign focused on the theme of "ending business as usual" in state government.[23] Polls prior to the election found that many Illinois voters were confused about the names of George Ryan and Jim Ryan, a fact Blagojevich capitalized on.[24] He asked, "How can you replace one Ryan with another Ryan and call that change? You want change? Elect a guy named Blagojevich."[24] Blagojevich won with 52% of the vote over Jim Ryan.[24] On election night, he said: “Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, Illinois has voted for change.” [23]

A Cornucopia of Progressive endorsements hailed Blago into the Governorship. SEIU opened its huge wallet! Progress Illinois! Hail Rod! Hail Progress! Hail Storms!

Yep, Change one set of soiled linens for the breezy fresh Progressive new ones - Oh, wait them undies is soiled as well!

Walp!

1. Gov. Rod Blagojevich is the Governor of Illinois and he is Constitutionally ( large 'C' as in Illinois Con and not small 'c' as in capable)empowered to appoint the next U.S. Senator.

2. Roland Burris will be the next the U.S. Senator.

3. None of this stuff is new or shocking.

4. Blagojevich will most likely be impeached, but will probably waltz on the charges brought on by Fitzy.

5. Politics needs to be purged of Progressive influence and returned to effective career politicians.

6. Smoke-filled back rooms are essential to the conduct of good government and effective government services - time to lift the smoking ban. Either that, or require that Lisa Madigan, Barbara Flynn-Curry, Mary Flowers and the the other solid women in politics take up dipping Copenhagen and gnawing chaws of Red Man.

The Mixed Nuts of the Free Gaza Group of Activists -The Left's Bump in Obama's Ascendant Foreign Policy

Israelis, God Bless Them All, are fighting back at the Hamas thugs who have showered rockets onto schools, synogogues, churches, markets, and homes in Isreal and the Lefties around the globe are beefing. That's what they do. Take the contrary view to world truth, make a pain-in-the-ass of yourself on a global scale and get nominated for the Nobel Prize.

Israel is taking the proper course and naturally anti-Semitic Leftists seize the day.

Gaza will be a huge nail popping up from the soles of President Elect Obama's Florsheims.

President elect Obama may wish that John McCain had won . . .after the Ball is over on January 20th, 2009.

He may wish that he was runner-up; maybe not.

It appears the assorted nuts of planet earth - earnest world warriors offering Hegelian contrarian press statements about world events and boarding yachts to 'make a statement' against Israel will push President elect Obama to make a stand on American Foreign Policy. The Free Gaza Group will be invited on Bill Maher, MSNBC, NPR, and other lefty outlets for sober, hushed, earnest and eye-ball spinning anger.

No one's eye-balls spin like Green Party POTUS Candidate and former Congressman Cynthia McKinney - the turnstile jumper of the U.S. Congress.

Cynthia, according to Drudge Report, and a whole boatload of earnest activists like herself had their yacht rammed by the Israeli Navy as they attempted to cargo humanitarian aid to Gaza - the Hamas rocket launching paradise and cause celeb deep thinkers and trendy Nobel Prize wannbees. Here is the Free Gaza Group:

Mission Statement
We want to break the siege of Gaza. We want to raise international awareness about the prison-like closure of the Gaza Strip and pressure the international community to review its sanctions policy and end its support for continued Israeli occupation. We want to uphold Palestine's right to welcome internationals as visitors, human rights observers, humanitarian aid workers, journalists, or otherwise.

Who are we?
We are these human rights observers, aid workers, and journalists. We have years of experience volunteering in Gaza and the West Bank at the invitation of Palestinians. But now, because of the increasing stranglehold of Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine, many of us find it almost impossible to enter Gaza, and an increasing number have been refused entry to Israel and the West Bank as well. Despite the great need for our work, the Israeli Government will not allow us in to do it.

We are of all ages and backgrounds. Back home, we are teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, truck drivers, youth workers, musicians, secretaries, parents, grandparents, lawyers, students, activists, actors, playwrights, politicians, web designers, authors, international training consultants, and we even include a former Hollywood film industry worker, a former Marine, an aviator, and an explorer. We are Italian, Irish, Canadian, Greek, Tunisian, German, Australian, American, English, Scottish, Danish, Israeli, and Palestinian. ( emphasis my own)

A veritable rainbow! An unemployed Hollywood Swinger! There are no Former Marines - ask any Marine. An Explorer???? Well you also have in your bag of assorted nuts the most thoroughly documented lunatic in the US Congress since Gus Savage - La Belle McKinney!

McKinney called on President-elect Obama to address the Gaza crisis, saying the weapons being used by Israel were supplied by the United States.

McKinney denied that the incident was an accident. “What the Israelis are saying is outright disinformation,” she said. “What happened to us last night was a direct threat to our mission, but not our cause.”

Palmor called those allegations “absurd.”

“There is no intention on the part of the Israeli navy to ram anybody,” Palmor said.

In a press release, the Free Gaza movement stated, “Contrary to international maritime law, the Israelis are actively preventing the Dignity from approaching Gaza or finding safe haven in either Egypt or Lebanon. Instead, the Israeli navy is demanding that the Dignity return to Cyprus — despite the fact that the ship does not carry enough fuel to do so.”

McKinney is a high-profile member of a boatload of activists that set sail Monday from Cyprus to deliver medicine to war-torn Gaza.

'Who made this Shrimp Platter? These are frozen! I Said fresh! I'll busta cap in your ass! Why is this boat rocking???'

An Irish Activist Caomhe Butterly has been all over the globe activating: New York Homeless, Mexican Zapatistas, Isreal Bashing and deploring American efforts in Iraq from the get-go! Ms. Butterly was even shot in the thigh during one of her earnest visits to Gaza by IFD soldiers.

In 2003, before The Surge and long before Iraqis could once again drink clean water, vote and go the market, Ms. Butterly fulminated against American Fascism:

"They are sick. They are deeply, deeply sick. Tell the Americans we don't believe in this freedom" says an elderly man. His comment is one of the many of the crowd that surround us yelling their pain and anger--demanding an explanation, a response--"why?" "why do they insist on continuing to massacre our people--how much more blood do they want?" "show them, show the world, tell them the truth."

Later, we move on, to the school occupied by the American military for the past week. It is here that - we are told--a non violent orderly demonstration to the school took place last night. All those interviewed, all those crowded outside the school now insist that the official version is false. They gathered peacefully, and marched peacefully, past the mosque through a residential area to the barbed wire coils that surround the occupied school.

The American troops as we arrive, are packing up. This is not a media stunt--the media have come and gone--a constant traffic, all day, through the hospital. Pictures taken, grief and loss encapsulated into palatable sound bites. This withdrawal is tactical. The public relations campaign of a benign occupation will be difficult to maintain if there is follow-up to this particular massacre. If there are charges pressed by the families, by the brothers who were hit by stray bullets inside their house. If there is investigation into the legitimacy of the official army version of events. It will become d! difficult, if there can be, in Falluja, a focal center for people's anger and frustration, an occupied school, snipers pointing guns at people entering and exited the mosque. It is easier for everyone, if the soldiers slip off into the night, avoiding the scrutiny, the fixed eye of accountability, which must be a factor in any "liberated" "democratic" country. So they do, slip off into the night--and, not recognizing us as their armoured cars and trucks pass our car on a dark highway to Baghdad, American soldiers pump their fists into the air for our cameras, giving us the victory sign.

Liberation--an ephemeral, passing phenomena has come and gone in Falluja. It came, sat uncomfortably for a week--without translators, cultural or historical sensibility, brought a temporary horde of journalists to record its only lasting impression on a community; that of violence, and pain, and loss; and left. Falluja, we are told lat! er via a news report by a BBC reporter, has always been "anti Amer ican". This should, and will, nullify or qualm any murmurings of distrust abroad as to what lies ahead.

Caoimhe Butterly is an Irish human rights activist, currently living in Baghdad with Voices in the Wilderness. She spent a year in Jenin, Palestine, and since her deportation in Dec. 2002, has been campaigning full-time in Ireland and the UK, giving over 70 talks on Palestine and Jenin. She is in Iraq indefinitely, and can be reached through: info@vitw.org

President Elect Obama will face moral and political back-blow from the trendy loudmouths who helped elect him -God Help the Man.I will venture to say that the Gaza Group and the media morons will attempt to paint President Obama as Bush III by President's Day 2009. When you get into a crowded boat, make sure you look to see just how fast your fellow occupants' eyes are spinning. If Cynthia McKinney's broad beam occupies any lumber on the craft - take the next boat, Mr. President!

Jan 'I Want Obama's Seat' Schakowsky's Progressive Keyboarding Class

Huge Hat Tip and Hosanna to Max Weismann and the Center for the Study of Great Ideas.

Couch Cruiser's 'Valkyrie' - Nazis as Great Guys . . .Just Slow on the Draw!

Yep. Rommel was a good Nazi. Tried to snuff the the Paper Hanger a tad late in the War though. Erwin and the Lads kind of Screwed the pooch and got themselves Luca Brazzi'd for their efforts - pretty thick oak on Al's Big Table and all.

Tom, the Couch Jumper, Cruise made a huge movie about the terrific group of guys **who decided that Hitler had to go . . . kind of like many in the Illinois Legislature getting an inc-ling that Blago is, and has been, a tad milky in the filbert.

Well, Valkyrie is one movie that I can't wait to see . . .when it comes on Cable.

About a year before I was born, Henry Hathaway directed a movie called The Desert Fox* which presented some of the life of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, who was part of the Valkyrie Plot to assassinate Old Vienna Al Hitler - the Peter Principle on Steroids.

The Desert Fox covered the plot and substance of the Tom Cruise movie pretty good. In fact, it is safe to say that every male over the age of thirty and most of the women who tolerate us caught the James Mason Rommel story and got a pretty good fix on the tale from Saturday Night at the Movies ( Click My Post Title for more) - 'Are you serious, Englishman?' was the great riposte to the British commando sent to kill Rommel and fails -'Did we get . . .him?' Laughing Nazi,'Are you serious, Englishman?' You gotta love movie Nazis - real ones are pretty pathetic dopes - like the dubious sexual orientation goose-steppers who used to hang out around Marquette Park.

Well, Tom Cruise, who may not be nuts, but plays a great one in real life is all over the place with this Pup of a Picture.

Good Nazis decide to kill Hitler and fail.

Save your dough. Desert Fox will be on AMC or TCM - watch a guy who knows how to do a Nazi. James Mason is Rommel.








*The film starts with Rommel as desert warfare genius and then when he does become ill and is invalided out of North Africa, the Allies regain the initiative and beat his famed Afrika Korps. Rommel is then sent to Western Europe to supervise the defenses on the Atlantic.

There comes a point when Rommel does realize that his Fuehrer is destroying his country and becomes involved in the plot to kill him and overthrow the government. That is what most of the film deals with.

James Mason is a stalwart Rommel a perfect conception of the man they called The Desert Fox. In this mostly male film, Jessica Tandy has little to do but be loyal and supportive as Frau Rommel.

Luther Adler who among other parts he played in his long distinguished career was David Ben-Gurion. He goes the whole opposite way in his portrayal of a ranting and malevolent Adolph Hitler. How a man who took his Jewish heritage as seriously as Luther Adler did, prepare for the role of Hitler is beyond my scope. But then again, there were few actors as good as he.

Though Mason does a fine job given what limited material he had to work from, archives have been opened and we know a whole lot more about Erwin Rommel. Time for another biographical study. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043461/


** 'Listen, Obersturm Gruppenfuehrer, the Al I know loves Dogs and Kids and he's . . .he's dating really . . .fat ankles sure but she's a female woman . . . Look. He's Okay, I'm telling you. We're doing pretty good and two fronts going. If things look bad in July we'll pink slip him.'