Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Good News. . .

. . . for a change. A man to be adimired. From GreaterLongBeach.com

"AS MARIO CORDERO DEPARTS, HIS LEGACY MAY BE THIS SMALL ACT OF HEROISM
By Dave Wielenga

Mario Cordero’s confirmation to the Federal Maritime Commission by the United States Senate last week means he will soon be leaving Long Beach for Washington, D.C., and that’s going to leave a lot of holes—his position on the Long Beach Harbor Commission, his law practice and his part-time political-science professorship at Long Beach City College."

Possibly even greater, he leaves behind, ". . . principles and integrity . . . Cordero displayed on a single agenda item at a specific meeting—Nov. 2, 2009. . . (which) defined his tenure on the Long Beach Harbor Commission.

. . .SOMEDAY, PERHAPS EVEN THIS WEEK, as a few more people living within the Port of Long Beach’s toxic cloud of commerce lie down upon their premature deathbeds—casualties of ports-related pollution—they may recall with bittersweet admiration the tale of Harbor Commissioner Mario Cordero’s small act of heroism. . .

Besides, most of these victims—Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Jackson estimates that port-related diesel pollution leads to the premature deaths of 5,000 Southern Californians a year—probably aren’t even aware that Cordero fought against the Port of Long Beach’s secretly negotiated settlement of a lawsuit filed by the American Trucking Association (ATA), a settlement that strips vital controls from an air pollution-reduction plan that took years of public process to achieve. They likely don’t know that the settlement permits the Virginia-based ATA—an organization that has been fighting against pollution controls for decades—to police itself, possibly ad infinitum. Perhaps their ignorance is for the best.

Why risk inducing another coughing fit?

On Oct. 19, Cordero lost his argument to preserve the Port of Long Beach’s right to regulate compliance with the Clean Trucks Program that local officials have been ballyhooing for more than a year now. He lost by a lot. Cordero was the only member of the Harbor Commission—to which three of the four members were appointed by Mayor Bob Foster—who disagreed with the closed-session settlement that will make it harder to eradicate the so-called “Diesel Death Zone” that fans outward from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles into miles and miles of neighborhoods. His position is admirable—albeit in a meaningless-moral-victory sort of way.

But Cordero was also the lone dissenting voice when the Harbor Commission met on Nov. 2 to publicly bless the dirty-air deal they’d negotiated out of public view. And this is where the story becomes heroic, where the moral victory begins to mean something.

Don’t take my word for it: take a look at the flustered officials who sat on either side of Cordero on the circular dais in the Port of Long Beach boardroom, where he calmly but persistently refused to make the vote unanimous. Video of the meeting is archived on the Port of Long Beach Web site (polb.com), and it makes for dramatically inspirational viewing. Heck, the chronicle of Cordero’s principled commitment to a cause that has clearly been lost to the forces of money and power may actually qualify as the year’s first holiday-season prime-time special.

The Nov. 2 meeting of the Harbor Commission began as another frustrating example of what ever more frequently passes for public participation in an insulated government. The panel of appointed commissioners—that is, the people did not elect them and cannot recall them—suffered dutifully through almost an hour’s worth of testimony in three-minute intervals from representatives of environmental organizations, residents and workers. All the speakers pleaded—a couple of them in Spanish—for the commission to preserve the Clean Trucks Program that many of them had devoted much time to help create . . . and which the Port of Los Angeles continues to defend against the ATA lawsuit.

“I really appreciate everyone coming here today and expressing their thoughts to us,” Commissioner Susan Anderson-Wise told the members of the audience when they’d finally talked themselves out. After a slight pause, she added: “Gracias.”

Anderson-Wise almost made it sound as if the people’s opinions made a difference. But they most certainly didn’t, and that became clear when it was time for the vote on the two settlement-related items—or really, when Cordero announced that he did not intend to be permanently stained by the ink of what everybody knew was just a rubber stamp.

“Just for the record,” he announced softly, “I will be voting against both of these to keep consistent with my vote against the settlement. So, if we could hear a motion . . . ”

Suddenly, Deputy City Attorney Dominic T. Holzhaus interrupted with alarm. He reminded Cordero that only three commissioners were presenT—president Nick Sramek was a no-show, and Mayor Foster still hasn’t nominated anybody to replace James Hankla, who retired last June—and that approval of the motions would thus require a unanimous vote. Without Cordero’s assent, the matter would have to be approved at the next meeting.

“Well, counsel, I was not aware of that, and frankly, that puts me in a difficult position,” Cordero responded, “because as I said from the beginning, I opposed settlement on the case, and I don’t want to move from that principle.”

Insisting he did not want to stymie the will of the majority, Cordero requested a five-minute recess so that he and Holzhaus could devise a plan through which the settlement could go forward without sweeping away the record of his opposition.

At this point, however, the time-consuming talk of principles and integrity became too much for Commissioner Mike Walter.

“Well, I don’t object to a five-minute recess, but the contract has already been signed; all this is just the . . . the . . . mechanics of making that work,” Walter said, exasperated. “Given that it’s signed, this is just a matter of mechanics, so no matter what, you’re not going to be changing the mechanics of it. The vote has already been taken! I can’t see any reason to delay. All we’re doing here is implementing what’s already been approved!”

Walter’s low-and-quivering outburst was a rare bit of unvarnished honesty from a public official about the way things really work—not only emphasizing the futility of Cordero’s stand, but also making clear that the citizens who had spent their time speaking their minds never had a chance, either.

However, Cordero’s response remained focused on something more important:

“I think this is such a big issue, Dr. Walter—and I certainly respect your position on all this—but you reach a point where, as an individual—and I’m talking about myself—you take a stand based on principle. And that’s what I’ve said from the beginning of this issue; and that’s my concern right now.”

Walter still could not abide the possibility that Cordero’s dedication to principle might delay official approval of the backroom deal.

“But what you objected to was the initial proposal, the contract,” Walter pleaded as if trying to find a loophole in Cordero’s soul. “This is now . . . now, it’s implemented. It can’t be implemented any other way, as I see it, than what is here.”

Walter was correct: the Port of Long Beach’s deference—and sacrifice of the public’s health and trust—to the power of the American Trucking Association is a done deal.

But Cordero was right: an individual’s principles, no matter how outnumbered, do not have to be sacrificed to peer pressure or convenience.

Ultimately, city attorney Holzhaus divided the question in two–a resolution that would confirm the settlement with the ATA had been approved by a judge, and an ordinance that would make the new rules permanent. Cordero voted yes on the first, and the second was tabled until Nov. 16, when the Harbor Commission will meet again.

Maybe some can take small comfort in that—perhaps this week—as they take their last, gasping breaths."

Principles and integrity. I'd call him a hero of sorts.



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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Our leaders. . .

. . . have squandered the economic recovery that was building before the debt-ceiling debacle.

By choosing to display their stubborn, partisan agenda instead of truly serving their constituency and contributing to the downgrading of long term U.S. Treasury bonds instead of making sincere efforts to balance the U.S. budget, our representatives in Congress have put the brakes on anything resembling an economic recovery and many analysts say this is the most serious issue of all.

A commentator on the news this morning said that the Feds need to reassure panicked investors. Duh, yes. And many thanks to the very same industry that provides that commentator a livelihood for the panic that occurred in the first place.

What are the real issues hindering our economy? I offer the following thought, albeit oversimplified and informed mainly by my gut, but still one about which I feel very strongly.

The word that comes to my mind is GREED. Listen to the business news and stock market reports when they say things like, 'gold has backed off of its high' or '3% growth, lower than expected. . . ' We, in and around Baltimore, Maryland depend upon a utilities provider called Constellation Energy who made revenues of $14.3 billion in 2010. Granted, these are 'revenues' not 'profits', but no matter how you slice it, it's big. The Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of this company earned a total Compensation of $6.02 million. That's enough to feed an entire country. And this while our rates for gas and electricity continue to rise.

Why can't profits grow at less than astronomical rates? Why can't we learn contentment and not always crave MORE!!?? Instead of generating MORE, MORE, MORE for investors and providing outrageous compensation packages to executives, why can't these businesses provide jobs and settle for stability or modest growth?

Are any of these people in Congress REALLY leaders?




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All the symptoms are there. . .

. . . (From NBC News. . . )
"Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann yesterday attended a church here in Iowa, where the pastor called homosexuality "immoral" and "unnatural," and later showed a testimonial video from a man who claimed to have been gay before having a conversation with God.

Before the sermon at Point of Grace Church -- a non-denominational congregation near Des Moines -- Bachmann stood with her husband, Marcus Bachmann, before a crowd of about 100 people, clutching her personal copy of the Bible.

“This is a time that we need to be encouraged this week, not discouraged,” she said, referencing Friday night’s credit downgrade and Saturday’s news about the Navy SEALs killed in Afghanistan.

“Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,” Bachmann said, reading from the book of Philippians, “think well on these things.”

The reading drew cheers. Pastor Jeff Mullen, standing next to Bachmann, took her Bible his hand. “There are some candidates who start running, and have this come-to-Jesus moment,” he said. "What I love about this Bible,” he said, “is how well it's used.”

Mullen offered a prayer honoring democracy. “We have a nation where people can still rise up and speak their voice, and say, ‘This is what I believe.’”

When Bachmann and her husband returned to their seats, Mullen began a half-hour presentation on his church's beliefs. Reading verses from the Bible to support his case, Mullen said, "We inherently know that homosexual behavior is immoral and unnatural."

“God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Mullen said, reading from the book of Romans.

Mullen’s sermon concluded with video testimonial from a man named Adam Hood, who claims to have been gay before experiencing a conversation with God. "I am so happy God has given me natural affection for a woman," Hood said in the video, adding that his wife is nine months pregnant.

"We need to have compassion for people that are bound by that sin," Hood added. "And it is a sin. Call a spade a spade."

The Bachmanns remained in the church for the duration of the service, and afterward posed for a picture with Pastor Mullen and his family.

In an interview with NBC News, Mullen called his sermon on homosexuality “a bedrock, just a Biblical truth we’ve taught over the years.”

“It just so happens they were here today,” Mullen said of the Bachmanns. “And we were teaching on both marriage and homosexuality.”

The Bachmann campaign released this statement on Mullen's sermon: "Michele was an invited guest, she always welcomes the opportunity to meet with parishioners."

The Point of Grace Church service was the second church event Michele Bachmann attended on Sunday. Earlier, they visited the Des Moines First Church of the Nazarene, where the presidential candidate discussed the origins of her faith and political life."

Do you think maybe she's. . .



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Sunday, August 7, 2011

Freak appreciation. . .

As my appreciation for rock, popular and more esoteric musics grew, I became aware of the live concert. My first had to have been either Chicago or Jethro Tull. I saw the former sometime during my middle-school years (we called it "Junior High") and probably the latter during high school with the 'Mother of all' (pun intended) concerts, Frank Zappa around this this time. I attended a second FZ concert about two years later, shortly after the release of Zoot Allures in the mid 1970s. Funny, looking back on the music now, I really did not prefer lengthy, complex, intricate or technical FZ guitar solos at the time. My favorites with the vocal pieces and complex, jazzy, ensemble passages. Now I find the guitar solo recordings of Frank Zappa are my choice; 'air sculptures' as he referred to them. The Zappa 'guitar' albums were and are a tremendous inspiration to me in my writing, performing and recording.

I still at the time, did not know quite what to make of the iconoclastic Mr. Zappa. He was visually the hippy-freak-wildman; philosophically a socially liberal political libertarian; a guitar virtuoso and a modern music composer. Respected by some. Shunned by others. Repulsive to many yet revered by a great number (hundreds of thousands then/millions now?). Mysterious is probably the word that sums him up best in my perception at the time.



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Two hands wrapped tightly. . .

. . . round a perspiring glass. I see a little tear that I hope won't last. I'm wishing that what appears will disappear fast. I should have stopped myself from speaking my mind. But just like a children's toy, I had to unwind. Now look at the consequence. It wasn't the time. Hindsight's gold. So I'm told but could not admit. Hindsight's gold; truth as old as the pyramids.

Always the last to know; always behind. Shoot from the hip. React; behavior all mine. I was raised to know better. But still I declined. The last thing I want to see is the tear on your face. The last thing I want to be is the villain whose case I received by default it seems. And lives in disgrace. Hindsight's gold. So I'm told but could not admit. Hindsight's gold; truth as old as the pyramids.

Can an old dog learn how to do something new? Many times been burned. Understand it but just can't follow through.

Some kind of malady or some kind of curse; whichever's afflicting me, it can't get much worse. I can't be concerned much more and I'm not the first. I"m sorry for what I've done and what might still come. I'd like to just disappear but where would I run. There's nothing to show for this. My lesson is done. Hindsight's gold. So I'm told but could not admit. Hindsight's gold; truth as old as the pyramids.

HINDSIGHT
©2007 Raymond M. Jozwiak



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Friday, August 5, 2011

"Fair and Balanced"????

Steve Benen's
Political Animal
Blog Reported

There was a private White House party in honor of President Obama’s 50th birthday. Here’s how Politico described the event.

[Shortly after 5 p.m.], the party started with dinner in the Rose Garden, accompanied by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Then the First Lady and his daughters presented POTUS with a cake, and everyone moved into the East Room for performances that included R&B singer Ledisi, and Herbie Hancock. Stevie Wonder came up at the end and sang a medley ending in “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.” DJ Cassidy played Motown, hip hop, and ’70s and ’80s R&B.

Folks from the cabinet were there (Hillary Clinton, Eric Holder, Tim Geithner), as were members of Congress (Nancy Pelosi, Debbie Wasserman Schultz), Obama’s team (Robert Gibbs, David Axelrod, David Plouffe, Valerie Jarrett), the private sector (UBS Investment Bank President Robert Wolf), and the entertainment industry (Jay-Z, Chris Rock, Charles Barkley, Tom Hanks). That’s by no means a comprehensive list, but these are some of the notable names in attendance.

And here’s how Fox Nation told its audience about the event.
“Obama’s Hip-Hop BBQ Didn’t Create Jobs.”

Mr. Benen was fascinated (as we all should be) "...by the claim that a birthday party “didn’t create jobs.” Maybe I should have run a post this morning that said, “John Boehner had breakfast this morning, didn’t create jobs.” Or maybe, “Eric Cantor watched some TV, didn’t create jobs.”"

Steve Benen is a contributing writer to the Washington Monthly, joining the publication in August, 2008 as chief blogger for the Washington Monthly blog, Political Animal.



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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Scary stuff. . .

From www.seocollege.org news. . .

(Republican Presidential candidate, Texas Governer Rick) ". . . Perry is saying that one reason our country's problems are so intractable is "because we are a nation that has not honored God in our successes or humbly called on Him in our struggles."

And Perry's going to fix that.

On August 6th, he's going to be leading a huge prayer rally called The Response, in which he will call upon Americans to "pray and fast" so God will forgive us and help us fix the country.

Perry is leading this prayer rally, political analysts say, so he can win over evangelical Christian voters, who make up 60% of GOP voters in two key early primary states, Iowa and South Carolina. And if that's all he's doing at the prayer rally--saying stuff that these voters want to hear--then he'll be doing just what every other politician is doing, so we shouldn't get too worked up about it.

Far more frightening is the possibility that Perry actually believes what he is saying--that the reason America has racked up such colossal debts and has such a massive budget deficit is because we haven't been paying enough attention to God.

God did not vote for the budgets and policies that ballooned our deficit. Congress and the President did. So laying our problems off on God's disfavor--and suggesting that the way to fix them is to start doing a better job of honoring Him--is disturbing, to say the least.

And then there's the small matter of the separation of church and state.

The First Amendment of the Constitution says that the government can't establish a state-sponsored religion, and many Americans interpret the spirit of this amendment far more widely than that. . . "



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