Category Archives: Electoral Politics

Money Can Buy

11/5/2009 – 10:52 am

I know you’re sick of all the election analysis. Me, too. It was the off-est of off years and yet we beat it to death with talking and I don’t want to add to that. Except. I read New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg spent at least $90 million getting elected to his third term in […]

By floegel | Also posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Summer’s Over

9/17/2009 – 12:42 pm

Labor Day was late this year, so even though we had the warmest weather ever for our annual camping trip up near the Canadian border, the leaves were more than usually tinged with color. One mountain maple blazed fiery red on the shore of the reservoir as I floated along in a canoe at sunset. […]

By floegel | Also posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Edward Moore Kennedy 1932-2009

8/26/2009 – 1:46 pm

I’m on vacation on Cape Cod this week, the first relaxed visit I’ve had here in 35 years. My cell phone died Monday and I scoured the web looking for a store where I could replace it. The only one on the cape is in Hyannis, so I got in the car this morning and […]

By floegel | Also posted in Asides | Tagged | Comments (1)

Withholding Consent

7/9/2009 – 10:41 am

During last week’s Fourth of July festivities, it occurred to me that the celebration of our nation’s founding commemorates a political act. We could reasonably date the founding of the United States to the battle of Lexington and Concord or the battle of Saratoga or the battle of Yorktown. It’s true America was born in […]

By floegel | Also posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Act Accordingly

6/18/2009 – 11:16 am

There are two ways of relating to government: 1) I think my government is acting in my best interest – and act accordingly or 2) I think my government is not acting in my best interest – and act accordingly. Most of us fall between 1) and 2). I was closer to 2) for eight […]

By floegel | Also posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Stupid Political Games

2/19/2009 – 11:42 am

Some people don’t like politics because it often seems so stupid and immature. Strike that – people don’t like politics because it often is stupid and immature. In the month since Barack Obama’s inauguration, we’ve been (mis)treated to some of the worst displays of puerile politics in recent memory, which might be amusing, if the […]

By floegel | Also posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Miracle on the Potomac

1/22/2009 – 8:37 am

Inauguration Day in Washington, DC was cold. Not Vermont cold, but around 30 degrees, cold enough when standing in one place for several hours on end. The sun poured from a clear sky and warmed my face. Adrienne and I were on the national mall Tuesday, proud to swell the ranks even if we represented […]

By floegel | Also posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)