I know, some might say that the Southern Male Democrat naming my favorite Republican is sorta like naming my favorite Tarhole - there just aren’t that many. (I kid! There are LOTS of Republicans I like… ) However, as I watched some of the Sunday political talk shows, there is some interesting buzz regarding Colin Powell and Barack Obama that reminded me why — Colin Powell is my favorite Republican. Look at what he said regarding my man Obama -
Asked what he thinks of Barack Obama’s political success this year, former Secretary of State Colin Powell had this to say yesterday on PBS: “I’m terribly excited, I’m impressed, and I’m happy for Barack Obama.” You can watch the video here.
As AFP notes, Powell urged Americans to “enjoy this moment where a person like Barack Obama can knock down all of these old barriers that people thought existed with respect to the opportunities that are available to African-Americans.”
“He is putting himself forward not as a black man but as an American man who wants to be president of the United States of America,” Powell added. “We should see Barack as a candidate for president who happens to be black, and not a black candidate for president.”
It’s pretty old news that Powell and Obama talk regularly and that the Secretary informally advises the Senator. Now it seems that Powell’s endorsement is truly up for grabs and that he talks with both presidential candidates on a regular basis. (Sorry libertarians - when you actually win some major elections we’ll talk…) Most of the pundits seem to think that Powell’s endorsement of Obama is a done deal. (For McCain, what has to be even scarier than all the positive press that will generate is the fact that Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel may go along with Powell. )
From the time that he first talked of running for President, Colin Powell has always made it clear that his country comes first and that his party comes second. We need more political leaders like this. Unfortunately, our political system punishes such values. Let’s be frank - had Powell made a name for himself strictly in politics rather than the military, he would be the same way many other politicians are. Serving the nation in a high-profile military capacity gives a person the luxury of proving their mettle to the American people without having to take political positions.
And while I was bummed that Powell didn’t choose the Democratic party, I knew that he was a different kind of Republican, more like Eisenhower and George H. W. Bush than the current crop of dittoheads. That perception was confirmed the night that I heard Powell speak at the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. (Yes, the SMD has attended a GOP Convention. It’s a loooong story. ) Powell told his fellow elephants that they could not in good conscience protest loudly about welfare for the poor, while turning a blind eye to corporate welfare provided by the government. Let’s just say that those words were not what one would call an “applause line.”
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I think that if there is an endorsement of Obama by Powell, it will not happen until September, at least. What better way to take a little of the edge off of McCain’s post-convention bounce?
Whether he ultimately endorses Obama or not, Republicans would do well to listen to what Secretary Powell says. His values can take their party back to the center, away from where the neo-conservatives and evangelicals have hijacked it to. Just remember where you read it when Secretary Powell goes to run the Pentagon for the Obama administration.
Conventional wisdom shows us that when a politician makes a personal connection with a citizen, and provides a personal service – the politician will gain that citizen’s support regardless of whatever differences they may have on the issues. To Senator Jesse Helms’ credit, he was one of the first modern politicians to fully grasp this concept. The constituent services provided by Senator Helms and his staff were nothing short of legendary. These services were so far and above what his counterparts from either party in North Carolina offered, that the Southern Male Democrat constantly steered friends who needed help to the Helms’ office when I lived in Washington, DC.
Fortunately, that one enduring quality didn’t faze me in the least and I’ve spent most of my professional life fighting everything that Senator Helms stood for. The lefty blogsphere is no doubt going to explode this weekend with knee-jerk recitations of the man’s racist and fear-mongering politics. While most of what is written will be factually correct, it will ignore the larger question of – why? I’ve got a few thoughts on that question.
Senator Helms was without a doubt, one of the nicest people I ever met in politics. Since I worked and lived in Washington, I actually interacted with the Senator from time to time, mainly via North Carolina political and social circles. (We even attended the same church in Alexandria – a fact that my Father loved to tease me about.) He had great old political stories about North Carolina. Those brief encounters gave me the opportunity to separate the person from the politics.
What stood out the most was that Senator Helms was largely a product of his times. He grew up in an era and a society where white, devoutly Christian Protestants ran everything. These people didn’t need the government to help them. They certainly didn’t need the government to interfere and ensure fairness for minorities. After all, the Negroes were treated with kindness as long as they kept their place. The federal government should instead busy itself with protecting the Christian nation America from the god-less communists.
Granted, I am being a little tongue in cheek, but my point is this – Senator Helms may have been steadfast in pursuing principles that many of us find reprehensible, but it wasn’t borne out of some sinister desire. Rather, Helms fought for the world and values that he knew – against a strong tide going the other way. The fact that he could be elected five times speaks to the fact that many of his fellow native North Carolinians were going through the same struggle.
Deeply ingrained values can only change through the passage of time. In many ways, it is fitting that the Helms era would end in a year when America is poised to elect our first African-American President. We can almost hear the pages of history turning.
So, the trip to the Rio Churrascaria Friday night was just okay. It’s hard to make an endless parade of meat skewers bad! But I am afraid that I am turning into a meat snob because I haven’t found a churrascaria yet to measure up to Fogo de Chao. Unfortunately, there’s no Fogo near my hometown.
Fortunately for my readers, instead of blogging about the churrascaria, I am going to share a recipe that will change your life. Upon making this dish, the word of your culinary prowess will spread far and wide. Friends and family will beg you for more. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Dixie Grilled Chicken.
Here it is for all you “non-link clickers.” –
Ingredients
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon (packed) golden brown sugar
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning with garlic and onion
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 4-pound chickens, quartered, rinsed, patted dry
1 sourdough baguette, cut on diagonal into 3/4-inch-thick slices
Preparation
Combine first 9 ingredients in small bowl; whisk spice rub to blend well. Transfer 1 tablespoon spice rub to medium bowl; add butter and mix well. (Rub and seasoned butter can be made 2 days ahead. Cover separately. Chill butter. Bring butter to room temperature before using.)
Sprinkle spice rub over both sides of chicken pieces. Arrange chicken pieces on waxed-paper-lined baking sheets. Cover chicken with more waxed paper and let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Reserve 4 tablespoons seasoned butter. Spread remaining seasoned butter on 1 side of baguette slices. Place bread slices on platter and cover. Place chicken on grill, skin side up. Grill 20 minutes. Turn chicken over. Grill until skin is deep golden brown, about 15 minutes. Turn chicken again and grill, skin side up, until cooked through (no red shows when chicken is cut at thigh bone), about 5 minutes longer. Transfer chicken to platter. Brush chicken with reserved 4 tablespoons seasoned butter.
Grill bread until just golden, about 2 minutes per side. Arrange toasts around chicken and serve.
With all that butter, clearly the emphasis is more on the “dixie” and less on the “grilled chicken.” It ain’t health food! (Come to think of it, what is health food in my life??) But it is an amazing dish that I have impressed guests with one more than one occassion. There is one word of caution that I have learned from experience; watch the heat on your grill and keep it lower. The skin on the chicken will char much quicker than the meat actually cooks as bone-in chicken takes a little longer to cook. Health nuts take a holiday and leave the skin on - it’s not like you eat this every day. You’ll thank me for it.
Please pardon the more frequent blogging this week. I was going to wait a few days and write about my trip to meat eaters heaven - the Rio Churrascaria - on Friday night. However, Mrs. SMD just sent me a link to a story in the Wall Street Journal that got me all riled up. In times like these, the only appropriate words were sung by the great Merle Haggard - “You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.”
In an effort to be “lean and green”, this year’s Democratic National Convention is NOT SERVING FRIED FOOD AT THE CONVENTION HALL. It has finally happened, the inmates are running the asylum.
Here’s a quote from the actual story in the WSJ -
But Matt Burns, a spokesman for the Republican convention, looks on with undisguised glee at some of the Democrats’ efforts — such as the “lean ‘n’ green” catering guidelines. Among them: No fried food. And, on the theory that nutritious food is more vibrant, each meal should include “at least three of the following colors: red, green, yellow, blue/purple, and white.” (Garnishes don’t count.) At least 70% of ingredients should be organic or grown locally, to minimize emissions from fuel burned during transportation. “One would think,” says Mr. Burns, “that the Democrats in Denver have bigger fish to bake — they have ruled out frying already — than mandating color-coordinated pretzel platters.” Democrats say the point is to build habits that will endure long after the convention. To that end, the city has staged “greening workshops” attended by hundreds of caterers, restaurant owners and hotel managers. “It’s the new patriotism,” Mayor Hickenlooper says.
Pardon my language, but politically-correct bullshit like this is EXACTLY why my beloved Democratic Party loses elections. The various factions that make up our party spend so much time trying to ensure that each one of their core principles is thrust upon Americans with little or no choice. After all “we” know better.
Don’t get me wrong - I am all for reducing waste, encouraging people to eat healthy and a government provided pair of birkenstocks for every driver of a Volvo station wagon. But when these choices start to affect individual’s choices - IE - the choices I make to clog my arteries - then something is amiss.
While Joe Sixpack voter may not be a regular reader of the Wall Street Journal - this information does get out to our larger culture and only adds to the perception that Democrats care more about engineering society in a politically correct fashion, than we do about helping working families put food on the table.
I actually admire the Republicans’ ability to avoid crap like this. Don’t get me wrong - the GOP has got plenty of nutso factions of their own between the gun nuts, bible beaters, trickle-downers and neo-conservatives. But what they don’t do is let each faction dictate the party’s actions. Think about it - Democratic candidates for President have to kiss the ring of labor, the environmental movement, pro-choice, minorities - and the list goes on. Each one of those constituencies have to be satisfied and if they’re not - the whining and division will commence.
Republicans on the other hand tell all of their factions to shut up, sing from the same hymn book until after the election and you’ll all get what you want. And it works.
God help me when I put on my delegate credentials in Denver. Maybe I can sneak some McDonald’s in past the Gestapo.
When you mess with my fried food, you are indeed - “walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.”
In 66 years mankind went from learning to fly to landing on the moon. The achievement is nothing short of extraordinary. The Apollo program has always fascinated me and this time of year always finds me glued to the latest crop of documentaries about our voyage to the moon.
American know-how devised not only a rocket ship to get to the moon - but a lunar lander which could undock, fly in the void of space, land on the surface of the moon and return to the mother ship. The footage is mesmerizing. We see the Eagle undock from Columbia and get smaller and smaller descending to the surface of an alien land. We hear the transmissions as Neil Armstrong counts off the altitude culminating in “Tranquilty base here, the Eagle has landed.” Walter Cronkite has to take a second and compose himself, he is so full of wonder.
I think it is time to ramp up not only our return to the moon, but also the voyage to Mars. I know, I know - “we’ve got so many more pressing needs here on Earth, why fly humans in space when we can send robots more cheaply?” That argument is not without merit.
There’s just something about going and seeing these places for ourselves, with our own eyes, that has an intrinsic value I can’t put my finger on. Looking at the news footage from the Apollo 11 mission, the whole world was united in pulling for our efforts. One of the members of the Apollo 11 crew, Michael Collins, has commented that as they toured the world after their return, admirers in many other countries constantly said “we did it,” as opposed to “you did it,” or “America did it.”
Can you imagine how the world would tune in to a lunar landing now that we have technology such as HDTV? And much like the world reveled in the wonder of this photo from Apollo 8 -
a fresh look at the Earth from afar may help people get in gear towards saving our planet.
There’s no doubt that all of this costs more money than we have. That seems to be a relatively small challenge. Heck, we could come up with some sort of private-public partnership that allows for a profit to be made. And while we’re at it, what’s wrong with putting a few corporate logos on the ship? If it gets us there, who cares? The benefits of trying outweigh the effects of not trying.
Of course, we have to acknowledge that the original achievement by Apollo was largely spurred on by the Cold War. We were in a race with the Soviets and winning seemed like the best way to achieve global supremacy in the eyes of the world. That enabled the United States to unite behind one purpose and fully fund the space program.
Is such a unity of purpose even possible in our modern political climate? I don’t know. As much as I believe that Barack Obama is going to break down many of the old divisions in our country, we have reached a point where our society is divided into a million more pieces because of technology. Even if Obama wins the election with an unheard of margin and gets a filibuster proof majority in the US Senate - there are always going to be many more active interests in our political system.
Let’s say that an Obama administration came up with a plausible plan to get us back to the moon sooner. There would still be the Association of Left-Handed Basket Weavers mounting a grassroots campaign to kill the program on the basis that it takes their funding away. (Yeah, yeah, I hear my conservative friends going - “don’t fund ANY of it.” :) ) Multiply that one association times 1000 and you’ve got an idea of how Washington works.
Unless Al Queda starts their own space program, I just don’t see our modern political system having the capability to achieve truly great things that unite our country behind a common purpose.
I have always been fairly pragmatic about judging political candidates. Our society is made up of great people, not-so-great people, smart people, dumb people and everything in between. We shouldn’t expect those who have the courage to put their name on the ballot to be perfect.
We should however, expect those who run for Congress to possess basic writing and communication skills. Recently, I was attending a political convention and picked up a brochure for a Congressional candidate. I was shocked at what I read. I was going to scan this, but couldn’t make the scan the right size for readability. As a service to my readers, I will type in what I read verbatim;
My Family has served in the Military every generation since the Civil War. I must protect the Military and their families, I have help and incentives waiting for you. I am Marine Corps.
Our [geographic reference deleted] economy must energize during these times of trial and uncertainty. The truth is shrouded. We have inflation and we are in recession. Small Business can build and survive with tax breaks. We can ‘progress’ through this.
National Healthcare must be adopted to aid all. John Edwards’ proposal was bold, feasible and workable. I will seek his help.
The War in Iraq ends; but, I want Bin Laden. We need ‘closure’ for America.
Social Security and Medicare guarded with action. I will build and secure.
National Security is a must to protect our citizens under the safeguards of the Constitution of the United States. The highest priority for protection against Terrorism for America, to America, in America.
Medical Research and awareness heightened. Our children’s lives depend on it. Cancer Research a priority.
Education expanded. Teachers respected with salary and tools necessary to prepare all students with economic, business and computer studies to prepare them to function in the World Arena.
No wall should keep anyone from loving America. My family helped bring the Statue of Liberty to America, build the ‘Peace Bridge’ to Canada, and a Cross was burned on their lawn. We have laws for entry. We must enforce protection for Americans and Immigrants. Reform Immigration and enforce it.
A Woman and A Man of African descent are making American History. The joy of relief from shackled hearts is near, with peace for Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks and Harrier Tubman among others, all tortured by prejudice.
You can’t make this stuff up. “No wall should keep anyone from loving America.” “Cancer Research a priority.” The latter isn’t even a sentence. Can someone please get this candidate an Associated Press style guide, or perhaps, a 10th grade English course?
Look, I know that we all can’t write as well as The Inadvertent Gardener. If you took the proverbial red pen to my blog, you’d find all sorts of stuff to correct. However, the person quoted above is running for the U.S.-freakin’-Congress!!!
What is even scarier is that this candidate won a primary and is the Democratic nominee for the fall election. Wow. If that is really the best that voters in this district could come up with, the incumbent will NEVER have a thing to worry about.
For at least five years now, Nashville Star has been my guilty pleasure. The show started on the USA Network and was everything a country fan such as myself could ever want. The contestants were “country as a turnip green,” (bonus points to anyone who can name the reference WITHOUT googling) and actually had talent. A good many of the contestants were experienced (that’s code for “older”) country singers who had worked the honky-tonks for years just looking for their big break. Plus, the show was somewhat low budget, so the focus was entirely on the music.
So of the Nashville Star winners had success and some didn’t. Buddy Jewel had a few great hits and his recording of “Sweet Southern Comfort” has lyrics that have got to rank in the top country lyrics of the past 25 years -
From Carolina down to Georgia,
Smell the jasmine and magnolia,
Sleepy Sweet home Alabama,
Roll tide roll,
Muddy water, Misssissippi,
Blessed Graceland whispers to me,
Carry on, Carry on,
Sweet Southern Comfort carry on.
Yet by contrast, one of the best songwriters didn’t even chart a hit. Brad Cotter is an amazing talent, but never really caught on with country radio. (Of course, really that’s no surprise, seeing as how country radio sucks.)
When I saw that the show was moving to NBC as a summer feature, I was hopeful that millions of Americans would get as much enjoyment out of Nashville Star as I did. I should have known better.
The “new” Nashville Star is hosted by Hannah Montana’s Dad, who apparently can’t say anything that isn’t written on a cue card. What’s worse, the show is now desperately trying to be a country version of American Idol. They use the sweeping camera moves, the cheesy intro videos, the glam - the whole nine yards. And the contestants?? I think there is one person over 30 years old. There are more than a few teeny-boppers. How can people who have hardly lived life sing about it?
To top it all off, more than half the music isn’t even country. One of them covered a Police song last week. Give me a break!
It’s really sad - commercialization eventually ruins everything in this country. Let this column be your warning to not waste any time on Nashville Star.
Someone please, stop the madness. When Barack and Michelle Obama shared a little “fist bump”, the night he wrapped up the Democratic nomination, the moment was nice. It showed a playful side of two people who obviously love each other. That doesn’t give every other person in America (largely white America by the way) the right to replicate it in a pathetic attempt to be cool. I even saw the fist bump in play a few times down at the NC General Assembly the other day.
Check out Governor Easley with our next President a couple of days ago.
Now watch it again. Mrs. SMD first noticed that right before the “bump”, our esteemed Governor appears to mouth the words “fist bump”, as if he is specifically asking for the gesture in front of the cameras. It wouldn’t suprise me if he was, but that’s not really the point.
The point is that no one in our country can just leave a tender moment alone. For the love of Pete - if an actor, politician or sports figure doing something “cool” - that means it is 1000 percent LESS cool by the time Joe Schmo does it.
When I was a child, one of my favorite storybooks was Br’er Rabbit. He constantly outwitted Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear. In one particular story that many of us know, Br’er Fox caught Br’er Rabbit and our furry little friend pleads with his nemesis not to throw him into the briar patch, full-well knowing that the briar patch is the rabbit’s best method of escape. The dim-witted fox falls for it and Br’er Rabbit wins again.
I was reminded of that story when I saw Br’er McCain’s challenge to Obama to hold 10 joint forums last week. The McCain campaign thinks they are on to something with this idea. Given the lackluster performance of their candidate on Tuesday night, I don’t blame them. McCain is a horrible speaker. He uses a teleprompter like it’s a lifeboat. He is much better when conducting a town hall meeting and speaking extemporaneously. Conversely, though Obama isn’t bad at all in the town hall format, his strong suit is oratory given to thousands of people. The McCain campaign likes their chances that voters will prefer their guy when seen side-by-side with Obama.
Obama should lower the bar of expectations, protest about the town hall meeting briar patch and then let McCain throw him right into it. Contrary to what the Republicans may think, the town hall meetings will provide a contrast that only helps Obama. Right or wrong, John Kennedy was the first President to prove that image matters more than substance when creating a political perception. The image of the youthful Obama beside the older McCain only underscores the Obama message of change. Voters are not happy with how the last eight years have turned out and do indeed want change. Viewing the two candidates side by side, it is easy to see who represents change.
Obama should also let himself be thrown into the McCain briar patch of touring Iraq. To be sure, Obama would see that progress is being made, but not enough progress to justify a continued American presence there or additional loss of American lives. Going to Iraq would provide the world with a marked contrast in the two candidates. At a time when we don’t have many allies and much of the world thinks we are arrogant, which message is going to play better - “stay the course” delivered by an old guy, or, “let’s engage the world and fix this” delivered by a young, charasmatic guy? As Frank Rich so eloquently wrote in today’s New York Times,
“When the world gets a firsthand look at the new America Mr. Obama offers as an alternative to Mr. McCain’s truculent stay-the-course, the public pandemonium may make J.F.K.’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” visit to the Berlin Wall look like a warm-up act.”
PLEASE Br’er McCain, don’t throw us into that briar patch!!
A former co-worker of mine said one of the most insightful things I have ever heard about Bobby. This person said - “Bobby Kennedy was the last person who could have made true liberalism work, because he demanded personal responsibility along with government action.”
In the three days encompassing June 4 through 6, 1968, the course of our nation was changed irrevocably with Bobby’s assassination. On June 4th, he won the California primary and with it the support of many party insiders who would decide the Democratic nomination. After giving his victory speech shortly after midnight on June 5th he was shot in the head and died 24 hours later.
Our country has not been the same since. As a memoriam to Bobby, take a look at the following speech that was delivered at Kansas State University in 1968. And then think about how prescient his words are for the challenges we face today in Iraq and at home.
I do not want — as I believe most Americans do not want — to sell out American interests, to simply withdraw, to raise the white flag of surrender. That would be unacceptable to us as a country and as a people. But I am concerned — as I believe most Americans are concerned — that the course we are following at the present time is deeply wrong. I am concerned — as I believe most Americans are concerned — that we are acting as if no other nations existed, against the judgment and desires of neutrals and our historic allies alike. I am concerned — as I believe most Americans are concerned — that our present course will not bring victory; will not bring peace; will not stop the bloodshed; and will not advance the interests of the United States or the cause of peace in the world.
One of the great figures of Irish history is Owen Row O’Neill, a patriot who led in the early quest for Irish independence. He was beloved by his countrymen and O’Neill’s death caused a great period of national mourning which gave birth to the following poem;
Sages in the council was he,
Kindest in the Hall,
Sure we never won a battle
-Twas Owen won them all
Soft as a woman’s was your voice, O’Niell:
Bright was your eye,
Oh! Why did you leave us,Owen?
Why did you die?
Your troubles are all over
Your’re at rest with God on high,
But we’re slaves and we’re orphans Owen!
-Why did you die?
We’re sheep without a shepherd,
When the snow shuts out the sky-
Oh! Why did you leave us, Owen?
Why did you die?
Bobby shared this poem at his first major speech after the death of his brother. Sadly, it is also appropriate for him.
Rest in peace Bobby. We need your ideals now more than ever.
) However, as I watched some of the Sunday political talk shows, there is some interesting buzz regarding Colin Powell and Barack Obama that reminded me why — Colin Powell is my favorite Republican. Look at what he said regarding my man Obama -
