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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (300236)	4/9/2009 9:49:01 AM
From: Andrew N. Cothran	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 794298

Really nice to hear from you again, KLP. I guess this means that you are back to your regular self having put your recent medical problems to rest. As for Chicago and Obama, except for the eggheads of Hyde Park, most of the city appears more interested in the Blago saga than Obamamessiah. In truth, most Chicagoans, like most of their counterparts in the good old USA, appear much more concerned with staying financially alive than in following Washington/Democratic politics. My opinion at the moment: The Obama mystique is beginning to face the harsh reality that the Messiah is just another man--and an extremely liberal if not outright politically radical one at that. As the Economist of March 28th put it: "Mr. Obama is now enthusiastically engaged in something that he foreswore as a candidate: the art of the permanent campaign. . . .(This) is a sign of his administration's troubles. It is desperate to distract attention from the fact that it has broken some of its promises.. .The result is a downward spiral: the more Obama fails, the more he resorts to the permanent campaign, and the more he resorts to the permanent campaign, the more he becomes just like any other president." As the Frenchman would say: The more the change, the greater the same. Ce la vie. As for tea parties, Chicago is not a tea-drinking town. Now, call it a beer party and you might attract a crowd.

To: KLP who wrote (300236)	4/9/2009 11:07:25 AM
From: Andrew N. Cothran	2 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 794298

KLP: Came across this bit of whimsey recently, describing an example of stoicism. Thought you might enjoy it after your recent hospital stay. Published in the Manchester Guardian of June 13th, (year not listed): The Manchester Guardian today quoted as an example of "stoicism" the following unsigned letter, ostensibly from a bricklayer in the Barbados to his contracting firm: "Respected Sir, when I got to the building, I found that the hurricane had knocked some bricks off the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple of barrels full of bricks. When I had fixed the building, there was a lot of bricks left over. I hoisted the barrel back up again and secured the line at the bottom, and then went up and filled the barrel with the extra bricks. Then I went to the bottom and cast off the line. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was heavier than I was and before I knew that was happening the barrel started down, jerking me off the ground. I decided to hang on and halfway up I met the barrel coming down and received a severe blow on the shoulder. I then continued to the top banging my head against the beam and getting my finger jammed in the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground it bursted its bottom, allowing all the bricks to spill out. I was now heavier than the barrel and so started down again at high speed. Halfway down, I met the barrel coming up and received severe injuries to my shins. When I hit the ground I landed on the bricks, getting several painful cuts from the sharp edges. At this point I must have lost my presence of mind, because I let go the line. The barrel than came down giving me another heavy blow on the head and putting me in the hospital. I respectfully request sick leave."