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September 21, 2008
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Appalling. And on the taxpayer dime. The Labor movement should take note that it is precisely this kind of abuse which has damaged its reputation with the general public. Accountability is a two-way street.
Incidentally, if you can't reach us, we're probably driving a train in Long Island.
Posted by houtopia at 09:33 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2008
Houston's SOS To The National Press
Those of us living in southeast Texas understand the gravity of the situation facing this area in the wake of Hurricane Ike -- we're living through it every day. But does the rest of the country realize what is happening here?
We have seen comments on the Chronicle Web site from Houstonians staying in other parts of the country who cannot believe the lack of media attention to this catastrophic event. It is as if we too are victims of the vapid 24-hour news cycle in which our country is trapped. The national press has moved on from Ike; unfortunately, we're stuck with him.
Sure, Anderson Cooper and some of the national media were here when the storm actually hit, for the dramatic video, but where are they now? Do they know that over 70% of people in this region are without electricity? Do they know there are serious shortages of ice, water, food and gasoline here? Do they understand that whole communities have been totally wiped out? Do they care?
We realize that there is a hot presidential election happening, that Wall Street is in the midst of serious turmoil, and that OJ is back in court, but for us to get the resources needed to begin recovering from this disaster, we need national attention paid to it.
It is frankly a slap in the face that this community, which did so much for its fellow citizens three years ago after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, is essentially being ignored today. It is now our time of need. Pay attention and help us!!
Posted by houtopia at 05:06 PM | Comments (1)
September 14, 2008
The Blame Game
Southeast Texas is now in the midst of recovering from one of the worst storms in its history. If ever there is a time when citizens need their government, this is such a time.
This is a terribly stressful experience for huge numbers of people. Some have died; many have lost everything; most have no electricity. People need help and they need it now.
It has been sadly comical to watch the folks at FEMA so far. That's right folks, the crack team that brought you Hurricane Katrina and Rita recovery is already doing its level best to screw up the Ike recovery effort. Late to the game and unprepared -- just the performance we've come to expect.
We were particularly galled that it took Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff only a few moments into his first local news conference to blame others for failures so far. Pass the buck -- boy, that's leadership.
Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett have worked together well so far under incredibly difficult circumstances. Too bad for us FEMA is dropping the ball once again. Alas, it's par for the course from today's federal government.
Posted by houtopia at 10:26 PM | Comments (1)
September 12, 2008
Another Ike Update
In Reliant Stadium area, wind really going now, as well as rain. Power now flickering on and off.
Per Wayne Dolcefino, the local ABC affiliate reporter who is down on Galveston Island -- "the Bay has now met the Gulf". Not good, not good at all.
Posted by houtopia at 11:38 PM | Comments (0)
Ike Update
In the Reliant Stadium area. No rain yet, but wind really picking up. It's gonna be a long night.
Posted by houtopia at 08:25 PM | Comments (1)
Awaiting Ike
It looks as if a deadly storm is approaching the Houston-Galveston area. Inexplicably, some people remain on Galveston Island, at great risk to their lives. The level of flooding already occurring there, some 15 hours before Ike makes landfall and before any rain has fallen, is amazing and ominous.
For you out of towners, we recommend following developments here. Eric Berger is simply da' man of local hurricane coverage.
For those of us in this area, it's going to be a rough 36 hours. For those of you elsewhere, send good vibes our way. We need them.
Posted by houtopia at 09:08 AM | Comments (0)
September 04, 2008
McCain's Speech
We should begin by noting that while we disagree with John McCain on many things, we like him. McCain has been a decent and dedicated American public servant, both in our military and in in the halls of Congress for decades. We have always admired his willingness to think for himself (at least from time to time), and frankly have been saddened by his descent in the last few years into perhaps necessary, but disgraceful pandering to the right wing extremist base of his Republican Party. Though perhaps he once was, John McCain is a maverick no more.
And so with that in mind, we watch McCain accept the Republican nomination for the presidency. He looks old. Heavy orange makeup helps a bit maybe, but makes him look unnatural as a result. Thank God they quickly got rid of that awful green screen from the primaries -- why was it ever there??
John McCain is, unlike his new running mate, not a good public speaker. He stumbles over sentences, has an unnatural cadence, and that tendency to fall into a sing-songy delivery.
Most of the speech he seems to be going through the motions. He's spouting the talking points, but his heart just doesn't seem to be in it. But there are moments when lights up. When he says that his party was sent to Washington to reform government and failed is one that stood out in particular. It was as if the real John McCain would occasionally emerge, only to be squashed by the requirements of that albatross around his neck, his own party. Sad.
His finish was far and away the best part of the speech. John McCain has a remarkable personal story of heroism, and effectively conveyed the wisdom of an older man realizing the prideful folly of youth. But alas, compelling as the tale and telling was, it was of the past. This election is about the future.
Posted by houtopia at 09:41 PM | Comments (1)
No Limit
To the depths the GOP convention will sink. A graphic 9/11 video shown at a partisan political convention? Shame.
Posted by houtopia at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)
September 03, 2008
Sarah's Night
Well, night three of the Republican National Convention is a wrap. We didn't see all of it (just Rudy and Palin), but a few thoughts on them:
Rudy. "America's Mayor" stuck to what he's good at -- attacking. Rudy knows how to deliver stinging blows; you will recall that he is less good at receiving them, but that didn't matter tonight. He humorously mocked Obama from start to finish, which was gobbled up by the rabid delegate audience. The persistent cackle after lines tipped Rudy just a touch toward the crazy old man caricature, in our view, but who knows how others saw it.
Giuliani also repeated the essential talking points about McCain's biography and commitment to public service. But in the end, we waited for Rudy's uncontrollable self-obsession to shine through, and he did not disappoint. Yes, instead of being a team player and staying on schedule to benefit the evening's actual headliner, the ever-operatic Giuliani fell in love all over again with his own dulcit tones, eschewed his supporting role and gave us the uncut version of his lengthy aria. The result? Rudy went over time, forcing the skipping of a planned introductory video on Palin, and sending her remarks past their desired start and finish time.
No matter the situation, you can always count on Rudy Giuliani to put America's Mayor first. We are downright wistful about what material he would have given us, had he been the GOP nominee.
Palin. She delivered her speech well. Despite a tendency at times to read her lines like a learning child sounding them out one at a time, Palin is a good public speaker. We were struck by the often attacking nature of her remarks, many of them also mocking of Obama. She effectively presented herself and her family as everyday Americans. She also tried, less effectively in our judgment, to sell the GOP ticket as a reform effort. (Note to Sarah and her speechwriters: railing against Washington elites gets a bit tricky when your presidential nominee is a 30-year creature of the place.)
Interesting to us in the speech, and frankly in the entire convention so far, was the overall absence of policy. Do the Republicans realize that there is a recession going on, or that people don't have health insurance? You wouldn't know it by watching their convention. In fact, looking at the delegate crowd, lustily cheering red meat social conservative rhetoric, leaves one feeling as if he's watching some kind of alternate universe. This disconnect underscores for us the GOP's central political challenge in the near (and perhaps longer) term -- the Republican Party base simply isn't in sync with the larger public.
John McCain has a big hurdle tomorrow night. He must begin to show he understands the real economic pain Americans are feeling, and that he has a concrete plan to improve things. And the standard Republican playbook of tax cuts, shrinking government, etc., isn't going to get it done. Another small piece of advice -- the whole free trade schtick we keep hearing probably doesn't play so well in economically devastated industrial states like Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Just a thought.
Posted by houtopia at 10:28 PM | Comments (3)
September 01, 2008
Palin
When John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate on Friday, many hailed it as a bold pick. Others characterized it as high risk. That characterization so far is looking like an understatement.
What is already abundantly clear is that the McCain folks did not seriously vet Palin. One only need note the deafening silence from the McCain campaign, as more and more problems are unearthed, to realize they are learning about many of these issues for the first time like everyone else. Is putting an inexperienced, unqualified, possibly deceitful person a heartbeat away from the presidency what McCain calls putting country first?
Anybody want odds on how long Palin lasts? We give her a week.
Posted by houtopia at 03:02 PM | Comments (3)