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Sunday Times

Seems Maureen Dowd and I see eye to eye. Charles Blow, too. Scary old faces have come out of the woodwork to assist Netanyahu in bullying us into a war with Iran. Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Cheney’s poising to pull MarionetteMitt’s strings as soon as he’s in the White House. If Romney wins, we will go to war. That’s one way to create jobs. Deficit, shmeficit. Same ramp-up speak that got us into Iraq.

Meanwhile, Hillary reaches for Obama’s hand as they mourn the four lost at the consulate in Libya. Muslim extremists rising up. Michael Lewis‘ piece, “Obama’s Way” in Vanity Fair is a revelational window into the President’s decision-making. Fascinating. Comforting. Our choice has never been clearer.

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First Women

Who will prevail? Michelle Obama spent most of Letterman’s show last week talking about parenting and her work with childhood obesity and Veteran’s needs. She was funny and real. She should stay. Her friend Valerie Jarrett is her President Husband’s closest advisor. She should go. I said so, NYTimes.

Ann Romney got some good reviews at the RNC, but lamenting rising gas and grocery prices fell flat given her reality. In our local Gazette, a letter recounted an appearance by the then Massachusetts First Lady. At a gathering of low-income Moms, Ann told the group how she could relate as the mother of five sons. Why, one time she and Mitt were playing mixed doubles at the Belmont Tennis Club, and she had to leave in the middle of her set to calm a sibling feud. No.

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Mad Memories

Dreams of my father. Mad times in Manhattan 1960’s. Train from Springfield, dining car with formal tablecloths, waiters, silver, china. First plane ride on a PamAm prop to Idlewild from Bradley. Lunch at TootsShor watching an already drunk Jack Lescoulie at the bar during a day of buying men’s clothing at the Sperry Rand building at 1290 Avenue of the Americas. Jack was Dave Garroway’s sidekick on the Today show.

Sardi’s for dinner, then Jilly’s singing around the piano bar with Nancy Wilson into the wee hours. Memories of trips to New York with my Dad. Priceless.

Copa Cabana to see Sammy Davis, Jerry Vale, lots of other Italian singers named Frankie or Johnny or Tony. The bocce court at Il Vagabondo. Cousin Joey DiVito and his wife Tootsie (really) took care of me. P.J. Clarke’s, Elaine’s. Those were the days.

Daddy Joe always acted as if he were in his dining room at home. They responded in kind. No wonder restaurants have always been the center of my life.
Happy Birthday, Dad. 8/30/30

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RepubliCants

Big Government Bad. Amend the Constitution for a Federal ban on abortion. Old white guys make the rules about women’s bodies. Don’t take away our Medicare. Until 2020. Bail out big banks. Increase funding to the Defense Department. Bring back NASA. Nation-build around the world. Keep our Empire in tact. Military bases in Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Saudi Arabia… Oh, and the wars.

Small Government Good. Cut funding to PBS. Slash student loans, grants. Borrow money from your parents to go to college. Decrease funding for Veterans’ health care. Repeal Obamacare. Replace it with? Stop infrastructure projects. Where will we drive our cars? On dirt roads and rope bridges?
Drill baby drill.

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UnToward NewYork

Quick jaunt to New York. First stop Katz’ Deli in New Haven. Next stop the Bronx. Pastrami on rye at Betsey’s Kingsbridge digs. Down to the Flatiron to our fave Hotel Giraffe, then for a sunny late afternoon Fika iced latte on Madison Park. Cebicheria La Mar al fresco dinner previewed mAdBen’s upcoming travels to Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu. All good.

Sunday morning, car gone. Towed. Legal spot. No! Officer Ward, with her Irish brogue, appreciated Dr.Husband’s kindness to a lost old lady and drove her NYPD buggy around the ‘hood and found our “re-parked” car. Whew.

Speaking of Irish cops in New York. BBCAmerica’s Copper set in 1864 New York, is a period piece of grit, grime and unbridled brutality. Mount Holyoke College Professor Daniel Czitrom the historical consultant for the show. First episode tonight was reminiscent of Kurt Anderson’s novel HeyDay.

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Evening Joe

Joe the Flubber. Biden. As I said on the air last night on Cafferty, “Let Joe be Joe. Always off the rails, unfiltered. Yet, he is authentic.” Needs to get a grip, though.

Joe the Plumber. He wants to shoot people who come over the border. Joe Walsh called the President a liar. How did that work out? Joe Klein aka “Anonymous” Primary Colors says Paul Ryan lives in Libertarian Disneyland. Joe Scarborough of Morning Joe,  wants to tackle real issues. Why are we spending $Billions a day on tragically flawed wars? Joe Arpaio, from Springfield, MA, now AZ, in bed with Trumpster, still debating Obama’s birth certificate.

And my Joe’s. Grandfather, father, brother, nephew, cousins. All perfecto.

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British Roar

The Tiger has been silenced. A new cub roars. PGA winner Rory McIlroy. Second major at 23. Youth be served. 1989 babies are talented. Northern Ireland proud. England’s elder invitee David Lynn runner-up. Brits rule.

Olympics left me lacking. Didn’t watch much. Too many obscure sports. London was the star. Imagined brilliantly. Hope you will compliment them now, Mitt.

Back home, weekend fare. Little Necks Nectar. Summer Supper- RecipeDetours.com.

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OlympiAds

Loved Danny Dickensian Boyle production. Like a laser beam into intimate history of the United Kingdom. Brilliant. Then, oy vey. Just starting the “M”‘s at 10:30 P.M. Three hours in. Commercials every ten minutes. I know, mAdBen, it’s your livelihood. But, geez. It’s all about NBC, not the athletes. Olympinoxious.

Zzzomney should have warned us about the snooze-a-thon to come. By the time the torch is lit, I’ll be snoring. DVR anyone?

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All England

Federer bested the Brit last weekend at Wimbledon. Olympics next week. Tomorrow begins the quest for the claret jug. Will Tiger win a major across the pond? Pothole bunkers, linksy dawn television coverage with Sergio and Justin. First tee a par 3 test. I know, frivolous in light of serious recent events. But, air-conditioned marathon continues. Pip, pip, cheerio.

Good books set in England if you don’t like sports~
Derby Day, D.J. Taylor. Victorian-esque novel.
The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton, Elizabeth Speller. Downton meets Easton.