IF THE ELECTION WERE TODAY.....

If it were, we would be in a re-run of back to the future starring George McGovern and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Maybe not as bad as in 1972 since most of the left coast and some of the Northeast would be with us--but otherwise a total shambles. Obama would be a one termer. And we would have a Luddite (to use one of Barbara's favorite words) as our next President. Mitt Romney would look palatable.

This tax cut business just totally confuses me--he backs way down as a way to get unemployment benefits extended and to insure middle class folks get the benefits but allows those earning more than $250,000 to keep the cuts also. Gives business all sorts of breaks. Maybe it is a "good" expedient decision but it is so counter to what we thought when he was elected that it is appalling. But, as I have said before, there are more of them than there are of me.

Plus he is just not angry enough. His speeches are out of sync from his actions. Don't ask don't tell is supported by the Pentagon report, the Republicans continue to attack it, and he has not said one word. Whats up with that? I have always had the fantasy (even before he was elected) that his staff was smart and knew what they were doing--now I am not sure and I think minimally they are still recovering from the mid terms. Well, they better get over it soon because 2012 will be here quicker than we think.

There are over 5,000 vacant seats in the Boston Public Schools but every time the Superintendent tries to close some, the union freaks out. Then she starts to waffle and then the whole plan collapses. Closing schools means losing jobs--I get that. But empty seats without staff reductions makes no sense either. She is dithering too much.

Chuck Turner, now an ex- City Councilor, managed to turn his bribery conviction into a race issue. I don't care how much he took--but assuming he did it, he should be on the street like any other government official or elected official. Like Charlie Rangel--both of them good progressive people who abused our collective trust. And Maxine Waters is next.

In my new neighborhood, 3 men murdered in a local pizza joint. Apparently, it was gang related and furthermore has ties to conflicts in the Dominican Republic where the 3 of them were from. Even if all the guns in the city were suddenly to disappear, we are apparently not going to resolve these village-like conflicts. I have no clue what that means (or how to solve the dilemma) but I have a feeling, better schools, better police, more police--I have a feeling none of those will help. Its kind of like the tribal wars which frequently erupt in Africa. They go back years.

Beware: Those of you approaching 65. Medicare knows you are out there (much like AARP knew when you turned 50) and 3 months before that magical date, you will get your medicare card. I will say that I have had very few interactions with MY federal government. The ones with Social Security and Medicare have been very positive. I still believe the Health care bill should have just expanded Medicare and Medicaid and everyone would have understood it. Anyhow, they got me and I can hardly wait to reach that famous donut hole.

SPORTS

We all know Jeter was going to be a Yankee and all the yakking about it was just a bunch of shit from the talking heads who have nothing else to do--another example would be Albert Haynesworth's suspension. a lot of yakking about that too as if...

Mr. Brady and the boys really stomped on Rex and his big mouth. Not sure they will win the last 4 (especially Green Bay though they are lucky it is at home). But Brady is very very hot and they are getting just enough running to keep defenses honest. They have beaten the Ravens, the Colts, the Chargers, the Steelers, and now the Jets--two of those wins on the road.

BTW--don't care who else the Yanks sign now that Jeter and Rivera are in the fold. And, no offense, but Adrian Gonzalez is good but does not put the Red Flops in the World Series even if Kevin Millar (now a sportscaster???) says so.

A FINAL THOUGHT

By the next posting, Jess, Steffen, and the kids will be in Philadelphia. I have instructed them that they cannot under any circumstance become fans of any Philly team. Obviously, nothing else matters. We already have reservations for our first visit.

Adios.