Hubris Hubris Hubris

It's the Democrats turn and Obama is the smartest of the bunch.  However, right now, he's suffering from Hubris.  He barely eked out a victory over Hillary.  She had 18 million voters.  Who gives Obama the right to depose her?  Also he NEEDED her.  And he should not have spoken at the Berlin wall, not yet.  I don't care how popular it was with German youth.

Is Obama going to deny or adjust?  That is the question.  An early dip in the polls will do him good.

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Famous, noteworthy or interesting family stuff

My mother was born and raised in Morocco when Morocco was a part of France.  She was born in Rabat and lived much of her life in Casablanca.  She was engaged to a Christian German man that fled Germany after Hitler's Anschluss (annexation) of Austria.  My mother's family did not like the man because he was so possessive of my mother.  But my mother was in love.  The German fiancé died in a bus accident.  This was a traumatic defining event in my mother's life.  Her mother, of Spanish descent (Pinto), sent my mother to Paris to cheer her up.

There in Paris, my mother met my father, the son of a well-to-do garment manufacturer of Baltimore MD.  My mother studied Latin at the Sorbonne.  My father was a pianist at the Paris Conservatory of Music.  My parents were married in Paris.

I was a nerdy, chubby Jewish kid with glasses and braces, born in Baltimore with a fondness for math and mechanical pencils.  I fell in love with comedy when I saw Steve Martin.

My grandfather Max (father's side) was named one of the 10 best dressed men in America by Women's Wear Daily, a big thing during the heyday of the American garment industry.  My grandmother, who we called the French "Meme," gave my grandfather's black onyx and diamond studs to me.  I cherish them.

My mother's brother Georges was a math / engineering genius.  The French government gave him full scholarship to École Polytechnique (the MIT of France).  In exchange, my uncle was obligated to work for the French government.  My uncle graduated number one in his class.  In that same class was Giscard D'Estaing, the future prime minister of France.  My uncle served as a Secretary of the Interior to the Prime Minister.  He had many lucrative offers to abandon his government posts, a common thing, but never chose to do so.  He was a very endearing, scatter-brained sweet man much more interested in a puzzle or math problem.

Paris-based interior designer Albert Pinto who is world renowned for his lavish, classical interiors is my mother's first cousin.  He is very well-known in Europe.  He is also well-known as Yves St. Laurent's boyfriend.  My mother always wished I was gay like her colorful cousin.  Sorry mom.

My American cousin Ward (also my mother's French-Moroccan side of the family) scored a perfect 800 on his American Math SAT.

My nephew Luc is currently a professional soccer player for the Portland Timbers soccer team.  Previously he was with the Miami team.  He was the captain and leading scorer for UC, Riverside.  He played alongside the great Romario of South America while on the Miami team.

My ex was a writer for Rolling Stone, creator of the Hot List.  My brother-in-law was a Sax player for Bette Midler's 2005 world tour and is a member of the swing band Royal Crown Revue.  I went to Bimbos in SF the night they entertained for New Year's Eve (2005) - cool, fun show. 

My daughter Minna auditioned for and was accepted to the San Francisco Girls Chorus and recently was one of only 5 kids chosen for her school talent show - a remarkable feat since she is so young.  It is an overwhelming emotional joy for me when I watch my daughter sing.  She enjoys it so.  Her little face beams.

12:54 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Random Concise Thoughts - Oh how interesting

"The most romantic or precious moments are not planned.  They're incidental. " - Me

"The grass is greener...when you water it" - my friend Tiffany

"Life is what happens while you're making other plans" - my favorite Beatle John Lennon

Some things are better said in their native tongue:

L'amour est une petite oiseau qui n'a jamais connu de loi - moi

L'ennemie de l'amour est l'amitié - moi

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President of the United States

Barring disaster, it seems clear to me that Barack Obama will become the next President of the United States.  In one fell swoop the United States will transition from scourge of the world to the beacon of hope, opportunity and possibility.

He's a unifier, facilitator, visionary, brilliant and young.  He is what the country needs at this time.  Renewal.

I think the perfect running mate would be Hillary Clinton.  She earned it.

2:36 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Appreciating

Ah Yes

Coolness, sweetness, integrity and grace

Looking for dents in my cynicism

My little first grader all excited

Because she’ll be getting homework for the first time

Her burning need to fill me in on all the details

And intrigues

Of her first grader day

The older sister’s beaming little head

Singing in the SF girls chorus

The uniforms

The structure

The procession to the stage

All her very best friends and family

Everyone dressed up

The excitement

The singing joy

In her bright, dark, shinny eyes

Knowing everyone’s there

A lump of emotion

In my throat and eyes

Ah yes

This is what it’s all about

Our bubblegum, meaningless culture aside

The early morn

They crawl into my bed

To cuddle

"Dad, you’re arm"

The edict to lift it

So they may nestle

On my chest

Wrapped in love, safety and coziness

Wherever life takes me

These coming years

May I never forget

10:37 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

McCain

The Republicans could not have come up with a better candidate.  He'll be perceived as non-Bush and can garner a lot of independents.  The only one that can beat him is Obama who garners a lot of independents too and is the only one that can state he opposed the Iraq war.

Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story,

And tell it strong and clear if he has not,

That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory

Called Camelot.

Camelot! Camelot!

Now say it out with pride and joy!

10:20 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Racism

Racism is lower-animal thinking, not the attribute of a thinking person, which prohibits the enjoyment of life for it is rooted in hatred, ignorance and the ugly side of humanity.  And there are two forms - the ignorant and the condescending (which is ignorant too).  People are people.  Respect everyone unless their actions justify otherwise and assume the best.

10:52 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Dear Friends

Dear Friends,

There is a tough choice amongst Democrats this year, however the more you see of Barack Obama the more you realize that he's a statesman akin to John F Kennedy and that he would make a great and effective President.   I like Hillary too but feel Barack has the best chance of beating the Republicans.  The more one sees Barack the more one likes him and feels inspired by him.  Also if you look in detail at his record you will see how effective he is at facilitating consensus and progress.  I feel that Barack will unify rather than divide the country.  Other than myself, too many folks don't like Hillary.  She has high negatives and as Carl Rove said, he would love to run against her.  The Republicans fear Obama the most and no wonder; he is so effective.

Please give Barack Obama a good look and your consideration.  As the people of Illinois know, he's a great effective leader.

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Obama vs Clinton

This is a hard choice for many Democrats.  But a choice needs to be made and I think that best choice is Obama.

The difference for me is that Barack is genuine whereas the Clintons are calculated.  All you have to do is see the Democratic debate when the candidates were asked by Tim Russert their greatest strength and weakness.  That moment sums up the choice for me.  Barack had the most important strength and was the only one to give a genuine non-political answer when he stated he is bad at paperwork.

What the voters want more than anything else this time around is someone that is genuine.  That's why both Barack Obama and John McCain are doing well.  (Huckabee is genuine too but dangerous.)

I haven't been this excited about a candidate since Bobby Kennedy.  I hope other democrats join in the movement.  It's a movement of youth, wisdom, hope unity and change for the better.  Caroline Kennedy endorsed Obama - no small matter.  I just pray it doesn't end the same way Bobby Kennedy ended.

Go Obama.

9:53 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Barack vs Hillary

Barack Obama is a statesman.  Hillary is a politician.  Bill plays hardball politics to win (may backfire).

When will Democrats wake up to the fact that Barack has the best chance of beating the Republicans?  Not Hillary.  Barack's a proven winner.

Look at the records.  Read the speeches.  Watch C-Span.

No matter what, this is one of the most interesting election cycles ever.  May the best person win.  I think the best person will win and his name is Barack Obama.

9:22 AM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment