Thursday, May 27, 2010

An American President


While waiting for neighborhood traffic to clear and take Maggie out for her morning walk, I tuned into HBO for the last part of that Michael Douglas-Annette Benning movie "An American President". I found Douglas' speech to the White House press corps to be curiously appropriate for today and I wish our current President would deliver something similar. Here is the text of the movie speech:

" Reporter: Robyn, will the President ever respond to Senator Rumson's question about being a member of the American Civil Liberties Union?

President Shepherd: Yes, he will. Good morning. [Members of the White House Press Corps begin to rise] It's alright. Please keep your seats. Good morning.

For the last couple of months, Senator Rumson has suggested that being President of this country was, to a certain extent, about character. And although I've not been willing to engage in his attacks on me, I have been here three years and three days, and I can tell you without hesitation: Being President of this country is entirely about character.

For the record, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU, but the more important question is "Why aren't you, Bob?" Now this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights, so it naturally begs the question, why would a senator, his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for President, choose to reject upholding the constitution? Now if you can answer that question, folks, then you're smarter than I am, because I didn't understand it until a few hours ago.

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.

Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.

I've known Bob Rumson for years. And I've been operating under the assumption that the reason Bob devotes so much time and energy to shouting at the rain was that he simply didn't get it. Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it!

We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle age, middle class, middle income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family, and American values and character, and you wave an old photo of the President's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism. You tell them she's to blame for their lot in life. And you go on television and you call her a whore.

Sydney Ellen Wade has done nothing to you, Bob. She has done nothing but put herself through school, represent the interests of public school teachers, and lobby for the safety of our natural resources. You want a character debate, Bob? You better stick with me, 'cause Sydney Ellen Wade is way out of your league.

I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer. And I lost the other 'cause I was so busy keeping my job, I forgot to do my job. Well, that ends right now.

Tomorrow morning the White House is sending a bill to Congress for it's consideration. It's White House Resolution 455, an energy bill requiring a twenty percent reduction of the emission of fossil fuels over the next ten years. It is by far the most aggressive stride ever taken in the fight to reverse the effects of global warming. The other piece of legislation is the crime bill. As of today, it no longer exists. I'm throwing it out. I'm throwing it out and writing a law that makes sense. You cannot address crime prevention without getting rid of assault weapons and hand guns. I consider them a threat to national security, and I will go door to door if I have to, but I'm gonna convince Americans that I'm right, and I'm gonna get the guns.

We've got serious problems, and we need serious people. And if you want to talk about character, Bob, you'd better come at me with more than a burning flag and a membership card. If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This a time for serious people, Bob, and your fifteen minutes are up.

My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I AM the President.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Endangered Species Day 2010


Endangered Species Day 2010 was actually yesterday, Friday May 21 according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. I don't think BP is doing its part.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

"Marmaduchess" Strikes Again


Just change the mutt's gender in today's "Marmaduke" and you have something close to Maggie and me.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Gee, That's Pretty Close!


The "Daily Puppy" gadget featured a little guy (Kodi-bear) that, except for the tail, looks like our Maggie might have looked as a puppy.

Homage To My Swiss Heritage


The Day in Sports
May 9, 2010

Manhattan, left, and Altesse fight during the final of the annual Battle of the Queens of the Herens breed cows fight in Aproz, Switzerland. During the combat the cows simply push forehead against forehead using their horns. The competition continues until the new queen has forced all the other leaders to retreat. Cow fighting is an ancient tradition in Switzerland. The first official fight was organized in 1923. Altesse won the title of "Queen of the queen" after defeating Manhattan.

By Fabrice Coffrini, AFP/Getty Images

Friday, May 7, 2010

Small But "Showy"


About a week ago while walking Maggie, we ran into our neighbor Fanny. Fanny asked us if we had seen the orchids growing along the road not far from where we were standing. We had not, but proceeded up the road looking for the landmark that Fanny had provided. Sure enough we found the small cluster of plants whose flowers were just beginning to open. This orchid’s common name is “showy”, but I must admit its small size makes it difficult to make out without being pointed out to us by Fanny’s directions.

This photo was taken yesterday with the blossoms a bit more open. Click to enlarge.

The following is taken from the University of Texas At Austin, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflowercenter website, http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GASP5

Galearis spectabilis (L.) Raf.
Showy orchid, Purple-hooded orchid, Gay orchid
Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)
Synonyms: Galeorchis spectabilis, Orchis spectabilis
USDA Symbol: GASP5
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
A short stalk rising between 2 large, glossy, green leaves and topped by 2-15 white and pink to deep lavender flowers.
The genus name, Galearis, is derived from the Latin word, galea, which means helmet. It refers to the two pink to purple upper petals which form a hood over the flower. The specific epithet, spectabilis, is from the Latin for remarkable, admirable or showy.