POLITICAL JUNKIE DAY

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I am a political junkie. Today is a day made for me and others like me. Hillary Clinton testifies before the Benghazi sub-committee. All day and probably into the evening.

I have to squeeze the hearing in among other activities. The anti-gravity treadmill one hour into the hearing. Fortunately, there is a TV set attached to the treadmill. Then I have an appointment for a haircut. Need the haircut. Tonight, bocce. I might skip boce depending on how interesting the hearing is at six this evening.

Last night began with Don’s Place. Don and David. Don’s wife Stephanie stopped by.

Don and I left to have dinner. Don wanted to go to La Te Da. I had been there two nights before. Why not. I could enjoy crispy duck again.

The outdoor bar and restaurant were very busy. Two evenings earlier, dead. Things always pick up all over Key West thursday evenings.

We had a good time.

Tonto bartending. She and Don friends from way back. Olga came running to the outdoor bar from the restaurant. Olga from Roostica. Turns out she also waits tables at La Te Da. I was the recipient of a big hug.

The duck was excellent. The people at the bar typical Key West friendly. We stayed quite a while.

The Catholic Church is at war. I love it. Things are getting hot at the Synod. The German bishops and the U.S. bishops are at odds over divorced persons being permitted to take communion. The Germans favor it. A change in church law would be required. The U.S. bishops want the law to be left as is.

My Church has to open the windows and let fresh air in.

The present no communion for divorced persons  rule is a man made law. Nowhere does the Bible say it. What the Germans want to do is provide a different more liberal interpretation.

There is intrigue at this Synod. I am confident one or more books will be written about the behind the scene shenanigans at some point.

I am disappointed Joe Biden has decided not to run.

I got to know him back in the 1980s when I was Chairman of the Board of vVsitors at the Syracuse University Law School. Biden was a Syracuse law grad. Attended many law school events.  Watched also a few football and basketball games from my Carrier Dome box.

Biden would have made an excellent President. His many years as a Senator would have made it much easier for him to work with Congress than any of the other candidates running.

A good man lost to the country.

My KONK Life column this week Lincoln the Man has been linked to my Key West Lou website. keywestlou.com.

Bocce tonight. We need three wins.

Enjoy your day!

LINCOLN THE MAN

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Abraham Lincoln is considered one of our greatest Presidents. Perhaps the greatest.

We know he was born in a log cabin, became a Republican, was elected the sixteenth President of the United States, saved the Union, freed the slaves, delivered the Gettysburg Address, and was assassinated.

There is a personal part of Lincoln not well known. Such is the thrust of this article. To share the less well known with you.

Lincoln at age 22 was a bartender. Purportedly a licensed bartender.

Lncoln returned from the Black Hawk War and ran for the Illinois State Legislature. He lost. He was living in New Salem, Illinois at the time. He and a William Berry decided to open a general store and drinking establishment. The store to sell lard, bacon, firearms, beeswax and honey. The tavern portion alcoholic beverages.

Illinois law provided that if alcohol was sold for consumption on the premises, a license was required. Another requirement was that if even taken off premises for consumption, if less than a quart, a license was required.

William Berry obtained the license. All bartenders had to sign. It appears Berry forged Lincoln’s signature.

The business opened in January 1833. Lincoln had Berry buy him out three months later. The business was not making money. Debts were increasing rapidly. Berry was an alcoholic. He was drinking up the profits. Lincoln contributed to the failure of the business, also. He was lazy. Spent his time reading and chatting with customers rather than working.

Two years later, Berry died. The business debts were even more than when Lincoln had withdrawn. Berry left an estate of $60. The business debts exceeded $1,100. A lot of money at the time.

Lincoln had no legal responsibility for the debts. However, he felt a moral obligation to pay them. He went to each creditor and advised he would see that they were paid. However he could promise no time frame. It took 13 years for all the debts to be paid. Till 1848.

Interestingly, Lincoln was not a drinker. He abstained from alcohol. Whether a drinker was no big deal in the 1820s and 1830s. Illinois was a frontier state. Drinking was part of frontier society life. The backwoodsmen were all heavy boozers. No one thought anything less of those who enjoyed their drinks.

Things changed as time ran on. A temperance league was formed. It gained power and popularity. By the Senate race in 1858 and the Presidential race in 1860, drinking was a major national issue.

Lincoln’s short lived partnership with Berry many years earlier in 1822 became an issue. Lincoln’s purported signature on the license evidenced that he sold the dirty brew. Lincoln refused to acknowledge the license, saying Berry had forged his name. He further stated he worked only the store portion of the business and had nothing to do with the tavern. He also relied on the fact he was known not to be a drinker.

It did not bother Lincoln that others drank. As General Ulysses Grant’s Civil War successes became evident, Lincoln told one of his aides to “…..find out what Grant is drinking and send a case of it to all my generals.” Grant was a known heavy drinker. Considered by some to be an alcoholic.

Earlier, I mentioned Lincoln was a bit lazy. He was of the opinion that at least for himself, physical labor was to be avoided. His step brother once said to Lincoln, “I doubt whether since I saw you, you have done a good whole day’s work in any one day.”

Tobacco was big at all times during Lincoln’s life. He did not partake of tobacco, either smoking or chewing.

Other than his brief time in the Black Hawk War when he was in his very early 20s, Lincoln never carried nor used a gun. Even for hunting.

He advocated the vote for women. Hard to believe that someone that far back was promoting the cause for women.

Lincoln was a sloppy dresser. Even when President. Clothes were of no importance to him. Even his hair. He rarely combed his hair.

Lincoln avoided profanity. At all times. “By Jingo!” was the strongest expletive used by him in the White House.

Ann Rutledge was Lincoln’s first love.

Ann’s father was a founder of New Salem. Ann was engaged to a John Mac Namar. Described as a dubious character. The engagement took place before Ann and Lincoln met. Mac Namar left for New York City after the engagement. He forgot to return.

Ann and Lincoln fell in love during Mac Namar’s absence. Things were different back then. She did not feel she could marry Lincoln until Mac Namar released her from her promise to marry. She wrote him many times. Mac Namar ignored her letters. Ann and Lincoln were anxious for Mac Namar’s return so they could have a sit down and obtain the release.

Mac Namar returned to New Salem after Ann’s death. Typhoid intervened in 1835. Ann died from the typhoid.  She was only 22 years old. Lincoln went into severe depression.

Historians are mixed as to whether Lincoln loved Ann. After his election as President, Lincoln is reported to have told his old friend Issac Cogdal, “I loved the woman dearly and soundly…..I did honestly and truly love the girl and think often-often of her now.”

Ann was buried locally in the New Salem area. A small cheap marker for a stone.

In 1890, an undertaker became financially interested in the cemetery. For other than burial purposes. Ann was exhumed and reburied in Oakland Cemetery in Petersburg, Illinois.

A new stone marked her grave. A large granite one. Part of the inscription on the new stone read as follows: “I am Ann Rutledge who sleeps beneath these weeds, Beloved in life of Abraham Lincoln, wedded to him though not through union, But through separation. Bloom forever, O Republic, from the dust of my bosom.”

Thus are some of the personal parts of Lincoln’s life. As great as his public figure, it is good to be reminded his life prior to the Presidency was that of a common man. He enjoyed and suffered life in the same fashion as the people he ultimately represented.

Such contributed to his being a great President.

Most Presidential candidates today are not of Lincoln’s ilk. The group consists of millionaires, children of millionaires, corporate leaders, and the like. No wonder we are screwed up.

Most do not know or understand America.

SLING SHOT COURAGEOUS WEAPON

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A weapon from Biblical times. A rerun of David and Goliath.

Modern warfare involves the use of modern day weapons. Guns, armored vehicles, etc. Apparently not always.

A West Bank scenario.

This morning’s Key West Citizen carries a picture of a Palestinian fighter. In front of him fire, black and gray smoke. I assume beyond unseen Israeli soldiers, armored vehicles, whatever. Something.

The Palestinian fighter is using a sling shot as a weapon. He is viewed swinging a sling.

My observation. A person willing to face the enemy and modern weapons of war with a sling shot has courage. Great courage. In addition to a solid belief in the righteousness of his cause. He will never be beat. He will never win. He will hang in there through everything.

The lesson to be learned simple. Israel and the Palestinians better make peace. Otherwise this mess is going to turn into a 100 year war. One that no one wins.

The weather the same as the past two days. With two exceptions. The wind less strong. There are no white caps. Though the trees are still bending. The sun is shining brightly. It has not for two days.

Hurricane Wilma hit Key West in October 2005. A bad result. Big time flooding. As high as 6-7 feet in many homes.

Lisa had moved back into her house three months before. It had been extensively remodeled, new furniture purchased.

The water was 6 1/2 feet deep in Lisa’s home. The walls had to be ripped out up to 6 1/2 feet. Wet furniture thrown out. Mold the problem. The trashing required to be done immediately.

Lisa also lost her car.

Most families moved into trailers provided by the government. Most lived in them for 1-2 years. Lisa and family moved into my home. They were here a year. The problem was not the insurance payment. It was getting the contractor to do the job. Contractors had more work than they could handle.

Wilma did not touch my home. The house is built on top of eight feet of soil. The driveway pitched.

My blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I was on a soap box. Venting about things that bothered me. Two especially.

The Republican screw up in the House of Representatives. Disgraceful. I would say the same if they were Democrats. The Republicans must get their act together and govern. That is why they were sent to Washington.

The other is the sex scandal that has hit Louisville and Rick Pitino. Pitino says he did not know. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, he will still lose his job. I assume the same theory that was applied in Boeheim’s case would be applied to Pitino: If you did not know, you are still responsible because as coach you are #1, head of the program and required to know everything about the team.

I do not agree. Nor did I agree with what happened to Boeheim. The NCAA is as bad as the hierarchy of the NFL when it comes to running things.

On the other hand if Pitino knew, he should be fired.

Per my usual routine, Roostica for dinner before the show.

Saturday football coming up again. Syracuse plays Pitt. Pitt a six point favorite. I say no more.

Enjoy your day!

 

LA TE DA

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I had dinner last night at La Te Da. Crispy Duck. The best duck in Key West! Enjoyed it at the outside bar.

The wind blew big time all day. However not felt in Key West. The buildings and trees cut the wind. It was comfortable sitting at the outside bar.

I have been either visiting or living in Key West more than 25 years. It was on my second trip I discovered La Te Da. In those days, my former wife and I would spend the afternoon at the beach, change into fresh clothes behind the car, and head out for cocktails.

La Te Da was a discovery!

There was a small enclosed bar on the second floor. An intimate setting. On the pool side of the building. Back from the front of the building about 10 feet. I would place it square in the middle of the down stairs bar.

Great place for cocktails! Free hor d’oeuvres. Most hot. Served with a small plate, clothe napkin and heavy weighted silverware. The company excellent. Mostly gays. Always a fun time.

With one of the renovations, that small upstairs bar was removed.

How La Te Da acquired its name is interesting.

In 1868, the Ten Years War ended. A war between the Cuban people and Spain. Spain was exercising colonial rule over Cuba. The Cubans lost the war.

Many Cubans left the island. Seeking political freedom and economic opportunity. Key West became home to many of the Cuban exiles. The influx continued through the 1870s, 1880s and into the 1890s.

Jose Marti was a popular Cuban hero/leader. He would frequently visit Key West to raise money and invite the exiles to join him in overthrowing Spain.

The Cuban Key Westers loved Marti. Each Marti visit began the same way. Five thousand would gather to greet him at the boat landing . Always a band and Cuban and American flags. The group then would parade down Duval to La Te Da with Marti in tow.

Present day La Te Da at the time was owned by Teodoro Perez, a wealthy cigar factory owner and friend of Marti. Marti would speak to the crowd from the second floor front porch of Perez’s home.

Cubans came to call the porch Marti’s Terrace. In Spanish, La Terraza de Marti. The Spanish version was shortened to La Te Da.

Marti and a number of his Cuban followers invaded Cuba in 1895. Marti was killed in the first battle. Three years later, the Battleship Maine was blown up in Havana harbor marking the beginning of the Spanish-American War.

Yesterday’s weather is today’s. Wind still blowing strong, trees bending, white caps on top of a fast moving ocean.

I spent most of yesterday preparing for tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. One half hour. Fast moving interesting subjects. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics tonight include problems facing the returning House of Representatives this week, Monsanto buying college professors, German bishops and U.S. bishops differing at the Synod, some revelations in this week’s KONK Life column Lincoln The Man, the story of a 2 year old homeless boy found after midnight barefoot and alone in a Philadelphia park, and more.

Wonder of wonders! Words from a musical whose name escapes me. Words that fit what I am about to write.

It was revealed on Morning Joe this morning that Donald Trump in a book published 19 months before 9/11 advised that the U.S. was in danger of a terrorist attack. He further stated it would be led by an Osama bin Laden. The book: The America We Deserve.

Perhaps I have not fairly considered Trump.

Enjoy your day!

 

HEARTWRENCHING

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The time just after midnight friday. The place Love Park in Philadelphia. A two year old boy was found wandering alone. No shoes, no socks.

The two year old one of the homeless. His parents, 4 year old sister and he were sleeping behind cardboard walls under the city’s Welcome Center. The youngster found his way out.

Pictures of the two year old with his head resting on a police officer’s shoulder are all over the internet and in the newspapers this morning. Pathetic best describes the photo.

We are told the economy is in great shape. I say not for all. The two year old’s story evidence of the 1 percent/99 percent thing.

Our country is failing its youngest.

The weather. A day for weather comment. There is a strong wind from the north. Very strong. Palm trees bent as much as possible. Other trees bent about 35 degrees. White caps.

The House of Representatives returns this week. The Republican majority screwed up big time. Need a Speaker. Need a budget. Neither going to be easy.

Mike Lofgren is a 28 year respected Republican Congressional servant. He retired in 2011. Following retirement, he wrote an essay. Then in 2012, a book.

The essay is titled Goodbye To All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left The Cult. He wrote both major parties are “rotten captives to corporate loot.” As to the far right, he wrote the Tea Party is “filled with lunatics.”

With regard to grid lock, he wrote “legislating has become war minus the shooting, something one could have observed 80 years ago in the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic.”

The book is The Party Is Over: How Republicans Went Crazy, Democrats Became Useless and the Middle Class Got Shafted.

Some days I cannot win. I mentioned yesterday that I was in the process of writing this week’s KONK Life column. About Lincoln. Eventually titled Lincoln The Man.

I mentioned that Lincoln may have been our greatest President. The first comment I read this morning disagrees with me…..Lincoln the WORST! Emphasis his, not mine.

I have respect and admiration for the writer. He has been reading the blog for years and commenting the same amount of time. We rarely agree. That is ok. I write, he disagrees. That is what it is all about. For some reason however, Lincoln the WORST hits me hard.

Watch. Tomorrow I shall receive a slew of comments in support of his position. So it goes.

I spent yesterday afternoon writing Lincoln The Man. A story of some of the personal aspects of Lincoln’s life. Things most do not know.

Late in the afternoon, I headed up to Boondocks. A party scheduled for Howard Livingston to introduce his new CD. Sell Your Stuff Keep The Dog Live On An Island.

Not many cars in the parking lot when I arrived. Strange, I thought. Then I found out why. The event was saturday, not yesterday.

Oh, well. I stayed. Sat at the bar and enjoyed a fish sandwich. Watched Boondock locals. Good people, fun. A different breed from Key West.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

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You may have wondered how I come up with the topics that become my weekly KONK Life column. The topics are diversified.

I rarely know what I am going to write until saturday or sunday. The column is due at KONK Life on sunday.

I read a lot. My whole life. When 7, I was reading heavy adult material while seated in an easy chair with a dictionary at my side.

This week’s column will involve Abraham Lincoln. His personal life. Things most of us did not know.

I got into Lincoln because of a small piece I read somewhere earlier this week. It said Lincoln was the only President to be a licensed bartender. I never knew.

I started researching the bartender item which lead me to personal characteristics of Lincoln. Most unknown. A column  was born!

Research is complete. I will write the column this afternoon. It will touch on Lincoln’s bartending days and his being considered lazy when it came to physical work. Also, mention will be made that he was non alcoholic, neither smoked nor chewed tobacco, did not use a gun, advocated the vote for women, dressed sloppy, and rarely combed his hair. Finally, the story of his first love who died young causing Lincoln to suffer a severe depression.

Interesting material. Be sure to read the column itself which hits the stands wednesday.

Nancy Robinson was a unique individual. A class act. She died two weeks ago. The Celebration of Her Life will be at 11 this morning at MCC at 1215 Petronia Street. Martha and family will be there. Friends, also. I doubt the Church will have sufficient room for all who attend. Nancy touched everyone.

Stone crab season began thursday. Yesterday at Keys Fisheries in Marathon a stone crab eating contest was held. Twenty five stone crabs per contestant. Participants were required to break the shells also. The winner devoured his 25 stone crabs in 13 minutes 30 seconds.

Disqualification a risk. Throw up and you were out of the contest!

The Humphrey Bogart Film Festival begins wednesday and runs through sunday. The place Key Largo.

Two items on the must see list. The house where the movie Key Largo was filmed. The African Queen boat that Humphrey Bogart and Katheryn Hepburn made the trip through African waters on. There will also be films shown and talks held at various places in Key Largo.

Bocce standings in this morning’s paper. My team dropped from 2nd to 4th place as a result of the two games lost this week. The team that beat us is a half game ahead in third place. We are 4 games out of first place.

We are at a tough place. We have to win most of our remaining games. I am getting nervous.

Watched the first three quarters of the Syracuse/Virginia game yesterday. Missed the last quarter and as it turned out, three overtimes.

When I left, Syracuse was winning by 17 points. In the end, Virginia won 44-38.

Sportcasters indicate the Syracuse defense fell apart in the last quarter and the overtimes.

My thinking is crystalizing. Syracuse is a young team. Many freshmen starting. Even the quarterback is a freshmen. The balance of the season will be so so. Win a few, lose a few. Next year will be different. Glory days will return!

I pray to God!

Last night was Tavern ‘n Town. Two bocce friends showed up and we had a good time chatting about everything. My friends had to leave early. They were chaperoning the Homecoming Dance at the high school.

My Thailand blog friend Sangjarn sent me a video yesterday. Of a two-headed snake. Ugh! Ugly! The thing was alive. Yellow and orange body. The two heads each looked like a man’s penis with the foreskin pulled back.

I wrote Sangjarn and told her how disgusting! She responded she sent it to me because in her country to see a two headed snake is good luck. She wanted me to have good luck.

Enjoy your sunday!

BIG DAY FOR GENDER EQUALITY

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Music maestro! A day of days is upon us! Actually, upon the ladies.

A female sex enhancer begins sales today. Called Addyi. FDA approved. The Viagra equivalent.

Addyi does not work the same for women as Viagra does for men. Addyi fights low libido in women. Works on the brain.

The pill pink as opposed to blue.

I am happy that women will have the opportunity to be happier. I do have a concern, however. Is the pill safe? It was twice rejected by the FDA. There is question even today that the pill might not have been tested sufficiently.

The approval/sale of Addyi is considered a victory for women. A gender equality thing. Most feminists groups pushed hard for approval.

The company manufacturing Addyi spent considerable dollars pushing for approval. In excess of $100 million. Which raises the question whether the approval was the result of an industry spin job. Pushed along by pressure from feminists groups.

A prescription is required.

I am interested to see what the cost of a month’s supply will be. Viagra to this day is extremely expensive. Like $400 for a one month supply of ten pills. Not covered by most insurance companies. The ladies will be shocked if Addyi costs in the same area and in addition not be covered. Addyi will probably cost more than a one month supply of birth control pills.

Whatever, it is a glorious new day for ladies! Enjoy and God bless!

The anti-gravity treadmill first yesterday morning. Love it! Moved up a few notches yesterday. It has been a trip. First, two days a week. Then, three. Now, four. Moving speed and mileage up a bit occasionally.

Rushed home after working out on the machine. I was due on radio 104.9 at 12:10 to be interviewed on KONK News by Guy de Boer. Got 15 minutes yesterday. Guy and I discussed this week’s KONK Life column Worse Ever Congress.

Last night strange! Very strange!

It was pouring rain. I wore my yellow slicker. It was coming down that hard.

My first stop was the Chart Room. I forgot that on rainy days the bars are full. The Chart Room was. All tourists. Raising hell and having a good time.

I stood at the end of the bar, had one drink and left. Too crowded and noisy for me.

It was still raining heavy. I decided against Hot Tin Roof because of the walk to the restaurant in the rain. Slicker or not, it would have been messy and uncomfortable.

I had a brilliant idea. Tavern ‘n Town at the Marriott Beachside. I could park in the connected  garage and walk into the hotel. Would not even need to wear the slicker.

It was not to be. The Navy Ball was at the Marriott last night. Parking impossible. Parking attendants outside waving cars around. My garage was full. I would have had to park three garages down and outside. A worse walk than to Hot Tin Roof.

Screw it! I would go to Roostica.

Because of the rain, everyone must have decided to eat out last night in addition to drinking. I could not even get into Roostica’s parking lot. Cars parked on the street, also. So much for Roostica!

Hogfish next! Good luck! As I drove by, I could see people standing just inside waiting for a table.

I went home! Stripped down to some comfortable clothes and cooked myself a steak. Enjoyed a gin before, of course.

This afternoon, Syracuse and Virginia meet in a football clash. Syracuse has a significantly better record. However, Virginia is a one touchdown favorite. I hope I can get the game on television.

Still bad weather in Key West. I suspect a rainy day and evening.

Enjoy your day!

DEFEATED!

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It finally happened. We lost a bocce match last night. The first of the season. Ballz Against the Wall beat us 2-1.

We killed them in the first game. Trounced them. Game 2, they trounced us just as bad in return. Game 3 was no different. They trounced us again.

I played game 2. Terribly!

We will drop one or two places in the rankings.

A Joe Liszka addendum. Iowa’s Tom and Cindy e-mailed me yesterday a video titled A Tribute To Frank Romano. It can be found on You Tube.

Frank and Joe were one. The video shows their relationship and the obvious love they had for each other. As well as the humorous nature of each.

Stone crab season opened yesterday. One of the best foods in the world. They will be enjoyed by many here in Key West this weekend.

Yesterday morning, the anti-gravity treadmill. Later this morning, once again. I will get to chat with my new found friend Dave who uses the machine just before me friday mornings.

Cuban Queen for Cuban coffee and cheese toast for lunch yesterday. Stayed well over an hour enjoying the newspapers.

My trip home from the Cuban Queen took forever. I opted to get to US 1 via Flagler. Traffic backed up many blocks. Moving an inch at a time, when it moved. I could see the Boulevard in the distance. Nothing moving.

I decided to try coming up via the Boulevard. Took a sharp left into one of the side streets. Ended up making a right onto the Boulevard at First Bank. Traffic normal.

Only for 200 feet. Then nothing moving. It seemed like forever in both lanes.

Has to be a big accident, I thought. One and a half hours later as I was turning onto US 1, I noticed neither an accident nor road construction. Many police officers, however.

US 1 up to Macdonald bumper to bumper slowly, also.

I was taxed. Not from the delay. I can handle such things. However, the anxiety from a gas tank on empty. No where on the Boulevard could I position myself to get into a gas station. I kept thinking this is no place to run out of gas!

Syracuse plays Virginia tomorrow. Syracuse a one touchdown underdog. After last week’s game, I am back to a no comment position.

This morning’s E-Blast carries this week’s KONK Life column. Worse Ever Congress.

I will be discussing the column when Guy de Boer interviews me on 104.9 at 12:10 pm. All of ten minutes! Listen in, if you can.

Enjoy your day!

 

JOE LISZKA

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One of Key West’s finest passed on yesterday. Joe Liszka. A gentleman.

Joe and his partner of many years Frank Romano started Key West Aloe. The business took off. It became a multi million dollar world wide operation.

Joe was one of the founders of Fantasy Fest. Way back when Key West was dead in October. Frank thought Fantasy Fest was a way to bring tourists in during the slow season. How right he was.

I have only known Joe for two years. We met at WeBeFit. Joe had been working out a while when I started. He was way ahead of me. Tougher, also. I did not last too long. Had to quit after I popped two ribs.

Joe and I were neighbors in Key West. I was welcome in his home.

I last saw Joe two weeks ago. He did not look well. I asked how the gym was going. He said he was not doing it any more. I did not press for details. It was obvious his time was limited.

Joe’s obituary is in this morning’s Key West Citizen. I suggest you read it. A family obituary. A niece talking about her uncle. A warm remembrance.

Last night and this morning, the national news is mentioning an upstate New York Republican Congressman who commented that the sub-committee investigating Benghazi/Hillary had gone too far afield re Hillary. The Congressman, Richard Hanna.

Richard would be my Congressman if I were still living in Utica. I knew Richard as one business person to another. We did not have a personal relationship.

Richard was a contractor. Excavations primarily. The son of dairy farmers. A straight arrow. Only way to describe Richard. Soft spoken. Always up front. A no bullshit guy.

Though I was not close to the Congressman, I was close to one of his best friends. Albert Mazloom. Albert cut from the same cloth as Richard. I always thought no wonder they are so close. A birds of the feather flock together thing.

My yesterday began once again with the anti-gravity treadmill. I keep increasing  the speed. A bit each time. I have not adjusted yet, however.

Stopped at the Marriott Beachside bar for lunch. Outside by the pool overlooking the ocean. The ambiance brings me to the place.

Last night, Don’s Place for quite a while. Don, Stephanie, David, Keith, John and Jimmy. Bocce a big part of discussion for Don, David and me. Tonight a big match. The team is only a 1/2 game behind us in the rankings. A test for us.

On the way home, I stopped at Outback for something to eat.

This week’s KONK Life column Worse Ever Congress linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. keywestlou.com.

Enjoy your day!

 

WORSE EVER CONGRESS

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It was 1948. Harry Truman was running for reelection. The major thrust of his campaign was the Congress that had been in office the previous two years was the worst ever. He referred to Congress as …..The do nothing Congress!

Truman was not the favorite in the race. Republican Tom Dewey was the anticipated winner. However, Truman spoke the truth re the Congress and won reelection.

Truth has a way of winning.

Today, we are confronted with a similar type Congress. A House of Representatives that has accomplished nothing.  They have not governed the nation. They do not seem to be able to govern themselves. The present Speaker fiasco being proof thereof.

In November 2013, I wrote a column entitled U.S. House of Representatives Works Too Hard. Title written with tongue in cheek.The contents reveal one of the reasons Congressional government has not worked in recent years. Congress fails to spend sufficient time in Washington to get anything done.

Eric Cantor was majority leader and a right winger. A favorite of the Tea Party. He said Congress should spend more time in their home districts rather than Washington. It was more important to be back home with constituents. The people who elected them and paid their salaries.

You saw how it worked for Cantor. He was defeated in a primary in his home district. His constituents could not be fooled. He came out smelling like a rose, however.  Within weeks, he had a job with a Washington power house lobbying group. His salary, $3.4 million a year.

I share the November 2013 article with you again as part of this column. It is worth repeating.  It says a lot about a present day Republican Party incapable of governing.

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WORKS TOO HARD

The U.S. House of Representatives works too hard.

A blatant misstatement. A lie. A joke. The American people would be lucky if the House of Representatives merely worked. Not even hard.

I was watching television last week and there was a news report that the House of Representatives were going home for several days. The comment further was that the House would not be working more than eight days each month in November or December. They would return sometime during the first week in January.

The video accompanying the story showed Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Speaker John Boehner leading some Republican members out of the House.

The smile on Cantor’s face bothered me. Pompous and disconcerting. Like look at the sweet deal we have and screw you.

What disturbed me even further is that shutdown time and the debt ceiling await us again in mid December and early January. The obvious thrust of the story was such did not seem to concern Cantor and Boehner or their followers.

My curiosity was tickled. How can these people take so much time off? I dug a bit. This is the story.

Cantor is in charge of the work day schedule. He published the 2014 one on Twitter last week. He also published one the year before for 2013.

In 2013, the House worked a total of 124 days. In 2014, they are scheduled to work even less. One hundred thirteen days. This abbreviated working schedule began with the Republicans elected to the House in 2010. That is when they regained the majority.

By the way, House members are paid at least $174,000 a year regardless of how many days they work.

Cantor claims House members require extensive time off. They need to be back in their home districts. It is necessary for them to keep in touch with the people who pay them. Their constituents.

Cantor says a short House work schedule is required “…..to ensure that we never lose touch with the constituents we each represent while completing our work in Washington.”

Bullshit! How stupid he and his cronies must think the American people are.

Keep in mind that Cantor and his buddies are the same House members who gave us the recent government shutdown.

The numbers are telling.

2013 saw the House working 126 days. The base salary per member is $174,000 a year. Plus all kinds of benefits and perks. However, I am only concerned with direct  salary. One hundred twenty six working days amounts to $1,380 per day. In 2014, the House will work fewer days. It appears they needed two weeks more off. One hundred thirteen working days amounts to $1,540 per day.

Lets view the time worked and dollars paid from another perspective.

The average American works 2,080 hours per year. Average pay $29,000. $111 dollars per day. A far cry from what House members make. I refuse to use the term earn. A House member makes in effect 13 times the salary of the average American.

Tea Party success returned control of the House to the Republicans in 2010. The years since are the poorest production wise in modern times. The 112th House passed 283 bills that went to the President for his consideration. The present 113th House only 46 bills. Prior to the 112th and 113th Houses, the range of bills going to the President per session was 300 plus to 700 plus.

I have some observations.

If the House wants to work part time, the members should be paid part time. If the 425 members work only one third the year, they should receive one third pay. If House members need more time off, I suggest 20 years to life in a federal maximum security facility.

Let’s continue with the numbers.

The House only works one week on and two off. I believe it shows a contempt for the American people.

I have been harping on governmental waste in recent weeks. Brought on by Republican sought cuts in food stamps, Social Security and Medicare. The House’s working schedule is a perfect example of government waste and one where a $50 million per year savings could be accomplished.

Again, the basic salary of a House member is $174,000 a year. If they only work 126 days a year, they should be paid for 126 days. That would drop their salary to $60,065 per year. An annual savings of $113,935 per member. Multiplying the 425 members by that number evidences a savings of almost $50 million a year. That is, If House members were paid only for days worked. Like everyone else.

Perhaps politicians are all cut from the same cloth. Perhaps not. The Senate works significantly more days per year than the House.

You would assume there is much written on the issue. There is not. My research discovered only two articles of any substance. Both excellent. If you are further interested, I suggest you read them.

One is Congress Announces It Will Be In Session Fewer Days In 2014. Written by Mike Krumbotz, October 31, 2013 for the Yahoo News Sideshow.

The other is House To Be In Session Only 126 Days In 2013. Written by Robert Longley, December 12, 2012 for About.com/USGovernmentInfo.

The House of Representatives is a national disgrace. They must be voted out. It will not be easy. Americans have to get so mad at being fleeced so that they will not take it anymore. Otherwise, the status quo will prevail.