The most important two moments at the Democratic Convention, ironically, will be the speeches by Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton. That this is the case says a lot about American politics.
For the past 20 years, Presidential politics have been dominated by two families -- the Bushes on the right and the Clintons in the center. One family, thanks to the utter incompetence of the son none of them wanted to be President, is finished.
There will never again be an American President named Bush.
But the other family is still kicking. With 65-year-old Joe Biden as his running mate, Barack Obama has given the Clintons a gift. If he should lose this election, or if he proves to be a one-term President, Obama will probably cede the White House to Hillary Clinton in 2012, when she turns 65.
That, therefore, will be her last best chance. Obama knows that, she knows that, and the best politician in our time, Bill Clinton, knows that.
So, in this context, what do Hillary and Bill do in their speeches in Denver this week? They have got to have deeply mixed feelings as they speak to the loyalists, with so much at stake.
This is the most important political question hanging over the Democratic Convention. Obama's ability to bring people together will be tested, and revealed, in Denver. It all starts at home.
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Saturday, August 23, 2008
Love, Marriage, and Memory
All of my life, the common wisdom is that women are more romantic than men, but that is not necessarily my experience, personally.
In that context, today is a special day for me. It is the 16th anniversary of my second marriage. It was a hot day that August, 1992. My old friend Howard was visiting and ready to play his role for the second time as my Best Man.
We chose to play for our beloved (now retired) softball team, the Michigan Mafia, on a field off of Ocean Avenue. As I recall the day, I went 2 for 2, and when the time grew tight, indicated to Howard that we better get home and get dressed.
I walked off the field to a rousing cheer from my teammates, who knew exactly what was going on.
In 1992, I was 45 years old. My new wife was 37. We'd known each other for almost a decade, but had lived together only for two years. Earlier that year, we had bought a house.
(Earlier today, when walking around my current neighborhood, I saw some plants outside a house that reminded me of how I landscaped our house back then.)
The ceremony and the party afterward probably constituted the single occasion in my lifetime when more of my friends and family members gathered in one place to honor me and my partner than any other time before or since. In that sense, it was probably the greatest night in my life.
But some very important people were absent. My three kids from my first marriage did not attend. I understood their decision then and I understand it now. But, still, it cut some of the joy out of my heart, and that often is the fate of those of us who manage to fall in love more than once in our lives.
Unfortunately, from many perspectives, that second marriage did not work out, either. Now, three more kids would suffer broken hearts as they watched their parents fight and break up.
Every child of divorce, except those who have witnessed horrible abuse and violence, harbors a secret fantasy that their folks will get back together. But marriages are like the old nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty. Once broke, you just can't put it back together again.
So, Happy Anniversary to us, and to a future where all of us understand that relationships can be celebrated for their strengths, rather than 'dissed for their weaknesses.
Meanwhile, on to the future! Perhaps there can be an Act Three?
-30-
In that context, today is a special day for me. It is the 16th anniversary of my second marriage. It was a hot day that August, 1992. My old friend Howard was visiting and ready to play his role for the second time as my Best Man.
We chose to play for our beloved (now retired) softball team, the Michigan Mafia, on a field off of Ocean Avenue. As I recall the day, I went 2 for 2, and when the time grew tight, indicated to Howard that we better get home and get dressed.
I walked off the field to a rousing cheer from my teammates, who knew exactly what was going on.
In 1992, I was 45 years old. My new wife was 37. We'd known each other for almost a decade, but had lived together only for two years. Earlier that year, we had bought a house.
(Earlier today, when walking around my current neighborhood, I saw some plants outside a house that reminded me of how I landscaped our house back then.)
The ceremony and the party afterward probably constituted the single occasion in my lifetime when more of my friends and family members gathered in one place to honor me and my partner than any other time before or since. In that sense, it was probably the greatest night in my life.
But some very important people were absent. My three kids from my first marriage did not attend. I understood their decision then and I understand it now. But, still, it cut some of the joy out of my heart, and that often is the fate of those of us who manage to fall in love more than once in our lives.
Unfortunately, from many perspectives, that second marriage did not work out, either. Now, three more kids would suffer broken hearts as they watched their parents fight and break up.
Every child of divorce, except those who have witnessed horrible abuse and violence, harbors a secret fantasy that their folks will get back together. But marriages are like the old nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty. Once broke, you just can't put it back together again.
So, Happy Anniversary to us, and to a future where all of us understand that relationships can be celebrated for their strengths, rather than 'dissed for their weaknesses.
Meanwhile, on to the future! Perhaps there can be an Act Three?
-30-
Rising Prospects
They're off! This year's attendees to Burning Man are heading inland toward the Sierra, up and over to the high desert of Nevada.My upstairs house mate's excitement has been palpable as she packs every last nook and cranny of her VW hatchback with camping gear. When I asked her what kind of outfit she wears out there she smiled and said, "my tennis shoes." I lent her a camping chair.
This, the first morning in memory when I actually don't have to do anything or go anywhere is a rich luxury. I walked for 45 minutes around my neighborhood, ran a few errands, and watched confirmation on CNN of my choice for Vice-President.
The best gaffe of the morning was John King's slip -- "O'Biden." Made me wonder what will happen when McCain choses Romney, the Morman. "McMitt?" "McMorman?"
So be it. "Obama and O'Biden v McCain and McRomney." That has a nice ring to it. Biden is, of course, exactly the right fit. He's Catholic, pro-union, popular with the white working class and minorities. He's blunt, tough, and probably the most knowledgeable U.S. Senator on foreign affairs.
He also is outspoken and given to gaffes, which is fine; it makes him more entertaining. (Maybe Lil' Bush can morph into Lil' O'Biden.) Everybody respects him and he's a great debater.
The GOP will get about a minute's worth of play that this means Obama is admitting he is weak in foreign affairs. And...? If so, he ain't weak any more. That dog don't hunt.
Except for Hillary, Biden is probably the next best candidate to address O'Bama's weakness among white working class men. I'd anticipate a building movement among Democrats of all types to gather behind the ticket, now there is one.
After the upcoming convention, Obama/Biden will hole about a 6-9 point lead in the polls. McCain should get a bump from his convention the following week. Then, the undecideds, which number as high as 15% in some polls, will begin to divide out behind these candidates, save for a slender slice that will go to Nader, Barr or Paul.
I do not think these marginal candidates will be a factor, but if they are, it will play to McCain's detriment this cycle, since both of the Libertarians are fairly compelling and Paul is a money machine.
Nader is over the hill. Progressives don't even like him any more.
It is going to be a very close election. At Predictify, hundreds of Predictifiers are voting on their best guess of the final electoral vote spread. Last I checked, it was Obama by 17, which translates into 278-261. Predictify's member base does not skew liberal, BTW, but Libertarian, so that is not a data point that the McCain camp can relish.
Also, a very important point, the questions we pose there are deterministic. Therefore, people don't vote with their hearts but with their brains, competing to marshal the strongest logic behind their choices, in order to rise in the ranks and also to make money.
I'll be floating the electoral spread question many times this fall in order to watch how, and if, this crowd's prediction changes.
-30-
Friday, August 22, 2008
It's Obama-Biden
The Democratic ticket will be announced tomorrow, but my conclusion from all available sources tonight is that Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware will be Obama's choice. For months, he's been the one I expected Obama to choose, so I applaud Obama's decision even before it becomes public.
I'll turn my attention to McCain's choice presently. As with this prediction tonight, I expect to be able to identify, with a high degree of accuracy, McCain's choice before (s)he is announced also.
Stay tuned.
I'll turn my attention to McCain's choice presently. As with this prediction tonight, I expect to be able to identify, with a high degree of accuracy, McCain's choice before (s)he is announced also.
Stay tuned.
Do Writers Matter?
Someday, if I live long enough and still can access a high enough proportion of my faculties, I'll write about my life as a writer in a society that doesn't know what it thinks about its writers. My years in the private sector have taught me that one of the rarest creatures to ever penetrate the upper management in any company is a writer.
Of course, my presence in those layers in a number of companies is not in any way related to my writing. Most of my bosses and senior colleagues have never even read what I've written. Rather, it's about my math side, which is also my strategic side.
I love helping build companies, profit or non-profit. Maybe this my pragmatic self, the part that is instinctively conservative fiscally. The other side of me is more out of control -- the Imaginator -- to coin an adjective that George W. Bush would bless.
It is confusing when a reader accuses me of a political bias, as my cousin Dan does repeatedly It is confusing because I am not aware of writing from any particular political bias. Rather, I write the truth as I see it.
Of course, I'm aware that Marx defined radical as getting to the root of things. And I've spent a journalistic lifetime trying to get to the root of things. Dan claims that Americans would never elect a "liberal," but who is he talking about. Putting on my progressive hat, I would be hard-pressed to label Obama a liberal.
He's a centrist.
It's as if a leftists labeled McCain a conservative. He's no more a true conservative than Obama is a true liberal, at least in the ways those who hate those labels view them.
Both candidates for President are mainstream centrists, both in words and action. Personally, I would favor a more radical candidate. I liked Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee on the GOP side, as anyone paying attention knows.
There isn't a true radical on the Democratic side, unless you count Dennis Kuscinish, who in my view is a nutcase. Ralph Nader? Give me a break. We have no true progressive candidates in the current political scene.
So we are stuck with choices from center to the far right. That's it. I simply support the guy truest to our national center and that is Obama. I also like McCain, but his hypocritical flipflops on issues have alienated me this year.
Most voters, I am quite sure, will agree with me when it comes to casting their ballot. That's why I will stick with my prediction that Obama will be the next President of the U.S.
Of course, my presence in those layers in a number of companies is not in any way related to my writing. Most of my bosses and senior colleagues have never even read what I've written. Rather, it's about my math side, which is also my strategic side.
I love helping build companies, profit or non-profit. Maybe this my pragmatic self, the part that is instinctively conservative fiscally. The other side of me is more out of control -- the Imaginator -- to coin an adjective that George W. Bush would bless.
It is confusing when a reader accuses me of a political bias, as my cousin Dan does repeatedly It is confusing because I am not aware of writing from any particular political bias. Rather, I write the truth as I see it.
Of course, I'm aware that Marx defined radical as getting to the root of things. And I've spent a journalistic lifetime trying to get to the root of things. Dan claims that Americans would never elect a "liberal," but who is he talking about. Putting on my progressive hat, I would be hard-pressed to label Obama a liberal.
He's a centrist.
It's as if a leftists labeled McCain a conservative. He's no more a true conservative than Obama is a true liberal, at least in the ways those who hate those labels view them.
Both candidates for President are mainstream centrists, both in words and action. Personally, I would favor a more radical candidate. I liked Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee on the GOP side, as anyone paying attention knows.
There isn't a true radical on the Democratic side, unless you count Dennis Kuscinish, who in my view is a nutcase. Ralph Nader? Give me a break. We have no true progressive candidates in the current political scene.
So we are stuck with choices from center to the far right. That's it. I simply support the guy truest to our national center and that is Obama. I also like McCain, but his hypocritical flipflops on issues have alienated me this year.
Most voters, I am quite sure, will agree with me when it comes to casting their ballot. That's why I will stick with my prediction that Obama will be the next President of the U.S.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Politics as a Blood Sport
So, here's the deal. Everybody knows what happened to Adlai Stevenson, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, John Kerry, and other Democrats who choose to remain above the fray. Street-fighting Republicans laid them low.
The polls right now indicate that Obama and McCain are essentially tied in the polls. By all rights, however, Obama should be ahead. He is not, and that is largely due to the relentless GOP attack machine that has been spurting crap all summer. I hope this smear campaign has delivered a wakeup call to the junior senator from Illinois. If not, his fate will be that of the pacifists listed above.
Americans do not want weak men, or those they perceive as weak, as head of state. They want street fighters, which is an indication of what a primitive nation this remains. In that context, to his credit, Obama has just now started to fight back against the GOP's smear tactics, and that is a very good thing for America.
I'm not a political consultant, but if I were, I'd advise my clients to fight fire with fire, and then, when our opponent was distracted, drop a PR nuclear bomb on him. I am exceptionally pleased to see the professorial Obama beginning to transform into a street fighter against McCain.
All summer, we've been forced to endure untrue racist/religious/hate-filled attacks against this moderate Christian Senator Obama from a Republican Party that has no positive message for voters -- so it has chosen to resort to gutter tactics.
When it comes to a street fight, personally I'd choose Obama's Chicago brothers, know what I mean?
McCain is so rich he doesn't even know how many houses he owns (7). His infidelities are so numerous that only due to the restraint of Democrats, has he avoided major embarrassments so far. Anybody remember the Keating S&L scandal? McCain's personal corruption is so vast that it would make Spiro Agnew blush.
On and on it goes. My advice, albeit unsolicited, to Obama is to take this dude straight on down at the level that he has chosen to fight you at. Confront him on the issue that you can only read about here, at Hotweir, about his family's racist past as slaveholders. That will destroy him, once and for all.
Don't feel guilty. Since McCain has sunk to the gutter, go down there and give him what he deserves.
An electoral vote whipping that will send McCain and his corrupt Republican Party back to where they deserve to be -- in the rear view mirror of the 21st Century -- is what our country desperately needs. So, go for it, Obama.
-30-
The polls right now indicate that Obama and McCain are essentially tied in the polls. By all rights, however, Obama should be ahead. He is not, and that is largely due to the relentless GOP attack machine that has been spurting crap all summer. I hope this smear campaign has delivered a wakeup call to the junior senator from Illinois. If not, his fate will be that of the pacifists listed above.
Americans do not want weak men, or those they perceive as weak, as head of state. They want street fighters, which is an indication of what a primitive nation this remains. In that context, to his credit, Obama has just now started to fight back against the GOP's smear tactics, and that is a very good thing for America.
I'm not a political consultant, but if I were, I'd advise my clients to fight fire with fire, and then, when our opponent was distracted, drop a PR nuclear bomb on him. I am exceptionally pleased to see the professorial Obama beginning to transform into a street fighter against McCain.
All summer, we've been forced to endure untrue racist/religious/hate-filled attacks against this moderate Christian Senator Obama from a Republican Party that has no positive message for voters -- so it has chosen to resort to gutter tactics.
When it comes to a street fight, personally I'd choose Obama's Chicago brothers, know what I mean?
McCain is so rich he doesn't even know how many houses he owns (7). His infidelities are so numerous that only due to the restraint of Democrats, has he avoided major embarrassments so far. Anybody remember the Keating S&L scandal? McCain's personal corruption is so vast that it would make Spiro Agnew blush.
On and on it goes. My advice, albeit unsolicited, to Obama is to take this dude straight on down at the level that he has chosen to fight you at. Confront him on the issue that you can only read about here, at Hotweir, about his family's racist past as slaveholders. That will destroy him, once and for all.
Don't feel guilty. Since McCain has sunk to the gutter, go down there and give him what he deserves.
An electoral vote whipping that will send McCain and his corrupt Republican Party back to where they deserve to be -- in the rear view mirror of the 21st Century -- is what our country desperately needs. So, go for it, Obama.
-30-
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Shocking News in Veepstakes
Democratic TicketSAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 20, 2008. In a development that had been utterly unanticipated, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain jointly unveiled their presumptive running mates at an obscure online press conference today.
They've chosen each other!
That's right, in an unprecedented attempt to unify the country in a time of unparalleled challenges, the Democrats will run an Obama/McCain ticket and the Republicans will run a McCain/Obama ticket.
Republican TicketAs to the policy differences that separate the candidates, they explained that if the "Democratic Republican" ticket prevails, the U.S. will pull all troops out of Iraq in 16 months. If the "Republican Democratic" ticket wins, our troops will stay there for 100 years.
And so it goes, down the line on the issues.
The deal apparently caught both men's staffs -- not to mention their wives and their supporters -- completely off-guard. In a related development, Rev. Rick Warren announced that this creative deal was hatched backstage after he hosted the "faith debate" last Saturday night.
According to Warren, it was the question he put to both men about their "greatest moral failure" that triggered this historic development. "When the debate was over, Barack was still back in the Green Room. John walked back with me, and -- presto! -- I could sense the chemistry."
It was Obama who made the first move, said Warren.
"I really wish I hadn't tried drugs, Pastor," he blurted, voice cracking, and eyes tearing up.
The younger man's show of vulnerability caught McCain off-guard. He placed a fatherly hand on Obama's shoulder and then teared up himself. "I know h-h-how you f-feel," he stuttered. I REALLY wish I hadn't screwed around on my first wife."
At this point, Warren says, the two men began revealing a flood of indiscretions that, in the minister's mind "would make a bisexual, heroin-addict, multiple felon gang member blush."
Pressed for details, Warren demurred, noting Pastor/Parishioner confidentiality. After about an hour of this unrelenting confessional, Warren says he reached the end of his own patience. "Enough, guys!" he says he shouted. "I do not want to know this stuff."
At that point, the reality of what had just happened apparently sank in. Both Obama and McCain sank into deep depressions, realizing they had given each other more than enough ammunition to sink any chance they each had previously harbored to be the next President of the United States -- except by the grace of each other, God, and of course, Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church.
Given this set of circumstances, it is perhaps understandable that they came to a reasonable way out of their predicament.
One final detail. At their joint virtual press conference (which disallowed any questions from the press) the candidates also announced that Rick Warren will be Chief of Staff at the White House, no matter who wins, and that he will choose all Cabinet members, all Supreme Court Justices should vacancies on the court occur, all Ambassadors, as well as shouldering certain other unspecified responsibilities, including deciding who gets to sleep in which room each night.
They said his new title will be "The Decider."
In even more related news, the Saddleback Church announced that it is relocating from Southern California to the corner of 16th and Pennsylvania in Washington, D.C., at the newly renamed Saddleback White House of God. Financial details of the naming rights agreement with what was previously a government facility, albeit one deeply in debt, were not available at press time.
-30-
p.s. Check back at hotweir frequently for updates on this news exclusive...
V-P Update
I see as of this morning, Obama has not yet announced his choice. It occurred to me, at 5 a.m., that if his camp really has a surprise pick, it would be Colin Powell. Imagine that! The first all African-American ticket; a cross party ticket; and one of the most respected foreign policy experts on the ticket.
In order to compete, McCain would have to choose Lieberman. This may actually be Obama's big surprise. Maybe McCain suspects it, and therefore is floating his own radical options as a result.
It's like the cat and mouse game opposing managers play when one puts a left-handed batter in the on deck circle. The other brings in a left-handed pitcher. The first guy pulls back his lefty and sends out a right-handed hitter.
The Republican and Democratic parties are jockeying for advantage in just this fashion.
In other words...no Powell, no Lieberman.
-30-
In order to compete, McCain would have to choose Lieberman. This may actually be Obama's big surprise. Maybe McCain suspects it, and therefore is floating his own radical options as a result.
It's like the cat and mouse game opposing managers play when one puts a left-handed batter in the on deck circle. The other brings in a left-handed pitcher. The first guy pulls back his lefty and sends out a right-handed hitter.
The Republican and Democratic parties are jockeying for advantage in just this fashion.
In other words...no Powell, no Lieberman.
-30-
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
V-P's: Too Much Hype?
There's little if any evidence historically to indicate that the choice of a running mate has much impact on Presidential elections. Months ago, as I thought about a logical choice for Obama, I settled on Sen. Joseph Biden, a respected foreign policy expert.
For McCain, I thought that a social conservative would be his logical choice, somebody younger and far to his right.
But, the campaign organizations for both candidates have chosen to drag out the process of identifying their V-P choices, apparently in the hope of achieving maximum media impact.
As the date for Obama approaches (reportedly tomorrow morning) the "balloon" candidates being floated by insiders are Biden, Sen. Evan Bayh (Indiana), or Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. The latter two hail from swing states.
Yet, since modern political campaigns are much more about media coverage and hype than substance, the Obama camp seems to be hinting that a "surprise" is in order. Ralph Nader, the perennial spoiler candidate, has opined that Hillary Clinton is going to be Obama's running mate.
I don't think so. Several of the political insiders I respect the most have suggested to me that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will be his choice. I suppose the logic there is not only to go after another swing state but to get a woman on the ticket, albeit not Hillary.
Nader, trying to play the pragmatist, thinks Obama needs Clinton's supporters to win the election, and there are plenty of poll results to support his POV. But, Obama has already given not only Hillary, but Bill Clinton, major rolls at the convention, and my strong sense is that that is as far as he is willing to go for a political couple who have already severely damaged his chances this election cycle, and continue to do so, almost daily.
So, forget it Ralph. This ain't 1960, and Hillary is no LBJ. Not only that, Obama is no JFK.
I'm sticking with Biden. He's older, respected, "safe." And that is the main criteria for a V-P.
***
McCain's choice is another matter.
Who are his people floating? Lieberman and Ridge! Wow -- I can't believe McCain would choose a pro-choice running mate, but those guys are leading the speculative pack at this juncture, according to informed insiders.
I think what McCain is doing here is trying to gauge how much damage either man would do to his shaky relationship with evangelicals. Initial reports suggest they would create major damage.
The GOP is also floating these names this week, trying to steal some of the Democrats' thunder as their choice finally becomes public and their convention gets under way.
As the presider (a Bushism) over the second convention, McCain has the relative luxury of holding his cards until Obama reveals his choice. Therefore, my guess is that McCain will recalibrate his search between now and the day the Democratic Convention ends.
His forces promise a "surprise," just like Obama's. Certainly Independent Lieberman would be a shocker; after all he was Al Gore' running mate in 2000, when the Democrats won the popular vote, and the Supreme Court had to step in to decide which party had won the electoral majority.
In the end, I think McCain also will choose a safer V-P candidate, which means a younger, conservative Christian, pro-life running mate from some state that no one thinks he has an ice cube's chance in hell of winning...someone like, say, Rev. Rick Warren of California!
You read it here first.
-30-
For McCain, I thought that a social conservative would be his logical choice, somebody younger and far to his right.
But, the campaign organizations for both candidates have chosen to drag out the process of identifying their V-P choices, apparently in the hope of achieving maximum media impact.
As the date for Obama approaches (reportedly tomorrow morning) the "balloon" candidates being floated by insiders are Biden, Sen. Evan Bayh (Indiana), or Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. The latter two hail from swing states.
Yet, since modern political campaigns are much more about media coverage and hype than substance, the Obama camp seems to be hinting that a "surprise" is in order. Ralph Nader, the perennial spoiler candidate, has opined that Hillary Clinton is going to be Obama's running mate.
I don't think so. Several of the political insiders I respect the most have suggested to me that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will be his choice. I suppose the logic there is not only to go after another swing state but to get a woman on the ticket, albeit not Hillary.
Nader, trying to play the pragmatist, thinks Obama needs Clinton's supporters to win the election, and there are plenty of poll results to support his POV. But, Obama has already given not only Hillary, but Bill Clinton, major rolls at the convention, and my strong sense is that that is as far as he is willing to go for a political couple who have already severely damaged his chances this election cycle, and continue to do so, almost daily.
So, forget it Ralph. This ain't 1960, and Hillary is no LBJ. Not only that, Obama is no JFK.
I'm sticking with Biden. He's older, respected, "safe." And that is the main criteria for a V-P.
***
McCain's choice is another matter.
Who are his people floating? Lieberman and Ridge! Wow -- I can't believe McCain would choose a pro-choice running mate, but those guys are leading the speculative pack at this juncture, according to informed insiders.
I think what McCain is doing here is trying to gauge how much damage either man would do to his shaky relationship with evangelicals. Initial reports suggest they would create major damage.
The GOP is also floating these names this week, trying to steal some of the Democrats' thunder as their choice finally becomes public and their convention gets under way.
As the presider (a Bushism) over the second convention, McCain has the relative luxury of holding his cards until Obama reveals his choice. Therefore, my guess is that McCain will recalibrate his search between now and the day the Democratic Convention ends.
His forces promise a "surprise," just like Obama's. Certainly Independent Lieberman would be a shocker; after all he was Al Gore' running mate in 2000, when the Democrats won the popular vote, and the Supreme Court had to step in to decide which party had won the electoral majority.
In the end, I think McCain also will choose a safer V-P candidate, which means a younger, conservative Christian, pro-life running mate from some state that no one thinks he has an ice cube's chance in hell of winning...someone like, say, Rev. Rick Warren of California!
You read it here first.
-30-
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday Barbecue
As I sat in my backyard, slow-grilling chicken, I noticed a dove near the back fence. She was rooting around in the chard and apparently had not yet seen me. Maybe I'd dozed off; in any event I hadn't moved in quite a while.
The smoke from the chicken held traces of lemon, garlic, other herbs, "tequila lime" and the other components of the marinade I'd rubbed into it. Nobody had arrived yet. So it was just me. A large blue and white bird flew into the plum tree, which has long since dropped its fruit (much of which made it into my plum jam collection), and conducted surveillance on the nearby apple tree.
Once he'd spied the individual fruit he wanted, he disappeared into the heavy foilage and put his beak to work.
I looked back where the dove had been and spotted a young sunflower stalk waving back and forth in the breeze. It was quite a breezy day, so apples were falling on the basketball court -- plop, plop, pop.
Overhead the sky was its bluest blue. To the west, a creamy layer of thick fog was making its daily advance. By the time my guests would arrive, it would an indoor dinner party for sure.
My young neighbor came out on her porch for a smoke. She was wearing black slippers, very short red-plaid shorts, and a white halter top. She crossed her bare legs, coughed, and blew smoke rings into the air.
Next door, an older man who's been friendly to the kids was raking his lawn, gathering leaves of a dozen variety of trees from neighboring yards. In the far corner of the yard next to his, a sprout of blackberries had pushed over my fence, hanging there seductively.
Two yards down in the other direction, a woman's loud voice pierced the still. No other voice was audible. Cellphones.
A while later, everyone had disappeared and I was alone, blessedly so, again. These moments are among my favorite, when anticipation hangs in the air, along with the rich smoky scent of home-cooked chicken.
-30-
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Round One to McCain
In their "faith debate" last night, both candidates performed well, but the senior senator from Arizona seemed relaxed, direct, succinct, and sincere. He also was funny at times. The junior senator from Illinois seemed a bit aloof, stiff, and political in the sense he was parsing words, wary of offending anyone.
The much-anticipated "handshake" moment showed both men are gracious with each other, particularly Obama, who clapped as McCain was introduced, embraced him, and made a supportive comment before leaving the stage.
Overall, this didn't help or hurt either candidate, in my view, but McCain had the most to lose and I think he avoided that fate.
The much-anticipated "handshake" moment showed both men are gracious with each other, particularly Obama, who clapped as McCain was introduced, embraced him, and made a supportive comment before leaving the stage.
Overall, this didn't help or hurt either candidate, in my view, but McCain had the most to lose and I think he avoided that fate.
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