The ghost of Alger Hiss appear in the Hagel hearings

History may be repeating itself in Hagel hearings,Ted Cruz just maybe raising star,as Nixon was with Hiss hearings.Of course, showing Hiss to be the Soviet agent he was,make Nixon a national figure which him to be Vice-President and President but also lead indirectly to his downfall Watergate,which if it wasn't coup was de facto coup.The answer may lie  with a New York Left-wing investment banker Felix Rohatyn.Of course,we will never truth about Watergate hated Nixon because expose Alger Hiss and Hiss was such a part American establishment,a blue blood who believe in red was Hiss.
The way,Ted Cruz questioned Hagel showed just how unsounded a fellow Hagel is so unsure of himself show to be maybe anti-Semitic show witted and unfitting for Defence Sec. How embarrassing this nomination must be to the Jew genius who support Obama and finance much Left and ironic thing is non-Jewish Left hates Israel for they see it as apartheid South Africa.

John McCain has curious friends and ex-friends

The mercurial John McCain has had some very strange friendship over the years.One was Chuck Hagel who looks like McCain will not support for Sec, of Defense.Of course,there were both Vietnam vets,heroes of war that American would like forgot,McCain was of course a prison war for seven held in hell hole serving nation so well,a man honor and love country.Hagel and brother volunteer for Vietnam so McCain and Hagel were sense were brother in arms fighting the good ,doing there duty in chaotic domestic scene were honor and duty to nation wasn't respected.
So both men were drew to each other but ideology born out  position of life separate men.For McCain come legacy of the military his father,indeed,his father's father were military men:while Hagel is child of mid-west,heritage so unlike McCain's,for Mid-West is steeped with distrust of foreign engagements and of military it's land of Robert Taft and Hagel at heart is Taft Republican and McCain is of the Regan era.
John Kerry,our new Sec. of State,is friend of John McCain,indeed,it's widely believe Kerry offer McCain V-P spot in 2004.But they weren't always friend.at first McCain hated Kerry the leader of Vietnam vets against the war,but time heals all and war protester and war hero become fast friends,indeed,a great human story the story of wounded warriors making peace.

Daniel Sickles the first in U.S to beat murder with temporary insanity.

I just finished watching the ending of Anatomy of a Murder with Jimmy Stewart,great actor,great movie.It got me thinking(which usually leads to headaches) there should movie made about trail for murder of Daniel Sickles.Who was Daniel Sickles? Well,he was many things,had interesting life both before and after his murder trial.
Before his murder trail Sickles was raising star in New York political scene,ill temper flying off handle quite often,a man woman where draw to it isn't surprising he be mix up in events of politics,sex,and revenge in that day honor.Just before the Civil War Sickles was congressman from New York with much clout,a favorite of President Buchanan.
Sickles had marry the beautiful Teresa,of Portuguese herridge,small and dark striking looks,much younger than Sickles who often neglected her,indeed,she quite lonely,until she fall in arms of Barton Key,the Washington D.C district attorney and son of Francis Scott Key.
Well,Sickles found out and kill Key in cold blood.The trail took place in D.C in 1859.Sickles had his dream team,including Edwin M.Stanton,who later become Lincoln's Sec. of War.Anyway what seem to be open and shut was turn on it's head,for Sickles wasn't only not executed,as one would expect in those but found not guilty,first time in American history somebody beat a murder change with the defence of temporary insanity.
By the way,at first the nation look at Sickles as a hero,but then he took his wife back and nation turn on him.Teresa would died a few years later,at a very young age a broken woman.
Sickles would go on to life a very colorful life includes questionable antics at the Battle of Gettysburg,where he lost a leg and was something of hero despite what might a great blunder.

In dark winter day Tiger is king and Gershwins still sound great.

A long dark cold January day,although the temperature has pick a little today not so cold about freezing the rest was in twenties where global warming when you need it?
The perils of life go on but when one gets older desire dies then soul then body gone from this earth forevermore.
Saw little of movie this morning Heist movie so-so but Donald Sutherland was great as always,in my opinion he one great actors of our time.
Watching Golf Tiger is back to old form dominating the golf the beautiful course off California coast Toney Pines.
Took broke listening to Jonathan Schwartz's show always interesting when stay on music I could live without his politics.Anyway he had music of Gershwin both George and Ira very entertaining very good.

Charles Krauthammer the new Buckley or Malcolm Muggeridge? And words from Tennyson

Yesterday watching c-span I saw event sponsored by National Review,Rich Lowery was host and the seductively magnetic Charles Krauthammer,in a way,was in firing line but it was friendly fire.Krauthammer was at his witty and charming,indeed,how fitting the event was from National Review for one could almost see ghost of William Buckley. And one wonder is Krauthammer the next William Buckley? True enough there is no ham and eggs with Krauthammer for he is kosher,but sureness of intelligent put Left on guide for believe only they have power of mind and somebody who isn't in there camp just might be smarter then them it drive them crazy as Buckley did now it just might Krauthammer turn.
One Buckley's favorite guest was Malcolm Muggeridge,the English journalist,also man of great wit.Like Krauthammer Muggeridge started out as man left but one difference Muggeridge was Communist until he went the Soviet Union in nineteen thirties,Krauthammer even when his was liberal was always anti-communist.
Find out something interesting today:the product Sweet'N Low comes from poem from Tennyson"The Princess:Sweet and Low"
Here are some words from it:Sweet and Low,sweet and low,
                                                Wind of the western sea,
                                                 Low,low breathe and blow,
                                                  Wind of the western sea!
                                                  Over the rolling waters go,
                                                   Come from the dying moon,and blow,
                                                   Blow him again to me:
                                                    While my little one,while my pretty one,sleeps.

Davos a conferation of fools?

Many years ago a book was written called the,"Brightest and Best" and point these genius weren't so bright,for bight young man sometimes call whiz kids of the Kennedy Administration were largely responsible for our debacle in Vietnam. There arrogance to education,a belief that education leads to wisdom but this faults,often education lead to conformity of thought it straight jacket on society and more believe education less creative we will become we become mindless people who can't thin for themselves.
I thought this watch a show of the ridiculous the economy summit in Davos.Where pompous,are put parade marching to politically correct brand pretending to be all knowing and lecturing the world right course action.But man doesn't have answers,indeed,this particular true with dealing economics;after all,if man could manage an economic the Soviet Union would still be business today.
What got my goat,was watching Tom Keene(may misspelled his name I'm bad speller I have dyslexia)anyway his bow tie guy from Bloomberg singing the praises of Larry Summers and Paul
Krugman(a real loathful creature) statement then even conservatives now have there ear.First,I don't believe that truth,second it remember of what Nixon said back in seventies,when President.We are all Keynesian now.How did that work out? Not too good.
I remember a speech to House of Lords Harold Macmillan(who was P.M from 1957 to 1963 and left main because doctors said he was a goner,curiously he didn't died until 25 years later) anyway Macmillan said,President Reagan did very wise thing are as President he firer all the economist.How did work out? I think very well. 

Mario Gabelli and Betty Lu made for good T.V

In this very cold apartment,things got heated up on the T.V this morning with Mario Gabelli and Betty Lu.Mario Gabelli was guest on Bloomberg T.V this morning,he was being interview by Betty Lu.The great thing about Bloomberg T.V is they have best looking woman and of course,that's why one should a business,financial show.Anyway it got heat up,when Ms.Lu said a Bloomberg poll showed most investor would like the big bank to be broken up.Well,you should have seem Gabelli face,silent for minute but his stone face said it all and wasn't good.And spoke he said,take another poll and Ms.Lu said it was investor but Gabelli wasn't buying it,she pointed out even Jamie Dimon didn't know story about the London whale(which is whale of story not knowing somebody is costing your company billions and billions? ) Gabelli retorted looked Mike Bloomberg may not know everything that goes on in city(New York) but does that Bloomberg should broken,I think he split up? Lu said that makes sense it doesn't follow and then it can heat-very good T.V.

Does Rush Limbaugh have in for Republicans? Either he's liar or live fantasy world.He berates Republicans for not putting up fight against Obama but simply isn't true.The true is Republicans have been taking beating polls but even today as Limbaugh claimed they were giving Hillary Clinton the royal treatment singing praises,but that's not what happens.I don't know if Limbaugh was drug or spur his poison for sake of rating but true is Senate Paul and Johnson give her hard time.
Limbaugh is doing same thing he did and his cohorts in Clinton impeachment.They yell scream cowardly Republicans even when impeachment which cost G.O.P seats in off years that usually harvests gain for party in opposition.And these Right-wing talk host like Limbaugh almost never admit they are wrong.

What will happen in Obama's second term?

It's bloody damn cold today,heat in apartment on and off mostly off.Much talk about Obama's second term.I think mostly empty talk,for few reasons.First I think Obama is empty suit,not much there,oh yeah he is bright guy but no direction home.And then nobody knows what is going to happen in the next four years not even Obama For Obama is no Reagan,no F.D.R oh yes his smooth operator bless with much stupidity on Right,indeed,he may own his job to Rush Limbaugh and cohorts like him,who care little about conservatism and much about rating so can make much money.These Right-wing talk show hosts promote same losing strategy which charge light brigade which brave man die for nothing.And say the dumbest things,indeed,one day expect one these miss inform malcontents will claim Obama was born on Mars and it's the Red planet,hence,Obama must be a Red.

David Tepper belives happy days are here again

David Tepper one great investors of time believes America is headed for economy explosion,meaning boom times.I saw on Bloomberg T.V this morning.By the way,he likes Citigroup believes there 50 percent up side.I also like Citigroup I believe it could go as high as 50 today it's about 42.I also like Wells Fargo as does Warren Buffett,Tepper doesn't mention Wells Fargo.Tepper isn't as well know as Buffett or George Soros but his in class as investor.Also to note:both David Tepper and Wilbur Ross(another big time investor) have invested in Bank of Ireland.
I believe first half of 2013 the stock market will do very well,second half don't know a lot will depend if inflation(which surprising with money central are creating hasn't been a problem)if inflation raising it's ugly then all bets are off for second half of 2013.I don't think that will happen ,however,if loose monetary police continue I believe soon or later we will have inflation.

The night I was stop by the police in Englewood

I think it was either 1995 or 1996 when I worked for P.C.F in Edgewater New Jersey,near Hackensack.P.C.F was telemarketing company I sold scriptions for New York Times.I had car back a Buick Skylark,I think, 1986 I would get from Fort Lee to Edgewater by route 4 unless I found ways to avoid route 4 which hated it was outdated highway I think it was outdated even when it built in nineteen fifties,sometime a four lane sometimes five or six it was very dangerous and hated using it.So I often use back roads,one night it's so ironic it was Martin Luther King's birthday or Monday we honor that day,plus a few before I got something from L.A(as in California) police Dept somebody who I never heard of used me for a reference,plus that night I spoke Andre,a great guy best verifier of lot he was running the shift that night and told a parole office had call about one kids that work there(P,C,F).
Anyway,that night I decided to back roads home,it was rainy night,I driving through the industrial part Englewood,New Jersey a cop car came in back me,I got bad feeling about it sort creepy but car went on it's way, then another cop car this time he pulled me over the cop come out a little white man maybe 5' 6" small man with angry look about him,you can tell this man was going for trouble.But stop wrong all paper was in line,this man in mission even had face in my windshield,looking and hoping my slicker was outdated but his disappointment it wasn't he walked about didn't say a word this a look in his face of let down,for couldn't take me in he couldn't even give me a ticket. 

James Garfield not the cat but the President

Yesterday I went to Fort Lee Library spoke to Librarian Nick Taylor,very well read and very knowable about history although not knowable as me but then very few including history professor are fact school was so hard me shows something wrong with system hopeful today it's much different although I suspect bureaucracy is still interpenetrate and teacher union make good teaching impossible.
Anyway, old Nick heard about  book on Garfield,not the cat but the President.Of course, Garfield is tragic not only did he died but it wasn't assassin bullet then kill but how the bullet was removed it was taken by non sterile instruments which lead blood poisoning which,indeed,kill him,hence Garfield Presidency was very only about six months and two of those month Garfield was trying to recover.And one can imagine Garfield could have been a great President,I mean you can't really because fate has it's road life is so weird but Garfield was a very intelligent man,great speaker was great appeal so we know how Presidency would fared even best man can be bad president and man of limit ability can be great.

Rememering days back in Shephard Collage.

Somehow the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band come to mind.Love there song,"I just want be a cosmic cowboy"
I use to sing it all time at Shepherd Collage back in nineteen seventies.To me it doesn't seem that long ago,just flash in time when I had life which ended when back to New Jersey to live with mom and new husband Al Spieglass,a man who just didn't seem complex or a real nothing, back in 1983.
Anyway,I remember Ron Miller so well,now a state Senator from West Virgina,maybe now Jay Rockefeller is retiring from U.S Senate and Congressman Rahall(rhymes with a-hole) might ran for senate maybe Miller will ran for Congress.
I also remember Mark P(can't spell his last name off hand) also from Greenbrier County,great guy left Shepherd Collage in his second and my too year went to W.V University,I doubt he become Rhode Scholar,I mean smart but I think he wasn't into school but mater I wasn't either.Anyway last I heard he live in Washington D.C a place I would love to live and die in,indeed, if only buy apartment Alban Towers which once owned by grandfathers cousin,when it was Hotel of some note built in nineteen twenties the cousin brought in the nineteen sixties like ran down,it's now apartment building and historical landmark.

Rockefeller Republicans before Rockefeller

People do not know history at all,take term Rockefeller Republican what does it mean? Rich elitist out touch liberal to many people.Of course win elections more say about Republicans today and fact in history there have been many Republicans who come from rural areas,weren't rich and indeed were liberals.Two from New York come mind Irving Ives and Oswald Heck.Both come from upstate New York and before Rockefeller both were liberals.
Irving Ives was leader in state legislature:Majority leader and speaker(for short time).I passed the first anti-discrimination law in the country Ives-Quinn Act I believe passed in 1944.Despite being a Republican he was so poular with organized labor that first time in state history(and maybe only time) the AFL-CIO back for U,S Senate in 1946,a race he win.And while labor might sour in him because voted for Taft-Harley bill he win re-election 1952 by a landslide reluctantly ran for governor in 1954 barely lost to Averell Harriman(millionaire,U,S Ambassador to the U.K during WWII and the Soviet Union)by only 11,000 vote.He retired from Senate in 1958 and died in 1962.
Oswald Heck was majority leader in Assembly when Ives was Speaker but switch places because dispute over social welfare law,hence,Heck who support it become speaker in 1937 until he died of cancer in 1959.Know for  his wit he is now just forgotten figure who time has pasted by,these men should be forgotten but shallow hollow public does forgot happen in the past cursing us forevermore.

The Rave and Nixon at the century mark

The Rave,of course is great American poem by Edgar Allen Poe.It is also name of football for Baltimore and Poe did spend much his life in Baltimore.Yesterday the football win a  playoff game and weather here in Fort Lee new Jersey was foggy but can say dreary night which lead poem:
Once upon a midnight dreary,while I pondered,weak
and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten
lore,
While I nodded,nearly napping,suddenly there came
a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping,rapping at my
chamber door.
Today would have been Richard Nixon hundred birthday.Nixon in way,was Poe of politics,indeed,he was a poetry at heart,like a loner,a brewing sort yes like Byron hero brighten,but also flawed,aren't we all? I guess that's why Tom Wicker called his biography,"One of us" excellent book.Wicker is great writer had knack sum up Presidents so well with line,with small book biography of Eisenhower
he wrote once he working in small newspaper in North Caroline and was trying to raise for Stevenson and his publisher's wife caught wind of it and confront him,and said he's doing in case you know who (Nixon)becomes President.And the Publisher's wife(one those blue haired ladies) said,"young I vote for Eisenhower even if he was dead."
And Wicker said,something very enlighting about Reagan and media.He said,the media thought Reagan a total idiot,a moron,the dumbest person alive that is until he win re-election then the media become scare of him because he knew something they didn't.

What was worst political scandal in NYC history?

In library today I ask Nick Taylor what worst scandal New York history? And he said,that covered a lot ground.I said,well it lead to a police office electric chair and the D.A becoming governor.He said,Dewey I said no.Then I went on to describe the Becker Scandal.Charles Becker was a Lieutenant in New York City police Dept..He was also head vice,however, he part took in business he suppose shut down.For business partner was none other then Herman"Beanis Rosenthal,well know gambler big time bookie.Well it seem Rosenthal felt he was giving Becker too money,too much graft, so he went to papers,hence,Becker had Rosenthal murdered. Well Newspaper called Hebert Bayard Swope,a reporter for the New York World(by the way his brother was Gerard Swope who headed G.E for a while) made much story.Becker was indicted for murder.He had two famous attorneys one was W.Bourke Cockran,a Tammany pol noted orator and a lover a Jenny Churchill,indeed,it's said Winston Churchill coped the speaking style of Cockran.Second was Lloyd B. Stryer.The D.a was Charles Whitman,this case would made he would become Governor of New York and 1920 he try to get the G.O.P nomination for president he fail.
There were two two trials both time Becker was found guilty,however,after first trial an appeal was made and verdict was overturned and new trial was set.Again he found guilty.The Judge Sammel Seabury(later to famous for Seabury commission) sentenced Becker to death.This time appeals didn't and ironically Becker's last hope was the governor,grant a stay of execution,however, at time the Governor was Charles Whitman.So on 7/30/1915 Becker faced his marker.

John Purroy Mitchel a tragic end to a promising life.

Who was John Purroy Mitchel? I doubt many know time washes away figures from history,of course,with Mitchel tragedy of his ended life that could have lead to White House. Is one of those
enigmatic figures who steps in history is important for while then fades away from public memory.
His grandfather was Irish revolutionary(all be it an protestant) his father fought for Confederacy yet he become a political favorite of Yankees WASP establishment.He would mark his mark municipal reformer-forcing out office Manhattan Borough President John F. Ahearn over Becker scandal(dealing with murder of Herman Rosenthal.Mitchel ran on fusion ticket for mayor in 1913 and won.
But the earth was about to come tumbling down in 1914 with start on World War One. The city at time,had large Germany and Irish population which wasn't pro-British.Mitchel strongly supported American getting into war on side of the English,indeed, on 3/1/1917 at Princeton University,where not long ago President Wilson had been President of Princeton,it stirring pro-war speech,talk about universal military training plus say we look at Germany as model for preparation for war the speech wildly received by the students,they loved it but not people New York.For Mitchel's Pro-War stances cost re-election in 1917.So enlist in Air Force and in Louisiana when took plane up air and so showing off skill by flying the plane upside drown he forgive to tire himself in plane,hence,he drop out of the plane and fell 500 feet to his death,hence,ending a promising life.

Brian Wiiliams nasty man-Shakespeare great words

So damn tried of fiscal cliff,it makes me want jump off the cliff.I mean,Congress are fools the President isn't much better,indeed,worst.I mean he lives in world of sophisticated simpleton,the world ademics his like collage professor,who lives in his own world.The media of course loved Obama.He's there hero elicit bunch of non questing fools is media.I know personally Brian Williams is big phony.
What he did to me many years ago was disgraceful but he'll never pay a price.He's cruel bastard mocking me for dyslexia.A mean S.O.B They is no justice in this world.One wonders where God is? Is he laughing at me I think he must hate me. I know life is unfair but drive crazy that truth never seem to be reward.In our society goodness seem to be weakness but I am who am I can't be mean bastard.
When you reach my age,you think about death.My how life goes so quickly.For some reason I think back to 1971 when went to New Hampshire Collage-just one seminar I like up there New England is so beautifully especially in fall if tree turning colors,then winter cold but in a way refreshing and snow falling clean so beautifully like post card.But youth left me some 39 years ago when life in sense ended and back from Houston to mother home,lost my soul,my way it was to life I want.
From Shakespeare Macbeth,"To-morrow, and to-morrow and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.Out,out brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow,a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more;it is a tale
Told by an idiot,full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.