Death of President George H.W. Bush

Yesterday I watched the coffin of our 41st president taken from the U.S. Capitol building to the National cemetery for his funeral service.

It was a service befitting someone of his great stature and with much military formality.

It was interesting to see all the living presidents in attendance.  Bill Clinton seemed to be talking Michelle Obama's ear off.  That is, until Donald and Ivanna Trump came in.  The Clintons looked straight ahead and did not acknowledge the Trumps.  I thought that was more than a bit petty.  This is not the time to do that.

I was happy to see that the Obamas did greet the Trumps.

The eulogies were wonderful and son George Bush's especially hit home.  I don't know how he didn't break down before he did.

Yesterday afternoon we went to some of our favorite watering holes and I was trying to think what I could wear to honor President Bush.  I settled on my USA baseball cap.  But when we got to Sunnyside, my buddy Mark came in wearing a USS San Jacinto tee shirt and a USS George H.K. Bush hat.

His father served on the USS San Jacinto with George Bush during World War II and Mark had given me a USS San Jacinto hat.  I didn't think about it, but wore it today.

JSS: Crummy Weather-- 1973 On WXRT-- Bears QB-- Obama's $400,000

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  CRUMMY WEATHER--  Someone sure ordered up a whole mess of it for us the next several days.   Highs from today to Monday from 48 to 55 degrees,  Rain forecast at 50% today and Monday and 80% Sat. and Sunday.  Also pretty brisk winds with up to 30 mph gusts.

And, we're getting into boating mode.  Not the next several days.

2.  1973 ON WXRT--  Saturday, April 30, Chicago's WXRT 93.1 FM, will be going back to 1973 for its Saturday Morning Flashback show from 8 a.m. to noon, CDST.  That was a real busy year for me.  It streams.

3.  BEARS QB--  So, DaBears gave up some third round draft choices to move up to get UNC qb Mitchell Trubiskey.  here's hoping DaBears will have shocked us and have actually picked a good quarterback.  The past choices haven't been too good.

4.  OBAMA'S $400,000--  The ex-Pres. is getting that to give a speech at a health care meeting.  I don't know about you, but our ex-government people should not be able to use their ex-office to get super rich like this.

The Rich Get Richer, We Get Poorer.  --RoadDog

Obama Is Time's Person of the Year...Again

From the Dec. 20, 2012, Chicago Tribune by Reuters and Tribune Staff.

He was Person of the Year in 2008 and repeated for 2012, mostly, I suppose, because of his presidential victory in November.  I'm a bit surprised though, because he has done little toward all that "CHANGE" he was promising, promising and promising back in 2008.

And, before that, has Illinois ever had a worse U.S. senator?  All he did was run for president.  No representation there.

Let's hope he actually does something to earn the honor this term.

Personally, my choice would have been the Middle Class for valiantly trying to hold on while the GRBs take steps to wipe them out and make themselves richer.  Either them, or the Unions who enabled so many to get into the middle class.  They are in a life and death battle with the GRBs (and their allies the Tea Party and that political party) to even survive.  They are on the ropes.

Over in my Cooter's History Thing Blog, I will post on Time's Man of the Year history in a little while.

Maybe Next Year Will Be Better.  --RoadDog

Come On, Enough's Enough!!

And, I'm afraid we're just getting started.  Read an article recently in the Chicago Tribune about Norfolk, Virgina, which is getting swamped with political ads from Obama and Romney.  While I was in North Carolina earlier this month, they were getting swamped as well.

If these political ads concentrated on what the candidate wanted to do, that would be one thing, but all these are amount to personal attacks.  The way I'm viewing them, even if they are only remotely true, is that the two men running for the top position in the country should probably best be considered as candidates for long jail terms.

I don't know what their "advisors" are saying to them, but, at this point I will probably have to vote for which ever one offends me the least, meaning, whoever has the fewest attack ads.  Even better, perhaps a viable Third Party can come together and give us an actual choice.

We are just now getting some of the negative ads here in Illinois.  No doubt, we've been spared till now because Illinois is not considered a swing state as the Land of Lincoln, once a Republican bastion (well, weren't the Southern states once "The Yellow Dog Democrats?), is expected to go for Obama.

It Is Going to be a Long Haul to November.  --RoadDog

On Obama and Boehner-- Part 2

ROUTE TO CONGRESS:

Obama-- Elected to Senate after Republican opponent was involved in sex scandal (the Jack Ryan divorce files). (Then there was Ryan's last name and the former governor.)

Roehner-- Elected to House after republican opponent was involved in a sex scandal (the Donald "Buzz" Lukens affair).


PARENTING:

Obama-- Father to two daughters.
Boehner-- Father to two daughters.


SMOKER:

Obama-- Former (In February, his wife said he quit last year.)
Boehner-- Current (He was spotted smoking last month but says he might quit someday.)

More To the Both of Them Than Meets the Eye. --RoadDog


UNIVERSAL TRUTH: Nothing sucks more than the moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

On Boehner and Obama-- Part 1

The July 27th Chicago Tribune had a funny comparison of House Speaker John Boehner and President Barack Obama as they squared off on the debt thing, comparing the two in seven areas.


SURNAME CHALLENGED:

Obama-- Even TV people have referred to him as Osama. (I have unintentionally done so several times. Some of my friends do it on purpose.)
Boehner-- Many pronounce his last name incorrectly the way it would appear to be with a silent 'h." Actually pronounced "BAY-ner."

SPORTS:

Obama-- Former high school athlete (basketball) who likes golf.
Boehner-- Former high school athlete (football) who likes golf.


DESCENT:

Obama-- Part Irish (all black according to his tax return).
Boehner-- Part Irish

PERSON OF COLOR:

Obama-- First African-American president. (No white parentage according to his tax return.)
Boehner-- Known for his deep tan. Obama once joked about him, "He's a person of color, although not a color that appears in the natural world." (Had a non-black said that, it would have been considered a racist remark.)

Some More Comparisons to Come. --RoadDog


UNIVERSAL TRUTHS: I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history when you die.

JSS: Crummy Weather-- Osama, Not Obama-- Great Fish Fry

JSS-- Just Some Stuff.


1. CRUMMY WEATHER-- After a fairly decent week, we arrive at the weekend with 50 degrees, blustery wind and rain bursts. Tomorrow, the high is expected to be 46. And, we can't even blame it on the infamous bad-weather-bringing Round Lake Carnival as it closed last week (unless they extended one more week which wouldn't surprise me).

Must be some of this Global Warming I hear so much about.


2. OSAMA, NOT OBAMA-- I try, but still confuse the two names when talking to folks. We did not kill Obama, it was the other guy as I have been corrected many times.


3. GREAT FISH FRY-- Yesterday drove to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and had the world's greatest fish fry at Popeye's (not the chicken chain), using a coupon they sent for my 60th birthday coming up in ten days. We got the broiled/fried combo with potato pancakes.

Great view of Geneva Lake, the 1930s Riviera Docks and the 1900s Gage Marine steamships.

Pretty Miserable Weather. --RoadDog


YOGI BERRA SAYS: Always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they might not come to yours.

News and Observation: The Prez Makes a Fashion Statement

Agree or disagree with President Obama, at least his choice of baseball teams to back is right on the mark. Even if he is throwing arm isn't quite all it could be.

It sure looked mighty good to see that black jacket with familiar script going down the front. That script? Sox, of course, and not that red stuff from Bean Town.

As dear old Andy the Clown would say, "G-o-o-o-o-o-o You White S-o-o-o-o-x!!!" Then light up his red nose. Now, there was a REAL White Sox tradition.

The Coz and Cruz are so proud.

As Is the Dog. --RoadDog

On-Line Headlines, Throughout the Evening

The November 5th Chicago Tribune did an hourly look at some news sites. Make sure you read the Onion's comments. They are hilarious, and as usual, VERY, VERY TONGUE-IN-CHEEK.

CNN.com

6 PM-- McCain, Obama split first two called states
7-- McCain wins SC, CNN predicts
8-- Obama to win Penn, CNN predicts
9-- Two red states turn blue, CNN projects
10-- CNN: Obama to be next president

MSNBC.com

6 PM-- McCain wins Ky.; Obama takes Vt.
7-- Obama claims Pennsylvania prize
8-- Florida, Virginia hang in balance
9-- NBC: Obama wins Ohio, Iowa
10-- NBC: Obama wins

THEONION.com

6 PM-- Klemke wins
7-- Voting machines elect one of own to be president
8-- Bush "Can I stop being president now?"
9-- McCain refusing to tell voters what's in box unless elected
10-- Black man given nation's worst job

Ya Just Gotta Like Dem Onion Boys. Great Job Tribune!!! --RoadDog

Obamaphernalia

Another article in the November 6th Chicago Tribune by Monica Eng. She wrote about the street vendors at and following Tuesday's get-together in Grant Park.

COOLEST SOUVENIR-- Barackas-- a pair of these maracas with his face for $5.

BEST CLAIM-- "Get your official campaign towel. We have been traveling with the campaign and we assure you this is the official towel." $5 (Hand towel with Obama's face.

BEST JOB CAPITALIZING ON THE CHICAGO CONNECTION-- Tee shirt with "Chicago's in the house" under a picture of the White House flying Chicago's flag.

SECOND-BEST JOB CAPITALIZING ON THE CHICAGO CONNECTION-- Tee shirt with Cubs logo that becomes an O with "bama" inside. Yuck, Cubs, and Barack is a SOX FAN!!

FUNNIEST HOMEMADE SHIRT-- "Gobama Gobama Go"

BEST SALES COMEBACK-- When a woman tried to bargain down the vendor on a $20 Obama tee shirt, he replied: "But, he just took Ohio."

QUICKEST TURNAROUND-- Just moments after the race was called for Obama, stacks of "Yes We Did" shirts appeared.

BEST SALES PITCH FROM SOMEONE NOT SELLING AN ACTUAL SOUVENIR-- "Obama for president. I need the change," from a man sitting at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street.

Now, This Is ONE Excellent Job of Reporting. A Very Real Part of Times Like This. Nice Job Monica. --RoadDog

Obama's Ripple Effect

An article in the November 6th Chicago Tribune discussed the effect that Barack Obama's election would have on Chicago and Illinois.

TOURISM-- Land of Lincoln will have another "presidential halo effect" Areas on Chicago's Southside and Springfield tied to Obama should have an increase in tourism.

KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY-- The airport closest to his home, Midway, is not big enough for Air Force 1, so he'll have to use O'Hare and take the Kennedy, causing massive tie-ups.

HIS NEIGHBORHOOD-- mix of upscale intellectual life and downscale street culture. Will it change?

HIS BLOCK-- Let's hope he doesn't choose to continue living in Chicago and commute to work like our governor. There are already barriers at either end of his block. Some neighbors are grousing about the inconvenience of the security.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO-- Obama was a former law professor here. More students? More federal funds?

OPRAH WINFREY-- Can she get even more popular?

MASS TRANSIT-- Going broke. Can more federal funds be coming from DC?

OLYMPIC BID-- For 2016 Games. Sure can't hurt.

WHITE SOX-- Barack Obama is a big Sox fan. Throwing out first pitch.

Sure Won't Hurt. --RoadDog

Vote for the Millionaire of Your Choice, But Vote!!!

The other day, Yahoo had a news story about what our candidates are worth. It goes as follows:

$34.9 million-- Hillary Clinton
$54.7 million -- John Edwards
$52.2 million-- Rudolph Giulani
$1.3 million-- Barack Obama
$40.4 million --John McCain
$202 million-- Mitt Romney
$8.1 million-- Fred Thompson

I don't know about anyone else, but I have not made up my mind. I watched the New Hampshire debates last Saturday and, although generally impressed, still don't have an idea.

I kind of liked Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, from an experience standpoint and the fact that he was the "forgotten" person of the four Democratic candidates. Also, he is not on the above list.

These days, I have to admit that I don't much trust anyone with a lot of money or involved with business. They seem to be out just for themselves and to hell with the regular folks. Especially with the new age of CEOs and business.

Of the ones listed, I guess I'd have to go with Obama as he is worth the least.

Who to Vote For, Who to Vote For. --RoadDog