Centerfield

Apparently not, so far...

I'll knock on wood before pointing out that so far we've had a mostly "nothing" winter here in Massachusetts. I'm looking at pitchers and catchers reporting in less than a month, thinking about starting the excursions to the driving range to sharpen up, and planning plants to order and what hardscaping projects I want to get done in the yard. That and trying to wrap up indoor projects. Once the clocks spring forward, I don't do much work indoors...

I hope I haven't jinxed us into a nasty February.

I have a serious question. Joe Lieberman is Jewish. This doesn’t matter in the U.S., but perhaps the question is, should it? It doesn’t matter domestically, but does it internationally?

If he were elected president would his religion affect our international relationships or diplomatic options in the Middle East? It would give our enemies a propaganda victory and another excuse to blame America.

Should this affect a U.S. presidential election? Should it be a topic for discussion? Should the intolerance of other countries have any influence in America? Any thoughts?

Such perceptions exist. IMO, they might only honorably enter into my own considerations about who to vote for as a last-case tiebreaker. Maybe. Just thinking out loud. IOW, if I felt Lieberman were the best of the available choices, that his policies were the best fit for us, I'd vote for him without reservations. But if an identically attractive candidate without such baggage existed, then I'd think about it.

But ultimately, I get the feeling that such foreign disdain would make me personally MORE likely to chose Lieberman. Why? Because f*^$%k 'em, that's why! :-)

Notice that a similar discussion can be held about the merits of electing a woman who might not garner the respect of some nations' politicans (including but certainly not limited to islamic regimes). Ultimately, I feel that such views are the problem of the holder, not the target. Deferring to such views (that Jews have no right to a nation or that the place of women is to be subservient to men, even treated like property) lends them legitimacy. I am VERY reticent to do that.

Should Hillary Clinton run for president in 2008, I hope that no one associated with the democrats raises this issue in the primaries as a legitimate reason not to vote for her. And I also hope that should she win the dem nom, no one associated with the GOP raises this issue as a legitimate reason not to vote for her.

The most common (and IMO disingenuous) cover for such actions is the old "it's a legitimate question that must be asked..., it merits scrutiny" weasel. Maybe so, but I look askance at the motivations of anyone who raises it without immediately dismissing the possibility that it's something that deserves to be relevant in the current political context. And by "look askance" I mean not that I assume their motivations are impure, rather that I question what their own view is. Presumedly, if it's a question that must be asked, you'd have had to think about it to arrive at such a conclusion, so you should be willing to share your own views.

Might a Jewish president affect international relations? Sure. Could we talk about it? Why not? Will that particular aspect of the man's religion affect an election? I doubt it. Should it? I don't think so.

bk,

I think the entire Northeast is feeling the same way. Yesterday was the coldest day I can remember in many weeks, and a cold day with no precipitation. It's been a non-winter here too so far.

My personal opinion is that I would love to have a jewish or female president for no other reason than to irritate the cultures that don't accept it. I think we get along just fine the attitude that this is America and we do what we do, if you don't like it too bad. Lead by example. I just wanted to get a feel for how other people thought. Thanks.

It's been a very mild Florida winter as well this year. Of course, you guys would probably say that every year is a mild Florida winter...lol. But, seriously, when you've lived your entire life in the state, 40 degrees is downright freezing.

I would really hope that we are beyond looking at religion, race, and gender when casting our votes in this country. I realize that it's going to happen with some people, but not for one second would I worry myself with whether or not the rest of the world might be offended with our choice. Obviously, the country is pretty much of that sentiment...otherwise JfK would have just finished naming WJC to the SCOTUS, not couragesly leading a filibuster against Alito. (Word game: One word is inserted in the previous sentence that doesn't belong. See if you can figure out which one.)

Personally, I think it's a shame that we have such lackluster minority representation in the highest levels of our elected government. (3 Hispanics, 1 African-American--all 4 of which have only been there since 2004-- and 14 women.) I don't think that this is due to race and gender issues (at least in the last 30 years or so) so much as it is about the "good 'ole boy network." That's one thing that has always boggled my mind, with African-Americans voting for Dem's somewhere in the 90% range we only have 1 African-American Senator? Fundamentalist Christians vote for Republicans in significantly less numbers and have a lot more to show for it.

Okay, I'm rambling...I'll shut up.

Thought I should also mention...

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the Challenger. I'll never forget standing outside with my classmates and watching it disintegrate. It was a lot for a young kid to take in.

AR,

I remember the Challenger like it was yesterday. In the days before the internet, I remember going out for lunch and watching the coverage on TVs in the window. (Wow, I am old!). It shook me like nothing else until 9/11. My first thought was that a terrorist had blown it up because our rockets never blew up. And being a space buff, it was even worse because the space program always meant a lot to me.

The odd thing is that Challenger occurred on almost the same day as the Apollo 1 fire that killed three astronauts on the ground in 1967. I was 11 then and remember the news flash.

just for fun

Top 10 new CIA ad slogans:

10. "When you care to assassinate the very best."

9. "This is not your father's OSS."

8. "There's an agent in your neighborhood, waiting to serve YOU."

7. "The CIA: Don't look back; something IS gaining on you."

6. "The CIA: We have a new slogan, but we can't tell you what it is."

5. "A job with the CIA. Look what it did for George Bush."

4. "Tastes great! Less killing!"

3. "You deserve a break (in) today."

2. "Have a cloak and a smile."

And the No. 1 slogan ... (drumroll): "Hold the pickles, hold the
lettuce, New World Orders don't upset us."

(rimshot!)