The Other 1600 Pennsylvania Avenues

I happened across this post at Ironic Sans which has Google street views of other 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue locations across the United States. It's rather fascinating. I'm pretty sure I prefer the one in the nation's capitol.

From George W to George W

It's been about 20 years since I've stepped foot in the National Portrait gallery but it has always remained by favorite museum. Their collection of presidential portraits has always fascinated me. Today, another was added to the collection as George W. Bush's portrait, painted by a Yale classmate, was unveiled along with a portrait of First Lady Laura Bush. Quipped the president: "That means this exhibit now has an interesting symmetry. It starts with George W. — and ends with George W."

Though the painting represents a strong likeness of the president, I am bothered that it was not a formal pose like that of the other 41 presidents, with the president lacking a coat and tie. I find this somewhat ironic in that the Bush White House is rather formal and President Bush is rarely seen in the West Wing without a coat and tie (unlike his immediate predecessor). According to the AP, "Bush wanted painter Robert Anderson, a Yale classmate of the president's, to give him a more informal look for his likeness at the National Portrait Gallery. Anderson painted the portrait to engage viewers with the president in a 'personal and conversational manner,' according to an event program." He got his wish.

Big 3 Finally Get Their Pittance

Finally.

According to the Detroit Free Press: "President George W. Bush this morning announced plans to immediately extend $13.4 billion to struggling Detroit automakers, adding that in normal times it is a step he would be unlikely to take. It signals the end of an anxious week for Detroit’s auto industry, with worries that the Bush administration might not move fast enough to keep General Motors and Chrysler LLC from collapsing, which both said could occur if they didn’t receive a quick infusion of capital. The terms of the loans authorize $4 billion each for GM and Chrysler on Dec. 29 and another $5.4 billion for GM on Jan. 16....In the end, Bush felt he had no choice – he said in his statement this morning that the necessary legal and financial preparations for an orderly bankruptcy were not in place and a disorderly one could have disastrous effects – and authorized the $13.4 billion from the Wall Street cash."

From President Bush's statement this morning: "This is a difficult situation that involves fundamental questions about the proper role of government. On the one hand, government has a responsibility not to undermine the private enterprise system. On the other hand, government has a responsibility to safeguard the broader health and stability of our economy.
Addressing the challenges in the auto industry requires us to balance these two responsibilities. If we were to allow the free market to take its course now, it would almost certainly lead to disorderly bankruptcy and liquidation for the automakers. Under ordinary economic circumstances, I would say this is the price that failed companies must pay –- and I would not favor intervening to prevent the automakers from going out of business. But these are not ordinary circumstances. In the midst of a financial crisis and a recession, allowing the U.S. auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action. The question is how we can best give it a chance to succeed. Some argue the wisest path is to allow the auto companies to reorganize through Chapter 11 provisions of our bankruptcy laws -– and provide federal loans to keep them operating while they try to restructure under the supervision of a bankruptcy court. But given the current state of the auto industry and the economy, Chapter 11 is unlikely to work for American automakers at this time. American consumers understand why: If you hear that a car company is suddenly going into bankruptcy, you worry that parts and servicing will not be available, and you question the value of your warranty. And with consumers hesitant to buy new cars from struggling automakers, it would be more difficult for auto companies to recover."

The restructuring will be painful for the companies that take the loans--GM and Chrysler for now--and for the UAW. According to The Hill: "Bush said conditions for the loans were similar to those considered by Congress, where a bailout package was approved by the House last week but was blocked in the Senate by Republicans. The president stated that companies accepting the loans would have three months to offer plans for restructuring themselves into viable companies. Those that fail will have to repay the loans by March 31, he said. Bush said the timeframe would also give companies time to draw up orderly plans for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. He said the credit crunch troubling the wider economy, which has led to the weakest auto sales since World War II, meant auto companies had not had time to prepare for an orderly bankruptcy. Last week’s package collapsed in the Senate over GOP demands that the UAW agree to a date certain in 2009 when U.S. worker wages, benefits and pensions would be leveled with those paid by foreign auto companies producing in the U.S. The UAW said it could agree to such a date in 2011, when its current contract expires....On Friday, Bush said workers would have to agree to wages competitive with foreign companies, but he did not mention any specific date."

I've said before--why are the Big 3 American automakers being held to a different standard than the financial companies? Over the last several months, "the Bush Administration returned $158 billion to taxpayers in the form of rebates to try and stimulate consumer spending. It also provided a $29 billion loan so that JP Morgan Chase would rescue Bear Stearns; bailed out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the mortgage giants, AIG the world's biggest insurer; rescued Citigroup and earmarked $700 billion of taxpayer money to protect Wall Street from collapse." (For a nice commentary on where the $700 billion TARP money is going, see this article in Salon). AIG alone has gotten $150 billion, no strings attached even as their executives are cashing in. I just don't get it.

As Detroit Burns...Our Government Fiddles

We are a week out from Christmas, two weeks out from the New Year, and the Big 3 American automakers still wait for a crucial lifeline from the federal government. The Democratic-led Congress tried and failed last week to deliver a much needed shot of capital to Detroit. Meanwhile, President Bush says he is still weighing his options, including a "managed bankruptcy."

As options are weighed, the crisis for GM and Chrysler, in particular, deepens: "GM and Chrysler have said they need at least $8 billion by the end of the month to avoid bankruptcy and at least $14 billion to get through the first quarter. Chrysler said Wednesday it would shutter all 30 of its factories for one month and idle 46,000 workers, while GM said it was delaying a key supply plant for the Chevrolet Volt, as both attempted to avoid imminent collapse while the Bush administration pondered its rescue. Chrysler's move signals the first of a cascade of dire actions that will result if the automakers don't receive government aid. Following a 47% decline in sales last month, some Chrysler plants will be closed until February. While the company has a swollen inventory of new vehicles, it records revenues when a vehicle leaves the factory." If either GM or Chrysler fail, Ford is likely to follow shortly thereafter.

As I've stated before, collapse of any of the Big 3 would have catastrophic consequences for the American economy: "A bankruptcy filing by either company would mean production cuts and plant closings, and tens of thousands of workers would be fired, industry analysts say. That would cause many suppliers to collapse, triggering more job losses, straining the cities and states where the car and parts companies operate, as well as federal safety-net programs. It would also deliver another psychological blow to consumers and a major shock to Main Street following the crises on Wall Street."

In such a scenario, how much unemployment insurance would have to be paid? How could states such as Ohio, currently facing a $7 billion deficit over the next years, possibly afford the deluge it would face in the unemployment lines? Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), echoed these sentiments on Sunday's Face the Nation: "We’re already in a deep recession in my state, as we are in most of the 50 states....And this would just plunge us deeper into economic problems, into a hole that it would take a long, long time to extricate ourselves from."

It is time for our elected officials to stop fiddling--Rome is burning.

Eliminating White House Homeland Security Adviser and Council Shortsighted

Is this the end of the short line for the White House homeland security adviser (HSA) and Homeland Security Council (HSC)? I hope not. However, according to Shane Harris of the National Journal and others, the incoming Obama administration is seriously considering doing away with both post-9/11 creations. In my opinion, this is a grave error and one that should be thought through more carefully.

A Little History

On October 8, 2001, President Bush issued Executive Order 13228 which created both the HSA and HSC, as well as the now-defunct Office of Homeland Security, the pre-cursor to the Department of Homeland Security. According to Section 5 of E.O. 13228, the HSC "shall be responsible for advising and assisting the President with respect to all aspects of homeland security. The Council shall serve as the mechanism for ensuring coordination of homeland security-related activities of executive departments and agencies and effective development and implementation of homeland security policies....The Assistant to the President for Homeland Security shall be responsible, at the President's direction, for determining the agenda, ensuring that necessary papers are prepared, and recording Council actions and Presidential decisions." The HSC was modeled after the National Security Council and the HSA was modeled after the National Security Adviser.

Why They May be Harder to Kill than First Thought

Reorganizing the White House by folding the Homeland Security Council into the National Security Council and doing away with the Homeland Security Adviser position altogether will be much more difficult than speculation suggests. Why? Because the legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security also made permanent the HSC and HSA. Public Law 107-296 (Sect. 901) provides statutory authority for the existence of both the Homeland Security Council and Homeland Security Adviser. In fact, the National Security Adviser and Homeland Security Adviser are the only two White House commissioned officers mandated by Congressional statute (the NSA and NSC were created as a result of the National Security Act of 1947 and subsequent legislation). Thus, a president cannot just choose to disband the HSC or not fill the position of HSA--though he can ignore them as Harry Truman initially did after the NSC was foisted upon him by Congress. An Act of Congress would be necessary to reorganize the homeland and national security machinery and this would not be a slam dunk by any means.

Why Keep Both?

Though the HSC and HSA were created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, their value lies not in coordinating in the counter terrorism area. This is something that the NSC could likely handle as counter terrorsim has a foreign policy/national security component anyway. Rather, it is in areas such as response to natural disasters (such as hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods), man-made accidents (such as chemical spills, nuclear reactor meltdowns), and public health emergencies (such as SARS, avian flu) that the HSC and HSA are critical components to a White House advisory system inherently biased toward the sexier problems of foreign policy and international intrigue. In fact, events in these areas--particularly natural disasters--will occur on President Obama's watch at a much more frequent rate than the occasional terrorist incident. Just look at the path of destruction, human and economic, produced just in the 2008 hurricane season alone ($54 billion in property damage).

In the Clinton years, the head of FEMA, James Lee Witt, was Bill Clinton's emergency management point person, had cabinet-level status, and was given carte blanche in terms of resources and access to the president. As is well-known, FEMA and it's director were downgraded in status in the early Bush 43 years and eventually enveloped into DHS upon its creation in 2003. In the place once occupied by a strong FEMA and well-respected FEMA Director resides the HSA and HSC. Downgrading and/or eliminating these young institutions would be the equivalent of what happened in 2001 to FEMA. Can the National Security Adviser really add more responsibility to his/her portfolio? They are already responsible for coordinating policy and advice about everything happening outside of America's borders--do they need to be responsible for everything happening inside as well? Even if you create two strong deputy national security advisers responsible for domestic (including homeland security) and foreign issues respectively, they will lack the authority and status of their boss. Could the deputy NSA for domestic affairs really command the attention or have the necessary access to the president or even the NSA on important homeland security matters? And what if the NSA completely devalues the role and import of homeland security matters or simply defines it as counter terrorism, as is often the case, to the detriment of emergency preparedness and disaster response? Hurricane Katrina showed the danger of a homeland security system slanted toward prevention of and preparedness for domestic terrorism at the expense of natural disaster preparedness and response. I hope this country and the incoming White House don't repeat the same mistakes. But I fear they are about to.

Bowling Over the Obama White House

Even in during the primary campaign there was talk, spurred on by the candidate himself, that a President Obama would consider replacing the White House bowling alley with a basketball court. I suspect there is not enough space to put in a hoops court--particularly height-wise. The current one-lane bowling alley is located under the driveway of the North Portico. It was installed by Richard Nixon--he and Pat were avid bowlers. The first bowling alley was built as a present to Harry Truman (who was not a bowling fan) in the space now occupied by the Situation Room.

Which brings us to today. A coalition of bowling organizations are offering to completely renovate the White House bowling alley and bring it into the 21st Century. According to their press release: "The enhanced ultra-modern lane would include a completely new technology surface, cutting-edge bowling balls, a top-of-the-line high definition scoring system and light display, a digital stereo sound system, club seating, Bowlopolis kids digital graphics, and modern electronic bumpers."

The current alley is in dire need of a face lift. Such a renovation would be a win-win for the declining bowling industry as well as the White House and the President-elect himself who clearly needs a little practice at the game (he scored a 37 in a March campaign appearance at a Pennsylvania bowling alley). I'm sure there are other spaces inside the White House or elsewhere on the grounds where an indoor basketball court could be constructed.

C-SPAN's White House Week

For all White House aficionados, C-SPAN is broadcasting a week long series of documentaries about the White House this week. So pop the popcorn or program the DVR if you are fascinated by that famous home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Thoughts on the Shoe Attack

The first time I saw the video I was struck by 3 things:

1. That President Bush is very spry--he avoided not one but two shoes hurled at him at close range--and did so easily. Not bad for a man in his 60s.
2. That the Iraqi journalist who hurled the shoes was able to get a second throw off--it seemed to take way too long for all, especially the U.S. Secret Service, to react.
3. That no one grabbed the President to hustle him out of the room. This is the prime example of opening up yourself to a secondary attack--as everyone is focused on the shoe thrower, it opens up all sorts of opportunity for a second attacker to take advantage of the hullabaloo.

Press Secretary Dana Perino was injured in the attack--the victim of getting hit in the eye by a microphone.

A number of Iraqis and Arabs across the Middle East have expressed pride over the attack on the American president. Given the controversial war and the large numbers of Iraqi dead and wounded, this reaction is to be expected of some. I am, however, disappointed but not surprised that so many Americans take such joy in seeing an American president attacked on foreign soil (oh, and I do think it was an attack--those shoes were not lobbed at the president but thrown full speed at his head). Regardless of what anyone thinks of President Bush, no one--Iraqi, American, or anyone else--should condone what happened. I hope the shoe thrower is prosecuted to the fullest extent of Iraqi law.

No Western White House for Obama

Modern presidents often have a secluded place to vacation away from the White House. Although all presidents have the benefit of a short helicopter trip to Camp David to go to, most of our modern presidents choose to go to their personal residences or summer homes for as much of a vacation as they can get. In fact, George W. Bush, the current president, has spent a record number of days on vacation: almost 900, most of them on his ranch in the very secluded Crawford, Texas. I would argue, however, that presidents are never on vacation and that because of modern technology and communications, where they are located is relatively irrelevant. George H.W. Bush would often spend his down time at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. Ronald Reagan vacationed often at his California ranch. Bill Clinton is the only president in the last 30 years not to vacation at his family estate--because he didn't own one having moved right from the Arkansas governor's mansion to the White House.

Which brings us to Barack Obama. Reports are that Obama and family will achieve their R&R at their Chicago home, deep in the heart of Chicago's South Side. In fact, Obama will be the first modern president to have his primary "vacation" home in a large urban area which will cause challenges for the U.S. Secret Service as well as for the First Family's neighbors. According to the AP: "For security reasons, the Obamas' urban oasis already has changed. Their large red brick house doesn't have the benefit of being surrounded by acres of land like other presidential retreats, so the city streets near it look like a military zone with blocks-long metal and concrete barriers. Secret Service agents and police patrol the area." As someone who has driven through Chicago many times and dealt with the frustration of gridlocked interstates and even more gridlocked city streets, I feel for the residents of Obama's neighborhood. However, he and his family have earned the right to return to their real home as often as they wish; I'm guessing most of his neighbors will understand.

Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to you today to ask that you, Treasury Secretary Paulson, and Fed Chairman Bernanke do something that Southern Republican Senators are unwilling to do: help save the American auto industry. America is depending on you. Though your retirement is just over a month away, you are still the president and you have all the powers of the office. The problems the Big 3 face are beyond petty party politics. It goes beyond the GOP trying to deal a death blow to the UAW. It goes beyond regional politics--North versus South, American car companies versus foreign transplants.

I know it's going to cost money, a lot of money. But the financial industry was worth saving and that cost tax payers twenty times what the Big 3 are asking for. The financial industry doesn't make anything--it moves paper around. Our auto makers are the manufacturing backbone of our nation. Could we really call ourselves a superpower anymore if we don't make are own vehicles? Will our Army Jeeps be made by Toyota? Honda? Kia? VW?

Ten percent of the American economy is dependent upon the auto industry. If our Big 3 go under, the ripple effect will be astronomical and will cost our economy much more than the tens of billions needed to prop up the industry. Think of all the unemployment payments that will be paid out when that happens. Oh, and those American parts suppliers that the foreign transplants use for their plants in places like Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee won't be there. Guess where those transplants will shift their manufacturing--back to their home countries.

So Mr. President, I am asking you, imploring you, to give the car companies the life saving shot of capital they need in this woeful economy. GM is already on life support having announced it will mothball 20 factories in early 2009 and cutting 250,000 vehicles from production. This goes beyond our auto industry though, the American economy is reeling. If the Big 3 go under, our economy may plunge into hardship not seen since the 1930s.

It's up to you and your team Mr. President. The Congress tried and failed. You are the last hope. Please don't let us down.

Yet More Members of Congress Dogged by Scandal

Charlie Rangel (D-NY), the 78 year old chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, is the latest Democrat reeling from an ethics investigation. Rangel came to Congress after defeating longtime incumbent Democrat Adam Clayton Powell in 1970 in a five way primary and went on to win the general election in the Harlem district with 88% of the vote. At the time, Powell was reeling because of ethics issues). The House Ethics Committee is looking into several questionable actions by Rangel including "whether Rangel helped preserve a lucrative tax break that benefited an oil-drilling company last year, while its chief executive was pledging $1 million to a college center named in the congressman's honor. The ethics committee also is looking at Rangel's use of congressional stationery to ask foundations to support the school project; using four rent-stabilized apartments in a Harlem apartment building; and not reporting or paying taxes on $75,000 in rental income from his villa in the Dominican Republic." House Speaker hopes to have the investigation wrapped up by January 3, when the 111th Congress will begin.

On the other side of the aisle, Don Young, Alaska's lone House member, has stepped down from his position as ranking Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee after pressure from House Minority Leader John Boehner. Young, who "once said Alaska national parks and wilderness areas were for 'jet-setting hippie backpackers',...is being probed by grand juries in Washington, D.C., and Alaska, mainly for earmarks during his tenure as chairman of the House Transportation Committee."

Seattlepi.com has a great description of the mercurial Young: "Self-described as 'the congressman for all Alaskans', Young was elected to Congress in 1973, and is the second longest serving Republican member of the House. He is best known in the 'lower 48' as champion of the 'bridges to nowhere,' federal pork barrel projects that would have linked Anchorage and Ketchikan to sparsely populated destinations. In Alaska, Young is famous for malaprops (e.g. 'bladderdash'), faithfully recorded by 'The Ear' column in the Daily News. The 'alpha wolf,' as Young once called himself, has been a mean man with whom to tangle. He has made not-infrequent threats against fellow members on the House floor.Young once waved a walrus' male sex organ in the air at a House hearing. On another occasion, the congressman put his hand into a leg trap, supposedly to demonstrate that it was a humane way to capture and kill wolves. And, most famously, he denounced National Endowment to the Arts funding while speaking to a high school assembly in Fairbanks. Pressed to give reasons, he cited a proposed grant to the late homo-erotic photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The kids pressed further, and Young used a obscene expression for gay sex to describe scenes from Mapplethorpe's photos. Apologies followed."

Priceless. Expect Young and Stevens to be rooming with each other soon at a Federal penitentiary, unless they can cut a deal of course...

"I Come From Michigan"

Truly one of the best speeches I've seen delivered by a member of Congress fighting for his constituents. Thaddeus McCotter, Republican from Michigan's 11th District, spoke in support of the $14 billion auto industry bridge loan. The legislation passed the House late yesterday 237-170, but faces a massive uphill climb in the U.S. Senate due to resistance from Senate Republicans many of whom are Southern legislators whose states are populated by foreign automakers. McCotter's impassioned 8 & 1/2 minute speech is all the more impressive since it was delivered extemporaneously.

If the embed below isn't working, here is a link to the video.

Move Over George Ryan

The alleged (and I use that term loosely) corruption charges facing Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich reminded me that Illinois politics is old school. However, in the new era, old school politicians often end up in prison. Since 1972, three Illinois governors, Otto Kerner, Jr. (D), Daniel Walker (D), and George Ryan (R) have ended up in prison all for some form of corruption. I hope Governor Ryan is ready for a roommate...

For Sale: U.S. Senate Seat in Illinois

Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, was taken into custody early this morning on federal charges of corruption. Though most of the rest of the country was surprised by today's developments, Illinoisans likely were not considering the fact that the highly unpopular Blagojevich has been under investigation for three solid years. Among the jaw dropping charges against Blagojevich are attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, trading jobs and favors for campaign contributions, and attempting to pressure the Tribune Company to fire editors hostile to the Governor.

According to the AP: "Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges he brazenly conspired to sell or trade President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder as part of what federal prosecutors called a 'political corruption crime spree'....Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in an attempt to strong-arm the newspaper into firing editorial writers who had criticized him. The 51-year-old Democrat was also accused of engaging in pay-to-play politics - that is, doling out jobs, contracts and appointments in return for campaign contributions....Federal investigators bugged the governor's campaign offices and tapped his home phone, capturing conversations laced with profanity and tough-guy talk from the governor. Chicago FBI chief Robert Grant said even seasoned investigators were stunned by what they heard, particularly since the governor had known for three years was under investigation for alleged hiring fraud."

The Blagojevich, William Jefferson, and Ted Stevens scandals demonstrate that corruption is a bipartisan affair. It's a shame that the great majority of public servants are tainted by the brazenly arrogant, morally challenged, parasitic narcissists who work among them. I am just glad that Blagojevich proved that his IQ is smaller than his shoe size, thus ensuring his arrest and public flogging before he could appoint someone in Obama's place. How can a guy that knows he is under investigation, and has been for three years, act in such a blatantly self-destructive and arrogant manner? If the charges are true (and it looks like it has all been recorded), Blagojevich will be heading to the Federal penitentiary. Perhaps he could room with Duke Cunningham. Considering the circumstances, pressure will mount to call a special election to fill the seat rather than have Blagojevich appoint someone. One question that will be worth watching in the next several weeks: did any of the prospective Senate candidates talk with Blagojevich and agree to bribe him for or bid on the seat. Stay tuned...I have a feeling this is all just the tip of the iceberg.

Hey Dr. Phil, Still Think We're Whining?

It was only five short months ago that former Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX), an economics professor by trade, VP of UBS Investment Bank, and adviser to Senator John McCain, told an audience that the United States had become a "nation of whiners" and that America was only suffering a mental recession, not a real one. For the record, McCain quickly repudiated Gramm's remarks but the damage had already been inflicted on his campaign as most Americans knew that Gramm had his head firmly implanted in the sand.

Well the numbers are out for November and I think I can safely say that this whole recession thing ain't in our heads. Last month alone, 533,000 Jobs were lost in the U.S.--the biggest one month drop since 1974. Over the last year, the country lost 1.9 million jobs, 1.2 million of which were eliminated since just September. Although some point to the 6.7% unemployment rate to argue that things aren't that bad, that figure is misleading: "The unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent, up just two-tenths of a percentage point from October, but up six-tenths over the last three months. More than 420,000 men and women who had been working or seeking work in October left the labor force in November. More significantly, the unemployment rate does not include those too discouraged to look for work any longer or those working fewer hours than they would like. Add those people to the roster of the unemployed, and the rate hit a record 12.5 percent in November, up 1.5 percentage points since September."

I knew I wasn't imagining it...

Voters Defrost Freezer King

The voters of Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District have spoken--indicted Democratic Congressman William Jefferson has been turned out. Challenger Republican Anh"Joseph" Cao will become the first Vietnamese American ever to serve in Congress when sworn in next month. A lawyer and community organizer, Cao edged Jefferson 50%-47% in the district that Jefferson has represented since 1991.

Caroline, JFK Jr., and Twists of Fate

Reports abound that Caroline Kennedy, the oldest child of President John Kennedy and the niece of Senator Robert Kennedy, is interested in being appointed to Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat when she vacates it to be come Secretary of State. Her cousin, Robert Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer, withdrew himself from consideration a few days ago.

Politics, like life, is driven by individual human decisions, actions, and external happenings. Often, it is the twists of fate that shape the political and societal landscape. Earlier events and decisions affect everything that comes after. An assassination, a decision to go to war, a stock market crash all impact decisions and events which come after. In this context, the potential of Caroline Kennedy to hold a senate seat from New York reminds me of events which occurred almost decade ago.

On July 16, 1999, John Kennedy Jr., Caroline's brother, decided to fly his wife and sister-in-law to his cousin Rory's wedding in Hyannis, Massachusetts. They never made it--the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean killing all aboard. The 38 year old Kennedy was primed to enter the world of politics at the time of his death. In 1995 he had launched a chic political magazine, George, and was very much in the public eye.

About the time of JFK Jr.'s death, Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced he would not seek reelection to the New York Senate seat he had held since 1977, and Kennedy was a presumptive front-runner to replace him (a Guardian article reported a 65% approval rating for Kennedy at the time). Based on his family name and lineage, his popularity, his comfort in the spotlight, he would have been a shoo-in for the seat, even if Hillary Clinton had decided to challenge him in the primary (which would have been doubtful she would have even considered it if JFK Jr. were in the race). Assuming he would have won the seat in 2000 and had a scandal-free eight years, it is conceivable that Democrats would have looked to him in 2008 to run for president. Perhaps we would be discussing Kennedy's transition right now and there would be umpteen stories about the third son to follow a father to the White House.

Instead, on that foggy night almost 10 years ago, the world of politics--and perhaps the world--changed when John Kennedy Jr's plane plunged into the cold waters of the Atlantic. Rather, we are talking about his sister Caroline being appointed to the seat John may well have won in 2000 and used as a stepping stone to the presidency.

Trouble Up North

It is amazing that citizens in the United States could be unaware that Canada, our friendly neighbor to the north, is going through historic tumult with regards to its political system. Of course, the American media has yet to really focus on the crisis as it dissects every last angle to the Hillary Clinton nomination as Secretary of State.

Seven weeks ago a national election was held--in Canada. The conservative party won a plurality of the vote, 38%, and Stephen Harper became prime minister. Now, the minority factions have banned together in a coalition to unseat the prime minister and call for a no confidence vote. Harper has responded by suspending parliament.

These maneuvers make the 2000 Fiasco in Florida look tame in comparison. The coalition is composed of the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Quebecois, a fringe separatist party bent on independence for Quebec. Polls are showing that 3 in 4 Canadians are nervous about the situation and about half would vote for the beleaguered prime minister if the election were held now, significantly up from election day.

I'm guessing that some in the United States are secretly hoping for Quebec to split off and for Canada to break up. I have long heard of American secret and not-so-secret plans to annex parts of Canada should this happen. In fact, this is not recent, post-9/11 exercise. Plans have existed for decades. For interesting reading on the topic, check out the following WaPo article titled "Raiding the Icebox."

43 Moving to the Big D

The Bushes have purchased a home in Dallas, Texas, where the First Family will move upon retiring from the White House. It was announced earlier this year that the Bush 43 library will be built at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The property abuts the property of Tom Hicks, current owner of the Texas Rangers, that bought the baseball franchise from an ownership group of which George W. Bush was a part.

First Lady Laura Bush announced the move officially at a National Park Foundation event at Williams Preparatory School in Dallas: "'I guess I can announce it in front of the press. President Bush and I will be moving back to Dallas, which is where we lived' before Mr. Bush was elected governor in 1994, she said. 'After 14 years away, we're excited about having this chance to live here again.'"

The future Bush 43 library will give Texas three presidential libraries including the Bush 41 library at Texas A&M in College Station and the LBJ library at the University of Texas in Austin. Mrs. Bush is a graduate of SMU.

Time to Open the Books

Congress and President-elect Barack Obama are expressing concern over lack of information about how the bailout money is being allocated and spent: "House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., blasted Treasury on Wednesday following the release a day earlier of a report saying the government has no effective way to verify that money spent as part of the $700 billion rescue will increase lending. 'The bad news was confirmation by the [Government Accountability Office] in its first report about the program that Treasury has no way to measure whether taxpayer funds invested in banks are being used in accordance with the purpose of the law — to increase lending,' Frank said. 'The much worse news is Treasury’s response that it does not even have the intention of doing so.'"

Yep, time to shine a little sunshine on the process. It's interesting how AIG, Citigroup, and others didn't have to submit detailed plans on how they were going to reorganize and use taxpayer money and the Big 3 automakers did.