We Are Rome

Well, it's official. As a country, we have become so indulgent, decadent, and juvenile that not even the menace of economic nuclear winter can't snap us into place.

From Nancy Pelosi's unnecessary blame-heaping on the Bush Administration to the GOP's 8th-grade girl response of voting down the Bailout, the US House of Representatives has shown that it is inherently dysfunctional. My only hope (and maybe I'm just deluding myself) is that the $1.2 TRILLION loss in paper wealth their little catfight yielded yesterday might smack some sense into them. In other words, it will hopefully show them that their actions (or in this case, inaction) can have tremendous consequences downstream.

Consequences or not, the realist in me says that they are beyond acting responsibly. Despite facing re-election every two years, House members are ludicrously removed from the people they "represent". When they are not entertaining top-shelf lobbyists or big-figure contributors, they are surrounded by a wall of consultants telling them to say this, do that, look this way, say something that way, etc. Their only objective is to get re-elected; they don't give a damn about you or I.

But, we have let them get this way. People have gotten so wrapped up in themselves and their immediate gratification, that they have been perfectly content having no idea what happens on Capitol Hill. For far too long, the mantra has been "Me, me, me; Mine, mine, mine". Now, that way of life is circling the drain and people are interested again. All it takes is the average American to see a list of ONE DAY'S worth of House business, and that 99% incumbency rate (yes, 99% of House members breeze through re-election) can be in serious jeopardy.

The reason everyone is so shocked and appalled by this latest twist is because this is actually a time when the House's dysfunction is on full display and has repercussions. Fortunately, optimism rallied the markets today, getting just over half back of what was lost yesterday. But, once again the ball is in the House's court. Let's hope they hit a nice shot down the line at Wall Street, rather than duffing it into the next court.

McCain's Campaign is Venomous and Delusional

In case you haven't heard, McCain blinked and "resumed" his campaign (did he ever really suspend it?). Now that the biggest political "Hail Mary" in history has turned out to be an incomplete pass, he has been left with very few options.

But, apparently his campaign has decided to take an even lower road (didn't think that was possible) and become even more disdainful of the Obama campaign. Furthermore, they have just completely lost touch with reality.

I don't like the idea of giving a former Goldman CEO $700 billion to prop this nation's counting houses just so they can figure out a way to cheat the system and get us into a similar mess 20 years down the road. Becky and I didn't bite off more than we could chew when we got our mortgage and we manage to pay it on time every month. We pay our taxes and try not to carry credit card balances. Unlike the morons out there who used their homes as ATM's, opened up credit cards to buy Hummers, and finance first-class vacations with home equity loans, we have tried to live within our means. That said, we also understand that if the government (God help us !) doesn't do anything about this debacle, economic Armageddon will ensue.

But, McCain and the Republican party have decided that political grandstanding and their one-size-fits-all ideology toward taxes is more important that salvaging global finance as we know it. First, his aforementioned stunt and, secondly, once an agreement is about to be hashed out, the Republicans decided that "the Amurican tayx-payer shouldn't be spendin' money on all them Jew-faggot-liberal-bankers in Jew York!" Apparently, staring into the financial abyss is preferable. God help us, indeed.

But, it's worse. Yes, McCain blinked. But his campaign's statement today was an exercise in bitter spite and self-delusion. According to Rick Davis and the other poo-throwers, there's a blame game going on and it's all the Democrats' fault. They stood there kicking and screaming and turning blue in the face until they could take all of YOUR money. No, it had nothing to do with head-in-the-sand, opportunistic GOP House members sabotaging the deal once it was made. No no, "Barack Obama's priority was political posturing in his opening monologue defending the package as it stands." Nice of them to conveniently leave out the fact that "the package as it stands" was conceived not by Pelosi's Tax-Loving Liberal Democrats, but by a Bush-man himself, Hank Paulson.

But despite McCain being shamed back into running a campaign and debating, the minions have betrayed their puppet-master and Bush is up a creek without a paddle. But, we all are because, as of yet, we don't have a flippin' plan to literally save the economy! Wow, political dithering might actually be our downfall. Way to prove a point, GOP!

I really hope this latest stunt comes back to bite McCain and his party. It once again showed his impulsive side, but it also showed that he would be willing make such a gamble because he thought it would win him some electoral brownie points. Furthermore, it shows him at the helm of a party that would rather see this country implode financially than raise those Gosh-Durn taxes. I hope whoever moderates this debate tonight rides him so hard on this foolish decision that he blows a gasket and socks Obama in the face. You know, shows us "The Real McCain".

I Ain't As Good As I Once Was

For those not familiar with Toby Keith, "I Ain't As Good As I Once Was" is a first-person narrative of a guy who realizes that the reality of his age has set limits on how bold his actions can be. But, more fundamentally, it speaks of a man's influences as he ages; the proverbial angel and devil on each of his shoulders.

James Robert "Robbie" Copeland has always been a blur in this area. He was the first person I saw (besides my parents) when I got back from France in 2001. But our first activity was to smoke a blunt in the parking lot at Regency Square with some girls who had just started their own "rap label". "Welcome back to Richmond," I recall him saying to me, with a slight chuckle. He rallied all of my old friends to come to New York for my wedding, but he also rallied me to party like a rockstar until 4 AM the night before.

So, when Robbie and his fiancee came up to Stamford this past weekend, I knew the lines would be blurred again. And it was proven to me when I walked into Cost-Less Liquors: rather than my usual purchase of a bottle of wine or a six-pack of imported beer, like it was automatic, I went straight for the 30-pack of Bud Light. This stayed straight throughout the weekend, from the copious consumption of that 30-pack to the vine-swinging at the Frisbee Golf course.

For me, Robbie resembles the time of my life when the only consequences were that if you drank too fast, you'd run out of beer. "So what if you have to go to work tomorrow? I gotta go to work, too. The night is young and those girls wanna party!" Not as a person, but as an institution, Robbie reminds me of a time in my life that was black, white, and free of complications. Even if it's just for a weekend, it's fun to revisit that time in your life, in a much more watered-down way.

The last verse of "I Ain't As Good As I Once Was" goes:

I ain't as good as I once was/
That's just the cold, hard truth/
But, I still throw a few back/
And talk a little smack/
When I'm feelin' bulletproof/
So, don't double dog dare me now/
Cuz I'd have to call your bluff/
I ain't as good as I once was/
But, I'm as good once as I ever was

As we grow older, we might understand the consequences (mental and physical) that our actions can have on ourselves. But, for that one time, it's a helluva lot of fun. Thanks for a great weekend, dude.

Lazy Saturday, Redefined

A few years ago , on any given September Saturday, I might just now be awakening with a massive headache, still reeking of Jagermeister and Parliament lights. I would stumble out to my living room, collapse on the sofa, kick last night's McDonald's trash off the coffee table, and turn the TV to ESPN for the latter hour of "College Gameday". Maybe in an hour, I would put on some coffee and think about starting my Saturday.

Alas, those days are well behind me (and just as well). Where a few years ago, a Friday night would include drinking in at least four bars and late night smoking (yes, that kind), a current Friday consists of delicious delivery food, channel surfing in bed, and being asleep by 10:30, at the latest. On occasion, we go into the city for dinner and drinks or over to a neighbor's for the same, but for the most part, this is it.

And that is perfectly fine with me. This past Friday night, I was full-on excited to eat sushi in bed and play "Medal of Honor" on the Wii while Becky read her "People" magazine. Then, to "sleep in" (until 9:19) on Saturday is phenomenal. I might still catch some of "College Gameday", but it's on in the background as I do my weekend toiling: putting away dishes, taking stock of what food we need for the week, touch-up painting, etc.

A few years ago, this would have been incomprehensible to me. But, this is where the dust of my life has comfortably settled. And it's not like it's without compromise; last week, I went to Shea and stumbled in half-drunk at 1:00 AM. I can still go out and have fun, but I know now where the line needs be drawn to also proactively run a household and be a good partner to my wife.

So, I'm growing into another part of my life. 28 is a really interesting juncture.

Lamenting 9/11: A Truly Squandered Opportunity

When it comes to September 11, 2001, there are two types of people in this country. There are those who are still reacting to it and think it should be used as a primer for action by our government and by society, in general. These people use it as an excuse and a crutch and, in so doing, they have corrupted a national tragedy and muddied this country's good name, both domestically and internationally. For these folks, 9/11 is a lens through which we should view everything that happens in the world; black and white, but no gray area.

There are also those who look at it for what it was: a horrific spectacle of hate and jealousy of our society realized by 19 maniacs who used religion to justify their disgusting action. This latter group was effected by 9/11 when it happened and immediately thereafter (how could they not be?) and were hoping it would be springboard for action in this country, much like Pearl Harbor was in 1941. But, when 9/11 was so obviously politicized and, by not joining the giant lynch mob, they were ostracized by the self-declared "mainstream", 9/11 quickly became for these people a wasted opportunity.

At the risk of sounding unpatriotic and unsympathetic, I am one of the latter. While an innocent naiveté was lost in me when I saw the second tower erupt in a fiery blaze that morning, a sort of righteous pride in my country was born that I had never known before. I said to myself, "This is our generation's Pearl Harbor, Kennedy assassination, and Challenger explosion all wrapped into one." As a senior in college engaged in a job search, I quickly turned my focus to Washington. At that time, I was galvanized.

Even though I was much younger (mentally, emotionally, and physically), I knew our country had become lazy after 10 years as the world's top dog. I was hoping that this would be the catalyst to whip us back into shape and bring back the can-do attitude and wherewithal to start fixing the big cracks in our society. But, it didn't take long for me to notice that our government was going to politically milk this for everything it was worth and do nothing to inspire motivation, innovation, and the general American spirit among our citizens. But, it also showed how decadent and complacent our society had become.

Compared to Pearl Harbor, another turning point for American innocence, 9/11 shows that the selfless and tested Americans of 1941 have yielded to Americans who are spoiled and self-entitled. Pearl Harbor jump-started the capacity for American production and innovation; 9/11 added to Americans' already overwhelming credit card debt ("Everything will be fine. Go ye forth and shop!") The widows for Pearl Harbor never sued the government and got millions of dollars. FDR didn't use the national tragedy to belittle and neuter his political opponents.

It is true that our government cynically used 9/11 to ruthlessly advance its partisan agenda, but it is squarely the American public's fault for letting them do so. Our world of instant gratification and uninhibited selfishness simply did not enable 9/11 to become the opportunity it could have been. Thus, as a country, we are much worse off than we were seven years ago. Instead of coming together, we responded to 9/11 by tearing each other apart, if and when we were paying attention.

So, when the news media is spending the entire day harping on that terrible day, through cheesy montages and melancholy musical overtones, and both candidates are proselytizing on their respective stumps from Ground Zero, think back to the way you felt when you saw the towers fall. It might inspire in you the damaged pride and love for this country you felt seven years ago and reinforce for you the tremendous opportunity for change that awaits us on November 4, regardless of the candidate for President. Stay classy, America.

The GOP and the Kübler-Ross Model

I consider myself an "Independent", not willing to be tied down by one party's ideology. Throughout the entire election cycle, I have been hesitating in getting swept up by "Obamamania" and have been critical of media outlets like NBC of being so "in the tank" of the Illinois Senator. As such an Even-Steven, I convinced myself Wednesday night that since I paid passive heed to the Democrats last week, I should probably endow the GOP with the same lukewarm involvement last week, political junkie that I am.

You won't hear me say this much, but I was wrong in my decision. After about seven minutes of Rudy Giuliani's chest-thumping, I got too angry to take any more. His rant was juvenile and, more so, it was mean-spirited, insulting, and, quite frankly, sounded angry and insecure.

So, was I surprised to read in WaPo yesterday morning that Sarah Palin gave an equally, if not more, vitriolic diatribe Wednesday night? Sadly, no. She has been under a media siege since being announced as McCain's running mate. I understand that she would want to use her pulpit Wednesday night to hit back and level the onslaught.

But her harsh, negative acceptance speech was part of a broader campaign strategy unfurled this week by Steve Schmidt and the rest of them at McCain HQ. This "strategy" smacked of the Rovian "alienation" politics that have defined President CooCooBananaHead's Administration. Basically, you paint anyone who criticizes you (or, better yet, questions you) as attacking you. But, there is something more fundamentally at play here.

Rank-and-file Republicans know deep down that Sarah Palin was a disastrous pick for a running mate. No one knows who the heck she is and, as of this past weekend, the skeletons haven't stopped falling out of her closet. They know it shows bad judgment on McCain's part and they are lamenting this decision. But, something more fundamentally is at play here

The Kübler-Ross Model "describes, in five discrete stages, a process by which people allegedly deal with grief and tragedy".

1. Denial: Witness last weekend Republicans' defending of this "brilliant choice" by McCain, someone who's going to stick it to Obama/Biden. Then her daughter turns out being knocked up out of wedlock and it's a "beautiful example of choosing life".

2. Anger: There is no doubt the acrimonious mouth-farting going on in St. Paul this past week was testament of the Republicans' fury with this situation.

At this point, the rest is all projection, but let's just have a little fun.

3. Bargaining: You can expect to hear Republicans saying there can't be any more scandals; that everything has come to light that will. You've already been hearing them cite her "executive experience".

4. Depression: After the debates, reality will set in and fundraising will sag, commercials for McCain/Palin will drop off and a general feeling of "What-can-you-do?" will fall over your Republican friends.

5. Acceptance: They admit to themselves that Palin was a miserable pick and stay home on Election Day. My brother (who considers himself on a first-name basis with Rush Limbaugh. Rush does not know this, however.) has already skipped straight to Step 5 and is going to write-in vote for Ron Paul. He provides a good litmus test because he is the type of conservative who has been wary of McCain from the get-go. He grinned and beared it, however, until the Palin pick acted as the straw that broke the camel's back. If his behavior is an accurate example of the broader behavioral patterns of true-blue conservative, McCain is in for a world of hurt.

Who knows? Maybe Palin will prove an amazing asset. But the odds of that are very unrealistic. Coming into the homestretch, McCain may have made a disastrous decision.