Obama - Nice Guy; Let's See How He Finishes

Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the Times studies Obama's leadership and finds a good talker and great listener who scares no one.  But she's scaring me!

Gentle White House Nudges Test the Power of Persuasion
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

WASHINGTON — Tempers were fraying in the White House Cabinet Room as night turned into morning on Jan. 15. President Obama had been cloistered nearly all day with House and Senate Democrats, playing “marriage counselor,” an aide said, as he coaxed, cajoled and prodded them on a health care overhaul.

As the clock neared 1 a.m., the two sides were at an impasse. Mr. Obama stood up.

“ ‘See what you guys can figure out,’ ” one participant remembers him saying, adding that the failed effort left the president mad. Another Democrat who was there, Representative Henry A. Waxman of California, said Mr. Obama left “frustrated that while he was putting out ways to bridge the problem, we hadn’t reached a conclusion.”

That's her lead?  Wow, where is the get-it-done leadership here?  Instead, we have Achilles leaving to pout.

Ever since his days as a young community organizer in Chicago, Mr. Obama has held fast to the belief that by listening carefully and appealing to reason he can bring people together to get results, an approach that in Washington has often come up short.

He may hold fast to the belief, but what results (other than tremendous self-advancement) can he show for it?  Altgeld Gardens is a bit of a bust; the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Obama's concealed stab at education reform, was assessed as having little impact.  But he made editor of the Harvard Law Review!

Mr. Obama has not been the sort to bludgeon his party into following his lead or to intimidate reluctant legislators. And while he has often succeeded by relying on Democratic leaders in Congress to do his bidding — the House and Senate, after all, both passed versions of the health legislation last year — it is not clear whether his gentle, consensus-building style will be enough.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing a little more toughness here or there,” said Representative Louise M. Slaughter, a New York Democrat, who contends that if Mr. Obama had pushed the Senate harder last year, the bill would have been law by now.

Like many Democrats in Congress, she praises Mr. Obama as intellectually gifted and a generous listener. But “if you are asking me if he dominates the room,” she said, “I would have to say no.”

Nice guy.

But his defenders and some historians say that perhaps more than any modern president since Lyndon B. Johnson, Mr. Obama has been aggressive in trying to work his will with Congress. During his 13-month-old presidency, he has had countless one-on-one meetings with lawmakers — a technique that some scholars and strategists say evokes memories of Johnson, though their styles could hardly be more different.

“People make the L.B.J. analogy,” said John D. Podesta, who worked as chief of staff in the Clinton White House, “but the world is a lot different than it was during the 1960s. The president actually has to bring people along because they think it’s the right thing to do, because they think it’s in the interest of the country but also their own self-interest. His style is to convince people, not threaten them.”

If Johnson was a physical force — an arm around the shoulder, a full-body lean, a finger poking into the chest — Mr. Obama is an intellectual one. Members of Congress do not find him intimidating; they are more apt, said Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota, to view him as “a friend.” And while he shows occasional flashes of anger — “There is a sort of steel in his voice,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer, the House Democratic leader from Maryland — his emotions are always contained.

That is just great.  I wonder if Putin or the leaders of China find Obama even a little bit intimidating.  Oh, I take that back - I don't wonder at all.

Comments

[Clarice]

Do they play "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" when you click on the NYT webpage?

[Free Radical]

Mr. Obama has held fast to the belief that by listening carefully and appealing to reason...

That's the problem. The parties involved don't find anything reasonable about his suggestions. It's just another frothy appeal- to whatever serves Obama's interest best.

Thanks to the NYT for another episode of "Nice Clothes, No Emperor."

[Rob Crawford]

“There is a sort of steel in his voice,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer

With a newer synthesizer, they could get rid of that.

[Jim]

obama is continuing to vote "present."

I am sure that anyone coming into personal contact with him found him to be an intellectual lightweight, which is why they don't find him intimidating.

The reason he picked biden who is a mental midget is to avoid having a vp who is smarter than the pres.

I cannot imagine him meeting one on one with someone and using TOTUS and that's the only time he sounds good.

[bgates]

If Johnson was a physical force — an arm around the shoulder, a full-body lean, a finger poking into the chest — Mr. Obama is an intellectual one.

That's three examples of physicality for the 6 foot 3-1/2 inch Texan, and every piece of evidence in the universe for the notion that Mr. Obama is an intellectual force.

[PD]

Mr. Obama has held fast to the belief that by listening carefully and appealing to reason he can bring people together to get results

Obama to Cantor: "I won."

[T Pain]

“There is a sort of steel in his voice,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer

It's called auto-tune. It disguises inaccuracies in voice.

[Cowboy Steve]

Steel in his voice, tin in his ear.

[RichatUF]

More mush from the wimp. Obama at the Roundtable today.

Don't have time to give it a proper fisking, but Obama says:

Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, I am an ardent believer in the free market. I believe businesses like yours are the engines of economic growth in this country. You create the jobs. You develop new products and cutting-edge technologies. And you create the supply chains that make it possible for smaller businesses to open their doors. So I want everyone in this room to succeed. I want your shareholders to do well, and I want your workers to do well. Because I firmly believe that America's success in large part depends on your success.

?

More Obama:

But I take the time to make these points because we have arrived at a juncture in our politics where reasonable efforts to update our regulations, or make basic investments in our future, are too often greeted with cries of "government takeover" or even "socialism." Not only does that kind of rhetoric deny our history, but it prevents us from asking hard questions about the right balance between the private and public sectors. Too little investment in a competitive infrastructure or education system and we risk falling behind countries that are making these investments today. On the other hand, if we just throw money at poorly-planned projects or failing schools, we will remain in debt to those same countries for decades to come. If we do not pass financial reform, we can expect more crises in the future. But if we design the new rules carelessly, they could choke off the supply of capital to businesses and families. If we allow our safety net to be weakened, or lose a sense of fairness in our tax code, we can expect more anger and frustration from citizens across the political spectrum; at the same time, if an exploding entitlement state is gobbling up more and more of our tax dollars, there is no way we will retain our competitive edge.

!

[Old Lurker]

Rich, I am speechless.

[Cowboy Steve]

RUF,

I'll use the Obamanator, indispensible in finding only the truth in an Obama utterance.

I want your workers to do well,

We just throw money at poorly-planned projects or failing schools, we will remain in debt to those same countries for decades to come.

We can expect more anger and frustration from citizens across the political spectrum; at the same time, if an exploding entitlement state is gobbling up more and more of our tax dollars.

Everything else is a lie.

[matt]

I think the man has thin skin and doesn't like it when people don't do what he wants them to. This, added to the collective incompetence and incoherence of the Democratic leadership, inevitably leads what professional facilitators call the "Marx Brothers Syndrome".

Shoes are thrown, hat pins are used as weapons, and someone usually breaks into "Hello, I must be going".

As to ole LBJ, he'd just put his arm around a recalcitrant Congressman, squeeze hard and whisper a threat to their favorite nephews pork project or to drop their hoochies name in conversation with a reporter.

[Pofarmer]

So, basically, he is requesting those businesses to just "Lie there and think of the queen."

[bgates]

Po - I think he'd rather they thought of him.

[Jane]

I think the man has thin skin and doesn't like it when people don't do what he wants them to.

I don't think he has a lot of experience with people not doing what he wants. If he is denied, it's racist. That's how it has always been. So he's a bit out of his element.

So, basically, he is requesting those businesses to just "Lie there and think of the queen."

It's been a while since I've heard that saying and never from a man. How refreshing!

[Pofarmer]

Po - I think he'd rather they thought of him.

In that case, I think Queen still works.

Jane, thanks for the compliment, that's about as close as you'll get to a "feminine side."
d;0}

[DrJ]

One thing I have never heard Obama talk about is creating wealth. Just "fairness."

Yuck.

[Appalled]

Clarice:

Here's what they are singing at the NYT and progressive blogs throughout the land. (Sung by that Democratic No Harmony Group -- the Splatters)

They asked me how I knew
My Barack was true
Oh, I of course replied
Hope and change inside cannot be denied

They said someday you'll find
Healthcare reform’s a blind
Oh, when your brain’s asleep
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes

So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
To think they could doubt Barack
Yet today my hope has flown away
I am without my change

Now tea partier’s deride
Tears I can not hide
Oh, so I smile and say
When a politician lies
Smoke gets in your eyes
Smoke gets in your eyes

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

No need to go back to LBJ to find out how to accomplish things, as Keith Hennessey points out, all he has to do is look to how George W. Bush operated. (And, Keith even draws him pictures):

I believe there are six keys to President Bush’s bipartisan legislative successes:

He sometimes reached out to Congressional Democrats and negotiated directly with them, even at the expense of upsetting his Congressional Republican allies.
He knew how to count votes, and when not to rely on a razor-thin partisan margin for victory.
He knew how to nurture existing bipartisan discussions and alliances in Congress and turn them to his own advantage.
He was willing to preemptively split his own party when necessary to get a deal.
He knew when and how to split the other party, negotiating with Democrats who were potential supporters of a compromise and isolating those who would oppose a deal no matter what.
He and his allies generally stuck with a traditional legislative process, which builds credibility and makes members feel they are getting their fair shot, even if they lose a vote.
President Obama needs to learn each of these lessons if he wants to succeed as President Bush did.

[daddy]

I thought the Times told us every time Obama asked a question it was "withering." Where's the "withering" in this story? This makes Obama sound about as "withering" as Barney The Dinosaur.

[Pofarmer]

President Obama needs to learn each of these lessons if he wants to succeed as President Bush did.

Obama isn't interested in those lessons, even if he had the aptitude to learn them.

[Extraneis]

Bravo, Appalled.

[E. Nigma]

Yes, but Bush was wrong, evil, Hitler, tool of Haliburton, blah, blah, blah.....

Bush had actually run several businesses (including his oil company and the Texas Rangers), been in the White House when GHWB was prez, and had (imagine this) real executive experience in government. I heard he was governor of a major state (Texas?).
He wasn't perfect, made his own party mad sometimes, betrayed conservative principles regarding No Child Left Behind, serious budget deficits, and signed McCain-Feingold, among other things. But he did know how to get things done, sometimes.
I'm sure someone smarter than me (such as Anduril) will declaim what a terrible Republican/President he was, and how he single handedly has wrecked the Republic, but these things are rather relative. We are, of course, doiong so much better under BHO than under GWB. Just check out the news.
4 trillion dollars later, we ought to be.

To be President, you actually have to
1) campaign in primaries
2) win the party nomination
3) get elected

There's a plethora of smart people out there who would probably make Jim-crackin' dandy Presidents (at least in their own minds), but you have to do the three things above foist. The easy part.
And then, comes the hard part. You actually have to BE the President, and get something done.
Obama is having problems because he is a squish as an executive. It makes the muddle feel better as he is such an swell guy and everything, but run the Executive branch of government? All the hepped up self-esteem therapy in the world will not an executive make. He never had it, and is not likely to find it between now and January 2013.

[rse]

LUN is a report that the emphasis on education is just another equity scam.

The Pioneer Institute says these national English and math standards being foisted on the states are so weak as to "damage the entire fabric of public education in this country".

Should we start a list of everything they are determined to wreck? Basically anything that can be used to make America stronger in the future is on their chopping block.

[Clarice]

Great job, appalled!

[Old Lurker]

Appalled!

[Rob Crawford]

Dems once more vote against equal protection under the law, details at LUN.

[MayBee]

Yay Appalled!

Is it just me, or does standing in front of a bunch of CEOs after being President for a year, and denying that you are anti-business, indicate Obama is a HUGE problem.

[Chris]

And while he has often succeeded by relying on Democratic leaders in Congress to do his bidding — the House and Senate, after all, both passed versions of the health legislation last year — it is not clear whether his gentle, consensus-building style will be enough.

Success!!?? With a few more legislative successes like that, he'll leave office having signed nothing into law.

Was this a press release or a news story?

[Rob Crawford]

Was this a press release or a news story?

Distinction without difference.

[Dolf Fenster]

Wow, someone actually wrote, in all seriousness, that President Obama needs to learn each of these lessons if he wants to succeed as President Bush did. And then, someone else actually quoted the first idiot approvingly.

[Extraneus]

This is rich.

Clinton says domestic politics hurting US abroad

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is complaining that domestic political battles are hurting the president's foreign policy goals and damaging America's image abroad.

[glasater]

Scott Brown explains his vote.

[Extraneus]

51% Fear Government More Than Private Health Insurers

Is that all?

[Rob Crawford]

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is complaining that domestic political battles are hurting the president's foreign policy goals and damaging America's image abroad.

Never bothered Democrats during the years 2001-2009.

[bgates]

someone else actually quoted the first idiot approvingly

Yes. Sheryl Gay Stolberg.

First Idiot should be capitalized.

[bunkerbuster]

`` I wonder if Putin or the leaders of China find Obama even a little bit intimidating.''

The good news is that intimidation is useless as a tactic against superpower quasi-despots. Thinking you're going to intimidate Putin is like thinking you're going to beat Tiger Woods in golf by making him envy you your middle-aged wife.

Intimidation is what mafia states like Russia and China specialize in. Why would any American envy them that?

[Old Lurker]

"51% Fear Government More Than Private Health Insurers"

Those would be the taxpayers.

[bgates]

Thinking you're going to intimidate Putin is like thinking you're going to beat Tiger Woods in golf by making him envy you your middle-aged wife.

Intimidation is what mafia states like Russia and China specialize in.

I get it, Putin is as good at intimidation as Tiger is at having a long-term stable relationship.

Or maybe, Obama is as good at being President as bunky is at writing.

[Rob Crawford]

Intimidation is what mafia states like Russia and China specialize in.

See also Obama's "I'm the guy keeping the torches and pitchforks at bay" remark.

[MayBee]

Obama doesn't have to intimidate China. Obama has to find the conference room China's hiding from him in.

[Clarice]

HEH,MayBee!

[DGS]

Bgates,

I usually don't correct typo's but I believe the 4th to last letter in your posting at 12:42pm is suppose to be an a not an o.

Have you been taking Clarice lessons?

[narciso]

About time, I say, in the LUN

[bgates]

an a not an o

Tom doesn't have enough server space to fit every piece of evidence in the universe for the notion that Mr Obama is an intellectual farce.

[Ignatz]

--Thinking you're going to intimidate Putin is like thinking you're going to beat Tiger Woods in golf by making him envy you your middle-aged wife.--

Similes should not be attempted by knotheads.

[Jane]

Wow - I didn't like that "marching order" remark from Scott Brown. He's right about one thing tho, I haven't read the bill.

[Old Lurker]

Jane, what did he say?

[centralcal]

The American Women in Radio and Television organization has announced the winners of the 2010 Gracie Allen Awards, for "programming created for women, by women and about women, as well as individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the industry." A gala will be held in LA on May 25th. Here are the TV news winners (via TVBR):

* NBC's Andrea Mitchell - Outstanding Reporter/Correspondent

Easy to see why they call it the Gracie Allen award. /snort

[I Won]

I'm a-gonna kick a little Republican ass tomorrow on TV. Ya'll be there, hear?

[Jim Miller]

"Was this a press release or a news story?"

I like to think of these kinds of stories as a campaign contributions, and I think the New York Times and other news organizations should report them as such. (Even though they are not legally required to.)

[Danube of Thought]

" And then, someone else actually quoted the first idiot approvingly."

Bush won a second term. Quote that, asshole.

[Danube of Thought]

As far as I know, the first guy to describe federal spending as an "investment" was Bill Clinton. Now there's scarcely a Democrat who knows the difference.

[Jane]

OL - he said a lot, much of it very persuasive. He said he voted for cloture so no more earmarks could be put in the bill and if the house added earmarks he wouldn't vote for the actual bill.

In teh beginning he said that people were calling him because they had their marching orders and that PO'd me, since I called - altho I think he was referring to after the vote not before.

There was a lot more.

[centralcal]

Do we have any regular commenters here from Arizona? I am curious what it will take to get rid of McCain.

[RichatUF]

Don't forget to turn on the teleprompter, I Won.

[matt]

I'm sure that if Putin is afraid of clowns (coulrophobic), he fears Obama. Otherwise, i don't think so.

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

Did you see the new home sales numbers today? I'd say the pause before the plunge has come to an end. I wonder what the rewrite on "economists say the recession probably ended in June" will look like? How long will it take to get to "Obamanists are encouraged by the accelerating decrease in general business activity as a means of reducing the output of CO2 (which the EPA ranks as the deadliest known carcinogen). The Obanomy is headed for the hoped for "flat line state" (an Obanomical technical term referring to a period of complete equilibrium followed by decomposition into sustainable natural components). His Imperial Majesty Barack Hussein Obama, Lion of the South Side and Royal Protector of Mecca, issued a proclamation rejoicing in his achievement and levied a 100% capital assessment gift to be given by all property holders."

The answer to "how he finishes" is "right behind Carter".

[Old Lurker]

Jane, thanks. It is worrisome that in less than a week he has learned the classic dodge "if I don't like the final bill, I might not vote for it" since that scam has provided cover for nine senators on many a bill over the years.

[Janet]

the classic dodge "if I don't like the final bill, I might not vote for it"

Hey!! That is my Senator's line. Senator Jim Webb. BTW...he always votes for it.

[Old Lurker]

I know, I know, Janet, and I feel your pain. Wanna trade for Barbara Mikulski?

[Jane]

OL, if you have time you should listen to the clip, I'd like to hear your impression.

Does anyone here know any big wigs at HBO?

[Janet]

Good Lord NO!!!! At least Webb owns a gun.

[Extraneus]

I realize that corporate profits are overhead, but would real estate profits also be overhead? Just trying to get with the program.

[Turk152]

It's really conflict analysis. Something a real smart person like Obama would find worth his time. See, he can't figure that Clinton is requiring conflict to resolve the analysis. Like he did to get that foreign aid given away and why he chose Biden who writes it all off at treasury.

Hilly insists on little girls, like Oprah. She's not asking how much, but do you want the cash? Obama does the same thing, but I'm not sure if insits on just little girls. So, evryone got sick of it and they're leaving, forming governments that don't have to be democracies and new regional alliances that exclude America and include countries like Russia and China} the new leaders Obama insits we lose to. Maybe they should help little girls and little boys too.............they're not that important. O and Hilly pay real big when you trade them.

[Old Lurker]

Ext, net rental income is going to become subject to Zero's Medicare tax along with dividends, interest and other passive and pass through income. And of course taxes on gains when when you sell will be subject to higher capital gains taxes when the Bush tax cut expires, and apparently now to the Medicare tax as well.

So, yes, silly.

[Janet]

The all time best picture of Milkulski -

She's the one snuggled into Schumer's armpit. Lovely.

[Old Lurker]

When that pic appeared last week, I typed a post that was in very bad taste so I erased it before posting. Rare restraint, I must admit.

[Extraneus]

Thanks for the clarification, OL. Good to know that rental maintenance costs will be going through the roof. And that's great news for the Brotherhood of Sealers and Caulkers.

[Extraneus]

Does Schumer have his own tanning bed?

[Clarice]

In other news, the Greeks are striking against themselves in an effort to pretend that there's still some money to be squeezed out of the ether so the retsina and dancing can continue unabated.

How otherwise intelligence people imagined that there could be a common currency without a means to enforce fiscal discipline will remain one of the mysteries of this age.

[Rob Crawford]

How otherwise intelligence people imagined that there could be a common currency without a means to enforce fiscal discipline will remain one of the mysteries of this age.

We're really not ones to talk.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Ex-

Schumer so slimy he doesn't worry about bobbing for fries.

[PaulL]

All the Greeks need to do to make things right is raise taxes on individuals making more than $250,000.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Rick, I've got a new tool. Foreclosure map, and it's National.

Back after chow.

[narciso]

So, my former Governor, went on an interview and said some dang fool thing, about Sarah's 'lack of intellectual curiosiy', as opposed
to the geniuses who are marching into Blair
House, with a sling shot, I guess this why
this sort of simple message escapes them

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=321999143434

[matt]

janet, she's actually nuzzling Hillary. Don't ask, don't tell and all.

[Old Lurker]

"All the Greeks need to do to make things right is raise taxes on individuals making more than $250,000."

Don't forget, Paul, that they asked rich Greeks who have already moved their money to Swiss banks to please bring it home so it can be taxed. That's the ticket!

[Janet]

'lack of intellectual curiosity',
This was said of George W. Bush too...what do they mean by this. Is it some hoity-toity put down?
"You sir lack intellectual curiosity!"
What are Sarah Palin, W, or whoever else this is said about suppose to be curious about?

[Janet]

Ugh Matt...I have no intellectual curiosity about that!

[Ignatz]

--but would real estate profits also be overhead--

Extraneous,
Barry has cleverly and benevolently given all of us in the real estate game a large tax break by ensuring we will not experience any of these so called "real estate profits" for the foreseeable future.

--When that pic appeared last week, I typed a post that was in very bad taste so I erased it before posting. Rare restraint, I must admit.--

If it by chance featured the words "Mikulski" and "sandwich" I thank you and my stomach thanks you, OL.

[Extraneus]

You could say he's eliminated some serious overhead, Ignatz.

[Ignatz]

--Did you see the new home sales numbers today?--

Yes. Fortunately my gun safe was locked and the key wasn't handy.

[Old Lurker]

And did wonders for our Profit : Earnings Ratios too.

[Clarice]

Those profit earnings ratis are really pesky things.

[Clarice]

*ratiOs*

[Sue]

The headlines at Drudge make me miss PUK all the more. I still "hear" the hurt in his "voice" as he retold the nightmare of his mother's death.

British Health System Nightmare: Hospital 'caused unimaginable suffering'...
Patients left 'unwashed in their own filth for month'...
Wards were left bloody, discarded needles; Sick drink water from flower vases...

[Sue]

The Corner is reporting that Dan Senor is contemplating a run for Gillibrand's senate seat as a republican. I wonder what his wife would think about it?

[Frau Wunderhorn]

Ouch, this smarts! Following the success of "smart diplomacy," Obama is now promising "smart government."

[Bill in AZ]

centralcal
"Do we have any regular commenters here from Arizona? I am curious what it will take to get rid of McCain."

Listening to McCains ads on the radio (talk radio), you would think he is the most hardcore conservative in the country, somewhere to the right of Goldwater. He has attacked JD Hayworth much harder than he ever bothered to attack Zero.

I suspect most folks here are tired of his bullshit, and I get pissed any time I hear his lies ads. He has the usual assortment of squishes and RINOs supporting and defending him on the talk radio station, but they continue to get hammered by callers. He also is preferred by the libtard MSM because they know he is a RINO and will be easier to deal with than a real Conservative in that seat. It's a tough call right now, and a bit too early, but I think Hayworth has a good chance.

[Janet]

LUN is an NRO Planet Gore posting on McCain...

[jimmyk]

How otherwise intelligence people imagined that there could be a common currency without a means to enforce fiscal discipline will remain one of the mysteries of this age.

Rob beat me to it, cryptically, but I was going to say: How is Greece vis a vis the Euro much different than California (and New York State, and Harrisburg, PA, and...) and the dollar? And then there's our federal government...

[daddy]

"I am curious what it will take to get rid of McCain."

More airtime for daughter Meghan.

[macphisto]

proposed caption for the Mikulski sammich photo:

"Schumer: 'excuse me, Barb, may i cut in?'"

[Fresh Air]

Is it possible McCain would be safer in the Senate where we can keep an eye on him? Would he try to pull an Al Gore, or just tend to his seven houses and various daughters, wives, etc.?

[bix]

Mcpain needs to retire (PBUH)..As a New Yorker, I have no say in Scheumer's future. This town is too blue. We need more than tea here..if rangel and spitz'er swallows doesn't shine light nothing will...

[daddy]

Jane,

Am listening to your Scott Brown link. I may be naive but at this time I still think he's relatively honest about his thought processes, so though I really don't like his "marching orders" comment, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. At least he had the guts to explain himself and take calls, so for that I give him credit. FWIW, the Hindustani Times here in Delhi (plus the other India papers) have a story on Scott's daughter Ayla, and that she says her dad can't stop her from posing nude. A hot evening dress photo accompanies her story in the tabloids, so she's up there now next to glam-pics of Elizabeth Hurley and Posh Spice and the Bollywood Hot-bodies in the Hindu Daily's.

And just for interest, Security here is more elaborate than my last visit a year or so ago. On arrival at the perimeter of the very fancy hotel we are still stopped by armed guards, who pop both trunks and slide a mirror mounted on wheels underneath the car to look for attached explosives before waving us through. But now, at the front Hotel entrance, a large luggage X-ray machine, exactly like at Airports, is set up outside the main entrance to the Lobby. Your bags and jacket are taken from you by bellhops who run them through the machine, while we have to walk single file through the full body scanner, again just exactly like at the airport, though we don't have to remove our belts or shoes yet. Then after that final thumbs up from Security you go through the Lobby front doors and check in. Namaste'!

[daddy]

Next thing you know">http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8528000/8528534.stm"> they'll probably be able to draft a Health Care Bill.

[centralcal]

Bill in AZ: Thank you for the reply. When you do not live in a state, it is hard to know how the natives feel.

I so want McCain put out to pasture along with his very strange daughter.

[Danube of Thought]

As between the two, I think I'd rather see the daughter disappear. We could be hearing her lunacies for another forty years or so.