JUST A HOLIDAY THOUGHT

My old friend Grumpy just wrote a blog about making the day after Thanksgiving a holiday, as well. Not a bad thought---but I have a better one...

One of the few times Abe Lincoln screwed up was making the fourth Thursday of November a legal holiday. What he should have done was make the fourth Thursday in October the national holiday of Thanksgiving. It would make more sense then; after all, it's a holiday to celebrate the bounty and harvest of the earth, for which we are blessed, and October is more of a harvest month than cold and frequently bleak November. We could also combine Thanksgiving with Halloween for a super holiday weekend.

As of now, Christmas is so close to Thanksgiving that you hardly have time to catch your breath, and the holiday stress is upon you. Putting Thanksgiving in late October would balance thing off nicely: Labor Day in early September, then Thanksgiving in late October with Christmas and the Holiday season kicking in early December.

I think a petition to the President would be in order. The only problem is the Republicans would fight any initiative from Obama, and the whole concept would crash in flames. But file this one away for the future!

VIRTUE TRIUMPHS, EVERY NOW AND THEN

Well, maybe there is some justice left in this world. Maybe, occasionally, cream rises to the top and true ability can trump phony posturing.

Dancing with the Stars finally got it right and made Jennifer Gray and Derek Hough legitimate and deserved winners of the contest. Even the Palin Powerhouse of voluminous and staged phone calls for once were not enough to overcome true talent.

And in baseball two nice guys, both having overcome personal problems, are the M.V.P.s of both leagues: Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds in the National League, who overcame psychological problems due to the unexpected death of his father in 2009 and had an outstanding year in leading the Reds to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years; and Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, who overcame a background of alcoholism and drug abuse which had blighted his immense talent and set him back 5 years in development and has now won the batting title in the American League.

And Stan the Man Musial, one of the heroes of my young manhood, the great St. Louis
Cardinal outfielder for 20-odd years, Hall of Famer, married for 70 years, most beloved citizen of St. Louis---now he's a Medal of Freedom winner at age 90!

Yes. I'm happy to say, occasionally nice guys do finish first!

And a happy Thanksgiving and a host of blessings to you all!

OPERATION PALIN

I saw an excerpt from Baba Wawa's upcoming interview with Sarah Palin where Palin says she believes she can beat Barack Obama and is considering a run. This latter declaration hardly comes as a shock since she has been running from the day after the election of 2008. I also see in a poll that 80% of Republicans favor her. It makes me wonder how I ever could have been affiliated with that party. She is relatively young and attractive, splendid qualities but not necessarily paramount in determining suitability for the Presidency. She is shrewd and has latched on to that malaise and winter of our discontent so prevalent today in our faltering economy.

She has a huge "P.R." force working for her, and I think it is reflected in the recent Dancing with the Stars results where "Operation Bristol" has mounted an incredibly effective campaign to take Bristol Palin undeservedly to the finals of the dancing show. I bet it's all part of that smooth machine generating publicity for the Palin name.

Are you getting as tired of soundbites and image-making as I am?

THEY WAS ROBBED

Our oldest daughter talked us into watching Dancing with the Stars. We have not watched every episode but enough to keep up with the contestants. We did watch the semi-finals last night and were shocked and chagrined to see that Bristol Palin qualified for next week's finals and that the singer Brandy and her partner Machs, one of the two best pairs in the competition, who had even scored a perfect thirty (10-10-10 from the three judges) on one of their routines the night before, were eliminated.

I've got nothing against Bristol Palin, in spite of the idiocy of her mother, and she seems a nice girl who has improved as a dancer as the weeks ensued. But she and her partner weren't in the same league as Brandy and Machs and consistently had the lowest scores from the judges week after week. What kept them alive was the voice of the people, who obviously favor publicity over talent. I know, I know, democracy and its rights and all that jazz...

This year's competition featured some of the better dancers in Star's history, especially Brandy and Machs and Jennifer Grey (Baby in Dirty Dancing) and partner Derek who stood out above the pack. I was really looking forward to a shoot-out next week between these two talented pairs. Now I would not be surprised if Miss Notorious and Famous will win the whole shebang---undeservedly---because of Mama's fame. There ain't no justice. In this case, democracy failed.

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

Finally, a voice of reason is heard from the Republicans. Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, long respected for his intellect, integrity and expertise in foreign policy, made the following comments in an article in Politics Daily. I quote:

"Among some in Democratic leadership and the media, "anger" is shorthand for dismissing the scope and legitimacy of frustration -- which found expression in the tea party movement -- with the current direction of federal policy. But whatever criticisms may be leveled at a particular tea party spokesperson or candidate, it is unfair -- and foolish -- to view the movement and the more than one-third of Americans who say they support its objectives as an irresponsible fringe. The vast majority are responsible citizens convinced that federal tax, spending and regulatory policies are fundamentally off-track -- so much so that they seriously threaten future prosperity and freedom, requiring ordinary individuals to become actively involved in the political process to set things right. This is how it is supposed to work in a representative system.

It is also mistaken, in my view, for those who applaud the November election outcome to focus primarily on voter anger...

I respectfully disagree with a "just say no" approach. Opposing unsound administration policies remains important. But simple, unadorned "opposition" is mistaken, from both the policy and political perspectives. "

Richard Lugar was once considered a possible Presidential candidate, but his quiet understated style lacked voter sex appeal. He continues to stand as an example of sound reasoning and judgment in a political arena continuously fraught with posturing and soundbites. May he and a few similar colleagues of both parties be heard! Right now we need more of such voices to speak out.

LOTSA BAD NEWS BUT A FEW BITS OF SUNSHINE

It's been a long month. My wife and I arrived home yesterday after thirteen days in Atlanta with our middle daughter who had surgery but is progressing well. Prior to that we had visited our youngest daughter who had suffered a concussion, hematomas and lots of stitches in a bike accident. She is much improved but must be careful for some time. We are catching our collective breaths before we return for Thanksgiving with youngest daughter and family on the east coast of Florida.

Obama had a bad week abroad, as well, running into international resistance to his proposed fiscal plans at the G-20 meetings, failing to reach a trade agreement with South Korea and sparring with China over their monetary policy. He is rapidly learning that national self-interest trumps international agreements.

The one bright international event was the freeing in Myanmar (Burma) of that amazing freedom fighter/woman, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was allowed to go free after seven and a half years of house arrest. Here's hoping freeedom can ultimately triumph over the military junta and despotic warlords of Burma. She won a free and legitimate election as President of the country some years ago but was not permitted to serve and then effectively jailed by the generals.

So, between Aung San and my two recovering daughters, things are looking up! Maybe the President will get lucky, too, but it looks like a stormy course ahead.

A NEW CAREER FOR GOLDEN OLDIES

My wife and I have been staying in Atlanta with our middle daughter, who is recovering nicely from a hysterectomy. It is important that she not try to do too much immediately, not go up and down stairs too often (which is tricky because she lives in a three-floor townhouse), not bend too much, etc. She is an exercise nut in excellent condition with a resting pulse of 55 beats per minute due to spinning bike classes, so this good health speeds up the recovery process.

My wife and I feel like a hired couple of butler and maid: cooking, cleaning, shopping---all the domestic bit---while the daughter takes it easy and spends most of the time talking on the phone with a myriad of friends and well-wishers. The only bad part of the process is the eternal stairs. As a couple of golden oldies, we quickly discover our knees, feet and arthritis take their toll.

Atlanta is a lovely city with hills and dales and striking scenery, especially with the leaves beginning to turn. Geographically, it is really spread out with an Interstate system that is a necessary evil. Now living on a small island in Florida, we don't do a lot of interstate driving, except for short spurts on I-75 around Fort Myers, Florida, so the maze of interstates and belt systems of Atlanta can be a bir daunting. Rush hour is a real challenge with a host of competitive aggressive drivers jockeying for position on their commutes to work. When I drive, I try to avoid the interstates wherever possible, and my daughter ihas provided me with some pleasant alternate routes.

Just to let you know: if you require a couple for domestic service, my wife and I are available. But we must insist on working on a one-level house! Plus we don't come cheap!

THE ALARM JUST WENT OFF

O.K., already: the G.O.P. won big. The people have spoken, and they want change, for sure.
A host of theories abound as to the reasons for the Obama shellacking.

The theory that makes most sense to me is that the top priority of the American people is for jobs creation---the old "It's the economy, stupid", the famous Bill Clinton campaign reminder---not the emphasis and time spent on health care reform. I don't think it is a total repudiation of the President as much as criticism of his priorities. I know he tried to enact measures to improve the economy, but the time spent and publicity generated by the health care debate grabbed the headlines and got the public attention.

Now he has two years to mend his image. He must make a total effort for bipartisanship and be willing to horse trade and compromise---without forsaking his basic principles. I hope John Boehner, who claims he wants to be remembered as a statesmanlike Majority Leader, can put the good of the country as his first priority. After reading the asinine remarks of Minority Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, to the effect that the number one priority of the G.O.P. should be to make Obama a one-term president, I have serious doubts about his sense of priorities to the national interest. Of couse, he wants his party to have the next president, but right now the precarious state of the economy is obviously the prime concern, and we don't need this kind of parochial posturing.

We all know, historically, a lot can happen in two years and that these yo-yo swings are frequent in our political process. Learn your lesson, Mr. President. Communicate and connect with the people. Be a bit less cerebral and detached and more emotional and caring in your approach to the people. Make the economy the top priority, which would include involving the Republicans in the study and analysis process. Open the health care debate to bipartisan reform.

You've had your wake-up call...