Last night I had the damdest dream of my life, but I have attributed it to the very rich French dinner we had last evening. I started with a wonderful lobster/crab bisque soup, a great salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing, and then the best chicken crepes covered with melted gorgonzola and béchamel cheeses. As I write this my taste buds are still reeling, thus it is no wonder I had a dream last night. Surely, my cardiologist back home is twitching, because that meal is surely not on my approved menu. Enough background, on to the dream.
The election was over, and Barack Obama had been declared the winner. Immediately the main stream media NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post declared the winner ‘THE GREAT LEADER’, and predicted grand and glorious things for the country. Then President-Elect Obama, or BO, announced that he had received a mandate from the people. He failed to mention that was due to the assistance of ACORN and their questionable voter registration tactics, and that over one million illegally registered voters were included in his vote totals. ACORN was the group that received millions of dollars in earmarks from then Illinois State Senator, and later U.S. Senator Obama.
After publically accepting the will of the voters, Obama (who from now on will be referred to as TGL-The Great Leader) met with Senator Harry Reid D-NV, and Representative Nancy Pelosi D-CA to plan a world-wide tour of foreign capitals to meet and greet the various leaders prior to Inauguration. That trip would take place using both Air Force #1, and #2, which outgoing President Bush had offered as a good-will gesture. Off they went on their round the world tour with numerous plane loads of working main-stream press consuming thousands of gallons of expensive jet fuel. The fuel consumption was not an issue of concern, because increased usage would result in decreased supplies, thus increasing the per-barrel prices for TGL’s good friends and illegal campaign donors in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and China.
While sunning themselves, and enjoying the lavish hospitality of Vladimir Putin at his sea side home on the Black Sea, TGL and The Cozy Couple, Reid & Pelosi, (to be referred to in the future as TCC) hatched up the idea that it would be a great to totally convert U.S. highways and roads from driving on the right side of the road to the left side. This switch would show TGL and TCC’s great love of the European Lifestyle and way of doing things, not to mention the irony that the left side would now be the “right” side of the road. Additionally, the change would provide the opportunity to reinvigorate the American automobile industry, because it would be required by government edict to make cars with the steering wheels on the right side. All citizens with automobiles over five years in age would receive a government check of $10,000 to purchase one of the new cars that cost at least $25,000 each.
The three brain surgeons were totally gleeful thinking about the trickle down impact of their new plan. The government could provide the states with millions of dollars to install all new signs (in dual languages), and many jobs would be created to make the signs, paint the roads, and teach people to drive on the left side of the road.
Almost immediately the United Nations met and unanimously passed a resolution of their total support and admiration of this plan that indicated that the United States finally was joining their way of thinking and doing things. Additionally, upon hearing of this resolution, TGL and TCC agreed to provide amnesty for all unpaid parking tickets that UN Representatives had accumulated over the years of service in New York City. The Mayor of New York, not a Democrat, screamed like hell, because he was giving up tens of millions of dollars in potential revenue with this benevolent action.
After the Inauguration, TCC presented the necessary legislation to both Houses of Congress and it passed with 100% of the Democrats voting yes, and 100% of the Republican minority voting no. So America started driving on the left side of the road, and the immediate result was nothing short of mass slaughter. Thousands of accidents occurred on the first day and within the first month almost one-hundred thousand U.S. citizens were killed. TGL and TCC held an emergency meeting and announced that the government would immediately require free driver training for every citizen holding a drivers license. What ever it cost no one cared, because it benefited mankind. ACORN exploded, because the legislation did not include coverage for the illegal immigrants, or the illegal phantom voters who ACORN planned to charge the government for their re-training.
Key leaders of the ACLU were hospitalized with heart attacks, because they were overwhelmed with grievances from Community Organizers across the country. Immediately funeral directors were having a field day with the sudden increase in their business nation-wide, and the future business prospects appeared to be unbelievable. Unfortunately, they all suddenly made over $250,000 and thus fell into TGL’s increased tax bracket, which prevented them from hiring more people to address their growing workload.
Pork barrel dollars flowed freely from Washington, because every donor to TGL’s campaign wanted a piece of the new revenue stream. Money flowed so fast out of Washington they had to increase the size of all the U.S. Mint operations across the country.
Despite all the training and spreading of pork across the nation, business for tow trucks, ambulances, and attorneys was thriving. Hospitals were full, putting a further strain on Medicare and Medicaid, and the insurance companies were deluged with the number of claims and payouts.
The Europeans and Japanese were beside themselves with laughter because they already manufactured autos with right side drive and could easily increase production. The US manufacturers were forced to re-tool and that took a lot of time. By the time they were ready (thanks to Union interference) there was hardly a market remaining for US made cars. TGL and TCC were in a political pickle, and the entire electorate was furious. The United Nations passed another resolution praising the vision of TGL and TCC for their efforts to create a world-wide village. The U.S. Treasury was totally bankrupt, but TGL held a prime-time address to the nation to tell everyone to have HOPE, and CHANGE was coming once the citizens opened their pocket books further and sent him a check.
The main-stream media hardly mentioned this entire story, but Fox News was wall to wall with live shots from the scene of accidents across the nation. The FAA grounded all News Choppers due to the fact that mid-air collisions occurred in seven major cities. Hospital choppers had been given special air corridor clearance, because there was an increase in crashes with them, too. Chaos rained across the fruited plains.
A blue-ribbon Committee was immediately formed to recommend a corrective course of action. Appointed to this group were Senator Larry Craig R-ID, Cong. William Jefferson D.LA, Senator Ted Stevens R-AK, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse (I’ll cut his nuts off) Jackson, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Rev. Father Pflager, William Ayers, and his wife Bernadine Dohrn. This group was to travel to the left-lane driving capitals of the world with their spouses and staff with a report due to TGL within two-years. All expenses would be paid by the American taxpayers.
In the meantime, former President William Jefferson Clinton was named Roving Ambassador (without portfolio) to investigate sexual perversion in the under-developed nations. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton resigned her Senate Seat, and was appointed Ambassador to Outer Mongolia with a promise to be nominated to the Supreme Court once one of the Jurists croaks. This astute action by TGL got the Clintons out of his hair and Washington immediately.
At that point, your Commander woke up, and that was a good thing. Thank God it was only a dream, but what do you think the possibilities are of it really happening?
COMMANDER GRANGER
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
THE PARTY'S OVER
I know that this blog usually contains MY opinions. However, listed below is a very interesting article by noted constitutional scholar Linda Monk. I received it via e-mail from a good friend. I feel it is so significant just a few days before the election that I am posting it to my blog site. The Party may be over, but it is not too late to influence the results of individual elections.
About Linda Monk
Linda R. Monk, J.D., is a constitutional scholar, journalist, andnationally award-winning author. A graduate of Harvard Law School , she twice received the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award, its highest honor for law-related media. Her books includeThe Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution, Ordinary Americans: U.S. History Through the Eyes of EverydayPeople, and The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide. For more than 20years, Ms. Monk has written commentary for newspapers nationwide,including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times,and Chicago Tribune .
THE PARTY'S OVER
By Linda Monk
The Crash of 2008, which is now wiping out trillions of dollars ofour people's wealth, is, like the Crash of 1929, likely to mark theend of one era and the onset of another. The new era will see a more sober and much diminished America.
The "Omnipower" and "Indispensable Nation" we heard about in all the hubris and braggadocio following our Cold War victory is history. Seizing on the crisis, the left says we are witnessing the failure of market economics, a failure of conservatism. This is nonsense.
What we are witnessing is the collapse of Gordon Gecko ("Greed IsGood!") capitalism. What we are witnessing is what happens to aprodigal nation that ignores history, and forgets and abandons the philosophy and principles that made it great. A true conservative (Rep or Dem) cherishes prudence and believes in fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets and a self-reliant republic. Hebelieves in saving for retirement and a rainy day, in deferred gratification, in not buying on credit what you cannot afford, in living within your means.
Is that really what got Wall Street and us into this mess -- that we followed too religiously the gospel of Robert Taft and Russell Kirk?
"Government must save us!" cries the left, as ever.
Yet, who got us into this mess if not the government -- the Fed with its easy money, Bush with his profligate spending, and Congress and the SEC by liberating Wall Street and failing to step in and stop the drunken orgy?
For years, we Americans have spent more than we earned. We save nothing.
Credit card debt, consumer debt, auto debt, mortgage debt, corporate debt -- all are at record levels. And with pensions and savings being wiped out, much of that debt will never be repaid. Our standard of living is inevitably going to fall. For foreigners will not forever buy our bonds or lend us more money if they rightly fear that they will be paid back, if at all, in cheaper dollars. We aregoing to have to learn to live again within our means.
THE PARTY'S OVER!
Up through World War II, we followed the Hamiltonian idea that America must remain economically independent of the world in order to remain politically independent. But this generation decided that was yesterday's bromide and we must march bravely forward into a Global Economy, where we all depend on one another. American companies morphed into "Global Companies" and moved plants and factories to Mexico, Asia, China and India, and we began buying more cheaply from abroad what we used to make at home: shoes, clothes, bikes, cars, radios, TVs, planes, computers. As the trade deficits began inexorably to rise to 6 percent of GDP, we began vast borrowing from abroad to continue buying from abroad. At home, propelled by tax cuts, war in Iraq and an explosion in social spending, surpluses vanished and deficits reappeared and began to rise.
The dollar began to sink, and gold began to soar. Yet, still, the promises of the politicians come. Barack Obama will give us national health insurance and tax cuts for all but that 2 percent of the nation that already carries 50 percent of the federal income tax load. John McCain is going to cut taxes, expand the military, moveNATO into Georgia and Ukraine, confront Russia and force Iran to stop enriching uranium or "bomb, bomb, bomb," with Joe Lieberman as wartime consigliore.
Who are we kidding? What we are witnessing today is how empires end. The Last Superpower is unable to defend its borders, protect its currency, win its wars or balance its budget. Medicare and Social Security are headed for the cliff with unfunded liabilities in the tens of trillions of dollars. What we are witnessing today is nothing less than a Katrina-like failure of government, of our political class, and of democracy itself, casting a cloud over the viability and longevity of the system.
Notice who is managing the crisis. Not our elected leaders. Nancy Pelosi says she had nothing to do with it. Congress is paralyzed and heading home. President Bush is nowhere to be seen. Hank Paulson of Goldman Sachs and Ben Bernanke of the Fed chose to bail out Bear Sterns but let Lehman go under. They decided to nationalize Fannie and Freddie at a cost to taxpayers of hundreds of billions, putting the U.S. government behind $5 trillion in mortgages. They decided to buy AIG with $85 billion rather than see the insurance giant sink beneath the waves.
An unelected financial elite is now entrusted with the assignment of getting us out of a disaster into which an unelected financial elite plunged the nation. We are just spectators. What the Greatest Generation handed down to us -- the richest, most powerful, most self-sufficient republic in history, with the highest standard of living any nation had ever achieved -- the baby boomers, oblivious and self-indulgent to the end, have frittered away.
Added Comments from the Monk article:
How do WE THE PEOPLE put the villains who are responsible under oath and sit them down at public hearings to determine whose necks should meet the guillotine?
Hypocritically, those who had oversight responsibility - such as Senator Chris Dodd [Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee] andBarney Frank [Chairman, House Financial Services Committee] who helped get us into this mess - are on every TV channel voicing their righteous indignation and pompously sitting on their elevated platform glaring down at those they are chastising and grilling, trying to pass the blame to others.
WE THE PEOPLE should be on the elevated platform in judgment and execution of the likes of Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and the rest of the band of thieves and conspirators who are responsible for the financial collapse of the USA.
To name just a few of the culprits: Henry Paulson Jr - Secretary of the Treasury, Alan Greenspan & Ben Bernanke -- Chairmen Federal Reserve, Christopher Cox - SEC Chairman.
But not to worry -- YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS who fear being voted out of office will take their self-awarded Golden Parachute Congressional Retirement, give WE THE PEOPLE the finger one last time - and head for their safe havens as the World Citizens they are. However,before they waddle off into the sunset, they will go on record one last time denouncing corporate greed, lavish salaries and bonuses for their key felons at Fannie May, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers & AIG. Meanwhile, WE THE PEOPLE fiddle while Rome burns and are too lazy and indifferent to vote the scum out of office.
This is not just food for thought, but an entire meal.
COMMANDER GRANGER
About Linda Monk
Linda R. Monk, J.D., is a constitutional scholar, journalist, andnationally award-winning author. A graduate of Harvard Law School , she twice received the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award, its highest honor for law-related media. Her books includeThe Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution, Ordinary Americans: U.S. History Through the Eyes of EverydayPeople, and The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide. For more than 20years, Ms. Monk has written commentary for newspapers nationwide,including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times,and Chicago Tribune .
THE PARTY'S OVER
By Linda Monk
The Crash of 2008, which is now wiping out trillions of dollars ofour people's wealth, is, like the Crash of 1929, likely to mark theend of one era and the onset of another. The new era will see a more sober and much diminished America.
The "Omnipower" and "Indispensable Nation" we heard about in all the hubris and braggadocio following our Cold War victory is history. Seizing on the crisis, the left says we are witnessing the failure of market economics, a failure of conservatism. This is nonsense.
What we are witnessing is the collapse of Gordon Gecko ("Greed IsGood!") capitalism. What we are witnessing is what happens to aprodigal nation that ignores history, and forgets and abandons the philosophy and principles that made it great. A true conservative (Rep or Dem) cherishes prudence and believes in fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets and a self-reliant republic. Hebelieves in saving for retirement and a rainy day, in deferred gratification, in not buying on credit what you cannot afford, in living within your means.
Is that really what got Wall Street and us into this mess -- that we followed too religiously the gospel of Robert Taft and Russell Kirk?
"Government must save us!" cries the left, as ever.
Yet, who got us into this mess if not the government -- the Fed with its easy money, Bush with his profligate spending, and Congress and the SEC by liberating Wall Street and failing to step in and stop the drunken orgy?
For years, we Americans have spent more than we earned. We save nothing.
Credit card debt, consumer debt, auto debt, mortgage debt, corporate debt -- all are at record levels. And with pensions and savings being wiped out, much of that debt will never be repaid. Our standard of living is inevitably going to fall. For foreigners will not forever buy our bonds or lend us more money if they rightly fear that they will be paid back, if at all, in cheaper dollars. We aregoing to have to learn to live again within our means.
THE PARTY'S OVER!
Up through World War II, we followed the Hamiltonian idea that America must remain economically independent of the world in order to remain politically independent. But this generation decided that was yesterday's bromide and we must march bravely forward into a Global Economy, where we all depend on one another. American companies morphed into "Global Companies" and moved plants and factories to Mexico, Asia, China and India, and we began buying more cheaply from abroad what we used to make at home: shoes, clothes, bikes, cars, radios, TVs, planes, computers. As the trade deficits began inexorably to rise to 6 percent of GDP, we began vast borrowing from abroad to continue buying from abroad. At home, propelled by tax cuts, war in Iraq and an explosion in social spending, surpluses vanished and deficits reappeared and began to rise.
The dollar began to sink, and gold began to soar. Yet, still, the promises of the politicians come. Barack Obama will give us national health insurance and tax cuts for all but that 2 percent of the nation that already carries 50 percent of the federal income tax load. John McCain is going to cut taxes, expand the military, moveNATO into Georgia and Ukraine, confront Russia and force Iran to stop enriching uranium or "bomb, bomb, bomb," with Joe Lieberman as wartime consigliore.
Who are we kidding? What we are witnessing today is how empires end. The Last Superpower is unable to defend its borders, protect its currency, win its wars or balance its budget. Medicare and Social Security are headed for the cliff with unfunded liabilities in the tens of trillions of dollars. What we are witnessing today is nothing less than a Katrina-like failure of government, of our political class, and of democracy itself, casting a cloud over the viability and longevity of the system.
Notice who is managing the crisis. Not our elected leaders. Nancy Pelosi says she had nothing to do with it. Congress is paralyzed and heading home. President Bush is nowhere to be seen. Hank Paulson of Goldman Sachs and Ben Bernanke of the Fed chose to bail out Bear Sterns but let Lehman go under. They decided to nationalize Fannie and Freddie at a cost to taxpayers of hundreds of billions, putting the U.S. government behind $5 trillion in mortgages. They decided to buy AIG with $85 billion rather than see the insurance giant sink beneath the waves.
An unelected financial elite is now entrusted with the assignment of getting us out of a disaster into which an unelected financial elite plunged the nation. We are just spectators. What the Greatest Generation handed down to us -- the richest, most powerful, most self-sufficient republic in history, with the highest standard of living any nation had ever achieved -- the baby boomers, oblivious and self-indulgent to the end, have frittered away.
Added Comments from the Monk article:
How do WE THE PEOPLE put the villains who are responsible under oath and sit them down at public hearings to determine whose necks should meet the guillotine?
Hypocritically, those who had oversight responsibility - such as Senator Chris Dodd [Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee] andBarney Frank [Chairman, House Financial Services Committee] who helped get us into this mess - are on every TV channel voicing their righteous indignation and pompously sitting on their elevated platform glaring down at those they are chastising and grilling, trying to pass the blame to others.
WE THE PEOPLE should be on the elevated platform in judgment and execution of the likes of Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and the rest of the band of thieves and conspirators who are responsible for the financial collapse of the USA.
To name just a few of the culprits: Henry Paulson Jr - Secretary of the Treasury, Alan Greenspan & Ben Bernanke -- Chairmen Federal Reserve, Christopher Cox - SEC Chairman.
But not to worry -- YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS who fear being voted out of office will take their self-awarded Golden Parachute Congressional Retirement, give WE THE PEOPLE the finger one last time - and head for their safe havens as the World Citizens they are. However,before they waddle off into the sunset, they will go on record one last time denouncing corporate greed, lavish salaries and bonuses for their key felons at Fannie May, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers & AIG. Meanwhile, WE THE PEOPLE fiddle while Rome burns and are too lazy and indifferent to vote the scum out of office.
This is not just food for thought, but an entire meal.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Sunday, October 26, 2008
IT IS A SMALL, YET VAST, WONDERFUL WORLD
Last Friday evening in the midst of a tropical rain storm, my cousin led a small group to a wonderful spot for dinner at 11th St. Dockside Restaurant in Port Royal, S.C. The location was right along the water, and it was the site of the Forrest Gump movie Shrimp Boat scenes. The dinner was superb with huge shrimp, scallops, and the biggest serving of swordfish steak I’ve ever seen.
Leaving the restaurant was something else, because it was raining cats and dogs. It reminded me that Big Bill used to say, “It was raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock.” We had to walk through about two or three inches of rain standing on the walkway just to get to the car, and the drive back to Spring Island was most interesting, to say the least.
During our dinner, one of those attending was a very successful financial planner from Watertown, N.Y. who is a part-time resident of Spring Island. I asked him if by chance he knew Jim Higgins or Tony Malara from WWNY-TV in Watertown, and much to my surprise he knew both very well. I had first worked with these gentlemen over fifty years ago in my early days as a television sales representative. Tony went on from single-station small market television to become the President of the CBS Television Network. This proves one should always deport themselves well, because the world is really small and you never know who you will meet.
If you have read some of my previous works you know that I love history, and especially books on the Civil War. Currently I’m reading a very disturbing book about President Abraham Lincoln’s actions as Commander-In-Chief, and I’ll be writing about the book when I’m finished. When it comes to my personal knowledge of the Civil War, I am a mere pup, but I am expanding my understanding and appreciation of that important part of our country’s history.
The Low-Country of South Carolina is very interesting to say the least, because everywhere one turns there are historical facts and figures, particularly concerning the Civil War. General Sherman completed his famous and frightful March to the Sea in Savannah. He fell in love with the city, and ordered his troops to leave the City of Savannah just as they had found it. Most of the countryside that Sherman’s troops passed through, however, were pillaged and destroyed. That city remains one of the most picturesque places in the South to this day.
Just to our North is Beaufort, which, too, has a rich history dating back to the early 1700’s, including the Civil War era. Union Naval forces captured this area, including Port Royal, because it was a significant supply port for the Confederacy. Old southern homes abound in beautiful Beaufort to this day, and it has become a big tourist attraction. Famous author Pat Conroy who wrote amoung others The Great Santini and The Lords of Discipline is a local Low-Country island resident.
The preservation of nature is a top priority across the coastal shores, and the native vegetation is magnificent. The forests are dense with a wide variety of trees, plants, and flowers. With a relative mild temperature throughout the year the Low-Country is a Golfer’s paradise, and has attracted an ever increasing permanent population along with a robust tourist industry.
Obviously, your Commander loves the Low-Country of South Carolina, and you will too.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Leaving the restaurant was something else, because it was raining cats and dogs. It reminded me that Big Bill used to say, “It was raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock.” We had to walk through about two or three inches of rain standing on the walkway just to get to the car, and the drive back to Spring Island was most interesting, to say the least.
During our dinner, one of those attending was a very successful financial planner from Watertown, N.Y. who is a part-time resident of Spring Island. I asked him if by chance he knew Jim Higgins or Tony Malara from WWNY-TV in Watertown, and much to my surprise he knew both very well. I had first worked with these gentlemen over fifty years ago in my early days as a television sales representative. Tony went on from single-station small market television to become the President of the CBS Television Network. This proves one should always deport themselves well, because the world is really small and you never know who you will meet.
If you have read some of my previous works you know that I love history, and especially books on the Civil War. Currently I’m reading a very disturbing book about President Abraham Lincoln’s actions as Commander-In-Chief, and I’ll be writing about the book when I’m finished. When it comes to my personal knowledge of the Civil War, I am a mere pup, but I am expanding my understanding and appreciation of that important part of our country’s history.
The Low-Country of South Carolina is very interesting to say the least, because everywhere one turns there are historical facts and figures, particularly concerning the Civil War. General Sherman completed his famous and frightful March to the Sea in Savannah. He fell in love with the city, and ordered his troops to leave the City of Savannah just as they had found it. Most of the countryside that Sherman’s troops passed through, however, were pillaged and destroyed. That city remains one of the most picturesque places in the South to this day.
Just to our North is Beaufort, which, too, has a rich history dating back to the early 1700’s, including the Civil War era. Union Naval forces captured this area, including Port Royal, because it was a significant supply port for the Confederacy. Old southern homes abound in beautiful Beaufort to this day, and it has become a big tourist attraction. Famous author Pat Conroy who wrote amoung others The Great Santini and The Lords of Discipline is a local Low-Country island resident.
The preservation of nature is a top priority across the coastal shores, and the native vegetation is magnificent. The forests are dense with a wide variety of trees, plants, and flowers. With a relative mild temperature throughout the year the Low-Country is a Golfer’s paradise, and has attracted an ever increasing permanent population along with a robust tourist industry.
Obviously, your Commander loves the Low-Country of South Carolina, and you will too.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Monday, October 20, 2008
VACATION READING
Spring Island – Okatie, SC - You certainly do not have to be on vacation to enjoy reading, or follow any suggestion I make in this report. I assure you though that a vacation is surely a good thing, as Martha Stewart says.
As usual my reading goes from one extreme to another. Currently, I have three books to suggest for your consideration.
First, back in 2002 Eric Schlosser’s FAST FOOD NATION was published in hard cover and became a New York Times bestseller. It is now in paperback, and while it is sometimes ponderous reading, it is an interesting, informative read about the fast food business. I sure learned some new information, and about the impact that Ray Kroc had upon American and International eating patterns.
I urge you to go for the hardcover edition, because the pica type face of the paperback edition may cause older eyes a problem. The New York Times Book Review said, “A fine piece of muckraking, alarming without being alarmist.”
While strolling the aisles at a Barnes & Noble store in Dallas last week, I found a new (to me) author’s work titled TSAR by Ted Bell. He was Chairman of the Board and Chief Creative Officer at Young & Rubicam Advertising, and this is his fifth action adventure thriller. This is a real page turner, and I was sufficiently impressed with Ted’s work that I intend to get copies of his earlier works for reading this winter back in Lake Effect Snowland. While fictional, the work is current, and very timely.
Lastly, I have just started James M. McPherson’s new book TRIED BY WAR about Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief. McPherson is a noted Professor of History Emeritus at Princeton University who has written widely on the Civil War. Already I am finding this to be most interesting and telling about the huge problems Lincoln confronted upon entering his Presidency. The Commanding General of the Union Army was very old, and most of the Army’s generals were unqualified political appointees unfit to command. Lincoln immersed himself into learning military strategy, and had his hands full with frequent personal visits to the front lines of the Civil War for consultations with his generals.
Happy reading. I find it to be most educational, informative, and relaxing.
COMMANDER GRANGER
As usual my reading goes from one extreme to another. Currently, I have three books to suggest for your consideration.
First, back in 2002 Eric Schlosser’s FAST FOOD NATION was published in hard cover and became a New York Times bestseller. It is now in paperback, and while it is sometimes ponderous reading, it is an interesting, informative read about the fast food business. I sure learned some new information, and about the impact that Ray Kroc had upon American and International eating patterns.
I urge you to go for the hardcover edition, because the pica type face of the paperback edition may cause older eyes a problem. The New York Times Book Review said, “A fine piece of muckraking, alarming without being alarmist.”
While strolling the aisles at a Barnes & Noble store in Dallas last week, I found a new (to me) author’s work titled TSAR by Ted Bell. He was Chairman of the Board and Chief Creative Officer at Young & Rubicam Advertising, and this is his fifth action adventure thriller. This is a real page turner, and I was sufficiently impressed with Ted’s work that I intend to get copies of his earlier works for reading this winter back in Lake Effect Snowland. While fictional, the work is current, and very timely.
Lastly, I have just started James M. McPherson’s new book TRIED BY WAR about Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief. McPherson is a noted Professor of History Emeritus at Princeton University who has written widely on the Civil War. Already I am finding this to be most interesting and telling about the huge problems Lincoln confronted upon entering his Presidency. The Commanding General of the Union Army was very old, and most of the Army’s generals were unqualified political appointees unfit to command. Lincoln immersed himself into learning military strategy, and had his hands full with frequent personal visits to the front lines of the Civil War for consultations with his generals.
Happy reading. I find it to be most educational, informative, and relaxing.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
SIXTH TO FIFTH ON THE WAY TO FOURTH
Dallas, TX - We could not have picked a better week to be in the Dallas/Ft.Worth Metroplex, because last weekend the Texas/Oklahoma football game was played at the Cotton Bowl. We cheered a great game from the comfort of son Ken’s living room, and the locals were very excited with the upset victory by the Longhorns and their new #1 National Ranking.
The DFW Metroplex is an exciting place that is not experiencing the economic slowdown to the degree we have seen in the Midwest rustbelt. Downtown Dallas is full of huge cranes for construction of major new high-rise buildings, parks, an art complex, and highways. There are so many huge cranes that I would not want to be downtown during a thunderstorm for fear of lightning being attracted.
If you’re interested in eating places, the Metroplex is the place to be because there are an unbelievable array of different restaurants where you can get anything your palate could ever desire. So far we’ve enjoyed great Mexican, delicious seafood, and Italian fare. The latter was last Saturday evening following the Cotton Bowl game at the renowned Campisi’s Egyptian Room. We were surrounded by hundreds of excited Texas and sad Oklahoma fans. Campisi’s was often frequented by the legendary Jack Ruby who shot JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.
We saw a throng of people visiting the Texas Book Depository building where Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Jack Kennedy. Locals and visitors alike visit the Book Depository daily, take pictures of the grassy knoll, and visit the building and 6th Floor Museum some 45 years after that fateful day. Sad event memories last for a long, long time.
Yes, there are lots of home for sale signs, but certainly not like we have in the Midwest. Dallas is continuing to grow, and prosper. While there is concern about the national economy, there is a true positive spirit in the Texans we have encountered. Home prices are quite low, and the selection varied.
Your Commander compliments the Dallas Morning News, KXAS-TV, and WFAA-TV for the objective position they have taken on the Adam “PacMan” Jones well publicized incident. His suspension from the Cowboys was suggested long before the NFL Commissioner took action. I find it deplorable that Jones was under 24 hour body guard protection paid for by the Cowboy organization in hopes of keeping “Pacman” out of trouble. Sad example for our youth, but it shows to what ends Jerry Jones will go to get a football game victory.
We saw the new Cowboys stadium being built in Arlington next to the Texas Rangers ball park. It is so big that you see it miles before you even get to it. As they say, everything is big in Texas, and this one is mega-huge stadium which will seat 100,000 fans.
As you can tell, we are having a ball. Texas and the DFW area have a lot to offer…especially the wonderful weather.
A special thanks to daughter-in-law Alice and her co-worker Tracy at Fox4Dallas for getting the counter inserted onto this Blog. They have a great website worth your investigation, and I must note their invaluable assistance was done off the company clock. (www.myfoxdfw.com)
If you’re wondering about the title to this essay here it is. The Dallas/Ft.Worth area has grown from the sixth ranked metropolitan area to America’s fifth place passing San Francisco. The way the area is growing, and the way people are moving out of the northeastern corridor, the DFW area is expected to surpass Philadelphia to fourth place in the near future. Exciting things are happening here in Texas, and the future looks to be unlimited.
COMMANDER GRANGER
The DFW Metroplex is an exciting place that is not experiencing the economic slowdown to the degree we have seen in the Midwest rustbelt. Downtown Dallas is full of huge cranes for construction of major new high-rise buildings, parks, an art complex, and highways. There are so many huge cranes that I would not want to be downtown during a thunderstorm for fear of lightning being attracted.
If you’re interested in eating places, the Metroplex is the place to be because there are an unbelievable array of different restaurants where you can get anything your palate could ever desire. So far we’ve enjoyed great Mexican, delicious seafood, and Italian fare. The latter was last Saturday evening following the Cotton Bowl game at the renowned Campisi’s Egyptian Room. We were surrounded by hundreds of excited Texas and sad Oklahoma fans. Campisi’s was often frequented by the legendary Jack Ruby who shot JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.
We saw a throng of people visiting the Texas Book Depository building where Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Jack Kennedy. Locals and visitors alike visit the Book Depository daily, take pictures of the grassy knoll, and visit the building and 6th Floor Museum some 45 years after that fateful day. Sad event memories last for a long, long time.
Yes, there are lots of home for sale signs, but certainly not like we have in the Midwest. Dallas is continuing to grow, and prosper. While there is concern about the national economy, there is a true positive spirit in the Texans we have encountered. Home prices are quite low, and the selection varied.
Your Commander compliments the Dallas Morning News, KXAS-TV, and WFAA-TV for the objective position they have taken on the Adam “PacMan” Jones well publicized incident. His suspension from the Cowboys was suggested long before the NFL Commissioner took action. I find it deplorable that Jones was under 24 hour body guard protection paid for by the Cowboy organization in hopes of keeping “Pacman” out of trouble. Sad example for our youth, but it shows to what ends Jerry Jones will go to get a football game victory.
We saw the new Cowboys stadium being built in Arlington next to the Texas Rangers ball park. It is so big that you see it miles before you even get to it. As they say, everything is big in Texas, and this one is mega-huge stadium which will seat 100,000 fans.
As you can tell, we are having a ball. Texas and the DFW area have a lot to offer…especially the wonderful weather.
A special thanks to daughter-in-law Alice and her co-worker Tracy at Fox4Dallas for getting the counter inserted onto this Blog. They have a great website worth your investigation, and I must note their invaluable assistance was done off the company clock. (www.myfoxdfw.com)
If you’re wondering about the title to this essay here it is. The Dallas/Ft.Worth area has grown from the sixth ranked metropolitan area to America’s fifth place passing San Francisco. The way the area is growing, and the way people are moving out of the northeastern corridor, the DFW area is expected to surpass Philadelphia to fourth place in the near future. Exciting things are happening here in Texas, and the future looks to be unlimited.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Monday, October 13, 2008
RACE IS A DIRTY WORD
Dateline Dallas, TX - This political campaign just will never end, and when it does the next campaign will commence almost immediately. Just look at the members of the House of Representatives who have to run every two years. All our Representatives do is continuously raise money and spend an inordinate amount of their time preparing for their next election. Personally, I am a strong supporter of term limits, but that is a subject of another essay at another time.
This is the second time that your Commander has addressed the issue of race, but I feel compelled due to recent campaign tactics and assertations.
Recently I have witnessed the introduction of race into this Presidential campaign, and it is certainly not beneficial to ensure that our democracy will have selected the proper candidate. The word race is inflammatory, and certainly emotional. I suspect the insertion of race is well plotted, and is utilized to distort or redirect the voter’s thoughts about an individual candidate. Both parties are guilty of racism. If memory serves me correctly, I believe that Bill Clinton was the first one to significantly play the race card during the South Carolina Primary campaign earlier this year. However, the real shocker is that Obama is by far the worst offender in the presidential campaign using the race card.
I really believe that the United States is ready to elect a person of color as our President, and that includes all colors of the skin. We see several strong potential political figures on the horizon such as ex-Secretary of State General Colin Powell, ex-Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford, and current Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to name a few.
Certainly, we are prepared to elect women to be president, and there are an abundance of very qualified ladies that meet the qualifications. Just look at the several successful female leaders of foreign governments in Great Britain, Germany, India, Japan, and the Philippines.
When the word RACE is mentioned or even inferred, everyone gets tense and objective reasoning goes out the window. My God, one would think we are still fighting the Civil War, and there are some narrow minded individuals who want to look back and not forward. I personally find looking back very informative if one is trying to learn from our past mistakes or historical experiences. It is the Commander’s opinion that we must always look forward, and we must remember to adapt or we will perish. Honestly, I find myself being guilty of just what I am criticizing here sometimes, but hopefully I have sufficient objective reasoning to quickly see the error of my ways.
Barrack Obama’s repeated refusal to release substantial documentation only causes further suspicions, and it plays into the hands of over-the-top conservative pundits. What does Obama have to hide? He certainly does not seem to want to disclose his past writings, past speeches or history of legislation, and earmarks. Why? If he is going to be my president, I want to know the answers to these questions, and concerns.
As clearly expressed before, I am concerned about Barrack Obama, because I do not believe he has been properly vetted by our apparently bias main-stream media. There are just too many unanswered questions left open to make me comfortable at the present time. There are far too many “urban legends” floating around to make me happy. Only time will tell, but I assure you it has nothing to do with his race.
It appears that the bulk of the American voters do not share my concerns, and Obama may be elected our next President. Only a huge new development or disclosure will change the current trends or sentiments. Change is clearly needed, but at what cost, and under whose leadership is it appropriate? I truly hope that if Obama is elected that I am wrong, and that his leadership proves me incorrect.
Education, objectivity, and clear thinking with full disclosure may get our nation out of our racial rut. I believe America, and the black (minority) community, are in the position we are in because of a lack of proper leadership and direction. Martin Luther King accomplished major strides against Herculean obstacles, but he was taken from us at far too young an age. There has been a true lack of leadership and certainly insufficient direction in the black community. There are plenty of black opportunists, such as Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, but few true inspirational, honest leaders. Obama has yet to prove his leadership, but he has proven to be a skilled self-promoting opportunist.
We all come from different races…that doesn’t mean that anyone of us should be a racist. Race is a fact of life; racism is a cancer that we must find a cure for.
America needs desperately the presidential qualities of Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan. Again, I say TIME WILL TELL, and GOD BLESS AMERICA.
COMMANDER GRANGER
This is the second time that your Commander has addressed the issue of race, but I feel compelled due to recent campaign tactics and assertations.
Recently I have witnessed the introduction of race into this Presidential campaign, and it is certainly not beneficial to ensure that our democracy will have selected the proper candidate. The word race is inflammatory, and certainly emotional. I suspect the insertion of race is well plotted, and is utilized to distort or redirect the voter’s thoughts about an individual candidate. Both parties are guilty of racism. If memory serves me correctly, I believe that Bill Clinton was the first one to significantly play the race card during the South Carolina Primary campaign earlier this year. However, the real shocker is that Obama is by far the worst offender in the presidential campaign using the race card.
I really believe that the United States is ready to elect a person of color as our President, and that includes all colors of the skin. We see several strong potential political figures on the horizon such as ex-Secretary of State General Colin Powell, ex-Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford, and current Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to name a few.
Certainly, we are prepared to elect women to be president, and there are an abundance of very qualified ladies that meet the qualifications. Just look at the several successful female leaders of foreign governments in Great Britain, Germany, India, Japan, and the Philippines.
When the word RACE is mentioned or even inferred, everyone gets tense and objective reasoning goes out the window. My God, one would think we are still fighting the Civil War, and there are some narrow minded individuals who want to look back and not forward. I personally find looking back very informative if one is trying to learn from our past mistakes or historical experiences. It is the Commander’s opinion that we must always look forward, and we must remember to adapt or we will perish. Honestly, I find myself being guilty of just what I am criticizing here sometimes, but hopefully I have sufficient objective reasoning to quickly see the error of my ways.
Barrack Obama’s repeated refusal to release substantial documentation only causes further suspicions, and it plays into the hands of over-the-top conservative pundits. What does Obama have to hide? He certainly does not seem to want to disclose his past writings, past speeches or history of legislation, and earmarks. Why? If he is going to be my president, I want to know the answers to these questions, and concerns.
As clearly expressed before, I am concerned about Barrack Obama, because I do not believe he has been properly vetted by our apparently bias main-stream media. There are just too many unanswered questions left open to make me comfortable at the present time. There are far too many “urban legends” floating around to make me happy. Only time will tell, but I assure you it has nothing to do with his race.
It appears that the bulk of the American voters do not share my concerns, and Obama may be elected our next President. Only a huge new development or disclosure will change the current trends or sentiments. Change is clearly needed, but at what cost, and under whose leadership is it appropriate? I truly hope that if Obama is elected that I am wrong, and that his leadership proves me incorrect.
Education, objectivity, and clear thinking with full disclosure may get our nation out of our racial rut. I believe America, and the black (minority) community, are in the position we are in because of a lack of proper leadership and direction. Martin Luther King accomplished major strides against Herculean obstacles, but he was taken from us at far too young an age. There has been a true lack of leadership and certainly insufficient direction in the black community. There are plenty of black opportunists, such as Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, but few true inspirational, honest leaders. Obama has yet to prove his leadership, but he has proven to be a skilled self-promoting opportunist.
We all come from different races…that doesn’t mean that anyone of us should be a racist. Race is a fact of life; racism is a cancer that we must find a cure for.
America needs desperately the presidential qualities of Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan. Again, I say TIME WILL TELL, and GOD BLESS AMERICA.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
THE FIX IS IN
Dateline, Dallas TX - Having been raised in Chicago, I know from my personal experience of witnessing politics Chicago Style when the FIX IS IN. My heart is broken to tell you that I believe that the coming election has been already determined, and America is in for years of decline with rampant socialism. Unless John McCain pulls some unknown rabbit out of his hat within the next 27 days, he is headed for a resounding defeat come the November election.
The election is being bought with illegal donations from both foreign and domestic sources that Obama refuses to identify until after the election. Early voting in Ohio has been proved to be ridden with illegal registration violations (some attributed to the community organizing entity, ACORN, that Obama was connected with) and nothing is being done about this deplorable action. Our major media outlets in television and at big city newspapers have sold out to the Obama campaign with deplorable bias coverage and reporting. Investigative reporting has disappeared, and the American public is not being properly served. Political commercials air constantly by both parties that are certainly misleading, inaccurate, and felonious distortion of the truth.
Our political leadership has been compromised by big money special interests and they are complicit in the sell-out of their constituents. With only a 15% approval rating our politicians are running for cover, and doing everything to guarantee their re-election. Greed rules Washington. Video file tape has proven repeatedly that Congressional leaders failed to provide accountability to existing legislation impacting Wall Street, but our media is not holding them responsible. Why?
If our next President is Obama, meets with Iran’s President, withdraws our troops from Iraq in defeat, there will be a Middle East blood bath. America will be blamed by the world; fanatic Islamists will gain significant strength.
The amount of money being raised and spent to garner the Presidency is a world-wide embarrassment. The huge sums of money are polluting and destroying the political process. Campaign contributions buy access, complacency, and influence. Greed ultimately equals criminal conduct.
The United States and our democracy are on the brink of deterioration. The next 27 days are pivotal, but our country is paralyzed in false and inadequate information and empathy. We have our future within our hands, but I no longer see even a slight light at the end of the tunnel. God save our children.
COMMANDER GRANGER
The election is being bought with illegal donations from both foreign and domestic sources that Obama refuses to identify until after the election. Early voting in Ohio has been proved to be ridden with illegal registration violations (some attributed to the community organizing entity, ACORN, that Obama was connected with) and nothing is being done about this deplorable action. Our major media outlets in television and at big city newspapers have sold out to the Obama campaign with deplorable bias coverage and reporting. Investigative reporting has disappeared, and the American public is not being properly served. Political commercials air constantly by both parties that are certainly misleading, inaccurate, and felonious distortion of the truth.
Our political leadership has been compromised by big money special interests and they are complicit in the sell-out of their constituents. With only a 15% approval rating our politicians are running for cover, and doing everything to guarantee their re-election. Greed rules Washington. Video file tape has proven repeatedly that Congressional leaders failed to provide accountability to existing legislation impacting Wall Street, but our media is not holding them responsible. Why?
If our next President is Obama, meets with Iran’s President, withdraws our troops from Iraq in defeat, there will be a Middle East blood bath. America will be blamed by the world; fanatic Islamists will gain significant strength.
The amount of money being raised and spent to garner the Presidency is a world-wide embarrassment. The huge sums of money are polluting and destroying the political process. Campaign contributions buy access, complacency, and influence. Greed ultimately equals criminal conduct.
The United States and our democracy are on the brink of deterioration. The next 27 days are pivotal, but our country is paralyzed in false and inadequate information and empathy. We have our future within our hands, but I no longer see even a slight light at the end of the tunnel. God save our children.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Friday, October 3, 2008
BIG BILL AND THE MOVIE STARS
From the 1950’s to the late 1970’s the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) held their annual Convention in the spring in Chicago every three years and in Washington each inaugural year. As the size of the Convention grew beyond the ability of Chicago’s Conrad Hilton Hotel to handle the exhibits, it was moved into the huge McCormick Place Convention Center along the shore of Lake Michigan. As time passed complaints grew about the extortion and under the table payments required by Chicago Unions to setup exhibits and theft was rampant when the exhibits were torn down. Las Vegas stepped forward and the convention moved permanently to larger facilities, and wonderful weather causing a multi-million dollar loss to the Chicago economy.
Big Bill’s early sales career started as the Automotive Sales Manager for the Omaha World Herald newspaper. Later he earned a promotion to a similar position at William Randolph Hearst’s San Francisco Herald Examiner. During those years he was a frequent guest for social affairs and sales meetings at Hearst’s fabulous California San Simeon Castle overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On those occasions, Bill became acquainted with numerous movie stars and people in the entertainment business, such as Gene Autry, Buddy Rogers and Mary Pickford.
One evening during the Convention I was alone in our Hospitality Suite about 8:00PM when this totally inebriated cowboy entered the room. Much to my surprise it was Gene Autry dressed in these beautiful boots, a tailored gabardine western suit and the biggest cowboy hat I had ever seen. I introduced myself to Gene and slurring his words he asked for that “SOB” Bill. When I told him that he was out for dinner Gene said that at least we could give him a drink. He ordered double bourbon and fell into a chair.
One of our new salesmen got the drink and came skipping across the living room singing a once popular cowboy song, and Gene said, “You dumb SOB! That was Tom Mix’s song, not mine”. With that he downed the drink in one gulp and staggered to the CBS suite. At that time Autry was retired from feature films, but still did a half-hour TV series, owned one of the top Television and Radio stations in Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Angels major league baseball team. Poor Gene.
Our company represented Buddy Rogers’ radio station in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, which was a gift from his wife, Mary Pickford, to keep Buddy busy in retirement. Buddy had been a big successful co-star with his wife in the silent film days and into the talking picture era. Buddy came up with the idea to call the station KFBI, because it would give his news reporters an advantage over the competition…and it did until an FBI agent appeared and threatened legal action for misrepresentation. Unfortunately the station never rated very well and made a little money, but it was great for Buddy’s substantial ego.
One night while working our Hospitality Suite in the Blackstone Hotel, in walked Bill with our client, Buddy Rogers, and two young, tall, lovely, well endowed ladies who were introduced as “Network Press Representatives”. Even in his 70’s Buddy cut a fine figure and he drove the ladies crazy. He caught my eye on his entrance with his bright yellow camel hair over coat, just like the one Warren Beatty wore in his Dick Tracy movie years later. After a round of introductions and the preparation of drinks, Bill, Buddy and the two “Press Representatives” adjourned to one of the suite’s bedrooms. At the time I didn’t think anything of it and kept busy talking with other clients that had assembled.
Suddenly, in walked the legendary Mary Pickford wearing a snood, swaddled in furs and a ton of makeup. The furs caught my attention because there were heads of animals with eyes and teeth looking at me. My heart was pounding, because I knew Bill, Buddy, and the two girls were in the next room. I introduced myself to Miss Pickford and asked her to please take a seat and offered her a drink. Mary said, “I’ll have a double gin, no ice, and where in the hell are Bill and Buddy?” Thinking quickly on my feet, I said that they were in another room pitching an advertising schedule for KFBI to some advertising representatives. With that Mary took out a cigarette and put it into the longest cigarette holder I had ever seen and said, “Young man please go and find those two bad boys and tell them to get their asses in here within the next two minutes.”
With those instructions I went around a corner of the living room to the bedroom door and knocked. Hearing some soft giggles I knocked again and finally opened the door just as Bill and Buddy were about to have a fandango or something with the two “Press Representatives”. When I told them that Mary Pickford was in the other room they both became ashen and quickly dispatched the two “Press Representatives” out the other door into the hotel hallway.
With that done, Bill and Buddy damn near knocked me over charging out into the living room to greet Mary. I clearly remember Buddy saying “Oh Mary, my dear, I am so excited to see you.” and Mary’s response was “I know you two bastards were up to no good, but how much money did you get for KFBI?” Shortly thereafter Mary and Buddy departed for points unknown and Buddy thanked me profusely for my gracious hospitality.
Bill just winked at me, then said that that was one of the closest calls he ever had, and a vodka martini was definitely in order!
Several weeks later, I received a very nice hand written note from Buddy on fancy PickFair stationery expressing his appreciation for my discreet handling of the situation, and he hoped that he would be able to reciprocate at some time in the future. I never saw either Buddy or Mary Pickford again, and frankly I hoped I would never experience a repeat performance of that evening. I remember thinking that if this is what show business was all about I didn’t want any part of it, and if I was in show business I didn't like tending the elephants.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Big Bill’s early sales career started as the Automotive Sales Manager for the Omaha World Herald newspaper. Later he earned a promotion to a similar position at William Randolph Hearst’s San Francisco Herald Examiner. During those years he was a frequent guest for social affairs and sales meetings at Hearst’s fabulous California San Simeon Castle overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On those occasions, Bill became acquainted with numerous movie stars and people in the entertainment business, such as Gene Autry, Buddy Rogers and Mary Pickford.
One evening during the Convention I was alone in our Hospitality Suite about 8:00PM when this totally inebriated cowboy entered the room. Much to my surprise it was Gene Autry dressed in these beautiful boots, a tailored gabardine western suit and the biggest cowboy hat I had ever seen. I introduced myself to Gene and slurring his words he asked for that “SOB” Bill. When I told him that he was out for dinner Gene said that at least we could give him a drink. He ordered double bourbon and fell into a chair.
One of our new salesmen got the drink and came skipping across the living room singing a once popular cowboy song, and Gene said, “You dumb SOB! That was Tom Mix’s song, not mine”. With that he downed the drink in one gulp and staggered to the CBS suite. At that time Autry was retired from feature films, but still did a half-hour TV series, owned one of the top Television and Radio stations in Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Angels major league baseball team. Poor Gene.
Our company represented Buddy Rogers’ radio station in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, which was a gift from his wife, Mary Pickford, to keep Buddy busy in retirement. Buddy had been a big successful co-star with his wife in the silent film days and into the talking picture era. Buddy came up with the idea to call the station KFBI, because it would give his news reporters an advantage over the competition…and it did until an FBI agent appeared and threatened legal action for misrepresentation. Unfortunately the station never rated very well and made a little money, but it was great for Buddy’s substantial ego.
One night while working our Hospitality Suite in the Blackstone Hotel, in walked Bill with our client, Buddy Rogers, and two young, tall, lovely, well endowed ladies who were introduced as “Network Press Representatives”. Even in his 70’s Buddy cut a fine figure and he drove the ladies crazy. He caught my eye on his entrance with his bright yellow camel hair over coat, just like the one Warren Beatty wore in his Dick Tracy movie years later. After a round of introductions and the preparation of drinks, Bill, Buddy and the two “Press Representatives” adjourned to one of the suite’s bedrooms. At the time I didn’t think anything of it and kept busy talking with other clients that had assembled.
Suddenly, in walked the legendary Mary Pickford wearing a snood, swaddled in furs and a ton of makeup. The furs caught my attention because there were heads of animals with eyes and teeth looking at me. My heart was pounding, because I knew Bill, Buddy, and the two girls were in the next room. I introduced myself to Miss Pickford and asked her to please take a seat and offered her a drink. Mary said, “I’ll have a double gin, no ice, and where in the hell are Bill and Buddy?” Thinking quickly on my feet, I said that they were in another room pitching an advertising schedule for KFBI to some advertising representatives. With that Mary took out a cigarette and put it into the longest cigarette holder I had ever seen and said, “Young man please go and find those two bad boys and tell them to get their asses in here within the next two minutes.”
With those instructions I went around a corner of the living room to the bedroom door and knocked. Hearing some soft giggles I knocked again and finally opened the door just as Bill and Buddy were about to have a fandango or something with the two “Press Representatives”. When I told them that Mary Pickford was in the other room they both became ashen and quickly dispatched the two “Press Representatives” out the other door into the hotel hallway.
With that done, Bill and Buddy damn near knocked me over charging out into the living room to greet Mary. I clearly remember Buddy saying “Oh Mary, my dear, I am so excited to see you.” and Mary’s response was “I know you two bastards were up to no good, but how much money did you get for KFBI?” Shortly thereafter Mary and Buddy departed for points unknown and Buddy thanked me profusely for my gracious hospitality.
Bill just winked at me, then said that that was one of the closest calls he ever had, and a vodka martini was definitely in order!
Several weeks later, I received a very nice hand written note from Buddy on fancy PickFair stationery expressing his appreciation for my discreet handling of the situation, and he hoped that he would be able to reciprocate at some time in the future. I never saw either Buddy or Mary Pickford again, and frankly I hoped I would never experience a repeat performance of that evening. I remember thinking that if this is what show business was all about I didn’t want any part of it, and if I was in show business I didn't like tending the elephants.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Thursday, October 2, 2008
ONE MORE TIME
If you are like me, you are darn tired of hearing about political issues in this Presidential campaign. This will likely be my last effort relative to the political landscape for a while.
When I was a young boy growing up in Chicago, my Father frequently told me to be wary of people who always talked about themselves, and used “I” repeatedly. The older I get the more those wise words of advice are recalled, and it has never been more apparent than it is during the candidate campaign commercials and debates. I find fault with both Obama and McCain, but clearly, and objectively it is Obama that loves the word “I”…I this and I that in every speech and commercial!
While I was raised in a Republican household, and actually voted that way for many years, I come from a family that firmly believed that if you worked hard you would be rewarded for your accomplishments. We never expected or looked for something for nothing. Our family vigorously believed, and supported the three most important documents in our democracy…The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. We did not believe in social engineering and the womb to the tomb mentality, which was a foundation of the Democratic Party since the Roosevelt administration of the 1930’s.
Recently I took the time to go on my computer to print copies of our three precious documents, and then I read them thoroughly. The foresight of our founding fathers is truly amazing, and has held our country in good stead since the first document was signed in 1776. I urge you to get copies and re-read these masterpieces of democracy. It is real easy to do to:
http://www.patriotprintshoppe.com/onlinedec.html
http://patriotprintshoppe.com/Const.html
http://patriotprintshoppe.com/BofR.html
I bet it has been years since you read these great works, and it is refreshing to revisit the vision of our Founding Fathers.
As I stated earlier, I was a proud Republican, but they have lost me as an official party member, because they failed to meet and address their stated goals. As a staunch conservative, the Party left me when they approved reckless spending bills, and provided little or no opposition to the liberal, socialist-bent Democratic policies. Thus I now consider myself as an Independent or a member of a party that I like to call THE AMERICAN PARTY. My party stands for every citizen of this great country, black, brown, red, white and yellow. We stand for equal justice for all mankind, and firmly stand against rewarding people for not working. Class warfare, social engineering, and income redistribution are not acceptable actions. Lies are definitely a disqualifying attribute with any elected official.
Recently Barack Obama claimed that one of John McCain’s advisers, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, supported his view that the U.S. president should meet with Iran’s president and other rogue dictators without preconditions. McCain challenged that point, and Henry Kissinger released a definitive statement that read: “Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next president of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the presidential level.” You decide if Barack Obama lied or distorted the truth.
Source: http://www/newsmax.com/printTemplate.html
As mentioned in an earlier post, I will address my concerns about President George Bush after he leaves office, because there is little to be gained kicking a dead horse. The Democratic Party lost me too, because:
(I wish I could take credit to being the author of the following little spiel, but I cannot. This appropriate appraisal of our current situation came from a learned friend in Atlanta, GA.)
George Bush has been in office for 7½ years. The first six the economy was fine.
About one year ago:
1. Consumer confidence stood at a 2 ½ year high:
2. Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 per gallon:
3. The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4. The Dow Jones hit a record high--$14,000 +
5. Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas, living large.
But Americans wanted “Change”! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes---we got “Change” all right. In the PAST YEAR:
Consumer confidence has plummeted;
Gasoline is now near $4.00 a gallon & climbing!
Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase)
Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLILON DOLLARS and prices are still dropping
1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
As I write, THE DOW is probing another low---$2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
Yes, in 2006 America voted for change…and we sure got it!
Remember, the president has no control over any of these issues, only Congress has.
And what has Congress done in the last two years? Absolutely nothing!
Now the Democratic candidate for president claims he is going to really give us change along with a Democrat controlled Congress!!!
JUST HOW MUCH MORE “CHANGE” DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?
So, now you know why your Commander is a member of the American Party. You have already heard my frequent warnings about CHANGE, so it is up to you to decide what you truly want in your future and that of your children’s and grand-children’s future, too.
COMMANDER GRANGER
When I was a young boy growing up in Chicago, my Father frequently told me to be wary of people who always talked about themselves, and used “I” repeatedly. The older I get the more those wise words of advice are recalled, and it has never been more apparent than it is during the candidate campaign commercials and debates. I find fault with both Obama and McCain, but clearly, and objectively it is Obama that loves the word “I”…I this and I that in every speech and commercial!
While I was raised in a Republican household, and actually voted that way for many years, I come from a family that firmly believed that if you worked hard you would be rewarded for your accomplishments. We never expected or looked for something for nothing. Our family vigorously believed, and supported the three most important documents in our democracy…The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. We did not believe in social engineering and the womb to the tomb mentality, which was a foundation of the Democratic Party since the Roosevelt administration of the 1930’s.
Recently I took the time to go on my computer to print copies of our three precious documents, and then I read them thoroughly. The foresight of our founding fathers is truly amazing, and has held our country in good stead since the first document was signed in 1776. I urge you to get copies and re-read these masterpieces of democracy. It is real easy to do to:
http://www.patriotprintshoppe.com/onlinedec.html
http://patriotprintshoppe.com/Const.html
http://patriotprintshoppe.com/BofR.html
I bet it has been years since you read these great works, and it is refreshing to revisit the vision of our Founding Fathers.
As I stated earlier, I was a proud Republican, but they have lost me as an official party member, because they failed to meet and address their stated goals. As a staunch conservative, the Party left me when they approved reckless spending bills, and provided little or no opposition to the liberal, socialist-bent Democratic policies. Thus I now consider myself as an Independent or a member of a party that I like to call THE AMERICAN PARTY. My party stands for every citizen of this great country, black, brown, red, white and yellow. We stand for equal justice for all mankind, and firmly stand against rewarding people for not working. Class warfare, social engineering, and income redistribution are not acceptable actions. Lies are definitely a disqualifying attribute with any elected official.
Recently Barack Obama claimed that one of John McCain’s advisers, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, supported his view that the U.S. president should meet with Iran’s president and other rogue dictators without preconditions. McCain challenged that point, and Henry Kissinger released a definitive statement that read: “Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next president of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the presidential level.” You decide if Barack Obama lied or distorted the truth.
Source: http://www/newsmax.com/printTemplate.html
As mentioned in an earlier post, I will address my concerns about President George Bush after he leaves office, because there is little to be gained kicking a dead horse. The Democratic Party lost me too, because:
(I wish I could take credit to being the author of the following little spiel, but I cannot. This appropriate appraisal of our current situation came from a learned friend in Atlanta, GA.)
George Bush has been in office for 7½ years. The first six the economy was fine.
About one year ago:
1. Consumer confidence stood at a 2 ½ year high:
2. Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 per gallon:
3. The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4. The Dow Jones hit a record high--$14,000 +
5. Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas, living large.
But Americans wanted “Change”! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes---we got “Change” all right. In the PAST YEAR:
Consumer confidence has plummeted;
Gasoline is now near $4.00 a gallon & climbing!
Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase)
Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLILON DOLLARS and prices are still dropping
1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
As I write, THE DOW is probing another low---$2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
Yes, in 2006 America voted for change…and we sure got it!
Remember, the president has no control over any of these issues, only Congress has.
And what has Congress done in the last two years? Absolutely nothing!
Now the Democratic candidate for president claims he is going to really give us change along with a Democrat controlled Congress!!!
JUST HOW MUCH MORE “CHANGE” DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?
So, now you know why your Commander is a member of the American Party. You have already heard my frequent warnings about CHANGE, so it is up to you to decide what you truly want in your future and that of your children’s and grand-children’s future, too.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
Monday, after the House of Representatives voted down the House Economic Rescue Bill, and as the stock market was in free-fall some 777 points, I was talking with some associates. Several individuals asked the question…HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
My response was simple, and quick. We are in our current critical economic malaise, because of lies, misdirection, deceit, financial malfeasance, greed, deception, favoritism, criminal acts, insider dealing, inadequate over-sight, arrogance, and political partisanship. Our Washington elected politicians are all running for cover, and typically pointing fingers in every direction except at themselves.
To my assembled group, I suggested that this was a perfect time for all Americans, and especially all elected officials, to re-read the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These precious documents can again be our foundation and guide to steering the proper course of action in the coming weeks.
Additionally, and this will drive the ACLU crazy, I suggest every Washington politician, appointed official, and voting citizen read: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
1. Do not worship other gods.
2. Do not worship idols.
3. Do not misuse God’s name.
4. Keep the Sabbath holy.
5. Honor your father & mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet.
My simple suggestions should get Washington back on track to resolving America’s biggest pressing issues and problems.
COMMANDER GRANGER
My response was simple, and quick. We are in our current critical economic malaise, because of lies, misdirection, deceit, financial malfeasance, greed, deception, favoritism, criminal acts, insider dealing, inadequate over-sight, arrogance, and political partisanship. Our Washington elected politicians are all running for cover, and typically pointing fingers in every direction except at themselves.
To my assembled group, I suggested that this was a perfect time for all Americans, and especially all elected officials, to re-read the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These precious documents can again be our foundation and guide to steering the proper course of action in the coming weeks.
Additionally, and this will drive the ACLU crazy, I suggest every Washington politician, appointed official, and voting citizen read: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
1. Do not worship other gods.
2. Do not worship idols.
3. Do not misuse God’s name.
4. Keep the Sabbath holy.
5. Honor your father & mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet.
My simple suggestions should get Washington back on track to resolving America’s biggest pressing issues and problems.
COMMANDER GRANGER
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