Listen friends, I'm not the biggest American Idol fan around. This year, especially, from what I've seen, seems to be average at best.
But my god, man--this 16 year old kid just gave one of the most amazing, inspirational, and moving performances I've ever seen.
One, it Imagine was an amazing song in and of itself. This kid did it justice and then some. If you're a music fan...or even if you just appreciate someone mastering a craft, do yourself a favor and watch this. It's worth the 2 minutes, I promise.
--G
Thursday, February 28, 2008
American Idol
Feel-good story...
From FoxNews:
An Iraq war veteran received the ultimate homecoming gift in the form of a $1 million lottery jackpot, the Spokesman Review reported. Wayne Leyde, 26, of Mount Spokane, Wash., came upon his new fortune by scratching off one of his four lottery tickets while at home with his parents Tuesday night, the Review said.
After finding the winning numbers, the veteran of two tours in Iraq ran downstairs to tell his mom and dad the good news. His mother jokingly informed him that he was due for a rent increase, according to the newspaper. The personal banker and National Guardsman said he's thought of 50 people he should give some of the money to and about 10,000 ways to spend it.
Good stuff...
--G
An Iraq war veteran received the ultimate homecoming gift in the form of a $1 million lottery jackpot, the Spokesman Review reported. Wayne Leyde, 26, of Mount Spokane, Wash., came upon his new fortune by scratching off one of his four lottery tickets while at home with his parents Tuesday night, the Review said.
After finding the winning numbers, the veteran of two tours in Iraq ran downstairs to tell his mom and dad the good news. His mother jokingly informed him that he was due for a rent increase, according to the newspaper. The personal banker and National Guardsman said he's thought of 50 people he should give some of the money to and about 10,000 ways to spend it.
Good stuff...
--G
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Natural Born Citizen?
First the "bimbo eruption", now tired and rehashed questions about John McCain's status as a "natural born citizen" are coming from the New York Times. Never have I seen a paper, who has endorsed a particular candidate, try so hard to destroy his candidacy. That's right, Steakmatters readers, the New York Times is at it again.
Might the fact that John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone (1936) disqualify him from eligibility to become elected President of the United States? There is no settled case law, although the issue has, in fact, come up in the past. At issue is Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution: "No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office, who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States".
This can come as no suprise to the McCain camp, the issue was raised in 2000 during his first, albeit brief, Presidential bid. He never seriously challenged W., so the issue was not fully vetted.
I would completely blow this off as another NY Times hatchet job, but for the fact that the Hilla may still become the Democrat nominee (albeit her chances seem slim at this point). As Lefty said in his previous post--don't rule her out yet. How do I tie Billary into this one, you ask? Well--does anyone remember Sore Loserman---er---I mean Gore/Lieberman in 2000? I do. I had the priviledge of working for team W. down in Florida. You remember Florida, don't you?! That's right, the same state that attempted to steal the election for Al Gore with a stacked state Supreme Court. Yea, that Florida. Well, cooler heads prevailed when Bush v. Gore was settled in December of 2000. I know, my Dem friends will argue THAT court was stacked. I will concede that point, if you concede that the Florida State Supreme Court was rigged as well. Any takers? No?
Do you see where I'm going with this? Are we going to have another Republican elected President where the outcome will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court again? That would be disasterous on many different levels (the least of which would be the P.R. nightmare from such an outcome).
Now, I want to give Obama the benefit of the doubt--that he would not make this an issue were he the Democrat nominee. The Hilla? Please! Does anyone doubt that if the chips were down she would not contemplate this sort of challenge if...when McCain beats her?
I submit that it's a non-issue. Is it not enough that the man I affectionately refer to as McCrazy served our nation bravely in the U.S. armed forces as a Naval flight officer and a United States Senator? No? Ok, how about the fact he was born to two citizens (naturally born). His father was serving in the Navy at the time of John's birth and was serving in the Panama Canal zone on the orders of the U.S. government.
It's actually a fare question to ask. But the answer should be resolved quicker than it took to even ask the question. We'll see how it plays out...
--G
Might the fact that John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone (1936) disqualify him from eligibility to become elected President of the United States? There is no settled case law, although the issue has, in fact, come up in the past. At issue is Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution: "No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office, who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States".
This can come as no suprise to the McCain camp, the issue was raised in 2000 during his first, albeit brief, Presidential bid. He never seriously challenged W., so the issue was not fully vetted.
I would completely blow this off as another NY Times hatchet job, but for the fact that the Hilla may still become the Democrat nominee (albeit her chances seem slim at this point). As Lefty said in his previous post--don't rule her out yet. How do I tie Billary into this one, you ask? Well--does anyone remember Sore Loserman---er---I mean Gore/Lieberman in 2000? I do. I had the priviledge of working for team W. down in Florida. You remember Florida, don't you?! That's right, the same state that attempted to steal the election for Al Gore with a stacked state Supreme Court. Yea, that Florida. Well, cooler heads prevailed when Bush v. Gore was settled in December of 2000. I know, my Dem friends will argue THAT court was stacked. I will concede that point, if you concede that the Florida State Supreme Court was rigged as well. Any takers? No?
Do you see where I'm going with this? Are we going to have another Republican elected President where the outcome will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court again? That would be disasterous on many different levels (the least of which would be the P.R. nightmare from such an outcome).
Now, I want to give Obama the benefit of the doubt--that he would not make this an issue were he the Democrat nominee. The Hilla? Please! Does anyone doubt that if the chips were down she would not contemplate this sort of challenge if...when McCain beats her?
I submit that it's a non-issue. Is it not enough that the man I affectionately refer to as McCrazy served our nation bravely in the U.S. armed forces as a Naval flight officer and a United States Senator? No? Ok, how about the fact he was born to two citizens (naturally born). His father was serving in the Navy at the time of John's birth and was serving in the Panama Canal zone on the orders of the U.S. government.
It's actually a fare question to ask. But the answer should be resolved quicker than it took to even ask the question. We'll see how it plays out...
--G
Inside the Ropes
Ok - as POTUS mentioned, I was "inside the ropes" last night...so here are my impressions.
First and foremost - we are about meat - and Stretch and I had some pretty good stuff at the Union Club before the festivities. Stretch had the Filet - which she said rivaled Downtown 140 - her favorite. I had the Colorado Lamb Chops that were out of this world.
Second - Democrats wear lots of fur. Seems like they shouldn't given the animal rights wing of the party - but they do.
Third - Matthew Modine is much taller than he looks in the movies.
Fourth - Rev. Jessie Jackson ought to be ashamed of himself. He literally pushed Stretch and I out of the way on our way out last night... Not sure where the fire was - but he needed to get there in a hurry. Come on... a simple "excuse me" would have been sufficient.
Fifth - I'm still not ready to say that Hillary is done, but she is snake bit. She has the look and sound of someone who just can't get it right. And even when she does, so many people have already made up their minds about her that it doesn't matter.
Sixth - We always believed that the Republican strategy would be to exploit the 50% of the nation that doesn't like her... The D's did it instead. Remember this if Hillary pulls this out...it will allow McCain to take the high road.
Seventh - If you looked at the words the candidates were saying about policy - and took away the adjectives that Obama is so good at using, it would be very difficult to tell the difference between the two. They are both very liberal, they are both savvy politicians, and they are both capitalizing on our nation's absolute disgust with our President.
Eighth - Brian Williams hit a home run last night by pulling out a Browns helmet before the debate...but Tim Russert stole the show with his aggressive and unrelenting questioning of both candidates.
Ninth - Even if this race goes to the convention, this should be the last debate...After 20 debates, nothing new is going to be said, and more than likely, nothing new is going to be heard.
Finally - and with all due respect to POTUS - the Best Blogger in the Buckeye State - the real winner last night was "THE" Cleveland State University. Under difficult circumstances, they put on a great show and made our city proud!
Lefty
First and foremost - we are about meat - and Stretch and I had some pretty good stuff at the Union Club before the festivities. Stretch had the Filet - which she said rivaled Downtown 140 - her favorite. I had the Colorado Lamb Chops that were out of this world.
Second - Democrats wear lots of fur. Seems like they shouldn't given the animal rights wing of the party - but they do.
Third - Matthew Modine is much taller than he looks in the movies.
Fourth - Rev. Jessie Jackson ought to be ashamed of himself. He literally pushed Stretch and I out of the way on our way out last night... Not sure where the fire was - but he needed to get there in a hurry. Come on... a simple "excuse me" would have been sufficient.
Fifth - I'm still not ready to say that Hillary is done, but she is snake bit. She has the look and sound of someone who just can't get it right. And even when she does, so many people have already made up their minds about her that it doesn't matter.
Sixth - We always believed that the Republican strategy would be to exploit the 50% of the nation that doesn't like her... The D's did it instead. Remember this if Hillary pulls this out...it will allow McCain to take the high road.
Seventh - If you looked at the words the candidates were saying about policy - and took away the adjectives that Obama is so good at using, it would be very difficult to tell the difference between the two. They are both very liberal, they are both savvy politicians, and they are both capitalizing on our nation's absolute disgust with our President.
Eighth - Brian Williams hit a home run last night by pulling out a Browns helmet before the debate...but Tim Russert stole the show with his aggressive and unrelenting questioning of both candidates.
Ninth - Even if this race goes to the convention, this should be the last debate...After 20 debates, nothing new is going to be said, and more than likely, nothing new is going to be heard.
Finally - and with all due respect to POTUS - the Best Blogger in the Buckeye State - the real winner last night was "THE" Cleveland State University. Under difficult circumstances, they put on a great show and made our city proud!
Lefty
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
And the winner is....
A draw!
There were no knockout blows tonight, but there were some zingers along with a few missed haymakers. HRC tried to land one with the SNL reference. It missed by a mile. HRC is losy at attacking, but I guess that's what happens when you're the leader and losing ground fast.
The first half of the debate was like an all out attack on HRC, althoughbut I have to say her comment about taking all the first questions in the debates came off as whiny. Also, let’s face it she’s a policy wonk, running for President of the United States, not an orator, running for President of the debate club. BHO struggled desperately on the Farrakhan question. His body language was very contorted. I’m glad they didn’t let him walk around the question.
On the big issues there’s not much difference: Health Care = Big Government = Big Tax increases; NAFTA = Loss of Manufacturing Jobs + Great for Agriculture (guess what, Ag is Ohio’s biggest industry); and Iraq = Cut and Run.
No one hurt themselves and no one hurt the other. I look forward to Lefty’s thoughts as he had the pleasure of being in the Convocation Center in person. In the end, the voters of Ohio will decide the winner in 7 days. Vote early and vote often.
- POTUS
There were no knockout blows tonight, but there were some zingers along with a few missed haymakers. HRC tried to land one with the SNL reference. It missed by a mile. HRC is losy at attacking, but I guess that's what happens when you're the leader and losing ground fast.
The first half of the debate was like an all out attack on HRC, althoughbut I have to say her comment about taking all the first questions in the debates came off as whiny. Also, let’s face it she’s a policy wonk, running for President of the United States, not an orator, running for President of the debate club. BHO struggled desperately on the Farrakhan question. His body language was very contorted. I’m glad they didn’t let him walk around the question.
On the big issues there’s not much difference: Health Care = Big Government = Big Tax increases; NAFTA = Loss of Manufacturing Jobs + Great for Agriculture (guess what, Ag is Ohio’s biggest industry); and Iraq = Cut and Run.
No one hurt themselves and no one hurt the other. I look forward to Lefty’s thoughts as he had the pleasure of being in the Convocation Center in person. In the end, the voters of Ohio will decide the winner in 7 days. Vote early and vote often.
- POTUS
Denounce vs Reject
There is a difference between denouncing Farrikhan’s statements and Farrikhan’s endorsement. I was glad HRC didn’t let BHO off the hook on that one. BHO knows full well the number of followers of the Farrikhan and he wanted to have it both ways – reject his anti-semetic statements, but accept the endorsement. Sorry, this is the big leagues, not the sandlots of Chicago.
- POTUS
- POTUS
Top Ten Debate Observations
These are not necessarily meant to be funny--just observations.
10. Obama is smooth, calm, and Presidential in his demeanor.
9. Billary is a dishonest, power-hungry liar. In contrast, BHO appears to be sincere and honest (if not misguided).
8. That cackle!!!!! God, i'd rather hear fingernails on a chalk board!
7. The Hil does not strike me as a "Commander-in-Chief"--at all. In fact, her election would result in an exponential decrease to the morale of our armed forces.
6. Obama is even more liberal than i thought. What does he mean when he says he is going to "go after the special interests". Witch hunt anyone?
5. Billary is not as moderate as she attempts to portray herself.
4. It was a joke listening to Clinton assail lobbyists and "special interests".
3. Tim Russert doesn't mind asking tough questions (and The Hil doesn't mind completely ignoring the question and giving her own answer).
2. She is a good debater: she pounced when appropriate, but her punches were effectively countered by BHO--thus efficiently mitigating any potential damage.
1. Althought he won the debate, BHO did not hit her hard enough, in my opinion. (i.e.--the argument over "denouncing" Ferrakhan vs. "rejecting"--she was mincing words--he should have responded "Perhaps if President Clinton were here he could educated us on what the definition of is, is").
In closing, she said "We do need a fighter in the White House". Why not, if she get's elected, you'll have a lover and a fighter.
--G
10. Obama is smooth, calm, and Presidential in his demeanor.
9. Billary is a dishonest, power-hungry liar. In contrast, BHO appears to be sincere and honest (if not misguided).
8. That cackle!!!!! God, i'd rather hear fingernails on a chalk board!
7. The Hil does not strike me as a "Commander-in-Chief"--at all. In fact, her election would result in an exponential decrease to the morale of our armed forces.
6. Obama is even more liberal than i thought. What does he mean when he says he is going to "go after the special interests". Witch hunt anyone?
5. Billary is not as moderate as she attempts to portray herself.
4. It was a joke listening to Clinton assail lobbyists and "special interests".
3. Tim Russert doesn't mind asking tough questions (and The Hil doesn't mind completely ignoring the question and giving her own answer).
2. She is a good debater: she pounced when appropriate, but her punches were effectively countered by BHO--thus efficiently mitigating any potential damage.
1. Althought he won the debate, BHO did not hit her hard enough, in my opinion. (i.e.--the argument over "denouncing" Ferrakhan vs. "rejecting"--she was mincing words--he should have responded "Perhaps if President Clinton were here he could educated us on what the definition of is, is").
In closing, she said "We do need a fighter in the White House". Why not, if she get's elected, you'll have a lover and a fighter.
--G
Questions to look for tonight
Three questions to look for in tonight's debate:
1) What are your plans to create a national transportation and infrastructure strategy?;
2) What are your plans to restore the Great Lakes and protect them as an economic and natural resource?; and
3) What will be your vision for NASA and the country’s space exploration program?
- POTUS
1) What are your plans to create a national transportation and infrastructure strategy?;
2) What are your plans to restore the Great Lakes and protect them as an economic and natural resource?; and
3) What will be your vision for NASA and the country’s space exploration program?
- POTUS
Redfern’s Higher Ed Hostility Continues
Cleveland State University raised the money to hold tonight’s Democratic debate, no thanks to Chris Redfern and the Ohio Democratic Party:
As reported in the PD:
- POTUS
As reported in the PD:
CSU couldn't use tax money, student tuition or the school's endowment to cover expenses.CSU get used to empty promises….
So instead it raised money from about 40 donors -- the major ones are KeyCorp, National City Corp., Parker Hannifin Corp., and The Plain Dealer.
The Ohio Democratic Party did not chip in. It's offering debate tickets in exchange for donations ranging from $2,000 to $50,000.
- POTUS
Lawsuit of the Week
JC--thanks for the inspiration. I have an idea for a new feature on Steakmatters. As alot of you know, we like to push the limits here in our writings. Yes, this is a site about eating, cooking, living and breathing steak. But let's face it, among the three of us, we can only eat so much steak!! Consequently, we, on occassion take liberty to explore the bounds of politics, sports and life.
And now, thanks to JC's inspiration, I shall, at least once weekly, explore the Judicial branch of our great government. This weeks lawsuit of the week:
Kevin Lee Dixie v. State of Ohio; Clerks Office, Toledo, Ohio; Clerks Office, Cleveland, Ohio 2/22/2008 08CV00450
Action for civil rights violations and defamation. The plaintiff claims that the defendants exposed him to public ridicule by labeling him as a mentally incompetent homosexual.
I want to see these briefs--NO pun intended!
--G
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Road to Recovery
As mentioned in Monday, Monday…, I recently returned from the Gulf Coast. I went to Mississippi for some meetings for a planning session with a national group we’re involved with. I flew into New Orleans and drove to Bay St. Louis, MS.
Having never been to NOLA or Ole Miss, I took some time to see the sites. I drove from MSY to downtown NO, past the rebuilt Superdome and the NO Convention Center. It was strange to see the facilities in person after seeing the carnage that followed Katrina. I went on to the French Quarter. Now it was the middle of the afternoon, so it wasn’t like I was going to party. The first thing I noticed when I got out of my car was the smell. It stunk and I think it had nothing to do with Katrina. I took my camera, but the only thing worth taking a picture of was Jackson Square. I guess Bourbon Street is only fun at night; during Mardi Gras; or watching it on an episode of COPS (filmed on location with the Men and Women of law enforcement) with FLOTUS from the comfort and safety of my living room couch.
I headed east to Mississippi. As I traveled out of town, I was struck by the devastation that still exists nearly 3 years after the storm. It was like a 3rd world country in some areas. I later learned that much of the delayed rebuilding is due to government red tape and fights with the insurance companies.
Anyhow, I made my way to Bay St. Louis, MS where our contacts had made arrangements at a local hotel/casino. We had a small reception that evening and called it a night due to our early start and long day to follow.
In the morning, we took what has been called the ‘new chamber tour.’ This is a mixed bag tour of areas that still need to be rebuilt and the rebuilding that’s in progress. Let me tell you this: NO PICTURE I EVER SAW OF THE DEVISTATION COULD PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE WHAT I SAW AND HEARD ABOUT. PERIOD. I was shocked by the magnitude of what that storm did. Homes and buildings, new and old, all suffered the same fate. Katrina was like nothing anyone had ever seen before, or could have prepared for, short of leaving it all behind and in many cases coming back to nothing but a concrete slab.
I was also amazed at the stories of heroism. Two brothers, who rode a jet ski 2 miles in 80 mph winds and waves at night to rescue their father’s elderly neighbors, who as my friend described, “I have never seen death in one’s face, until my brother and I swam into their bedroom to find them floating on their mattress knowing the end was near.” Or the Doctor, who was not from the area originally, who decided to ride the storm out in his 2 story brick house located on high ground. As the water rose into the second floor, he tied his five children together, as he, his wife and they swam out of their second story window during the height of the storm so as not to drown in their home. So affected was he and his family, that they moved away shortly after the storm, choosing to leave the area that they no longer called home.
The human strength to survive is incredible. When facing incredible odds, ordinary humans, ordinary Americans, do extraordinary things. And in Bay St. Louis and across the Gulf Coast, everyone and anyone who faced that fateful day in August of 2005, has a story of luck, survival and heroism.
And on that road back, that Road to Recovery, the communities that make up the Gulf Coast celebrate each victory. As pictured above, the bridge rebuilt that spans the distance between Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian, was a victory well savored by the community. It was a bridge envisioned in hope and rebuilt by determination. It is my solemn wish that my new friends on the Gulf Coast remain strong and steadfast in their commitment to their neighbors, their friends and our country.
- POTUS
Having never been to NOLA or Ole Miss, I took some time to see the sites. I drove from MSY to downtown NO, past the rebuilt Superdome and the NO Convention Center. It was strange to see the facilities in person after seeing the carnage that followed Katrina. I went on to the French Quarter. Now it was the middle of the afternoon, so it wasn’t like I was going to party. The first thing I noticed when I got out of my car was the smell. It stunk and I think it had nothing to do with Katrina. I took my camera, but the only thing worth taking a picture of was Jackson Square. I guess Bourbon Street is only fun at night; during Mardi Gras; or watching it on an episode of COPS (filmed on location with the Men and Women of law enforcement) with FLOTUS from the comfort and safety of my living room couch.
I headed east to Mississippi. As I traveled out of town, I was struck by the devastation that still exists nearly 3 years after the storm. It was like a 3rd world country in some areas. I later learned that much of the delayed rebuilding is due to government red tape and fights with the insurance companies.
Anyhow, I made my way to Bay St. Louis, MS where our contacts had made arrangements at a local hotel/casino. We had a small reception that evening and called it a night due to our early start and long day to follow.
In the morning, we took what has been called the ‘new chamber tour.’ This is a mixed bag tour of areas that still need to be rebuilt and the rebuilding that’s in progress. Let me tell you this: NO PICTURE I EVER SAW OF THE DEVISTATION COULD PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE WHAT I SAW AND HEARD ABOUT. PERIOD. I was shocked by the magnitude of what that storm did. Homes and buildings, new and old, all suffered the same fate. Katrina was like nothing anyone had ever seen before, or could have prepared for, short of leaving it all behind and in many cases coming back to nothing but a concrete slab.
I was also amazed at the stories of heroism. Two brothers, who rode a jet ski 2 miles in 80 mph winds and waves at night to rescue their father’s elderly neighbors, who as my friend described, “I have never seen death in one’s face, until my brother and I swam into their bedroom to find them floating on their mattress knowing the end was near.” Or the Doctor, who was not from the area originally, who decided to ride the storm out in his 2 story brick house located on high ground. As the water rose into the second floor, he tied his five children together, as he, his wife and they swam out of their second story window during the height of the storm so as not to drown in their home. So affected was he and his family, that they moved away shortly after the storm, choosing to leave the area that they no longer called home.
The human strength to survive is incredible. When facing incredible odds, ordinary humans, ordinary Americans, do extraordinary things. And in Bay St. Louis and across the Gulf Coast, everyone and anyone who faced that fateful day in August of 2005, has a story of luck, survival and heroism.
And on that road back, that Road to Recovery, the communities that make up the Gulf Coast celebrate each victory. As pictured above, the bridge rebuilt that spans the distance between Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian, was a victory well savored by the community. It was a bridge envisioned in hope and rebuilt by determination. It is my solemn wish that my new friends on the Gulf Coast remain strong and steadfast in their commitment to their neighbors, their friends and our country.
- POTUS
Monday, Monday…
Great day today. After spending 2 days in Mississippi, 2 days with the First Family, I woke up early this morning to do a little volunteer work. I took a PTO and headed to Rocky River and then the airport.
Enterprise usually does a pretty good job, but apparently they couldn’t find two 15-passenger vans in the whole Cleveland area. What a joke! Finally they locate one van which they got to the site 20-minutes before wheels down, and the second vehicle…a Nissan Armada. Are you kidding me? We ditched the foreigner, in spite of is V-8 power and aggressive looks for old reliable – my ’03 Silver Bullet. All 126,000+ miles of shining DETROIT steel!
I pulled shotgun in the 15, which Eagle Dave piloted. Lefty was along for the ride as well during the first leg, spent the rest of the day riding the STE. I roped Radio into volunteering as well. He was pretty excited when I called him after I landed on Saturday in CLE from MSY. I don’t think he knew what he was getting into, but in the end we got the money shot with the Boss and all was well. Special thanks to Radio, who took good care of the Bullet and was second in line.
The afternoon event went well. Packed house. Live local and national feeds. And great food. And afterwards, I road the STE to the FBO. Memorable...to be there and for who wasn't.
Oh yeah, tip of the SteakMatters platter goes to PGA who put the day together. Nice job. See you when you’re back in town.
Enterprise usually does a pretty good job, but apparently they couldn’t find two 15-passenger vans in the whole Cleveland area. What a joke! Finally they locate one van which they got to the site 20-minutes before wheels down, and the second vehicle…a Nissan Armada. Are you kidding me? We ditched the foreigner, in spite of is V-8 power and aggressive looks for old reliable – my ’03 Silver Bullet. All 126,000+ miles of shining DETROIT steel!
I pulled shotgun in the 15, which Eagle Dave piloted. Lefty was along for the ride as well during the first leg, spent the rest of the day riding the STE. I roped Radio into volunteering as well. He was pretty excited when I called him after I landed on Saturday in CLE from MSY. I don’t think he knew what he was getting into, but in the end we got the money shot with the Boss and all was well. Special thanks to Radio, who took good care of the Bullet and was second in line.
The afternoon event went well. Packed house. Live local and national feeds. And great food. And afterwards, I road the STE to the FBO. Memorable...to be there and for who wasn't.
Oh yeah, tip of the SteakMatters platter goes to PGA who put the day together. Nice job. See you when you’re back in town.
Italian Flavor
(The first of three very delinquent posts.)
Radio put together another great evening of the couples from school. As he likes to cook, and eat, he chose Sapore which is the recently opened restaurant of Loretta Paganini of the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking and The International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute.
Paganini is a great American story. She learned how to cook in Italy from her mother, studied at the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and came to the United States to make her fortune. Knowing little English [take note all recent arrivals, legal and illegal], came to New York and then she made her way to Cleveland, OH in 1977. She began teaching in Cleveland’s Little Italy in 1981 and in 1989 opened her school of cooking in Chesterland, OH.
Sapore means “flavor” in Italian. And that not only describes our dinner, but also our dining experience. The restaurant is located in a transformed home, next to the school of cooking and across the street from the ICASI. As you walk, in there are windows, framed as pictures, which look into the kitchen. The place has a modern décor, which is a transformation for this 1950’s bungalow. The interior had an open feel and was complimented with refinish hard wood floors, light walls and excellent lighting. The place seat probably 30 people, max, and there seemed to be a focus on groups as there were at least 3 large tables of diners, including our table.
The meal is a flat fee, four course dining adventure. Each course has 2 choices, and the wine selection was limited to three choices, which complimented the menu choices. (I also liked Sapore because you are welcome to bring your own wine, which is served for a minor corking fee.)
For the first course, I had the warm frisee, chicken confit, pickled onions and sherry vinaigrette. (Yes, this being a gourmet restaurant we did experience some ‘if you have to ask’ moments.) The chicken was tender and enjoyable. As for the pickled onions, regular readers will not be surprised to read that I moved those to the side. The second choice was an oxtail consume, which was reported as very good.
The second course was a choice of Ravioli of chicken and local goat cheese or fresh fettuccini, roasted fennel with parmiggiano reggiano. I choose the fettuccini because of the 1st course chicken) which was also enjoyable, but a bit heavier than I expected, only because I hadn’t eaten pasta in several weeks. FLOTUS had the ravioli and loved it. It looked great and I was sorry she ate it all before giving me a chance to try it.
The two main course selections were bacon wrapped salmon with beets, flageoulet beans, and pistou broth; and braised pork shoulder, thyme baised onions and pomme puree. (Two guess on my selection and the first one doesn’t count.) The braised pork shoulder was awesome. The texture of ‘the other white meat’ so tender that I used a fork to portion the bites. I even tried the braised onions, which added incredible flavor without over powering the taste of the pork. And the pomme puree (AKA mashed potatoes) were to be enjoyed as well. No fake ones here. Hand cut, boiled and ‘pureed’.
The desert choices left me cursing my allergy to walnuts. The choices were an Ohio walnut torte or braised pineapple and green cardamom crepes. I get migraines from walnut, so I had to pass, but when those dishes I arrived, I was tempted to challenge the headache gods. I didn’t and happily I was not disappointed by with my braised pineapple. It was sweet to eat and complimented with a carafe of pressed coffee.
Everyone enjoyed the meal and felt the location made for a surprising dining experience. Pagannini’s Italian heritage and French education provided for a nice mix of course options and we learned later, when talking with Loretta, that the menu will change on a regular basis as they try different items. I look forward to the opportunity to take FLOTUS back for a date night.
Radio put together another great evening of the couples from school. As he likes to cook, and eat, he chose Sapore which is the recently opened restaurant of Loretta Paganini of the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking and The International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute.
Paganini is a great American story. She learned how to cook in Italy from her mother, studied at the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and came to the United States to make her fortune. Knowing little English [take note all recent arrivals, legal and illegal], came to New York and then she made her way to Cleveland, OH in 1977. She began teaching in Cleveland’s Little Italy in 1981 and in 1989 opened her school of cooking in Chesterland, OH.
Sapore means “flavor” in Italian. And that not only describes our dinner, but also our dining experience. The restaurant is located in a transformed home, next to the school of cooking and across the street from the ICASI. As you walk, in there are windows, framed as pictures, which look into the kitchen. The place has a modern décor, which is a transformation for this 1950’s bungalow. The interior had an open feel and was complimented with refinish hard wood floors, light walls and excellent lighting. The place seat probably 30 people, max, and there seemed to be a focus on groups as there were at least 3 large tables of diners, including our table.
The meal is a flat fee, four course dining adventure. Each course has 2 choices, and the wine selection was limited to three choices, which complimented the menu choices. (I also liked Sapore because you are welcome to bring your own wine, which is served for a minor corking fee.)
For the first course, I had the warm frisee, chicken confit, pickled onions and sherry vinaigrette. (Yes, this being a gourmet restaurant we did experience some ‘if you have to ask’ moments.) The chicken was tender and enjoyable. As for the pickled onions, regular readers will not be surprised to read that I moved those to the side. The second choice was an oxtail consume, which was reported as very good.
The second course was a choice of Ravioli of chicken and local goat cheese or fresh fettuccini, roasted fennel with parmiggiano reggiano. I choose the fettuccini because of the 1st course chicken) which was also enjoyable, but a bit heavier than I expected, only because I hadn’t eaten pasta in several weeks. FLOTUS had the ravioli and loved it. It looked great and I was sorry she ate it all before giving me a chance to try it.
The two main course selections were bacon wrapped salmon with beets, flageoulet beans, and pistou broth; and braised pork shoulder, thyme baised onions and pomme puree. (Two guess on my selection and the first one doesn’t count.) The braised pork shoulder was awesome. The texture of ‘the other white meat’ so tender that I used a fork to portion the bites. I even tried the braised onions, which added incredible flavor without over powering the taste of the pork. And the pomme puree (AKA mashed potatoes) were to be enjoyed as well. No fake ones here. Hand cut, boiled and ‘pureed’.
The desert choices left me cursing my allergy to walnuts. The choices were an Ohio walnut torte or braised pineapple and green cardamom crepes. I get migraines from walnut, so I had to pass, but when those dishes I arrived, I was tempted to challenge the headache gods. I didn’t and happily I was not disappointed by with my braised pineapple. It was sweet to eat and complimented with a carafe of pressed coffee.
Everyone enjoyed the meal and felt the location made for a surprising dining experience. Pagannini’s Italian heritage and French education provided for a nice mix of course options and we learned later, when talking with Loretta, that the menu will change on a regular basis as they try different items. I look forward to the opportunity to take FLOTUS back for a date night.
- POTUS
Top Notch!
We decided to reward ourselves after our 2-day retreat in DC last week by visiting The Palm. Where the food, atmosphere, and scotch are always flowing and always good. I indulged in the 14oz filet mignon - just pink enough in the center to still be considered red meat - that was full of flavor. The filet was accompanied by delicious sauteed mushrooms, and of course, hashbrowns, and of course, another scotch! No two ways about it - this place is Top Notch!
Lefty
Lefty
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Cabin Club Has Tasty Grub
So, it's Saturday afternoon, and I'm still thinking about the tastey grub I had at the Cabin Club (on the border of Westlake and Avon) on Thursday evening. Thanks to Orchid and Ivy League for the fine company. More importantly, thanks to Ivy League for picking up the tab!
The atmosphere at the Cabin Club is perfect. It's classy enough to be a top-notch restaurant, but it's not too stuffy--evidenced by the strategically placed flat-screen HDTV's above the bar area and elsewhere. I didn't see the bill, so I can't talk about the prices--but I sure can vouch for the service and the tastey grub.
I started with a Wedge salad (suprise) with ranch dressing. The plate was a little ecclectic for my taste--you know those white triangular plates? Give me a round plate, please. Nevertheless, the wedge was amazing. I ate every last bite.
Me and Ivy League both tore into a 7oz filet. I ordered (and received) mine medium. I.L. got his medium rare--both were cooked to perfection. The taste was amazing--juicy and sweet--and hot. This steak might make my top five ever. I.L.'s steak looked even better than mine. I haven't been able to eat medium rare steak for the last couple of years. On a D.C. trip with Boss and Lefty a couple years ago, we ate at this French restaurant on the Hill--i ordered mine medium rare that night, but they sent it to me almost rare. I choked it down, though, but was sick the next day as we made our rounds around the Hill. I havent had medium rare since. I think I'll try it next time, though--I.L.'s steak looked great.
The best part of the night was Orchid's story about how he picked up this little chippy he's had his eye on. What's dude do? Out of the blue he sends her a flower (an Orchid) to her work and asks her out to lunch. Ballsy move--and it paid off! Big ups to Orchid for going after what he wants! It seems he enjoyed his dinner too--medallions with some mushroom nonesense on it. Not my bag, but he seemed to enjoy it!
Anyway, great night at the Cabin Club--i'd highly recommend it if you find yourself on the west side hungry for a great steak.
I'm off to the Princess on Ice show with Co-conspirator and Cinderella--3pm show. Should be exciting--I wonder if Nationwide serves a filet?!?!
Good lookin' out...
--G
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Follow-up, 10th Congressional Disappointment
Confirming my thoughts about the O’Grady sham candidacy for the 10th Congressional district, PD Editorial Page Director Brett Larkin wrote this piece in today’s paper:
Even before Tuesday's debate, there were lots of rumblings - some from former supporters -that O'Grady is a plant who's in the race solely to dilute the anti-Kucinich vote. O'Grady has an impeccable résumé and by most accounts has been a decent mayor. So it's very difficult to believe he would sell his political soul to Kucinich.Mr. Mayor, what’s the going rate for selling your soul, I mean, political reputation?
Nevertheless, O'Grady's performance in the debate was so odd, it led me to conclude that he's either the world's worst politician or is indeed working in concert with Kucinich.
Follow-up, Legislative Beef
Tip of the SteakMatters’ platter to PD columnist Phillip Morris for his thoughts on Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones support of Hillary and the lack of Obama supports to identify any legislative successes he has had as a Senator.
It’s easy to fall prey to the racial undercurrents of this Democratic primary, or to jump on board a campaign because it’s the cause celeb, but STJ is demonstrating the fierce loyalty to her candidate that has entrenched and endeared her in the 11th and has made her a player in the House. Might we be calling her Madame Attorney General soon?
Some say she is breaking unwritten race rules and disregarding natural alliances. Cleveland's political godfather, Arnold Pinkney, says we are at an unprecedented moment in American history, the possible nomination of a black candidate as a party's candidate for president. Tubbs Jones, though, is not choosing her candidate based on race. She says the decision comes down to qualifications.
The other day, I saw an MSNBC clip where Tubbs Jones and talk show host Chris Matthews were taking a Texas state senator to task. They demanded that the senator, who turned redder by the moment, list a single Obama legislative accomplishment. "What has he accomplished, sir?" snapped Matthews. The guy stuttered, stammered and kept trying to steer the conversation back to the notion of hope and inspiration. He kept trying to discuss Obama's "coalition-building" and what he believes Obama is capable of doing.
It’s easy to fall prey to the racial undercurrents of this Democratic primary, or to jump on board a campaign because it’s the cause celeb, but STJ is demonstrating the fierce loyalty to her candidate that has entrenched and endeared her in the 11th and has made her a player in the House. Might we be calling her Madame Attorney General soon?
Ohio Dem chairman uses racist remark, rejects higher ed funding
With the Ohio Democratic debate right around the corner, State Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern used the opportunity to reject funding assistance for CSU and used a racial epithet to disparage his press secretary.
As reported in the PD, Cleveland State University is frantically raising money to offset the cost of the debate scheduled to take place at the CSU Wolstein Center on Tuesday, February 26. President Michael Swartz has been hurriedly working the phones, seeking sponsorships that range from $2000 - $50,000. As the same time, Redfern is fundraising as well, asking for similar sponsorships, which include a reception at Progressive Field and tickets to the debate. Initial comments by Redfern’s spokeman Alex Goepfert, indicated that some funds would be directed to Cleveland State to help defer costs. In today’s paper, the Chairman from Catawba Island indicated in fact that:
So in one fell swoop, the leader of the Ohio Democratic Party used the racial epithet of ‘boy’ to humiliate and belittle a key member organization, and to reject funding assistance to Cleveland State, which is putting on his Democratic pageant.
If I were the press secretary, the next release I’d put out would me my letter of resignation. And if I were Chris Redfern, I would put assistance of Cleveland State above my self-interest of raising money for a party. But that’s just me.
- POTUS
As reported in the PD, Cleveland State University is frantically raising money to offset the cost of the debate scheduled to take place at the CSU Wolstein Center on Tuesday, February 26. President Michael Swartz has been hurriedly working the phones, seeking sponsorships that range from $2000 - $50,000. As the same time, Redfern is fundraising as well, asking for similar sponsorships, which include a reception at Progressive Field and tickets to the debate. Initial comments by Redfern’s spokeman Alex Goepfert, indicated that some funds would be directed to Cleveland State to help defer costs. In today’s paper, the Chairman from Catawba Island indicated in fact that:
"My boy misspoke," said Redfern, referring to party spokesman Alex Goepfert. "It's not true. None of the money is going to Cleveland State."
So in one fell swoop, the leader of the Ohio Democratic Party used the racial epithet of ‘boy’ to humiliate and belittle a key member organization, and to reject funding assistance to Cleveland State, which is putting on his Democratic pageant.
If I were the press secretary, the next release I’d put out would me my letter of resignation. And if I were Chris Redfern, I would put assistance of Cleveland State above my self-interest of raising money for a party. But that’s just me.
- POTUS
Musings...
Welcoming some new readers...Clerk...welcome to the blog. Some of Ivy League's friends are new readers too...they dig it.
I'm happy people are enjoying it. It's quite cathartic for me.
It's good to see POTUS working hard. Our blog is starting to look like Blockbuster with all the video we're downloading. Google must be loving us. We better be careful or Google will take us down like they did that one site that was being critical of the U.N. God knows we wouldnt want to be critical of such a non-corrupt, useful group like the United Nations---puke.
Big ups to Ivy League. He bought me dinner tonight at the Cabin Club in Avon. GREAT meal. I'll give you the play later. It was an excellent meal. Thanks to another new reader, Orchid for joining us.
Later, peeps. I'm tired.
--G
I'm happy people are enjoying it. It's quite cathartic for me.
It's good to see POTUS working hard. Our blog is starting to look like Blockbuster with all the video we're downloading. Google must be loving us. We better be careful or Google will take us down like they did that one site that was being critical of the U.N. God knows we wouldnt want to be critical of such a non-corrupt, useful group like the United Nations---puke.
Big ups to Ivy League. He bought me dinner tonight at the Cabin Club in Avon. GREAT meal. I'll give you the play later. It was an excellent meal. Thanks to another new reader, Orchid for joining us.
Later, peeps. I'm tired.
--G
Advancing McCain
Well it appears that the bimbo eruption was nothing more than a 10-year old story, which attempted to grab headlines and tie McCain to lobbyists, with a hint of sex thrown in. The only source to go on record was a former McCain staff member, with the balance of information coming from “unnamed” sources. This may turn out to be the event that endears McCain to the conservative wing of the Republican Party.
However, in watching the coverage of McCain’s response when he landed last night in Toledo, OH, I caught a glimpse of SteakMatters friend, PGA, who has been providing advance for the Arizona Senator. Through an exchange of emails with PGA, he told me he was on the plane with the Senator when he landed. Not bad for a gritty Eastsider and alum of Bushwood, who took the campaign’s call when everyone else was out to lunch at the Rudy and Mitt buffet.
Check out the video of PGA here:
- POTUS
However, in watching the coverage of McCain’s response when he landed last night in Toledo, OH, I caught a glimpse of SteakMatters friend, PGA, who has been providing advance for the Arizona Senator. Through an exchange of emails with PGA, he told me he was on the plane with the Senator when he landed. Not bad for a gritty Eastsider and alum of Bushwood, who took the campaign’s call when everyone else was out to lunch at the Rudy and Mitt buffet.
Check out the video of PGA here:
- POTUS
John McCain's bimbo eruption?
...as GOTSOO would say, "I just threw-up in my mouth!"
From the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship.
Stay tuned....
- POTUS
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Where's the legislative beef?
Once again, a Barak supporter demonstrates the shallowness of knowledge and support:
Just as in the my Mo Vs Machine post, Obama's supporters are motivated by emotion and (false) hope and even after the embarrising display by supporters with Frank Luntz, good state senator from Texas showed a lack of preparation and could not come up with a single accomplishments. (Could it be that none exist?)
A special toast from SteakMatters to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones for her insistance that Senator Watson answer the question and not attack Hillary. Now this is some classic video.
- POTUS
Just as in the my Mo Vs Machine post, Obama's supporters are motivated by emotion and (false) hope and even after the embarrising display by supporters with Frank Luntz, good state senator from Texas showed a lack of preparation and could not come up with a single accomplishments. (Could it be that none exist?)
A special toast from SteakMatters to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones for her insistance that Senator Watson answer the question and not attack Hillary. Now this is some classic video.
- POTUS
Air Force Pilot Dead After Mid-Air Collision
Word today is that a U.S. Air Force pilot was killed during a training exercise in the sky over Florida today. According to reports, the F-15C aircraft were based out of the 33rd Fighter Wing of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
This disaster comes not long after the Air Force grounded all of its F-15's after an F-15c model essentially fell apart in the air during a routine training flight in Missouri in November. In that incident, the pilot safely ejected.
These incidents are further evidence of how brave our men and women of our armed forces are. Being a pilot is dangerous in and of itself. Being a fighter pilot is exponentially more dangerous. You have to be highly intelligent and in amazing physical shape. More importantly, in order to be ready when the real call comes, you have to train, train, train. Flying at mach 2.5 (1,800 or so miles an hour) is tough on the body and dangerous as hell!
I know, I used to train these guys when I was answering my call of duty. I received my initial training as an Aerospace Physiology Specialist/Instructor at the School of Aerospace Medicine on Brooks Air Force Base , San Antonio, Texas (thanks to the BRAC--Base Realignment and Closure--process, Brooks is now closed). Aerospace Physiology Instructors are still in business, though. I served as part of the 15th Physiological Training Flight , 18th Medical Group, On Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. My unit mainly managed their physiological training requirments that had to be renewed every three years. We lectured on night vision, emergency escape, oxygen equipment, how to recognize hypoxia symptoms, spacial disorientation, etc. Think Officer and a Gentleman-type training (only that was Navy).
Trust me when I tell you these pilots are impressive creatures. Fighter jocks are a little arrogant. Sometimes they were tough to deal with--they thought they knew everything--so it was tough to "teach" them. But they listened, and were incredibly professional.
It was an honor of a lifetime--and only part of my job in the military--but i miss the people and the mission. More importantly, I mourn the loss of another American hero.
--G
Proud to be an American?
The Obama Campaign response, as reported by Foxnews:
Hey Michelle, its about THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, not you or your husband.
We'll know if this story really has legs if Hillary decides to profess her long standing pride in this great country of ours. But as I mentioned in my comments to GOTSOO's video post, I didn't see anything on the MSM evening reports. Maybe they'll cover it in the morning. Here's to hoping that Hilla will comment during the overnight.
- POTUS
BTW, that's not the first time she's used this line.Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the candidate’s wife wasn’t trying to knock her country, only underscore the meaning behind her husband’s campaign.
“The point is that of course Michelle is proud of her country, which is why she and Barack talk constantly about how their story wouldn’t be possible in any other nation on Earth,” she said. “What she meant is that she’s really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who’ve never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change.”
Hey Michelle, its about THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, not you or your husband.
We'll know if this story really has legs if Hillary decides to profess her long standing pride in this great country of ours. But as I mentioned in my comments to GOTSOO's video post, I didn't see anything on the MSM evening reports. Maybe they'll cover it in the morning. Here's to hoping that Hilla will comment during the overnight.
- POTUS
p.s. - I guess the Lee Greenwood classic won't be played during the Democratic convention, but was it ever?
10th Congressional Disappointment
I attended the 10th Congressional District Democratic debate this afternoon. From the opening bell, Cimperman came out swinging and kept swinging for the 60 minutes. I get the aggressiveness, but the feedback I got from a lot of folks was this: we know Kucinich’s short comings; we want to know what Joe’s going to do differently. Going negative at the City Club Debate never seems to work. I think the key to winning in that venue is to be self deprecating and to bring your family along. (Heck, its worked wonders for Marc Dann.)
I’m going to have to go back and watch the tape again, but my initial reaction was to chuckle at the boldness of the Cimperman attacks. Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, continued attacks in this forum don’t work, as illustrated by the crowd groans during attacks later in the debate. I have to give Cimperman credit on his research and figures he used. One of the most amazing figures was $1.6million, which is the total salary that Kucinich has received during his tenure as Congressman. The other figure was 1 – the number of pieces of legislation written by the Congressman and passed into law.
Kucinich was calm through out the event. He responded to all charges and advanced his agenda, although he did seem to fall back too often on his stump speech. Those who underestimate the man’s ability and debate skills will quickly find themselves in a losing battle. The Congressman did nothing to hurt his election this afternoon.
The person who came out on top was Barbara Ferris. She had some of the best lines (“I feel like a Rose….” as she was seated between the sparing Cimperman and Kucinich.) Her grasp of the issues was impressive. Her previous candidate experience served her well.
As for O’Grady, I’m more convinced than ever that his only role in this race to dilute the Cimperman vote. And I continue to have the utmost respect for Palmer and her principled run, but unfortunately, she was overshadowed throughout the debate.
There were no knockouts, or drop-outs, and so we’re on to March 4th and likely another Kucinich victory.
- POTUS
I’m going to have to go back and watch the tape again, but my initial reaction was to chuckle at the boldness of the Cimperman attacks. Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, continued attacks in this forum don’t work, as illustrated by the crowd groans during attacks later in the debate. I have to give Cimperman credit on his research and figures he used. One of the most amazing figures was $1.6million, which is the total salary that Kucinich has received during his tenure as Congressman. The other figure was 1 – the number of pieces of legislation written by the Congressman and passed into law.
Kucinich was calm through out the event. He responded to all charges and advanced his agenda, although he did seem to fall back too often on his stump speech. Those who underestimate the man’s ability and debate skills will quickly find themselves in a losing battle. The Congressman did nothing to hurt his election this afternoon.
The person who came out on top was Barbara Ferris. She had some of the best lines (“I feel like a Rose….” as she was seated between the sparing Cimperman and Kucinich.) Her grasp of the issues was impressive. Her previous candidate experience served her well.
As for O’Grady, I’m more convinced than ever that his only role in this race to dilute the Cimperman vote. And I continue to have the utmost respect for Palmer and her principled run, but unfortunately, she was overshadowed throughout the debate.
There were no knockouts, or drop-outs, and so we’re on to March 4th and likely another Kucinich victory.
- POTUS
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
For First Time In My Adult life time I am Really Proud of my Country
Wow..really, Michelle? Through 9/11, through other tragedies, other victories, the courage of many of the citizens of New Orleans during Katrina, the way folks came together after the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the defeat of the U.S.S.R by the American hockey team in 1980, etc...none of that made you proud to be an American?
It took your husband's call for "change" and "hope" to make you proud? That says alot, Michelle, thank you for your honesty.
--G
Speaking of Change...
Are you ready for change? Barrack Hussein Obama is. So am I. I'm shifting my energy toward the defeat of the Hil toward the defeat of BHO. With her defeat in Wisconsin, BHO is on the cusp of victory. Why, you say? It's just another win, you say--a mere 10 in a row, you say? My friends, this one is different.
Up until this point, Clinton has won the female vote by a grand majority. She has also been successful at locking up the vote of those who earn less than $50,000--the working class. Wisconsin saw a shift in that trend. Tonight, exit polls are showing Billary barely--barely (2%) winning the vote of women and she LOST the vote from those who make less than 50k. Combine that with the fact that BHO destroyed her in the competition for the male vote and for the youth vote--and you have a recipe for disaster for the Hil. As my good friend T.C. said in an email to me earlier tonight:
Celebrate. Stick a fork in her, as she is done. To me it's a sign that D's are deciding that he's the guy and going with him. I don't think at this point ohio matters all that much. If she wins, it'll be a political come back as we've not seen in our lifetime. I still think the D's are taking an enormous gamble. I Thought McCain did a great job nailing him tonight. Go write your blog and declare victory.
I hope T.C. is right. He almost always is. Today is a big day, friends. With 44% in in Wisconsin, he's beating her by 12%. 12%! By all accounts a landslide win. I'm going to save my victory celebration for another evening, however. Team Billary is capable of stealing this, still. And I do mean stealing it...
Let's focus on BHO for a second. This is a man who wants to close Guantanemo; roll back the Bush tax cuts; an astronomically expensive health care plan riddled with subsidies (code word for huge tax increase on personal income tax and businesses); increase labor, safety and environmental standards (code word for more regulation on business); continue raising the minimum wage again and index it to inflation (code word for another attack on business); give a $4,000 tuition credit for every student, every year; greenhouse gas emissions (generate billions from "polluters"); he wants to cut and run and let the terrorists create a home base in Iraq; he wants to appoint liberal anti-gun/anti-life, activist judges to the bench.
Don't just take me at my word--look for yourself. Try to think of how much money (code word for how much your taxes will need to be raised), in order for him to pay for all of this socialistic nonsense.
As for his record in the Illinois Senate, here are just a few of his votes:
* He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive;
* He opposed letting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violating local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. The bill was a reaction to a Chicago-area man who, after shooting an intruder, was charged with a handgun violation;
* He supported higher taxes, joining other Democrats in pushing to raise more than 300 taxes and fees on businesses in 2004 to help solve a budget deficit;
* He sponsored the Health Care Justice Act, a study of ways to implement a universal health care system statewide. (2004);
* He sponsored a bill to limit citizens to being able to purchase only one handgun (2000);
* He voted against making gang members eligible for the death penalty if they killed someone to help their gang. (2001);
* He voted against giving tax credits to parents who send their children to private school. (1999)--shame on them, huh?!
* He voted against a bill that would have paved the way to oil and gas exploration in part of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And, he voted to filibuster a bill that would have opened eight million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling.
He wants change, you say. He has hope, you say. Bull. He is as partisan as the next guy--despite all of his rhetoric on change and hope. You want an example, you say? Ok, here you go:
In explaining why he voted against now Chief Justice John Roberts, Obama told the Senate that he was “sorely tempted” to vote for him. Why?
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind Judge Roberts is qualified to sit on the highest court in the land,” Obama said.
“He seems to have the comportment and the temperament that makes for a good judge. He is humble, he is personally decent, and he appears to be respectful of different points of view.”
“He does, in fact, deeply respect the basic precepts that go into deciding 95 percent of the cases that come before the Federal court: adherence to precedents, a certain modesty in reading statutes and constitutional text, a respect for procedural regularity, and an impartiality in presiding over the adversarial system.” BHO voted against him.
This guy is scary, folks. He's as left-wing as you get. If that's your bag--well, he's your man. But he's as partisan as the next guy. So, my fellow Ohioans--if you're going to vote for him in the general election against MCrazy, understand what you're getting.
If you're like most Ohioans and are more moderate to conservative in your ideals--this guy should scare you straight. More to come--I'm just getting warmed up!
Good lookin' out...
--G
Up until this point, Clinton has won the female vote by a grand majority. She has also been successful at locking up the vote of those who earn less than $50,000--the working class. Wisconsin saw a shift in that trend. Tonight, exit polls are showing Billary barely--barely (2%) winning the vote of women and she LOST the vote from those who make less than 50k. Combine that with the fact that BHO destroyed her in the competition for the male vote and for the youth vote--and you have a recipe for disaster for the Hil. As my good friend T.C. said in an email to me earlier tonight:
Celebrate. Stick a fork in her, as she is done. To me it's a sign that D's are deciding that he's the guy and going with him. I don't think at this point ohio matters all that much. If she wins, it'll be a political come back as we've not seen in our lifetime. I still think the D's are taking an enormous gamble. I Thought McCain did a great job nailing him tonight. Go write your blog and declare victory.
I hope T.C. is right. He almost always is. Today is a big day, friends. With 44% in in Wisconsin, he's beating her by 12%. 12%! By all accounts a landslide win. I'm going to save my victory celebration for another evening, however. Team Billary is capable of stealing this, still. And I do mean stealing it...
Let's focus on BHO for a second. This is a man who wants to close Guantanemo; roll back the Bush tax cuts; an astronomically expensive health care plan riddled with subsidies (code word for huge tax increase on personal income tax and businesses); increase labor, safety and environmental standards (code word for more regulation on business); continue raising the minimum wage again and index it to inflation (code word for another attack on business); give a $4,000 tuition credit for every student, every year; greenhouse gas emissions (generate billions from "polluters"); he wants to cut and run and let the terrorists create a home base in Iraq; he wants to appoint liberal anti-gun/anti-life, activist judges to the bench.
Don't just take me at my word--look for yourself. Try to think of how much money (code word for how much your taxes will need to be raised), in order for him to pay for all of this socialistic nonsense.
As for his record in the Illinois Senate, here are just a few of his votes:
* He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive;
* He opposed letting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violating local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. The bill was a reaction to a Chicago-area man who, after shooting an intruder, was charged with a handgun violation;
* He supported higher taxes, joining other Democrats in pushing to raise more than 300 taxes and fees on businesses in 2004 to help solve a budget deficit;
* He sponsored the Health Care Justice Act, a study of ways to implement a universal health care system statewide. (2004);
* He sponsored a bill to limit citizens to being able to purchase only one handgun (2000);
* He voted against making gang members eligible for the death penalty if they killed someone to help their gang. (2001);
* He voted against giving tax credits to parents who send their children to private school. (1999)--shame on them, huh?!
* He voted against a bill that would have paved the way to oil and gas exploration in part of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And, he voted to filibuster a bill that would have opened eight million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling.
He wants change, you say. He has hope, you say. Bull. He is as partisan as the next guy--despite all of his rhetoric on change and hope. You want an example, you say? Ok, here you go:
In explaining why he voted against now Chief Justice John Roberts, Obama told the Senate that he was “sorely tempted” to vote for him. Why?
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind Judge Roberts is qualified to sit on the highest court in the land,” Obama said.
“He seems to have the comportment and the temperament that makes for a good judge. He is humble, he is personally decent, and he appears to be respectful of different points of view.”
“He does, in fact, deeply respect the basic precepts that go into deciding 95 percent of the cases that come before the Federal court: adherence to precedents, a certain modesty in reading statutes and constitutional text, a respect for procedural regularity, and an impartiality in presiding over the adversarial system.” BHO voted against him.
This guy is scary, folks. He's as left-wing as you get. If that's your bag--well, he's your man. But he's as partisan as the next guy. So, my fellow Ohioans--if you're going to vote for him in the general election against MCrazy, understand what you're getting.
If you're like most Ohioans and are more moderate to conservative in your ideals--this guy should scare you straight. More to come--I'm just getting warmed up!
Good lookin' out...
--G
CHANGE!
I will leave you this evening/morning with this parting thought from Eddie the Philosopher Handy Man - "Change is all I hear from the Democrats. If Obama or Hillary get elected, 'Change' is all we'll have left in our pockets."
The Steak Smorgasbord – the food:
Blake’s closes: The Hyde Park Group recently announced that they are closing Blake’s of Chagrin to remodel and introduce a new restaurant. The company indicated that the closing in no way is related to the recent outbreak of the Norwalk virus, which it should be noted they self-reported to the health department, unlike other foodservice operations that quietly shut-down for cleaning. Tennis at Chagrin anyone? Anyhow, here’s to what was a great restaurant, in spite of FLOTUS’ 24-hour bug. The food was great. I’m sure the guys at HPG will return with a great concept, with great food and great atmosphere.
Euc opens: I got my monthly e-newsletter from my friends at University Circle, Inc. and to what did my wondering eyes read…The Euclid Tavern has re-opened! I can’t believe it. The new restaurant is serving lunch and dinner, with breakfast coming soon. They already have a line-up of bands scheduled to play. I hope they maintained some of the charm and history of the old joint. For me there are many memories, albeit a bit hazy - wall-to-wall packed on Tuesdays; the best wings on a hot summer night; cold beer, served in glass orange juice bottles instead of pitchers; the doorman - MK (who I later played college football with) and the family (TC, who also played ball) that ran the joint. And of course, who could forget the movie filmed there, The Light of Day, with Michael J. Fox (pre-Parkinson’s) and Joann Jett – the pics were on the wall and in full-Cleveland fashion, was always a good conversation starter, if you know what I mean, and I know you do. While the website needs some work, it’s a good start. Check it out at http://www.euclid-tavern.com/. Here’s hoping it’s as fun as the old Euc…I think.
Blue Point Grille: Boss and I recently had dinner with our friends, Captain and CIA, from 1See to celebrate our recent victory. BPG is one of FLOTUS’ favorite restaurants in Cleveland. I enjoy it because she enjoys it. But on this night they missed the mark. As avid readers know, when I go to a seafood joint, I order the steak. I always have, and always will. And when I’ve eaten at BPG previously they have always served me a great steak. Unfortunately, my Standard Cut Filet Mignon tasted like bad Parmigianino cheese, and you guessed it - fish. I get it, that’s the risk I take for getting steak at a seafood restaurant, but for the prices they charge, you’d think the chef could clean the grill. Everyone else loved their dinners, so who was I to complain. I appreciated the opportunity to celebrate one of last year’s great victories with one of our greatest clients.
Primi Piatti: While in Washington last week, I put together a small dinner for some of our friends following a reception. At the recommendation of the hotel concierge, I choose Primi Piatti. It was a cute little Italian restaurant, around the corner from our reception. I should have known however that we were in trouble when we walked in at the height of the entertaining hour and the place had open seats, not including our reserved table at the back of the place. The company made the evening: Boss, Lefty, Rainbow Warrior, Rainbow General; Ms. Balboa, and Purple Haze. We had a couple bottles of wine (nice selection) and dinner. My Insalatina Di Pomodorini was excellent – nice and light. For the main course I got the only steak on the menu (yes, there is a pattern here). The steak, Filetto DiManzo, was a Filet of beef grilled and served over shiitake mushrooms, flavored with Cognac cream and truffle essence. I had the meat served medium and fortunately, served a top the mushrooms and sauce. The filet was nicely cooked to temperature, although served pre-sliced. I made space at the end of the platter and ate the steak from that location, minus everything but a touch of salt and pepper. I'm certain I won't be going back to give them a second chance.
Upcoming: I’ve got three more experiences that deserve their own individual posts, but I will tease you with these parting thoughts – flavor in Geauga County; wedding night revisited; and breakfast in the West Wing.
- POTUS
Euc opens: I got my monthly e-newsletter from my friends at University Circle, Inc. and to what did my wondering eyes read…The Euclid Tavern has re-opened! I can’t believe it. The new restaurant is serving lunch and dinner, with breakfast coming soon. They already have a line-up of bands scheduled to play. I hope they maintained some of the charm and history of the old joint. For me there are many memories, albeit a bit hazy - wall-to-wall packed on Tuesdays; the best wings on a hot summer night; cold beer, served in glass orange juice bottles instead of pitchers; the doorman - MK (who I later played college football with) and the family (TC, who also played ball) that ran the joint. And of course, who could forget the movie filmed there, The Light of Day, with Michael J. Fox (pre-Parkinson’s) and Joann Jett – the pics were on the wall and in full-Cleveland fashion, was always a good conversation starter, if you know what I mean, and I know you do. While the website needs some work, it’s a good start. Check it out at http://www.euclid-tavern.com/. Here’s hoping it’s as fun as the old Euc…I think.
Blue Point Grille: Boss and I recently had dinner with our friends, Captain and CIA, from 1See to celebrate our recent victory. BPG is one of FLOTUS’ favorite restaurants in Cleveland. I enjoy it because she enjoys it. But on this night they missed the mark. As avid readers know, when I go to a seafood joint, I order the steak. I always have, and always will. And when I’ve eaten at BPG previously they have always served me a great steak. Unfortunately, my Standard Cut Filet Mignon tasted like bad Parmigianino cheese, and you guessed it - fish. I get it, that’s the risk I take for getting steak at a seafood restaurant, but for the prices they charge, you’d think the chef could clean the grill. Everyone else loved their dinners, so who was I to complain. I appreciated the opportunity to celebrate one of last year’s great victories with one of our greatest clients.
Primi Piatti: While in Washington last week, I put together a small dinner for some of our friends following a reception. At the recommendation of the hotel concierge, I choose Primi Piatti. It was a cute little Italian restaurant, around the corner from our reception. I should have known however that we were in trouble when we walked in at the height of the entertaining hour and the place had open seats, not including our reserved table at the back of the place. The company made the evening: Boss, Lefty, Rainbow Warrior, Rainbow General; Ms. Balboa, and Purple Haze. We had a couple bottles of wine (nice selection) and dinner. My Insalatina Di Pomodorini was excellent – nice and light. For the main course I got the only steak on the menu (yes, there is a pattern here). The steak, Filetto DiManzo, was a Filet of beef grilled and served over shiitake mushrooms, flavored with Cognac cream and truffle essence. I had the meat served medium and fortunately, served a top the mushrooms and sauce. The filet was nicely cooked to temperature, although served pre-sliced. I made space at the end of the platter and ate the steak from that location, minus everything but a touch of salt and pepper. I'm certain I won't be going back to give them a second chance.
Upcoming: I’ve got three more experiences that deserve their own individual posts, but I will tease you with these parting thoughts – flavor in Geauga County; wedding night revisited; and breakfast in the West Wing.
- POTUS
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Steak Smorgasbord – a non-food buffet of thoughts:
Yeah I know, I hear it from GOTSOO, I’ve been a bad blogger. So here are some random things that have been going through my head. I expect that this won’t be the last edition of the Smorgasbord. Enjoy.
Ice Fishing: Yesterday FLOTUS and I were driving in the Princess Jeep past a near-by state park. It was about 11:00a and the wipers were on low, meaning it was raining at a decent clip. The outside temp read 40 degrees. And wouldn’t you know, 3 idiots have shelters set-up on the ice and are fishing! To which I proposed this question to FLOTUS, “How bad do
Ice Fishing: Yesterday FLOTUS and I were driving in the Princess Jeep past a near-by state park. It was about 11:00a and the wipers were on low, meaning it was raining at a decent clip. The outside temp read 40 degrees. And wouldn’t you know, 3 idiots have shelters set-up on the ice and are fishing! To which I proposed this question to FLOTUS, “How bad do