tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74665970195048169222011-11-27T18:32:55.057-05:00Syracuse, Albany, Anywhere: Genuine. Honest. Commentary.Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.comBlogger2041100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-2717439331093251782011-10-04T22:16:00.002-04:002011-10-04T22:17:01.653-04:00

Since my Dad died in January 2007, I’ve gone through what I figure are normal cycles of remembering him and missing him. Not that I don’t always remember and miss him – of course I do.  Most of the time, he’s tucked safely away in my heart; but occasionally I feel he’s sitting right next to me, walking along side of me, or looking over my shoulder. It’s happened twice in the last week, and both

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-85624448302361354102011-09-13T22:39:00.000-04:002011-09-13T22:39:14.764-04:00

Every Monday, my hometown newspaper, Syracuse’s The Post-Standard, publishes a listing of judgments and bankruptcies.  Like many people, I read these with a combination of curiosity (anyone I know?) and discomfort (no joy in someone else’s misfortune). This week, of the 97 judgments listed, 31 were filed by local hospitals or physicians, totaling over $371,000. Throw in a judgment satisfaction

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-18024958896591707382011-09-11T17:32:00.000-04:002011-09-11T17:32:28.901-04:00

Two years ago, on the eve of the eighth anniversary, I proposed that we ‘return’ 9/11 to America, and to Americans. I thought then that we should consider moving on – not that we should forget, because there’s no way that will happen – but that we allow the day to have all of the myriad emotions, circumstances and possibilities that all other days are afforded, including happy ones. At the time

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-52882632634971562562011-09-09T22:22:00.000-04:002011-09-09T22:22:00.321-04:00

I don't want another standoff Boehner doesn't need another cry, no We’ve already learned the hard way America says hello, oh no, goodbye Got no money in their pocket Jobs aren’t falling from the sky It's the way I see things How to fix this mess It’s bipartisan motion It’s the path, the best It's that pivotal moment It's, ah, possible This bill, this bill (must pass it!) This bill, this bill

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-7969567092717042052011-09-06T21:48:00.000-04:002011-09-06T21:48:44.755-04:00

The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll is out, and the results are (not surprisingly) ugly.   President Obama is not doing a good job as president (51% disapprove), or handling the economy (59% disapprove). On foreign policy (45% disapprove) and Libya (38% disapprove) he's doing a little better.  On the 'Kumbaya' question - the one that asks how the respondent 'feels' about the person or

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-85592000267892009402011-07-21T10:03:00.000-04:002011-07-21T10:03:33.372-04:00

The other day I answered the phone to hear a recorded voice telling me Dick Morris had an important message for conservatives like me. I stayed on the line and listened to the former Clinton advisor-turned-hater babbling about his new book, about the scourge of the socialist Obama presidency, and about how loyal Conservatives like me can get involved in driving POTUS out of the White House in

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-41300589719048034732011-07-12T21:15:00.000-04:002011-07-12T21:15:46.257-04:00

When is a plan not a plan?  When it comes from Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).  His idea, a 'plan B' for solving our debt problem, offers zero compromise and zero leadership.  Here's how the plan works: Both houses of Congress must pass (and Obama must sign) a bill allowing the debt ceiling to be raised on an installment basis.  Then Obama immediately requests a $700B increase in the debt

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-34861532901756665422011-07-11T21:38:00.000-04:002011-07-11T21:38:35.446-04:00

When I listen to John Boehner these days, I’m reminded of a dinner table conversation from when I was a kid.  My brothers and I, at times, were not always interested in eating everything that my mother had cooked for dinner.  Don't get me wrong, Mom was a good cook, but sometimes what she made was not anything that got us excited.  When we were fidgeting at the table, pushing food around our

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-26102476546736644302011-07-02T21:24:00.000-04:002011-07-02T21:24:47.820-04:00

Rumor has it that Dominique Strauss-Kahn was a notorious womanizer, even if in his most celebrated incident it turns out he’s guilty only of marital infidelity and extreme stupidity.  A number of reports came to light when he was arrested for the hotel maid incident suggesting that he had been aggressive towards women for years, but that didn't seem to have any impact on his success.  We don't

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-68857691579895899062011-07-01T22:41:00.000-04:002011-07-01T22:41:11.620-04:00

 Getty Images We sit here now, watching as the sexual assault case against former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn falls apart, as his life has fallen apart since that infamous night at the luxury New York Sofitel.  From the time this came to light, since he was removed from his plane moments before takeoff, the perp walk, the suicide watch at Rikers, and then finally the house arrest with

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-74733360181804919462011-06-28T22:04:00.000-04:002011-06-28T22:04:12.851-04:00

In Monday’s decision striking down the California law preventing sales of violent video games to minors, the Supreme Court worked hard to make sure we understood the difference between pornography, which is not protected speech, and violence, which is protected speech. In case it’s confusing to you, as it is to me, here are some clarifying points, courtesy of Justice Scalia’s majority opinion."

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-10226603112216801322011-06-27T22:15:00.000-04:002011-06-27T22:15:20.741-04:00

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul’s comments last week during a committee hearing on Primary Health and Aging brought controversy to something that would typically have flown under the radar. The hearing including panelists who related stories from senior citizens who often struggle to make ends meet and don’t always get enough of the right nutrition; speakers also encouraged additional spending on 

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-4972409108134035362011-06-26T09:46:00.000-04:002011-06-26T09:46:44.387-04:00

Not surprisingly there've been many quotable moments leading up to and since the NY Senate voted 33 - 29 to allow same-sex marriage and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill Friday night.  Here's a sampling: "I just probably committed political suicide." Republican Senator Mark Grisanti to a Buffalo News reporter after the vote. Grisanti, a lawyer and a Catholic, also noted that he could find

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-18602860656609696582011-06-18T17:00:00.001-04:002011-06-18T17:00:03.373-04:00

Not everything Governor Palin had to handle was critical business. For example, here's an exchange on health and wellness, from November 20007:If someone could pick up some fresh fruitand the girls say the sunbed should go up in the cedar closet If you can squeeze it up there.  Listen for an elliptical thingy if you can. That’s easier on my knees than treadmill. And any old weights.  And there's

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-4305406702897026752011-06-17T21:59:00.000-04:002011-06-17T21:59:12.642-04:00

Earlier this afternoon, I was sitting in the gazebo in the back garden, being entertained by a woodpecker hammering away on a locust tree a couple of yards up the street and by a houseful of baby wrens about twenty feet away from the gazebo.  When they’re awake, they keep up a constant chirping which turns into quite a clamor when their mom or dad comes by with food.  When I first went out to the

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-38554088076383572862011-06-12T21:43:00.000-04:002011-06-12T21:43:36.450-04:00

In case you didn't know, emails from Sarah Palin's aborted governorship of Alaska were released, long after they were requested when she was John McCain's running mate.  Thoughtfully, the New York Times has posted the entire set on their website, and offered readers the chance to review and flag anything we found interesting.  What I found interesting right off the bat was that the governor had

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-9000464792604416772011-05-15T21:57:00.000-04:002011-05-15T21:57:50.768-04:00

This morning’s Syracuse Post-Standard brought yet another article about the Jordan Elbridge School District. The articles have been coming for the past several months, going back to last fall; each is more eyebrow-raising than the rest, and unfortunately none of them are about the good things that happen there. JE (my alma mater) has been under a microscope for a host of reasons, including the

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-77561557863104826972011-05-02T08:17:00.000-04:002011-05-02T08:17:19.239-04:00

Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice. We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-22855874755677784142011-04-30T00:28:00.000-04:002011-04-30T00:28:29.626-04:00

No matter what I read on the subject of the release of President Obama’s long-form birth certificate, whether from the left or the right, the feeling I’m left with is sadness. Back when Barack Obama was merely a candidate, and the question of where he was born first came up, I thought it was silly and ridiculous; that someone would even try to run for president who wasn't eligible was

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-78109325911291373052011-04-26T22:28:00.000-04:002011-04-26T22:28:26.482-04:00

According to a recent New York Times /CBS News poll, we’re miserable, and it’s not the weather that’s got us down.  Americans are more pessimistic than we’ve been practically since the beginning of the Obama administration, and that pessimism is widespread. Here's a sampling: 75% disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job 70% think we’re heading in the wrong direction 57% disapprove of how

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-69800944087057630302011-04-24T22:02:00.000-04:002011-04-24T22:02:29.403-04:00

We’re back from spring break, and right back into the fray we go. Lots of talk about his Hairness, Donald Trump, today. There was some other good stuff today too, but we'll get to that another time. First up, on NBC’s Meet the Press, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), was asked by David Gregory whether Trump was someone McCain could support. McCain answered: “As you know, I’m staying out of it. I

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-55978637110871906342011-04-17T17:09:00.000-04:002011-04-17T17:09:16.523-04:00

Today's lesson of Sunday School has been postponed so that we may bring you the following special presentation: the 2011 Dirty Snowpile Awards. The DSA were presented for the first time last year, and included a mostly New York State focus.  This year, snow was prevalent in many areas outside the Empire State, and where you have snow, you will always have dirty snow. Without further ado, the

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-21888980201847045722011-04-10T21:39:00.000-04:002011-04-10T21:39:25.522-04:00

Long sessions provide ample opportunity for verse. Here's a smattering. I just – I’ve got to say that people watching this,  they’ve got to be scratching their heads. I sure am. ~Mark Udall (D-CO) I rise here today to speak about the crisis we have and I guess I ask my Republican colleagues, don’t shut down the government. ~Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Relying this weekend on people coming

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-10863615180168086972011-04-03T11:14:00.000-04:002011-04-03T11:14:35.206-04:00

By now pretty much everyone has heard that corporate giant GE paid no federal taxes on their $5.1 billion in US profits (about 36% of their $14.2B world-wide profit), and I think even the most jaded of us had to be at least a little shocked when the story appeared in the NY Times last month.  How did GE do it?  Well, based on the article, it's a combination of aggressive lobbying; brilliant

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-10596552567295559002011-03-28T21:29:00.000-04:002011-03-28T21:29:21.944-04:00

There was a lot more in the speech, but here's what he meant: Pretty darn quickly, we got a lot accomplished. To summarize, then: in just one month, the United States has worked with our international partners to mobilize a broad coalition, secure an international mandate to protect civilians, stop an advancing army, prevent a massacre, and establish a No Fly Zone with our allies and partners

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-44229110957474964012011-03-27T18:06:00.000-04:002011-03-27T18:06:18.418-04:00

I was working on another post when I came across a reference to Rediscovering God in America, a book, movie and theme park (OK, I made up the theme park part) from the Newt Gingrich camp and their friends at Citizens United. Historian Gingrich (as opposed to Likely 2012 Candidate Gingrich) went on a mission to educate folks on the real role that religion has played in throughout our history,

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-90555599425428705502011-03-23T09:01:00.002-04:002011-03-23T09:01:00.981-04:00

A year ago, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, ending a tumultuous period of debate in Congress, in our living rooms and in town hall meetings across America. The signing of the law and last November's elections have led to a repeal vote, defunding amendments, failed budget bills that make it illegal to implement any part of the ACA, a handful of court

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-25526137644851450772011-03-22T14:00:00.002-04:002011-03-22T14:00:01.358-04:00

On nuclear reaction:  In the Sunday School post from March 13th, I expressed hopes that as we looked at possibly increasing America’s use of nuclear power, we’d be smart enough not to put nuke plants on fault lines or in low-lying coastal areas, where the risk of the kind of damage that Japan is experiencing could be high.  Since that time, I’ve heard that New York’s Indian Point plant is in fact

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-34953372261281233952011-03-21T15:54:00.001-04:002011-03-21T15:54:00.249-04:00

Now that we’ve got the Sweet Sixteen all settled, and I’ve studied what remains of my bracket (thanks, Big East), I’ve got time to think about Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s comments on graduation rates and tournament participation. In recent interviews and op-ed pieces, Duncan has offered support for the Knight Commission’s recommendations that schools projected to graduate less than 50% of

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-18815541663728683262011-03-20T22:06:00.002-04:002011-03-20T22:06:00.430-04:00

On Fox News Sunday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen notes that the no-fly zone over Libya was  implemented successfully. “We’ve had a very significant impact very early in establishing this no-fly zone,” Mullen said; he wouldn’t say whether Gadhafi would be removed from power, but he did refer to the ‘limited’ mission.    On This Week with Christiane Amanpour (ABC), Gadhafi’s son referred to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-43239944818882524122011-03-19T13:18:00.000-04:002011-03-19T13:18:36.164-04:00

There’s been a lot of talk about civility in our political discourse, certainly since Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot back in January at a public rally. Folks famous and not have commented on how mean we are to each other, or how mean our political symbols are, and how there’s all this bullying going on. I’ve posted on it myself – and it’s not just political speech, it’s pretty much any article

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-30516569658026832722011-03-13T17:21:00.000-04:002011-03-13T17:21:20.958-04:00

Most of the shows had segments on the evolving situation in Japan, with a focus on the nuclear reactors losing power and possibly facing meltdowns, the expanding evacuation zone (now officially twelve or 13 miles but maybe as many as 50 miles according to some reporters there), and what it means for any expansion of nuclear facilities here. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke with Chuck Todd on

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-51863389310243435682011-03-06T22:00:00.013-05:002011-03-06T22:00:00.844-05:00

On Fox News Sunday, the daughter of the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church (who is also the lawyer who successfully argued their First Amendment case), told Chris Wallace that we could call her church a cult or anything else we wanted to, as long as we talked about them.  In a fun exchange, she advised that she has ‘no objective indicator otherwise’ that the Supreme Court Justices - all nine

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-13432177209506099952011-02-27T18:03:00.000-05:002011-02-27T18:03:37.127-05:00

Here's how the press is covering the scene in Madison, where Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker continues to refuse to negotiate with unions on collective bargaining rights, where Senate Democrats continue to hang out in Illinois and where thousands of protesters, including famous folks like native son Bradley Whitford (notable for The West Wing) and Peter of Peter, Paul and Mary, continue to fight

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-59452239716275769402011-02-23T21:39:00.000-05:002011-02-23T21:39:43.736-05:00

I initially found myself a little conflicted on the whole Wisconsin union thing. At first it sort of made sense to me that union members should not be immune to the financial issues the rest of us are dealing with. In fact, tonight at dinner, a friend spoke of being a bit ambivalent, of wanting to see government workers sacrifice as the rest of us have.  I confess I’m not a union member, and for

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-8975617132389425462011-02-20T17:34:00.000-05:002011-02-20T17:34:28.439-05:00

How did Scott Walker get elected? Wisconsin’s previous governor, Dem Jim Doyle, did not seek re-election; Walker ran against former US Representative Tom Barrett, and won by a margin of 52-47%. Not surprisingly, the categories where he had a significant margin over Barrett are the ones you would expect a Rep to win: males, (including men with children); people making at least $50K; folks without

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-59686085897381811442011-02-20T17:33:00.000-05:002011-02-20T17:33:57.728-05:00

While there continue to be protests for and celebrations of freedom around the world,  we’re undergoing our own dramatic protests here at home in Madison, Wisconsin. While it’s not freedom per se that’s on the line, it is about all of the things that make democracy messy. So today’s lesson is on badgering unions in the Badger State.  Here's the situation in an over-simplified nutshell. 

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-27612738694917476932011-02-19T16:53:00.000-05:002011-02-19T16:53:50.115-05:00

A friend of mine had an interesting Facebook status the other day. She questioned why our loved ones in heaven don’t give us a real sign, a slap-us-upside-the-head kind of sign, to let us know that everything’s going to be OK. Instead, we’re left with these subtle ‘maybe it’s a sign, maybe it’s really just gas’ kind of things that we struggle to interpret. I thought of that status message again

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-4314070061799675552011-02-13T19:46:00.000-05:002011-02-13T19:46:34.225-05:00

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) chatted with David Gregory on NBC’s Meet the Press. They talked about Egypt, a concern that radicals don’t end up in charge, and that he, as well as others in Washington, was surprised by what transpired over the past few weeks. On the budget, he believes the House Republicans have met the promise to cut $100 billion in their first year in charge, as promised in

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-39779214962216055482011-02-11T11:00:00.010-05:002011-02-11T11:00:07.275-05:00

When Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Regulations asked to hear from businesses regarding "existing and proposed regulations that have negatively impacted job growth”, he got quite a few responses. Requiring businesses to disclose CEO pay compared to what the typical worker is paid.   Rewarding whistleblowers for alerting the SEC about corporate fraud.   

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-30656386612160108902011-02-10T20:42:00.000-05:002011-02-10T20:42:11.259-05:00

A recent article in my local newspaper highlighted Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY), who co-sponsored a bill that seeks to allow consumers to continue purchasing incandescent light bulbs, which are to be phased out beginning next year. The phase-out comes from the Energy Independence and Security Act, passed in 2007 during the Bush administration. The bill she co-sponsored is called BULB, or Better Use

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-82333194487564560952011-02-06T20:51:00.000-05:002011-02-06T20:51:35.873-05:00

There was a lot of discussion about the situation in Egypt, as expected, but I thought there’d be a little more about Ronald Reagan, since this would have been The Great Communicator’s 100th birthday. Only NBC's Meet the Press held a little Reagan party.  Former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan (the real Great Communicator?), Willie Brown (former California politico) and James Baker (Chief of

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-82606502660529685362011-01-30T22:04:00.000-05:002011-01-30T22:04:38.461-05:00

The focus of most of the talk shows today was the evolving situation in Egypt, and the spotlight was squarely on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We’ve got excerpts from all of her appearances.  On NBC’s Meet the Press, in response to David Gregory’s question on whether Mubarak should stay in power: “I believe strongly that we are only at the beginning of what is unfolding in Egypt. I’m not

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-17526716673843305452011-01-30T08:00:00.004-05:002011-01-30T22:39:25.657-05:00

The Future. We are the nation of Google and Facebook. It's how we make a living. This is our generation's Sputnik moment. We're not just handing out money. We're issuing a challenge. I'm willing to eliminate whatever we can honestly afford to do without. But we're not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable. It may feel like you're flying high at first, but it won't take

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-51025053679421814002011-01-29T23:08:00.002-05:002011-01-30T22:40:02.054-05:00

Tucson. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that's a good thing Amid all the noise and passions and rancor. We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country we are still bound together as one people We share common hopes and a common creed; That, too, is what sets us apart as a nation. What comes of this moment is up to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-51291173538732661432011-01-23T22:17:00.000-05:002011-01-23T22:17:18.944-05:00

Earlier this month, I sent an email to Ann Marie Buerkle asking about health care reform and the planned vote to repeal.  To date, I haven't heard from her.  The House did vote to repeal PPACA, as expected, with three Dems joining the Reps.  After the vote, the House vowed to have their committees start working on coming up with some new ideas for health care reform, including many of the ideas

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-20025322836648444742011-01-23T21:10:00.000-05:002011-01-23T21:10:42.916-05:00

We’ll start with This Week on ABC.  The comment of the day comes from George Will, the baseball historian and conservative curmudgeon. Discussing  State of the Union addresses, Will noted that at times presidents have delivered their report in writing, but that “now we’ve turned this (SOTU) into this panorama in which – in an interminable speech, every president, regardless of party, tries to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-31441907029375921262011-01-19T21:35:00.000-05:002011-01-19T21:35:52.593-05:00

Not surprisingly, there was lots of talking going on today leading up to the vote to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and there's of course been plenty since then.  Here are few of the lame, the tame, and one that's truly exceptional. Mike Pence (R-IN), in response to Dem criticism that the vote was just a gimmick, said "We have another term for it on our side of

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-47575489231314731032011-01-18T09:36:00.001-05:002011-01-18T09:36:00.317-05:00

From Rasmussen Reports, seventy five percent of those surveyed want to see changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, or The Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, as it’s referred to by the Reps in the House), while only 18% want to leave it alone.  But among the ‘change it’ population, 20% say repeal it and do nothing, 28% say repeal it but keep the popular stuff, and 27% say

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-37169678853578538992011-01-16T16:31:00.002-05:002011-01-17T20:19:22.182-05:00

A collection of thoughts from gubernatorial inaugural addresses. Ohio: John Kasich Thank you, Babe. You know, my inauguration, the conductor of a great orchestra, with all of you playing an instrument in that orchestra, my inauguration is your inauguration. You know, I’m only a servant. I am only a servant, a public servant. I report to the people. I report to you, the people. And

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-76487391124190953862011-01-16T15:59:00.001-05:002011-01-17T20:19:53.001-05:00

A collection of thoughts from gubernatorial inaugural addresses. Rhode Island: Lincoln Chafee We have suffered for reasons that are all too familiar to all of us. Our present condition has not developed overnight. It has been decades in the making and it is the shared legacy of Democrats and Republicans, business and labor, liberals and conservatives. We have tolerated something that

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-88622918930044005952011-01-16T15:26:00.001-05:002011-01-17T20:20:15.810-05:00

A collection of thoughts from gubernatorial inaugural addresses: South Carolina: Nikki Haley Our state has an incredibly powerful and rich history. It is one that has not always been pleasant, but one that can teach us many great lessons. Let's see: tax protests, tea parties, the grassroots beating the professionals – it does have a certain familiar ring to it. Growing up in rural...

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-90905738736224516142011-01-12T21:59:00.000-05:002011-01-12T21:59:38.770-05:00

And before you yell at me, the title of this post references Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign mantra '"it's the economy, stupid."  As updates continue to stream in from Arizona following the shootings last Saturday, we’re hearing more about the alleged shooter, his mental issues, his family, and how he decorates his back yard. And we’re hearing at least some encouraging news on the condition of

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-4728932008483302262011-01-09T12:13:00.000-05:002011-01-09T12:13:37.161-05:00

Certainly, the talking heads will be all over the horrific shooting in Tucson yesterday, which left a federal judge, a nine-year-old child, and four others dead, and seriously injured Rep Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and several others.  Today, instead of listening to them, let's go to Sunday School with the newspapers, where we have more time to reflect on what’s being said and where we might

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-62975344724251527062011-01-08T00:05:00.000-05:002011-01-08T00:05:54.628-05:00

Dear Representative Buerkle: I’m writing you to let you know that I do not agree with your position on repealing or defunding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as PPACA, and referred to by some as the Job-Killing Health Care Law.  While I’m not thrilled with PPACA in its entirety, I do not believe that killing this bill is the right decision. I am however interested

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-82781132466585126192011-01-04T21:25:00.000-05:002011-01-04T21:25:09.722-05:00

I work for a regional BlueCross BlueShield Plan in Central New York. The CEO of my company has been in the business for a long time. He makes lots of money. He has a lot of contacts in the health insurance and medical arenas. Heck, he’s been to the White House and met with President Obama. If I were to try and think of someone well-prepared to navigate the American health care system, he’d be

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-91792865234332138162011-01-04T14:30:00.003-05:002011-01-04T14:30:01.040-05:00

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio presented a paper back in November that concluded that kids who are overly engaged in social networking are also likely to be overly engaged in certain bad behaviors, including sex, drinking, smoking, and fighting. More of the ‘hyper-texters’ who send at least 120 text messages a day, or ‘hyper-netowrkers’ who spend at least three hours daily

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-82163278427923500082011-01-02T20:25:00.000-05:002011-01-02T20:25:47.985-05:00

A mixed bag (three Reps and two Dems) appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation this morning. On Republican unity, Michele Bachmann (R-MN) indicated the Reps are fairly unified even if they won’t agree on everything. Speaking on bipartisanship, NY Dem Anthony Weiner indicated that it's a means, not an end – legislation has to meet the values of his constituents, not just be bipartisan for the sake of it.

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-60889812634139324652011-01-01T22:10:00.002-05:002011-01-01T22:13:07.861-05:00

Albany Times Union photo Governor Andrew Cuomo gave his inaugural address today at the Capitol, and announced his plan to rebuild New York.  In his speech, he thanked those who helped him get elected; he thanked those who were elected along with him; he thanked those who came before, including his dad former Governor Mario Cuomo and our Accidental Governor David Paterson; and he thanked those

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-46664823387554279152010-12-31T17:03:00.002-05:002010-12-31T17:06:19.673-05:00

Janus The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is frequently attributed to the ancient Romans or Babylonians. According to some, it has to with Janus, the two-faced king who could look both to the future and to the past, and folks wanting to curry his favor or to start the year out on the right foot. These days, we don’t so much seek favor from the gods, but tend more to commit to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-28256034910696187432010-12-27T16:30:00.001-05:002010-12-27T16:30:00.170-05:00

According to recent surveys by Rasmussen Reports, (all of which can be found here) 83% of those surveyed believe that credit cards tempt folks to buy things they can’t afford. Of people who have at least one credit card, 36% think they personally need to cut back on spending, 58% think they don’t, and 81% think that everyone needs to cut back. In a showing of economic strength, 65% of credit card

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-75218565942335281912010-12-26T18:11:00.000-05:002010-12-26T18:11:12.821-05:00

On CNN’s State of the Union, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs advised us that POTUS has not had a smoke in about nine months, and that since the election the Reps have learned that they can no longer sit around saying “no” but now they have to participate in governing, which is why the Lame Duck session was so productive. Over at NBC's Meet the Press, senior White House advisor Valerie Jarrett

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-78651920042519856002010-12-16T21:03:00.000-05:002010-12-16T21:03:21.863-05:00

The day we have been expecting, but not looking forward to, has come. Today we lost our beloved Michael T, the King of Cats. Affectionately known as Mikey or MT, Michael came into My Sweet Baboo’s life back in 1996, as a little gray and white long-haired puffball. He was originally our neighbor’s cat, but spent most of the time on this side of the property line. Neighbor Bob offered the cat to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-14410503797170351082010-12-12T18:42:00.000-05:002010-12-12T18:42:14.360-05:00

Today I'm introducing a new feature: Sunday School, where I'll recap the Sunday gabfests. Let's get to it! White House advisor David Axelrod is confident that the tax deal the president negotiated with Reps will pass when it comes up for a vote. There are still a number of complaints from House Dems, but as many Reps have said, come January the game changes as controls shifts from the left to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-50621010932492290372010-12-09T22:16:00.000-05:002010-12-09T22:16:23.104-05:00

There’s a whole lot of jibber-jabber about the plan to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for everyone across the income spectrum, tinker with the death/estate tax, and with any luck add even longer unemployment benefits. Here’s just a sampling from Tampa Bay online, NPR, and Business Week: "If it's take it or leave it, we'll leave it," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas.   "While I have concerns with

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-12662466399090577302010-12-07T22:00:00.000-05:002010-12-07T22:00:00.018-05:00

According to Rasmussen Reports, most of us don’t have high expectations for the new Congress. In a recent survey of  likely voters, only 33% think it’s at least somewhat likely Congress will make significant spending cuts, compared to 60% who think it’s unlikely we’ll see significant reductions in government spending.  Also from Rasmussen, 41% think that the 99-week unemployment benefit period up

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-51076664057875198002010-12-05T00:11:00.000-05:002010-12-05T00:11:33.917-05:00

The race for NY’s 25th district didn’t end until three weeks after election day, and Ann Marie Buerkle has been elected by a prosciutto-thin margin.  She's announced her plans to hold firmly to her ideas but be open to the other half of her district who voted for Dan Maffei. Given that, I've got a few questions for our new Congresswoman, based on her Compact25 and published reports.You indicate

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-15282013922018872622010-11-30T21:37:00.000-05:002010-11-30T21:37:43.033-05:00

Returning well-rested from an extended holiday break, I thought I'd take a moment to catch up on the news of the past few days. Let’s begin. The race for NY’s 25th House district is over, and Ann Marie Buerkle has defeated Dan Maffei. Buerkle had the support of Sarah margin of victory. Even she knows that it wasn’t so much that folks in the district were thrilled with her, but more that folks

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-83355738156036351802010-11-23T11:38:00.000-05:002010-11-23T11:38:42.339-05:00

I have no plans to protest the new TSA “you make me weep, and wanna die” pat-downs or their “you’re tearing me apart” then reassembling me scanners tomorrow. (There’s some detailed coverage of the protest here). The only flying I plan on doing is around the kitchen getting things ready for Thursday, or around my keyboard on a pre-Black Friday shopping mission.  But I don’t believe the protests

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-32133542823347957472010-11-21T20:51:00.000-05:002010-11-21T20:51:39.370-05:00

According to a recent Pew poll, Americans have some general knowledge of what’s going on in the news, but most don’t know very many specifics. For example, only 16% of know that more than half of the TARP loans have been repaid; and remarkably, only 53% of those surveyed know that unemployment is sitting at 10%.  Old folks are way smarter than young folks, getting the correct answer more often 10

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-45287874618890731132010-11-18T07:00:00.000-05:002010-11-18T07:00:03.352-05:00

I had an opportunity to chat briefly with the owner of a downtown Syracuse deli a couple of weeks ago. His place, The Bagel Shop, is one of a kind and it’s been around forever. When I worked downtown, I’d stop in at least a couple days a week; now it’s more like once a month or so, when I’m working in our satellite office a block away from the deli.  In the past couple of years, there have been

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-29227849335096918192010-11-16T21:32:00.000-05:002010-11-16T21:32:57.285-05:00

Too often, when we’re faced with challenges, it seems we get stuck on the fact that if there was an easy solution, we’d have found it already…but since we’re still facing the challenge, clearly the only solutions must be up there in the realm of rocket science, right?  Take Syracuse’s current situation, our string of violent acts going back to Halloween. Once we get past the shock – five blocks

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-27942397457116468062010-11-15T22:46:00.000-05:002010-11-15T22:46:54.124-05:00

Coming on the heels of the recent rash of shootings, Saturday’s well-attended community meeting on how to stop the violence, shots being fired at a demonstration on Sunday lamenting the recent violence – seriously, I’m not making this up – today’s newspaper brought us a report commissioned by the Syracuse Common Council about the city’s police department and possible issues of racial profiling. 

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-64849701343927893442010-11-15T07:00:00.001-05:002010-11-15T07:00:06.906-05:00

Yesterday, sitting in the gazebo in My Sweet Baboo’s garden (one of the most peaceful places I know), it was hard to comprehend that only about five blocks northwest of us, four people were shot last week while playing cards. And a couple dozen blocks northeast of us, two more teenagers were shot last Thursday. Coming on the heels of two shootings on Halloween, these incidents have really

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-25812125784228771522010-11-14T15:37:00.000-05:002010-11-14T15:37:51.969-05:00

Dateline The Netherlands:  Police and municipalities in Rotterdam and The Hague this week mailed 30,000 scratch and sniff cards that give off the pungent odor of cannabis plants to help people identify and report marijuana plantations, according to a story in the Washington Post. The campaign, sponsored in part by energy company Stedin, aims to weed out (pun intended) and put a stop to illegal

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-5394073363856222572010-11-12T20:34:00.000-05:002010-11-12T20:34:18.625-05:00

Seems like we’re going to have a voice in the formation of the Cuomo administration, which is a very good thing.  Several locals, including County Executive Joanie Mahoney, Common Council President Van Robinson, businessman and former state Republican Chair J Patrick Barrett, and economic development promoter Rob Simpson, head of CenterState C.E.O. (the organization formed when the Chamber of

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-84519748996554764292010-11-10T21:42:00.000-05:002010-11-10T21:42:58.145-05:00

A while back, I wondered why it is that we Dems seem to shoot ourselves in the foot by continuing conversations that are long past done, or by beating drums that no one’s listening to, or by in general acting poorly in some way shape or form.  At the time, the national issue was our bad reaction to Joe Wilson, the moron who yelled “You lie!” during Obama’s joint address to Congress last September

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-66742666016037136892010-11-09T20:27:00.000-05:002010-11-09T20:27:02.466-05:00

He was the silent, sophisticated type, and I worshipped him from both near and far. It was hard for me to be near him without feeling an overwhelming sense of longing. Even as a young woman, I knew he was the one for me, that I’d never find anyone more perfect than him.   Over the years, even though I tried to stay away from him, even though I knew it was wrong, there were times when I just

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-35737683964737922072010-11-05T22:07:00.000-04:002010-11-05T22:07:14.416-04:00

Here's what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) had to say about Tuesday's election results: “Over the past week, some have said it was indelicate of me to suggest that our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term in office,” Mr. McConnell says. “But the fact is, if our primary legislative goals are to repeal and replace the health

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-5092641957400906122010-11-03T21:35:00.000-04:002010-11-03T21:35:26.470-04:00

“As you heard me say last night, we are humbled by the trust that the American people have placed in us and we recognize this is a time for us to roll up our sleeves and go to work on the people’s priorities: creating jobs, cutting spending and reforming the way Congress does its business. It’s not just what the American people are demanding – it’s what they are expecting from us. And the real

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-40925963582298773332010-11-01T12:00:00.003-04:002010-11-01T12:00:00.599-04:00

Last year on Election Eve, I posted a message encouraging folks to vote.  At that time, the big race in the area was to replace North Country legislator turned Secretary of the Army John McHugh.   This year, of course, all seats at the state level are up for grabs, including Governor and Attorney General.  There are also a number of races at the local level across the state, and of course the Big

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-73290997349653542152010-10-31T21:17:00.000-04:002010-10-31T21:17:15.702-04:00

Most regular readers know that typically the only endorsement I give at election time is an endorsement of the power of voting itself.  But this year, I’m actually endorsing a candidate, Andrew Russo, in the race for NY Senate in my district.   Like most Empire Staters, I’m fed up with the nonsense that passes for ‘government’ in Albany, particularly in the Senate.  The governor’s mansion and

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-39274256743186692382010-10-29T22:28:00.001-04:002010-10-30T05:50:54.010-04:00

I was recently invited to participate in a program at work, a 'change agent' development program.  I won’t go into a lot of gory details about the program, (which I fully support) but I'II still have some confusion on what exactly it is that a change agent does. At a meeting this week, I asked the question, do we tell our fellow employees we’re here and offer assistance, or are we supposed to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-21802480768032019892010-10-26T17:05:00.000-04:002010-10-26T17:05:34.517-04:00

Our never-ending ‘news’ cycle aided and abetted Juan Williams in his desire to no longer be employed by NPR, and led to the ridiculous firings of former Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod and CNN’s Rick Sanchez, the ‘retirement’ of Helen Thomas, and the perpetual circling of countless other recitations of stupidity uttered by both the famous and the infamous, the well-known and the

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-22619306092321169752010-10-25T23:00:00.001-04:002010-10-26T17:06:01.532-04:00

Seems folks continue to be up in arms about NPR’s firing of Juan Williams. In some cases, the sense is he was fired for saying what ‘everyone’ thinks. Other folks are upset that he was fired un-nicely, instead of in some nice way. Although, If you’ve ever been fired (I was, once) there really aren’t a lot of nice ways for it to go down.  My post yesterday, which prompted a few comments from

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-10131099287640886742010-10-24T18:15:00.003-04:002010-10-26T17:06:50.926-04:00

So, Bill O’Reilly, one of the main Fox gasbags, had a hard time on ABC's The View when he announced  that Muslims attacked us on 9/11.  In the ensuing flap, two of the hosts, Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, walked off the set in a huff, but later returned.  Since then, O’Reilly has been talking about his View appearance, ostensibly looking for support, and last Monday, he got into a conversation

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-69401248006139099822010-10-21T14:00:00.001-04:002010-10-21T14:00:00.285-04:00

In a Fox News poll taken last week, we continue to disapprove of President Obama’s performance, but by a lesser percent than in September; last month his disapproval number was 52%, and now it’s down to 47%, among registered voters.  Likely voters are likely to like the President less – 52% disapprove.  Turning to Congress, both Dems (57%) and Reps (60%) are letting us down, with higher

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-22891392033994386642010-10-20T21:05:00.000-04:002010-10-20T21:05:05.734-04:00

My head is still spinning from Monday’s prime time political extravaganza, the alleged debate between the seven candidates for Governor of NY. Broadcast live from Hofstra University on TV and on NPR, it was more of a reality show or infotainment than debate. Of course, around here we never get ‘debates’, we typically get smarmy sound-bites from major party candidates only, with no air time at all

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-53678071254511578642010-10-17T21:57:00.000-04:002010-10-17T21:57:59.917-04:00

“Power mongers such as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who controls the Democratic majority in his chamber, must go. At the least, voters must send a message to Silver and his minions that New Yorkers are no longer willing to allow them to continue ruining a once great state. The best way to communicate that sentiment is to refuse to return all incumbent Democrats who control both the Assembly

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-20776239638585569002010-10-16T07:58:00.001-04:002010-10-16T07:58:00.418-04:00

My Sweet Baboo and I recently spent a week in Virginia, where we had the opportunity to visit the home of three early presidents: Jefferson (Monticello), Madison (Montpelier) and Monroe (Ashlawn-Highlands). While we enjoyed our tour of all three places, one thing really bugged me. Each of the presidents at one point owned slaves, and at each of their homes the guides, the materials, the signage

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-3738972514507828462010-10-15T06:55:00.000-04:002010-10-15T06:55:22.119-04:00

This being election season and all, or maybe that should be ‘heightened’ election season – around here they never seem to stop – I’m being bombarded with mail from the ins and the wanna-be ins from both parties.  One thing that stands out in all of the mail I’ve received is that not one piece I’ve received says “paid for by the guy who wants your vote.” And that’s my Pet Peeve of the Day. The

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-22437680804116786842010-09-29T20:39:00.000-04:002010-09-29T20:39:45.203-04:00

“…I think we don’t understand tenure.  I don’t see a need for it. I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me that I have to be hired each year. And I think as younger teachers we’re seeing a lot of things that we need. The union contract is getting in the way. I know that in the South Bronx, my kids who don’t speak English need an extra vocabulary block, They need an extra phonics block. I need

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-60864038038723262402010-09-27T22:38:00.000-04:002010-09-27T22:38:15.575-04:00

Dateline New York, NY. Rick Lazio, the Republican Party choice for Governor of New York, lost the primary two weeks ago to Carl Paladino, a western NY businessman. Lazio remained on the ballot on the Conservative line, but today ended his candidacy.  "While my heart beckons me forward, my head tells me my continued presence on the Conservative line would simply lead to the election of Andrew

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-81224238177621492692010-09-24T22:17:00.000-04:002010-09-24T22:17:20.660-04:00

We regularly hear from various agencies, reporting on aspects of the economy and the recession, depression, or ‘Obamamession’ or whatever it is we’re in. What we buy, what we spend, what we save -  are all reported on, and commented on, and are supposed to foretell the future.  What  gets me about all this is how the numbers are ‘spun’ to show we’re in horrible straits, we’re not recovering, it’s

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-70610856183700224962010-09-22T21:04:00.000-04:002010-09-22T21:04:09.206-04:00

"Regarding the policies of the current government, the governed do not consent" ... "An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many." –“The Pledge to America”, the new Republican manifesto, being rolled out tomorrow at a Virginia hardware store. “So Andrew, for the first time

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-23161843398296541212010-09-17T17:54:00.000-04:002010-09-17T17:54:45.837-04:00

The US Census Bureau released a report showing the official poverty rate in America in 2009 was 14.3%,which equates to some 43.6 million of us, compared to 39.8 million in 2008.   To put that number in perspective, it's roughly equal to the  the 2009 population of the 39 largest cities in the US: that would be everyone in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-16448778139364422072010-09-15T18:39:00.000-04:002010-09-15T18:39:04.186-04:00

(photo by Richard Drew/AP) New York's Democrats accomplished at least two good things yesterday -- the Two Amigos, Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate, are finally done. Espada, the hugely ethically challenged Dem-turned-Rep-turned-Dem who by many accounts doesn't even live in his district.  He was a key pawn in the coup perpetrated on New Yorkers by the ethically challenged Republicans in the

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-10457725801853973052010-09-13T21:44:00.000-04:002010-09-13T21:44:08.783-04:00

Over the past several weeks I've been bombarded by political phone calls, the majority of them encouraging me to vote for one of the many Dems running for Attorney General.  I say 'many Dems' because I'm really not sure how many there are, I think five, which is typical of our party.  Why not put up a whole mess o folks, spend a whole mess o money, do a whole mess of character assassination, and

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-10782235094845955822010-09-08T21:50:00.000-04:002010-09-08T21:50:53.931-04:00

Dateline Syracuse NY: Trinity Assembly of God, located in one of Syracuse’s northern suburbs, donated their collections for two weeks to purchase cleats for the players on an inner-city football team. Members of the congregation, some of whom struggle themselves to make ends meet, dug deep to help out the kids from the wrong side of the tracks. The church’s pastor shopped locally and online to

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466597019504816922.post-61022290294600001612010-09-06T20:15:00.000-04:002010-09-06T20:15:54.049-04:00

As part of the recent redecoration of the Oval Office, a new carpet was installed; the rug includes inspirational quotes the President is fond of sewn into the border. The quotes (and their attributions):  • "The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself," President Franklin D. Roosevelt  • "The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Towards Justice," Martin Luther King Jr.  • "

Sue Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02029774265525845620noreply@blogger.com0