R.P. Barr

Backstabbing in Virginia: the governor's race

We just had an election here in Virginia, and I hear pundits all over the news babbling about the meaning of it all.  So far, everything I've heard is wrong.

 Democrat Creigh Deeds was not properly supported by the Democratic Party.  It is possible that Mr. Deeds does not know how to run a statewide campaign.  If that is so, the party should have provided him with advisors who could show him. 

 The fact is that most voters today make up their minds by watching television.  Newspapers are a dying media.  The internet and Twitter is not a good news source for state campaigns. One has to dig too much to find real news.  And only the faithful read the candidate's web sites.

 Republican McDonnell had at least three times the television ads that Deeds had.  And they were better.  McDonnell looked right into the camera surrounded by his family and said what a fine fellow he was.  Deeds had a couple anti-McDonnell ads, and one that showed newspaper editorials endorsing him.  Deeds never looked the voters in the eye.  He never talked about his vision for Virginia.

 He may have done that in stump speeches or in the debate, but I didn’t see those, and most other voters didn’t either. 

 I suspect that either during his long career of public service, or during the primary, Mr. Deeds ran afoul of some powerful Democrats.  The outgoing governor, Tim Kaine is Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and surely in a position to steer money toward one of the only two governors races that were held this year.  He should have matched the Republicans and seen to it that the standard bearer had at least an even chance.  He didn’t.

 Or else, the same idiots who planned Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the presidential nomination are now designing Democratic strategy.  Clinton lost because her campaign targeted major states and skipped over the smaller ones.  Obama won because he executed a full-on charge to get every vote he could, everywhere he could.  Maybe the general urban prejudice against someone from western, rural Virginia convinced the powers that be that Deeds couldn’t win, so they held on to their money and let him go down.

 That is cynical and unworthy of a party that is supposed to be big-tent inclusive.  By not providing a strong campaign, they’ve let down the voters.  And by letting McDonnell sweep the election, they’ve screwed over all of us here in Virginia and given the Republicans momentum for 2010.  Kaine and the rest of the Democratic leadership should be ashamed of themselves.

An unsatisfactory answer to the riddle

Unless you read BBC on line, you probably missed the little story [“Unstable Politics Plague Israel” 6 February 2009] that explained why there is no peace in Palestine and why it cannot be achieved. What I never realized—mainly because the press prefers playing up the horse race between personalities—is that in Israel, voters do not elect candidates, they vote for parties. The parties then assign whomever they choose to hold seats in the Knesset. Since no party has achieved a majority in the history of the country, minority parties hold the keys to power. The minority parties must be courted in order to form a coalition, and if the minority partner in a coalition takes exception to a given policy, the government falls. This system effectively prevents Israeli moderates from achieving any long range goals, especially peace with Palestinians. 

Reform, meanwhile, is blocked by the same system as single issue minority parties (those representing as little as 2% of the electorate) believe that the larger parties will not pay enough attention to their agendas. Consequently, since the elections are held every year or two as various disputes bring down the coalition du jour, and the same party leaders play musical chairs with government offices--obviating significant change--voter turnout is decreasing. Except for the extremists in whatever causes,  they see their chance for influence increasing. 

For their part, the Palestinians want a government that can successfully negotiate with Israel. Since that is not possible under an Israeli system of government which gives a handful of militant ideologues veto power over mainstream pragmatists, the frustrated Palestinians turn to non-verbal methods of getting the Israelis’ attention. 

And the tragedy continues.

Inauguration chill

It’s Inauguration Weekend in the Capitol Region.  The District of Columbia expects between 1.5 and 4 million visitors for the event.  The list of local and state agencies involved in managing this flood is 17 pages long.  I will be working that day, even though most government employees will be off, because someone in my understaffed department has to be around in case a mass disaster spills over into our area.  Even if it does, don’t look for me on the CNN, because my facility is in the remote outer rings of newsworthiness.  (That’s a good thing.)

I am expecting to see that many people will be treated for hypothermia and other cold weather conditions caused by standing outside for four or more hours in freezing weather.  Weatherbug forecasts a high of 35º and clouds.  There will still be mud on the mall from weekend snow.  Especially vulnerable will be the elderly who will come to see this historic event and the young children whose parents want them to be able to say they were there. 

You may remember that William Henry Harrison caught a cold at his inaugeral that developed into pneumonia and earned him the dubious distinction of being the first president to die in office—a month after taking the oath.  His was also an historic election.  Harrison was the last president who was born under British rule in the pre-independence colonies.  At 67, he became the oldest president elected to that time.  And, he was the first president to come to Washington on the train.  Harrison was so pleased at being elected that he rode to the inaugeral on a white horse, without gloves or an overcoat, and then delivered a two hour speech in drizzling, icy rain.  

Obama has a brand-new Cadillac limo with all the creature comforts to transport him to the ceremony.  There’s no word on what he will wear, but we can hope that he speaks for less than three hours. The forecast does not indicate precipitation, but Harrison’s inaugural was on March 4 and this one is in January.

With climate change, March is not as bad in D.C. as it was back in 1841, when Harrison died.  We might consider moving future inaugurals back into warmer early spring weather.  However, another month and half of a lameduck president would be hard to take.  Therefore, I propose that we move the election date from November to September and the inauguration from January to late October or early November.  That way student campaign aides would not have to choose between attending classes and ringing doorbells and stuffing envelopes.  The inauguration crowds could gather in balmy late fall and the holidays would not be under the cloud of transition politics.

Or we could move the inauguration ceremonies to Florida.  Disney could build a mock-up of the Capitol in Orlando.  There are more hotel rooms for visitors there.    Imagine parades and open air concerts where people applaud the performances instead of clapping to keep their hands warm.  Inaugural balls could be held on terraces under the stars.  The new president could still have his motorcade to the White House after flying up in Air Force One on the following day.

Date or location, either would be a change I could believe in.

Let them eat banks

When I first left home and took a job to support myself, I was a night clerk for Banker’s Trust.  The bank was destined to be bought up by Deutsche Bank in 1998, and the department I joined was due to be automated.  Stock shares were represented by intricately engraved certificates in those days, and my department received thousands of them every night—the physical evidence of the day’s trading on Wall Street.  The brokers never saw the pieces of paper they traded.  The seller’s bank would send them to the purchaser’s bank.  We would check for lost or stolen certificates, count them, and reroute them to one of the other principal New York banks.

            That experience set me up for a day job at Franklin National Bank’s Wall Street branch as a broker’s clearance clerk.  Now, I had client brokers.  These players never paid attention to what they owned when they bought and sold.  Messengers arrived all day long delivering and picking up certificates.  If one of my brokers sold something he didn’t have, I would call him on the phone to let him know what he owed.  The broker would thank me and say that he would take care of it.  At the end of the day, we would add up the trades to see if the brokers made money, or if we had to make loans to cover their purchases.  That’s where the bank made its money, on these overnight loans.

            These days, certificates are antiques and trades are represented by pixels on computer screens.  The psychology of the traders hasn’t changed though, only the ways to manipulate the figures.

            One of my colleagues went over his client’s figures and discovered that the bank had not credited him for money he was owed.  It would probably be several hundred thousand in today’s dollars.  The managers became quite agitated because if they informed their client, they would not only have to return the money—which they wanted to do—but would have to pay interest at those daily loan rates.

            They came up with a plan to slip the money into his account a little at a time over several weeks.  Since the stockbroker was too busy with his trading to pay attention to his bank, the scheme worked.

            These memories came back as I thought about the current banking crisis.  Franklin National was the largest bank failure ever, when it went under shortly after I left it.  In addition to mismanagement, there were tantalizing stories about ties to the Mafia, the Vatican Bank and a secret group of Masons.  I don’t have any knowledge of that.

            I do know that those who play with money for a living get caught up in the game.  They buy profitable companies in order to sell off their assets and never mind the jobs lost and lives ruined.  They’ve created a world more akin to Las Vegas than to a place where money is exchanged for goods or services.

            In a fair world, those responsible for insecure securities and mortgages without income verification would be dragged into the street and hacked to pieces with farm implements.  Decapitation devices would be erected in the city centers to deal with government officials who allowed the privileged to exploit the citizens.

            As I recall, somebody tried that once before and it got out of hand.  Still, like loaning money to people who can’t afford to repay it, it looks good on paper.

Undecided? Vote anyway.

There are some Democrats out there who think hope is nice, but proven abilities would be even nicer.  There are also Republicans who wonder how they can trust a man who has Democratic friends.  Then, there are those who identify with neither party who are already practicing how to hold their noses and pull the voting machine lever at the same time.

Some of these non-supporters think that sitting on their hands in November will send a message.  Wrong.  If you stay home, the only message you send is that you don’t deserve consideration.  And, the major parties know who you are.  They have software that tracks voter turnout and outcome district by district, and whether or not you voted is a matter of public record.

So, if you want to send a message, pick a third party candidate.  There is a good selection of them this year.  Since none of them has a chance of winning, who you pick is not as important as the point that you took the time to vote for him or her.

But, if you want to choose, here is the list I cadged from Wikipedia (bear in mind that not all these candidates are on the ballot in every state, so make a second or third choice as well).  Google their names if you want to know more about them.

Charles Jay is the choice of Boston Tea Party (no kidding).

Chuck Baldwin (probably no relation to the Hollywood Baldwins) is with the Constitution Party.

Bob Barr (no relation to me—I checked with his office) heads the Libertarian Party ticket.

Cynthia McKenney is growing the Green Party.

Frank McNulty represents the New American Independent Party (does “New” modify “American,” “Independent” or “Party?”)

Gloria La Riva carries the banner for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (if it was the Party of Socializing and Libation, she would have more media coverage.)

Gene Amondson beats the drum for the Prohibition Party.

Ted Weill speaks for the Reform Party.

Brian Moore leads the parade for Socialist Party USA.

Roger Colero unites the Socialist Workers Party.

 

There are party-less candidates, too, who probably couldn’t get enough supporters to have a party.  If you want one of them, you may have to write him in.  They include:

 

Jackson Kirk Grimes, who calls himself a fascist.

Alan Keyes, a former ambassador who lost the Republican Party and the Constitution Party nominations.

Frank Moore, performance artist.

Ralph Nader, consumer advocate.

Kelsey Wilson, who favors transparency.

 

So, if you don’t like the major party candidates, send a real message. Let the party bosses know that you’re out there and you vote.

Election Oh-Eight: Show of shows

Presidential elections usually generate a measure of excitement and bring a surprise or two, but this year is the best in my memory.

 What has always bothered me about election discourse is how petty it can become.  This year, for instance, we have a bushel of major issues that affect the course of this nation, the day-to-day lives of every person, and the general welfare of the planet.  Really.  And there are clear differences between the candidates.  So, why the pettiness?

 I write this blog for free.  If I say something stupid (should that have been “when I say…”?) readers can dismiss it as getting what they paid for.  What readers can count on is that while I may pass along incorrect information from time-to-time—depending on my sources--I never deliberately lie.  The pundits on Fox and other cable outlets are actually paid for their drivel.  And they do lie.  Which is why I skip past them when I channel surf.  If I pause too long, I feel like I need a shower.

 The other day, however, when I was driving to Richmond, I scanned my radio dial for news and found woman’s voice reporting on the Democratic convention.  She finished each factoid with a sneer, to let the audience know that those Democrats hadn’t fooled her with their talk of patriotism and unity.  Then, she took a call.   The woman who called in explained that she had read a People magazine article in which Michelle Obama reportedly said that she never missed an episode of Sex in the City.  “What kind of Christian values,” the caller asked, “could Michelle Obama have if she watched that show?  What kind of example does that set for America?”

 I changed stations.  But, then I wondered if the caller had ever seen Sex in the City.  I’ve seen two or three episodes.  (I would have watched more, but Sarah Jessica Parker is the most annoying actress alive.)  My take is that for all the bed-hopping that goes on, the four women at the center of that show are not happy people.  They’re values are hollow and they’re always looking for something better.  The most positive feature of their lives is their friendship.  That sounds like a Christian message to me.

 Do we know what Cindy McCain watches on tv?  Or Sarah Palin?  Does it matter?

 Back when the original Christ lived, there were entertainments that would not be approved by today’s church goers.  At a wedding party, Jesus turned water into wine.  He probably disapproved of drunkenness, but didn’t leave us any parables about over-indulgence.  There was prostitution and adultery, but He spoke only of repentence and forgiveness for the practitioners.  As I recall the scriptures, Jesus saved his wrath for those in the temple who tried to sell God’s favor.  He also had some choice comments about the chances of the rich getting into heaven.  Why do today’s “Christians” loudly condemn the things that He didn’t say much about and embrace the things that He opposed?  They seem to put more emphasis on the prohibitions of the Old Testament than on the teachings of their savior.

And, what has any of that to do with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or the sword-rattling in Russia?  What does anyone’s tv habits have to do with growing divide between rich and poor, the loss of jobs overseas, the rising prices of food, water and energy, the pollution of the seas and the air? 

 Obama is the Democratic candidate because he speaks to the big issues, as does Biden.  Their critics, professional and amateur alike, attack them on tiny matters that make little or no difference.  Now, McCain has named a running mate who, if elected, will be a heartbeat away from a job held by a 72-year-old cancer survivor. Palin is strong on the little things—a son in the service, another with Downs, 16 months as a governor, strong opinions—but lacking in matters of national or global importance.  A perfect Republican candidate.

 The polls say that the race will be close.  I don’t know.  There are a lot of people registered for this election who have not voted in the past.  The pollsters may not be taking them into account.

 Whichever way the wind blows, I hope that when people step inside the voting booth, they are swayed by something more substantive than a candidate’s spouse’s tv habits.