Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
1 Comments Published by Augur on Wednesday, April 30 at 3:39 PM.
Today I thought of one of my favorite songwriters, Warren Zevon. I did a quick YouTube search and found a video of Zevon doing Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner. If you've heard of Zevon, you're probably most familiar with either his hit Lawyers, Guns and Money or Werewolves of London. I like those too, but this has always been my favorite:
A Tale of Two Endorsements: Lee Hamilton and Evan Bayh
0 Comments Published by Augur on Wednesday, April 2 at 3:40 PM.
The following was posted at the Huffington Post by Joshua Roman, a friend of Urbanagora:
Lee Hamilton is a true statesman. His endorsement of Senator Obama should carry great weight in the national dialog about who would be the most capable President and Commander in Chief. Hillary Clinton's chief Hoosier surrogate is perennial Vice Presidential hopeful Evan Bayh. With the Indiana primary quickly approaching, how should Hoosiers weigh these endorsements?
Lee Hamilton's endorsement proves Barack Obama is ready. Evan Bayh's endorsement proved to voters he wanted to be Hillary Clinton's Vice President.
Evan Bayh built a career trading on the legacy of his legendary father Birch Bayh. In Indiana, Evan Bayh is a popular former Governor and part of a political dynasty. However, inside the Beltway, Evan Bayh is thought of by many as a pretty boy in an empty jacket. He looks like he shares a stylist with John Edwards, and he sounds like a conservative centrist without charisma.
Evan Bayh's father Birch Bayh is an Indiana hero, a courageous leader who was willing to take unpopular stands to promote justice, and a visionary who was ahead of his time. His fidelity to progressive values cost him the Democratic nomination in 1980. It is a shame for Indiana and for America that Evan Bayh isn't more like his father. No one would ever accuse Evan Bayh of being ahead of his time. He doesn't stick his neck out or take unpopular stands. Don't expect a Profile in Courage.
Although Bayh is a member of Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee, he hasn't distinguished himself by showing leadership on tough issues. Bayh treads the cautious line of a future-candidate, more concerned about running the races of someday, than tackling the issues of today. He is a lightweight who appears afraid to take tough, principled stands, perhaps in part because of what happened to his father.
Lee Hamilton is an academic powerhouse, a heavyweight. He devoted over forty years to serving America. Most recently he co-chaired President Bush's Iraq Study Group and served as the vice-chair of the 9-11 Study Group. He currently sits on numerous boards and advisory councils, including both the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and Homeland Security Advisory Council, and he is the President of the prestigious Wilson Center. He spent 34 years in Congress and chaired the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees. As Senator Obama said "Few public servants have done more to advance American foreign policy."
Lee Hamilton's name is synonymous with wisdom, diplomacy, service and statesmanship. Speaking of his faith in Obama's foreign policy capabilities, Hamilton said, "He will work with our friends and allies. Obama will strengthen our ability to use all the tools of American power, and relentlessly promote the American values of freedom and justice for all people."
Lee Hamilton endorsed Senator Obama because of he is impressed with Obama's unifying capacity and his approach to both National Security and Foreign Policy. When Evan Bayh endorsed, he was impressed foremost with Senator Clinton's ability to make him Vice President. Midwesterners understand that motives matter. Despite Evan Bayh's popularity, Lee Hamilton's endorsement should carry more weight.
Lee Hamilton is a true statesman. His endorsement of Senator Obama should carry great weight in the national dialog about who would be the most capable President and Commander in Chief. Hillary Clinton's chief Hoosier surrogate is perennial Vice Presidential hopeful Evan Bayh. With the Indiana primary quickly approaching, how should Hoosiers weigh these endorsements?
Lee Hamilton's endorsement proves Barack Obama is ready. Evan Bayh's endorsement proved to voters he wanted to be Hillary Clinton's Vice President.
Evan Bayh built a career trading on the legacy of his legendary father Birch Bayh. In Indiana, Evan Bayh is a popular former Governor and part of a political dynasty. However, inside the Beltway, Evan Bayh is thought of by many as a pretty boy in an empty jacket. He looks like he shares a stylist with John Edwards, and he sounds like a conservative centrist without charisma.
Evan Bayh's father Birch Bayh is an Indiana hero, a courageous leader who was willing to take unpopular stands to promote justice, and a visionary who was ahead of his time. His fidelity to progressive values cost him the Democratic nomination in 1980. It is a shame for Indiana and for America that Evan Bayh isn't more like his father. No one would ever accuse Evan Bayh of being ahead of his time. He doesn't stick his neck out or take unpopular stands. Don't expect a Profile in Courage.
Although Bayh is a member of Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee, he hasn't distinguished himself by showing leadership on tough issues. Bayh treads the cautious line of a future-candidate, more concerned about running the races of someday, than tackling the issues of today. He is a lightweight who appears afraid to take tough, principled stands, perhaps in part because of what happened to his father.
Lee Hamilton is an academic powerhouse, a heavyweight. He devoted over forty years to serving America. Most recently he co-chaired President Bush's Iraq Study Group and served as the vice-chair of the 9-11 Study Group. He currently sits on numerous boards and advisory councils, including both the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and Homeland Security Advisory Council, and he is the President of the prestigious Wilson Center. He spent 34 years in Congress and chaired the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees. As Senator Obama said "Few public servants have done more to advance American foreign policy."
Lee Hamilton's name is synonymous with wisdom, diplomacy, service and statesmanship. Speaking of his faith in Obama's foreign policy capabilities, Hamilton said, "He will work with our friends and allies. Obama will strengthen our ability to use all the tools of American power, and relentlessly promote the American values of freedom and justice for all people."
Lee Hamilton endorsed Senator Obama because of he is impressed with Obama's unifying capacity and his approach to both National Security and Foreign Policy. When Evan Bayh endorsed, he was impressed foremost with Senator Clinton's ability to make him Vice President. Midwesterners understand that motives matter. Despite Evan Bayh's popularity, Lee Hamilton's endorsement should carry more weight.
Labels: 2008, Barack Obama, endorsements, Joshua Roman, legends, politics
10 years ago today, one of my favorite people in the world died, Chris Farley. He wasn't an academy award winning actor, or someone that changed the world; but, he sure could make people laugh. As a fellow fat guy, I've learned that being able to make people laugh can be just the medicine the doctor ordered...and it can be a lot better for the entertainer than the entertained.Classic Farley Skits
February 15th, 1964 - December 18th, 1997
I'm sure several of you have seen this already, but I thought it might add a touch of holiday spirit to the agora. Here is some background on this recording.
For some time I have intended to write a post on the chess scene in Dupont Circle, a park in the Northwest section of Washington, DC. Unfortunately, I don't have time to do it justice this afternoon, but I want to direct the collective attention of the Agora to a piece in today's Washington Post Magazine on Tom Murphy, arguably the King of Dupont Circle. Cash from both my wallet and Billy Joe's wallet has found its way into Tom's. He is a hustler, but above that he is a teacher. The story from the Washington Post Magazine is also about the intoxicating way that chess, like art and music, can capture a man's soul.I know Tom Murphy, and consider him a friend. This article is relatively fair, but it does not fully do justice to his sparkling brilliance, his civility, his character, or his abiding integrity. Also, the author makes it a story about "what could have been", but if you really know Tom Murphy, it's hard to escape the notion that it's not quite too late, that his story is really one of "what could be."
Click here for the Washington Post Magazine write up. There is also a short video interview with Tom that will give you a glimpse into the special world of Dupont Circle's Chess University. Also, check out the coverage (and other content) at The Chess Drum.
I hope you'll take the time to read Tom's story. Tom is a colorful genius, and rather than post at length about him here and now, I'm going to selfishly make the 2 block walk to the circle, tell Tom I liked the article, play a few games with him, and more likely than not, lose ten dollars.
Sometimes I think I was born 40 years too late. I spent the last hour watching black and white YouTube clips of great performers performing. I asked myself, who in the charts today has the potential to be timeless? Who could be a Bing Crosby, an Elvis Presley, or a Johnny Cash? It seems to me that our generation lacks giants. There is, no doubt, artistic genius today, and one would expect it to be even richer as it benefits from the inspiration of those who came before. I still can't think of a popular artist today that can overwhelm an audience with artistic genius. Need an example? Here is Ella Fitzgerald singing "How High the Moon."
