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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/07/AR2008040701359.html
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https://web.archive.org/web/2008040819id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/07/AR2008040701359.html
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The Post Wins 6 Pulitzer Prizes
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Those stories, along with an investigation of violence by military contractors in Iraq and the writing of business columnist Steven Pearlstein and magazine columnist Gene Weingarten, enabled the paper to break its previous record of four Pulitzers, awarded in 2006.
The New York Times shared the investigative reporting prize, for work by Walt Bogdanich and Jake Hooker on dangerous ingredients in Chinese products, with the Chicago Tribune, for stories about flawed regulation of toys, cribs and car seats. The Times also won an explanatory journalism prize for Amy Harmon's writing on DNA testing.
The Post's awards touched on the most pressing national and international issues of 2007, from the Iraq war to the treatment of veterans, from the inner workings of the Bush administration to the meltdown in the mortgage market, to the worst campus violence in U.S. history. It is rare for one news organization to sweep nearly half the prizes.
The Post series on Walter Reed, by Dana Priest, Anne Hull and photographer Michel du Cille, won the public service medal for documenting in vivid detail the substandard treatment for wounded soldiers and poor living conditions marked by cockroaches and mold. The series sparked a political uproar, prompting Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to fire Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey, and a presidential commission later recommended numerous changes.
After numerous false starts, including visits to a downtown strip club where veterans were supposedly being fleeced, "the hard part was making people feel comfortable enough to talk to us," Priest said, "and then to talk to us on the record. . . . It was a hard story emotionally. For the first time, I found myself in tears after interviews. It was very heartbreaking." Du Cille described sneaking into a patient center with his camera hidden in his gym bag.
The award was the second Pulitzer for Priest, who won in 2006 for revealing that the CIA was operating secret prisons in Eastern Europe.
Barton Gellman and Jo Becker won the national reporting award for a four-part series that examined how Cheney "has shaped his times as no vice president has before," including his impact on the U.S. anti-terrorism effort, tax and spending policies and environmental regulation.
"I resisted this assignment for a while because I thought it was too hard," Gellman said. "I thought the guy is just going to be too tough to crack." But, he said, referring to Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr., "Len really wanted it." Gellman shared in a 2002 award for coverage of war and terrorism. Becker is now a reporter for the New York Times.
Eleven bylined reporters and 50 other journalists, more than half on The Post's Metro staff, and staff members of the paper's Web site contributed to the coverage of the mass slayings at Virginia Tech that won the Pulitzer for breaking news. The paper was the first to examine the decision to allow classes to continue after the initial shootings by Seung Hui Cho and to examine failings in the mental health system that had treated the student. A Post reporter also obtained the first eyewitness account by contacting a student through the networking Web site Facebook.
The 11 reporters who received bylines for stories in the prize-winning package were Ian Shapira, Tom Jackman, Michael Ruane, Jose Antonio Vargas, Alec MacGillis, Adam Kilgore, Michael Shear, Sari Horwitz, Brigid Schulte, Tamara Jones and David Maraniss. The Post plans to donate the $10,000 award for the Virginia Tech reporting to a university fund or charity.
Steve Fainaru captured the international reporting prize for his work on Blackwater and other private security firms accused of abuses in Iraq. He reconstructed the shooting of civilians by Blackwater guards who initially were cleared of wrongdoing by the State Department.
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The Washington Post won six Pulitzer Prizes yesterday, the largest number in the paper's history, for coverage that ranged from an exposé of poor care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to an examination of Vice President Cheney's behind-the-scenes clout to coverage of the massacre at Virginia Tech.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/07/AR2008040700919.html
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Trial Starts in Case of Upscale Escort Service
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Deborah Jeane Palfrey, accused of running an upscale prostitution service for a white-collar clientele in the Washington area, went on trial in federal court yesterday as a prosecutor warned jurors that they will hear "embarrassing" explicit testimony from call girls and customers, most of them appearing reluctantly under court orders and grants of immunity.
"You're going to hear from clients, johns, who perhaps haven't told their families . . . about their involvement with this agency," Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Connelly said. Describing the witness chair in U.S. District Judge James Robertson's courtroom as "the hottest seat in D.C. this week," she told the jurors they could "rest assured that very few" of those called to testify are looking forward to the experience.
She did not specify how many men would testify, but said that "over a dozen" women would be called to the witness stand.
Palfrey, 52, caused a stir in Washington by threatening to expose her customers by making her telephone records public. After she was indicted last spring, she said her defunct escort business, Pamela Martin & Associates, was "a legal, high-end erotic fantasy service" catering to clients "from the more refined walks of life here in the nation's capital."
She said the men paid $250 an hour to engage in sexual game-playing with the escorts she employed, mostly women in their 20s with college educations. If any of the women engaged in sex acts for money, Palfrey said, they did so without her knowledge.
Palfrey's attorney, Preston Burton, said in court yesterday that his witness list includes two names that have previously surfaced in the case: Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), who has publicly apologized to constituents without saying what he had done wrong; and Randall L. Tobias, who resigned as a deputy secretary of state after acknowledging to ABC News that he used Palfrey's service for massages.
Connelly said her witness list includes Harlan K. Ullman, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who developed a military doctrine that he called "shock and awe." Ullman's attorney, who was observing in court yesterday, would not comment on his client's involvement. Palfrey has identified Ullman as a customer.
"This case is not about prosecuting prostitution," Connelly told the jury in her opening statement. Palfrey, who started the escort service in 1993 and was running the business from her Northern California home when it folded in 2006, is charged with financial racketeering, money-laundering and using the mail for illegal purposes.
Authorities have said in court filings that the escort service generated about $2 million in illicit income for Palfrey.
Burton said his client ran her business openly and did nothing wrong, arranging for her escorts to meet clients in their homes and hotel rooms in the Washington area.
"Deborah Jeane Palfrey is not guilty," Burton told the jury. "She doesn't want to be here. You shouldn't be here. This case shouldn't be here. . . . My client did not sell sex. My client sold appointments."
He added: "She's like a taxi dispatcher. You call her up and she sends a taxi. What happens after that is between you and the driver."
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Deborah Jeane Palfrey, accused of running an upscale prostitution service for a white-collar clientele in the Washington area, went on trial in federal court yesterday as a prosecutor warned jurors that they will hear "embarrassing" explicit testimony from call girls and customers, most of them a...
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http://blog.washingtonpost.com/pope-watch/2008/04/the_good_friday_prayer_controv.html
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The Good Friday Prayer Controversy Continues
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The Vatican is trying again to reassure Jewish groups, who are upset about a prayer included in an ancient Latin Mass that was revived last year by Pope Benedict. The prayer, recited during Good Friday services of Holy Week, called for the conversion of the Jews and , in the past, had been employed as an excuse for violence and discrimination against them.
The Vatican in February issued a new version of the prayer that removed some key words that Jews found particularly offensive in the earlier version, including a reference to what it called their "blindness" and the need to "remove the veil from their hearts."
But some Jewish groups say that doesn't go far enough. The Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Rabbis issued a unanimous resolution saying it was "dismayed and deeply disturbed" by the new prayer.
On Friday, the Vatican tried again, issuing a statement saying that it wanted to reassure Jews that the new formulation of the prayer "in no way intends to indicate a change in the Catholic Church's regard for the Jews "that has evolved from the Second Vatican Council. It said it sustains "the bonds of esteem, dialogue, love, solidarity and collaboration between Catholics and Jews."
But the Anti-Defamation League is still concerned. The reassurance is a "welcome step," said the Anti-Defamation League in a statement. But, said ADL national director Abraham Foxman, the statement still doesn't specifically say the Catholic church is opposed to proselytizing Jews.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently added two additional stops on Benedict's trip to the United States. In Washington, D.C., he will meet privately with the Jewish delegation after his session with 200 leaders of other faiths at the John Paul II Cultural Center on April 17. In New York the following day, he will make a brief stop at Manhattan's Park East Synagogue, whose leader, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, survived the Holocaust.
As National Catholic Reporter columnist John Allen has reported, Vatican spokesmen has repeatedly insisted that Benedict's revival of the old Latin Mass was never intended as a statement of Catholic/Jewish relations. Instead, it was meant to stimulate a stronger sense of traditional Catholic identity.
The Vatican's statement on Friday said that: "The Holy See hopes that the explanations made in this statement will help to clarify any misunderstanding," the statement said. "It reiterates the unwavering desire that the concrete progress made in mutual understanding and the growth in esteem between Jews and Christians will continue to develop."
The revised prayer says: "Let us also pray for the Jews. May the Lord Our God enlighten their hearts so that they may acknowledge Jesus Christ, the savior of all men."
By Jacqueline L. Salmon | April 7, 2008; 9:32 AM ET Previous: Benedict and Public Perception | Next: Servers at the Mass
I consider myself an odd Catholic in that I actually admire the evengelization activity of Mormons for whom it is compulsory. Although I dont intend to convert to Mormonism, I believe they are sharing a fair percentage of the truth with persons who may not otherwise receive it.
If I were a grumpy catholic, I might view those Mormon activities with some disdain. So, I can attempt to see how a prayer handed down from the Catholic hierarchy regarding conversion of Jews might offend some Jews.
I even welcome the new wording of the new prayer. But even if the wording has a more positive, less negative connotation why would I as an individual see any merit in including it as a prayer worth practicing?
I think the answer is found in the fact that Jesus did not create a new religion from scratch. He described himself using accepted Jewish concepts/terms and in relation to traditional Jewish prophets. As a catholic, I can like it or not but God chose for Jesus's audience to be that of the Jews who lived over 2000 years ago. Just as he chose to speak to Jews through the prophets of thousands of years before that. That link isnt going anywhere and while I welcome prayers with less negative/insulting language, I'm afraid it's the type of prayer that's not going to be eliminated.
Posted by: Groupnovena.org | April 7, 2008 11:26 AM
Does anyone know how the prayer was worded during the Spanish Inquisition? That seemed to have been a very productive period of prosthelyzing.
Posted by: Cletus | April 7, 2008 9:07 PM
The Jews will never be satisfied.
Posted by: | April 7, 2008 9:29 PM
Posted by: Christopher | April 7, 2008 9:54 PM
"The Jews will never be satisfied."
So we should destroy them.
Posted by: Elian Gonzales | April 8, 2008 12:07 AM
Isn't there a pray said by Jewish rabbis along the lines: "thank God I was not born as a gentile"...
Do you see the Christians complaining about this?
I would have have someone pray for me than against me....
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 1:19 AM
What speed123 doesn't understand is that Christians praying "for" Jews in this way are actually praying against us. Such people want us to stop being Jews; they want to destroy the Jewish religion. And heaven knows they've done enough, during the history of the Tridentine Mass, to that end. It would be supremely irresponsible for the Pope or any Catholic to sugarcoat the hideous history of these words, or to pretend they don't drip with centuries of innocent blood.
Posted by: eye still turned east | April 8, 2008 2:38 AM
OK - eye still turned,
How would you like the prayer if it was changed to mirror the Jewish prayer?
"Praise be to God that I was not born Jewish"...
As for "dripping with centuries of innocent blood" - a bit much, don't you think. (unless you blame the holocaust on the Catholic Church as many conspiracy/anti-catholic minded people do)
There is blood on ALL hands in history - even Jewish - so a prayer for someone should be seen as a gesture of goodwill not a call to arms..
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 3:07 AM
OK - eye still turned,
How would you like the prayer if it was changed to mirror the Jewish prayer?
"Praise be to God that I was not born Jewish"...
As for "dripping with centuries of innocent blood" - a bit much, don't you think. (unless you blame the holocaust on the Catholic Church as many conspiracy/anti-catholic minded people do)
There is blood on ALL hands in history - even Jewish - so a prayer for someone should be seen as a gesture of goodwill not a call to arms..
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 3:07 AM
who cares about what jews think ,I am catholic and i'm getting sick of hearing the jews complian about my church ,like the world only revolves around them,listen you jews you are not the only race that suffered in the past,get over it, if I was the pope, I will tell go to hell.
Posted by: catholic for life | April 8, 2008 3:12 AM
"catholic for life" is obviously not Catholics and is attempting to stir hate on the forum - i.e. he is a troll.
As for my earlier post, let me clarify:
While it is antithetical to your faith to accept our prayers, it is antithetical to our faith give up such prayers for all mankind (but esp the Jewish people).
Catch22, eh? I say agree to disagree and move to the next subject...
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 3:24 AM
the jews will always complian about something ,what jews don't realize is that we christins allow them to think they are the choosen people , we the chrsitians defend you jews from your first cousins which happened to be the muslims.think about it.
Posted by: C4L | April 8, 2008 3:31 AM
Posted by: | April 8, 2008 3:42 AM
It's not just Catholics that are supportive of converting Jews. Jerry Falwell openly admitted that he supported the cause of Isreal specifically to convert Jews to hasten the return of Christ.
Posted by: CR | April 8, 2008 5:50 AM
The call to convert Jews (and other peoples) has been a bedrock of Christian theology for almost 2000 years. What the ADL thinks is irrelevant.
Posted by: MH | April 8, 2008 6:32 AM
This is not a prayer for the conversion of any old non-Christians. The Jains, Zoroastrians and followers of Shinto never get a mention. Nor is it to be said on any old day, but on Good Friday, the day that commemorates the Crucifixion -- an event which, not long ago, the Catholic Church blamed on the Jewish people, all of them, past and present. It was on Good Friday, after just such prayers, that Catholic preachers whipped up the mob to launch pogroms during the Middle Ages.
The Second Vatican Council, we heard, did away with the "blood guilt" doctrine. The present pope is obviously hostile to Vatican II reforms. He has already re-instituted the Latin mass. I don't think he wants to revive pogroms but you would have to be willfully ignorant not to wonder whether he isn't laying the groundwork for bringing back some form of "blood guilt."
That's why we're not "satisfied."
Posted by: cartographer | April 8, 2008 6:52 AM
As a Catholic w/ many Jewish relatives, I can safely say w/ experience that if people get over themselves and actually enlighten themselves about the other side of the fence, then there's absolutely no problem here. If Catholics rightly treat Jews as their fellow "brothers in God", if you will, and if Jews rightly accept the fact that the Church these days is a supporter of their people, then there's no reason to worry about proselytzing.
It's not like it's the 15th century Spain and Italy where even the royalty have a campaign to forcibly convert or expel the Jews.
Posted by: Comunista | April 8, 2008 7:22 AM
I think both the Jews & the Pope are raging idiots.
Posted by: Samuel | April 8, 2008 7:42 AM
First, the prayer "thank G-d I wasn't born a gentile is not responsible for hundred and thousands of murders in the name of a god of love. Second, to this day, many Jews are uncomfortable at Easter because the god of love demand blood on this holiday.
Posted by: Eidel | April 8, 2008 8:19 AM
Judging from many of the comments posted here, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept behind the prayer. It's important to understand that the Church prays for the Jews, and not against them. This is a crucial distinction, because to do the latter would devalue this prayer--or any other prayer wishing ill will on God's children--of sanctity. The Church, in other words, is not in the business of formulating maledictions. So what is the concept? Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment: love one another." For centuries before His coming, Jewish faith was primarily characterized as adherence to the laws, which was sufficient unto the development of human consciousness. The radicalism of Jesus' message lies in His understanding of the state of human self-awareness: you know, and you know you know. Therefore, know that it is love to which man must aspire, relying less on rote recitation and practice of the laws--which may, in fact, create a veil over the heart through which love cannot pass.
Posted by: El Cid | April 8, 2008 10:54 AM
This is new? I remember there always being a Good Friday prayer for the conversion of "our brothers in faith, the Jewish people". It came right after a prayer for Catholics and Protestants reconciling and before a prayer for the conversion of people of all other (non-Christian) faiths and finally a prayer for atheists to see the light. I can readily understand wanting to change the language to be more respectful, but I can't understand getting rid of the intent of the prayers which is for the conversion of everyone to Catholicism. That's pretty much the idea of any proselytizing religion, no? To convert everyone else to your own faith, which you believe is not only the truth but the best means of salvation. Perhaps we should also add a prayer to keep Catholics and those faithful to any religion from using their beliefs as a reason to harm others. I know we do that at other times but perhaps in that sequence of prayers on Good Friday would be a good reminder and might mitigate evident anxiety that we are out to revive pogroms and the Inquisition.
Posted by: cradle catholic | April 8, 2008 10:59 AM
"Perhaps we should also add a prayer to keep Catholics and those faithful to any religion from using their beliefs as a reason to harm others." That is not the primary function of the Mass, which utilizes the Liturgy to connect God to the communicant.
Moreover, the Church's prostelyzing is today guided by the principle that the Church proposes, but doesn't impose.
That said, I submit to you that such a prayer is already said in every Mass: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Posted by: El Cid | April 8, 2008 11:36 AM
I find it interesting that people are surprised that the Catholic church is out to convert and recruit just as much as the Christian denominations. Don't most if not all of the worlds religions preach that theirs is the truth and pray for the souls of those who do not yet believe their truth? While individual people should be tolerant of other religions. I think it is ridiculous to ask that an entire church change one of its fundamental beliefs, which involves preaching to and converting those who don't already believe. All religions aim to spread their reach around the world. Catholicism is no different.
Posted by: | April 8, 2008 12:01 PM
Eidel states: "Second, to this day, many Jews are uncomfortable at Easter because the god of love demand blood on this holiday."
This is a inflammatory and completely misguided statement. "The god of love demands blood on easter" wow! Your rabbi would be ashamed...
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 12:17 PM
We dont compose our prayers either to offend ,nor for censorship submittals to nonCatholics and they dont offer reciprocity.
Posted by: John Morrison | April 8, 2008 12:31 PM
If each of the great, and not so great, religions understood that theirs is not the only proper path . . .
Dream on. Ignorance and Madness.
Posted by: Lu Franklin | April 8, 2008 12:34 PM
I believe the Catholic Church should make no changes. As Christians we should stick with our values and traditions of our faith. No other religious group should dictate what is allowed to be said or not....even if they feel offended.
Posted by: | April 8, 2008 1:03 PM
13 million Russian civilians died during the Nazi invasion in the second World War. Do you hear them complaining every day about it? No.
Posted by: Ted | April 8, 2008 1:23 PM
As an atheist, I'm richly enjoying the spectacle here. Carry on...
Oh, and Ted, those dead Russians can't complain because they're, well, dead.
Posted by: Realist | April 8, 2008 2:06 PM
Oh, rational realist, don't think you are above the fray here.
It was your atheistic "faith in progress" that helped the Russians and Chinese governments of the 1930s-70s efficiently liquidate their population.
They did it very rationally and scientifically, by the way...
No need to be smug.
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 2:19 PM
It's simple really - OUTSIDERS DO NOT GET A VOTE. Don't like that Latin mass or the prayer well don't go. There is a reassertion of traditional Catholic identity and that can not be stopped. Enemies of the church, your typical Washington Post & New York Times readers included, are afraid of it. There is a tidal wave coming out of the seminaries - no more hippy dippy meaningless crap. For those that don't like it, too bad. Why don't you focus on praying your way in your house of worship as we will in ours? Fair enough friends?
Posted by: Constantine | April 8, 2008 2:30 PM
I, personally have no "faith in progress" for any reasons whatsoever. I simply accept reality the way it is, without reliance on supernatural causes.
Yes, the Soviet and Maoist regimes were officially atheist, but were actually cults of personality for Lenin, Stalin and Mao -- secular religions. Nice try, though.
Any smugness I may have is nothing compared to the smugness of claiming to be God's Chosen People(tm) or The One True Church(r).
Posted by: Realist | April 8, 2008 2:30 PM
These comments miss the point of the specific relationship between Jews and Catholics. Many christian theologians [notably Michael McGarry] have made clear that the desire to convert Jews presupposes that Jews as Jews are not good enough for God. And, yes, this supposition did have a role to play in the coming of the Shoah. For Ratzinger, of all people, to forget what John Paul II realized is farcical at best, tragic at worst.
Posted by: HolocaustTeacher | April 8, 2008 2:39 PM
The above comment is directed to people of good will, of course, not to the surprising amount of anti-semites spending their time here.
Posted by: HolocaustTeacher | April 8, 2008 2:42 PM
The Holy Father generously reworded the prayer but to ask him to delete it is an unacceptable interference in the Catholic liturgy.
Posted by: Constantine | April 8, 2008 2:48 PM
Saying, "Holocaustteacher", that the prayer for the Jewish is a contributing factor in the Nazi led holocaust is slander.
It is like saying the Jewish prayer giving thanks for note being born a gentile, as a contributing factor for the mass starvation of the Ukraine - by a Jewish (top general) led Bolshevik army...
Please think about your word associations here.
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 2:51 PM
Do you think I'm the only one saying these things? Try to find a reputable holocaust historian who says anything different.
It is hardly slander to say that the Christian [and therefore, for much of history, Catholic] history of antipathy toward Jews played an indispensable role in the worldview that eventually produced the holocaust. Was it sufficient? Certainly not, but it was indispensable, and JP2 got this, which is why he did all he did with the jewish community.
And your own associations are not only logically weak but morally enfeebled by their presumptions of an equal power relationship between jews and gentiles.
Posted by: HolocaustTeacher | April 8, 2008 3:07 PM
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 3:25 PM
You are right, holocaustteach, evangelical Rev. Hagee (in Israel as we speak) also puts a great deal of blame on the Catholic Church for the holocaust, so you are in good company.
He also calls the CC the "mother wh*re of babaylon"...
As for power relationship between Christians and Jews - I would say that in modern times they are equal and most would agree.
So why try to shame and bully other faiths to acquiesce to your demands? It is the 21st century - time to find common ground.
If you can have a prayer that gives thanks for not being born a Christian (i.e. embracing your faith) , we can have one that prays for the enlightenment of all people (embracing our faith).
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 3:26 PM
PS - 700,000 Jewish men, women and children were hidden from the fascists by the Catholic Church in Italy (thousand were hidden IN the Vatican and were served kosher food whenever possible).
The chief Rabbi in Rome ended up converting due to the outpouring of help and humanity that he witnessed during the events of this time...
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 3:41 PM
"Let us also pray for the Jews. May the Lord Our God enlighten their hearts so that they may acknowledge Jesus Christ, the savior of all men."
This is a prayer asking for God to help the Jews acknowledge JC as their savior.
I am a Jew. If or when I should ever want to convert (and believe me, it won't happen now or when the alleged Four Horsemen make their ride), I'll let you know.
Until then, keep your religious beliefs to yourself, and I'll keep mine to myself. I thank god that we Jews DO NOT proselytize, because we RESPECT the rights of other religions, faiths, and denominations -- as individuals -- to believe in a way that is right and good for sustaining for them.
We Jews do not impose our beliefs on others, and I'll thank you not to impose yours on me, even if you think you know best.
Posted by: LRH | April 8, 2008 4:07 PM
speed123 as acatholic i m proud you for defending your faith.as your early comments towards me .I don't hate anybody I m just sick of people always blaming the catholic church for their misery.
Posted by: catholic for life | April 8, 2008 4:15 PM
I think I misjudged you: you're not misguided. You're an anti-semite. You refuse to listen to a reasoned argument, you say ridiculous things, and I have nothing further to say to you.
Posted by: HolocaustTeacher | April 8, 2008 4:25 PM
One reason we Catholics pray specifically for the Jewish people on Good Friday is that we recognize our immeasurable debt to them.
If we believe that Christ is the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies, we must pray for everyone to discover him. But we have a particular bond with the Jewish people as the original recipients and keepers of these prophecies. Without them, we couldn't hope to recognize Jesus as our savior, so our specific prayer is rooted in our gratitude.
I've no doubt that it hasn't always been this way. I know many alleged Christians (and yes, Catholics) have persecuted Jews throughout history, well before the Holocaust. But the fact that some people grossly misuse a good thing (any good thing; in this case a prayer, a scripture) doesn't mean the good thing should be abolished. After all, there is no good thing that we humans have failed to pervert. Our entire life, it seems, serves to teach us to embrace God's desire for us to receive the good of every aspect of creation - and even our own existence - in its intended context, without misusing it to some self-centered purpose. So, too, the gift of prayer.
Finally, embracing Christ doesn't equate to rejecting Judaism. There are many thriving Messianic Jewish communities today, fully embracing their traditional Jewish faith, tradition, and rituals even while they accept Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Posted by: togo | April 8, 2008 4:29 PM
Right...the anti-semite card...how typical of you.
I say that each group (Jews and Catholics) have to be faithful to their traditions and ideas yet you say that one tradition is "anti-semetic" when it is clearly not.
Does this make you anti-Catholic? Or just unreasonable.
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 4:55 PM
For a more more elegant and less polemic take on the subject read the great post by "togo" above.
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 5:11 PM
speed 123.... you good .I don't think you are anti smite.I think you are man of reason who loves his catholic faith that my freind is a gift.even though you called me "troll" what ever that means.you are ok in my book .but I am a catholic and I m proud of being catholic
Posted by: catholic for life | April 8, 2008 6:06 PM
Most Christians belong to a church in order to have a church to stay away from, or so their subsequent track record of church involvement suggests. Most Jews do their bar or bat mitzvah in order "to have done it," and to be done with it, or so the track record of their subsequent involvement in temple would suggest. Funny that battle lines are drawn over a prayer by two traditions where so few actually pray.
Posted by: benzonah | April 8, 2008 6:11 PM
Thanks for the compliment; however, togo is really the star of this discussion with their last post.
A troll is someone who starts trouble on forums for the sake of argument. Sorry if I had you wrong, and even I lose my temper at times on here (see above).
Keep up the good fight (politely ;).
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 6:14 PM
This is a non-story the Post is whipping up to sell newpapers in an age when no one reads them anyways.
Anything with the word "Jewish" in it automatically becomes a story. zzzzzzz!
Posted by: Byron | April 8, 2008 6:43 PM
"Anything with the word "Jewish" in it automatically becomes a story. zzzzzzz!"
As if I care that the Pope is coming to town! It is all over the news, too.
As for the prayer, the issue is simple:
A religion that supported and encouraged anti-Semitism for so long (crusades, inquisition, and excommunicated every communist but never a nazi, nor the priest of radio marayja in poland today, or Charles Coughlin, The "Father" of Hate Radio) has no right to talk about judiasm. It seems so obvious. I suppose a prayer is better than what the church has done in the past, but really now...if you don't understand why jews are less than thrilled, pick up any good history book. Besides, looking for converts is more about getting more money and power--and convincing the flock that they know the "truth" so they can remain under the thumb--than actual caring or concern.
Posted by: really now | April 8, 2008 8:04 PM
realy now stop pulling the victim card on us, we getting sick of it
Posted by: catholic for life | April 8, 2008 9:47 PM
To those who refuse to acknowledge their innate anti_Semitism let me just make one comment before you whine about victims.
Posted by: Eidel | April 8, 2008 10:15 PM
So, let me get this straight--you can say you are "tired of the victim card"? Is that because you can't dispute that any of those things aren't true? Or you want to pretend to be a victim, too? Or is it because you want to be able to degrade someone else's religion, but can't bear the any hard truth about your own, or even the fact that you are doing that? Or would you be insulted if I called myself "jew for life"? You can cloak it any way you want, but it doesn't change.
Every religion has its heroes and villians, good passages and not so good. No exceptions--mine, or yours. Anyone can cherry-pick through history or life. One Edith Stein doesn't mean all Jews are waiting to be asked to convert. Sure the church helped hide some jews, and perhaps the documents that the church has kept secret for six decades prove that. A couple of dumb classmates asking me in the 1980s if my matzah had blood doesn't mean that all catholics are anti-semites.
But, overall, the history hasn't been good.
Posted by: really now | April 8, 2008 10:27 PM
Jesus, please protect me from your followers - especially Catholics, Mormons and American evangelical neochristians. Amen.
Posted by: Roy | April 8, 2008 10:32 PM
"To those who refuse to acknowledge their innate anti_Semitism let me just make one comment before you whine about victims.
Does "never again" apply to the 10 million mass-murdered Ukrainians (majority Christian) who were deliberately "collectivized" by the Jewish general Lazar Kaganovitch of the Red Army in 1932?
Yours was not the only "holocaust" and Jewish people are not always the victims...they can also be the aggressors.
Just ask the Ukrainians or Russians or Spanish killed before world war 2.
Might as well check with the Palestinians while you are at it.
History is a two-way street (blood on ALL sides) so if you want to call for the changing of our prayers, you might want to change some of yours as well...
Posted by: speed123 | April 8, 2008 11:32 PM
I guess the big picture is that we are all in this small, messy world together...we accept the gift that you are to this world but want to recruit you none-the-less.
PS - the prayer is said once a year...in church, in LATIN - not broadcast from the capitol building or on blimps...
Posted by: speed123 | April 9, 2008 2:48 AM
Yes, there is a prayer, said mostly by Orthodox in the morning prayers (the conservative version is dumbed down a bit), to the effect that Blessed is God . . . who did not make me a Gentile. And there are a number of prayers in the daily service that foretell that all people of the world will come to worship God, presumably in the Jewish fashion.
Posted by: GG | April 9, 2008 3:30 AM
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Paparazzi and Driver Found Negligent in Princess Diana's Death
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LONDON, April 7 -- After six months and almost 250 witnesses, the latest multimillion-dollar government investigation into the death of Princess Diana ended Monday with a jury concluding that her death was caused by the gross negligence of her speeding driver and pursuing paparazzi.
The jury found that Diana's chauffeur, Henri Paul, who had been drinking, and the photographers chasing her car into a Paris tunnel caused her "unlawful death," which is similar to manslaughter.
Two previous police investigations -- one French, one British -- concluded that the deaths were a tragic accident caused by reckless driving by Paul, who was racing away from the photographers. British taxpayers have paid more than $20 million for investigations into Diana's death.
Legal experts said it was possible but unlikely that this verdict could lead to further legal action against the paparazzi in the Aug. 31, 1997, crash. Paul and Diana's companion, Dodi al-Fayed, also died in the crash.
Princes William and Harry issued a statement that said they "agreed" with the verdicts and thanked the jury for its "thorough" work. They also expressed their "most profound gratitude to all those who fought so desperately to save our mother's life on that tragic night."
A decade after Diana's death, this at times sensational coroner's inquest brought back front-page headlines of Fayed buying Diana a $23,000 ring just before she died and testimony from his father, Mohamed al-Fayed, calling the royal family the "Dracula family" and accusing them of killing Diana, 36, and his son, 42.
As Fayed left the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday, after what he called a "disappointing" verdict, he said, "The most important thing is, it is murder."
Under British law, any unnatural or violent death must also be investigated by a coroner. But far from putting to rest rampant conspiracy theories about Diana's death, as many hoped it would, this inquest appears to have spawned more.
Coroner Scott Baker told the jury that it was "blindingly obvious" that former royal butler Paul Burrell did not give the court "the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Richard Dearlove, the former head of the MI6 intelligence agency, took the rare step of taking the stand to call accusations of a government plot to kill Diana "absurd."
Fayed, who owns the famous Harrods department store in London, used his day in court to say Diana was murdered because she was pregnant and planning to marry his son, a Muslim. He called Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, "Frankenstein" and a "Nazi."
"I am not the only person who says they were murdered," he said. "The verdicts will come as a blow to the many millions of people around the world who've supported my struggle."
Baker also told the jury that there was "not a shred of evidence" that Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, ordered Diana's death or that it was organized by MI6.
Lee Gledhill, a trial lawyer who specializes in coroner inquest law, said that because the death occurred in France, any further criminal or civil case would likely be filed there, and that if French authorities believed "there was sufficient evidence, they would have prosecuted by now."
Gledhill noted that it "might be close to impossible" to determine the negligence of individual photographers who chased Diana's Mercedes, even though this British jury concluded that "collectively" their pursuit contributed to her death.
Nine photographers were charged with manslaughter in France, but the charges were thrown out in 2002. Three were fined a symbolic amount of one euro each for invasion of privacy for taking pictures of the couple.
The verdict of "unlawful killing" was reached by nine of the 11 jurors; it could not be learned Monday why two dissented. The jury also said the fact that Diana and Fayed were not wearing seat belts contributed to their deaths.
"Over a hundred years later there are still conspiracy theories about Jack the Ripper and the involvement of the royal family or their circles," Gledhill said. "One hundred years from now people will be talking about conspiracy theories and the royal family and the death of Princess Diana."
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World news headlines from the Washington Post,including international news and opinion from Africa,North/South America,Asia,Europe and Middle East. Features include world weather,news in Spanish,interactive maps,daily Yomiuri and Iraq coverage.
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The War's Expiration Date
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A crucial yet overlooked deadline looms over the Iraq debate: Unless further action is taken, the war will become illegal on Jan. 1, 2009.
Despite protestations to the contrary, Congress clearly understood that it was authorizing the president to intervene militarily when it passed its joint resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq in October 2002. But it did not give him a blank check. It allowed for the use of force only under two conditions.
The first has long since lapsed. It permitted the president to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq." This threat came to an end with the destruction of Saddam Hussein's government. It makes no sense to say that it continues today, or that our "national security" is "threatened by" the Iraqi government headed by Nouri al-Maliki.
Instead, U.S. military intervention is authorized under the second prong of the 2002 resolution. This authorizes the president to "enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq." This has allowed the Bush administration to satisfy American law by obtaining a series of resolutions authorizing the United States to serve as the head of the multinational force in Iraq.
But here's the rub. The most recent U.N. resolution expires on Dec. 31, and the administration has announced that it will not seek one for 2009. Instead, it is now negotiating a bilateral agreement with the Iraqi government to replace the U.N. mandate.
Whatever this agreement contains, it will not fill the legal vacuum. That's because the administration is not planning to submit this new agreement to Congress for its explicit approval. Since the Constitution gives the power to "declare war" to Congress, the president can't ignore the conditions imposed on him in 2002 without returning for a new grant of authority. He cannot substitute the consent of the Iraqi government for the consent of the U.S. Congress.
This simple point hasn't yet gained the attention it deserves. While the presidential candidates debate whether we should be in Iraq for the next two years or the next 100, nobody is focusing on the next few months.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration continues to support its unilateral expansion of war aims with inadequate arguments. At a recent congressional hearing, David Satterfield, the administration's coordinator for Iraq, claimed that the 2002 resolution authorized the continuing use of force against al-Qaeda in Iraq. But al-Qaeda only came into Iraq as a result of U.S. intervention. Congress only authorized the use of force to defend against the "continuing threat" posed by Iraq, not all threats that might someday exist in Iraq.
Other administration arguments are worse. It has suggested that Congress's "war on terror" resolution, passed a week after 9/11, provides sufficient legal support for continuing the war in 2009. But this claims far too much. If that were true, then President Bush could have unilaterally invaded Iraq in 2002 without any further congressional decision. Only the most extreme presidentialist would go this far.
The administration has also suggested that Congress has legally sanctioned the war by continuing to appropriate funds for it. But approving funds is not sufficient to authorize military action. If it were, the president could start any fight he pleased, and then force Congress to choose between exercising its constitutional powers and supporting the troops.
There's a simple solution to all these problems: Extend the U.N. mandate for 2009. That would put the use of U.S. armed forces on firm international and domestic legal footing. And it would allow the next president and Congress time to consider the future in a deliberate way.
Reps. William Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) have proposed legislation to do just that. This initiative deserves bipartisan support. It represents the only practical way to confront the lawless unilateralism that the administration plans for New Year's Day.
Bruce Ackerman and Oona Hathaway are professors of law at Yale.
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Unless Congress and the president take action, the war in Iraq will become illegal on Jan. 1, 2009.
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Tortured Logic - washingtonpost.com
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SOMETIMES IT'S best to let an author's words speak for themselves. The following is from a March 2003 Justice Department memorandum on the legal standards governing military interrogations of terrorism suspects: "As we have made clear in other opinions involving the war against al Qaeda, the Nation's right to self-defense has been triggered by the events of September 11. If a government defendant were to harm an enemy combatant during an interrogation in a manner that might arguably violate a criminal prohibition, he would be doing so in order to prevent further attacks on the United States by the al Qaeda terrorist network. In that case, we believe that he could argue that the executive branch's constitutional authority to protect the nation from attack justified his actions. This national and international version of the right to self-defense could supplement and bolster the government defendant's individual right."
Translation: A U.S. interrogator could claim "national self-defense" if he was charged with the torture of a detainee, never mind the U.S. law against torture or international treaties prohibiting cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment of prisoners. The memo argues that interrogators acting under the president's authority could not be held accountable for mistreatment of detainees because the president is essentially above the law. Quoting from a 1937 Supreme Court decision, the memo claims that "applying general laws" against interrogators who use rough tactics on terrorism suspects would be as absurd as "the application of a speed law to a policeman pursuing a criminal or the driver of a fire engine responding to an alarm." And almost as an afterthought, the memo declares in Footnote 10 that the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures "had no application to domestic military operations."
These and other legal distortions were written by John C. Yoo, a former deputy in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. The existence of the memo has long been known, and it was rescinded in December 2003. But it is nonetheless shocking to read what is an amalgamation of legal extremism and sloppy reasoning clearly meant to provide the president with justification to violate domestic and international prohibitions against torture.
The department has privately shared some memos deemed too sensitive for public consumption, including this one, with key lawmakers; there are ongoing discussions about whether other memos may also be made available in their entirety to those on Capitol Hill. This is a positive development, but it must yield results. Best of all would be the public release, whenever possible, of such memos, allowing members of the public to scrutinize them and freeing members of the administration and lawmakers to openly debate their merits. There can be no more excuses for the perpetuation of abominable legal doctrines that twist the law, tarnish the country's reputation and put at risk U.S. personnel, who may now be more vulnerable to torture because their government once claimed to find a way legally to excuse it.
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SOMETIMES IT'S best to let an author's words speak for themselves. The following is from a March 2003 Justice Department memorandum on the legal standards governing military interrogations of terrorism suspects: "As we have made clear in other opinions involving the war against al Qaeda, the Nati...
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The Real China and the Olympics
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On July 13th 2001, when Beijing won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese government promised the world it would improve China's human rights record. In June 2004, Beijing announced its Olympic Games slogan, "One World, One Dream." From their inception in 1896, the modern Olympic Games have always had as their mission the promotion of human dignity and world peace. China and the world expected to see the Olympic Games bring political progress to the country. Is Beijing keeping its promises? Is China improving its human rights record?
When you come to the Olympic Games in Beijing, you will see skyscrapers, spacious streets, modern stadiums and enthusiastic people. You will see the truth, but not the whole truth, just as you see only the tip of an iceberg. You may not know that the flowers, smiles, harmony and prosperity are built on a base of grievances, tears, imprisonment, torture and blood.
We are going to tell you the truth about China. We believe that for anyone who wishes to avoid a disgraceful Olympics, knowing the truth is the first step. Fang Zheng, an excellent athlete who holds two national records for the discus throw at China's Special Sport Games, has been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Paralympics because he has become a living testimony to the June 4, 1989[,] massacre. That morning, in Tiananmen Square, his legs were crushed by a tank while he was rescuing a fellow student. In April 2007, the Ministry of Public Security issued an internal document secretly strengthening a political investigation which resulted in forbidding Olympics participation by 43 types of people from 11 different categories, including dissidents, human rights defenders, media workers, and religious participants. The Chinese police never made the document known to either the Chinese public or the international community.
Huge investment in Olympic projects and a total lack of transparency have facilitated serious corruption and widespread bribery. Taxpayers are not allowed to supervise the use of investment amounting to more than $40 billion. Liu Zhihua, formerly in charge of Olympic construction and former deputy mayor of Beijing, was arrested for massive embezzlement.
To clear space for Olympic-related construction, thousands of civilian houses have been destroyed without their former owners being properly compensated. Brothers Ye Guozhu and Ye Guoqiang were imprisoned for a legal appeal after their house was forcibly demolished. Ye Guozhu has been repeatedly handcuffed and shackled, tied to a bed and beaten with electric batons. During the countdown to the Olympic Games he will continue to suffer from torture in Chaobei Prison in Tianjin.
It has been reported that over 1.25 million people have been forced to move because of Olympic construction; it was estimated that the figure would reach 1.5 million by the end of 2007. No formal resettlement scheme is in place for the over 400,000 migrants who have had their dwelling places demolished. Twenty percent of the demolished households are expected to experience poverty or extreme poverty. In Qingdao, the Olympic sailing city, hundreds of households have been demolished and many human rights activists as well as "civilians" have been imprisoned. Similar stories come from other Olympic cities such as Shenyang, Shanghai and Qinhuangdao.
In order to establish the image of civilized cities, the government has intensified the ban against -- and detention and forced repatriation of -- petitioners, beggars and the homeless. Some of them have been kept in extended detention in so-called shelters or have even been sent directly to labor camps. Street vendors have suffered brutal confiscation of their goods by municipal agents. On July 20, 2005, Lin Hongying, a 56-year-old woman farmer and vegetable dealer, was beaten to death by city patrols in Jiangsu. On November 19, 2005, city patrols in Wuxi beat 54-year-old bicycle repairman Wu Shouqing to death. In January 2007, petitioner Duan Huimin was killed by Shanghai police. On July 1, 2007, Chen Xiaoming, a Shanghai petitioner and human rights activist, died of an untreated illness during a lengthy detention period. On August 5, 2007, right before the one-year Olympics countdown, 200 petitioners were arrested in Beijing.
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Only an Olympic Games true to the Olympic Charter can promote China's democratic progress, world peace and development.
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Signs and Wonders: Can You Really Believe Paris Hilton?
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Each Wednesday (okay, this one is a little late), we'll select an image that gives us some insight on religion in the world today. It's a complicated subject and so I figured we'd have our inaugural image be on the complicated side: behold Paris Hilton with her guru.
Earlier in March, Ms. Hilton -- heiress, reality TV and sex tape star -- spent an awkwardly conspicuous night on the town with a sagely bearded, saffron robed, "guru" who ushered Hilton to LA New Age landmark the Bodhi Tree for some reading and possible spiritual awakening. First her pre-jail time Bible reading and now this?
The Daily Mail put together a nice, pious album of the evening. And whatever you may think of Hilton, she is a savant of the symbolic and her ensemble nods to all spirituality as costume -- low rise pump, off white fishnets, headband, white lace dress, smallish purse and a serious sad look.
Of course, it was a pipe dream that Hilton was seeking divinity and, in fact, her guru turned out to be a bit actor (his MySpace page brags about his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, and includes an album of photos of him as Hilton's shaman). In the end, her actions were for Hilton's real God, the cameras. Sigh.
The scheme had been cooked up by Ashton Kutcher for his new MTV show, "Pop Fiction," which is meant to highlight the madness of the image obsessed fans and paparazzi. Genius! Hilton's lacy get-up and robed-friend underscore how pious behavior is viewed as preposterous in Hollywood these days -- at least the non-Kabbalistic, non-Scientological variety. What's more, Kutcher saw a lesson in the pseudo-spiritual prank, saying, "We're having fun, but we want to say to people, 'Can you really believe everything you read and see?"
A perfect lesson for our first signs and wonders. Next week, more.
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On Faith is an innovative, provocative conversation on all aspects of religion with best selling author Jon Meacham of Newsweek and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. Keep up-to-date on global religious developments with On Faith.
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Anti-Muslim Film Boorish and Boring
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Last week, the anti-immigrant Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, released on the internet a film intended to smear Muslims. But his movie "Fitna" is such a bore that it has only given freedom of expression a bad name. "Fitna," the Arabic word for "social strife," is being trumpeted as a provocative manifesto with the potential to create yet more strife in the cosmic confrontation between Islam and the West. I have watched it. Others should too, not because it is compelling but because, in its utter predictability, the film reminds us why freedom of expression is worth defending. To remain powerful, freedom demands creativity -- the very creativity that Fitna lacks.
It is a patchwork of scenes plucked straight from the stock image warehouse: news footage of 9/11 and the Madrid train bombings spliced with clips of hate-spewing Muslims, interrupted by headlines about Theo Van Gogh's murder in the streets of Amsterdam, all juxtaposed to incendiary passages from the Qur'an.
To be sure, egregious events, preachers and scriptures exist. By no means am I suggesting that they be sanitized. Put them on the public record, in all their vileness.
(Just be certain to secure permission. "Fitna" features a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad wearing a turban-turned-time bomb -- one of many cartoons published by a Danish newspaper in 2005. Local Muslim protests escalated to larger boycotts of Danish goods and culminated in full-fledged riots in various Islamic capitals. Ironically affirming that expression is never completely free, the artist who sketched the bomb-donning Prophet has announced plans to sue Wilders for violating copyright.) The politician's problems do not stop there. By stitching together one inflammatory visual after another, Wilders has achieved little more than a garden-variety harangue. This makes "Fitna" not only dull but, worse, easily dismissed by those who deserve to be held accountable for their silences about violence and human rights abuses committed under the banner of Islam. A more engaging approach would have been to pepper the film with positive verses from the Qur'an, thereby revealing that Muslims who expound hostility are actively choosing to ignore the better angels of Islam.
There are plenty of positive passages to highlight. The possibility for women's dignity is shown by 3:195, which states that God rewards "any worker among you, be you male or female -- you are equal to one another." Imagine aligning that passage with the shot of a woman's body mutilated by an honor killing.
To shame the imams who cry death to non-Muslims, Wilders could have followed their words with these from 2:62 of the Quran: "Jews and Christians and Sabians, all who heed the One God and the Last Day, have nothing to fear or regret as long as they remain true to their scriptures."
Indeed, he could have hammered home this point with a shorter, simpler passage -- 109:6, which proclaims "unto you your religion, unto me my religion."
Above all, Wilders missed the opportunity to give Wahhabi sermonizers and sympathizers a real run for their oil money. He could have done so by cutting between their fevered warnings of hellfire on the one hand and, on the other, diverse Muslims reading 2:256 of the Quran: "There is no compulsion in religion." The resulting message is simple yet nuanced: If Saudi-inspired Muslims insist on literalism, then why not take literally the Quran's crystal-clear decree against compulsion?
None of this demands deleting or diluting reality. I believe Wilders has every right to publicize harsh verses from the Qur'an. He also has the right to make a painfully stale statement. In so doing, however, Wilders debases the value of free expression. As it stands, "Fitna" reduces liberty to banality. If that is the best a freedom fighter can do, then what is the big deal about having freedom at all? It is, of course, a huge deal when cleverly exercised. Exposing the range of choices offered by the Qur'an, "Fitna" could have put the onus on Muslims to look deep within. Non-Muslims would have learned something new. And Wilders might have advanced a serious debate -- to say nothing of a necessary one -- that lives up to freedom's promise. Therein lies the paradox: Those who crusade for freedom often do it the greatest disservice. Not unlike what has happened to Islam itself.
Irshad Manji, a scholar at New York University and the European Foundation for Democracy, is creator of the award-winning film "Faith Without Fear."
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A conversation on religion with Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn. Visit http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/
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Signs and Wonders: Can You Really Believe Paris Hilton?
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2008040619
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Each Wednesday (okay, this one is a little late), we'll select an image that gives us some insight on religion in the world today. It's a complicated subject and so I figured we'd have our inaugural image be on the complicated side: behold Paris Hilton with her guru.
Earlier in March, Ms. Hilton -- heiress, reality TV and sex tape star -- spent an awkwardly conspicuous night on the town with a sagely bearded, saffron robed, "guru" who ushered Hilton to LA New Age landmark the Bodhi Tree for some reading and possible spiritual awakening. First her pre-jail time Bible reading and now this?
The Daily Mail put together a nice, pious album of the evening. And whatever you may think of Hilton, she is a savant of the symbolic and her ensemble nods to all spirituality as costume -- low rise pump, off white fishnets, headband, white lace dress, smallish purse and a serious sad look.
Of course, it was a pipe dream that Hilton was seeking divinity and, in fact, her guru turned out to be a bit actor (his MySpace page brags about his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, and includes an album of photos of him as Hilton's shaman). In the end, her actions were for Hilton's real God, the cameras. Sigh.
The scheme had been cooked up by Ashton Kutcher for his new MTV show, "Pop Fiction," which is meant to highlight the madness of the image obsessed fans and paparazzi. Genius! Hilton's lacy get-up and robed-friend underscore how pious behavior is viewed as preposterous in Hollywood these days -- at least the non-Kabbalistic, non-Scientological variety. What's more, Kutcher saw a lesson in the pseudo-spiritual prank, saying, "We're having fun, but we want to say to people, 'Can you really believe everything you read and see?"
A perfect lesson for our first signs and wonders. Next week, more.
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On Faith is an innovative, provocative conversation on all aspects of religion with best selling author Jon Meacham of Newsweek and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. Keep up-to-date on global religious developments with On Faith.
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King, Moses and Midrash
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On March 31, 1968, I was a secular activist and writer in the civil-rights and antiwar movements, a Fellow of the progressive/ radical Institute for Policy Studies in Washington. I lived in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood, then scruffy and bursting with political energy, not yet Yuppieland. I had just been nominated by a neighborhood caucus to be one member of an antiwar slate seeking election as D.C.'s delegation to the Democratic National Convention scheduled for that August in Chicago.
That evening I was thunderstruck by President Lyndon Johnson's TV speech announcing he would not seek another term, and instead would seek a serious peace in Vietnam. Suddenly it seemed our antiwar slate could win, the war could swiftly end.
Spontaneously, from around the city antiwar activists converged on Lafayette Park, across from the White House, to dance and sing in joy that the killing would stop. The police arrested one dancer, then fifteen minutes later de-arrested him and brought him back to the park. We felt as if the government had fallen.
There followed an Era of Good Feelings in American politics and society.
And then on April 4, Martin Luther King was murdered.
To me he was not just a distant charismatic speaker. I had spent nine years working day and night against racial injustice and the Vietnam War -- and one of those nights I spent in an unbearably hot back room at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City in 1964, helping to introduce members of the Credentials Committee to Dr. King. He had come hobbling on a broken leg, sweating his heart out, to urge them to seat the integrationist Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party as the real Democrats from Mississippi, rather than the conventional all-white good ol' boys.
One by one by one by one, the Credential Committee members came out to listen to Dr. King explain again and again what life was like in Mississippi. They didn't want to hear what he was telling; they feared Lyndon Johnson's rage if they voted for the Freedom Democrats. So King worked and sweated, sweated and worked. Charisma? Forget it. Indeed, I had never seen anyone work so hard.
That was the King I mourned on April 5.
By noon on April 5, Washington was ablaze. It was touch and go whether 18th Street â four houses from my door â would join the flames. Just barely, our neighborhoodâs interracial ties held fast.
By April 6, there was a curfew. Thousands of Blacks were being herded into jail for breaking it. But the police did not care whether whites were on the streets. So for a week, my white co-workers and I brought food, medicine, doctors from the suburbs into the schools and churches of burnt-out downtown Washington.
And then came the afternoon of April 12. That night, Passover would begin. For me, it was worth doing because it echoed years of family and mentioned freedom. It was my only Jewish ritual, a bubble in time that had no connection with the rest of my life.
So I walked home to help prepare the Seder. On every corner, detachments of the U.S. Army. On 18th Street, a Jeep with a machine gun pointing up my block.
Somewhere within me, deeper than my brain or breathing, my blood began to chant: âThis is Pharaohâs army, and I am walking home to do the Seder.â
and I am walking home
Kingâs last speech came back to me: âI just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.â
Even I, ignorant though I was, knew that was Moses talking.
And the songs came rushing back to me that we had sung in Atlantic City four years before with Fannie Lou Hamer of the Freedom Party: âGo tell it on the mountain, let my people go!â âMust be the people that Moses led, let my people go!â
Yes, this is Pharaohâs army, and I am walking home to do the Seder.
Not again, not ever again, a bubble in time. Not again, not ever again, a ritual recitation before the real life, the real meal, the real conversation.
For on that night, the Haggadah itself, the Telling of our slavery and our freedom, became the real conversation about our real life. The ritual foods, the bitterness of the bitter herb, the pressed-down bread of everyoneâs oppression, the wine of joy in struggle, became the real meal.
For the first time, we paused in the midst of the Telling itself, to connect the streets with the Seder. For the first time, we noticed the passage that says, âIn every generation, one rises up to become an oppressorâ; the passage that says, âIn every generation, every human being is obligated to say, we ourselves, not our forebears only, go forth from slavery to freedom.â
In every generation. Including our own. Always before, we had chanted these passages and gone right on. Tonight we paused. Who and what is our oppressor? How and when shall we go forth to freedom?
To my astonishment, these questions burned like a volcano within me, erupting like the volcano in my city.
Years later, I learned that Dr. King had been planning to take part that night in his first Passover Seder, with his co-worker Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. He had passed over to a different promised land, but he was present not only in my family Seder but in thousands of Jewish homes that Seder night.
Shortly after, our slate of delegates, chaired by a young black minister in the Kingian mold named Channing Phillips, pledged itself to support Bobby Kennedy for President. We were elected. When Bobby's body joined the other dead, we nominated Reverend Phillips as D.C.'s favorite son â the first black person ever nominated for President in any major-party convention.
And yet, in Chicago that summer, under Mayor Daley's baleful cops, all my identities burned out. Street radical, progressive Democrat, activist scholar, all gone. Only the unexpected volcano of Passover, of Judaism, survived.
That fall, I dug out my old Haggadah, the one I had been given when I turned 13, the one with Saul Raskinâs luscious drawings of the maidens who saved Moses from the river, the one that stirred my body each spring, those teenage years. Into its archaic English renderings of Exodus and Psalms, I intertwined passages from King and Thoreau, Ginsberg and Gandhi, the Warsaw Ghetto and a Russian rabbi named Tamaret -- wove them all into a new Telling of the tale of freedom. Where the old Haggadah had a silly argument about how many plagues had really afflicted Egypt, I substituted a serious quandary: Were blood and killing a necessary part of liberation, or could the nonviolence of King and Gandhi bring a deeper transformation?
I had written half a dozen books -- on military strategy, disarmament, race relations, American politics -- but this was different: this book was writing me. I had no idea whether it made any sense to do this; I knew only that I could not stop. When I had finished, I called around to find a Washington rabbi who might be sympathetic. I asked him to read my draft: was this a crazed obsession or a good idea?
Two days later, he called me: âI love it, Waskow. It's a midrash on the haggadah. Youâve taken the story into our own hands, as the rabbis said God wanted the fleeing slaves themselves to do. Do you know that midrash? The one where God refuses to split the Red Sea until the Jews have gone into the water, up to their noses?â
Long pause. âUmm, whatâs a midrash?â said I.
âOho!â said he, and even over the phone I could feel the excitement rise. âThe rabbis would take the ancient text, and read it in new ways. On this one, where the Torah says the people âwent into the sea on the dry land,â the rabbis ask, âWhich was it? How could it be both sea and dry land?â And they answer that the people went in while it was still sea; only then did it become dry land.
âYou see? -- the people had to act. The rabbis took the text into their own hands because they wanted the people to take history into their own hands. The text at first glance seems to leave the act to God; but the rabbis reread this oddity of text to mean the people acted.
âThatâs midrash. Want to read some?â
So I borrowed a volume of this âmidrash,â and I fell in love. A whole new language that my heart had searched for all these years, a whole new language I had never known existed. A language of transformation-through-renewal, a language that drew on an ancient language to make it deeply new. A language of serious play that could, with a wink, turn reality in a new direction and claim it was simply uncovering a meaning that was already there. A language of puns, serious and funny puns that took as cosmic teaching the clang of words and phrases with each other.
And this, the rabbi taught me, was what my new Haggadah was already: a midrash on the ancient text that turned it in a new direction. What neither he nor I expected was that as I was reinterpreting the text, the text was reinterpreting me. Turning me in a new direction, making a new me that was a midrash on the old âI.â
On April 4, 1969, the first anniversary of Dr. King's death and the third night of Passover, 800 Jews and Christians, black and white, gathered in the basement of Channing Phillips' church to celebrate the Freedom Seder that had erupted in me.
That is how my deadened Jewish soul was reborn out of the death of Martin Luther King. Now when I praise the God Who "gives life to the dead," I mean it. It is forty years later. Now the question is about the death and rebirth of an American vision: the transformation of our society.
Forty is an iconic number in biblical tradition: forty days of rain as the Flood began, forty years of wandering in the Wilderness, forty days of fastÂing for Moses (and then Jesus) on the mountaintop, forty days of Lent.
Rabbi Jeff Roth teaches that this iconic âfortyâ is rooted in the forty weeks of pregnancy. Each forty, a pregnant pause. From 1968 to 2008: forty years of pregnant pause after Kingâs death, Bobby Kennedyâs death, the hopes of an America reborn killed off in Memphis and Los Angeles and Chicago. Is the pregnancy completed? On the night before King died, he said that he was standing on the mountaintop, looking across the river toward the Promised Land; that he might not cross over, but the people would. Forty years later, are we prepared to give birth? To cross the Jordan not to utopia but to a new, unpromised place?
Rabbi Arthur Waskow is director of The Shalom Center and the author of about twenty books on U.S. public policy and Jewish history, thought, and practice.
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The Word of the Lord Was Upon Him
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Before he was a civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. liked to remind people, he was a preacher. From the start of his ministry, King was enticed by transracial possibilities, preaching to white liberal Protestants at New Yorkâs Riverside Church and Chicagoâs Sunday Evening Club and through the sermons he polished for his book, "Strength to Love." In those guises, King often projected the most refined and worldly persona as he cited theologian Paul Tillich, quoted the verse of the Roman poet Ovid or observed didactically, âHinduism. . .calls this tension a conflict between illusion and reality.â
The high-flown strains in Kingâs preaching were in keeping with his embarrassment at the pyrotechnics of the black folk pulpit and his own fatherâs âwhooping.â With visceral distaste, the young King recoiled from one black preacher âjust jumping all over the pulpit and jumping out and spitting all over everything and screaming with his tune, and moaning and groaning.â
Yet the sublime proclivities were never the whole of Kingâs homilies -- especially as the years ticked by. A member of Kingâs Dexter Avenue Baptist Church who heard him deliver a guest sermon in Birmingham was âstunned when. . .my pastor began to whoop.â He said, âReverend King, you whooped today. . .I have never heard you whoop at Dexter.â King replied, âWell, the sisters at Dexter never talk to me when I am preaching like the old sisters did here today.â
Black congregations were hardly strangers to this earthier, fervent, more ethnic King. Maybe Willie Mays wasnât such a great speaker, a folksy King observed, but âI say a brother that can hit a ball like that doesnât need to talk. [Laughter].â At times while preaching, the fussy grammarian would drop his final consonants in a virtual drawl, âWe [blacks] are in America. . .and we aintâ goin nowhere.â Bucked up by the call and shout of the congregation, his crescendos could dissolve the line between chanting, singing and preaching in ecstatic anticipation of the Kingdom to come. Recounting his crisis in the midnight hour when he put aside fancy theology for the God âmy Daddy told me about,â an almost sobbing King wailed, that God âpromised never to leave me, never to leave me, never to leave me.â
Kingâs more vernacular voice was a matter not just of style but of stories, often told with a black twist. Before whites, King straddled the line between the racesâa tour guide translating the black experience to those outside it. In black churches King planted himself squarely on the side of âmy people.â At Mount Zion Church in Los Angeles, King refused to revile black rioters in Watts but confessed, âI know the temptation [to become bitter] which comes to all of us.â In âWhy Jesus Called a Man A Fool,â Kingâs tone was defiant, âIt is the black man . . .who produced the wealth of this nation. (All right). . .And I know what Iâm talking about this morning. (Yes, sir) The black man made America wealthy.â Never was Kingâs communion with his people more poignant than when he reprised the role of âthat old slave preacher [who] would look at his people, he would say to âem . . . âall week long youâve been called a nigger. But I wanna say to you,âââand here Kingâs thickening dialect created the impression that he was speaking the slave preacherâs words along with himââYou ainât no slave, you ainât no nigger, but you Godâs chillun.â
Did the intensity of Kingâs communion with other black people mean he was a stealth practitioner of âblack theology?â Was the sublime persona King presented to white congregations not the real King but a deft confection? The answer to both is a resounding no. Kingâs preaching was always a mix of ethnic and universal, passion and learning; only the precise blend varied. Quoting Keats and Carlyle, King never withheld his refined voice from black congregations; and he never banished his black voice in the loftiest of white Protestant settings. The aesthetic mix symbolized Kingâs theological expansiveness.
King referred to the âso-called black churchâ because it was a temporary adjustment to white Christians whose racial separatism mocked his faith that âin Christ there is no East nor West.â The black episodes in his homilies were interludes that circled back to affirm the transcendent worth of all Godâs children. And for all his zeal for a social gospel, King preached a personal one too that sought to assuage anguish of the most universal sort.
âOhhh,â King sighed in that prose poem of a sermon, 'The Interruptions of Life,' âI would say to you,/that Handel was down low. But just when he was about to give up, Handel created 'The Hallelujah Chorus' and 'The Great Messiah.'" Then King pleaded with the congregation, âDonât jump, go produce a song!" In another sermon he asked, "Are you disillusioned this morning? Have you been disappointed?â and then tenderly reassured, âDonât give up, because God has another light, and it is the light that can shine amid the darkness of a thousand midnights. . . .They put the light out on Good Friday, but God brought it back on Easter morning.â
In such moments, King was not a movement leader, learned scholar, or race man. He was a healer of broken hearts and fractured souls.
Jonathan Rieder is Professor of Sociology at Barnard College, Columbia University. He is author of the new book "The Word of the Lord is Upon Me: The Righteous Performance of Martin Luther King." Read an excerpt.
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Waterboarding Real Peace
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The Current Discussion: Vice President Dick Cheney said last week that Hamas is doing all it can to torpedo the Mideast peace process -- but Ephraim Halevy, former head of Mossad, thinks it's time to include the Islamist group in peace talks. Who's right?
The question leads to an obvious answer and a few observations to ponder upon. Is it possible to exclude a political party that won a majority in the last election of Palestinians?
Hamas has duplicated the dual military-political structures in Northern Ireland, namely the IRA & Sinn Fein. It has a noticeable support of the Palestinian electorate that yearn dignity, insist on fairness and stand against modern apartheid. As a grassroots movement of the Palestinian people, it has gained the following of a substantial majority, tired of inactions and corruption of the PLO and Fatah and the precious little built on the Oslo Agreement.
Thus, the comments of Vice President Cheney are about form and the shallow appearance of how peace ought to be from the brokerâs perspective. However, Halevy speaks of substance and the stability of long-term results. Put simply, they are talking past each other with dissimilar aims. The vice president of America, the self-nominated peace broker-facilitator-enforcer (but not a neutral one, as presumed by definition....) has fallen short of breath early into substantive negotiations. The aim of Washington is not much higher than a deceptive form, and a hoax legacy, rather than stability and true tranquillity expected with peace. The liberator of Iraq, with depleted political and financial capital and a military engagement longer than World War II, is trying to rough cut a deal and expects all sides to deal away their principles. That will not be a stable and lasting peace.
The contrasting comments of the Israeli Halevy are aimed at substance. Halevy is the former head of the National Security Council of Israel that served five Israeli cabinets and his views could reflect internal debate of a regime that has gained nothing from repeating cycles of violence over the last decade. Such vision must be taken seriously, some 10 years after Mossadâs failed attempt to assassinate Khaled Mashal (the political leader of Hamas), despite the fact that Israel is the land of diverse opinions and complex and opaque politics. A shift towards an inclusive peace process is an encouraging sign in a contentious and drawn out conflict similar to northern Ireland and let us hope is not a mere hollow posture for the next occupant of the White House. What has changed? Halevy, a British citizen and an architect of the Israeli lobby in Europe, is airing the private conclusions of Tony Blair (the former British prime minister and the appointed point man after the Annapolis meeting for the ineffective Group of Four). Halevy is a long-term supporter of Mr. Blair. Both men have been influential in the shift of British policy to a staunchly pro-Israeli strategy.
Blair naively embarked on the assignment, perhaps as an attempt to mollify his Iraqi endeavours and replicate the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. He soon realised that that the festering, complex problem cannot be solved with cycles of violence, ineffective sanctions or collective punishment schemes akin to dark practices suffered by Jews during the Second World War. With such realisation about the need for talks, Blair and Halevy might have reached the same promising point that eventually settled the Irish problem. In the meanwhile, the American broker is suffering from a riddle of delusions of its own making that are strikingly Middle Eastern -- an insistence to waterboard a self-started peace process, transform a rigid tenacity into blind stubbornness, and then trash talk it all to blame others!
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Clintons Earned $109 Million in 8 Years
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After leaving the White House, the Clintons earned $30 million from their best-selling books and brought in as much as $15 million more through an investment partnership with one of her top presidential campaign fundraisers, California billionaire Ronald Burkle. The disclosures came with yesterday's long-awaited release of the Clintons' joint tax returns, a move made in the thick of Sen. Clinton's fight with Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) for the Democratic nomination.
Sen. Clinton (N.Y.) initially resisted making her family's finances public, but pressure on her to match Obama's disclosure grew in February when she disclosed that she had dipped into her personal account to lend her campaign $5 million.
The tax returns illustrate the rags-to-riches story of a couple who came to the White House from Arkansas with modest means and left facing an estimated $12 million in legal debts rung up during investigations of the Whitewater land deal, campaign fundraising and the Monica S. Lewinsky scandal. As she entered the Senate and he left the political spotlight, the Clintons transformed themselves into a successful global brand.
"We've come a long way from Harry Truman," said Leon E. Panetta, a Clinton administration official who now directs the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, referring to the "man from Missouri" who left the presidency to live a modest lifestyle in his home state. "In many ways, it is becoming the American story. A lot of people who have devoted their lives to public service, who lived hand-to-mouth during months of public service, are suddenly able, after public life, to find some rewards."
The Clintons paid $33 million in federal taxes during the eight-year period and donated $10 million to charity, said Jay Carson, a Clinton campaign spokesman. "The Clintons have now made public 30 years of tax returns, a record matched by few people in public service," he said.
A common thread running through the couple's personal finances is the presence of many of the same figures who helped bankroll the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton, and now that of his wife.
Major donors to both Clintons' White House bids hired the former president as a consultant, joined him in lucrative investment ventures and paid him six-figure sums to speak at corporate gatherings.
The considerable crossover between the couple's decades of political fundraising and their personal profit also extended at times to the former president's charity work and his presidential library, though many records related to those remain secret. What is clear is that numerous financial patrons -- individuals as well as large corporations -- repeatedly emerge in the Clintons' circle.
Chief among them is Burkle, the founder of the Yucaipa investment firm, who not only has provided Bill Clinton with a hefty source of income during his post-presidency but also ranks as one of Sen. Clinton's "Hillraisers," a title given to those who raise more than $100,000 for her presidential bid. Burkle has held fundraisers for her at his Beverly Hills estate, and also made six-figure donations to independent political groups, such as Emily's List, that are supporting her.
The tax returns show Bill Clinton's partnership with Burkle, at various arms of his Yucaipa firm, yielding in excess of $1 million a year, starting in 2003. In 2005, Clinton collected $5 million from those investments, and more than $2.5 million in each of the past two years. The former president served as a senior adviser to the private firm, helping Burkle land investors and identify business opportunities. The Wall Street Journal reported that Clinton started to unwind the relationship earlier this year and could ultimately receive a payout worth about $20 million.
Another recurring character is InfoUSA founder Vinod Gupta, who has contributed to the Clinton library, donated money to Sen. Clinton's White House bid and hired the former president as a consultant. Last year, InfoUSA paid Bill Clinton $400,000. Legal papers that surfaced last year showed that he earned more than $3 million from the firm, which sells consumer data to telemarketers and other businesses.
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In the past eight years, Bill and Hillary Clinton earned a combined $109 million, with the former president collecting nearly half of that money as a speaker hired at times by companies that have been among his wife's most generous political supporters.
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Themes Pivot on Economic Reports
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The bleak report on declining payrolls and rising unemployment jolted the presidential campaign yesterday and underscored the primary position the economy has taken in the race.
An economic slump that President Bush recently described as "a rough patch" has become the top concern of both parties -- and a chance for Democrats to link Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee, with the policies of the Bush administration.
"It's time the President and John McCain recognize the r-word: reality," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. "For more than a year I have been like Paulette Revere, calling for action to keep the problems from our housing market from spilling over into our economy. After a year of denial and half-measures it is time for this Administration to put ideology aside and get serious about stemming this crisis."
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) talked to reporters on his campaign plane to deliver his economic message. "We are seeing the highest level of first-time unemployment requests in the last three years, and what I think this indicates is the degree to which our economy has contracted, is sliding into recession," he said. "We have seen a failure over the last 7 1/2 years of George Bush's policies, in which basically the answer to every problem are tax cuts to the wealthy. We now see John McCain suggesting that we should be standing on the sidelines and watching the mortgage crisis unfold."
McCain did not mention his earlier concern about bailing out speculators and imprudent risk-takers when he rushed out a statement declaring: "Across this country, many Americans are hurting."
"It is imperative to restore the economic foundations for America's families and small businesses," he continued. "In addition to rapid and targeted help for those families hurt by the mortgage crisis, it is essential to reduce the burdens on businesses and workers by lowering taxes, streamlining regulation, tackling health care costs, opening markets to American goods and helping those workers in need."
The political picture is particularly bleak for him. Traditionally, an economy in recession has virtually foreclosed the possibility of electing a member of the president's party to succeed him. Ray C. Fair, a Yale University economist who has devised a complicated economic formula for predicting election results, now forecasts that the Republican nominee will receive no more than 47.95 percent of the vote in November.
And that assumes positive economic growth in the first nine months of the year. For the first time, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke this week suggested that the first half of the year could see an economic contraction.
"This recession is not some random business-cycle event," said Austan Goolsbee, a University of Chicago economist and an Obama adviser. "It's the culmination of the last seven years, when incomes were flat, job growth was measly, median income in a boom time actually fell for the first time on record, education costs and energy costs were rising. People were left no margin for error, and here we are."
Facing a gloomy political environment, McCain went on the attack.
"Despite today's news, the Democrats will continue to advance their anti-growth agenda," he said. "The American people cannot afford the Democrats and their economic leadership."
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Thousands Are Drawn To Memphis to Honor King
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MEMPHIS, April 4 -- Standing in the plaza below the Lorraine Motel, looking up at the balcony where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was slain 40 years ago, Paul Woodard was full of conflicting emotions.
"You want to see it, but you don't want to see it. It's chilling," said the 50-year-old sanitation supervisor. "But I had to be here."
Woodard and his wife, Katie, made the trek Friday to the National Civil Rights Museum, located in the Lorraine, along with hundreds of others to remember King's death and honor his legacy four decades after he was assassinated.
Woodard said that, for him, the trip was akin to a journey to Mecca, recalling that King's support of sanitation workers in Memphis made it possible for him to succeed in his own career, hundreds of miles away and decades later.
"He gave me the hope when I started on the back of a garbage truck that I could be in charge of the whole operation," said Woodard, who manages a $2.5 million sanitation system in Brunswick, Ga.
Throughout the day visitors lined up in the rain outside the museum, standing with a clear view of the balcony in front of Room 306, where King was shot. The place is frozen in time -- a 1960s-era motel with blue-green doors and metal railings identical to those seen in black-and-white photos of King's aides standing over his limp body.
Presidential candidates Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) also paid their respects, while Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) praised King while campaigning in Indiana (Story, A4). Many of King's contemporaries, including Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, were on hand, as were family members of the sanitation workers who invited King to Memphis in 1968 to support their strike.
Wearing a T-shirt imprinted with a photo of striking black sanitation workers, Lula Williams, a 60-year-old grill cook in Memphis, pointed out the figure of her father, Jessie Perry, in the picture. He participated in the strike, which was prompted because blacks were not allowed to change clothes at work after their shifts, were not paid when supervisors sent them home because of bad weather and were forced to work in dangerous conditions.
"When we heard he got shot, we got up, and we prayed that Dr. King would make it," said Williams, noting that her father often talked about King. "[My father] told us to always remember what King did and always remember that he stood up for us. The dream will go on."
Yesterday was the culmination of a week of King-related events and included a memorial march by sanitation workers, a candlelight vigil and a speech by the Rev. C.T. Vivian, a close friend of King's.
The Civil Rights Museum, which has been the center of remembrances of King's life and legacy this week, almost did not come to be. For 14 years after King's death, the motel remained open for business -- a living, decaying reminder of his assassination -- until owner Walter Bailey was forced into foreclosure in 1982. To save the Lorraine, prominent people from Memphis formed a group called the Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation that eventually purchased it.
Amid exhibits that show civil rights marchers, a bust of Mohandas K. Gandhi, and the striking sanitation workers, the museum now seeks to answer the question: Did the movement die in Memphis? Visitors to the museum and dignitaries in town argued that King's legacy lives on but that much work remains.
"Here we are today building on the same issues that Martin struggled for more than 40 years ago: the question of color in America, the question of poverty in America and the question of military might in America," said Conyers, before visiting the museum.
He spoke on the dais with Clinton, whose campaign stopped by the Church of God in Christ's Mason Temple -- where King gave his final speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," on April 3, 1968, before he retired to the Lorraine.
Speaking at the Mason Temple, Bishop Charles E. Blake of the Church of God in Christ said, "Much of the oppression that was imposed upon us has been significantly alleviated, but in many cases we as a people have been so wounded and so handicapped that we could not readily walk into those rooms that had been opened to us."
Williams's daughter, LaSandra Cleaves, 39, who brought her 17-year-old son and his friend to the King exhibit, said she worries that young people have forgotten the importance of the civil rights movement and its leaders.
"I think the dream has somewhat died. Looking at where we as a people are with black-on-black crime. And King always preached about education, and the dropout rate in Memphis is extremely high," Cleaves said. "I don't think the youth truly understand what Dr. King was trying to instill in us."
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Documenting the Riots
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Suspicious package sits at Fed building for months
Toyota expects to halt production in U.S.
Aerial view of Japan destruction
Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped
Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes
Elementary class graduate after tsunami
Baking behind bars on Rikers Island
Plea deal nixed in Conn. home invasion case
Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded
Playing the oil prices money game
Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS
Obama struggles to enter White House
Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan
Buying a new home means paying more
Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power
Goldman CEO offers no cover for ex-boardmember
Audio: Silence in the tower at DCA
Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control
Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo
Strong storms bring wild weather
Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed
Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem
Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow
Obama struggles to enter White House
Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya
McCain on no-fly zone: "It's been very effective"
U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya
Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy
Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold
The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile
Obama favors Gaddafi stepping down
Palin: 'Overwhelming' to be in Israel
Gates: U.S. will soon yield control in Libya
The Fast Fix - Is Romney winning the base?
Obama: Brazil's democracy example to Arab world
Obama plays soccer with Brazil youth
Obama authorizes military action against Libya
The Post's Forero analyzes Obama's trip to Brazil
Obama: Coalition prepared to act in Libya
Banks boost dividends as Fed loosens leash
Wisc. judge blocks controversial union law
Obama: U.S. ready to enforce sanctions in Libya
Clinton: 'No other choice' in Libya
Westfield and Robinson tie, 1-1
Post Sports Live: Boudreau vs. McPhee - who deserves more credit?
Post Sports Live: Sweet 16 preview
Post Sports Live: Alex Ovechkin's mysterious injury
Post Sports Live, March 22
Georgetown Prep beats Langley, 12-3
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Ali asks Iran to free U.S. hikers
JaVale McGee on his first triple-double
Post Sports Live: Mason faces tough road in East region
Post Sports Live: Georgetown's chances rest on Wright's hand
Navy knocks out in-state rival Towson, 14-11
Georgetown draws 5th-seed, faces Princeton this Sunday
Post Sports Live: NCAA Tournament preview
Post Sports Live, March 15
George Mason reacts to first-round matchup with Villanova
Sneak peek: 'History Will Be Made'
North Point claims 4A title
Centennial loses to Milford Mill, 56-44
Toyota expects to halt production in U.S.
Aerial view of Japan destruction
Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes
Elementary class graduate after tsunami
No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide
Playing the oil prices money game
Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan
Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power
Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control
Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo
Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed
Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem
Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow
Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed
Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop
Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya
Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan
U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya
Carriages prepared for royal wedding
Japan slowly recovers, mourns dead
Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy
Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold
The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile
Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped
Post Today, March 24: U-Md. demands nuclear fallout info
Baking behind bars on Rikers Island
No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide
Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded
Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS
Obama struggles to enter White House
Aflac debuts Gilbert Gottfried-less commercial
Strong storms bring wild weather
Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous love affair
Adorable polar bear twins meet the public
Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop
Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79
Massive shark spotted off Florida coast
Iowa tornado caught on tape
Post Today, March 23: Naming military operations
Circus elephants take a walk through D.C.
Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan
Footage of crashed U.S. fighter jet
U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya
Carriages prepared for royal wedding
| The scene yesterday looked like a typical parade: glad-handing politicians, waving beauty queens and pompom-carrying cheerleaders.
| Forty years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, the storied organizations that propelled the modern-day civil rights movement alongside him are either struggling to stay relevant or struggling to stay alive.
| Near the end of his life, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. felt cornered and under siege. His opposition to the Vietnam War was widely criticized, even by friends. He was being pressured both to repudiate the black power movement and to embrace it. Some of his lieutenants were urging him to jettis...
| T he intersection where it all began that catastrophic night, the once-ragged corner of 14th and U streets, is now a crossroads at the center of Washington affluence.
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Matthew Lewis, a Pulitzer Prize winner and 25-year veteran of The Washington Post, looks back at covering the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King six weeks before his death, and the riots that engulfed parts of Washington, D.C., after King's assassination.Video by Lucian Perkins/washingtonpost.com
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The Changing Bookstore Battle
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Barbara Meade could not resist a little schadenfreude. After the Borders bookstore chain announced recently that it was exploring "strategic alternatives" -- corporate lingo for "there's trouble" -- the co-owner of the independent store Politics and Prose, which has held on against the chain's cost-cutting competition, took note in her online newsletter.
"We have never been tempted by the allure of corporate imperialism -- invading new book markets, slashing prices, demolishing the competition, and then back to business as usual, poor inventory and poor customer service," Meade wrote, reporting that "Borders announced a shift in direction from selling books to selling the whole business."
While it is tempting to marvel at, or even gloat about, the potential demise of a tough competitor, analysts and publishing industry executives say Borders's troubles are emblematic of an ironic shift in book selling. Large corporate booksellers, once an enemy of the little guy, now have enemies of their own: Amazon.com and big-box retailers like Costco and Target are taking on Borders with even deeper discounts than the chains used against the independents.
"It's only a matter of time before the independents and chains realize they are actually in the battle with them as opposed to each other," said Michael Norris, a book industry analyst for Simba Information, a media market-research firm.
Costco, Target, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club aren't just moving in for the kill with big discounts on the latest Stephen King or John Grisham page-turners. They are also engaging the culturally connected, targeting readers who delight in cocktail or book-club conversation about the latest titles. About 34 percent of book buyers made purchases at such locations last year, according to the Simmons National Consumer Survey.
Last week, Costco in Gaithersburg was selling Jhumpa Lahiri's new short-story collection, as well as a new novel by Richard Price, a book on economics by Jeffrey Sachs, and a 688-page tome on the bin Laden family by former Washington Post managing editor Steve Coll. Target in Germantown was also carrying Lahiri's book, as well as a novel by Sue Miller and a short-story collection from Margaret Atwood. Germantown's Wal-Mart was carrying Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Road."
In most cases, the list prices at the big-box retailers -- without coupons or other discounts -- were lower than at Borders and the District's Politics and Prose. "The small mom-and-pop booksellers have some allies now in that they are all probably going to be squeezed from a pricing perspective," said Michael Souers, a Standard & Poor's analyst who tracks Borders.
Making matters worse for stores that depend on book sales, fewer Americans are buying books. About 56 percent of adults bought books last year, down from 61 percent in 2002, according to Simmons.
It's difficult to know just how many books the big-box retailers are selling because they generally don't report such specific figures. Borders declined to comment on its troubles, but its executives have acknowledged that big-box retailers were eating into their business. The company has also been hurt because it has not operated its own sales Web site, as Barnes & Noble does. Borders's net income was $131.9 million in 2004 and $101 million in 2005, but it lost more than $300 million in the past two years. The company recently agreed to borrow $42.5 million from a hedge fund to fund operations this year. The terms of the deal were steep -- an interest rate of 12.5 percent.
The big boxes are also moving in on one of the signature offerings of bookstores, the author book signing. Costco regularly hosts authors to promote books. Those who have appeared or are scheduled to appear with new books at Costco stores include Ken Burns, Bill Clinton, Barbara Walters, Jose Canseco, Harlan Coben and Newt Gingrich.
Seth Gitell, a Boston journalist and political analyst, wrote on his blog last year that he had dropped by a local Costco "to purchase some delicious whitefish salad" but noticed a sign promoting, of all things, a book signing by Burns. Gitell "couldn't believe that Burns would be making an appearance here of all places," he wrote. "But here he was. Burns sat dressed neatly in a blue blazer in front of a large display of Vizio 60-inch and 42-inch big-screen HDTVs as eager fans lined up to meet him."
Because there is a romantic quality to books -- curling up with them on the couch on a rainy Sunday afternoon is an eternal exercise in passing time -- people often forget that books are a business, too, with price tags, economics, marketing, competition, growth, stagnation and all the other trappings of commerce. In many ways, what is happening in the book industry is similar to what has happened in other industries -- for instance, the grocery business.
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Washington,DC,Virginia,Maryland business headlines,stock portfolio,markets,economy,mutual funds,personal finance,Dow Jones,S&P 500,NASDAQ quotes,company research tools. Federal Reserve,Bernanke,Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Payrolls Fell The Most In 5 Years Last Month
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Joblessness soared and employers cut back in March, the deepest job losses in five years and strong evidence that the housing and financial market distress has spooked employers.
The Labor Department numbers released yesterday were far worse than economists had forecast. The unemployment rate rose to 5.1 percent from 4.8 percent in February and 4.4 percent in March 2007. Employers reduced their payrolls by 80,000 jobs in March, the third straight month of decline. And the department revised the previous two months' employment levels down by 67,000 positions.
"We're in recession," said David Wyss, chief economist of Standard & Poor's. "It's hard to conclude anything else."
While unemployment remains low by historical standards, job-seekers and firms that help place workers said employers are far more reluctant to hire as they have become wary of what the soft economy will mean for their businesses.
"If you're working, you might not think there is a recession," said Ruby Gilmore, an Alexandria resident who was laid off from her job in human resources in January and is still looking for work. "But looking for a job, things are very competitive. . . . It is like they are looking for a reason not to hire you."
Unemployment is worst among people with little education. The seasonally adjusted rate for people with less than a high school diploma rose to 8.2 percent in March from 7.3 percent the month before. Unemployment was unchanged, at 2.1 percent, for those with a bachelor's degree or higher.
The report shows how the problems in the housing and financial markets are rippling through other sectors, reflecting the deep connections between seemingly separate parts of the economy.
The number of construction jobs, which has declined steadily for 18 months, continued to fall. That sector shed 51,000 positions, as fewer homes are being built.
Fewer houses mean less construction and building materials; the number of manufacturing jobs fell 48,000, with some of the steepest losses among makers of lumber, drywall, and other materials. Automakers also cut jobs.
With their homes less valuable, U.S. consumers seem to be spending less, which means stores need fewer workers. The number of retail jobs fell 12,400, with the steepest losses in sellers of building materials and appliances, which are strongly tied to the housing business.
Financial firms cut 5,000 jobs, with the biggest losses in "credit intermediation" companies, which includes banks and mortgage brokers.
This has caused businesses that have little to do with housing to become less confident about the future. Professional and business services, a sector that had been keeping the economy afloat, trimmed 35,000 jobs.
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Terrorism Study Drops a Bombshell on Boise
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Try Boise, Idaho, with its, um, potatoes.
A new study funded largely by the Department of Homeland Security ranked 132 American cities according to vulnerability to terrorist attacks. Boise was the only city in the western half of the country to make the top 10.
"To be honest, we're a little bit surprised," said Adam Park, a spokesman for Boise, a landlocked city of 200,000 where the big event this weekend is a Professional Bull Riders invitational.
The rest of the top 10 -- led by New Orleans and including New York and Washington, D.C. -- were largely East Coast cities. Los Angeles was No. 41, followed by San Francisco at 66 and Seattle at 87.
"Is this a typo or what?" asked Bobbie Patterson, executive director of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Where in the world did this information come from?"
It came from four years of work and a series of mathematical formulas developed by Walter W. Piegorsch, a professor at the University of Arizona, with help from Susan Cutter at the University of South Carolina and Frank Hardisty at Pennsylvania State University. The study was published in December by Risk Analysis, a well-regarded journal.
The researchers assessed the vulnerability of each city to a terrorist attack based on three things: socioeconomics, infrastructure, and geophysical hazards such as the potential for flooding or fire.
The analysis measured not whether a city would make an attractive target to a terrorist but rather how well it could withstand an attack, Piegorsch said.
"This wasn't a question of what places a terrorist wants," Piegorsch said. "The targetability is not an issue here; it's the vulnerability if they were targeted."
The researchers color-coded that vulnerability, assigning green to areas with low vulnerability to a terrorist incident and resulting casualties, yellow to those with high vulnerability but low casualties, and red to those with high marks in both vulnerability and casualties.
A deficiency in one category could overshadow high marks in another. A city with well-built bridges might find itself higher on the list if its high-density population makes evacuations difficult.
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Quick: Name the Western U.S. city most vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Is it Los Angeles, with its crowded roads that make quick escape impossible? San Francisco and its iconic bridge? Or Seattle with its Space Needle and busy port?
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Court Ruling Boosts Breakaway Churches
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The decision is a first step in a multi-trial case and does not settle who gets the properties. But it is a boost to the breakaway churches and to a national movement that is battling the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, over what it believes to be an un-biblical liberal slant in the national church.
In the decision issued Thursday night, Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows ruled the breakaway churches' votes to leave in late 2006 and early 2007 constituted a legal "division" in the Virginia diocese under a Civil War-era statute. The breakaway churches are primarily in Northern Virginia.
Jim Oakes, vice chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia, which includes the breakaway congregations, said the group is "gratified" by the ruling. But, he added, "we understand that this is not the end. We've successfully jumped over the first hurdle."
About 200 congregations out of more than 7,000 in the Episcopal Church have broken away in the dispute, according to the Anglican Communion Network, a national umbrella group of conservative Episcopalians. Lawsuits also have been filed in California and Ohio over who gets to keep the properties there.
The decision means the Virginia breakaway congregations, which have affiliated with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, are legally divided from the Episcopal Church. CANA is essentially a U.S. outpost of the Anglican Church of Nigeria.
The diocese and the national church have said that the votes constituted a minority of diocese members and that the diocese, not congregants, owns the properties.
They also argue that the state law is unconstitutional because it lets the government tell a religious denomination how to govern its affairs.
Bellows agreed to hear arguments in May on whether the state law is constitutional. The court, he wrote, "does not decide today any issue related to the constitutionality" of the law.
William Etherington, a lawyer specializing in church-state law who is not involved in the case, said he expects that it will be decided on grounds of constitutionality and that it could have an effect that extends beyond the Episcopal Church.
"The constitutional issues cut across any denomination. It's something that's going to affect, certainly, any hierarchical church," he said yesterday.
"To me, that's where the rubber really meets the road here," he said. "It's a question of church autonomy."
The ongoing battle has taken its toll on the Virginia diocese. Although only 7 percent of its congregations have left the diocese, those churches account for 18 percent of its average Sunday attendance, according to court documents.
A fall trial has been scheduled to hear the diocese's broader lawsuit against the breakaway congregations. The lawsuit demands that the congregations vacate the properties and asks the court to affirm that the land and churches belong to the diocese.
The state statute says a legal division "shall be conclusive as to the title to and control of any property held in trust" for congregations. The diocese argues that the statute is unconstitutional.
Henry Burt, a spokesman for the diocese, said his side thinks ownership of church property is determined by other factors, including a denomination's laws, deeds and the history of how the property has been managed and controlled.
The case is being watched closely by other major denominations, including Methodist and Presbyterian, many of which also are facing battles between church leadership and restless conservative members who are unhappy with what they deem a liberal drift. Churches in other denominations that have broken away also are struggling in court over who owns the church property.
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A Fairfax County judge has given an initial victory to conservatives from 11 Virginia churches in their battle to keep tens of millions of dollars in buildings and land after breaking away from the Episcopal Church.
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Post Politics Hour
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Don't want to miss out on the latest in politics? Start each day with The Post Politics Hour. Join in each weekday morning at 11 a.m. as a member of The Washington Post's team of White House and congressional reporters answers questions about the latest in buzz in Washington and The Post's coverage of political news.
Washington Post chief political reporter Dan Balz was online Monday, April 7 at 11 a.m. ET.
Get the latest campaign news live on washingtonpost.com's The Trail, or subscribe to the daily Post Politics Podcast.
Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts
Dan Balz: Good morning to everyone. The candidates are coming off the campaign trail for a couple of days to attend hearings with Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. But with Pennsylvania now just two weeks away and with the Clinton campaign digesting the news about Mark Penn, there's much to deal with. Thanks for joining in.
Washington: Thank you for taking my question, Dan. In terms of a change in message or strategy, is Mark Penn's departure from the campaign too late to have any real impact? How does a candidate really reinvent herself to blow Barack out of the water in Pennsylvania?
Dan Balz: This is the major campaign news of the day. Mark Penn played a dominant role in the Clinton campaign, in large measure because he enjoyed the confidence of Sen. Clinton and former President Clinton. Both, however, could not forgive his lapse in judgment for meeting with the Colombian ambassador and they finally faced reality.
It's not clear whether this will lead to a real change in strategy. Penn has been at odds with others in the campaign for a long time about how to present the candidate to the public, but at this point, there is so much past history to her candidacy that it will be difficult to undo it. We talked last night to Geoffrey Garin, the pollster who is now co-chief strategist, along with communications director Howard Wolfson. He said the key is winning these upcoming primaries but offered no clues as to whether that will necessitate a shift in message or strategy. Inevitably there will be some changes when you swap out chief strategists, but she can't reinvent herself. What we may see is more emphasis on who she is, tied to what she advocates.
Dryden, N.Y.: I always thought Mark Penn cost Sen. Clinton votes every time he opened his mouth on TV. Given his disloyalty in the Colombia affair, why does her campaign continue to retain his services? Can you explain to this puzzled voter why the senator did not make a complete break with this guru? Thank you for the insights.
washingtonpost.com: Clinton's Chief Strategist Steps Down (Post, April 7)
Dan Balz: I can't answer this question, but have asked others around the Clintons, with inconclusive results. Obviously they have a long history with him and were probably reluctant to send him off into total isolation. But the demotion is significant -- he will have a voice but one that is far less important. Certainly the campaign will run with less friction now that he's off to the side.
Montreal: Have any of the candidates said anything about the latest Yoo memo, or about torture in general? I have to assume none of these three would continue current and recent policies, but have any said so publicly?
washingtonpost.com: Permissible Assaults Cited in Graphic Detail (Post, April 6)
Dan Balz: All three candidates have been on the record for a long time about changing policies with regard to torture. Recall that Sen. McCain fought with the Bush administration over this more than a year ago. Sens. Clinton and Obama have been harsh critics of the administration's torture and interrogation policy. All have said they will close Guantanamo.
Minnesota: The whole Mark Penn thing is a big deal inside the Beltway and to political junkies like me, but do you think it will register with average voters in Pennsylvania, North Carolina or Indiana?
Dan Balz: No. Staff changes have little resonance with most voters. They're focused on real-life issues, not the internecine warfare in the campaigns. It's important to voters only to the extent that it brings visible changes to her campaign -- which is possible.
Silver Spring, Md.: Hillary Clinton claimed that at 14 years old, she met Dr. Martin Luther King. Can you or the media verify that she in fact met him? I kind of doubted the truthfulness of her claim.
Dan Balz: I believe you're referring to the story that, as a teenager, she was part of a church group from her suburban church that went into Chicago to hear King speak. I don't recall whether she "met" King that day but I don't doubt that she went and listened to him speak.
Perspectives : On Salon.com I read a troubling little statistical snippet on news coverage and priorities. Last week your paper published the story on John Yoo's shameful "Torture Memo." The Yoo story got some 80 LexisNexis hits; Obama's bowling got more than 1,000. What is wrong with the editors and producers making the coverage decisions?
washingtonpost.com: The U.S. establishment media in a nutshell (Salon, April 5)
Dan Balz: I just looked quickly at the Salon report and as I understand it, there were -- in all media -- about a thousand references to Obama's bowling escapade and about a hundred to the Yoo memo. The Post ran the Yoo memo story on the front page. We did not put Obama's bowling on the front page. We did two follow up stories on aspects of the Yoo memo and ran an editorial. We had two stories that I can find that mentioned the bowling but they ran inside the A section. I can find only one other reference to it in our database, which was in a column in Sports by Norman Chad.
Goldfield Ranch, Ariz.: Good morning -- Mr. Balz. I am interested in learning your view on what appears to be a persistent "leakage" of superdelegates in the direction of Sen. Obama. Is there a dam holding the most of them back? Is the slow movement toward Sen. Obama likely to change pace? Will the dam burst?
Dan Balz: There has been slow leakage toward Obama but for now no dam bursting. Our sense is that many superdelegates are waiting to see the process play out a little longer. They'll look at the results in Pennsylvania and then the results in Indiana and North Carolina on May 6. If Obama has done well in those three, then you could see more movement. Superdelegates are generally cautious and prefer to take cues from the voters, if those cues are clear.
Ashland, Ore.: To combat the East Coast bias, I'm posting early. 8 a.m. PDT is rough! Penn got canned on Sunday evening -- early enough for maximum exposure on Monday morning's front pages. What message is the campaign sending? Do you expect a noticeable change in the campaign?
Dan Balz: Lovely Ashland, Ore. Hello to you there and thanks for getting up early to join in. Actually, it would have been better if the Penn story broke an hour or two earlier, just to make all the early edition stories more complete. But that's a quibble. They needed to do something to get it off the front pages by Tuesday, and they were getting pressure from allies and potentially allies of the campaign. The story is that Penn concluded he needed to step aside, but he probably had no choice.
Chicago: Good morning and thanks for chatting. The morning talk was about Hillary telling a health care story that turned out to be untrue. On top of the Bosnia fib, does this "mistake" add up to a serious credibility problem for Hillary two weeks before Pennsylvania? Is that going to be the story leading up to Pennsylvania, sort of like Gore being (mostly falsely) painted as a serial exaggerator in 2000?
washingtonpost.com: Ohio Hospital Contests a Story Clinton Tells (New York Times, April 5)
Dan Balz: Credibility issues have dogged Sen. Clinton throughout the campaign. The Bosnia episode was damaging because it played into preconceptions about her. The hospital story was an example of sloppiness. She heard the story and repeated it, before the campaign could adequately check it. She could pay a price for it, although I suspect the Bosnia story about dodging sniper fire was more damaging.
Harrisburg, Pa.: What does a political consultant do to deserve $4 million? If a candidate wants to know how we feel, we can can save them lots of money. Come over, sit down and ask us -- won't cost you a thing, we'll even pay for the coffee and sandwich.
Dan Balz: Good proposal. You ought to invite Sen. Clinton in for lunch. I suspect she might oblige.
Big campaigns spend a fortune trying to discern public opinion. They poll nightly, they conduct focus groups, they crunch numbers. This information is valuable -- and costly -- but campaigns sometimes become too enamored with data and sometimes convince themselves that the sky really isn't blue when it's obvious that it is. Good candidates also take something away from conversations with voters along the campaign trail. Frankly it's one of the reasons I've always thought that the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary are useful -- in both states candidates have to interact with voters over many months.
Fifty-State Strategy: Seeing tape of Obama in Montana made me think this long primary is pretty good for Democrats. Montana has two Democratic senators and a Democratic governor. The energy from Obama/Clinton visits can't do anything more than motivate even stronger support for Democrats in this often-overlooked wonder state!
Dan Balz: I totally agree and did a Web piece about this a couple of weeks ago. By the time this Democratic race is over, Sens. Obama and Clinton will have campaigned in virtually ever state, they will have energized Democratic voters, they will have set up organizations in most of them and they will have a familiarity, albeit fleeting in some, with what's going on there. That's all very helpful for a general election.
washingtonpost.com: The Democrats' Good News Primary (washingtonpost.com, March 25)
Easton, Mass.: Hi Dan. How do you decide whether a candidate has national security experience and expertise? Please don't say that reporters don't decide such things, voter do -- reporters use phrases like that all the time to describe politicians. (Yes, voters then can decide if they like or trust that expertise, but the narrative is already out there.)
I ask because I am very concerned about the way John McCain is depicted as having inherent national security expertise, regardless of what he (mis)states now. His time as a POW deserves great admiration -- but to me it is proof of his personal fortitude, not of his knowledge or judgment about foreign policy or national security. But often the media conflates the two. I can't imagine any other candidate getting so little criticism -- even shock -- regarding his recent, repeated confusion about the relationship between Iran and al-Qaeda.
Dan Balz: Voters and reporters make various judgments about the candidates, based on similar information. Clearly at this point, voters see McCain as having substantial foreign policy and national security experience, and I'd say most reporters probably agree with that. But how voters use that information is what counts. Just because a voter believes that McCain has foreign policy experience doesn't mean he or she agrees with McCain's judgments or future policies.
Washington: I'm not a Mark Penn fan, but isn't Colombia an ally of the United States? Is it really wrong for an emissary of the Clinton campaign to meet with an ally?
Dan Balz: The problem is that he was not meeting with the Colombians as an emissary of the Clinton campaign but in his capacity as CEO of Burson-Marsteller, which had a contract to help the Colombians push through a trade treaty that Sen. Clinton opposes. Obviously a dumb decision on his part.
Quickie: Can a 76 year-old get re-elected?
Dan Balz: Not unless a 72-year-old doesn't get elected first.
Tokyo: In the past few weeks, I feel like I'm watching a political version of "Groundhog Day": another stream of stories about the struggling/faltering Clinton campaign, the near-impossibility of her victory and the "when should she drop out" discussion -- which is pretty much what we saw before Ohio/Texas. Has this round of stories affected the race at all? Is it a sign of the Obama campaign's effectiveness in making the delegate/popular vote argument? Or the reporters' (and cable TV's) need to find drama in the long stretch between primaries?
Dan Balz: It's been a long stretch between Ohio/Texas and Pennsylvania and so the coverage may seem a bit repetitive. The odds for Sen. Clinton haven't changed a lot and the farther we've gotten away from her victory in Ohio and her popular vote victory in the Texas primary, the more focus there has been on what it will take for her to overcome Obama's advantages.
Dan Balz: Thanks again to everyone for sending in questions. We're out of time. Today is Pulitzer Day, a big day in the newspaper business.
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Post Magazine: No Appetite for Noise
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The No. 1 complaint of restaurant-goers in the Washington area isn't the service, or even the dinner. It's the din. Post food critic Tom Sietsema has a new plan for dealing with noisy dining rooms around town.
Tom Sietsema was online Monday, April 7, at Noon ET to discuss his Washington Post Magazine cover story, 'No Appetite for Noise.'
McLean, Va.: The biggest noise polluters in NOVA restaurants are ill-behaved young children and toddlers, who misbehave in a very obnoxious way while their clueless parents are sipping on their wine (and ignoring their children). Your article doesn't even touch on that source of torture. How come?
Tom Sietsema: I think I hinted at it when I quoted the mom from one of my online chats who enjoyed the noisy restaurants because other patrons wouldn't hear her child acting up.
Good morning, everyone. Thanks for sharing your lunch hour with me. There are already lots of questions and comments about noise and restaurants, so let's roll!
Bethesda, Md.: Thank you for addressing the noise issue in restaurants! I am 42 years old, have worn hearing aids since I was 26, and find it very difficult to enjoy dining out with friends or discuss business with colleagues because I can rarely participate in the conversation. In fact, I often go out alone because of this. When I am out with others, at least the smoking ban allows me to breathe comfortably while I enjoy the food and smile pleasantly at my chatty, though incomprehensible companions. I have learned not to just say yes or nod my head because once I accidentally agreed to host a Mary Kay party...
Tom Sietsema: See how much harm a noisy restaurant can inflict on a person? Thanks for the chuckle.
Chevy Chase, Md.: Thank you, thank you for running this article. My husband and I were eating with friends Friday night and we commented on how happy we were NOT to be eating at Zaytinya, where we had had our previous meal together and had given up trying to talk over the noise. (Friday we were at Persimmon in Bethesda -- noise level was low when we arrived, but definitely increased during the evening -- still it was tolerable.)
I can't wait for your sound ratings. I will definitely use them when choosing a restaurant.
Tom Sietsema: I hope readers like the new ratings. They will include a decibel average and several words describing the scene.
washingtonpost.com: Tom Sietsema's new noise rating scale
Tom Sietsema: There you go.
Fort Washington, Md.: When our teenager complains about the noise, we knew noise levels were bad. Who wants to dine in a place that has the noise level of a high school cafeteria? I am not going to people-watch, but eat!!
Tom Sietsema: I've received a couple hundred emails about my story thus far, and I'm surprised by how many twenty-, thirty- and forty-somethings are telling me they want restaurants to turn down the volume.
Brooklyn, New York: I was wondering why you didn't include loud music in your discussion. If music is loud in a restaurant, people have to talk over it. And so the cycle of noise increases upward.
Tom Sietsema: I mentioned the sound system at Westend Bistro -- deep into the story, however.
Silver Spring, Md.: Tom, thank you for your article on noise levels in restaurants. Although you focused on "sit-down" restaurants, the problem is the same or worse in the sandwich shops where most of us have our everyday lunches. At least four places within walking distance of my office are so noisy that I will not patronize them unless the weather is good enough to take my lunch outdoors. I hope your new noise meter ratings can bring about some much needed change.
Great story! Usually the main cause of a noisy restaurant is a pressed-tin ceiling, which is decorative but really jacks up the din.
But there is also the opposite problem. Years ago, on a family trip, we ate at the officers' club at Norton Air Force Base, near San Bernardino. A small, plain, and absolutely quiet room with no background music or noise from the kitchen. We felt we had to whisper so that the other diners, mostly single, old officers, could not overhear us. Too quiet, in fact -- one officer fell asleep at his table behind us, and we heard the waitress saying, "Sir, please wake up! Your dinner is ready..."
So, a little noise can keep everyone awake.
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for the good laugh.
You're right. Restaurants can be *too* hushed. Most patrons probably expect -- and welcome -- a bit of liveliness with their meal. As a restaurateur once told me, "No diner wants to walk into a mausoleum."
Say What?: Best part of your article: that you'll be including info about the noise in your reviews.
I will say that noise at 2 Amys, which seems much more casual, is more tolerable to me than noise at Charlie Palmer's or other supposedly (more) upscale places.
Tom Sietsema: Because you're paying more at CP Steak than at Two Amy's? I think price is certainly a factor in how much we can tolerate noise.
Washington, D.C.: What, no review this week? Slacker.
Tom Sietsema: Hey, that story was a huge commitment of time!
One More: Falls Church: Argia's, a small space with decent Italian food, is one of the loudest I've encountered. Initially, we thought it would be a cozy place (and it was when first opened), but after a couple more tries, we've just walked out without ordering.
Tom Sietsema: If restaurant owners only knew how much business they aren't seeing because their dining rooms are too loud for would-be patrons!
Ringing Ears in the West End: I'm glad other people consider this to be a problem. Last year four of us went to dinner at Rasika for a friend's birthday, and they shoved us in the side room with a table of 15 that was celebrating something else. Combine the noisiness of Rasika with the bare-walled side room and a huge table of shouting drunkards; it was unbearable. We asked to be moved but they told us they didn't have any other tables, so we just shouted our way through what we had hoped would be a nice meal -- it didn't turn out that way. Why would they even set up a separate table in a room like that? Maybe the manager's hearing is so damaged by the din that he doesn't even notice any more.
Tom Sietsema: It's really a shame. The chef, Vikram Sunderam, deserves a better backdrop for his incredible Indian cooking.
Mio Noise: When I was at Mio a couple of weeks ago everything was great including food and service and even noise. The wide expanse of the restaurant dampens the noise between the bar and the "lounge" everywhere. But then the piano player started banging out "My Heart Will Go On" and I couldn't hear the person sitting next to me. We were at a table close by but it was just insane. I found myself nodding and saying "yeah" no matter what I thought might be being said. Will your noise ratings take everything into account or just conversation volume?
Tom Sietsema: If I notice a specific noise problem, I'll likely mention it in the text of the review -- as I have for too many new restaurants of late.
Odenton, Md.: Mr. Sietsema, is there any reason that the fact you have received numerous complaints from people about this subject is further evidence of the relentless self-absorbed attitude of so many people in our region? If you go somewhere that is too loud, vote with your feet and go elsewhere next time. Is a full article really necessary to address such a basic concept?
Tom Sietsema: In conversations with my colleagues in other markets, almost all of them complain about noisy restaurants. It's certainly not a problem specific to DC.
Killing them Softly (our ears), Washington, D.C.: I'm still relatively young, so I still feel invincible, but worth noting that prolonged periods of time spent in environments with noise levels above 85 decibels can permanently damage your ears (the normal range for conversation/speaking is 65)!! There's some food for thought!
Tom Sietsema: Yeah. It's not just Metallica concerts that the youngins have to watch out for!
Clifton, Virginia: As if you needed something else to complain about with your ridiculous rating system. It can't be good for local business. "Everything was perfect, but it was too loud/quiet so I give it one and a half stars". How about air quality? Quality of bathroom tissue? Height, weight and sexual preference of the servers? Please, just tell me about good, highly rated food. After all, you are the FOOD critic.
Tom Sietsema: I wouldn't be doing my job if I ignored the single biggest complaint I hear from my audience.
Plus, my job involves telling readers about the ENTIRE dining experience. Trust me, people want to know about more than just the food. They want to know what a dining room looks like, who else is eating there, what the place feels like -- what it *sounds* like.
Arlington, Va.: WHAT?? COULD YOU SPEAK LOUDER? I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
Tom Sietsema: THAT'S EXACTLY THE WAY I FELT FRIDAY NIGHT, WHEN I WAS EATING AT A RESTAURANT I PLAN TO REVIEW IN MAY!
My ears were ringing the next morning. Ouch.
Alexandria, VA: All of these posters mentioning restaurants they won't return to because they're too noisy reminds me of the old Yogi Berra quote, "Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded." Obviously SOME diners enjoy the atmosphere at livelier places!
Tom Sietsema: True. And I found some of those noise lovers, and gave them some ink, in yesterday's story.
Qingdao, China: Noise tends to be a somewhat an issue of age in China as well as a matter of education.
Expats tend to be well educated so perhaps that's why expat places tend to be quieter eating places than Chinese. Also Westerners are not used to crowded homes as the Chinese are, so that may be pertinent as well.
I plan to open an eating place soon and my plans are to make it possible to have a talk, not a shout.
The first step in that is to control the music.
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for weighing in from across the globe.
I appreciate your comments, but I have to say, I've seen a lot of "educated" diners talking and laughing quite loudly before.
Arlington, VA: Whenever you start talking about noise, I think back to my- fairly recent- childhood when we would venture to the Officer's Club for the Sunday Lunch Buffet after church about once a month. Somehow this place managed to have the perfect noise atmosphere in a large room and I remember my parents commenting on it. Background piano player, space between tables, quiet lull of conversation... only now, at the ripe old age of 26, do I get what my parents were talking about! Thank you for the story and trip back to the O Club.
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for sharing your memory with us.
Redlands, CA: Each restaurant should have somebody that yells SHHH! periodically, just like they do in the Sistine Chapel for all the noisy tourists. About every 15 minutes the crowd gets loud they yell SHHHH! or something similar and then crowd goes soft till they get loud again in another 15 minutes.
Tom Sietsema: You're right! I was in Rome after Christmas and remember laughing (quietly, of course!) at just that scene during my visit to the Sistine Chapel.
2 Amys lover: Somehow the noise at 2 Amys is tolerable, perhaps because one isn't there for very long, perhaps because the light is so bright, perhaps because the Sicilian anchovies on Italian bread make me forget everything else.
Tom Sietsema: Spoken like a true gourmet.
Thanks for the great article on restaurant noise. Next, will you take on department stores and gas stations? Nothing bugs me more than trying to fill my car with gas while suffering through 100 decibels of Barbara Streisand. Sadly, I'm not joking.
Tom Sietsema: I think I'll stick to what I know best, thanks.
Logan Circle, DC: I only eat at Zaytinya for lunch these days as I can't stand the loudness at night but I still love the menu.
Why don't more restaurants follow the Viridian lead? The eggshell padding under the tables, the soft fabric around the columns and on walls really helped and made it a regular destination even though the menu was uneven. It doesn't seem like it would be that costly.
What other ways could restaurants cut down on noise?
Tom Sietsema: Linens on tables help. Low ceilings help. Pillows and bolsters and leather on banquettes and benches all also help absorb excess noise.
Arlington: While the noise levels and acoustics are irritating (try having a conversation at Ceiba), it's the proximity of tables that most drives me crazy. I won't go to Ten Penh anymore because of that - the tables are just too close together and I am not comfortable with carrying on a conversation when the tables next to me can overhear everything I'm saying (or I can hear everything they're saying). On the other hand, I choose 701 Restaurant for my business lunches in particular because of the large tables that are widely spaced apart. Oya is also pretty good for that . . .
Tom Sietsema: Yep, I can vouch for 701.
Bethesda: Mr. Sietsema, thank you for the fantastic article and the new decibel rankings for restaurants. They -will- make a difference when I select a restaurant!
It's funny, one of the justifications for banning smoking in restaurants was the health risk to the restaurant staff. Loud noise is also a health risk, and 85dB is quite loud. Loud noise will not kill you (at least not directly), but it has a tremendous impact on an individual's well being. And unlike a lung, which regenerates, hair cells - the parts of the ear that sense vibrations - do not. Once they're gone, they're gone.
A question: what happened to John Maynard?
Tom Sietsema: John Maynard, the cover model on yesterday's Magazine, is now toiling at the just-opened Newseum here in Washington.
Capitol Hill, D.C.: Tom, you are right on with this article. I'm 28, and can't stand trying to share a meal with friends while competing with the low roar at most restaurants. I think Hank's is the worst offender in this regard. This is what propels Corduroy to the top of my list in places to eat; I hope their new place isn't cacophonous.
Tom Sietsema: The original Corduroy (soon to reopen in new digs at 1122 9th St. NW) was among a handful of places I could steer readers who were looking for a quiet place to talk. I hope the forthcoming restaurant continues to offer that signature.
Alexandria VA: I think the noise level ratings are a great idea. So often, we want to select a restaurant that will allow ease of quiet conversation (for whatever reason....business deals, hearing impaired elders, quiet romantic dinner) and can't think of any but a very few old stalwarts. It's just a question of informed consumerism: those who are actively looking for a quiet place will have the information available to them, and those who don't mind noise (or seek it out) needn't worry. It shouldn't affect the number of stars given for food quality, taste, presentation, etc. Was it your intent to modify star awards based on noise?
Tom Sietsema: I will not factor noise in my star ratings. I prefer to let readers decide for themselves, based on the future sound checks, whether they want to visit a quiet, a moderately noisy or a painfully noisy establishment.
What about the light?: I know people dislike too dark restaurants, but I was sitting in a restaurant the other day and I felt like I needed sunglasses! Unless you are a fast food joint, dim those lights please!
Tom Sietsema: Hmmmm. Could this be the start of another cover story?
RE: If you go somewhere that is too loud, vote with your feet and go elsewhere next time. Is a full article really necessary to address such a basic concept? : What's wrong with letting restaurant managers and owners in general know, via an article and the chats, that we don't like the excessive noise trend? Maybe they haven't realized so many people dislike the noise and will now do something about it.
I have eaten elsewhere "next time" only to end up at another too noisy restaurant. If I love the food at one place and the noise is the ONLY thing holding me back, the restaurant should know about it.
Thanks Tom, for providing a service with your article.
Washington, DC: From your article, "Even so, Muchery doesn't think the noise at Westend Bistro is a problem. He says he hasn't received a single complaint about it since the restaurant opened."
Maybe he just couldn't hear the complaints, due to the noise!
40-something quiet seeker: For a super-quiet meal, try the front seating at David Craig. No music and only a few other tables near you. The rear seating is noisier as the tables are close together and you get kitchen noise.
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for the tip.
Silver Spring: In response to an earlier poster who called the complainers the ones who are self-absorbed, I'd say it's quite the opposite.
I'm 41 and I'd say a large part of the noise in restaurants is that many people my age and younger seem to think that their lives are a lost episode of "Friends" or "Seinfeld."
Those shows raised the discussion of minutiae to an art form and, hence, people talk loudly in public spaces as if they are performing for the people around them.
I am a loud and opinionated person but in public spaces, I'm sick of hearing people pontificate, chat on cell phones EVERYWHERE but in private, and generally make themselves seen and heard over and over again.
One day, if I get enough money, I'm going to open a sushi restaurant where one can only speak in a whisper.
Tom Sietsema: Will your future customers pay extra if they want to speak up?
Sunday's Column: I really appreciated your column addressing noise concerns in restaurants. As a twenty-five year old, with a somewhat small voice, I often find myself struggling in order to be heard. Due to noise in restaurants, I almost always choose to dine at off-peak hours (or, better yet, enjoy a lunch date rather than a dinner date, when music is often quieter).
I have had some fairly bad responses when I have commented about noise concerns. In one restaurant, at an off-peak time when the dining room was nearly empty, I politely asked to be moved away from a large stereo speaker (and a very loud, large party), and my husband and I were treated very rudely for the rest of the evening.
I was, up until that point, a fairly regular customer (having eaten there four times in the previous three weeks). In another restaurant, I was assured that customers enjoyed it and I needed to "lighten up." Needless to say, paying to be surrounded by noise so deafening that you can hardly think just is not worth it.
Tom Sietsema: Dining at off-peak hours is definitely one solution to the noise problem -- unless it's not, as you point out. I wouldn't care to patronize a place where a server told me to "lighten up" in response to a simple request.
Arlington, Va.: Tom, do you think it's that the profit margins are so thin in restaurants that causes them to cut corners in noise reduction? There are places I will not go anymore (bars especially) if I can't hear myself think.
Tom Sietsema: Installing noise barriers isn't overly expensive, I've been told by designers, but it's best that the materials be put in place BEFORE rather than AFTER construction is complete. Mistakes and oversights are the big money drains.
Will it make a difference?: Tom, you wrote in your article that the reviewer in SanFran noted the noise level in his review. And yet, ten years later he believes it has not made any difference in the local industry. Do you expect a shift here in DC based on the decibel notations?
Tom Sietsema: Part of the solution is to take the issue public. I hope restaurateurs are paying attention, because diners of all ages are telling me they don't like excessive noise -- and they're going elsewhere because of it.
Washington, D.C.: I teach elementary school and every day during lunch we make the students eat silently for 5 minutes. Silence is golden!
Tom Sietsema: What a great idea. I'm not sure that would work on the restaurant scene, but ...
Washington, DC: Mr. Sietsema, thanks for taking on this issue. It's a legitimate concern for lots of reasons. One question I have--obviously, the decibel scale you're planning to use is an absolute measure, but is it fair to presume that in your reviews you'll also mention how the loudness plays into the overall atmosphere of the place?
That is to say, sometimes I go out EXPECTING a loud place and sometimes I expect reasonable quiet. A trip for burgers or pizza and a few beers prior to a CAPITALS PLAYOFF GAME (shameless plug for the Caps!) is one where I expect a fair amount of noise and I don't mind it. The noise is part of the atmosphere you expect to have with other hockey fans congregating, so the fact that Matchbox or Gordon Biersch might be extremely loud isn't necessarily a bad thing. Is it reasonable to expect you to approach the noise issue with that sort of concept in mind as well?
Tom Sietsema: Absolutely. I wouldn't trust a pizza joint that sounded like a spa, you know?
Glenwood, MD: Good answer to the Clifton, VA reader who thinks dining is only about the food. Ambience is also part of the experience - that includes noise levels, as far as I'm concerned. As a mom of an almost-16-year-old, I can tell you it's hard enough getting your teen to talk to you - they are NOT going to yell. And like some of the other readers, as I get older, my hearing gets worse, so my daughter gets frustrated (i.e. mad) if I keep asking her to repeat. It can make the entire dining experience lousy. I think your rating system is a great idea!!!
Tom Sietsema: Here's to better family communication!
Clifton, Virginia: It just seems that you are more interested in pointing out flaws in restaurants than the good things about a dining experience. You did not mention that the noise rating was to be separate from the star rating until this chat. Now you are excited about rating the lighting. Do you see a trend?
Tom Sietsema: I was JOKING about the lighting, dear reader. Sometimes my sense of humor gets lost in translation here.
I love restaurants, I love food and I care about the general public. In other words, I want restaurants to succeed -- but why should I refrain from pointing out flaws (i.e. making suggestions for improvement)? To do otherwise is to thumb my nose at my constituency.
Chantilly, Va.: Have any restaurants contacted you about your noise ratings? If so, what have their comments been?
Tom Sietsema: I am looking at a blinking red light on my phone and hundreds of unopened email. I'm guessing there might be a restaurant owner or five in that crowd.
Arlington: When you introduce the noise ratings, would you consider letting the readers know where you felt most of the noise was coming from during your visits? If it is habitually loud music, that may turn me off more than if it is mainly conversations, as I am generally an earlier (6-6:30) diner.
Tom Sietsema: I'm not sure if I can highlight specific table numbers or whatever, but as I pointed out in yesterday's piece, the quieter areas of the restaurant tend to be on the edges, away from the bar and any open kitchen.
Hoarse in D.C.: Thanks for writing about this issue! My friends and I experienced this excessive noise problem recently at Lima, but there it was intentional. As the night went on, the staff cranked the music louder and louder, until we were all yelling at each other even as we were sitting just a foot or so apart. Granted, we were sitting in the lounge, and not the restaurant, but what do people do in a lounge besides talk and drink? And yet, the sound was so loud, we might as well have been in the middle of a dance floor. What's the point of that? We were all hoarse by the end of the night (with ringing ears), shaking our heads about how it was just too darn loud to be enjoyable... eventually we had to leave.
I can see how a quiet lounge might not seem "hot" and "buzzing," but there is a line that too many places cross. I hope your article makes them think twice before they gratuitously add to an already painful problem.
Not surprisingly, Lima also has a noisy website...
Tom Sietsema: When I reviewed Lima, I remember wanting to get out of the lounge as quickly as possible. The place was painfully noisy.
Cranking up the tunes only makes patrons raise their voices. It starts a vicious cycle, doesn't it?
Birthday singers: Since they can can ban smoking for no other reason than to protect the health of the staff (It actually is an OSHA regulation, enforceable by only the health department) why can't a ban be put on birthday singers? My restaurant hosts many, many large groups weekly that feel the need to sing, some more than others. OBNOXIOUS behavior for all.....
Tom Sietsema: I'm now curious to get a decibel reading on The Birthday Song. I'll keep me ears open for such, ok?
Bethesda: I have this complaint about bars too. I know in a bar you have to expect it to be louder, and at 11:00 PM I'll give it to you, but what's the point of blasting music at 6:00 PM happy hour?
Tom Sietsema: Because loud music creates a certain buzz the owners think their patrons want?
Noise + Hearing Aids: For what it's worth, I've found that sitting in a booth (especially the ones with high backs) or with your back to the wall/banquette works well. I've worn hearing aids from the age of 3. At 35, this is the only way to hear in a restaurant. I usually just leave the hearing aids out of my ears and lip read. Although, it can be gross when people have mouths full of food! Mind your manners, people!
Tom Sietsema: I'm smiling. Thanks for sharing your tricks.
Washington, D.C.: I bet you're tired of the question, "Tom, was that you on the cover???" Anyway, it would have been nice to see Spices mentioned in your cover story. It seems that their redesign significantly reduced sound in the dining room. It looks like they may have put cork or something on the walls and it makes a world of difference. When I saw the change last year, they became my hearo. Get it, hearo? Ha!
Tom Sietsema: That was definitely NOT me on the cover of the Magazine. Given my beat, I'm a guy who wants to dine as anonymously as possible.
Spices is definitely quieter now than when it opened, I agree.
Alexandria, Va.: A Comment and a question or two:
Dear Mr. Sietsema -- Though a native Washingtonian, I have never had occasion, I don't believe, to read one of your articles before. But as soon as I saw "noise" and "appetite" in the headline, I clicked on your article. Thank you for bringing up one of the least appealing aspects of "going out" in the U.S. I tend to favor Chinese restaurants (especially for business lunches) because I find that they tend on average to be MUCH quieter, in part due to design perhaps, but mostly due to the style of the diners who seem to speak far more quietly.
I was shopping yesterday morning at a Trader Joe's and asked to remove the jackhammer they were playing on the PA system. (They immediately changed to music, but still put the volume uncomfortably high, but I responded with my secret weapon -- turning off my hearing aids).
My greatest complaint is the refusal to reduce the volume. Servers will shrug and say they they have no control, or they will say they will see what they can do and nothing happens. It is clear that many restaurants' POLICY is to tell servers that they cannot comply with requests to reduce the noise level. Is this true, do you do? Why don't restaurants give the servers the ability to respond to these kinds of requests?
I suppose I could respond by belting out "O sole mio" in my best shower voice, but somehow I think that wouldn't advance matters much.
In any event, if you start putting NOISE RATINGS on restaurants, I for one, will start paying attention. Excessive noise is restaurants and bars is the single greatest barrier to an enjoyable experience. Thank you again for trying to raise your voice a bit to try to make this complaint heard by the restaurateurs.
Tom Sietsema: I'm happy to earn a new reader. Thanks for your comments, and stay tuned: Sound checks start with my next (regular) dining column on April 20.
Capitol Hill: Thanks for the great article on NOISE in restaurants. The rating system will be helpful. The worst offender was Bistrot du Coin - a restaurant whose food I liked but was unable to enjoy. After two noisefests I have never gone back. Tosca is great - you can hear everyone at the table - but not really anyone else at the other tables.
Table spacing is probably a contributor - it seems that the noisier restaurants may be trying to cram too many people in too small a space.
Tom Sietsema: Tight spacing certainly contributes to the decibel count in restaurants. Another side effect of tables parked too close to one another: accidents. More than once, I've watched a diner try to ease in (or out of) a snug seat, only to drag a water or wine glass along with him!
Crofton, Md.: One thing I've noticed in this chat that is different than your weekly chat is that there are few comments by those in the industry. I wonder what they think about noise? Have they just gotten used to it? Are servers concerned about saying something to management when diners complain? For instance, when I worked as a bartender, if one customer wanted me to turn down the volume on the TV overhanging the bar, half the time another customer wanted me to turn it up. I imagine something similar could happen between customers that like to talk loudly, like to use their cell phone, bring loud children to restaurants, etc...How do you balance competing concerns between different customers?
Tom Sietsema: I hear from a lot of people in the business, but generally AFTER the chat. My usual online spot (11 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays) precludes a lot of restaurant types from participating on the live discussion. They're serving lunch then. Same for today.
Beltsville, MD: Hey Tom, this is Eric. Thank you for the invitation to join you for this article. It is definitely interesting to se how this all came together. I hope more restaurants in the future look into ways to maybe dampen the noise a bit, especially from their bars. I realize that a lot of people look for a place that is lively, but it would be great if there could be some way to accommodate both sides of the spectrum.
Tom Sietsema: Hey, buddy! Thanks for being such a good sport. You, too, Amy Wang! I enjoyed meeting both of you.
Personally, I wish restaurants would get rid of all TVs out side the bar area (sports joints excluded obviously). They are an annoying distraction. If noise is from conversation, I can deal with it. If it's from a television, it's like being in my parent's house where the TV blares all day long.
Tom Sietsema: Restaurateurs tell me diners EXPECT TVs in their establishments. And this being news-hungry Washington, I can understand. But still. I hate TVs, too.
Rockville, Md.: Thanks for highlighting noise in your article. My problem with noise has to do with other parties talking at the top of their lungs (especially after they have had a few...) That's the reason we have stopped going to Addie's, its sister restaurant in Garret Park, and Mykonos. The waiters are not interested in angering their clients by asking them to "keep it low".
Tom Sietsema: You hear that, you two?
Washington, D.C.: Once upon a time 4 of us were dining at the Crab Claw in St. Michael's on a Saturday night. The other woman in our party stood up and at the top of her lungs said, YOU PEOPLE BE QUIET!!! A hush came over the previously LOUD restaurant scene.
It was only temporary though until everyone realized what had happened. Then it got loud again.
Tom Sietsema: Well, that's ONE way to get a reprieve from the din. At least for a few minutes, huh?
Lexington Park, MD: When I waited tables at the Olive Garden in college, our GM forbid us from singing "Happy Birthday" to our tables because it bothered other guests. And by forbid, I mean he gave us an excuse to fake-wince and say "Aww, we can't do that here".
Tom Sietsema: I'm all in favor of "fake winces!"
Silver Spring: that does it - birthday singers are now frowned upon!! what morons you have for readers (except me)!
Tom Sietsema: Oops, I guess I sent that last post too soon ...
Washington, D.C.: OK. Agreed that a "buzz' is fine but loud hooting, shrieking, clapping, and boorishness is not. Now, whose responsibility is it to contain the noise??? Other diners?? The management??? I know of one restaurant where the manager went over to ask a group to keep the noise down and the next day one of the group (all at the table were minority group women) wrote the owners claiming "discrimination," with copies to all the local networks, civil rights organizations, etc. blasted the restaurant and the manager on the internet, etc. So... damned if you do, damned if you don't...
Honestly, running a restaurant and dealing with the public is hard!!! I can't imagine why anyone would do it!!!!
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for bringing up a point I should have made in my article: Diners bear some of the responsibility for the noise created in a restaurant. It's not just hard surfaces and loud music that contribute to ringing ears.
"Spry"???: Geez, Tom. Have a heart. You described a diner taking her "spry 60-year old father" to dinner. My husband and I are 59, and we are WAYYYYY more than "spry." And we don't anticipate tipping over next year when the big 6-0 comes around!
Tom Sietsema: Fair point. I just wanted readers to get the picture of a mature man who was healthy except for his hearing loss.
Silver Spring: Great article! I hope that places such as Zaytinya will attempt to fix their problems. I love the food there, but will not go back while it remains so loud. My last two experiences there were almost ruined by the difficulties in hearing my dining partners.
Do you plan to go back through your old online reviews and add noise ratings, or will this only apply to new reviews?
Tom Sietsema: I've found the best time to visit Zaytinya -- well, the QUIETEST time to visit the restaurant -- is lunch on a Saturday. But not every diner has that option.
I don't plan to revisit all of the hundreds of restaurants I've reviewed since 2000 with my sound level meter. But I'll certainly be taking measure in the hundred or so restaurants that I plan to check out for my fall dining (October) guide.
Oakton, VA: Great topic. Any suggestions for people on the other side of the coin? My husband's family is extremely loud when they get together and go out for a meal. To the point that I feel uncomfortable when I start noticing the patrons at other table giving us those "how rude" looks. I love my inlaws, but it is embarrassing! What can I do without turning myself into the Sistine Chapel "SHHHH!" guy???
Tom Sietsema: That's a tricky one, Oakton. What say the crowd?
Capitol Hill: I seem to recall going to a restaurant (just a casual place) and being asked if I preferred to be seated in the "Quiet or lively" section. Seems like an easy way to satisfy both types of customer...
Tom Sietsema: Great idea. Can you recall the name of the restaurant? That's a trend a lot of diners could get behind, I think.
TVs in restaurants: Two words: closed captioning. Though you don't appreciate just how vapid sportscasting commentary is until you actually try reading it.
Thanks for my 15 min. of fame.
Tom Sietsema: Is this *the* Ron Brown? The guy in my story who had to re-propose to his girlfriend because of the din at Central Michel Richard? If so, thanks for sharing your tale with me!
Volunteer: Do you need a volunteer to soundcheck previously-reviewed restaurants and bars? I'd be happy to do it!
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for raising your hand, but I have a pretty big stable of "volunteers" to help me out on my restaurant rounds.
Annandale, Va.: hello - I've often wondered why restaurants don't invest in simple lightweight domes or shells over tables that could be suspended from unobtrusive overhead wires, providing an acoustic bubble for the people underneath. Even if the surrounding noise level were high, at least the people at the table could hear each other!
Tom Sietsema: I'm guessing that a restaurant designer or three might object to what sounds like a novel approach to the problem!
sustained exposure: Add one more work-related hazard to waiting tables. I'd love to hear what the servers have to say, if they can hear the question.
Seriously, I know I paid the price for years of second-hand smoke, heavy lifting, etc.
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for a fun hour, everyone. Feel free to bring your questions and comments about noise to my next chat, Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Tables Too Close: Another side effect of tables too close together -- I get my watermelon gelee with goat cheese foam with a "side order" of my neighbor's butt as they try and get out and walk to the restroom!
Tom Sietsema: Too funny! Or not.
washingtonpost.com: If you'd like to extend your dining and drinking discussions today, head on over to the Beer Madness discussion with Sunday Source's Joe Heim and beer writer Greg Kitsock, starting at 1!
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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The No. 1 complaint of restaurant-goers in the Washington area isn't the service, or even the dinner. It's the din. Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsema reveals his new plan for dealing with noisy dining rooms around town.
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Critiquing the Press
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Washington: Today's Couric article makes it seem as though she is in a marathon. What are the chances that she/CBS ever will take the lead in the nightly news race?
Howard Kurtz: Well, if she stays in the job for a number of years of course it's possible. Katie Couric is right that it took Tom Brokaw (and Peter Jennings, for that matter) years to reach the top spot. Who knows what the landscape will look like in five years? Charlie Gibson may have retired from ABC by then, and Katie will have had more time to establish herself.
Clifton, Va.: The problem with Couric is that when she was on "Today" she played cute and girl-next-door. This image did not translate well to her new job at CBS. And she is too old to compete with the Fox girls like Megan, Julie, Martha, Suzie and especially Go Go Gomez! She is over the hill. She needs to go. Like her compatriots in local news like Wendy Rieger, she is over the hill and no longer a babe. Hit the road, Jack!
washingtonpost.com: For Couric, an Uphill March (Post, April 7)
Howard Kurtz: Too old? Over the hill? No longer a babe? Are these your criteria for a successful network anchor? Would anyone say that Charlie Gibson is too old at 65?
Katie Couric recently passed the 50 mark. That is hardly ancient, even by television standards. And while she clearly was a more freewheeling and funny presence on the Today show, your description of her as merely being "cute" seems to overlook that she conducted hundreds of interviews with presidents and other political and business leaders, was on the air for hours on 9/11 and otherwise did plenty of serious journalism along with the fluff.
Bethesda, Md.: The Pulitzer prizes are to be announced today. Any chance Dana Priest and Ann Hull do not win for their work on the Walter Reed abuses?
Howard Kurtz: I'd say the chances are slim.
Arlington, Va.: I give great credit to the Los Angeles Times for their retraction and thorough review of how their story went so wrong. They even identified the source who gave them the bogus information and documents, but only after other sites identified him. Any chatter among media types as to if/when it is appropriate to identify a source who had been promised confidentiality?
washingtonpost.com: The Times retracts Tupac Shakur story (Los Angeles Times, April 7)
Howard Kurtz: It's not clear to me that the Times promised anonymity to the imprisoned con man, Jimmy Sabatino. But concluding that he produced false FBI documents in a publicly available lawsuit -- an assertion made by the Smoking Gun, which blew the whistle on this scam -- does not necessarily violate a promise of confidentiality. In any event, I'd say such a promise, if it is made, is no longer valid if you subsequently discover that the source has lied to you or provided bogus documents.
Fairfax, Va.: Don't you think it would help our major broadcast media to regain some integrity if they were to broadcast the Petraeus hearing this week live, especially with McCain, Obama and Clinton questioning him? What are the chances ABC, NBC or CBS will do it?
Howard Kurtz: Zero. The broadcast networks have long since ceded coverage of live events to cable. (NBC can say it is fulfilling its responsibility by carrying the hearings on MSNBC.) It costs the broadcast nets plenty of money to blow out their lucrative soaps and talk shows for a congressional hearing. They didn't even do that when New Orleans was under water. I don't know that the cable channels will go gavel to gavel with the hearings, but I suspect you'll see a decent amount in the coverage.
Cincinnati: I was appalled about the attacks on the Green Zone and another base in Iraq on Sunday that killed four U.S. soldiers, seriously injured many more, and injured to a lesser degree still more. But I also was astounded that The Washington Post and the New York Times led their online editions as of now (9:30 p.m. EDT) with Mark Penn's resignation, and the horrific news from Iraq was a secondary story. The Washington Times, however, had the Iraq story at the top of their list. What is going on here? With Petraeus and Crocker testifying before Congress this week, the Iraq news should be front and center.
washingtonpost.com: Between Iraqi Shiites, a Deepening Animosity (Post, April 7)
Howard Kurtz: I just checked the Web site and the lead story is "Focus of Iraq Hearings May Be on Candidates" -- a twofer, in a sense, in that it combines both the war and politics. At any given moment, something unexpected, like Penn being forced out, can get big play on a news site that constantly updates in order to draw readers back again and again. On the whole, though, I think the shrinkage of media's Iraq coverage over the last few months has been both dramatic and unwarranted. I put the question to Couric for today's column.
Alexandria, Va.: I know Katie Couric has used her cancer activism to boost her sympathy profile, but where are the media critics worrying about the potential conflicts of interest in her activism? One already can sense in it her boosterism of Michael J. Fox's crusade for stem-cell research. Poynter Institute poobahs went after Meredith Vieira for interviewing her husband about his MS; why are they giving Katie a free ride?
Howard Kurtz: I don't see the situations as comparable (nor is it unusual for a host's spouse to appear on a morning show). Other than interviewing Michael J. Fox in 2006 when he was campaigning for several Senate Democrats on the stem-cell issue and being assailed by Rush Limbaugh, how exactly has Katie Couric used her CBS job to boost him? It's not like the guy is popping up on the CBS Evening News every other week.
Washington: As the Jon Weisman's article in today's Post states, it seems likely that the coverage Iraq hearings will focus more on the presidential candidates than on the picture presented by Gen. Petraeus. It also seems likely that the Iraq "debate" through the next few months will be presented in terms of the presidential race -- option stay vs. option go.
If it does play that way, the American public loses. The picture is far too complicated to be captured in a simple two-sided debate, and whoever wins the presidency almost certainly will have to take actions he or she did not envision in April. Does horse-race coverage of the Iraq hearings today portend horse-race coverage of Iraq for the next six months?
washingtonpost.com: The Next Campaign Stop: Iraq Hearings (Post, April 7)
Howard Kurtz: I think the media need to pursue a vigorous debate about the Iraq war and all kinds of options for the U.S. -- not just the stay-or-go dichotomy -- but you can hardly blame the media for focusing on the fact that Clinton, Obama and McCain all will be participants in the Petraeus hearings. One of those three people is going to be launching a new Iraq policy next January that, in the case of the two Democrats, will be far different than what we have now. At the same time, it's clear that the Democrats don't have the votes to force President Bush to change his policy in the interim. So the attention paid to the candidates is understandable.
CBS-Less: I stopped watching Katie Couric when she gave the CBS microphone to Rush Limbaugh to do his faux "can't we all get along and be civil" shtick. I sent an e-mail to CBS and never have seen the evening news since -- and I won't watch again until she is gone.
Howard Kurtz: That sounds like a pretty slim reason for no longer watching. Limbaugh was one of many voices on the right and left who were given 90 seconds of airtime as part of Katie's "Free Speech" segment, which was dropped after a few months after the belated realization that having people sound off was squeezing out news and was too reminiscent of cable.
Richmond, Va.: I saw "Saturday Night Live" doing a spoof on the Clinton's tax returns money and how much they made. Any chance we'll see one on McCain and his wife's beer money? I'm sure they could do something with that -- or do they have to wait for the mainstream media to push it into nightly news before they can spoof it?
Howard Kurtz: Well, one difference is that McCain himself has no access to most of Cindy's family money under a prenup they signed when they got married. Another difference is that while he married into money, Bill and Hillary made theirs (as is their right) after serving as president and first lady. So "Saturday Night Live" might not have much comedic material to mine.
New Orleans: Hey Howie. Twenty bucks for the News Museum versus $18 for the Spy Museum? I know which one I am going to next time I am in Washington.
washingtonpost.com: At Sparkly Newseum, The Glory Of the Story Goes Above the Fold (Post, April 6)
Howard Kurtz: That sounded like a vote for the spy guys. Although I think the Newseum's admission fee is too high ($80 for a family of four?), there's much more to see there than in the Spy Museum.
Washington: Um, yeah, looks are a relevant criteria in who reads the evening news (which is mostly what an anchor does), along with unquantifiable impressions about whether they seem credible. I mean the traditional square-jawed anchor -- well, not Cronkite, but you get the idea -- presumably was picked partially because he was camera-friendly. So why wouldn't the viewers rather look at Lara Logan or Trish Regan than Katie Couric?
Howard Kurtz: Looks are hardly irrelevant in television, but I believe that journalistic experience still matters, certainly at the network level. Otherwise, why not hand over the job to actors and actresses?
Baltimore: Alexandria wrote: "I know Katie Couric has used her cancer activism to boost her sympathy profile..." Talk about cynical. Maybe it's possible that Couric is active in trying to raise cancer awareness because she genuinely cares about the issue? After all, a lot of people's lives have been affected by the disease. I say good for her for using her celebrity in a positive way.
Howard Kurtz: Good point. There was a big jump in people seeking colonoscopies after Couric had one on the air in 2000. And while she's not solely responsible for the University of Virginia cancer center being named for her late sister, that is a facility that has the potential to accomplish much for cancer patients and their families.
Washington: Are these often-discussed tracking polls really indicative of anything? (Where is Rudy Giuliani today?) I know it provides something to talk about on political TV and to lead news stories with, but I'd like to see how many of the polls are actually in agreement. And shouldn't news organizations stick with their own pollsters for consistency's sake? For instance I've heard that Clinton is still ahead by double-digits in Pennsylvania, but one poll Tim Russert showed yesterday had her ahead by only seven or eight percentage points. Because the gap could be seen as closing (gotta build that come-from-behind narrative!), this is the poll cited. Obviously there won't be universal agreement as to who's up and by how much, given how questions are asked and such, but I wish reporters/commentators would not rely on polls to buttress their own opinions when polling is not objective science.
Howard Kurtz: One thing we've learned this year is that the polls are often wrong. (Remember how they showed Obama as a lock to win New Hampshire?) And journalists are ridiculously overreliant on them, especially tracking polls that have smaller samples. But I do think if you're going to go down the polling road, you should report on other organizations' numbers as well rather than just hyping your own company's poll. The range provided by a number of surveys probably gives a better picture of where things stand than a single poll that may be significantly off.
Prince Frederick, Md.: When Couric mourns how "people have lost interest" in Iraq, isn't that easier to do when the network story count in Iraq has declined by half? Isn't there some chicken-and-egg philosophizing to do?
Howard Kurtz: I think there's little question that after five years, much of the public is suffering from war fatigue. But it's also true that the fading of the Iraq story from the newscasts and front pages (except for brief upsurges, such as the 4,000th American death or the recent fighting in Basra) contributes to a sense that the story has somehow gone away, which of course it hasn't. The reduction in violence (until recently) has also made it easier for news organizations to play down Iraq, since bombings and rising casualty tolls almost automatically draw coverage, especially on television. I still believe the war will be a potent issue in the election, even if it's overshadowed at the moment.
Over the Hill?: One step forward and two steps back. I am not a huge fan of Katie Couric, but I am appalled at the notion that she is over the hill. Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings, Walter Cronkite and other older men have been the standard for network news anchors. To say that, at 50, Couric should leave the field because she is not "hot" enough, is a disgusting and juvenile application of what I hoped was an outdated double standard. Thanks for not letting it slide, Howard, but I had to point out how horribly sexist this comment was.
Howard Kurtz: I guess that fellow views anchors as little more than eye candy. Anchoring is serious business, given the huge megaphone that the three network newscasts still have. Nice looks and nice personality are part of the package, but unless you've got the whole package, it's meaningless. Katie Couric reported from Iraq last year (as did Brian Williams). Did her age really matter on that assignment?
Baltimore: Doesn't the very idea of a "Newseum" run counter to something at the core of professional journalism -- i.e. that what's important is the story, not the reporters?
Howard Kurtz: I think that's kind of an old-fashioned notion. But as I wrote in Sunday's review, the Newseum is actually a history museum disguised as a media retrospective -- a place where you get to see a chunk of the Berlin Wall, the mangled communications tower that had been atop the World Trade Center and the Watergate Hotel door that led to the burglars' capture. There's nothing wrong with recognizing what Edward R. Murrow and other pioneers did (and as long as we're talking about Katie Couric, there's a tape from CNN's early years showing a young Katie delivering a rather goofy report). But there are also hundreds of old headlines and books and video reports that are not so much about the people who made them as the historical events they record.
Bluffton, S.C.: Friday night's NBC Nightly News opened with Brian Williams interviewing John McCain, but it mostly was unintelligible because of the crowd in Memphis using loudspeakers in the background. Yet both the Obama and Clinton interviews later on the program had no interference. Am I the only viewer who noticed?
Howard Kurtz: The McCain interview was live, whereas the sessions with Hillary and Obama (Barack wasn't in Memphis, so that was by satellite) were taped. I didn't have any trouble making out what McCain said.
Re: One thing we've learned this year is that the polls are often wrong.: Well, if you only look at what happened in New Hampshire, yes. If you look at the entire campaign, though, the polls (at least in the aggregate) have been pretty accurate.
Howard Kurtz: Not exactly. I don't recall the polls, for example, showing that Obama was heading for a huge blowout in South Carolina. But it goes beyond that. Mike Huckabee was nowhere in the polls (and the news coverage) for a long time because he was a little-known ex-governor. Rudy Giuliani led the GOP polls for most of 2007 because he was a national figure after Sept. 11. Which won wound up winning Iowa and a bunch of other primaries, and which was was totally shut out? Fred Thompson got huge coverage as he flirted his way into the race because polls showed him as high as second. Then he totally flamed out. Those are just a couple of examples of how polls can drive news coverage in the wrong direction.
Katie, A Reporter?: Howard, you have to admit that Katie Couric didn't have a long, distinguished career as a beat reporter -- she had a cup of coffee at the Pentagon, and then was whirled into the "Today" set to co-host. Surely you can't compare Couric to a Candy Crowley or a Judy Woodruff. It had to be annoying to some of them that the gummy-grin morning-show host got the nod.
Howard Kurtz: The only one of the current three anchors who had a long, distinguished career as a beat reporter is Charlie Gibson, who covered the House for eight years. But he got the job on the strength of his 19 years at "Good Morning America." Brian Williams did a fine job as a White House correspondent for a couple of years -- about as long as Katie covered the Pentagon -- before becoming an MSNBC anchor, which put him in line as Tom Brokaw's successor. Brokaw also spent several years as a Today co-host, just like Couric, before taking over Nightly News. The fact remains that the people who tend to get the top anchoring jobs are those with lots of anchoring experience.
Bethesda, Md.: Howie, whatever happened to "Tucker" on MSNBC? Did he quit, or was he pushed out?
Howard Kurtz: "Tucker," the show, is no more. MSNBC pulled the plug a couple of weeks ago and replaced it with a David Gregory show. Tucker Carlson, the person, is still visible at MSNBC and has the title of senior campaign correspondent, or something like that.
Looking in the mirror: Howard, on your tour of the Newseum, to me the telling fact would be how big the sections devoted to the 2000 election and to the run up to the Iraq war in 2002 are. Are the slip-shod journalism and the journalists who aided and abetted these travesties given as much coverage as when the mainstream media wants people to view the Sept. 11 section or the Katrina coverage?
Howard Kurtz: There are a few headlines from the 2000 election that turned out to be wrong. There is no exhibit on the run-up to the Iraq war. As I mentioned, the likes of Jayson Blair, Janet Cooke and Stephen Glass each get a paragraph. Clearly, the Newseum missed an opportunity to devote much space or attention to journalistic failures and shortcomings. Instead, the building paints journalists in an overwhelmingly positive light.
Baltimore: Before the Democratic primaries got started, the press for the most part was fearless in its prognostication that Hillary would trounce everyone. Then Obama "surprised" everyone in Iowa, and Clinton "surprised" everyone in New Hampshire. After that (I hate generalizing, but what the heck) the political commentators pretty much refuse to speculate about the race and won't call it over, even though there is virtually no way that Clinton can capture the nomination. They just keep saying, "Well, anything can happen."
What bothers me is they were fine speculating when they had no data and no voters had actually started voting -- they were very sure of themselves. Now, with a lot of evidence, data, and results, they don't care to speculate. Isn't that kind of backwards? Also, do you think the way this race has played out will change the way primary season is covered in any substantial way next time?
Howard Kurtz: Pretty much refused to speculate? I must be living on another planet. To me, the speculation continued unabated -- maybe slightly more caution about forecasting outcomes -- and continues with all these Hillary-can't-win-and-why-doesn't-she-get-out segments.
Frederick, Md.: Now with the surging of the Internet, what is your best guess about how long The Post will publish a print version?
Howard Kurtz: At least till the end of the year.
Long Island, N.Y.: The drumbeat for McCain's medical records and a meeting with his doctors is fair only if the press is demanding a meeting with Obama's doctors and his medical records. As a lifelong and current smoker, with a mother who died very young from multiple cancers, why not the same scrutiny? It seems the media will not put forth anything that would harm Obama's image (a cigarette in the mouth would).
Howard Kurtz: Gee, I must be going deaf, because I haven't heard this drumbeat.
As we get into the fall, there will be media pressure on both nominees to release their medical records and be subjected to the quadrennial New York Times piece by Dr. Lawrence Altman. If anyone refuses, that's when you'll hear a drumbeat. Of course there is more concern for the health of a 71-year-old candidate who's had a bout with cancer than one who is 46, but there's got to be a level playing field.
Thanks for the chat, folks.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Join live discussions from the Washington Post. Feature topics include national, world and DC area news, politics, elections, campaigns, government policy, tech regulation, travel, entertainment, cars, and real estate.
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Beer Madness Crowns a Winner
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In the showdown of Maryland brews, a slim majority of our 10 panelists in this blind-tasting tournament opted for the Silver Spring creation, crowning Hook and Ladder's Backdraft Brown this year's Beer Madness champion. The rest of the worthy (and not so worthy) brewers can take comfort in the words of losers everywhere: There's always next year.
Beer Madness founder Joe Heim and esteemed panelist Greg Kitsock were online Monday, April 7 at 1 p.m. ET to take questions and comments about the game.
Joe Heim: Hello everyone and thanks for joining us for this all important round up of our second annual Beer Madness tournament. We're on pins and needles here as the Pulitzer prizes are going to be announced today and we'll be shocked if Beer Madness doesn't win one. If you missed our finale in the Sunday Source, this year's winner is straight outta Silver Spring: Hook & Ladder's Backdraft Brown.
OK, let's get to the questions and comments.
Wedding At Cana Syndrome:"When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from, he called the bridegroom over. 'Usually a host serves the best wine first,' he said. 'Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines .'
Do you think this syndrome kicked in during the later rounds with you and your tasters? I bought 3 of the final four beers this weekend (Troegs, Hook and Ladder, Raven) and tasted them. Frankly, I don't see how Raven got so far. Nothing wrong with it per se, but unremarkable to me. Of the final four, I would have picked the Hopback Amber.
Greg Kitsock: Remember that except for myself, none of the participants were what you'd call "beer geeks" ... the type of people who talk about stylistic parameters and ABV and IBUs and other technical terms. So I wouldn't expect the panel necessarily to choose the maltiest or hoppiest or most flavorful beers. They might prefer a midde-of-the-road, more refreshing type of beer, and there' nothing wrong with that.
Interestlingly, some members of the DC area homebrew club, Brewers United for Real Potables, duplicated the tasting and they picked Old Chub and Dogfish Head 60 Minute for the finalists - arguably the maltiest and hoppiest of the beers.
Joe Heim: The other thing to remember is that this was a blind taste. Are you certain you would have picked the Hopback Amber if you didn't know which beers you were drinking? It's an interesting experiment. Lots of beer heads are often surprised by their choices when they are drinking blind (not to be confused with blind drunk.)
Northern Virginia Nats Fan: It's interesting that, considering the grumbling among local beer cognoscenti about the beer selection at the Nationals' new ballpark, the only local craft brewery represented there is Hook and Ladder, the winner of your blind tasting competition. (Actually I'd describe H-and-L as only sort-of-local, since the latest issue of Mr. Kitsock's Mid-Atlantic Brewing News says Hook and Ladder's beers are brewed in Rochester, N.Y.) Any comments on the subject of beer choices at Nationals Park? And any update or prediction on the possibility (also described in Brewing News) that the Capitol City Brewing Co. and the team or concession company will resolve their differences and open a ballpark beer garden serving Cap City's beers?
Greg Kitsock: It's interesting that you bring this subject up, because this is the subject of my next beer column for the Post. I haven't been to the Nats' new stadium yet, but Post reporter Dan Steinberg published a list of the beers on his blog about 10 days ago. In some ways, it's a regression from RFK ... Old Dominion, for instance, had a few taps last year, but they appear to be shut out this season. Clipper City, I know, would like to get their beer into the park, but they haven't gotten much of a response from the Nats' concessionaire.
I'll give the Nationals the benfit of the doubt ... it's been hectic getting the new stadium ready on time, and they probably feel the beer selection is a matter they can hash out over the coming months. But I do hope they add some locals and I hope the fans make their voices heard.
Regarding Cap City, they're still interested in getting in, but I don't think the original plan for a Cap City beergarden is going to happen this season.
While we're on the subject, I think the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales are supposed to make an appearance at the stadium tonight to mark the 75th anniversary of the return of legal beer after Prohibition.
Joe Heim: I'd rather have a beer garden with 20-30 different microbrews on tap rather than just selections from one place. In the meantime, I'll just have to keep sneaking my own beer in.
Portland, Oregon (aka MICROBREW CAPITAL): Really? One beer from Oregon? ONE?
Pathetic, boys, pathetic. C'mon out here, we'll teach you how it's REALLY done!
Joe Heim: I love how every city with more than three microbreweries declares itself the "microbrew capital." You have some fine beers Portland, but it's a big country and there a plenty of places doing it just as well as you are.
Arlington, Va.: I was hoping to get another description of the two beers in the final. Can you remind me what Raven Lager and Backdraft Brown taste like?
Greg Kitsock: Backdraft Brown is an American-style brown ale, with more body and more hops than, say, a Newcastle Brown.
Raven Lager is an amber lager, with a nice hop/malt balance, very drinkable.
Washington, D.C.: I need a happy hour location in D.C. with Hook and Ladder on tap...can you provide me with some D.C. options?? Thanks!
Greg Kitsock: Your best bet is to go to their website www.hookandladderbeer.com. They should have a list of establishments that sell their beer and promotions.
Alrington, Va.: Hi Greg and Joe,
Happy 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition.
I find it interesting that the winner your competition, and the one I ran, had champions from the same category. You would not think that the darker ales would win considering that they are not offered very often at our local restaurants (we do not have bars or pubs because they have to serve so much food by law). Can you give some insight on why you think the panel came to this result.
Greg Kitsock: Traditionally in America, there has been a lot of prejudice against dark beers. There was a rumor, which I hope has been dispelled by now, that dark beers resulted from the brewery cleaning the tanks in the spring.
The fact the panel chose a darker beer is evidence, I think, of a more open-minded and experimental approach to beer. But remember that a brown ale is still not all that dark compared to a porter or stout.
Burke, Va.: Bravo. I think the Beer Madness bracket was a lot of fun. Some of us at the office filled out our brackets with the winner getting a 6 pack of the champion brew. Made us look forward to each Sunday's results. Looking forward to it next year. Thanks.
Joe Heim: Thanks Burke. Glad you enjoyed it - and that you put it to such excellent use in the office. We will very likely do it again next year. Is there anything you'd like to see done differently. We're all ears.
Boston, Mass.: Hey, how come the beer that advanced wasn't always the one that won the poll?
Greg Kitsock: The results - who advanced and who didn't - reflected what the majority of our panelists thought, and there are as many opinions on beers as there are beer drinkers.
Also, when you're tasting beers in a blind competition, and you're drinking a lot of beers of different styles, your taste buds might not register the same as when you're drinking a single mug of your favorite brand.
Joe Heim: I think you might be referring to the online poll, right? Here's the deal on that. The entire tournament was decided in a blind taste taste by 10 panelists. They are the ones who decided which beers advanced because they were tasting them against one another and deciding which they liked better. The online voting was just to give readers a chance to vote for the beers they would have liked to see advance. So, it was more of a popularity contest. But that wouldn't really be a fair way of deciding which beers advanced. I hope that clears that up.
Arlington, Va.: Were there any wins or losses that you found particularly objectionable? Greg, did you ever want to just SHAKE the panelists for getting it wrong?
Greg Kitsock: If we had been able to share answers, my fellow tasters might have wanted to shake me for getting it wrong (in their opinion) on a few occasions!
Alexandria, Va.: Have you heard stories about people doing their own beer-bracket games at home? We had a great time with ours. But word to the wise -- a little taste goes a long way. We were way too thirsty in the early rounds. Good times, though.
Joe Heim: It was definitely cool to hear that people were hosting beer bracket parties at their houses. And you're absolutely right, a little beer goes a long way. You pretty much have to decide each showdown on a sip or two. More than that and you'll get tanked in a hurry.
Washington, D.C.: How do you feel about the results of this year's tournament versus last year's? In a head-to-head matchup, would Brooklyn trump Hook and Ladder?
Joe Heim: Well, I think there's only one way to determine that. Set 'em up, bartender.
Washington, D.C.: Next year you should do Beer Madness: International Edition. I want to see how German brews fair against Japanese, British, Argentine etc.
Greg Kitsock: I'd like to do an international beer competition in conjunction with the Beijing Olympics this summer. I'm not sure, however, how you would go about choosing a particular beer to represent each country. Should we go for a single style (almost all countries that brew beer commercially do a version of a golden lager), or do we choose a beer representative of that nation, like Guinness to represent Ireland or a Trappist ale to represent Belgium?
Joe Heim: I'd prefer to watch an Olympics where the contestants drank beers before their events. I think it would only enhance the entertainment value.
Washington, D.C.: I just started a new job and work with a bunch of beer snobs. Got any resource I can use as cheat sheets so I can fit in?
Greg Kitsock: Two books I'd recommend to give you a thorough introduction to beer would be Michael Jacson's Beer Companion and Garrett Oliver's The Brewmaster's Table. Sam Calagione (president of the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery) and wine expert Marnie Old have just published a very entertaining book, He Said Beer, She Said Wine, will give you some instant expertise on both beverages and what foods pair well with them.
Joe Heim: It's possible to love good beer and not become a beer snob. In fact, I recommend it.
Joe Heim: This chat is making me thirsty.
Silver Spring, Md.: I'd just like to say that I am acquainted with the H and L brewers and they are definitly local boys -- the fact that the beer is brewed elsewhere doesn't change that.
Also -- winning couldn't have happened to nicer guys -- just really good-hearted. We are wishing them all the best with the new brewpub in S.S.
Joe Heim: Nice to hear. And, speaking of the winners......
Silver Spring, Md.: Joe and Greg,
Thank you for making Hook and Ladder a part of the tournament. We had a lot of fun with it and looking forward to next year's competition!
Greg Kitsock: You're welcome, Rich and Matt! Is there any news about the brewpub you're planning for Silver Spring, Md.?
Washington, D.C.: You guys should do next year's as a big public-spectacle event. In a boxing-style ring. Then we can all show up and boo when the panelists pick the wrong beer.
Greg Kitsock: How about we stage it as a pro wrestling match?
The Nodding Head, a brewpub in Philadelphia, hosts an event every summer called the Royal Stumble where participating brewers dress up as wrestlers and engage in trash talk. Whosever keg kicks first is declared the winner.
RE: Joe Heim: This chat is making me thirsty. : Me too. I'm predicting a lot of liquid lunches in the D.C. region this afternoon.
Joe Heim: That's it, everyone gets the afternoon off. I'm sure your bosses will understand.
Washington, D.C.: Joe, which is more important to you: Beer Madness or being one of the Three Wise Guys?
Joe Heim: Oooh, tough question. It's like being asked to choose your favorite child (if one child were a drunk and the other child an idiot).
Los Angeles, Calif.: Really liked the primer on different categories of beer -- I never know the difference. Does preference for a lager/IPA/ale/stout usually go hand in hand with a certain personality type?
Greg Kitsock: I don't think it indicates a particular personality type so much as how mature a palate you've developed. Styles like IPAs and stouts might seem a little foreboding at first to a golden lager drinker, but in time you develop a liking for hop bitterness and roasty flavors.
Remember also that people differ biologically in their sense of taste. One individual might be very sensitive to bitterness and so he/she prefers malty beers to hoppy ones. There is a chemical, a byproduct of fermentation called diacetyl, that gives beer a sweet, butetry taste. I've found that some people are much more sensitive to this than others.
Silver Spring, Md.: The restaurant and brewery is making a lot of progress and we anticipate a Fall of 2008 opening.
Joe Heim: Good to know, thanks.
Since you solicited recommendations for next year, I have one. If you can work around the schedule of your tasters, I'd suggest you determine the results in two different sittings. The first sitting could whittle the 32 down to the elite 8. The final sitting could finish it off. I think fresh taste buds and a zero blood alcohol level would make a difference with those last 8 beers.
Greg Kitsock: I like that suggestion. There is such a thing as palate fatigue, and that can play a role in the final rounds.
Sometimes, I feel sorry for the judges at the annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver, who might have to choose a trio of winners from over 100 IPAs.
Joe Heim: Yeah, I absolutely agree with this suggestion. Doing this in one night is a bit much. We could even put together two groups of panelists. One to get us down to 8 beers and another to decide the winner.
Slang!: so what's your favorite euphemism for "drunk"? "Hammered"? "Tanked"? "Blitzed"?
Greg Kitsock: How about "bitten by the brewer's horse"?
Joe Heim: Or kicked by the brewer's ass?
I'm not a beer fan ...: Can we do "Cocktail Madness" next year? Local bars and restaurants can dream up their own specialty cocktails and we'll pit them against each other. Might have to be a smaller bracket though, or done of the course of a few nights. Yikes.
Joe Heim: That could get ugly in a hurry.
Carbondale, Ill.: Love the contest. Last year I believe the winner was Brooklyn Lager if I remember correctly. I had that 10 years ago in NYC and could tell from the first sip that it was an exceptional beer. So I am looking forward to tasting your finalist's next time I am in D.C.I was not sure about having a fruity bracket, but to each his/her own. One suggestion for next year, have an East, West, South and Northern bracket to satisfy some the nonlocal contigant.
Joe Heim: I think a regional bracket might be the way to go. Excellent suggestion.
I know one criteria for the 32 beers selected to be tasted was availability. What other criteria was used to pick the 8 beers in each of the 4 categories (ales, lagers, dark, fu fu)?
Greg Kitsock: I wanted to expand the variety of beers from last year's tasting, which consisted almost entirely of golden ales and lagers. At the same time, I didn't want to overwhelm the tasters with anything that was too high in alcohol.
Availability was a criterion, and, except for the four finalists from last year, I wanted a different group of brands to make it more interesting. Also, I tried to limit selections to one brand from one brewery (although there was one exception: Schlitz and Nattie Boh are both made by Pabst).
Lastly, I tried to make the beer selection mirror, to some extent, the variety of beers that you see on a supermarket shelf ... evrything from budget brands to connoisseur's beers.
Re: Nationals Poor Beer Selection: A bartender at CapCity said the restaurant deal at Nationals Park fell through because Miller wouldn't let CapCity brew on premise (like at the CapCity restaurants). CapCity couldn't see bringing kegs to the game.
RFK had RedHook ESB and IPA, as well as all the Bud and Miller products. There isn't a dark beer tab (stout. porter), and red beer tap, or a Pale Ale/IPA tap in the entire Nationals Park. Do you think the National could have more variety every 3rd or 4th beer stand ?
Joe Heim: I'll be very disappointed if you can't get an IPA on tap at the new park.
Vienna, Va.: I was personally sad that Leinie's Sunset Wheat didn't make it farther. But I've noticed increasing availability of this midwestern beermaker's offerings in the D.C. area, including the favorite of my lovely Wisconsin wife's: Honey Weiss. Ever had it? I'd recommend a try -- a less fruity lager than Sunset Wheat, more smooth with, naturally, a hint of honey. No, I don't work for them or their distributors (if I did I'd be more succesful getting into bars!)
Oh and since beer and hockey go together: Let's Go Caps!
Greg Kitsock: Leinenkugel is owned by Miller, the country's second largest brewer, and I think we'll see more of their brands becoming available in the future. This summer, I believe Leinie's intends to roll out its Summer Shandy (a blend of beer and lemonade) on a national basis.
My personal favorite is Leinenkugel's Creamy Dark, although I haven't tried some of their recent, bigger, more flavorful beers.
Washington, D.C.: Thanks for this great series, and I am already looking forward to it next year. But how does one avoid the worst effect of beer -- the extra "padding" it puts on?
Joe Heim: One doesn't. One just drinks beer and gets fat.
Bethesda, Md.: Is Dogfish Head 60 Minute considered a Double or Imperial IPA? I know that the 90 Minute is, but wasn't sure about the 60.
I'm kind of on a Double IPA kick right now and was wondering how many were represented in the competition, and if so, how they fared.
Greg Kitsock: We shied away from double IPAs - indeed, any double or "imperial" style - because of the higher alcohol content.
Dogfish Head 60 Minute is a regular IPA. The brewery does a 90 Minute IPA and a 120 Minute IPA which are definitely in the imperial category, as well as Burton Baton, an aggressively hoppy, wood-aged IPA.
Tysons Corner, Va.: I always enjoy reading the beer brackets and look forward to trying the winner sometime soon. If only Joe were as pleasant and funny in person as he is online and as a wise guy....
Joe Heim: My wife says the same thing. Hey wait, maybe you are my wife????
Washington, D.C.: I like the idea of a regional competition, but are there that many beers in say, a SE Conference, as opposed to, say, the NW?
Greg Kitsock: The South is slowly catching up in craft beer consumption (and available styles), although in some states like Alabama and Mississippi, alcohol caps restrict the number of styles a brewer may legally make.
The trouble is, there are a lot of fine beers from the Southeast that aren't available here, like the beers of Bosco's (a brewpub chain) or Sweetwater Brewing (not the local brewpub, but a regional brewery in Atlanta) or St. Arnold's Brewing Co. in Houston. But Abita in the New orleans area does an interesting range of styles and they are readily available in this area.
Washington, D.C.: I'm a recent transplant from New England and my FAVORITE summertime treat back home is a blueberry beer with fresh blueberries in the bottom of the glass. Any place around here that does that?
Greg Kitsock: There are a few blueberry beers available commercially here in bottles, including one from Sea Dog in Maine. Marin Brewing Co. in California makes a brand called Bluebeery Ale, which is one of the best examples I've tried and which I've occasionally seen locally.
I don't know if any of the local brewpubs are planning one, although it is a fairly popular style. My advice is to pick your own berries and add them yourself as a garnish.
Greg Kitsock: Thanks for all your comments and questions! Email at greg@brewingnews.com if youahve any more questinsn. I hope to see you at one of the upcoming beer festivals or dinners in this area!
Joe Heim: Thanks from both of us for all of your questions and for your suggestions for next year's contest. If you have other thoughts/ideas for Beer Madness, email me at heimj@washpost.com
For Greg: If you were going to do a beer-centric tour of the U.S., which cities would be can't-miss?
Greg Kitsock: Alright, one last question: I'd do (from west to East), Portland (Oregon), Seattle, San Diego, Denver, Chicago (not a lot of breweries, but many great bars), Baltimore, Philadelphia and Portland (Maine). That's a short list, not a complete one by any means!
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Talk About Travel
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Got a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel Section Flight Crew is at your service.
On the itinerary this week: affordable European options in these dollar-unfriendly times; a stay in a Pennsylvania caboose; and for all you cowgirls out there, a women's rodeo camp in Delaware. All other travel topics are open as well. If you have insights, ideas or information to add to the discussion, just press the call button above your seat and we'll get to you as soon as we can. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.
We know you have a choice in online travel forums, and speaking for the entire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us.
You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions. For daily dispatches, check out Travel Log, the Travel section's new blog.
John Deiner: Good afternoon, everyone, on this drizzly day in Our Nation's Capital. We have nearly a full team on hand to take your questions, including Sue Shuman, who did a lot of the reporting for our special section on budget digs in Europe. And Cindy Loose is standing by to chat about her experience when she went van camping in Italy. Also, I'll post the blog item I did this morning on tipping, which has been getting some spirited responses. Feel free to throw in your two cents -- or two dollars -- here or on the blog. And finally: your job today. I keep thinking about that photo we ran of the drainpipe in Linz, Austria, that you can sleep in, and I'm pretty certain I wouldn't sleep there myself. But do share: What's the weirdest place you've ever slept in on the road? Your Ford Pinto? A bathtub? A bench in a train station? The best/funniest/most illuminating post gets a cool twofer from Air France: a plane on a spring for your desk (okay, it's not so cool) and a really nice document holder. Really. It's nice. Let's get this flight started, shall we?
washingtonpost.com: The Monday Rant: The Trouble With Tipping (Travel Log blog, washingtonpost.com)
John Deiner: And here's the link to the blog on tipping.
Noise!: Tom Sietsema is doing a chat on noise levels in restaurants, and I noticed an ad for Virgin Atlantic (and new electrical outlets at every seat) showing a woman blow-drying her hair in a plane, with the caption Arrive Beautifully.
Does the airline really mean this? I would hate to be sitting next to someone doing this, or using an electric toothbrush, etc.
Scott Vogel: Right. Then comes the portable chainsaw -- I mean, where does it end? Apparently Virgin Atlantic is serious about its passengers arriving beautifully, however, to the detriment of those around them. My only advice is to call dibs on the outlet not occupied by the hair dryer and plug in your white noise machine.
International travel...: I feel silly even asking this question, but I'm headed to France for the first time in a couple of weeks and am wondering if I should exchange my dollars for Euros at home or wait until I get to Europe? What's the best way to stretch that weak dollar? Also, any other international travel no-brainers that I should know, but probably don't?
Thanks, love the column and the chats!
Sue Kovach Shuman: Hi. It's probably a good idea to have a few euros in your pocket when you land, but not everyone agrees on that. If you belong to AAA, you can get enough to take a cab or the bus from the airport into the city. There are also currency exchange places in D.C. The airports have ATMs and currency exchange desks, and it is convenient to get a few euros there--but rates might be higher at the airport exchange than in the city.
Kamuela, Hawaii: HI - this week someone asked about the Big Island volcano. Here is the phone for updates: The lava hotline phone number is 961-8093, which lets you know the lava viewing hours for the day ahead. The lava hotline automated message is updated every day at 10 a.m.
FYI - volcanic fog, vog, is full of heavy metals - if it is voggy when you are here, it helps to take selenium, molybdenum and Vitamin C. I guess that would help with DC smog too. And bring eye drops - it can be irritating.
John Deiner: Good stuff, Kamuela, and thanks for the assistance. And great advice on the "vog." Never heard of it before, and hope never to encounter.
Washington DC: Took the Boltbus to NY this weekend. Trip there was fine aside from an unannounced 15 minute stop at a rest area in NJ (evidently this is common practice).
Trip back however, from the 33rd and 7th stop. Arrived at 11AM for the 11:30 bus which DID NOT arrive. 11:50AM the 1:00PM bus arrives and the driver attempts to find out what happened. Tells us (around 15 of us) that the 11:30 made it's pickup and departed on time (after we'd been standing in the cold for an hour).
We get accommodated on the 1:00 and they have a 1:30 "special" because of "overbooking".
Bottom line, 15 unhappy passengers delayed for over 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Given I'm standing outside Penn station, 99% probability I will be taking the train next time. Obviously to Boltbus's disadvantage that they have internet because I'm posting this before we've left NYC.
washingtonpost.com: We Were There: Boltbus's Inaugural Run to NYC (Travel Log blog, washingtonpost.com)
Christina Talcott: Haha, using the bus's free WiFi to lodge your complaint? Well played, my friend! Also, I was surprised to see your questions, because my beau was among ye unhappy 11:30 Bolters yesterday. I encouraged him to write to the company to ask for a refund, and you should too. Dunno what you'll get, though. You kind of expect spotty service from a new restaurant, but what about a busline? BTW five of us from the Flight Crew are taking the Bolt to NYC on Friday for a group project, and, after hearing about this snafu, I'm getting a little nervous. Anyone else taken Bolt since it started? Good/bad stories?
Falls Church, Va.: Here's a travel problem you probably don't hear about too much: Pirates. My mother was scheduled to take a Mediterranean cruise in May on a French cruise-liner, but over the weekend that ship was seized off the coast of Africa by Somali pirates. It was crewed but carrying no passengers then.
At this point, no one knows what's happening, and the first priority of course has to be the safety of the crew. We have emailed the American travel company through whom she booked the cruise, and she will try to call them today to see what their contingency planning might be.
As a general matter, when a cruise ship becomes catastrophically unavailable, what does a travel company do? Is my mother likely to be offered a refund? Credit to another cruise? What about her airfare from DC to Malta?
Cindy Loose: Pirates off the coast of lawless Somali have been a problem for some time, and I thought ships were taking long swings away from the coast to avoid them---maybe a precaution they don't take when only crew is aboard. I can't imagine the cruise line won't make some accommodations so your mother either gets her money back or an alternative cruise. If you feel in the end she is not being treated fairly, email me at loosec@washpost.com, but do please try to work it out with the line first.
Rockville, MD: This June, my husband, 2 kids, and I will be flying out to Las Vegas for my brother's wedding. This is the first big trip we've taken as a family. And I'm shocked at the prices of airline tickets! The lowest price I've found for all 4 of us is $1600, and that's taking red eye flights on JetBlue. I'm nervous about taking overnight flights with a 7 and 10-year-old, because they will be tired and grumpy. The lowest price I've found for non-red-eye, direct flights is $2000 for the four of us. I've been using websites like Expedia and Travelocity to find these prices. Is their some other method for finding cheap flights that I'm not aware of??
Any help would be appreciated - thanks!
John Deiner: Hey, Rock. If you haven't already, I would try Southwest.com, which should be cheaper than $1,600 for all of you if you hit a sale, and whose fares don't show up on many of those other engines. And try kayak.com, which does a great job of sorting through all of the fares available for you. And Carol is a big fan of Farecast.com, which helps predict when fares will go up or down. One good thing about SWA is that if the fare goes down, you can rebook and bank the savings for another trip without a fee.
McLean, Va.: I was writing about how much I enjoyed Cindy Loose's story about traveling through Rome via a van when my comments disappeared. I probably hit the wrong button -- just like Cindy apparently missed the entrances to her campsites. I laughed so hard reading the article that I woke family members who were still asleep Sunday morning. Well, call me crazy, but I'm going to try to take a van trip through Italy myself. I think it's the only way we can afford to take our family of four. I'm wondering what would be the one thing she'd do differently to minimize the misadventures. Maybe, I can learn from her experiences. Thanks for the great article and a fantastic travel section on Sundays.
Cindy Loose: Thanks. If you have a good map and someone on board who can help you navigate you shouldn't have my problems. I'd also map out key destinations at a Web site like www.mapquest.com before leaving home. It's very nice to have words in addition to a map, and know exactly how far it is between turns.
Reston, VA: It wasn't a particularly weird place to sleep, but I visited my boyfriend when we were studying abroad in different countries and napped in his room while he was at class. I guess I slept through a cleaning woman coming in, who decided I wasn't supposed to be there. Apparently, there was a memo later that week reminding everyone that overnight guests weren't allowed in the dorms. Oops.
John Deiner: Ah, school days. How I miss 'em (and those prohibited overnight guests, for that matter). Thanks for starting things off.
Munich, Germany: For the person looking for Asparagus in Munich from last weeks chat, I can recommend the Restaurant Zur Schwaige beside the Nympfenburger Castle. I haven't been there for a while, but on a nice day, its beergarden is wonderful. They don't have a web site in English but there are a few pictures at http://www.zurschwaige.de/bilder.html . Guten Appetit!
Christina Talcott: Asparagus-seeker from last week, are you back? Here's more advice for you!
Takoma DC: The Cappadocia region of Turkey is famous for its soft rock (sedimentary, not musical), which people in the area used to take advantage of by hollowing out homes, churches, and everything else a person might need. So the coolest place I've ever stayed, for sure, was a hotel whose rooms were carved into the side of a valley. All the corners were rounded, the windows were round, and it was just the neatest place.
John Deiner: Hey, cool, Takoma. You recall the name of the place?
Washington, DC: I have some British pounds left over from a trip to Scotland. Will I have a problem using them in England since they have the Royal Bank of Scotland on them? Can I exchange them for "English" pounds?
Scott Vogel: I haven't heard any instances of travelers having trouble exchanging Scottish notes for British pounds, and in most cases you should be able to use them throughout England, as far as I know. Has anyone had any trouble?
Fairfax, VA: I recently napped in an out-of-order handicapped bathroom--hey, it was a separate room with a door that locked!!--when I had a few hours to kill before a conference started and had been up way too early that morning. It was perfectly clean and had a lovely little sofa. And since it was out of order, I wasn't keeping it from anyone who needed it.
John Deiner: "Perfectly clean"? We'll take your word for it, Fairfax!
Washington, DC: My brother and 3 of his friends want to plan a college graduation trip to Europe. They want to visit 3-4 countries and are open to suggestions. I was thinking Italy would be fun but was unsure as to what other countries they could visit. They could also go the London, Paris, Amsterdam route. Any ideas?
Sue Kovach Shuman: You haven't mentioned whether any of them have been to Europe before, so I'm assuming these new grads want to pack in a lot of sights on a little cash. The places you mentioned are expensive--especially Italy and London--but if they don't mind staying in hostels, it can be done. And with four young people, that could be a very fun option. Plus, they will meet other travelers. I'd look for airfares to London, which are a bit better than to the other places you mentioned. The train goes to all the cities you mentioned, so I'd look into raileurope.com for the best package. If they're under age 26, they can get much better rates than you might think for train travel. If they travel in the wee hours or late at night, better yet to save money. London to Paris is quick by train. Italy's big--Rome is more expensive than other places. Maybe a tour through a region could be good. Check out guidebooks online for exact routes.
Strangest place I've slept....: While camping on Myall Lake in NSW, Australia we were woken in the middle of the night by the park forest and told there was a forest fire coming our way and they were going to dig trenches around our sites but we needed to immediately evacuate until things were under control. Since we had gotten to our site via boat (i.e. we didn't drive or hike in - we were in the middle of no where), we spent that night in the boat in the middle of the lake watching helicopters scoop up water to put out the fire! Not the most comfortable night, but pretty exciting! (and the fire never reached our site and we were able to go back the next day)
John Deiner: Wow! That's amazing, and frightening.
Salt Lake City, UT: Very timely blog entry on tipping. We usually stay in inexpensive/midrange hotels (Quality Inns, etc), and leave a small tip in the room at the end of the stay.
We were out of town last weekend to a family wedding and stayed in a very nice (and pricey) hotel for four nights, and planned to leave a tip (larger than in our usual hotels) at the end. We got back to the room on the third day, and had just listened to a voice mail from the head of housekeeping that we should let her know if anything was amiss when someone from housekeeping knocked on the door to see if anything was wrong. It only occurred to me later that maybe they were expecting a tip every day? Are we wrong in leaving one tip at the end? It rubbed me the wrong way, but of course we still left a tip.
I would be so happy if gratuities were just included in the bill!
John Deiner: I'm with you, SLC. If you want to tip, I think one tip at the end of the stay is fine.
Charlotte, NC: I'm not sure if you'll know the answer to this, but I am traveling to Philadelphia and need to quickly travel to City Center after my flight arrives. Do you have any idea how much a cab would cost from the airport to downtown? I know there is a rail line, but my past experience was that it was very slow and may even be worse on the weekends. Thanks for the info on this subject as well as all your travel advice!
Cindy Loose: Center City is about 7 miles from the airport, and the flat rate is $26.25 no matter how many passengers, so it'd be great if you found someone in line going your direction. Otherwise, the train is $7 one way. By the way, you can get info about grand transportation at www.phl.org.
Houston, Tex.: On the prowl for a good travel agent with whom to book my October honeymoon in Italy. Have any of the chatters used European Destinations or Virgin Vacations?
Scott Vogel: All right, chatters -- anyone have experience with these tour companies?
Tipping: I always tip maids about $3-5 a day because I figure the bellhops get tipped all day long for a minute's work (luggage, cabs) because they are visible to the traveler, but the maids get stiffed (ahem John) even though they are working harder because they are invisible. Also, I leave a tip every day v. at the end of the stay because I find it pays off for me in better service, more candy on the pillow, the occasional fruit bowl or flowers. I tip the redcaps because it is the right thing to do, they didn't start the airline fees and I am sure their tips have plummeted. Also, that can help them forget to weigh and count bags when we are traveling with the kids. There you have it 60% altruism, 40% self-serving.
John Deiner: Good points all, including that throat-clearing at my expense. I haven't used curb service in a long time, and I always used to tip when I did use it. But I do understand why people don't want to tip on top of that fee (and I hope the skycaps win that suit, by the way).
washingtonpost.com: I worked as a Cape Cod motel maid one summer after college (hello, Falmouth Inn!) and since then always leave a little something for the housekeepers. It's such a lift to get an extra few bucks. - Elizabeth
John Deiner: Hey, Elizabeth...chime in again here. How often did you get tips? Most of the time, rarely, 50 percent of the time?
Dulles, Va.: Thanks for taking my question last week! Unfortunately, only half of it got answered... I was wondering if anyone knows how I can book a train ticket from Salzburg to Vienna, how long it would take & how much? The Austrian rail website is only in English until you attempt to book a ticket...
Carol Sottili: Go to www.raileurope.com. It takes about 2.5 hours. Cost is about $86 for a 2nd class ticket. You may get a cheaper rate at www.oebb.at - click on English as language on the top of the page.
NW DC: Due to the economy I have decided to scale back my summer vacation plans. Now I realize I am already late anyway. I wanted to do a Caribbean island with the kids, but now I would settle for an Atlantic Beach resort within a day's drive of DC. any suggestions?
Christina Talcott: How old are your kids and how long will you be going? Long Beach Island in New Jersey, Rehoboth and Bethany beaches in Delaware and Ocean City in Maryland all have nice beaches, a range of options for lodging and plenty for kids to do if the weather doesn't cooperate. Anyone have advice on anything further south, like the Outer Banks or the Virginia beaches?
Silver Spring, Md.: Hi. I bought an international ticket on American a couple of weeks ago. I now see that the same flight is cheaper. If I call, will American refund the difference?
Carol Sottili: No, but they may give you a voucher for a future flight. Doesn't hurt to ask.
washingtonpost.com: I almost never got tips! I did sometimes get random left behind stuff like paperback books. And if your kids leave sticky juice on tabletops and cheerios under the bed, you should DEFINITELY tip! - Elizabeth
John Deiner: Ewww. And good point!
DC: I shouldn't admit this, but I actually spent a night sleeping in a gutter in Istanbul.
Long backstory here, but suffice to say it had a happy ending. I'm still here to share it.
John Deiner: DC, that's a story we'd probably all want to hear sometime.
Falls Church, Va.: "Cheap Sleeps Across the Pond" presented some pretty depressing options. We wouldn't spend money on a luxury hotel even if the dollar were strong, but I find part of the fun of a trip is staying in places that are at least cheerful and don't make me feel like a 50-something student. Been there, done that. The article said little about B&Bs or small inns. We went to Scotland in 2006 (and 2004) when the exchange rate was not quite so bad. I spent a lot of time researching online (national tourism sites and TripAdvisor.com) beforehand and found very attractive and welcoming accommodations for 25 to 30 L (pounds)/person/night, (40 in Edinburgh) breakfast included, private baths. No hostels, mismatched curtains, or drain pipe sleeps required.
Sue Kovach Shuman: You're right--and there just was not room to write enough about those options in the published article. I've been to Scotland a bunch of times and have had good luck with small B&Bs and guest rooms, as well as small hotels. And online researching was crucial before going Not every place has mismatched curtain! I like the more personal, even if barebones, places. But with the dollar's decline, everything is more expensive than even in 2006, plus hotel rates have climbed in the U.K. Small places away from the big cities have some nice options--above pubs, for instance.
Arlington: Flight Crew, I finally just got enough flights to get a free round trip anywhere in the 48 states from Southwest. I have never been anywhere in the US besides the east coast. I like beaches - so California seems like a good idea. Please guide me to the right random city! Thanks!
Cindy Loose: I think you're right to use your free ticket to the West Coast, and you have wonderful options. Southwest flies to airports in and near Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Also into Seattle. Any of these is a fine choice. Personally, I'd go for San Francisco (Oakland is basically a San Francisco airport). It's a wonderful and very accessible city, meaning you can get around easily and there is great food and scenery and fun stuff to do. If you then rent a car you can head either north or south of the city for fantastic beaches and scenery. Be aware however that the northern coast has water that is quite chilly--some people take quick dips or surf in wetsuits. If you want to swim then head to southern California.
Arlington, VA (ie. Napping!): When I arrived for my exchange year in Germany with 60 other Americans, we were sent a language institute before heading to our host families around the country. On the chartered bus from the airport in Frankfurt to our little institute town, I decided the best place was to lie down and sleep in the aisle. The German counselors for the month moaned and rolled their eyes, but from that point forward any day trip we had to fight to be one of the 6-8 (depends on size!) who could fit down in the aisle for the prime napping spot. I'm positive the adults hated that trend....
John Deiner: Hey, Arl. While we're on the subject of sleeping on gross floors, I've always wondered how people sleep on airport terminal floors.
Takoma, DC: Oh yeah, I was a hotel housekeeper one summer in college and tips were very rare. I did very much appreciate the one family who left a note (and a tip) to tell me their kid had wet the bed. Much better than finding out about it the hard way.
John Deiner: Oh, gosh. that would be horrible...and I'd bet it happens more often than you'd think.
Thanks to you folks, I know that I can take several bottles of the same product in the 1 quart plastic bag in my carry-on luggage.
But why should that be necessary -- if toothpaste was sold in 3 ounce sizes, then 1 tube would get me through a week trip.
Instead, you can only get toothpaste in 0.75 or 0.85 ounce tubes, barely enough for 2 days -- the next biggest size is 4 ounces and up. So, I have to buy several of the 0.75 ounce tubes to get me through a 3-4 day trip. Yes, I've checked CVS, Rite Aid, and Safeway, to no avail!
Christina Talcott: Wow, you really use 3 ounces of toothpaste per week? How many times a day do you brush? I'd recommend buying a tube at your destination if you use up a .75 ounce tube. Sometimes other countries sell toothpaste and other goodies in different sizes - just don't exceed .88 mL, just to be safe, if you plan to take it back with you in your carry on.
Fayetteville, Pa.: I have e-tickets for Seattle in August to travel on ATA which has just closed their doors. Is there any chance another carrier will honor these, at least partly? I can't really afford to pay twice for the trip. Thanks!
Carol Sottili: I'm afraid you may be out of luck. If your purchased with a credit card, contact your issuer immediately and contest the charge. But if you bought more than 60 days ago, that could be a problem. Some airlines, including Northwest, Delta and United, are helping by offering $100 tickets for each leg of an ATA flight, but that offer ends by early May, so it won't help you.
Switzerland Bound: A couple of my friends and I are planning a trip to Switzerland to see a friend on 4th of July weekend. We would like to rent a car and drive to the city where our friend lives. We were thinking of flying to Milan but flights are well over $1000, and for a 5-7 day trip it seems too much for our budget. Any recommendations?
Sue Kovach Shuman: You're right! Switzerland is not cheap, it's just that it's easier to figure out the exchange rare. Consider flying into Frankfurt, cheaper than Milan (unless there's an airfare deal), and then taking an intra-Europe flight or even a train to Switzerland. Swiss trains are efficient and clean and you'll see a lot of the country that way.
Arlington, VA: re: hotel tipping. I never used to tip the housekeepers, but recently did start doing so. I usually tip a few bucks every day instead of at the end. I think you are apt to get better service and little things like extra chocolates and stuff like that during your stay.
I never ever tip the door man. I figure I am perfectly able to open the door myself. I will tip the bell hop a little if they bring my bag to my room, but I typically resent it because I am perfectly able to drag my wheel-y bag behind me on my own. However while I am checking in they seem to just swoop in and snatch my bag away from me whether I want them to or not. I guess maybe I shouldn't stay in such "nice" hotels.
And why is it that cheaper chain hotels/motels invariably have free WiFi internet while business class and higher-star lodgings charge an arm and a leg for it. That one always frosts me. I suppose they figure everyone is on an expense account so they can steal from your company even though I am paying out of my own pocket and am not traveling on business. Just include it in the rate instead of nickel and diming me. Just like all of these stupid airline fees.
John Deiner: Hey, I'm frosted now too, Arl. I agree about having your wheelie whisked away -- but there are a lot of people who like not to worry about carting it themselves. And good question about the free WiFi and such. I'm guessing the bigger, more expensive hotels charge for it for one simple reason: Because they can. People are willing to pay for it.
San Francisco, CA: My fiancee and I are considering a honeymoon in Cabo or someplace else in Mexico, preferably on the Pacific coast. We'd love to find a mid-range resort that's on a swimming beach and walking distance from town for food and shopping. Do you have any recommendations? What do you think about hotel vs. all-inclusive? Thanks so much for your help! I'm totally overwhelmed!
Cindy Loose: Since a honeymoon is hopefully a once in a lifetime trip so you shouldn't risk making travel mistakes, and because it needs to be planned at a time when you're already planning a lot of stuff, I advise seeing a travel agent. Tell them what kind of budget you have in mind and what you're looking for--quiet nights looking at the stars or music and dancing; nature or revelry--and let them help you.
Takoma DC: re Cappadocia hotel - I don't remember the name, no. It was about 10 years ago, so who knows, it may have changed names anyway. I do know it was in the town of Göreme, and I'm pretty sure my mom found it in the Lonely Planet guide.
John Deiner: Thank gosh for Google, TDC. Sounds wonderful though!
London Bound: Hi Crew! Love the chats. I'm finally booking my first trip to London (yay!) for the fall. My husband and I decided on October to miss the high tourist season. We already found a great apartment through VRBO.com (which I highly recommend), but my question is about flights... Seems like we're seeing a lot of good sales for the spring and summer, but flights for mid-October are running about $900 per person with taxes and fees--the same price as Virgin's -premium- economy seats for the spring! Should we buy now to lock in, or hold out and hope there's a sale on fall flights later?
Carol Sottili: I'd live dangerously and wait for sales. Sign up for fare notifications at a few Web sites, such as www.orbitz.com, www.farecast.com and www.kayak.com.
Bethesda: Strange place to sleep: In the 70's I slept in the passenger seat of a friend's car along the road somewhere in Bulgaria.
The weird thing about it was that the car was a tiny TR-7 and we're both about 6'2". Took me a couple days to get my back into alignment after that.
John Deiner: Man, that'll do it to you. And you were actually able to sleep in it? Jolly good show.
Hi -- reading about the new Gaylord National Hotel in PG County, the WaPo reporter said it was the "largest non-casino hotel on the East Coast."
That made me wonder what is the largest hotel of any kind on the East Coast? I am guessing it must be in Atlantic City, or perhaps Foxwoods or the other Native America casino resort in Connecticut? Any suggestions?
Scott Vogel: I can't find anything larger than the Gaylord Opryland, which has 2,881 rooms. Am I missing something? The largest hotel in Atlantic City, by the way, is the Tropicana, which appears to have a bit more than 2,100 rooms.
Tipping: I understand (possibly incorrectly) that redcaps don't get paid, or at least they rely on tips to pay the rent, you know?
John Deiner: Almost certain that a big percentage of their income comes from tipping. Can anyone out there verify?
Scottish Bank Notes: I've lived over there--both Scotland and England. Scottish bank notes are supposed to be legal tender all over, but are not so easily used much south of the border (e.g in Northumberland and Cumbria). Best thing to do: use your Bank of England notes first. Go to a bank and ask that they exchange your Scottish notes for B of E notes (they will do it for no fee, but may grumble). The Royal Bank has branches all over England, and they would be most willing to do the exchange. Scottish bank notes don't count against the reserve requirements that banks have to meet and Bank of England ones do.
Scott Vogel: Here's some good advice from someone who's dealt with a similar problem to the one above.
Arlington, VA: I travel frequently in developing countries and find that leaving a small tip on my pillow everyday ensures that my room is cleaned well and that none of my stuff goes missing... Also, I can't guarantee that my tip would get to the right people if I just left one lump sum at the end.
John Deiner: Ah. That's an excellent point, Arl, though I'd hate to think you have to tip to avoid theft.
London, UK: Hi all! I really enjoyed the cheap lodgings in Europe story! Even though I live in London, I'm always on the look out for cheap places to stay when I go to continental Europe. Just one comment though on the mention of Kings College student halls as a cheap option for London. The article says that Kings College is located in Covent Garden but then mentions accommodations on Great Dover Street. Great Dover Street is in Southwark, near Borough Market and Elephant and Castle, not Covent Garden. It is still considered Central London, but it's a far cry from staying in Covent Garden!
Sue Kovach Shuman: Oops. Sorry. The college has several locations that it rents rooms in (I think four), so I probably mixed apples and oranges when I wrote that.
Frederick, Maryland: Ninety-nine percent of the time, I leave a tip at the end of my stay for housekeeping because I figure they have to need the money. Once, on a business trip, I dropped a breakfast tray, and the glass coffee carafe shattered in the bathroom. Though I cleaned up as much as I could, I had to leave some of it for the housekeeper, and so tipped her extra for that.
John Deiner: I have to say I've had the same experience (well, not exactly the same). Without going into too much detail, it involved a stomach virus and a $25 tip (and an apology to the front desk).
Washington, DC: it can't top a gutter in Istanbul but I did sleep in a suite overlooking the Sea of Moons in Tahiti, can't be described.
John Deiner: Blech. Ick. How could you?
European Train Travel: We are tentatively planning on taking a train from Budapest, Hungary, to Lvov, Ukraine ... does anyone know of a website that we could use to look at fares and schedules? Rail Europe doesn't recognize Ukraine cities. Thanks so much in advance.
Scott Vogel: I feel for you. The Ukrainian national railroad site would normally be a good bet (http://www.uz.gov.ua), but it's all in Ukrainian. A very good source of stateside info regarding that country, I'm finding, is www.traveltoukraine.org, which is staffed here locally and you can call for further information.
San Diego, CA: Two friends and I slept in an unoccupied train in a station in Budapest. This was in the spring of 1990 (i.e. shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall) when tourism in Eastern Europe was still fairly tightly regulated. The next day, we had a difficult time explaining to the Yugoslav border guards why we didn't have the requisite proof of lodging from the previous night.
John Deiner: Interesting, SD -- glad you made it back to tell the tale.
Washington DC: For the reader with Scottish pounds -they will not be accepted most places in England. On a recent trip there, our taxi driver from the airport would not accept our Scottish money. Fortunately, the Marriott we were staying at exchanged the money for us (without a fee!) so we could pay the cabbie - after a sound lashing about how we were not in Scotland!
Scott Vogel: Another review regarding Scottish bank notes.
Cappadocia cave hotels: there are actually several of them, we stayed over the years at several in beautiful Uchisar (a little away from Goreme, the more well known area, but that's lovely too). they are all equally delightful, pretty easy to find with a google search, choosing based on your price point is a pretty good way to go (they vary widely, especially off-season).
(as a travel aside, the first time there was during the total solar eclipse in 2006. what an amazing place to see that!)
John Deiner: WOW. And thanks for the info on the hotels.
This my be a strange question, but here goes... my fiance and I are thinking of rebelling against the traditional wedding and having a destination wedding with only our immediate family members. Is it really financially possible to have a wedding in Ireland or Italy ( I know, I know, it depends on where) for a price that won't put us in debt forever? We're in our mid 20's and just think it would be great to get married in Europe rather than here with the DJ and whatnot. Is it legal to do? We're both Italian-Irish, but have no family connections there anymore.
Obviously you can't give too detailed advice based on this, but if you could point us in the right direction (a travel agent who specializes in this or handles these type of trips?) that would be great. Thanks!
Christina Talcott: Hey, congratulations on taking the plunge, and congrats on getting hitched YOUR way! Destination weddings in Ireland and Italy can be affordable if you treat them like any trip - getting low-cost lodging instead of the honeymoon suite at a big hotel, having your reception in a private room at a restaurant instead of booking a banquet hall, etc. It'll make it much easier to have just immediate family, I'm sure. Check the "making it legal" tool on theknot.com, which will tell you what paperwork you need to get married there as non-citizens. Weddingchannel.com also could help with planning. As for travel agents, I'm going to have to throw this one out there for the chatters. Anyone have advice on travel agents to Italy and/or Ireland?
Baltimore, Md.: My son wants to fly to Seoul, Korea in June to visit a friend from his study abroad semester last year. Right now, airfares are $1400 - $1500 round trip. Should I grab it now? Are hotels and meals expensive in Korea?
Carol Sottili: That sounds high. Go to www.priceline.com and check out its new product, Insidetrack, which will indicate whether fares to Seoul are going up, down or staying the same. And I'm afraid Seoul is an expensive destination.
Washington, D.C.: Help oh great flight crew! In June, my fiance and I are renting a car exploring Tuscany/Umbria. Do you know where I might be able to find a very detailed map of that area? I've been to my usual haunts - book stores, National Geographic, etc. - but with little luck. Any tips short of waiting until we're in Italy to buy a map?
Sue Kovach Shuman: Have you tried the map store near Farragut West Metro? Michelin maps for most places are there, or they can order one for you, I've used maps for the U.K. and France and Italy from them to find all those tiny towns.
Treehouses: Is there anywhere relatively nearby (via car) where I could do a weekend get-away in a tree house type place?
Scott Vogel: It sounds like you're interested in a place you might stay, but no tree house enthusiast should fail to miss the new exhibit going up at Longwood Gardens near Wilmington, DE. According to the Gardens' Web site, three incredible tree houses as imagined by three well-known designers will be on exhibit starting April 25. For more information, see the site, at www.longwoodgardens.org.
Harrisburg, Pa.: Thank you very much for the Australian travel scarf that you mailed me for winning your contest for packing something dumb. I appreciate your printing my dumbness and for sending me the gift. I especially thank you for sharing your time with your readers, and us travelers who do things like pack recyclables in their luggage. (If it helps, it was just the paper recyclables, and they were mistook for conference papers.) Yes, I did do the old blame the wife routine, but she meant well. She thought I had missed packing something for the conference.
All the best to everyone there.
Leon from Harrisburg, who takes recycling to a whole new level.
Christina Talcott: Hi Leon! Folks, Leon was the winner of the strange road signs towel for submitting his unnecessary baggage story during last week's chat. We have a riot hearing everyone's crazy travel stories every week. Keep 'em coming!
Ideas?: It's been too long since I got out of the office! I'm looking for ideas for an international destination this summer for about a week. I've been to most of Western Europe, Asia is too far for one week, and it's the wrong time of year for South America. Thoughts? I was thinking Morocco or Portugal, but I would love some other suggestions. Thanks!
Cindy Loose: Portugal is a good choice, and I give two thumbs up for Eastern Europe--Slovenia and Croatia in particular. But of course there are not direct flights to Slovenia and Croatia and you only have a week. Do you consider Canada an international destination? That way you'd spend more of your week touring instead of simply traveling. Quebec City is celebrating its 400th anniversary with special events and it feels as foreign as most Western European countries. Then you could take a lovely journey to Toronto for some theater and such.
Memorial Napping: It may not be strange, but as a female it frightened me when my other half once told me that he spent the night wandering the DC memorials and eventually sleeping a bit at the Jefferson Memorial. We were dating, both of us barely out of school and working in arts, so cabbing it home wasn't an option when a show got out so late that he missed his connecting train at Metro Center. I freaked out. From that point on he secretly slept on the prop bed on stage for the show....
Scott Vogel: Don't tell me, he's a romantic at heart!
Tampa, FL: "redcaps don't get paid, or at least they rely on tips to pay the rent, you know?"
Well, now this is many, many years ago, but my father worked at the Newark Airport as a skycap for about a year after he was laid off from his job. He did receive a salary (from the airport, since he was considered an airport employee), but it wasn't a lot - his tips supplemented his income. This was before the wheelie-type suitcases became popular, so skycaps could have busy shifts, depending. I know that on a bad night, he may only have made about $20 in tips - on a good night, a couple hundred. His best memory is carry a briefcase (yes, just a briefcase) for a guy who then tipped him $100. We always wondered what was in the case that made it so valuable.
John Deiner: Tampa, this is good to know. And a couple hundred sounds like a lot of money, but I'm sure he worked extreme hard for people who were in a big rush on the curb.
For San Francisco: Hi, San Francisco! I have a great recommendation for you for your honeymoon: the town of Zihuatanejo. We stayed at The Tides and paid for the all-inclusive package for four nights, then moved to Hotel Casa Don Francisco, where we didn't get dinner, but enjoyed breakfast by the pool, a private terrace and plunge pool, a hammock on the terrace, and a beautiful outdoor shower. I seriously couldn't have asked for anything more in my honeymoon. The beach (Playa la Ropa) is beautiful and very swimmable, and it's a short (and cheap!) cab ride into charming, still-sleepy Zihuatanejo. (You could walk it if you were really committed, too!)
If you're interested in Puerto Vallarta, then look at Grand Velas (for a big all-inclusive resort option) and Hotel Casa de Mita (smaller and more private).
Good luck! The Pacific Coast of Mexico is gorgeous, and I'm sure you'll have a great time!
Cindy Loose: Thanks. Knowing the gorgeous beaches on the eastern side and Baja, I was disappointed in the beaches of P.V.--not the fine sand I was expecting.
Re: sleeping on the bus floor in Germany: I submitted the comment about sleeping on the German charter bus. When you're 16, cleanliness isn't always a top priority. However the bus company was my saving grace in this regard: they thoroughly cleaned the bus in between each charter. My plan of attack was to get a spot going somewhere, but let the others have the dirty floor on the way back. Either direction, the bus aisle was always full of sleeping teens. The rest of the group was usually contorted into their seats against their seatmates. Yes, we tried to sit with people we could sleep on and this would be worked out once a trip was announced.
John Deiner: Ah, a person with a PLAN! Thanks for clearing that up!
Nashville, TN: The weirdest place I ever slept was on a doghouse atop a ferry between Patras (Greece) and Brindisi (Italy). It was not the way I intended to see the Mediterranean. I was using a Eurailpass that included only deck passage. When it began to rain, I started searching for a dry place to curl up, but every nook was crowded with people. Kept climbing until I reached the highest deck of the ship, and saw a wooden crate with a slat floor that looked large enough to hold me. Poked my nose in and sniffed -- I'm pretty sure it was new, because there was no critter smell. So, I left my pack outside, crawled inside, and slept the night away under my towel. It was really quite nice, especially after the rain stopped.
Christina Talcott: Ha, that's really cute/sad/funny. I really hope the dollar doesn't dip so low we have to have a "doghouses and pig sties" story in our next Europe issue!
Columbia, MD: Oddest place have slept on a trip? In a box (seat) at the opera. Yes, it WAS dumb to pay for a ticket, then to fall asleep. But it was dark and quiet...at least for a while (you DO wake up when the fat lady sings!)
Scott Vogel: There's a grand tradition of this sort of thing, no? Wonder what opera it was -- we've got a staffer going to the Met later this month, and hopefully the same fate won't befall her.
Glenside: I ALWAYS take the train when traveling in and out of Philly International... it's extremely reliable, and cheap (I think to Center City - 30th Street Station - the fare is $6 one way). Trains run every 30 minutes, at about 10 and 40 after the hour outbound. Too easy, don't take a cab! Probably a 20 minute ride, with two stops before 30th street - one called "Eastwick" which appears to be for hotel employees, the other at University City, which is UPenn.
Cindy Loose: Thanks; train fare is now $7, but if it works as well as you say, still a bargain.
Green: Tree houses - try tree house camping near Harper's Ferry. Never been there, but they have a website.
Scott Vogel: Yes, it's www.thetreehousecamp.com.
Philadelphia, PA: Following up on a question from last week involving asparagus, there are plenty of great things to do in Munich. I highly recommend a trip to Olympic Park and the adjacent BMW World. Walking around the City Center is always enjoyable, and quite close to the surfers in the English Garden. (Really. I promise.) If you'd like to go a bit further away, Schloss Nymphenburg is beautiful as well. Enjoy!
Christina Talcott: More asparagus! Take heed!
Boltbus: My brother has taken that trip once and complained about the WiFi service - apparently it was spotty at best and went down several times.
Christina Talcott: Good to know. Thanks!
DC: come on, $1 or $2 or even $5 for the person working in a crappy job for you means a whole lot more to them than it does to your pocketbook. Don't be stingy. Not an attractive quality
John Deiner: Point taken, DC. Not sure that extends to Starbucks employees and the like, but I'm seeing the light.
Reston, Va.: Re the affordable European options: it's too bad Cindy's camper trip didn't work out so well. We've taken three long European trips in VW campers (a total of five months) and enjoy this mode of traveling. The most recent was a six-week Italy trip (down the west coast and up the east), which included Pompeii. Like Cindy, we had trouble finding the Pompeii campsite -- its sign advertising "secure parking" overwhelmed the smaller "camping" sign.
Aside from cost savings, camping avoids finding hotels and schlepping luggage every night; it also offers the opportunity of buying and cooking local foods. We've had terrific meals in our campers -- certainly superior to meals in budget-friendly restaurants. VW campers have the advantage of small size in comparison with typical RVs, but one needs to be adaptable to the varying quality of campground toilet facilities.
As Cindy's story implies, it's desirable to buy the most detailed map available and learn a bit of the language (the campsite host is less likely to speak English than the hotel receptionist).
Camping has its limits though. We don't use the camper when visiting major cities (Paris, Rome, Florence), but take a separate trip and rent an apartment.
Cindy Loose: Hey, thanks for your thoughts. I feel like I learned everything I needed to know on this trip, and would love to try it again.
red caps pay: They must get at least the minimum tipping wage which is usually less than 4.00 an hour. Not sure of exactly how much-it depends upon the state but this is a federal law so that the IRS and the Social Security can get their part. The check itself most likely ends up being next to nothing but that is because all the taxes have been taken out for the tips.
John Deiner: Exactly, so every dollar counts.
Dayton, OH: I crashed a conference in Hartford one time when I was 19. Rode down from Massachusetts not only in a stranger's car, but sitting on a stranger's lap. Got there at 4 in the morning and slept on some other stranger's couch with country music blaring from the second floor. I never did find out who my host was for the night.
Scott Vogel: Uh -- you don't make a habit of this, we hope?
Pennsylvania: Strangest place I've slept:
My husband and I were visiting his cousins in England (the Lake District). They live in darling, crooked little house with topsy turvy stairs. The house is called the County Line house because it sits on the border of two counties. The county line runs down the middle of the house bisecting it, including the guest room bed. So when my husband and I went to bed, he slept in one county and I slept in another!
Scott Vogel: Wonder if Four Corners has ever considered something like this.
It's All On The Internet: "John Deiner: Hey, Arl. While we're on the subject of sleeping on gross floors, I've always wondered how people sleep on airport terminal floors."
Here's a URL for you: www.sleepinginairports.com. It's a guide to the best and worst places to catch some ZZZs in airports worldwide.
John Deiner: Familiar with the site, but when I see someone sprawled on the floor in the middle of a busy terminal, I always wonder why they're not napping on a chair.
Chevy Chase, Md.: Some tips from when my husband and I, as newlyweds with little money traveled around Europe for 8 weeks with backpacks and a Eurail pass 17 years ago. We were 30 so we weren't kids, and we had quit our jobs to do this pre-kids of our own. (Exchange rate was not great in 1990 either). Go off-season if you can. Everything is less crowded. We often could get a room in a IYH hostel to ourselves even if it was ordinarily a "single-sex room." Family hostels, like the chain of Naturfreundhaus, are great also if you want to go hiking in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. (Rooms with 4-6 bunks). In cities we also stayed at pensions (usually someone's large apartment where they rent out rooms and usually they'll give you breakfast) We found great ones in Rome and Florence. Bargain if you are staying for several days. Go to open air markets for breads, cheese, pate, fruit, vegetables for lunches/breakfasts. We got a small hotpot and a slim thermos (it was winter) to make tea and coffee to take with us during the day. (Buying got expensive) Most expensive cities were London and Venice. For the same price as a very nice pension in Old Rome, we stayed in a hideous dump in Venice, and a shabby townhouse in Kensington with Aussies who were looking for jobs. (note though, we always stayed in nice parts of whatever city we were in. It may have been a dump but our motto was location, location, location.)Finally, ask your friends if they have a friend or relative that could host you for a night or two. We stayed with a really nice couple outside of Amsterdam for a couple of nights (the sister of an acquaintance). Very hospitable, gave us a glimpse of regular Dutch life and they convinced us to go to Copenhagen for a couple of days. So we did. Still hoping to return across the pond again. Bon Voyage!
Sue Kovach Shuman: And you can even do these cost-saving things with kids! I totally agree that location is THE number one thing to keep in mind. Sometimes guest rooms are offered by people just to make a few extra bucks--like the Aussies you stayed with. If you're going to take a room but have to depend on someone for transportation, forget it. Or taxis, which could get expensive. It's good to get insider knowledge of places, though, and taking a private room is one way to do it. Nothing like home-baked bread in the morning. And, yes, don't forget that you live in the Washington area, which many people would love to visit. Meeting new friends and inviting them for (short--meaning not a month) stays works to everyone's cultural (and maybe financial) benefit.
weird sleeping places: not so much the place, but the story behind it...
On a spring break road trip to the Florida gulf coast, we had 8 folks (4 boys, 4 girls) piled into an ancient station wagon. The ultimate intent was to sleep at one person's grandparents' house, but the first night we planned on a campground, and thus had brought along 2 tents. One for the boys, one for the girls --- yes, this was "back in the day" when that was standard. Those of us in the girls tent were doing just fine, when suddenly we were awakened by a piercing scream from the boys' tent....brought on by a frog landing on the face of one of the guys.
Of course, macho-ism required that the guys continue to spend the night in the tents...but we ladies retreated to the safety and spaciousness of the wagon.
Scott Vogel: file this under Weird Sleeping Companions.
Alexandria, Va.: My fantasy world of tipping - I wish we could keep tipping as something you do for occupations where there is a clear difference in the level of service and care among workers and where it can really encourage thoughtful behavior - servers, hairstylists etc. Otherwise, I think people should just be paid properly. There is nothing special about the fact that a bellhop takes my bags upstairs. He can't do it excellently. He either does it or not and if it is part of the job, then he should be compensated for providing the service. I don't know, maybe I'm being fussy but I don't get it - if the argument is that paying people properly would cost consumers more, well I'm paying for those tips anyway, aren't I?
John Deiner: Another opinion on tipping (and, oh, only if it were a fantasy world!).
Washington, DC: re: Scottish notes. Scottish banks issue 5,10 and 20 pound notes. They also issue large denomination 50 and 100 pound notes but tourists are best to avoid these. There are also a few Royal Bank of Scotland one pound notes still in use.
Exchange all your Scottish notes for Bank of England notes (or your home currency) before you leave Scotland. You may have difficulty in exchanging Scottish notes in parts of England or abroad.
Scott Vogel: Scottish notes redux.
Re: Last week's search for Caribbean water in the USA: Last week you mentioned MI and someone whole-heartedly endorsed the UP. Ummm... I would assume the person dreaming of the Caribbean water wants somewhere to swim and the waters of the UP will never be a swimmer's paradise. While I learned to swim in Lake Superior as a young'n, you can also die from hypothermia in late July in that region- and in many regions further south. If you want stunning nature, the UP is great. In fact, the small bays in Lake MI and Lake Superior have fantastic and clear water... that is VERY cold. Heck, even 90 minutes north of Chicago can be unswimmable based on the weather in the previous few days. My advice for those dreaming of Caribbean blue: go to the Caribbean or another blue area (Asia, FL Keys) with different colors and beaches. Sorry for the long missive, but I guess this Michigander had to get that off of her chest!
Cindy Loose: The posters last week were focused on clarity of water, and I believe we warned that some of the things we mentioned fear clear, cold water---and I remember mentioning that Mackinaw Island was too cold to consider any time of year. But the Lake Michigan area about an hour or so out of Chicago, just past Gary, has pretty warm water most of the time, and very, very clear. I lived in Michigan for about 7 years and refused to ever go to the lakes. Later when I moved back East I discovered the lakes of Michigan and fell in love.
Sleeping arrangement: This may not pertain to myself, but my something that happened to my bro in law.. he was traveling to his childhood home, and found his old comics there that are probably worth a ton of money now... He had boxes of them and couldn't manage to take out everything in a day to take home with him... the following day, there was a repair crew coming to fix something at the house... he was so afraid to leave his valuables home, he insisted on staying in the bathroom (the only safe place) and ended up falling asleep in the bathtub! My sister found him there a few hours later! She couldn't resist turning on the shower to wake him up! He wasn't happy, but it sure made a pretty funny story for the rest of the family!
Christina Talcott: Yeah, that's funny, as long as he didn't have his valuable comic books with him in the tub...
K St: My friend slept in an elevator in a parking garage in Slovenia. He was celebrating New Years Eve with a bunch of friends and his close friends had already went home. He lost the other folks in his group at an outdoor concert and couldn't find them when the concert was over. When the parking manager woke him up, he sobered up a bit and found the piece of paper with his host's cellphone number. good times.
Scott Vogel: "Good times" indeed!
DC: I worked as a maid at a Best Western for two years during high school. Tips were definitely appreciated, but were not expected. I got tips about 25% of the time, usually in the $2-$5 range, and it really made my day. In many hotels, one room or hallway is cleaned by different maids throughout the week, so tipping each morning (if you wish to) is appreciated by maids. We didn't pool our tips at the end of the day or the end of the week.
John Deiner: Thanks, DC -- another good thing to know. So we're learning that tipping each day of the stay is better than waiting till the end.
Arlington, VA: Just some thoughts for the poster thinking of a destination wedding. My husband and I were married in a small castle near Glasgow, Scotland five years ago. I planned the wedding myself, for a very affordable price. I recommend starting with your location. Our castle was small, but frequently had weddings and events and their events planner put us in touch with a minister and florist. I found a photographer and other services through Google. You really don't need a wedding planner/travel agent for the UK, just the internet.
Italy is more tricky, as you have to pay someone to translate documents, and I believe there are residency requirements, so you may need to be there a week or two before the wedding. However, it is doable, and we have know people who took that option.
Christina Talcott: Wonderful to get firsthand advice, and terrific point about the translation - I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for chiming in!
Washington, D.C.: I have two days in late August to spend in one of the following cities that I've never been to before. Which city should I visit? Bratislava, Budapest, Wroclaw, or Krakow? Thanks for your advice!
Sue Kovach Shuman: All great cities! Bratislava is easy to do in two days--is is very compact. And take a bus to the castle outside town, Budapest is gorgeous--much to pack in, but do-able in two days. Different vibe from Bratislava, and more money, but Paris-like.
Getting married in Europe: A friend of mine shortcircuited the paperwork involved for foreigners getting married in France when she invited her minister and his wife to Monte Carlo with the rest of the wedding party and had him perform the ceremony there without the authorities ever knowing about it!
Christina Talcott: Hmm, this sounds a lot more risky than the castle in Scotland, but my mental image of a French minister and his wife in Monte Carlo is priceless. Thanks!
Washington, D.C.: Strangest place I slept was in a hammock on a small river boat going from Manaus to Santarem in the Brazilian Amazon. It was truly a unique experience sleeping in a hammock rocking on a boat bumping the people in hammocks next to me when the water was a little rough...not to mention the heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and the thrill of being on the Amazon River.
John Deiner: It sort of sounded really romantic until you got to the heat and humidity and mosquito part, but what a memory. Thanks for sharing!
DC: I'm planning a trip to Southeast Asia for July/August. I'm seeing fares of about 1600/person from DC to Singapore -- can I expect those to go down?
Also, is it difficult to travel within SE Asia once I'm there? Should I be planning everything ahead of time, or can I wing it a little?
Cindy Loose: No telling for sure what fares will do, but I think about $1,600 in summer for that distance isn't bad and I'd not wait if it were me. If there were suddenly a sale prices wouldn't likely drop more than $200, and they could go up by a lot. It's pretty easy to get around Southeast Asia once you get there, assuming you're starting out in a fairly major city. In Bangkok, for example, there are travel agencies every few steps in the heavily touristed areas. I would however check the safety record of the carrier before buying on an airline you've never heard of.
Kamuela, Hawaii : Hi - coming to DC in a few weeks and have a DCA question. When I leave, it is on Delta, but the Priceline itinerary says it is operated by Alaska Airlines. So which terminal area do I go to - Delta or Alaska?
Also, I change planes - from this Delta/Alaska flight to an American one - with 1 5 1/2 hour layover at LAX. What would you do during that time? Is there a health club or day spa? Anything else? A nearby museum (if I check my luggage)?
Love your weekly chat. Thanks.
Carol Sottili: Good choice not to be flying Aloha or ATA. If the flight is operated by Alaska Air, go to its terminal to check in. LAX is not located near any great museums or any other tourism attractions. The Flight Learning Center is an on-site aviation museum at offers some cool biplanes. Go to www.flightpath.us. There is no spa, and no gym at the airport. But you could contact some hotels around the airport to find out if they offer day memberships.
Sky Cap: Hi Crew. I don't know how much sky caps earn, but I do know that several years ago I was scolded by one for not tipping. It was summer 2000 at BWI, 6:00am flight on Southwest. I checked one bag, and was about to walk away before the sky cap gave me a rude "talking to" about how I was supposed to tip. I then reached into purse, but he told me to "forget it, but remember it for next time." I mumbled that it was too early in the morning for him to be so mean.
John Deiner: Ack. That's an ugly little tale. I remember watching a similar scene play out once in the mobbed Vegas airport, but there was cussing involved.
Unusual night's "sleep": We were on our way home to Connecticut from college for spring break. The car had power problems that could not be fixed in the Service Plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike and we were told to get off the Pike and find a garage.
We dropped off one girl and asked her father for the location of a garage that could fix the car. We found it but they could not get the part until the parts store opened at 8 a.m. One of the boys took the front seat of the car, the other the back; which left me (a girl) to sit up all night on a hard, straight-back chair with the garage attendant's younger brother, watching all night TV from NYC while we waited for the part. This was late 1960's and all-night TV was not very entertaining and only on one channel.
Scott Vogel: Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...
Silver Spring... nap time: Hi chatters... My father was a crew member for Pan Am (yes, that was a looooong time ago). Because of jet lag from flying around the world, he often had to sleep at "off" times. Number one on his list was to go find a movie theater that had an arts-film in whatever language he did NOT speak. That usually gave him about an hour or two nap-time. If he needed to overnight at the airport (he flew in the days when there may or may not be a hotel near wherever Pan Am landed) he found the shoe-shine stands far more comfortable than the waiting lounge. And the security guards usually left him alone.
Me? I find a hotel, hostel, SOMEPLACE... not very enterprising, I know.
Scott Vogel: Pan Am may be long gone, but luckily boring art films are eternal.
Southwest Freebie: My husband frequently travels on Southwest and we used his last freebie ticket to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico. We flew into Albuquerque and drove about 2 hours to Santa Fe. What a great vacation. The scenery, architecture, climate etc were so different than what we see in Maryland. We took a train ride through the mountains, saw lots and lots of great art and ate delicious food. The trip back to Albuquerque we drove the Turquoise trail and stopped in the small artist colony of Madrid and then at a crazy roadside attraction called Tinkertown. Really a great way to see something totally different than the East Coast.
Cindy Loose: Sounds great. If I were him, I'd check the usual prices to go to Santa Fe versus the coast; if the coast tickets cost substantially more, then he should take advantage of his free ticket and hope to travel one day to the less expensive destinations on his own dime.
Baltimore MD: Strange places to sleep: In 1970 I did the requisite post-college trek through Europe with two friends. In the west of Ireland, we asked an elderly farmer if it was alright if we pitched our tent in his field and he happily said yes. After a wonderful night's sleep, I was the first up and decided to step outside for a breath of morning air. I unzipped the tent flap, only to see an enormous bull's head staring me in the face--a head attached to the body of a bull, I might add. He looked at me with curiosity, so I zipped up the tent flap and prodded my two friends saying, "Don't make any sudden moves, guys." In a few minutes, the bull trotted away. I am just glad the tent was yellow and not red.
Scott Vogel: Love this one.
Re: Boltbus: I took the Boltbus to/from NYC (6th and Canal) on opening weekend. Was very pleased with the trip, including the internet and the quickness, but I would not expect a future trip to be so nice. Then again, I kept saying to myself that this is a $1 bus trip and I can't expect luxury.
Christina Talcott: Well, we'll report back next week about the Bolt bus after our little field trip.
Silver Spring, MD: Just got back from Switzerland. And while not on the Euro, I can assure you that Switzerland is not cheap. Prices are jacked up accordingly.
Our strategy: we stayed with friends who had a unoccupied apartment in their building that we could rent for $20/day. Very cool.
Also, buy the train pass and take advantage of the best public transportation system in the world. It's a big expense at first ($700/family) but pays off on hassle and savings later.
Big Bargain Hint: shop at second hand stores for souvenirs! You'll likely find something not made in China.
Weirdest place I ever slept? On my luggage at the Madrid Airport. Second weirdest? A bathtub in an upstate NY hotel. My room partners both snored like chainsaws. Third weirdest, out on my hotel balcony in Samos, Greece. It was the only place I could get a cross breeze. The hotel proprietor teased me about it the next morning.
Sue Kovach Shuman: You're right. Switzerland is not cheap. It's just easier to figure out prices--close to the dollar. Swiss trains are easy to use and clean. As for secondhand shops for souvenirs: yes!!! In Germany and Italy, for example, I've found some "different" clothes--for myself. You've seen the Chevy Chase European vacation movie? Yeah, clothes like that--at a fraction of designer costs--and there's always Halloween?...Umm....why did you sleep in the bathtub?
Sleeping: First trip to Europe. Overnight ferry from England to France. Very sleepy.
But then.... Paris! Eiffel Tower!
Movie in Eiffel Tower telling its story.
I fell asleep, and have been telling the story of how I fell asleep in the Eiffel Tower for decades.
John Deiner: Oh, you can read about the Eiffel Tower anywhere. But sleep? Priceless.
Arlington, Va.: How would you suggest I purchase airline tickets for international travel? When I fly domestically within the U.S., I've always bought them direct from the airline. I'm thinking of flying on a non-U.S. airline overseas (to India, specifically) and wanted to know if it was "safe" to purchase airline tickets directly from the airline or if I should use, say, a travel agent instead.
Carol Sottili: I bet the people that bought Aloha or ATA tickets thought they were safe.... Anyway, I'd do a little research on the airline and, unless it's obscure or doesn't sell directly in the United States, I'd probably just buy directly. Travel agent may work if the airline is still paying commission. Most don't anymore.
VA: In yesterday's COGO, you wrote "flight left the runway". Doesn't you mean the aircraft flew the from runway? The trucks can be on the runway too.
washingtonpost.com: Coming and Going (Post Travel Section, April 6)
Cindy Loose: It seems different entities have different definitions. The FAA counts take off and landing time as "wheels up" and "wheels down." Leaving the runway could mean the second that the plane starts moving on the runway, or the time it's in the air and the wheels move back into the belly of the plane. I didn't split hairs either way---fact is that plane was plenty late and the airline could have been more gracious about sending a letter that the couple in question could have given to their insurance company.
Washington, D.C.: My husband and I are flying Iberia to Prague next month. We have an eight hour layover in Madrid. Will this allow us enough time to go and do a little sight seeing? We'd be happy just to walk around for a couple of hours. Thanks for taking my question!
Sue Kovach Shuman: Yes, it's fast and easy to take the Metro into downtown. Leave your luggage, if you have any, of the airport. There are LOTS of steps--not escalators--in the Metro. Go to the Prado--and the cafes there has inexpensive paella. If you have more time, walk the palmetto-lined boulevards nearby.
John Deiner: Man, you guys kept us scurrying today. Thanks for the great questions and the suggestions. Good stuff on tipping as well. Let's throw out the Air France junque to Nashville for the doghouse story. Just send your name and address to me at deinerj@washpost.com. And for the rest of you? We'll see you next week. Happy travels!
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Join live discussions from the Washington Post. Feature topics include national, world and DC area news, politics, elections, campaigns, government policy, tech regulation, travel, entertainment, cars, and real estate.
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CPSC Rebuilds After Years of Decay
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After decades of budget cuts left the agency ill-equipped to police a rising tide of imports, the CPSC has begun to recover. Congress last fall gave the CPSC $17 million on top of its $63 million annual budget -- the agency's biggest one-year cash infusion in more than 20 years.
Despite the new money, "change here will not come overnight," said Pamela L. Weller, counselor to Commissioner Thomas H. Moore. "The agency declined over time and it will take time to rebuild."
For example, even in the midst of the recent furor over lead in toys, the agency had only one stationary XRF machine to screen products for lead. (It performs chemical tests to confirm the presence of lead.) Last fall, it bought 10 more, including nine portables. The handheld gadgets have been around for more than a decade.
While there is consensus on the agency's immediate needs -- more staff and better facilities -- its spending priorities are a matter of debate. Congressional leaders still must reconcile two product-safety bills that recently passed the House and Senate. Acting CPSC chairman Nancy A. Nord told House appropriators last month that the agency will have a hard time meeting mandates in both bills without more money.
For now, though, the agency's focus is on staffing. It started the year with just fewer than 400 employees, less than half what it had in 1980. Nord testified last month that the agency will have 444 employees by Oct. 1. The CPSC has posted ads for chemists, toxicologists, paralegals and statisticians, a step toward restoring the technical expertise it lost in recent years, Weller said.
To house the new employees, the CPSC is reclaiming space in its Bethesda office tower that it gave up under previous budget cuts. It plans to hire more investigators who will be stationed around the country, and has begun assembling a team to monitor imports at the nation's largest ports. Currently, ports are just one responsibility of the agency's field staff.
The CPSC also wants to move out of its testing facility in 1950s-era buildings in Gaithersburg, and into a new lab by the end of 2009.
A third major priority cited by agency officials is upgrading and integrating the agency's multiple data systems, on which it relies to keep abreast of product-safety trends.
"It's not sexy but it's necessary," said Julie Vallese, a CPSC spokeswoman.
Legislation pending in Congress would extend spending increases. The House and Senate passed product-safety bills that would increase the agency's budget to $100 million by 2011, and to $155.9 million by 2015, respectively.
Nord has taken issue with some of the requirements in the bills, including a new publicly searchable database of consumer complaints that would be mandated by the Senate measure. (The House bill would require the agency only to study how best to create such a database.) Currently, the agency collects consumer complaints but they are not accessible to the public without Freedom of Information Act requests.
Nord testified last month that the database would cost $20 million to build and at least $3 million a year to maintain. Some consumer advocates who support better disclosure of product-safety hazards say Nord inflated the estimate to undermine support for the database, which is unpopular with business groups. Manufacturers don't want the database because, they say, it could lead to the release of inaccurate information and trade secrets.
The CPSC said the estimate is based on the cost of similar databases at other agencies. "My argument would be to figure out how to do it for less," said Pamela Gilbert, a former CPSC executive director who is now with the law firm of Cuneo, Gilbert & LaDuca. "It's an incredibly important project."
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For the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the path to greater vigilance over hazards posed by lead-tainted toys, defective water heaters and flaming deep fryers starts with 10 X-ray fluorescence analyzers (cost: about $30,000 apiece), a couple of dozen port inspectors ($3.2 million) and a new t...
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AT& T, Verizon Plan Wireless Future
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The companies disclosed plans for their purchase of 700-megahertz radio frequencies after rules restricting them from discussing the Federal Communications Commission's auction were lifted Thursday night.
Carriers currently control the types of phones and services their wireless subscribers can use.
Even though the companies touted their new networks as open, some said they won't offer the extent of consumer choice that some public-interest groups and Internet companies sought.
The carriers' definitions of an open network vary. AT&T argues that its use of SIM, operating and memory cards already allows the use of any device with those technologies on its network. It said it invites developers to create technologies for its networks, but it must approve their use.
Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, refused to elaborate on how it defines "open access." It purchased a segment of airwaves at the auction that came with a requirement that it must build a network open to all devices and software applications. The company said it would begin testing technologies on its existing network by June.
"We don't want to get into definitions at the moment that are 'regulatory-ese.' We want to get people to close their eyes and imagine all the possibilities," said Verizon Wireless spokesman Jeffrey Nelson.
Google, the Internet phone service provider Skype and some public-interest groups had hoped to push the FCC and carriers to offer more unfettered consumer access. They also sought clearer regulatory definitions from the FCC.
"Our objective is to bring the ethos of the Internet to the wireless world . . . gathering the world's information, making it universally accessible and easy to use," but carriers still can control what users can do over the wireless network, said Rick Whitt, telecom and media counsel for Google.
Google, which bid in the airwave auction but didn't win, said it will continue to stay involved with the implementation of rules to ensure that Verizon Wireless carries out the openness principles.
Wireless carriers, meanwhile, said they are being friendly to consumers.
Verizon Wireless chief executive Lowell McAdam said yesterday that the company's purchase "will make Verizon the preferred partner for developers of a new wave of consumer electronics and applications using this next-generation technology."
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Verizon Wireless and AT&T said they plan to create faster and more robust networks with a new chunk of radio spectrum they won at a recent federal auction of airwaves. They also talked about moving toward more "open" networks, offering consumers the ability to use a greater number of devices and...
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Networks Say Live TV Is at Stake in Fox Decency Case
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Major television networks are privately saying that if they have to worry about a fine every time someone utters a profanity on air, they may have to stop real-time broadcasting of live events such as the Academy Awards and Grammys.
At the same time, the head of the Federal Communications Commission and parents groups are saying that if the Supreme Court removes the threat, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox will seize the opportunity to make the airwaves more coarse and profane.
The issue has come to a head because the high court is taking up broadcast indecency for the first time in 30 years. A ruling either way will have lasting repercussions on the networks and viewers .
The case, FCC v. Fox Television Stations, concerns two Fox programs that violated the FCC's indecency rules by airing profanities. Fox sued the FCC, saying the agency's ruling went against its own indecency regulations for punishing "fleeting," or one-time, use of profanities. A lower court sided with Fox; the FCC and administration appealed to the high court, which said last month it would take the case when it reconvenes the first Monday of October. Arguments might not be heard until early next year.
The case involves live awards shows in 2002 and 2003 that featured, respectively, singer Cher and celebrity Nicole Richie using variations of a profane four-letter word. More recently, actress Diane Keaton used a variation of the same word on ABC's "Good Morning America," and in February, Jane Fonda used a vulgarity for a part of female anatomy on NBC's "Today" show. Neither of the latter two has prompted an FCC fine.
Fox says it seeks a Supreme Court decision that would let the network continue to air live programming without fear of an FCC fine, which can run as high as $325,000 per profanity.
"A positive ruling from the court would simply acknowledge that no system is perfect and must allow for a small margin of human error," Fox spokesman Scott Grogin said.
With the networks having set up elaborate and costly systems to try to catch offensive language and images in live shows before they reach viewers, one executive said that if the court finds for the FCC, the networks may have little choice but to stop airing events live.
"I don't know how we could police it any more," said the executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of angering the FCC and possibly endangering the network's station broadcast licenses. "I think you would drastically reduce if not eliminate live programming."
With the potential of fines reaching into the millions of dollars, a network may have a fiduciary duty to shareholders to cease most live broadcasts if the court rules against Fox, the executive said. The president's State of the Union address would probably still be safe to air live, the executive said, but a show like "American Idol" might not.
The head of an influential parents group and the chairman of the FCC said the networks are essentially asking the court to approve more vulgarity on the airwaves.
Tim Winter, a former NBC executive, is now president of the Parents Television Council, which has flooded the FCC with hundreds of thousands of viewer complaints in recent years about risque television shows. He said a pro-Fox decision by the court would start an inevitable decline in programming standards, eventually making shows on the major networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox -- look and sound more like the R-rated programs on HBO and Showtime.
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Washington,DC,Virginia,Maryland business headlines,stock portfolio,markets,economy,mutual funds,personal finance,Dow Jones,S&P 500,NASDAQ quotes,company research tools. Federal Reserve,Bernanke,Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Nats Fall to Cardinals; Cordero Placed on DL
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ST. LOUIS, April 4 -- The tying run was on second, the lead run on first, when Felipe López was, by his own admission, frozen by Jason Isringhausen's final pitch of the night. Home plate umpire Jim Wolf called Lopez out on strikes, Isringhausen pumped his fist and shouted, and the St. Louis Cardinals shook hands following a 5-4 victory over López's Washington Nationals on Friday night.
In such situations -- a one-run game in the ninth inning -- is when a team badly needs its closer. Despite allowing Austin Kearns's one-out single and issuing a walk to Paul Lo Duca, Isringhausen fulfilled his job description for St. Louis by first striking out Ronnie Belliard, then retiring López to finish it off. The Nationals have played four one-run games in their first five. They will now have to nail down such tight affairs without their own closer, Chad Cordero, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list following Friday's game because of tendinitis in his right shoulder.
The move, which is retroactive to March 27, means the Nationals will be without their bullpen's anchor, whose appearances are often accompanied by heart palpitations, for another week. As expected, the club will call up left-hander John Lannan to make Sunday's start here, and Cordero is eligible to come off the disabled list next Friday, when the Nationals host Atlanta.
"It's totally understandable," Cordero said after the loss. "I just kind of hate going on the DL as a player. But it's best for myself and the team. I'm fine with it, and the arm is feeling really good."
That, as far as Cordero is concerned, is the central point. He will throw a bullpen session as scheduled Saturday, and Manager Manny Acta sounded as if his closer would be ready to return as soon as he is eligible. Now, if only the Nationals could provide the bullpen with a game to close.
"We had a lot of chances," said López, who played well defensively in just his second game in left field but struck out three times -- twice with runners in scoring position. That played into the theme of the night. The Nationals left the bases loaded twice, stranded 13 men in all -- and might have completed an admirable comeback from an early deficit had they managed just one more hit.
"Bases loaded, all that stuff," López said. "We just got to get better at not missing those opportunities."
The missed opportunities stood out because left-hander Odalis Pérez pitched poorly, putting Washington in an early hole. Pérez trailed 2-0 after just five pitches -- a double to Brian Barton and a two-run homer to Rick Ankiel. He struggled against his nemesis, Albert Pujols, who doubled and walked twice against him. Pujols has now reached base 23 of the 30 times he has faced Pérez, for an absurd on-base percentage of .767. He is, too, slugging 1.286 against him -- ridiculous numbers, even for a hitter of Pujols's stature.
"When you hit .320-plus, it's because you're a great hitter," Pérez said of Pujols. "But especially against me, I don't know if he knows my pitches. What is it against me?"
In reality, though, Pérez was undone by lesser Cardinals. He walked four men and hit another, failing to retire a man in the fifth before Acta lifted him, trailing 5-1.
"Just didn't throw enough strikes," Acta said. "Didn't have very good command of his fastball and didn't pitch ahead enough. He's got better command than that."
So the Nationals were forced to try to come back against the Cardinals' bullpen. Washington got most of the way there in the seventh, when Cristian Guzmán -- the only National to hit safely in all five games -- drilled his first homer of the year, off St. Louis reliever Russ Springer, making it 5-2. The Nationals then loaded the bases with nobody out, and pulled within 5-4 on Lo Duca's bases loaded walk and Belliard's hard single.
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Despite a three-run rally in the seventh, the Nationals fail to complete their comeback, falling, 5-4, in St. Louis for their second straight loss.
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http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/04/clinton_releases_tax_returns.html
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Clinton Releases Tax Returns
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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, earned $109 million between 2000 and 2007, according to returns released by her presidential campaign moments ago.
"The Clintons have now made public thirty years of tax returns, a record matched by few people in public service," said campaign spokesman Jay Carson. "None of Hillary Clinton's presidential opponents have revealed anything close to this amount of personal financial information."
Clinton's campaign had long promised to release a detailed history of their income and had come under increasing pressure from Sen. Barack Obama's (Ill.) campaign as well as the news media to do so.
Among the eye-popping figures contained in the reports were the following:
* Former President Bill Clinton has earned nearly $52 million in speaking fees over the last seven years including more than $10 million in 2007 alone.
* The couples' respective books have proven to be massive money makers for the former first couple. Bill Clinton earned more than $29 million for his two books -- "My Life" ($23 million including a $15 million advance) and "Giving" ($6.3 million). Senator Clinton's "Living History" earned her $10 million including an $8 million advance.
* The Clinton paid nearly $34 million in taxes over the last seven years -- 31 percent of their adjusted gross income.
* Over the past seven years, the Clinton have given more than $10 million to charity -- 9.5 percent of their adjusted gross income, according to the campaign. Bill Clinton donated $1 million of his income from Giving to charity, while Senator Clinton has donated better than $1.1 million of her It Takes a Village income to charity.
Want more? Scroll through them yourself: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. And, while, we're at it, here are Obama's tax returns.
What did we miss? Use the comments section below to offer your own observations.
By Chris Cillizza | April 4, 2008; 4:45 PM ET | Category: Eye on 2008 Previous: New Jersey's Senate Race Heats Up | Next: No Re-Vote in Michigan a Blow to Clinton
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Is giving to your own charity vis-a-vis The Foundation really giving to charity?
Posted by: captiantight | April 7, 2008 12:13 AM
The Clintons are held to a higher standard. Jealousy is an ugly force, and little good has ever come of it.
Posted by: jj394857 | April 6, 2008 8:16 PM
Cillizza writes: "Want more? Scroll through them yourself: ... What did we miss? Use the comments section below to offer your own observations." ------------------------------------- I'm neither an IRS auditor nor a voyeur, so I'll pass.
But I'd like to congratulate those voters who have the time to sift through these returns. If you see these tax returns as one of the most important issues in this war-time, falling economy election, your life and perspective must be one of pure bliss. I hope that you appreciate this, and that your sanctimony keeps you warm at night.
Posted by: jj394857 | April 6, 2008 8:12 PM
The Power Behind The Ballot
"Hillary has dem by the balls", so to speak, and with the help of the female vote, she could drive the Dems to their knees.
It's fascinating to see how a segment of American society has identified so strongly with Hillary, and remains loyal to her despite her lies, kitchen-sink strategy, and fear manipulation. These American women are struggling in a male-centered world, where little or no accommodations and commensurate economic rewards are made in return for their contributions. What has attracted these women to her is actually the same fiction that appeals to subjugated and oppressed people in third world countries. Dignity will not be restored by demagogy. Hillary is keen on amassing power and influence through the Office of the President, consequently extending the financial gains the Clintons enjoyed after Bill left the White House. No doubt the Clintons' business partners and campaign donors (in some cases they are one and the same) are as keen as Hillary to keep the women's vote.
From Michael West in Germany
Posted by: west369 | April 6, 2008 5:05 PM
what about money given to foundation to whom and how much
Posted by: p.brosig | April 6, 2008 5:02 PM
People are calling this "Hillary's song". Got to love that:
Posted by: caraprado1 | April 6, 2008 2:55 PM
So. Clintons made a lot of money, 109 million, and many people are surprised, some are even ofended. I wonder why? What's wrong with making money. NOTHING. Change your mind people. Be open and get REAL. Clintons are SMART. They work smarter than harder, that's business, and there isn't anything evil on making business.
When people, such as in the case of the Clintons, generate money, they create business, and with business they create jobs. With jobs, they help those employed to generate some income on their own who then spend their money. Ultimately, money is circulated and their millions also help improve the country's economy to some level.
PLEASE se the whole picture. It's also about the practices you implement to make busines. What's wrong with publishing a couple of books, scheduling some public speaking engagements and charging thousands of $$$ to people willing to pay. I mean, they forced NOBODY to buy books or hear them speak. They provided a product (A BOOK) and a service (their PUBLIC SPEAKING).
These are decent means to make money. So please jelous people stop pointing fingers at them. Stop blaming them for being smarter than you and knowing how to generate money. Be smart, learn from them and get a life of your own.
Posted by: laura.figueroa | April 6, 2008 3:10 AM
I understand about conflict of interest. I still say your tax returns are nobody else's business, even if you are running for high public office. Same as your personal life. As long as everybody you sleep with is over the age of consent, I could care less what you do in your bedroom, or who you do it with (that includes somebody other than your wife/husband).
Personally, I'm not enthralled with her because she appears to me to be the type of person who is willing to do practically anything to get power. But I still say her and former President Clinton's finances are nobody else's business.
Posted by: SeaTigr | April 5, 2008 10:07 PM
For all you Obama supporters READ the following information Obama DID NOT REPORT ABOUT HIS previous "financial" dealings-
Here is an article in NewsWithViews.com dated 3/22/08 by Jim Kouri entitled "Talk Show Host Reveals Obama Connection to Terrorists":
Syndicated talk show host Laurie Roth's revelations make the news story about Obama's relationship with a racist, anti-American pastor look like child's play.
A top official at the Pentagon during former-President George H. W. Bush's Administration and a former CIA intelligence officer maintain that Barack Obama and former Weather Underground honcho William Ayers funneled money to Professor Rashid Khalidi, a known terrorist sympathizer.
Khalidi serves on the faculty of Columbia University in New York and is best known as the professor who invited Iranian President Ahmedinejad to visit Columbia University after he finished his speech at the United Nations. According to confidential sources, Khalidi has direct ties to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), a group on the US State Department's list of known terrorist groups.
"One source for this information was once a top military figure in the 1990s. He doesn't take making allegations lightly. If he says something happened, believe me, it happened," said syndicated radio talk show host Laurie Roth.
"Another source is a former agent for the Central Intelligence Agency, who is an expert in counterterrorism," said Roth, who broke the story on her show Friday night.
Here are the connections as described by very reliable sources, who possess impressive military, national security and intelligence backgrounds:
Allison Davis, who hired the young Obama into his small, Chicago law firm Davis, Miner, and Barnhill in 1993, left the firm in late 1999-2000 and became a housing developer. Davis went into business with Tony Rezko, the indicted businessman who's scheduled to go on trial for corruption in Illinois, and who was a major fundraiser for Obama.
Davis met Rezko when he was a client of Davis, Miner, and Barnhill. Rezko is currently under indictment in Illinois for demanding kickbacks from companies seeking state government business contracts under Governor Blagojevich. Obama was identified as one of the politicians cited in the indictment as having received political contributions from Rezko out of his kickback funds.
Tony Rezko hosted fundraising events for Obama in his home and was on Obama's US Senate campaign finance committee which collected $14 million for his campaign against conservative Alan Keyes, an African-American who served as an Ambassador during the Reagan Administration. In order to avoid a scandal during his presidential campaign, Obama returned $85,000 that Rezko and his family had donated to him.
In early 2000, while Obama served as a state senator in Illinois, he also sat on the board of the nonprofit Woods Fund. The Woods Fund is a Chicago-based foundation that claims its primary mission is to make financial grants in order to increase and/or create opportunities for disadvantaged people and low-income communities.
The chairman of the Woods fund board in 2000 was Howard Stanback, who like Obama also had connections to Davis, according to the reliable sources.
Davis submitted a grant request to the Woods Foundation for a $1 million investment in his development partnership, Neighborhood Rejuvenation LP, that would be used to finance low-income senior-citizen housing. Under normal circumstances, a board member is supposed to recuse himself or herself from decisions where they have a business or personal relationship.
Obama, who did not recuse himself, voted to approve Davis' grant request. Stanback, on the other hand, abstained from voting. The housing project, which also received a $5.7 million loan from the city of Chicago, in turn donated almost $70,000 in political contributions to Obama's presidential campaign.
In the past, Rezko gave Obama -- who served as an Illinois State Senator -- his first two political contributions in 1995, $1,000 each from two of his companies. In 1998, State Senator Obama wrote letters to city and state officials urging them to fund a Davis-Rezko housing project. It was an obvious quid pro quo arrangement.
Another major fundraiser for Obama is William Ayers, who also sat on the board of the Woods Fund with Obama and is a professor at the University of Chicago.
Bill Ayers, along with his wife Bernadine Dohrn, was an active member of the Weather Underground, a radical left-wing group that advocated violence against the United State. Both Ayers and Dohrn went "underground" in 1970 after others in the group accidentally detonated a bomb in a Greenwich Village (New York City) townhouse. The blast killed three of the group's members including Ayers' girlfriend at the time.
While Ayers and Dohrn were hiding from law enforcement, the Weather Underground participated in the bombings of the US Capital, the Pentagon and a State Department building. In 1981 Ayers and Dohrn turned themselves in to federal authorities, but all charges were dropped as a result of alleged "government legal misconduct." In his 2001 memoir, Ayers wrote, "I don't regret setting the bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."
Ayers and Dohrn are known to have held at least one fundraiser for Barack Obama in their Chicago home.
During Obama's last year on the board of The Woods Fund (2002), he participated in awarding grants, including a $70,000 grant to the Arab American Action Network, a Chicago-based group founded by Rashid and Mona Khalidi.
In another suspected quid pro quo arrangement similar to those with Ayers and Rezko, Rashid Khalidi also held a fundraising event in his home for Barack Obama.
In the Middle East, Rashid Khalidi was known as a man to be reckoned with. From 1972 through 1983, Khalidi was the director in Beirut of the official Palestinian press agency, FAFA. His wife worked there as well.
According to sources, when the Khalidi's left Chicago for Columbia University in New York, Rashid was honored with the Edward Said Chair in Arab Studies at that Ivy League university. Their goodbye party in Chicago included testimonials from Bill Ayers and Barack Obama.
"What other fund raising connections does Obama have? How many times can you look the other way in church and with fund raising situations with more than questionable people?" asked Ms. Roth.
"We all make mistakes in judgment with people and their backgrounds sometimes, but usually we learn and pick better friends and associates. How come Obama seems to have continued hanging around more than questionable characters with anti American backgrounds and some with criminal behaviors? Now one is being indicted, Tony Rezco, who raised a ton of money for Obama," she said.
"As President, how much would he look the other way when dealing with national security and dangers to our country? How much would he listen passively to terrorist leaders then lecture us on our ugly American status? This kind of change is not what our country needs!" added the popular talk show host, whose show is syndicated by USA Radio Network.
"Do these revelations demonstrate a pattern of Barack Obama's judgment? If so, then I do not want him dealing with world leaders. I do not want these groups having access to the White House. Do you?" asks the New Jersey-based political strategist.
Posted by: redjeep1 | April 5, 2008 9:05 PM
Making money is a part of the American Dream, but when your wife runs for the highest political position in America there exists the potential for conflict of interest.
There is more to this story than you realize. Typically corruption in power is accompany with gross compensation.
Releasing this story on Friday just gives the media more time to review and come up with more questions starting Monday.
Posted by: ajtiger92 | April 5, 2008 8:48 PM
I see no problem with them making tons of money from books and speeches. Isn't it part of the American Dream to make tons of money?
If it was me, I wouldn't have released my tax returns. What do my tax returns have to do with my ability to lead the nation? My money is just that...mine. It's not anybody else's business how much money I've made.
Posted by: SeaTigr | April 5, 2008 7:35 PM
So the sad, oh so sad, story about the mom who made minimum wage as manager of the local Pizza Hut couldn't come up with a lousy $100 and the local Ohio hospital denied her health care and so lost her baby and later died are JUST ANOTHER PACK OF LIES SPUN SO ARTFULLY BY ONE OF THE CLINTON'S WHO LIE SO EASILY.
Fellow citizens and Hillary lovers is this truly the type of person we need in the White House now?
And Hillary loves to deride the power of "words just words" and now we read that Billy Clinton suckered audiences into paying him $52 million for words, just words.
Get ready everyone, I betcha ole Hillary disremembered another one or just failed to check her facts because she saw a way to cadge a vote or two along with the women's sympathy at her pitiful story.
Wouldn't it be great to hear the succession of her telling this story? Odds on that with each telling she offered one more fact and so the horror grew with the telling, and her studied pregnant pauses.
He and she should both be ashamed at this blatant prostituing of the highest office in the land for bucks.
I mean taxpayers have been conned into agreeing to an enormous pension and free security and a list of other perks for our ex-presidents just so none would have to live in poverty after leaving office, and now Clinton is capitalizing off his shameful tenure at every opportunity.
The man is not much better than a two-bit Times Square con artist in the judgment of millions of Americans and it seems Hillary is cut from the same cloth.
Know your ABH's ---"Anybody But Hillary"
Posted by: AmericanInterestsFirstandLast | April 5, 2008 6:13 PM
I don't see John & Cindy McCain's Tax Returns, am I missing something in your post Chris?
Posted by: eeitreim | April 5, 2008 6:04 PM
I support Obama but there's nothing wrong with the Clintons making all the money they can. I still don't understand why Hillary resisted releasing the returns as long as she did, and then sneaked them out on a Friday afternoon. Maybe she knows something we don't, 'cause I don't see anything there but lots and lots of money. Good for them!
Now, before everybody canonizes them for giving 10% to charity, read the fine print: most of it went to his foundation.
(I'd still like to see the list of donors to his library, though. I suspect there's some shenanigans there -- maybe a big contribution from Marc Rich?)
Posted by: jac13 | April 5, 2008 5:19 PM
-- which I have not sent anything to any campaign in this election cycle. --
Wait. I left this part out;
Posted by: straightmedia | April 5, 2008 5:11 PM
What's the big deal with making $109 million!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn't this part of the American dream? The Clintons have not done anything wrong but work hard to get to where they are. It's not like they made this money defraufing someone or were selling drugs.
This shows that anyone, whether you're white collar, blue collar or whatever can make it in this country.
Also, what about all the money they've paid in taxes. Why doesn't the headline read "Clintons pay $31 million in taxes on $109 million earned?"
I'm beginning to think that it's true what they say about the media being for Obama. We'll see if they do the same thing with him after he's president and starts making this kind of money. Or what, you think he's not going to take advantage of getting paid what Clinton is getting paid for speaking?
Anyway, I hope Obama loses. He's just another Jimmy Carter in disguise.
Posted by: gcorea | April 5, 2008 4:56 PM
straightmedia: If you got the e-mail, you requested it or someone had it sent to you. I get these every day and they are mainly to get money, which I have not sent anything to any campaign in this election cycle. You can watch/read or delete them, your choice. Some I've seen from the Obama and Hillary campaigns are quite funny.
Posted by: lylepink | April 5, 2008 4:45 PM
OK, put me down on the list of "Clinton conspiracy theorists", because I don't believe everything has really been disclosed in these tax returns. Making people look good in their financial transactions is what accountants are good at. Sometimes a little too good.
To me there are still questions about things like Bill Clinton's dealings with Canadian mining magnate Frank Giustra, whom the former president accompanied on a 2005 trip to Kazakstan. Giustra landed a major uranium mining deal on the trip, and not long after made a secret $31 million donation to Clinton's charitable foundation. Now that seems awfully generous of Mr. Giustra, just like the Clinton's charity donations seem awfully generous.
Just because the tax returns have been sanitized, that doesn't keep me from having suspicions. So sue me.
Posted by: Arjuna9 | April 5, 2008 4:03 PM
And now a few words from Terry McAuliffe:
from inxx@hillaryclinton.com to rf37xx@gmail.com date Apr 5, 2008 1:13 PM subject The crowds
Watch the video. When I turn on the TV all I hear is negative words. The news stations keep telling you that we're down and out. But that's plainly not true. I'm on the trail every day for Hillary and the crowds are bigger than ever before, and let me tell you - they are excited!
I wanted to show you a video from a recent event with Hillary in North Carolina - you can see for yourself Hillary's packed events and enthusiastic supporters.
Click here to watch the video.
Terry McAuliffe Chairman, Hillary Clinton for President
Video link omitted, since it goes to a page at Rocky.com. I'm sure those of you resourceful, can find your way there...
Posted by: straightmedia | April 5, 2008 3:59 PM
The reason why they have so much money is due to the fact that they are as self-serving as anyone can be. THE CLINTONS ARE IN THRALL TO MORE LOBBY GROUPS THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE...THEY KNOW WHERE THEIR BREAD IS BUTTERED AND DON'T CARE ABOUT TRUTH AND PRINCIPLE IF THEY CAN BENEFIT. The vote for the Iraq tragedy is as clear a case in point as any could be. No-one of principle would have voted for that; the only motivation to do so was self-interest. To vote for the mass slaughter of human beings is enough to disqualify anyone from ever serving in office again...
Posted by: pathina | April 5, 2008 3:42 PM
-- Could it be that they delayed as a strategy to have the Obama supporters beat up on them and then to show they were once again wrong about demonizing the Clintons? --
I've contended something akin to that -
Delayed intentionally, after the Obamaites got all frothed into Ken Starr mode; "WHAT is she HIDING" "Just wait till it comes out!"
Campaigns are hard. This was good for monster comical effect at Camp Hillary...
Posted by: straightmedia | April 5, 2008 2:48 PM
Good article, but I'm a little confused about one thing. You say the Clintons have released their tax returns since 2000, but the 2007 returns are not posted.
Hillary's campaign promised to release the 2007 returns. Where are they? If they were not released, shouldn't this failure be newsworthy? It seems that this article implies they were released and ignores the omission.
Posted by: roadkillrefugee | April 5, 2008 2:47 PM
MARKinA: The risk is there and I have no other choice since the location of the nodule would be very hard to reach with a Bronchoscopy, and surgery is out of the question because of my breathing problem. I have found something called "CyberKnife" [check it out] that I think is my best option and will bring it up when I see my Dr's about the needle biopsy I will have on the 10th. PROUD is on the other thread and I hope she may see this and give her opinion. A lot of talk about Indiana and NC, but nothing new. WV and Ky. still favors Hillary about two to one.
Posted by: lylepink | April 5, 2008 2:44 PM
-- "In June 2005, in what Obama now describes as a 'boneheaded' mistake, Obama and Rezko's wife bought adjacent properties on Chicago's South Side, closing the deals on the same day. Seven months later, wanting a bigger yard for his $1.65 million house, Obama bought a slice of the Rezko property for $104,500. --
Again, that "disclosure" answers no questions.
- Why did a campaign contributor, have a spouse buy the adjacent lot that the seller wanted included in the house sale to Obama?
- Why did the Obama house price get discounted?
Posted by: straightmedia | April 5, 2008 2:36 PM
Posted by: leichtman | April 5, 2008 1:57 PM
curious why Obama supporters are not outraged by his only giving $1000 in 2000 with $269,000 in income to charity. Would we hear that silence if they were to tead that number in HC's tax return. Apparently the only questions that can be asked are to the Clintons. I doubt to many here would brag had their charitable contributions been that small.
Posted by: leichtman | April 5, 2008 1:54 PM
$109 million for the self-styled plucky representative of working Americans !! What a phony, two-faced, hypocritical ... hmm, time to break out the old thesaurus.
Posted by: lydgate | April 5, 2008 1:44 PM
Something wrong with my post?.
Posted by: roncraw | April 5, 2008 1:33 PM
Typical low-end reporting from the Post.
When will "saint" John McCain's tax records be reported? Never. When will the Post point this out? Never. When will these "journalists" even come close to doing their? Never.
Posted by: dderryberry | April 5, 2008 1:04 PM
Why should the taxpayers pay for President Clinton's Secret Service detail for him to go out and make millions $$. President Nixon opted out of the detail and he wasn't traveling the country getting paid for speeches.
Posted by: fastaffing | April 5, 2008 1:00 PM
Lyle, Are you still scheduled for the needle biopsy on the tenth? Is "lung collapse" a known risk, or were you just very unlucky last time?
I am thinking your numbers for WV and KY may well hold up and HRC will actually have an argument to the Supers that cannot be dismissed. I would not want to be a super delegate choosing between these two candidates, if the partisanship within the D Party is half as strong as it appears on "The Fix".
Y'all make it look as if McC is a shoo-in against a D tide that will likely prevail in both houses of Congress.
These tax returns will be poured through and compared with other disclosures [the Senate financials come to mind] for days, nay, weeks, but it may be they will have no material effect on the campaign.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 5, 2008 12:59 PM
again some of these anti Clinton posts border on obsessive compulsive behavior. I have posted the 2002 and 2005 Obama charitable contributions numbers twice. The Obamas gave .04 or $1000 to chaity in 2002 likely less than most here who likely earned less than $269,000. Had the Clintons contributed only .04 per cent ro charity in a year could an Obama supporter please be honest enough and tell me what they would be posting this morning. I am sure we could not even repeat those words. How about some consistency.
Posted by: leichtman | April 5, 2008 11:37 AM
MARKinA: WV and Ky are 50s to 20s % for Hillary, about two to one. The thing since the Tax release is how The Media has been making all kinds of not so subtle hints about the source of the income. This brought back memories of the "Have you no shame" question of so many years ago. I think you and our fellow seniors will remember and agree with me about these actions by The Cable News/Talk Media in particular.
Posted by: lylepink | April 5, 2008 11:27 AM
Posted by: minimum12 | April 5, 2008 11:10 AM
Leichtman, Honestly? I think that they took the red pill, instead of the blue, and are just down right caught up in the Matrix! It's frightening! These people don't care about fairness or what's right, even when it comes to this country. They only care about not liking the Clintons. They are willing to jeopardize and hurt this nation, just so they can try to hurt the Clintons. Why?? What did these people do to them personally (because what these people are doing isn't helping us, so they're not doing it for us)? In their minds, no one has ever lied more or stole more or cheated more than the Clintons. They would rather put in the 2nd, 3rd, or Z string and blow the game, rather than put in the star quarterback, simply because they have decided that they didn't like him. They are willing to destroy this country and themselves trying to destroy the Clintons. The computer chip in their brains will not allow them to acknowledge the flaws or lies of any other candidate other than "The Clintons."
Posted by: MsAh1on1 | April 5, 2008 11:10 AM
last night I posted that taxes are due on April 15th something that just doesn't register with the obsessive Clinton haters. Apparently only mark is mature enough to appreciate that minor little detail b/c this morning your minions keep screaming where are the 2007 returns. Again obssessive compulsive behavior.
Then I posted that Sen Obama only contributed .04% or $1000 of their $269,000 in income with charitable contributions(embarrasing) in 2002 less than even the national average and 4.7%( a small but reasonale sum) of $1.6 million, certainly not a small amount of income in 2005. Why the double standards? Sem Clinton contribtes 10% which equals 1.2 million annually and we get some convuluted argument that well part of that went to a foundation so it really doesn't count. The Obama supporters have some splainin to do. Its called HYPOCRISY. What would the Obama supporters be saying this morning if it were the Clintons who gave $40,000 to charity or .04% of their income to charity in 2002? Can someone please be honest.
Posted by: leichtman | April 5, 2008 10:08 AM
The Clintons' charitable contributions went to the William J. Clinton Foundation. Today's New York Times story on the tax returns puts the relevant information near the top of the story in the third paragraph:
"The contributions went to a family foundation run by the Clintons that has given away only about half of the money they put into it, and most of that was last year, after Mrs. Clinton declared her candidacy."
With the Clintons, there is always a wrinkle. I'm inclined to say that contributions to the William J. Clinton Foundation are to charity as military music is to music. But I don't know if that's fair.
The foundation's "mission" is not exactly inspirational: The mission of the William J. Clinton Foundation is to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence.
Posted by: sgtpepper23 | April 5, 2008 9:51 AM
As an Obama supporter, I applaud the Clinton's commitment to public service and charitable giving. There is never been a question of that in my mind.
However, for those who ARE making a big deal about the clintons giving away $10 million should know that they have not technically "given away" much of that money YET. What they are doing is seeding their own family foundation - meaning they have parked much of the money in an entity they retain complete control over (Bill, Hilary and Chelsea are the sole Directors of their family foundation), yet is sheltered from taxes.
By law a foundation only has to give a minimum of 5% of principle assets per year. So for example - lets say the Clintons have put $5 million of the $10 million they donate in their family foundation. In that case they would only have to give away $250,000 per year.
I do not know yet the exact dollars they have seeded or how much has been distributed, but I would guess that a significant portion of the $10 million is parked in investments somewhere and the income from those investments is what is used to give away to charities and causes they support.
Of course having given it to their family foundation, they cannot ever take it back and is therefore ultimately for public benefit, but it is erroneous to conclude that $10 million has been benefited already to charitable causes.
I also want to note that their family foundation is separate from the William J Clinton Foundation where he has raised far more than $100-200 million from other sources - mostly wealthy billionaires he hobnobs with.
Posted by: xerxestrust | April 5, 2008 8:21 AM
The individual speeches may be somewhat detailed at HRC's Senate financial reports.
The "Burkle" connection shows up here as one of the investments.
This probably will not hurt with the poverty stricken HRC base in Appalachia. HRC may run huge victories in WV [lyle?] and KY.
There is obviously no problem with not publishing the 2007 return until after it is filed.
Most of the charity is to the Clinton Family Foundation. That does somewhat diminish its "altruism" value and may negate it as a public badge of honor.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 5, 2008 8:17 AM
In an attempt at "fairness". Could you please also mention that Obama has yet to make public his 2007 return - yet Hillary has already made the summary of her (and Bill's) 2007 return public. Uhh!! Why hasn't Obama made his 2007 return public????
Posted by: paolahawa | April 5, 2008 7:54 AM
For God's sake, Chris, do you ever do a journalist's work or just transcribe from the Clinton campaing? The charity money are contributions to the Clinton Family Foundation. Only half of it went to charity and only after she started to run. That and the millions coming from obscure business associates are all over the press. Your colleagues in the Post have done a wonderful job, don't you read them? Also, here a quote from the NYT:
"During that time, the Clintons paid $33.8 million in federal taxes and claimed deductions for $10.2 million in charitable contributions. The contributions went to a family foundation run by the Clintons that has given away only about half of the money they put into it, and most of that was last year, after Mrs. Clinton declared her candidacy."
Posted by: mizzargentina | April 5, 2008 7:54 AM
The Clintons make over $10 million a year. Hillary asks poor working people, at the dawn of a recession, to give her money. The money she contributed to her own campaign was a loan, and she will pay herself back out of the contributions of those poor people.
Posted by: light_bearer | April 5, 2008 7:15 AM
Now let me see: who is more unamerican, the Clintons for making a ton of money or barack obama for listening to his pastor without ever disagreeing until forced to? I am beginning to believe that we live in te USSR!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: paul2150 | April 5, 2008 7:13 AM
Since leave office, former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., reported $109 million in gross income to the Internal Revenue Service for the years 2000-2007, according to a release from the Clinton campaign. On that amount, they reportedly paid $33.7 million in taxes at a rate of 31% -- a rate that is much higher than the average rate for that tax bracket. Note: Interpretation of the Obama supporters of these facts would be that they are stealing. The Clinton family donated $10.2 million to charity, or 9.5% of their adjusted gross income, including $1 million in proceeds from the former President's book "Giving". So, the Clintons gave almost 10% to charity. Good for them. How much was donated by Obama to Charity? In addition, the Clintons not only donate money, but also their time to numerous Charities. So for you Obama supporters that are unable to understand how people that make so much money can relate to the working class and the poor, there you have your answer it means that the Clintons are walking the walk while others are talking the talk. You object to campaign donations from someone worth 100 million but accept it for someone worth a few million with a worth still way above the classification of "average working class." Why don't you object to Obama spending between 20-40 million per month from the pockets of the working class as he so proudly boasts to advertise himself to secure a new job for which he is not qualified? An average of 4:1 the amount of the spending of the Clinton campaign. Isn't it disgusting that Obama is spending millions of donated money for basically a job interview? Why he needs to spend that much trying to convince people that he can do the job? Isn't it ironic that millions of people will donate to his political campaign to elect someone to best benefit his own interests but hardly ever donate to Charity other than his church? The baseless assumptions and inuendos only speak bad of the candidate you try to defend. Please try to base your discussion on facts.
Posted by: egriselle | April 5, 2008 5:04 AM
dsrobin, name a president who you perceive to not be corrupted. Honest Abe and Obama...You mean the Obama who lied--excuse me forgot about the money and where he got it from for his new house, the Obama who lied about the relationship with the mafia guy--then cut him loose? Are you talking about the Obama who faithfully listened to his spiritual advisior Rev Wright and his rantings faithfully for 20 years, but didn't really listen to his spiritual ADVISor for 20 years, yet refuses to wear the flag or put his hand over his heart for the pledge--the great American way? The Obama who supposedly ended his 20-year friendship ONLY after it was brought to this supposedly well-educated man's attention that there was something disturbingly wrong with his friend AND ADVISor? You comparing him with Abe? I mean, how dare you compare him with Abe!!
Posted by: MsAh1on1 | April 5, 2008 2:36 AM
Very little information on where the money came from.WHO gave you this money? Where is the 2007 tax return with the amount of money Bill received from the Ukrainians and the Kazakhs and for what alledgedly?
Posted by: majorteddy | April 5, 2008 1:57 AM
svreader, why can't everyone else see what we both see? I think that so many of Obama supporters view this as some type of game. They just want to see if they can get him elected not because he can do the job, but just to see. And, it will be this country and them who will pay the price for making the biggest blunder--even greater than the Iraq War--in our history.
Posted by: MsAh1on1 | April 5, 2008 1:12 AM
Well, it took them months and months and they only did it long after their opponents did, but it's good that the Clinton's finally released their tax returns. Don't hold your breath until the Bush family release theirs. Actually, it was a huge mistake. The American people are suffering from the economic mismanagement of both the Clinton and far more criminal Bush administrations. They won't be pleased to see how much Bubba and Hillary-babe have hauled in since leaving office. Of course, they were only following the grand tradition set by Ronald Reagan who accepted a million dollar plus speaking engagement in Japan just days after leaving office. Fortunately, he made it there before his mind was gone, so he got the check. It's more than enough to bury Nancy.
Corruption writ large is all the American people see from their leaders today. Unparalleled corruption on a level never before seen since GWBush has been in control.
Better days are coming provided we can elect Barack Obama in November. Don't forget, honest Abe Lincoln was also from Illinois. Shame on us if we don't.
Posted by: dsrobins | April 5, 2008 1:00 AM
You people are amazing, but even more than that, you're ridiculous! Ask yourself, why have you allowed yourselves to be manipulated into jumping on the anti-Clinton band wagon? They are literally "damned if they do, and damned if they don't" for absolutely no reason. No reason meaning that they have done nothing more than the majority of people in their position and with their influence. I don't see this going on with Obama and his mafia ties--which he lied and feigned forgetfulness once again, before, of course, cutting another one of his friends a loose, but only when it was brought to his attention. Why isn't there any comments made about this noticeable pattern that he's establishing which should be sending up red flags. That's not an attributable quality that one would want a president to possess. Enough about the Clintons lieing! THEY ALL LIE. And, this isn't about who makes the best speeches, who makes or raises the most money, AND IT's DEFINITELY NOT ABOUT who has made you the better promise for the future. It's about who has enough experience, tenacity, contacts, deligence, backbone, familiarity, etc., to roll up their sleeves and for the next 3 years dedicate themselves to do the impossible of cleaning up 8 years of damage. That is the only thing that anyone can accomplish for the sake of this country and for us, right now. There is no room or time for any changing other than correcting the past years of mistakes. Get real. Who cares about their taxes? I want to know "Can you do the job?" "SHOW me your solution to this situation." and "When can you start?" Hate the people, no one is asking you to have Sunday dinner with them, but respect their work. It's about the country--NOT YOU!
Posted by: MsAh1on1 | April 5, 2008 12:54 AM
No matter how "new" or "fresh" someone appears, they had to come from somewhere.
Barry Obama came from Chicago.
He did a horrible job.
People who voted for Barry Obama back in Chicago had the right to expect him to deliver on his promise to represent their interests.
Everyone in the 11 slums in his district that were supposed to be repaired or replaced suffered because of Obama's incompetence.
He was incompetent at doing the job of representing them as a State Senator.
He was incompetent at managing his conflict of interest between their rights and the profit motive of his largest campaign contributor.
Because of Obama's incompetence, all of them suffered and some of them died.
There's no excuse for that.
No speech he can make can wipe away their suffering or bring the ones that died back from the dead.
Whenever there's a tough or difficult situation, Barry ducks it.
That's not what leaders do.
Leaders take charge and solve problems.
Barry's a not a leader.
He's great at making excuses.
He great at reading cue cards.
He'd be a good actor.
He'd be a horrible President.
It doens't matter how well he can read a speech from a teleprompter, or how "cool" or good looking he is.
He's be a disaster as President, and America can't afford that.
Posted by: svreader | April 5, 2008 12:32 AM
"In 2002, the year before Obama launched his campaign for U.S. Senate, the Obamas reported income of $259,394, ranking them in the top 2 percent of U.S. households, according to Census Bureau statistics. That year the Obamas claimed $1,050 in deductions for gifts to charity, or 0.4 percent of their income. The average U.S. household totaled $1,872 in gifts to charity in 2002, according to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University"
"In 2005 they earned a combined $1.65 million and gave away about $77,300 around 4.7%"
Posted by: leichtman | April 5, 2008 12:28 AM
Someone who knows what they're doing.
That only leaves two choices -- Hillary or McCain.
If we elect Hillary Clinton we get universal health care.
We should have had it years ago.
If we don't do it now, we may not get the chance again for a long time.
Hillary knows what to do and has an incredible resource in the form of Bill Clinton available to her whenever she wants the opinion of someone who's been there before.
It really is an incredible two for one deal.
We'd be foolish beyond measure to miss the chance to have to have her as President and him as chief advisor.
That's what makes this election so historic.
Together with a strong Democratic majority in congress, they could quickly and efficiently fix what Bush and Cheney have broken and put America back on track.
Its the smartest choice we can make.
Lets hope we don't blow it.
Posted by: svreader | April 5, 2008 12:27 AM
I suppose that Bobby Kennedy's trip to Appalchia was just phony and the Kennedy's could never appeal to blue collar workers by your standards.
To the Clinton haters if they gave 99% of their income to charity they would ask why didn't they give 100%.
We get it you hate the Clintons. And what is it that I hear that Sen Obama only gave 1% to charity and somhow that better connects with blue collar voters. Is maybe there some jealousy there. They have devoted their lives to public service and I doubt many blue collar workers would mind the economy like the 1990s.
Posted by: leichtman | April 5, 2008 12:06 AM
To die-hard Clinton supporters these tax returns mean nothing other than the Clintons getting a piece of the American pie.
How naive you all are? There are political reasons Hillary released their joint tax returns on Friday with only a "summary" of the 2007 return.
How can Hillary appeal to working-class Democratic voters as understanding their plight when her and Bill have made about $110 million over the last 8 years.
Although I applaud the Clintons for giving $10 million of their earnings to charity, a closer scrutiny reveals that 80% of that $10 million was given in 2004 and beyond. And if you recall Hillary was thought to be a potential presidential candidate in 2004.
Given what I know of the McCains, the Clintons and the Obamas personal finances, I would happily make the argument that the Obamas are closer to middle income Americans than the Clintons or McCains.
The days of "Bubba" happily jogging to McDonald's for a Big Mac are long gone!
Posted by: ajtiger92 | April 4, 2008 11:56 PM
jazzgrr: One last time before you go sleep, taxes are due on April 15, 2008 by 12 pm. that is a fact not in accordance with Sen Obama or your schedule. This election is about our future and if you guys and gals want to argue about the past that is fine but irrelevant. Its HC vs Sen Obama not Bill Clinton vs Sen Obama which would not even be this close for Pres. Clinton. Good night and I appreciate your courtesy.
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 11:20 PM
errr...leichtman, i'm of the feminine persuasion...hence, the moniker jazzgrrrl25...and, yes, hillary is the horse in this race, but if you think bill isn't hiding in that "pile of manure"(before you wail on me, it is a reference to her reagan joke), then you are in for a rude awakening...and she alone gets to take credit for the travelgate nepotism...as well as her divisive healthcare efforts that wasted millions of taxpayer dollars...as we have gotten of track a bit regarding their taxes, let me say this...i am happy that they have prospered off of their books...it is to their great credit that they tithe so generously...but there is credence to my questions regarding the 2007 tax return and the said 23 million dollars in consulting fees...a quarter of their earnings from what could be questionable sources...that's it...that's all...no biggie...just curious...good night, leichtman...and good luck.
Posted by: jazzgrrrl25 | April 4, 2008 11:10 PM
mark TTC is worse than a pollution problem its a public safety issue. A bus around the corner commissioned in Mexico caught fire in Irving during Rita and killed 20 elderly residents in a nieghborhood nursing home. Their trucks and buses are really scary.
Politics, pandering of course that is what it is all about. No candidate, not HC, B.O. or john McCain will win Ohio by being seen as defending NAFTA. I worked with and met with Sherrod Brown in Cleveland Shkr Hts in '06 and while I begged him to campaign on Dewine's comments about privatizing SS. He told me in no uncertain terms that NAFTA is the number one issue to Ohio voters and it is doubtful that any of the candidates who really want to win Ohio and become Pres. will give us straight talk about reforming NAFTA to protect US workers and assure free and fair trade until at least Feb 2009.
Thank you mark for getting me out of a circular and ridiculous argment over monica and HC filing his tax return on April 15.
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 11:06 PM
TT Corridor is bad. MX trucks ripping up I35 and polluting is a nightmare. Yes, there are tweaks to NAFTA that must be negotiated.
The pander is to use "NAFTA" as a whipping boy substitute for China, which violates ILO standards by not enforcing its wage and hour laws and its child labor laws. Further, it does not allow collective bargaining. For China to be in the WTO is like giving up on international standards.
Offering to make new Cabinet Depts. is a pander.
I am not picking on HRC. BHO panders just as hard on NAFTA. Neither of them mean it.
McC saying that he does not want to reward speculators without offering even an inspiration for a private plan to deal with any aspect of the financial mess is a pander too.
I am an equal opportunity critic tonight.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 4, 2008 10:51 PM
cr12 your's and jazz's arguments are totally bogus for a very simple reason: BILL CLINTON is NOT THE CANDIDATE and not running for Pres. as much as his some of his supporters would like us to believe. Talk about skewed logic. Your logic says Bill had an affair, I acknowledge that the impeachment was bogus and a perjury trap, the Arkansas Bar rightfully disbarred (may actually be a temporay suspension) ipso fact Hillary is evil and everything including her filing of their tax return on April 15 like 100 million Americans is ipso facto evil. Its called res ipsa, Bill is evil ergo so is Hillary. Sorry jazz's central argument WAS impeachment and monica and I guess since you are defending Ann Coulter's hatefilled arguments you are defending a strawman(woman). And next tell me with a straight face that we didn't hear those same comments by Joana Goldberg, Bill O'Reily and Fox News in 1997. Maybe what I heard from the truly lunatics of the right (and history will show them to be) was not precisely what jazz was posting--it sure sounded like what I remember being said in 1997.
And while I do not want to associate Jazz's comments with the Obama campaign,it does honestly make me start to wonder if the questions to Chelsea this past week were not plants from Obama supporters(and I truly don't believe in conspiracies). If that ends up being the case then I can guarantee that Barack Obama will not be President.
Incidentally I am not attacking a strawman-woman Ann Coulter, I am attacking jazz for his mimicking Ann Coulter. There is not a whole lot that Ann Coulter says that does not associate Dems, Bill, Hillary and I am sure soon to be Sen Obama that she does not claim is part of being an evil liberal. If there is someway she can blame her food or the New england patriot's loss on liberals, I am sure she will find a way to do so, but using a psychopath to rationalize your argument is really lame.
Qustion: Is this the direction that his supporters want Sen Obama to take his campaign. If so then you folks must really be worried.
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 10:33 PM
Hey Chris, did you catch Clinton's comment about having a Poverty Reduction Cabinet Post - do you think this is enough of a bribe for Edwards to endorse?
Isn't there laws against that kind of thing?
Posted by: ChicagoIndependant | April 4, 2008 10:32 PM
speaking of squirrels and nuts...since when are the basic tenets of ethical right and wrong, outrageous and (i believe the word we're looking for is) inappropriate?...the truth shall set you free, baby...and crt12, regardless of your opinion on the matter, your post was a delightful and refreshing read...
Posted by: jazzgrrrl25 | April 4, 2008 10:29 PM
correction to my above post: Your post is final proof that you have truly gotten in the gutter. Certainly jazz's comments do not reflect his candidate's or campaign's, only his own outrageous and inappropraite thoughts.
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 10:04 PM
@Leichtman: Your last post is a combination of ad hominem and straw man. Because many of your posts proceed unaware of the existence of logical fallacy, allow me to explain.
Ad hominem arguments attempt to link the objectionable nature of the speaker with the fallacy of their argument. A claims X, there is something wrong with A, and therefore X is false--or, in your example, Ann Coulter is a raving sensationalist moron, who claims that Bill Clinton is unethical, and therefore Bill Clinton is not unethical. For this syllogism to be logically consistent, we must assume that everything Ann Coulter has ever said in her life is wrong. When she orders eggs over easy, she's wrong. When she comments on the sorry state of the Pittsburgh Pirates' bullpen, she's wrong. That's not true (as much as I wish I could say that Ann Coulter is always wrong about everything). Stated simply--even a blind squirrel gets a nut every once in a while. So, just because Ann Coulter said it, doesn't mean it's not true.
Straw man arguments mischaracterize an opponent's argument in a small but significant way, that retains the appearance of the opponent's argument, but has removed key support. In your example, you pick one piece of evidence cited of Bill Clinton's lack of ethics--his impeachment. Even if you're right that his impeachment was a perjury trap set by jealous ideologues (a point on which you and I actually agree, even though it reeks of ad hominem, see supra), it doesn't conclusively prove that Bill Clinton is not unethical. You've ignored the other support for the allegation--his disbarment is the most compelling in my mind. The supreme courts of DC and Arkansas are not filled with jealous ideologues. They are filled with mostly well-meaning judges. Their disciplinary boards are similarly filled with well-meaning attorneys. And nevertheless, they took his license to practice away. A mostly symbolic gesture, to be sure, but nevertheless, it indicates a disapproval of Pres. Clinton's ethics. In any event, you simply have not dealt with the argument in a logical manner.
I don't mean to insult you, or insult your candidate. I do mean to insult your argument, because it's untenable.
Posted by: crt12 | April 4, 2008 10:02 PM
leichtman, for the record, i think fox is news drivel and i can't stand the likes of ann coulter...sorry you find me amongst their ranks...and, no, i don't think it's a conspiracy...there are enough shameful facts to put me off...certainly not the most damning thing they've done or neglected to do...just another rank and file case of avoidance...and, yes, it does make me grow "curiouser and curiouser"...i just wish that for once they were on the up and up...and, yes, i voted for clinton...he was inspirational and evoked feelings of hope and change...being snookered once is enough for me, thank you.
Posted by: jazzgrrrl25 | April 4, 2008 10:01 PM
jazz you are mimicking Fox News and Ann Coulter. You are right its a conspiracy that the Clintons are filing their tax returns on April 15th god forbid only evil people do that. How dare them. Bill was impeached by right wing lunatics. Have you now joined them? Folks like Tom DeLaye Dennis Hastert, Bob Barr, and of course the infamous Dan Burton and Sen Inhoff. Congratulations, you have now drunk their ugly cool aid in the name of supporting the uplifting candidate Sen Obama. Should we expect your side to soon start quoting not only Ann Coulter but Joana Goldberg and Bill O'Reily. Your post is final proof that your campaign has truly gotten in the gutter.
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 9:38 PM
This is a lose/lose for Billary. They'd look like secretive elites if they don't release the tax info, look like book tour fat cats when they do. Love the book haul...
Posted by: parkerfl | April 4, 2008 9:28 PM
-- Because today we remember Martin Luther King this opinion piece by Juan Williams of the WSJ is poignant..
He makes the same case many people on the blogs have been making - hypocrite who spouts unity while patronizing racial division. Obama has tried to dance around that with shifting answers on what he heard out of Wright at what point, but the contradition in his words to his actions, remains.
"I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community".
Sure you can. You just leave. 20 years ago. Americans of all ethnicities would have then seen you could lead...
Posted by: straightmedia | April 4, 2008 9:25 PM
yes, leichtman, there are certainly conspiracy theories out there regarding the clintons...there are also facts...facts to which clinton has shown no sense of shame, which leads to a question of character...bill was both disbarred and impeached...nepotism ran rampant...pardons were a gross misconduct of power...he lied and sold his friends down the river, people who trusted and believed in him and ultimately had their credibility and character tarnished because of it...and their final coup de grace of pilfering white house items upon their departure...if this was your friend, family member or neighbor, would you be proud?...the guy is a self-serving scoundrel and his wife has shown herself to be a liar, a bully and vendictive on many counts...so, if one is to question why they haven't done something of import that they said they would do, yes, you bet your fanny, people are gonna wonder what the skinny is, and why they're renegging.
Posted by: jazzgrrrl25 | April 4, 2008 9:22 PM
lylepink...you might want to check the "i" part of your fyi...
Posted by: jazzgrrrl25 | April 4, 2008 8:52 PM
TT Corridor is bad. MX trucks ripping up I35 and polluting is a nightmare. Yes, there are tweaks to NAFTA that must be negotiated.
The pander is to use "NAFTA" as a whipping boy substitute for China, which violates ILO standards by not enforcing its wage and hour laws and its child labor laws. Further, it does not allow collective bargaining. For China to be in the WTO is like giving up on international standards.
Offering to make new Cabinet Depts. is a pander.
I am not picking on HRC. BHO panders just as hard on NAFTA. Neither of them mean it. McC saying that he does not want to reward speculators without offering even an inspiration for a private plan to deal with any aspect of the financial mess is a pander too.
I am an equal opportunity critic tonight.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 4, 2008 8:25 PM
mark that overture was to only send a message to John Edwards and as a tribute to MLK.
Free trade mark has not been exactly free, look at our sovereign wealth funds if you don't believe me. We were ready to sell our ports and banks to the Saudis, I don't really want the Saudis and Chinese to be dictating whether our banks and economy survive, I respectfully disagree my friend. And you can't support that stupid transTexas coridor that 1/2 of Texas is upset with?
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 8:14 PM
"where are their 2007 returns that they fervently promised to submit?"
One more time tax returns are due on APRIL 15TH and with an extension on Oct 15. When will these conspiracy theories about the Clintons end?
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 8:08 PM
1] Mark Penn and CAFTA. As a free trader [who thinks China must be taken to task because it violates the ILO rules blatantly] I should be glad that the Ds are lying through their teeth when they pander to the unions and attack Western Hemisphere trade.
2] HRC wants to make a Cabinet office "Department of Poverty."
Read Drucker. Read Peters. We have too many Cabinet Departments now. Arguably, three are devoted to "poverty".
Here is what we have now:
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General. Cabinet-level rank also has been accorded to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Director, Office of Management and Budget; the Director, National Drug Control Policy; and the U.S. Trade Representative.
There are at least four too many departments. DHLS is a disaster. Consolidate. No more government by mismanagement.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 4, 2008 7:59 PM
FYI: From Polling since February there has been a steady decline for Obama in the most important category of all as far as Dems are concerned. The question asked--"What Dem has the best chance of winning the GE in November 2008?" With The Media hype for Obama being what it has been and continuing to be, the overwhelming majority say Hillary. This has to do with the "Internals" I speak about so often. Each and every way I look at the EC map, I cannot find any way for Obama to win the GE. For some reason, as I have stated before, the "Envy/Jealous" Factor combined with the "Hate Clintons" Factor are what appears to be the motivating reason/cause for those Hell bent on destroying the Dem party for the "Idiot-Ology" of the Far Left Wing of the party. As much as I disagree with "svreader" most times, as to how he/she states comments against Obama, Most are stating FACTS that are often ignored because of the way they appear to be only against him.
Posted by: lylepink | April 4, 2008 7:54 PM
it is to their credit that their tything was generous, but as with much that is the clintons, there is the unknown and the dubious connections...where are their 2007 returns that they fervently promised to submit?...and is there a solid explanation as to why 13 million of this income is connected with a firm that is connected to the ruler of dubai...at a time when hillary was raging against the support of giving dubai access to working american ports...or the (i think) 10 million given by a fellow who is now under investigation for selling senior citizen information to unscrupulous telemarketers...all of this money given for bill's consultation fees...it's tiresome to consistently and constantly have to question them...it seems there are always caveats.
Posted by: jazzgrrrl25 | April 4, 2008 7:46 PM
Wow. I hope those of you who gave money to her campaign feel a bit ripped off now. She clearly hasn't gone hungry a day in her life or gone without health care. With that kind of money, why is her campaign asking for more money from people who can't afford it? Is this why she waited so long to release her returns? Clearly she is trying to give it time to blow over before the PA primary but I hope the unemployed people of PA keep this in mind when they go to the polls. Barack has been poor and organized poor communities, he is much more likely to be in tune with real peoples' needs.
Posted by: Exfan | April 4, 2008 7:32 PM
The fact is, Senator Obama could make just about the same amount in speaking fees even if he loses the nomination.
The most we can hope for is that the candidates understand how the rest of us live. Fortunately, I think all three candidates do--unlike our current President.
Posted by: amaikovich | April 4, 2008 7:29 PM
Too many errors in judgement are surfacing, Obama, and isn't this the quality that you claim to have, superior than Hillary?
These stories about "boneheaded mistakes" are becoming too repetitive in nature and do you expect us to ignore this?
Posted by: Hispana | April 4, 2008 7:29 PM
Because today we remember Martin Luther King this opinion piece by Juan Williams of the WSJ is poignant..
"Mr. Obama's major speech on race last month was forced from him only after a political crisis erupted: It became widely known that he'd sat for 20 years in the pews of a church where Rev. Jeremiah Wright lashed out at white people. The minister cursed America as worthy of damnation, made lewd suggestions about the nature of President Clinton's relationship with black voters, and embraced the paranoid idea that the white government was spreading AIDS among black people.
Here is where the racial tension at the heart of Mr. Obama's campaign flared into view. He either shared these beliefs or, lacking good judgment, decided it politically expedient for an ambitious young black politician trying to prove his solidarity with all things black, to be associated with these rants. His judgment and leadership on the critical issue of race is in question.
He no longer asks black people to let go of the grievance culture to transcend racial arguments and transform the world.
And he chooses not to confront the poisonous "thug life" culture in rap music that glorifies drug use and crime.
Posted by: vammap | April 4, 2008 7:23 PM
A note to the Obama camp:
Do not waist your time in trying to SPIN this one, because it got too late for any of your sidetracking the issues. You have been caught!!!
Now, let's get to the debates and the issues that differentiate these 2 candidates and who is more ELECTABLE!!!
Posted by: Hispana | April 4, 2008 7:23 PM
JD I don't recall you demanding that the McCain's dip in to his wife's largess? Have I missed that sir?
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 7:19 PM
typo: . If the Clinton's had not given to charity that would be one thing but even their detractors should admit that giving 10% or $10 million is generous and apparently there were tax strategies that they legally could have used to reduce their tax rate from 31% that they refused to do. Shouldn't that be enough?
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 7:15 PM
Obama gave less than 1% to contributions and note that it was mostly to his church and Rev. Wright. Interesting?
Posted by: Hispana | April 4, 2008 7:13 PM
Hi. I hope that you are feeling well and wish you a good weekend.
But you miss the points about my posts regarding Obama and Rezko.
Its not about Obama's house, its about "Obama's Slums"
How can anyone support Barry Obama when he let the poorest of the poor who elected him in Chicago freeze in slums in his district his friend and campaign contributor Rezok got $100M to repair or replace?
Obama knew, but did nothing.
Before you send any more of your, or your parent's, hard earned money to Barry Obama --
Please Watch this report on Obama, Obama's slums, Rezko, and $100M of wasted taxpayer money, from NBC news, Chicago's most respected TV news program.
How do you explain away the fact that Barry Obama never followed up on the 11 slums that his friend Rezko was supposed to repair in Obama's district in Chicago, and continued to do nothing about the 40 slums that Rezko was supposed to repair or replace in Chicago, even after Obama joined the US Senate?
From the Chicago Sun Times:
For more than five weeks during the brutal winter of 1997, tenants shivered without heat in a government-subsidized apartment building on Chicago's South Side.
It was just four years after the landlords -- Antoin "Tony'' Rezko and his partner Daniel Mahru -- had rehabbed the 31-unit building in Englewood with a loan from Chicago taxpayers.
Rezko and Mahru couldn't find money to get the heat back on.
But their company, Rezmar Corp., did come up with $1,000 to give to the political campaign fund of Barack Obama, the newly elected state senator whose district included the unheated building....
The building in Englewood was one of 30 Rezmar rehabbed in a series of troubled deals largely financed by taxpayers. Every project ran into financial difficulty. More than half went into foreclosure, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation has found.
"Their buildings were falling apart,'' said a former city official. "They just didn't pay attention to the condition of these buildings.''
Eleven of Rezko's buildings were in Obama's state Senate district....
Rezko and Mahru had no construction experience when they created Rezmar in 1989 to rehabilitate apartments for the poor under the Daley administration. Between 1989 and 1998, Rezmar made deals to rehab 30 buildings, a total of 1,025 apartments. The last 15 buildings involved Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland during Obama's time with the firm.
Rezko and Mahru also managed the buildings, which were supposed to provide homes for poor people for 30 years. Every one of the projects ran into trouble:
* Seventeen buildings -- many beset with code violations, including a lack of heat -- ended up in foreclosure.
* Six buildings are currently boarded up.
* Hundreds of the apartments are vacant, in need of major repairs.
* Taxpayers have been stuck with millions in unpaid loans.
Posted by: svreader | April 4, 2008 7:11 PM
As for HRC and Bill's largesse, seems to me that they could donate more of that to their own campaign to make up the $500k-to-$3m difference in spending in PA, between themselves and Obama. Unless they realize that they're finished.
Or, of course, they much prefer spending other people's money to their own. (No way, a liberal wants to do THAT? I'm shocked)
Posted by: JD | April 4, 2008 7:11 PM
Their 2007 tax return is not due for filing until April 15 unless they pay in last year's estimate and then get an extension. That explains why it has yet to be released, mine is not complete as I imagine are at least 50% of American's tax returns.
Our resident CPA here says the return looks clean shouldn't that be enough?
How will that wealth play to blue collar voters? I don't recall Edward, John and especially Bobby Kennedy ever having problems with the poor and blue collar voters and the Clinton's wealth pales in comparison. In fact I recall Bobby especially being reveared in Appalachia, Scranton and Youngstown. If thinton's had not given to charity that would be one think but even his detractors should admit that 10% or $10 million is generous.
Could it be that they delayed as a strategy to have the Obama supporters beat up on them and then to show they were once again wrong about demonizing the Clintons? Otherwise I agree that they should be proud to show that they gave $10 million to charity and the wait made no sense at all. The Obama supporters don't want to hear this but I think they underestimate their decency and charity, perhaps this will give all of the Clinton haters pause to rethink their disrespect.
Shouldn't we ask the Obama family how much of their income they have given in the last 8 years to charity? Is that not a fair or reasonable question to ask?
Posted by: leichtman | April 4, 2008 7:10 PM
He said he would release them as soon as he became the nominee, but he hasn't yet.
Posted by: drindl | April 4, 2008 05:53 PM
Hey drindl, I know you're a hater, but I'm surprised that even you don't know that he isn't really 'the nominee' yet.
Or is this just grasping at straws to take yet another mis-aimed shot?
Posted by: JD | April 4, 2008 7:09 PM
Too much to do about nothing and I laugh at all of the hyper and mystery created by some of the media and a few of you here. Common sense tells anyone with any degree of intelligence that releasing all of these records would have been time consumming. But let's get to the facts here and that is they paid their taxes and were ver generous in contributions. Can Obama's camp deliver in the same fashion? Anyhow there is no comparison on the two and it should have been obvious from the beginning. So, what bone are they trying to pick now or invent?
It is so funny how a lot of you fail to realize that as a former President, Bill Clinton, like the others will benefit from a lot of speeches and appearances and will be paid well. If you insist on questionning his record, why don't you look at Jimmy Carter's.
As far as Hillary, she has a record established already of merging with middle America by her actions alone and no one can dispute this.
How about Obama, does his tal;k match his deeds?
This story is over, so let's move to the issues at hand and stop sidetracking which is the Obama camp's ploy to avoid the comparisons that with deeds Hillary is far above her competition!!!
Posted by: Hispana | April 4, 2008 7:09 PM
To those who'd like to believe that the Clintons haven't released their 2007 tax returns because they're somehow hiding something -- c'mon! Please, please, give it a rest. Go find some other sinister thing to imagine about the Clintons.
The tax returns of those who run some sort of business e.g., Bill Clinton, are complicated. The Clintons' are made even more complicated by their various trusts. Self-employed persons thus rely on accountants to prepare their tax returns, and many end up filing extensions because we're either still waiting on or gathering various info.
Posted by: femalenick | April 4, 2008 6:44 PM
"All his disclosures so far have done, is raise questions on why a campaign contributor would have a spouse buy an adjacent lot that the seller wanted sold in the deal, and the substantial price-cut on the Obama house."
That reads really confusing (probably because it makes no sense), but I sense what you are getting at. Again, if you have some moldy pseudo-scandal out there, at least get the story straight.
This is "fresh" from the WP, 12/17/2006
"In June 2005, in what Obama now describes as a 'boneheaded' mistake, Obama and Rezko's wife bought adjacent properties on Chicago's South Side, closing the deals on the same day. Seven months later, wanting a bigger yard for his $1.65 million house, Obama bought a slice of the Rezko property for $104,500.
After news of the deal broke last month in the Chicago Tribune, Obama said he had erred by creating the appearance that Rezko had done him a favor by selling him a portion of the lot. For the first time since he entered the national spotlight, the 45-year-old freshman senator found himself on the defensive, discussing a personal decision he had come to regret.
'There's no doubt that this was a mistake on my part. 'Boneheaded' would be accurate,' Obama said in a telephone interview Friday. 'There's no doubt I should have seen some red flags in terms of me purchasing a piece of property from him.'
Obama recently donated to charity $11,500 that Rezko had contributed to his federal campaign account."
Maybe the tinfoil on your head equates crimes with errors in judgment. Who knows. I'm sure that Senator Obama will be hearing this ancient myth trotted out in the coming months ad nauseam, and he will be as sick of hearing the Rezko nonsense as the rest of the informed public who has picked up a newspaper in the last year.
Then again, I'm sorry to have corrected you, because you will probably move on to the Obama-is-Muslim fairytales, now that your obvious error is pointed out.
Tell svreader I said hi.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 4, 2008 6:41 PM
What favors did the Billaries return for the money made in speeches ?
Posted by: svarada123 | April 4, 2008 6:25 PM
-- You have good reason to be sure of that, because he already has. --
All his disclosures so far have done, is raise questions on why a campaign contributor would have a spouse buy an adjacent lot that the seller wanted sold in the deal, and the substantial price-cut on the Obama house.
Sadly, there don't appear to be open personal-gain questions like those, on Hillary's comprehensive disclosure today...
Posted by: straightmedia | April 4, 2008 6:24 PM
Clinton campaign strategist and pollster Mark Penn, heads a firm that has been paid at least $10 million by the campaign so far -- and is also being paid by the government of Colombia to promote a trade deal that Hillary Rodham Clinton opposes, The Wall Street Journal writes today.
And on Monday, the Journal reports, Penn "met with Colombia's ambassador to the U.S." to discuss the free-trade agreement.
Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson tells the Journal that "Mark was not there on behalf of the campaign" and that "Sen. Clinton's opposition to the trade deal with Colombia is clear."
In response to the Journal story, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is already pointing to things the Clinton folks said back in March when they were up in arms over reports that an Obama adviser had discussed the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canadian officials. It was initially reported that the adviser, Austan Goolsbee, indicated to the Canadians that the anti-NAFTA sentiments of Obama and other Democrats were mostly political posturing. Later, both Canadian diplomats and the Obama campaign said Goolsbee did not send any such signal.
In March, Clinton discussed the reports about Goolsbee with reporters and said, as the Chicago Tribune blog The Swamp wrote, "substitute my name for Sen. Obama's name and see what you would do with this story. ... Just ask yourself (what you would do) if some of my advisers had been having private meetings with foreign governments."
Today, ABC News' Political Punch says the Journal's story about Penn is "awkward, to say the least," for the Clinton campaign. Marc Ambinder at TheAtlantic,com thinks "Penn's got trouble." David Knowles at AOL's Political Machine blog wonders whether "since Clinton knows that Penn is actively promoting a trade deal that she opposes, will she see fit to rid herself of Penn once and for all?"
Update at 1:15 p.m. ET. Penn apologizes for the meeting:
"The meeting was an error in judgment that will not be repeated and I am sorry for it," Penn says in a statement released a short time ago, the Associated Press reports. He adds that "the senator's well-known opposition to this trade deal is clear and was not discussed."
According to the AP, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said the candidate has not discussed the Colombian deal with Penn.
"Senator Clinton's opposition to the Colombian Trade Deal is clear and she will be voting against it," Singer said.
Posted by: svarada123 | April 4, 2008 6:23 PM
Wow, that is a lot of hot dogs (what the little people like myself are eating these days)
I wonder, with that amount of wealth, that Senator Clinton couldn't have given her campaign more money. She earned it, why can't she spend it on something she wants? At least I would know she is beholden to no one but herself.
of course, that didn't help Romney...
Posted by: corridorg4 | April 4, 2008 6:13 PM
Posted by: dslee25 | April 4, 2008 6:06 PM
Posted by: f.fox1212 | April 4, 2008 6:00 PM
I wonder if seeing the $100 million figure on the front page of every newspaper is going to make people feel compelled to continue donating to their campaign...
Posted by: thecrisis | April 4, 2008 6:00 PM
mnteng... the difference is whether you made your money working or investing. if you made it working, you pay more in taxes. that's just the simple fact of this country's taxation system.
It used to be different, not all that long ago. Money not earned by your blood, sweat and tears was considered 'unearned income' and taxed at a higher rate.
And as I mentioned on another thread, I bleive Guiliani makes this much in speaking fees also.
Posted by: drindl | April 4, 2008 5:58 PM
"I'm sure Barack, will now open up the books on his Resko-assisted upscale house purchase in Kenwood, IL"
You have good reason to be sure of that, because he already has.
If you're going to riff on stale scandal, at least get it right. His home purchase and the "grimy" details have been public knowledge for years.
You're an svreader meat puppet, by the way.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 4, 2008 5:58 PM
As a CPA and Obama supporter, I took a quick review of the Clinton 2006 tax return and I must say, it looks clean to me. In fact, I could quickly save them tens of thousands of dollars by getting them to take about $2,000,000 out of their CitiBank savings and applying it to their mortgage, assuming there are no prepayment penalties on the mortgage. Right now, over $100,000 of their annual mortgage interest exceeds allowable limits and is non-deductible. That would be so easy to remedy and lower their tax liability.
I see no story here unless the blue collar types in PA won't like the size of their income. But I must give credit to the Clintons for their openness. It's a bit confusing why they waited until now.
Posted by: optimyst | April 4, 2008 5:56 PM
And I have to add, the Clintons earned their money. Cindy's is all inherited.
Posted by: drindl | April 4, 2008 5:54 PM
Thanks for the clarification. I always figured that there were tax loopholes that rich people could take advantage of that aren't available to the rest of us. Nice to know that isn't always the case.
It's hard to imagine "earning" $50 million just from giving speeches. Wonder what that comes to per word ...
Posted by: mnteng | April 4, 2008 5:54 PM
.'I've got 8,000 people living downtown who don't want a bunch of puking Republican lobbyists on the streets at four in the morning.""
I think I'd like this Thune.
So now, where are McCain's returns? He said he would release them as soon as he became the nominee, but he hasn't yet. His wife is apparently worth in excess of $100 million, so maybe that's why.
Posted by: drindl | April 4, 2008 5:53 PM
* The Clinton paid nearly $34 million in taxes over the last seven years -- 31 percent of their adjusted gross income.
* Over the past seven years, the Clinton have given more than $10 million to charity -- 9.5 percent of their adjusted gross income,
As I tasked neophyte Obamaites for weeks - each time they went ape over "what is she hiding?"
TOLD YOU - nothing there. You learned nothing from Ken Starr?
Dept. of Why Obama Dupes Were Duped (again):
- Hillary, has been planning this run for president since the '99-'00 era. She doesn't put that at risk, with nefarious dealings to get rich on the sly.
- Had the Clinton's cared about money and personal gain over public service, they'd have stayed in private law practice - where they'd both have dominated with their degrees and intellects. Instead they went to public service, in their 20's. Both of them. Look at the garbage they've had heaped on them, for 2 decades now. Yet they soldier on.
The Clinton's were never wealthy, until the close of his presidency when they could start to sell books and command big speaking fees.
Which in turn, is also why they won't disappear now on low funds - as Brokaw suggested over the weekend. They obviously have major future- earnings power, and could borrow against it if they really had to.
I'm sure Barack, will now open up the books on his Resko-assisted upscale house purchase in Kenwood, IL...
Posted by: straightmedia | April 4, 2008 5:50 PM
Hill's current spam is more begging for money. I think one reason why they were so reluctant to release the tax returns is they didn't want likely donors to know that there is plenty more money where that $5 million loan came from.
From here on out, money is the defining narrative as both candidates play out the string. Hillary does not have the money to compete with Obama's media buys in all the remaining states, so everything the campaign currently has is going into one final push in PA. If she doesn't win there, the media money is gone for NC, IN, and Guam.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 4, 2008 5:49 PM
I little Friday afternoon humor for y'all.
As you may or may not know, St Paul, MN, host to this summer's GOP convention, is an extremely blue town, where blue means Democrat, though if you want to think of blue laws, that's not inaccurate. There's been some discussion to change bar time to 4 AM (which was recently lengthened to 2 AM) for the duration of the convention. This proposal has not been popular with everyone who has a say in the process, as reported by the MN Post:
"The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday that [St. Paul City Council member Dave] Thune said: "...I've got 8,000 people living downtown who don't want a bunch of puking Republican lobbyists on the streets at four in the morning.""
Posted by: bsimon | April 4, 2008 5:48 PM
He gave less than 1% of his money to charity.
But he was more than glad to give Rezko $100M of government conracts to fix up the slums of Chicago.
He just was too busy running for President to follow up on the work.
So people who voted Barry into office froze, and some of them froze to death.
Heck of a job, Barry!!!!
I wouldn't vote for the guy for dog-catcher!!!
Posted by: svreader | April 4, 2008 5:42 PM
To AverageJane... have you tried donating? I don't think so. Assuming that the more than $10m that the Clintons gave away are all tax deductible, then they still have given at least $7 million post tax. In no measure is this small. Regardless of the tax benefit, very few people can match the Clinton's generosity.
Posted by: CPCook | April 4, 2008 5:41 PM
Where are their 2007 returns? Why hold off on those?
Posted by: fatboysez | April 4, 2008 5:40 PM
Where are their 2007 returns? Why hold off on those?
Posted by: fatboysez | April 4, 2008 5:40 PM
mnteng: on the personal side the bush tax cuts slashed the rates on unearned income -- dividends, cap gains. This looks to be pretty much earned income (from speeches). It's hard to do much with that.
Posted by: Spectator2 | April 4, 2008 5:39 PM
Posted by: Spectator2 | April 4, 2008 5:37 PM
Wow... Very, very impressive. For many, income is a measure of success. If this measure is used, the Clintons are a successful couple. What is more impressive is the amount that they gave away to charity. Almost 10% over 7 years is amazing. No matter how the Obama camp spins this, I am now more impressed with the Clintons.
Many Obamaniacs would say that the Clintons were hesitant to release their tax records. I honestly did not care whether the Clintons released their tax records or not. It if it not required by law, then it is not required. Obama should have filed a bill to make it a requirement if he really believes that this is an issue. Of course, he was never in the senate to do any filing. Anyway, the Clintons had no reason to be ashamed of their returns. If at all, I am very envious of their success and generosity.
Posted by: CPCook | April 4, 2008 5:32 PM
This should shut up a few of the "Clinton Haters" bu
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Chris Cillizza joins washingtonpost.com as the author of a new politics blog called The Fix. Cillizza will provide daily posts on a range of political topics, from the race for control of Congress in 2006 to scrutinizing the 2008 presidential contenders.
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Parents Plead Not Guilty in Death
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OREGON CITY, Ore. -- A couple who tried to heal their dying daughter with prayer walked hand in hand into a crowded courtroom Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment.
Carl Brent Worthington, 28, and Raylene Marie Worthington, 25, are the first parents prosecuted since Oregon cracked down on faith-healing deaths almost a decade ago. If convicted, they could spend more than six years in prison.
The Worthingtons, members of Oregon City's Followers of Christ Church, barely spoke as Judge Kathie Steele explained the charges. In subdued voices, they answered "yes" and "yes, your honor" to acknowledge that they could face prison time. They remain free on $250,000 bonds. A trial is set for mid-June.
Their 15-month-old daughter, Ava Worthington, died at home March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection. Both conditions could have been treated with antibiotics, according to Christopher Young, a deputy state medical examiner.
Ava's breathing was further compromised by a benign four-inch cyst on her neck that had never been medically addressed, Young said.
The Followers of Christ, a nondenominational congregation with roots in the 19th-century Pentecostal movement, came under state scrutiny in the late 1990s after several church children died from medically treatable conditions. The deaths prompted state lawmakers to remove religious shield laws for parents who treat gravely ill children solely with prayer.
Between 1999, when the law took effect, and the time of the Worthington case, prosecutors found no significant medical neglect among Followers of Christ Church members.
A grand jury brought two charges against the Worthingtons: second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal mistreatment. The parents' "failure to provide medical care caused the death of their daughter; that's what the grand jury's charged them with," said Greg Horner, the chief deputy district attorney.
On Monday, the Worthingtons' attorneys said they were waiting to see reports and evidence in the case and would not comment on the charges.
"They're presumed innocent at this time, and we ask that no one prejudge them," said attorney John Neidig. "They have not had the time to breathe properly since this tremendous tragedy, and we hope to provide them with a little privacy and respect."
Of dozens of children buried since the 1950s in the Followers of Christ Church cemetery, at least 21 could have been saved by medical intervention, according to a 1998 analysis by the Oregonian newspaper. None of the deaths from that era resulted in prosecution.
According to church tradition, when members become ill, fellow worshipers pray and anoint them with oil. Former members say that those who seek modern medical remedies are ostracized.
Deaths associated with the church prompted a firestorm among lawmakers over religious freedom, parental rights and the state's responsibility to protect children. Oregon Sen. Peter Courtney (D) said that he hasn't heard of any cases since the law passed involving children who died because their parents chose prayer over medical care. "I really thought we'd resolved it," he said.
At the church-owned Carus Cemetery, fresh earth marked the spot where Ava was buried. Two large memorial ribbons lay against a fence. Adjacent to the site is a grave marker for "Baby Boy Worthington," dated 2001.
Officials declined to comment on how the boy was associated with the family or how he might have died.
Jessica Bruder and Dana Tims write for the Oregonian in Portland, Ore. Stuart Tomlinson contributed to this report.
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OREGON CITY, Ore. -- A couple who tried to heal their dying daughter with prayer walked hand in hand into a crowded courtroom Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment.
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At Sparkly Newseum, The Glory Of the Story Goes Above the Fold
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The new incarnation of the Newseum is dazzling, innovative and absorbing, a first-class addition to the capital's cultural institutions.
It is also, in some respects, an overpriced monument to journalistic self-glorification. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
A stroll around its six light-filled levels on Pennsylvania Avenue, with spectacular views of the Capitol and other majestic neighbors, reveals that it is actually a history museum disguised as a media retrospective. Eight giant, forbidding sections of the Berlin Wall -- stark concrete on the Communist side, graffiti-covered on the Western side -- are proof of that. Even without the accompanying exhibit, which describes how a Reuters correspondent named Adam Kellett-Long broke the story of the border's closing in 1961, it is a head-turning discovery.
History also oozes from the photos and videos that recall disasters from the Hindenburg explosion to the JFK assassination to 9/11. But none of these images is quite as heart-stopping as the spire of mangled, twisted steel that had been the communications tower atop the World Trade Center, or a huge limestone chunk of the Pentagon from the day of the attacks.
If the anchors, reporters, photographers and cameramen who recorded those seismic events are bathed in a warm glow, that is not by accident. "I don't shy away from the narrative that there is something heroic about the practitioners of a free press," says Charles Overby, chief executive of the Freedom Forum, which built the Newseum.
While he sees the $450 million venture, which opens Friday, taking a "warts and all" approach, the truth is that the warts are small and strategically tucked away. The uplifting aura that permeates the building seems at odds with the growing public distrust of the news business and the huge journalistic blunders that have pockmarked its reputation.
In a corner of one narrow exhibit case are panels devoted to out-and-out liars: Janet Cooke of The Washington Post, Stephen Glass of the New Republic, Jayson Blair of the New York Times and Jack Kelley of USA Today. Each gets a paragraph or so. So does Judith Miller, whose badly flawed Times reports on Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction are briefly described under the headline "When Anonymous Sources Are Wrong." Media critic Bernard Goldberg's book "Bias" graces another case, along with a picture of a protesters' banner: "No More Media Lies!" And there are a series of mistaken headlines, from newspapers prematurely awarding the 2000 election to George W. Bush to the botched New York Post scoop that John Kerry had picked Dick Gephardt as his running mate.
That, and a couple of skeptical films, are about it.
Far more common are the journalist-as-hero exhibits, such as the one devoted to Watergate and John Mitchell's infamous quote about how Katharine Graham, the late Washington Post owner, would get a sensitive part of her anatomy caught in a big fat wringer if the paper published a story tying him to the criminal conspiracy. The paint-peeling Watergate hotel door that led to the burglars' capture is there, along with a monitor showing reports on the scandal by the likes of Walter Cronkite and John Chancellor.
Media buffs will enjoy such artifacts as Thomas Paine's writing desk, a spike used by the irascible columnist H.L. Mencken and pens wielded by the great Post cartoonist Herblock, not to mention the first satellite truck, rolled out in Minneapolis in 1984. And it's hard to miss the news helicopter that hangs over the vast atrium, along with a replica of a communications satellite (the actual ones tend to wind up being destroyed). The place is more than three times the size of the old Newseum in Rosslyn, which closed in 2002 after a five-year run.
There is the shock value of the bomb-damaged white Datsun in which Arizona reporter Don Bolles was killed in 1976, but also the whimsy of powder-blue slippers worn by the original Wonkette (Ana Marie Cox) at the 2004 Democratic convention.
As the footwear suggests, the Newseum is capable of striking lighter notes -- what other building would proudly display the 1983 New York Post headline "Headless Body in Topless Bar"? -- that prevent the experience from resembling a high school lecture. The same goes for a monitor playing comedic sendups of media types, including Dan Aykroyd's immortal line, "Jane, you ignorant slut."
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The new incarnation of the Newseum is dazzling, innovative and absorbing, a first-class addition to the capital's cultural institutions.
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King and Kerner: An Unfinished Agenda
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America has had much to reflect upon during the approach of the interrelated 40th anniversaries of the final report of the Kerner Commission, the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the round of riots that followed in Washington, Baltimore, Chicago and well over 100 other cities across the nation. We have heard Sen. Barack Obama's insightful speech on race and the reactions it provoked. Today, unfortunately, Dr. King's dream remains deferred.
Former senator Fred R. Harris and I are the two surviving members of President Lyndon Johnson's National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (the formal name of the commission chaired by then-Illinois Gov. Otto Kerner). Our commission concluded that black frustration grew out of underrepresentation in the political system, the police, the media and all other aspects of American life. We urged new investments in jobs, schools and housing. We declared that poverty, inequality and segregation in the racial ghetto had created a destructive environment totally unknown to most white Americans. We avowed that white America had created and maintained the ghetto and that white society condoned it. These were strong words, but we believed that the truth needed telling.
I thought (and believe others did as well) that President Johnson would applaud our painstaking analysis and support our recommendations. But the president who had done so much for civil rights distanced himself from our findings. He did not invite us to the White House for the report's release, as was customary, nor did he embrace its recommendations.
In retrospect, I can see that our report was too strong for him to take. It suggested that all of his great achievements -- his civil rights legislation, his anti-poverty program, Head Start, housing legislation and all the rest of the Great Society -- had been only a beginning. We asked him, in an election year, to endorse the idea that white America bore much of the responsibility for black rioting and rebellion. However true that might have been, the message was politically too hot to handle.
Members of our commission could scarcely have envisioned the strides African Americans have made since the report's release or conceived of the growing numbers, progress and influence of Hispanic Americans.
With the ascendancy of an African American contender for the presidency, dispassionate observers might gasp at how far we have come in two generations. The achievements in business, entertainment, sports and politics that black and Hispanic Americans have made are notable, but not for their exception.
Yet, despite the visibility of accomplished African Americans and Hispanics and the progress in race relations that has been made in this country, for America's poor -- those who do not know what health care is because for them it doesn't exist, those for whom prison is a more likely prospect than college, those who have been abandoned to the worst of decaying, crime-ridden urban centers because of the flight of middle-class blacks, whites and Hispanics -- the future may be as bleak as it was for their counterparts in the 1960s.
The core conditions that the Kerner Commission identified as key contributors to civil unrest are as prevalent, if not as virulent, today as they were 40 years ago. The lack of affordable, safe housing and the absence of jobs or hope for the future have confined even more of our citizens to an eerily familiar world that not so long ago gave rise to cities in flames.
Until we root out and eradicate the conditions that cultivate generations in deprivation and despair, we are bound to harvest a bitter crop.
Fulfilling Dr. King's dream will require economic and health security, worker empowerment, job training and retraining, job creation, and high-quality education for the minority poor as well as neglected blue-collar workers and the anxious middle class.
The Eisenhower Foundation -- of which I was a trustee for many years -- recently released a strategy to this end. A new movement for a Fair Economic Deal based on a coalition of these citizens could become the basis for creating what the Kerner Commission called "new will."
If political will can be changed over the long run, perhaps we can begin to address even more difficult issues -- such as how to return to racial integration, how to take on corporate and lobbyist control of the political process, how to enact real campaign finance reform, and how to reverse media consolidation.
We have come far, but we still have so far to go. Let us not wait until another anniversary, whether a decade or even another year, to get there.
Edward W. Brooke, a Republican from Massachusetts, was the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.
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On the eve of the 40th anniversary of his death, Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is still deferred.
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A Pacific but Impatient Man
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Below are excerpts from those editorials.
A Cruel and Wanton Act
... Those who are responsible for this vile deed have killed an unoffending, God-fearing and innocent man of great goodwill; they have also killed something in the spirit and heart of the American people where lived the bright hope for reconciliation between the races.
That hope will be resurrected, because it cannot be utterly extinguished even by so wanton and dastardly a deed. It is possible to kill men like Martin Luther King, but the ideas for which they stand are not mortal or destructible....
Let this crime become the occasion for uniting the Negro and white community on behalf of the principles of social justice, racial equality and nonviolence. It would be the last and final and ultimate repudiation of everything for which Martin Luther King stood if it were to arouse racial hatred and excite the kind of violence that he deplored.
To each generation of mankind is given one or two rare spirits, touched by some divinity, who see visions and dream dreams. Committed to something outside themselves and beyond the orbit of ordinary lives, they serve their fellow-men as the movers and leaders of social change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of these, a man whose extraordinary gifts were committed to humanity. Perhaps his tragic death was the means requisite to make real the purpose of his life....
He was a pacific man but an impatient one; and his impatience was the mark of his humanity. He burned with indignation at the indignities and humiliations and injustices that were the common lot of Negroes in the South and at the frustrations and inequalities and poverty that were their portion in the North....
The only true tribute to Martin Luther King, lover of life and lover of mankind, is a renewed dedication to his dream. He belongs now to all of us. The rich legacy he leaves can be enjoyed only as it is shared by all men alike.
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Excerpts from Post editorials of 40 years ago on Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy.
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Oprah Watch, Week 1
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I figured it was time to check in on things Monday night over at Oprah's New Earth, the weekly web seminar (webinar!) the TV host is giving on the spiritual teachings of Eckhart Tolle.
When I logged on to live webcast, I found Oprah, Tolle and several hundred thousand people in the midst of a spiritual revival. Oprah meditated! She read a poem! She recalled childhood beatings! Something is going on over there at oprah.com and it is not to be ignored, I thought, and at that moment my screen froze and I couldn't get back on the web for 12 hours. Strange!
Oprah said that they've had nearly 11 million streams and downloads from around the world, a fact she finds uplifting. When she closed her eyes and meditated with the gentle, porcine faced Tolle on my computer screen in real time and talked about the holiness of the present, well I got this tingly feeling, like Philip K. Dick is writing our future after all.
This week's webinar focused on ideas of "the pain body," and Oprah and her callers worked through releasing themselves from the accumulated negativity of the past. Last week, Oprah thanked her audience for "giving time to yourself," which is a sweet new way to say thank you for watching my show. She said that it was her deepest hope "that our collective conscious will begin to make a powerful transformation not only in our individual lives but in the future of our planet."
Sure, there seems to be a lot of talk about weight loss and sexism which seem a distraction from awakening to the holiness of the present. And sure, there seems to be a lot of focus on Oprah and what she's been through and what she's thinking and feeling. But listening to the numbers and watching people from around the world call in on Skype with their heartfelt, earnest questions for Oprah and Tolle, you could start to see how this is kind of real, that this may indeed be a New Earth, where Oprah is a spiritual leader and the web is not only a time suck but a portal to a community where lives are changed.
Or not? More next week, on Oprah Watch!
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On Faith is an innovative, provocative conversation on all aspects of religion with best selling author Jon Meacham of Newsweek and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. Keep up-to-date on global religious developments with On Faith.
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One Alaskan Village Under God
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MINTO, Alaska â This is the tale of two churches. And one Alaskan village. And a road trip with an Episcopal priest.
I met the Rev. Bessie C. Titus at the Chena River Convention Center in Fairbanks. Bessie was sitting behind a laptop at a registration booth next to a table where beaded wallets, beaver skin hats and other native crafts were being sold.
Ten minutes into our conversation about faith, Bessie suggested I visit a village in Alaska's interior. I jumped at the opportunity.
The drive to Minto winds into the Alaskan Interior over mountain passes with blowing snow, icy pavement, steep hills, and semi-trucks hauling supplies to Prudoe Bay. Roads are few. There are Moose, bears and other animals.
I was traveling with a priest, I reassured myself. How bad could it be?
On the way to Minto, we went over some particulars. Some 180 people live in the village, said Bessie. Most who live there are descendants of Athabaskan Indians. The elders speak Athabaskan as well as English.
The journey to Minto climbs through mountain passes, along snowy ridges, through marshes, and past stubbly fields of stunted pine trees. About two hours out of Fairbanks, you turn off the highway and head for the hills on a gravel road for 40 minutes. Along the way, men can be seen unloading dogs from a vented truck and hitching them to a sled. Occasionally, Bessie would point out a trailhead or a hot spring.
Rolling into town, we passed the cemetery where Bessieâs parents are buried, the air strip, log cabins, and then the new Worship Center.
Two unique events in the spiritual life of the town helped give birth to the worship center.
First, a spiritual revival swept the townâs young people in the early 1970s. Bessie remembered it started when a young man came to talk with them about his personal experience with God. He talked so compellingly and so directly about his relationship with God, she said. After that, it was like the town just caught fire with the Holy Spirit.
Bessie first introduced me to a room filled with about 30 people in the community hall then took me to the home of Bergman and Sarah Silas, where a handful of us talked around the Silases' kitchen table.
âThere was a great mood of the Spirit in the 70s in this village,â said Pauline âPollyâ Simmonds. âWhen we say a mood of the Holy Spirit, it was just a sovereign outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the people, where a transformation took place. We were once like this,â she said, spreading her hands wide to illustrate a great distance between two points. âAnd (then with) that transformation, we suddenly realized there needed to be a change in here,â she said putting a hand over her heart.
Young people walked down the street saying, âPraise Jesus!â Sarah Silas said. People couldn't seem to get enough of church. All eight of her children âgot saved.â Five people from that time period were ordained in the Episcopal church as a result of the spiritual awakening, including Bessie and Sarahâs husband Bergman.
âI was just hungry, I wanted to get more, more of whatâs coming,â said Bergman. âThatâs where I tried to trust the Lord in what Iâm doing.â
The spiritual renewal also led to a deep soul-searching about the role of the communityâs two churches, and Episcopal and and Assembly of God church.
Richard Simmonds, Pollyâs husband and a retired Episcopal priest, said villagers often attended the Episcopal church in the morning and the Assembly of God church in the evening.
The Assembly of God minister left, and the Episcopals needed a new building. So the two churches decided to unite under one interfaith worship center. Now both services are held at the worship center, which is open to all Bible-based faiths.
âWe believe we worship one God through Jesus Christ. Thatâs all we believe. We donât believe in denominations,â said Sarah Silas, explaining how the Interfaith Worship Center works. âAs long as they preach the word of God theyâre OK.â
Still, no longer belonging to one denomination feels unsettling to some.
âItâs like we have no store hours,â said Bergman. âItâs like weâre just on our own. ⦠Thereâs some of us that still want to be (Episcopal). âFor me, my mother, my father, my grandfather, all of them,â all were Episcopal.
âWeâve got to have something,â he said. âI want to gift to my church, and it bothers me.â
On my way to meet Bessie for our trip back to Fairbanks, Richard took me by the new church.
The worship center is large and airy. Ample natural light streams through its windows and reflects off clear-varnished logs. A rabbiâs stole covers the lectern. Ram horns and a Jewish flag hang on the wall. A native drum rests in one corner. Quilts proclaiming Jesus hang on the wall.
It is an open space, reminiscent of the Alaskan wilderness outside the village -- spare, clean and uncluttered.
Bessie sees this church as a holy space, one filled with the Holy Spirit like that first miracle that descended on Minto in the early 1970s.
"Did you feel anything in the church?" she asked me as we pulled out of the village.
I had been there to take photos and do a story. But the question made me think about something Sarah had said, something that indicated the community's deep commitment to faith and to the future.
âWe believe that the Lord will pour out his spirit on Minto and the whole village will get saved. We believe that and weâll never give up. Weâre still expecting that miracle by faith,â she said.
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On Faith is an innovative, provocative conversation on all aspects of religion with best selling author Jon Meacham of Newsweek and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. Keep up-to-date on global religious developments with On Faith.
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http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/sami_moubayed/2008/04/too_late_to_talk_peace_with_ha.html
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Too Late to Talk Peace With Hamas
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"Vice President Dick Cheney said last week that Hamas is doing all it can to torpedo the Mideast peace process -- but Ephraim Halevy, former head of Mossad, thinks it's time to include the Islamist group in peace talks. Who's right?" This is the question posted to panelists by PostGlobal.
I think that it is now too late to talk peace with Hamas. 2005 would have been good. 2006 would have been perfect. But not anymore. Not in 2007-2008.
One reason is that Hamas is no longer interested. When elected with a sweeping majority, the Gaza-based Hamas leadership was dying for international recognition -- not as guerrilla warriors but as statesmen. The same thing had happened back in 1974 to Yasser Arafat, where he went to the United Nations to market himself as both a peacemaker and war-maker, raising the famous, "I come to you carrying an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Don't let the olive branch fall from my hand."
Arafat never believed that sentence, not for a single moment. This is what he needed to say, however, to restore bits and pieces of Palestine. Arafat was fighting for a just cause, and sick and tired of being treated like an A-class terrorist by the international community. He knew he could never destroy Israel and return to the Palestine of 1948. He raised this slogan right after the War of 1967 to legitimize himself in the eyes of ordinary Palestinians, and then to negotiate something more reasonable with Israel. He couldn't do the latter without war medals: He needed to show the Israelis that the Palestinians existed, were under his leadership, and were willing to go to dramatic means to get themselves heard outside their own borders.
This is the period that produced the Karameh Battle of 1969, the Dawson Airfield hijackings of 1970, the Munich massacre of 1972, and the war of attrition through South Lebanon. Arafat succeeded in attaining getting recognition for the Palestinians and went on to the UN in 1974, but was unable to come across as a peacemaker until after the Madrid Peace Conference (to which he was not invited because of his support for Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War).
Much of the Arafat story applies to Hamas. When Arafat signed the Oslo Peace Accords in 1993, many criticized his wisdom. But nobody in the Palestinian street questioned his nationalism. Nobody said that he was a traitor -- and with time, people accepted what Arafat had done out of helplessness rather than conviction. He would famously tell his aides, "See this hand? (while waving his right hand)...Only this hand can sign peace with the Israelis!" That became all the more clear after his death in 2004. Nobody in the Palestinian street had the legitimacy of Yasser Arafat except Hamas. They had fought, suffered, led, and preached the most for Palestine since their inception in the late 1980s.
Abu Mazen (current President Mahmud Abbas) had absolutely no war medals to boast of, just his signature on the much hated Oslo Accords. The same applied to then Prime Minister Ahmad Qurai (Abu Alaa) and other Fatah celebrities like Saeb Erekat, Nabil Shaath, and Yasser Abd Rabbo. The only Fatah heavyweights who had the legitimacy to talk and sign peace then get away with it were Marwan Barghouti (who was in jail) and Farouk Qaddumi (Abu al-Lutf), who was in exile in Tunis.
Hamas's leaders on the other hand were uncorrupted. They had an unblemished record (even finer than Arafat's when he went to Oslo). They had plenty of war medals.
At the time, there was the possibility of progress because Israel had its own heavyweight, Ariel Sharon, who also had plenty of war medals. Both he and Hamas had enough legitimacy to sign peace. Things changed when Sharon was incapacitated and replaced by Ehud Olmert, who made things all the more difficult by going to war-and not winning-in Lebanon in 2006.
Meanwhile, rather than engage with Hamas, the international community, headed by the US, isolated the Islamic movement. They failed to see that had Hamas signed or even talked peace back in 2006, then it would have produced a Palestinian resistance movement with no resistance. Earlier parties like the PFLP and DFLP are now history. Islamic Jihad is nowhere as influential or organized as Hamas. Fatah is ruined without Arafat.
All of this topped with a Hamas talking peace -- and thereby relinquishing its arms -- would have been in Israel's best interest. Government office for Hamas brought along with it responsibility to bring security and better services to the Palestinians. Government office also brought with it restrictions on what the ruling party could or could not do. It could no longer fire missiles into Israel. And for the first 10 months of Hamas's tenure, indeed not a single Hamas attack took place on the Jewish state.
The international community failed to realize that there were two schools within the Hamas command. One was headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya. This pragmatic school wanted to do what was needed to get a state up and running. If it meant recognizing the Israelis, then so be it. Haniyya realized that Hamas won the elections because it promised better security, better jobs, and higher wages. He promised to end the occupation, combat unemployment, offer better education, and pay higher wages in the civil service. He could do none of that while the Palestinians were in a state of war with Israel. He had too much luggage on his shoulders however, given his background and ideology, to come out and say, "I come to you carrying an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun." The Israelis and the Americans should have searched for a honorable formula for him to talk peace -- or make peace -- with maximal face-saving. He was willing to do so long as the Palestinian street did not perceive him as having said, "Uncle!"
On the other hand, there exists another school in Hamas, not based in Gaza, that calls for radicalization and refusal to recognize the Israelis. This school is headed by leaders like Khaled Meshaal. Haniyya lives in Gaza and realizes because of daily interaction how difficult it is for ordinary Palestinians. Meshaal lives far away -- in the comfort of Damascus and Doha -- making his understanding of the Palestinian street somewhat limited. Meshaal was not interested in running a state. He had a resistance to lead and wanted Hamas to concentrate on what it knew how to do best: waging war on Israel. Anything short of that would only divert the Islamic group's attention and waste its resources.
Israel should have favored people like Haniyya. Instead it preferred to deal with people like Meshaal, who justify hard-line policies. The Olmert government does not want peace with the Palestinians. But if they get a Palestinian prime minister who talks of nothing but peace every single day, this makes it difficult for them to turn a blind eye to him. Dealing with somebody like Meshaal is easier, more secure, and more familiar for the IDF.
After what happened in Gaza in 2007, nobody in Hamas can or would talk of a peace settlement with Israel. In addition to being no longer interested, they simply would be unable to push through with such a deal in the Palestinian street. Having been unable to provide jobs, food, or security, to their constituency, they no longer had the Arafat-like legitimacy that they enjoyed in 2005-2006.
Please e-mail PostGlobal if you'd like to receive an email notification when PostGlobal sends out a new question.
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PostGlobal features David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria and other international figures in debates on global news and politics. Stay on top of international news and join the conversation at PostGlobal.
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http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/michael_young/2008/04/dont_push_hamas_to_the_table.html
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Don't Push Hamas to the Table
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2008040319
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Rather than debate whether it's time to negotiate with Hamas, the real question is "negotiate over what?" Until that answer becomes clear, the idea of negotiating just for the sake of negotiating would be a waste of time, and would probably only lead to an escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. There is a spectre haunting diplomatic groupthink today in the United States, particularly among critics of the Bush administration. It holds that where there is a problem, there must be American and international "engagement." A problem with Iran? Engage Iran. With Syria? Engage Syria. Blockage in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations? Well, let's try something different and talk to Hamas. But almost never does anyone think this through. Talk to Hamas about what? Indeed, what does Hamas care to talk about? No one ever credibly explains that part. Instead, we are presented with this proposition: Hamas may not be sincere in wanting peace with Israel, but until we talk to the movement we won't know. But that vacuous argument comes with stringent costs. If states engage Hamas today, then they can say goodbye to Fatah and to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Is that desirable? Negotiating with Hamas will also in many ways mean indirectly negotiating with Iran and Syria, and neither has any interest in encouraging Hamas to give up violence. Does the international community really want to bargain with Iran and Syria to resolve the Palestinian conflict? Do Damascus and Tehran have any aim other than to use Palestinians to advance their own agendas? Is that dependency where everyone wants to push the Palestinians? Also, what do those engaging Hamas get in exchange for doing so? After all, Hamas would be rewarded by recognition; but what would it be willing to give up?
The obvious answer is that it must at least recognize Israel's right to exist, in the same way that the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan did when the Madrid process began in 1991. But for the international community in general, and the United States in particular, to avoid imposing on Hamas the condition of recognition that it imposed on the PLO in the past seems absurd. To accept a long-term truce as a sufficient condition to engage Hamas is no progress at all, particularly if Hamas uses that truce to overwhelm its adversaries inside Palestinian society and build up its weapons stocks for a long-term military struggle against Israel. Both goals are consistent with Hamas' rhetoric until now, which, bizarrely, the "engagers" never bother to take very seriously. In fact, if recognition is not set as a minimal condition to engage Hamas, this would only confirm that the international community hasn't a clue about the endgame in Palestinian-Israeli talks. Why? Because placing the ill-defined gesture of talking above the substantive matter of recognizing the other party means that Hamas has nothing to lose by continuing to deny recognition. If Hamas is invited to the table despite refusing to offer recognition, if that invitation allows it to become the most powerful, in fact the sole, representative of the Palestinian people, then why should Hamas offer recognition at all, particularly if its strategy is precisely what the movement says it is: to regain the whole of Palestine for the Palestinians? The idea of "talking" has become a fetish. America and the international community must talk to its enemies and all will be well, is the proliferating belief. But talking without a clear sense of purpose underpinning those talks will only hearten those on the other side who have unequivocal goals very different than those of the "engagers." It will also undercut those Palestinians who have shown a willingness to arrive at a peace deal acceptable to all. Israel has given them absolutely nothing in terms of encouragement. But pushing Hamas to the table is hardly the way to improve things.
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PostGlobal features David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria and other international figures in debates on global news and politics. Stay on top of international news and join the conversation at PostGlobal.
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Airline Safety Alarms Unheeded
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Federal aviation safety inspectors told members of Congress yesterday that they repeatedly ran into roadblocks when trying to report oversight lapses that allowed Southwest Airlines last year to operate passenger flights with planes in need of key safety checks.
Those problems demonstrate weakness in the Federal Aviation Administration's efforts to ensure safety at all airlines, the inspector general for the Transportation Department told lawmakers. Since it was disclosed last month that Southwest kept flying dozens of planes in need of inspections for fuselage cracks, four carriers have grounded more than 500 planes and canceled hundreds of flights to conduct inspections or make required repairs.
The FAA's reliance on airlines to voluntarily disclose safety issues "promotes a pattern of excessive leniency at the expense of effective oversight and appropriate enforcement," Inspector General Calvin L. Scovel told the House Transportation Committee yesterday.
Several FAA inspectors described their struggles in trying to get their superiors and other inspectors to take tougher stances with Southwest. Instead of taking prompt regulatory action, their bosses tried to find ways to help Southwest avoid sanctions, they testified.
When they attempted to report those issues to officials higher up the FAA chain of command, they were harassed, threatened and even punished, they said.
They also said the FAA had gone from aggressively regulating airlines to treating them like customers or clients. Lawmakers and outside safety experts have expressed similar worries about regulators' coziness with the carriers.
One inspector, Douglas E. Peters, said his experience proved that there "was evidence that FAA management personnel with the responsibility and the authority to take appropriate action proved themselves unworthy of being custodians of the public trust."
Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the committee, said issues raised by the inspectors represented the "most egregious lapse of safety I have seen in the last 23 years."
"The FAA would have us believe that what took place was an isolated incident," Oberstar said. "But . . . this was a systematic breakdown of the safety oversight role of the FAA."
FAA officials have said the problems with Southwest appeared to be unique, and a recent audit revealed that airlines were complying with 99 percent of safety directions. Four unidentified carriers are under investigation for not complying with directives, the FAA has said.
The groundings and inspection errors are coming to light during the safest period in the history of U.S. commercial aviation. There has been only one major fatal commercial jet crash in the United States since late 2001. Even the sharpest critics of the FAA's oversight, including Oberstar, have said that air travelers should not be afraid to get on passenger planes.
The FAA's top safety officer, Nicholas A. Sabatini, apologized to lawmakers yesterday for his agency's mishandling of the Southwest inspection debacle. He promised that investigators were trying to get to the bottom of what occurred. "I consider what happened to be egregious," Sabatini said, adding that the whistle-blowing inspectors were heroes.
Scovel, the inspector general, told lawmakers that the FAA relied too heavily on airlines to report problems under a program that encourages voluntary disclosure of safety dangers. In exchange for reporting such issues and quickly fixing them, airlines often avoid punishment. Scovel said that the Southwest lapses were "symptomatic of much deeper problems with FAA oversight."
Last month -- a year after the original problems at Southwest -- the FAA fined the carrier $10.2 million for the missed safety checks and for continuing to fly the planes even after the airline learned that it had missed the inspections.
Southwest Chairman Herbert D. Kelleher and chief executive Gary C. Kelly both testified that safety was never compromised by the missed inspections. They noted that the missed inspections dealt only with a tiny section of the planes' skin, where cracking would likely not have led to a catastrophic accident.
Still, Kelleher and Kelly said the planes should have been taken out of service when the airline learned that they had missed the inspections. Kelly called the incident a "black eye" on the airline's safety record.
The inspectors who testified yesterday said Southwest's compliance lapses stemmed from the lax attitude of their supervisor in their Dallas office, Douglas Gawadzinski. He seemed to be too close to the management of Southwest and believed in treating the airline as a customer or client, not a business to be regulated, they said.
Gawadzinski, who continues to work for the FAA in another job, could not be reached for comment. FAA officials would not discuss possible punishment, but Scovel said the agency had considered reducing his compensation by two pay grades.
Charalambe Boutris, an inspector credited with helping expose the troubles in the Dallas office, said the problems appeared in 2003 when he noticed that Southwest's documentation of fleet-wide engine maintenance was "inconsistent."
He said he tried to get Gawadzinski to issue a letter of investigation to Southwest, a step considered a stiff regulatory action, but Gawadzinski refused. Still, the inspector said he was able to get Southwest to fix the way it tracks engine maintenance records.
In March 2007, Southwest discovered that dozens of its Boeing 737s had gone months without required inspections for cracks in their skins. Southwest was then improperly given permission by Gawadzinski to keep those planes in service.
Undiscovered cracks on planes "could have resulted in a sudden fracture . . . which would have had a catastrophic impact during flight," said Boutris, who learned the planes were still flying only when he came upon one being repaired at a Chicago airport.
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Federal aviation safety inspectors told members of Congress yesterday that they repeatedly ran into roadblocks when trying to report oversight lapses that allowed Southwest Airlines last year to operate passenger flights with planes in need of key safety checks.
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Human Traces Found to Be Oldest in N. America
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Scientists have found and dated the oldest human remnants ever uncovered in the Americas -- a discovery that places people genetically similar to Native Americans in Oregon more than 14,000 years ago and 1,000 years earlier than previous estimates.
Using radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis, an international team concluded that fossilized feces found five feet below the surface of an arid cave are significantly older than any previous human remains unearthed in the Americas.
The samples were discovered near a crude dart or spear tip chiseled from obsidian, as well as bones of horses and camels that were then common in the region. The researchers described their finding as a "smoking gun" in the long-running debate over when and where humans first inhabited the New World.
"What's so exciting here is that we have cells from real people, their DNA, rather than samples of their work or technologies," said Dennis Jenkins of the University of Oregon, who oversaw the dig. "And we have them on the Oregon landscape 1,000 years before what used to be the earliest samples of human remains in the Americas."
The discovery, published yesterday in the online edition of the journal Science, is a blow to the widely held theory that the Clovis culture -- named after a site in New Mexico where its distinct artifacts and fluted spearheads were first identified in the 1930s -- was the first human presence in North America. Jenkins said that while the human DNA found in Oregon could be from ancestors of the Clovis culture, none of the distinctive Clovis technology has been found in the region.
The "Clovis first" theory has been challenged by almost a decade of discoveries from Canada to the southern tip of South America that indicate that humans were present before the time of the Clovis civilization, generally dated at about 13,000 years ago. But yesterday's report is considered key because it is the first to involve datable human DNA.
The discovery, however, is not without its critics. The cave has been excavated in the past, leading some to wonder whether the newly found samples were contaminated and mixed with other material. In addition, some of the fossilized feces, called coprolites, contain canine DNA.
"I don't think we know for sure whether these are dog coprolites or human," said Gary Haynes, an anthropologist at the University of Nevada. "We know that Native Americans have used these sites for centuries, and so their DNA could have gotten into the older dog feces through urination."
The team rejects this possibility, saying there is too much human protein in the oldest coprolites to be explained by later activities. The team also says the presence of human hair in the coprolites makes it almost irrelevant whether they came from humans or dogs, because the two appeared to be living together.
If the discovery is ultimately confirmed and accepted by anthropologists, it will also challenge the prevailing theory about how humans spread across the Americas.
Most experts agree that the first American inhabitants came from Siberia, traveling over what was then a land and ice bridge across the Bering Strait to what is now Alaska, probably before 15,000 years ago. Much of Canada was then covered by an ice sheet that would have made it impossible to migrate southward.
Using geological and climate information, researchers have concluded that a corridor of ice-free land opened in inland Canada between 13,000 and 12,000 years ago, and that the earliest inhabitants could have made their way to the high plains of the United States by that path. Humans are believed to have then spread quickly across North America and then South America -- doing so in hundreds, rather than thousands, of years.
But if very early humans lived in Oregon, that suggests they either came directly from Asia by boat or traveled down the Pacific coastline after crossing the land bridge.
While the origin of the newly discovered human DNA is an inevitable source of jokes, researchers say coprolites are an important reservoir of historical genetic information that can be mined with increasing sophistication. Fourteen samples of the feces were sent to the University of Copenhagen for DNA analysis, and six were found to have human DNA. Using coprolites also avoids the sensitive issue of whether Native American skeletal remains should be exhumed and studied.
According to DNA specialist Eske Willerslev, an author of the paper, the newfound DNA was of a distinct Native American grouping -- similar to some early people from Central Asia, but different in some important ways. He said that because the DNA samples were broken and as a result hard to read, the researchers could not be more specific about the genetic makeup of the people. He said he sent samples to DNA labs in Sweden and Germany that came back with the same results.
The fossilized waste was found in 2002 and 2003 in one of eight caves and covered ledges along a ridge near Paisley in south-central Oregon. (It is considered fossilized not because it is petrified but because it is ancient and was found underground.) The site was first studied in the 1930s as a home to early humans, but at the time researchers' ability to analyze their finds was far more limited than it is today.
Jenkins said the feces were easy to identify. In the thin, fine dirt, he said, the fossilized coprolites were unmistakable. "Basically, it looks like what it is: poop," he said. "Dried up like that, it maintains its shape and is very different from the surrounding soil."
Using more-controlled excavation methods, Jenkins and his team have dug up other samples that will also undergo radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis.
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Scientists have found and dated the oldest human remnants ever uncovered in the Americas -- a discovery that places people genetically similar to Native Americans in Oregon more than 14,000 years ago and 1,000 years earlier than previous estimates.
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FixCam: McCain's Big "Secret" Is Out
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On day three of his re-introduction tour, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made some unexpected news by telling radio talk show host Don Imus that the search for a running mate is already under way.
"We just started this process, getting together a list of names, and having them looked at," McCain told Imus in an early morning radio interview.
And, from that one simple comment grew a media firestorm. A search of "McCain" and "Imus" on Google News last night produced more than 350 news articles on the Arizona Senator's comments.
So, what do you need to know about where things stand when it comes to McCain's veep search?
1. OF COURSE, it is already going on. The accumulation of names and the early vetting of potential candidates -- no matter what McCain's folks say -- has probably been going on for week if not months.
2. McCain acknowledged the obvious in his chat with Imus -- that due to his advanced age his vice presidential pick will be more closely watched than the usual selection. Hello Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.) and Sen. John Thune (S.D.)! (Both men are 47.)
3. Anyone claiming to know who might be on that short list is fooling you. In general when it comes to the veepstakes, those who know aren't talking. So, take everything you hear over the next few months with a bit of skepticism in mind.
4. Did someone say speculating about the veepstakes? You can find The Fix's latest speculation in the most recent Friday Line.
By Chris Cillizza | April 3, 2008; 1:30 PM ET | Category: FixCam Previous: Obama's $40 Million Haul (And What It Means) | Next: Wag the Blog Redux: Clinton in Bosnia
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My dark-horse candidate: Joe Lieberman.
Posted by: Ed | April 8, 2008 3:41 PM
Senator McCain will choose someone whom he believes will help him win. That will probably be someone younger and healthier. Dick Cheyney? Maybe this was meant to be a joke, like Phyllis Diller. Remember this guy's had several heart surgeries, for starters. He's also not very popular, as the last posting implies. Finally, McCain is smart enough to know that he'll have to at least try to distance himself from GWB. Only the most paranoid among us could believe Cheyney will "no doubt" be the choice. It's far more likely to be a Democrat than the current VP.
Posted by: rmpatera | April 5, 2008 12:03 PM
No doubt, Cheney is vying to be the point man again to choose McCain's VP as he did for Bush in 2000. And no doubt, McCain will be tickled pick --- just like Bush when Cheney appoints himself to be McCain's VP.
Posted by: ldp1 | April 5, 2008 4:04 AM
I think an excellent running mate for John McCain would be Ruth Buzzi. Afterall, they are the same age (72) and they were born within a month from eachother...
And if McCain prefers a "more experienced" choice, then he can always choose Phyllis Diller (91 yo). Now thats THE TICKET of the CENTURY!
Posted by: curt.1 | April 4, 2008 12:36 PM
CONDI RICE FOR MCCAIN'S VP!!
Today is the 40th year after the loss of Martin Luther King. Since then, the people of our nation have elected many African-Americans to Congress, and some have run for president (Shirley Chisholm, etc.)
Let's look at the fact Colin Powell was 4th in line of succession to the presidency, (after he was sought to run for president in 1996 and declined) and today, Condi Rice is 4th in line to the Oval Office, and has been ranked by Forbes magazine and national polls as the MOST powerful woman in US politics. She has more clout than Pelosi or Hillary, and has helped set policy in Bush's second term.
She is a strong leader on the world stage. Right now she is standing next to President Bush at the NATO Summmit, and her looks like a Vice President in the Washingtpost Archives avaiable today)
Posted by: dbu2709399aolcom | April 4, 2008 11:34 AM
How did that biog of Rev. Wright get on this site? I thought this was about McCain's possible running mates. Maybe it is - comparing Wright with another VP this particular poster hates. Every day I have to remind myself that the blogosphere is mostly inhabited by zealots of one political stripe or another with axes to grind. Otherwise I'll get depressed. For the record, I don't question the Wright's patriotism - I do question his opinions. As for McCain's VP choice, I'm willing to wait and see.
Posted by: rmpatera | April 4, 2008 7:09 AM
In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.⨠In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)â¨â¨The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.â¨â¨What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.â¨â¨While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.â¨â¨Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?â¨â¨After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities.â¨â¨This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.â¨â¨Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him.â¨â¨We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons.â¨â¨Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling him "unpatriotic," let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country. â¨â¨How many of Wright's detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle? Not many.â¨â¨While words do count, so do actions.â¨â¨Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.
Posted by: jkallen001 | April 3, 2008 9:38 PM
I like Herman Cain. He'd be a great conservative pick.
And I couldn't think of anything better than a McCain/Cain ticket...
Posted by: atlmom1234 | April 3, 2008 8:51 PM
Sorry for the multiple post. This thing goes hinky every now and then.
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 8:50 PM
PatrickNYC1 - "The party that invented sleaze?"
Seriously, you need to read the book "The Almanac of Political Corruption, Scandals & Dirty Politics" by Kim Long. That may give you some historical perspective.
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 8:46 PM
PatrickNYC1 - "The party that invented sleaze?"
Seriously, you need to read the book "The Almanac of Political Corruption, Scandals & Dirty Politics" by Kim Long. That may give you some historical perspective.
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 8:46 PM
PatrickNYC - "The party that invented sleaze?"
Seriously, you need to read the book "The Almanac of Political Corruption, Scandals & Dirty Politics" by Kim Long. That may give you some historical perspective.
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 8:46 PM
koz is right, libs have no shame. They are plotting as we speak to smear and disparage a good man - that is their only hope of winning.
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 04:49 PM ---------------------------- Is that the ame good man who hired Rove's team who told the good people of SC that McShame fathered a black child? The party that ran the Wille Horton ads? The party that invented sleaze?
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 7:26 PM
Has it occurred to anyone that Senator McCain may be so anxious to find a Vice Presidential candidate now because he knows that he's too ill to finish the run for the Presidency and he wants to anoint his own successor?
Please note that McCain had promised his medical history by mid-April and now is postponing the release of those reports until May. Also he often appears distracted, confused and tired.
Posted by: mhitchons | April 3, 2008 7:15 PM
McCain tried re-introducing himself to America, but everyone in the media was more interested in talking to undecided party chairs in Oregon.
I imagine this was his way of getting a bit of press. Not to mention, it draws the attention of all of the political junkies (myself included).
Posted by: corridorg4 | April 3, 2008 6:46 PM
Thanks for your responses. While it might be better for McCain to pick a younger VP, in a photo-op sort of way, I hope that type of thinking doesn't limit his choices too much. Bush41 was no spring chicken when Reagan chose him as a running mate.
I forgot about the bridge thing with Pawlenty.
Posted by: mnteng | April 3, 2008 6:28 PM
Spectator2- one can only hope. They could run as the sour old white guy ticket.
Posted by: napperfat | April 3, 2008 6:20 PM
"Newt would be awesome, but I won't get my hopes up too much for that."
Yeah, a guy who served divorce papers to his wife in a hospital while she was recovering from surgery as a running mate to another who was seeing a women half his age while he was still married to a woman who raised his three kids while he was a prisoner in Vietnam. Yep, the party of family values strikes again.
Posted by: napperfat | April 3, 2008 6:18 PM
napperfat: You think McCain might end up tapping Sore Loserman as his running mate?
Posted by: Spectator2 | April 3, 2008 6:18 PM
This is HUGE news, Chris. You mean John McCain might be thinking about who his running mate will be? Congrats on the scoop.
In seriousness now, here are my thoughts:
Tim Pawlenty: fits the bill in all areas. Likeable governor of a swing state, photogenic family and YOUNG. Has been joined at the hip with McCain through thick and thin for the past year and a half. Was to accompany McCain to a foreign policy summit in Germany till some last minute changes derailed the event. He's been properly coy in deflecting the veep questions, but not denying that he'd take it.
Mitt Romney: While McCain has shown his ability to kiss and make up to rivals whose digestive entrails he is not fond of (see Bush, George W., ca 2000), there is just nothing Romney brings that Pawlenty doesn't already offer. He's a little better known nationally right now, but voters have the whole summer to get familiar with whoever the vp nominee is. Massachusetts, last I checked, is not in play. So unless McCain ends up desperate for campaign cash, Romney has no chance. Still he's a little more likely than those lower on this list.
Kay Bailey Hutchison: Texas is not a swing state either, and she's almost as old as McCain. She has two X chromosomes, but other than that offers little.
Charlie Crist: As white haired as McCain, unmarried and rumor has it at least bisexual. Not a way to get the evangelicals to run back out to the polls.
Mike Huckabee: Sends the evangelicals running to the polls, but would send many of McCain's secular supporters dashing the other direction. Wall Street hates him, which ain't good when you're already hurting for campaign funds.
Condi Rice: Black, female, and intimately associated with the worst foreign policy blunder and shamefully dishonest decision since Vietnam. Not a good play.
Sarah Palin: As mentioned above, 7 months pregnant. Awkward time, and besides she has no foreign policy experience and only leads a tiny (pop-wise) state.
Sanford/Barbour/other Red State guvs: What's the point? If you're fighting for SC/AL, you might as well pack it in early and go home. If you can't get the far right to fall in line by scaring them with the notion that Obama is a closet Marxist, then the Republican party is finished anyway. That's how they win, generally. Every Dem candidate suddenly becomes the most socialist thing to crawl out of the muck since Lenin when they run for president, if I recall correctly.
BTW, if anyone wants to see what the political futures traders think of the VP stakes, you can check out intrade.com. Kind of interesting to follow.
Posted by: B2O2 | April 3, 2008 6:17 PM
Anyone who needs Joe LIEberman whispering in his ear when he gets important facts so very wrong on multiple occasions should not be overestimated.
Posted by: napperfat | April 3, 2008 6:11 PM
mnteng, what dave said...and also TPaw has that whole bridge thing on his watch. The left would no doubt use that - no sense giving them that gift. I think if he had carried MN for McCain, the odds would be better. But Romney won MN.
Newt would be awesome, but I won't get my hopes up too much for that.
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 6:11 PM
bondjedi, Let me get this straight. You are excited by the prospect that you think that Obama's opponent might have Alzheimers? And you are comparing getting Alzheimers to Willy Horton? Aside from your comments coming across as sick and disgusting, you have no idea if there is a shread of truth to it. Do you really believe that this crap you are spouting represents the kind of hope and change that supposedly defines the Obama campaign?
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 6:07 PM
More on the McCain Secret Service detail...
Insiders are revealing that Senator McCain feels a security detail is superfluous, in light of the Senator's LifeFone, which he wears around his neck.
Senator McCain: Help! I've fallen and can't get up!
Dispatcher: Help is on the way, Senator.
Senator McCain: Who is talking? Is that you God? It's me, Johnny.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 3, 2008 6:03 PM
"John McCain has refused Secret Security protection"
Just like he refused the battalion of soldiers who escorted his butt through that market in Baghdad last year. Five dollar rugs anyone? Can I sell you a "surge" too?
Posted by: napperfat | April 3, 2008 6:01 PM
"She is one of the shallowest and simplistic anchorpersons in my lifetime "
She's therefore perfectly suited to host a Dem debate!
Obama's already answered 8 questions. He needs a break.
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 5:59 PM
John McCain has refused Secret Security protection, over the protests of his staff. When staffers were pressed if they felt for the feeble Senator's safety, his aides said they were interested in the ten man detail because its presence would double the number of people who normally show up for the Senator's town hall meetings.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 3, 2008 5:57 PM
She is one of the shallowest and simplistic anchorpersons in my lifetime (excluding all Faux News personnel).
Posted by: napperfat | April 3, 2008 5:56 PM
mnteng, Pawlenty has won a second election and while I have little doubt that Palin could garner a second term if she desired, she has not done that and perception-wise Alaska is not Minnesota (meaning running MN is perceived to be better experience than AK - I don't think that is true but I think the perception is there). 4 years as gov of CA is perceived to be better than 4 years as gov of RI. Pawlenty has marginally more experience than Palin. I think the name recognition is problematic for a lot of picks. Most people are lucky enough to be able to name their own state's Senators. I think that all the R primary opponents (Romney, et al) or current or former high level officials (like Rice, Newt) are the only ones that come in with real name recognition. In general, a Senator or a governor will not have nationwide name recognition, unless your name happens to be Kennedy.
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 5:54 PM
Breaking news: Clinton agrees to debate on CBS.
Hillary Clinton and Katie Couric have said yes. Now it's up to Barack Obama.
Does he have the cojones to go up against the venerable Couric? Well, after being vetted on The View last week, he should be all ready. Expect more fawning and pronouncements of sex appeal.
Meanwhile, the 'Obama watch' continues on FOX. Over 750 days and counting since Obama promised to appear on FNS.
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 5:53 PM
Posted by: Spectator2 | April 3, 2008 5:48 PM
John McBush could have a running mate who is for torturing children and is intellectually and morally bankrupt. A marriage made in heaven.
Posted by: napperfat | April 3, 2008 5:47 PM
Tes secret is out alright. Both Dem candidates have requested Secret Service detail. John McCain has not.
The Trail reports: McCain has repeatedly said he does not want Secret Service protection, expressing the belief that it will restrict his ability to connect with voters at his trademark town hall meetings.
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 5:46 PM
Now we've seen it all - Daily KOZ moaning about juvenile humor.
He is right, though - McCain's doddering, forgetful ways are no laughing matter, especially when national security is at stake.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 3, 2008 5:44 PM
Hey beavis, what's an issue
I dunno butthead, why do you ask
Well beavis, those Repubs keep mentioning them
huh, huh, huhhha Mccain is so old hehehuh
yeah and stupid too he he huh huh
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 5:14 PM
Doesn't Pawlenty have the same problem? Little experience or name recognition? I guess more people have heard of him now due to the VP speculation, but he's still only a one and a half term governor.
Posted by: mnteng | April 3, 2008 5:10 PM
A believe Alzheimer has already been claimed - by the Gipper.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 5:05 PM
"They are plotting as we speak to smear and disparage a good man - that is their only hope of winning. "
That, and a better candidate.
And he's not a good man, as has been pointed out to you over and over again. He's a four-flushing hypocrite who cheated on his wife and has no idea what's going on in the world.
Just like the name Willie Horton is linked to Dukakis, the name that will be linked to McCain will be Alzheimer. You're going to think that's the name of his running mate.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 3, 2008 5:03 PM
dave writes "I just think it adds one more issue for McCain that he does not need."
I second that thought on Palin. She's good, better than Condi imho, but still her gender doesn't trump the percieved lack of experience.
Having zero name recognition parlays into a lack of experience claim from the left.
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 5:01 PM
Bush needed gravitas. It will be the same calculation for Obama. McCain doesn't have that weakness. In my mind, I am already picking the president in 2012 or 2016.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 4:59 PM
Hard to choose isn't it, since every Republican has been exposed as a closet gay, a criminal taking bribes, a kiss-ass "yes" man for the Bush administration, or all of the above!
Posted by: Arjuna9 | April 3, 2008 4:58 PM
Proud, you play the hand that you were dealt. If you were a Lib, perish the thought, what possible reason could you offer the voters to elect you?
you only option would be to play upon vague hopes, false promises, gutter ball tactics and envy, victimization and the yearning for cradle to grave care from the government. Note the most amusing part of all this is that they somehow consider this a change.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 4:57 PM
mark_in_austin, Because it is McCain, she would need more (IMO). Because of his age, there is going to be a huge focus on the experience of his VP pick. I think she is more than capable but I can see the press and the Dem nominee focusing in on McCain's age and her "lack of experience" and the phrase "heartbeat away" echoing throughout the campaign. I think that a younger R could get away with it but it would be better for McCain if she had at least another 4 years as a gov on her resume. Historically, the Senate has not been the pathway to the Presidency (but probably moreso the VP) so no, I don't think the Senate is a necessity. I'd be more than happy to have her as VP. I just think it adds one more issue for McCain that he does not need.
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 4:55 PM
KOZ - I think that each of the last two Admins ignored geography without loss of electoral votes. Of course, the losers ignored geography too.
I doubt that it will be a driver in the McC decision, but if it is even a factor, it works against Palin, as you say.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 4:55 PM
"VP choices are about geography, not experience."
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 4:50 PM
I like Whitman. I am an Indie and a moderate. But I think she turns off the R right.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM
Netroots: Let's Turn McCain into 'Psychotic Abe Simpson' How nice:
The narratives on McCain are also revealing. McCain is disliked because he is a republican, because he is close with Bush, and because of his views on Iraq.
While the main punchline on McCain these days is his age, only 7% of those opposed to McCain listed his age as the main reason.
Therefore the nutroots have decided "It is essential that the punchline be changed to his views on Iraq and general desire to continue Bush policy.
Instead of being portrayed as old, McCain needs to be portrayed as psychotic--the crazy old relative who wants to bomb everything and let God sort 'em out. Instead of being portrayed as a reformer, McCain needs to be portrayed as more Bush during an election when 70% of voters want something new.
The "old" narrative against McCain is insufficient: we need to turn him into a Bush-loving, bomb-Iran, Iraq fo-ev-ah version of Grandpa Simpson. While I love the "Iraq is hurting the economy" line, when it comes to branding McCain, a psychotic Abe Simpson seems to be the way to go."
The author has endorsed Barack Obama -- the high-minded candidate who's going to bridge the partisan divide and usher in a new type of politics. I suppose that every once in a while, you have to toss principle overboard to do the right thing.
Just as an intellectual exercise though, what would happen if conservative bloggers tried to change the punchline on Barack Obama from utterly unqualified to...fill in the blanks. http://www.weeklystandard.com/Weblogs/TWSFP/TWSFPView.asp#6270
koz is right, libs have no shame. They are plotting as we speak to smear and disparage a good man - that is their only hope of winning.
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM
VP choices are about geography, not experience. Alaska is not a worry or concern for Rs.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 4:46 PM
Posted by: cocktails42 | April 3, 2008 4:45 PM
dave, are you thinking that Palin will have to serve a term in the Senate before she has the resume?
I think the more I read, and having heard her, the accomplishments make up for not having grey hair, or not having been a Senator. She has had to negotiate with Canada on pipeline stuff rather directly. That's more foreign policy experience than governors usually get!
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 4:44 PM
What's wrong with Wendy's? whenever I go there, LOUD and DUMB tries to get my order right. Of course, it never happens, but according to his abilities just like Marx said.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 4:42 PM
I was thinking about nominating Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10) as a 21st century Quayle. He's a little young (too young to be VP or POTUS), but some of the things that come out his mouth are wacky. Words, I mean.
Posted by: mnteng | April 3, 2008 4:42 PM
You realize that Powell is only like 1 year younger that McCain, right?
Posted by: JD | April 3, 2008 04:15 PM ------------------- Wow that is amazing. He looks ten years young than ole man McAged.
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 4:41 PM
If you look in, read all my arguments for Palin and tell me they make sense.
I sent my $50 to get on the STE but I have not heard.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 4:40 PM
Sarah Palin, while a very very good gov and a someone who probably has a bright future outside of Alaska at some point, has much less experience than Obama to be president (or a heartbeat away). And that says a lot. The Reformer Ticket does sound like a good ticket. However, I think she is 4 years away from an office like that unfortunately. Personally, I am not a stickler for "proper experience" on a presidential candidate's resume. I tend to think that a lot different things can prepare a person for that job. But that's me and not the Dems or the MSM. McCain has an uphill battle as is and the last thing he needs is questions on his VP's experience.
Posted by: dave | April 3, 2008 4:38 PM
Candy Rice would be a suitable choice for John McCain, to neutralize the Barack Obama effect, whether he is the nominee on the other side or not. As to Rice not being presidential material, so is Barack. Doesn't stop him for snatching delegates by the day and millions in contributions by the night.
If Barack is the Demo nominee, McCain can hope to peel away some black vote. If Barack is not, he offers an outlet for the disaffected black vote. Either way he gains.
She will fill in all possible "balancing" categories. Black, Female, Single, Sycophantic, High-Heeled, Empathy-challenged, Southern, blacker-than-Obama, familiarity with Camp David, ....
Posted by: pKrishna43 | April 3, 2008 4:37 PM
leichtman, we agree on KBH. She wants her kids in school in Austin and she wants the no stress job of Gov. Bill White is the strongest possible D I can think of. No argument here. ---------------------------- But McC gets to eat his cake and have it with Palin, because she is a clean gov, pro environment, pro gun, prolife R.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 4:37 PM
KBH is likely running for governor, mark against mayor Bill White in 2010.
McCain will have to pick someone from the cultural right.
Posted by: leichtman | April 3, 2008 4:32 PM
With Hillary's campaign taking on still more water, the MSM fawning over Obama, and her path to victory looking all but impossible, Obama has emerged as the overwhelming favorite.
And you know what that means--soon everyone will be talking about who Obama should select as his running mate.
Obviously, he desperately needs someone who will balance out his unprecedented lack of experience.
Well, Dean Barnett has come up with the new Dem Dream Ticket:
He writes "But I must confess an ulterior motive for my pining for an Obama/Kerry ticket. Things have gotten dull around here. Every day, we have to write about the latest development that defines Barack Obama.
The little lies, the habitual evasions, the avoidance of substance--each day we get fresh evidence that Obama is a lot more like the typical politician than the country believes. It's an important story, one that has to be covered.
And I will cover it. But is it too much to ask of the Obama campaign that while it makes me slog through this drudgery, it also provides me with the endless entertainment that another national John Kerry campaign will surely provide?
Ah, the times we had! Like when John and Teresa went to a Wendy's with the Edwards to prove they were regular folks but didn't eat and had a sumptuous catered feast waiting for them at their hotel. Or when he promised his advisors he wouldn't go windsurfing and did so anyway.
Or when he called a Secret Service agent a cuss word for allegedly making him stumble on the ski slopes, declaring to the media, "I don't fall."
Just the thought of fresh, anguished cries of "Swiftboating!!!!!" brings a smile to my face. Besides, doesn't the country deserve to see what kind of relationship would develop between Michelle Obama and Teresa Heinz Kerry?
Posted by: proudtobeGOP | April 3, 2008 4:31 PM
"Funny then that McCain is at the age when he will begin wearing them again.
Hey ... that's a real pisser!
I heard McCain say that attacking Iran would be a whiz!
McCain promises to put the "pee" in GOP.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 3, 2008 4:30 PM
Posted by: parkerfl | April 3, 2008 4:29 PM
"McCain may have a few uncontemplated prospects up his sleeve."
I think I would be least surprised if he picked someone we haven't discussed here.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 4:27 PM
For those of us who take McC seriously - there are more of us in the nation than on this thread, I think - we want him to pick someone who could be Prez. If we are his moderate supporters we do not want a "winger". The base does not want a moderate.
"dave" had suggested that Pawlenty had more "gravitas" than Palin based on governmental experience when we last talked about this. But Palin has been a true success as a mayor and as a governor against tough odds - a crooked R establishment in AK. Her "pro-life" stance fits the base and her reformer actions fit the moderates. ------------------------------- JD, you are correct on CP's age, of course. -------------------------------- KBH is coming back to Austin. She probably would not take VP on a silver platter. Palin just thinks no one would want her as VP. She would jump at it.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 4:27 PM
Condi Rice would be an interesting pick if she were interested in electoral politics, which she almost certainly isn't. Joe Lieberman isn't interested in a second go-round in the VP slot--and in complicating things in the Senate if he switches parties.
And Michael Steele? Where did that come from? Since when is one term as Maryland Lt. Gov. (not an independently elected office) and a failed US Senate run enough qualification to be one heartbeat from the presidency? (Perhaps some of you got so caught up in slobbering over him during his Senate bid that you forgot he lost?)
Other names listed seem reasonable, though McCain may have a few uncontemplated prospects up his sleeve.
Posted by: mkarns | April 3, 2008 4:23 PM
Funny how some of the same people hammering his age, are the people who say Colin Powell should run.
You realize that Powell is only like 1 year younger that McCain, right?
Posted by: JD | April 3, 2008 4:15 PM
"Funny then that McCain is at the age when he will begin wearing them again."
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 4:13 PM
"readiness to assume the Presidency does not translate into just out of diapers. "
Funny then that McCain is at the age when he will begin wearing them again.
But seriously, folks ... John McCain needs someone younger than him as a VP. We recommend Ernest Borgnine or Mickey Rooney.
Posted by: bondjedi | April 3, 2008 4:07 PM
Hi! Chris: You posted a video! and doing a great job. Now I can shut you up anytime I want and restart again!
Posted by: shashikantsharma001 | April 3, 2008 4:06 PM
so now the Dems/moonbats are a bad Beevis and butthead rerun.
Or they always were. hard to tell anymore.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 4:05 PM
Sarah Palin would be an excellent choice for McCain's running mate. I like the idea of a "reformer" ticket. Plus, she should help with the conservatives. And she's a hottie. If she's willing to be out on the campaign trail 3-4 months after giving birth, then McCain would be foolish not to strongly consider her.
Posted by: mnteng | April 3, 2008 4:03 PM
I think he should pick Cheney as his vice.
Posted by: johannesrolf | April 3, 2008 3:59 PM
Thanks for the gift, I'll return the favor sometime.
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 3:57 PM
PatrickNYC1, how was that for a belt-high fastball down the middle of the plate, for ya?
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 3:54 PM
Rice would be an interesting choice. She would balance the "historic" advantage that Obama has, but I've seen accounts that say she in not presidential material.
If McCain picked Romney that might give McCain trouble in the "integrity-credibility" department. We all KNOW McCain simply loathes Mittens. It was obvious to anyone who watched the debates. So, McCain went with Romney it would look like pure political expediency. I know, I know JFK/LBJ.
I'm thinkin' the most logical choice is Pawlenty.
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 3:52 PM
aw, no way, that ticket would suck!
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 03:46 PM ---------------- Only in mens restrooms or truck stops.
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 3:51 PM
aw, no way, that ticket would suck!
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 3:46 PM
Here is my VEEPSTAKES list:
Mitt Romney Tim Pawlenty Condolezza Rice Kay Bailey Hutchison Michael Steele Mark Sanford John Thune Joe Lieberman Tom Ridge Haley Barbour
If Senator McCain really wants to win, he should pick either Rice (assuming Obama is the nominee) or Ridge (Clinton is the nominee). This would be more of "DREAM" national election rather than "DUH" election in November.
Posted by: kat7 | April 3, 2008 3:44 PM
"WASHINGTON (AP) -- Think you're being gouged by Big Oil? U.S. forces in Iraq are paying almost as much as Americans back home, despite burning fuel at staggering rates in a war to stabilize a country known for its oil reserves.
Military units pay an average of $3.23 a gallon for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, some $88 per day per service member in Iraq, according to an Associated Press review and interviews with defense officials. A penny or two increase in the price of fuel can add millions of dollars to U.S. costs.
Critics in Congress are fuming. The U.S., they say, is getting suckered as the cost of the war exceeds half a trillion dollars -- $10.3 billion a month, according to the Congressional Research Service."
We die for the Iraqi government and they stiff us on oil. We should defiitely stay there forever.
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 3:43 PM
He gave Imus an interview? Did he also attend Jeremiah Wright's church this week?
Who in his campaign let him go on Imus? They should be fired.
Posted by: jml46 | April 3, 2008 3:43 PM
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 3:42 PM
'That brings Scooter to mind. Probably too bright to play Quayle, but surely he's not out of politics forever. '
you betcha. just like the Iran Contra crew.
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 3:41 PM
"Skilling would have to get his civil rights restored first. GWB could pardon him."
That brings Scooter to mind. Probably too bright to play Quayle, but surely he's not out of politics forever.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 3:38 PM
p.s. on a serious note, it may not appear to be the case, but I do admire McCain.
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 3:37 PM
Yes, Addrick, Skilling for Treasury! Perfect!
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 3:35 PM
Adrick - Some of us really want McC as a viable option.
But I am amused by your choices. Skilling would have to get his civil rights restored first. GWB could pardon him.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 3:34 PM
Naw, McCain will ask Dick Cheney to choose a running mate. And then Cheney will choose -- himself. It's a done deal.
And Lieberman will be Secretary of Defense -- and Bill Kristol! as Secretary of State.
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 3:32 PM
McCain / Skilling ? ? ?
Jeff Skilling could bring his business savvy to the team. Where McCain is admittedly weak (it's The Economy, genuis!), SKilling would MORE than comensate.
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 3:32 PM
mteng - Within two months from now she will have 5 kids! She is Gov. with 4. She can handle it. She is a poster child for pro-life AND a reformer AND I think she has a much better NRA rating than McC.
Come on - she is perfect.
I have heard her speak on NPR and she sounds sane and solid on clean government. She has run dirtbags out of government in AK.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 3:30 PM
drindl, Rep Bachmann may be a bit nutty, but she means well.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 3:29 PM
poor zouk. can't stop thinking about me every single moment of every day. how sad it is.
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 3:28 PM
thinking way outside the box:
How 'bout Donald Rumsfeld for Veep?
Obama's slogan will be: "Yes, We Can!".
McCain/Rummie could be: "If You Think Iraq was Smart -- just Wait!".
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 3:27 PM
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 03:16 PM
I think the line between self and other is blurring in feeble old drindl's besotten mind. all that hate and bile is taking its toll. expect a total crack-up no later than McCain 's inauguration.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 3:25 PM
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 03:16 PM
classic hateful drindl. seek professional help.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 3:23 PM
Newt would be the perfect choice. Hannity would love it. Rush would love it. It would help with the base, wouldn't it?
It reinforces the "yesterday-ness" of McCain's campaign, as well.
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 3, 2008 3:22 PM
since you Libs already picked our presidential nominee, how about we pick the VP this time around?
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 03:11 PM ----------------------- Man you are such an idiot. Do you ever read the crap you write?
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 3:20 PM
Wow, that's a sure way to lock up the racially sensitive independent voter.
Posted by: TeddySanFran | April 3, 2008 3:20 PM
Posted by: novamatt | April 3, 2008 3:20 PM
patrick: Agreed on Charlie Crist. There is no way he's the pick.
Posted by: Spectator2 | April 3, 2008 3:16 PM
bsimon, you're not being fair to Quayle. He was dumb, but he was not a pathological, lying, insane b*tch.
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 3:16 PM
McCain Compiles List of Possible Veeps
Sen. John McCain disclosed Wednesday he is in the "embryonic stages" of selecting a vice presidential running mate and hopes to unveil his choice before the Republican National Convention to avoid the type of problems that plagued Dan Quayle's debut two decades ago
Posted by: f.fox1212 | April 3, 2008 3:15 PM
since you Libs already picked our presidential nominee, how about we pick the VP this time around?
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 3:11 PM
speaking of Michael Palin, I am reminded of a certain black knight who, despite having all his arms and legs chopped off, insisted on continuing the fray.
Remind you of anyone else except in a colorful pantsuit instead of black armor.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 3:10 PM
As for the obvious age issue, readiness to assume the Presidency does not translate into just out of diapers. It means no spelling impaired Hoosier and no 4-time heart attack patient. A governor who doesn't look like he/she is on death's door is all he really needs.
Posted by: caribis | April 3, 2008 3:03 PM
I almost forgot - Rep Bachmann's newest initiative is to save the incandescent lightbulb.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 3:03 PM
For a 21st century Quayle, I nominate Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-6). The first term Congresswoman has the looks of Marilyn (Quayle), but otherwise is quite comparable to Dan. She first came to national prominence after mugging President Bush, following his 2007 State of the Union address, while he tried to exit the House chamber.
More recently, she boosted her local notoriety with some unsourced comments about an alleged deal between Iran and Iraq to partition Iraq for terrorism training purposes.
MN public radio, among others, covered that story:
"Bachmann said Iran was causing much of the unrest in Iraq and wants to control part of the country. She said Iran is making trouble in Baghdad in order to force the U.S. to pull out of Iraq.
"You know why? Because they already decided that they are going to partition Iraq," Bachmann said.
Bachmann said there was a name already chosen for that part of the region, but she couldn't recall it exactly. Bachmann said Iran would use that territory as a training ground for terrorists.
"There is already agreement made," said Bachmann. "They are going to get half of Iraq, and that is going to be a terrorist safe haven zone where they can go ahead and bring about more attacks in the Middle East, and come against the United States." "
I can think of no more fitting candidate to fill the shoes of former Vice President Quayle.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 3:01 PM
I can not see him picking Crist because of the buzz on him being in the closet.
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 2:58 PM
With McShame's standing with conservatives I don't see him picking two men who cheated on their wives, Mayor 9/11 and Newt, which is why the more people who got to know Rudy, the less they liked him.
Since I dislike the GOP I would not want him to pick anyone like Haley Barbour or Chuck Hagel. I'm hoping for Romney or Huckabee. Driving all his moderates away.
Posted by: PatrickNYC1 | April 3, 2008 2:52 PM
Mark: It's impossible to say who the 2008 counterpart of Quayle would be. Remember that he was considered just a bland prettyboy -- that is, a safe pick -- when Bush41 tapped him for veep. No one had any idea of the kinds of things that would come out of his mouth.
I'm sure he said such things as a senator, but no one had paid any attention -- still the case with almost all senators.
Posted by: Spectator2 | April 3, 2008 2:40 PM
Ohio, Pa., and Fla. are all in the mix for both parties. McCain has a choice of Portman [Ohio] and Crist Fla.], but no one I can see helping in Pa. More interesting is how these states probably will go in the GE, depending on the Dem nominee, this will be a completely different outcome. McCain wins all three if Obama is the Dem pick, Hillary wins Pa. and Fla., with Ohio a toss-up.
Posted by: lylepink | April 3, 2008 2:37 PM
Just "Googled" Sarah Palin. The Wonkette reported last month that she's 7 months pregnant (so now she's 8 months along).
No chance of her being VP. Alas.
Posted by: mnteng | April 3, 2008 2:31 PM
I'm all for a thread dedicated to a Quayle for the 21st century. Or perhaps a threadjack...
I was thinking of former Rep Mark Kennedy, though he's not pretty enough to do the part justice.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 2:26 PM
mteng, that was well taken. Who is Quayle's counterpart? It deserves a thread of it own.
Thune reminds, but he is smarter.
It is a very difficult question.
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 2:15 PM
The Newt will be 65 this year (yeah, my brain is full of useless info). So, the age thing will definitely come into play, though he would be good at firing up the campaign fund, if McCain decides against public funding.
Just no Quayles -- I don't even know who the equivalent would be.
Posted by: mnteng | April 3, 2008 2:11 PM
"Betting dollars to doughnuts" used to indicate an opinion of high probability. Post-Bush-stagflation, it's pretty well lost that connotation. Try "euros to mortgage-backed securities."
Posted by: FlownOver | April 3, 2008 2:10 PM
It took a goole search to refresh my memory of Ms Palin's background. While the results weren't totally work-friendly, it was worth my time.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 2:07 PM
bsimon, Sarah Palin? Michael Palin?
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 3, 2008 2:00 PM
"I would bet dollars to doughnuts that Guiliani is near the top."
That would seriously sour me on McCain as an alternative, should the Dems select HRC.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 1:54 PM
"I am hoping for Newt."
How old is The Newt these days?
I can't type his name, without captilizing 'The' prefix. Or without thinking of Python "She turned me into a Newt! (I got better)."
Which leaves me to conclude, in response to thecrisis, Michael Palin would be far more entertaining, though he is sadly ineligible.
Posted by: bsimon | April 3, 2008 1:52 PM
And, from that one simple comment grew a media firestorm. A search of "McCain" and "Imus" on Google News last night produced more than 350 news articles on the Arizona Senator's comments.
McCain speaks! The media trembles, whimpers, and obeys.
Posted by: drindl | April 3, 2008 1:49 PM
Posted by: AndyR3 | April 3, 2008 1:39 PM
One thing that McCain's VP will need to be able to do is raise money. With Obama bringing in 40 mil a month McCain is going to have some serious cathcing up to do.
I don't know how Pawlenty or Thume will help in that department. Romney is an obvious choice but I think he wants to sit this out so that when McCain loses, he can ride in as the savior of the party in 2010. I don't know who else would be on the list, but I would bet dollars to doughnuts that Guiliani is near the top.
Posted by: AndyR3 | April 3, 2008 1:38 PM
I am hoping for Newt. Rudy would be second choice but I think he is done with national campaigning for a while.
Posted by: kingofzouk | April 3, 2008 1:38 PM
Sarah Palin for McCain's VP. At least she'd bring some decency to the race.
Posted by: thecrisis | April 3, 2008 1:33 PM
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Katie Couric Inches Closer to Moderating a Debate
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By Howard Kurtz Hillary Clinton and Katie Couric have said yes. Now it's up to Barack Obama.
CBS, the only major network that hasn't sponsored a presidential debate this season, would very much like to host one in North Carolina. As an added incentive, the 90-minute session would air on Apr. 27 right after "60 Minutes," with its large audience as a lead-in.
But both Democratic campaigns were dragging their feet. So the invitations from the North Carolina Democratic Party somehow leaked today, informing both candidates that Couric and Bob Schieffer were ready to host the prime-time debate in either Raleigh or Charlotte. The Clinton camp quickly agreed; the Obama team hasn't responded yet.
With no North Carolina face-off currently scheduled, the Apr. 27 event, if it comes off, would be crucial in the run-up to the state's May 6 primary. Obama has no objection in principle; his campaign had earlier agreed to CBS's first suggested date, Apr. 19, until someone discovered that it had been brilliantly scheduled for the first night of Passover.
As important as the proposed debate may be to the Democratic contenders, it is equally important to CBS executives, who have seen Couric shut out this year while NBC's Brian Williams and ABC's Charlie Gibson have moderated a number of debates. (Gibson and Stephanopoulos will do it again in Pennsylvania later this month.)
Couric's one shot fell through when CBS journalists threatened to join the Hollywood writers' strike and a Democratic debate in Los Angeles had to be canceled.
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What is the point of this debate with Katie Couric as the moderator. Katie of all the people in the world is a loser in all respects. Not only that she is very polarized. She is a feminist who's only reason to conduct such a debate between Hillary and Obama is to give an undue advantage to Hillary. A moderator is supposed to be as unbiased as possible in a debate. I am pretty sure that Katie would have already had a mock practice session with Hillary on all the questions she is going to ask. Unless CBS puts somebody other than Katie to do the debate, viewership is going to be pretty dismal.
CBS has a big problem with Katie. On one hand they are paying a woping $15 mil per year to Katie. Just like Hillary, Katie hangs on there using sexism as an excuse. There are so many women anchors and talk show hosts where women excel. And for Katie to say her failure to attract audience has to do with her being a woman is pretty pathetic.
Posted by: Nick Newman | April 10, 2008 7:27 PM
Another sign that CBS and Couric are in the tank for Hillary...
Despite clear indications from other polls that Obama is gaining ground in Pennsylvania and has led Clinton nationally for over a week, here's how the NY Times played the latest NY Times/CBS Poll:
Obama's Support Softens in Poll, Suggesting a Peak Has Passed
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and MEGAN THEE Published: April 4, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Senator Barack Obama's support among Democrats nationally has softened over the last month, particularly among men and upper-income voters, as voters have taken a slightly less positive view of him than they did after his burst of victories in February, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
And here's the real trend:
Latest national polls taken in last 2 weeks: Today's Gallup Daily Tracking -- Obama leads +3 Rasmussen Tracking -- Obama +3 Pew Research -- Obama +10
Latest Pennsylvania polls: Rasmussen -- Clinton +5 SurveyUSA -- Clinton +12 Quinnipiac -- Clinton +9
Pennsylvania less than a month ago: Rasmussen -- Clinton +10 SurveyUSA -- Clinton +19 Quinnipiac -- Clinton +12
Makes you wonder why CBS/Couric would expect anything from Obama's campaign but caution.
Posted by: rippermccord | April 4, 2008 12:50 AM
I would like to point out a few basic but unmentioned facts: I sat on debate teams in high school and college. None of these so called "debates" qualifies. Actual debates should be each person stating their answers to the same questions from an unbiased moderator. These "things" do nothing of anything resembling normal Q & A that takes place in a debate. No one in these "tv shows" holds anyone to their answers actually asking for factual data. These "activities" are nothing more than spectacular forums for hairspray companies to make even bigger audiences.
Having prefaced my remarks with the above:
"This drives educated and independents away from dems. If dem-candidated cannot follow the rules that they signed (MI/FL) why should anyone vote for them. Please comment. Posted by: DrCha | April 3, 2008 06:16 PM"
First of all you assume that everyone who is an independent or educated agrees with you. It would be wise and and display your own education in a better light by realizing that you speak for yourself and no one else. Please come down from the mount and allow that someone may well fit the description that does not agree with you.
Secondly, research your statements instead of accepting verbatim that which comes from the talking heads and media. In any case the agreement had nothing to do with removing your name from a ballot. It was limited in the respect that it simply applied to advertising in those states which neither candidate did. In FL the Republican state legislature moved the Primary date after the DNC statement by a few months. The Democrats had no say in when their Primary would be held. If the situation were reversed the Democrats would have done the same. Anyone with any sort of long term interest in politics should have known that the Democratic party would not prevent these major swing states from being seated. It would be, and should have been apparent, political suicide. The fact that Senator Obama did not realize this simple but basic fact speaks to his lack of political maneuvering without further comment. This could lead to fatal mistakes in trying to "cut" deals as a President. We do not have to look further that our current President to see what a disadvantage this places the disenfranchised in the country. "http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0807/Florida_primary_found_noncompliant.html" Over and out.
Posted by: RetCombatVet | April 3, 2008 9:10 PM
It's time for a debate with substance. Katy Couric does not have the wit to do it. We need answers to questions that deal with policies each candidate will pursue, not more about the horserace. The media need to help everyone become informed about what really counts, not all of those stupid distractions. We cannot afford to elect another individual to the presidency who lacks the capability to do what we want and need. There are too many big issues to be resolved because the media helped elect the poorest president of all time, the one we have now. Let's have a real debate, using a moderator who is capable of asking the right kinds of questions.
Posted by: bjbprice | April 3, 2008 8:56 PM
The Obamates still sound caustic and uneducated. What do you expect from these people? Everything is negative for them despite the support they get from the press. I hope the press will turn on Obama just like what they did to Clinton. There are a lot of expose' enough to investigate Obama but the national press are still deaf and blind to it. A debate might not be the real gauge but it is still important to see the candidates' point of views concerning important issues. Obamates wake up! These includes the politician supporters. See for yourself. If Obama wins the presidency (God forbids)it will be a long time before another Democrat gets elected to White House. Obama will be a disaster. To former President Carter: please don't endorse Obama. I respect you very much. Obama is nothing like you.
Posted by: bobbyvalenz | April 3, 2008 8:50 PM
I have been watching this campaign unfold since it began and I have heard so much lately about it being about race and that is just not so. It is about gender. When the campaign began, Hilary Clinton had a commanding lead and the republicans were wondering how in the world they could beat her. At the same time the high power business interests did not want her as the democratic nominee for president and the old boys club who run this country did not want a woman president. What would happen if she got elected? More women running for office? Women would just about take over. Especially if she did a good job and with Bill Clinton helping her things may be as good as they were in the 90's for the working people, health care, and social security just might improve. Now we can't have that can we? So now we had better pick someone and build them up to beat her and never mind the lies that we have to tell about Bill Clinton to get there. Who do we pick? John Edwards- No he is too much into the poverty end. Obama- Seems he is your answer. All the News programs would hammer Clinton and build Obama up to Rock Star status. Chris Mathews started the ball rolling and has not stopped yet. I am not a woman, my name is James Smith, but if I were a woman I would be very disgusted in the fact that a woman finally had the support to challenge this Men's Club that runs our country and they use every trick they can to beat her with an inferior candidate. They know it will be a long time before any woman has the guts enough to challenge them again.I have one more thought--wonder where all that money is coming from?
Posted by: jrs6776 | April 3, 2008 8:46 PM
I have been watching this campaign unfold since it began and I have heard so much lately about it being about race and that is just not so. It is about gender. When the campaign began, Hilary Clinton had a commanding lead and the republicans were wondering how in the world they could beat her. At the same time the high power business interests did not want her as the democratic nominee for president and the old boys club who run this country did not want a woman president. What would happen if she got elected? More women running for office? Women would just about take over. Especially if she did a good job and with Bill Clinton helping her things may be as good as they were in the 90's for the working people, health care, and social security just might improve. Now we can't have that can we? So now we had better pick someone and build them up to beat her and never mind the lies that we have to tell about Bill Clinton to get there. Who do we pick? John Edwards- No he is too much into the poverty end. Obama- Seems he is your answer. All the News programs would hammer Clinton and build Obama up to Rock Star status. Chris Mathews started the ball rolling and has not stopped yet. I am not a woman, my name is James Smith, but if I were a woman I would be very disgusted in the fact that a woman finally had the support to challenge this Men's Club that runs our country and they use every trick they can to beat her with an inferior candidate. They know it will be a long time before any woman has the guts enough to challenge them again.I have one more thought--wonder where all that money is coming from?
Posted by: jrs6776 | April 3, 2008 8:46 PM
I have been watching this campaign unfold since it began and I have heard so much lately about it being about race and that is just not so. It is about gender. When the campaign began, Hilary Clinton had a commanding lead and the republicans were wondering how in the world they could beat her. At the same time the high power business interests did not want her as the democratic nominee for president and the old boys club who run this country did not want a woman president. What would happen if she got elected? More women running for office? Women would just about take over. Especially if she did a good job and with Bill Clinton helping her things may be as good as they were in the 90's for the working people, health care, and social security just might improve. Now we can't have that can we? So now we had better pick someone and build them up to beat her and never mind the lies that we have to tell about Bill Clinton to get there. Who do we pick? John Edwards- No he is too much into the poverty end. Obama- Seems he is your answer. All the News programs would hammer Clinton and build Obama up to Rock Star status. Chris Mathews started the ball rolling and has not stopped yet. I am not a woman, my name is James Smith, but if I were a woman I would be very disgusted in the fact that a woman finally had the support to challenge this Men's Club that runs our country and they use every trick they can to beat her with an inferior candidate. They know it will be a long time before any woman has the guts enough to challenge them again.I have one more thought--wonder where all that money is coming from?
Posted by: jrs6776 | April 3, 2008 8:46 PM
I have been watching this campaign unfold since it began and I have heard so much lately about it being about race and that is just not so. It is about gender. When the campaign began, Hilary Clinton had a commanding lead and the republicans were wondering how in the world they could beat her. At the same time the high power business interests did not want her as the democratic nominee for president and the old boys club who run this country did not want a woman president. What would happen if she got elected? More women running for office? Women would just about take over. Especially if she did a good job and with Bill Clinton helping her things may be as good as they were in the 90's for the working people, health care, and social security just might improve. Now we can't have that can we? So now we had better pick someone and build them up to beat her and never mind the lies that we have to tell about Bill Clinton to get there. Who do we pick? John Edwards- No he is too much into the poverty end. Obama- Seems he is your answer. All the News programs would hammer Clinton and build Obama up to Rock Star status. Chris Mathews started the ball rolling and has not stopped yet. I am not a woman, my name is James Smith, but if I were a woman I would be very disgusted in the fact that a woman finally had the support to challenge this Men's Club that runs our country and they use every trick they can to beat her with an inferior candidate. They know it will be a long time before any woman has the guts enough to challenge them again.I have one more thought--wonder where all that money is coming from?
Posted by: jrs6776 | April 3, 2008 8:46 PM
This is just another ploy by the main stream stenographers to get a piece of the ratings they never got in recent debates.It's about time to move on and crown who ever is the nominee to challenge grand daddy Mccain with his 100 yrs war and the pillaging of the American economy. We have got to move on and stop these nonsensical debates that benefit no American. Thank you Nyanfore Jappah 7942 Janna Lee Ave Alexandria Va 22306
Posted by: Muyenneh | April 3, 2008 8:33 PM
I read all the comments and watch the commentators on TV. In my opinion we don't have all the facts only what Obama and his supporters wants to tells us. He speaks well has great charm but I won't vote for him. He seems to be a welloiled snake charmer. The media has avoided calling him on a great many issues. I wonder why? If Hillary does not get to be the nominee, I'll sit this one out or write in her name in Nov. She is the better man. It's a shame everyone is blinded by the media and the need to stay away from branding Obama the kind of person he really is - ambitious, self-seeking and inexperienced both as a presidential candidate and senator.
Posted by: smilema | April 3, 2008 8:23 PM
Why more debates? What new information will we learn from a second debate. Senator Obama does not have to dance to every song that Senator Clinton is singing. She is already writing the lyrics for MI & FL.
Posted by: felicitymason | April 3, 2008 8:06 PM
NO MAS! Please, please, please no more debates. Let's save it for the GE. Then we can see McCain puff out his chest full of medals in response to every question. Love Obama, Like Hillary, but DEM in Nov. in either case!!!
Posted by: Ginny7 | April 3, 2008 7:51 PM
Your comment is a perfect example of inflating false information from the Far Right blogs -- as if they were written by the finger of God rather than GOP apparatchiks -- to attack Sen. Obama.
You can assemble sentences, but you have assembled no facts. You simply repeat lies gleaned from other hateful sources and interpret Sen. Obama's motivations as if you were omniscient enough to peer into his conscience.
How dare you to twist truth? How dare you to invent facts? How dare you level accusations as if you know anything other than the garbage you fill your mind with?
Back to the sewers with you.
Posted by: rippermccord | April 3, 2008 7:49 PM
Hey rippermccord, why don't you ask the BO man about his Communist mentor, the first one?
Ask him why he let poor black people in his district suffer without heat in the dead of winter? The answer there is because his buddy Rezko owned the building.
Ask him why he told everyone at an Iowa rally that he passed a bill so the public could be informed about nuclear plant leaks? Why would he say that when the bill didn't pass and he had actually backed away from it? Could it be because the execs at that company (Exelon) donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to him and the CEO was the head of a nuclear LOBBYIST group in Washington DC?
His biggest supporter Oprah walked away from Obama's church in 1990 because they were already controversial. So he never asked her why he didn't see her at church anymore? I mean his wonderful Rev. Wright even criticized Oprah for abandoning them.
Ask him about his statements that he wanted to do more about supporting the PLO (while attending a former PLO activist's house) but couldn't say anything because he needed to get elected first?
Ask him how his buddy Tony Rezko got all of that money to go in with a real estate deal with him when he said he didn't have any assets? Why don't you ask him, how just before they bought that property together, Rezko got $3.5 million wired to him from an Iraqi businessman who was also the money launderer for Saddam Hussein?
Ask him why he felt the need to actively campaign for a Socialist candidate in Vermont (Howard Dean's old state)?
Ask him about his Socialist and Marxist ties too while you are at it.
Instead you are upset because Clinton got one more minute than BO even though she has a heck of a lot more history than BO. You want to know why CBS didn't talk up Obama? Maybe because there's not that much to talk up. And, according to Obama, he wants it that way. He purposely sought out senior senators in his quest to rise above the masses. He said he thought about running for governor but decided to go straight for president because he believed he had a very small window of opportunity before he would be seen as having too much baggage. Makes you wonder what else he's packed out of sight. But we'll probably never know that because the rest of the media is so biased for Obama that you won't know that you've been duped until it's too late.
Posted by: dl569 | April 3, 2008 7:37 PM
Per your request for my comment:
The tone of our political discourse has never been quite so good as our memories might lead us to believe, yet it has, in my opinion, sunk to an unprecedented low in this campaign.
One of the Far Right's pet projects has been to inject race, religion and patriotism into the campaign, just as it has used these levers to manipulate its base in past elections.
Obama, the likely Democratic nominee who has an unusual name, darker skin and diverse background, is a natural target for the kind of attacks drummed up by the Far Right and perpetuated even by some Democrats.
That he has weathered such a angry storms thus far as well as he has is a testament to the strength of his message and candidacy.
The major media, including the medium we use here, has been complicit in the trivialization and thus, growing coarseness, of our politics. Every minor blemish, incident or rumor is magnified a thousand-fold (just one example being The Fix article today by Chris Cillizza asking for reader thoughts on Obama being hounded for a photo).
Yes, Obama has some vicious enemies. And some wolves in sheep's clothing waiting for his slightest falter.
Posted by: rippermccord | April 3, 2008 7:27 PM
A dress for Obama since Hillary's wearing the pants.
Posted by: brewstercounty | April 3, 2008 7:02 PM
It seems that the first commenter (rat-the) really has it out for Sen. Obama. Yes, you're right. Sen. Obama's middle name is Hussein. For some strange reason, I sense some very bigoted overtones in your statement sir (or ma'am).
We've all gotten over his really, ultra scary middle name (sarcasm, just in case you don't know). Don't worry, at least it isn't Walker. Because I know people with that middle name accidentally bomb the wrong country, weaken the military, and cause America's influence in the world to suffer.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Another boring debate?
Posted by: nikolausrimsky | April 3, 2008 7:02 PM
I am looking forward to Loosing my Virginity all over the place!
Just consider me ready, willing, and loose! :-)
Spelling Huh? Bet your glad you did not mention anything about contexts! ;~)
Posted by: rat-the | April 3, 2008 7:01 PM
Obama is running scared. He's afraid to face voters in Florida and Michigan. He's afraid to debate Ms. Hillary. Might as well put a dress on him.
Posted by: brewstercounty | April 3, 2008 6:55 PM
Hey Rat Would you vote for a democrat if it guaranteed you at least a chance of loosing your virginity in 2009? Please respond with an abundance of emoticons, exclamation points and misspellings.
Posted by: mack1 | April 3, 2008 6:41 PM
Posted by: Obama2008 | April 3, 2008 6:40 PM
I definitely appreciate your analysis. You didn't simply state an opinion, but you went into nice detail to support your statement. I will indeed watch more closely. I definitely quit watching Fox. That is a very interesting analysis you have posted here.
I am waiting on an analysis from others whom see otherwise, followed by details to support their claims.
Yes, that is very interesting.
Posted by: Obama2008 | April 3, 2008 6:36 PM
Dimocrat4ever-YOU have insulted Vermin of all kinds!
Posted by: rat-the | April 3, 2008 6:23 PM
Heavens NO. The last thing in the world that I want to hear and be tortured through is a debate moderated by Katie Couric. I am sure it is because she needs some ratings. She cannot even read the news. I tried to support Katie by watching her on the evening news when she got her new job and finally I just could not take it anymore. Then of course, there is not need for another debate. Katie is "johnny come lately" in the debate series and she should just count it that she missed out of the historic event of a woman and an African American becoming POTUS. I hope Barack says no and not even give second thought that he will be faulted for it because he will not. Everyone knows that there has been enough debates. There is nothing new to debate. It would be soooo boring for (1) Katie Couric as the moderator, and (2) no new anything to debate.
Posted by: ddraper81 | April 3, 2008 6:22 PM
Dear rippermccord, Thank you for your post. I interact frequently with professors, students other academicians who are honest and hard working American patriots. They cannot understand the amount of concerted hate that is directed towards Obama that too by supposedly Dems!. On top of that there are reverse accusations. The consistent rhetoric has been "he is a man of words we need actions" and "get real". The dictum used by campaigners/hate mongerers (who could be smart republicans posing as dems) against Obama is better kept away from our kids. I am worried where this all leads to. We are losing civility.
This drives educated and independents away from dems. If dem-candidated cannot follow the rules that they signed (MI/FL) why should anyone vote for them.
Posted by: DrCha | April 3, 2008 6:16 PM
You know there's nothing substantial left to debate when Katie Couric asks to chime in.
Posted by: swalker3 | April 3, 2008 5:59 PM
After electing a rat-fink like GW Bush, I don't see how you or anyone else can have objections to Obama or Hillary. Neither is stupid--unlike Bush. Neither has run the country and the economy into the ground--unlike Bush. Neither lied to get the country to go to war--unlike Bush.
And frankly, if you don't question Bush's patriotism, I certainly don't see how you can question that of anyone else.
Stop drinking the Koolaid and start thinking for yourself.
Posted by: democrat4ever | April 3, 2008 5:22 PM
Despite our Elected numbskulls incompetance, I have possibly found a Job that will actually enable me to survive.
With anything close to any luck, maybe I will be able to wake-up and have a Normal, Stress-free, day ahead.
Then, I can change my Moniker to Sheeple and Baaaaaa, baaaaa all day like some many others again!
Posted by: rat-the | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM
Here's why I say CBS, especially Couric, are blatantly biased:
There were clear differences in CBS's two most comprehensive reports on the Democratic candidates in "For the Record," which ran in late February, prior to the Texas and Ohio primaries.
For the story on Clinton, CBS (Evening News Managing Editor Katy Couric) assigned Nancy Cordes, a reporter with under 10 years of national experience, primarily in Washington and New York, who has covered one presidential campaign and now covers Transportation and Consumer Safety -- not exactly a seasoned pro.
For the story on Obama, CBS assigned Dean Reynolds, a 23-year veteran of national and international news, the son of legendary broadcaster Frank Reynolds, and the recipient of three Emmys, who has covered multiple presidential campaigns and is based in Obama's political birthplace, Chicago.
The story on Clinton was much more positive and more than a minute longer than the story on Obama -- a lifetime in network news.
Not until nearly five minutes into the eight-minute Clinton profile did Cordes interrupt the fawning tone of her piece for a few mentions of Clinton scandals, which Cordes quickly dismissed, never to revisit them for the remainder of the piece. Her tone was glowing, comparing Clinton's U.S. Senate persona as "work horse" to Obama's "show horse" persona. The piece began as it ended, on an upbeat note, with barely a trace of criticism aimed at Clinton, and that bit primarily on her closed-door health care planning. There was no mention of her Senate record or her anti-union service on the Wal-Mart board of directors -- curious omissions, given that Clinton's Senate record nearly mirrors Obama's and that Ohio is a bastion of pro-labor sentiment. The only mention of any charge leveled against her in the campaign concerned her vote on Iraq.
In the first 30 seconds of his report, Reynolds called Obama a "traditional liberal," citing such non-issues thus far in the campaign as "marijuana use" (huh?!!). Then came was a left-handed testimonial from Illinois state Sen. Bill Brady that began with Brady noting "I can't think of a tax increase he didn't embrace." At just under one-and-a-half minutes into his piece, Reynolds repeated the Clinton campaign's attack that Obama voted "present" more than 100 times out of over 4,000 votes in the Illinois Senate, offering a source's "It's not that unusual" as the only explanation. From there Reynolds barely noted Obama's accomplishments, citing only a few in less than 30 seconds. Then followed a litany of criticism that ran virtually unabated for the remainder of the report. Reynolds raised unproven charges, questionable dealings and provocative innuendo that he never addressed, rehashing such questions as "Is Obama Muslim," providing Obama's own words as the only evidence he is not, rather than any of the considerable body of supporting evidence already on file at other news organizations. On the patriotism questions "no flag pin on the lapel?" and "no hand over the heart?" Reynolds never even bothered to give any answers to his own questions, not even Obama's own explanations or CSPAN footage of Obama leading the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Reynolds then linked Obama to Louis Farrakhan and to Tony Rezko, providing no evidence that Obama has done either of these two men any favors or committed any unethical wrongdoing. Contrast this with Cordes' complete omission of Clinton's million-dollar bundling from questionable supporters, including one wanted for three years on a warrant for arrest.
From start to finish, the tone of the two reports was starkly different. Cordes' narrative lavished praise on Clinton's intrepid rise to stature as a woman who has worked hard to even the odds for herself. But the Reynolds piece called into question every aspect of Obama's rise to prominence, suggesting without evidence that his success was due to shady political connections, political cowardice, a $1.2 million donation from a single company (actually, the total from that company's employees), ephemeral speeches and "a charmed life," rather than crediting Obama's own hard work against the intimidating odds.
As a journalist of 25 years, I can think of nothing to justify the obvious bias represented by the contrast between the Obama attack piece and the Clinton puff piece.
Couric leads an appallingly transparent charge to elect Clinton. This is but one example of why a CBS-sponsored debate would only add to the network's list of abuses.
Posted by: rippermccord | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM
To Rat-the Are you a deadbeat? Your posting is always the first one to go up. Do you just sit in front of the computer, all day, at Washington Post website and wait for every new article to pop up so you can be the first post? Cuz seriously dude, could you do that for ticketmaster. I'd like to get some choice tickets for the 50 cent concert.
Posted by: AB68 | April 3, 2008 4:41 PM
Why did they have to reschedule the original debate just because they "discovered" it happened to coincide with Passover? Is it "sacrilegious" to debate on a religious holiday? Don't ask any questions about leavening, and you'll be fine. They could have had the debate on Easter. What the hell difference does it make?
Posted by: ComfortablyDumb | April 3, 2008 4:41 PM
I can't speak for CNN. But CBS balanced? Nah.
Posted by: rippermccord | April 3, 2008 4:24 PM
Rippermccord CNN has been incredibly one-sided in favor of Obama. CBS Evening News for sure is more balanced.
Posted by: Roy3 | April 3, 2008 4:23 PM
It's really difficult to get enthused about another debate. After 20 debates is there anything left to say? How about dumping Couric as a moderator and asking John McCain to moderate with Seinfeld as a co-host? I am certain there is a research study saomewhere that confirms that this many debates leads to brain erosion and a host of GI symptoms.
Posted by: padricnj | April 3, 2008 4:22 PM
CBS Evening News, managed by Couric, has been incredibly biased in favor of Hillary and against Obama. I can just hear her asking, "Sen. Obama, when you aren't taking kickbacks or hating America, do you ever dream of having a vagina? And what's that like?"
Posted by: rippermccord | April 3, 2008 4:15 PM
Wow, the two beginning comments on this post are a little over the top. Debate is a healthy and important part of our democracy. No matter how many debates we've had, many voters in primary states voting in the next few months may not have been paying attention because their primaries were so late in the process. Its also good practice for whoever ends up the nominee.
I wish that these debates were a little more open and included candidates from third parties as well. Just having a Democratic or Republican debate ignores the fact that there are differing views out there that struggle to be heard.
But even if third party candidates could participate, an important voice would be underrepresented, that of the Green Party.
What happened to our Greens?
Posted by: crumbrye1 | April 3, 2008 4:14 PM
Yea, another debate. I am so excited that I just can not hide it. They have debated each other I belieive about 20 times.. Goodness.
Posted by: kimberly.cobb | April 3, 2008 4:05 PM
Posted by: dionc9 | April 3, 2008 4:01 PM
Oh great another debate?! {SARCASM!}
I'm sure the Hillary camp was excited to get asked for another debate. It means free publicly because financially the Hillary camp has problems.
These debates don't resolve anything relevant to Americans. The debates will simply focus on issues like Rev. Wright, Bosnia Trip, Drop-out pressures, Michigan/Florida revotes and etc. I already know both their positions on the major topics.
The main stream media just wants a prolonged Democratic race fight for viewship. The more people who watch the more commercials during this timeframe cost.
Posted by: ajtiger92 | April 3, 2008 3:29 PM
If we are tortured with another Dimocrat debate, please ask Barack Hussein on my part;
Senator Obasama, RAT wants to know:
Should God Damn America for allowing you to be a Senate Representative, for Not electing you as an un-qualified President, or for being sooooooo stupid as to allow a Socialist Racist like yourself, to actually be the President?
His inquiring little Mind, wants to know! ;~)
Posted by: rat-the | April 3, 2008 2:29 PM
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CBS, the only major network that hasn't sponsored a presidential debate this season, would very much like to host one in North Carolina on April 27. The Clinton camp has agreed to it; the Obama team has yet to respond. --Howard Kurtz
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China Claims Upper Hand In Restive Tibetan Regions
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BEIJING, April 3 -- Chinese officials said Thursday that they had succeeded in restoring order in heavily Tibetan areas across western China and were moving quickly to arrest monks and others involved in weeks of widespread anti-government protests.
The Tibet Tourism Bureau announced that the region will reopen to foreign tourists May 1. More than 1,000 people have been arrested or have turned themselves in to authorities in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital where deadly rioting broke out March 14, an official there said. The detainees will be tried by the end of the month, according to an account on Lhasa's official tourism Web site.
Protests spilled beyond Lhasa over the past few weeks and have been reported in more than 42 areas in surrounding provinces with large Tibetan and other minority populations. Mass arrests announced Thursday extend across the region, though the total number of those detained is not known. Exile groups say the arrests, a stepped-up police presence and harsh tactics are provoking fear and further unrest, while Chinese officials say they are acting within the law and fulfilling their duty to restore stability.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao appealed for unity and pledged more support for poor minority areas during a tour of Yunnan province, China's most diverse, on Thursday. "All ethnic groups form one big family," the official New China News Agency reported Wen as saying. "We must be united and help each other, to prosper and make progress together."
As host of the Olympic Games in August, China is eager to project an image of harmony and stability. To that end, it has taken a law-and-order attitude to rooting out protest organizers, insisting they are part of an organized "clique" of separatists led by the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan spiritual leader has denied involvement in the protests, blaming unrest on China's repression of dissent and religious practice.
Government officials provided details Thursday of one of the more violent demonstrations, which occurred March 16 in Sichuan province's Aba county, on the Tibetan border in southwestern China. More than 200 police officers and government officials were injured when rioters chanting Tibet independence slogans set fire to 24 shops, two police stations and 81 vehicles, Xiao Youcai, deputy chief of the Aba county government, said at a news conference in Beijing.
Police, he said, "exercised great restraint" as the protest began, but then rioters attempted to grab police weapons and storm an ammunition storage area, so police fired into the air. "When warning shots by police officers proved ineffective, police used their weapons according to the law," Xiao said.
Exile groups say at least eight people were killed and others wounded by what they described as random police fire. Many of the wounded cannot go to the hospital because they fear being arrested, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a Washington-based advocacy group.
Xiao said he knew of no deaths, but said "a small number of rioters were hurt and fled." Police are hunting for them, he added.
Xiao said that on March 28, following tips from local residents, police seized weapons and ammunition hidden in a nearby monastery. He displayed photos of such a stash but did not respond to a question about whether the weapons had been used in the March 16 protest. "This incident was instigated by the law-breaking monks," he said. "The Dalai Lama has instigated these riots and forced many people who didn't know any better" to participate.
Although Xiao did not say how many people had been detained, one person in Aba reported seeing "three to four busloads" of monks arrested March 29, according to the International Campaign for Tibet. Police are targeting people with cellphones, who are suspected of sending out information about the riot, the group said.
Police this week stopped foreign reporters who were attempting to enter Aba and escorted them back to the provincial capital, saying the area was closed, the Associated Press reported.
With no access to the areas hit by unrest, it is difficult for reporters to assess the situation independently. But according to telephone interviews with residents in some areas, tensions remain high.
For example, a fight between a Tibetan shopper and a Chinese store owner over the price of a pair of shoes flared into a situation in which 100 Tibetans surrounded the store and banged on the door, a witness said from Jomda, a small county near the border of Tibet and Sichuan. The protest reportedly spread to a local monastery, where monks and others began shouting for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. Eventually, a senior monk calmed the crowd, and it dispersed.
"It is a very sensitive time," said the witness, who asked to be identified only by her surname, Zhang. "People are overly stressed."
Researchers Zhang Jie and Liu Liu contributed to this report.
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BEIJING, April 3 -- Chinese officials said Thursday that they had succeeded in restoring order in heavily Tibetan areas across western China and were moving quickly to arrest monks and others involved in weeks of widespread anti-government protests.
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Report Cites Abuse of 91,000 Babies Under 1
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More than 91,000 babies were mistreated in their first year of life in the United States in 2006, according to the first national estimate of abuse of the nation's youngest, most vulnerable children, prepared by federal officials on the basis of cases substantiated by state and local children's protective services agencies.
Although the report focused on nonfatal maltreatment, officials estimated that abuse killed an additional 499 children in 2006 before their first birthday.
"It's a picture that you don't even want to imagine -- that this number of infants are being maltreated," said Ileana Arias of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which prepared the report. "We find it incredibly distressing and unacceptable that children nowadays are being subjected to these kinds of behaviors."
More than one-third of the nonfatal abuse occurred in the first week of life, with most involving neglect rather than purposeful physical abuse, according to the analysis of data from the national child abuse system.
Under federal law, states since 1993 file with a federal database reports of all abuse cases verified by investigators. The inquiries can be triggered by suspicions raised by medical and social services personnel, law enforcement, teachers or day-care providers, parents, relatives, neighbors or friends.
Because the report marked the first attempt to examine abuse among the youngest children, officials said they did not know whether the number is increasing. But they expressed dismay at the magnitude of the problem.
"Child maltreatment is a serious public health problem," Arias said.
For the study, researchers examined data collected in fiscal 2006 from 44 states plus the District through the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, which compiles reports from child protective service agencies.
A total of 905,000 children younger than 18 were reported to have been abused that year, including 91,278 who had not yet reached their first birthday, the analysis published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows. That is a rate of more than 23 mistreated babies in every 1,000 of the nearly 4 million infants during the period studied.
Of the children abused in their first year, more than 84 percent -- 35,455 -- were less than a month old, and of those, more than 84 percent -- 29,881 -- were less than a week old. Most of the abuse -- 68 percent -- was considered neglect.
"Neglect is officially defined as the failure the meet a child's basic needs," Arias said. "That can be anything involving the provision of appropriate housing or food or clothing or even access to medical care."
Of the remainder, about 13 percent was clear-cut physical abuse, defined as "the intentional use of physical force by a parent or caregiver against a child that results in, or has the potential to result in, physical injury" -- such as beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, the researchers wrote. The researchers said they had too little information on the other cases to classify them.
A total of 47,117 of the cases -- nearly 52 percent -- involved boys. Beyond the immediate danger of physical harm, research has shown that abused or neglected children are much more likely to experience long-term physical and emotional problems, the researchers noted.
While the data could not explain why the abuse occurred or why the youngest babies were so often victims, the researchers speculated it may be because they are especially dependent on their caregivers.
"The findings underscore the need for doctors, relatives and others to alert authorities early of any concerns about abuse, she said.
"What the data are suggesting is that maltreatment is taking place earlier on than we had been focusing on, and so what we need to do is identify what the best possible points of intervention and the best way of intervening in order to make sure that doesn't happen," Arias said. "What we are trying to do is move the dial back a little earlier and make sure that there never is an occasion for someone to pick up a phone or hotline to report that a child is being maltreated."
One solution may be to provide more counseling to pregnant women or those still in the hospital.
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More than 91,000 babies were mistreated in their first year of life in the United States in 2006, according to the first national estimate of abuse of the nation's youngest, most vulnerable children, prepared by federal officials on the basis of cases substantiated by state and local children's...
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Basra Assault Exposed U.S., Iraqi Limits
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He was determined to show, his advisers said, that Iraq's central government could exert order over a lawless, strategic port city ruled by extremist militias. The advisers said Maliki wanted to demonstrate that he was a strong leader who could shed his reputation as a sectarian figure by going after fellow Shiites, and who could act decisively without U.S. pressure or assistance.
A week later, his ultimately unsuccessful gambit has exposed the shaky foundation upon which U.S. policy in Iraq rests after five years of war, according to politicians and analysts. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker are to report to Congress next week on Iraq's progress.
The offensive, which triggered clashes across southern Iraq and in Baghdad that left about 600 people dead, unveiled the weaknesses of Maliki's U.S.-backed government and his brash style of leadership. On many levels, the offensive strengthened the anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
The United States has spent more than $22 billion to build up Iraq's security forces, but they were unable to quell the militias. Hundreds of Iraqi soldiers and police deserted the fighting, a senior Iraqi military official said. Maliki had to call on U.S. and British commanders for support. In some areas, such as Sadr's Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City, U.S. forces took the lead in fighting the cleric's Mahdi Army militiamen.
And it was Iran that helped broker an end to the clashes, enhancing its image and illustrating its influence over Iraq's political players.
"It was ill-advised and ill-timed," said Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman. "I think Maliki had a setback and America had a setback because Iran and Moqtada al-Sadr were victorious."
But other Iraqi politicians, including many who are wary of Sadr's growing influence or consider Maliki too pro-Shiite, said they admired the prime minister's decisiveness and courage. "For the first time, I felt that Maliki is now stronger than he was in the last two years," said Hussein Shuku Falluji, a legislator with the largest Sunni bloc in parliament.
Senior American officials put a positive face on the offensive and its aftermath. Crocker, in a briefing Thursday with journalists, said the Basra violence was not a setback for the United States in Iraq and did not "erase the significant progress" in improving security in recent months. "This is a positive development for Iraq," he said, adding that Maliki had emerged stronger.
But Crocker also acknowledged the tenuousness of recent reductions in violence more than a year after the launch of a temporary buildup of American troops. "Gains are fragile," he said. "This episode demonstrates it."
Tensions persisted between Maliki and Sadr this week. Maliki vowed to continue to go after Shiite militias in Baghdad. And Sadr called on Iraqis to join what he said would be a million-person rally against the U.S. occupation, set for Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of American troops toppling Saddam Hussein's government.
The Basra offensive put on display the growing tensions between Sadr and his main Shiite rivals -- Abdul Aziz al-Hakim's Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and Maliki's Dawa party. Sadr's support propelled Maliki into his current post two years ago. But under heavy U.S. pressure, Maliki began to turn against Sadr, and last summer, the Sadrists pulled out of Maliki's ruling coalition.
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BAGHDAD, April 3 -- When Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki launched an offensive in Basra last week, he consulted only his inner circle of advisers. There were no debates in parliament or among his political allies. Senior American officials were notified only a few days before the operation b...
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Slate: Patching Up the U.S. Post-Bush
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Kaplan is the author of "Daydream Believers: How a Few Grand Ideas Wrecked American Power" and a former staff reporter for the Boston Globe, having been its military correspondent, Moscow bureau chief and New York bureau chief. A regular writer on jazz and hi-fi for Stereophile, he has also written on a variety of subjects for the New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, Scientific American and others.
Fred Kaplan: Fred Kaplan here. Glad to be back. Let's go to your questions.
Paris: Reading the article, one gets the impression that the only thing to be fixed in the foreign policy realm is the approach to the broader Middle East. What about multilateralism? Relationships with China and Russia? Getting the Transatlantic alliance back on track? Attention to Latin America? Stopping nuclear proliferation (e.g. India)?
Fred Kaplan: Good question. (At least one other reader submitted a very similar one.) Three comments. First, I think the criticism is overstated. The first part of the piece, discussing general trends in international relations, and the last part, about the need for "public diplomacy, apply to our foreign policy broadly. But you're right, I did focus perhaps inordinately on the Middle East. To that, I would say, second, I had only 1,200 words; there's only so much one can do. And third, realistically, the next president -- whomever he or she is -- is not going to be able to get a whole lot done unless some sort of solution, or coherent approach, is worked out on Iraq. That depends, in part, on a sensible policy toward Iran, Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
South Range, Wis.: Is it possible to fix U.S. soft power without fixing the corporate control that has come to dominate every aspect of American culture, in particular the media? Can the world still differentiate between American values and corporate policy?
Fred Kaplan: Yes, I think it is possible. The United States Information Agency was just such an instrument all through the Cold War, when arguably corporate control of American society and politics was far more pervasive than it is now.
Jacksonville, Fla.: Four-part question here: How much of the military spending problems (unnecessary extravagant carriers, fighter jets, etc.) are because of the fact that they support the military-industrial complex of highly connected contractors? Can this problem be corrected without harming a now huge part of the American economy? Would any president be willing to take on this risk? How could they manage this collateral damage?
Fred Kaplan: Good question. I think the Military-Industrial Complex is sometimes an overrated factor, but it's often an underrated factor as well. (You would be hard-pressed to find references to it, or to a euphemism for the same phenomenon, in mainstream newspaper articles.) It's worth recalling that it was a great general, Dwight Eisenhower, who first uttered the phrase and warned of its dangers. But it's not just industry -- it's also congressional districts (for a half-century now, the services sagely have distributed contracts and subcontracts for controversial weapons systems to as many districts as possible, the better to build up legislative support).
It's also the stranglehold that certain subcultures within the services have over the weapons-procurement process. For instance, the No. 1 priority of the Air Force these days is the F-22 fighter jet -- perhaps the only airplane that has not been used in any of the wars we've fought lately. Why? Because the Air Force procurement machinery is still dominated by fighter pilots. Ditto for the Navy and aircraft carriers (and submarines), and the Army and tanks. A rethinking of the role of military power in the post-Cold War world might overhaul these priorities. But as long as the politics of the services remain the same, little is going to happen.
Plano, Texas: Do the liberals at Slate get angry when good news comes out of Iraq? Are all of you mad now that it looks like Iraq is on it's way to becoming a stable democracy?
Fred Kaplan: Let me ask you a question: Do you really believe the premise of your question? Do you really think we jump for joy with each report of a suicide bomb going off? Do you really believe that we want to see the Middle East remain in the hands of authoritarians or Islamic fundamentalists? If you've read my columns over time, you may have noted that I have expressed hope -- increasingly cautious hope, but hope nonetheless (not dismay) -- when trends seem, even slightly, to be going our way. I would question, by the way, your premise that Iraq is "on its way to becoming a stable democracy." What papers do you read? I should also add that some writers at Slate -- for instance, my colleague and old friend, Christopher HItchens -- are unequivocal in their support for the war.
Stop-truth-decay : I can justify high tech weapons in one word: China.
Fred Kaplan: Well, that is the rationale. If someone had fallen asleep in say 1985, woken up today and looked at the defense budget, he (or she) would infer that the Cold War must still be going on. Look at the budget. About $600 billion -- not including the money spent on Iraq, Afghanistan, and "the longer war on terror." What is that $600 billion going for? Well, a lot of it is for people. But much of the rest is for aircraft carriers, submarines, fighter jets -- remnants of the Cold War. What threat today is best answered by lots of such weapons? There is no such threat. Ah, but 20 years down the road, many say, China might emerge as a great military power, and these weapons will be necessary to deter or fight China.
Two replies: First, China's military power is strengthening, but it still doesn't amount to much. (Do me a favor and click on a Slate column I wrote a while back, detailing the contents of a Pentagon report on the military power of the People's Republic of China. An interesting document: The first half tries to raise your hair by describing all the things China seems to be wanting to do. The second half calmly notes how far away they are from succeeding at any of these ventures.) Second, to the extent China wants to dominate the world, I think they're on track buying the place. We need to devote more attention to trade policy if we want to stave off China.
Clifton, Va.: Bubba, has there been a terrorist attack in the U.S. since Sept. 11? No. Do I care what the rest of the world thinks about our military and foreign policy? No! What is most important is this country's national security and protecting U.S. citizens. I don't care what the rest of the world thinks. If anything, we need to spend more money on covert ops and chasing targets! If we are unlucky and Obama or Clinton wins in November 2008, then be prepared for ten of thousands of deaths from terrorist attacks here in the U.S. Dick Cheney is right! So!
Fred Kaplan: Hmm. The dollar's going down, our deficit and debt are spiraling out of control, we have a hard time maintaining 150,000 troops in Iraq and another 30,000 or so in Afghanistan. And you don't care what the rest of the world thinks of us. How are we going to lure allies to join our causes and contribute to our defense -- yes, our defense (and our national-security interests abroad)? This is not a gooey liberal question, it's a very hard-headed one. We do not have the money, the manpower or the stomach to do the things you would like us to do all by ourselves. Meanwhile, because the Soviet Union -- the common enemy that held the Western alliance together -- no longer exists, our erstwhile allies have realized they can go their own way, pursue their own interests, without much regard for what Washington thinks. We have no choice but to pursue allies -- not at the expense or sacrifice of our vital interests or bedrock principles, but with active diplomacy, which sometimes mean tactical compromises.
curiousgemini: What Carter And Kaplan forget is that a lot of these expensive cold war era weapons put a lot of money in defense contractors' pockets. These companies lobby hard and have close connections to the Pentagon. Also, many members of Congress have a political stake in the jobs these bloated programs create in their districts. This is all part of the "Military-Industrial-Congressional complex."
Fred Kaplan: Well, we don't exactly "forget" these facts. We spend a lot of time in our essay coming up with ways to deal with them, to form semi-rational policies despite these obstacles. Take another look. You're right, though: it's a very serious problem, especially at a time when we need to overhaul the military structure, if we're to retain our solvency and recover much of our influence.
Orion838: Good ideas, but unlike what the authors suggest, Congress doesn't just sit around and passively go along with Pentagon plans to buy Cold War relics like aircraft carriers, nuclear subs, high tech fighter planes, etc. Congress mandates that these purchases must be made, even when the Pentagon would prefer to spend the money elsewhere. The reasons are job for constituents and campaign contributions from defense contractors. Given these congressional priorities, it's hard to see how we can ever find the money the authors show is needed.
Fred Kaplan: You're right -- sort of. Many times, the Pentagon or one of the services will put forth a budget that cuts, even slashes, some of these much-cherished weapons systems -- knowing that Congress will restore the budget fully, if not more. There's gamesmanship all round.
Sun Prairie, Wis.: Mr. Kaplan: I noticed that your brief piece in Slate did not address the absurdly long time it takes to design, test and arrange for production of weapons systems and other defense platforms, or the added costs and security risks involved in having their production spread across the country instead of concentrated in a few places. I recognize that both these problems are to some extent imposed by Congress, but it's unlikely that we will get a more effective, less expensive military by ignoring them -- meaning that at some point a President will need to confront Congress. Do you agree?
washingtonpost.com: GAO Blasts Weapons Budget (Post, April 1)
Fred Kaplan: This is a serious -- and very old -- problem. If the president wanted to order the cancellation of, say, a big fighter-aircraft program -- or wanted to defer production of another $3.2 billion aircraft carrier -- we would have to pay enormous delay or cancellation costs. Weapons contracts, quite reasonably, are loaded with these clauses. Then a defender of one of those weapons programs would argue: If we cancel this program, we will lose the skilled work force, we will lose the industrial base; if we want to manufacture it sometime in the future, there may not be the laborers -- there may not be the corporation -- to make it. For this reason, a lot of officials and legislators who have a lot of other things on their mind simply let it go; it's a full-time job, plus some, to tangle with these obstacles. But for this same reason, somebody's going to have to do it, at some point, before the excess costs and anachronistic allocations send us into the poorhouse and wreck the army.
Bethesda, Md.: "Bubba, has there been a terrorist attack in the U.S. since Sept. 11?" Hey, Clifton, I've got one word for you: anthrax. So, yes, there has been.
Fred Kaplan: I think Clifton's question got lost in the shuffle somewhere, but just to deal with yours -- I don't think it's at all clear that the anthrax scare was a terrorist attack. We don't know where the stuff came from. I seriously doubt it was some foreign terrorist group -- or if it was, the leaders must have given it up as an ineffectual approach: it killed very few people, sired panic but not of the sort that damaged our economy in the slightest; in any case, it has not recurred. Not to be complacent, but still...
kenl77: In regard to the Cold War era, the author says the following: "The world was dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union, and the countries in between often subordinated their own interests to accommodate -- in the West by choice, in the East by force -- the interests of their superpower protector."
It seems to me that American history since 1945 involved a substantial amount of coercion, ranging from flat-out declaration of war to CIA subversion of governments and elections, assassination of foreign leaders, support of ruthless dictators and economic destruction of third-world countries. To believe that somehow the United States was the good guy in the Cold War is another fable that Americans must shed before they ever can understand why they so roundly are hated in much of the world.
Fred Kaplan: I think you're misreading what I wrote, a bit. Or maybe I should have elaborated more fully (though I have in other columns and, even more, in my new book, "Daydream Believers: How a Few Grand Ideas Wrecked American Power" -- hey, I have to get a plug in here somehow). I'm not saying that we were "the good guy in the Cold War" (though our sins were far less heinous than the Soviet Union's, I think it's reasonable to say -- we did not suppress our European allies in the same way that Moscow suppressed and absolutely controlled, theirs, for instance).
My point was this: During the Cold War, many Western (and in-between) nations subordinated their own interests in order to accommodate ours. In some cases this was voluntarily; in other cases, as you point out, less so. Now, with the Cold War over and the common enemy vanquished, many of these countries are pursuing their own interests again. My point is that the Bush administration's initial premise -- that we are "the sole superpower' and therefore can do pretty much anything we want, and we don't need allies to do it -- is completely wrong. In a very important way, we are less powerful than we used to be, less able to get our way without trying much; the whole concept of "superpower" is obsolete.
Washington: Thanks for your columns -- I have found them quite interesting. Any word on how the Central Command position will be filled? Is there any credence to the rumor that it will be Petraeus, with Odierno going to replace him at Multi-National Force Iraq?
Fred Kaplan: Thanks. I've read the same rumors you have. They seem plausible. But I have no inside dope on what's for real -- and it may well be that no more than a half-dozen people do.
U.S.: I'm very troubled by the extensive use of stop-loss orders and involuntary recalls of people who thought they'd gotten out of the military. While I realize military people signed on the dotted line, the use of these provisions in this way seems to me to be a clear violation of the spirit of the law. Are any plans being made to avoid this situation in future conflicts?
Fred Kaplan: I agree with you, but I see no end to it as long as the military doesn't have any other way to keep the level of troops that the political leadership (i.e. the president) wants to keep deployed -- especially in Iraq. And currently, there is no other way. Recruitment targets are being met only by lowering standards to perilous levels. Junior officers are getting out of the service in droves. This is why a lot of general officers are eager to find some way to cut our losses in Iraq -- they fear that the Army might wind up broken.
Rockville, Md.: Regarding terrorist attacks, what about the Washington sniper, who roamed around the city for a month killing people at random? The entire city was paralyzed with fear. I guess if it's not al-Qaeda or people with brown skin, we don't consider that a "terrorist attack."
Fred Kaplan: In fairness, the phrase "terrorist attack" usually implies foreign involvement. (Didn't the sniper have brown skin?)
Tyrtaios-rising: Would it surprise anyone to know our embassies and consulates, worldwide, are where they are to represent our economic interests? What are those interests? Certainly not catering to distraught American tourists, much to many's chagrin. A posting by cbarrett [on The Fray] discussed an interesting issue: oil and our foreign dependence on it.
It consumes us, we are held hostage by it and the competitive world demand for it. Everything else, the Palestine issue, proper dialogue with key players, not just in that region, but within our own hemisphere, let alone Africa. Something not lost on the Chinese incidentally. Have you been to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, recently? Would it surprise you to learn a lot of petroleum and natural gas exports come from there to us?
Our foreign policy extends to the use of military force projection in enforcing an outline called the Carter Doctrine. Look it up and draw conclusions why we focus so much on the Middle East. What are our future economic priorities going to be? That will drive our foreign policy. In many cases, the use or misuse of our military strength as a form of foreign policy as well. Which future president has even hinted at addressing our dependence on foreign oil? I'm aware it's more complicated then that. But it's a start.
Fred Kaplan: As you say, it's "more complicated" than oil (and other resources), but certainly that's a large part of it. Most wars over the centuries have had something to do with resources. You're certainly right in your main point -- that weaning our dependence on foreign oil should be regarded as a vital national-security priority and that no politicians are talking about this very much.
wayhey1: Is it too much to expect the current president to do all of these things that Kaplan suggests? Bush still has time left in office to get the ball rolling. Of course, to regain other nations' trust he actually would have to admit to making mistakes. As a graduate of a 12-step-type recovery program, he should understand this better than most -- yet he hasn't shown any inclination to apply life's important lessons to foreign policy, and that is disappointing. Machismo and claiming infallibility is the opposite of diplomacy, as well as the opposite of personal healing.
In that same vein, Fred said one thing I just can't let go by without making a comment: "The world was dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union, and the countries in between often subordinated their own interests to accommodate -- in the West by choice, in the East by force -- the interests of their superpower protector."
This is a myth that has gone on far too long. Western Europe went along willingly with the United States -- thanks in large part to the Marshal Plan, in my opinion -- but the same is not true of many other U.S. allies during the Cold War. Coercion and CIA-sponsored coups were used all over Latin America and the Middle East as tools to build anti-Communist alliances. The continued refusal to face this reality and own up to past expediencies fuels her current enemies and weakens her internally. Any president admitting to these facts would disarm many of America's most vocal and most radical opponents, and America would emerge again as the great model to which other nations aspire.
Fred Kaplan: Good point. I would say two things, though. First, Europe was the centerpiece of our Cold War policy. Second, as for the other countries, many of their governments went along with us by choice -- though it's certainly the case that some of those governments were installed or bought off. I may have used the phrase "by choice" too cavalierly.
Seattle, a military town: Given the massive outsourcing to Blackwater and other nonmilitary "contractors" by the Bush misadministration -- usually at triple or quadruple pay -- is it likely we can fix our military, given how much of its hardware has been chewed up in Iraq and the lack of noncontractor resources? And do you think this was a plan by Red China that Bush and McCain enabled with the help of John Yoo and other plants?
Fred Kaplan: I think we'll be seeing much less involvement by contractors in the near future. Don't think that reduced contracting will save us money. Somebody has to do the jobs that the contractors have been doing. Where are we going to get these people? As for the Red China plot: No.
aix42: The U.S. must admit its use of torture and apologize. It must stop use of black sites and Guantanamo and the ridiculous notion of "unlawful enemy combatants." The people of the U.S. also need to become fully aware of how the actions of the U.S. against other nations of the world have hurt many people and have caused great animosity toward this country.
Fred Kaplan: Okay, but then what do we do after the self-flagellation. I don't mean to minimize the point. This is a basic prerequisite to boosting our image and restoring much of our power -- which, as I point out in the Slate column, amount to much the same thing (if done properly).
Nike: An even better idea! Instead of squandering the wealth of the nation down one black hole after another in the Middle East, why not spend that cash on education, building roads, health care, reducing the deficit, etc.? Nah, forget it. How would helping Americans serve the cause of the war pigs? God bless America.
Fred Kaplan: Just curious: "black holes" aside, are you opposed to any U.S. activity overseas?
Seattle: No politicians are talking about the foreign implications of oil dependency? Last time I checked, both Obama and Clinton were talking directly about it -- and we here in the 17 states dealing with global warming are doing something about it, with people like me buying 100 percent green power from Seattle City Light from wind, solar and hydro, for example, and all made in America! Half of war is economics -- so, is not the major threat the Red Chinese taking global oil, coal and mineral resources worldwide while we dither?
Fred Kaplan: I think you're right. Thomas Friedman had a fascinating story in the New York Times Magazine several months ago about U.S. firms manufacturing energy-saving devices -- large-scale devices -- explicitly for export to the Chinese market. This is another way to go.
Fred Kaplan: That's all, folks. Thanks for the lively forum.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties
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Join live discussions from the Washington Post. Feature topics include national, world and DC area news, politics, elections, campaigns, government policy, tech regulation, travel, entertainment, cars, and real estate.
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What's It Worth? Housing Outlook 2008
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Jim Remley, author of "Sell Your Home in Any Market" (AMACOM, 2008), provides tips and strategies sellers can use to get top dollar during a home sale.
Remley has spent most of his life in real estate, starting at the age of 19. Within two years of obtaining his real estate license Jim listed over 150 properties in a twelve month period and became listed in the top one percent of the National Association of Realtors.
For more on local real estate, visit washingtonpost.com's Real Estate section.
Jim Remley: Hello -- my name is Jim Remley, I am an 18-year real estate veteran and author of the new book, "Sell Your Home in Any Market." I'm excited to answer your questions this morning.
Fairfax County, Va.: Dear Jim, thanks for answering my question in advance. I live in a 2-year-old condo complex in Fairfax County that has 800 units. Our place is on the market. The prices on the units have been dropping, and call me pessimistic, but I think they will continue to drop for many years to come. I have reason to believe that most people have a 5-year ARM, and if so, many people will want to sell their place in the fourth year of the complex being open. Would you agree that there will be several hundred units in my complex alone for sale in two years? And if it is possible to sell a unit in any market, what do you advise us to do? Thanks.
Jim Remley: The condo market in many areas during the boom were overbuilt and this inventory oversupply has caused a build up in inventory. The good news is that I don't share your viewpoint that home prices will continue dropping for years to come. Once this oversupply has come back to balance, prices will stabilize. If you have to sell now though, the only way to overcome the over supply will be to be very competive with pricing.
Arlington Va.: Hi, I've got my FSBO on the market for $625K and received an offer for $550! Should I be totally insulted? The house is in excellent condition, in a great location and the comps will support my price. By the way, the offer was not presented by the buyers agent in person. Instead, it came by email. Maybe the agent was embarrassed? I don't think I'm even going to counter. I will just reject it and go on...
Jim Remley: As I tell all of my sellers, all offers are good! Don't be insulted. What you have is a bargain shopper, who is trying to find a "good deal." The good news is you have activity!
Washington, D.C.: How accurate are those HGTV shows that insist that you must have granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in your kitchen to sell your house? My husband and I are getting ready to replace our laminate countertops with Cambria quartz. We just simply don't like granite. We'd also like to replace our appliances soon from the current bisque to new finishes and models. But we hate stainless steel. When we eventually sell, will we get less money because of our choices?
Jim Remley: That's a great question. Buyers today do want a "turn key" home in other words they just want to move in. While a modern interior is always a plus, it's not necessary to spend piles of money to make your home more attractive. In some cases you can overdo it and the home can become too trendy.
Herndon, Va.: We bought a 2006 townhouse in the 20170 part of Herndon, Virginia. Although we like the area very much and love our home, we would like to be closer to our new jobs in Maryland. Not surprisingly, our house has gone down in price since we bought. Would it still be possible to sell our home at a reasonable price (maybe 50k below the value we bought at or at the current tax assessed value) in today's market. If it helps, we have done some upgrades since we bought, such as installing better hardwood throughout the entire main level, having stainless steel appliances, ceiling fans/lights in all the main rooms and all the bedrooms, and light filtering blinds upstairs.
Jim Remley: The best way to determine value is by studying recents sales of similar homes, and homes that you will be competing with should you begin to market your home. The key is to look at your home through the eyes of a buyer. Unfornunately this has nothing to do with the amount a home owner has paid or invested in their home. In other words looking at the current inventory of available homes and prices what would you as a buyer pay for your home?
Washington D.C.: Thanks for taking our question! I'd really like to hear your thoughts. We own a single family semi detached home in the heart of Capitol Hill, Zip code 20002, which we took a "risk" on purchasing nine years ago. The family thought we were nuts for moving into the city. Now it seems the only safe place to have invested was the city or the immediate surrounding suburbs. Our house still is worth four times what we paid for it, whereas my "less risky" family members now owe more on their houses in the ex-burbs than they are worth.
Do you expect this trend to continue -- over the next 10-15 years, do you expect to see the continued rejuvenation of our cities? What with the $3 gas, I am so happy to be participating in the return of the sidewalk, so to speak. And it seems like my fellow homeowners in the city feel the same.
Jim Remley: Unlike the stock market, or the bond market, the real estate market is really thousands of mini-markets spread out across the country. For instance what happens in Portland, Ore., won't affect home prices in Washington, D.C., so making long-term predictions about specific areas is always difficult. In general though home buyers are driven by some key motivators jobs, schools, affordability, lifestyle, and health care always seem to top the list. Communities that can offer home buyers these items will tend "outperform" the general market.
Vienna, Va.: Hi. What advice regarding setting a sales price would you give homeowners who are selling a home in excellent condition but are competing with neighborhood homes that are selling for 10 percent less than the going price because they are in less than excellent shape?
Jim Remley: This is a great question, the three keys to selling a home are price, product, and promotion. Price today is the number one motivator, while you may command more money for a home in better condition without a competitive price you may never get the opportunity for the buyer to appreciate your product because the they won't make it past your price.
Gaithersburg, Md.: What are your thoughts about the advantages and/or disadvantages of having an open house? Also, do you think offering a new flat-screen TV with the purchase of the house is a worthwhile incentive?
Jim Remley: Open houses can be a great way to generate traffic. To ensure success the home should be within easy driving distance, priced competetively, and in "show ready condition." To market the open house start early by planting signs a week in advance, advertising in the local paper, and handing out flyers to neighbors.
As far as giving away a TV, that can be a fun way to generate interest, but one fundamental to remember is that incentives like these only work if the price of the home is right, and the condition is right. In other words you can't bribe a buyer past an inflated price with the offer of a free TV.
Long Island, N.Y.: Later this year I will be moving my mother into a retirement community and selling her house, which hasn't been updated in 50 years. Most of the houses in her neighborhood are gutted or even demolished by the buyer after they are sold. So I assume I should just empty the house and clean it well? Focus on making the front yard attractive?
Jim Remley: You may want to market the home to builders, and investors who have worked in the neighborhood. Also it may be worthwhile to have a bid on remodeling the home yourself to compare the remodeled value vs the as is value, perhaps it would pay to become the investor yourself.
Oakton, Va.: We are retired and planning to move to N.C. this year. Our house in Oakton has a small mortgage which we can easily pay. Should we try and sell our house this spring, or wait until fall or even next spring?
Jim Remley: Most experts will tell you that if you don't have to sell it may be better to wait until the market returns to balance. (less inventory/more buyers). With that said, it's important to note that every market is unique, and there are many areas of the country which are still doing quite well despite the downturn. My recommendation would be to talk with a local real estate professional about the average days on market for the area.
Philadelphia: How does one best evaluate a realtor? I have both sold and bought a house and I got the sense both times my realtor was quick to get me to make concessions to the other party that I did not feel as if the realtor was advocating for me. Do you have any advice on finding good realtors you believe will advocate for you?
Jim Remley: That's a great question. Over 70 percent of sellers work with the first agent they interview, I recommend interviewing at least three agents and having a detailed list of questions that you ask them. One way to evalute agents to look at their track record and to ask for testimonials from past clients.
Washington, D.C.: My wife and I have been househunting, but recently decided to give it a rest and wait a year. We were more than willing to purchase a property -- but found that the listing in townhouse development we were interested in were (amazingly) $100,000 higher over the last three comps from Nov.-Dec. of last year. Now that we are renting for a year, some of the new listings are only $40,000 more than the comps -- but nothing is selling. Why are so many sellers still living in 2005? How long does it typically take for sellers to accept reality?
Jim Remley: Understandably, many sellers have a problem selling for less than what they paid for a home, especially if they purchased a home at the top of the market. Others are overmortgaged and simply owe more than the home is worth, and of course there are many sellers who just don't have to sell. Because of these factors many seller end up listing but never actually selling their home.
Washington, D.C.: My wife and I were looking at houses in Reston, Va. We fell in love with a townhouse that was a "short sale" and being managed by the estate of the former owner. We prepared to make an offer. While walking around the neighborhood, one of the neighbors mentioned that the former owner passed away in the house. We had our realtor specifically ask if the death was the result of a violent act, or if it was a "hospice" or natural death. The listing agent was completely evasive and said that she did not know "exactly."
We ended up asking the listing agent's broker-boss. He was also evasive. Suddenly out of the blue, we got an e-mail from the listing agent -- she had accidently hit "reply," thinking that her boss had sent the e-mail that I had copied her on. She thought she was telling her boss "I cannot help it that all of the neighbors know that she blew her brains out with a shotgun." In effect, we were lied to by the listing agent. In further researching the matter, I found that listing agents are not required to disclose such things --but does this give them immunity to lie and mislead? How can perspective buyers protect themselves from buying a property with hidden defects? If it was just me -- we would have bought the townhouse -- who cares? Trust me, you would care if you had teenage children that still believe in ghosts!
Jim Remley: Interesting question, state laws vary regarding disclosure of violent crimes or death in a home, some require disclosure other do not. To complicate matters in some states where disclosure is optional the seller or their estate may prevent the discloure by the listing agent. To protect yourself as a buyer you could write into any offer you present to the seller a disclosure request about violent crimes or deaths in the home. Check with a local real estate attorney about how to draft such a clause.
Springfield, Va.: I was planning to put my home on the market at the end of this month. Suddenly a home that has been on the market in my small neighborhood has drastically reduced it's price. It's a foreclsoure home. How does that impact my bottom line? We were planning to put our home on the market for $40,000 more than this house now lists at; on top of this, the foreclosure home has one more bedroom. How do we sell?
Jim Remley: In terms of affecting your value, appraisers will often take into consideration the fact that a home was in foreclosure when sold and thus sold at a discount. So it may not be quite as bad as it appears. But in terms of getting your home sold, if both of your homes are comparable its a reality that the other home will probably sell first. If your home has any unique features, use these as a "focus point". One downside to buying a foreclosure is the unknowns, banks sell homes "as-is." You might emphasis the fact that you will be providing a buyer with full disclsoure about the home, and it's history.
Silver Spring, Md.: The FSBO person in Arlington has had his feelings hurt by a low ball offer -- boo hoo. This is a time to check your tender emotions at the door and use your head. Do you have to sell the house quickly, do you have other offers, does that buyer see a huge defect in your home that has escaped your notice? You can accept the offer, ignore the offer or counter the offer but don't get all over-emotional and rightous like a stereotypical FSBO.
Jim Remley: Selling a home is rated as one of three most stressful events in a person life, so I understand when people become emotional. Afterall for most folks it's the largest financial assest that they own.
Arlington, Va.: I have a question. I bought a two-bedroom/two bath condo one year ago in Virginia Square, one block from the metro in a nice building with pool, gym, etc. Being that I am one block form the Virginia Square Metro, and three blocks from Ballston, how do you think location to metro affects prices? Thanks.
Jim Remley: Buyers rate the quality of a neighborhood as the number one factor in buying a home, more important than even the home itself. Of the 13 items that relate to a "quality" neighborhood nine of them are related to "proximity" to services. So being closer to metro, in general is a a great asset when selling a home. As far as pricing, this will be determined by your competition -- what other homes are selling for in your market area.
Arlington, Va.: Good morning. I'm selling my condo FSBO. I recently had someone view my property and gave me a verbal offer. I asked him to go home, think about it and give me a written (via email) offer that night. I have not heard from him since -- should I contact him? If so, what should I say?
Jim Remley: You did exactly the right thing. A verbal offer was just testing the waters, and probably shows the buyer wasn't really serious. Though I would follow up with the buyer, you might just call to see if he (or she) had any further questions you might be able to answer about the property. In all likelyhood though they would have already contacted you if they had serious interest.
Fairfax, Va.: I am finally at a point where I can rent out my home for a profit. I would like to take advantage of the low interest rates and declining home prices and buy another home to live in. I know that the rental market for condos is not great right now, but what about single family homes? What do you think of the SFH rental market now and in the near future? I'm afraid that the homeowners who can't sell their homes will rent them out and creat an abundance of rentals on the market.
Jim Remley: Excellent question. This is a great time to buy investment properites. I actually think condo's may be a terrific investment as well as SFH's. Actually because buyers have stayed on the sidelines many are staying in rentals longer, so in many areas of the country the rental market has still done very well. I would call a few local property management firms and quize them about vacany rates, and their opinions about your local market.
Tampa: My husband and I relocated to Tampa last August. We put our home in Monroeville, Pa. (outside of Pittsburgh) on the market in June 2007. While we have had a steady parade of people looking at the home -- no offers yet. We have recently changed realtors and are looking to at least get the house rented by the summer. Pittsburgh isn't a hot-bed of real estate movement, but our home there, three-bed, 2 1/2 bath, built in '93 is in a great neighborhood. About two years ago, houses in our development rarely stayed on the market more than two months. We can't pay two mortgages forever. What can we do?
Jim Remley: Interesting question. In general when you list your home for sale -- and no one comes to see the home this is a signal that the home is overpriced, the price is the barrier for people. But in your case it sounds like your having lots of showings but no offers in this case it's likely that there is something about the product (the house itself) that is causing buyers not to make an offer. Ask your agent to begin quizzing the buyers or their agents to find out what their objection was to the home, if you find a common theme -- fix it, and sell it.
Fairfax, Va.: I've decided that now is the time to move up into a larger house. I have plenty of equity in my current home (which is a townhouse condominium) and would prefer to price it to sell quickly rather than to maximize my profit. Should I try to sell my house at the same time I am looking for a new home, or should I try to sell it first? I don't think I would be able to afford two mortgages for more than a few months. Some townhouse condos in my complex have sold within weeks of being put on the market, and some have languished for months. Some have been foreclosed on. What's your advice?
Jim Remley: In most cases it make more sense to sell your current home first before purchasing your next home, this gives you a much better negotiating position, as your offers will then not be contigent on a home sale.
Fairfax County, Va.: This is a great discussion Jim! We've read that the market will normally determine the final selling price of a home. We plan to pick the first selling price for our house somewhat below the average recent selling price, hoping that this will attract more people and hopefully result in many offers. Do you find that this is true... that the final selling price of our home should move upwards to the average if we originally price it low? Thanks!
Jim Remley: This is a very aggressive strategy which will no doubt get your home sold very quickly. I would look at both the homes that have sold, and the home currently on the market for sale. Also look at the average market times for the homes currently for sale, if they have all been sitting on the maket for a long time, their pricing may be off the mark.
Anonymous: Selling "as-is." I just want to sell my house. I don't want to upgrade anything or whatever, just sell. It will be clean and it's a pretty nice house that has been maintained (new windows, new roof, new HVAC etc.) but I'm not financially or mentally able to do anything (else) to this house. I'm willing to price accordingly. How might I fare in this housing environment?
Jim Remley: In the current market because there is such an abundance of properties it is somewhat of a beauty contest amoung homes, buyers when given the choice prefer to buy homes that are turn key ready. That being said, buyers can always be motivated by price. I would recommend talking to your agent about a price that will motivate a buyer to accept the condition.
Upper Marlboro, Md.: I am selling my house which is located in the neighborhood of Perrywood. Perrywood was, unfortunately, featured on the front page of this paper as having lots of foreclosures. Should I be very nervous? My reason for selling is not this sub-prime mess, but due to divorce. I can pay the mortgage till the cows come home, but I don't want to. I'm seeking to down-size. The house is staged beautifully... it's vacant! Tell me I have nothing to fear and will be able to sell since it is the second to the lowest in terms of sales price?
Jim Remley: The reality is that you will have to be competive with the homes in your neighborhood in terms of price to sell. This of course includes foreclosures. But because your home is actually owned by a person, professional staged buyers may find your home more attractive. As I mentioned in another post banks sell homes "as is" because of this you should have an advantage because buyers will no what they are getting into.
Washington, D.C.: Regarding this statment "product (the house itself) that is causing buyers not to make an offer. Ask your agent to begin quizing the buyers or their agents to find out what their objection was to the home, if you find a common theme - fix it, and sell it."
Is the exterior paint color a big enough reason for people not to make an offer? It is the only comment about things "buyers would change" feedback from my agent. In my mind it is the easiest thing to change, not necessarily intrusice or expensive, and as a buyer would be happy to pick out my own color if I didn't like the current color. Thoughts?
Jim Remley: Actually buyers are terrible at visualization, we like to think they'll envision their own paint, and carpets, and bathrooms... but they don't they see the home the way it is and reject or accept it based on its current condition.
Jim Remley: Thank you for a lively discussion. You can pick up my new book, "Sell Your Home in Any Market: 50 Surprisingly Simple Strategies for Getting Top Dollar Fast" at major book stores nationwide and online.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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What's It Worth? Housing Outlook 2008
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For Tanya Memme, experience with her family's housing company, which specializes in custom homes and commercial developments, made her the perfect choice as a co-host. Along with Hazard, she guides viewers between the mind of the buyer and the heart of the seller.
Today, they discussed the quirky ins and outs of the show and answered reader questions.
For more on local real estate, visit washingtonpost.com's Real Estate section.
Roger Hazard: Howdy everyone! Thanks for writing in today. Looking forward to answering questions about selling your home or even personal questions.
Tanya Memme: Hey Everyone! Thanks for watching "Sell This House" and for the questions here today. Roger and I love this stuff. Hopefully we can help you sell your house or make your house more enjoyable to live in.
Arlington, Va.: Roger and Tanya: I love your show. Tanya, you have such energy and such tact (Some people on the show are in need of more than staging their home They need help staging their lives). And Roger, you are a wiz with colors and style.
One question: Most of the time, Tanya, you mention the paint color that is used, but not always. Why is it not on the Web site by episode? I love some of the colors, but would love to see it mentioned in the episode recap on the Web site.
Roger Hazard: That's a great question. We'll bring this up to the folks at A&E.
Silver Spring, Md.: When I look at lists of home improvements and the percent that an owner can expect to recoup upon sale, I never see energy efficiency improvements such as attic insulation or Energy Star appliances. Given the increased cost of fuel, will energy efficiency improvements hold greater value in the market? Or do cosmetic items such as nice kitchen cabinets give better ROI?
Roger Hazard: As of now there are no stats showing that energy efficient homes sell faster than any others. I would make sure my home stands out against the competition. Go with the cosmetic fixes.
Silver Spring, Md.: We may move in the next year or two. We want to get a ridge/soffet vent to reduce cooling costs this summer. But we may also need a new roof in the next few years, and it's cheaper to get both at the same time. If we get the new roof now and have to sell next year, will it be a waste of money or will it help sufficiently with resale value to make it worthwhile?
Roger Hazard: You can replace the roof now or get an estimate and subtract that money from your asking price when you get it. This gives your buyer an option on what kind of roof they want.
RTP, N.C.: Gig 'em Ags, Roger (c/o '96). I enjoy watching the show. What is the hardest thing for most sellers to do (emotion wise) in prepping their homes to sell?
Roger Hazard: Packing away person items is always the hardest thing for homeowners.
P.S. - Gig 'em back.
Arlington, Va.: My wife and I are prepping our townhouse for sale in the next six to 12 months. We have carpet to replace in all the rooms, what would be better for resale a neutral berber or plush? Also, if we can get a good deal, would it be worth it to upgrade the downstairs living area to hardwood? Thanks.
Roger Hazard: Hardwood floors always sell faster and for more money. They're more neutral than any carpet on the market. If you can afford it, go with hardwood in the entire house.
Washington, D.C.: Hi. Please help. My husband and I are having a disagreement about what we need to do before putting our house on the market. I think it is more important to hire a painter to do the entire interior of the house as we are not very precise with paintbrushes ... he thinks we would be better off doing some of the work inside ourselves and having the exterior painted. It is an old rowhouse with faded paint, but does not look rundown or anything and we are in a very desirable neighborhood near the metro and the the shops of 8th Street. I am not convinced that given the neighborhood's inherent draw we need to put extra time and money (that won't necessarily result in a higher asking or getting price) into the exterior when it is not bad but also not new looking. Any advice or suggestions as to how to determine if it is worth it? Thank you.
Tanya Memme: In a tough real estate market, you should do what ever you can for the least amount of money to show you house off best. Anytime you can do some of the work yourself is a good idea. If there is any way to make your home look newer and more inviting and clean, thats a good start. I think hiring painters to do the outside of the house is a great idea if you can afford it, and you really think it needs it. If not start on the inside. Start with one room and see how you do. Pick up a basic painting book at home depot and get some great tips before you start. On Sell This House we work with many homeowners that have never painted before and by the end of the show they are so glad they did it themselves. Just make sure to stick to neutral colors like browns, earthy greens, earthy blues, and if you can, keep the trim white for a touch of class.
Have fun when you do it! Invite friends to help, put some music on and enjoy the process. Hope that gives you some direction to get started. Thanks for asking.
Worcester, Mass.: After you stage a house, do you get people who like it so much that they decide to stay put?
Roger Hazard: That's happened to us twice. Once in Manhattan and once in Hoboken, N.J.
Woodbridge, Va.: First, I want to say I love your show. You guys complement each other well. My question is about paint. What's the best way to warm up a neutral room? I tend to gravitate toward neutral colors and right now it feels very sterile. Thank you.
Roger Hazard: Go two shades darker then what you normally choose as a neutral color. I know it sounds odd, but trust me on this. This way any architectural details will be highlighted and the color won't fight with your existing furniture. Good luck.
Herndon, Va.: Hi. I saw the show -- in Florida, I believe -- where the woman hated everything you did to the house: every paint color, every bedroom, the furniture ... she was very vocal about it. Do you meet a lot of homeowners like that?
Roger Hazard: No. Almost never. Haha! Most people get nervous at first but alway come around in the end.
Richmond, Va.: LOVE the show. We were talking at work yesterday about how much we all liked it.
Roger Hazard: Thanks. We always like hearing that.
Annandale, Va.: What do you think about landscape architecture as a career?
Are most stuck in offices doing boring things or do they like their jobs?
Roger Hazard: Landscape architecture has never been more popular or prominent as it is today. Most of the landscape architects that I know love their jobs. And you get to wear shorts to work.
Alexandria, Va.: Roger -- Sometimes you pick very bold colors for a wall. Most of the time we hear advice to stick with neutral (to most realtors that mean antique white). How would one know when to do that and when to be boring?
Roger Hazard: Color does not make a room look smaller. It ads warmth and character. Choose bold colors when you don't have architectural details to highlight.
Jersey City, N.J. : What's your favorite part about being on the show?
Roger Hazard: I'm in complete control. Grin.
Vienna, Va.: Thanks for all the good advice here. After 26 years, we are moving and selling our existing home. The walls have always been painted with neutral colors, gray for most of the house and off-white for the other areas. Since the house has just recently been repainted with this color scheme, I don't want to now have to change the paint color from the gray to the off-white (which is what we always read is what the walls should be painted for selling purposes). Do you think in our case, the non-off-white color will really make or break the sale of our house. Thanks.
Roger Hazard: No. Tell me more about your home.
Texas: Tanya, tell us something about yourself. What is your bankground and experience in ths industry.
Tanya Memme: Well I grew up on a 500 acre sod farm in Ontario Canada. After my father and uncles sold the sod farm they started a company called Mountainview Homes. Today they build between 200 and 400 homes a year in the Niagara Region. My brother Michael Memme and my cousins Mark and Michelle Basciano own the company. I grew up in the housing business and have fond memories of driving to the different sites with my dad for the day watching houses go from a hole in the ground to a beautiful place to live. We would eat dinner every night together as a family and I must say the main topic of conversation was always the housing market and industry. I have experienced the wealth this business can bring as well as the shock of almost loosing everything in a slumping market and see what it takes to be on top again. Mountainview Homes was recently awarded the "Ontario Homebuilders of the Year Award."
After I won Miss Canada '93, I moved to NYC and attended the American Muscal and Dramatic Academy to become an actor. Now, although I do consider myself an actor, I also enjoy hosting, and singing. Oh, and I LOVE strawberries.
Crofton, Md.: Any tips for painting baseboards or floor trim in rooms w/wall-to-wall carpet?
I'm gradually painting all my cream-colored trim white, and I've been putting off doing the areas close to the carpet for fear that I'll accidentally get paint in the fibers.
Tanya Memme: Aside from taping the baseboards before painting, (painters tape)you can also buy these hard plastic sheets with a handle from Home Depot that you can use to guard the baseboard as you go along it painting. something I discovered on Sell This House, is that if there is a space between the wall and the baseboards, you can stick a thick piece of paper in between them, fold it back and drag it along the baseboard as you paint. Hope that helps.
RE: Paint for neutral room: Hi, thanks for your answer. I trust you, Roger, but two shades darker than a moss green couch? Sounds kinda scary.
Roger Hazard: What I mean is two shades darker than your chosen wall color.
Washington, D.C.: Tanya, you say to use a white trim, but white is not always white. As a typical color blind male, I don't always see the difference, but some buyers must. How do you pick the right trim to go with a wall color?
Tanya Memme: How am I supposed to talk to you about paint colors when you're colorblind? HA! OK, go to your local paint store and have a white trim chosen for you by one of the sales staff. I'm sure they will give you the shade you want. Hope that helps.
Austin, Tex.: Am redoing my bedroom in burgundy and gold. Three walls will be gold, one wall burgundy. My bed will be on the burgundy accent wall. What do you think of this scheme? Is it too much?
Roger Hazard: What color is your hair? (Grin) Nothing's too much if it makes you happy. But, remember, if you're selling it's a different story.
Washington, D.C.: Are stainless steel appliances really valued any more than other finishes? I prefer the oiled bronze finishes that I am seeing. What about using quartz countertops vs. granite. I personally don't like stainless steel or granite, but I worry that it would hurt in resale if I go with oiled bronze and quartz.
Roger Hazard: If you're only replacing for resale go with what's selling in your area. If you're not moving, than go with what you like.
Raleigh, N.C.: You say hardwood sells faster, what about laminate (the kind that looks like hardwood). I have a large dog and he has scratched hardwood before so I am scared to get it in my current townhouse. By the way I love the show, you and Tanya are great.
Roger Hazard: Laminate is selling just as good as hardwood for the same reasons you listed. Thanks for watching the show.
Richmond, Va.: Seems like often, you're not only a real estate expert, but a psychologist, helping people let go, face facts, be sensible rather than emotional. You do it with such kindless and understanding.
Tanya Memme: THANK YOU for your compliment.Yes, it is quite a skill to work with people who are selling a house especially when they don't want to be selling it. Selling and moving is never easy, and it's very important to me to make them feel as comfortable as possible while we are there. It's not just a TV show to me. I think sometimes I can be a little harsh but I do what I can to get the point across and help them move on at least a bit.
D.C.: So what is the perfect neutral you love? I do have some architectural details to highlight in my living room. What would be a nice complementary color for the foyer leading into it? I am really stumped on choosing colors.
Roger Hazard: I'll need more information. What color are you floors?
Southern Maryland: Hey there, am I really online with Roger and Tanya? This is great. I can't get enough of your show and you two make it really work.
I am getting my house ready to sell and have done several things (painting, new faucets, new light fixtures) and before I go any further, what do people tell you they are looking for in a 'used' house? Mine is 13-years-old, in very good condition but I just don't know what people want to see (new carpet, hardwood flooring), decks, pools ... fill me in please.
Tanya Memme: Thanks for watching the show!!! Wow it sounds like you are on the right track already! People generally want to see a house that they can see themselves living in. A welcoming space thats clean, smells nice, and looks good. I wouldn't deal with new flooring, pools, or any major reconstruction. I would stick to fresh paint even if its the same color you already have! New window treatments, CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN! Fresh flowers are always a nice touch too.
What do you think about landscape architecture as a career? : I can verify it's great. (In fact, I belatedly realize getting a grad degree in Planning was a huge mistake. Now, I AM stuck at my desk all day listening to angry developers diss public employees like we're a bunch of slackers).
I wish I was still a landscape architect. The work was varied, intelligent, creative, worthwhile. Go for it poster.
Tanya Memme: My father, Frank Memme started as a landscape artist. Now he owns one of the biggest housing companies in Ontario Canada Mountainview Homes. He's recently handed it down to my brother Michael Memme, but my father has always loved the outdoors and has a very happy life. Lanscape architecture is where it all began for him.
Anonymous: Don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but the lady in Baltimore with the couch soggy with cat pee really took the cake, bless her heart. I could not believe it when she brought that couch back into the house. Y'all really gave above and beyond that day.
Roger Hazard: You're lucky "smell-o-vision" doesn't exist. What you didn't see was the exploding litter boxes all over the house. Need we go on?
Providence, Rhode Island: Do you have any plans to film in Rhode Island anytime in the future?
Tanya Memme: Not this season, but hopefully next season we will be out your way. I LOVE Rhode Island.
Scranton, Pa.: Hi Roger and Tanya. I enjoy your shows and would like to say that I'm happy to know that there's substance behind your positions as show participants. Many times I see programs that have "empty suits" hosting them and it's nice to see that you're both experienced and educated in this field, so that you both know what you're talking about and dealing with on these programs.
Roger Hazard: Thanks for watching. We both love our work and hope to be on for years to come.
Annapolis, Md.: Hey, guys, love the show. Tanya, it often seems as if it's just you and the homeowner doing all the work (with Roger goofing off somewhere, ha ha). How much of a crew do you have working with you on the show? Also, how bad was the inherited house in Philadelphia with the cat? Thanks.
Tanya Memme: THAT HOUSE WAS AWFUL!!! Just be thankful you can't SMELL through your TV set. Ahhhh ... the glamorous side to hosting a home design show. We actually have a very small crew, we are like family. We have about seven people including, sound, lighting, producers, shooters, assistants and Roger and myself. It's a team effort. Even Kevin Johnson who does sound paints and helps build things. Roger may not do much in front of the camera, but off camera he and his assistant Chad do all the designing, the shopping and the schlepping! It's a big job. But then again that's where I come in handy. I try to keep the story moving on camera. Between the two of us we make a great team.
Roger Hazard: It's been great answering questions today. We're currently working in Wilmington, N.C. on another house. So I have to go shopping now, and Tanya needs to get back to painting. P.S., I have a lot more projects for her to do. Stay tuned!
Tanya Memme: Thanks for all the questions! I had a great time. Well, I guess I better get back to doing all the work while Roger goes off to grab another latte. Ha Ha. I'm surprised that nobody asked if Roger and I are dating!
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Dana Milbank: Hello from room G-50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where the Senate Banking Committee is holding a hearing into the Bear Stearns bailout. The senators are concerned about whether the $30 billion in Federal loan guarantees created a "moral hazard."
"I think we must guard against creating a moral hazard that encourages firms to take excessive risk based on the expectations that they will reap all the profits while the federal government stands ready to cover any losses if they fail," said Sen. Richard Shelby, the ranking Republican.
"I have received letters from my constituents with concerns that it is a bailout of the big bank that creates a moral hazard," said Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.)
"I worry that as quickly as the federal government moved to save Bear Stearns from complete failure, it has moved at a snail's pace, if at all, to save homeowners from foreclosures, where the same types of moral hazards, like and not, existed," added Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Speaking of moral hazards, here's another one to ponder: lawmakers on the committee passing judgment on Bear Stearns have, collectively, taken in more than $20 million in campaign contributions from securities and investment companies. And, for the most part, they do not seem terribly troubled about the Fed's actions to help Bear Stearns.
"Let me just say," Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said before a word of testimony was received, "that I want the witnesses to know, and others, that as a bottom-line consideration, I happen to believe that this was the right decision." Dodd, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, has taken $5,796,000 from the securities industry, including $319,300 from Bear Stearns employees and $92,300 from J.P. Morgan, the company that bought Bear Stearns.
Let's now get to your questions on this and other moral hazards.
And now for something completely different: Seriously, that picture of Keith Richards on the front page of washingtonpost.com is possibly the scariest thing I've seen since I first saw KISS without their makeup on.
Dana Milbank: That is what we call an amoral hazard.
Denver: Are we watching the end of the "Roaring '20s?
washingtonpost.com: Belatedly, the Bad-News Bearer (Post, April 3)
Dana Milbank: There is certainly an end-of-days feel to the hearing today, and the one yesterday. When you hear Bernanke say something, you have to apply a pessimism multiplier to it to compensate for his tendency toward cheerleading -- so when he said "possible recession" I went home and put my cash in my mattress. Unfortunately I have one of those sleep number beds, so I discovered that I couldn't put the cash in the mattress without popping the air cushion.
Miami: What type of shotgun do you recommend?
Dana Milbank: In addition to suggesting the money-in-the-mattress routine, I also recommended in today's Sketch that readers purchase shotguns to defend themselves against the anarchy. My father-in-law works for Mossberg, so I recommend that brand. I plan on buying several and installing a gun turret on the roof of my house as soon as the Supreme Court overturns the D.C. gun ban.
Chicago: Great columns and great book. I'm an on-the-fence McCain supporter -- he easily would have had my vote in 2000, but this year I don't know because I can't tell what he believes in. His embrace of most things Bush in the past several years make him seem like he would say/do anything to be electable to the far right. I want to vote for the principled maverick John McCain. I know you talking heads look positively on the fact he is virtually tied with either Democratic candidate. I wonder why, given all the nonsense from the Democrats, he isn't way far ahead.
Dana Milbank: A McCainiac in Obama's hometown!
I actually think it's a miracle for McCain that he's even tied in the horse race polls. Given the external environment -- a recession and an unpopular war -- the Democrats should be far ahead. It's a measure of McCain's appeal, and the Democrats' self-destructiveness, that the race, at this early stage, looks even close.
Worcester, Mass.: Does the length of this year's Democratic Primary and the Michigan/Florida troubles have any impact of the possibility of changing the schedule next time, especially the idea of rotating the first caucus and first primary?
Dana Milbank: One hopes the Democrats will learn their lesson this time and finally take control of the primary chaos. But there's no sign of any centralized control at the moment. Journalists covering the campaign will be putting forth a proposal to have the first caucus in Hawaii and the first primary in Florida. Michigan and Ohio will go last, if at all.
Minnesota: If you could have your own avatar, what would it be?
washingtonpost.com: Goofy Characters and Weird People -- Sounds Like a Hearing (Post, April 2)
Dana Milbank: I actually do have an avatar in Second Life. She is a very fat lady who wears a red bikini. I created her to attend the virtual town-hall meeting held by Mark Warner when we thought he would run for president. The avatar at first did not even have a bikini but my editors thought that created a moral hazard at the town-hall meeting.
Nativeofpennsylvan, IA: Dana: Sorry about the phony town -- it's a bad habit I picked up on Weingarten's chat, where lots of people do it. So Obama admits on "Hardball" that he really hasn't kicked the nicotine habit. To those of us who tried to quit many time before succeeding, no big deal. Except that Jake Tapper wonders why his campaign lied when he asked them directly. Big deal, little deal?
Dana Milbank: I'm afraid this is three strikes against Obama: First he bowls a 37 -- with that dainty, girlish delivery, then he tells off an autograph seeker, and now he's fibbing about nicotine addiction?
Any one of these could doom him. Recall, if you will, that John Kerry's campaign was doomed when it was learned that he wore Turnbull & Asser shirts and kept his fingernails long so that he could better play the classical guitar.
San Francisco: Hello Dana, thanks for chatting today. It sounds like the new bipartisan housing bill has something for every big campaign contributor -- builders, bankers, speculators -- but very little for families who actually are losing their homes. Isn't Chris Dodd ashamed to bring a bill forward that so clearly favors the moneyed interests at the expense of the little guy?
Dana Milbank: I'm looking at him right now in room G-50. He does not look ashamed, but he looks as if he wants to eat lunch. Also, on a positive note, his eyebrows appear to be graying, so they don't clash quite so violently with his white hair.
Westcliffe, Colo.: Isn't a good thing that rich people appear on C-SPAN so we know where the bank vaults are and where the gold bullion is stored when the coming collapse of Western civilization occurs? Another good thing George W. Bush has contributed, thanks to his time and "studies" at Yale and Harvard. Maybe the washingtonpost.com could come up with a map of the stars showing where the Federal Reserve board of governors live, their Bear Stearns buddies, their JP Morgan/Chase appreciants ... you know -- the Hamptons crowd. Perhaps you could put one to five stars for "credit worthiness" to aid in "recapturing" the loot. Bring on the apocalypse! Mossberg you said?
Dana Milbank: I am forwarding this to the Department Of Homeland Security, Westcliffe.
But on the subject of Bear Stearns, I should point out to you the sad news that Alan Schwartz, the chief executive, is trying to rent out his 7,850-foot home in Purchase, N.Y., overlooking the ninth green of a golf course. Fortunately, he still has his 11,000 square foot home in Greenwich and a condo near you in Edwards, Colo..
New to Indiana: This is cool -- I'm watching C-SPAN coverage of the Senate Banking Committee and you are there. Can you shout out something so the camera will show you being asked to leave the hearing? Or, if you really want to stay and witness all this spellbinding dialogue, then tell me, is Evan Bayh related to Mitt Romney? He seems so ... I don't know, Teflon, in a Democratic sort of way.
Dana Milbank: I'm in the back, where the seats are now mostly empty. Even the Code Pink protest ladies seem bored.
Interesting observation in re Bayh/Romney. They are both well-coiffed scions of powerful dads, the former the senator son of a senator and the latter the governor son of a governor. Bayh went to Washington's St. Albans, while Romney went to Detroit's Cranbrook. But I like Bayh much better, mostly because he said hello to me before while on his way to the men's room.
Arlington, Va.: The (sadly) funny part of the Yoo memo is that it purports to uncover an exception to anti-torture treaties if you are torturing the prisoner in order to extract information about pending attacks. That is actually the exact reason for these agreements. It is like arguing that speed limits do not apply if you are in a hurry.
Dana Milbank: Who knew? Yoo is back.
I have missed Yoo since Yoo left town for academia, so I am delighted to have this chance to talk about Yoo again. You are quite right about Yoo's views, and I suspect any day now a Freedom of Information Act request will reveal a memo Yoo wrote for the Department of Transportation demonstrating that speed limits only apply to other people.
Thank you -- and Yoo! -- for the Yoo question.
Bethesda, Md.:"One hopes the Democrats will learn their lesson this time and finally take control of the primary chaos." But wasn't that the whole point of stripping Michigan and Florida of their delegates in the first place? It was their insistence on jumping to the front that nearly backed New Hampshire into Christmas. Given the problems with enforcing the rules that it does have in place, what could the Democratic National Committee do differently to "take control"?
Dana Milbank: How about a smoke-filled room? Really. I think if you compared the Democrats' success rate in winning the presidency before and after the modern primary system came into being in '68/'72, Democrats would be better off cutting out the voters entirely. Except, as mentioned earlier, voters in Hawaii and Florida.
Washington: Dana, I am a huge fan -- thanks for capturing the absurdity and silliness of a town that takes itself far too seriously. You are a breath of fresh air, and without question the most valuable asset at The Post. Have you ever considered syndication?
Dana Milbank: Thanks, mom. I hadn't considered syndication. Are there any newspapers left?
Bulletin: Dodd just tried to end the first panel of the hearing, but Corker interrupted to ask one more question. Now we're finally on break.
McLean, Va.: While you're watching the committee hearing, I'm using the celebrity morph site recommended by Liz Kelly to watch you morph into John Cusack.
washingtonpost.com: Celebritology: Workday Waster -- Just Call Me Paris (washingtonpost.com, April 3)
Dana Milbank: I'd prefer if you could morph me into Alan Schwartz so I can use his remaining homes in Greenwich and Colorado.
He bowled a 37?!: I bowled a 23 the first time I tried, and I was seven years old.
Dana Milbank: And he took these too-dainty steps. It was like watching a pelican bowl.
Bloomington, Ind.: Dana, isn't it time for you to do a "it's 3 a.m." ad video?
washingtonpost.com: The Trail: Clinton Unveils New 3 a.m. Ad (washingtonpost.com, April 2)
Dana Milbank: Yes, I plan to do that as soon as this hearing ends -- which will be at about 3 a.m. Jamie Dimon from J.P. Morgan has just started talking, to be followed by the world's wealthiest welfare recipient, Alan Schwartz.
I must sign off now and resume my search for moral hazards. Thank you for chatting.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Post columnist Dana Milbank, who serves as the capital's foremost critic of political theater in his Washington Sketch columns, takes your questions and comments about the things politicians say -- and the absurd ways they find to say them.
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Got Plans? - washingtonpost.com
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Every Thursday at 1 p.m. ET, washingtonpost.com's City Guide experts share their best bets for local flavor, great dates and family fun. Got plans? Great. Need plans? Just ask. We have the skinny on the bars and clubs, concerts, kitchens, theaters and special events that keep life interesting. We're going out gurus, and we're at your service.
Of course, we're happy to answer questions about local entertainment, but we need to hear from you, too. Introduce us to the coolest DJ or the fastest bartender you've encountered. Sound off on the week's best concert or the city's best burger. Tell us about the best place to amuse little kids or a big art fan. Together we can plan fun ways to spend weekdays, weekends, dates and holidays. The pleasure is ours, and yours.
Each week a different guru will act as host or hostess, but the entire staff is at your service. If you're looking for more ideas, see the City Guide or read transcripts of past Got Plans? discussions.
washingtonpost.com: Things we're excited about this week: Hirshhorn After Hours, Brazilian art and music, Absinthe Cocktails, Korean movies. Things we're not: The weather forecast. Who wants to look at cherry blossoms in the rain? Anyway, I'm Fritz. Rhome, David, Julia and Anne are all here to answer your questions today. Shall we begin?
Arlington, Va.: Hi I'm looking for a casual restaurant in the U Street area to grab a late dinner before heading over to the Black Cat to dance to some 80's tunes. Any favorite spots you'd recommend? Preferably a place that takes reservations as there will be five or six of us. We're open to any type of cuisine but there need to be a least a couple vegetarian options.
Julia: Coppi's and the newish Ulah Bistro come to mind. Creme Cafe isn't exactly brimming with veggie options, but it has a few. If you go there, save room for the spongy coconut cake. Busboys and Poets and Polly's also fit the casual bill, but neither takes reservations. (Busboys does, just only for groups of 10 or more.)
Dupont Circle: Just wanted to say thanks for the Modernist Society recommendation last week! It was awesome and I never would have heard about had it not been for the GOGs!
Fritz: I really enjoyed hearing Eric Hilton talk about Thievery Corporation. One of my favorite Modernist Societies in a while. By the way, next month is the director of "A/K/A Tommy Chong," and they're going to show either clips from the documentary or maybe even the whole thing, so get there early. With Brooklyn and Bells beers and a special bourbon at $3, what have you got to lose?
Chevy Chase, Md.: Hi Gurus! Last year I asked you to recommend a good place for an eyebrow wax. You helpfully recommended Klinger in Friendship Heights and I went there happily for a year. I was very sad to see them close and now I am looking again (the person I went to there has moved to Falls Church, which is too far for me to go regularly). Hoping you can give me another good recommendation! Thanks!
Janet: Lots of people like Lance at Bluemercury in Georgetown. I've had good luck at Aveda stores.
Dupont: So, I'm always curious, but never ask - is there any place in the city where you can make a reservation if you just want to get drinks? I would love advice on anywhere that you could reserve a table and just sip on a glass of wine or cocktail, but specifically I have late dinner reservations on a Saturday night at Locanda and wondering where I could grab a drink in that part of town beforehand and be certain of getting a place to sit. Thanks so much - love you guys!
Fritz: Call ahead to Sonoma and see if you can reserve a couch in the upstairs lounge. Nice selection of wines by the glass, cool fireplace -- and the last time my friend Haley and I were there, we saw the most awkward date ever. Guy was just COMPLETELY freezing the woman out with his body language. Must have been a blind date....
Alexandria, Va.: Hi there! I think I may have the oddest question of the day - I'm taking up the ukulele, because it is awesome, and I was wondering if you know of any clubs or performing groups around the area so that I can get inspired and meet like minded folk. There's a whole underground online and in some cities like NY and San Francisco but I don't know about D.C. I think the Hawaii State Society has some uke players, but I was hoping for something a little younger and less formal. What do you think?
David: I like your reasoning in taking up the ukulele, Alexandria. You'll want to be on the lookout for the Mid-Atlantic Ukulele Invitational, which is an annual event in Annapolis celebrating all things uke -- lessons, jams, concerts and vendors of ukes and uke-related paraphernalia. It's usually in June, we'll post it on the calendar when we get the info. As for bands, the Fleastompers are the act you want to check out. They do ukulele jazz, you will dig it. The Hula Monsters also have some uke.
The Gallery, Silver Spring: Fritz,
Heading to the Gallery in Silver Spring. Read your 2006 review, wanted to get your thoughts on the scene now. Also, what's appropriate dress for guys and gals? Thanks!
Fritz: Gallery's not a bad place to hang out, but it's not as cool as it was... New DJs spin radio-friendly hip-hop hits and Top 40 instead of the cool house that the 88 Degrees guys were rocking. Attire: It's casual-dressy. Button-down shirt and jeans for men. Women can get away with whatever.
Shallow Pockets, D.C.: Bachelorette party coming up. Bride wants to do dinner first. Between the limo, the required matching shirts and the destination wedding itself, these girls are about tapped out! Any suggestions for a fun locale for eight girls on a budget?
Julia: We did Rice for mine and it was *almost* perfect. We all had entrees that hovered around $13 and lots of blue margaritas. The only drawback was that you couldn't make a reservation. If you're willing to wait at the bar for a while or go early or late, I would definitely recommend that. I might feel weird wearing a matching shirt there, but you could probably get away with it, even though it's a nicer place. Ulah Bistro, mentioned above, might be a good bet for you guys if you want a reservation. Actually, can we talk about matching shirts for a minute? Not just for bachelorette parties. One of my best friends just did a bar crawl that required matching shirts. I'm usually up for anything, but something about matching shirts is just lame to me. Like a field trip in fifth grade -- except people look at you all funny when you're out and about. I get the camaraderie vibe, but why do you need matching shirts to accomplish this? Chatters, your thoughts?
Adams Morgan: Hey gurus! What are your fave places to go for drinks in Dupont or around U Street? Looking for good atmosphere, not too crowded, mostly loungey, good cocktail menu... Thanks!
Fritz: Dupont: Vodka cocktails in a quasi-luxurious setting at Russia House, drinks at the bar at groovy little Panache (before 11 on weekends, when the DJ spins and it turns into a club), Eighteenth Street Lounge, Bar Rouge, Halo. U Street: Bar Pilar and Cork have the best cocktails around U Street, but getting to the bar at Cork can be such a pain...
Petworth: The ukulele person should also stop by the House of Musical Traditions. If anyone can point them at ukulele people it's HMT.
David: This is true. I figured at this point it sort of goes without saying that if you play some slightly-weird-to-bizarre instrument, get thee to HMT if you need any sort of guidance.
Washington, D.C.: The boyfriend is finally going to take me to Central next week. Since that's an expensive place, I assume that we'd need to at least wear semi-formal clothing, but the reservation is right after work. Must I wear shoes that hurt and a dinner banquet suit, or can I just wear slacks and an office blouse and whatever shoes I happen to have on that day (I usually wear Mary Jane Crocs and sometimes I'll wear Hush Puppies pantshoes.)
Fritz: Central is nowhere as formal as Citronelle. Officewear is fine. I mean, I go there in jeans and a polo if I'm coming from work, though I'm a slacker. Short answer: You're good. Make sure you arrive early so you can grab a cocktail!
Washington, D.C.: Ugh - no matching shirts! No male body part-shaped anything! I hate bachelorette parties like that. Fortunately, as people get married later and later, it seems most women have outgrown all of that nonsense by the time they get married.
Fritz: Co-signed. If I see bachelorette parties in a bar, I usually leave, because they never end well.
NYC Shopping help: Janet, do you or any of the chatters have recommendations for great boutiques in the SoHo/Lower East Side neighborhoods of Manhattan. I am going for a shopping day this weekend, and I am looking for stylish but not too young (I am mid-30s) and midrange prices. I already know I want to hit Emmett McCarthy's store. Any other help?
Janet: I'm not very up-to-date on this, but a few possibilities: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Agnes B., Daryl K and Anna Sui. Anyone else have any thoughts?
Waxing: I go to Jacques Dessange in Friendship Heights. I think they do a great job, and their prices seem more reasonable than other places I've been. I've used Claundine and Francoise. It's located across from Clyde's and Chico's, almost the only thing left standing on the block where Hecht's used to be.
Janet: Good to know. I've bought some makeup there, which I think is quite good, but I wasn't sure about their services. Thanks for the tip.
Woodley Park: Hey gurus -
Ran into a going out quandary last weekend.. are there any cool, non-super packed lounges that stay open past midnight in the Dupont area? We were at 18th St Lounge but my friends wanted something quieter and we ended up finding a hotel bar that was open (albeit lacking in character). Thanks!
Fritz: The Mayflower's Town and Country, eh? (Just a guess.) Just about every restaurant and bar in Dupont is open after midnight on weekends, but they're almost all going to be swarmed. A few that aren't usually: Kramerbooks' excellent little Afterwards Cafe; the Topaz Bar in the Topaz Hotel; Timberlake's, which is decidedly not cool, but low-key enough that you wouldn't expect it to be in Dupont.
Washington, D.C.: Eyebrows SOS! my hair is long, dark, and curly and so are my eyebrows. Is there anywhere I can go to get advice about arch shape and maintenance? Whenever I go to get waxing, they just clean up what I'm already not doing very well.
Janet: One chatter just recommended Jacques Dessange in Friendship Heights.
Central attire:: Although, please do not wear Crocs to the restaurant. Actually, please do not wear Crocs at all unless you're puttering in your garden.
Fritz: I would hope that goes without saying. I saw someone wearing Crocs at Cantina Marina last summer, and I did quite well not to push her off the dock.
Lazy in D.C.: Love your chat! So, my super-motivated roomie is running the Cherry Blossom Marathon this weekend. I was thinking of getting my lazy bum out of bed to cheer her on. I also wanted to give something to her or even do something nice for her after the race. Any ideas on what a runner would like to have, or want to do after a race? In my opinion, anyone who runs a marathon deserves much more than a pat on the back! I appreciate your help!
Julia: Anne and I were just talking this over. She (an accomplished runner who's run the Marine Corps Marathon a bunch of times) would like to sleep after exerting so much energy. I, on the other hand, plan on replenishing all the calories I've just burned with a full breakfast and a Bloody Mary or two. But, I'm not exactly a "runner." To give you an idea, here's my goal for Sunday's 10-miler: Don't get picked up by the sweep bus for running too slowly. In the neighborhood, I like Old Ebbitt's brunch for those Bloody Marys, but the fantastic Latino dim sum brunch at Cafe Atlantico brunch, if you want something a little different (and probably more expensive, but so worth it).
Matchy-matchy Peon: Thanks for the tip on the restaurants -- a big part of the problem in trying not to feel any stupider wearing the shirts in a place where they were clearly not appropriate. The BRIDE has dictated, and we, as her humble servants, must obey...
Julia: And so it goes with bachelorette parties. It's really dark in Rice, so you might be able to pull it off. If a good saucy pasta dish will work for your crew, maybe San Marco in Adams Morgan is a good choice. Anything goes in AM, even the matchy matchy.
Alexandria, Va.: I was totally bummed about the cancellation of the Scott Miller show last weekend. Can you recommend any upcoming shows with a similar vibe and sound?
David: Well, there's always Last Train Home, in town for a couple of shows at Iota this weekend. Justin Townes Earle will be there on April 10 -- he's Steve Earle's son, named after Townes Van Zandt. But no pressure, kid. Maybe Kathleen Edwards at the Birchmere on April 14. I just got off the phone with her and she's quite charming and has three very good albums under her belt. Would Marshall Crenshaw count as a similar vibe to Scott Miller? If so, he's at Jammin' Java on April 20.
Washington, D.C.: I heard there is a flip-cup tournament tonight, do you have any details on how I can sign up?
Fritz: If you were invited, you should have seen the notice about "bring a team or find one there."
Falls Church, Va.: I think if there is a "slumber party" part of your bachelorette party, i.e. everyone is staying at a hotel suite, it is OK to have matching PJs. But wearing matching shirts in public - lame.
For the chatter who's eyebrow waxer moved to Falls Church - what is their name and where are they now? I need a new one.
Julia: Yeah, I agree. I love my friend and bar crawling with her is like the ultimate in fun, but I just can't do it. (She's probably reading this now and so hating me.) And yeah, eyebrow waxer, give us the scoop!
Cork (D.C., not Ireland): I just finished a huge project and would love to celebrate with the kind soul in my life who has bravely borne the brunt of my stress and take him out to Cork. BUT! I'm thinking cozy intimate celebration and can't stand the idea of adding more stress in the form of a gajillion people and long wait. So: will Cork be hellish on a Wednesday night at 9pm? I once did the "30 minute call ahead" on a Saturday and still waited for two hours.
Fritz: Go later -- I was in around 8:30/9 on Tuesday and there were tables available for walk-ups, and I was able to get a seat at the bar to get some of Tom Brown's delectable Absinthe cocktails. Yours is not the first -- or even the seventh -- complaint I've heard about the call-ahead system not working as planned.
Washington, D.C.: Is there a place in the city for the "too old for bars, too young for the community center" to go have a nice dinner and maybe some dancing afterwards? Ok, we're in our mid- 30s but are hoping for that 1940's jazzy dinner/dance club that you always see in the movies...
Fritz: Let me introduce you to the Carlyle Club in Alexandria. The food is not spectacular, but it's a wonderful setting for seeing swing orchestras and other jazzy music. They do have a dance floor, too -- more slow dancing than Lindy Hop, but pretty nice. Hit that link for my review.
Central dress code...: Mary Jane Crocs ... um no, don't wear those to Central. Please, for other people if not yourself.
Fritz: I would like to apologize for not seeing the word "crocs." For some reason, I saw "Mary Janes or Hush Puppies." NO CROCS. Thanks.
Ukulele people: Do they hang out with recorder people, autoharp people, and accordian people?
David: Actually, I think they hang out with lap dulcimer people.
Arlington, Va.: The girls and I were thinking of heading to the Hirshhorn After Hours thing on Friday - but we are worried about the rain. Do you know if they have any back-up plans for inclement weather?
Julia: I'm pretty sure I read that this one will take place inside anyway. They've done that before with After Hours events and it usually ends up feeling kind of crowded -- but even when it's outside, it feels kind of crowded. And it's always a good time. If you haven't bought tickets yet, it's worth mentioning that the advance sales tickets are sold out. You can only buy them at the door and Hirshhorn staffers tell me that means get. there. early. Like no joke. People start lining up an hour in advance, but have been known to get there at least two hours early. And it always sells out.
Drinks and Reservations: Why not sit at a bar to have your pre-dinner drink? Why reserve a table at all?
Fritz: Maybe they don't want to stand for the whole night? Capitol Hill bars, with maybe the exception of Mr. Henry's, are jam-packed on weekends.
Alexandria, Va.: For the roommate of the runner -- she may not want to go out after the race due to be sweaty etc. What I would LOVE for someone to do for me post a 10 Mile race is tuck me onto the sofa under a blankie and bring me yummy food to share.
Julia: A vote for Anne. Yeah, actually this is a great point. The places I mentioned are NOT places for sweaty people (sorry -- SO didn't even think about that aspect). I personally plan on heading up to Adams Morgan or U Street, where I know I can get away with being sweaty.
Glover Park: Fritz- do you know the scoop about Busara closing? What's taking its place? Gryphon room? And why are they shutting down? I'm super upset because its a neighborhood landmark, and now my favorite bartender (Charles) is headed over to Aroma. UGH! GP is not what it used to be. What a difference 6 years makes.
Fritz: Will it help if I tell you there are two awesome-sounding new bars coming to Glover Park in the next few months? First up is one from some of the guys behind Bourbon, opening in the old My Bakery Cafe spot in a few weeks...
sorry, but: The question of matching PJs for anyone beyond 5th grade is moot since having a slumber party for a wedding shower is LAME!
Julia: I think the poster wasn't saying ONLY have a slumber party. More like something where you all crash at someone's house or a hotel room after being out all night. In which case, you probably won't make it into PJs anyway. At my bachelorette, one chick slept in her coat. It was awesome.
Washington, D.C.: Any thoughts on something to do after the Hirshhorn after-hours event? Drinks would be fine, I just don't have a good idea for something close by.
Fritz: There's nothing "right by" the Hirshhorn -- maybe stroll over to Chinatown and get drinks at Zola, Gordon Biersch or Indebleu, or play skee-ball at Rocket Bar?
Arlington, Va.: Oh Divine GOGs, please help! My parents are coming to town today from the frozen north, and we had great and fun outdoor things planned -- Baysox on Friday night, cherry blossoms on Saturday afternoon -- but I've been watching all week as the forecast has gotten worse and worse, and now it just says rain, rain, thunder, rain. So what do I do? We were all very much looking forward to getting out and seeing the blossoms and cheering on the Baysox and now...??? Help! Thanks!
Anne: My first thought is: well, you still can go do all that. I mean, rain stinks, but it will end by Sunday, says the weather guys. Plus, spring=rain, and D.C. still looks great with everything in bloom, sometimes even more vibrant against a grey/white sky. But I hear you that alternates are needed. So: Tell your parents you can take part in the Cherry Blossom festival *and* sit in a dry, comfy auditorium watching free movies by checking out the anime marathon -- drop in when you feel like it. If that's not to their taste, how about the free opera mini-performance (3 on Saturday) in the Grand Salon of the Renwick? That gilded room with its sky-high ceilings is worth visiting even when there isn't opera. And the Botanic Garden is the postal service of museums (I don't mean the Postal Museum) -- through rain, through snow, through boiling temperatures, it's always tropical and flowery inside.
Matching Skirts: If the bride has insisted, I think I'd accidentally spill something on or accidentally rip the skirt. Thus, you could get away with putting on some jeans. Can't all the bridesmaids gang up on the bride and request no matching outfits?
I've only been to one bachelorette party where we were "required" to do something. I was forced to wear a name tag with a fake name, and a fake picture of my "boyfriend." It was embarrassing and people didn't really get it.
Julia: Yeah, but here's the thing, some people really like the matching-outfits-for-going-out thing! I bet some of those bridesmaids are into this idea. Please matchers, speak up! Tell us what makes this fun -- I promise I won't make fun of you! I guess it's like a team spirit thing. That name tag thing just sounds supremely bizarre.
Richmond, Va.: It's not really your job, (in fact it's about staying in, not going out), but give me an easy classic martini recipe. The martinis I get out always seem to taste better, and all other factors notwithstanding (something made by someone else always tastes better), I want to learn to make a martini at home that knocks my socks off.
Fritz: My home recipe: 4.5 oz Bluecoat Gin 1-1.5 oz Vya dry vermouth (to taste) Few Dashes Fee Brothers orange bitters End of story.
The BRIDE has dictated, and we, as her humble servants, must obey: That's called enabling. The only reason showers got to such ridiculous heights is not enough people said "I look forward to sharing the evening with you but I won't be wearing a matching shirt and ball-and-chain gag hat."
Julia: Yeah, but then you feel like you're looking down at them. Like I really want to say to my friend, "I'd love to do a bar crawl, but I won't do the shirt." It just sounds snobby, so I just don't go.
Lazy, D.C.: Thanks for the suggestion. I bet she would really appreciate home cooked food in front of the TV.!
Julia: Yeah, that's probably a good bet.
Silver Spring, Md.: Hi GoG's! I'm going to a concert at the Black Cat Saturday night. My buddy and I wanna catch as much of the tourney games beforehand as possible. What would be the best bars to watch the games at in the U Street area? Also (highly unlikely) are there any drink specials in the area for the games? Thanks!
Fritz: Momo's, above Cafe Nema, has more than a dozen screens and pretty good drink specials (beers for $3-$5). Solly's would be a good bet, too.
Silver Spring, Md.: I recently saw Amel Larrieux at the Birchmere and noticed a canceled show for En Vogue. Any info on a new date? By the way, Amel was great!
David: The En Vogue show has been rescheduled for August 22.
Arlington, Va.: Hi! I am looking for a cool place to take my out-of-town guest and meet up with some friends tomorrow night after happy hour but not late night. I want to choose a place in the District, and my friends love to mix with a good late-20s/30's crowd. Suggestions, please, so I don't look completely lame?!
Rhome: Games maybe? Or multiple lounging options. What are you into? Good beer, fat burgers and a lively atmosphere? Trying something new?
Croc Debate: Oh, Mary Jane crocs are way more acceptable than the regular kind. Have you seen them? I wore a black pair to a party once (with a cute little dress - my feet were hurting like hell and I was like, screw it, I'm sacrificing all style) and people didn't even realize they were crocs. They noticed my feet, they saw my shoes, and were totally surprised when I later pointed out that they were crocs.
Fritz: Stop trying to justify your awful fashion choices. They're perforated. They have a lame behind-the-ankle strap.
San Diego, Calif.: Hey, gurus! I hope you can help me out.
I'm coming out to your area this weekend, and I'd like to take my friend to an exhibit. He likes photography. I like most art. Can you give us any recs?
Julia: The Nature's Best Photography exhibit is the best photographic exhibit on right now (I think, anyway). Phenomenal large-scale images of animals (and people) in the wild. For something a little different, the Sartorialist exhibit at Adamson is a bunch of stark, cool fashion photos. For a different kind of art, check out this cool contemporary show at the National Museum of African Art.
My friend and I want to go out on Saturday. We haven't been out together in a while. We are two women in our mid-to-late thirties who love cocktails and people watching but not being jostled around whilst precariously holding a drink in one hand and our coat and purse in the other. Do you have any suggestions for a fun place we could get drinks on Saturday evening that is close to a metro? We liked the wine at Proof, but the food was OK at best and the wait was insane. We also have enjoyed Cork and the bar at Indebleu but had the same issue with too many people for too few seats (although I have to say the contortionist at the bar at Indebleu was pretty cool). I am willing to pay good money for a good wine selection. Ideas? Thanks, as always, for your guidance. Have a lovely weekend.
Fritz: Have you been to the bar at Restaurant Eve? Great wine list and cocktails, 30-and-up crowd, plenty of seating (if you get there at the right time). The PX is another option though, to be honest, I've never ordered anything but cocktails there. I know the heart of Old Town isn't close to the King Street Metro, but they're running these new Trolley-shaped shuttles down King Street, and there are stops half-a-block from both Eve and PX.
No Matching Shirts: Last week, I went to a late night museum crawl in Europe. Big fun. Anyway, the "pass" to get in was a cardboard luna moth logo pendent hung on a fabric lanyard, worn around the neck.
Get some lanyards and hang a medallion or laminate picture of the bride 2 B or something like that.
6 oz. of liquor!: Really? Are you sharing, or is that your only drink of the night?!? The gin-vermouth ratio is good (though personally I go a little drier), but that is an enormous drink. 2 oz. of gin is more normal.
Fritz: Two ounces is a standard shot.
San Marco!: I am catching up on today's chat a bit late and just saw the reference to San Marco in Adams Morgan. That place is a little known GEM that my boyfriend and I have recommended and used for all types of occasions....birthdays, families coming to town, romantic dinners, anything! They are never too busy so they always take reservations for parties of any size. I swear I don't work for them, I LOVE them and want other people to love them too!
Julia: Yeah, I included them in my piece on carbo-loading for that very reason. I used to think that it was just that place people went when they were sick of waiting in line at Pasta Mia, but it's just really good.
After the Marathon: I would love it if someone would come over to my place and make me some french toast, served with some maple syrup, fresh fruit, and orange juice. Then leave after not too long so I can crash!
Julia: Another vote for going home. (Just for clarity's sake, I should point out that this isn't a marathon; it's a 10-miler. Not that it makes any difference to me. I'm still going to be limping over the finish line.)
Arlington, Va.: Fritz, thanks so much for the tip on the blog about the keg bus running to Nats Park!
Any word on when we'll see some bars down near the new stadium?
Fritz: A good number of the development plans for the area include "restaurant and retail" on their ground floors, but I haven't heard about anything that's opening soon. Kind of depressing... but thank god for the Kegbus.
Yeah, but then you feel like you're looking down at them: I AM! Anyone old enough to marry needs to leave the fairy princess fantasies behind in girlhood.
Yeah, but then you feel like you're looking down at them: If you want to be deemed mature enough to drink alcohol, stop with the matching shirts. Someone who likes that idea CAN'T be 21.
Julia: Same idea as the last one I posted . . . but funnier.
Caps Nation: GOG's I'm taking my lovely significant other to her first hockey game Sat night as our Caps clinch their spot in Lord Stanley's Cup playoffs. I would like to take her for a quick bite to eat away from the madness that will be around the Verizon Center before the game. Any thoughts about new places in Penn Quarter worth a visit?
Fritz: Not new, but I've had good luck with pre-game snacking at the bar at Rasika. (No reservations required or taken.)
Washington, D.C.: The question you've gotten a million times. (Only this time it's much more compelling because it relates to me!) Boyfriend's parents are coming to town this weekend and our best-laid plans about seeing the cherry blossoms on Saturday seem to have been foiled by the upcoming showers. Can you think of any interesting indoor activity during the day that could entertain the folks? We've seen most of the Smithsonian museums and monuments are a no-go as far as I'm concerned. Aren't there any special exhibits, arts festivals, all-you-can-eat chocolate conventions, etc. going on? From, Millionth time's a charm
Anne: Rain answer part II: Jen can't join us today, so I'll channel her in suggesting that there are lots of movies you can take in this weekend. In addition to anime, there's the Korean Film Festival, Bette Davis series at AFI and for one day only, your chance to watch Warhol's take on taking a nap. Exhibits: the Hirshhorn's "Cinema Effect" show can continue that theme. Or, take the folks to Treasures, the mini roadshow of the American History classics. Make your own chocolate convention at ACKC.
Boring...: I'm a loyal reader & poster and am shocked that you have not even mentioned once how the Capitals may be making the playoffs and that the Verizon Center/Chinatown is the place to be tonight and Saturday night! 19,000 were at the game Tuesday and will be just as nuts these next 2 games! C'mon, you're wasting my time reading this croc shoe, matching shirt crud....where's some home team loyalty!
David: Yes, go Caps! I gave up on hockey after the strike but have been sneaking some peeks at Alex and Co. on TV lately. A first round matchup against those [redacted] Penguins might get me back on board. But if we're talking horrible fashion choices, nothing beats a bunch of people in hockey jerseys. (Says the guy who cannot wait to break out his bright orange Arenas throwback for tomorrow night's Wizards game.)
"I'd love to do a bar crawl, but I won't do the shirt.": Not snobby, just sensible. It's bad enough that brides tell their bridesmaids what to wear and how much to spend, it's absurd that they can expand that to all their girlfriends on the bachelorette night. Really, matching shirts SHOULD be looked down on, it's a sign the bride has thoroughly lost her mind.
Julia: Come on, matching shirt wearers! I know you're out there. Please defend yourselves.
2 oz. is standard: I know. Hence, the foundation for a normal drink. The 6 oz. martini would be very difficult for me to drink before it got warm.
Fritz: See, I'm a professional. But the one thing that really grinds my gears at bars is when a martini arrives in one of those freaking 10-ounce birdbath martini glasses. There is no way that I can enjoy a martini that size before it gets to room temperature. The 6-ounce glass is a classic. Smaller drinks=lower prices=I'm more likely to order another.
Arlington, Va.: Are there any good U2 cover bands in the area?
Fritz: Clear your schedule for May, when 2U will be back at Ned Devine's in Sterling.
re: Ulah Bistro: My husband and I went with friends last weekend and thought it was terrible -- limited menu (and not really bistro-y), terrible service, really mediocre food. Wouldn't recommend it. Maybe it's just growing pains, but we won't be going back until we hear it's gotten much better.
Julia: Nays for Ulah Bistro.
Re: Eyebrows SOS: Try Threads on U Street, the women there do a great shaping job and it's neater and more thoughtful than just about any waxing job I've had. They also say that threading is great for thicker, coarser hair. They gave me a shape I've found easy to maintain between visits. And it's only $15.
Janet: A thumbs-up for Threads -- for the chatter in need of a good shape.
Cherry Blossom 10 MILER, not marathon :): As an avid marathoner and 10 miler, a very nice gift for your friend would be a pedicure! Her toes are probably in dire shape of some TLC! What a great roommate you are!
Julia: This is a very cute idea.
My mom makes us wear matching US Flag shirts: for one day when we're at the beach in July. We're talking three married adult offspring, all our children, and my dad in matching T-shirts. Should we be embarrassed? Should I be thankful we don't have to go out anywhere together with them on?
Julia: This is hysterical. I am thankful you don't have to go anywhere with them on. This reminds me of the Christmas where my boyfriend's grandmother gave us his and hers USA sweatshirts with eagles on them. Awesome.
Matchy-matchy fan: Ye gawds. I was totally gonna remain mum on the subject, but here is the embarrassing truth. I designed matchy tees for my bridesmaids, each with a different picture on the front in the same style. (a silhouette of a classic female image like: geisha girl, cow girl, thai dancing girl, etc. each one drinking a humongous beer). Each shirt had the world "bachelorette on the back" ('cept "bride" on mine). The point is thus. FREE DRINKS. Unfortunately, at sometime during the night, a girl's gotta eat.
Julia: Well said, girl! Thanks for chiming in.
Friday is my 21st birthday, and I'm looking for just the right spot to celebrate. I'm having my best friends come into town, but we're not exactly the clubbing types. It will mostly likely be a group of 5 to 8, about half girls and half guys, from early 20's to late 20's.
I don't go out very often, so I'm pretty much clueless as to any places I like. I do know that none of us will be in stilettos and sparkly tank tops, more likely jeans and tees, so we want places we'll feel comfortable. Live music is a plus, we'll all be on a budget, and we're willing to go anywhere within the city.
Any suggestions to make my 21st memorable?
Fritz: Hmmm. How about the Rock and Roll Hotel? Ensconce yourself in one of the "private rooms" upstairs, where you'll have DJ Chris Burns spinning classic house and disco, while the awesome lineup downstairs includes Baltimore indie rockers Beach House (whom David reviewed very favorably in the latest Nightlife Agenda). Beers are cheap, admission to the upstairs is free. Similar setup at the Black Cat, where you've got 80s music on the backstage from DJ Lil' E and the always compelling Les Savy Fav upstairs. For just a bar-bar, I'm going to say the Red Derby, because it's laidback and always fun. Readers, any other suggestions?
Stop trying to justify your awful fashion choices. They're perforated. They have a lame behind-the-ankle strap. : anywhere men can wear flip flops or tennis shoes, or any sort of sports shoes, Tevas, women should be able to wear crocs.
Fritz: Men shouldn't wear Tevas or flip-flops to bars or nice restaurants, either. There, that solves that problem.
The 6 oz. martini would be very difficult for me to drink before it got warm.: Then cut down the recipe when you make it! It's not hard!
Fritz: Yeah, just halve it. Keep the 3-1 gin-vermouth ratio, though.
Ballston: A co-worker of mine brought in samosas today, in fact I am eating one as I type this! Now I'm in the mood for some Indian or Pakistani food. Do you know any good authentic Indian places in the Ballston/Clarendon area? Big pluses if its metro accessible.
Julia: Well, there's Tandoori Nights in Clarendon, but I think I'd opt for the cheaper, more-authentic-feeling Delhi Dhaba. It's a carryout fave for Fritz and me.
People didn't even realize they were crocs: Oh really? Did you talk to everyone there? I bet there were a couple of people who didn't realize, and everyone else was like "Did you SEE that chic wearing CROCS?"
I personally don't care if you wear crocs to my party. If you are fun who cares? But don't act like they're just like normal shoes! They're plastic.
Fritz: Man, y'all love jonin on people who wear Crocs.
Glover Park again: That almost makes up for the popped collar invasion of 2003 at Bourbon. But I might need a bit more so I can begin to heal my heart that broke after she realized the demographics Town Hall caters to. (wow- how grammatically incorrect can I get.)
Fritz: Go back and diagram that second sentence -- you know, like Mean Old Mrs. T taught you in 9th grade -- and submit your comment again.
Falls Church, Va.: Matching Shirts: Ok, so I was a bride that had a bachelorette party with matching shirts. It wasn't my idea, my best girl got them printed and they were really cute. We had a lot of fun and that's all that matters.
Julia: Well said. I've been involved in some things I wasn't particularly proud of at bachelorette parties, but what matters is the fun.
DCA: Hi! My aunt, who I haven't seen in five years, called me last night to say she has a three hour layover at Reagan National at 8 a.m. on Sunday, and wants to meet and catch-up. Can you suggests any quaint diners or restaurants open for breakfast at that hour that are near the airport, or within a short cab ride away? Thanks for the help!
Anne: For character, I think I'd head to Del Ray for breakfast at the Caboose Cafe or pastries and coffee at St. Elmo's. Have fun!
Matching bachelorette parties: I had a matching outfit bachelorette party (not on my request - it was a surprise). The point is, that some bachelorette parties are silly and often aim to embarrass the bride. Why be so uptight? Can't you be ridiculous every now and again? If you don't want to wear the matching shirt then don't. If you don't want to hang out with people wearing them, then don't go to Rumors on a Saturday night.
One of my best friends just did a bar crawl that required matching shirts. Chatters, your thoughts? : Just. Say. No.
Not my cup o' tea. Have a ball, don't wake me up calling for bail money. C ya.
Julia: I'm trying to not be so mean to the matching shirt wearers, but this is too funny.
Upper Marlboro, Md.: Red Door Gallery on Pennsylvania Avenue--what do I expect, when does it open, is there a full menu..door policy???? Please let me know.
Rhome: Groovy, progressive music, chill vibe. Don't think there's food. This should give you a good idea.
Washington, D.C.: Hi Gurus! I'm considering taking some friends up to Chloe this weekend. Having never been there, can you please let me know what to expect, and any recommendations for near by places in case we are disappointed? Somewhere not too "young" would be a plus. Thank you!
Fritz: I haven't been back to Chloe in a while, because ... it just didn't impress me. The lines were a bigger deal than actually getting in. It's a fairly standard club with a nice, large back deck for smokers, a DJ spinning Top 40/house/dance music, fairly expensive drinks and plenty of 20somethings looking to blow off steam. I like the upstairs/mezzanine balcony, which offers good views of the dance floor, but Chloe's not very special -- it's just the biggest dance club in the city's biggest nightlife neighborhood, so it gets crowds. Nearby, not "young" -- well, this is Adams Morgan we're talking about. Try Metropolitain for DJs and sweaty dancing, Madam's Organ, maybe Columbia Station for live jazz. Bourbon and Pharmacy Bar are both hip and skew older than the Angry Inch, Heaven and Hell or Nolan's.
everyone else was like "Did you SEE that chic wearing CROCS?" : no because it WASN'T A PARTY FOR 5TH GRADE HEATHERS.
People, we're adults. Who are supposed to value our friends for their character, not how expensive their shoes were. And not gossip about them like a bad WB show.
Fritz: But what's the fun of living like that?
Washington, D.C.: I'm new to the area and planning a birthday dinner/girls night out for my roommate. I'm looking for a fun, trendy restaurant with a good drink menu and a moderate price tag, in the Dupont or Chinatown areas. Any suggestions?
Julia: Moderate price tag is tough in Chinatown. If you can limit your tapas consumption, I'd try Jaleo. Actually, now that I give it some thought, these two newish restaurants I wrote about a few weeks ago might be perfect for your group. I really enjoyed the food at LeeLoo, though at the time I was there there was virtually no "scene." The strong cocktails at Asia Nine would be a great fit. Plus, there's a good range of prices there -- lots of dishes in the $10-$15 range.
Courthouse: Hi all--if a friend and I were going to try and hit some old schools bars on Saturday night, where would we go? Thanks
Fritz: Old School cocktails: Off the Record at Hay Adams, Round Robin Bar at the Willard, Town and Country at the Mayflower. Old School places: Vienna Inn, JV's in Falls Church, Jay's in Clarendon.
No Bachelorette Party...Sob!: Okay...give the brides a break and just have fun with it. My whole family hated my choice of husband (my sister was my Matron of Honor) and all my friends were out of town, so I had no bachelorette party (or bridal shower, either). I'm not bitter or anything....I'm sure I'll get over it someday. BTW, we've been married 15 years and they all love him now. Point is....indulge the bride...god willing it will be her one and only chance to be dictator and have the world revolve around her!
Julia: I'm sorry, hon! This sounds tough.
Why be so uptight? Can't you be ridiculous every now and again? If you don't want to wear the matching shirt then don't.: Why assume someone who doesn't want to wear matching shirts is uptight or won't have fun? There's a thousand years of bar patronage to disprove you on that. I'd had LOADS of drunken fun over my life and NEVER ONCE wearing a matching shirt. Don't be so rigid in your definition of who will fit into your clique.
Julia: Yeah, that's kind of where come out on this whole thing. I will still have fun, I just feel like a lemming or on a field trip in a matching shirt, so I don't wear 'em. Anyway, we got tons of responses to this one. Sorry I didn't post 'em all -- wanted to make sure we (sort of) stayed on topic.
Colbert Portait at NASM?: Did the Colbert Portrait actually move from the Portrait Gallery to the National Treasures exhibit at Air and Space?
I have some folks coming to town next week who were upset that they would miss it. They told me that Tuesday's show announced that it would be at Air & Space until the 13th. I'm worried that the announcement was an April Fool's joke.
Fritz: If you were watching on Tuesday, you would have seen American History director Brent Glass forced to say "Stephen Colbert, you are a national treasure." Which was pretty rad. But yes, it will be at Air and Space for the next two weeks.
Adams Morgan: Looking for "older" options in A. Mo - Please don't forget the terribly underrated Bossa. Live music on the weekends until close, or if it's more your style, DJ upstairs. Great spot!
Fritz: I do love me some Bossa, especially when Patrick De Santos is there, but I don't like what I'm hearing about the bar's future, based on its inability to operate under a restaurant license. (It's not selling enough food, and councilmember Jim Graham is not happy.)
Matching USA gear: I've got the red, white and blue T-shirt family beat. At the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, not only did my mother make all five of us wear matching USA shirts, but when it started raining cats and dogs while we were watching an outdoor track event, we were each treated to a $10 industrial strength garbage bags to put over our already soaked bodies. God I wish I could upload and send you a picture.
Hockey Tailgating: Gurus, I spent way too much money on tickets to this Saturday's Capitals vs Panthers game. If all goes well tonight, it'll be a huge game, and I'm looking for somewhere near the Verizon Center to do some pregaming. Since the tickets took most of my spending money, can you recommend a bar that has great drink specials? I'm looking to get started up there around 4pm. Thanks and GO CAPS!
Fritz: Green Turtle and Rocket Bar have cheap beers, Matchbox and Bar Louie have cheap cocktails.
Vive les crocs!: I put mine on and I'm GOING TO WEAR them for the rest of this chat just to aggravate you!
Fritz: You're not aggravating me, you're amusing me.
Washington, D.C.: Wow! What is that bar in the picture? I've never seen that before and my girlfriends and I would like to see what it's like!
Fritz: Man, I didn't know it was this tricky... that's the "secret" entrance to the downstairs bar at Science Club.
Fritz: And that's going to wrap up this very special 90-minute edition of Got Plans. Join us back here next week for more chatter about living and going out in the D.C. area, however, please remember that we do have a dress code in effect. Thanks.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Every Thursday, washingtonpost.com's City Guide experts share their best bets for local flavor, great dates and family fun. Got plans? Great. Need plans? Just ask.
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Apartment Life Live - washingtonpost.com
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Welcome to Apartment Life, an online discussion of the Washington area rental market, featuring Post columnist Sara Gebhardt.
Inher monthly exchanges with the audience, Gebhardt discusses rental issues and lifestyle matters.
Got roommate troubles? Our interactive guide is packed with tips and advice to help you make the most of a group living situation. Check it out: Lessons Learned: How to Survive Living With Roommates.
Check out our special feature: Think Smart: Apartment Hunting Made Easy.
Read Sara's latest Apartment Life column.
Sara Gebhardt: Hey, everyone. Lots of good questions already in the docket here, so let's get to them. But before I do, let me share a comment I received after the last chat ended. It was in regard to someone who questioned me about whether or not his or her landlord was single and what to do about it.
Anonymous: Re: "Single landlords." I once ran into my (confirmed bachelor) landlord and his parents at an event. Being the polite sort, he introduced me. Being the absent-minded sort, he introduced me as "This is X; she lives with me." Watching hope surge across his mother's face--and then abruptly die when I clarified the situation--was akin to watching a tsunami rise and fall.
Rockville, Md: Is this the year for me to leave my rented apartment and go to a condo? Or should I wait for lower prices next year? Two years? What is best? I would like to live in Rockville. But I would consider the District.
Sara Gebhardt: Hi there. Is this the year for you? I think that's only for you to decide. Real estate investing is somewhat unpredictable. You can do your research and make your best educated decision, but you need to make sure your finances are in order and that locking yourself into a long-term commitment is what you want. My advice is to look at rentals and condos for sale and do research and then decide.
Cleveland: Hi Sara, where can I go to look for houses for rent? My town's newspaper only has a couple of listings, and the best I can come up with otherwise is Craigslist. I've searched places like Rent.com, but again, very few listings come up. Am I missing some other source? Should I also post a listing about myself? "Tenant looking for 3 bedroom house to rent within x miles of downtown" or something? Thanks for taking my question!
Sara Gebhardt: Hey, Cleveland. Look around for postings in other places, like grocery stores, gyms, and other message boards in the community. Also post your own listing and tell everyone you know that you're looking for such a place. Word of mouth works wonders in finding unadvertised possibilities. You may also contact local realtors for help. They tend to have information about rental houses that may not otherwise be publicized.
Washington, D.C.: I got a memo from my building management company telling me (personally) not to do something. No one else in my eight-unit building has received a similar notice. This refers to the window in the hall. I like it open a little to cool down the overheated hallway and dissipate some of the smoke and cooking odors. Others in my building also open it. One new neighbor wants it closed and complained. I've lived here a decade and have had no problems -- tenants who want more ventilation open the window and those who don't close the window when they pass by. Do you think it is inappropriate that I was singled out for this memo (management never spoke to me before the memo?) Do you think management should even be involved in this issue? I'd much rather they fix the things in the building that are broken without having to request it 3-10 times and clean the hallways (which are filthy.)
Sara Gebhardt: Are you sure your management singled you out? Did you poll all residents in each of the units? If you're not the only one opening the window and you're the only one receiving the notice, then, of course it's unfair. It's also not likely to fix the problem, as others will still open the window when walking by. Talk to your management about this problem and have them mediate it among residents. If they are going to make a rule banning the opening of the window, then let them make it publicly and to everyone.
Anonymous: Sara, I have been trying to rent out my apartment for a few weeks now and just wantedt to provide this feedback to help out potential renters as I have been completely taken aback by some of the emails I've received in response to my listing.
To start, I list in the title what I'm renting (a one bedroom,) how far from the metro it is and what metro stop is close to the apartment. I just received an email from someone asking how far I was from the metro and what metro stop.
The apartment is a one small one bedroom. I have included three pictures in the listing. Please do not ask for more pictures. If you like what you see so far, just come take a look. If I had more pictures, I would have included them!
Read the whole ad and all your questions will be answered. There's nothing more irritating than have someone ask a question and the answer is in the ad. I took some time to draft the ad. Please take some time to read it. When you send an email asking multiple questions and the answers are already in the ad, you sound high maintenance and the email gets deleted. When you respond to the ad, don't just bark: "Call me at 202-......". I'll delete the email. Have a little courtesy and some manners. I'm not a dog you can just order around. Tell me that you saw the ad and you are interested and tell me when you were thinking of moving. That way, you don't waste either of our time.
I am not a management company and take time out of my day to show the apartment. If you make an appointment and cannot make if for whatever reason, it's fine with me. I understand that it's not personal and that you have the right to decide not to come. However, please call or email as a courtesy. If I found a renter before your visit, I would notify you so you didn't show up for nothing.
Do not tell me that you saw other places that were cheaper and included more amenities. In that case, just go for them. I could care less. If you're looking to see if there's negotiating room in the price, just ask. Don't make it personal.
And finally, I saved the best for last. Someone emailed me asking if I gave employee discounts... I own one apartment and have no employees last time I checked...
Thank you for allowing me to vent, Sara. Hopefully, these comments will help out some potential renters who wonder why they don't get an answer to their emails. I'm sure they have some gripe too. A little courtesy goes a long way.
Sara Gebhardt: Thanks for the comment, and please, vent away in this space. For all apartment hunters, do take time to read an advertisement and respond courteously to any prospective landlord. You'll obviously connect better and promote yourself as a responsible person if you pay attention to detail up front. You'll also be better equipped to read a lease carefully if you train yourself to, um, read before responding.
Washington, D.C.: Hi, I currently live in a large townhouse that has been converted into 6 apartments and run by a management company. The exterior of the house is in desperate need a fresh coat of paint or at least a power wash (the windows also really need to be washed on the exterior.) Though I'm just a renter, can I request these problems be fixed?
Sara Gebhardt: Hey Washington. You surely can request a fresh coat of paint and a power wash, but you may not get it. Aesthetics are usually not issues you can push your landlord to change if they don't affect the workings of your home. You might phrase it as, "when do you think you'll update the painting? The place is looking awfully drab." You never know, perhaps it's the push the management company needs to sell the property to new renters. Even if not, it's no good to keep your thoughts to yourself.
Richmond, Va.: Just be careful about renting an apartment off Craigslist. Don't wire money without meeting the landlord or rental agent. There've been some cases of scams of people listing apartments on Craigslist and having money wired to them out of state.
Sara Gebhardt: Yes, clearly. Do not wire money after seeing pictures on the Internet, even if you're moving from out of town. Find someone in town to visit the place for you and make sure it's on the up-and-up. You'll know someone is trying to pull a scam on you if they don't agree to meet a friend of yours to show the place.
Buffalo, N.Y.: Hello -- Thanks for the chats! I'm leaving an apartment I've been in for four years, even though I always planned on staying in this unit for the six years I'll be in this city. I'm leaving because new downstairs neighbors are extremely loud and smoke in our non-smoking building, which makes its way upstairs and has made me sick. Our landlord has done nothing to stop the noise or smoke. Here's the thing: when I signed the lease four years ago, I thought I'd stay for six years, so I signed all sorts of agreements to have changes made to my taste (in particular, specific paint colors.) The landlord had me sign something saying that if we left before that time period was up, we were responsible for covering the cost to repaint, fix up, etc. But I feel forced out, in a sense, by the bad downstairs neighbors... and my question is: should I suck it up and pay for those changes, or should I tell the landlord that I shouldn't have to pay because we're not totally leaving of our free will? Do you think this will work? Wouldn't a normal landlord do a new paint job after 4 years anyway, so shouldn't that be a cost he absorbs? Thanks!
Sara Gebhardt: Well, since you did sign an agreement, just be prepared to have to repaint the place or pay for it. However, try to escape this cost by explaining why you're leaving. If your landlord could enforce the smoking ban, would you stay? Make that your argument. Noise, while a terrible problem for many apartment dwellers, is going to be less of a point of negotiation just because landlords have difficulty dealing with the problem generally. You have been paying rent to live in a nonsmoking building, and thus in a way, your landlord's failure to enforce those policies have forced you out. Argue that. Hopefully you've asked the landlord to fix the smoking problem and there's record of that. (And, landlords do repaint after several years, but if you chose certain colors, it will be more difficult and more expensive to paint over, so he may want to charge you for it.)
Tampa: I'm thinking about relocating from Florida to D.C. (I want to work for the Smithsonian.) Can anyone tell me what the biggest difference might be-what pitfalls I should look out for? Which sections of town I might look at with an income of around 48K (where I don't have to live in shoebox?) I will be renting and taking mass transit - I will love getting rid of my car! Thanks!
Sara Gebhardt: I'm glad people can't literally live in shoes. Or shoe boxes. I'll put this out to readers because I don't like to recommend neighborhoods until I know what a person is looking for. It's such a personal choice, even if it is largely dictated by income levels. My advice is to come visit and check out neighborhoods in person, so you get a feel for how much you're getting for the price of rent.
St. Petersburg Fl.: Hello. I've been looking around on rent.com -- why do some apartments for lower prices (around $900-1000/mo) include all unitlites but others that are more expensive don't? Am I missing something here? These particular ones don't say anything about income restrictions...
Sara Gebhardt: More expensive apartments might be more modern, meaning their heating/AC systems are individually metered in each unit so that each tenant can pay himself. Less expensive apartments may not have such capabilities. More expensive units may have more bells and whistles, and owners may think their residents have the means to pay the utilities more easily. Or, there may be no real difference except that one owner is banking on residents who want a more moderate building and another is hoping for people who will pay building expenses out of pocket without considering other options. Your example shows us the importance of going to look at places you see advertised online, so you can figure out the differences between them and the rationale for rent prices.
Rosslyn, Va.: My apartment just announced they are "going green." Very noble, in my opinion, but I feel like I wasn't given a say in this. Last year my rent was increased $88 dollars and this year $140 dollars. They have already switched to purchasing wind powered electricity last year. I can't imagine what it's going to cost to live there in the future. Short of moving, is there anything I can do?
Sara Gebhardt: I wouldn't assume it's noble so quickly. Apartments have incentives to "go green." It's a good thing, though, anyway. And, short of moving, what you can do is attempt to negotiate against future rent increases. Decide you're willing to move and then, if your rent is increased, tell the building (nicely, calmly) you won't stay if you have to pay the increase. That way, you'll be able to gauge whether you have a say, and you can go elsewhere if you don't.
Anonymous: Re: "Prospective renters." Well, what should people say in an email? It's hard to tell if there is a lot of competition for an apartment from the ad, and a prospective renter may be trying to show their enthusiasm/interest by asking questions. This is even more of an issue with a roommate situation -- how to show interest yet not scare the person away. Thanks for any tips about how to approach those emails.
Sara Gebhardt: Good question. You should politely say that you're very interested in the unit advertised and would love a chance to take a look at it. Provide your contact information and a little bit more about yourself. If you have a steady job and a good track record in terms of renting, say that. If you're moving from out of town to begin your first job after law school, for instance, include that. A few personal tidbits that show you are responsible will help. Also offer to provide references. And don't write a novel. Just a few sentences will do. If there's a lot of competition, the best you can do is respond early and succinctly with this information.
Anonymous: Re: "Tampa." If she doesn't already have an offer from the Smithsonian, she shouldn't be too quick to relocate just because she thinks she'd like to work there -- it is quite difficult to get those jobs!
Sara Gebhardt: Tampa's question is eliciting a lot of responses. Here's one.
Washington, D.C.: Re: "Tampa." Tampa needs to be prepared to find a place to share and to dedicate approximately $1000 a month for rent. Craigslist should have plenty of roommate listings. The neighborhoods in D.C. vary and Tampa should do some research to figure out what kind of amenties and atmosphere is best for him/her.
Sara Gebhardt: Financial advisors suggest people spend no more than a third of their take home income on housing costs. In D.C., people often tell me they spend much more than this.
Anonymous: For "Tampa." Google "cost of living calculator" and you can learn about costs for housing, food, etc. for different cities. You can find out how many dollars it would take in DC to have the same quality of life as in Tampa, get an idea of how your salary will go in D.C. compared to Tampa.
Sara Gebhardt: I'm sure this exercise will be a bit scary for Tampa. Good tip, though.
Washington DC: Hi Sara, I live in an expensive high-rise apartment in northwest D.C. Dogs are allowed, but are meant to be on leashes. There is a common dog walking area in the back of the building, and a few owners of large dogs allow them to be off-lead, even though the dogs don't respond to voice commands. The larger dogs often come bounding up to my smaller dog (who is on a leash) and pounces on him. I've complained to management (even considered taking digital photos of the dogs off-lead!) but they don't appear to be concerned. There's also the problem of getting to the back dog-walk area -- you have to take stairs, and more than once I've almost been bowled over by an 80 lb lab not on a leash on the stair well.
Do you have any suggestions? This has been occurring non-stop for almost 15 months. I was considering going to the rental company's corporate headquarters to complain. Thanks for any help.
Sara Gebhardt: Have you spoken directly to management about the problem? Are there other dog owners like yourself who are unhappy with the same circumstances? If so, write a communal letter to your management and send it also to the corporate headquarters. Even if you're the only one you know with this gripe, if you live in a pet-friendly building, the management should enforce the leash policy. So, yes, discuss the problem again with your management and then complain to higher-ups if nothing changes.
Midwest: My apartment complex is beautiful with lots of green space and sidewalks that I use all the time for walking my large dog. That's why I moved here - it is one of only three places in my city that allows larger dogs. It's very pet friendly: fenced-in dog park, stations with bags for picking up dog waste and trash cans, etc.
However: our leases state that there's a $250 fine for not picking up, but that doesn't deter people because there is dog waste EVERYWHERE. I'm afraid to step anywhere off the sidewalk or go to the dog park. This was not a problem when I first moved in, but it has gotten progressively worse over the past two years. There are areas right outside units where people let their dog go every day and never pick up, so there are piles every few feet. Some dogs even go in the middle of the sidewalk!
Moving to one of the other large dog complexes is not an option for various reasons. I am contemplating paying more to rent a house when my lease is up this spring because I am tired of watching every step that my dog or I take.
My question is, is it even worth it to complain? I don't know how the management would enforce the rule across such a large complex... I'd like to think they would have done so already if they could. Thank you!
Sara Gebhardt: Oh, gross. Yes, it's worth it to complain. If management could figure out how to charge $250 to all the violators, they might jump on the chance. But, bottom line, yes, complain. Violations of rules you agreed to are violations. And dog excrement littering a property is rather disgusting. You might be able to call in some help from your local jurisdiction if there are local laws/fines for such behavior. Call your local housing office as well and complain about management under the assumption that this poses a health hazard. That could also inspire a response from management to the problem.
Alexandria, Va.: For "Tampa." Ask yourself how often you'll be in your apartment. You can get better deals if you live within walking distance of further away stations, but commuting times go up dramatically (close to an hour on some Red Line stations to get inside the city, not including the walk to the station and the wait for the train.) If you can get by with a studio, you'll find that you can live much closer in. If you move further out, you'll have more space, but will be very limited in being able to go far from where you live (unless you make friends with people who have cars.) Try Metro-ing back and forth from your planned destination if possible.
Sara Gebhardt: More advice for Tampa, when he or she gets here to apartment hunt. Practicing commute times is a great idea for apartment hunters.
Tampa: Thanks for the input everybody. I will not be moving UNLESS I get an offer... it will be challenging getting the timing just right... not sure how I'm going to work out all the logistics yet. I have been looking at a lot of listings and figured around $1200 for rent. Does anyone have any opioins about south D.C.? Like around near Fort Stanton or Kenilworth Park?
Sara Gebhardt: Hi, Tampa. Glad to know you won't be moving until you get an offer. Will put this out to the others again. Good luck.
Anonymous: Re: "Going Green." Years ago, my former apartment building announced it was "going green." Their first step was to install individual water meters, and if we signed new leases, we would have to pay a water bill on top of the usual utilities. I'm sure they were working on a plan to charge for trash. Thankfully, I was moving anyway.
Sara Gebhardt: On "going green" ...
Washington, D.C.: Hey Sara, Love the chat, love the column, love the pic! So, here's the dillio -- I'm in the midst of a major home decor project. New colors, furniture, window treatments, etc. And I recently acquired a collection of yarn dolls that I want to be the focal point of my pad. Any suggestions on how best to display my cuddly little buddies? Thanks, sister!
Sara Gebhardt: Well, you're in luck here. Hanging items on strings vertically or horizontally in windows is often a way to display some "different" kinds of items. See if you can string those babies together and perhaps you're on to the next greatest trend in art. If not, though, keep up the good work with home decor. I'm sure it's helping foster your creativity AND making you feel more at home.
Washington, DC: Hi Sara, my boyfriend and I would like to share my studio apartment but it specifically states in the lease that there can be only one occupant in efficiencies. Is there any way to get around that? He doesn't necessarily need to be on the lease. What counts as a resident and what counts as a guest? What could the apartment building do if they found more than one occupant?Just to clarify when I said he doesn't need to be on the lease I meant that I personally don't care if he is, but I think the apartment building does.
Sara Gebhardt: Does the lease have a guest clause? Double check. Usually a guest is someone who stays more than a week or two. Even if there's no time limit spelled out, though, if your boyfriend is living with you, then he's going to be overstaying any kind of guest policy. You can take your chances and have him live with you, as long as you understand that you could be evicted for that kind of infraction. If your landlord is hell-bent on the occupancy policy, he'll catch you and deal with it. If not, you could get away with it. Do some research by talking to people in that building and gauging whether or not you want to take the chance.
Sara Gebhardt: Okay, folks, my time's up here. I wish you all the best of luck renting, communicating with landlords, roommates, and neighbors, and searching for the next best place to hang your head--and your yarn dolls.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Welcome to Apartment Life, an online discussion of the Washington area rental market. Post columnist Sara Gebhardt discusses rental issues and lifestyle matters.
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Workday Waster: Just Call Me Paris
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True confession: In the time I usually reserve for ruminating over the day's main post -- a process at once highly technical and spiritually draining -- I've been goofing around with this face-morphy-thingamabob that lets any user upload a photo of oneself and transform it into the visage of a celebrity (and not just any celeb, but one the site's software has determined you slightly resemble). So, duh, I lost no time in changing myself into Paris Hilton.
Which immediately tells you three things: 1. The site's software is -- shall we say -- smoking something, because I look nothing like Paris Hilton; 2. I am a sucker for gimmicks; and 3. I'm not above infecting you with my feckless, workday-wasting habits. Hey, it was either this or a dissection of Madonna's latest Vanity Fair interview.
Here's the result of my morning's hard work:
MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities
Get your own morph on here. You can thank me at 2 ET.
By Liz | April 3, 2008; 10:42 AM ET | Category: Miscellaneous Previous: Morning Mix: Bobby Brown Says Whitney Drove Him to Drugs | Next: Morning Mix: Naomi Campbell (Allegedly) Strikes Again
Keep up with the latest Celebritology scoops with an easy-to-use widget.
If you have tips, ideas for stories or general suggestions, let us know.
Oh. My. Gosh. I am going to have so much fun with this thing. Thank you, Liz Kelly! Thank you and bless you.
Posted by: methinks | April 3, 2008 11:21 AM
Please, please, please: submit Gene's photo. I'd love to see who he morphs into.
Posted by: A peanut | April 3, 2008 11:30 AM
oh that's too easy: gene=ernest borgnine
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 11:33 AM
ooooh, i got hu jintao, the chinese president. and i'm a girl.
Posted by: kate | April 3, 2008 11:41 AM
Posted by: No way.. | April 3, 2008 11:42 AM
hey, 11:33, there's no need to insult poor Ernest Borgnine like that.
Posted by: kevin | April 3, 2008 11:42 AM
No, Gene will look like Gene Shalit from the Today Show.
Posted by: 23112 | April 3, 2008 11:42 AM
I don't know Liz. That transformation to Paris was pretty seamless. Maybe you should get a short, blonde wig and see how many people tell you that you look like her!
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 11:42 AM
"ooooh, i got hu jintao, the chinese president. and i'm a girl."
I'm sorry, but that just made me laugh out loud.
Posted by: Oh... | April 3, 2008 11:45 AM
LiLo will probably go back into rehab after she watches me morph into her and back again. (Yeah, I'm gonna send it to her!)
Posted by: pixie radiance | April 3, 2008 11:49 AM
Ohhhhhhh, this is going to be my new play thing. Sadly I can't use it at work, they're starting to crack down.
Posted by: petal | April 3, 2008 11:53 AM
I ended up with a range of celebrities from Ashley Tisdale (sorry, but who IS that?) to Raven Symone (sp?) to Heidi Klum. The facial recognition software is definitely smoking something since I don't look anything like any of those gals, except for Heidi Klum. (ya, right.) I'm going to try a different picture. Thanks for the great time waster, Liz. This is uber-fun.
Posted by: methinks | April 3, 2008 11:55 AM
It's one thing to morph yourself, but hilarious to do it with relatives. Back when the program just told you who you most looked liked (no morphing), they said my grandmother (age 86) looks 90% like Sid Vicious. Awesome.
Didn't tell the gran that though
Posted by: mdem | April 3, 2008 11:58 AM
I got Goran Visnic and Steve Fossett, and three or four guys I'd never heard of.
I dunno if I want to look like a guy who's presumed dead.
Posted by: byoolin | April 3, 2008 12:01 PM
I got Wayne Brady and I'm a girl. Do they only have one celebrity for each ethnicity? I kinda hope they do. Because if the choice was between Halle Berry, Beyonce and Wayne Brady . . . and I got Wayne Brady . . . that is too terrible to contemplate.
Posted by: Renee | April 3, 2008 12:02 PM
Oooh, byoolin, Goran Visnic. That's got me laughing.
Posted by: methinks | April 3, 2008 12:10 PM
Christopher Lee, John Travolta, and Avril Lavigne? It's days like this when I think the universe is messing with me.
Posted by: michael | April 3, 2008 12:16 PM
I got Gillian Anderson, cool. Gary Oldman, cool, even though I'm a girl. Elton John, wha???
And, for the ultimate in this site's smoking something...Dianne Keaton. Liz, don't hate me!
Posted by: Organic Gal | April 3, 2008 12:25 PM
Liz, let me tell you, I experience real dramatic tension during that video and felt palpable relief when it returned to your sweet, familiar face. Whew.
Posted by: other liz | April 3, 2008 12:25 PM
Watch Keith Richards morph into Brian Dennehy and Jerry Seinfeld morph into John Travolta.
Sadly, Dick Cheney does not morph into Darth Vader.
Posted by: Sasquatch | April 3, 2008 12:31 PM
Okay, it's all fun and games until somebody gets accused of looking like Vin Diesel. I'm taking my ball and going home.
Posted by: other liz | April 3, 2008 12:33 PM
When I tried a picture of Weingarten, the Celebrity Morph software said it couldn't find a face.
I guess that means that Gene not only has a voice for print, but also a face for print.
Posted by: Sasquatch | April 3, 2008 12:34 PM
"I'm taking my ball and going home."
Posted by: Sasquatch | April 3, 2008 12:35 PM
Oooh, byoolin, Goran Visnic. That's got me laughing.
Posted by: methinks | April 3, 2008 12:10 PM
Game, set and match to methinks.
Posted by: byoolin | April 3, 2008 12:36 PM
What!!!!???!!! I got Jack Osborne or Sylvia Plath - and I'm a cute blond! (therapy needed)
Posted by: 20001 | April 3, 2008 12:44 PM
T'anks, byoolin. I hoped you would have caught that!
Posted by: methinks | April 3, 2008 12:47 PM
What kind of name is Norkys?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 12:48 PM
Liz was probably hoping for a morph into Kat von D
Posted by: Mister Methane | April 3, 2008 12:49 PM
I got Giselle. I don't know what all you people are saying that it isn't accurate, cause, me... Giselle? No brainer. :)
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 12:50 PM
My celebrity twin (72%) is someone called Norkys Batista (who?). Oh well, at least it got the Hispanic part of my ancestry right.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 12:50 PM
Let's see... They claim I look like Glen Close (yay!), Meryl Streep (yay!) and John Ritter (wha?). I look like a dead guy? Superb. :P
Posted by: PGM | April 3, 2008 1:04 PM
Glen Close, Meryl Streep and John Ritter was the lineup for the cast of "Three's Company In The Twenty-First Century" a film project which was cancelled by Mr. Ritter's untimely death.
Posted by: byoolin | April 3, 2008 1:07 PM
i got holly marie combs. who the heck is holly marie combs??? WTF??? on the 2nd pic, i got cate blanchett. whew! i can stop now!
Posted by: wats | April 3, 2008 1:19 PM
Okay, Sasquatch, I spewed tea when I read this:
"I'm taking my ball and going home."
Posted by: Liz Kelly | April 3, 2008 1:27 PM
Speaking of morphing faces, the picture of Keith Richards on the WaPo home page is just scary.
Posted by: michael | April 3, 2008 1:45 PM
"Speaking of morphing faces, the picture of Keith Richards on the WaPo home page is just scary."
Evan scarier when you realize that this picture of Keith Richards is the one that morphs into Brian Dennehy.
Posted by: Sasquatch | April 3, 2008 1:55 PM
byoolin check your covers. Madonna was on the September issues, not July. But you got the right year.
Posted by: omni | April 3, 2008 1:56 PM
Ione Skye, Andie McDowell and the Rock.
Posted by: another Liz | April 3, 2008 2:00 PM
Liza Minelli, Emma Watson, Dakota Fanning, and Vanna White. yikes!
Posted by: skm | April 3, 2008 2:28 PM
wats, Holly Marie Combs was one of sisters on Charmed.
Posted by: omni | April 3, 2008 2:33 PM
byoolin check your covers. Madonna was on the September issues, not July. But you got the right year.
Posted by: omni | April 3, 2008 01:56 PM
Once again, I claim The Great Forced-By-Mom-To-Burn-My-Own-Smut Conflagration Of '86 as my defense. I had to get the dates from Wikipedia.
Posted by: byoolin | April 3, 2008 3:04 PM
Posted by: Angela | April 3, 2008 3:04 PM
Lauren Graham, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Tara Reid (WTF?!!! Well, at least my boobs are real...) Somewhat jealous of the friend in the picture with me, who looks like Monica Belluci. Oh well.
Posted by: ASinMoCo | April 3, 2008 3:35 PM
Also, I'm happy to report that I apparently do not look like a man :)
Posted by: ASinMoCo | April 3, 2008 3:37 PM
I just put in a picture of the annoying guy at work and he was matched to Molly Ringwald. Yessssss!
Posted by: BoredAtWork | April 3, 2008 3:48 PM
I never thought I would defend Naomi Campbell but here goes. It was in the chat that she was arrested in Heathrow over a dispute about a lost bag. If she was flying through Terminal 5, I don't blame her. That opening is so screwwed up people are still waiting for their bags from opening day. It was only a matter of time before someone went off. The airport workers union even issued a statement warning about just this happening.
Posted by: ep | April 3, 2008 3:50 PM
"Sadly, Dick Cheney does not morph into Darth Vader"
I would have thought the penguin guy from Batman...
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 4:15 PM
I'm American Indian hottie Q'Orianka Kilcher, which makes sense since I'm at least distantly native American and Sarah Michelle Geller. Uh, OK.
My husband is Shatner or Paulina Porizkova.
My 15 month old is Lisa Lopez or Pete Doherty or Shirley Manson. So, a musician! Cool!
Posted by: atb | April 3, 2008 4:25 PM
My options were about 6 men and Beyonce. For the record, I am female and the only thing I have in common with that picture of Beyonce is a big smile.
Posted by: h3 | April 3, 2008 4:34 PM
I got Carolina Dieckman (sp?). I had never heard of her. I sure WISH I looked like her, but it ain't what I see in the mirror everyday.
Posted by: LLL | April 3, 2008 5:35 PM
Uhh WOW- I got 5 choices that include Natalie Imbruglia, Serena Williams & Jewel along w/two other persons (Carol Voderman &Rinus Michels) I've never heard of. I have large eyes like Natalie, I'm black like Serena but I think that is where the similarities end...
Posted by: plamar1031 | April 3, 2008 6:01 PM
Wow, I look like Hal Sparks and Dennis Quaid, and my son looks like Dakota Fanning. I'm going to be in therapy for a while over this, Liz. Thanks.
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Posted by: Chip | April 5, 2008 4:16 PM
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Joe Pesci, Mikhail Barishnikov, Gary Cooper, Rabindranath Tagore. In that order. I'm a woman, so maybe it's just as well I can only morph into Jackie. But I'd like to see this crew morph into each other...
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Posted by: Nora | April 6, 2008 7:24 AM
Liz, you are MUCH prettier than Paris!
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I'm a 25 year old woman, and I look most like Moshe Dayan?! I'm going to sit in a corner and cry now.
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The comments to this entry are closed.
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Washingtonpost.com blogger Liz Kelly dishes on the latest happenings in entertainment, celebrity, and Hollywood news.
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When Public Advocates Line Up for Corporations
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It was billed as a coalition of public interest groups focused on the recent $40 billion contract award for a new Air Force refueling tanker.
Officials at Citizens Against Government Waste, a quarter-century-old group founded as a good-government advocate, wanted other groups to join in speaking out in favor of the "open, fair and transparent" process that gave the award to Northrop Grumman and its partner, European Aeronautic Defence and Space.
But as often happens in this town, the story was not so clear cut. It turns out Citizens Against Government Waste, or CAGW, was playing a more complicated advocacy role on the same side as the Northrop team, in an immense struggle over the deal with surprise loser Boeing.
Welcome to that special place where business and Washington intersect, where things often are not what they seem and keeping track of the players and their motives is as hard as following the aces in hands of a cardsharp.
In the weeks since the Feb. 29 decision, the winners, the loser and their proxies have worked nonstop to tilt the advantage their way. They have bought full-page ads in newspapers and trade magazines across the country. Boeing has spent about $3 million on ads in major papers since its loss, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ad campaign.
The companies have engaged top-shelf public relations specialists, opinion shapers and former military officials who now serve as their consultants. And they have enlisted vocal and sometimes stealthy support from policy and nonprofit groups, endorsements that carry the aura of integrity.
Enter CAGW. In an e-mail recruiting support from the other groups last week, CAGW included a "fact sheet" spelling out why the award to Northrop was in the best interests of the American taxpayer. Parts of it were cribbed almost word for word from a Northrop document.
The same e-mail said that CAGW would hold a meeting last Friday to explain the coalition. The man brought in to explain the effort was William Lauderback, a veteran lobbyist and communications consultant who has told multiple people that he is working on this issue for Northrop. Calls to Lauderback's office were referred to a Northrop official, who said it is company policy not to identify consultants or their activity on behalf of the company.
Further confusing matters, officials at CAGW told a reporter they had no ties to Northrop, financial or otherwise.
CAGW president Thomas A. Schatz declined to discuss whether his group has received contributions from Northrop. He said the fact that his group's interests are aligned with those of the Northrop team means nothing.
"The beneficiaries of our advocacy are the taxpayers," he said.
A Northrop spokesman said CAGW had approached the company with offers to help. And documents show they are working together on the issue.
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It was billed as a coalition of public interest groups focused on the recent $40 billion contract award for a new Air Force refueling tanker.
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Playoffs Could Be Big Payoff for Ovechkin, Caps
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The Washington Capitals are striving for far more than a playoff berth in their final two games. If the Capitals and star left wing Alex Ovechkin reach the postseason, the presence of one of the game's most dynamic players and colorful personalities could increase interest in the league's showcase event and boost the team's profile locally and nationally, according to sports industry experts.
"If I'm the National Hockey League, I'm praying to whatever hockey god there is, hoping the Capitals make it and the Carolina Hurricanes are as far away from the playoffs as possible," said Howard Bloom, publisher of the Ottawa-based SportsBusinessNews.com. "Even if the Capitals were to get knocked out in four games, it puts Ovechkin in the playoffs and begins to create some brand awareness for the player and the franchise. It's a league that's devoid of personalities, and here's a guy who has a personality, who scores 'SportsCenter' goals."
The fast-skating, hard-hitting, highlight-goal-scoring Russian has more goals than any NHL player in the past 12 years and has led his team back from its worst start in 26 years. He scored goal No. 63 in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Carolina, which, at least for one night, moved the Capitals into a tie with the Hurricanes for the Southeast Division lead and kept them within striking distance of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The division winners and the five other top teams in each conference make the playoffs.
"I was at the All-Star Game. Ovechkin is one of the guys who gets it," said Bill Bergofin, the senior vice president of marketing at the Versus network, which broadcasts league games. "He juggled the puck on his stick and then spun around [in the SuperSkills competition]. Those are the kinds of things that make the highlight reels. Having guys like that, who are setting records and raising the bar, can only help bring in the casual fans from around the country who maybe are tuning in the for the first time this season. It gives them something to gravitate to."
The impact of Ovechkin's remarkable season, and the Capitals' stunning turnaround, already have been felt at the gate at Verizon Center and in the team's local television ratings. Washington has averaged 17,892 fans in the 13 home games since the start of February, with five sellouts, and ratings on Comcast SportsNet have more than doubled since December over the same period a year ago -- though they remain anemic. In 2008, the team is averaging 19,000 households per game, an average rating of 0.8 percent.
Versus also saw a substantial increase in the Washington market, where the five Capitals games broadcast this season averaged a 1.0 rating, up 150 percent from last season.
Those figures could increase substantially in the playoffs, particularly with a compelling matchup such as Washington-Pittsburgh, a series that would feature Ovechkin and the Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, three of the league's brightest young stars. The players and their teams are fierce rivals.
"I would expect the rating to be 1.5 range or higher," said Scott Langerman, Comcast's SportsNet's vice president of business development. "If you get an Ovechkin-Crosby matchup, the sky is the limit."
Although a playoff spot wouldn't mean a massive revenue increase for the team because a portion of that money goes to the league, qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2003 could have a long-term effect, team president Dick Patrick said.
The Capitals did not sell out their games at Verizon Center in the club's most recent playoff appearance against Tampa Bay five years ago. But Patrick said he believes the excitement of a playoff run would help sell more merchandise and, most important, more season tickets, a category in which the Capitals are believed to rank in the bottom third of the league. Patrick declined to reveal the Capitals' season ticket base, but said the team sold three times as many season ticket packages last month than it did in March 2007 and hopes to sell 1,500 to 2,000 new full-season equivalents before next season. Season ticket renewals also have been strong at 81 percent, according to Patrick.
Ovechkin leading the Capitals to the playoffs would "help build more local interest and build momentum for the long term," said Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. "Ovechkin's primary impact will be regional, but his impact potential could be national if the league markets him well, or if he has a breakthrough, showstopping performance. He certainly has that potential."
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The Capitals final two games have broad implications as Alex Ovechkin's presence in the postseason would increase interest in the NHL and boost the team's profile.
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EPA Is Sued for Answers on Emissions
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Officials from 18 states and several environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency yesterday in an effort to force the administration to determine whether greenhouse-gas emissions are endangering public health.
The plaintiffs said the agency is ignoring a year-old Supreme Court ruling that the federal government has legal authority under the Clean Air Act to control carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles. They asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to compel the EPA to act within 60 days.
"What we have is an environmental agency acting completely contrary to its essential mission and duty," said California Attorney General Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown Jr. (D) in a telephone news conference.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently reported that EPA staff members had determined in December that the emissions endanger public health, but the process stalled after the EPA forwarded the findings to the White House. The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming yesterday voted 12 to 0 to subpoena all EPA documents related to the staff action, along with records of the agency's decision to block California from regulating tailpipe greenhouse-gas emissions on its own.
In an e-mail, EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar said agency officials "will review this new petition" and, in the meantime, will focus on its proposed rule-making as "a reasonable path forward."
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Find Washington Post science, politics and opinion coverage of the growing threat from global warming.
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Ireland's Prime Minister to Step Down Amid Official Probe of Personal Finances
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LONDON, April 2 -- Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who helped bring peace to Northern Ireland but was dogged by investigations into his personal finances, said Wednesday that he would resign next month after almost 11 years in office.
Ahern, 56, announced his resignation at a Dublin news conference as a government tribunal continues to investigate whether he received improper cash payments from businessmen in the mid-1990s.
In a sometimes emotional 11-minute address, Ahern denied wrongdoing. But he said the "incessant" focus on his finances had been a drain on his administration, adding that the government must "not be constantly deflected by the minutiae of my life, my lifestyle and my finances."
"I have never received a corrupt payment, and I've never done anything to dishonor any office I have held," Ahern said. "I know in my heart of hearts I've done no wrong and wronged no one."
The second-longest-serving prime minister in Irish history, Ahern took office in June 1997 during a period of breathtaking economic growth in Ireland.
With his boxer's build and gregarious personality, he built his political career on being a popular and plainspoken "man of the people."
"He has an affectionate following among the voters, who put him in office three times," said Irish author and historian Tim Pat Coogan. Ahern remained popular, Coogan noted, despite growing pressure from opposition politicians and members of his own coalition government.
Beyond cultivating his modest Everyman image, Ahern has proved a shrewd political operator. He was often called the "Teflon taoiseach," the Gaelic word for prime minister.
Under his watch, Ireland built hundreds of thousands of new homes and businesses and became awash with millionaires and even billionaires as the "Celtic Tiger" economy boomed. By 2006, the nation's population had topped 4 million for the first time since the mid-19th century. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, Africa and China have been drawn to the flourishing economy, and many Irish who had left their once-impoverished land returned.
Working closely with Tony Blair, then Britain's prime minister, Ahern brought Northern Ireland's Catholic and Protestant leaders together to sign the landmark 1998 Good Friday peace agreement.
"The priority I put above all others was to work for peace on this island, and I have given all to that cause," Ahern said Wednesday as he announced his intention to step down May 6. He was flanked by top aides from his party, Fianna Fail.
"He will have, deservedly, a central place in his nation's political history and much more widely" as well, Blair said Wednesday, calling Ahern "a remarkable man with a remarkable record of achievement."
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LONDON, April 2 -- Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who helped bring peace to Northern Ireland but was dogged by investigations into his personal finances, said Wednesday that he would resign next month after almost 11 years in office.
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Ex-Envoy Details Hussein Meeting
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Nearly two decades ago, April C. Glaspie was the face of American incompetence in Iraq.
The career Foreign Service officer, who was U.S. ambassador to Baghdad when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, was blamed for failing to forcefully warn Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that the United States would oppose such aggression just days before it occurred.
But others argued that the widely respected diplomat -- the first female U.S. ambassador in the Middle East -- was mainly a scapegoat for the failings of the secretary of state at the time, James A. Baker III.
After nearly 17 years of silence, Glaspie has emerged to tell her story. She granted a lengthy interview, in English, to Randa Takieddine of the Lebanese newspaper Dar al-Hayat, which has posted the full transcript on the English-language version of its Web site.
After Iraq, Glaspie's career stalled. She is now retired but said she has no regrets about what happened.
"It is over," Glaspie said. "Nobody wants to take the blame. I am quite happy to take the blame. Perhaps I was not able to make Saddam believe that we would do what we said we would do, but in all honesty, I don't think anybody in the world could have persuaded him."
Portions of Glaspie's account of her meeting with Hussein on the eve of the invasion track with testimony she gave to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee shortly after the Persian Gulf War ended. But Glaspie, who declined to speak to The Washington Post, also provides new insight on an incident nearly lost to history.
During the run-up to the war, the Iraqi government released a transcript of Glaspie's meeting with Hussein on July 25, 1990, which suggested that she gave tacit approval for an invasion. Glaspie managed to convince lawmakers that the transcript was inaccurate and that she had forcefully warned Hussein not to invade. But her credibility eroded after the leak of her classified cable to the State Department about the meeting, which suggested a more conciliatory conversation with Hussein.
In the interview, Glaspie insisted that the Iraq transcript "was invented by Tariq Aziz," the deputy prime minister. "Tariq was a master of words as a previous Minister of Information and editor of a newspaper," she said. Glaspie asserted that she told Hussein to "keep your hands off this country."
Glaspie's cable was declassified after a Freedom of Information Act appeal by the National Security Archive at George Washington University. The cable, along with others obtained by the archive, suggests that she was largely carrying out a policy, pushed by State at the time, of seeking to improve relations with Iraq.
Glaspie's cable says that President George H.W. Bush "had instructed her to broaden and deepen our relations with Iraq," adding that Hussein in turn offered "warm greetings" to Bush and was "surely sincere" about not wanting war.
In the interview, Glaspie recalls that her meeting with Hussein was interrupted when the Iraqi president received a phone call from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Hussein told her he had assured Mubarak that he would try to settle the dispute, she said. Her cable backs up this version of events, though the Iraqi transcript has Hussein saying that Mubarak called before he met with Glaspie.
Glaspie said the Mubarak call was crucial in convincing her that any sense of crisis had passed. She said that she was "foolish" to believe that Hussein would not lie to both her and Mubarak, and that she left Baghdad to go on a short vacation. Before she left, she sent another cable titled "Iraq Blinks -- Provisionally," also obtained by the archive.
Hussein, "a megalomaniac," thought "that my government did not have any guts, that we would not fight and certainly not for that little [piece] of desert that was Kuwait for him," Glaspie told al-Hayat.
Ever a diplomat, Glaspie sidestepped a question about Baker cutting her loose, answering simply that then-President Bush "was superb."
Asked what she thought of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Glaspie noted that the British Empire nearly 100 years ago had failed to control the country.
"You know, past is past; either we learn from it or we don't," Glaspie said. "The British, with extraordinary technology of their time, tried very hard, spoke more Arabic than the current coalition forces, were working within their old former mandate, they had all the maps, they knew every place in Iraq from north to south, and they could not do it. I think that the reasons that they could not do it are there for anybody to read."
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Latest news on the US federal government. Information and analysis of federal legislation, government contracts and regulations. Search for government job openings, career information and federal employee benefits news.
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Reed Whittemore, Handyman to the Muse
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The word man is reading. Who knows if this will be his last time?
It's a Sunday afternoon at Politics and Prose in Northwest Washington, and a goodly crowd has gathered to celebrate Reed Whittemore's "Against the Grain: The Literary Life of a Poet," which was published last fall. Whittemore is the author of 20 books and a former poetry consultant to the Library of Congress, a job since renamed, more grandly, Poet Laureate.
He is also 88 years old, with a memory that has betrayed him. Vascular dementia is the culprit, and it sometimes leaves him confused as well. Friends and family stand by to read in case he can't.
"Thank you. At least I got up," he says, drawing a welcoming laugh.
He reads a poem called "A Teacher," which is what he was for much of his life, first at Carleton College in Minnesota and then at the University of Maryland:
He hated them all one by one but wanted to show them
What was Important and Vital and by God if
They thought they'd never have use for it he was
Sorry as hell for them, that's all, with their genteel
Bourgeois-barbaric faces, they were beyond
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The word man is reading. Who knows if this will be his last time?
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Throwing the Bums Out, Within and Without
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Once in a while, at mutton barbecues in Patagonia, the sheep farmers would mention something they'd heard about a certain campesino's daughter's friend who had been taken by the police in Buenos Aires. The air would go quiet and everyone would become still, saying nothing -- as if even here, in the most remote spot on Earth, the walls or sky had ears. But this was rare. Usually, Buenos Aires seemed far off.
The first time I went to Argentina, it was winter. The year was 1978, and out of the blue my boyfriend and I had been offered an opportunity to study whales in Patagonia, a wild, unpopulated realm at the end of the continent. Those were the days when I wanted to be the new Jane Goodall; I fantasized about conducting groundbreaking research on southern right whales while simultaneously proving my mettle in the wild. Argentina would allow me to make my mark, and I would somehow please the despotic, gray-bearded academic authority in the sky who was by nature unsatisfiable.
I immediately took a leave from school. I was 23.
The Argentina we encountered was hardly the stuff of fantasy. The country still reeled from the military's takeover of the government a few years earlier. I knew that Jorge Videla had displaced Isabel Peron as president in a coup d'etat, but otherwise I had only the barest knowledge of current affairs. People had warned me that Argentina was dangerous, that anyone who disagreed with the government was jailed, that some municipal offices sported posters with crossed-out smiley faces labeled, "Smiling prohibited while conducting official business." But I knew nothing of the teachers being abducted from schools, of 18-year-olds stolen from their beds, of writers yanked from dinner tables -- all of them destined to disappear into some unknown nightmare.
There were signs of menace the minute Peter and I landed in Argentina. Stepping off the plane, we were greeted by scowling young men toting machine guns. Customs officials scrutinized us with narrowed eyes as they rummaged through our luggage. For a few minutes I felt a dissident's fear.
In Buenos Aires it was dark and cold. People on the streets in their black, flowing coats looked white-faced and grim. In Patagonia, though, there was scant evidence of brutality. The landscape -- sere, flat, barely inhabited thornland that extended to an infinite horizon and, at dusk, lit up pink and gold -- enthralled me. The whales woke us each morning with deep bellows, and we spent our days stamping our feet in the cold, documenting the whales' behavior from a patched-together hut perched precariously on a cliff. Driven by youthful energy, we quickly became absorbed in the task.
And then, driven by inner tyranny, I became consumed by what I saw as flaws in our work. I constantly scrutinized our research, revised our methods and made Peter crazy with my pursuit of the rigor that I was sure would give our research heft. I refused what little human contact was available and took pride in my self-sufficiency. We went to town for groceries just once a month; we seldom saw a newspaper.
I thought a lot about the two tyrannies of my youth, my own and Argentina's, when next I made a trip to the country, almost 30 years later. I arrived this past November, just a few weeks after Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was elected president. One tyranny was long gone, make no mistake. The country had turned a corner.
It was spring then, and Argentina was in bud and flower. Bougainvillea draped languorously over house fronts, and sprays of jasmine scented the air. The Argentines were, this visit, in jeans and Converse All-Stars, and a couple occupied every other park bench, making out in full sun.
The country had come a long way since 1983, when the people elected Raul Alfonsin and Argentina began its long march toward democracy. There had been many difficulties along the way -- the economic disaster of 2001, for example, when the peso depreciated to a quarter of its former value and millions in the middle class were left in poverty -- but these days the country had an undeniable buoyancy, and it rode its troughs without resorting to martial law.
I, meanwhile, had struggled to please my own private tyrant for the greater part of three decades, working as a social worker, becoming an academic, marrying Peter (he eventually forgave me my cliff-top imperiousness) and having children, writing books. But sometime along the way, I'd managed to abandon my need to please that arbitrary evaluator in the sky. And then, as if on cue and once more out of the blue, I was given a second chance at discovering Argentina.
Mendoza, the city where I stayed this time, was overflowing with the creativity that has blossomed under democratic rule. Where portions of Mendoza province had long been dedicated to the production of crude table wine for domestic consumption, a new initiative, begun 15 years before, had transformed the local viticulture into a vital and profitable export.
On this sojourn, just as 30 years earlier, I was struck by Argentina's rampant splendor and the raw beauty of its rough lands. The broad, dry valleys of poplars, olive groves and green vines -- backed by ochre-sage foothills and massive, snow-covered summits -- stole my breath.
The first time I went to Argentina, we stayed for 18 months, during which time I became, as I say, work-obsessed and hard on others. I became a dictator myself -- and more and more depressed. Finally, one day, Peter -- who no doubt needed relief from my ruthlessness -- insisted we visit the nearest ranch. Dona Sara, the wife of the man who managed it, met us at the door of her three-room concrete house in that forgotten nowhere and, chattering merrily, shooed us in out of the bitter wind for tea.
Immediately on stepping over the threshold, I felt the ropes constricting me begin to loosen. Rural Argentines are known for their cari¿o, their open-heartedness, and this was my first taste. This gentle old woman, almost bent in two by back troubles, embraced us like long-lost family. When her husband, Don Pepe, arrived, we shared a meal of mutton, dry bread and vino tinto. As we ate and the cheap table wine flowed, the couple's unfettered generosity flooded into me, warming me for the first time all winter.
On my second trip, I found, Argentina had lost none of its cari¿o: The inn receptionist with a lustrous, soft, guileless beauty who chuckled good-naturedly when I rang the bell for the third time, having forgotten first my sunglasses, then my windbreak, then my passport. The more-gorgeous-than-a-movie-star marketing expert who explained to me, "Our carino? It's our blood. The mix of the Spaniard and the Italian. We Latins are all warm like this." And who then teared up and told me, without shifting his gaze, that he felt sad when he thought of all his country had gone through. This time, I didn't resist for a second; I let the emotion well up in me, too.
Lagrimas -- tears -- that's what Argentines call the drips that flow down the inside of a glass of swirled wine. The country, it seems, has been able to weep -- and now, to smile. I'd come a long way in three decades, too. Like Argentina, I wept and raved, and finally threw out the bastards. No longer crude, quick-drunk concoctions, we've both been aged in oak barrels -- complexified, deepened, clarified -- and earned a unique signature: a particular pattern of lagrimas, with notes of cherry, lemon and thyme . . . and a long finish.
Sara Mansfield Taber is a writer, editor and teacher who lives in Silver Spring.
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Shepherdstown, W.Va.: Where Do I Sign?
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"This chapter will help establish whether your attraction to small-town life is a mere passing fancy or the basis for a true commitment."
I come across the above sentence while browsing the stalls at the delightful Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown, W.Va., an idyllic exurb (pop. 1,158) 77 miles northwest of Washington. At the moment, I am trying to make a true commitment to small-town life and so do not appreciate having my impulsiveness called into question by a well-worn copy of something called "Moving to a Small Town." But the 1996 tome's authors, Wanda Urbanska and Frank Levering, also warn that newcomers who "vent your anger carelessly" are frowned upon by small-towners and occasionally ostracized, and so I am learning to unlearn my defensiveness.
I concede that my desire to pull up stakes and flee the Washington area for Shepherdstown may seem abrupt, an inordinate response to the scones and clotted cream that I've just had at Shaharazade's Exotic Tea Room, a few blocks down German Street. But wait: The salon and everything in it -- e.g., the ersatz Ali Baba throw pillows -- are now on the market for $75,000, a bargain when you consider that the price includes "all equipment inventory, business and good will."
Passing fancy? I think not.
Sure, Wanda and Frank might question my readiness to chuck it all for a tea shop and the uncomplicated life it promises, which hopefully in my case will include one of those Federal-style houses that pack this, the oldest town in West Virginia. But that's because their portrait of small-town life is desperately outmoded. Per their instructions, I've expected to meet "many people who are less cosmopolitan than those you hobnobbed with in the city," and yes, it's true that Shepherdstownfolk wear suspenders to community gatherings. However, the gatherings are not hoedowns but screenings of Ingmar Bergman's "Smiles of a Summer Night," and everyone is expected to have read the relevant Pauline Kael essay in advance.
"Note the sparse, pointed use of music that adds to the comedy," advises resident Bergman expert Elliot Kirschbaum, just before the lights go down and a hundred members of the Shepherdstown Film Society luxuriate in that rarest of artistic achievements, an ungloomy Bergman movie. The 1955 romantic roundelay zips by, and soon we're at the iconic climax, where a peasant rolls in the hay in front of a windmill, shouting, "There is no better life than this!"
As it happens, I will say the very same thing to myself the next morning over hubcap-size pancakes at Betty's, a few doors down from the living museum that is Lloyd's barber shop. The waitress at the counter is Judy Shepherd. Yep, you guessed it.
"I'm related to [Shepherdstown founder] Thomas Shepherd's younger brother Moses," she tells me, launching into a personal and public biography that ends long after the pancakes are gone, a story that winds its way through the restaurant ("Miss Betty ran it for 42 years, then Regina bought it") and finally comes to rest in Judy Shepherd's own 201-year-old home, the former residence of Harriet Lane, who, in addition to being President James Buchanan's niece, was also his "hostess while he was in the White House, because he was a bachelor, you know."
Wanda and Frank have cautioned me not to appear like "uppity malcontents" while nodding through extended monologues, but they needn't have bothered. Yes, Shepherd is excited about the town's Christmas parade and not above rhapsodizing about the mashed potatoes at Betty's, but she's just as jazzed about the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, which is about to give its inaugural performance at Shepherd University's Frank Arts Center.
Preconceptions have prepared me for Lloyd's barber shop, but not Rossini's "Barber of Seville," whose overture sings out from the stage that evening. It's a joyous, impudent laugh in the face of all those who equate small-town life with the simple life. I take a post-concert walk on a brisk spring evening under a West Virginia canopy of stars, at which point it occurs to me that to have a passing fancy for Shepherdstown is to have a passing fancy for life itself.
From there, it's just a short leap to dropping everything, just like the proprietors of the Thomas Shepherd Inn, Jim Ford and Jeanne Muir, who in 2002 surrendered city jobs and began running a B&B "before we got too old to carry laundry up and down the stairs." (That's Muir.) She shows me several of the inn's lovingly appointed rooms, pausing along the way to opine that this is "a very cosmopolitan small town." By now it's the tail end of the weekend, and I'm so absorbed in the ways and spaces of Shepherdstown that I receive this sentence without the slightest urge to snicker. Wanda and Frank would be proud:
"As a rule, small-towners are less ironic and cynical about their lives than their big-city cousins, and express greater enthusiasm and earnestness."
Earnestness is not something I've previously aspired to, but Shepherdstown makes it easy. Who wouldn't be earnest about watching "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" later that evening at the Shepherdstown Opera House (built in 1909), where they melt butter for the popcorn on a hot plate behind the counter? Or about the celebrated Contemporary American Theater Festival, which will bring crowds, not to mention brand-new works by Richard Dresser and Neil LaBute, to Shepherdstown this summer?
And what of O'Hurley's General Store? You think you've seen dozens of places like this before on the highway, stuffed with wooden toys and antique nails, all of them trading on nostalgia for a long-forgotten America. Jay Hurley himself puts it succinctly: "If it's in the 1902 Sears catalogue, I want to stock it."
But then he takes you out back to the workshop. There, in what looks like the decaying garage of an abandoned gas station, amid the clutter of sawdust and scrap metal, sits his pride and joy. Believe it or not, it's a half-finished homemade airplane; the aluminum gleams in the afternoon sunlight. I haven't a doubt in my mind that I'll soon be waving to Hurley from the tea shop as he tools over German Street, high above the rolling hills of a tiny town, well out of reach of the stereotypes.
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The small-town life of Shepherdstown, W.Va. draws visitors looking for an idyllic exurb escape.
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Senators Agree to Make Deal On Housing
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Under pressure from voters to address the nation's housing crisis, Senate Republicans agreed yesterday to work with Democrats on a compromise plan to stimulate sagging home sales and help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure.
The agreement calls for Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) and the committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Richard C. Shelby (Ala.), to lay out a bipartisan substitute today for a Democratic housing bill that is opposed by the Bush administration and was blocked in February by Senate Republicans.
Although the two sides had not agreed on the specifics of a compromise yesterday, both offered proposals that would strengthen truth-in-lending laws for the mortgage industry, provide counseling to homeowners facing foreclosure and help some borrowers refinance their homes.
The Senate had been scheduled to vote again yesterday on the existing Democratic bill, and Republican leaders were prepared to block it again. But senators returned from a two-week break marked by the government rescue of a major Wall Street investment bank and growing anxiety over the economy among their constituents, and some Republicans argued that it was time to start working together.
"Unless every member of the Senate was in a cave over the two-week recess, it's pretty obvious that gas prices and housing crisis are the two most important issues to the American public," said Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a former real estate broker who was among those urging Republican leaders to stop blocking the legislation. "You can play that game when it doesn't matter. But people's lives, their fortunes, their largest single asset is at stake."
"We don't want to sit on the sidelines," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.). The $30 billion rescue of investment bank Bear Stearns by the Federal Reserve Board in mid-March "got everybody's attention," he said.
Democratic leaders welcomed the agreement, saying it demonstrates the urgency of the economic difficulties that are forcing nearly 8,000 homeowners into foreclosure every day. And the Senate voted to ratify the deal, voting 94 to 1 to permit a debate on housing legislation. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) was the lone "no" vote.
"I am confident and very, very hopeful that this is going to be a breakthrough," Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), whose state has been among the hardest hit, said immediately after the vote. "The time has come for us to legislate, not continue our bickering."
It was unclear yesterday exactly what shape the compromise would take. Democrats are pressing to include the most contentious provision of their bill, to give bankruptcy judges the power to cut interest rates on troubled subprime mortgage loans written in recent years.
Under current law, bankruptcy judges are prohibited from modifying mortgages on a person's principal residence. President Bush and other Republicans say rewriting the bankruptcy code would prompt lenders to tighten their standards and raise interest rates. Several Republicans said they would continue to oppose the bill unless the bankruptcy provision is removed.
Democrats also hope to keep a proposal to provide $4 billion to communities to buy and redevelop properties in foreclosure. They say the money is needed to prop up neighborhoods hit hard by the housing crisis and prevent home values from spiraling further downward. The White House also opposes that provision, arguing that it would be too expensive and would bail out lenders and speculators but offer little help to struggling homeowners.
There are many areas of agreement between the two parties. Both want to provide up to $10 billion to finance tax-exempt bonds that could be used to refinance distressed subprime mortgages. Both sides want up to $200 million in additional spending for housing counselors to help troubled borrowers at risk of foreclosure.
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Under pressure from voters to address the nation's housing crisis, Senate Republicans agreed yesterday to work with Democrats on a compromise plan to stimulate sagging home sales and help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure.
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For Clinton, Simply Winning Pa. Isn't Enough
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With 19 days left before Pennsylvania Democrats (finally) go to the polls to pick between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, conventional wisdom says the contest is Clinton's to lose. BUT, "How big will she win?" and "What will it mean?" are questions of huge importance.
The Fix has been pondering those very questions and, through conversations with both neutral and aligned politicos, we've come to a conclusion: Clinton's margin of victory in Pennsylvania matters -- and it matters a lot. There are both symbolic and practical concerns tied to the percentage of her vote -- concerns that help explain why 59 percent would be a titanic victory and 52 percent could be labeled a loss.
Coming out of Feb. 5, the story line was that both Obama and Clinton essentially fought to a tie in the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses and the party was left without a clear favorite.
After that Obama won and won (and won) -- an eleven-contest streak that spanned the better part of a month. Obama's victories were clearly the driving force in changing the campaign's narrative, but it was the margins by which he won that made him seem invincible.
In Virginia's Feb. 12 primary, Obama won with 64 percent of the vote. The big wins continued: Wisconsin on Feb. 19 (58 percent) and Mississippi on March 11 (61 percent).
Those margins and the across-the-board demographic appeal that they revealed were the motor that powered the Obama surge.
Clinton's wins in Texas and Ohio have certainly helped her fend off the idea that she can never catch up and dismiss the argument that the longer she stays in the contest, the more she risks hamstringing the party in the fall. She has insisted that the race remains too close to call, and her campaign has pushed the idea that voters still have lingering questions about Obama -- particularly the working class voters that the party will need in order to win the White House in the fall.
Pennsylvania is filled with just such voters. For Clinton, a significant statewide margin (10 points or more) would likely reinforce the idea that Obama hasn't closed the sale with that swath of the electorate and would lead to more media examinations of whether Obama has problems connecting with working-class voters.
"I do think that if she were to blow him out and win 61-39 or 58-42, then it would again go to show that there is something going on in the whole country and with these working class voters we need in a general election," said one unaligned Democratic consultant who was worked on Pennsylvania races. "A blowout would continue to focus on that part of the deficiency of the likely candidate."
Howard Wolfson, communications director for the Clinton campaign, made a similar point when asked about what's at stake in Pennsylvania. "If Senator Obama loses another big state and fails again to close the deal with voters, it will raise serious questions about his ability to win in a general," Wolfson said.
When any candidate loses a race (or a state) badly, it inevitably causes some navel-gazing by the campaign professionals. Obama's campaign has largely avoided that sort of public fretting about its candidate, but if he falls short by a significant margin in Pennsylvania -- on the heels of a double digit loss in an Ohio -- it's almost certain that some within the campaign (or Obama surrogates around the country) will begin to ponder whether something is wrong with the message or the messenger.
That's never a positive development for a campaign (see Clinton, Hillary) and can lead to days if not weeks of coverage about where the candidate went wrong and how he can fix it.
The second, and far more obvious, reason that Clinton's margin in Pennsylvania matters is the raw reality that she currently trails by significant margins in the pledged delegate count and the popular vote.
Even the most loyal of Clinton backers privately acknowledge that unless she trims Obama's leads in the popular vote and the delegate count by the end of the process on June 3, it will be a very difficult to argue that the race remains up in the air.
Given the size of Pennsylvania's electorate -- there are more than four million registered Democrats -- and its large delegate trove (158), the Keystone State represents Clinton's best chance to make up considerable ground on Obama.
Remember, however, that Democrats award delegates proportionally based both on a candidate's showing in each congressional district as well as his/her performance statewide. That formula makes it far more difficult, though not impossible, for Clinton to accrue a lot of pledged delegates in Pennsylvania.
What the Clinton campaign must hope is that they can keep down Obama's margins in the congressional districts in and around Philadelphia, where he is expected to do well. At the same time, the Clinton camp hopes to run up big margins in western Pennsylvania and the geographic "T" that lies between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Obama backers, knowing that the math works in their favor, seem content to fight Clinton to a delegate draw in the state -- even if that means their candidate winds up losing the overall vote.
Josh Shapiro, a state representative from the Philadelphia area who backs Obama, summed up the campaign's position succinctly. While not admitting defeat, Shapiro said: "You can argue percentages, you can argue electoral college, [but] at the end of the day it comes down to delegates. Either one of them is going to walk out of Pennsylvania with a small net gain of delegates."
As the Obama team knows well, no news (or minor news) is good news for the frontrunner. Or, as one unaffiliated Democratic consultant familiar with Pennsylvania politics put it: "Minus a knockout, it's just another round in a fight."
Polling in the race shows the possibility of a double-digit win for Clinton, but the surveys also seems to reveal a bit of Obama momentum in the state.
A new Quinnipiac University survey pegs Clinton's lead at nine -- 50 percent to 41 percent -- down from a twelve-point bulge in a similar survey done in the middle of March. An average of all recent Pennsylvania polling -- as shown by Pollster.com -- shows Clinton with a 51.4 percent to 40.2 percent lead in the state.
All of which to say is that a big win -- in terms of the popular vote and the delegate count -- is possible if not probable for Clinton at the moment. Clinton has shown an ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat before (New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas), but can she do it one more time?
By Chris Cillizza | April 2, 2008; 10:41 AM ET | Category: Eye on 2008 Previous: Clinton Campaign Manager Invokes Florida Recount | Next: GOP Weighs Calendar Changes for 2012
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There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania but 40% of the electorate live in only five: Philadelphia and it's collar counties of Bucks, Montgomrey, Delaware, and Chester. Win Philly big and you win. You think Ed Rendell got elected by winning the "T?"
If Hillary Clinton wants to go after the "T" fine by me; No Dem will carry it in November anyway. The national media loves to paint PA as Ohio with cheesesteaks. PA has it's share of lower middle class voters - it certainly has it's share of older voters - but we are NOT Ohio. We are not mid-westerners. We have "attytood."
Posted by: danieldeagler | April 5, 2008 4:38 PM
How can you count popular vote when ten of the contests were caucuses? This is like comparing apple and oranges. If you extrapolate the results of the caucuses to states that had primaries of similar size (delegate allocation) Obama's popular vote lead grows by 800,000 which would make his lead 1.5 million. This is why the only way to determine the winner is- by pledged delegates.
Posted by: lacsr | April 3, 2008 9:42 PM
"After all, the previous generations have done such a horrible job of it, it's time to move over. We'll drive now." said topwriter
As someone who played an integral role in the Colorado student GOTV for John Kerry I have to point out that it was the GenY voters I contacted in Denver who refused to turn out even knowing all of Ws bad policies in Iraq and for their generation so boomers won t be blamed for your generation s refusal to participate. We gave you the keys to the car and you opened the door and left and that was why we had 4 more years of W0. We tried but GenY said it was just not that impt;that was what college students at Denver s Aurora campus told me.
Posted by: leichtman | April 3, 2008 9:53 AM
Hillary won the Rush Limbo vote.
Doesn't that count for anything?
Posted by: grandstreetfund | April 3, 2008 8:50 AM
Do you seriously think New York or Massachusetts are going to vote Republican? That's about as realistic as claiming Obama could win Nebraska based on his win there.
Oh, and Obama has won exactly 0 Electoral College votes. As has Hillary. As has McCain.
Posted by: FairlingtonBlade | April 3, 2008 7:52 AM
Senator Clinton has earned more Electoral College votes than Obama. So, no doubt Clinton will definitely be a better candidate to defeat Senator McCain in the general election. [...] Clinton wins!
Posted by: YesWeCanForFREE | April 2, 2008 11:30 AM
I know! And to think some Democrats want to pick Obama and lose New York, Massachusetts and California in the general election, when they could run Hillary and win Arizona like she did in the primary.
Posted by: light_bearer | April 3, 2008 7:26 AM
Senator Clinton has earned more Electoral College votes than Obama. So, no doubt Clinton will definitely be a better candidate to defeat Senator McCain in the general election. [...] Clinton wins!
Posted by: YesWeCanForFREE | April 2, 2008 11:30 AM
I know! And to think some Democrats want to pick Obama and lose New York, Massachusetts and California in the general election, when they could run Hillary and win Arizona like she did in the primary.
Posted by: light_bearer | April 3, 2008 6:44 AM
Thanks for your comment. I agree with you strongly that the results of a caucus are important. These indicate enthusiasm for a candidate-which is important for assessing strength of support. Although Texas has an odd method for apportioning votes, it was a draw in the end.
The early poster claimed that Chris was in the bag for a particular candidate. I find that offensive. He's an interesting writer, far more so than I. (Well, except for magnetic resonance spectroscopy, organic electronics, and Sheffield United--Up The Blades!!!). Said individual has the right to post idiotic comments on the blog. I have the right to note correctly that such comments are idiotic. You have the right to note incorrectly that I'm out of line.
Posted by: FairlingtonBlade | April 2, 2008 11:29 PM
Sorry, you Obama supporters who are so confident your candidate will get the nomination, stop and think again. Hillary did not win in double digits in Ohio because Republicans voted for her. She won in double digits because Ohio has been one of the harder hit states in the nation and Hillary appeals to those who are stuggling economically because she has something to offer them. Barack is all words with no experience or voting record to back him up. My husband who has been a union member for almost 30 years and a Hillary supporter predicted that when the union leaders backed Obama it would backfire against Obama because the rank and file union members rarely listen to their leaders particularly when it's the rank and file members who are suffering economically. In Texas, the Latinos supported Clinton big. The Latinos love the Clintons - much more so than Ted Kennedy - who simply doesn't carry the clout that he once had. Of course we all know that Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and Duval Patrick all helped Obama in their home state of Massachusetts probably to solidly lose it. This is a message to you Obama supporters. Have you ever heard about burnning your bridges? When you insult and personally attack our candidate and her family and personally attack her supporters, you do great harm to your candidate and certainly don't stay on message with your leader's campaign about bringing Americans together. You make yourselves and your candidate by extension look like hypocrites. If your candidate does get the nomination; it's the women who are older, the working class people, the Catholics, the Jewish people, the Latinos, who are going to have to support him for him to beat McCain. He cannot win a general election without the support of those groups. So far Senator Obama's wife, his former pastor, his current spiritual adviser, some of his surrogates, and some of his supporters need to get on message with what he's preaching or there wll be a landslide come November but not for Obama.
Posted by: catjohn1 | April 2, 2008 10:11 PM
mnteng: We are on the same page pointing out the many things that are TRUE. I have been involved in politics for some 60 years and I can think of a few times where some folks were fooled for a time, by the "Far Left Wing" of the Dem party by the likes of McCarthy and Dukakis [spelling] for example, and yet cannot understand how much it has actually hurt the normal "Joe Six-Pack" folks. These "Far Left Wing" "Nuts", as I sometimes refer to them, are for the most part the "Elite" of this country that have wealth in their family going back hundreds of years, been given the best education their money can buy, by these same "Nuts" that are so prevalent in our higher education system. This does not apply to most of these folks, but for those that it does, their enormous influence cannot be denied in the "Idiot-Ology" thinking of so many.
Posted by: lylepink | April 2, 2008 10:06 PM
brewstercounty, are you in Alpine, TX?
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 2, 2008 9:06 PM
(CHEYENNE, Wyo.) -- Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a former Clinton administration appointee, announced Wednesday that he will support Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Freudenthal said he was impressed by the large, enthusiastic crowds that turned out to see Obama when he visited Wyoming ahead of last month's caucuses.
Posted by: jellybean1 | April 2, 2008 8:52 PM
Hillary Clinton holds a nine-point lead in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. But it is the survey's general election numbers from three key swing states that may do more to bolster the New York senator's campaign.
In hypothetical match-ups with presumptive GOP nominee John McCain, Clinton outperformed Barack Obama in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In each of these states, Clinton is propelled by solid support among female voters, and Democrats -- particularly white Democrats -- in all three are less likely to defect to McCain with Clinton atop the Democratic ticket.
Overall, Clinton is up nine points over McCain in Ohio, while Obama runs about evenly with the Arizona senator. Clinton also has a more sizable edge in Pennsylvania and is competitive in Florida, a state where McCain is up nine points on Obama in the new poll.
Polling about November in the midst of a hotly contested primary contest is a perilous enterprise, but a Clinton campaign eager to sway superdelegates is sure to latch onto the new data. And the crosstabs do reveal some early obstacles for Obama.
About one in five Democrats in each of these three states said he or she would support McCain if Obama were the Democratic nominee; that is about double the proportion who would vote for the Republican against Clinton. And Clinton outpaces Obama among white women by double-digits in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania alike.
From the Wash Post Trail Today Good Night to all..please try to keep all that nervous energy under wraps all you Obama supporters...
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 8:50 PM
"Eight years should suffice for this task. "
That statement is about as egocentric as Obama's tenor.
"I believe Obama has begun a great unification of spirit. Sure, haters, perhaps yourself included, will lend a cynical voice to the debate, even declaring his effort a failure before it has begun, but good will prevail, don't you worry,
Here's another really outlandish statement. I didn't join the hate-wagon, and I certainly wouldn't vote for someone who organized one. That does not put me on the same caliber as someone who builds a campaign out of hate. The logic is faulty.
"Obama crushes in November, says one who's feeling like that Christian with four aces..."
This is very scary statement.
"Oh, and by the way, you're comment is not much different than, say, a bullies, who punched his teacher and stated that 'she'd failed to keep him in line,' and should be punished for as much."
This is the most twisted statement yet. Between us there's only one bully here.
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 8:38 PM
Eriks you have to realize you're speaking to a broad swathe here...and honestly I identified you by your conversational style, as perhaps someone who....was or had been a member of....
Street gangs can identify through various verbalizations, for example, the "Bloods" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_signal
Blood in, Blood out.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_gang
"Blood" is often used to reference a commonality among the "brothers."
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 8:20 PM
Whole election process has been unfair for Obama. If Obama were same position as Hillary democrats would have forced him quit. It is Clinton machine, their desparation, argument for new rules as the situation changes, the hangover of old whitehouse occupancy making this whole process very complecated and been dragged beyond the reason. I can see clearly it the Clinton campaign who have been source of propoganda and distraction from issue all the time. When Obama himself made such a tough journey in his life why he would not be popular among the working American. For me he is real inspirational and hope for poor, disadvantaged Americans. It must give them hope, if he can solve so many problems and still get ahead in life every american can do it themselves. He gas got more respectand hearts for blue colar workers than Hillary whether it is white or black. If people think carefuly he is a hope not only for ordinary workers every american even for rest of the world.
Posted by: yadisharma | April 2, 2008 7:58 PM
I'm relieved to hear that the culprit was a republican and not a democrat. It figures. Now if an Obama precinct cpt did that to you, you'd have a point against the Obama campaign. Barring that, your justification is weak. Do you want us to judge the Clinton campaign by the lowest character that has ever been associated with it?
The fact that nasty things happen in campaigns does not justify campaign leaders to resort to gutter politics.
As to Clinton's support on NAFTA, she supported it, as proven by her records as a first lady.
Posted by: urban4 | April 2, 2008 7:54 PM
Senator Clinton will come from behind and win the nomination. She is a once in a lifetime candidate and will prove it this way. Then the white haired men's political club will have to let her in. And there will be a few whose hair will turn white overnite.
Hah. From a 60 year old man supporting Hillary.
Posted by: brewstercounty | April 2, 2008 7:46 PM
I think a more likely scenario is:
State - HC/BO PA 55-45 IN 52-48 WV 60-40 OR 45-55 SD 42-58 Guam 50-50 NC 40-60 KY 65-35 MON 42-58 PR 60-40
To get to 2024 HRC would need 75% of the remaining "automatic" delegates
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 7:46 PM
You are very generous. The Clinton campaign probably has as much justification to stay in the race as Huckabee had after Super Tuesday. If only they were as respectful of Obama as Huckabee was of McCain. There would be no problem at all with her staying on to the last state.
Posted by: urban4 | April 2, 2008 7:39 PM
urban: the sign is totally irrelevant. The neighbors in my upscale neighborhood is a 35 year old pilot who is a Republican and should know better. He put his Obama sign right behind my torn up sign how childish life is too short for such nonsense. Its that behavior by SOME of his supporters that really amazes me as though that somehow would make me more inclined to support Sen Obama.
Calling Richardson a liar and Shame on You Sen Obama for dispensing flyers which incorrectly portrayed HC's position on NAFTA you call nasty. Obviously you have more than that b/c in comparison to any other Presidential campaign those comments were very very mild and polite in a campaign, respectfully.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 7:39 PM
I know the HRC supporters dislike math.
But let's play this out with a quite favorable break to HRC
State - HC/BO PA 60-40 IN 55-45 WV 60-40 OR 45-55 SD 45-55 Guam 50-50 NC 45-55 KY 70-30 MON 45-55 PR 60-40
So has she made up the deficit? Nope. Has she halved the deficit? Not even.
All that happens she STILL needs a 67%-33% break in the remaining superdelegates.
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 7:31 PM
It doesn't matter who one Texas. Texas hasn't gone Democrat in a general election since the '60's and it's not about to go Democrat this election. It's red and it will stay red no matter who "won" the Democratic primary.
The Clinton campaign holds up Texas like it's some sort of trophy they can carry into November when no one, in their right minds, considers Texas to even be close to a "battleground" state.
What IS a battleground state? North Carolina, for one. A state that was close to going Democratic the last election and with Obama as the nominee WILL go Democratic this election.
And Ohio? Yes, another battleground state so close Kerry smelled the inaugural roses but who stands a better chance of defeating McCain there? Polls show Obama -Clinton's negatives would drive many Democratic voters to stay home and independents to vote for McCain.
So let's keep our eyes on the big ball here, shall we? The General Election; not a primary win in a state that wont go blue unless you strangle the states voters.
And let's also not lose sight of THE major reason voter turn-out for a primary has hit record highs. It's because there's somebody new saying something that resonates to a whole lot of people in a way and with a conviction and passion many who will be voting for the first time have never witnessed.
Richardson is right; it's time for a new generation. After all, the previous generations have done such a horrible job of it, it's time to move over. We'll drive now.
Posted by: topwriter | April 2, 2008 7:20 PM
I say: first of all, thanks for a balanced post. I don't think you're being biased at all, and am also tired of reading the bashing such posting litanies of grievenced having nothing to do with the WaPo article.
Responding to your point: Yes, Hillary won the Texas primary by just over 100,000 votes. But, don't forget Obama won the TX million person caucus by over 10%. I don't think it's clear at all who got more of the popular vote from Texas (unless we ignore caucuses).
Posted by: mrmatttt | April 2, 2008 12:01 PM
Dumbest post of the day by a not insane person. We know that Hillary one the popular vote. Why - Because you had to vote in the primary to vote in the Caucus. The same people voting twice does not count as two voters. Hillary won by 3 percent thats it.
Ok cultist you said Obama one Texas before the vote was over. It is still not over but yes Obama is probably get the Dels. The will not have the final final count until June.
Posted by: mul | April 2, 2008 7:17 PM
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 7:15 PM
"Its about a 20 year relationship.Its about Obama choosing Wright to be his 'Spritual Advisor'. It's about Obama's lies. Its about Obama talking out of both sides of his mouth."
I've quoted you accurately, but for reasons of space I condensed your material into prose. (What's with the dramatic line-ends? It doesn't make your argument more effective.)
Anyway, let's assume there was something more lame than continually again and again returning to the Rev. Wright affair, last known to be circulating endlessly in Sean Hannity's nasty corner of the Fox Newsopia in which you've clearly been trapped.
Oh, liberate yourself brother or sister.
There is nothing so surprising about someone going to a church where the minister says things that are weird or offensive. More importantly, in this country we judge people by what they themselves say and do. There's no words for the contempt I feel for those people who keep returning to this issue: you need to get over it: no one, absolutely no one, has ever claimed Senator Obama has kinds of radical views Rev. Wright (in one minute out of twenty years) expressed.
Posted by: wilson.topher | April 2, 2008 7:11 PM
I'm sorry about your yard sign. That behavior is certainly unacceptable. These youngsters (I assume they were) will need to be taught how to express political opposition with respect.
My point is though that the Clinton campaign has not shown good example of a respectful conduct. Bill Clinton is calling Richardson a liar. Hillary gives a "Shame on you" speech. Do I need to go on? This is what the young people see playing out in the TV/Youtube.
Posted by: urban4 | April 2, 2008 7:10 PM
Bill Clinton said it would be nice to have two people who loved America in the race.
Here's BHO's resume: 1) stopped wearing american flag lapel pin as US Senator, stating it was 'false patriotism' 2) chooses to leave islam to worship with Rev Wright for 18 yrs, who encourages congregation to sing "g-d d-amn america' 3) Ivy league wife of ivy league senator BHO gets a $200000 raise the day he is elected to the senate as a 'community outreach' officer for a Chicago Hospital. When her hubby wins the Iowa primary, she states she is proud of America for the first time in her life.
So it appears BC was right this time. BHO is 'typical affirmative action' empty suit with a major chip on shoulder.
Posted by: rahaha | April 2, 2008 7:09 PM
harry I have focussed on their differences, its called their policy positions on healthcare and the economy policies which are primary for me. Personally I wouldn't even consider a Texas state senator who has served in the US Senate for less than 3 years as anywhere near the qualifications to be Pres. Most of his elected experience as you say has been in the Illinois State Senate. Lets replace Sen Obama with your local State Senator who defeated a very weak opponent in his run for US Senate and then ran for Pres. I see his qualifications as woefully lacking but at least you can agree to disagree. You don't think being first lady to a governor and a 2 term succesful President as any big deal, that is fine. Robt Byrd has labeled HC as one of the most knowledgeable and effective US Senators. Unless I have missed something I have yet to hear that comment from any of Sen Obama's colleagues; even those who have endorsed him. And Harry I have read both of Sen Obama's books which were impressive, read his healthcare plan and attended his early UT speech last year. Can an Obama supporter say they have done the same for HC? I just came to a different conclusion for which I have been constantly attacked here.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 7:01 PM
Yes, add Senior citizens...to Hill's list.. One more demo Obama doesn't own.
No one is talking about Iowa, Students crossing the boarder put him over the top. You can't do that in the General Election..
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 6:57 PM
If it sounded like I was disagreeing with you, that is not the case at all. Certainly, BHO will get a big split in delegates from CDs 1 and 2, which are heavily African-American. Not only that, due to the apportioning of delegates based on historic (D) voting, those districts will have 7 and 9 delegates, respectively, up for grabs. I just think it will be very difficult for HRC to make serious inroads on the delegate count in PA, though she should do well in the popular vote.
I'm with you on the bi-racial thing. As an Asian-American, nothing irks me more than people calling Tiger Woods an African-American -- his mom's Thai, for goodness sakes! Tiger's our boy, dang it. :)
Posted by: mnteng | April 2, 2008 6:55 PM
Please note that Obama, not Clinton, actually won Texas.
Clinton supporters are trying to rewrite the rules and the definition of what exactly "win" means, but by the rules that both Obama and Clinton agreed to at the start of this contest, Obama has won.
Posted by: hauntmeister | April 2, 2008 6:54 PM
Dr.you aren't subtle and you're also not very factual. Hillary beat Obama on every major demographic except Black Americans and men.
What's worse is his cross-over Republican votes are premised on hatred for another person. It has all gone to his head and he's now talking about creating an new electorate partially based on hatred.
While Hillary's constituents consist of working men and women, Aisian, Jew, Latino, his contains a broad swathe of hate voters crossing over to help Republicans in NOV.
Though we know hatred is powerful, that's the type of politics we should want to run from, not embrace.
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 6:53 PM
Hillary only leads in one demographic: Seniors.
If they ever start to feel that Obama won't cut their social security, then she's a goner.
Posted by: jabailo | April 2, 2008 6:50 PM
I, for one, respect your opinion.
I disagree because I don't see Hillary's qualifications as any better. He's had about 8 years in elective office to her about 6. He's worked in the poorest parts of Chicago making a real difference instead of going for the big bucks American dream. She's basically had the pampered upper class upbringing (Wellesley, etc.) Her tea parties abroad don't really count as Presidential experience.
What really matters is what qualities the candidate brings to office, which include many more than commander-in-chief.
We can disagree on what those qualities should be and who has them. However, I strongly disagree with your "experience" argument. IMO, you should focus on what's really different and important in the persons running.
Posted by: harry4 | April 2, 2008 6:48 PM
you seem likable enough for a repulsive scammer...
"vileness," here today, is repulsive scammer based....
it's what they do. People that don't lie for a living, think it has something to do with being a bad person...it's their lifestyle...
crab grass doen't have morals or scruples, termites and roaches are just insects that are in the wrong place...
republicans are a diseased tribe, cut them out of the herd...
banish them for a generation or two, take their money and influence away, give them resumes with the words TRAITOR marked on them, and let them hunt for work...
Jail the KAGANS, RICHARD PERLE, PAUL WOLFOWITZ, NEGROPONTE, PORTER GOSS, Douglas Feith, Dich Cheenie, Donald Dumbsfeld, James Baker III...and others...
keep AMERICAN free from DISINFORMATION...it's fraud in the real world.
during the 1972 McGovern Nixon challenge, McGovern was considered the stronger challenger
and so the repulisive scammers used character assassination to defeat McGovern, much as you see Hillary being attacked now... with the same illogic, spin and innuendo...
Hubert Humphrey was put forward as "the more reasonable," what they really meant was Hubert was the "more defeatable,"
Obama _i_s_ the weaker candidate.
SEARCH on 1972 KARL ROVE, McGovern.
Plus for every degree of anger between people voting for either Hillary or Obama the repulsive scammers can count on a swing vote or a non vote if their candidate doesn't get nominated.
I would say that about 40 PERCENT of the VILENESS and INNUENDO from posters here is repulsive scammer based.
I recognize a lot of the posters as being repulsive scammers, you can tell from their mode of attack....
it's usually spin and "appeal to emotion," very little logic
just name calling and playground tactics...slime, innuendo, impugning character,
EXAMPLES: purple lips, ankleless Annie
it's what they do. They have been doing it here at the Washington Post, for the last 4 years....same tactics, different purpose...they defended bush with these tactics...
called people, liberals, unpatriotic, homosexuah lovahs, negrah lovahs, injun lovahs, laboruhs, wimmens libbuhs, yankee doodle dandees 'en sech...
_they_ defended bush with these tactics... as bushCO and CRONY _supporters_
just because george w. is going doesn't mean bushCO and CRONYs disappears....or loses any money...
wake up little hosers !!!!
Posted by: a_bigone | April 2, 2008 6:45 PM
"leichtman: I was there you were not: Well I am here and Texas is Obama country and you know it."
excuse me I am a native Texan and UT graduate and was Harris Cty pct secy, so who the heck do you think you are? Fine Obama wins 47% of Texas voters and we are Obama country and Obama will win Pa. Day is night, night is day, with Obamaspeak, whatever makes you guys happy; you are likely GenY so you must be right no one knows anything but you.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 6:45 PM
the bama don't know about the past...
he doing the Pee Wee
Posted by: a_bigone | April 2, 2008 6:43 PM
UGH. Pinning this election on the blue collar/working class voter makes me sick. When Hillary wins PA, guess who Obama supporters are going to blame?
When McCain wins in November, guess who is going to be blamed?
The working class voters of PA and Ohio for voting for Hillary and not "electable" Obama.
Thanks WaPo and other pundits. As if the working class doesn't crapped on enough by the upper classes, now we're going to shoulder the blame for the 2008 election.
Posted by: Tirade1 | April 2, 2008 6:43 PM
Taylor the Texan: You guys are so sad to be democrat down there. When was the last time a democrat won GE in Texas?
Please do not type when asleep and move north to be happier!
Posted by: work2play | April 2, 2008 6:42 PM
I think for a black man with republican backing
I don't think he would be a contestant if it weren't for the fact that
people are so easily confused...
80 PERCENT of the servicemen and women in IRAQ that were interviewed by the Wall Street Journal a year after the invasion of IRAQ
believed that IRAQ had blown up the WTC....
Bush, Rice, Cheney, Rumsfeld and others saying the words...
Iraq, WTC, terrorists....as a word group created the illusion that the IRAQI's were
you gomers are falling for it about "the Clintons,"
how's your country doing ???
Greenspan called Bill Clinton the best President that the ECONOMY HAD EVER SEEN...
but you short attention spanned, soundbiters
who are so easily led,
you, are going to institute change ????
I think the change you need ot have occur is the abiltiy to tell the difference between schiess and shinola
'cause right now, you're schiess walking 'n talking schiess too...
let's put things in perspective here...
COMMONLY known as an OCCUPATION....by anyone that knows enough to unzip before they try to take a leak....supposing that the ladies are wearing pants too....
$720 MILLION A DAY....to war profiteers.
but that's "the past," it doesn't matter...
nor does the bush family history since the late 1800's of war profiteering and nation breaking or collusion with the nazis...
SEARCH on BUSH CRIME FAMILY, NAZIS, Dulles, Prescott Bush
SEARCH on Douglas Feith, Richard Perle, Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Kagans, PNAC, JINSA
get to know your right wing conservatives.
Posted by: a_bigone | April 2, 2008 6:41 PM
ruleitang wrote, "all those Obama support is just college kids, very naive."
That is a moronic and "hillarious" statement. Look at the polls and the votes cast so far: Obama beat Hillary among every category except older men and women and blue collar workers. That leaves out lot more kinds of people than just college kids.
You may want to concentrate on saving Hillary from all the imaginary sniper fire she faces during her trips abroad. It's too late to save her from defeat here in USA.
Posted by: DrSubtle | April 2, 2008 6:39 PM
One of two things is likely to happen from now until June 3. A third thing is unlikely to happen. The three scenarios in order of probability are as follows.
Scenario 1: HRC & BHO split the remaining contests roughly evenly. Obama then just get about 60 of the today's remaining 300+ superdelegates to win. Sounds rather easy.
Scenario 2: BHO comes close to a win in PA (or wins -- unlikely but possible). Due to momentum change, he rolls up larger than expected victories in remaining contests and gets 55% or remaining pledged delegates. He then has (or nearly has) the nomination.
Scenario 3: Something happens that makes Obama appear to be totally unelectable. Hillary gets overwhelming victories in the contests that are left, and lots of superdelegates come to and switch to her. Of course, such an event is about a probable as a tsunami in Kansas but not completely impossible.
Given the amount of time that the Clinton campaign and all of the Clintonistas out there have been digging for dirt on Obama, I really doubt that this scenario will come from the Clinton campaign. Obama will have to provide it. What are the odds of that?
Posted by: harry4 | April 2, 2008 6:39 PM
Actually a 10% spread in Pa would mean that Clinton support had deteriorated from Ohio.
Since PA is a registered democrats only primary the oranges to oranges comparison is her support among registered democrats in OH, which was about 14% according to exit polls.
So the proper number to compare her performance in PA to OH is a 14 point spread.
Posted by: clh1 | April 2, 2008 6:37 PM
leichtman: I was there you were not: Well I am here and Texas is Obama country and you know it. I was born and raised in Texas and Texans will never let one ethnic group claim superiority in this race,i.e., Hillary's race-baiting with the Hispanics over Blacks. And what makes you think White people in Texas will sell their souls to say Hispanics in Texas or anywhere else should be the deciding factor in who is our next President. The mixture of Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, old, young, poor and rich will deliver Texas in the General Election for Obama. Stop the madness and "silly-season" in your quest to be "right". Trying to change the rules, will not work now just like it didn't work in Texas. Obama Won Texas! And PA will not be sweet either for Hillary because "white, blue collar workers" should be offended and tired of being labeled as the no-thinking, underclass that has to be led around by Clintonites.
Posted by: ctaylor | April 2, 2008 6:36 PM
The new polling data will be a call to arms for all Clinton supporters and all those who do not want Rezkos to run the country.
Posted by: work2play | April 2, 2008 6:32 PM
Obama support is just too childish, Obama is just a cheer leader type, you feel good at the moment, then when you goes back, what he really means, you just do not recall.
change, change what, can some Obama support tell me? what his proposal different?
Posted by: ruleitang | April 2, 2008 6:32 PM
Everytime I hear an Obama supporter talk about how "he takes the high road" it makes me want to vomit.
Obama's run a very dirty campaign.
Here's a time-line of some of his attacks.
Posted by: svreader | April 2, 2008 6:30 PM
mnteng: I am in WV, and you in Pa. confirms my assertions about how the Delegates are apportioned. Philadelphia would appear to be the strongest for Obama, based on the high amount of Black voters there as to the rest of the state. My thoughts are pretty well spelled out in my Post you refererence. This again confirms my thoughts about the Black vote going about 90% to Obama simply because of his claiming to be Black, when in FACT he is Bi-Racial. Someone mentioned the district that was represented by Congresswoman Tubbs, a Hillary supporter, went something like 90% of Black votes for Obama, as is being reported all over the country. This is something that will effect the vote in Nov. should Obama be the nominee, and IMHO, will almost surely guarantee McCain a victory in the GE. I can see no way {ZERO] Obama can win in 08.
Posted by: lylepink | April 2, 2008 6:29 PM
I didn't think Eriks was using the term to mean Clinton representing the old Washington politics, because in fact, as has been stated a zillion times by the press, at least they acknowledge that, in fact many of their policies are the same.
So, what's old? Therefore, I thought he might be referring to something else. He's not talking about political tactics, I think the Obama camp has been equal to the task of old style dirty politiking....
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 6:28 PM
all those Obama support is just college kids, very naive
they do not understand, you need to be practical.
all those wins in small states in useless
coming November, general election, winner take all!!!
if Mac win Penn, Ohio, and Florida, there will be nothing can change the outcome.
South Dakota, come on, is there any chance, Demo can win that state?
Obama will be doomed, and those college kids will be heart broken again
Posted by: ruleitang | April 2, 2008 6:27 PM
Posted by: dsOhio | April 2, 2008 6:27 PM
Don't count your chickens before they come home to roost.
The longer the race goes, the more people find out what kind of a guy he really is, and the less they'll want to vote for him.
His Teflon is turning to rust.
Posted by: svreader | April 2, 2008 6:27 PM
On the other hand, Penn and Co would benefit if Clinton won the nomination. He'll be able to dispense his customary brilliant advice throughout the general election.
Posted by: urban4 | April 2, 2008 6:26 PM
urbn I have had my HC signs on my front yard torn up and seen HC caucus goers spit on, childish behavior beyond the pale. I don't hold that against Sen Obama, I just find many of his supporters to be immature. I respect Sen. Obama and personally will never speak ill of him even though I do not want him as my president because I disagree with his policy positions and find him woefully unqualified. I have posted that before and had those comments tarred as hateful; who cares.
If Bill Rchardson, my initial selction before John Edwards told Bill Clinton he would stand on the sidelines, then he lied to the president and Carvell was asbolutely correct in what he said. Harold Ickes told superdelegates that they should consider Sen Obama's allegiance to Rev Wright and how that would effect Sen Obama in a general election. Is that too impermissable; do you think the 527s will listen to you when they use it in a general election? Just don't see my comments why I oppose Sen Obama nor Carvell's as hate speech which you characterize it as.
I have struggled to be even handed here but that doesn't mean that I should quietly accept personal insults or attacks when I stand up for my candidate or correct incorrect misinformation by your supporters. We are all not minions here. The election is not supposed to be about me or you, but who is best qualified to clean up 7 years of the Bush mess. I disagree but respect your choice, I doubt there is an Obama supporter here that would say that to me b/c they are convinced that anyone who does not agree with them "should just leave the party, don't let the door hit you" I believe was the comment. Do you approve of those comments or think it is in your candidate's best political interest?
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 6:25 PM
PERSONALLY I HAVE BEEN SO DISGUSTED WITH O'S HIDING BEHIND RACE THAT I'VE BEEN OVER HIM FOR AWHILE. AS A GAY MAN THERE IS NO WAY I CAN HOLD MY NOSE AND VOTE FOR HIM IN THE GENERAL. HE HASN'T EVEN BOTHERED TO DENOUNCE THIS GUY OPENLY AND FORCEFULLY. AND HE WON'T BECAUSE MOST BLACKS FEEL THE SAME WAY AS MEEKS (I'M BLACK AND GAY SO DON'T START.).WHERE IS THE MEDIA OUTRAGE? WHEN MORE GAYS REALIZE WHAT'S UP ALOT OF THAT GAY MONEY IS GOING TO DRY UP. AND WHY IS IT THAT NO MATTER WHAT HRC DOES THE GOALPOSTS JUST KEEP MOVING. THE O'S ALWAYS SAY THAT'S WHAT HRC DOES BUT I'M SEEING IT JUST AS MUCH IF NOT MORE ON THE O/MEDIA SIDE. SHE COULD WIN 80% IN PA AND THE MEDIA WOULD SAY THAT WAS ALWAYS HERS TO LOSE. IF O LOSES BY 15% THE MEDIA WILL SAY HE REALLY CLOSED THE GAP SO IT'S A VICTORY. WEIRD.
Posted by: dwashington314 | April 2, 2008 6:25 PM
margaret-wooten writes "Keeping alive the myth that white blue collar voters won't vote for a black guy"
That was the word in WI & Hillary DOMINATED there. She held Obama to only a 17 point margin of victory. That was her best state in the 11 game losing streak.
Posted by: bsimon | April 2, 2008 6:25 PM
Lisa, this seems a plausible theory, but I don't think it is true. She has about $30 M set aside for the general election. If she suspends her campaign, she'll be able to use those funds to cover debts from the primary.
My theory is that Clinton has developed a clientele that has waited for 8 years to grab power and start milking it. Now the dream is slipping away.
Posted by: urban4 | April 2, 2008 6:22 PM
democratic is just not very smart
why they not use the general election formula to choose a candidate, all those rules is just silly
like Clinton win in Texas, Obama ahead with delegate
does they understand, eventually the guy in the white house, need to go through the general election process
Winner take all of the delegate, otherwise all those big swing states will seal the fate
Democratic is just not think straight sometimes, I like Clinton, but seems I need to support Mac now
Posted by: ruleitang | April 2, 2008 6:21 PM
Posted by: parancibia | April 2, 2008 6:21 PM
Is that large Limbaugh Republican crossover vote for Hillary being counted in her Texas and Ohio popular vote victories?
Why is the New Hampshire victory stated as a big win? Wasn't it about 4%?
Encouraging Hillary to stretch this out till we all snap?
Keeping alive the myth that white blue collar voters won't vote for a black guy, no matter how competent, smart and invested in the working man's plight he is?
Obama will win in Penn. Watch.
Posted by: margaret-wooten | April 2, 2008 6:18 PM
Already been posted, but apparently can't be said enough -- Clinton DIDN'T win in Texas. Jeez ... but I love the raised expectations Mrs. Clinton has created for PA -- as Sen. Obama has closed (one poll has him 2 pts up, another just 5 pts. behind) her "need" to have a blowout may help to put this race to bed.
Posted by: Omyobama | April 2, 2008 6:17 PM
It's delegate count that determines WIN. Not wordplay. Or wishful thinking.
Thanks much. HLB, Mt. Lebanon PA
Posted by: HLBeckPE | April 2, 2008 6:17 PM
Obama supporters are in denial.
They just don't "get it"
The fact that Obama allied himself with someone who spouts anti-white, anti-semitic, and anti-American rhetoric is a "deal breaker"
Its the number #1 topic of water cooler conversation around the country.
Most "Typical White People" had no idea that stuff like this has been going on.
People are really, really, angry about it.
Obama's supporters try to spin it into being about a single sermon.
Its about a 20 year relationship.
Its about Obama choosing Wright to be his "Spritual Advisor"
Its about Obama talking out of both sides of his mouth.
Obama presented himself as a paragon of virtue and someone on a higher ethical plane than other candidates.
He's repeatedly shown through his actions that he isn't.
He's like a human chameleon.
He turns into a completely different person depending on what group of people he's with.
He's lied to us and fooled us over and over.
America doesn't trust him anymore.
Posted by: svreader | April 2, 2008 6:16 PM
Clinton's handlers are saying that she still can win for one reason: if she were to admit defeat and drop out of the race, they don't get paid. Clinton's campaign is deeply in debt. She owns Mark Penn over $2 million and herself $5 million. If she drops out of the race, she won't be able to raise any more money and Penn and Co. will not get paid. I think that is what is going on here. She certainly isn't using the money she is raising to buy television ads. Obama is outspending her 5 to 1. She is using the money she is raising to pay off debt she racked up before Super Tuesday. This race is over and the Clinton's are too smart not to recognize it. They just do not want to walk away carrying a bunch of debt.
Posted by: lisa8 | April 2, 2008 6:12 PM
Here are the latest poll results.
The bottom line is that despite all his supporters bragging and gloating, Obama can't win nationally.
He's lost the votes of "Typical White People" and he's not going to get them back.
Obama supporters want everyone to believe that nobody cares that he went to a racist anti-semitic church for 20 years and chose the guy who gave the "God damm America" speech as his "spiritual advisor"
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton holds a 9-point lead over rival Barack Obama among likely Pennsylvania Democratic primary voters ahead of the state's April 22 primary, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday.
Clinton, a New York senator who would be the first female president, leads the Illinois senator 50 percent to 41 percent, the poll found. She also runs better against the likely Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, in Pennsylvania, Florida and Ohio -- all important swing states in the general election.
In a general election matchup in Florida, McCain closely trails Clinton 42 percent to 44 percent but McCain leads Obama, who would be the first black president, 46 percent to 37 percent, according to the poll.
"The difference between Clinton and Obama in Florida is the white vote," said Peter Brown of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
In Ohio, Clinton has a 48 to 39 percent lead over McCain after months of too-close-to-call results, the poll found. In an Obama-McCain matchup, Obama gets 43 percent against 42 percent for McCain.
In Pennsylvania, Clinton tops McCain 48 to 40 percent and Obama leads the Arizona senator 43 percent to 39 percent.
Among Pennsylvania Democrats, Clinton leads 54 to 37 percent with women and ties Obama with men at 46 percent support.
The primary vote between Clinton and Obama splits sharply along racial lines.
Clinton leads 59 to 34 percent among white Pennsylvania likely primary voters while Obama leads 73 to 11 percent among black Democrats, the poll found.
Roughly 44 percent of people in all three states said the economy was the most important issue in their vote, while about a quarter of respondents said the war in Iraq is most important.
"The economic concerns of voters make Ohio a tougher challenge for McCain than has traditionally been the case for Republicans, who have never won the White House without carrying Ohio," Brown said. "But Obama's weakness among white men is an indication that he has not yet closed the sale among the lunch bucket brigade."
The poll was conducted March 24 through 31. Quinnipiac surveyed 1,135 Florida voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent; 1,238 Ohio voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent; 3,484 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.7 percent including 1,549 Democratic likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percent.
Posted by: svreader | April 2, 2008 6:11 PM
Perception vs. Reality - looking back on the first 4 states, the perception is that Clinton won NH and NV and Obama won IA and SC. Yet here is the current delegate count from those states:
IA - Obama 25 Clinton 14 NH - Obama 9 Clinton 9 NV - Obama 13 Clinton 12 SC - Obama 25 Clinton 12
That's 72 to 47 overall. Very interesting.
Posted by: optimyst | April 2, 2008 6:10 PM
Let's face it: Hillary should just drop out. She is stubbornly refusing to face reality, that being the fact that she has no way of winning the nomination short of unjustly flipping the supers and alienating voters in November. Do the math. She can't win. With the exception of her loyal, fanatic cadre of supporters, most people now accept the conventional wisdom that Obama is the nominee.
Posted by: nezbangi | April 2, 2008 6:10 PM
1) Up until the 11th hour, Clinton was being predicted for a big win in Texas, and in the end just barely pulled in a popular-vote majority. 2) Clinton did not "win" Texas. Obama won Texas. Like other posters here, I really wish you press folks would take note of that fact.
Posted by: dougom | April 2, 2008 6:07 PM
You look at the speck in your brother's eye but do not notice the log in your eye.
Before charge erics with cynicism, you may need to attend to the Clinton camp first. Do you think that public comments by Ickes and Carville, svreader and iowatreasures are particularly endearing to Obama supporters?? I don't think so.
If you want to raise the political discourse out of the gutter start with your own team.
Posted by: urban4 | April 2, 2008 6:07 PM
I don't think the margin of victory in the Pennsylvania primary matters at all. In the general election, a one-point margin delivers ALL the state's electoral votes to the winning candidate. With a primary victory in the Keystone State after her victory in Ohio, Clinton can argue that she is the better candidate to win in November. The Democrats barely won Pennsylvania in 2004 and lost Ohio. If they don't take both states in 2008, they could very well lose the general election. Can Obama win both against McCain? Probably not. A Clinton victory, even a narrow one, in the Pennsylvania primary will underscore this with the super delegates, who will be the ones to choose the Democratic nominee. I'm an Obama supporter, but I think his goose is cooked because he hasn't shown the ability to win the swing states the Democrats need to win in November.
Posted by: FrequentTraveler | April 2, 2008 6:06 PM
vammap, have you seriously never heard the expression "new blood"? It's a pretty standard term, meaning new people. Unlike your use of "blood" to mean "Black American", which is hardly a common usage.
Posted by: Blarg | April 2, 2008 6:05 PM
Chris how long are you going to continue to trot out the lie that Clinton won Texas? She did not. Let's not swallow the Clinton talking points hook line and sinker this time.
Posted by: dnbraggs | April 2, 2008 6:03 PM
You said it's time for "new blood." Telling me it was an "idiom" didn't answer the question. You used blood figuratively to mean......? If you intended to use the word Blood as it's ofen used to define brothers, "the blood" or "Black Americans," than why didn't you just say that? Isn't that what you meant by "new blood?"
Certainly any figurative references would do more to confuse and distract from what you really intended to say.
One assumes since you used it as an "idiom" that you did not just mean, ie. someone new other than, etc. etc.
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 6:02 PM
"She utterly dominated in Arkansas. I want to say 69 - 28 or therabouts."
I stand corrected. Wapost reports 70-26.
Posted by: bsimon | April 2, 2008 6:01 PM
"If Hillary wins Pennsylvania, after all the sniping from the establishment press, Obama ought to seriously consider resigning."
I thought it was the Bosnians who were sniping. Now its the press? Perhaps they're all part of the vast right-wing conspiracy.
Posted by: bsimon | April 2, 2008 5:56 PM
"Hillary hasn't won 60% of the vote in ANY state, including her home turf NY."
Not true. She utterly dominated in Arkansas. I want to say 69 - 28 or therabouts.
Posted by: bsimon | April 2, 2008 5:54 PM
You want hubris? You want arrogance?
"It will be over by supertuesday"
We're cocky because we won.
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:54 PM
The only people who believe this spin are the Obama supporters. They must be ready to surrender Pennsylvania to the Hillary forces if they are already coming up with excuses. If Hillary wins Pennsylvania, after all the sniping from the establishment press, Obama ought to seriously consider resigning.
Posted by: jackrickdc | April 2, 2008 5:54 PM
ddipaula writes "It is absolutely stupid to assume that if Obama or Clinton bests the other in some state's democratic primary, that that would indicate anything at all about whether they would win or lose the same state against McCain in the general election." Stupid is as stupid does.
Posted by: bsimon | April 2, 2008 5:53 PM
Cilliza, like other pundits who favor Hillary ignore the big wins with working class white voters that Obama has had in many states . Yes, Ohio Hillary won. But Texas? She started with a huge lead there and ended up winning the popular vote by a very small margin; Obama won the caucus and will end up with more Texas delegates. So let's stop talking about Hillary's big win in Texas. Hillary hasn't won 60% of the vote in ANY state, including her home turf NY. She can't win the nomination and it's sheer stubborness and denial of the facts on her part and her rabid supporters to insist otherwise.
Posted by: AJBF | April 2, 2008 5:50 PM
@vammap To the contrary, I'm quite happy about it and looking forward to the race in the fall.
I find it amusing that HRC supporters have such trouble with math and reality.
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:50 PM
GET A CLUE CILIZZA!! Clinton LOST Texas. Obama won 5 more delegates than Hillary there. Your anti Obama stance is much too obvious.
Posted by: qualquan | April 2, 2008 5:50 PM
" We no longer worry much about HRC"
nor do you care much about the 13 million HC supporters which you show such scorn for. Must be nice to be so arrogant.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 5:50 PM
Wyoming Governor Back Obama CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a former Clinton administration appointee, announced Wednesday that he will support Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Freudenthal said he was impressed by the large, enthusiastic crowds that turned out to see Obama when he visited Wyoming ahead of last month's caucuses.
Posted by: jellybean1 | April 2, 2008 5:50 PM
Obama is ahead in both pledged delegates and superdelegates. It is very likely that the majority of superdelegates will see that Obama and Clinton are not really very different from each other in their positions (there are differences, but they are minor in comparison of either to McCain), and that either would make a fine President. There won't be an 'obvious' choice between the two of them.
Therefore, the superdelegates will mostly not agonize of the decision. They can go with the flow, and simply follow the pledged delegates. This clearly leads to Obama winning the nomination, because Clinton cannot catch up to his lead in the states remaining. Or, they could vote according to whom they think has a more secure path to the White House against McCain in the general election. Both national and state-by-state polls support Obama having the greater advantage in the general election.
It is absolutely stupid to assume that if Obama or Clinton bests the other in some state's democratic primary, that that would indicate anything at all about whether they would win or lose the same state against McCain in the general election. The Democratic primary turnout has consistently been MUCH higher than the Republican turnout, even before McCain was the presumptive nominee, and most of those voters will also vote for their party's nominee in the general, no matter whether it was their first choice candidate or not.
McCain will still take the really red states, either Clinton or Obama will still take the really blue states. The question is who can do better in the general election in the contested swing states.
With Bush's approval rating at 30%, I think McCain promising four more years of the same is a lost cause nationally. But of the two Democrats, I think Obama has the stronger advantage, both in the primaries and over McCain in the general election.
The more interesting question is how many seats the Democrats gain in each house of Congress. If the Democrats hold on to their 12 incumbent seats (very likely), they would only need to take 5 of the 23 Republican incumbent seats to gain a filibuster-proof cloture majority (3/5 of entire Senate). Virginia, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, and Minnesota would do it. And I think Obama has longer coattails in those states than Clinton has, too.
Posted by: ddipaula | April 2, 2008 5:50 PM
Eriks pretty fascinating; you're winning, according to you and you don't seem very happy about it? Instead you're about as angry and vindictative as Wright, Farrakan, Michelle Obama...
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 5:48 PM
"Hear that HC supporters, this is our opponent's message."
The problem is you think Obama (or whoever stands in front of HRC's entitlement) is the opponent.
Obama supporters know McCain is the opponent. We no longer worry much about HRC. We're merely amused by those who did so poorly in math class.
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:46 PM
Posted by: urban4 | April 2, 2008 5:46 PM
"I am not yet convinced that he would be a better nominee or president than dull, boring, wonky Hillary"
What's the record for dull, boring, wonky Dems when compared to charismatic, inspiring, uplifting, change-the-politics Dems?
Dull, wonky, boring: Kerry, Gore, Dukakis, Mondale
Posted by: bsimon | April 2, 2008 5:45 PM
@cate58 wrote"Note: I have been to an Obama rally and like millions of American found it to be an exhilirating and uplifting experience, one I recounted with enthusiasm to friends and family alike. However, I am not yet convinced that he would be a better nominee or president than dull, boring, wonky Hillary"
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:41 PM
I understand that both sides, Hillary's and Obama's, feel passionately about this campaign.
Consider what a McCain victory means. What it means for Iraq. For the tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. For Supreme Court appointments.
Just remember to close ranks when the Nominee is finally chosen.
Our country cannot withstand 4 more years of Dubya's policies. And with a McCain Administration, that is exactly what we'll get.
Posted by: AdrickHenry | April 2, 2008 5:39 PM
congrats erics, I will post that message by my Nov ballot and forward that post to the Obama state campaign heaqdqtrs. They should be proud to have such wonderful and helpful suporters like you, really proud.
"Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out."
Hear that HC supporters, this is our opponent's message.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 5:39 PM
I used to like Clinton, but I soured on her mostly because of the sleazy people around her. Then i thought they had a real chance at locking up superdelegates, and I threatened to 'sit this one out'. But let's face it, McCain, for all of his talk of being independently minded, WILL move the court to the right, WILL support an overturning of Roe V Wade, WILL stay in IRAQ for his term, regardless of what anybody thinks ala GWB, WILL support and extedn the bush Tax cuts, and DOES NOT know a thing the economy or the financial cost of the war. Witbh all of this, if we sit this one out, we are a real ace, spelled with two 's'es. Nodoby's going anywhere except to the polls, which i am sure you will protest, but November will look a lot different if the race is remotely close
Posted by: william | April 2, 2008 5:37 PM
I think most disconcerting for Senator Obama is how much he outspent Senator Clinton in both Ohio and Texas, but he was not able to close the gap. In every other state he has closed when introduced to the voters, not so in these all important states. If he can close the gap in Pennsylvania and get some good exit poll results, he really demolishes Hillary's electoral college argument, which is her most effective argument to date. I would be interested to see spending figures on Pennsylvania. I think closing the gap is a wise investment for the Obama camp, and its not like he has anything else to do at the moment.
Posted by: dan111 | April 2, 2008 5:37 PM
This report like so many are incorrect. HRC lost TEXAS!
Posted by: jrubin1 | April 2, 2008 5:35 PM
northwest Houston mark is I-10 Katy, the most Republican section of Houston and one of the most Rep areas in the country.
Northwest Austin is NW Hills and parts of Lakeway I believe that are the most affluents portions of Austin and Houston I believe marc. Besides the Hispanic voters I sincerely believe that Dems at least I know for certain need to make inroads in the more rural parts of Texas and like I posted earlier about how Ted Strickland won in Ohio. If Doherty's district includes NW, I-10 here in Houston that is problematic with either Obama or HC and can only succeed if the R's are disallusioned with McCain b/c he doesn't fit their cultural conservative base. Actually HC is seen as more moderate marc by the truly affluent's investor class, but Obama is more popular with those same higher income voters you site with college and post graduate degrees. But I expect your guy Doughtery to be swamped in NW Houston by Rs, that area is super conservative marc.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 5:34 PM
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:34 PM
A question for the many Obama supporters who regularly post on this blog --
I am interested in knowing what Obama has accomplished in his 2+ years in the Senate - as well as his terms in the Illinois state legislature - that demonstrate his ability to affect change, bring hope and unify opposing parties. There are many people obviously captivated by his rhetorical gifts and his call for unity and his claim that he is an agent of change who will bring about a new way of doing things in Washington. It certainly is a refreshing and exciting claim - who wouldn't want our elected officials to actually do things for the people versus acting like, well partisan politicians.
I'd like 3 or 4 examples of legislation that he has written / sponsored / helped pass - with the help of Republicans - concrete examples that demonstrate 'unity' and 'change' and 'hope' and were directed at very important issues impacting millions of Americans.
Many posters are quick to denigrate Hillary's record but I would like to know what exactly Obama has done in 2+ years in the Senate that illustrates his ability as a once-in-a-lifetime agent of change.
[Note: I have been to an Obama rally and like millions of American found it to be an exhilirating and uplifting experience, one I recounted with enthusiasm to friends and family alike. However, I am not yet convinced that he would be a better nominee or president than dull, boring, wonky Hillary.)
Posted by: cate58 | April 2, 2008 5:33 PM
This is ridiculous. CLINTON LOST. Pennsylvania doesn't matter either way, unless she contrived to take 100%.
Do the math. Clinton lost, Obama won. She would have to take over 65% of every remaining contest in order to win. You might as well be giving us your 2 cents about Mike Gravel's odds. The idea that a super majority of super delegates will give her a coup is about as likely as them giving you or I the nomination. Stop pretending that there is a horse race here when it doesn't exist any more.
Posted by: JacksonLanders | April 2, 2008 5:32 PM
Eriks exactly what blood are you speaking of?
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 5:32 PM
@leichtman "I know after today's post that there is absolutely no way I will ever have anything to do with your candidate or campaign"
Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. The democratic party has been mismanaged since the 1970s (which is why it took Ross Perot for us the win the presidency).
It's time for new blood.
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:28 PM
Please spare me the comeback by Clinton in NH. NH was to Clinton as South Carolina was to Obama. She should have won huge. As it was they split the delegates 9 to 9, and she won by two measley % points. Do not give Clinton a great comeback in NH, on the contrary it was an Obama turning point. Besides who wants to look at a president, the colorful Clinton, who looks more like some kid auditioning for a school play on fruit and vegetables, banana(yellow), apple(red), eggplant(purple) and so on....
Posted by: MikeQ2 | April 2, 2008 5:27 PM
It is this cynicism by you and ericks and add to that MANY others WHO will drive folks like me,dickweek,vammap,patrick and svreader to simply sit out the Presidential campaign
Posted by: vammap | April 2, 2008 5:27 PM
Whining about the form of the elections is a nonstarter. Each states pick their rules, and those are the rules. Maybe the goal posts should be moved to help your field goal kicker, but both teams take the same field, at the same time. Play within the lines to win.
If they apportion by population, then delegates are awarded by people living in a county. Nobody can control who or how many people actually show up to vote, but the majority carries the county, and when you add up the votes yes, you can win more votes but receive less delegates. It may be unfair, or it may actually be more fair if you consider tensions between rural and metro areas. In any case, it is up to the states to decide, just like caucuses.This is as fair as it can get here on earth. If it doesn't suit your candidate, 'thems the breaks...'
Posted by: william | April 2, 2008 5:19 PM
no wonder reasonable folks like dickweed are staying away from this site. Attack atack atack, insult, misrep.
Leichtman, I find it funny you were there. You demonstrate the exact kind of misunderstanding of Texas Primary rules which probably contributed to Hillary losing the Texas primary.
You don't defend your logic, nor refute mine. You just keep blathering on about popular vote, communist caucuses, young people assaulting the elderly (most of which is totally absurd). So, I am glad that we are in agreement; I was correct and "your logic" (if you can call it that) was misguided. Glad you finally comprehend.
Communiost causes? exactly when did I say that? What I did say was that the next speaker of the Texas House Silvester Turner an Obama delegate said our system was unfair and he will end it.
Assaulting the elderly? again jonel where are you getting this from. My mom is 92 and lives in a nursing home and could not attend the caucus, i am sure you find that fair.
The spitting on HC caucus goers and receiving robo calls with minisnformation about our Texas caucus was a channel 11 storry with a recording of that bogus robo call. fair I am sure your side is quite comfortable with those tactics I found them to be disgusting.
You find it was funny that I was there and interviewed hispanic voters in south houston who were intimidated by Obama supporters on primary day. You seem to find a lot of these tactics as homorous and reason to insult those of us who have honorably worked in the political system.
It is this cynicism by you and ericks that will drive folks like me,dickweek,vannamp,patrick and svreader to simply sit out the Presidential campaign
I have worked in democratic politics since 1972 and have honestly never seen or experienced the level of nastiness or vitriol from a Democratic opponent's campaign that I have read here. If you Obama supporters somehow think that your insults and mischaricaterizations of HC supporters is helping your cause you are flat wrong.
The arrogant message I am correct you are not reflects the very dangerous element of your campaign and your supporters. Good Luck with that b/c I know after today's post that there is absolutely no way I will ever have anything to do with your candidate or campaign.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 5:19 PM
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:18 PM
dickweed, leichtman, bobby, Stonecreek, Texans,
I have a question for all of you about the down ticket. Let me say that I live in a congressional district with a R Congressman who can be beaten by the D nominee, Doherty.
I am thinking that the biggest pop centers in his district, north Austin and northwest Houston, were BHO country, while the places in between, like Giddings, were for HRC.
Can we try to get a feel for who gets helped by the top of the ticket by where the candidates did well? In other words, does the down ticket in metro Austin, Metro Houston, Metro Dallas, and Metro Fort Worth get more help from BHO while the down ticket in the LRGV and El Paso and San Antonio and Corpus gets more help from HRC?
Do y'all have any feel for this beyond your own personal preferences? Bobby, I know you were disgusted with BHO but I thiink you were also not high on HRC. Still you are the only Valley resident on the blog. So help.
And do we think Col. Rick has a shot under any circumstance?
Posted by: mark_in_austin | April 2, 2008 5:15 PM
"Well, the biggest state is Texas, and she didn't win that."
Posted by: bsimon | April 2, 2008 5:13 PM
@JoseyJ You're crying over spilt milk. The time to challenge the structure of the election was last year.
But last year (before anyone voted) Hillary was inevitable. Pesky voters messed the inevitability strategy though.
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:13 PM
ericks - there is no "will of the voters" since the caucuses are very undemocratic and DISenfranchise voters!
btw - there are no caucuses in the general for Obamabots to bully participants and interfere with the process.
However, caucuses are not designed for the masses. That's why Puerto Rico just changed their caucus to a primary - to accommodate the expected huge turnout.
Posted by: JoseyJ | April 2, 2008 5:10 PM
@JoseyJ Then it's too bad she screwed up her campaign strategy and can't win this.
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 5:09 PM
So Hillbilly is winning the big states, really? Well, the biggest state is Texas, and she didn't win that. -- I think the difference between the two candidates is obvious. Hillary is fighting desperately for her survival, while Obama is cracking jokes and having a good time. Obama has a great sense of humor while Hillary has absolutely none (Bill had humor, but not poor Hillary). Bush and McCain have a sense of humor, too, but not Hillary. I could never vote for a person who has no sense of humor.
Posted by: dunnhaupt | April 2, 2008 5:08 PM
ericks - many young Obama supporters benefitted from their parents' prosperity during the 90s.
Obama always releases his Economic policies AFTER Hillary.
Obama = "what she said"
Posted by: JoseyJ | April 2, 2008 5:06 PM
Correct, pledged delegates alone do not mean a nomination. There are 795 superdelegates, 470 of whom have endorsed a candidate. (According to RealClearPolitics.com; it might be a little out of date.) That means that there are 325 unpledged superdelegates.
Hillary has 1502 delegates, counting superdelegates. She needs 522 more to make 2024. There are 325 superdelegates and 566 regular delegates, a total of 891. So Hillary needs to get 58.5% of all remaining delegates, pledged and super, to win the nomination. According to current polling, she's not likely to get even that percent of delegates in Pennsylvania, much less the rest of the primaries and the superdelegates.
Do you get it now? Or do I have to keep mathematically proving how wrong you are?
Posted by: Blarg | April 2, 2008 5:06 PM
The most Delegates can be won by the loser in popular votes. This could actually happen in Pa. if my quick look at where the votes are for Obama, according to reports, are located. Posted by: lylepink | April 2, 2008 04:16 PM
If I remember correctly, that's what happened in NV: HRC won the popular, BHO got more delegates.
Here in PA, it's not only where BHO's votes are, but HRC has the problem that her strong districts have 5 delegates -- meaning that she'll have to get >70% of the vote in that district to get a 4-1 split. Anything less (like 69%) and the district goes 3-2.
Posted by: mnteng | April 2, 2008 5:02 PM
Yes, Obama did win more delegates in Texas, even though Clinton won 100,000's more votes! Sound fair? No! And the caucuses were a joke at best and unconstitutional at worst! they were so confrontational it was scary. Certainly not the way we are suppose to vote in America. If this had been Obama's loss under the same conditions, lawsuits would be flying in every circuit court and we would have marches all over the state to the Whitehouse! If I were an Obama supporter, I would not be bragging about this Texas win. No, I certainly would not.
Posted by: Texan2007 | April 2, 2008 5:01 PM
however, I have found it curious how newscasters in the industry keep referring to Clinton as winning both Nevada and Texas. Popular vote is nice, and primary vs caucus matters, but this is a race for delegates, period. Therefore, the 'winner' of a state is the person who wins the most delegates. Clinton had won Texas, until yesterday. Now, Obama has clearly won Texas, as he has been allotted more Texas delegates than Clinton. Same for Nevada.
Winning Texas literally saved Clinton's Candidacy. The fact that she has now lost it won't matter too much, but reporters need to both explain this important development, and then refer to the facts as they are, not as Wolfson interprets them. Accuracy helps keep tempers from flaring. The Wolfson narrative that somehow Obama is disenfranchising voters in MI and Floridarather than the DNC is disingenuous, and dangerous. Clinton voters need to see accuracy to understand the legitimacy of the outcome, and accept the will of the voters without feeling that it was wrapped up in shenanigans. Accurate reporting is where it all starts...
PS Clinton for VP! Even though it is not a great fit, and lacks strategic strength, McCain is the worst candidate of all time b/c of supporting the war and the Bush Tax Cuts. Clinton has raised more money than any other candidate in history (except Obama) and her supporters are justifiably passionate. Let's join these two groups of fanatics for one big 'snowball' of change comin' down the mountain! This is clearly what would be best for the party.
Posted by: william | April 2, 2008 5:01 PM
Hillary must win by big margins, yes, yes, we've heard that before. When? Oh, two weeks before Texas and Ohio. What happened? Hillary won, but not by the 15-25% margins needed to become a contender again. So sure, in 19 days she needs to win big... When the day arrives and Hillary wins by 4 points, she will claim an enormous prize, claim that the people have spoken, and that America needs Hillary to save us from the un-electability of Obama. Never mind that Obama actually WON Texas (seeing as how delegates are really what count)--that's old news now. The fact is, there is no mystery in who will win. The mathematical odds are virtually insurmountable. Obama will win. He already has, PA notwithstanding.
Posted by: rnspreng | April 2, 2008 5:01 PM
Posted by: JoseyJ | April 2, 2008 5:00 PM
Math is hard for you I know.
If HRC is behind in pledged delegates and popular vote do you really think the supers will save her?
Perhaps being bad at math is why her campaign is always broke. She's supposed to bail out our economy and she can't even run a $200 million primary campaign?
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 4:59 PM
"That's why they want to run against him!"
So that's why Limbaugh is telling republicans to vote for Hillary?
Posted by: eriks | April 2, 2008 4:56 PM
A vote for Hillary Clinton is never having to say you're sorry.
Posted by: PGraber1 | April 2, 2008 4:56 PM
get it? pledged delegates alone do not mean a nomination. Get it! Its the total of 2024 delegates. Get It, idiot.
Posted by: leichtman | April 2, 2008 4:55 PM
The GOP will slaughter Obama. That's why they want to run against him!
Wright Farrakhan Jones Rezko Lying to get the Kennedy endorsement Oil company CEOs bundling for him
Posted by: JoseyJ | April 2, 2008 4:54 PM
For the record, Obama won Texas. Saying Clinton pulled a rabbit out of her hat when she was leading in Texas by double digits up until the last week of the Texas primary campaign doesn't make any sense, unless Cillizza doesn't understand the expression.
Posted by: samhankins | April 2, 2008 4:52 PM
To Christian_in_NYC: Not to give offense but don't you think the political process - the rules agreed upon at the beginning of the primaries - should be allowed to run their course? It's not over until the delegates vote at the convention. Why shouldn't Clinton be persistent? And how do we know what comes next from Obama and his current or former advisors?
Posted by: WhiteMale | April 2, 2008 4:52 PM
Hillary will win Pennsylvania and Indiana, and Obamedia will talk about nothing but North Carolina.
Posted by: mmeyerdc | April 2, 2008 4:51 PM
dickweed said: "My apologies for the long rant," it wasn't a rant it was your honest frustrated UT feeling, you are not alone. I have been here for 3 weeks and heard more vitriol then you would believe except for mark in austin. HC supporters have repeatedly been told that if you don't get in line just leave the party. Right we are told that 13 million HC supporters should just leave the party and the Obama supporters don't understand how that message destroys the democratic party.
I hope you will join my effort to end the Texas 2 step so that candidate that wins 110,000 more votes is not told she lost.
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Chris Cillizza joins washingtonpost.com as the author of a new politics blog called The Fix. Cillizza will provide daily posts on a range of political topics, from the race for control of Congress in 2006 to scrutinizing the 2008 presidential contenders.
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Economic Slump Underlines Concerns About McCain Advisers
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One of them helped deregulate the financial services industries in the 1990s, and now sits in the corporate suites of Swiss banking giant UBS, which yesterday announced $19 billion in investment losses tied to the crumbling U.S. real estate market.
The other pushed one of the most aggressive and controversial mergers of the technology boom, then was sacked by the disenchanted board of Hewlett-Packard.
Former senator Phil Gramm, with his aw-shucks Texas drawl, may at first blush have little in common with Carly Fiorina, the telegenic former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard. But they share a bond: Both are leading economic advisers of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee for president, and both have reputations as the kind of aggressive capitalists that may be sliding from favor as the nation's economy edges toward recession.
Democratic opponents are already plotting attacks on two advocates of what Robert Reich, a former Clinton labor secretary, described as "dog eat dog capitalism," an economic philosophy that works well when the economy is on the upswing but may not play so well in a trough. "McCain is counting on people having very short memories and not connecting some pretty obvious dots here," said Jared Bernstein, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, summing up a growing liberal critique of McCain's economic team.
To economists across the political spectrum, much of the criticism is unfair oversimplification. But even some advisers close to McCain said they wonder if such lightning-rod public figures should be so closely identified with his candidacy. "I, for one, have thought about it a lot," said one McCain adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "And that's all I will say."
The spiraling crisis in the credit and housing markets has kept Gramm in focus, fairly or not. His employer, UBS, revealed yesterday that investment losses tied to the U.S. housing market reached $37 billion over the last six months. For the last three months, UBS posted a $12 billion loss.
Gramm, UBS's vice chairman, said yesterday he was "totally unaware" of his bank's massive holdings of securities tied to subprime mortgages, but, he added, "I'm confident we'll recover."
More to the point may be Gramm's aggressive efforts when he was chairman of the Senate Banking Committee to deregulate the banking and financial services industry. That culminated in passage in 1999 of a sweeping financial services law that tore down the Depression-era Glass-Steagall wall separating regulated commercial banks from largely unregulated investment banks. And little regulation was put in to replace it.
"We are here today to repeal Glass-Steagall, because we have learned that government is not the answer," Gramm declared at the time. "We have learned that freedom and competition are the answers. We have learned that we promote economic growth and we promote stability by having competition and freedom."
To many liberal economists, Gramm's efforts set the stage for the current crisis. Lending by noncommercial banks has soared, to about 70 percent of total lending. Investment banks, including Bear Stearns, grew too large to be allowed to fail. And, said James K. Galbraith, a University of Texas economist, investment banks helped create the exotic financial instruments that turned subprime mortgages into tradable securities.
"Phil Gramm's career was as the most aggressive advocate of every predatory and rapacious element that the financial sector has," Galbraith said. "He's a sorcerer's apprentice of instability and disaster in the financial system."
Gramm denied the charge, saying financial services deregulation has mitigated the impact of the credit crisis by giving investment and commercial banks a broader business foundation to withstand the downturn. The commercial bank J.P. Morgan Chase could not have swooped in to salvage Bear Stearns without deregulation, he said.
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One of them helped deregulate the financial services industries in the 1990s, and now sits in the corporate suites of Swiss banking giant UBS, which yesterday announced $19 billion in investment losses tied to the crumbling U.S. real estate market.
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Obama Changes Approach to Reach Blue-Collar Voters in Pennsylvania
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A health nut, Obama (Ill.) has consumed hot dogs, french fries and homemade chocolates. He has sipped a few Yuengling beers. He has largely skipped arena-filling rallies in favor of town-hall-style events and casual visits, delivering populist appeals to the small-town, working-class voters who have proven most resistant to his candidacy.
Despite a few stumbles -- at an Altoona bowling alley, Obama rolled a ball into a gutter on his first try -- political observers say he has started to make the inroads with voters he will need to cut into Clinton's lead.
"The consensus is, this is a pretty successful tour for Obama," said G. Terry Madonna, a political science professor and pollster at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. "He's hitting the right themes. I would be surprised if this doesn't move numbers."
Mark Nevins, Clinton's Pennsylvania spokesman, conceded to reporters on the candidate's campaign bus that Obama's aggressive efforts are making a difference.
Clinton is running a state campaign similar to Obama's, mixing small-scale and larger events that focus on pocketbook issues such as middle-class tax cuts and the creation of new manufacturing jobs. Her crowds are also boisterous, filled with shout-outs and standing ovations, along with signs that say "Don't quit."
She has taken to comparing herself to Rocky Balboa, the underdog boxer who does not know how to give in or give up. She walked onto the stage at an event here on Tuesday as the theme music of the film "Rocky" was played, after earlier invoking the fictional prizefighter in a speech.
"I know what it's like to stumble. I know what it means to get knocked down, but I've never stayed down," Clinton told AFL-CIO members in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
This gritty, ground-level strategy carried Clinton to a convincing victory in Ohio, a state with economic challenges and working-class demographics similar to Pennsylvania's. Whatever inroads Obama may be making, Madonna noted, he "still faces the inevitable problem of unfavorable demographics. We have more Catholics, old people, union members and conservative Democrats than Ohio."
Clinton also enjoys the strong support of Gov. Edward G. Rendell, the mayors of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and other prominent Democratic leaders.
If Obama loses badly in Pennsylvania on April 22, the momentum could shift to Clinton going into May 6, when Indiana and North Carolina vote. A poor showing in another general-election swing state would also raise questions among superdelegates -- the party leaders and elected officials who will probably determine the Democratic nominee -- about whether Obama could beat Republican Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in November.
The Obama campaign has tried to lower its bar for success in Pennsylvania and has signaled an intention to trumpet anything short of a blowout victory by Clinton as one of its most significant triumphs of the primary season.
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WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- When Sen. Barack Obama's bus rolls to a stop Wednesday in Philadelphia, he will have spent six days on the road and $3 million in television ads trying to bolster his chances in a state where polls show him running well behind Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.).
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Antiabortion Ballot Initiative Appears Likely
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CHICAGO, April 1 -- Abortion opponents in South Dakota filed petitions this week that are likely to put an initiative on November's ballot calling for a near-ban on abortion, renewing a contentious fight over a similar proposal in 2006.
The group VoteYesForLife.com said Tuesday that it turned in on Monday three times the number of signatures needed to qualify an initiative that would ban abortion in most cases. Unlike the 2006 law, however, it includes exceptions to allow the procedure when necessary to protect the health of a woman and in cases of rape or incest.
The 2006 proposal, rejected by 56 percent of voters, would have allowed abortion only to save a woman's life.
The new language was drafted by South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long, state Rep. Roger W. Hunt (R) and 20 other lawyers. As with the 2006 initiative, passage would probably trigger a lawsuit that could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court and provide an opportunity to reconsider its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
"My job is to protect the women of South Dakota," said Leslee Unruh, VoteYesForLife.com executive director. If abortion rights advocates "follow what they've done in the past, suing, they'll probably sue on this one, as well. We're prepared for that; we've done due diligence in the preparation for this law."
The sponsors said their polls show that a majority of South Dakotans support the initiative with the exceptions.
The Campaign for Healthy Families, formed by Planned Parenthood and other groups to fight the 2006 initiative, said the new proposal is still too restrictive.
A woman would have to report rape or incest to police before seeking an abortion to qualify for that exception. "A woman who is the victim of incest and is 13, being raped by her father, is highly unlikely to report that," said Sarah Stoesz, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Opponents also said the definition of a health risk to the woman is too narrow because the language implies a doctor would have to be certain the woman's health was threatened and excludes mental and emotional issues as health exceptions.
The petition would make it a class 4 felony to perform any kind of abortion or prescribe, procure or sell drugs or any other items to induce abortion unless the exceptions applied.
The secretary of state must verify at least 16,776 signatures as valid to put the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot. Unruh said the group has collected almost 50,000 signatures.
South Dakota's existing abortion laws are considered among the nation's most restrictive.
The Planned Parenthood clinic in Sioux Falls is the only one in the state offering abortions. Stoesz said the organization flies in doctors from neighboring states because few locals are willing to perform the procedure. About 800 abortions are performed per year.
Stoesz said abortion rights advocates are confident that voters will reject the initiative.
"People could not escape engaging in this debate; it was a very healthy thing for the people of South Dakota," Stoesz said. "They engaged in it and made a decision to reject this ban."
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Get Washington DC,Virginia,Maryland and national news. Get the latest/breaking news,featuring national security,science and courts. Read news headlines from the nation and from The Washington Post. Visit www.washingtonpost.com/nation today.
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Beacon or Boondoggle? New Lights For the Capitol
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The warm white glow of the Capitol dome may soon go green, part of an effort by Democratic congressional leaders to save energy and modernize the District's nocturnal landscape.
But like so many issues on Capitol Hill, the plan to update the building's 18-year-old exterior lighting has ignited partisan bickering. Republicans and other critics consider the project's early phase wasteful, and they question whether a $671,900 contract to design the lighting system was steered by Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Administration Committee, to a company in his home district.
"Everyone supports making the Capitol more energy efficient, but we don't have to waste taxpayer dollars to do it," said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). "This is a ridiculous boondoggle."
The project is part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's environmentally friendly "Green the Capitol" initiative, which includes using more recycled paper, distributing more documents electronically, purchasing carbon offsets for the House's greenhouse-gas emissions, and developing a plan to use wind power and other renewable energy sources.
Updating the lights would bring the Capitol up to par with makeovers at the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and the Washington Monument, proponents say. The Lincoln Memorial's relighting was completed in 2007, as some fixtures dating to the 1920s were replaced. The Washington Monument got new lights in 2006 to replace a 1970s system.
Lighting manufacturer Osram Sylvania picked up the $900,000 tab in 2001 to overhaul a lighting system at the Jefferson Memorial that dated to the 1960s, using the donation to celebrate the company's 100th year in business.
The Capitol, which last got new lights in 1990, is next in line. Its system consists of 38 1,000-watt metal halide lamps mounted on rooftops over the House and Senate wings. The lamps burn for about eight hours a night and consume more than 122,000 kilowatt-hours of power each year. The annual electric bill is nearly $15,000.
Daniel P. Beard, the House's chief administrative officer, said that if House and Senate leaders give final approval, new lighting could be installed by year's end. Officials do not yet have an estimate for the cost of the project.
"You have the most recognized building in America, and lighting it with new energy-efficient lighting has tremendous symbolic value," Beard said. "We're not going to drastically cut our energy consumption, but it will have a modest impact, and I think it will help promote the energy-efficient-lighting industry, which is in all of our best interests."
But converting to a more eco-friendly system has turned out to be expensive -- and the work has just begun. Beard's office rejected two lower bids to recommend awarding the design contract to the Lighting Practice of Philadelphia, located in Brady's district. The contract covers no installation costs.
In a Feb. 19 memo to Brady, whose committee approved the award, Beard said that of the seven bidders for the contract, the Philadelphia company offered "the best value and greatest opportunity for success." In an interview, he said the two lowest bidders were eliminated because they did not provide enough information for his office to assess their financial health.
A Brady spokesman said there was nothing improper about the selection process. The committee "has a procedure, and the procedure was adhered to," said Kyle Anderson, a spokesman for the House Administration Committee.
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The warm white glow of the Capitol dome may soon go green, part of an effort by Democratic congressional leaders to save energy and modernize the District's nocturnal landscape.
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Memo: Laws Didn't Apply to Interrogators
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The 81-page memo, which was declassified and released publicly yesterday, argues that poking, slapping or shoving detainees would not give rise to criminal liability. The document also appears to defend the use of mind-altering drugs that do not produce "an extreme effect" calculated to "cause a profound disruption of the senses or personality."
Although the existence of the memo has long been known, its contents had not been previously disclosed.
Nine months after it was issued, Justice Department officials told the Defense Department to stop relying on it. But its reasoning provided the legal foundation for the Defense Department's use of aggressive interrogation practices at a crucial time, as captives poured into military jails from Afghanistan and U.S. forces prepared to invade Iraq.
Sent to the Pentagon's general counsel on March 14, 2003, by John C. Yoo, then a deputy in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, the memo provides an expansive argument for nearly unfettered presidential power in a time of war. It contends that numerous laws and treaties forbidding torture or cruel treatment should not apply to U.S. interrogations in foreign lands because of the president's inherent wartime powers.
"If a government defendant were to harm an enemy combatant during an interrogation in a manner that might arguably violate a criminal prohibition, he would be doing so in order to prevent further attacks on the United States by the al Qaeda terrorist network," Yoo wrote. "In that case, we believe that he could argue that the executive branch's constitutional authority to protect the nation from attack justified his actions."
Interrogators who harmed a prisoner would be protected by a "national and international version of the right to self-defense," Yoo wrote. He also articulated a definition of illegal conduct in interrogations -- that it must "shock the conscience" -- that the Bush administration advocated for years.
"Whether conduct is conscience-shocking turns in part on whether it is without any justification," Yoo wrote, explaining, for example, that it would have to be inspired by malice or sadism before it could be prosecuted.
The declassified memo was sent by the Defense and Justice departments late yesterday to Democrats on Capitol Hill, including Sens. Carl M. Levin (Mich.) and Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), who had seen the document in classified form and pushed for its release.
The document is similar, although much broader, than a notorious memo primarily written by Yoo in August 2002 that narrowly defined what constitutes illegal torture. That document was also later withdrawn.
In his 2007 book, "The Terror Presidency," Jack Goldsmith, who took over the Office of Legal Counsel after Yoo departed, writes that the two memos "stood out" for "the unusual lack of care and sobriety in their legal analysis."
The documents are among the Justice Department legal memoranda that undergirded some of the highly coercive interrogation techniques employed by the Bush administration, including extreme temperatures, head-slapping and a type of simulated drowning called waterboarding.
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Centers Tap Into Personal Databases
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Intelligence centers run by states across the country have access to personal information about millions of Americans, including unlisted cellphone numbers, insurance claims, driver's license photographs and credit reports, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post.
One center also has access to top-secret data systems at the CIA, the document shows, though it's not clear what information those systems contain.
Dozens of the organizations known as fusion centers were created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to identify potential threats and improve the way information is shared. The centers use law enforcement analysts and sophisticated computer systems to compile, or fuse, disparate tips and clues and pass along the refined information to other agencies. They are expected to play important roles in national information-sharing networks that link local, state and federal authorities and enable them to automatically sift their storehouses of records for patterns and clues.
Though officials have publicly discussed the fusion centers' importance to national security, they have generally declined to elaborate on the centers' activities. But a document that lists resources used by the fusion centers shows how a dozen of the organizations in the northeastern United States rely far more on access to commercial and government databases than had previously been disclosed.
Those details have come to light at a time of debate about domestic intelligence efforts, including eavesdropping and data-aggregation programs at the National Security Agency, and whether the government has enough protections in place to prevent abuses.
The list of information resources was part of a survey conducted last year, officials familiar with the effort said. It shows that, like most police agencies, the fusion centers have subscriptions to private information-broker services that keep records about Americans' locations, financial holdings, associates, relatives, firearms licenses and the like.
Centers serving New York and other states also tap into a Federal Trade Commission database with information about hundreds of thousands of identity-theft reports, the document and police interviews show.
Pennsylvania buys credit reports and uses face-recognition software to examine driver's license photos, while analysts in Rhode Island have access to car-rental databases. In Maryland, authorities rely on a little-known data broker called Entersect, which claims it maintains 12 billion records about 98 percent of Americans.
In its online promotional material, Entersect calls itself "the silent partner to municipal, county, state, and federal justice agencies who access our databases every day to locate subjects, develop background information, secure information from a cellular or unlisted number, and much more."
Police officials said fusion center analysts are trained to use the information responsibly, legally and only on authorized criminal and counterterrorism cases. They stressed the importance of secret and public data in rooting out obscure threats.
"There is never ever enough information when it comes to terrorism" said Maj. Steven G. O'Donnell, deputy superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. "That's what post-9/11 is about."
Government watchdogs, along with some police and intelligence officials, said they worry that the fusion centers do not have enough oversight and are not open enough with the public, in part because they operate under various state rules.
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Justice Releases Interrogation Memo
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The Justice Department sent a legal memorandum to the Pentagon in 2003 asserting that federal laws prohibiting assault, maiming and other crimes did not apply to military interrogators who questioned al-Qaeda captives because the president's ultimate authority as commander in chief overrode such statutes.
Washington Post staff writer Dan Eggen was online Wednesday, April 2, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the release of the 81-page memo which was declassified and released publicly yesterday.
Dan Eggen: Good afternoon everyone. The belated release of John Yoo's 2003 memo on overseas interrogations is getting a lot of buzz, especially in legal circles. The arguments made in the 81-page memo are sweeping and far-reaching. Among other things, it asserted that federal laws prohibiting assault, maiming and other crimes did not apply to military interrogators who questioned al-Qaeda captives because the president's ultimate authority as commander in chief overrode such statutes. It also seems to allow a broad range of physical contact with prisoners and even thet use of mind-altering drugs as long as they are not "extreme." There seems to be general agreement, including among conservatives, that Yoo's reasoning was overbroad and incorrect in many respects. (The memo was withdrawn nine months after it was written by another group of Republican-appointed lawyers at Justice.) Does anyone disagree? Are some elements of Yoo's arguments solid? I'm happy to try to answer any questions, so let's start!
Washington, D.C.: I understand the memo was from 2003. Is this still the the policy now?
Dan Eggen: No, the memo was withdrawn in late December 2003 by Jack Goldsmith, who began as head of the Office of Legal Counsel in October of that year and had begun reviewing a whole host of legal opinions concerning surveillance, interrogation and the like that appeared to be problematic. John Yoo, who had authored the memo released yestereday, was a deputy in the OLC office earlier in 2003 but was passed over to be appointed its head.
Bala Cynwyd, Pa.: What legal theory did John Yoo invoke in his seminal "the Commander in Chief is not bound by any laws and therefore torture is okay if he says so" memo? It would seem that all the framers of the Constitution wanted was a unified military command when they established POTUS as the C-in-C of the Army and Navy during war, not an absolute ruler unbound by laws. What am I missing?
Dan Eggen: What an excellent and, I must confess, difficult question. The answer is difficult because Yoo made many arguments, all of which appeared aimed at protecting or at least limiting the liability of interrogators who might be pushing the envelope with their tactics. One useful way to examine his approach is to take the issue of federal criminal law. In the brief, he argued that "federal criminal laws of general applicability do not apply to properly-authorized interrogations of enemy combatants." He also discusses at length how many such laws, like assault etc., may not apply to many interrogation tactics anyway. But Yoo also essentially argues that the president's commander-in-chief powers, as encapsulated in Article II of the U.S. Constitution, trumps all of this anyway--that President Bush was acting in the national defense, and therefore (almost) anything would go. On page 6 Yoo writes: "One of the core functions of the Commander in Chief is that of capturing, detaining, and interrogating members of the enemy...Recognizing this authority, Congress has never attempted to restrict or interfere with the President's authority on this score." Most constitutional scholars view this as a vast overstatement (and oversimplification) of executive power, and point to, among other things, a subsequent Supreme Court ruling in the Hamdan case.
washingtonpost.com: Hamden v. Rumsfeld: High Court Rejects Detainee Tribunals (Post, June 30, 2006)
Seattle, Justice: How long a jail term is John Woo likely to serve for his part in drafting the unconstitutional and illegal memo, and do you anticipate both the president and vice-president will be remanded to the Hague, or will bounties have to be issued for their arrest and subsequent trial for War Crimes?
Dan Eggen: There's no indication of any criminal investigation, proceedings, etc., against John Yoo, though I know it is a popular sentiment in the blogosphere. However, Yoo does appear to face potential legal jeopardy in two areas: 1) Lawyers for former enemy combatant Jose Padilla have filed a civil lawsuit against Yoo, arguing that his legal advice led to abuse of their clieint. 2) The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility, which is an internal watchdog of sorts that polices attorney conduct, is conducting an investigation of the role that Justice Department attorneys played in authorizing the use of waterboarding by the CIA. It's unclear how directly Yoo's role as a top Justice lawyer might fit into that probe however. Yoo, who is now a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley, strongly defended the memo in an e-mail response to The Post late yesterday and said his advice to President Bush was "near boilerplate."
washingtonpost.com: Memo: Laws Didn't Apply to Interrogators (Post, April 2)
Fairfax, Va.: What has it taken five years for the public to see the memo? What steps were available to the media to obtain the memo earlier?
Dan Eggen: There were no steps for the media to obtain it earlier except to get it leaked. It was, until yesterday, a classified document, and anyone releasing it could have been subject to criminal sanctions. The memo was in the hands of some Democrats on Capitol Hill since last year, but they were barred from releasing it in classified form. As part of a lawsuit brought by the ACLU, a federal judge recently ordered a declassification review of the memo, apparently leading to yesterday's release. As an aside, many outside critics argue there was little reason that the opinion should have been classified since it deals only with legal theories and boundaries, rather than disclosing actual interrogation tactics and that sort of thing. Lawmakers and many otheres are still attempting to get access to other interrogation-related memos, including a set from 2005 that endorsed waterboarding and other harsh tactics at the CIA. In 2004, The Post obtained and published another 2002 memo written by Yoo (but signed by another official)that is often referred to as "the torture memo," because it narrowly defined conduct that could be considered illegal torture. (Many of the same arguments appear again in the newly released memo.) Both the "torture memo" and the new Yoo memo were withdrawn and disowned by the Justice Department later on.
Munich, Germany: Regarding mind-altering drugs, the term "profound disruption of the senses or personality" is a fairly ambiguous description. Was there any mention of which drugs were allowed and which weren't?
Dan Eggen: There was little mention, if any, of specific drugs in the memo, if my memory is right. The whole drug discussion is rather bizarre, and obviously raises very troubling possibilities. U.S. officials have vehemently denied allegations from some detainees and outside human-rights advocates that it used drugs as part of interrogations (as opposed to administering to health concerns etc.).
Kingston, Pa.: I am not a lawyer, and I don't know how legal advice in the executive branch works, but I'm trying to fathom the reason for basing apparently so much of the war policy on the Yoo memo. Because the Yoo memo makes many broad statements that, in daylight and hindsight, seem very flimsy, is this a case of Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld designing a legal argument to support their war cause? Will we see any similar analysis of the PATRIOT Act that will reveal further weak legal assertions?
Dan Eggen: Well, the Patriot Act is a public law and you or I can read it, dissect it and analyze it all we want. The point with this memo--and with so many others still locked in the bowels of the Justice Department--is that it set legal policy in SECRET, and was hidden even from the top lawyers of the military services that it was aimed at. During this time period in the Bush administration, much of this legal policymaking occurred in a bubble that kept out external criticism, and also prevented most of the rest of the world from even knowing what was going on. Yoo was also a close ally of other hardliners elsewhere in the administration, including David Addington, who is now VP Cheney's chief of staff. According to our sources, he also frequently worked on these issues without input from then-AG Ashcroft or his inner circle.
Chicago Ill.: Bala Cynwyd's question really gets to the heart of things here -- the Yoo memo pretty much obliterates American political theory. Our limited federal republic, premised on the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, has no room for the national security exception to the law that the Yoo memo envisions. President Bush is either bound by the law or he isn't -- it's irrelevant how well-intentioned he might be when he creates exceptions for himself to the rule of law. He can't do it.
Dan Eggen: This is the crux of most of the critiques of Yoo's legal claims.
Sewickley, Pa.: Thank you for your reporting on this issue. At the time Mr. Yoo issued his guidance on torture, my husband was being deployed to Iraq secure in the knowledge that the United States Army follows the law and that other countries are expected to do the same. An officer with twenty years in an army he loved, he would like to stay in the military but sadly will be retiring this year. Will the U.S. ever be able to convince the world we don't torture?
Dan Eggen: Whatever one's views are on the issue of what constitutes torture or cruel treatment, I don't think there's much doubt that the nation's credibility is at a low ebb on this issue. Partly this is because so much of what did occur continues to be wrapped in secrecy or obfuscation. The Bush administration also has further undermined its case by constantly--and secretly--changing the definition of what torture is and by ignoring the advice of military experts and others who warned against taking the path it did.
San Jose, Calif.: Given the shaky and perhaps illegal grounds used to justify some of this administration's actions, do you think if a Democrat is elected president in November that he/she will order the Justice Department to declassify other memos from the OLC, commence a criminal investigation, and open the door to prosecuting members of the Bush administration, up to and including the president?
Dan Eggen: I think the first part of your question is possible--that more memos could come out if a Democrat wins in November. I would give the second part of your question a chance of zero, not only for difficult legal reasons but for the more obvious political ones.
Fairfax, Va.: In reading the comments posted on your story there seem to be some who believe that this is bias-type story and one poster wrote, "I guess you bleeding heart Liberals would rather give Al-Qaeda cookies and milk." There is division on what to do with Guantanamo and what to do about the prisoners. Is this, in fact, a political issue or more of an humanitarian concern that has been taken over by politics?
Dan Eggen: There are clearly many people out there who feel the Bush administration did the right thing in trying to push the limits on interrogations, and who accept the government's claims that the treatment--such as the CIA's use of "waterboarding" on three detainees--was worth the information gained. But one interesting thing to keep in mind here is that this memo and others written during the early Bush years at OLC were not revoked by a bunch of wild-eyed bleeding-heart liberals at the ACLU. A group of conservative, Republican prosecutors at Justice essentially staged a revolt in 03/04 raising serious objections to several aspects of surveillance and interrogation policy that they felt had gone too far and was perhaps illegal. They were joined, on the interrogation front, by the judge advocate generals in every branch of the military service, who also were horrified at what they saw. Sens. Lindsey Graham and John McCain were among the leading GOP critics on some of these issues (though McCain, now running for president, has angered human-rights advocates more recently for refusing to go along with limits on CIA interrogations).
Stuttgart, Germany: If being designated an enemy combatant means the loss of even the most basic of rights, shouldn't an independent body determine who qualifies for such a designation? If not, what is to prevent anyone from being designated an enemy combatant?
While the Bush administration may believe that it is acting in the country's best interest, this seems an awfully dangerous precedence to set. In fact, it seems especially dangerous to use a potentially unending war as the basis for an overarching expansion of executive authority. This should sit easy with none of us.
Dan Eggen: The Bush administration's position is that the president has the power to declare anyone an enemy combatant. There are procedures set in place for doing so, but essentially it's voluntary. The Supreme Court upheld a president's right to designate such combatants in 1942, though there is still a great deal of disagreement about the parameters.
Kansas City, Mo.: As I look at the memo, the declassification was done by the Acting General Counsel of the Defense Department, yet the memo itself was written by the Justice Department. Since when does the DOD declassify materials written by other agencies?
Dan Eggen: The memo was written for DOD, and therefore it was theirs, essentially. They also would be the agency to determine whether there were classified secrets that should not be disclosed. If the memo were written to the CIA, presumably they may have played a similar role.
Northwest D.C.: What relevance will this memo, in the context of other documents relating to the legality of torture, have to the low-level soldiers charged with criminal abuse in the Abu Ghraib scandal? It appears increasingly likely that these soldiers, as misguided as their actions were, acted in an atmosphere fostering criminal mistreatment. From this memo, one would be tempted to infer that the administration scapegoated these individuals to draw attention away from a broadly-held policy of sub-human treatment of adversaries. Can there be any accountability?
Dan Eggen: Actually, the impact of this memo could be to shield even low-level soldiers from any punishment for harsh treatment. Yoo's memo essentially argues that a broad range of conduct, including assault and other physical contact, may not be prosecutable. Much of the document reads like a defense brief on behalf of a wayward interrogator. It may complicate the few court cases that are left.
Dan Eggen: Well folks, we're out of time. Thanks for all of your great questions, and I'm only sorry I couldn't answer more of them. Keep reading!
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Washington Post staff writer Dan Eggen discusses the release of 2003, 81-page Justice Department memo asserting that federal laws prohibiting assault, maiming and other crimes did not appl to military interrogators who questioned al-Qaeda captives.
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PBS Frontline: 'Bad Voodoo's War'
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" Bad Voodoo's War" will air Tuesday, April 1 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Scranton started her career in journalism freelancing for ESPN, CBS Sports, ABC Sports, MTV Networks, USA Networks and the Outdoor Life Network. In 2006 she made her feature film directorial debut with "The War Tapes," which won Best Documentary Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival and Best International Documentary at the BritDoc Festival.
Warwick, R.I.: Hi Deborah. I just watched the Frontline show tonight. All I can say right now is "amazing" and "unbelievable." Thank you for bringing this story to us. Is there a way to e-mail these soldiers directly? I have an idea about making their world a bit brighter over there. I was greatly moved by this presentation tonight. Why don't the news channels focus on these stories? Well I guess you and I know the answer to that, don't we! I look forward to hearing from you.
Deborah Scranton: Hi -- thank you very much! Some of the soldiers can be contacted through this link. My e-mail is located at the bottom of this page.
Ashland, Ore.: Do you know, other than the security concerns mentioned, whether there were guidelines or censorship imposed on the men sending the tapes? Thank you and the men for the excellent show.
Deborah Scranton: The men were obviously very aware of operational security at all times. None of us would ever want to show anything that would put the soldiers who were filming (or any other American soldiers) in harm's way. There was no censorship imposed on the men. The military has been incredibly supportive of the soldiers telling their story and has not censored anything in any way.
Cincinnati: When will Bad Voodoo be coming home from this tour? How are they doing as of today?
Deborah Scranton: The guys from Bad Voodoo will be home sometime in May or June of this year. Everyone was fine as of yesterday! Thanks for asking.
Spangdahlem Airbase, Germany: Hey Deborah! This Jean LaBarre, aka "Rev," and I just wanted to say that I watched the video online this morning and it was very well put together. Thank you for doing specials like this, because it seems like in today's world people only see the bad side of the military; specials like this one really help out the persona of the ones on the frontlines everyday. And if you talk to Toby, tell him I said "what's up" and I'm prayin' for him and his crew every day. Thanks, and God bless.
Deborah Scranton: Hey Rev! So great to hear from you --- the soldier of the most beautiful prayer ever heard!
For all of the rest of you on this chat, you'll remember Rev as the young man who made the beautiful prayer in our film (and then proceeded to get blown up in that night IED) scene.
And I know Toby would say "what's up!?" right back at you and "8 Ball."
Junction City, Kan.: Deborah, I watched the an episode for the first time last night; it was great. I am requesting a CD copy of "Bad Voodoo's War" to use as a tool for my soldiers. We are preparing for this same mission in an upcoming Iraq deployment, and I would like for my new soldiers to see what real world will be like. Thanks for any help you can give me in this area.
Deborah Scranton: Dear Sir (or Sgt.): Thank you so much. The film is streaming now at the Frontline Web site, so you could watch it with your guys that way, or order a DVD. Which unit are you with if you don't mind me asking?
Harrisburg, Pa.: How did you get into documentary film directing? Are you related to the Scrantons of Pennsylvania (for whom the city Scranton was named)?
Deborah Scranton: I've always been obsessed by what I would call 'warrior stories' -- those that involve a journey, facing and overcoming obstacles, and a coming home or reaching of a deeper understanding. I got my start doing profiles and covering major sporting events like the Olympics, Tour de France, World Cup Ski Racing then transitioned into making films. "Bad Voodoo's War"is my third, "the War Tapes" was my second and "Stories From Silence, Witness to War was my first.
And yes I am related, although my Scranton's were from the Warwick line, and both my Revolutionary War ancestors fought for the state of New Hampshire.
Vallejo, Calif.: I just want to say thank you to Deborah. My husband is Spc. Jonathan Serbellon and I have struggled with understanding what he does as a Bad Voodoo soldier. I was hesitant to watch the program because I protected myself from seeing their day-to-day, but I felt the program really opened my eyes a little bit more. I know I can speak on behalf of his mom as well when I say thank you for allowing us into their world and showing the country how wonderfully brave these men are.
Deborah Scranton: Hi!!!! So nice to meet you, Jonathan spoke a lot about you and his mom, grandmom and great-grand mom!!! I'm glad the film felt true to you. And I hope you've seen Jonathan's bio on the Web site.
He is such a thoughtful, sensitive man. And I hope you take a chance to visit the comment sections on the Web site and read what so many people have written as far as having a newfound understanding, empathy and connection to the men of Bad Voodoo and soldiers like them.
Boston: One of the best frontlines ever. Sometimes just letting the soldiers tell their own stories is the most powerful way to convey what the experience over there is really like.
Deborah Scranton: Thank you. I couldn't agree with you more! For me truth resides in contrasting ground level narratives -- and amplifying the voices of the people truly involved. Nothing like "boots on the ground" perspectives to open eyes and hearts.
Newtown Square, Pa.: Thank you for the sincerity and honesty that you brought to this show. You really did try to keep an even keel, and it shows in the comments I've seen around the Web. Here's hoping for many more.
Deborah Scranton: Thank you, we are hoping for that too.
Write our Web site and tell Frontline you want more www.pbs.org/frontline/badvoodoo
Your voice is very important in getting these types of stories made!
Sumter, S.C.: I saw the show last night, and it was amazing to see how our troops really are living. I hope that you and everybody else involved reach the global success you all deserve!
Deborah Scranton: Thanks, success for us would be to amplify these guys' story (and others') as far and wide as possible. If you'd encourage people to watch and comment at Frontline's Web site we would appreciate it.
Actually, we'd like nothing more than if enough people were to write in and crash their server :-)
That would help send the message that Americans want to hear the soldiers' story first-hand.
Bloomington, Ind.: Another question for you, Deborah. Why did you choose National Guard soldiers as your focus rather than members of other service branches?
Deborah Scranton: They chose me... I've been virtual friends with milblogger J.P. Borda (one of the Bad Voodoo soldiers) since the release of my earlier film "The War Tapes." A year after that was theatrically released, J.P. sent me an e-mail saying that his unit had been called up and wondered if I'd be willing to work with them to tell their story...
J.P.'s amazing blog is milblogging.com if any of you want to check it out. I highly recommend it.
Washington: Deborah, I saw the program last night and really thought it was a wonderful piece of work. I thought it was thoughtful, nonjudgmental, and added some much needed humanity to the dialogue on the war in Iraq. How are the guys doing over there? Will another film be forthcoming updating their progress?
Deborah Scranton: Thank you very much.
We will be following the guys of Bad Voodoo until they come home and adding video updates as well as blog posts from the guys and me at Frontline's Web site.
Alexandria, Va.: Congratulations on your film -- it is a powerful piece of work, and very well done. Question -- why was no appearance or mention made of the platoon leader (typically a first lieutenant)? Did you offer a camera to him? Did he decline? If so, why? Thank you.
Deborah Scranton: We wanted to tell an noncommissioned officer story (no offense to all the wonderful amazing, inspiring officers out there!). We didn't offer the first lieutenant a camera, and he didn't ask for one.
New York: For years I have been trying to follow the Iraq war through the eyes of the men and women there. I was reading Jason Just Another Solider blog and e-mailing with him and sending DVDs to him. It gave me a real understanding of the war beyond the news and misguided opinion of the politicians here. Thank you for this view of the war and the insight into these men and women.
I wish there was an easy answer to understanding this war and our path as a country. Just yesterday I was listening to Terry Gross interview the Nobel Prize winner economist about the trillion dollar war and how Iraq is only one part of the war. Coming home with or without injuries is a whole other war for them. Do these warriors have any vision or insight for us about the war?
Deborah Scranton: Jason Christopher Hartley is an amazing writer (and a friend of mine). His blog/book "Just Another Soldier" is one of several ground level narratives that continue to be an inspiration to me as a filmmaker.
Salem, Ind.: Thanks to you, the men of Bad Voodoo and all the other men and women serving overseas. This program was an excellent glimpse to what life in the military consists of. The times on patrol where time comes to a standstill because the adrenaline is flowing so hard, but then is gone in an instant afterwards. The monotonous boredom during downtime even though that third eye is always awake. This really is an emotional rollercoaster for these guys. Stay safe, guys, and come home to open arms. We're all thinking of you.
Deborah Scranton: Thank you for taking the time to write in. For more content on the guys please check out (and write in and share your thoughts) on the Frontline Web site.
George, Iowa: It seems obvious to me that these "no-bid" contractors, KBR and Halliburton don't serve any kind of real purpose other than to hurt our troops and plunder our tax dollars. I hope footage of the many of these companies' constant shortcomings/intentional blunders are being compiled and that some organization is building a case for redress of the "legal" plunder caused by these rogue companies and their shareholders and all involved in the White House. You know to whom I'm referring ... it's treasonous...
Deborah Scranton: I hope that by amplifying soldiers' voices, I am helping to inform you. Policymakers are elected by voters.
Elizabethtown, N.C.: I watched your program last night and I really was engrossed in it. I don't have the words to describe the intense feelings and compassion and worry I felt for those soldiers. The American public truly does not know what they go through there. The realistic documentary truly lets you know not only what happens there, but the stress and seriousness of our troops. I don't want to miss any continuing coverage. Do you have the airtime schedule?
Deborah Scranton: Thank you for sharing your reactions and feelings about the film.
Check your local PBS station listings and tune in to the Web site, which has the show streaming online and will have updates added regularly until the men of Bad Voodoo come home.
And while you're there write in! The guys will all be reading the comments section from Iraq -- and while they appreciate personal emails, the action of publishing something in the comments section for everyone to see is a powerful tool for getting these films made.
Alexandria, Va.: Hi Deborah. My husband and I watched your documentary last night on Frontline. Neither one of us has had a family member in Iraq, but we both felt like we knew these guys by the end. He was so moved that he said he didn't know if he wanted to find out any more about these guys because he was afraid he'd discover that some of them died. I think everyone should see this. We all hear or read news about the war in Iraq and have our opinions about it, but none of us ever really will know what it's like to be over there. You came very close to putting us in the vehicles with those guys. My opinion: They all should have come home a long time ago. We need to have more stories like this. Thank you.
Deborah Scranton: There is nothing more gratifying than introducing soldiers to families and people who know none. Now you do! We are all in this together. Thank you for caring!
Reston, Va.: Hey, Deborah ... superb work, exceptionally understanding of and sympathetic to Toby and the soldiers involved. Beautifully done! What's your next project?
Deborah Scranton: Thank you so much. I had an an amazing team, including of course the Soldiers with Cameras like Toby, Jason, J.P., Jonathan, Ben, Bryan, Jake and Richard (and others who filled in) -- and also my ever-by-my-side Associate Producer Katherine Robinson, Co-Producer/DP PH O'Brien and Co-Producer/Editor Seth Bomse.
We have a few new projects in the pipeline -- we'll announce them on my Filmmaker's MySpace page.
Kensington, Md.: Deborah, I can't thank you and the men of Bad Voodoo enough for sharing their story. For the first time ever, I am moved to contribute to PBS. Tell your bosses that!
Deborah Scranton: You tell them! They might not believe me... :-) Thank you!
Manhattan, N.Y.: I wondered while watching the program last night how local commanders reacted to the filming. While I was glad to hear of the military's cooperation, I wonder if this successful airing will bring White House or Pentagon retaliation. As the 2008 election campaign drones on, your show starkly challenges both the Democrat hedge-your-bets approach and McCain's dogged insistence that these men are doomed to serve more deployments.
Deborah Scranton: We've had a lot of positive responses which started coming in immediately last night (no negative ones so far), from commanders on various levels who didn't participate in the production of the film. I don't anticipate any retaliation on any front from the Pentagon and as for the White House and the election your guess is as good as mine. The point of the show is to amplify the soldiers' voices and get all of us more connected to the reality of this war and those who are fighting it in our name.
Groton, Mass.: Do the video tapes go through military censorship? What is the vetting process for the tapes before Deborah receives them?
Deborah Scranton: No, the tapes did not go through any censorship. A security review was done before the broadcast of the show to make sure we weren't jeopardizing anyone's safety.
Baltimore: While I always have opposed this war, this documentary brought a new dimension to my anger. I missed the first ten minutes so I apologize if you addressed this in the film: "Mission-wise" how representative is this platoon of the forces out there overall? Because if the mission of thousands of our armed forces is to convoy materials back and forth across the country for private contractors,(cynically referred to by the unit as "the lettuce and tomato run"), while basically waiting for the moment that they get picked off by an IED, I fail to see why they can't come back home immediately.
It seems that the media repeatedly has sounded a talking point -- namely "we can't send them back home because their work is too critical to stabilizing the country." What am I missing then when I see footage suggesting that the Iraqi Army is planting IEDs on bridges? It seems to me that my tax dollars are being used to turn a group of incredibly brave, intelligent soldiers into disposable couriers.
Deborah Scranton: By amplifying the soldiers' voices, I'm trying to bring their perspective and experience into our national consciousness, dialogue and awareness. If that raises questions for you and others, I hope you all get connected and involved and demand better answers.
Princeton, N.J.: The frustration with the high risks related to the seeming lack of purpose of their missions is overwhelmingly apparent with J.P., Toby and the other Joes. I also felt their anxiety about time lost at home. How important has the reporting/interaction with you been to help these guys stay connected and to better maintain their sanity?
Deborah Scranton: Toby has specifically expressed that having the outlet of the camera and someone listening on the other end has helped him. We all want to feel connected, and there is a big problem with the troops feeling anonymous to many here at home.
Volcano, Hawaii: I was struck by the soldiers' frankness in discussing the value of their mission, their feelings about the Iraqi armed forces, and the political aspects of the engagement. You suspect things from reading news articles, but to hear it directly from them was a powerful experience. It made me realize how infrequently we have heard from the men and women on the ground speak openly in an unstructured setting, and how important that is. My thanks go to them.
Related to this, have you received any comments about the documentary from upper levels of the military? Did it have to be reviewed before it was released? Were you able to include everything you wanted? If not, what was excluded? Finally, did KBR ever give a reason for not showing up? My thanks again, to you and the soldiers in the Bad Voodoo Platoon. It sounds too easy for me to say "be safe," but really, be safe and come home.
Deborah Scranton: Thank you for so eloquently describing your thoughts. Soldiers are as frank as the rest of us and willing to share -- if you are really listening and let them know you are listening.
I've already answered some of your questions about reviewing footage, etc. I was able to include everything that I wanted, nothing was excluded or censored.
The men never found out why KBR didn't show up, Toby told me it happens quite often -- that the guys are left out there hanging ... (which makes me rabid with rage)
San Clemente, Calif.: I really enjoyed your film. Frontline has done a fine job of keeping the Iraq war front and center at a time when most people are trying to tune out. That is unfair for our soldiers and their families. I have been involved with booksforsoldiers.com for many years now and have come to know a great many soldiers and Marines. I met Colby Buzzell on that site -- he wanted Jack Kerouac books. Beatnik soldiers, who would have guessed?
Deborah Scranton: As far as people tuning out, I see it all around me. What we are talking about here is endurance ... if the guys can endure those convoy security missions, surely we should be able to endure reading our newspapers, blogs and watching films that tell their stories and inform us. And also bearing witness to those who are dying and being wounded.
Colby is an amazingly rich complex person, and brilliant writer. His blog turned book, "My War" is another one of my inspirations.
An interesting coincidence is that, on his first tour to Iraq Toby served in the same Stryker brigade with Colby.
Saint James, Fla.: Deborah: "Bad Voodoo's War" is marvelous journalism! Thanks for an inside look at what makes our military brotherhood so strong and effective. What a waste to put such highly trained specialists out there running interference as bomb bait for private truck convoys operated by the very companies that are profiting from this stupid extension of a needless war. You're guys are great! You made us love them like members of their families and we are proud to know them. May they all come home safe soon
Deborah Scranton: Thank you, they are members of all of our families. We are so glad you feel that way. One of the prime goals of our filmmaking work is making connection where so often there is a disconnect. We hope that America will start to view soldiers and Marines (and their families) as a "we" -- not an "us" and "them." War needs to get a lot more personal for all of us to progress towards something better. If you see these guys as sons, then we see that as a step in the right direction. Thank you for opening your hearts.
Rockville, Md.: Have you seen the film "Fighting for Life"? My wife works at the medical school and I used to. We like it.
Deborah Scranton: No, I haven't had a chance to yet -- thanks for the suggestion.
Alexandria, Va.: I thought last night's show was amazing and a real tribute to real men fighting this war, but the thing that struck me the most was the IED explosion near the Iraqi police barracks. The previous night I had watched a National Geographic Channel show called "Inside the Green Berets." On that show, a nighttime convoy was under an ambush threat when the Afghan army truck "accidentally" turned its lights on, illuminating an American vehicle which promptly took an RPG and killed two Americans. We are truly in bed with traitorous snakes.
Deborah Scranton: One of the difficulties of fighting a counterinsurgency is not knowing who is friend or foe -- and the fact that the status can change day by day.
Bloomington, Ind.: Ms. Scranton, I was delighted to see that you've replicated "The War Tapes" in short form on this week's Frontline. I teach "The War Tapes" in a class titled The Responsibility of War at Indiana University; the students -- all 18- or 19-year-old freshmen -- invariably react with surprise to the rawness of the content. (They think "Black Hawk Down" is the real thing prior to seeing "The War Tapes.") So I wanted first to say that I'm so pleased to see you continuing the work of allowing soldiers to tell their stories. I'll show this semester's class the Frontline episode when it arrives in the mail.
Next, I have a few questions for you. First, I recall reading in an interview you gave about "The War Tapes" that you selected the most cinematic moments from those 800 hours of film to create the final product. What motivated your selection of moments from Bad Voodoo's deployment for this episode? (And, I suppose, to what degree did Frontline producers influence content selection?)
Second, "The War Tapes" follows New Hampshire Guardsmen, and as I understand your home is in New Hampshire; the connection appears to be obvious. Why did you select Bad Voodoo, a Guard platoon from California? Finally, as I'm sure you're aware, Frontline's version of "Operation Homecoming" developed into a feature-length documentary; are there any plans to do the same with Bad Voodoo?
Thank you for the work that you do to get these soldiers' stories out to the public. I remain impressed by the way you foregrounded the soldiers in "The War Tapes" -- only the soldiers speak. The film continues to be an invaluable educational tool for me, both personally and as an educator. I am happy now to add this Frontline episode to the tool belt.
Deborah Scranton: Thank you, I think it's the world of "Black Hawk Down" as well. I'm so pleased that you are bringing this type of work into your classes!
As far as editing decisions go, Frontline's producers couldn't have been more supportive of the soldiers' voices. David Pfanning, Mike Sullivan and Lou Wiley are some of the bravest producers in television. It has been an honor and joy to work with them (and their team) on this film.
Deciding what to include or not to include in the final film, I take my cues from the natural flow of their footage. There is no preconceived notion of what the story will be. I promised them we would tell the story through their eyes wherever it takes us. And we were lucky enough to have a truly amazing, verite style editor Seth Bomse who crafted the film beautifully.
Deborah Scranton: Thank you all for your questions, it has been wonderful to have a dialogue with you all. I look forward to hearing from you again and continue the conversations we've started here on the Frontline "Bad Voodoo's War" Web site.
Please come find us and say hello. The Web site will be updated with new video, photos, blog posts until the guys come home. Join us. Remember the soldiers.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Frontline director Deborah Scranton discusses her film "Bad Voodoo's War," which is comprised of footage shot by a California National Guard platoon during their deployment to Iraq.
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Ask Tom - washingtonpost.com
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In a city loaded with diverse restaurants, from New American chic and upscale Italian to sandwich shops and burritos on the run, finding the best places to eat can be a real puzzle. Where's the best restaurant for a first date or an anniversary? Father's Day? What's the best burger joint? Who has the best service?
Ask Tom. Tom Sietsema, The Washington Post's food critic, is on hand Wednesdays at 11 a.m. ET to answer your questions, listen to your suggestions and even entertain your complaints about Washington dining. Sietsema, a veteran food writer, has sampled the wares and worked as a critic in Washington, Seattle, San Francisco and Milwaukee, and can talk restaurants with the best of 'em. You can access his Postcards from Tom to read his recommendations for other cities, read his dining column, First Bite and the Dish or read transcripts of previous "Ask Tom" chats. Tom's Sunday magazine reviews, as well as his "Ask Tom" column, are available early on the Web.
Married to a camel: Tom, when we go out to dinner, my husband always orders Diet Coke/Pepsi with his meal and needs at least four refills during our time at the restaurant. He's always super-polite about it and doesn't complain when it doesn't get refilled for a few minutes.
Do you think it's worth mentioning to the server at the beginning of a dining experience that he will be drinking a ton of Diet Coke and to keep the refills coming? (Hopefully in a more refined way than that!) Is it a tacky thing to mention? He's not trying to get his money's worth or anything, he just drinks a ton while he's eating!
Is it something we should bring up, or just let the server figure out that he's going to be a high-maintenance refill guest?
Tom Sietsema: A good waiter is going to notice "the camel" and his empty glass. But I suppose you could let your server know at the start of the meal, in a light-hearted way, about your husband's great thirst. As you have us.
True story: For those who think we servers types have easy jobs, I offer this example of the brilliance of some guests. Last night a man called the restaurant and informed us that he and his wife had found a parking spot about 1 1/2 blocks away. They didn't want to give it up so they asked if we would send a valet to pick up the car for them!!!
Tom Sietsema: You know what? I believe you! Too funny.
I'm submitting early since I'll be unavailable during chat time, but I had the most disappointing experience at Vidalia Friday night that I needed to get it off my chest.
My husband and I turned up on time for our reservations at 7:45 p.m. and were seated almost immediately. This was a good sign, as was the wine "bible" placed before us, and the amuse bouche and bread basket were nice as well. It was all downhill after that, however.
From the restaurant's Web site, the menu displayed was from January 2008 (yet ANOTHER reason for restaurants to keep their Web sites updated!) and I was intrigued by the fried chicken. Being a true Southern girl, I was eager to see how a three-star chef would put his own personal spin on a classic. When we got our menus on Friday, however, I was disappointed to see that not only was there no fried chicken, but that 95% of the menu was fish and shellfish oriented. I'm allergic to the iodine in fish and shellfish, so almost all of the options were out of the question. If the Web site had been updated, I would never have gone to Vidalia, preferring instead to eat at a place where I had more choice. But it was too late to back out by then, so when our waiter brought our wine (a ridiculously overpriced merlot) and asked for our order, I asked for the "peas and carrots" (mushy baby carrots, firm spring peas, and homemade pasta) and the suckling pig (the plate arrived hot, the food was cold, and the filling of the suckling pig tasted earthy). I ate what I could, admired my husband's plate (he got the quail, which looked nicer), and when it came time for dessert, I was so depressed by the disappointing and ridiculously overpriced meal (nearly $300 for two appetizers, two entrees, a bottle of wine, and a gelatinous slice of pecan pie that a true Southerner would be ashamed to claim as their own!) that all I wanted to do was leave and never speak of the evening again. No one ever asked us how things were, or I would have complained.
Now Tom, I'm not a cheapskate by any means, and I have gladly spent more on dinners before and will do so in the future, but that meal was a travesty, and a waste of valuable calories I could have used elsewhere.
On the upside (because I think it's important to balance out my tale of woe with good news), the next evening, my husband and I walked right into Central without a reservation, had impeccable service, mind-blowing food (try the 72 hour short ribs!), for $100 less than the meal the night before. The meal at Central balanced out the meal at Vidalia, but I'll never go back to Vidalia, and I'll never recommend that anyone I know go there.
Thanks for listening, and thanks for this great food forum!
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for posting. I'm sorry to say, the comments I've been fielding of late regarding Vidalia's food have not been very positive.
Let this be a reminder to restaurants: Keep your Web sites up-to-date!
I don't want to reignite the debate on children in restaurants, but let's assume that if a restaurant has high-chairs, they welcome childen (within reasonable parameters). May I use your forum to ask the restauranteurs out there to please buy new ones every now and then? On 90 percent of the chairs offered to us, the straps are broken (and the chairs are filthy). We end up having to take turns keeping a hand on our son to make sure he doesn't fall out.
And don't get me started on changing tables in restrooms: (a)please have them, and clean them; and (b) have them in both restrooms, since my husband is as likely to change our son as I am, given the possibility.
Again, not saying every restaurant should have these things, but if you do welcome children (and their paying parents), please really welcome them.
Tom Sietsema: You raise some fair points. Are you listening, child-friendly restaurants?
One of the neat things at the recently-reviewed Kemble Park Tavern in Palisades is the old-fashioned changing table in the gents' room. Just fyi.
Washington, D.C.: Hi Tom -- Of Montsouris, West End Bistro and Brasserie Beck, what would be your pick for a casual Saturday night dinner?
Tom Sietsema: Westend Bistro has the best food, but it's also "casual" as defined by the Ritz-Carlton.
23rd and M, D.C.: Hi Tom,
I see that there's a Timothy Dean Bistro coming to the new National Harbor development. Is that anything to get excited about? Also, by the looks of things, there are a lot of chain restaurants, like Maggiano's and something called Ketchup, heading that way as well. I don't see it as being a culinary destination, do you?
Tom Sietsema: TImothy Dean worked under Jean-Louis Palladin at the Watergate years ago. So that could bode well for the development. But I was really disappointed to see all the (mediocre) chains as part of the plan. There's some really awful food coming that way. I know nothing about Ketchup.
Vienna, Va.: Going with a group of six to Me Jana for the first time this weekend. Any dishes that we must absolutely get? Do you recommend sharing a bunch of mezzes?
Tom Sietsema: Uh, did you read the review?
washingtonpost.com: Me Jana Review: A Welcome Addition in Arlington
Falls Church, Va.: My boyfriend's 30th birthday is coming up and I wanted to do something really special for him. A few years ago I had gotten him a gift certificate to 2941, and we had a lovely meal there. I was thinking about doing the same thing this year, but am now a bit wary after reading your review.
Also, do you know of any high end restaurants that are amenable to working with patrons with food allergies?
Tom Sietsema: 2941 is a lovely restaurant, but I don't get the sense that the chef is giving us his best work at the moment, nor does the service always live up to the expense of a meal there.
For that kind of money, I'd rather go to Cityzen, Restaurant Eve, Citronelle or Palena -- all of which I'm betting could handle your special requests.
washingtonpost.com: 2941 Review: Cautiously Classic
Settling a newlywed bet...: Hi Tom,
Thanks for providing a great weekly forum. Hope you can settle a semi-objective bet...while I don't mind waiting 45+ minutes for a table if we don't have a reservation (seems to be the norm on a Saturday night), it drives my husband nuts. Is the wait time at "good" restaurants in our area (say, Rustico or Oyamel), in your opinion, commensurate with other major metropolitan areas? He feels like we don't have to wait as long when we travel to other large cities -- I disagree. Thanks for your help!
Tom Sietsema: Without a weekend reservation for a "good" restaurant in such delicious markets as Chicago, New York, Seattle and San Francisco, you're going to wait as long.
Cough up some dough, hubby!
10th and Penn, NW: So Roberto Donna is not going back to his old space at the old Galileo, eh? Surely he has known since the building went under renovation that the space available to him was going to be severely reduced. How could this possibly come as a surprise?
Tom Sietsema: Maybe it didn't. Maybe he wants a change of scenery.
washingtonpost.com: Dish: The Roberto Donna Rumors are True
Washington, D.C.: I agree that Web sites should be up to date, but I don't expect an ever-changing menu to be so. I only look at the menus to get an idea of how and what restaurants serve. But, to add to the Web site discussion . . . I travel for work and often Mapquest directions to restaurants in areas I'm unfamiliar in. You would be surprised by the number of Web sites that fail to list zipcodes (or area codes) in their contact information. Mapquest isn't perfect and a zip can go a long way in making sure I have the right area of town.
Tom Sietsema: Let's add Zip codes and area codes to the wish list.
Takoma Park, Md.: Hi Tom! I thought this might make for some interesting discussion. Below is an email I got from Dino after making an OpenTable reservation. I have no problem with it, by the way -- I thought it was honest and helpful. Parking is often a problem up there and I'm sure people use it as an excuse all the time. Kudos to them for trying to be proactive. (Maybe I shouldn't spill the beans, but they were more accomodating of a late arrival than the email suggests.) The entire visit was lovely and we'll certainly return.
"Thank you for reserving at Dino. Please be aware that we are a small restaurant and, on busy nights, we seat parties only when COMPLETE & INSIDE THE RESTAURANT. We hold reservations for 15 minutes past the stated time unless you have called and made prior arrangements. If your party arrives or completes later than this, we will make every effort to seat you as soon as possible. Please be aware of folks waiting for tables after you have finished your meal. Parking in Cleveland Park can be tight, so please consider Metro, or leave yourself sufficient time to find a spot. The best parking is north and east of the restaurant. Rodman & Porter usually offer the best spots to park. We do not offer valet parking. Parties of 7 or more typically will be seated in our second floor dining room. While we will try our best to honor requests for up/down stairs, windows, quiet etc, we have a limited number of such tables; others may have made similar requests prior to your reservation."
Tom Sietsema: Talk about thorough! I, too, admire the restaurant's proactive approach.
I'm not a big fan of parties not being seated right away, especially when I plan to order a drink or wine. (I mean, I'm spending money as soon as I sit down, right?) But I understand why restaurants stick to their guns. I've seen far too many people sitting at far too many half-filled tables, waiting and waiting for stragglers to show up. A few offenders spoil it for everyone!
I wonder if you have noticed any effect of the current weak economic climate on restaurants? Restaurants have gotten so expensive and I can't imagine that enough people can afford to sustain the current number of restaurants out there. I was at Cork Friday night and Luigino's Saturday night. I had a modest dinner (apps, pasta, no entree) and two glasses of wine both nights and the damage came to $60 with tip each night. That is a lot of money for something that is not a special occasion (two nights per week = $480 per month!!) and I have decided to cut back to once or twice a month. The crowds keep coming but I wonder how many people can really afford to spend $20 for two glasses of wine in a noisy, crowded restaurant.
Tom Sietsema: You raise an interesting point. Either the looming recession is not affecting a lot of diners or they're ignoring the ugly reality. Or more people are eating off expense accounts that we realize.
I figured my coffee habit (four shots of espresso, twice a day) costs me about $120 a month. And I know I won't be continuing the habit much longer!
Curious: How are YOU cutting back, food- or restaurant-wise?
Arlington, Va.: Short and sweet, Tom. Who makes your favorite chicken wings in town?
Tom Sietsema: The best in recent memnory? The plump wings at Meridian, served with a trio of snappy dips.
Washington, D.C.: Restaurant 3 in Clarendon...your take?
Tom Sietsema: Dunno. Haven't been. Chatters?
Just curious as to your thoughts about next week being restaurant week in Silver Spring. Do you have a specific restaurant you would recommend? Thanks for any insight.
Tom Sietsema: I'd probably check out Nicaro, Jackie's or Lebanese Taverna myself.
I submitted a comment regarding a restaurant last week. This particular restaurant is never mentioned anywhere, and I myself have to admit that I would have never walked into it...but alas I did, and it was GREAT. The restaurant I am talking about is La Tomate. My question is: Why don't you post comments like these? I am sure if the comment was about restaurants that are owned by your "friends" like Eve or the likes, the comment would have been posted right away. My advice is, post different comments, that way people will have a chance to try different things and judge for themselves. Thank you.
Tom Sietsema: I've eaten at La Tomate. I don't care for it (although the view of passersby and outdoor patio are prime). I much prefer the owner's second restaurant across the street: Mourayo, the Greek dining room.
A comment about your comment. I don't count as "friends" anyone in the local restaurant business. Do I admire some chefs and owners more than others? Yes. Do I try to play fair and be inclusive? I do, I really do. But in the end, I owe it my readers not to get close to the folks I cover. I'm saving that for retirement -- not soon, in other words.
Chevy Chase: Any suggestions for something new in the Rockville area? I spend a couple of hours there each week waiting for my daughter's basketball practices to end, so I'm always looking for good, reasonably casual places to eat. Thanks.
Tom Sietsema: I think the newish La Canela (Peruvian food in a handsome space) is intriguing.
washingtonpost.com: First Bite: La Canela
Anonymous: Does your role as restaurant critic cover carryout orders?
I ask because when my husband and I had one child, we still would dine out (and we did a pretty good job of keeping our daughter entertained and interested in the food). Now that we have two children under the age of three, we are more interested in takeout menus. We cannot for the life of us find a Chinese restaurant in the District, and we tire of mediocre pizza and Thai. Are there any menus that jump out to you? We love all foods, although right now I am trying to avoid spicy and dairy due to nursing issues. We would love a list that is inclusive of what you think are the best. We live in Glover Park, if that helps. (Posting early -- but thank you for addressing this!)
Tom Sietsema: Funny, I was pondering this very idea -- writing about carryout menus -- after ordering dinner from Meiwah in the city recently. (It was fine.)
Yours is a terrific suggestion, one that also would require significant time and organization. I know this, having arranged for the deliveries of countless restaurant meals for my predeccessor back in the mid-80s, when she featured the results in a spring dining guide.
I was very surprised by your quote from Tom Power in today's paper that the new Courduroy will have essentially the same menu as before becasue it was "easier" and "faster." I stopped going there a few years ago because while the food was good, the menu was tired and boring. You'd think that with nicer digs, we'd get some new dishes as well.
Tom Sietsema: His point is, it's easier to set sail when you already know your lines, because opening a new business (even when you have experience) is tough. I don't begrudge him that, but it would be nice to see some fresh stuff on the new menu, along with his time-tested signatures.
Re: Dino: I definitely wish that I'd received that email from Dino! I spent my birthday there a few years back, and they made my large group (15) huddle in the doorway waiting for 2 stragglers! We were definitely a festive group that would have ordered lots of champagne, appetizers, etc. if given the space (none at the bar either) but instead I was stressed out on my birthday, and have not been back since.
Tom Sietsema: Maybe YOUR experience contributed to Dino's out-going email!
Washington, D.C.: Ketchup at National Harbor is some swanky celebrity owned place - I think partially owned by Ashton Kucher (sp), among others. They have a unit in LA and it looks like it is very trendy and American food. And I think the company owns a few other restaurants. (P.S. I am in no way associated with them, just heard about them.)
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for enlightening us. But the news isn't very encouraging.
Why don't these developers ever consult with FOOD people, not just MONEY people? PG County deserves better.
Washington: Tom, what is happing to all the non-expense account restaurants on K Street? Restaurant Kolumbia is gone; Legal Seafood is gone; Bombay Place is gone. Restaurant K doesnt look like its shaking up the world and I give it a year at best. Where are all the restaurants disappearing too???
Tom Sietsema: Penn Quarter is where the action is these days. I kind of feel sorry for the new restaurants on K St. -- a.k.a. Siberia.
Camels: A close friend of mine always orders his drink as follows: "Iced tea, and you might as well save yourself a few trips and bring me a pitcher."
Tom Sietsema: Well, that's ONE way to deal with the situation.
Restaurant Web sites: A further complaint about out-of-date sites: When I've complained to a restaurant about incorrect info on their Web sites, I've never gotten anything other than a virtual shrug, in the form of "That's our Web-design company's responsibility" -- as if they don't even care that they're alienating customers. Please, owners, if you're going to have a Web site at all, be vigilant about it. Would you not bother to correct a wrong phone number in the Yellow Pages? These sites are today's Yellow Pages.
RE: my husband is as likely to change our son as I am: Besides, there ARE single fathers out here, too.
"why don't you post...": When people whine "why don't you post comments like these?" they really mean "why didn't you post MY comment?" Don't let them get to you, Tom; we know you're more than fair in these chats.
Tom Sietsema: Thanks. I try to post a variety of comments and questions here. That's the first time I noticed anything concerning La Tomate.
Seriously, bring on some different restaurant names! I'm tired of typing Zaytinya, Rasika, Eve, etc. (Not that there's anything wrong with 'em, just that there are a lot of other places we should be considering.)
Woodley Park: Mr. Chen's is a reliable bet for Chinese delivery in Northwest. They use ingredients that they claim are "organic" whenever possible -- who knows what that actually works out to. But I've always enjoyed the General Tsao's chicken and the chicken with ginger and garlic sauce.
Tom Sietsema: Glad to hear the place, which I admired when it opened, is still pumping out some quality.
washingtonpost.com: A Dish on Mr. Chen's
Re outdated Web sites: It's also REALLY annoying when the prices have changed!
Tom Sietsema: Especially when they've been RAISED, right?
Often these chats are filled with negative comments, so I thought I'd offer a positive one. I went to Montmarte on Sunday for the first time and was absolutely blown away by the quality of the food and the attentive, knowledgeable service. Everyone in my party enjoyed their meal thoroughly, from the halibut to the lamb shank. I will certainly be returning in the near future. Great work, Montmarte!
Tom Sietsema: I adore the place, too.
washingtonpost.com: 2007 Dining Guide: Montmartre
Washington, D.C.: My 12-year-old is interested in trying Ethiopian food -- I think it is the idea of eating with your hands. While he is very adventuresome eater, he does not like hot (spicy) food. In fact, the only food he doesn't like is Indian because of the heat. Can you recommend a good Ethiopian place for him to try it for the first time and are there dishes that will not be too spicy for him? It doesn't have to be fancy or touristy. He loves Eden Center in Falls Church.
Tom Sietsema: Your son sounds like a fun little guy to eat with! I'd take him to Etete in the city and order the vegetarian sampler, which is varied and colorful and goes easy on the heat -- save for the jalapenos in the tomato-potato salad, as I recall.
Alexandria, Va.: Tom, Here's some Northern Va. restaurants I don't think I've ever heard you talk about -- Bistro Bistro, Bilbo Baggins, Evening Star -- how come?
Tom Sietsema: Maybe because there are 7,000 or so restaurants in the greater Washington area competing for my attention?
It's been years since I've been to Bistro Bistro and I've never set foot in Bilbo Baggins. Over the years, I've reviewed Evening Star multiple times for the Post and other media, but my last visit there was just OK and I haven't had reason to return.
Re: Cutting Back: Hi Tom,
I now make my own coffee at home, and if I don't have work-related lunches, I brown bag. I'd rather save $8 to $10 each day on lunch and enjoy a more upscale dinner on the weekends than to piddle away money on lunches that I can easily make myself. When we eat out we always order wine, so at home, we limit ourselves to wine at $10 per bottle or less (love Best Cellars!).
Tom Sietsema: Best Cellars thank you -- and so do I.
Birthday Dinners: Big birthday dinners are a pain in the neck. The last time I did one for my birthday, five years ago, my sister made a reservation at Odeon for 12 people. A large party walked in just before us. Odeon didn't ask them for a name or if they had a reservation, instead, THEY GAVE AWAY OUR TABLE. As it was a Saturday night, we had to wait over an hour for a new table to open up. No apologies, no comps, nothing. I'm still annoyed and won't ever go back.
Logan Tavern does birthdays right. I went for a friend's birthday a few months ago, and they seated people as they arrived, kept the drinks flowing, gave us more than one waiter, and made sure we were happy. While the food wasn't spectacular, and the portions are so large I can't even look at them, they can handle large groups.
In general, though, big birthday dinners are a pain for the birthday person, a pain for the restaurant, and annoying for your friends (especially when the bill comes). Just go for happy hour instead.
Tom Sietsema: Or have a friend cook for you! Or do a picnic!
Web sites: Have you ever seen the prices go down?
Tom Sietsema: No. That was a joke.
Vienna, Va: Ok Tom..here's a restaurant name that I know you loathe...Lauriol Plaza!! I know you consider it a tourist trap, but give it another chance. I've had good food there...now, I don't like any of their "Mexican" food. But, try their salvadorian specialties. I've never been disappointed. Just stay away from the fajitas, enchis, quesadillas, etc. Try it!!
Tom Sietsema: You know what? I will. (Thanks in part to a nudge from a foodie friend.)
Washington, D.C.: As I think someone else may have mentioned, I don't feel like restaurants are obligated to have the most current menu online. That's a lot to keep up with! But I think it is important for them to somehow indicate when the menu was created and/or to clearly say "sample menu". They should list prices, though! A lot of the time I'm looking as much to get a sense of cost as to get an idea of the food.
Tom Sietsema: "Sample" menu works for me if the menu changes often. But the "sample" should at least reflect the right time of year. As in: No mention of watermelon in December or shad in August.
Washington, D.C.: I was late to last week's chat -- don't give in to the Tyranny of the Slow Eaters! Does having a dirty, empty plate in front of me really fool you into thinking I haven't finished eating before you?
Tom Sietsema: Fair enough. But most etiquette mavens agree that plates should be removed from the table only after everyone has finished eating. As in a lot of things, the symbolism counts for something.
15th between L and M: Hi Tom,
I am such a huge fan! Since dealing with service issues at restaurants is a frequent topic of this forum, I wanted to share a story from this past weekend. A few friends and I were brunching at Les Halles. It's was a busy day, our waiter seemed to be responsible for the entire back section and we were feeling neglected. For about an hour. And then our orders were completely wrong. And then we got the wrong check. And no apology. However, when I brought up our experience to the manager, she very nicely apologized, regretted that we came to her after paying the bill and offered us free drinks and appetizers the next time we come in. It was a really nice touch after a frustrating morning and definitely changed our mind from "never again" to "we'll stop by and see how it goes". So kudos!
Now to a question -- I am spending the weekend in Baltimore. If you had one night to eat dinner there, where would you go? Because that's where I will go!
Tom Sietsema: See, it pays to seek out a manager, doesn't it (and in real time vs. after-the-fact)?
The best meal I've had in Baltimore remains dinner at Charleston. But it's fancy. Do you want fancy?
Accidents can happen to anybody, right? If a glass of wine gets spilled at the table, is it reasonable to expect a replacement without being charged a second time? If yes, and it does appear on the check, how might one politely address the situation?
Tom Sietsema: A diner shouldn't be charged for a glass of spilled wine. I'd ask to see a supervisor if such occured.
Maybe because there are 7,000 or so restaurants in the greater Washington area competing for my attention? : You better get busy, then. If you go out every day for lunch and dinner, it will only take you 9 years.
Tom Sietsema: I'm eating as fast as I can . . .
Submitting early, just in case.
I'm celebrating my 25th birthday with six good girlfriends two weeks from today. I want to go some place nice but not extravagant and fun but not noisy. I'm planning on moving, so this will be my last birthday dinner here in D.C. Can you give me some suggestions that I might not think of myself (or some that I would?)? I'm pretty terrible at planning things and trying to anticipate what others might enjoy.
Thanks so so much, Tom.
Tom Sietsema: Happy (early) birthday!
I'm thinking Mio, Buck's, the wine bar above Bistrot Lepic, the new Sushi-Ko in Chevy Chase or one of the tucked-away rooms at Cork in Logan Circle would suit your needs (and make you wish you weren't leaving such a great food city).
Any update on when Matchbox will be opening in Eastern Market? I work in Eastern Market and am running low on lunch options, Matchbox will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Also, while I'm asking, are they planning on being open for lunch and take out? (Fingers crossed.)
Tom Sietsema: Hang tight. The projected launch date is now "August-September." And given that two of the owners live on the Hill, I'm informed that lunch and take-out will be part of the program.
Washington, D.C.: Hi Tom --
A question of ordering etiquette -- if I would like to save a few bucks and order from a restaurant's pre-theater menu, what do I do? Several nice restaurants offer this option but without guidance as to when the fixed-price menu applies. Your thoughts?
Tom Sietsema: If I understand your question, you (generally) can order off the pre-theater menu only during certain time periods, typically before 7 p.m. and after prime time. Most restaurants that offer such deals promote them on the menu or on table tents.
Washington, D.C.: Tom: For the person looking for a Williamsburg restaurant -- I was there last week with my kids and had a terrific dinner at Blue Talon (Merchants Square). Good, informal bistro food done well. My son devoured his meatloaf, the burgers were good, and my dish (pork shoulder) was great. Very interesting and fairly priced wine list. Plus the owner/manager could not have been nicer.
Tom Sietsema: I should have brought up the place, as I've eaten there myself. Thanks for the memory jog.
Prices of commodities have soared in the last one year -
eg. a bag of flour - from $8 to $21
vegetable oil - from $12 - $28
a case of lemon from $17 - $40
Restaurateurs can't go and increase prices of their menus?
Thanks for allowing to vent!
Tom Sietsema: That's not what I said, though.
Restaurants have a right to raise prices in order to stay open and yes, even make a profit. They might be in the hospitality trade, but they're still BUSINESSES, you know?
Petersburg, Va.: Followup to a couple of burning issues from last week. The main reason that my husband and I sit next to each other, rather than across from each other, is closeness. Going out to eat is special, particularly with your favorite person. Also you don't have to talk as loudly to be heard, and most important, it's easier to offer one another samples of what you've ordered. As a very slow eater, my biggest plate-clearing gripe is having waitstaff try to grab my plate before I'm finished (no, haven't laid knife and fork across plate; it's clear I'm still eating) -- GRRRRRR! Get away from my food if you want to keep your hand, and don't rush what should be an enjoyable experience.
Tom Sietsema: Thanks for sharing. I'm actually addressing the (seating) issue in a future Ask Tom column in the Magazine. It turns out lots of people like sitting side by side and for a variety of reasons, all yours included.
Where do you stand on rounding change on a bill? I had a waitress keep almost fifty cents on a bill at Boulevard Woodgrill. I explained the situation to a manager and I left the tip with her and told her to explain to the waitress why I was leaving a 15 percent tip. I haven't left less than 18 percent in at least a couple of years. But the worst was a waiter who kept 75 cents a couple of years ago at Mie N Yu.
Tom Sietsema: Rounding up is wrong. And annoying. Just bring me the change already! Some waiters have no clue that the practice ultimately can result in less money for them.
Springfield, Va.: Interesting takeout under $10 -- includes great service! Creme -- quiche, green eggs and ham (on weekends). Also La Ruche -- paysanne omelette, quiche. Old Glory -- smoked Chicken soul rolls with cherries and Elvis fried PBJ with cherry (for Cherry Blossoms). Stoupsy's on 19th and K -- chicken filo pie, thick feta and spinach filo pie. Both are superb! Cafe Monti (Alexandria)-- White pizza with anchovies, goulash soup with terrific bread. Tippy's pizza has unusual flaky delicious crust. Hope last week's inquirer gets to know!
Tom Sietsema: A wealth of interesting ideas. Thanks.
Potomac, Md: My wife and I decided to try a new restaurant for lunch today. With the huge selection in the Golden Triangle of Bethesda, we came upon Nark Kara, a Thai restaurant.
We ordered food and drinks. When my wife's drink came, she picked it up and it slipped out of her hand, crashing on to the table and spilling all over. Wait staff cleaned up and the waitress asked if my wife would like another. She did.
The bill came and yes, we weree charged for both drinks. I asked the waitress about the billing, and she asked her manager who said that the bill should not be changed. Asking to speak with him, he came over. We explained that yes, my wife dropped the drink but that the glass also had condensate on it. His response was simply that once delivered, "It was our responsibility," sounding too much like a person trained in a city with too many lawyers.
We paid the bill but my wife explained that we left a less than full restaurant with a so-called bad taste in our mouths and with a desire to tell friends about a very bad experience. His response -- the bill is the bill.
So tell me please, was I wrong to question the bill, was he wrong to not make some accomodation, was there something else either of us should have done in a "proper restaurant setting"?
Tom Sietsema: Given the dozens of choices available to diners in Bethesda, if I were a restaurateur, I don't think I'd be charging anyone for a cocktail that went astray. I mean, it was an *accident* -- and it hadn't even been sipped!
More a comment than a question today, with hopes that some good dining news will help put everyone in a good mood.
My husband and I recently had a fantastic meal at Restaurant Eve where we really enjoyed Chef Armstrong's five-course tasting menu, served up with intelligence and good humor by Chrissy (I'm hoping that's how she spells it!).
The food was so inventive, bright and tasty that we can't stop telling people about the sea bream, and the quail with foie gras, and the veal and pistachio terrine, and the agnolotti, and the Wisconsin farmhouse cheese, and the baby red-veined sorrel, and demiglace with thyme from the kitchen garden, and the pignoli tuile, and . . . well, you get the picture. And Todd's kindness in writing down a couple of his wine selections I particularly enjoyed was much appreciated, as was a nice non-alcoholic version of one of his signature cocktails. From the moment we arrived until we walked out the door, the staff was just terrific.
From a former kitchen slave, and a lover of good, fresh, smart food, thanks to the chef, the kitchen, the servers, the hostess and everyone who helped us have one of the best meals we've had in a very long time.
(And in the interst of full disclosure, I have absolutely no connection to the restaurant, except being the newest member of their fan club.)
Tom Sietsema: A big bouquet today for Cathal, Meshelle and Todd! (With congrats for earning a coveted nomination for Best Chef/Mid-Atlantic from the James Beard Foundation, whose gala will be held the first Monday in June in New York.)
washingtonpost.com: 2007 Dining Guide: Restaurant Eve
Headed to Seattle: Hi Tom! My husband and I are meeting friends in Seattle in May. We only have one night, so we're looking for a great restaurant. Nothing crazy expensive, but upscale is fine. We'd love to stick to something that really represents Pacific Northwest cooking. Something on the fun/hip end of the spectrum rather than formal/stuffy. Any ideas? I checked the postcards and Matt's sounds like a possibility, but I'd love some other suggestions. Thank you so much!
Tom Sietsema: Before I even finished reading your question, I was thinking Matt's. But Tilth, set in a charming bungalow, is another restaurant I look forward to visiting again.
washingtonpost.com: Postcard From Tom: Seattle
Washington, DC: For the person looking for take out menus, I don't have a full list, but Spices in Cleveland Park delivers
Tom Sietsema: And Spices is a good place to know about.
Thanks for a lively hour, everyone. See you back here next Wednesday. Ciao, and chow, for now.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema answers your questions, listens to your suggestions and even entertains your complaints about Washington dining.
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Soccer Insider - washingtonpost.com
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Goff covers the D.C. United beat for The Washington Post and writes the Soccer Insider blog for washingtonpost.com.
Welcome to our first live online futbol chat of the MLS season
Can you please shed some light on doping in soccer and MLS specifically? As a fan of cycling and track and field, I've seen my sports dragged through the mud, but one never hears about futbol players getting caught. There is certainly an advantage to being faster and stronger, and there is a lot of money at stake. Many players must be taking some kind of performance enhancement drugs. Does MLS even test? What's the policy? Does FIFA or CONCACAF? It feels like a "don't ask, don't tell policy".
Steven Goff: MLS does test its players.
For details, read this statement from Bob Foose, head of the MLS players union, who testified before Congress a few years ago.
Harrisburg, Pa.: How advanced is the United scouting department? Do they spend time watching video of opponent's form leading up to matches?
Steven Goff: United has an elaborate video system for recording matches involving future opponents and for tracking players worldwide. Like all pro sports teams, DCU's coaching staff and players review film in the days leading up to a match.
Silver Spring, Md.: Mr. Goff,
This isn't really a question, but my soft spot for hulking center defenders leads me to submit it anyway.
A suggestion for the sports headline writers: if Gonzalo Peralta scores a goal this season, the headline in the paper the next day really needs to be "By the Hammer of Thor."
Steven Goff: Thanks for the suggestion.
Peralta is showing some fine qualities, indeed.
Falls Church, Va.: Is Marcelo Gallardo going to be worth his DP money? (This may be obsolete if he scores a hat trick in Pachuca after I write this)
Steven Goff: A little too early to render a verdict on a new player -- four matches into a year that could include 50 games.
I'm eager to find out how much Gallardo is actually earning this season. Rest assured, the full MLS salary list will be available soon.
Pentagon City, Va.: Any word on the expected attendance Saturday?
The club is hoping for 20,000.
Arlington, Va.: What's the latest on RFK hosting a USMNT qualifier later this year?
Steven Goff: I'm hearing RFK is the top candidate for the Sept. 10 WCQ against T&T or Bermuda. Home Depot Center appears to be the front-runner for the Cuba game in October. Not sure about the November qualifier vs. Guatemala.
Arlington, Va.: A while back, you said in your blog that you would not be returning to China this summer, and that eight or nine of your colleagues would be covering the Olympics. Has it been determined which ones will be covering men's and women's football? Also, it is a given that the USA women will be one of the teams to beat. Which teams should be considered pre-tournament favorites on the men's side, and what chance does the USA squad have of getting a medal against such competition?
Steven Goff: No decisions have been made about The Post's coverage of Olympic soccer, but since the early-round matches are played in cities other than Beijing, I can't imagine our reporters would attend very many until the medal rounds.
On the women's side, the favorites are Germany, Brazil and the USA. On the men's side, it is always difficult to predict because of the age restrictions; it's an under-23 tournament with three overage players permitted per team. Argentina and Brazil will bring strong sides, and Nigeria usually does well.
Rockville, Md.: How worried should DC United fans be right now? After losing the MLS opener to KC 2-0, the team seem to not be worried, pointing to their Champions League game vs. Pachua last night as the more important game. But then D.C. United goes ahead and loses that game by a 2-0 score as well, meaning they would have to win by at least the same score in the final leg of that match. For a team that has played 2 real games without scoring a goal, that seems to be a tall order. This leaves some fans concerned about the upcoming year.
Or is this just inevitable after the large turnover of the roster, and that by the end of the year, after playing together for a whole season, D.C. United will be primed to win the MLS Playoffs?
Which scenario seems more plausible right now?
Steven Goff: No doubt, United officials are troubled by the latest two results, but the home opener vs. Toronto Saturday and the return match against Pachuca will give us a better indication of where this club stands.
Pittsburgh, PA: Any idea if/when Fox Soccer Channel or Goal TV will begin showing games in HD format?
Steven Goff: Not that I know of.
You can see soccer in HD on ESPN2's coverage of MLS, HDNet, and, I'm guessing, ESPN's coverage of the European Championship this summer.
Fairfax, Va.: is Fred poised for a breakout year?
Steven Goff: Skillful player, needs to sharpen his passing. Last year, as the season progressed, we saw him evolve into a dangerous attacker. I am still not convinced the wing is where he belongs.
Thanks as always for doing these and for your dedicated efforts to the sport we all love (and sometimes get too passionate for).
Away from the on-the-field matters -- what's your feel for how CBA negotiations are going for MLS and its players? Both sides have to know what is at stake and both deserve to have a decent outcome (perhaps a 60/40 edge to the players). Will we see a healthy cap increase? Will we see development contracts become a "living wage"?
Steven Goff: It's not going to be pretty.
Salaries, free agency, pensions, roster sizes will all be discussed.
Alexandria, VA: Any word on the likely state of concessions stands at RFK this year, now that the Nats have departed? Are we going to see the same variety and number of vendors as last year, or did some of the concessions folks leave when the Nats bolted?
Steven Goff: I honestly don't know about the food situation, but in general, with the Nats gone, RFK is only going to get worse. I can't imagine the sports commission wants to spend another dime on our old friend.
Harrisburg, Pa: If you could prioritize and/or speculate as to the importance of the various trophies the club would like to have this year.. fire away!
I left out the new Champions League because, although it begins this year, it will not conclude until 2009.
Brooklyn United Fan: Mike Wise said if Alex Ovechkin of the Caps wins the MVP, he would be "the first Washington star in 25 years to win the most valuable player award in a major American team sport."
Still no love for Emilio, Gomez, United and soccer?
Steven Goff: Thirteen years, and MLS/DCU are still ignored by some in the media. I'm a big Wise fan, but he should've mentioned Etcheverry, Gomez and Emilio.
These days, is the NHL any more "major" than MLS? They have a greater history and more teams, but ...
Washington, DC: Underwhelmed by Niell. Am I writing him off too soon? I just don't see how he can deal with a physical league like MLS.
Steven Goff: My cats are bigger than Niell.
He spends a lot of time on the turf, doesn't he?
Again, it's awfully early to render a verdict, but so far, not so good.
Do you think United is still missing any kind of depth at the Forward position? Emelio is a terrific forward, but Jaime (too old) and Franko (not physical enough) don't seem to provide the kind of goalscoring DC will need this year, especially since Gomez is gone.
Steven Goff: United's plan was to have three seasoned forwards available. Moreno's injury has disrupted things and Niell hasn't shown much. Perhaps Quaranta will emerge. The club is also trying to acquire a young Brazilian forward named Cezar, who has been in training camp for several weeks on trial.
Fairfax County, Va.: Goff, thanks for the great work. Can you describe the challenges (if any?) in walking the line between making observations/criticisms of players/coaches. Although they are professionals and are obviously vastly skilled, you are also a professional and observe things in a much different way. Do the players or coaches you write about ever say to you: "what do you know, you've never played at this level" or "you've never been in on top level meetings," etc. Thanks man.
Steven Goff: Soccer is the most subjective of all sports to cover because, in most situations, you cannot use statistics to support your case. How do we know how well Clyde Simms played? He doesn't have a batting average, a field goal percentage, a plus-minus rating or a lap speed. We can describe actions in the game, but often we are left to evaluate and analyze on our own (like a theater review).
Buckingham, Va.: Will Comcast be showing a replay of the Toronto game on Sunday or Monday, as they did this last week?
Washington, D.C.: Have you seen Eddie Johnson play for Fulham yet? It is downright embarrasing that he was the most expensive MLS transfer. He spends more time on the turf than on his feet. I know the speed of the game is faster and it takes time to adjust, but he just does not seem to have any passion for the game.
Steven Goff: I'd give him the rest of the season before passing judgement. That said, I don't know if the English league is the right place for him.
Van Ness, D.C.: Thanks for the chat and the blog. Do you have any sense of when Soehn will give Carvallo an opportunity in goal? I know that the DCU line has been that the two of them are there to push each other, but I'm curious and would like to see Carvallo get a chance.
With so many matches early in the season, I would not be surprised if Carvallo starts Saturday against Toronto and Soehn comes back with Wells on Wednesday against Pachuca.
Washington, DC: As a huge fan of the EPL, this year I am determined to follow MLS and go to United games. My question is for the opener this Saturday... first, are tickets still available? I looked on the website but every time I clicked on tickets and it said you could only buy a package of 4, is that true? Is that for the entire season or just the opener?
Finally, (I know this is long, sorry) what are the best sections to get tickets for? I hear the DC fans are great, but short of joining one of the supporters clubs (perhaps in the future), where can I sit and get into the game with the rest of the crowd? Thanks!
Steven Goff: Plenty of tickets available through the team's website or ticketmaster.com. You can buy at the stadium before the match as well.
The most passionate supporters (Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles) are situated on the far sideline, sections 132 through 138 approximately. Sections 230 through 234 will also do the trick.
A seating chart is available at the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission's Web site as well as at dcunited.com
Ohio: MLS sides are now 0-17-0 in Champions Cup matches in Mexico since 2002. What's it going to take for a breakthrough?
Steven Goff: Better teams, better players...
Washington, D.C.: What sort of coverage is The Post going to have regarding Euro 2008? Are you or someone else going from your paper? Is ESPN showing all the games?
Steven Goff: I'm sure we will run a story from the wire services every day of the tournament. I believe ESPN's network of stations will show most, if not all, of the matches, but you'd have to check with them for details.
Who do you see winding up in the Champions' League Final this year? With Ronaldo and Rooney hitting their stride, it's hard to see anyone stopping Man United.
Steven Goff: Man U all the way
San Francisco: I just have to say Viva Ronaldo! He's nothing short of spectacular ... he's close to breaking Law's record, and will win the World Footballer of the Year.
Thanks so much for your blog. Are you planning to attend the USA-Argentina friendly, and do you think Arg will bring its big name players to it?
Steven Goff: Hoping to attend USA-Argentina, if I can get to NJ after United's match the previous night in Chicago.
Argentina is expected to bring a very strong squad.
Washington DC: Was it fair to say that Emilio slowed down United's attack last night. It seemed like anytime he had his back to goal he would take to long to give the ball to someone else or would just flat out give it away. Also Moreno would have made a difference in this game, What do you think?
Steven Goff: Emilio's decision-making was show and Moreno's ability to hold the ball would have helped, but quite honestly, Pachuca is a superior club. That's not to say United has no chance next week, but ...
Union, NJ: Steven....How does Alexi Lalas keep his job? How does he get any job running a soccer team at all? He drove the Red Bulls into disarray and after Saturday's Galaxy effort, is there any question he is incompetent when it comes to player evaluation?
Steven Goff: It's remarkable he's still employed.
NapoleonDynamite: Do you know anything on the Pachuca player (think his name was Torres) who hit the crossbar last night? FSC said he was from Texas. Is he on the USMNT or U-23 radar? Are there any other American players in Mexico's top league? I've always wondered if the usual biases keep them out.
What's the countdown on the Lalas deathwatch in LA? He has to go soon...
Steven Goff: Torres is from Longview, Texas, and has Mexican family roots. I don't know whether he wants to play for the U.S. team or has been approached.
Sterling, Va.: Any update on the injuries (Moreno, Olsen).
Great job with the blog and updates via The Post!
Steven Goff: I thought Moreno would play last night and did see him warming up on the sideline, but alas, he did not enter. I'm guessing he'll play Saturday. Olsen remains sidelined.
Harrisburg, Pa.: There's talk out there of doubts about Gallardo's ability to do what we need. I see a extremely talented player who just needs to get a better feel for what's available to him. What's your take?
Steven Goff: Give him time. The season just started. It takes a while to build an understanding between a playmaker and his forwards.
Dude: I am a huge soccer fan, but find myself in a quandry ... I don't want MLS to become popular. I love the relatively cheap seats, you can decide 1 hour before the game to go and get good tickets at the gate, relatively few crazy fans ... just sit back and enjoy the match! Comments?
Steven Goff: But don't you want to see better teams, better players, in a new stadium with 27,000 fans?
Falls Church, Va.: With rumors of Montreal in '09 and Queens (NYC) in '10, do you think MLS is expanding too fast? Or do you think they will spend more $$$ to get good players so the talent level does not fall off?
Steven Goff: Garber said on the record just last week that MLS is going to take its time with further expansion, so I'd be surprised if they decide to rush in two more clubs so soon after adding San Jose, Seattle and Philly.
Stafford, Va.: I don't know how the chat got this far without asking a stadium question, so here goes. Any insight as to the progression of stadium talks and/or a "deadline" where DCU will stop talking to DC decide to pursue the MD options?
Steven Goff: Nothing new to report.
DCU wants Poplar Point, but is exploring options in PG County just in case they can't reach a deal with the city.
Harrisburg, PA: Steven, along the lines of international play the USMNT did a job on Poland (not sure if Poland was having a bad day or not) but what do you think our chances are against England? Do you see any scenario where we beat them in Wembley? (that would be sweeter than all the triumphs against Mexico). Keep up the good work.
Steven Goff: The U.S. performances in Europe have been encouraging and, with a full lineup, there's no reason to believe they can't stay with England for 90 minutes. A victory or tie would be outstanding, but at the end of the day, it's still just a friendly. (Sorry, but I just don't get very excited about the results of friendlies; I'm more concerned with individual play, chemistry, style, etc.)
New York, NY: I saw that there were rumors of Henry heading to Seattle's team next year. Any truth to that? Wouldn't there be a huge transfer fee or is his contract expiring? Thanks!
Steven Goff: According to who?
Don't believe everything you read on the silly Internet machine.
Bethesda, Md.: We're currently holding an unused DP slot. Are you hearing any talk about what positions, individual players and when DCU is looking at using the slot? Is there any room left under the salary cap to add someone this season?
Steven Goff: From what I can tell, United is saving its second DP slot for a rainy day (i.e. a subpar record by midseason, an offer from overseas for a current player). The salary cap -- how much is available, how much of a specific player's earnings count against it -- is a mystery, so don't bother trying to calculate it for United or any other team. My assumption, though, is that if DCU wanted to add a second DP, they would have to dump some significant salaries.
Washington, DC: It seems to me in the last two United games there was a real lack of leadership on the field with Olson and Moreno out. Is there anyone on the team that you could see taking more of a leadership role? You could really feel the loss of the two veterans.
Playing without your two most experienced players (in MLS, anyway) is a challenge. But I don't know if leadership was an issue last night. The result had more to do with Pachuca playing at home, Pachuca being a superior club and Pachuca finding ways to win the match in the second half.
Woodbridge, Va.: Any word on Olsen's status?
Steven Goff: I will know more when the club returns to training at RFK tomorrow.
Steven Goff: Time's up. Thanks for all your questions. Sorry I couldn't get to all of them. We'll do it again in two weeks. Meantime, check the Soccer Insider several times a day. Thanks. Cheers!
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Washington Post soccer writer Steven Goff chats about D.C. United and other soccer topics.
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Svrluga covers the Nationals beat for The Post and writes the Nationals Journal blog for washingtonpost.com. He's also the author of "National Pastime: Sports, Politics, and the Return of Baseball to Washington, D.C."
Barry Svrluga: Hey folks. A sunny Wednesday in Philadelphia, a game on tap tonight, and your Washington Nationals are undefeated and in first place.
Let that sink in a while. Only 160 to go.
Lots to deal with today. Thanks for stopping by. Let's get started.
The first two games of the season have got me thinking -- are the Nats pulling a Costanza and doing the opposite of everything that comes naturally to them?
From the starters leaving with the lead to the blown leads by the bullpen to the offensive explosions in 2 separate innings -- everything just seems opposite.
At least Guzman made an error and Zimm had a game winning hit so there is some tie to the past.
Barry Svrluga: Ah, Bizarro World, Nats-style. That is indeed possible.
The bullpen, however, must hold its own. It would be a horrible development if the starting pitching was better than expected and the offense is actually improved, and then the bullpen lets them down.
Washington, D.C.: Was Sunday night's game officially a sell-out? The box score in the paper had less than max attendance.
Barry Svrluga: Yes, I should have been more clear about this in the paper. The capacity of Nationals Park is listed at 41,888, but Major League Baseball marks attendance as tickets sold. There were a couple thousand comped tickets the other night. Thus, the official attendance was 39,000 and change.
However, every ticket made available to the public was sold.
Reality: On Saturday, the lovely new video scoreboard at Nationals Park listed Dmitri Young as weighing 220 pounds. Where did the club come up with that number (maybe on the moon?) and who do they think they're fooling? For what it's worth, I'd rather see some more game data on the video screen than height/weight info, even if accurate.
Barry Svrluga: On the official roster at spring training, Young was listed at 291 pounds, which was his weight exiting last year. I was told that his weigh-in at spring training was 298 pounds, and that he would be listed as such there.
What happens frequently -- and this is bizarre -- is that guys give their weight when they're drafted/signed, and then those weights follow them throughout their careers. It's amazing how inaccurate they often are.
Arlington, Va.: What is the latest on Wily Mo Pena? I have read that the Nats are surprised how quickly he is progressing but then they still talk about mid-April. Can you explain the DL rules and also talk about if Pena will have to do minor league rehab first?
Barry Svrluga: Indeed, the Nationals are encouraged by Pena's progress. He was supposed to start swinging a bat this week. The reality is that while the Nationals initially announced he would be out four weeks (after suffering the strained oblique muscle on March 12), they actually thought it could be as long as six weeks. So if he's ready in four, they'll be happy.
DL rules: There is no requirement that a guy goes to a rehabilitation assignment before being activated. Typically, the Nats do that with their guys. A position player can spend 20 days in the minors on rehab, a pitcher 30.
Bethesda, MD: I can imagine you must be getting tired of this question, but ... what's the latest on Shawn Hill? In all the excitement of Opening Day, etc., I haven't heard how his outing on Saturday went. Is he scheduled to pitch in Florida tomorrow?
I really think his health will determine the quality of the Nats' starting rotation.
Barry Svrluga: I agree with you, Bethesda. I believe Hill's health is the key to the rotation as well.
Hill's three-inning outing in a minor league game in Florida went well the other day. He still has soreness, but the club is sticking with the he's-going-to-have-to-pitch-through-it approach. Hill seems fine with that, but if it gets worse -- and goes to a sharp pain -- he'll stop.
His next outing is scheduled for tomorrow in Viera. If that goes well, he'll pitch next week for Class A Potomac -- as long as it's warm up here. If it's too cool, he'll stay in Florida and throw there. The goal remains to have him pitch in the majors on April 13.
Laurel, Md.: Who goes down when Wily Mo comes back?
Barry Svrluga: Could be a moot point if Elijah Dukes isn't healthy yet. Chris Schroder would likely be the guy to go down. But they also have to make a space for Shawn Hill, too. So there's going to be some interesting developments/choices if/when the team gets healthier over the next couple weeks.
It's amazing how often we're reminded, "It'll work itself out." Wouldn't exactly be shocking for more injuries to pop up between now and then.
Arlington, Va.: Barry, is there any reason we shouldn't be furious that the announced attendance for Opening Night was some 2,500 people short of the new park's 41,888-seat capacity, yet there were no tickets to be had? There were plenty of sections that had large patches of empty seats--section 407 was more than half empty all game, the outfield gallery was maybe three-quarters full, there were lots of empties in the sections under the scoreboard, etc. I have the distinct feeling that for some reason the Nats either decided not to make thousands of seats available, or held back too many seats for last-minute season ticket sales and had no backup plan in place when they didn't have enough takers. If either one of those is true, I think it's a disgrace--there was definitely more than enough demand for tickets to fill every seat, and it makes me even less happy to see the media talk about the "capacity crowd of 39,389." Any thoughts?
Barry Svrluga: Explained above. This is why I frequently write "an announced crowd of 25,228" or whatever in my game stories, because it is, in fact, not the number of people that came through the turnstiles. Given all the dignitaries/friends of Lerners/various hangers-on that were there on Sunday, 2,500 comped tix doesn't seem strange to me.
As for the empty seats: I think you're going to see lots of that, even on sell-outs (if there are any more this year). The way the park is set up, it allows for all those views of the field while leaning on railings in the outfield and/or in the club sections. I think you'll see more fans on the move/watching from bars/etc., and therefore not occupying their seats.
Manassas, Va.: Any news on the Chief? Did he throw today?
Barry Svrluga: No news yet. He will likely play catch when we get to the ballpark in the next hour or so. I'll update on Nationals Journal later.
This is, however, a major concern. The bullpen can't be the strength of the club if its anchor goes down.
Did you have to spend the entire game in the press box or did you get to check out some areas of the stadium during the actual game? I am most curious about the restaurant in the outfield that didn't seem like a restaurant at all.
Barry Svrluga: Unfortunately, other than pregame on the field, I had to hang out in the press box the whole game. I have, however, walked around the park quite a bit -- went through the Presidents Club, etc. I haven't yet been to the restaurant/bar in center yet.
I'll give a full run-down the first time I go as a paying customer.
Pitching Rotation: Based on the 4-man rotation, can you tell us who is scheduled to pitch in the coming week, particularly the upcoming homestand against the Marlins?
Barry Svrluga: Sure. Tim Redding tonight against the Phillies, Jason Bergmann in the series finale tomorrow. Odalis Perez comes back Friday in St. Louis, with Matt Chico on Saturday afternoon. Redding comes back on three days' rest to finish the Cardinals' series, and Bergmann does the same on Monday against the Marlins at Nationals park. With the off day Tuesday, it would then go (all on normal rest) Perez Wednesday, Chico Thursday, Redding Friday, Bergmann Saturday and Shawn Hill Sunday (last three against Atlanta).
Arlington, Va.: Speaking of anchors, has there been any talk of Hanarhananharn closing?
Barry Svrluga: There were some people in the front office -- following his three-inning, eight-strikeout performance against the Braves in spring training -- that said if he continued to throw that way, he could close. But he has not been at 97 mph since then, settling back into his normal 91-93. He can be effective at that velocity, no doubt, but it's not the eye-popping dominance of that one night.
So I'd say it'd be Rauch for now, and Ayala would then be the next choice if Cordero is out for a long time.
Washington, D.C.: With Dukes and Pena on the DL, why did the Nationals decide to let Harris play in left instead of calling up Maxwell. Maxwell has a lot of potential and it showed during the Spring games. With the bullpen and Cordero going down, do u think it makes more sense for someone like Ayala to close instead of Rauch? Rauch is usually stronger later in the season.
Barry Svrluga: Manny Acta said the Nationals indeed discussed bringing up Maxwell to fill in the Pena/Dukes spot. I think, however, the fact that they called up a reliever shows that they're concerned about Cordero's health. If they need offense, the Nationals will not be afraid to go get Maxwell. They were very impressed with his spring.
Right now, I'd go with Rauch as the closer. But as I just said, there's no reason they couldn't throw Ayala -- whose velocity is about back to where it was pre-surgery -- into the role if Rauch falters.
When will John Lannan get a call back up to the bigs? He was the Nats best pitchers this spring and honestly, after attending a lot of spring training games and watching him pitch, I can't believe he was left off of the roster.
Barry Svrluga: If Shawn Hill isn't ready to pitch on April 13, you can bet Lannan will be the man. He really impressed with his stuff and poise, and he basically lost out to Matt Chico because Chico had a bit more experience (31 starts last year). But Washington won't hesitate to call up Lannan if/when they need a starter.
Section 215: Barry - After two games at home (Saturday and Sunday) who do you like to win this season? George, Tom, Abe, or the longshot Teddy?
Lets Go CAPS! Lets Go NATS!
Barry Svrluga: Gotta go with George, don't you? First year of the ballpark? First president?
I get the sense that the Nats have had enough of being thought of as the pesky little team that could. They get lots of respect in that regard but this year they simply want to be thought of as good, at least on the offensive end. Is this accurate?
Barry Svrluga: Yes, that's accurate. Jim Bowden said on Opening Night, "The goal used to be to compete. Now, it's to win." Whether that's realistic or not remains to be seen, but if you saw a jacked-up Ryan Zimmerman talking to Peter Gammons after his game-ending homer Sunday night, he said, "There's a lot of guys around here who are sick of being mediocre."
Rockville, Md..: Well color me impressed! Can you say wire-to-wire? Ha! While that is highly unlikely, it seems we have avoided any nightmare scenario start like last season. The offense thus far hasn't resembled the little-league tee ball games of last summer. Realistically, can we be a .500 team?
Barry Svrluga: I think .500 is the most reasonable goal. I had 76-86 in my preseason prediction, and I still think that's more likely. A 2-0 start means a lot of things -- that the misery of last year's 1-8 start won't be repeated, that there are some fired-up players, that some more tickets might be sold. But the last Washington team to start 3-0 (which would happen with a win tonight) was the 1951 Senators. They finished 62-92.
Keep saying this to yourself: It's early. Reeeeeeealllly early.
Cap Hill: What were the reviews of the stadium from your colleagues in the press box? I was watching the Pirates/Braves game on Monday and the Pittsburgh guys said they heard the park was nice but bring binoculars.
Barry Svrluga: You know, that's ridiculous. The press box is really high. But as far as the general public is concerned, who cares? The press does not generate revenue for the team (other than indirectly by writing stories about it). Luxury suites do generate money for the team, and lots of it. The idea that the press -- even the radio/TV announcers -- should get the primo seats is antiquated.
Would I like to be lower? Absolutely. Do I like parks like San Francisco and Houston, where the press boxes are very close to the action. No doubt. But I'm not living in some fantasy world. I want to be able to see the game and do my job. That's it.
Washington, D.C.: Using the highly unscientific method of searching for blocks of 24 tickets on the team Web site, it appears as though tickets for the next few home games haven't exactly been flying off the shelves. This is a disappointment -- has the club expressed ANY concern over this?
Maybe I'm overreacting, but to me the story of the opener before the walk-off was the fact that seemingly 40 percent of the crowd had no interest in what was happening on the field and began to stream towards the exit in the 5th inning.
Barry Svrluga: I thought it was surprising how many people left early the other night. There are lots of potential reasons -- late start, school/work night, pretty chilly, not real baseball fans.
I think it'll be telling how many people show up next week. The Marlins have never been a draw in Washington -- or anywhere. I'd be surprised if Monday night's crowd is over 25,000.
Arlington Nats Fan: Why not put Mackowiak in left? When Pena and Dukes are both healthy, his roster spots looks to be in jeopardy. Why not give him an opportunity to show what he has?
Barry Svrluga: Mackowiak had a poor spring, and some people from other teams were shocked to find out that the Nationals gave him a $1.5-million guaranteed contract. Harris had a low average, but he drew tons of walks. I believe Acta likes the speed Harris gives him.
You've seen a lot of stadiums over the last few years. How do you think the Nats new stadium compares with others?
I've been to Citizens (Phils) and Great American Ballpark (Reds) and they seem similar.
Barry Svrluga: Someone who has also been to a lot of parks compared Nationals Park to Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park when I spoke with him the other night. I can see that, I guess, but I've always found that park to feel disjointed in a way that Nationals Park doesn't. There are some elements, to me, of Philadelphia, Atlanta and St. Louis at Nationals Park.
I need to give it a month or so to see how it settles in, but my initial feeling is that Nationals Park is better than I thought it would be, and might end up ranking up there with my favorites -- PNC Park in Pittsburgh and AT&T Park in San Francisco. (This is among new parks, mind you. Fenway and Wrigley have special places in a different ranking.)
Maryland City: I think that a lot of people were walking around the park, so it looked like there were more empty seats than there were.
Any interst in signing Claudio Vargas?
Barry Svrluga: Don't believe so. Mets might take a more serious look at Vargas now that Pedro Martinez is out with a hamstring injury.
Mt. Vernon, Va.: With the Braves about to end their affiliation/ownership of the Richmond club, any chance the Nats will move their AAA farm team to Richmond? Seems like it would create a nice opportunity to draw attendance and interest from further south in Virginia (since they're not going to be able to extend their marketing reach much further north -- O's and Phillies -- or west -- Pirates).
Barry Svrluga: The Nationals would absolutely have interest in Richmond as a market, but I'm told that the ballpark there would have to undergo major improvements in order for another Class AAA franchise to end up there. That equation is made more complicated by the fact that the Braves own their Class AAA franchise, and they're moving it out of Richmond down to Georgia. That means another franchise would have to move into Richmond and then affiliate itself with the Nationals.
Columbus seems almost certain to go to Cleveland next year. It's possible, then, that the Nationals could end up in Cleveland's old home, Buffalo, which has a very nice Class AAA park.
Section 308: Clint seems to have cut down on his pointing. Lenny Harris work with him in the offseason?
Barry Svrluga: I sure hope someone worked with Clint in the offseason. He may have been told to tone it down for Opening Night. We'll see how he holds up.
Got a text from a friend Saturday afternoon, when I was in the pressbox prior to Nats-Orioles. "In team store. About eight people here, including Kasten and that idiot who's always on the big screen." Saved forever.
Rockville, Md.: I sat in section 403 Sunday night. Yes, I only paid $10 for my seat, but it would have been nice if our row was cleaned following the game on Saturday. There were peanut shells and empty beer bottles on the floor, as well as footprints on the seats. Have you heard of any complaints from other fans regarding this issue?
Barry Svrluga: I haven't, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I'd be surprised if that didn't change in the very near future.
Alexandria, Va.: How does the high-altitude press box at Nationals Park affect your ability to cover the game? Watching a tape of the ESPN coverage after returning from the home opener, it seemed as though I had a better view from the centerfield seats of what was happening on the field than the announcers did in the box.
Barry Svrluga: The announcers are really going to struggle with this. I've talked to both Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler about this, and they're learning to read balls off the bat from up there (and they're even a level higher than we writers are). Jageler said the toughest one is a low liner/grounder. Just hard to tell whether it bounces or not.
As I said before, it's not ideal for me, but writers have the luxury of being able to watch replays. That, of course, puts the pressure on MASN to actually provide said replays, which is no guarantee.
Manassas, Va.: Something I noticed when rewatching the tape of Zimmerman's homer on Sunday - his reaction rounding first base is much more emphatic than his 2006 Yankees walkoff. In 2006, it was almost like "Look what I did!" Sunday, it was more like "(Expletive) YEAH!!" I loved the contrast, and I like to think it's emblematic of his evolution as a leader on the team. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.
Barry Svrluga: I think that's a good take. There was no mistaking what Zimmerman mouthed on his way to first base the other night, and it does show some confidence. He certainly has done it before, and it's stunning that he now has four game-ending HOMERS since June 2006. That doesn't count four other game-ending hits. Incredible.
I'll be interested to watch Zimmerman's development as a leader. He's not a big rah-rah guy in the clubhouse, and largely keeps to himself. But his combination of demeanor and ability could certainly set a tone.
Silver Spring, Md.: "It's possible, then, that the Nationals could end up in Cleveland's old home, Buffalo, which has a very nice Class AAA park."
Nice symmetry there. Buffalo was once the AAA farm team of the Washington Senators.
Barry Svrluga: Indeed, that's nice.
Washington, D.C.: You know what I loved about Opening Night? Every time I had a question, some that I even muttered under my breath, someone with the stadium noticed my confusion and offered to help. I don't care if there are kinks, it seems like they finally care. We'll figure the rest out.
Barry Svrluga: This seems to be one of the biggest improvements. I have heard nothing about the staff other than they were very friendly and tried to be helpful.
Is DC considered a small market?
I just looked at the opening day payroll numbers and the NATS are 5th from the bottom.
The O's are $14 million higher and rebuilding.
The Blue Jays, Phillies and Braves are all around $100 million.
Hell we are spending less than KC!
Barry Svrluga: This will be the question going forward, but it's not the right question now. This was going to be a slow build. That's what they sold, and that's what they're doing. If there aren't significant increases in payroll in the very near future, then heads should roll. But for now, they're just doing what they said they would do -- concentrate on the minors, scouting, etc., even if that's frustrating to fans who want a winner now.
I'm curious about your stance on baseball and politics. My wife and I watched the game Sunday night from home and while we both are Democrats, I wasn't sick to my stomach at the site of President Bush throwing out the first pitch. My wife was. I know much more about the tradition of the game than she does and I was just curious as to whether the infusion of the two bothered you at all at the game? Based on the mixed reaction of the crowd, I'd say it bothered at least half of them.
Barry Svrluga: I think it's appropriate for the President -- Republican, Democrate, Green Party, whatever -- to toss out the first pitch at such an event, particularly in Washington. I know there are people who have strong feelings about whether or not he should be booed, but I'll leave that discussion for others.
The Nationals, I believe, would have invited the sitting president -- whoever it was, from whatever party -- to throw out the first pitch Sunday night.
Miami, Fla.: Which Nats position players are most likely to reach the majors mid-year? Who is likely to be the most marketable vet to bring something back at the trading deadline? Johnson if healthy?
Barry Svrluga: Yes, I'd say Nick Johnson -- if he continues to show his health -- would bring the most in return. He's got a year left on his contract at a reasonable rate ($5.5 million), and he looks right now like a 40-doubles, .400 OBP guy.
I'd say Justin Maxwell will see time in the majors again this year. Other than that, there's no one you'd really consider a true prospect that would show up -- unless Chris Marrero somehow rises all the way from Class A Potomac, which is his goal.
Bill from Foxboro: If you think a video camera would help the team go undefeated, then I can put Kasten in touch with Matt Walsh.
Barry Svrluga: Not sure Bill and Matt Walsh are actually talking these days, are they?
Ushers and Other Employees: Barry, do you know what training is in place for employees of Nats Park, both for their job duties and basic baseball knowledge? I've read many reviews of friendly, helpful employees. My experience was different (but still better than RFK), but that's forgiveable--they are learning their jobs. What was more annoying, to me, was how much the ushers were openly talking about their complete lack of knowledge of anything baseball. ("How many hours are on the baseball clock?"). It was almost as if they were proud of knowing nothing. Maybe they were just nervous.
Barry Svrluga: It has been shocking to me, since the day the team came in 2005, how many people in the organization at all levels know or knew nothing about baseball. There are marketing people from hockey and the NBA, etc. It has shown in the game production and in other areas over the past few years.
But for ushers, etc., it seems most important that they know how to point you in certain directions and have accurate answers to your questions about the ballpark, not about the game.
Sec. 314: My brother and his sons and my Mom are all big baseball and Nationals fans and they were there Sunday night, but the reality of school the next day and the cold weather were among the factors that had them, and many others leave early. The father and son next to me left for the same reason. 8 PM starts in March are not exactly fan friendly!
And I can only imagine how much worse it would have been for the rest of us pushing up Half Street to the Navy Yard station if everyone had stayed!
Barry Svrluga: All good points, and just as I suspected.
D.C.: Do the Nats regret not bringing back Livan Hernandez this off-season? Looked pretty good on opening day for the Twins...
Barry Svrluga: No, they don't. They feel like the 10 pitchers they have in the rotations in the majors and Class AAA -- Perez, Chico, Redding, Bergmann, Hill, Lannan, Mock, Clippard, Balester and O'Connor -- better serve the organization now and in the future. GM Jim Bowden loves Hernandez, but not enough to bring him back and push one of those pitchers out of the way.
Teddy theory: Barry - I've had this theory about Teddy's first win. He only wins when we are in first place, and only he wins while we are in first place.
Barry Svrluga: Ooh, I like that one. I hope someone is reading this.
Section 416, with the sherpas: I was really disappointed in the President's Race on Sunday night. Of course Teddy wasn't going to win, but they could have made the goof better. He should have ran through the middle of the field or something similar to cause disqualification. This one was just silly!
Barry Svrluga: It'll be interesting to see whether the Teddy shtick gets old this year. I'm of the mind that the Milwaukee sausage race is actually funny because they're actually racing. Those giant things just look funny when they run. It looks too slapstick to me when the Prezzes are running into each other. When they just race, they're hysterical.
Rockville, Md.: Has anyone alive, other than Ryan Zimmerman, ever hit a walk-off HR in a stadium opener?
Barry Svrluga: Yes, there were two others. This, courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau:
Ryan Zimmerman christened Nationals Park with a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Nats a 3-2 victory over the Braves on opening night. It was the third walkoff home run in major-league history to be hit in the first MLB game played at a stadium. The first two were hit by Billy Bruton at Milwaukee County Stadium in 1953 and Dante Bichette at Coors Field in 1995.
1. Your best guess on average attendance this year, and
2. Your estimate about the attendance that the owners need to make this a competing franchise.
Great seats in Section 104
Barry Svrluga: My guess is they will fall short of averaging 30,000 per game this year. The season ticket base is only 17,000-18,000, so that's the base line. Kasten is proud of saying that the number puts them around 11th (I think) in the majors, and with a team without much expectations, that's good. But it's still down significantly from 22,500 in 2005, a year when they drew more than 2.7 million fans.
This is my favorite Kasten quote on attendance: "We'll get the attendance we deserve." That speaks to their responsibilities on the field and in-game experience.
I'd put them at 2.2-2.3 million this year, or 26,000-28,000 a game.
Nick Johnson: Please don't let them trade him!!! That would be huge buzzkill.
Barry Svrluga: Believe me, I know. I've said it a million times, but I really think he transforms the lineup more than any player they have.
Washington, D.C.: Any trade rumors you are hearing?
Barry Svrluga: The Tigers are very much in need of bullpen help, and they have sniffed around the Nationals in that regard for the better part of three years. They can't take Cordero now, given his health, but they will watch Rauch very closely.
Barry Svrluga: Folks, once again, lots of unanswered questions. Hang on to them for next week, when we'll have the first chat from Nationals Park. For now, I'm headed out to Citizens Bank Park for Tim Redding vs. Cole Hamels. Enjoy it tonight, and have a great week.
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Free Range on Food
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A chat with the Food section staff is a chance for you to ask questions, offer suggestions and share information with other cooks and food lovers. It is a forum for discussion of food trends, ingredients, menus, gadgets and anything else food-related.
Each chat, we will focus on topics from the day's Food section. You can also read the transcripts of past chats. Do you have a question about a particular recipe or a food-related anecdote to share? The Food section staff goes Free Range on Food every Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET. Read about the staff of the Food section.
Joe: Welcome to today's chat, food people. What's on your mind? Angling to get to a Nats game now that we told you which items to suss out and which to step away from? If you went to the game, what did you eat? Are you ready to rush summer with greenhouse produce, as Stephanie Sedgwick suggests? Did Nick M's baking blog piece get you hungry for brownies? Toss your softballs our way, and we'll bat them back. (OK, my facility with sports puns just ran its entire course.) For our favorite posts, we have giveaways, naturally: There's "Bold Italian" by Scott Conant and "Fair Shares for All," a memoir about food and family by John Haney. No more winding up. (Hey, I had one more in me!)
Left Field Mezzanine: Well, now we know why the lines were so long -- they were clogged with Post reporters trying to sample everything!
Joe: Very funny. To paraphrase our TV-watching colleague Lisa de Moraes, "We Eat So You Don't Have To."
Fairfax, Va.: I haven't been to the park, although I am considering the Open House this weekend. I intend to buy some of the food (my wife wants Ben's), in part to try it, but in part to put my money where my mouth is. A chunk of the high prices goes to pay for the stadium, and we suburbanites have claimed loudly that will will end up paying much of the cost of the stadium through ticket and concession taxes.
It seems the city is looking to pay for the stadium with parking tickets as well. Over 750 the first day! That will fill the coffers quickly.
Joe: Good point! And good for you. Make sure to line up at Ben's as early as possible -- or if it's a half smoke "all the way" (onions, mustard and, most importantly and beautifully, chili), that you get it from Nats Dogs or even Noah's Pretzels, where the lines are much shorter.
Nationals Park: I thought I ready before opening day that somewhere in the ball park there would be sushi available. Anyone have a chance to confirm this? If so -- how was the selection and pricing?
Walter: We searched and searched for the sushi cart. No sushi was found. But Nationals spokeswoman, Chartese Burnett, says that after the Pope's visit, on April 17, carts with sushi, Asian dishes and panini sandwiches will hit the concourse in stages, week after week.
Rockville, Md.: Thanks, as always, for doing the chat! Other than Noah's Pretzels, which you mentioned in the ballpark story today, do you know of any stands in the park that would be considered "allergy-friendly?" Between the peanuts, Cracker Jack, and Boardwalk Fries, it's hard out there for those of us who are baseball fans but have to avoid peanuts!
Joe: It depends on what you're allergic to, of course, but we saw no other foods that immediately presented themselves as allergy-friendly. What's your restricted list?
Bethesda, Md.: Agree that price is a little crazy at Nats Park. However, the best deal to be had is the $8.50 chili nachos at Hard Times, loaded with cheese, sour cream, diced jalapenos, and onions. It's enough food to last you for two days. Of course, you need to factor in the cost of Pepcid. Fortunately you can bring that into the ballpark.
Joe: We saw those -- they were indeed loaded! Actually, many of the portions were pretty (un)healthy, indeed.
Washington, D.C.: Any read on that new gelato stand that is in the stadium. Having been to Italy a few times, I have a pretty high standard for gelato if I do say so myself. It was too cold on Sunday to try some out, but I did notice they serve it in the traditional Italian style that I saw in Italy--so that at least got my hopes up for when I try it in the summer months...
Joe: Are you asking if we tried it? We did -- and we loved it.
Oak Hill: Loved the chart of baking websites. So useful! And, though I'm not a baseball fan and probably will never make it to the new stadium, I liked reading about all the different foods anyway. I just wish the Redskins' stadium was half as good.
Farmers Market?: I've read (was it from last week's chat?) that some of the farmers markets are starting up real soon, maybe even this week. Do you know what I can expect to see there at this time of year? It seems a bit early in the year for a lot of things, but I'm up for checking it out.
Walter: There is no reason to wait until spring when the bulk of the farmers markets open. Markets are open all year in Dupont Circle, Takoma Park and Arlington, for example. What will you find at this time of year? Well, last Sunday at the Dupont market I found some delicious dandelion greens as well as salad mix, apples, sweet potatoes, eggs, cheese, onions, kale, arugula and more.
Jane Black: The Penn Quarter and Foggy Bottom Markets open this week. Foggy Bottom is open today from 2:30 to 7 p.m. and Penn Quarter is tomorrow from 3 to 7 p.m.
Joe: And stay tuned for our fabulous newly formatted farmers market list, connected to a map and viewable by day: It's coming April 16.
Hyattsville, Md.: You had a question last week about tasting coffee cold. I found this on the Internet (on a coffee-service Web site):
The true test of coffee is to taste it as it cools down. A good coffee will retain its flavor as it cools down. Even when it is cold it should still be an acceptable taste. A poor quality coffee will lose flavor and become bitter or sharp as it cools down. When cold the taste is unacceptable.
Jane Black: Thanks to our reader in Hyattsville, here's a little more information on tasting coffee cold.
Washington, D.C.: Posting early, hoping you can provide some bread/bagel help.
Anytime I make bread like bagels or challah where the bread needs to be shaped, anywhere where I piece dough together, it comes apart.
When making bagels, I now make a ball and poke a hole in it instead of forming a rope, but still, I get big cracks anywhere that I had pieced together dough. Any suggestions?
Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: Here's a cheater's way around the problem-Shape the dough into a flat rectangle the thickness and length you want each rope to be. Cut strips whatever width, say 3/4-inch, you want the rope to be. There's your rope-a little squared off but it bakes up fine without all the rolling and stretching that causes the dough to rip.
Burke, Va.: Dorie's fans have started a blog called "Tuesdays with Dorie". They all bake one recipe a week from her latest book and report on their results. It's really interesting.
Joe: I just looked -- cool! Fun name, too -- especially since I'm so so so much more interested in Dorie than Morrie.
20009: Hi guys, thanks for chatting - I picked up some baking chocolate this week and I've never used it before so I'm not sure of its properties. How do I know if I can use it in a recipe that doesn't specifically call for it? And are there uses for it aside from strictly baking?
Jane Black: Baking chocolate, is, as its name suggests only for baking. The reason, as I understand it, is that although it has intense flavor, it also has a lower cocoa butter content (which makes it less smooth and less palatable if you're eating it as a snack.) It is meant to be used when you are combining with other ingredients, namely fats from butter and eggs.
Arlington, Va.: Whenever I make a beef dish in the slow cooker, the recipe calls for me to brown the meat first. What's the point of this, if it's going to cook for several hours? Can I skip this step? Thanks.
Jane Black: Browning the meat gives it a nice color and, more important, flavor. If you just slow cook it, it will be cooked but without that meaty, taste you are looking for.
Steak city: Hey rangers! My husband bought those vacuum-sealed pack steaks from a friend, but didnt realize how much sodium is packed into those things! What's the reason for those anyway, besides preserving? My question is, is there a way to dilute the sodium content in the steak, by marinating in water or wine perhaps? We have sirloin, flat iron and some others, that I have no idea what to do with besides fry/broil -- any suggestions? Thanks a bunch!
Jane Black: A lot of times, they add salted water to chicken or pork in order to make it easier to cook (the salt and water make it dry out less quickly.)I am not familiar with them using it often on steak, though. I'm not aware of any way to reduce the salt once it's in there. If it's on the outside, you can rinse and pat dry. Otherwise, just limit the seasoning you put on the meat or in the sauce.
Chicago, Ill.: Love the chats and encouragement in the kitchen!! I'm looking for some springtime inspiration to kick off a meal of lamb and potatoes, accompanied by an orzo salad.
Because I've never cooked lamb before, I'm a little confused as to what flavors will work well.
Mediterranean? Middle Eastern? I'm searching for an appetizer ... any advice??
Joe: We had this great recipe for lamb with new potatoes in last year's Easter section (remember "Two Great Legs," a ham and a lamb?). I also like the look of this more delicate lamb chop idea that also uses new potatoes. If your grill is fired up and you want the whole leg, this Mediterranean-style one would do the trick. You're right to be thinking Med or Mid-Eastern -- I often think Greek when it comes to lamb. (Remember the great moment in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" when an aunt hears that the groom is (yikes!) a vegetarian? She says, ''What do you mean, he don't eat no meat?" (Pause for humorous timing.) "Oh, that's OK. I make lamb." So you're right on track with the orzo salad. For an app? How bout a Greek-style salad, using mixed greens, feta, olives, red onions and this vinaigrette? Or maybe with this Greek Goddess Dressing?
Columbia, Md.: Love your chats! I've been a long time reader, but this is my first time to send in questions.
Quite a while ago (November 3, 1999) the Post ran an article about home made pierogi with an accompanying recipe. The recipe was wonderful, but I lost it along the way. All that's left is the article sans clipped recipe. Is it possible that you have the recipe in your archives?
Jane Black: Here you go! Pirogi for 100 Pirogi With Potato and Cheese Filling (Makes about 100 piroghi) Pirogi (also spelled piroghi and several other ways) can be served as an appetizer or a side dish. If you make them a little larger, you can serve several as an entree. Pirogis also can be baked or deep-fat fried, but perhaps the most common preparation is simply tossing them in a pan of onions sauteed in butter and frying them until crisp and golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Top with a dollop of sour cream. This recipe from Tina Burpee appears in "A Faithful Feast," a community cookbook compiled by the members of St. Mark Orthodox Church in Bethesda. For the filling: 5 pounds potatoes, peeled 1 1/2 pounds cheddar cheese, grated 2 medium onions, minced Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste For the dough: 6 1/2 to 7 cups flour, plus additional for working the dough 3 eggs 1 cup sour cream 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 cups water For the filling: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the potatoes and simmer until tender when pierced with a fork. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the cheese and onions. Drain the potatoes, add them to the bowl and, using a wooden spoon, quickly mash the potatoes into the mixture, combining them thoroughly with the cheese and onions. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside for a few minutes to melt the cheese. For the dough: Place 6 1/2 cups of the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center of the flour. Place the eggs, sour cream and salt in the well and then gradually work the flour into rest of the ingredients, adding the water a little bit at a time until a dough forms. If the dough seems too sticky, you can add up to additional 1/2 cup of flour. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until smooth. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into 3-inch circles, keeping the cuts close together to utilize as much of the dough as possible. Place the circles separately on a tray or work surface; don't overlap. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. To form the pirogis: Place 1 teaspoon of the filling near the middle of each circle. Fold each pirogi in half and pinch the edges together to seal. (You may wrap the pirogis tightly and refrigerate them for up to 3 days or freeze them for as long as 2 months.) Drop several pirogi in the boiling water at a time and simmer until they rise to the top of the water. Transfer to a colander to drain. To finish the pirogis you can saute them in butter with onions over medium-high heat, bake them in a 350-degree oven until they puff slightly, about 5 minutes, or deep-fry them in oil. Per pirogi: 78 calories, 3 gm protein, 10 gm carbohydrates, 3 gm fat, 14 mg cholesterol, 2 gm saturated fat, 87 mg sodium, 1 gm dietary fiber
Lake Monticello, Va.: Just wanted to let you know that I tried David Hagedorn's suggestion for cooking steak . . . and it works great! My husband thought it had better flavor than the grilled steak we had previously. Thanks!!!
Joe: Excellent. He'll be thrilled to hear it.
Anonymous: Gee, will the food carts vend pasta or Brats when the Pope comes? Kraut or Calamari?
Joe: Or maybe Slice Down the Line will do a "Find the Pope in the Pizza" contest. Does that ring a bell with anyone of a certain demographic who may have watched TV in the late '70s?
Burke, Va: Always a thrill to see contributions to the Food Section from known icons such as Nick Maglieri. Thanks!
Speaking of brownies...waaay back, I think it was from someone's trial, there were a lot of reporters hanging around a hotel. The Food section ran a great article about someone baking sheets and sheets of brownies for the crowd outside. Can that brownie recipe be added to the database? I made them at the time and they were great.
Jane Touzalin: Not just any trial. During Clinton impeachment proceedings in 1999, the staff at the Mayflower Hotel would serve brownies to the throngs of reporters and photographers hanging out in front of the hotel, where depositions were being taken. One of our reporters described them as "thick, chewy, chocolaty." Here's the recipe. Yes, we can add it to the database, too:
The Mayflower Brownies Makes 24 very large or 48 small brownies Confectioners' sugar for dusting the pan and for topping the brownies 1 3/4 pounds semisweet chocolate 1 1/2 pounds (6 sticks) unsalted butter, plus additional for greasing the pan 3 cups sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 11 eggs 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 2 cups chopped nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9-by-13-inch baking pans with butter and dust with confectioners' sugar.
In a saucepan or double boiler over low heat, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter together. When chocolate has melted, take off the heat, stir to combine and let the mixture cool until just warm to the touch. In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the sugar, flour, salt and baking powder. Stir to mix thoroughly. Add the eggs and vanilla to the cooled chocolate mixture, blending well. Pour this mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds just until ingredients are blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven until the cake starts to come away from the sides of the pan, about 35 minutes. Cool and dust with confectioners' sugar before slicing.
Alexandria, Va.: Hi Free Rangers,
I'm in the midst of planning my husband's 30th birthday party and am at a bit of a loss as to what food to serve. Its going to be a drinks (wine and beer) and hors d'oeuvres affair for 10-15 people. I'm looking to make three items and will round things out with a fruit platter, crudite, and hummus and pita. I've been searching for semi-healthy items that are easy to prepare, can be made in advance, and are ok to sit for a little while. So far, I've come up with mini crustless quiches. I'm thinking about doing spanikopita, but last year's experience with phyllo has left me lukewarm. Any ideas for hors d'oeuvres that will wow my crowd?
Jane Black: I haven't tried this -- yet -- but it looks fabulous: Stephanie's recipe for shrimp and cucumber canapes in today's section.
If you're interested in spanakopita, you can buy wonderful frozen ones. I want to say the brand I like is Kontos but I never know it till I see it. Anyone else have a favorite brand for this?
Help! I have stacks of crumbling recipes from the Food section and also entire Food sections filling up my bookcases. Please tell me -- How far back are the recipes now available on-line? How quickly are older ones being added (a year each month, for example)? I need to clean house -- but I don't want to lose access to, say, a 1988 asparagus recipe that bowled 'em over at a dinner party.
Joe: We're here to help you clean out, absolutely. But here's the thing: We initially put into the new system about 5 years worth of recipes -- quite a time-consuming job, since the database requires everything to be re-entered (no cutting and pasting!). But then we only made it through the intensive editing of about three years' worth. We're working our way back, but rather than just going back in time systematically, we decided a better use of resources was to look for things topically, such as inputting and editing a bunch of holiday recipes in time for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Easter, Passover, etc. So that means that we have a few that go as far back as the 80s -- but no asparagus from 1988, I'm afraid. So I guess you need to keep your filing system going for awhile? We're editing as fast as we can!
Alexandria, Va.: You know those dry-aged steaks at Whole Foods? How do you prepare and cook them? I'm intrigued, but I don't know if they require special treatment or if they can just be slapped on the grill like other meats.
Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: Cook them like any steak you respect!
Fava beans: When will they be available at Farmers markets? I've only cooked with them once (and didn't realize that you have to remove the husks from each seed!) so I want to give them another whirl. Do you have any ideas (or recipes) for simple ways to prepare them? Thanks!
Jane Black: Fava beans are my favorite spring food. I always joke that when I win the lottery (when, you see, it's positive thinking) I will have someone dedicated full time to shelling favas for me so I can eat them all the time. I do very little with them: I steam them and toss them with pasta and ricotta and mint. I also once made a recipe, I think it was from Martha Stewart, where you tossed them with toasted, chopped almonds, parmesan and a simple oil and lemon vinaigrette. Delicious!
Freezing Pesto: What's the best way to freeze pesto so it doesn't get freezer burn? I tried it in a bowl, with a cover of wax paper under the lid, but it still got an icy coating. Is it best to roll it in freezer paper and then a freezer bag maybe? I've heard to pour EVOO on top, but I'm not sure what container to use.
Jane Touzalin: Here's what I do. There are probably dozens of good ideas, which I'm sure your fellow chatters will provide. I place my pesto (minus the cheese; I add that after thawing) into a resealable freezer bag; then I lay the bag flat on the counter and carefully press out ALL of the air. (It's tricky, because one twitch and I could end up with a pesto puddle on my countertop.) I lay the sealed bag flat on a cutting board and stick both in the freezer until the pesto is solid. That way I end up with a thin, flat, very stackable pesto-cicle. And it stays a little greener if there's no air exposure, I think.
McLean, Va.: Do you know if there are street vendors outside of the Nationals ballpark this year? We went to the game on Saturday and did not see the vendors outside of the Metro station. At RFK we were able to pick up water and peanuts from the street vendors on our walk to the stadium. Please tell me the vendors will be there this year. Thanks!
Walter: The D.C. Council and the city's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs are currently working on regulations regarding vending outside the stadium. The 23 licensed vendors who had hot dog and souvenir carts outside RFK Stadium are waiting for the results. The vendor On the Fly, which operates several carts around the city, planned to open a cart this week on Half St. near Nationals Park, on private property. But I cannot confirm that it has opened for daily business.
Joe: On the Fly was there on Saturday, but got kicked off the property on Sunday because of the wrong permit -- but its owner says it has worked it out.
Washington, D.C.: I work less than a block from the Nationals Stadium. My lunch hour choices are limited to Five Guys and Subway. With the stadium in operation, do you think the stadium would be open to the cubicle crowd during the work week for munching options?
Joe: You're wanting to go into the stadium when there's not a game, just to eat? Wow -- you sound like one of us! (Although I must confess that I will not be repeating that research anytime soon.) As far as we know, the only way in is with a ticket to the game. (We had media credentials; sorry...)
Cheesy question: What is it about the aging process that makes a cheese more fat and caloric? It seems aged cheddar is more fattening than just sharp cheddar. Why is that? Is that to do with the processesing?
Jane Black: I consulted the folks at Cowgril Creamery who explained that there isn't more fat in aged cheddar, there's just less water. As you age a cheese, the water content evaporates and so, proportionally, the amount of fat goes up. Make sense?
Burke, Va.: Thanks so much for the brownie recipe!! I encourage everyone to give it a try. If you don't need two pans' worth the recipe is easily cut in half, using 6 eggs per batch.
Riverdale, Md.: I am going out with family (about 10 of us) to celebrate my husband and my 31st birthdays. We would love to go to an Afghani or Persian restaurant. We all like to drink. Any suggestions in the D.C. Metro area? Preferably in D.C. or Maryland (yes, we are those types of Marylanders who avoid Virginia at all costs) but if you have a MUST TASTE in Virginia we could reconsider. Thanks!!
Joe: Is Lebanese Taverna too obvious a suggestion?
Kingstowne, Va.: Great calls on the buns needing improvement. I had a cheesesteak before the game and a chili half-smoke around the fifth inning or so, and on both of them the bun fell apart fairly quickly. When you're eating messy food, this is more than a minor annoyance (especially if you bring your camera and you don't want to gunk it up). Hopefully they can fix that one.
Joe: Agreed. Nothing like a lap full of chili to ruin a good game.
Allergy Season:: Any good recipes for soothing a sore throat? Gargling with hot salt water is not doing it for me. Thank you.
Joe: This Ginger-Scallion Tea, or a version of it, does it for me. I know it seems counterintuitive that spicy ginger would help a sore throat, but it does -- stops my cough, too, and just generally seems to be, well, a miracle. Not to hyperbolize or anything.
My lunch hour choices are limited to Five Guys and Subway. : Mmmmm, if you have Five Guys that's really all you need. I love that place. Love it!
Joe: How do you really feel, though?
Washington, D.C.: I'm looking at making a recipe with tagine spices. I've looked at Whole foods, but they don't have them. What are tagine spices and where can I buy them? Also, any suggestions for a chicken dish for a dinner party of 12 that I can make ahead.
Jane Black: I was just in Morocco and there are several kinds of "tagine spice" -- blends for chicken, blends for fish, blends for lamb. Probably what you are thinking of is ras el hanout, an easy to find spice blend of more than a dozen spices that vary depending on who is making it. (It certainly includes cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and chilies, though.) You can find Ras El Hanout at Penzeys or at Middle Eastern grocery stores. As for a recipe, a tagine would be a perfect make-ahead meal for 12. Why don't you kill two birds with one stone and make it for your party? Otherwise, readers got any favorites for make-ahead chicken?
Too Much Prosciutto!: What can you suggest to use up a pound of prosciutto? It's only the two of us and we're not big eaters. It could be used in either a main dish or hors d'ouevre. I have plenty of feta, too, if they go well together. Suggestions? Many thanks!
Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: What you need are a few good friends. Wrap the prosciutto around melon and mozzarella balls. Mix up some drinks and have a party.
Washington, D.C.: For the person wonder why she should brown meat before slow cooking: please google "Maillard Reaction" for a thorough, scientific explanation.
Alton Brown would be proud of you!
Jane Black: Yes, browning is layman's term for Maillard Reaction, which basically explains how surface protein breaks down and combines with present sugars to develop flavor. But yes, there are numerous thorough explanations online One is here.
Washington, D.C.: Hi Food Section! I'm looking for a great strawberry shortcake recipe- it's my boyfriend's dad's birthday this weekend, and I'd love to make him his favorite cake. There wasn't anything in the recipe index, so any suggestions would be wonderful. Thank you!!
Jane Black: So do you mean with biscuits? Or a cake?
Re: old Food section recipes: What do you mean "we only made it through the intensive editing of about three years' worth" -- what's getting edited or changed? Just curious. Thanks!
Joe: Since they're all being input by hand in a very difficult program, many many input mistakes are happening and we're needing to fix before making them available. Plus, many of the "headnotes," those paragraphs that explain a recipe, need to be rewritten so that they're clear out of context -- that is, without the story that originally accompanied them.
Fairfax Station, Va.: I'd like to make and ship Passover treats to relatives around the country and wanted to ask which, if any, of these is likely to hold up being shipped, especially to warmer climes: dark-chocolate-covered matzoh; basic coconut macaroons (made with flaked coconut, vanilla and egg whites); matzoh brittle (brown sugar, butter, semi-sweet chips and nuts)? If nothing sounds safe for travel, maybe Passover mandlebrot?
Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: I'd skip anything with chooclate-Coconut macaroons seem like the winner to me. Pack 'em in a cookie tin and send them off.
Reston, Va.: For your baking website list, what about betterbaking.com -- hosted by Marcy Goldman?
Her recipes are some of the most dependable, especially for those of us who want homey desserts, not restaurant desserts.
Joe: Good addition -- thanks!
Why didn't you tell me: Joe,
I know that you love Southwestern/Latin/Tex-Mex so I want to know why you never told us how easy it was to prepare your own tortillas at home? Or if you did, why didn't it stick with me? Fried my own the other night as I took a stab at Baja Fresh's shrimp burrito. They were so good my husband requested them again the following night. This time we sprinkled them with a chipotle chili powder, garlic and salt mixture. Hubby got a little fancy and squeezed fresh lime juice over his. Why did it take me so long? Would cinnamon and sugar be a sweet touch to freshly prepped tortillas?
Joe: Wait -- you tried your own, or you fried your own? Fried, for a burrito? What do you mean, exactly, by prepped? You made them from scratch? Flour, or corn? Consider me one confused Texan.
Silver Spring, Md.: For the bagel-shaper:
Are you covering your bagels and such while they rise? It sounds like the surface may be drying out, forcing cracks.
If not, try a bit of water to stick the edges together.
Or you dough may be too stiff -- hard to imagine with bagels, but possible.
Nats Stadium Food: I read the stadium food article with great interest after going to the park for the exhibition and home opening games. I'll wait for the lines to mellow out to try Ben's Chili Bowl, but in the mean time have tried a Philly Cheese Steak that was very disappointing after a long wait (there was cheese but no spice or flavor). A person in my group enjoyed the gumbo that was an "error" in the article - I wonder if it was just because of the batch or that it just warmed him up. We all decided that the corn dog, also from Cantina Marinia, was a home run. It was a good dog, slightly sweet corn-batter, and a great salt/spice rub on the outside. Yummy.
Joe: Thanks -- glad you had some good stuff...
Capitol Hill: Have you tried Giffords at the stadium? I am psyched that they are there? Is it just prepackaged items, or will they making sundaes and milkshakes?
Joe: We did -- I liked the "dinger" sandwich and loved the hot chocolate, and also liked the fro-yo. Didn't try the ice cream. I saw them scooping but not sure if they're doing sundaes and milkshakes or not, but since they did my hot chocolate with whipped cream, I imagine they are.
Riverdale, Md.: RE: the Persian/Afghani recommendation. Thanks for the suggestion of Lebanese Taverna (I love the one in Woodley Park) but was hoping for something more along the lines of Persian or Afghani food. We went to LT last year so any other suggestions would be great. Thanks!
Walter: Now, you're going to be taking a drive to Virginia. But afterwards, you and your friends are going to very happy. Bamian (5634 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church: 703-820-7880) is a fantastic Afghan restaurnant. The lamb kebabs and scallion-filled dumplings are worth every moment of Virginia confusion.
Philadelphia, Pa.: I have a truly absurd quantity of fat-free vanilla yogurt, and can't possibly eat all of it before it expires. Any ideas for using it in baking? Can I use it as the base for a frozen yogurt? Should I just write it off? It is vanilla and sweetened, so no raita or tzatziki, more's the pity.
Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: You can add it to sweet doughs in the place of buttermilk. Try it in scones where you're getting plenty of fat from the butter in the recipe. It adds a nice tang. Just reduce the sugar a little to take into account the sugar in the yogurt.
No allergy-safe food at Nats Park??: um, your own Food Section published this:
These are named for the owner's autistic son, and a percentage of the proceeds goes to fight autism. Toward that end, gluten-free, casein-free pretzels are sold. (Gluten may increase the severity of autism.) This is the go-to food for anyone with food allergies since the pretzel is made in a facility free from wheat, dairy, fish, shellfish, egg, soy, sesame, peanuts or tree nuts. It was a bit taste-free, too, however.
Joe: Um, read that post again, buddy. The person said "Other than Noah's Pretzels," and I then said "we saw no OTHER foods..." Yeesh!
Chevy Chase, Md.: I am having an extremely difficult time finding Tulkoff extra hot red horseradish which I want to serve with gefilte fish for Passover. Have you spotted it anywhere? Most of the local chains seem to be only carrying white horseradish.
Also, will you be running any Passover recipes?
Jane Black: I called Tulkoff and they say very few stores actually stock it. Seven Mile Market in Baltimore (410-653-2000)and some Giants have it, most likely in the refrigerated section. I called Westbard and they have extra hot but not the extra hot red kind. You might want to call a few of the stores near you or make a pilgimmage up to Baltimore. As for Passover, of course we have Passover recipes coming. Look for them April 16.
River City: Harold McGee says the opposite, that searing meat first does not seal in juices. He did studies in his lab to measure before after moisture levels with different cooking methods.
Joe: We didn't say anything about sealing in juices. We said it adds color and flavor.
Washington, D.C.: Any suggestions on meat thermometers? Mine recently broke (refuses to read the temperature); it is the kind with a probe that stays in the meat, and is threaded with a metal wire through the oven door to the timer/alarm. I liked not having to open the oven door repeatedly, but maybe the strain of the door on the wirehaving that wire get bent in the oven door led to its rather short life. Do you prefer thermometer pens that you jab in periodically, those you keep in the meat without a wire, or the kind with a wire? Thanks!
Joe: I prefer the Thermapen. Will never use anything else.
too much prosciutto?: First off, if you have leftover prosciutto, send it to me. Mmmm.
Is it already sliced or not? One way to vary things is to cube it up, but you can do the same thing with slices torn in shreds -- cook in a hot pan to render fat, then mix with cooked pasta and other tasty things like roasted cauliflower or carmelized onions. Or feta cheese, although the two together have a hefty dose of salt.
Also really nice on a white pizza, with or without arugula. Make the pizza first and drape the prosciutto on after it's done. The heat from the pizza will soften it into drapiness.
If you don't love melon (I don't) it's also good as an appetizer with dates or figs.
Big fat sandwich with fresh mozz.
There's also a great Molly Stevens recipe with braised cabbage in All About Braising.
Joe: Wait -- can I have it?
Metro Center: For the person with phyllo fears -- I get annoyed at the sheets too. An easy cheat is to buy those little frozen phyllo cups. I've made cheating baklava, cheating spanikoptia and cheating bastilla using those. Wonderful things!
Jane Black: Good trick. Thanks.
Just curious: If you had to buy your tomatoes in a supermarket, what kind would you get? I've found the campari (in a plastic box) to be tastier than either on-the-vine or grape tomatoes, but maybe something else is even better? And has anyone successfully grown tasty tomatoes indoors?
Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: I buy my tomatoes in a supermarket, especially during the months I can't buy from farm markets or a nick a few from my neighbor's garden. Like everything else, it's a matter of personal taste. I prefer the vine-ripened tomatoes still on a piece of the vine (they came in clusters of 3 or 4). The flavor's there and they taste fresh.
Washington, D.C.: I must have been at the wrong stadium for the Nats opening game. Our experience with the food was a disaster, at best. First of all, the money machine we stood in line at for 10 minutes ran out of money. Okay, we should have come with money.
Then the lines for food were so long that we decided to get our seats first, then return. This was a good idea as the lines decreased, but two of the stands we went to ran out of food. At the Nats hot dog stand it took my son 30 minutes to get two hot dogs. The guy in front of him orderd coffee, only to be told 10 minutes later that they were out of coffee. When he asked for his money back, the cashier said she was not authrized to refund money. It took another 20 minutes for them to find someone with authority got get the refund. At the Steak of the Union stand, the "cheese" for the cheesesteaks was what you would put on nachos. No napkins to be found anywhere. The help at the stands seemed more annoyed than helpful. Did I miss something?
Joe: I had to ask Peggy Engel, who has been to many many baseball park openings, to weigh in on this. Here's what she said: "I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles on Opening Night. And on Opening Nights, much more so than regular games, everyone buys their food first and on the concourse because they want to be in their seats for the opening ceremonies. So the traffic is even more congested and time-pressed. But I have to tell you, this night went so much better than dozens of others I've witnessed. In particular, Seattle, Detroit and St. Louis. There, the help didn't know how to work the cash registers, causing hour-long back-ups. Half of the stands didn't open. There were food shortages in the first inning, getting progressively worse, until you had your choice of a hot dog or a hot dog and that was IT. I was surprised to see how many staff members were on hand. Most stands were way over-staffed. Refilling napkins is a constant, total pain and maybe the excess buyers of chili dogs lessened the supply a little faster. But I was very surprised to see at least six workers going around cleaning and re-stocking the condiment stands. You NEVER see that on an Opening Day! Give the stadium time and the crowds will spread out the meal rush."
a 1988 asparagus recipe that bowled 'em over at a dinner party.: you need a seperate notebook or box for KEEPER recipies.
For "to try" recipes, I have a limit that if I haven't tried it within a year, out it goes.
Re: baking blog: www.joyofbaking.com is my go-to site for baking recipes, tips, conversions, substitutes, how-tos, and baking terms found in recipes.
Washington, D.C. Hi there - I bought chorizo, kale, and cannellini beans thinking that it seemed like a good combo, but I don't know how to put them together. Can I just steam the kale in the chorizo drippings and throw the beans in to heat them? Anything else I should add (onions, garlic)?
Jane Black: That does sound good. When I make kale, I usually blanch it for a few minutes in boiling water first so you don't have to sautee it too long. I'd sautee a little garlic in the drippings first, then add the half-cooked cale. When it's mostly done, add the beans to heat them through and toss in the sausage. Yum. Good idea.
For sore throat relief....: Don't laugh, but hot water, honey and a little scotch (or bourbon) -- assuming you're not at work -- is great. The honey coats, the scotch anesthetizes, the heat is comforting. There's also a line of herbal teas called Throat Coat that provide temporary relief (without the scotch, unfortunately).
Joe: No need to laugh at what is basically a hot Toddy! Tried and true. My sister Teri has made me one with tea instead of water and with a little lemon, too. It puts you out!
Silver Spring, Md.: Where can I buy curry leaves for my Indian/Malaysian dishes?
Walter: You can find nice curry leaves (79 cents per bunch) at Patel Brothers, 2074 University Blvd. East in Langley Park; 301-422-1555.
Sugar in brownies: Half again as much sugar as flour in those brownies?? Is that what makes it chewy? I guess I'm wondering because desserts seem so much sweeter (cloyingly so to me) than they were when I was a kid (or when I was baking).
Jane Touzalin: In brownies, a sugar-flour ratio of 2-1 is pretty standard. And always has been, it seems: I checked, and the standard "Joy of Cooking" brownies I grew up baking also call for twice as much sugar as flour. So maybe it's not that desserts have gotten sweeter, but that your palate has grown more discriminating since you were 10 years old. You can always experiment: Cut back on the sugar a little and see how that affects the result.
Fairfax foodie: Question for Jane about the Moroccan spice she mentioned -- could it be used to make a simpler chicken dish than a tagine?
Jane Black: Absolutely! Use it as a spice rub on simple chicken breasts for a really easy meal.
Washington, D.C.: Re: the strawberry shortcake request... I love it with biscuits, but my boyfriend indicated that his dad would prefer an actual cake. Any suggestions would be great!
Jane Black: Ack. We're almost out of time. Send your email to food@washpost.com and I'll send you a recipe. It's from Chris Kimball's Dessert Bible. If anyone knows how to make a great strawberry shortcake, it's Chris Kimball.
Joe: Our exteriors have set (they feel slightly dry to the touch) and we're ready to be stored in airtight containers -- in other words, we're done!
Thanks, everybody, for the great questions this week. Hope we gave you some direction and helped you figure out where you're next meal is coming from. (My suggestion: from you!)
Now for those giveaway books: The Alexandria chatter who's flummoxed by hubby's 30th-birthday plans will get "Bold Italian," which may hold some inspiration. And the pack rat with that 1988 asparagus recipe stuffed into a file will get "Fair Shares For All." (But keep in mind, if you don't read it within a year, you have to toss it.)
Until next week, happy cooking, eating and reading.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Join live discussions from the Washington Post. Feature topics include national, world and DC area news, politics, elections, campaigns, government policy, tech regulation, travel, entertainment, cars, and real estate.
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Familiar Back and Forth With Oil Executives
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It's becoming a rite of spring. Gasoline prices climb. Members of Congress fume. And oil executives make the trek to Capitol Hill to do battle over who's to blame.
Facing unhappy members of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, executives from five giant oil companies yesterday sought to portray their firms as part of the energy solution, not the energy problem. And they put part of the blame for high oil prices on the federal government, lamenting obstacles to offshore drilling.
But the lawmakers took aim at the oil companies and the record profits they recorded last year.
"I believe the laws of supply and demand when it comes to oil and gas are broken and completely malfunctioning," said Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.).
"Your approval ratings are down lower than ours, and that means you are down low," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.). Conversations with his constituents during the spring recess suggested that "the anger level is rising significantly," Cleaver said.
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the committee, noted before the hearing that the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline set a record -- $3.287 a gallon -- on Monday. "Today, on April Fool's Day, consumers all over America are hoping that the top executives from the five largest oil companies will tell us that these soaring gas prices are just part of some elaborate hoax," he said in a written statement.
The criticism was bipartisan. Rep. Candice S. Miller (R-Mich.) said big oil companies have "to do the right thing" with their profits or face a backlash from "customers who are sick and tired of paying high prices."
But the oil executives turned some of the blame back on the lawmakers, complaining that Congress and past administrations had barred oil companies from drilling in much of the Outer Continental Shelf.
John D. Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil , noted that U.S. oil and gas production has dropped steadily for two decades: "Why? Because government policies place domestic oil and gas resources off-limits." Other executives said that many offshore prospects had not been examined with new technology.
The executives said other factors driving up oil prices were rising demand in developing nations, the weak dollar, investments flowing into commodities of all sorts, and the small amount of excess production capacity worldwide.
"Every time there's a little disruption or potential disruption, there's a blip in the price," Peter J. Robertson, vice chairman of Chevron, said in an interview before the hearing.
The executives also criticized a tax package passed by the House that would extend tax breaks for solar and wind projects and pay for them largely by eliminating a break for the five biggest international oil companies.
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It's becoming a rite of spring. Gasoline prices climb. Members of Congress fume. And oil executives make the trek to Capitol Hill to do battle over who's to blame.
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Airlines, FAA Under Fire on the Hill
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Federal inspectors blew the whistle on Southwest Airlines for flying planes after learning that critical safety checks had not been conducted on schedule.
A 20-square-foot piece of wing broke off a US Airways jet over Maryland.
Two other carriers discovered problems with the way they were supposed to bundle wires inside jets, leading them to ground scores of planes and cancel hundreds of flights.
Those recent disclosures have raised concern in Congress and among safety experts about airlines' maintenance practices. They said they were also worried about regulatory oversight of an industry that has been outsourcing increasing amounts of its repair work, which makes it more difficult for inspectors at the Federal Aviation Administration to keep tabs on carriers.
Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told reporters yesterday that the recent flurry of maintenance problems is partially a result of "a cozy relationship between the FAA and airlines and a lack of an enforcement mind-set" by regulators.
"We need a change of attitude at the highest levels of the FAA," said Oberstar, who is to hold a hearing tomorrow on the issue.
FAA officials denied that they are too friendly with air carriers and said the industry has done a good job of complying with often complex directives requiring them to fix items as varied as wiring and windshields.
A recent sampling of airline records and inspections of hundreds of planes has found a "very, very high compliance rate" with safety directives, said Laura J. Brown, an FAA spokeswoman. The FAA is expected to release the results of that study today.
The controversy over airline maintenance comes during the industry's safest stretch in history -- there has been only one major fatal U.S. airline crash since 2001. Even the agency's toughest critics in Congress, including Oberstar, have said air travelers should not be nervous about stepping onto a jetliner.
Still, lawmakers and safety experts said they worry that they are witnessing the same types of problems that dogged the industry a decade ago. That is when the FAA and carriers came under fire for lax maintenance practices that led to crashes.
Many of today's reporting and monitoring systems -- which rely heavily on airlines reporting problems to regulators -- were developed to fix such lapses.
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Crossed wiring led two United Airlines jets to skid off runways.
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Capitals Are Standing Tall
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It was, without question, the franchise's most significant game in five years. And from Alex Ovechkin to Matt Cooke, the Washington Capitals treated it as such.
In a contest that featured all of the intensity of a playoff game, the Capitals seized control early last night and thumped the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1, to buoy their hopes of earning a spot in the playoffs. The win, which came before a raucous, red-clad sellout crowd at Verizon Center, was the Capitals' ninth in 10 games and gave them their first five-game winning streak since March 2001.
More important, it pulled them even with the Hurricanes in the race for the Southeast Division title. Washington and Carolina each have two games remaining, but the Capitals must finish with more points to beat out the Hurricanes, who hold the tiebreaker.
"We have two more games that are going to be tough to win," said goaltender Cristobal Huet, who was outstanding when tested in stopping 21 shots. "Not everything is in our hands -- yet. We just have to do our job and continue playing the way we did the last two weeks."
The Capitals also moved closer to the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, pulling within a point of idle Boston and Philadelphia.
But they may have to press on without a key part of their recent success. Defenseman Shaone Morrisonn left the game after being checked by Jeff Hamilton late in the first period, leaving the Capitals with five defensemen for most of the game. Team officials would only classify the injury as "upper body," though Morrisonn appeared to be favoring his shoulder. He is scheduled to be reevaluated today.
But even short-handed, the Capitals were not going to be denied. Ovechkin, Cooke, Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin each scored, and Huet made sure the Capitals stayed ahead with several spectacular stops. Mike Green and Sergei Fedorov also chipped in with a pair of assists in a game that could have been decided by a wider margin if not for Cam Ward's heroics in the Carolina net. Ward finished with 35 saves.
"The first six minutes went so fast I could barely keep up," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It was an extremely intense game. Both teams could tell what was at stake."
Huet added: "To be with them at 90 points, to put pressure on other teams, is huge. Tonight was a turning-point game, I think. Without this win, we would pretty much be out."
It was likely the biggest game for the Capitals since their last trip to the playoffs in 2002-03. They came into the game knowing a loss would all but eliminate them from postseason consideration. For Carolina, the math was much simpler. With a victory in regulation, they would have clinched their fourth division title in nine seasons.
But from the opening faceoff, it was obvious the Capitals were not going to let them get it. Not easily, anyway.
From the outset, their passes were crisper than Carolina's. They were operating at a higher speed. And they certainly were hitting harder. The play of Ovechkin, Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Green, Tom Poti and Cooke especially stood out as the Capitals out-shot the Hurricanes 14-6 in the first period.
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Washington overwhelms Carolina for a 4-1 win that ties the Capitals with the Hurricanes for the Southeast Division lead and gives them their first five game winning streak since March 2001.
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For India, Tibet Poses Some Delicate Issues
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The chant was an expression of anger over India's burgeoning diplomatic and economic ties with China. But it also reflected the contradictions in the Indian government's policy as it tries to ensure free speech for its sizable ethnic Tibetan population while also maintaining a fragile partnership with its powerful neighbor.
India enjoys a trading relationship with China expected to be worth $40 billion this year. At the same time, it hosts the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, his exile government and his followers. Authorities in Beijing have accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting the recent Tibet protests.
"It is a difficult position for India," said Kanwal Sibal, a former Indian foreign secretary. "We gave asylum to the Dalai Lama and his followers on the condition that they would not conduct political activities on Indian soil. But the Tibetan government-in-exile is run from here.
"We have to weigh the costs of extending support to the Tibetans in a demonstrative way in the current situation against damaging our ties with China," he said.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, India's current foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said that the Dalai Lama was a "respected guest" and that India would continue to offer him hospitality. But the Dalai Lama should not do anything that could have a "negative impact on Indo-Sino relations," Mukherjee warned.
India is home to about 100,000 Tibetans, for whom the government's relationship with China is a particular source of discontent. Many activists accuse India of selling out to China. Two weeks ago, when Indian police used force to detain 100 Tibetan marchers on their way to Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, the anger seemed to come to a boil.
"We know what is going on. India is cozying up to China at any cost, at the cost of Tibet," said Tsewang Rigzin, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress. "India is the land of Gandhi, and the marchers were following the principle of nonviolence. This kind of police action is not new. It happens every time a Chinese leader visits India nowadays."
Many analysts say India has handled the challenge of fulfilling its twin commitments, to China and the Dalai Lama, rather deftly in the face of enormous pressure from Beijing.
When pro-Tibet activists stormed the Chinese Embassy complex in New Delhi last month, authorities in Beijing summoned the Indian ambassador in the middle of the night to express their displeasure. India immediately beefed up security around the building.
Before Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, met with the Dalai Lama in Dharmsala, India, last month, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told her that the Dalai Lama was the "personification of nonviolence." Then the government called off a previously scheduled meeting between the Dalai Lama and the Indian vice president, Hamid Ansari.
Last week, India's opposition Bharatiya Janata Party attacked the government, saying in a statement that "instead of expressing concern over the use of force by the Chinese government," it "is adopting a policy of appeasement towards China with scant regard to the country's national honor and foreign policy independence." The BJP urged the government to voice its concerns "correctly, unequivocally and unambiguously."
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NEW DELHI, April 1 -- Angry Tibetans in India chanted all kinds of anti-China slogans last month when they gathered to protest the crackdown in their homeland. But one chant, in particular, seemed to be an ominous warning to the government in New Delhi: "China-India brotherhood is a Chinese...
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Intelligence-Gathering Program May Be Halted
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Pentagon officials said the call to shutter the Counterintelligence Field Activity program, or CIFA, is part of a planned restructuring requested by James R. Clapper, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence. The small agency had drawn widespread criticism from civil liberties groups and some Democratic lawmakers, who contended that it represented an unwarranted expansion of the Pentagon's domestic spying capability.
Much of the controversy stemmed from the disclosure that the agency had collected information on antiwar protesters after the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. Clapper ordered an end to that practice after he was appointed last year.
Defense Department spokesman Col. Patrick Ryder said the proposed reorganization has nothing to do with the criticism but is part of a "realignment . . . to strengthen the department's -- and the nation's -- capabilities."
"Bringing together what had been separate [Defense Intelligence Agency] and CIFA counterintelligence entities is expected to further enhance unity of effort," he said.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates must still approve Clapper's recommendation to close the agency, first reported last night by the New York Times. Gates, a former CIA director, has quietly ended or scaled back a number of controversial programs and policies put in place by Rumsfeld, whom he succeeded.
CIFA was established in the months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Pentagon officials then described its aim as countering the activities of foreign terrorists operating in the United States. Initially tasked with coordinating Pentagon security efforts, the agency was eventually given the power to investigate certain crimes within the United States, including treason, foreign or terrorist sabotage and economic espionage.
Although the agency was said to employ about 1,000 people, most of the details of its operation have been classified.
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The Pentagon's top intelligence official has recommended the dismantling of a controversial intelligence program, established by then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to gather information on terrorist groups inside the United States, defense officials said last night.
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In some parts of the Middle East and other areas of the Muslim world, a woman may be beaten severely by her husband or male relatives for something as ridiculous as not having dinner prepared on time. It is a common theme amongst some male Muslims to beat their women whenever they think it is deserved and they can rest assured that the entire Islamic Scholars will be right behind them for support. Although this may sound bizarre, the Muslim Scholars have told people that God has ordained in His holy book that women may be beaten if their male counter-part is not pleased with them. The verse that Muslims claim gives a green light to commit violence against their women-folk is the following: [Yusufali Translation]: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear "Nushooz" disloyalty and ill-conduct , admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) "Idribuhun" beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all)." (4:34) If indeed God had commanded men to beat their `disloyal` women, then we have no course of action but to `hear & obey`...However, there is more than meets the eye in accepting the common interpretation of verse 4:34 which is the subject of this article. The Quran is best studied by placing all similar subject words/verses together (this approach is called `Tarteel` and has been advised by the Almighty in 73:4). There are two key words that are central to deriving the correct meaning for this topic: 1. Nushuz (translated above `disloyalty & ill-conduct) 2. Idribuhun (translated above as `beat them`). The first word `Nushooz` will give us an understanding of what the subject is all about...Is this about a woman who is disloyal and in ill-conduct (an adulteress or temptress perhaps?) Or, has this word been mistranslated based on a backdrop of social ignorance and male domination? Nushooz means: `to rise / go above`. This can be seen clearly in 58:11 where people are told to `Nushooz` from the place of gathering/sitting. [Yusufali Translation]: O ye who believe! When ye are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out and) make room: (ample) room will Allah provide for you. And when ye are told "Inshuzoo" *to rise up, rise up Allah will rise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) Knowledge. And Allah is well-acquainted with all ye do." (58:11) * Notice how our translator [Yusufali] has given the correct translation in the verse, whereas in 4:34 it was all about `disloyalty & ill-conduct`. Therefore, the issue we are dealing with here is not adultery or some other act of immorality, but rather it is the subject of a woman `rebelling / going against` her husband (going above them, not acknowledging the other, not listening, deserting them, etc.). Let us read what the Quran tells us to do when it is the man that is doing the `Nushooz` and not the woman: [Yusufali Translation]: If a wife fears cruelty or "Nushooz" **desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." (4:128) ** Again, we see our translator [yusufali] magically giving the correct meaning by translating `Nushooz` as `desertion` when it just happened that the male was the subject matter! The Quran tells us that if the man is the one who is doing the `Nushooz` then the couple need to reconcile or part since he obviously has rebelled against his wife (can't stand to be with her, finds himself wanting to leave from her presence, etc..)...The verse does not say that the woman should `beat` the man into submission or bring her men-folk to do so in order to knock some sense into him...It says they should talk, and reconcile, since obviously this is an issue which needs people to come-back into respecting and loving one another, or part ways. Now to move back to the verse where the woman is the one doing the `Nushooz` using the correct translation: "The men are to support the women by what God has gifted them over one another and for what they spend of their money. The upright women who are attentive, and keep private the personal matters for what God keeps watch over. As for those women from whom you fear a "Nushooz" desertion, then you shall advise them, and abandon them in the bedchamber, and "Idribuhun" Beat them?; if they obey you, then do not seek a way over them; God is High, Great.` (4:34) If we look at the subject matter, it is of a woman who cannot stand her man and therefore has rebelled from him...As with the example of the man being the one rebelling, there are steps to `calm things down` and to bring harmony into the marriage...Beating a woman if she can't stand her man and has rebelled against him will only make her hate him more (not exactly a logical or practical solution to the problem). Obviously now that the subject has been better understood, it is the second word "Idribuhun" which needs examination in light of the Quran. "Have you not seen how God puts forth (Daraba) the example of a good word is like a good tree, whose root is firm and its branches in the sky." (The Message 14:24) "For the poor who face hardship in the cause of God, they cannot go forth (Darban) in the land; the ignorant ones think they are rich from their modesty; you know them by their features, they do not ask the people repeatedly. And what you spend out of goodness, God is fully aware of it." (2:273) Daraba (in its natural state) means: `to put forth` The only reason this word can sometimes mean hit/strike is because a person is `putting forth` his hand when striking someone (see 8:12, 8:50, 47:27). "And if you could only see as the Angels take those who have rejected, they "Yadriboon" strike their faces and their backs: `Taste the punishment of the blazing Fire!`" (8:50) Looking back at 4:34, we see that the context of the verse (solving the wife's rejection of her husband) leads us to choose the natural meaning of "Darab" which is: `to put forth` and not the alternative meaning of `strike`. "The men are to support the women by what God has gifted them over one another and for what they spend of their money. The upright women who are attentive, and keep private the personal matters for what God keeps watch over. As for those women from whom you fear a desertion, then you shall 1) advise them, and 2) abandon them in the bedchamber, and 3) "Idribuhun" let them go forth; if they obey you, then do not seek a way over them; God is High, Great." (4:34) The approach of choosing the `best` understanding and/or meaning is both logical and, more importantly, in-line with the guidance for study we are given by God: "The ones who listen to what is being said, and then follow the BEST of it. These are the ones whom God has guided, and these are the ones who possess intelligence." (39:18) What we have now is a comprehensive list of steps in order for a man to deal with his wife who wants to desert her husband and can no longer stand to be with him... 1. Talk about it. This is obviously the simplest and healthiest method since it opens the communication channel between both parties. 2. Abstain from sharing the same bed. This is the 2nd approach the man is advised to use if they are unable to reconcile their problem as the lack of sexual contact may lead to the wife to cool down as intimate contact may simply inflame the situation if she is unable to stand her husband. 3. Separate from each other. The 3rd and final line of advice is designed as a 'cooling-off' period and is mainly designed to help the wife re-think and examine the situation closely without the physical presence of her husband. The logic and clarity of the above steps are a far cry from the wife beating and bashing claims which this article started off examining.... As for those who have been promoting the evil inherited from their forefathers while claiming falsely it was from God... "And if they commit evil acts, they Say: `We found our fathers doing such, and God ordered us to it.` Say: `God does not order evil! Do you say about God what you do not know?` Say: `My Lord orders justice, and that you be devoted at every temple, and that you call on Him, while being faithful to Him in the system; as He initiated you, so you will return.` A group He has guided and a group have deserved misguidance; that is because they have taken the devils as allies besides God; and they think they are guided!" (7:28-30) ________________________________________ Questions / Issues Below are some arguments/questions which have been presented in support of the understanding to `beat women` as claimed is the true meaning in 4:34. ⢠In Arabic, the word for `separate from them` is `IdribuANhun` and not `Idribuhun` as used in 4:34. Therefore `beat` is the correct meaning. The people who raise such linguistic obstacles fail to notice that God uses the very same word `Darab` such as in 14:24 without any prefix. "Have you not seen how God puts forth (Daraba) the example of a good word is like a good tree, whose root is firm and its branches in the sky." (The Message 14:24) Would they claim by the very same linguistic argument that God is `beating` an example? Or, will they accept that without any prefix the word can mean to `put forth`? ⢠The word `Idrib` means `beat` if applied to a living object/thing and can mean otherwise if applied to a non-living object/thing. This is mainly an argument put forth by groups who have preconceived notions and wish to keep believing that Islam is a mindless and barbaric system. The argument holds no merit based on linguistics or Arabic grammar. In-fact, the usage of the word `Idrib` as applied in verse 24:31 puts an end to this argument as the women are obviously not being commanded to `beat` their bosoms with their shawls, but rather they are commanded to `put-forth` their shawls: "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and keep covered their private parts, and that they should not reveal their beauty except what is apparent, and let them put-forth (YaDribna) their shawls over their cleavage..." (24:31)
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Islam's Advance on PostGlobal; blog of politics and current events on washingtonpost.com. Visit http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/islamsadvance/
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Electronic Pickpocket Stoppers
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Stuck on the tarmac, flipping through a travel magazine, you're struck by the blurb for metal-lined wallets. Purpose: to prevent digital pickpocketing by blocking radio frequencies.
These handsome babies start at $79.99 and top out at the $225 Italian Leather Teju Lizard Embossed Travel Wallet.
Your reaction: Wow! Luxury accessories for paranoids!
But you would be wrong. Maybe.
Because, says electronic security expert Bruce Schneier, crystallizing the view of many: "As weird as it sounds, wrapping your passport in tinfoil helps. The tinfoil people, in this case, happen to be correct."
The issue is bigger than just the new style of passports, which contain chips that emit information that can be read by a scanner. We're also talking about your Metro SmarTrip card, your employee ID/building access card, your automatic highway toll pass, the newest wave of credit cards and gas purchasing cards, even digital drivers' licenses being developed in some states.
All of these nifty and oh-so-convenient bits of plastic employ versions of what's known as radio frequency identification technology, or RFID. That is, they toss out bits of data that are caught by receivers, with little or no contact, just through the air in some cases. The new credit cards, such as MasterCard's PayPass, don't have to be swiped through a machine. Swiping is so retro, and takes precious extra seconds. You need only lightly tap the PayPass on a terminal to register a purchase.
Neato. It feels as if you're living in the future, or in an episode of "24," when you slap your purse on the Metro turnstile and the gate opens, or you wave your ID badge at a node on the wall and your office door beeps open (and then your face and all your recent movements around the office -- yikes! -- pop up on the security guard's computer).
But alas, just as every problem has a solution, so every solution has a problem, right?
According to some security gurus, even when there is no receiver in the vicinity, your digital secrets are leaking merrily from the cards in your wallet, like sound from a radio that you can't turn off.
So, conceivably, a pickpocket with a laptop and an antenna could lift the digital contents of your wallet. This modern, hypothetical Artful Dodger would never reach his fingers under your jacket. He'd be that guy slouched on a bench in Union Station with a backpack, vacuuming up bits and bytes as crowds flowed past. Behind your back, the contents of your wallet may be talking about you, digitally, to perfect strangers.
Paranoid? The scenario has mainly been reenacted by researcher-hackers under simulated conditions. The makers and issuers of RFID cards insist the data are encrypted and safe. Yet some security watchdogs assert the need to cover, or shield, these cards when they aren't in use. A thin metalized nylon can do the trick, based on the classic Faraday cage design, to disrupt RFID communications.
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Stuck on the tarmac, flipping through a travel magazine, you're struck by the blurb for metal-lined wallets. Purpose: to prevent digital pickpocketing by blocking radio frequencies.
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Morning Mix: Katie Holmes Headed to Broadway?
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Apologies for the late posting. Our blog software was down all morning, so we're running a bit behind. Expect the main post a little later than usual, too.
Headlines: Daniel Craig still best dressed, says GQ... Kathie Lee Gifford joins "Today"... In more breaking news, NKOTB will perform as part of "Today's" concert series... Dane Cook named "Unfunniest Comic"... PETA offers Britney Spears a job... Reese Witherspoon volunteers at New Orleans school... R&B singer Sean Levert dies in jail... Paris Hilton takes a tumble in Prague... Jessica Simpson released from hospital... Adam Sandler breaks his ankle playing basketball... Jury says Daniel Smith died of accidental overdose... Woody Allen sues over ads using his image... David Schwimmer says no chance of "Friends" reunion... Tarzan sidekick Cheeta pens memoir.
Crime Watch: Alleged stalker arrested near John Cusack's home (no boombox found at scene).
Rumor Mill: Katie Holmes headed to Broadway?... Tom Cruise plotting fourth "Mission:Impossible" movie?... Was Ashton Kutcher behind the Brangelina wedding rumors?... And is Angelina Jolie really expecting twins?... Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson shopping for New York roost?... Christian Bale and Brandon Routh sign on to "Justice League" movie... Michael Jackson offered $35 million to perform 10-night gig... Amy Winehouse to appear in "Dr. Who" TV series... Johnny Depp not hawking condoms... Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen feuding?
Say What? "He's full of piss; someone has to extract it." -- Keith Richards on bandmate Mick Jagger's ego and how he keeps it in check
By Liz | April 1, 2008; 11:38 AM ET | Category: Daily Mix Previous: Dimmed Stars: Not Gone, But Mostly Forgotten | Next: Celebrity Scribes: An '08 Reading Guide
Keep up with the latest Celebritology scoops with an easy-to-use widget.
If you have tips, ideas for stories or general suggestions, let us know.
Better late than never. I was starting to worry about this! I had to do actual WORK!
Posted by: RiverCityRoller | April 1, 2008 11:40 AM
GQ named Daniel Day Lewis one of the best dressed men? Did they miss the cast-off from the "Deadwood" costume department that he was sporting at the Oscars?
Posted by: musicgeek | April 1, 2008 11:48 AM
Kathie 'STFU' Lee Gifford new co-host on Today show: Reason #2,117 to never watch it again.
Jessica Simpson kidney infection: Perfect tie-in to her new single, a cover of the Frank Zappa tune 'Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?'
Gratuitous Hugh Laurie reference: I have 'A Bit Of Fry and Laurie' coming from Netflix.
A bit you missed, Liz Kelly: PETA says it's offered Britney job as receptionist. (They say it was inspired by her appearance on 'How I Met Your Mother', but we all know she doesn't wear fur.) http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/story.asp?j=251057836&p=z5yx5854z
Posted by: byoolin | April 1, 2008 11:49 AM
My productivity has been running too high this morning. Glad I can finally be lazy again.
Posted by: michael | April 1, 2008 11:50 AM
Why wiuld I not be suprised if Keif isn't really joking.
That man is an endless giver of mirth.
Posted by: EricS | April 1, 2008 11:55 AM
"Dane Cook named "Unfunniest Comic"..."
Thank god, I thought it was just me. I was beginning to think something was wrong with my sense of humor. Still doesn't explain why he continues to work.
Posted by: jake e. poo | April 1, 2008 11:58 AM
If MKO and AO were feuding, it would have to be over the 'fortune.'
There's no chance it would be over who gets the last chicken wing.
Posted by: byoolin | April 1, 2008 11:58 AM
Dane Cook has been in some baaaaaad movies (yeah, I actually paid to see "Good Luck Chuck"), but his standup is pretty freakin' great, if you ask me.
But this NYP piece is the first I've ever heard of him having diva tendencies. If that part's true, that really sucks. Not only because it would mean he's a d***wad, but because it'd be totally premature and unwarranted for this stage of his career. Kind of like Nia Vardalos thought she was Queen Of All Media after her one big hit, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Didn't her oversize ego end up ruining all of her subsequent endeavors?
Posted by: trumance | April 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Unlike some of the posts above, I was not useful at work this morning as I kept trying to find the blog. Finally got it on a search and then a couple click throughs.
"Katie Holmes headed to Broadway?" If she is good for her. If she's taking Tom along booooooooooo.
"Dane Cook named "Unfunniest Comic" Never before has an award recipient been more deserving. Here's hoping he doesn't pull a SJP and complain.
Posted by: petal | April 1, 2008 12:02 PM
I can't believe how the mighty Today show has fallen. First Ann Curry, now Kathie Lee Gifford? Poor Hoda Kotb.
Posted by: methinks | April 1, 2008 12:02 PM
Does the Tom Cruise item mean that a fouth Mission Impossible movie would actually have a plot?
Posted by: jes | April 1, 2008 12:03 PM
I went to Adam Sandler's website to see if he had anything on there about his broken ankle. It turns out that his cute dog, Matzoball, has passed on. Nice tribute video to her. The Sandler's now have a new puppy, Babu.
On another note, Karl Lagerfeld creeps me out.
Posted by: jlr | April 1, 2008 12:03 PM
Ha ha. Routh & Bale. April Fools. I get jokes...
Posted by: fft5305 | April 1, 2008 12:11 PM
I thought I would have to leave work early today because without Celebritology why stay.
Posted by: Lisa1 | April 1, 2008 12:11 PM
I read the comments on the "Justice League" movie item and everyone seems to think it's an April Fool's joke.
And, if I'm honest, I laughed my behind off listening to Dane Cook's "Retaliation" CD. Now, that's about all the exposure I've had to him, but in a lot of ways, he reminded me of a teenaged Steven Wright on speed, and I like it.
Posted by: 23112 | April 1, 2008 12:15 PM
Wait, is the NKOTB thing an april fools joke? I would be seriously disappointed. I'm totally planning to go late to work and catch a little Hangin' Tough on NBC. Is that a People Mag joke?
Posted by: | April 1, 2008 12:37 PM
People Magazine Scooby-Doo'd us! I just checked the Today show website. This Friday is Raheem DeVaughn (in studio), not NKOTB. I totally would have watched NKOTB. Not a total loss, the concert for 5/16 is a "Surprise Reunion Concert", so we can hope.
Posted by: jlr | April 1, 2008 12:47 PM
I had been hearing alot about how funny Dane Cook is, so when he was hosting SNL, I decided to watch. His monologue was so unfunny, so boring, I ended up switching channels. I've tried watching him other times, but he still wasn't funny. Then I started hearing about how he's known for stealing jokes from other comics, which is much worse than having "diva-like tendencies". It is rather d*ckish to build a successful career based on others work.
Posted by: | April 1, 2008 1:11 PM
Too bad the kathie lee story wasn't an april fool's joke!
Posted by: | April 1, 2008 1:30 PM
Kathie Lee: "I was either getting my feet done . . . or getting my face done."
I think she meant "re-done". I saw her on Today this morning, and no way she's not had work. Her right eye was strange.
Posted by: m.a. | April 1, 2008 2:40 PM
Just think, Kathie Lee used to be a nice Jewish girl from Bowie.
Posted by: jes | April 1, 2008 2:42 PM
"Dane Cook has been in some baaaaaad movies (yeah, I actually paid to see "Good Luck Chuck"), but his standup is pretty freakin' great, if you ask me."
Obviously, you haven't seen his latest stand-up "Live at Madison Square Garden." I didn't laugh a single time. He's lost the magic of the "Crouton O' Christ."
Posted by: xtine | April 1, 2008 2:42 PM
Comics, and other artists as well, stealing from each other has been going on since Aristophanes. What is worse is stealing it and still not being funny. I thought it was just me but since I anm an expert at what is funny it didn't bother me too much. Brian Reagan is another. If you doubt, just look at who does find them funny. Well? I rest my case.
Posted by: Stick | April 1, 2008 3:13 PM
Jolie looks SOOOO much better with some meat on her bones!
Is Amy Winehouse getting jobs and money to fund her sick lifestyle an April Fool's Joke? Is it also an April Fool's Joke that someone would put the scabby face, rat's nest hair, sliced-up arms, scary teeth, etc. etc. of the world's dirtiest celeb in front of a camera?
Posted by: | April 1, 2008 3:25 PM
Dane Cook is bad. Doug Standhope is (was) worse. Bill Hicks is not far behind. It's so not funny when these guys just scream and say stupid, hateful, narcissistic things that do not make any sense.
Posted by: Humorlover | April 1, 2008 3:46 PM
Jolie always look bad. She looks more like 42 than 33. Her arms are ultra skinny and full of tattoos. Her hair looks "dehydrated" and has an unflattering color. Her face is full of veins. If it weren't for Brad Pitt, the pregnancies, and the adoptions, she would have as popular as her ex Billy Bob Thornton.
Please, before you put someone on the pedestal, imagine if you would have felt the same way if that person were your nanny or middle school cafeteria lady.
Posted by: Bored | April 1, 2008 3:50 PM
I'm just glad there are other people out there who think that Dane Cook is not funny besides me.
Posted by: VAtoLA | April 1, 2008 3:51 PM
Is Dane Cook actually funny?
Apparently this has been questioned for some time.
Posted by: | April 1, 2008 5:21 PM
03:25 PM wrote: "scabby face, rat's nest hair, sliced-up arms, scary teeth, etc. etc..."
Have you ever seen the characters on Dr. Who? She fits right in!
Posted by: MoCoSnarky | April 1, 2008 6:22 PM
What's wrong with Oprah's face? Her eyes have been looking weird lately -- kind of puffy underneath. She just looks different. Botched plastic surgery?
Posted by: | April 2, 2008 10:15 AM
I like Katie! She and Tom look great together. I read about her diet and favorite foods here http://www.projectweightloss.com. She really has a strange diet, it's amazing how she manages to stay in shape!
Posted by: andrea pelin | April 3, 2008 3:38 AM
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Washingtonpost.com blogger Liz Kelly dishes on the latest happenings in entertainment, celebrity, and Hollywood news.
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Iraq Violence Halts British Drawdown
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"It is prudent that we pause any further reductions while the current situation is unfolding," Browne said in the House of Commons. The British troop level is to remain at about 4,000, putting on hold a planned reduction of 1,500 troops.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced last fall that the British troop level would be trimmed from 5,000, reaching 2,500 this spring. But, Secretary Browne said Tuesday, "it is absolutely right that military commanders review plans when the conditions on the ground change."
In September, British troops withdrew from the Basra city center to a base near the airport. Britain formally turned over security responsibility for Basra to the Iraqi government in December.
British troops reengaged in combat for the first time since last year during the past few days as part of the Iraqi military operation against Shiite militia forces in Basra and Baghdad.
After nearly a week of fierce fighting, relative calm had returned to the streets of Basra by Tuesday after Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered members of his Mahdi Army over the weekend to stand down.
Browne said British forces, at the request of the Iraqi government, supported Iraqi forces in Basra by conducting artillery strikes, flying jet missions over the city "as a show of force," using helicopters to resupply Iraqi troops and providing medical care to the wounded.
"Iraqi operations continue and the government of Iraq is making steady progress in achieving its aims of ensuring respect for the rule of law by all parties and factions," Browne told lawmakers. "Sadr's call on Sunday for his followers to abide by a cease-fire and work with the government of Iraq to achieve security is a demonstration of this."
While Sadr's followers have claimed victory -- or at least a draw -- with government troops, Browne said it was "too early to give a definitive or detailed assessment" of the operation.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Tuesday rejected suggestions that the operation, which Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said would restore clear government control of Basra, had been a failure.
"I think they've shown quite a lot of strength," Miliband said in an interview. "There has been some very tough fighting in which the Iraqi security forces have shown the value of the training that they've been given."
Miliband said Sadr's call for a cease-fire "shows that the Iraqi security forces have surprised some people by the mettle they've shown."
Some commentators in Britain have wondered why British forces did not play a bigger role in a military operation that President Bush called "a defining moment" for the new Iraqi government.
Miliband said British troops are "ready to engage" as part of the U.S.-led multinational force. He said any British military operations in Iraq are determined by the multinational force's leaders, and only when requested by the Iraqi government.
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Washington Post coverage of the American occupation of Iraq, the country's path to democracy and tensions between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
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Surge in Caseload Has Put Agency in 'Crisis,' Court Told
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The District's Child and Family Services Agency is awash in backlogged cases and is in "crisis" after thousands of new reports flooded the agency in recent months, a children's rights lawyer said yesterday.
The influx of calls has created "clearly a dangerous situation" that might prompt legal action to send the agency back into court receivership, said Marcia Robinson Lowry, a lawyer and executive director of Children's Rights, a national advocacy group that has been involved in a federal lawsuit against the agency dating back almost two decades.
The U.S. district judge who has been presiding over the case, Thomas F. Hogan, read the reports and looked out at the D.C. courtroom. "I am honestly concerned," he said.
Since Banita Jacks was arrested in January after her four daughters were found dead inside her Southeast Washington home, the child welfare agency has been bombarded with reports of neglect or abuse. Calls to the agency have increased 600 percent, and active cases jumped 400 percent, agency spokeswoman Mindy Good said.
Social workers have been working late nights and weekends to respond to the influx, 22 new cars have been acquired so they could respond swiftly and "SWAT teams" of experienced social workers have been formed to close backlogged cases, said the agency's director, Sharlynn Bobo.
"We as an agency have never experienced anything quite like this," Bobo said at a status hearing in federal court yesterday for the LaShawn A. v. Fenty case, which was filed as LaShawn A. v. Barry on behalf of a girl in foster care in 1989 and which sent the agency into federal receivership for eight years.
The surge in cases has also stunted the agency's reforms, which were not progressing fast enough anyway, Lowry testified.
"There is no reason this shouldn't be a high-performing agency," Lowry said. "It is simply not well-run."
Judith W. Meltzer, appointed by the court to monitor the agency as a result of the case, issued a report yesterday that said the agency had failed to meet numerous benchmarks set by the court even before the Jacks case inundated it with more cases.
The agency has lagged in placing children in permanent homes, rather than a succession of foster homes. Adoptions, for example, dropped from 196 in 2006 to 132 last year, according to the report.
Fewer than 10 percent of the children entering foster care get a dental check within 30 days, and few get medical evaluations in the same time frame, the report said. The flood of new cases makes improvements in that area harder.
Fifty of the 84 social workers assigned to investigation in the agency are carrying more than 12 cases each, which had been the average caseload locally and is the nationwide standard. Thirty social workers each have more than 30 cases, according to Meltzer's report.
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The District's Child and Family Services Agency is awash in backlogged cases and is in "crisis" after thousands of new reports flooded the agency in recent months, a children's rights lawyer said yesterday.
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Focusing on 'The New Paparazzi'
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This month, a paparazzo's picture of Britney Spears appeared on the cover of the venerable Atlantic Monthly -- the 150-year-old magazine that published Emerson and Twain and Hawthorne -- which caused an outbreak of hand-wringing and brow-furrowing among the sort of people who habitually keep an eye out for signs of the incipient fall of Western civilization.
Britney on the cover of the Atlantic -- another omen of the apocalypse?
Relax, hand-wringers, the Atlantic has not become a cheesy checkout tabloid. The April issue contains no celebrity diet tips, no Brangelina updates, nothing to interfere with your enjoyment of Christopher Hitchens's literary essay on Ezra Pound. And the cover story isn't really about Britney. It's about the photographers who stalk her, chronicling the soap opera of her horrific descent into madness.
"Between 30 and 45 paparazzi work Britney on any given night," writes David Samuels, a veteran magazine writer with a sharp eye for the ridiculous. "History's best-publicized celebrity meltdown has helped fuel dozens of television shows, magazines and Internet sites, the combined value of whose Britney-related product easily exceeds $100 million a year."
Samuels spent several long days and nights with what he calls "the new paparazzi." These are not the grizzled tabloid photographers of yore. Many are young Brazilian immigrants who were working as pizza deliverers and valet parkers until they were recruited as Britney-stalkers by Francois Navarre, the French photographer who founded X17, Hollywood's biggest paparazzi agency. It was an X17 photographer who shot the famous photo of Britney shaving her head in an L.A. hair salon. Another X17 shooter snapped the picture of an enraged Britney attacking his SUV with an umbrella.
Samuels hung around with the X17 shooters while they hung around waiting for Britney to stop hanging around her house and take a ride in her white Mercedes. When she did, they followed her through Los Angeles. One afternoon, they chased the Mercedes "at a scarily high speed" while Britney blared her new album on the car stereo and sang along.
"Britney is unpredictable," photographer Felix Filho shouted to Samuels as he shot Britney driving and singing. "She might stop and take her clothes off, I don't know."
One day, a mob of 50 paparazzi loitered outside a Los Angeles courthouse, waiting for Britney to show up at a child-custody hearing. A passerby spotted them and yelled, "Leave that poor, poor girl alone."
It was the voice of reason, but of course the photographers ignored it. They were too busy working to fulfill America's pathetic desire to watch high-flying superstars crash and burn.
"The paparazzi exist for the same reason that the stars exist: we want to see their pictures," Samuels concludes. "Happier, wealthier, wildly more beautiful, partying harder, driving better cars, they live the lives that the rest of us can only dream about, until the party ends and we are confirmed in our belief that it is better, after all, not to be them."
"They were firing at us with everything in their arsenal," recalls James McGee. "I was in one of the Bradleys, and the rounds were coming at us in bursts -- you know, rat-a-tat-tat-tat-- so I knew they were shooting fully automatic weapons. I was lobbing CS gas rounds back at them."
Fifteen years ago, McGee was an FBI agent who participated in the siege of the heavily armed compound of a religious cult called the Branch Davidians near Waco, Tex. Now he is among nearly two dozen survivors who tell the story of the tragic events in a long, heartbreaking oral history in the April issue of Texas Monthly.
On Feb. 28, 1993, 76 ATF agents, tipped off that the cult was stockpiling weapons, raided the compound, sparking a gun battle that left four federal agents and six Branch Davidians dead and cult leader David Koresh wounded. For the next 51 days, the feds surrounded the compound while the FBI negotiated with Koresh by phone. Finally, on April 19, the feds sent tanks to spray tear gas into the compound. The Davidians shot at the tanks, a fire erupted and, by the end of the day, 74 Branch Davidians, including Koresh, were dead.
To those basic facts, Pamela Colloff's oral history adds the haunting voices of federal agents and Davidians who lived through the hideous events. Here, for instance, is Clive Doyle, one of the Davidians, describing some of the FBI's psychological warfare tactics during the siege:
"They shone bright lights into the building all night long and blasted stuff over the loudspeakers: reveille, Tibetan monks chanting, Nancy Sinatra singing 'These Boots Are Made for Walkin',' even some Christmas carols. They slowed songs down and then sped them up so they sounded distorted. They played telephones ringing and babies crying and rabbits being slaughtered."
Waco was the first place where heavily armed agents of the federal government confronted heavily armed religious fanatics eager for heroic martydom. Since then, we've seen many such clashes, all over the world. Few of them end well.
If you're going to make a joke about AIDS, it had better be funny. And if you're going to joke about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, which has killed more than 13 million people, you'd better be very, very funny. Unfortunately, the editors of the Harvard Lampoon aren't nearly as funny as they think they are.
The Lampoon occasionally publishes parodies of major magazines, and last week they released their parody of National Geographic. It looks a lot like the real Geographic, except that the cover shows Paris Hilton cavorting with a stuffed elephant and a stuffed gorilla: "Your Wildest Animal Fantasies."
Inside, the humor is juvenile but occasionally amusing. I'm sick enough to admit that I laughed at the photo of Asians sitting down to a dinner of bowls filled with the heads of cute little puppies.
But then I turned to the story titled "AIDS in Africa" and saw a fake photo showing a group of poor Africans using a stick to push a beach-ball-size AIDS virus out of their thatched hut. In the accompanying story, a fictitious African mayor brags about how he has protected his city from AIDS by erecting a 200-foot-high wall to prevent the wind from blowing AIDS viruses into town.
"But certainly the wind travels over 200 feet," the narrator replies.
The mayor is stunned. "The wall!" he gasps. "It must be made much higher!"
I guess this is the kind of sophisticated humor you have to be a Harvard student to understand.
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This month, a paparazzo's picture of Britney Spears appeared on the cover of the venerable Atlantic Monthly -- the 150-year-old magazine that published Emerson and Twain and Hawthorne -- which caused an outbreak of hand-wringing and brow-furrowing among the sort of people who habitually keep an e...
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Kathie Lee's New Foothold on 'Today'
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The announcement of her return, eight years after taking a powder from Disney's popular syndicated daytime talker "Live With Regis & Kathie Lee," was made by Matt Lauer.
"How many people are simply known by one name, first name: Elvis, Cher, Madonna? You can add one more to that list, someone who is no stranger to the morning grind -- Kathie Lee," Lauer said as he revved up the announcement.
"Isn't that two names?" asked "Today" weatherman Al Roker, a stickler for details.
Lauer said Kathie Lee's return reminded him of that time in "The Godfather III" when Michael Corleone said, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."
Yeah, it's just like that.
"I'm eight years older, 10 pounds heavier, and a half-inch shorter, and just in time for HD television," the 54-year-old Gifford told Lauer, who had been lined up along with Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and the rest of the "Today" on-air talent on the world's longest couch so as to be on-screen when the news was broken.
Wonderful, sanctimonious Kathie Lee, who never met a bad situation she couldn't make 10 times worse.
Remember her fabulous clothing line that, it turned out, was being churned out in sweatshops? Her husband, former NFL player and sports commentator Frank Gifford, appeared at one of the factories trying to dole out cash to the workers as Kathie Lee turned herself into an anti-sweatshop crusader.
Remember Frank's close encounter with a flight attendant in a hotel room, punching a cannonball-size hole in Kathie Lee's flawless marriage? She announced Frank had earned forgiveness, and a supermarket tabloid was accused of having paid the flight attendant to lure poor, naive Frank into the tryst.
Eight years ago, when Gifford announced she was exiting "Live," she said it was because she no longer felt "comfortable sharing the ordinary, innocent, everyday details of my family life, only to watch the tabloid media turn them into harmful, misleading and libelous stories."
Yesterday, on "Today," it took under three minutes for her to bring up her son, Cody -- who, it seems like, just yesterday successfully "pottied" in the bidet of Donald Trump's private jet. Golly, how we've missed Cody.
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Kathie Lee Gifford, America's most meaninglessly controversial figure, will make her triumphant television comeback Monday on NBC News's "Today" show. She will join Hoda Kotb to co-anchor the show's seven-month-old fourth hour.
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PostGlobal on washingtonpost.com
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In this video you will see Mohammed Ramazan, who came within a few moments of blowing himself up during an attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul earlier this year, allegedly gunning down at least two people before he was captured. Ramazanâs views and his lack of remorse for his actions are clearly those of a deeply disturbed young man with only a tenuous grip on reality. But he is also a creation â or a perversion â of Afghanistanâs mullahs and Taliban commanders, who took an uneducated Pakistani with almost no knowledge of the Koran and told him to kill in the name of Islam.
One evening in early January, Ramazan and a young Afghan called Farouk, both wielding AK-47s and wearing explosive vests, approached the front gate of Kabulâs Serena Hotel. The Serena is the countryâs only five-star hotel, popular with expat diplomats and NGO workers, and is a symbol of the international communityâs efforts to rebuild the country â precisely why the Taliban had targeted it.
Both Ramazan and Farouk had attended a three-day training course in Pakistanâs lawless northwestern mountains a few months before. Their Taliban handlers had showed them maps of the hotel, indicating optimum places to attack. They were told that the Serena was filled with foreigners who were raping and torturing Afghans. Neither man had been to school, although both had attended madrassas in Pakistan where their study of the Koran was steadily subverted by anti-American brainwashing, including video presentations of Guantanamo prison and Abu Ghraib. Neither man speaks Arabic nor has read the Koran in its entirety.
That January night, as the two men approached the hotel, they thought they were defending the Muslim world against the worst kind of abuse. The reality was altogether sadder and more grim. They rapidly gunned down the four startled guards outside and forced their way into the inner courtyard of the hotel. Farouk then detonated his suicide vest, killing himself. Ramazan approached the hotelâs gym, where he allegedly killed a Western contractor and journalist, before taking off his explosive vest and attempting to flee. âGod told me it wasnât my time to die,â Ramazan told me.
I lived through a suicide bombing when I was reporting in Iraq, so Iâve experienced what some of the survivors of these attacks go through: the initial confusion and adrenaline, followed by anger and guilt. On the night of the Serena bombing, I remembered that feeling again. I had arrived in Afghanistan only a week before, and had been contemplating visiting the hotel that evening. Instead, I arrived half an hour after the attack to find a chaotic scene, with Afghan police clearing the road for a steady stream of ambulances. I was able to speak to one ashen-faced businessman who had been in the hotel during the attacks, as he was being escorted from the building.
âWho would do such a thing?â he said simply to a pack of Afghan journalists before being led away to a nearby car.
The manâs shocked comment reminded me that in reacting to suicide bombings, we tend to view the individuals who commit these crimes in broad strokes: as embodiments of pure evil, as sociopaths following a perverted view of Islam. But when I met Ramazan earlier this month in a Kabul prison, two months after the attack, he wasnât quite that. He was emaciated, nervous, and unable to really grasp his situation.
The answers he gave to my questions will never be fully satisfactory. No matter what explanations one could craft for his behavior â and in this video you will hear his own sad mixture of naivete, ignorance and fanaticism - there is an insurmountable gulf of understanding here.
He is likely to face a death sentence later this year.
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Islam's Advance on PostGlobal; blog of politics and current events on washingtonpost.com. Visit http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/islamsadvance/
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China Needs the Dalai Lama
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We are at a moment of great significance for humanity, at the beginning of this new century, which could be either a horrendous time of natural and man-made mega-disasters or the greatest century yet of environmental restoration and peaceful global community. Of all world leaders at this time, the Dalai Lama most convincingly provides spiritual, intellectual, and ethical leadership, exemplifying and elucidating the most reasonable path to peace and happiness. This is the secret of his worldwide popularity. His person and teaching really do matter, to the Tibetans, to the Chinese, and to all of us and our future generations.
If there ever was a social and political movement based on faith, on spirituality, it is the 50-year campaign of the Dalai Lama for the freedom of his people, and the present spontaneous uprising of the Tibetan people who want to be free to restore their spiritual life, in the closer presence of their spiritual and political leader. These acts of truthâthe Dalai Lamaâs long insistence on nonviolence and dialogue in responding to the genocidal acts of one of the worldâs largest military powers, and the Tibetan peopleâs resistance in the face of overwhelming oddsâmay yet produce miraculous results, as one of the worldâs greatest âlost causesâ becomes a possible success.
The promise of the present moment has been precipitated first by the innovative leaders of China, gingerly stepping out into the glare of world publicity and opinion by hosting the Olympic Games and second, just now, by the brave people of Tibet stepping out on their own past the plans of their leader and, against great odds, standing up for the truth of their existence as Tibetans. Risking their very lives, they protest the total destruction of their culture, environment, and way of life. They have done this in the spirit of nonviolent resistance, although decades of bitterness and the extremity of their present situation did cause some of them to lose sight of this foundational principle of their struggle and commit some acts of violence. They stood up to the firing of armed Chinese troops, they raised their flag of freedom, and they remain standing in spite of the massive loss of life and liberty they knew would come.
The Dalai Lama didnât ask them to sacrifice themselves in this way. He tells them he will resign if they commit more violent acts, even exceptionally, and he agonizes over the vengeance the hard-line authorities can be expected to exact. At the same time, he and the rest of the world stands in awe of the extraordinary depth of faith being exhibited by his brave people, an echo of similar courageous acts witnessed in the last century during the Civil Rights struggles in the U.S. and South Africa.
The opportunity the Chinese leaders now have is nothing less than earth-shaking. For sixty years they have sought to dominate and control, in the futile effort to transform Tibet and its Tibetans into China and Chinese, a project the Dalai Lama has called cultural genocide. They have clearly failed. The âDalai Lama cliqueâ they blame and vow to destroy turns out to be all Tibetans. They now have the chance to look carefully at the facts, seek the truth, and accept that failure by trying something new. They have unnecessarily been trying to make an enemy of their best friend in all the world, the Dalai Lama, not only believed by Buddhists to be the incarnation of the god of compassion but beloved by people of all religions and humanisms as an inspiring thinker, teacher, and spiritual example â the Nobel Laureate, the living Gandhi, and the apostle of nonviolence, intelligent dialogue, and unbending hope. He has all along continued to offer them the open hand of friendship, aiming to find a solution that will be satisfying for China as well as for Tibet. Itâs time, now, for President Hu Jintao to reach out and welcome his help.
Robert Thurman is professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University and President of Tibet House US. His upcoming book, "Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet and the World" (Atria Books/Beyond Words) will be out in June.
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A conversation on religion with Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn. Visit http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/
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Statement on Tibet and China
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I wish to express my solidarity with the people of Tibet during this critical time in their history. To my dear friend His Holiness the Dalai Lama, let me say: I stand with you. You define non-violence and compassion and goodness. I was in an Easter retreat when the recent tragic events unfolded in Tibet. I learned that China has stated you caused violence. Clearly China does not know you, but they should. I call on China's government to know His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as so many have come to know, during these long decades years in exile. Listen to His Holiness' pleas for restraint and calm and no further violence against this civilian population of monastics and lay people.
I urge China to enter into a substantive and meaningful dialogue with this man of peace, the Dalai Lama. China is uniquely positioned to impact and affect our world. Certainly the leaders of China know this or they would not have bid for the Olympics. Killing, imprisonment and torture are not a sport: the innocents must be released and given free and fair trials.
I urge my esteemed friend Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Tibet and be given access to assess, and report to the international community, the events which led to this international outcry for justice. The High Commissioner should be allowed to travel with journalists, and other observers, who may speak truth to power and level the playing field so that, indeed, this episode -- these decades of struggle -- may attain a peaceful resolution. This will help not only Tibet. It will help China.
And China, poised to receive the world during the forthcoming Olympic Games needs to make sure the eyes of the world will see that China has changed, that China is willing to be a responsible partner in international global affairs. Finally, China must stop naming, blaming and verbally abusing one whose life has been devoted to non violence, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a Nobel peace laureate.
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On Faith is an innovative, provocative conversation on all aspects of religion with best selling author Jon Meacham of Newsweek and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. Keep up-to-date on global religious developments with On Faith.
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One Prejudice, One Solution
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The Question: Which "ism" is more entrenched in America, sexism or racism? Which should religion address?
Before the question can be answered, the air needs clearing. Sexism and racism are rooted in unevolved consciousness, and both will be solved when consciousness rises. They aren't going to be solved from the pulpit, however. Catholicism will retain its traditional sexism, both spoken and implicit. Southern Baptists will remain covertly or overtly bigoted in racial matters. Protestantism in general will likely keep a genteel distance away from social action. I can't see choosing between racism and sexism to begin with -- both are throwbacks to an outworn attitude that promoted white males to special privilege in God's creation. Religion was one of the chief bulwarks of this world view, so turning to it for a remedy seems ironic. I'd put much more trust in the growing spiritual movement outside the church.
A woman's right to vote or seek an abortion was a civil cause originally, and religious support tended to come late, or in lukewarm fashion, or not at all. There have been exceptions, of course. Liberal Protestant denominations can boast of a better track record than fundamentalists but still lag behind educated secular society, which, to be frank about it, doesn't have a stake in putting down women and minorities as official Christianity too often did.
The religious record on racism -- especially if one counts anti-Semitism as racist -- has not been a proud one, either. Some white denominations did step forward during the civil rights era in the Fifties and Sixties. Without the lead of black churches, though, one wonders if any of them would have acted so boldly. The shoe can be put on the other foot, too, given the anti-white ranting of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, which black theologians and prominent black ministers are inexplicably reluctant to condemn, even at this late date. They rationalize it "in context," as one might rationalize German anti-Semitism "in context" (i.e, we grew up with it, it's part of our culture, it represents what many of us think, we have old grievances, etc.)
I regret having to offer such a dark preamble, but it leads to a more uplifting conclusion. Racism and sexism represent only one side of human nature, the least evolved. They hark back to primitive social models and backward tribalism. Modern society knows that it must move beyond both, and steady progress has been made in condemning toxic attitudes that used to be considered acceptable. (No Southern governors are blocking polling places to prevent voters from casting a ballot for Obama.) Religion hasn't caught up to its own precepts about love, forgiveness, and the equality of souls, yet there's widespread dismay and shame over that failure. In the end, giving women and minorities true equality begins with the individual. Anyone who aspires to raise his or her consciousness can begin here; the results will be far more rewarding than any legislative movement that puts the right laws in place while allowing the wrong attitudes to fester.
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On Faith is an innovative, provocative conversation on all aspects of religion with best selling author Jon Meacham of Newsweek and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. Keep up-to-date on global religious developments with On Faith.
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PostGlobal: PostGlobal on washingtonpost.com
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Less than ten years ago, Malaysiaâs former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was languishing in prison, suffering from arsenic poisoning surreptitiously introduced into his drinking water. Ibrahim was sacked after challenging the rule of then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. Jailed on what he claimed to be politically motivated charges of sodomy and corruption, not only was Ibrahimâs political career apparently over, but his life was in danger. Only after his family secretly smuggled blood samples out of the country to confirm the poisoning were steps taken to ensure his health.
Fast forward to March 8, 2008. Even though he remains unable to stand for election until April of 2008 due to his previous incarceration, the Ibrahim-led opposition coalition dealt a stunning blow to the ruling Barisan National (BN) Party, breaking its decades-old super majority control of parliament. To call it a âcomebackâ would be an understatement. While the BN continues to hold a simple majority, a tectonic shift has taken place in Malaysian politics, and it was in many ways engineered by Anwar Ibrahim. The victory means a new political future for the worldâs most economically advanced Muslim country, ushering in new chapter in Muslim democracy.
The last time the ruling BN party failed to secure a super-majority in parliament was 1969. Following the elections, Chinese celebrations sparked race riots that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of individuals. This national trauma catalyzed the establishment of a controversial race-based system of governance rooted in a New Economic Policy (NEP) that gave preferential treatment to the majority Malay Muslim community. A tenuous arrangement with minority Chinese and Indian groups held the country together since that time, mostly under the rule of Mahathir Mohamed whose aggressive economic growth strategies propelled Malaysia into the third-largest economy in Southeast Asia. Overtime, however, political progress failed to keep pace with economic development. While the largest building in the world was constructed in Kuala Lumpur, political power continued to rest almost entirely along sectarian racial and religious lines. The BN remained unchallenged by a weak opposition incapable of organizing against the status quo. Corruption, mismanagement and concentration of wealth set in. The ruling party had almost complete control over the media, public gatherings, special security laws and other government apparatus.
A number of factors contributed to rising discontent amongst Malaysians across racial divides, including rising crime, a slowing economy, a number of very public corruption scandals and increased oil prices. In addition, increasing discontent emanated from the minority Chinese and Indian communities over the pro-Malay NEP. The BN, now led by Mahathirâs hand-picked successor Abdullah Badawi, recognized its support amongst Chinese and Indians would weaken, but expected that Malay support would remain strong so as to ensure pro-Malay policies.
This was a serious miscalculation. Not only did Chinese and Indian voters flock to the polls in support of the opposition, but a number of Malays also followed suit. There was a growing realization among average Malays that benefits from the NEP seldom found their way to working-class segments of the community. Foreign investment continued to decline. Malaysia used to be Americaâs tenth largest trading partner. It is now the sixteenth. While the economy continued to grow, fewer people were benefitting from the gains.
Therein lies Anwar Ibrahimâs most significant contribution to Malaysiaâs political earthquake. He coalesced a fractured opposition movement around the elimination of race-based politics â and did so in such a manner that supporters of the ruling BN party felt no compulsion to turn to violence, as a number of them actually agreed with Ibrahim. The achievement was made nonetheless remarkable by the fact that he campaigned through a complete media black-out and relentless attacks on his character through state-controlled media, but continued to draw significant crowds in the tens of thousands across the country including in areas dominated by the ruling party. The oppositionâs innovative use of Youtube and text-messaging no doubt played a role in this as well.
Ibrahim was able to broker a cooperative arrangement amongst three major opposition parties â the left-leaning, mostly Chinese DAP, the Malay Islamist PAS party and his own PKR multi-racial Justice Party - to challenge the BN one-on-one in each contest. The opposition was able to achieve what most said was impossible given the entrenched power of the ruling BN party: it undercut BN support amongst Malays by appealing to their sense of justice and fairness. Malaysiaâs race-based system was likely to give way sooner or later, but Ibrahim paved a path for peaceful transition by bringing his credibility as a Malay politician to the table while simultaneously assuring Chinese and Indians that their rights would be respected. He talked Malays into letting go of the fear that had incited communal riots in 1969. It is no small feat to transition peacefully out of entrenched systems of entitlement. One need only review Iraqâs unfortunate history since 2003 for an example of how such a process can be terribly mismanaged.
While the opposition victory is certainly critical for charting a more egalitarian future for Malaysia, it also bodes well for the development of Muslim democracy. The opposition coalitionâs orientation brought moderate elements from the Islamist PAS party forward. PAS even fielded a non-Muslim candidate, an unprecedented move in its history. Meanwhile, Badawi sought to leverage racial divide by appealing to Malays through increasingly Islamist rhetoric. His efforts were resoundingly rebuked. The election results demonstrate that the majority Muslim country is interested in exploring a system politics that does not discriminate based on race or religion.
A weakened BN party cannot be entirely attributed to Anwar Ibrahimâs improbable political resurrection. However, he undoubtedly played a critical role in organizing the opposition and reasoning the Malay population through this transition. Political possibilities that were unthinkable last month in Malaysia are now suddenly on the table. Ibrahim refers to this reality as a new dawn for the country. If he is successful in accomplishing his stated goals, most fair-minded observers would have to agree.
Firas Ahmad is an essayist based in Cambridge, MA. His commentary and analysis has appeared in The Economist, The Washington Post and other publications on issues related to national and international politics.
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Need to Know - PostGlobal on PostGlobal; blog of politics and current events on washingtonpost.com. Visit http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/needtoknow/
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Knife Sharpeners That Make the Cut
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Knife sharpening has long been on our "don't try this at home" list. Our collections (not sets, mind you) include heavy German cook's knives, an Australian version of a santoku and lightweight Japanese beauties bought in a 500-year-old cutlery shop in the heart of Kyoto's shopping district. Having made such investments over the years, we have always figured that when our knives get dull, returning an edge to their blades is a job best left to the professionals.
What amateur knows how to use a sharpening stone, anyway?
Then we tested some home systems, engaging the help of professionals along the way, and promptly saw the error of our ways. Now that manufacturers have helped take some of the guesswork out of the process with devices that don't require special training to use, knife sharpening has become less intimidating.
For those of you who doubt the importance of doing that regularly, let us remind you: A sharp knife is a safe knife. It might seem counterintuitive, but the fact is, a dull knife in the kitchen requires you to use extra effort and pressure, and that's when accidents can happen. "Sharpness equals control, and control equals safety," says Chris Hyde, president of WorldKnives.com, an online knife store based in Olympia, Wash.
Regularly running a knife across a honing steel -- a long-handled rod -- can help keep the edge aligned and sharp. But if you lose track of maintenance and the edge dulls, you need to put a new one on, and that's where real sharpening comes in. Chefs often call in the professionals: Heavy restaurant work can dull a knife quickly, and such pros often provide pickup and drop-off service.
Frank Monaldi Sr. in Baltimore is just such a pro, and the little shop behind his house provides evidence of his clients, whose boxes of knives await as Monaldi works away at a large whirling grindstone. Many of his chef clients, Monaldi says, are so busy that they keep two sets of knives, and when his service comes 'round every week, they stop chopping just long enough to make the handoff and get a replacement.
He has dubbed himself "the sharpest guy in town," and his shop displays such aphorisms as "Good knives aren't cheap, and cheap knives aren't good."
As someone whose livelihood depends on the willingness of consumers to put their knives in his hands, Monaldi would be expected to extol the virtues of professional sharpening services above all, even for home cooks. But that's not exactly what happened when we asked him to help us evaluate five consumer-level sharpeners. The results varied, but the overall impression was elementary: not bad.
Of the five devices we took to Monaldi, three use a two- or three-step system that ranges from coarse to fine processing. First they take off metal and create a burr, a raised bit of metal caused when one side of the knife has been sharpened; then they smooth out the burr and hone the edge. Knives also have a visible bevel, the tapering of the blade leading down to the edge. The most effective sharpening mimics the bevel's angle, usually 20 degrees but less for santoku knives (see accompanying sidebar).
With a traditional flat sharpening stone, you must not only eyeball the proper angle to achieve the right bevel but also try to hold that angle while you scrape the knife's blade across. Monaldi can do it, but he's the fourth generation in his family to engage in this line of work. The best of the newer devices hold the angle for you, so you keep the knife straight up and down as you pull it across the grinding part of the device -- sometimes two stones or rods that sharpen both sides of the knife at once. One of the five devices we tested is set up like a traditional stone and, as expected, we found it difficult to get the hang of.
We ran the sharpeners through multiple tests with several kinds of knives. First, Monaldi let us use some of the dull knives lying around his shop, and he took a break from his own work to try his hand at the home systems and give us his opinions. We evaluated sharpness by letting him inspect the blades and by slashing at pieces of paper.
Then we took the systems home for more testing on our own knives. To dull their blades quickly, we took Hyde's advice: We used a ceramic rod from one of the systems and ran it directly across each knife's edge, blunting it. Then, after using one of the sharpeners, we tested the sharpness by slashing at more paper and, perhaps more tellingly, by trying to slice through very ripe tomatoes using very little pressure, so as not to smash them.
The two devices we liked best spanned the price spectrum. The one that gave us the truly sharpest blades, no matter what kind of knife we put through it, is the $140 Chef's Choice electric model, which also came with the most complete directions. It's a little scary to use at first, since it makes a bit of a screeching sound when the blade hits the stone. But the three-step process, including a polishing finish, resulted in knives that could slice paper or tomato at the slightest touch.
But we also liked an $11 device made by AccuSharp, once we got past its design that had us pulling it directly across a turned-up blade, with only a thin plastic guard as protection. It created an edge almost as sharp as the Chef's Choice did, but we suspected -- and Hyde confirmed -- that the Chef's Choice might be the only one in the bunch that could actually repair a badly dulled knife's edge. (Hyde also likes the two-stage model by Lansky, which we ranked third.)
One thing we didn't test: the longevity of the edges created by these systems. In most cases, Monaldi worried that the edges were so thin they wouldn't last as long as the ones he is able to put on knives. But in a sense, that is a moot point, since having a home system means you could use it as often as needed.
Is there any reason a home cook still might want to call in a professional? Sure. Some Japanese knives have a bevel on only one side and might be better handled by a pro, Hyde says. If your knife's blade is bent or otherwise damaged, Monaldi can shave it down to a new, smooth shape in a flash.
Or maybe you just don't feel like dealing with the sharpening on your own. There's no guilt in that; Monaldi charges only a few bucks per knife. But in between trips to see him or another professional sharpener, you should be using some sort of honing steel or other system for maintaining the edge. Otherwise, things in your kitchen stand to get a little dull -- and a little dangerous.
Are you curious about a new kitchen utensil or appliance? Send an e-mail to food@washpost.comwith TOOL TEST in the subject line.
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Knife sharpening has long been on our "don't try this at home" list. Our collections (not sets, mind you) include heavy German cook's knives, an Australian version of a santoku and lightweight Japanese beauties bought in a 500-year-old cutlery shop in the heart of Kyoto's shopping district. Having...
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Maliki Gives Militias In Basra 72 Hours To Give Up Fight
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BAGHDAD, March 26 -- As Shiite militiamen and Iraqi security forces battled for a second day in the southern city of Basra on Wednesday, with growing shortages of food, water and other basic necessities, rockets rained down again on Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, injuring three Americans and an Iraqi, officials said.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave the militias 72 hours to lay down their weapons or face severe penalties. But there were no signs of surrender. Instead, his troops, backed in places by U.S. and British intelligence aircraft, began battling gunmen in other Shiite-dominated parts of Iraq as well.
The attacks on the Green Zone, site of the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government offices, appeared to be Shiite militia retaliation. All told, 16 rockets fired in four waves hit the zone. American civilians there wore flak vests and took refuge in bunkers during the barrages, which damaged several structures and a vehicle. U.S. forces reported that they had thwarted the launch of eight other rockets.
Politicians and analysts said that the Basra offensive, which appears to focus on Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, is a risky gamble by Maliki. Failure could strengthen the militias, increase Iran's ability to influence events in Iraq and lead to more reliance on the United States to bolster the central government. That, in turn, could slow U.S. troop withdrawals.
"This fight is another potential turning point," said John McCreary, a former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst. "If Maliki does not win in Basra, he will not win anywhere and instability will increase. If he stabilizes Basra, he gets the chance to repeat his success in another town."
The Bush administration and senior U.S. military officers have praised the Basra offensive as a brave move by Maliki to assert Iraqi government control over a strategic port city through which Iraq exports its oil to the world.
In Washington, national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley told reporters that the Iraqi government's efforts against the militias were "an indication of the continued maturation of this government in its willingness and capacity to take increasing responsibility for security."
But Mahmoud Othman, an independent Kurdish legislator, questioned the timing of the offensive, saying that Iraq's government has numerous other problems to deal with, including passing key laws and resolving tensions over oil contracts. Maliki, he said, did not discuss the offensive with parliament or other political groups.
"He just suddenly appeared in Basra," Othman said. "Everybody is asking, 'Why now?' "
Othman said the timing could help Shiite militias and neighboring Iran ahead of next month's visit to Washington by Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, who will deliver to Congress a report card on Iraq's progress. "People have ill-advised Maliki," Othman said. "The militias like the timing. Iran likes the timing. They want to show there's no progress in Iraq."
The offensive could collapse a cease-fire ordered by Sadr last August that is widely credited with helping to reduce violence across the nation. A U.S. troop buildup and the rise of a Sunni movement against Islamist extremists have also contributed. U.S. commanders have hailed the cease-fire as a sign that Iraq is making progress and that U.S. policy is finally paying off.
Many Iraqis view the offensive as an attempt by Sadr's Shiite rivals in government, the Dawa party and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, to weaken his movement before provincial elections and a referendum on federalism planned for this year. Maliki leads the Dawa party, and members of the Supreme Council and its armed wing, the Badr Organization, hold senior positions in the government and police in the Shiite-dominated south.
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Washington Post coverage of the American occupation of Iraq, the country's path to democracy and tensions between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
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http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/26/on_war_and_the_economy_mccain.html
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On War and the Economy, McCain Provides a Clear Contrast
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By Dan Balz In a pair of policy speeches over the past two days, John McCain has signaled that a general election against either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will spark a broad philosophical debate on domestic and international policy. For all the talk about McCain's maverick style and cross-party appeal, his views on two of the biggest issues of the campaign put him sharply at odds with the Democrats.
On Wednesday, in a wide-ranging foreign policy address, McCain once again signaled in forceful terms his sharp differences with Obama and Clinton over the withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq. "Those who claim we should withdraw from Iraq in order to fight al-Qaeda more effectively elsewhere are making a dangerous mistake," he said.
On Tuesday, McCain drew a bright line of difference with his potential Democratic rivals over government's role in dealing with the home mortgage and foreclosure crisis, arguing against widespread government intervention to help those who act irresponsibly, whether individual borrowers or giant financial institutions.
McCain's views on the economy are evolving, as his journey from opposing President Bush's 2001 tax cuts to his support for making those cuts permanent demonstrates. By his own testimony, economics is not his strong suit. He has generally looked at the issue through the lens of government spending, primarily pork barrel spending. That is not an economic philosophy.
Based on Tuesday's speech, McCain's economic philosophy reflects the rugged individualism of a western conservative. Risk-takers deserve their rewards, but speculators and manipulators deserve no special help when things suddenly go sour.
"I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers," he said. "Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy."
He continued, "In our effort to help deserving homeowners, no assistance should be given to speculators. Any assistance for borrowers should be focused solely on homeowners, not people who bought houses for speculative purposes, to rent or as second homes. Any assistance must be temporary and must not reward people who were irresponsible at the expense of those who weren't. I will consider any and all proposals based on their cost and benefits. In this crisis, as in all I may face in the future, I will not allow dogma to override common sense."
In policy terms, McCain is in a far different place than either Obama or Clinton, both of who have called on the federal government to provide billions in assistance to homeowners facing the threat of foreclosure. More broadly, his economic and domestic policies are rooted more deeply in market solutions than are either Clinton's or Obama's.
The divide on national security is even starker. Much of McCain's Wednesday speech focused on building and maintaining around the world. In parts of the speech he sought to put distance between himself and the Bush administration.
"In such a world, where power of all kinds is more widely and evenly distributed, the United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone," he said, according to a text sent out by his campaign. "We must be strong politically, economically, and militarily. But we must also lead by attracting others to our cause, by demonstrating once again the virtues of freedom and democracy, by defending the rules of international civilized society and by creating the new international institutions necessary to advance the peace and freedoms we cherish."
The most important responsibility of a great power, he said, is to be a good ally. "We cannot build an enduring peace based on freedom by ourselves, and we do not want to. We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a new global compact -- a League of Democracies -- that can harness the vast influence of the more than one hundred democratic nations around the world to advance our values and defend our shared interests," he said.
Clinton and Obama no doubt would agree with those sentiments. They have made repairing America's image abroad central to their foreign policy priorities. But the end of McCain's speech left no doubt that the fall election will be fought out over what comes in Iraq.
"Those who argue that our goals in Iraq are unachievable are wrong, just as they were wrong a year ago when they declared the war in Iraq already lost," he said.
He warned against "recklessly" retreating from Iraq, which is how he characterizes the proposals put forward by both the Democratic candidates, saying the United States has "incurred a moral responsibility" to help nurture stability and political reconciliation in Iraq.
"It would be an unconscionable act of betrayal, a stain on our character as a great nation, if we were to walk away from the Iraqi people and consign them to the horrendous violence, ethnic cleansing, and possibly genocide that would follow a reckless, irresponsible, and premature withdrawal," he said. "Our critics say America needs to repair its image in the world. How can they argue at the same time for the morally reprehensible abandonment of our responsibilities in Iraq?"
Long before wrapping up the Republican nomination, McCain made clear that against either Clinton or Obama, he would cast the campaign as a contest between liberalism and conservatism. He has strayed from Republican orthodoxy at times in his career, and has irritated his own party repeatedly by the brashness of his style and his willingness to work with Democrats. But this week has provided renewed evidence that the general election will offer Americans a clear contrast in governing philosophies.
Posted at 12:27 PM ET on Mar 26, 2008 | Category: Dan Balz's Take Share This: Technorati | Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Mc Cain's philosophy about speculators having to pay for their mistakes and not be bailed out is a must for the survival of this economy.
The outlook of state interventionism can only lead to more chaos in the future. This outlook is part of both democrat contenders, and as well the outlook of the current Fed - which intervened to bail out Bear Stearns - instead of just letting go under.
Other big institutions are likely to fail in the mid future, and the Fed and all the American People are now on the hook to bail them as well. This interventionism may precipitate further a financial crisis instead of stemming it.
People at large do not yet realize the immensity of the crisis that is to unfold. Recall in particular the 40 Trillion medicate liability. That is hit the economy in 9 years.
Only a philosophy of economic restraint, with incentives rewarding good behavior, at all levels, can address the tsunami to come.
Posted by: saaackkk | March 27, 2008 8:15 AM
I do not agree with John McCain's foreign policies at all. U.S. should not use any ways to intervene in other countries internal affair. U.S. should use human rights, democracy, and other excuses to intervene in other countries' internal affairs. America should not go imperialism. Pre empty strike against another nation is wrong. U.S.A. caused a mess in Iraq and Americans can not just leave. It is immoral to leave Iraq without creating a normal functional country for the people.
As for economy, the free market principles are good for generating economic growth. But without some government created redistribution of wealth, the rich and poor gap will grow bigger and bigger. Eventually it could affect the economic growth itself. I could benefit thousands of dollars from McCain's tax cuts a year. But I am open to consider and accept Obama's or Clinton's economic plans calling for more re-distribution of wealth.
McCain has now clearly stated his positions. Maybe it is time for Obama and Clinton to clearly state his policy positions.
What are their economic positions? Do they support pre empty strike against another country? For instance, Iran might make nuclear weapons in the future and it might threat U.S.A. in future, should U.S. strike first against Iran? China or Russia might challenge U.S. in the future, should U.S. start another cold war to stop their rising? Should U.S. use human rights, democracies as excuses to intervene in other countries internal affairs (almost all politicians in the west countries would say yes)?
Obama liked to talk about changes. It is time for him to give a clear vision where he wants to lead U.S.A. McCain is giving a clear vision. It is time for Clinton and Obama to do the same.
Posted by: tgwei | March 27, 2008 3:46 AM
Mr. Obama has had alot of time TWENTY YEARS to think about what his "uncle" said. He never once corrected him. Never once stood up and told him he was wrong. Never once did Obama take his "both sides" and bring anyone to the middle to find "common ground".
Mr. Obama is a total fake who uses everyone around himself and even himself and his bi-racial being to USE other people to get where he wants to go.
I don't care if he is purple. He is phony. Not true to himself or his grandmother or his mother - or even his crazy uncle. He's such a fence sitting, coniving safe and total politician - so ego maniac to be greater than MLK while using his voice and greatness to get where he wants to go after doing NOTHING for ANYONE but HIMSELF.
No. I have no problem whatsoever voting for Mr. McCain. He will be well controlled by the Democrats in the House and Senate. Has always been rather a moderate and a maverick. He is much more honest and noble a man than Mr. Obama. By a million light years more honest.
I have no problem. A long, long family history of Democrats. They from their Irish graves, have no problem with my declaration of support to honesty over hoodwinkin.
GO HILLARY !!!!! She is my first and perfect choice. She cares and has a loong history and herstory of dong so.
So - pfffft you, rs-notso-grand.
No problem. No care what you think.
Posted by: Thinker | March 27, 2008 1:18 AM
I'm a Republican who voted for Bush and I'll stay home in November. McCain would be worse for this country than Bush has been and I'd rather let the Dems win and maybe the GOP will get the message. GOP - I voted for the lesser of two evils last time but not this time.. buhbye.
Posted by: m_lyda | March 27, 2008 12:43 AM
Are you thinking about volunteering to go to McBush's 100 years war in Iraq. Why wait till he gets elected since you are heartily supporting him now then you go on ahead and sign up for Iraq. Your racist rants against Senator Obama are exposing your true colors. A real thinker would never be so shamefully loud, racially obnoxious and so obviously vindictive. I respect the fact that Obama has alluded to the fact that he had in the past adopted Pastor Wright as a member of his family, 'uncle'. Why would Obama divorce a mostly decent family member over the fact that he or she is a fierce critic of our domestic, foreign policies and made some unfair and biased remarks taken out of context but fully denounced and out rightly rejected by Obama? Whoever thinks that they are blameless and perfect in every aspect may go ahead and heap some blame on Senator Obama, throw your blame stones but watch out for your blameless glass house. Some who have posted comments here were most likely unmoved by Obama's campaign and was looking for something more to hold on to besides the false Muslim and unpatriotic claims that were being file against him all over the internet. Be honest, regardless of the Rev. Wright videos you were not going to support him anyway. When Senator Obama is the nominee and certain traitorous, fake and/or maybe even closet racists Democrats go out and vote for somebody else in the general election then they should do like the old Democrats of the 60s who switched after President L. B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, good riddance to those sour turncoats and old confederated racist losers. God willing, Senator Obama will win it all.
Posted by: rasgrand | March 27, 2008 12:43 AM
McCain would only engage the Treasury to create a bailout if there was systemic risk to the system. What advisor gave him that term. That Navy flyboy wouldn't recognize system risk to the world's financial markets if they evolved teeth as bite him in the ass. His wife does money and John couldn't balances the family checkbook. John does what Senators do...write some legislation and talk in an obtuse manner within the club. He would not recognize a financial crisis because he has no expertise there because it doesn't interest him. That's not an indictment, it just the truth to which he has already admitted many times. If that'ss okay with you , it okay with you....it isn't okay with me.
Posted by: soonipi6 | March 27, 2008 12:31 AM
I don't think America can take 4 more years of government by Right-wingers like Bush-Cheney et al...and judging by this speech McCain is even farther to the Right than they are.
I do agree with him that we have a moral obligation to the Iraqi people, but they are the only ones who can bring peace to their nation and we cannot, and should not stay there indefinitely.
Just as in Vietnam, we can send in the troops and pacify an area, but the moment we leave the insurgents come back. Short of deploying 3 or 4 million troops there long-term we can't possibly "win" that war as long as there are so many armed insurgents who want us out.
Winning hearts and minds is difficult when you don't even know who the enemy is, and much of the populace is terrified to even be seen with an American. The guy who patrols with you during the day is likely to be shooting at you that night. This situation has an awfully familiar ring to it.
Posted by: meand2 | March 27, 2008 12:17 AM
Quote: Remember the future and pass the past test or Fail the past test and forget the future.
If the Mahdi Militia and/or Badr Brigade ever gets as strong as Lebanon's Hezbollah Militia we may have to do some tough negotiations or resort to fighting a Fallujah ten times stronger. But with McCain be ready for the rain of pain. He seems ready to be a very bossy and forcefully stubborn commander in chief. If we were to get engaged militarily with Iran we may open up a hornet's nest that will seek to swarm us with hornets in every direction. I doubt that McBush would stand for any Vietnam Style withdrawal from Iraq, full speed ahead and stay that course, however disastrous.
Posted by: rasgrand | March 27, 2008 12:13 AM
HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE !!!
50% OF DEMOCRATS ARE WITH YOU IF HILLARY ISN'T YOUR OPPONENT !!!
OBAMA IS A DO NOTHING, KNOW NOTHING, WHITE HAIRED LIBERALTROLL HUGGING DEMOCRAT - PLUS!!!
HE SAT FOR TWENTY YEARS IN AN AMERICAN DEMONIZING CHURCH FULL OF ANTI AMERICAN, GOD DAMN AMERICA RANTING AND RABID RACISM AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.
MR OBAMA USES BLACK PRIDE TO MAKE HIS WAY TO HIS PERSONAL GOALS.
YOU'VE DONE MORE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THIS COUNTRY THAN OBAMA EVER HAS.
I DO SUPPORT HILLARY ABOVE YOU - BUT I THINK YOU ARE A FAIR AND HONEST MAN.
OBAMA IS FAR, FAR, FAR FROM THAT. HE USES HIS WHITENESS AND HIS BLACKNESS FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL REWARD. UNDESERVED BY RESUME, ACCOMPLISHMENT OR PROGRESS.
HOW DARE HE CALL HIMSELF A PROGRESSIVE - WITH ALL HIS POTENTIAL HE HAS NEVER DONE A THING OF IMPORTANCE.
I WANT TO SEE HIS TRANSCRIPTS -- DON'T YOU?
Posted by: Thinker | March 27, 2008 12:07 AM
McCain is no hero, he NEVER attempted an escape from prison.
He was given an appointment to the NAVAL ACADEMY because of his father, he blew his education there.
McCain testified against the US in prison and again NEVER attempted an escape.
That is reason for DISCHARGE, not hero status.
Heroes of that war are NAMES on a black granite wall in Washington DC and all of us who EARNED our medals in COMBAT are not real heroes compared with those that gave their lives or who DIED trying to escape or who were beaten BUT DID NOT GIVE IN TO TORTURE.
McCain gave in, he should have been dishonorably discharged, but we gave the Admirals son a break.
Heroes die for their convictions and never testify against America.
I am sorry for his wounds, another useless war, but he was a victim of circumstance or he wasn't listening in class to avoid the SAM that many of us avoided dozens of times.
McCain voted for Iraq and that fact, in light of the just released NIE proves we invaded without cause and his experience and judgment, like Hillary are inadequate for president.
Add Charles Keating and economic corruption in the billions and you have no hero, just another greedy politician that abandoned his wife for a very rich woman and power after suffering as a prisoner, a traitorous prisoner at that, of another failed, murderous war.
Posted by: nacirema | March 27, 2008 12:03 AM
McCain is no hero, he NEVER attempted an escape from prison.
He was given an appointment to the NAVAL ACADEMY because of his father, he blew his education there.
McCain testified against the US in prison and again NEVER attempted an escape.
That is reason for DISCHARGE, not hero status.
Heroes of that war are NAMES on a black granite wall in Washington DC and all of us who EARNED our medals in COMBAT are not real heroes compared with those that gave their lives or who DIED trying to escape or who were beaten BUT DID NOT GIVE IN TO TORTURE.
McCain gave in, he should have been dishonorably discharged, but we gave the Admirals son a break.
Heroes die for their convictions and never testify against America.
I am sorry for his wounds, another useless war, but he was a victim of circumstance or he wasn't listening in class to avoid the SAM that many of us avoided dozens of times.
McCain voted for Iraq and that fact, in light of the just released NIE proves we invaded without cause and his experience and judgment, like Hillary are inadequate for president.
Add Charles Keating and economic corruption in the billions and you have no hero, just another greedy politician that abandoned his wife for a very rich woman and power after suffering as a prisoner, a traitorous prisoner at that, of another failed, murderous war.
Posted by: nacirema | March 27, 2008 12:03 AM
Here's a quick overview of his economic policy campaign promises:
1. Continue a $10 billion/month war indefinitely.
2. Provide the 40+ million Americans who have no health insurance $5,000/household for medical expenses.
3. Make the tax cuts permanent.
And you wonder why the dollar is in the tank?
What economic fantasyland is he in?
Posted by: gdeegan | March 26, 2008 11:47 PM
McBush is a crazy beeutch
Posted by: brisbaneharris | March 26, 2008 11:41 PM
the current DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE is knee deep in IRAN CONTRA CO DEFENDANT friendships....
"John Michael McConnell, the retired vice admiral slated to become America's new top spy, [has some] longtime associations [which] may cause him headaches during Senate confirmation hearings," Newsweek.com notes."One such tie is with another former Navy admiral, John Poindexter, the IRAN CONTRA DEFENDANT, convicted of multiple felons, and pardoned by the current president by electoral frauds' father.....George H.W. Bush, figure who started the controversial 'Total Information Awareness' program at the Pentagon in 2002."
On February 13, 2002, Americans were warned that our nation was facing the threat of danger to homeland security. Three hours later it happened, but nobody told America.
That day, John M. Poindexter was appointed Director of the Pentagon's Information Awareness Office.
Meet America's New Big Brother
Who's John Poindexter? A retired Navy Admiral, John Poindexter lost his job as National Security Adviser under Ronald Reagan, and was convicted of conspiracy, lying to Congress, defrauding the government, and destroying evidence in the Iran Contra scandal. [1]
What's the Information Awareness Office (IAO)?
It's a new office created by the Pentagon agency DARPA after 9/11 to gather intelligence through electronic sources like the internet, phone, and fax lines. Why did John Poindexter get the job? He was the Vice President of Syntek Technologies, a government contractor.
Syntek and Poindexter worked for years with DARPA to develop Genoa, a surveillance device that's a combination cutting-edge search engine, sophisticated information harvesting program", and a "peer-to-peer" file sharing system. Kind of a military-grade Google/Napster for use in instant analysis of electronic data.
What was Iran-Contra all about?
Iran was holding American hostages. President Reagan said we would not negotiate with terrorists. At the same time, the CIA wanted to support a rebel army in the overthrow of the Nicaraguan government. Congress said no.
So John Poindexter, along with Oliver North and many others, went behind President Reagan's back (supposedly) and sold weapons to the Iranians (illegally), then took the money they made and funneled it to the brutal "Contra" army that they built in Central America (also illegally). See [1]
Read some of the Ollie North / John Poindexter emails that they unsuccessfully tried to destroy From CNN Interactive
John Poindexter isn't the only Iran-Contra conspirator to be appointed to a high-level position.
More Iran-Contra figures who now hold top government posts....there are six [6] in the WHITEHOUSE....former felons...conspiracists. OH MY !!!!
Why didn't I hear about his appointment on the news?
Very few newspapers and virtually no TV stations announced Poindexter's appointment. Apparently they didn't consider it "newsworthy".
A Clear Picture of Where the Money Is Going,
when John Negroponte, an IRAN CONTRA Defendant and Yale classmate and close confidante' of George W. [ who likes his salaami wet ] Bush, was made the Director of National Intelligence with the ability to excuse any company from being audited by the IRS or having it's books examined or bother reporting revenues....
included within those EXCUSED FROM EXAMINATION, companies were companies that the Whitehouse families profit from? or their families families or CRONYS ????
Halliburton, Bechtel, Carlyle Group, KBR, DynCorp, BLACKWATER
did not have to disclose.
is there any part of this administration that does not scream
can we try these thieves and then hang them for each major crime ????
Posted by: a_bigone | March 26, 2008 11:33 PM
God knows McCain is better man than the current white house occupant. I would suggest that those interested in this election google up the senator's bio. There is certainly no big negatives. What I find disturbing though is the thiness of the resume. That he spent five years as a POW is really the only thing which stands out. The balance of his Naval career was not particularly distinguished and his political career not terribly notable although after his poor judgement in the Keating episode was certainly honorable or apparently so. I guess what I'm asking, with some genuine soul searching, is whether, as God Awful as five years as a high profile prisoner of the North Vietnamese was--well where's the beef?
Posted by: bigustom | March 26, 2008 11:14 PM
All of you that support McCain should either enlist in the military or serve up your children. You can then become the fodder of the Warmonger's vision of an endless occupation of Iraq. $500 Billion and counting, flushed down the toilet...
Posted by: shiva7 | March 26, 2008 11:02 PM
All of you that support McCain should either enlist in the military or serve up your children. You can then become the fodder of the Warmonger's vision of an endless occupation of Iraq. $500 Billion and counting flushed down the toilet...
Posted by: shiva7 | March 26, 2008 11:02 PM
Very good post, afellow1-your sentiments pretty much mirrow my own!
Posted by: schmetterlingtoo | March 26, 2008 10:50 PM
McCain is trying to show how much like OBAMA he can be, REACHING out to our allies and foes JUST LIKE OBAMA and just what John said was wrong!
McCain hates war? Then read his book and breathe in his stance on Iraq. We are torturing American Soldiers, WHAT????? Threatening our soldiers with death, as in Iraq is torture, especially when most realize we invaded for lies and it we are forcing them to risk their lives for nothing but the rape of Iraq like one third of their oil being stolen and sold on the open market.
Our soldiers are protecting profiteering Americans and corrupt Iraqis stealing more from IRAQ than Saddam did in his lifetime in merely 3 years.
Corruption has stolen more money in IRAQ in 3 years than SADDAM and all his minions.
Corruption is what McCain and Bush are protecting, not freedom and you cannot have democracy in a religious lawed country.
We broke it and we tried to FORCE a fix, like repairing the tire on a car when the problem is a blown engine.
Iraq is not repairable, over 10% OF THE POPULATION IS GONE INCLUDING at least HALF of the MIDDLE CLASS!
Iraqis have to make IRAQ, a country or countries of their choosing because IT IS THEIR COUNTRY, not John McCain's!
We broke Iraq by removing Saddam. Saddam killed fewer civilians than George W. Bush, a fact that McCain cannot understand, JUST LIKE HE COULDN'T understand the 2003 NIE report clearly stating NO REAL VERIFIED evidence of ANYTHING in Iraq that was of any threat to America.
By leaving Iraq, we force Iraqis to make their own nation, nations or not, but it will be their will, their choice, not ours. They are already an Islamic Republic and that means we invaded to make IRAN West.
Posted by: nacirema | March 26, 2008 10:45 PM
2007: the Surge 2008: the Resurge 2009: the new Resurge 2010: the new Resurge extended 2011: the Re-resurge 2012: the brand new Re-resurge : : : 2099: the Re-rererererereresurge 2100: there are no Iraqis in Iraq anymore, can we finally declare victory?
Posted by: stearm | March 26, 2008 10:41 PM
Oh, by the way, in the last ten presidential elections I have never voted Republican.
Posted by: dyend | March 26, 2008 10:27 PM
You sound like an A$$.
You sound like an Obama cultist. (This is why Obama cultist get the smack down so often because you sound like this- yuk)
As we will all die we will know what it is like to come close to death Like Mac. We will not all lose 5 plains like he did.
Oh BTW I have not eaten any of my Nose Candy from the time Jimmy was in the white house.
Posted by: mul | March 26, 2008 10:35 PM
I respect McCain, but I do not agree with his stance especially on the war. I wish he weren't backing Bush on that one.
Does anyone remember news of Iraqi members having gone on like a three week break or so while our American soldiers have been there day in and day out working to help train them? We shouldn't have gone to war like that (I feel bad that Saddam-being a human even as horrible as I heard he was, he was still a human-but I feel bad he had to go out the way he did). It's been far too long. We've lost 4,000 or more crucial members, and every one of those individuals count to our defense. One less person, we are one more weaker and they need to be utilized much more wisely, with more care and consideration. Absolutely. Our people are working very hard. They shouldn't have even been over there. It's long past due for them to come home. Their families have lost crucial members. It is time for them to come home immediately, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
How about some patriotism, and show our fellow Americans that we do have the will to be considerate (oh my the big "C" word) of the fact that they too are human. They get tired, they miss their families, and they'd like to be HOME.
I feel less secure with our defenses being minimized elsewhere when we aren't under direct threat. We can take other serious precautions AND INCREASE OUR AWARENESS or ACT ON OUR AWARENESS while maintaining each of our individual servicemen and women. We need to take them into Consideration, AND use them wisely when they are REALLY needed. I love my fellow Americans beyond their signed contract. They're not toys. They are still human.
Posted by: Obama2008 | March 26, 2008 10:31 PM
John McCain should be at home now, enjoying his golden years with his great-grandchildre, period.
Posted by: shag11 | March 26, 2008 10:31 PM
Whats different than Bush? If you had any integrity as a reporter you would be highlighting that McCain is Bush light, what a joke.
Posted by: paulnolan97 | March 26, 2008 10:30 PM
Forget about Clinton or Obama.
There's not a politician out there in either party who has proven his mettle, and the unswerving love of his country, like John Sydney McCain III.
To have endured what he did forty years ago for this nation, and to have served a quarter century in the Senate, contrasts sharply to the talk but little action of Barack Obama.
McCain is a living testament to his devotion to duty & service to the American people.
He gave FIVE years of his life in the barbaric Hanoi Hilton. He came closer to death than most of us will ever know. And when many protested the war in Viet Nam, McCain could have easily explained his breaking down & giving the Viet Cong whatever they wanted instead of fighting for a lost cause.
Forty years ago, when McCain returned, he never asked for or received the honour which should have been bestowed on him.
But now it is time for payback. I will proudly give him FOUR years to lead this nation to the best of his ability.
I'll put my trust in McCain to do the right thing. It's the least I can do for him.
Oh, by the way, in the last ten presidential elections I have never voted Republican.
Posted by: dyend | March 26, 2008 10:27 PM
you all saw FRONTLINE about the Occupation of IRAQ,
sold to you as the war on your credibility...
Armitage figured heavily in the lying...
George W. Bush, put a lot of felons into positon, with other felons
as he ran the table on your future.
Mc Cain is a sincere parasite.
Posted by: a_bigone | March 26, 2008 10:27 PM
VRWC is out in full force.
Nancy in the House Hillary leading the Senate Mac in the White House
2012 - Dems elect typical white guy "Even Whatever" from Indiana who - was not for invading Iran from the start.
Posted by: mul | March 26, 2008 10:27 PM
Iran-Contra Felons Get Good Jobs from Bush
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
AP - March 13, 2002
WASHINGTON, March 13 (AP)--In the 1980s it was the biggest scandal of the Reagan administration, a covert arms-for-hostages overture to Iran -- more popularly known as "Iran-Contra."
Today, a half-dozen alumni of that episode have found prominent jobs in the Bush administration.
The most recent is former National Security Adviser John Poindexter, 65. The retired admiral took over a new Pentagon counterterrorism office last month.
Poindexter was convicted in 1990 on five felony charges of conspiracy, making false statements to Congress and obstructing congressional inquiries. He was sentenced to six months in prison, time he never served.
An appellate court overturned the convictions in 1991, as well as similar ones against former White House aide Oliver North, the Marine lieutenant colonel who ran the illegal operation. The court ruled that their testimony to Congress, for which they had been given immunity from prosecution, had been improperly used against them.
The Iran-Contra scandal is scarcely mentioned today. But it brought near political paralysis to the closing days of the Reagan presidency.
"It involved wrongdoing," said veteran GOP consultant Charles Black. "People didn't serve the president well, and a lot of them paid a price for that."
Another former Iran-Contra defendant is Elliott Abrams. He now serves as Bush's special White House assistant for democracy and human rights. An assistant secretary of state under Reagan, Abrams pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress, then was pardoned by the first President Bush.
One of the most outspoken Iran-Contra figures is Otto Reich, the State Department's top official for Latin America, who migrated to the United States shortly after the 1959 revolution in Cuba. In his first speech since joining the department in January, Reich said Tuesday that the United States can speed a democratic transition in Cuba by "not throwing a lifeline to a failed, corrupt, dictatorial, murderous regime."
>From 1983 to 1986, Reich led a State Department office accused of a covert domestic-propaganda effort against Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista government.
Others given jobs by Bush:
--Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Questions linger over the former Defense Department official's 1986 contacts with Israel on the Iran arms sales.
--U.N. Ambassador John Negroponte. His service in the 1980s as ambassador to Honduras, which the U.S.-supported Contra rebels used as a base, has drawn criticism.
--Budget Director Mitch Daniels. As Reagan's political director in 1986 and 1987, Daniels helped oversee a White House damage-control effort.
Senate Democrats raised Iran-Contra objections last year, particularly over the Reich and Negroponte nominations. The appointments of Abrams, and now Poindexter, drew little open criticism. Neither post is subject to Senate confirmation.
Posted by: a_bigone | March 26, 2008 10:24 PM
*****I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers*******
Of course it's not the government's job...that's what rich wives are for.
Posted by: Jerryvov | March 26, 2008 10:23 PM
McCain says," I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers," he said. "Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy." Really! What is the Bear Stern fiasco? . Did he oppose that. No. Also can someone remind McCain what his role was in the Kitting five when he was in cahoots with his banker friends. McCain hypocrisy has no limit. Add to that his less than stellar understanding with anything to do with economics, he will be a big time disaster that will be more disastrous than Calvin Coolidge's 'lazes faire' economics . McCain will be Bush Light.
Posted by: ere591 | March 26, 2008 10:16 PM
McCain says," I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers," he said. "Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy." Really! What is the Bear Stern fiasco. Did he oppose that. No. Also can someone remind McCain what his role was in the Kitting five when he was in cahoots with his banker friends. McCain hypocrisy has no limit. Add to that his less than stellar understanding anything to do with economics will be a disaster very difficult after Bush, Bush and McCain. McCain will be Bush Light.
Posted by: ere591 | March 26, 2008 10:11 PM
Barack and Hillary's negative ratings are growing so high, McCain should waltz into the White House fairly easily now.
Posted by: Phil6 | March 26, 2008 10:07 PM
I am not a Republican, but I do respect John McCain. You have to. Whether you want to admit it or not, he is a hero. McCain was tortured for years by the Vietnamese. At that age, Obama was selling drugs on the street--see his book. Thus, some of these comments are crude and disrespectful. It's like the Obama people discard Hillary as just a First Lady. Well, she was prosecuting Watergate offenders while Obama was still wondering what to do with his life when he was her age. She also was making $300,000 as a top attorney before Bill moved into the governor's mansion. Finally, with McCain, unlike Obama, one won't have to worry what shoe will fall next. Frankly, this Democrat is hoping for a Clinton presidency, and the other two can go out to pasture. If not I will hold my nose and vote for McCain, the lesser of two evils, the lesser of two menances to be unleashed on the world.
Posted by: afellow1 | March 26, 2008 10:03 PM
Based on Tuesday's speech, McCain's economic philosophy reflects the rugged individualism of a western conservative. Risk-takers deserve their rewards, but speculators and manipulators deserve no special help when things suddenly go sour.
Saying it and doing something totally opposite of it ARE TWO DIFFERENT things.
I'm not sure if the Sen. remember, but about two weeks ago, the federal government, on a nice Sunday, doled out up to $30 BILLION to some PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT entities who pay their privately hired executives in the hundreds of millions of dollars over a span of a few years.
Boy, but it comes to trying to help MILLIONS of little guys, nothing but home owners whose calculations were less about profits and risk-managemtn than merely to get a good roof over theirs and their children's head and FAILED,,,, boy, is McCain and the FEDERAL government quick when it comes to OBSERVING THE MARKET ECONOMY.
I wonder why Conservatives and Republicans keep believing such total gibberish nonsense?
When they help the big guys --- very EXTREMELY RICH guys and their private businesses, using public funds to prop them up ---- it is called necessary action to keep the economy going, because if those guys don't receive tens of billions, hundred, the economy and the markets, would suffer.
But when little guys suffer, from EQUALLY BAD DECISIONS (in, yeah, borrowing beyond what they could pay, too, EXACT PROBLEM), the Conservative and the Republican fish out their MARKET ECONOMCI PRINCIPLES of no interference.
I truly wonder how these idiotic minds square such outlandish nonsensical beliefs...
Why if I am the CEO's of Lehmann Brothers, Bear Sterns, Godman Sachs and MARGINS CALLS are made and I can pay, I have the feds coming to my rescue..... But if I am a small time homeowner and I can't make y bank payment, or bad borrowing, the CONSERVATIVES and REPBULICAN say, "Well, you live in America, you participate in the market eonomy... you take risks..."
Posted by: HerLao | March 26, 2008 10:03 PM
After the complete and total idiocy and incompetence of Bush/Cheney, I don't think this country will survive another reactionary crackpot like McCain for a president!
Posted by: squirebass | March 26, 2008 9:43 PM
After the complete and total idiocy and incompetence of Bush/Cheney, I don't think this country will survive another reactionary crackpot like McCain for a president!
Posted by: squirebass | March 26, 2008 9:43 PM
After the complete and total idiocy and incompetence of Bush/Cheney, I don't think this country will survive another reactionary crackpot like McCain for a president!
Posted by: squirebass | March 26, 2008 9:42 PM
A message to McCain. "Dear Senator McCain, you were tortured by VC. Please don't torture Iraqis to revenge. You lost in Vietnam war, don't try winning another unwinnable war in Iraq to save your face."
Posted by: scooterlibre | March 26, 2008 9:35 PM
Bodyboarding, snowboarding, and now waterboarding.
Great American pastimes, and fun for the whole family.
If McCain gets elected, maybe we'll be able to just walk around tasering anyone we dont like.
Lets just hope noone prank calls the Red Phone, cause McCheney will probably sleep with one finger the Nuke button.
The way I see it, America has 2 choices - get over it's racist history and vote for the black guy, or get ready for WWIII.
Posted by: metcapventures | March 26, 2008 9:32 PM
I believe that if McBush wins, we can expect a revenge bombing on Hanoi.... then on to Iran.......then on to.......
Posted by: seakeys | March 26, 2008 9:22 PM
Bailout the banks and corporations, but penalize the homeowners who were tricked by the abusive money lenders and realtors - McCain should talk personally with the good families who lost their homes - maybe he'd think about this situation annew -
McCain is a military man - He thinks if we had stayed another 5, 10, 15 years in Vietnam, we would have won - He's thinking the same with Iraq - 100 years in Iraq, he said - leave the politicians out of it and let the military do it's thing - well, it didn't work in Vietnam, and it won't in Iraq - Wars cost money - With the trillions we have in the deficit, which no one is buying - not the Saudis, not the Europeans, not the Japanese - diplomacy is more effective than war and for the U.S. standing in the world, and cheaper -
Hot Head McCain is what the United States does not need after 8 years of U.S. decline -
Posted by: muslit | March 26, 2008 9:14 PM
Hey, davidmoore1972, Neighbors should not snoop uninvitingly in the private family matters of another neighbor. Your prime minister and his filthy officious underlings overtly interfered in our sovereign primary election. Friends and Allies treat each other with respect, that disrespectful action of your Canadian government was a serious illegal trespass into the personal affairs of our nation. Worse you got the wickedly held gumption because of your proximity to us you can tell us who to vote for, in our national election. Canadian citizens are not allowed to vote or sway our elective processes in anyway. Hopefully, most Canadians don't hold your views or that of your meddlesome Harper government. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, GET OUT OF OUR POLITICS!!!
Posted by: rasgrand | March 26, 2008 9:05 PM
Hey, davidmoore1972, Neighbors should not snoop uninvitingly in the private family matters of another neighbor. Your prime minister and his filthy officious underlings overtly interfered in our sovereign primary election. Friends and Allies treat each other with respect, that disrespectful action of your Canadian government was a serious illegal trespass into the personal affairs of our nation. Worse you got the wickedly held gumption because of your proximity to us you can tell us who to vote for, in our national election. Canadian citizens are not allowed to vote or sway our elective processes in anyway. Hopefully, most Canadians don't hold your views or that of your meddlesome Harper government. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, GET OUT OF OUR POLITICS!!!
Posted by: rasgrand | March 26, 2008 9:04 PM
A little History of the Man McCain strives to equal:
Upon his appointment, not election, as president, George W. Bush appoints 6 IRAN-CONTRA defendants, THUGS FOR DRUGS, to his staff, (13) fills the upper levels of the White house and pentagon with senior members of the PNAC a JINSA/AIPAC group of collusionists, (14) including his speech writer, chief advisor, secretary of defense, and vice president. Uses the terrorist attacks of 9-11 (16) to illegally invade and occupy Iraq under the false pretense of imminent threat (15) and reaps $GAZILLIONS$ for Cheney's Halliburton, Rumsfeld's Bechtel, and his own family's Carlyle group.
newsweek article on Bush/Nazi connection
"Bush - Nazi Dealings Continued Until 1951" - Federal Documents
Karl Rove's grandfather was Karl Heinz Roverer, the Gauleiter of Oldenburg. Roverer was Reich-Statthalter---Nazi State Party Chairman---for his region. He was also a partner and senior engineer in the Roverer Sud-Deutche Ingenieurburo A. G. engineering firm, which built the Birkenau death camp,
Posted by: a_bigone | March 26, 2008 9:00 PM
I don't see how McCain can win the general election. Not a good season for the GOP. barrowfreepress.com
Posted by: benmatheny | March 26, 2008 8:58 PM
the number of U.S. Soldiers "killed," does not include those that have supposedly commited suicide...
and the British Journal of Medicine, LANCET put the number of
INNOCENT IRAQI's killed at over 600,000 over a year ago along with the John Hopkins Medical school finding of the same number...
that doesn't take into account the innocent civilians killed in DESERT STORM....put at something like 400,000 in 3 days...
that's a MILLION innocent people...
not to mention 40,000 severly injured U.S. of A. soldiers
OCCUPATION VETERANS, who are currently holding the bushCO and CRONY family colonial holdings for George W. Bush and family to profit heavily from that action
while AMERICA's economy hits the skids...
how's that offshore labor and tech pool working for you America's Middle Class ????
Posted by: a_bigone | March 26, 2008 8:56 PM
Chelsea Clinton is just one more reason America will never elect a woman President.
Dumb as a bag of rocks.
Posted by: postlogin | March 26, 2008 8:55 PM
Chelsea Clinton is just one more reason America will never elect a woman President.
Dumb as a bag of rocks.
Posted by: postlogin | March 26, 2008 8:55 PM
Chelsea Clinton is just one more reason America will never elect a woman President.
Dumb as a bag of rocks.
Posted by: postlogin | March 26, 2008 8:54 PM
With all of the hoopla involving Barack Obama and his pastor, I think that we are forgetting some of the most basic and profound principles of the constitution, " The Freedom of Speech" and most importantly, "The Separation of Church and State"! Separation of church and state is the political and legal idea that government and religion should be separate, and not interfere in each other's affairs. In the United States, separation of church and state is often identified with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." The phrase "building a wall of separation between church and state" was written by the U.S. President Thomas Jefferson in a January 1, 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association
Thomas Jefferson says: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship...
WOW!... we owe account to NONE OTHER for our faith or our worship!..... WOW!.....that means that we can worship wherever or with whomever we choose!.....according Thomas Jefferson...
We can worship God, Jesus, Allah, Buddah, or Atheism, and it should not interfere or be an issue regarding our political experience and the potential to lead this country....
So why is the media crucifying Barack for being in his church for 20 years and not leaving?.... It's none of their business what Obama does on Sunday's in the church! It is a personal choice (according to the Constitution) that we all have a right to choose to worship or not to worship, at anyplace, with any congregation.....so let's move on!...
Chelsea Clinton was asked by a student yesterday at Butler University about the Monica Lewinsky affair and her family...she promptly answered the student that "it was none of her business!"....good for Chelsea!...she is right...it is personal!...let's move on!
And guess what, Barack's worship is personal as well, so why is Hillary Clinton, and the media condemning his personal choice & place of worship....almost everyday of the week....it is really old news now...let's move on!
SHAME! on Hillary for bringing it up...she should have made the same statement as her daughter... "basically it is none of my business... mr. reporter, this subject is between Mr. Obama, his God and his personal choice"...so why don't we move on!
James Madison says: "no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in NO WISE DIMINISH, ENLARGE, OR AFFECT THEIR CIVIL CAPACITIES"....do you finally get it Hillary, and the media?...let's move on!
Oh!...by the way....the actual speech that Rev. Jeremiah Wright gave on Sept. 16, 2001 was based on quotes from former Ambassador Edward Peck (Terrorism Advisor to the Reagan Administration) on FOX News...it was MR. PECK who said "that America's chickens had come home to roost!"...and "that America was basically responsible for the damage that was done on 911 because of what we did to others in the world"....in other words...violence begets violence....hate begets hate....what goes around, comes around according to MR. PECK, NOT Rev. Wright!....can we move on please!
We need to stop this crucifiction of Barack Obama and his pastor, based loosely on 30 second soundbytes out of 36 years of his pastorial ministry!.......now Can We Move On........ Please?
Posted by: docdwb | March 26, 2008 8:52 PM
McCain's main weakness is his support for the war. The Dems are bound to play this against him. Also, some solution has to be found on the American health care crisis. It's driving companies out of the USA as health care costs have gone through the roof. As for intervention in the economy, McCain risks being seen as too much of a do little, too much lassez-faire. In this respect, he could get hit with being portrayed just as an extension of Bushes failed economic policies. We will have to see.
Posted by: magnifco1000 | March 26, 2008 8:45 PM
McCain will continue the failed foreign policies of the Bush Disastration. He may be more dangerous than Bush and Cheney. barrowfreepress.com
Posted by: benmatheny | March 26, 2008 8:42 PM
McCain/Bush/Cheney Supporters here are some sobering statistics to ponder....
US Soldiers Killed ................ 4,000 US Soldiers Wounded................30,000 Innocent Iraqis Civilians killed...90,000+ Iraqi Homeless/Refugees......4,200,000,000 US Taxpayer dollars wasted.605,000,000,000
Number of Iraqis involved in 9/11/01.... 0
Posted by: logcabin1836 | March 26, 2008 8:31 PM
McCain/Bush/Cheney Supporters here are some sobering statistics to ponder....
US Soldiers Killed ................ 4,000 US Soldiers Wounded................30,000 Innocent Iraqis Civilians killed...90,000+ Iraqi Homeless/Refugees......4,200,000,000 US Taxpayer dollars wasted.605,000,000,000
Number of Iraqis involved in 9/11/01.... 0
Posted by: logcabin1836 | March 26, 2008 8:31 PM
McCain/Bush/Cheney Supporters here are some sobering statistics to ponder....
US Soldiers Killed ................ 4,000 US Soldiers Wounded................30,000 Innocent Iraqis Civilians killed...90,000+ Iraqi Homeless/Refugees......4,200,000,000 US Taxpayer dollars wasted.605,000,000,000
Number of Iraqis involved in 9/11/01.... 0
Posted by: logcabin1836 | March 26, 2008 8:31 PM
McCain/Bush/Cheney Supporters here are some sobering statistics to ponder....
US Soldiers Killed ................ 4,000 US Soldiers Wounded................30,000 Innocent Iraqis Civilians killed...90,000+ Iraqi Homeless/Refugees......4,200,000,000 US Taxpayer dollars wasted.605,000,000,000
Number of Iraqis involved in 9/11/01.... 0
Posted by: logcabin1836 | March 26, 2008 8:31 PM
McCain/Bush/Cheney Supporters here are some sobering statistics to ponder....
US Soldiers Killed ................ 4,000 US Soldiers Wounded................30,000 Innocent Iraqis Civilians killed...90,000+ Iraqi Homeless/Refugees......4,200,000,000 US Taxpayer dollars wasted.605,000,000,000
Number of Iraqis involved in 9/11/01.... 0
Posted by: logcabin1836 | March 26, 2008 8:31 PM
Remember how disastrous the Presidency of Nixon degenerated into after he was voted in by those Confederacy loving ex-Democrats. They failed to realize that the Civil Rights Act was backed by a good amount of Republicans in Congress. The ex-Democrats and the now politically and financially (US taxpayer funded )adept Likud/Kadima Israeli parties were the ones that contributed to the establishment of the traditional ultra conservative and moronic neocon credentials of the Republican Party that Lincoln proudly built. They forgot to take the Clintons along with them. Their war losing Southern Confederate ways has badly infected the Republican Party. Lebanon was supposed to have already capitulated and delivered firmly into the hands of the State of Israel. The Neocons and friends miscalculated as usual, they could never be fully trusted to plan and execute effectively for all contingencies. We can be fully assured of a déjà vu of another Iraq fiasco in Iran, Syria and Lebanon and worse wars on the horizon with a McCain and maybe even a Clinton presidency. I will gladly but sadly sacrifice my life, sons and daughters for a war to protect our homeland, even if any president unjustly leads us there; then there is no choice in a democracy of 50 percent plus one, the 49 percent is defenseless, especially in an ultra partisan environment. Remember, E Pluribus Unum, out of many is one, that's our national motto.
Posted by: rasgrand | March 26, 2008 8:24 PM
Let's not forget who got us into this mess in Iraq in the first place...Bush and his supporters (this includes McCain). Now that we're debating how to get the bus out of the ditch (Iraq), let's not forget who drove that bus into the ditch in the first place....Bush/Cheney/McCain
Posted by: logcabin1836 | March 26, 2008 8:24 PM
Let's not forget who got us into this mess in Iraq in the first place...Bush and his supporters (this includes McCain). Now that we're debating how to get the bus out of the ditch (Iraq), let's not forget who drove that bus into the ditch in the first place....Bush/Cheney/McCain
Posted by: logcabin1836 | March 26, 2008 8:23 PM
"Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end... but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature... And to found that edifice on its unavenged tears: would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell me the truth!" FD
As a canadian whose interest in my strongest and best friend's politics and presidential elections (US) is more then just politcal interest, it effects me financially, it effects my security, it effects the world order, it behooves me to no end that there is even a possibility that our greatest ally, the worlds only super power may submit and pull out of iraq and that this is seen as a "good thing"! Unfortunately for me, my politicians after 911 and before the iraq war did not stand up for and with our greatest ally and biggest trading partner. It scares me when people compare this iraq war to vietnam it is not. The United States gets flak from every other country if they take the fight to the worlds enemies (iraq, afganastan) or if they do not (sudan, darfur), it is a no win situation for your presidents, they are damned if they do and if they don't! That Barrak Hussein Obama is even still in the presidential race and may win scares me even more, there are enough America haters outside your country (which i believe is truely masking their jealousy of your free nation) but to elect one as the most powerful man in the world??
Markets, free markets will deliver the US out of their economical situation they find themselves in not government interferance, this is America pure captialism, pure freedom! So all Mcain need do is allow the entrepreneurs and the markets to adjust themselves, economics is purely cylical in a free market society with highs and lows. Real estate for the astute investor is a great option right now, in fact I am looking at property in Florida as we speak. There has never been a better time to buy. Time in not timing is what makes your market work, buy and hold, solid blue chip companies with real returns and positive cash flow. Be wary of the fast buck, it will burn you everytime (Tech bubble of the late nineties where even i thought i could day trade).
Vote McCain as the only reasonable choice, hussein ooops i mean barrak osama opps obama is an american hatin' left wing nutcase!! and well i won't even go to what i think of hillary.....
Posted by: davidmoore1972 | March 26, 2008 8:23 PM
"Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end... but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature... And to found that edifice on its unavenged tears: would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell me the truth!" FD
As a canadian whose interest in my strongest and best friend's politics and presidential elections (US) is more then just politcal interest, it effects me financially, it effects my security, it effects the world order, it behooves me to no end that there is even a possibility that our greatest ally, the worlds only super power may submit and pull out of iraq and that this is seen as a "good thing"! Unfortunately for me, my politicians after 911 and before the iraq war did not stand up for and with our greatest ally and biggest trading partner. It scares me when people compare this iraq war to vietnam it is not. The United States gets flak from every other country if they take the fight to the worlds enemies (iraq, afganastan) or if they do not (sudan, darfur), it is a no win situation for your presidents, they are damned if they do and if they don't! That Barrak Hussein Obama is even still in the presidential race and may win scares me even more, there are enough America haters outside your country (which i believe is truely masking their jealousy of your free nation) but to elect one as the most powerful man in the world??
Markets, free markets will deliver the US out of their economical situation they find themselves in not government interferance, this is America pure captialism, pure freedom! So all Mcain need do is allow the entrepreneurs and the markets to adjust themselves, economics is purely cylical in a free market society with highs and lows. Real estate for the astute investor is a great option right now, in fact I am looking at property in Florida as we speak. There has never been a better time to buy. Time in not timing is what makes your market work, buy and hold, solid blue chip companies with real returns and positive cash flow. Be wary of the fast buck, it will burn you everytime (Tech bubble of the late nineties where even i thought i could day trade).
Vote McCain as the only reasonable choice, hussein ooops i mean barrak osama opps obama is an american hatin' left wing nutcase!! and well i won't even go to what i think of hillary.....
Posted by: davidmoore1972 | March 26, 2008 8:23 PM
"Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end... but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature... And to found that edifice on its unavenged tears: would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell me the truth!" FD
As a canadian whose interest in my strongest and best friend's politics and presidential elections (US) is more then just politcal interest, it effects me financially, it effects my security, it effects the world order, it behooves me to no end that there is even a possibility that our greatest ally, the worlds only super power may submit and pull out of iraq and that this is seen as a "good thing"! Unfortunately for me, my politicians after 911 and before the iraq war did not stand up for and with our greatest ally and biggest trading partner. It scares me when people compare this iraq war to vietnam it is not. The United States gets flak from every other country if they take the fight to the worlds enemies (iraq, afganastan) or if they do not (sudan, darfur), it is a no win situation for your presidents, they are damned if they do and if they don't! That Barrak Hussein Obama is even still in the presidential race and may win scares me even more, there are enough America haters outside your country (which i believe is truely masking their jealousy of your free nation) but to elect one as the most powerful man in the world??
Markets, free markets will deliver the US out of their economical situation they find themselves in not government interferance, this is America pure captialism, pure freedom! So all Mcain need do is allow the entrepreneurs and the markets to adjust themselves, economics is purely cylical in a free market society with highs and lows. Real estate for the astute investor is a great option right now, in fact I am looking at property in Florida as we speak. There has never been a better time to buy. Time in not timing is what makes your market work, buy and hold, solid blue chip companies with real returns and positive cash flow. Be wary of the fast buck, it will burn you everytime (Tech bubble of the late nineties where even i thought i could day trade).
Vote McCain as the only reasonable choice, hussein ooops i mean barrak osama opps obama is an american hatin' left wing nutcase!! and well i won't even go to what i think of hillary.....
Posted by: davidmoore1972 | March 26, 2008 8:22 PM
"Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end... but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature... And to found that edifice on its unavenged tears: would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell me the truth!" FD
As a canadian whose interest in my strongest and best friend's politics and presidential elections (US) is more then just politcal interest, it effects me financially, it effects my security, it effects the world order, it behooves me to no end that there is even a possibility that our greatest ally, the worlds only super power may submit and pull out of iraq and that this is seen as a "good thing"! Unfortunately for me, my politicians after 911 and before the iraq war did not stand up for and with our greatest ally and biggest trading partner. It scares me when people compare this iraq war to vietnam it is not. The United States gets flak from every other country if they take the fight to the worlds enemies (iraq, afganastan) or if they do not (sudan, darfur), it is a no win situation for your presidents, they are damned if they do and if they don't! That Barrak Hussein Obama is even still in the presidential race and may win scares me even more, there are enough America haters outside your country (which i believe is truely masking their jealousy of your free nation) but to elect one as the most powerful man in the world??
Markets, free markets will deliver the US out of their economical situation they find themselves in not government interferance, this is America pure captialism, pure freedom! So all Mcain need do is allow the entrepreneurs and the markets to adjust themselves, economics is purely cylical in a free market society with highs and lows. Real estate for the astute investor is a great option right now, in fact I am looking at property in Florida as we speak. There has never been a better time to buy. Time in not timing is what makes your market work, buy and hold, solid blue chip companies with real returns and positive cash flow. Be wary of the fast buck, it will burn you everytime (Tech bubble of the late nineties where even i thought i could day trade).
Vote McCain as the only reasonable choice, hussein ooops i mean barrak osama opps obama is an american hatin' left wing nutcase!! and well i won't even go to what i think of hillary.....
Posted by: davidmoore1972 | March 26, 2008 8:22 PM
"Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end... but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature... And to found that edifice on its unavenged tears: would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell me the truth!" FD
As a canadian whose interest in my strongest and best friend's politics and presidential elections (US) is more then just politcal interest, it effects me financially, it effects my security, it effects the world order, it behooves me to no end that there is even a possibility that our greatest ally, the worlds only super power may submit and pull out of iraq and that this is seen as a "good thing"! Unfortunately for me, my politicians after 911 and before the iraq war did not stand up for and with our greatest ally and biggest trading partner. It scares me when people compare this iraq war to vietnam it is not. The United States gets flak from every other country if they take the fight to the worlds enemies (iraq, afganastan) or if they do not (sudan, darfur), it is a no win situation for your presidents, they are damned if they do and if they don't! That Barrak Hussein Obama is even still in the presidential race and may win scares me even more, there are enough America haters outside your country (which i believe is truely masking their jealousy of your free nation) but to elect one as the most powerful man in the world??
Markets, free markets will deliver the US out of their economical situation they find themselves in not government interferance, this is America pure captialism, pure freedom! So all Mcain need do is allow the entrepreneurs and the markets to adjust themselves, economics is purely cylical in a free market society with highs and lows. Real estate for the astute investor is a great option right now, in fact I am looking at property in Florida as we speak. There has never been a better time to buy. Time in not timing is what makes your market work, buy and hold, solid blue chip companies with real returns and positive cash flow. Be wary of the fast buck, it will burn you everytime (Tech bubble of the late nineties where even i thought i could day trade).
Vote McCain as the only reasonable choice, hussein ooops i mean barrak osama opps obama is an american hatin' left wing nutcase!! and well i won't even go to what i think of hillary.....
Posted by: davidmoore1972 | March 26, 2008 8:22 PM
The folly of the Democrats is "change".
People don't want their brand of "change" which means simply that they are not happy being out of power and not having their hands on all the tax money. This is why the media portrays Bush as unpopular -- when in fact, America loves Bush. The Hollywood types used to have a free hand when Bill Clinton was in office because they opened up the Treasury to them.
Posted by: jabailo | March 26, 2008 8:21 PM
DON't FORGET THIS, you don't want to trust the outgoing LOSERS....because they're burying landmines in your administration kids...
THE REPULSIVE SCAMMERS HOPE YOU FORGET THE LAST 8 YEARS AS THE DEMOCRATS DID IN 1992....
As Bill Clinton was about to take office, there were other lingering questions about secret Republican dealings with Saddam Hussein's Iraq during the 1980s. The CIA allegedly had assisted in arranging third-country supplies of sophisticated armaments to Saddam Hussein in his border war with Iran.
President Bush had angrily denounced such charges after they were raised following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. But a number of witnesses were alleging that the CIA had helped arrange the supplies, including cluster bombs to Iraq through Chile.
In 1992-93, the Democrats were in a strong position to get to the bottom of all these historic questions that had so entangled U.S. foreign policy in the 1980s. The Democrats controlled both houses of Congress as well as the White House. Walsh was furious with Bush's Iran-contra pardons and was considering impaneling a new grand jury to force Bush's testimony. [See Walsh's book, Firewall, for more details.]
Getting answers to these questions also made policy sense, if for no other reason than it was important for the new administration to know where diplomatic mine fields might be hidden in this delicate geopolitical landscape.
But the Democrats -- led by then-House Speaker Tom Foley and Rep. Lee Hamilton -- chose a very different course. Apparently believing that battling for answers would distract from the domestic policy agenda, such as passage of a universal health care plan, the Democrats chose to shut down all the investigations.
In December 1992, Foley signaled Bush that he would have no problem with the Iran-contra pardons. After the pardons were issued, a few Democrats groused but no hearings were held and no formal explanation was demanded, even though this may have been the first time a president had used his pardon powers to protect himself from possible incrimination.
After the Inauguration, the Clinton administration offered no help to Walsh in arranging declassification of documents that would have aided his investigation. When Bush refused to submit to an interview with Walsh's prosecutors, the Democrats made not a peep about this final move to obstruct the Iran-contra investigation.
Faced with a lack of political support, Walsh decided not to call Bush before a grand jury and shut down his office.
On the 1980 Iran issue, a congressional task force chose to obscure or cover up the new evidence of Republican guilt. Bani-Sadr's letter was misrepresented in the task force's report as mere speculation. Bani-Sadr's detailed account of the interplay inside the Iranian government was simply ignored.
Only those who bothered to dig through the task force report's appendix could find out what the Iranian president had actually said.
Not a single story about Bani-Sadr's letter appeared in major newspapers.
In an odd twist, the task force accepted the testimony about deMarenches's account of Republicans meeting Iranians in Paris as "credible," but then incongruously dismissed it as irrelevant, since it conflicted with Republican denials.
The extraordinary Russian report describing what Soviet intelligence files had shown about the Republican-Iran initiative was simply hidden. There was no serious follow-up with the Russians to determine how solid their intelligence was and how they had obtained the information.
SEARCH ON Russians, October Surprise, Cater, Paris, Robert M. Gates, George H.W. Bush
get to know a little history.
first things first: shut down halliburton, bechtel, kbr, blackwater, dyncorp's involvement in IRAQ...
conscript the contractors and make them work for GSA at GS scale wages,
as a first step, seperate the thieves from the money....simple eh?
it's a national security issue. we don't get what we pay for. and I don't remember paying to have IRAQ's infrastructure destroyed so the citizenry couldn't protest the oil theft do you?...
take a bite out of crime, elect someone who's been there before,
and been on the receiving end of this level of dishonesty, and continued dishonesty as evidenced by the continued inference by the media that somehow the Clintons are dishonest and immoral,
when it's the press that are...
The Clintons have held their own, and the nation has prospered...in the midst of media sponsored spin...
Posted by: a_bigone | March 26, 2008 8:15 PM
On war and economy, Ariz. senator is in a far different place than either Obama or Clinton.
On truth and common sense, Dan Balz is in a far different place from many Americans.
Even to consider McCain for president after the warmongering vegetables we have inexplicably tolerated for eight years can reflect only terminal masochism or some other kind of death-wish.
Posted by: wardropper | March 26, 2008 8:09 PM
It's unfortunate that there are more than enough ignorant and narrow-minded Americans who will not only be sucked into the belief that both senator John McCain, knows from where he speaks when talking about how safe "The Green Zone" in Baghdad has become, and sincerely believe Dick Cheney's Bushism Moment when he compared Abraham Linclon and the Civil War to that which is currently taking place in Iraq. False prophesies breed false Profits/Prophets, and neither Our Real Man Behind the Bush Regime Throne, Dick Cheney, our Illegally Elected and Presently Irrlevant Leader George W. Bush or their Bush Devotee are definitely all FALSE.
Posted by: jetsfoto | March 26, 2008 8:09 PM
McCain's morality card is years late and thousands of lives late. It is not better to be late than never when human lives are involved. NO to McCain!
Posted by: ghostcommander | March 26, 2008 7:59 PM
Obama is afraid to fight with Hillary (he could get hurt). He is afraid to face voters in Florida and Michigan. He is afraid of facing voters in Pennsylvania (the white part). He is afraid of what the repubicans will dig up in the fall.
I AM PROUD THAT HE COULD BE OUR NOMINEE!
Posted by: lpeter59 | March 26, 2008 7:59 PM
With all of the hoopla involving Barack Obama and his pastor, I think that we are forgetting some of the most basic and profound principles of the constitution, " The Freedom of Speech" and most importantly, "The Separation of Church and State"! Separation of church and state is the political and legal idea that government and religion should be separate, and not interfere in each other's affairs. In the United States, separation of church and state is often identified with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." The phrase "building a wall of separation between church and state" was written by the U.S. President Thomas Jefferson in a January 1, 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association
Thomas Jefferson says: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship...
WOW!... we owe account to NONE OTHER for our faith or our worship!..... WOW!.....that means that we can worship wherever or with whomever we choose!.....according Thomas Jefferson...
We can worship God, Jesus, Allah, Buddah, or Atheism, and it should not interfere or be an issue regarding our political experience and the potential to lead this country....
So why is the media crucifying Barack for being in his church for 20 years and not leaving?.... It's none of their business what Obama does on Sunday's in the church! It is a personal choice (according to the Constitution) that we all have a right to choose to worship or not to worship, at anyplace, with any congregation.....so let's move on!...
Chelsea Clinton was asked by a student yesterday at Butler University about the Monica Lewinsky affair and her family...she promptly answered the student that "it was none of her business!"....good for Chelsea!...she is right...it is personal!...let's move on!
And guess what, Barack's worship is personal as well, so why is Hillary Clinton, and the media condemning his personal choice & place of worship....almost everyday of the week....it is really old news now...let's move on!
SHAME! on Hillary for bringing it up...she should have made the same statement as her daughter... "basically it is none of my business... mr. reporter, this subject is between Mr. Obama, his God and his personal choice"...so why don't we move on!
James Madison says: "no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in NO WISE DIMINISH, ENLARGE, OR AFFECT THEIR CIVIL CAPACITIES"....do you finally get it Hillary, and the media?...let's move on!
Oh!...by the way....the actual speech that Rev. Jeremiah Wright gave on Sept. 16, 2001 was based on quotes from former Ambassador Edward Peck (Terrorism Advisor to the Reagan Administration) on FOX News...it was MR. PECK who said "that America's chickens had come home to roost!"...and "that America was basically responsible for the damage that was done on 911 because of what we did to others in the world"....in other words...violence begets violence....hate begets hate....what goes around, comes around according to MR. PECK, NOT Rev. Wright!....can we move on please!
We need to stop this crucifiction of Barack Obama and his pastor, based loosely on 30 second soundbytes out of 36 years of his pastorial ministry!.......now Can We Move On........ Please?
Posted by: docdwb | March 26, 2008 7:53 PM
Realclearpolitics has McCain with a national lead. I believe the Electoral College picture for him is even rosier.
Posted by: edbyronadams | March 26, 2008 7:51 PM
Victory in Iraq is difficult to define because encouraging participatory government in an Arab Muslim country is like grafting a human arm onto a sheep. They simply do not have the cultural foundation necessary to make it work. Therefore, we will be a long time there, but with fewer casualties now and with a promise of fewer shortly down the road, it will look a lot like our extended stay in the Korean peninsula, where eventually the graft took.
It's ugly and demands a great deal of the American public, especially those who serve. There may be a time when it is necessary for us to turn away from the burdens of carrying Pax Americana on our backs, but I don't think it is this time.
Posted by: edbyronadams | March 26, 2008 7:49 PM
This guy doesn't have a chance in November.
Posted by: TALVES | March 26, 2008 7:46 PM
"Those who argue that our goals in Iraq are unachievable are wrong, just as they were wrong a year ago when they declared the war in Iraq already lost," >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The goal being victory but no understanding what victory would be. Thus endless involvement/occupation in a country that mostly hates us being there.
John has delusions that we will win the Vietnam war by winning the Iraq occupation. We can declare anytime that there are no WMDs and no chance that Saddam or Iraq will threaten us. So that is as much victory as we will ever see. The rest is the responsibility of Iraqis. John also needs to consider that the AQ strategy is to weaken us using fear and attrition (fighting on the wrong front). Is he also going to be a fool for Osama?
Posted by: ricinro85212 | March 26, 2008 7:33 PM
Ya want another administration dominated by war?
You want 8,000 dead? 4,000 isn't enough for you? How about some more maimed?
you want America, now generally detested in the world, actively worked against by former allies? Not that is isn't happening now, financially...Asia and London stock exchanges are eating our lunch. Foreign funds started buying out our wealth, until this week they decided it's not even worth it.
Well, then, let's have McCain, Bush lite. Disaster #2.
Posted by: whistling | March 26, 2008 7:27 PM
The most unfortunate reality about Senator John McCain is that he's merely the "Wolf In Sheep's Clothing", pretending to act in preserving America's withering soverignty globally, while further compromising our United States and the American people. The most pathetic reality is that the average American seems to possess the memory capacity of a gnat, and will only hear the same Hollow words of wisdom and hope which George W. Bush espoused when he was first illegally appointed as President of the United States in 2000 & 2004.
It's by no means coincidental that Senator Mccain decideed to travel to Iraq when The Real Man (That's debatable) Behind George W. Bush's Throne was galavanting about the Middle East to make sure that his, George W.'s and The Bush Family Dynasty's Illegally Obtained (Translation=Profitting Illegally) assets are being well protected.
At this stage in this blatantly illegal Reign by the Bush/Cheney Regime, the truth would be refreshing, such as whether or not Blackwater USA is still being illegally employed as the Bush/Cheney Regime's Mercenary Boy scouts, or how much business Halliburton,KBR and the other Corporate Family members are still being given in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator John McCain is becoming a truly dangerous man to reckon with and hopefully neither VP Dick Cheney, George W., karl Rove or the rest of the Stormtroopers won't be in any position to sabotage November's preseidential elections.
Posted by: jetsfoto | March 26, 2008 7:26 PM
"I look for the strings that make his arms wave, and the hand that makes his mouth move."
Posted by: HoracePManure | March 26, 2008 06:57 PM
Keep looking. Due to his treatment by his Vietnamese captors, Sen. McCain cannot wave his arms himself. He would need string assist if he wanted to accomplish such a feat.
Posted by: edbyronadams | March 26, 2008 7:12 PM
you are careful thinkers, much of what you say is right on point (or at least, I agree!).
It seems odd to me that the McCain boards are where a lot of people people seem to put their best ideas. The Clinton Obama thing has gone 'round the bend.
Posted by: shrink2 | March 26, 2008 7:04 PM
Meyerson's column barely scratched the surface. McCain has also absurdly claimed that if we left Iraq, Al Qaida would surely take it over, and be more of a threat to us here at home. No serious military analyst thinks that's anything but ridiculous.
Before that it was voting for the Iraq war without even reading the NIE, which told of many doubts about the WMD hoax that Bush was putting over on the country as absolute fact.
Long before that, he was drinking his way through the Naval Academy, and graduating 894th of 899 in his class.
But we should brush all of that aside because he was a POW who went through a five year ordeal in Vietnam. He can say any fantasical thing he wants to, and the press will just ooh and ahh over his "foreign policy expertise". These are the crack journalists who bravely called Bush on all of his lies during the runup to the war, preventing us from going there, remember?
Posted by: B2O2 | March 26, 2008 7:02 PM
If McCain did not throw Bush and Cheney under the straight talk express bus for all the serious internal and external damages they inflicted on our great nation then why should we go after Obama to throw his adopted 'uncle' former pastor under the bus. He has repeatedly and forcefully denounced and rejected Rev. Wrights' controversial words critical to USA policies and other crazy remarks. I wonder why some are so stubbornly and obtusely unforgiving of Obama's reasons for staying with his church and new pastor. I believe that he did not know about some of those inflammatory remarks and the one he did find out about he had confronted Rev. 'uncle' Wright about it to express his displeasure. And if he knew that he had said more controversial provocative remarks, I sincerely believe that he would have stopped going to his church, Barack is a smart politician who probably wanted to gain national office. Barack Obama was, is and will continue to be a strong American patriot who can relate effectively with all Americans and forcefully defend American interest wherever and/or whenever it may be threatened. He is honest, fair-minded and talks to all Americans with love and hope for a stronger future. For a person to deny these facts and support the continued old failed McCain/Bush/Cheney's policies speaks to a loud volume of that person's allegiance to our great country. Time's up for true change. When Senator Obama is the nominee and certain traitorous, fake and/or maybe even closet racists Democrats go out and vote for somebody else in the general election then they should do like the old Democrats of the 60s who switched after President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and good riddance to those old racists, this second round purge will be well worth it. Bush and Cheney have already opened up the first salvo towards the beginning of more wars for us all. The Iraq war quagmire has entrapped us, because McCain claims that we can't leave even when the surge has worked according to his own words and we must stay, it will be all two easy to lash out against the perceived Iranian enemy. The sadness will only befall on the future integrity of my beloved nation, because rumors of wars with Iran and others will become a future reality. The draft will be reinstated and the full holy war against the Muslim infidels will have fallen on our lap. Armageddon, as envisioned by the likes of Revs. Hagee and Parsley will definitely be our final and most devastating war on Earth; I hate the ways of the triangulating egotistical Clintons and the Republican selfish party, who are coldheartedly destroying our great nation systematically.
Posted by: rasgrand | March 26, 2008 6:58 PM
John McCain is probably one of the worst speech readers of our time.
He simply can not make those words sound like his own.
I look for the strings that make his arms wave, and the hand that makes his mouth move.
Posted by: HoracePManure | March 26, 2008 6:57 PM
Mr. McCain is still under the illusion that pulling out of Viet Nam in some manner stained all who served there. I suggest that he have lunch with former Sec. of Defense McNamara (yes he is still alive) and get the real facts on those who caused our involvement in that disaster; including LBJ who was so concerned that he would be the first POTUS to lose a war and damage his ego driven legacy. My great fear with McCain relates to his possible choice of a VP. I fear it will be Mr. Lieberman who, in a most egregious manner, refuses to recognize the many violations of international law and the trampling on human rights committed by Israel on an on-going basis. Mr. Lieberman, who would like to make Israel the 51st state (perhaps not a bad idea as then the billions of taxpayer dollars wasted there would be very apparent) would be very aggressive in regard to the Palestinians and Iran. Any hope for peace in the M/East would be destroyed if he becomes involved in the policies of a McCain administration.
Posted by: frklynson | March 26, 2008 6:54 PM
Stupid Americans....we are "seek and yee shall find" when we are looking for a reason to discredit someone, but when we know there is a reason to discredit someone we like, we put the blinders on.........go figure..........Americans think ID is science......whew.......
I would rather have a "inexperienced" Democrat wasting a billion on helping the poor or disabled or uneducated, than have a neo-con Republican blow a billion on killing tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi and thousands of US service men and women.
"They're just taking a little while to figure out who can massacre more of the Republicans in the general election, that's all."
Posted by: getcentered | March 26, 2008 6:54 PM
Sure McCain freely admitted he doesn't have the experience on the economy. But at least he admits it. I can think of something worse, namely a junior senator who has no experience whatsoever in an arena, niether the economy nor foreign policy nor "reaching across the aisle" as he preaches. No president has the full array of skills for the job and in this field McCain has the best. But of course giving entertaining speeches aint bad either. Americans do like to be entertained.
Posted by: achira | March 26, 2008 6:52 PM
As an Independent, I originally supported Obama. Now as the Democrats tear each other apart, I am back to undecided. I have always thought that McCain has some proven credentials when it comes to pushing for change and working with the other party instead of just falling in line. I believe he will continue to be a person driven by his own settled convictions and his sense of common sense.
While I still agree with many policy positions a more progressive platform generally offers, these are two important issues to me. On Iraq I have been fiercely critical of Bush - the rationale for war and the handling of it thereafter. And Congress seems unable to do anything about it (not that the Republican led Congress wanted to take on that fight). But I strongly agree with McCain that now we are there we have a moral obligation to help that country. Our challenge is competent leadership in my opinion, and I think McCain will bring that. Leaving Iraq just hoping for the best but expecting the worst after we invaded and occupied their country is just morally wrong (and maybe strategically as well). We unilaterally took responsibility for the welfare of Iraqi civilians when we invaded. We still have that responsibility.
I do not like supporting bailouts for bad companies or risk-takers. I think McCain's logic makes sense. "Common sense" sounds great! I'd love to see that law and it institutionalized (holding breath). Allowing subjectivity to make decisions since life is full of nuances is a lofty goal but this is the same country that sends all repeat drug addicts to jail (so they can become worse people) and just last week denied a green card to an Iraqi translator that had the support of top military leaders. Just call me skeptical until I see the nuts and bolts of how McCain's theory would be put to practice.
But, my vote is back in play. I love democracy.
Posted by: houtex97 | March 26, 2008 6:45 PM
And what Senator McCain forgot to say:
"I apologize for co-signing and consigning the Iraqi people to the horrendous violence, ethnic cleansing, and possibly genocide that has resulted from our reckless, irresponsible, and premature entry into the affairs of the country in the first place"
Posted by: csfoster2000 | March 26, 2008 6:43 PM
"Outside of a total collapse (And I mean TOTAL colapse, not merely a split of the electorate)the Dem party they can offer up a broccoli fart in a jar and still gain the White House."---------feastorafamine
a broccoli fart in a jar" oh hell no...........that is MAD funny.....you made my day..........thanks......Go Dems!
Posted by: getcentered | March 26, 2008 6:42 PM
The GOP/Republican tools on these forums wouldn't dare talk about Republicans and their failed policies. Instead they help themselves feel better about blind support for the Republicans, by attacking Democrats trying to fan the flames of dissent within the DNC.
Yeah, I remember how well the flames of dissent worked the dems in 1968. It gave us Nixon. Trust me, with Clinton's scorched earth political philosophy and a split dem party. Chicago may have been a tea party by comparison.
Add to that, that the absolute worst republican candidate the dems could have hoped for is going to be the opposition.... doesn't look good to me.
Posted by: Pthomas2mm | March 26, 2008 6:39 PM
9/11 Terrorist attack.......... The WORLD gets behind the USA to support whatever action, against those who caused this attack.................... Bush declares WAR on the Taliban in Afghanistan................. Allies of the USA unite, and go into Afghanistan ready to kick some a**............... Bush declares WAR on Iraq............................... The world allies question this decision, and are chastised by the Bush admin for doing so.......... The world allies remove support in dismay at the decisions of the Americans to attack Iraq...................... The US stands alone in Iraq..................... Americans die in an unnecessary war in Iraq and the cause of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are lost in the minds of Americans........................
The deception metastasizes as the months and causalities mount...............
The President who was never deigned to go to Dover Air Force Base to salute the fallen who are coming home says no photographs of their coffins can be permitted because that would hurt the feelings of the families. This is false, tragically false; the real reason is that day after day the photos would starkly reveal the price of Bush's folly.
Posted by: getcentered | March 26, 2008 6:36 PM
NEWS FLASH! The notion that McCain can actually WIN in November is laughable. Do the simple math "My friends" The voter turnout through this entire election cycle has been a 2 to 1 margin in favor of Dems. That's twice as many people voting for Dems than Repubs. Couple that with 8 years of failure by conservatives and you have a cocktail for a beatdown. How is John McCain going to inspire twice the voter turnout for his party? His great speeches? Conservative talk radio? His flip-flop talk express bus overstuffed with Lobbyists? We all love to engage in punditry but the facts are the facts. Repubs do not have the votes to win. Outside of a total collapse (And I mean TOTAL colapse, not merely a split of the electorate)the Dem party they can offer up a broccoli fart in a jar and still gain the White House. What planet are you conservatives living on? Your Reagan Democrat pink cloud from 20+ years ago?
Posted by: feastorafamine | March 26, 2008 6:35 PM
Let's just call him what he is: McBush. Then let the chips fall where they may in the election.
Posted by: PutDownTheKoolaid | March 26, 2008 6:34 PM
Hillary let Obama's speach pass because she provoked it. What was she gonna say? Way to go buddy o pal of mine? Classy? Cmon get a grip!
Posted by: Pthomas2mm | March 26, 2008 6:29 PM
McCain says the U.S. Has 'Moral Responsibility' in Iraq.
No Spit Sherlock. First cheney, rummy, wolfie and powell bomb the country back to the stone age then allow a civil war to start. Allow millions of Iraqis to become refugees while the US kills 10's of thousands more and McCain can come up with is U.S. Has 'Moral Responsibility' in Iraq.
How about stopping the killing by getting out of Iraq or is 4000 dead G.I.'s not enough .
Posted by: knjincvc | March 26, 2008 6:28 PM
I believe that before we have government mandated health care coverage, the government should fix the Medicare and Social Security crises that are currently looming just over the horizon. Stop PANDERING and FIX IT.
Promising more "social safety netting" at this point in time is PANDERING. We can't AFFORD it period. Frankly, I am tired of politicians spending MY money while telling me I need to "contribute" to the greater good.
Posted by: Pthomas2mm | March 26, 2008 6:19 PM
All we are accomplishing in Iraq is to train, equip, and motivate the next generation of anti-American guerillas. McCain wants to do more of this. It's insane. We need to stop choosing new enemies to have any hope of dealing with those who choose to be adversaries without our prompting. The sooner we get out of Iraq, the safer we will be, if only for not throwing away young lives there for no purpose.
Posted by: lartfromabove | March 26, 2008 6:13 PM
The GOP will be HURTING in the next elections!!!!
The GOP/Republican tools on these forums wouldn't dare talk about Republicans and their failed policies. Instead they help themselves feel better about blind support for the Republicans, by attacking Democrats trying to fan the flames of dissent within the DNC.
Well now I know, a vote for a Republican is literally a vote for ignorance, and misguided spending in an unnecessary war in Iraq, which causes more hate........
Obama made an amazing speech last week! I have never heard any politician speak so candidly and clearly about ANY
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For all the talk about McCain's maverick style and cross-party appeal, his views on two of the biggest issues of the campaign put him sharply at odds with the Democrats. --Dan Balz
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McCain's Foreign Policy
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Babbin is the author of three books, most recently "In the Words of Our Enemies." He is a military and foreign affairs analyst and appears frequently on the Fox News Channel, CNBC and MSNBC.
Jed L. Babbin: Hello to all. I'm Jed Babbin, editor of HumanEvents and HumanEvents.com, the oldest conservative weekly in the nation. I'm a former deputy undersecretary of defense in Bush 41 and a longtime military and foreign affairs writer. I'm looking forward to answering your questions and commenting on whatever interests you. Let's have at it.
What has happened to the Realists in the Republican Party? Are they out of favor permanently? John McCain seems downright hostile to anyone who leans towards the realist line of foreign policy, as does the president.
Jed L. Babbin: Realists are still there. If you mean those who don't want to intervene, and who favor diplomacy over non-peaceful means of dispute resolution, they're there. But the issue is that we're at war. Realism means recognizing the enemy, identifying him properly by ideology, strengths and weaknesses and fighting him in a manner calculated to win decisive victory.
Washington, D.C.: I have heard this issue debated numerous times and want to get your opinion: Is John McCain a neocon, yes or no? He certainly has surrounded himself with advisers who are. Thank you
Jed L. Babbin: I don't think anyone knows what a neocon is any more. I think McCain has bought into the Bush nation-building strategy, which is how I define neocons. And I disagree vehemently.
New York, N.Y.: Thanks so much for the chat.
It seems to me that Senator McCain is primarily interested in the morale of his beloved military (not meant sarcastically). It was destroyed after Vietnam and he will want to rebuild it after the lack of success in Iraq. Does that mean he might include General Powell in his government? Your thoughts, please?
Jed L. Babbin: Morale is important, of course. But the most important thing to morale is accomplishing something worthwhile. I remember one young colonel telling me (on my visit to Baghdad in 05) that the only way to break this army is to break your promises to it. That has not been the case, at least so far.
Philadelphia, Pa.: McCain is touted by the press as being an expert on foreign policy and campaign finance reform. He doesn't know that Iranians are Shiites. He has violated the campaign finance laws that he helped to enact. Can the press still tout his expertise?
Jed L. Babbin: His expertise exists on military and foreign affairs matters regardless of a few gaffes. But you got me on campaign finance laws. I'm still trying to see what happened with the loans. I don't want to judge on what we know now.
Lyme, Conn.: What do you see as McCain's views on responding to protect communities threatened with genocide? We have seen this issue arise in Rwanda and Sudan and it indeed may arise again. Does he see a need and ability to at least protect threatened communities and guarantee the delivery of food and supplies? Will we be able to respond for at least humanitarian purposes sooner than we have in the past? If so, how would the McCain Administration respond?
Jed L. Babbin: I don't know the answer to that. I don't recall his stating any clear position on intervention in Rwanda or Darfur. I'm sure he would support international action, but I'm hopeful he wouldn't see it as our obligation to intervene everywhere. That's certainly not my view.
Minneapolis, Minn.: One element of the "war on terror" that has been noticably absent has been a real plan of attack on non-military fronts -- a concerted effort to win hearts and minds in the Islamic world. I haven't seen anything in any of McCain's rhetoric to indicate that he has any plan in this area, either. Does he in fact have any other elements to his plan other than continuing the military fight in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Jed L. Babbin: No, and that's something that I've been very critical of both him and Pres. Bush about. The heck with hearts and minds. The issue is that this is very much a two-part war. Radical Islam is an ideology, not a religion. We need to be fighting it with words as well as deeds to defeat it just as we did communism and nazism before.
The other issue is that this is much more than Iraq. The center of gravity in this war is not the Iraqi democracy. In fact, what happens there is truly a side-issue.
The question is how we define the end of the war. This war is not over if and when (if ever) Iraq is able to defend, govern and sustain itself and be an ally.
The only definition of victory that makes any sense is that we win when the terrorist sponsoring nations are- one way or the other - forced to stop supporting terrorism.
Add to that the defeat of radical Islam as an ideology and you have the only definition of victory I can agree to. It does NOT depend on what happens in Iraq.
Prescott, Ariz.: Every time McCain is asked how he would solve some conflict, (e.g. Iraqi Shia and Sunni, or Israeli Jordan conflict of last year) his answer is that he would sit the parties down and tell them to stop the "bulls---".
How come no one else has been smart enough to press the McCain conflict resolution policy? It sounds amazingly simple.
Jed L. Babbin: I love the idea of a tough guy knocking heads together. But it ain't that simple. It presumes we have a level of influence and control that we really don't. Dispute resolution is like "peace process". Peace ain't about processes, it's about winners and losers. Sorry, but that's the unfortunate reality of it.
Washington, D.C.: John McCain missed a lot of training during his five years in prison. He didn't try to recover that training when he came back in 1973; that's why he didn't get promoted to rear admiral, like his father and grandfather. He hasn't taken the opportunity to learn things that might help him as president; economics, and ethics(Charles Keating). The man is not fit to be president, and his attempts at humor (bomb Iran) show a truly demented personality.
Jed L. Babbin: that's not only unreasonable, it's simply wrong. McCain suffered greatly in the Hanoi Hilton and chose to leave the navy. He may not be our first choice for the presidency, but his experience and knowledge make him fit for the job. Neither Obama nor Clinton have any qualifications whatsoever.
washingtonpost.com: "Fire the Neocons, Fight the War" (humanevents.com, Aug. 27, 2007)
Jed L. Babbin: this is what I meant by defining the war properly. If we don't, we're unable to win it.
Philadelphia, Pa.: McCain's "major" foreign policy speech given today seems to have been recycled from an article he wrote for the WSJ back in 2001 titled, "War is a miserable business". I know that politicians often re-use ideas but it is also a sign of a rigid and stubborn nature on the war that McCain's critics will certainly hold over his head during the presidential campaign, no?
Jed L. Babbin: No, I think it's his effort to stay in the limelight. Don't forget, Obama and Hillary are sucking all the media oxygen out of the room. He's putting stakes in the ground, not showing he's stubborn. Fer heaven's sake, give the guy a break. He can't hardly buy a headline while the Dems continue shooting while formed in a circular firing squad.
Centreville, Va.: Senator McCain stated today: "Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want" and he indicates that he will seek greater collaboration for foreign policy challenges. This sounds alot like John Kerry's approach in 2004, when he was resoundingly derided by this administration and others on the right for "seeking permission from the French." Can we expect to hear that criticism from the right this time around?
Jed L. Babbin: Certainly. Mr. McCain is more of an internationalist than many conservatives believe he should be. Kerry was unwilling to do anything without getting the blessing of the UN Security Council. The sad part is that President Bush seems of almost the same mind.
Mt. Lebanon, Pa.: Does McCain offer a foreign policy regimen other than bomb everyone he disagrees with? Or conflate an enemy with a convenient foil? Or "misrepresent the facts" as no one will know, or care?
After all, we've had that policy in place now for the last 7+ years. Look how far it's gotten us.
Bomb first, questions later always reminds me of the kid who took his ball home with him when the game rules weren't to his liking. But then, we were children.
Thanks much. Another Vietnam era Veteran
Jed L. Babbin: I think you must not have heard his speech today. He's not saying that at all. He's offering to reach out in partnership with Europe, wants better relationships with India, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, Israel and a lot of other nations.
You may hate President Bush, but please do not believe McCain is his clone. McCain, like all pols, has his faults. But "bomb first, questions after" ain't one of them.
Washington, D.C.: Has Senator McCain made any statements in regard to Iraqi refugees? Does he have a plan for them?
Jed L. Babbin: I'm not aware of any. He may be thinking of them in terms of the Vietnamese "boat people", some who fled after we withdrew. I can't speak for McCain but I'd be surprised if he wouldn't welcome them to the US if things get that bad in Iraq.
Lompoc, Calif.: Perhaps using some of the funds being spent in Iraq could be spent on SS & Medicare. But I realize McCain believes keeping our troops and therefore expenditures in Iraq are much more important than worrying about funds being used for our our own citizens.
Jed L. Babbin: You make a very common mistake. This "guns vs. butter" argument is a false one. You can disagree on the war, who we should or shouldn't be fighting, or that we shouldn't be fighting at all. But unless you believe we are not at war, and not under any threat, we have to defend the nation. Unless we do that first and get it right - first time and every time -- we don't get to spend on anything else because we lose the nation.
Washington, DC: Do you want to comment on Harold Meyerson's excellent Op-Ed piece in the Washington Post today? A 'foreign policy' expert who can't get his facts on the middle east right, and has to be corrected by the Hawkish Joe Lieberman. I don't want to bring up the idiotic solution McCain touted yesterday on helping the economy, which he admitted isn't his strong suit. I never thought I would see a more incompetent candidate than George W. Bush, but McCain opened my eyes.
washingtonpost.com: "McCain on the Red Phone" (Washington Post, March 26)
Jed L. Babbin: the Meyerson piece was simply awful. First, al-Q is in league with the Iranians. Iran has been aiding al-Q and possibly hiding bin Laden himself for the past two or three years. I was taken aback by McCain's retreat. He may not want to talk about it because he knows secret information he can't disclose.
All you have to do to see incompetence is to look at Obama. And what, pray, has Hillary ever done other than run the totally illegal and failed health care task force?
Centreville, Va.:"Kerry was unwilling to do anything without getting the blessing of the UN Security Council." I think that is a right wing canard. Do you seriously think that Kerry wouldn't have done whatever is necessary to defend this country if the circumstances warranted?
Jed L. Babbin: I can only take Kerry at his word. He said, over and over again, that UN approval was necessary for miltiary action under international law.
Washington, DC: Can you give us some idea of who President McCain might bring into his Cabinet/inner circle for foreign affairs advice? Thanks.
Jed L. Babbin: Good question. He does have a lot of people surrounding him who could be neocon advisors. But there's a balance with Ted Olson, former solicitor general, Phil Gramm, former Texas senator, and Jack Kemp, former NY congressman and cabinet secretary. Who his national security team would be I can't say.
Rolla, Mo.: The elephant in the room no one is talking about in this campaign (except for bad toys) is China. Is there an appreciable difference between McCain, Obama and Clinton in how we deal with China?
Jed L. Babbin: At this point, the only one who's spoken clearly is McCain. In his speech today he said there's no reason for us and China to be enemies, and that the rise of china is the biggest challenge the next president will face. I think that's a good start.
Philadelphia, Pa.: We were attacked on 9/11 b/c of our presence in Saudi Arabia. You can deny that but OBL has said that is the reason. Does anyone believe that our occupation (you can deny that, too) of Iraq isn't going to see some more blowback? Terrorism has a diplomatic and law-enforcement solution, we as a country have yet to try those seriously and McCain doesn't seem to acknowledge it either.
Jed L. Babbin: Nonsense. We tried that all through the Clinton administration and that's what produced 9-11. I know very well what bin Laden said. It's all in my book, "In the Words of Our Enemies." But you presume the nonsensical result we heard from Ron Paul. Do you believe UBL has the right to order us out of Saudi Arabia? If so, what other interests of the US are you unwilling to pursue?
We are at war. Please read my "Fire the Neocons, Fight the War" linked above. That's all you need to know.
Birmingham, Ala.: Could you elaborate on your statement "All you have to do to see incompetence is to look at Obama."
Jed L. Babbin: Sen. Obama has zero experience in anything related to running this nation. He's never held an executive position in government or industry, and his record in both the Illinois legislature and the US Senate is so thin as to be transparent.
For incompetence, I'd include his ducking and running from tough votes. Last year, when Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tx) offered a measure to condemn the infamous MoveOn.org "Petraeus/Betray us" ad, Sen. Boxer offered a Dem substitute that watered it down into meaninglessness. Obama voted for the Boxer substitute and - after that failed - absented himself from the Senate and didn't vote on the Cornyn measure at all.
Oh, and he was one of only about 29 who voted against the bipartisan Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill last fall. 'Nuff said?
Philadelphia, Pa.: It is a myth to say the surge is working. Last year McCain "strolled" through a market, aided by heavy air security. This year he was unable to go to the same market b/c it was unsafe. 900 soldiers have died since the surge. Now we have the Sadr cease-fire being reversed. How exactly is the surge working?
Jed L. Babbin: The surge is working because it has achieved something nothing has before. It has divorced the Sunni from al-Queda. The fact that the Maliki government is incapable of governing is not to say the surge isn't working.
Re: Promise breaking: As the wife of a military officer, it is my view that the military during the Bush tenure has repeatedly broken promises to the military families. We know plenty of folks who would like to stay in but will retire because they trust neither the brass nor the administration.
Jed L. Babbin: Ma'am, I hear you loud and clear. Can't argue with what you say. I know a lot of people on active duty and some who retired recently. There's a lot going on that's not good. All we can do is visit the hospitals, support the troops and hope the next president does better. As a wounded vet himself, I'm betting McCain will.
washingtonpost.com: "Guns, Butter, and the War" (Babbin op-ed, Feb. 29)
Jed L. Babbin: As one of the earlier commenters questioned, the "guns versus butter" issue is alive and well this year. But, as I said in this piece, it's a false argument. We need to defend this nation, and the fact that we've been doing it on the cheap is exacting a high price. We're at about 4% of GDP on military expenditures. And almost half of that is personnel costs.
Philadelphia, Pa.: Did you agree with Bush's decision to invade Iraq?
Jed L. Babbin: I did. But - and, as Casey Stengel woulda said, you can look it up - I've been highly critical of what the President has been doing since about April 2002. We've made about every mistake possible in Iraq.
Houston, Tex.:"Neither Obama nor Clinton have any qualifications whatsoever."
Really? "Whatsoever?" As in, zero? Remember how "qualified" the current group (Rumsfeld, Cheney, etc.) was when they took office, and look at where we are. Their "qualifications" got us here, did they not?
Jed L. Babbin: No. Their qualifications didn't get us here: bad decisions did. As in when the president chose to occupy Iraq contrary to the recommendations of the Pentagon.
There were two post-invasion plans presented to the president in January 2003. One - the Rumsfeld Myers plan -called for a hard and fast invasion, setting up a provisional government and exiting in about 60-90 days.
The other plan - authored by Powell and Tenet - provided for a hard, fast invasion and then an occupation to set up a democracy over a period of years. The president chose the neocon plan - the latter, the wrong one - and then stuck Rumsfeld with running it. And then came the coup de grace, Jerry Bremer who did more damage in his first couple of months than anyone else has done since.
Taneytown MD :"First, al-Q is in league with the Iranians. Iran has been aiding al-Q and possibly hiding bin Laden himself for the past two or three years."
Can you please elaborate? Because the first thing I thought when I saw the incident was just what you suggest - that Sen. McCain inadvertently referred to classified info (because if he didn't, as a McCain backer I was very worried about the incident)
Jed L. Babbin: All I can tell you is what I've learned - unconfirmed - from sources around the world. I've heard, repeatedly, from multiple sources, that UBL and top al-Queda leaders have been traveling freely throughout northwestern Pakistan and easter Iran for years. They get help from locals and from tehran. Also, the Pakistani ISI - which helped establish the Taliban - have given them sanctuary in Quetta. I don't know why Mr. McCain pulled back so quickly, but he - like the Bush people - may not want pressure to do something about Iran.
Iran, of course, is the central terrorist power. Unless and until they're out of that business, this war isn't over.
Military wife: My husband volunteered for McCain's 2000 campaign but will not vote for him this year. We will both go with the Democrat. Mr. McCain has forsaken core principles and aligned himself too closely to Bush/Cheney for our taste.
Jed L. Babbin: I understand. But I can't vote for the Dems. They just don't get it. On virtually any topic.
Jed L. Babbin: Folks, this has been a great pleasure. Many thanks for joining me. I'm hopeful that we'll do it again soon. Let's talk politics, any time and any where. All best, Jed Babbin, editor, Human Events.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jed L. Babbin, now the editor of conservative journal Human Events, examines Sen. John McCain's national security and foreign policy experience and proposals.
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Paulson Wants to Tighten Reins on Investment Banks
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Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., tempering the Bush administration's long preference for limited regulation of financial markets, called yesterday for strengthened federal oversight of investment banks in the wake of the collapse this month of Wall Street giant Bear Stearns.
Paulson urged that investment banks provide more information about their operations, especially since the Federal Reserve has begun to allow these firms, for now, to borrow public money when they run short on cash. He said the heightened oversight should also be temporary. This would subject investment banks to some of the oversight applied to commercial banks, which have long had ready access to Fed loans.
His recommendation comes after the Fed helped prevent the bankruptcy of Bear Stearns by brokering its sale to J.P. Morgan Chase and guaranteeing about $30 billion in Bear Stearns's risky securities with public funds. Two Senate committees said yesterday that they would investigate the rescue.
"This latest episode has highlighted that the world has changed, as has the role of other non-bank financial institutions and the interconnectedness among all financial institutions," Paulson said. "These changes require us all to think more broadly about the regulatory and supervisory framework."
In calling for a greater federal role, Paulson joins a growing consensus that high finance has changed so quickly in the past few years that it has outstripped the government's ability to regulate it. Although economists and officials are debating how to revamp federal oversight, they increasingly agree that steps must be taken to prevent a repeat of the credit market crisis that has beset the global economy since last summer.
"People in Washington are finally beginning to recognize that the financial institutions and products have changed dramatically and the regulatory scheme has changed very little," said Harvey J. Goldschmid, a former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission. "It's time to take a serious look at who does what."
The Treasury will soon unveil a plan to streamline the regulatory system and strengthen federal oversight of investment banks and the esoteric instruments they sell. Lawmakers are considering an even tougher regimen. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has proposed creating a mega-regulator to oversee a wide range of financial institutions or giving that power to the Fed. Many institutions are supervised, with varying rigor, by multiple separate agencies.
The credit crisis started with overly lenient lending -- particularly subprime mortgages -- to financially shaky home buyers and then spread across the global financial system as those mortgages were packaged together and sold as securities.
The regulation of the markets for mortgages, mortgage-backed bonds and other securities "has lots of holes, about as many as Swiss cheese," said Charles W. Calomiris, a finance professor at Columbia University. American Enterprise Institute scholar Vincent Reinhart said, "Where things have gone bad is where regulation is the weakest."
The last decade has also seen enormous growth in intricate types of financial trading that occurs largely below federal radar. Trillions of dollars of securitized commodities -- mortgages and other investments that are grouped together -- are bought and sold with little federal regulation. Hedge funds, once a rare kind of investment fund for millionaires, now are relatively common vehicles for quick churning of stocks and bonds.
Paulson said yesterday that federal regulation, which largely dates from the Depression era, has had trouble keeping pace with this rapid innovation. Commercial banks are closely scrutinized while investment banks like Bear Stearns are more lightly overseen though their transactions and products are often similar. Hedge funds, private-equity firms, and various players in the mortgage industry are also barely regulated.
This patchwork is mostly an accident of history rather than the result of considered policies. Commercial banks and thrifts, formerly known as savings and loans, shoulder the highest level of scrutiny by federal and state governments. This control extends to capital requirements and management operations. In return, deposits are federally insured to a certain limit.
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Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., tempering the Bush administration's long preference for limited regulation of financial markets, called yesterday for strengthened federal oversight of investment banks in the wake of the collapse this month of Wall Street giant Bear Stearns.
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Olympic Shame - washingtonpost.com
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AS CHINA'S COMMUNIST leadership conceived it, this year's Olympic Games were to mark the country's debut as a global power, with a booming economy and rapidly modernizing society. Instead, it's beginning to look as though the Games could become a showcase for violent repression, censorship and political persecution by a regime that has failed to rise above the level of police state. Though they present themselves as worldly and reformist, President Hu Jintao and his leadership group seem unable to grasp how the policies they have pursued in recent months have undermined the honor of staging the Olympics and risk destroying China's international prestige.
Even before the upheaval in Tibet this month, Mr. Hu's government was tightening its grip: shutting down publications, imprisoning dissidents and harassing lawyers in the name of pre-Olympic harmony. Officials have reneged on pledges to loosen media controls, not only in Tibet -- where the foreign press has been denied access to the carnage -- but in Beijing itself; as of this week, authorities won't allow live broadcasts from Tiananmen Square, site of the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy students two decades ago.
If foreign media have trouble, domestic dissidents have it far worse. They are being imprisoned just for criticizing the country's handling of the Olympics, even though China's constitution protects free speech. On Monday, land-rights activist Yang Chunlin was sentenced to five years in prison for starting a petition with the slogan, "We want human rights, not the Olympics." Last week, another dissident, Hu Jia, was put on trial on charges of subversion; he was arrested after testifying to the European Parliament via the Internet and publishing a letter urging the world to focus on human rights concerns in connection with the Olympics.
In foreign policy, there has been no discernible change in Beijing's support for some of the world's most criminal regimes, from genocide-sponsoring Sudan to Burma's brutal junta. China continues to prop up the Stalinist dictatorship of North Korea, even as that regime fails to comply with a commitment to disclose and dismantle its nuclear weapons. It is helping to block international sanctions against Iran, even as it rapidly increases trade with a regime that is flouting U.N. orders that it freeze its nuclear program.
Unfortunately, the Chinese leadership may have been encouraged by Western leaders -- including President Bush -- to believe it could maintain these policies and still hold a successful Olympics. Though French President Nicolas Sarkozy has now said publicly that he would not rule out boycotting the opening ceremony in Beijing in response to the repression in Tibet, Mr. Bush has not altered his ill-considered statement that he would attend the games as "a sports fan." Yesterday, the White House reiterated that the president plans to attend the opening ceremony, gratuitously signaling to Mr. Hu that he need not fear that imprisoning dissidents or beating Tibetan monks will affect even that most political of Olympic events.
In fact, whether or not Mr. Bush attends, it looks increasingly likely that the Olympics will serve to remind the world not of China's emerging greatness but of its continuing denial of freedom to its citizens, its repression of minorities and its amoral alliances with rogue states. Mr. Bush apparently prides himself on his ability to talk with Mr. Hu. If so, he should tell the Chinese president that his policies are turning these games politically toxic.
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AS CHINA'S COMMUNIST leadership conceived it, this year's Olympic Games were to mark the country's debut as a global power, with a booming economy and rapidly modernizing society. Instead, it's beginning to look as though the Games could become a showcase for violent repression, censorship and po...
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Motorola to Split Up as Handset Unit Struggles
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One company will focus on handsets, and the other will sell network equipment, cable TV set-top boxes and two-way radios -- businesses that are profitable and growing faster. The board is looking for a new leader for the phone business, Motorola said yesterday in a statement.
The decision buys time for chief executive Greg Brown to revitalize the handset unit before the split. Icahn has said the division is undervalued and has demanded that it be separated with new management. Brown was looking for a buyer after sales slid for four consecutive quarters as consumers snapped up phones from Apple and Nokia.
"If they had been forced to sell it off, shareholders would have been forced to accept a bargain-basement price," said Richard Windsor, a Nomura International analyst in London who recommends holding on to the stock. The move is "the one that makes the most sense for shareholders."
Motorola hasn't decided which business will be spun off to shareholders, though the current managers will stay with the home entertainment business, Brown said on a conference call. The Schaumburg, Ill., company wants the move to be a tax-free way to create two independent, publicly traded companies.
"Each company would benefit from improved flexibility, a capital structure more tailored to its individual business needs and increased management focus," said Brown, who took over after Ed Zander stepped down at the start of this year.
He declined to comment on the impact on earnings or what will happen to the Motorola brand name.
Shares of Motorola closed up 2.7 percent yesterday at $10.02 a share.
Icahn, who owns about 6 percent of Motorola's stock and is the No. 2 shareholder, did not return calls seeking comment.
The handset business lost $388 million last quarter. The networks and set-top box unit had a profit of $192 million. Motorola lost market share in phones last year after failing to come up with a hit successor to its Razr, which created the category of slim phones when it was introduced in 2004. While all its main rivals boosted sales in the fourth quarter, Motorola's phone shipments plunged 38 percent.
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Motorola said it plans to split into two companies next year as billionaire investor Carl Icahn has urged it to break off the money-losing mobile-phone business that it pioneered 25 years ago.
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D.C. United Begin 2008 Season
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D.C. United veteran Ben Olsen was online Wednesday, March 26 at 3 p.m. ET to take your questions about the team, his career and the upcoming season.
Olsen has been with the team since 1998. He's been selected to the MLS All-Star Game twice, was the league's rookie of the year in 1998 and MLS Cup MVP in 1999. He played on the U.S. National Team in the 2006 World Cup.
Rocko: What is your favorite DCU moment of your career so far?
Ben Olsen: hello everyone thank you for stopping by and for your questions. please bear with me because i failed typing at school and was never really a good speler.
my favorite moment of my career was stepping on the field in the world cup.
Sec 230 row 12: How great are we DCU fans, and how much better are we than the Red Bulls' fans?
Ben Olsen: its not even worth comparing you all to red bulls fans the fans in the city are a big reason why dcunited has had so much success
Arlington, VA: It took quite a bit of guts for you to mention salary increases while on Fox Business with Garber. You've suddenly become the most vocal player proponent of the debate, seeing that no other current player has really spoken up.
While you're sticking up for the little guy, are you afraid that you might be "black listed" by the league and league officials now by, "stepping out of line"?
Ben Olsen: the league has done some great things in ten years but there is a lot of things that the players would like to see done in the next collective bargaining agreement and yes player salaries at the bottom level is something were hoping to get better not only for the players themselves but for the overall quality of the league
as for being black listed, im probably already there
Washington, D.C.: If the DC government and DCU front office can't make a deal regarding a stadium in DC, and DCU moves out of the city, how do you think that will effect the team? How does playing in RFK (really) compare to other stadiums in the league?
Ben Olsen: im biased but i love playing at rfk
however our team and our fans deserve a stadium in the city.
i think it would be tragic if we couldnt have a stadium in the city but i understand that if the dc government isnt willing to help us get one we need other options
its the best stadium in the league. i think even other teams would say that and mostly because of the atmosphere the fans create
Washington, D.C.: Do you listen to any music to get you psyched for a game? If so, what are you listening to lately? During the World Cup?
Ben Olsen: not anymore. i used to have special songs and routines before games but i've gotten out of that
believe it or not i mostly listen to talk radio, npr, or wtop, or 1067
Last season, your teammate Bobby Boswell posted a video of your unique style for protecting yourself in a wall: Your left arm was protecting that which all soccer players protect when they're in a wall. Your right arm, however, was wrapped around your face - with your eyes tucked tightly in the crook of your elbow. I assume this is so you won't flinch when the ball comes rocketing at you. It's brilliant. Three questions: (1) Where did you learn this technique? (2) Would you recommend it to others? And (3) since Boswell took the video down, is there any way I can see it again?
Ben Olsen: is this bobby boswell asking this question.
its a fear technique that day i just didnt want to get hit in the face for some reason i cant afford for this face to get any uglier
i would not recommend it although i definitely wasnt going to duck if the ball was going to hit me in the face
i dont let bobby put me on his site anymore
once i told him i was going to sue him if he did it again, and because we have the same agent his response what , "your lawyer is my lawyer so how are you going to do that"
After the hot start last year, when commentators were saying that United was the best team in MLS history, the season just seemed to fizzle out. What was the cause of that? Was the team overrated, or was there some other problem (e.g. internal strife, injuries or fatigue)?
Ben Olsen: we dont buy into those type of comments to much.
however we did seem to fizzle after we had won the supporters shield
to me it comes down to character on your team. do you have the guys on the team that arent satisfied with one trophy. to be consistent in this league during a long season you have to have guys that are hungry and have the ability to focus no matter how long the season is or how many trophies you've won
as a team i think we lost that focus and hunger down the stretch
Cube: Who is your favorite soccer player in the world, playing or not anymore.
Ben Olsen: i grew up as a big ryan giggs fan
Philadelphia, Pa.: Are you are any of your teammates superstituos? If so, what are some of the superstitions some of the players go through?
Ben Olsen: i think we all have some things we do but mostly its more of a routine then a superstition for instance i eat the same thing before a game but its because i seem to preform better with that type of food
dema kovalenko (kovalanko) had a lot of them
congrats on the new team
Chanting in section 135: How is your spanish? How is the on-field communication between all of you now? Is it primarily non-verbal communication when you are on the field?
Ben Olsen: mi espanol es muy malo, everyone knows enough english and spanish to get a point across on the field. and if ya dont ya just call jaime over and he'll help hes become not only a great leader for our team but a accomplished translator.
Section 131: I know a lot of fans had beef with Tino after the way he acted when he was playing for LA. Did that affect the team at all? Does it look like he's going to have an impact this year?
Hope the ankle is healing well and you're on the field soon!
Ben Olsen: thanks i hope so too.
tinos one of my favorite kids in the league. we took him back with open arms because we as players knew he was going through a lot of difficulties in his life and that a fresh start at home in dc was going to be good for him as a player and more importantly as a person
hes going to help us a lot this year
im happy that the fans took him back as he is a dcunited player at heart
Silver Spring, Md.: With McTavish playing so well at RM, is there any talk of you playing more defensive midfield when you get back?
How is your health these days, anyway?
Ben Olsen: what does it matter if i come back when you got devon out there .
hes doing great and im so happy that a kid like that who is a great pro and teammate gets a little spotlight.
im coming along but its slow and frustrating but hopefully ill be back in a couple weeks
as far as def mid, im not sure what their plans are, im just focusing on trying to get back
Reston, Va.: Is goal-scoring machine Devon McTavish impossible to get along with now?
devon has a great self deprecating humor about him so he keeps himself grounded.
although i did hear he started referring himself in the third person like roy lassiter used to
Vienna, VA: Do you have any ambitions to coach? I think you'd be an excellent candidate given your ability to get along with players and your high soccer IQ (both on the field and in your analysis).
Ben Olsen: thats nice of you to say
i think i would enjoy coaching at some point but theres a lot i'd need to learn first. the older i get the more i realize the tough job coaches have and that just because you played at a high level doesnt mean your going to be a great coach.
Ray Hudson is HILARIOUS as a commentator! I love him! Was he as passionate behind the scenes as DC United head coach?
Ben Olsen: ray is great and his passion for the game cant be matched except by some our fans
his locker room speeches before games were something else
he would get so worked up and its nice to be around people that love and appreciate the beauty of soccer..
i think hes a great commentator
Alexandria, Va.:"Ben Olsen: my favorite moment of my career was stepping on the field in the world cup."
Glad you finally made it. Sitting in the stands and watching there in Nurnberg, it was a bummer of a game, but it was good to see you come all the way back from your injury(s).
How's the communication going on the team so far, with all the Portu-Spanglish or whatever?
How does the team feel about Champions Cup, Open Cup, and SuperLiga, and Champions League - too much, bring it all on, or what?
Ben Olsen: thanks for the comment and for trekking over to germany they put on a great event
the spanish speaking guys on the team are working on their english and were working on our spanish. i have to admit, it has been less of an issue than i thought it would be. thats a credit to the guys in the locker room both english and spanish speaking for making sure that we act as one team rather than a divided locker room which i've seen happen without a language barrier.
the cups are once again great opportunities for us to put dc on a bigger map and thats what we are trying to do.
are we ready, i hope so . pachuca is i think the best team in the region over the last couple years and it will be a very difficult series but were due for a big win
Arlington, VA: How often do you read Goff's Soccer Insider and/or Big Soccer?
Ben Olsen: i check it out every now and then
its very informative and i know he spends a lot of his time on it.
hes does a great job for our sport unless he writes something bad about me in which case i will give his blog a virus
Reston, VA: Of the new players on the team, who should we be watching? Are there any pleasant surprises on the roster?
Ben Olsen: i think peralta has been very impressive so far. i also think santino has been impressive , but dont tell him i said that.
Reston, VA: Other than salaries, what would you like to see changed to improve MLS?
Ben Olsen: the players as a whole would like to see several things changed in the league, and the majority of those issues are not financial, a lot of those issues will be addressed when our next collective bargaining agreement is up
43212: How is your second career as a member of clergy going?
Ben Olsen: terrible, i havent had a gig since nicks wedding
i must have done a terrible job
College Park, MD: Where do you think you'd be today if not for Bruce Arena?
Ben Olsen: not very far,
i think a lot of players have influences throughout their career, i was just lucky that one of mine was in my mind the best us coach ever
Owings, MD: Ben, who's going to play in a regular season game first, you or Jaime? You two are the lifeline of DC United. Also, have you been giving pointers to McTavish during the off season?
Thank you for you time and here's to a full recovery.
Ben Olsen: unfortunately jaime will win that one
devin is doing this all by himself
Washington, D.C.: Amid all the hoopla about the Nats stadium, a painful reminder....what happened to the new soccer stadium?
Ben Olsen: its coming be patient, but not to patient get to your local council member and tell them you want it
Big, Fan: Ben, how is the team adjusting to all of the new players brought in? I think the new guys are great and going to make the team even better, but it's gotta be tough getting used to a new squad.
Ben Olsen: the transition has gone surprisingly smoothly. credit the coaches and the players for making it work on the field and in the locker room
Reston, Va.: Seriously. When you shave, how long does it take to grow back in.
Ben Olsen: not long enough
Brooklyn, N.Y.: You're a Pennsylvania guy, right? Do you have an interest in playing for the new Philly team?
Ben Olsen: i've very happy that philly is getting a team and will be routing for the success of that club
but i am more than happy to be a dcunited player . the club and fans have treated me better than i could have ever imagined and am very lucky to have played my career here and hopefully finish here
Washington, D.C. : In the ten years you've been with DCU, you have seen many players come and go. Who is the player you miss the most both professionally and personally?
Hope your ankles heal quickly.
Ben Olsen: professionally is one of those words i can never spell right. i never know if it has two ss or two ff. anyways
as a player i miss a lot of guys, ryan nelson, eddie pope , marco, ritchie, harkesy, judah cooks , chris albright , antonio otero , talley, rimando, earnie, dema, christian, etc
this club has had so many great players both personally and professionally i could go on for a while
NYC : Ben- great seeing two Mountaineers on the squad this year. Any jawing between players regarding their alma maters?
Ben Olsen: not too much , when wvu beat uva last yr in soccer i took a little bit of sh.. from devin. sun shines on a dogs .........., ya know what im saying
Lanham, MD: Has there been or is there a player that you love playing against or someone you have an intense rivalry with?
Ben Olsen: to me its the rivals are more with the teams than myself. new york, la, new england, and chicago come to mind
Alexandria, VA: We all know you're one of the team leaders (and our hero), but how are you meshing with all the newcomers on the team?
Ben Olsen: thanks you. im meshing i think pretty good with them. i keep them laughing when i try to speak spanish to them so i think im at least comic relief for them
Harrisburg, Pa.: If you see a team losing its hunger, what do you do to get your team back on track?
Ben Olsen: whats up hburg
losing has a funny way of motivating a team and getting back the hunger. we can still taste last years loss and the new guys on the team have things to prove.
Falls Church, VA: What is your take on the current state of the UVA men's soccer program? Wahoowa!
Ben Olsen: college soccer has changed since project 40 and the league came about .
its a lot tougher now i think to have a dynasty and win every year. the playing field has been leveled because most of the great talents go to bradenton
Marc Burch recently stated in an interview that Freddy Adu was "a cancer in the locker room," and a lot of DCU players "are happy to be rid of him." I have two questions. First, how accurate is this? And second, Adu looked to be at a level beyond anyone on the field in the CONCACAF U-23's, but it's hard to know what that really means -- is this a player who has the talent to become world class etc.?
Ben Olsen: that was the first ive heard of that quote, and ill bet you it wasnt worded quite the way burch said it.
look freddy was a young kid when he came to us and he had a lot on his shoulders. he was thrown into a world i dont think any of us can understand.
but what i happy to see now is that he looks like hes going to be a very important player for this country . world class? i dont see why not
i think the move to portugal was important for him as a player and as a young man
Thanks for doing the chat - I really like getting to talk to the athletes/coaches themselves rather than just the reporters covering them.
Being that most of us will never get the opportunity, what is it like playing in the World Cup? Any chance you get another shot at it in 2010?
the world cup was the best moment of my career and despite not doing so hot, i really enjoyed. germany put on an incredible show
im pretty sure my days with the national team is over. but it was certainly fun while it lasted
Bealeton, VA: Ben, Aside from staying healthy, what does DCU have to do this year to win its fifth MLS Cup?
Ben Olsen: along with a little luck we need to be a better defensive team and not give up soft goals.
Can you give us a brief personality profile of the new additions to the team? Ya know, insider stuff. For example, we'd love to know stuff like Gallardo is an accomplished ballroom dancer or one of the Gonzalos plays in a death-metal band on the side.
Ben Olsen: interestingly enough gallardo does a mean cha cha
honestly i'm not just saying this but they are all really solid guys on the field and in the locker room they're friendly and i believe they are really happy with their decision to come to this club.
the class clown of the crew is definitely martinez though
Arlington, VA.: To boost interest in the game: have you considered marrying a Spice Girl and have her watching on the sidelines?
Ben Olsen: no but i tell young guys its important for them to marry famous for the sake of our sport. we need more guys on TMZ
i always had a thing for ginger spice
DC United fan: I'm sure this is the question at the top of everyone's minds today:
How's the beard? ...I mean, ankles?
Ben Olsen: i wish the cartilage in my ankle would grow a bit quicker than my beard
Ben Olsen: thanks for the questions everyone. i'm going to go ice my fingers now.
enjoy the season and see you at the games
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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D.C. United veteran Ben Olsen takes your questions about the team, his career and the upcoming season.
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