Tag Archives: Barack Obama

Can I See Some ID?

5/17/2012 – 1:26 pm

I was in Washington a few weeks ago and attended an event at a bar.  I showed up with my colleague Charlie; we’re both in our 50s, our hair is gray or thinning or both, our faces seamed by decades of care.  No one could mistake us for teens, but we pulled out our photo [...]

By floegel | Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

We Are Still Married

5/10/2012 – 3:00 pm

“I have overwhelming respect for the sanctity of marriage,” says Vin Scully, voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers for 62 years in today’s New York Times.  Mr. Scully was referring to the marital discord of Frank and Jamie McCourt, the gajillionaires who lost control of the Dodgers in a messy divorce.
While I have not conducted [...]

By floegel | Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Accountability

4/19/2012 – 2:19 pm

What is a reasonable cost for a conference for 300 civil servants from across the western US?  Airfare, food, lodging, conference facilities, speakers, prep, etc., etc.  From the news stories, it’s clear that $823,000 is way too much.  Next year’s conference, I’m just guessing, will be substantially less extravagant, so let’s say $300,000.  That means [...]

By floegel | Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary, Economy, Energy, Oil | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Daddy Issues

12/15/2011 – 6:59 pm

Whatever happened to Leslie King, Jr?
He grew up to be president of the United States, but we know him as Gerald R. Ford, Jr.  Mr. Ford’s mother left his father (who was said to be abusive) 16 days after little Leslie’s birth.  Two years later, she married Gerald Ford, Sr. and though the future president [...]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary, Electoral Politics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

One Year Out

11/3/2011 – 3:33 pm

The presidential election is one year away.  What are we talking about?  Is Herman Cain a heinie-pincher?  Was Rick Perry drunk at the podium in New Hampshire?  Can Barack Obama win re-election?  For the answer to number three, see questions one and two.
Just like global warming, we’re getting used to this crap and we don’t [...]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary, Electoral Politics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How to Read the Washington Post

10/20/2011 – 1:17 pm

Sunday, the Washington Post published “Obama allies’ interests collide over Keystone pipeline,” which on its face is a news story.  It’s also a guide to life in our nation’s capital.
The gist of the story is that when it comes to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, the White House is pinched.  On one side are environmentalists, [...]

By floegel | Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary, Oil | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Race to the Bottom: Homestretch

9/1/2011 – 1:25 pm

In this space the first week of January 2004, I predicted it would be the year that would determine whether or not American democracy would survive.  In the last month of that same year, I was forced to conclude, with sorrow, that American democracy is doomed.  Although I’ve been allowed brief moments of hope since [...]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary, Economy, Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear Energy, Oceans, Oil | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)