A funny thing happened on the way to this week’s blog. Well not funny, exactly; at least not in a humorous way, which I guess means it was not funny at all, really.
First, I had an evening of delightful and spirited conversation with an agent from my ISP, that’s Internet Service Provider, for the digitally challenged; better known as non-Net savvy. Add to that a number of exciting exchanges with a representative from my name-brand computer manufacturer, whom like the ISP, shall remain unnamed. Thank my parents for that modicum of discretion, for they taught me, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything.”
While I had not done a great deal of advanced research, I had done some, and I had thought a great deal, about what would have been this week’s topic. The good news is the matter is not likely to have a short shelf life. The bad news is by next week I may want to write about something else. In any event, the bottom line for this week is “The Blog That Wasn’t!”
The gritty details are mundane and insignificant, not worth repeating. Please accept my apologies, know that am disappointed, and most important, enjoy the break. I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link:
http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. The Sphinx of Charlotte publishes a new post is published each Wednesday. This week especially, if you have missed a few, take the opportunity to go back (scroll down) and check out previous issues.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"The Audacity to Dream: Hail to the Chief!"
The Barack Obama Story is the kind of unbelievable journey that were it a book, you would instinctively declare it fiction. Of course as you know, there are already two books, The Audacity of Hope, and Dreams from My Father; almost certainly, others will follow. Undoubtedly, clinching the Democratic Primary, winning the General Election, and the pomp and circumstance of the biggest Presidential Inaugural ever will inspire their own written depictions, perhaps even mini-series and/or movies.
But before I continue, I must pause to note for the record, that despite all the attention on the Inaugural and President Obama, for at least one group of 155 persons and their families and close personal friends, there is a story much bigger, personal, and even pertinent, than the Inauguration. In fact, had it occurred almost any other time it would have been my featured conversation.
Last Thursday afternoon, US Airways Flight 1549, scheduled to fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, made an emergency landing in the Hudson River, roughly 5 minutes after take-off. In what is understandably being hailed as the Miracle on the Hudson, all 155 people aboard the plane survived. Without a doubt, this is a feel-good story for the ages, and the Captain, Chesley “Sully” Sullenburger, III, his co-pilot, Jeffrey Skiles, and the entire Flight Crew deserve mega-kudos for exemplifying grace under extreme pressure.
The immediate cause of the near disaster is thought to be a bird strike, which in aeronautics parlance means one or more birds flew or were sucked into the engine compartment. In a related development it is worth noting that a passenger on the same flight, on the same plane, just two days earlier reported hearing a loud sound that caused a commotion among the passengers and flight crew. It will be interesting to see what is revealed by the ensuing investigation.
Captain Sullenburger and the flight crew’s performance under duress should be heralded as noteworthy, no matter what else is determined. But if U.S. Airways is found to have acted irresponsibly, by failing to act on information that could have averted this event, the range and impact of consequences could be broad and severe.
Now, back to regular programming…or at least my original point; let us note the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. Yesterday, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr., formally issued in a new era of the American Presidency when he administered the Oath of Office to former Senator Barrack Hussein Obama.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senior Senator from California, opened, and orchestrated the Inaugural’s proceedings. She began with a brief, but powerful statement that set the stage for and framed, aptly, the ceremony Americans use to peacefully transfer Executive power every four years. It was almost Obamaesque.
The Reverend Rick Warren, the evangelical Senior Pastor of the Saddleback mega-church in Lake Forest, California, gave the Invocation. While his inclusion on the program was controversial, and largely opposed by many from the Gay-Rights community, his comments were largely inclusive, though certainly not brief.
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, sang a stirring rendition of “My Country Tis of Thee,” followed by Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the longest tenured member of the High Court, administering the Oath of Office to Vice President Joe Biden.
The event, while scheduled to the minute, fell behind fairly earl. As a result, at noon, the TV viewing audience was advised that by law, Barack Obama had become President at 12 o’clock, even though he had not received the Oath of Office.
Noted composer John Williams created a special classical composition for the Inauguration. A quartet featuring Cellist, Yo-yo Ma, Violinist, Itzhak Perlman, Clarinetist, Anthony McGill, and Pianist, Gabriella Montero performed the piece, called “Air.”
Then, at the moment millions in person, and perhaps billions watching around the world witnessed as Chief Justice Roberts caused confusion, momentarily, when he stumbled over the wording in of the 39-word Presidential Oath, misplacing the word faithfully. Ironically, Obama had created a stir of his own, earlier, when he indicated he wanted the words “so help me God” added to the end of the Oath. A lawsuit brought by Michael Newdow, an atheist, attempted to prevent Obama from using the phrase. There was no indication that any problems ensued from using the Bible Lincoln was sworn in with.
Political mythology holds that George Washington added the phrase, and that it has been used by Presidents ever since. However, based upon recent historical research, it is not verifiable that Washington used the phrase at all, and equally unclear how many other Presidents did. Nevertheless, the suit did not prevail. The inclusion of the first 35 words of the Oath was not in question, as they are written into the Constitution.
There is no tradition that limits the length of the Inaugural Address. The shortest, only 135 words, was Washington's second. The longest, by William Henry Harrison, had 8,578 words and took nearly two hours. In a macho performance, Harrison wore neither hat nor coat despite miserable weather. He caught a cold that became pneumonia and died 30 days later.
In just 18 minutes, President Obama underscored the prevailing crises, gave fair warning to America’s enemies, comforted our friends, and provided confident assurance that we will meet the challenges before us. Perhaps most importantly he emphatically announced, “America is again ready to lead!” He was firm, and flexible, at once. He made it clear the time for excuses is past; the time for accountability here. I think he made his point…in less than 20 minutes.
Unquestionably, the person with the toughest job of the day was Yale Professor, and First Poet, Elizabeth Alexander. She was charged with following the President, and keeping the attention of nearly two million people now waiting for nothing more than the Benediction before moving to the Parade Route, lunch, or whatever came next. She offered a poem called "Praise Song for the Day," and not surprisingly, it was met with mixed reactions, as many headed for the exits. Yet it also played to critical acclaim from at least one national publication.
As Pastor Rick Warren’s Invocation ushered in one aspect of the Ecclesiastical Diaspora, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery’s Benediction, infused by excerpts from James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing (familiarly known as The Negro National Anthem),” powerfully personified another segment; but so did his less well-known adaptation of the words that great Negro poet, Dolemite!
Let us be clear; with all the talk of the vigor virtue, and values of Barack Hussein Obama, it may seem as though the man and his legend were born, cultivated, and developed in a vacuum. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. He knows, and we must realize and pay homage to the fact President Obama has scaled prodigious heights, not only because of his own industriousness, intellect, and ambition, but also because he has been able to get a leg up from and stand on the broad and strong shoulders of his predecessors.
This is a more nuanced truth than we sometimes want to concede. When we think of Obama’s influences, Isabella Baumfree (Sojourner Truth), Araminta Ross (Harriet Tubman), Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey (Frederick Douglass), Michael King, Jr. (the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), and the like spring to mind. But Obama is a product of cultural blending, and as a result, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, Stanley Ann Dunham, and Barack Obama, Sr., his maternal grandparents, and parents, must also enter the equation. Those are simply the facts; if you have a problem with that, get over it!
Instead, focus on Barack Obama’s relentless drive to bring harmony and completion to these diverse elements and others, but also the willingness of parties that often disagree, historically, to at least engage in discourse that provides hope for a future both different and improved from the past. Because of his “Audacity to Dream,” we can all say, “Hail to the Chief!”
Finally, it must also be said, Barack Obama's rise to the Presiency "IS NOT" the culmination of Dr. King's Dream, nor the fulfillment of the promise of his legacy. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, and Robert Frost, respectively, "it is one giant step in the right direction, for mankind;" But, "we have miles to go before we sleep!"
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.atforumz.com/showthread.php?t=309543
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1872715,00.html?imw=Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcGMHjb1W5k
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.inauguration/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.speech/index.html?iref=topnews
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/news/transition.to.power/
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/first.100.days/
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090120_Inaugural_facts_you_likely_didn_t_know.html
http://www.wowowow.com/post/diane-feinsteins-inaugural-remarks-astound-179736?promo=news
http://www.yo-yoma.com/news/yo-yo-ma-perform-new-john-williams-composition-air-and-simple-gifts-president-elect-barack-obam
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/16/eveningnews/main4728539.shtml
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/2009/01/we_interrupt_our_coverage_of.html
http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-na-inaug-poet21-2009jan21,0,4441616.story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianne_Feinstein
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Warren
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Stevens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-Yo_Ma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itzhak_Perlman
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/inauguration/1383882,SHO-Sunday-mcgill18.article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriela_Montero
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Roberts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
http://www.elizabethalexander.net/home.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Lowery
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1872796,00.html?iid=tsmodule
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1124682/Congratulations-Mr-President-Two-million-watch-Obama-oath-Americas-black-commander-chief.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012001146.html?hpid=topnews
http://www.examiner.com/a-1805267~Roberts_stumbles_slightly_over_presidential_oath.html
http://www.newsweek.com/id/179712
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480108,00.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/19/america/19blackbox.php
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/19/hudson.plane.folo/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolemite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
But before I continue, I must pause to note for the record, that despite all the attention on the Inaugural and President Obama, for at least one group of 155 persons and their families and close personal friends, there is a story much bigger, personal, and even pertinent, than the Inauguration. In fact, had it occurred almost any other time it would have been my featured conversation.
Last Thursday afternoon, US Airways Flight 1549, scheduled to fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, made an emergency landing in the Hudson River, roughly 5 minutes after take-off. In what is understandably being hailed as the Miracle on the Hudson, all 155 people aboard the plane survived. Without a doubt, this is a feel-good story for the ages, and the Captain, Chesley “Sully” Sullenburger, III, his co-pilot, Jeffrey Skiles, and the entire Flight Crew deserve mega-kudos for exemplifying grace under extreme pressure.
The immediate cause of the near disaster is thought to be a bird strike, which in aeronautics parlance means one or more birds flew or were sucked into the engine compartment. In a related development it is worth noting that a passenger on the same flight, on the same plane, just two days earlier reported hearing a loud sound that caused a commotion among the passengers and flight crew. It will be interesting to see what is revealed by the ensuing investigation.
Captain Sullenburger and the flight crew’s performance under duress should be heralded as noteworthy, no matter what else is determined. But if U.S. Airways is found to have acted irresponsibly, by failing to act on information that could have averted this event, the range and impact of consequences could be broad and severe.
Now, back to regular programming…or at least my original point; let us note the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. Yesterday, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr., formally issued in a new era of the American Presidency when he administered the Oath of Office to former Senator Barrack Hussein Obama.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senior Senator from California, opened, and orchestrated the Inaugural’s proceedings. She began with a brief, but powerful statement that set the stage for and framed, aptly, the ceremony Americans use to peacefully transfer Executive power every four years. It was almost Obamaesque.
The Reverend Rick Warren, the evangelical Senior Pastor of the Saddleback mega-church in Lake Forest, California, gave the Invocation. While his inclusion on the program was controversial, and largely opposed by many from the Gay-Rights community, his comments were largely inclusive, though certainly not brief.
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, sang a stirring rendition of “My Country Tis of Thee,” followed by Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the longest tenured member of the High Court, administering the Oath of Office to Vice President Joe Biden.
The event, while scheduled to the minute, fell behind fairly earl. As a result, at noon, the TV viewing audience was advised that by law, Barack Obama had become President at 12 o’clock, even though he had not received the Oath of Office.
Noted composer John Williams created a special classical composition for the Inauguration. A quartet featuring Cellist, Yo-yo Ma, Violinist, Itzhak Perlman, Clarinetist, Anthony McGill, and Pianist, Gabriella Montero performed the piece, called “Air.”
Then, at the moment millions in person, and perhaps billions watching around the world witnessed as Chief Justice Roberts caused confusion, momentarily, when he stumbled over the wording in of the 39-word Presidential Oath, misplacing the word faithfully. Ironically, Obama had created a stir of his own, earlier, when he indicated he wanted the words “so help me God” added to the end of the Oath. A lawsuit brought by Michael Newdow, an atheist, attempted to prevent Obama from using the phrase. There was no indication that any problems ensued from using the Bible Lincoln was sworn in with.
Political mythology holds that George Washington added the phrase, and that it has been used by Presidents ever since. However, based upon recent historical research, it is not verifiable that Washington used the phrase at all, and equally unclear how many other Presidents did. Nevertheless, the suit did not prevail. The inclusion of the first 35 words of the Oath was not in question, as they are written into the Constitution.
There is no tradition that limits the length of the Inaugural Address. The shortest, only 135 words, was Washington's second. The longest, by William Henry Harrison, had 8,578 words and took nearly two hours. In a macho performance, Harrison wore neither hat nor coat despite miserable weather. He caught a cold that became pneumonia and died 30 days later.
In just 18 minutes, President Obama underscored the prevailing crises, gave fair warning to America’s enemies, comforted our friends, and provided confident assurance that we will meet the challenges before us. Perhaps most importantly he emphatically announced, “America is again ready to lead!” He was firm, and flexible, at once. He made it clear the time for excuses is past; the time for accountability here. I think he made his point…in less than 20 minutes.
Unquestionably, the person with the toughest job of the day was Yale Professor, and First Poet, Elizabeth Alexander. She was charged with following the President, and keeping the attention of nearly two million people now waiting for nothing more than the Benediction before moving to the Parade Route, lunch, or whatever came next. She offered a poem called "Praise Song for the Day," and not surprisingly, it was met with mixed reactions, as many headed for the exits. Yet it also played to critical acclaim from at least one national publication.
As Pastor Rick Warren’s Invocation ushered in one aspect of the Ecclesiastical Diaspora, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery’s Benediction, infused by excerpts from James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing (familiarly known as The Negro National Anthem),” powerfully personified another segment; but so did his less well-known adaptation of the words that great Negro poet, Dolemite!
Let us be clear; with all the talk of the vigor virtue, and values of Barack Hussein Obama, it may seem as though the man and his legend were born, cultivated, and developed in a vacuum. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. He knows, and we must realize and pay homage to the fact President Obama has scaled prodigious heights, not only because of his own industriousness, intellect, and ambition, but also because he has been able to get a leg up from and stand on the broad and strong shoulders of his predecessors.
This is a more nuanced truth than we sometimes want to concede. When we think of Obama’s influences, Isabella Baumfree (Sojourner Truth), Araminta Ross (Harriet Tubman), Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey (Frederick Douglass), Michael King, Jr. (the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), and the like spring to mind. But Obama is a product of cultural blending, and as a result, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, Stanley Ann Dunham, and Barack Obama, Sr., his maternal grandparents, and parents, must also enter the equation. Those are simply the facts; if you have a problem with that, get over it!
Instead, focus on Barack Obama’s relentless drive to bring harmony and completion to these diverse elements and others, but also the willingness of parties that often disagree, historically, to at least engage in discourse that provides hope for a future both different and improved from the past. Because of his “Audacity to Dream,” we can all say, “Hail to the Chief!”
Finally, it must also be said, Barack Obama's rise to the Presiency "IS NOT" the culmination of Dr. King's Dream, nor the fulfillment of the promise of his legacy. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, and Robert Frost, respectively, "it is one giant step in the right direction, for mankind;" But, "we have miles to go before we sleep!"
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.atforumz.com/showthread.php?t=309543
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1872715,00.html?imw=Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcGMHjb1W5k
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.inauguration/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.speech/index.html?iref=topnews
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/news/transition.to.power/
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/first.100.days/
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090120_Inaugural_facts_you_likely_didn_t_know.html
http://www.wowowow.com/post/diane-feinsteins-inaugural-remarks-astound-179736?promo=news
http://www.yo-yoma.com/news/yo-yo-ma-perform-new-john-williams-composition-air-and-simple-gifts-president-elect-barack-obam
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/16/eveningnews/main4728539.shtml
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/2009/01/we_interrupt_our_coverage_of.html
http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-na-inaug-poet21-2009jan21,0,4441616.story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianne_Feinstein
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Warren
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Stevens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-Yo_Ma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itzhak_Perlman
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/inauguration/1383882,SHO-Sunday-mcgill18.article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriela_Montero
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Roberts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
http://www.elizabethalexander.net/home.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Lowery
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1872796,00.html?iid=tsmodule
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1124682/Congratulations-Mr-President-Two-million-watch-Obama-oath-Americas-black-commander-chief.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012001146.html?hpid=topnews
http://www.examiner.com/a-1805267~Roberts_stumbles_slightly_over_presidential_oath.html
http://www.newsweek.com/id/179712
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480108,00.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/19/america/19blackbox.php
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/19/hudson.plane.folo/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolemite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
"The Once and Future Junior Senators from Illinois"
Six days from now, on what will be an historic occasion, Barack (formerly Barry) Hussein Obama will be inaugurated the Country’s 44th President; the first black elected to the post. But tomorrow, in a less celebrated, but no less historic moment, for the first time, a black man will succeed another black man as member of the U.S. Senate.
Roland Burris is scheduled to be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. Thursday by Vice President Dick Cheney, who will be carrying out one of his final official duties, acting in his capacity as President of the Senate. If nothing else, what I bemusedly refer to as The Tale of the Three B’s, has been the epitome of political theater at it highest. That it will culminate on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.’s 80th Birthday must be the kind irony that would make King smile, but not as much as the Inauguration, the day before the King Holiday.
The central characters in the end game of this melodrama, each an unwilling player in his own right, are Barack, Blagojevich, and Burris. I am sure you know the story. Blagojevich, the Illinois Governor was busted several weeks ago, arrested December 9, 2008, for having been caught on tape trying to sell President–elect Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder. Barack, who was immediately cleared of any involvement in the onerous scheme, quickly condemned the Governor, and opposed any selection the besmirched Illinois Head of State might make.
The State Legislature threatened to enact a resolution stripping the Governor of the authority to appoint a successor to Obama, but ultimately opted not to take that draconian step. It is unclear exactly why the legislative body decided not to follow through on the action, but in retrospect, they are certain to conclude that was a miscalculation of mega-proportion.
Blagojevich proceeded to do what the Illinois State Legislature apparently considered the unthinkable; he appointed a successor to Barack Obama; Roland Burris. The President-elect praised the appointee, but opposed the appointment, or at least the discredited Governor making it. The Governor maintained his innocence, and argued further that he was not only authorized to make the appointment, but required by law to do so. Senator-designate Burris pointed out that he was in no way connected to the scandal, had been duly appointed by a sitting Governor, and fully intended to assume his seat in the Senate Chamber and represent the people of Illinois. Meanwhile, the Democratic leadership of the Senate, headed by Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, and Senate Majority Whip, Dick Durbin, also the Senior Senator from Illinois, vowed to deny Burris access to the Senate floor.
As the posing and posturing ensued, and numerous analysts debated whether the Senate should seat Burris, the real question of the hour was, would they? On this question, numerous analysts thought it inevitable from day 1.
Pertinent Case Law, including a 1969 Supreme Court case involving Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, seemed to favor Burris’ position. Of course, it did not hurt that Burris had served Illinois in two previous statewide elected capacities, State Comptroller for 12 years, and Attorney General, for 4 years. In an additional irony, Burris, like MLK, and Adam Clayton Powell, before him, is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; a life member, in fact.
As Senator-designate Burris argued, he was not implicated in the Governor’s scandal. Come to think of it, the Democrats may have a few bigger fish to fry. As they assume control of both branches of Congress and the Presidency next week, the economy, wars and rumors of wars, trade and budget deficits, immigration reform, and tax policy, just to name 7 items, are all issues that scream for attention and resolution. This was clearly a bad time to be pulled down by the undertow of political morass an extended series of intra-party court cases would ensure. Not that there is ever a good time for such folly.
Besides, if they really want Senate based intrigue, they can always look to New York, where Caroline Kennedy is still trying to win the approval of Governor David Paterson, Minnesota, where Norm Coleman appears to have been ousted by former Saturday Night Live Comedian Al Franken, and is still engaged in a legal challenge, and/or my personal favorite, Delaware, where Vice President-elect Joe Biden is holding on to his seat, to the bitter end.
In fact, it looks as though come January 20th, “The Once and Future Junior Senators from Illinois” can meet on the Capitol Building steps and hold a conversation about how “The Past is Prologue.”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Burris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_White_(politician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Durbin
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/13/roland-burris-to-be-sworn-in-as-senator-on-thursday/
http://www.beloblog.com/KMOV_Blogs/vickiesviews/2009/01/senator-roland-burris-champion.html
http://www.politicalintersectionblog.com/2009/01/illinois-senate-appointee-roland-burris.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Clayton_Powell,_Jr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Paterson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Coleman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Franken
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_Day
Roland Burris is scheduled to be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. Thursday by Vice President Dick Cheney, who will be carrying out one of his final official duties, acting in his capacity as President of the Senate. If nothing else, what I bemusedly refer to as The Tale of the Three B’s, has been the epitome of political theater at it highest. That it will culminate on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.’s 80th Birthday must be the kind irony that would make King smile, but not as much as the Inauguration, the day before the King Holiday.
The central characters in the end game of this melodrama, each an unwilling player in his own right, are Barack, Blagojevich, and Burris. I am sure you know the story. Blagojevich, the Illinois Governor was busted several weeks ago, arrested December 9, 2008, for having been caught on tape trying to sell President–elect Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder. Barack, who was immediately cleared of any involvement in the onerous scheme, quickly condemned the Governor, and opposed any selection the besmirched Illinois Head of State might make.
The State Legislature threatened to enact a resolution stripping the Governor of the authority to appoint a successor to Obama, but ultimately opted not to take that draconian step. It is unclear exactly why the legislative body decided not to follow through on the action, but in retrospect, they are certain to conclude that was a miscalculation of mega-proportion.
Blagojevich proceeded to do what the Illinois State Legislature apparently considered the unthinkable; he appointed a successor to Barack Obama; Roland Burris. The President-elect praised the appointee, but opposed the appointment, or at least the discredited Governor making it. The Governor maintained his innocence, and argued further that he was not only authorized to make the appointment, but required by law to do so. Senator-designate Burris pointed out that he was in no way connected to the scandal, had been duly appointed by a sitting Governor, and fully intended to assume his seat in the Senate Chamber and represent the people of Illinois. Meanwhile, the Democratic leadership of the Senate, headed by Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, and Senate Majority Whip, Dick Durbin, also the Senior Senator from Illinois, vowed to deny Burris access to the Senate floor.
As the posing and posturing ensued, and numerous analysts debated whether the Senate should seat Burris, the real question of the hour was, would they? On this question, numerous analysts thought it inevitable from day 1.
Pertinent Case Law, including a 1969 Supreme Court case involving Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, seemed to favor Burris’ position. Of course, it did not hurt that Burris had served Illinois in two previous statewide elected capacities, State Comptroller for 12 years, and Attorney General, for 4 years. In an additional irony, Burris, like MLK, and Adam Clayton Powell, before him, is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; a life member, in fact.
As Senator-designate Burris argued, he was not implicated in the Governor’s scandal. Come to think of it, the Democrats may have a few bigger fish to fry. As they assume control of both branches of Congress and the Presidency next week, the economy, wars and rumors of wars, trade and budget deficits, immigration reform, and tax policy, just to name 7 items, are all issues that scream for attention and resolution. This was clearly a bad time to be pulled down by the undertow of political morass an extended series of intra-party court cases would ensure. Not that there is ever a good time for such folly.
Besides, if they really want Senate based intrigue, they can always look to New York, where Caroline Kennedy is still trying to win the approval of Governor David Paterson, Minnesota, where Norm Coleman appears to have been ousted by former Saturday Night Live Comedian Al Franken, and is still engaged in a legal challenge, and/or my personal favorite, Delaware, where Vice President-elect Joe Biden is holding on to his seat, to the bitter end.
In fact, it looks as though come January 20th, “The Once and Future Junior Senators from Illinois” can meet on the Capitol Building steps and hold a conversation about how “The Past is Prologue.”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Burris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_White_(politician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Durbin
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/13/roland-burris-to-be-sworn-in-as-senator-on-thursday/
http://www.beloblog.com/KMOV_Blogs/vickiesviews/2009/01/senator-roland-burris-champion.html
http://www.politicalintersectionblog.com/2009/01/illinois-senate-appointee-roland-burris.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Clayton_Powell,_Jr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Paterson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Coleman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Franken
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_Day
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Sport or Entertainment; Either Way, It's Fantastic!
Back in the day, as past eras are often affectionately recalled, the National Basketball Association coined a slogan that boldly proclaimed. “The NBA is Fantastic.” Having always been a fan of “The League,” I fully bought in long ago. But occasionally, I am actually reminded why I did.
Last night was one of those occasions. A colleague called late in the afternoon to say he had tickets to the Bobcats' game, and asked if I wanted to go. As a rule, I do not take on extra-curricular activities on Tuesday evenings. After all, I already have a commitment to publish a blog posting for Wednesdays.
I really did consider not accepting this unexpected largess…for all of a nano-second. A chance to watch the star-laden, defending NBA Champions; NBA Royalty, as it were…of course I would be going! The Current day Bird, McHale, and Parrish, personified by Garnett, Allen, and Pierce would be holding court, at center court, and all over Time Warner Arena, for that matter.
As a Lakers fan for life, who always supports the hometown Bobcats when those two teams play, I would be duty-bound to spew partisan venom with the best of them as the interloping visitors handed the good guys their proverbial lunch, but only after having taken their lunch money. How else could it possibly unfold?
Yesterday, Boston sported the best record in the Eastern Conference, while Charlotte was 13th out of 15 teams. The Celtics had the second best record in the entire 30-team League, only recently ceding the best record to my dear Lakers. The Bobcats meanwhile were a mere 22nd, and holding. It’s true the mighty Celtics have been in a mild slide, but a visit to the Queen City seemed like just the tonic for what ailed them.
This is the point where the time-honored phrase, “that’s why they play the games,” was introduced. Evidently, someone forgot to clue the erstwhile hapless Bobcats in on the widely held belief they would earn a benevolence award for their evening’s work, by gift-wrapping an easy victory for the once and future Champs.
The Men in Kelly Green are still the favorite of many to return to the 2009 NBA Finals, and indeed, they still may. But for one balmy January evening in Charlotte, the processional to crown the Celtics was temporarily derailed by the lowly Charlotte Bobcats.
I know not everyone is a fan, so I will not belabor the point by giddily elaborating on the gritty details, but for the record, the Bobcats competed gamely from the start, and led after each of the first three quarters, found themselves tied at the end of regulation, and sprinted to victory in the overtime period. They played better than they are; the Celtics not as well. It was entertaining; it was fantastic; you might even say, “it was fantastic entertainment!” I guess I just did.
For an encore, I will travel north to Chapel Hill this evening to watch my favorite college team, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. They will attempt to rebound from a similarly unexpected defeat at the hands of what was characterized as an overmatched opponent, coincidentally, also from Boston. GO HEELS!
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/104/story/455960.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-01-06-celtics-bobcats_N.htm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290106030
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20090106_BOS@CHA
http://www.nba.com/video/games/bobcats/2009/01/06/nba_bos_cha_0020800506_recap.nba/index.html?player=whatsnew
http://stats.washingtonpost.com/nba/teamstats.asp?teamno=30&type=teamhome
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i5YQZfSoS5B9ZwGLCYaCwtcLGRAQD95I1UA80
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009010630
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/viewcast/2009/01/06/index.html?contestId=24239&vendorId=2009010630&vendorVisitTeam=2&vendorHomeTeam=30&pageType=recap
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/gameTrax?gameId=2009010630
Last night was one of those occasions. A colleague called late in the afternoon to say he had tickets to the Bobcats' game, and asked if I wanted to go. As a rule, I do not take on extra-curricular activities on Tuesday evenings. After all, I already have a commitment to publish a blog posting for Wednesdays.
I really did consider not accepting this unexpected largess…for all of a nano-second. A chance to watch the star-laden, defending NBA Champions; NBA Royalty, as it were…of course I would be going! The Current day Bird, McHale, and Parrish, personified by Garnett, Allen, and Pierce would be holding court, at center court, and all over Time Warner Arena, for that matter.
As a Lakers fan for life, who always supports the hometown Bobcats when those two teams play, I would be duty-bound to spew partisan venom with the best of them as the interloping visitors handed the good guys their proverbial lunch, but only after having taken their lunch money. How else could it possibly unfold?
Yesterday, Boston sported the best record in the Eastern Conference, while Charlotte was 13th out of 15 teams. The Celtics had the second best record in the entire 30-team League, only recently ceding the best record to my dear Lakers. The Bobcats meanwhile were a mere 22nd, and holding. It’s true the mighty Celtics have been in a mild slide, but a visit to the Queen City seemed like just the tonic for what ailed them.
This is the point where the time-honored phrase, “that’s why they play the games,” was introduced. Evidently, someone forgot to clue the erstwhile hapless Bobcats in on the widely held belief they would earn a benevolence award for their evening’s work, by gift-wrapping an easy victory for the once and future Champs.
The Men in Kelly Green are still the favorite of many to return to the 2009 NBA Finals, and indeed, they still may. But for one balmy January evening in Charlotte, the processional to crown the Celtics was temporarily derailed by the lowly Charlotte Bobcats.
I know not everyone is a fan, so I will not belabor the point by giddily elaborating on the gritty details, but for the record, the Bobcats competed gamely from the start, and led after each of the first three quarters, found themselves tied at the end of regulation, and sprinted to victory in the overtime period. They played better than they are; the Celtics not as well. It was entertaining; it was fantastic; you might even say, “it was fantastic entertainment!” I guess I just did.
For an encore, I will travel north to Chapel Hill this evening to watch my favorite college team, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. They will attempt to rebound from a similarly unexpected defeat at the hands of what was characterized as an overmatched opponent, coincidentally, also from Boston. GO HEELS!
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/104/story/455960.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-01-06-celtics-bobcats_N.htm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290106030
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20090106_BOS@CHA
http://www.nba.com/video/games/bobcats/2009/01/06/nba_bos_cha_0020800506_recap.nba/index.html?player=whatsnew
http://stats.washingtonpost.com/nba/teamstats.asp?teamno=30&type=teamhome
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i5YQZfSoS5B9ZwGLCYaCwtcLGRAQD95I1UA80
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009010630
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/viewcast/2009/01/06/index.html?contestId=24239&vendorId=2009010630&vendorVisitTeam=2&vendorHomeTeam=30&pageType=recap
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/gameTrax?gameId=2009010630
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