The Countdown to choices.

Today's Tids Issue 2,219
Opening Stuff:

I’m going to vote in the primary this morning just to show my concern. I’ll put a check against some of the Republicans because that’s where I have to vote. But, this year, the big mystery surrounds the Independents and the new Moderate Party nominee for Governor who I am beginning to believe is a pretty good person to receive serious consideration. But that action won’t happen until November. Today it’s all about who emerges on the crowded Dem side of the ticket.And building up the numbers of GOP and Indy voters.

In a non-scientific poll of diverse political observers, it was unanimous that the RI political commercial most likely to cause viewers to fall to the ground holding their sides in rapturous laughter is the one where former RI State Democrat Party Chairman Bill Lynch looks into the camera and says we should vote for him because he is an outsider

(Use this space to pause and laugh out loud)

In a new AP/CNBC Poll, 61% of investors say that wild gyrations on Wall Street (Not those in after work bars) have made them wary of using the stock market as part of their financial management tool box. In fact, and this is telling, 56% say that the “market is only fair to some investors”. Lets face it, the market today appears to many as mostly largely “Perception” with the accompanying public relations manipulation. The small investors who represent billions don’t like it and are pulling out of stocks mainly to go into more conservative venues. “Everyman” also doesn’t like computerized trading at all. Not only is the economy in a swampy mode, but confidence among smaller investors most likely to use Mutual Funds is waning fast. More reasons to be cautious.

I thought last night was particularly delicious when the Jets went down. There is nothing more pleasurable than watching the TV cameras scanning row after row of hangdog Jets fans.

Daily Question: Four presidents have been assassinated. Name them…and name their successors. Which two Presidents were rumored to have been assassinated probably by poison.

Today’s Headlines:
--Sarah Shourd Freed; News Reports Uncertain About bail And return For Trial.
--Big Primary Day: Key Fights In Delaware; New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Maryland, Mass and DC Expected To Illuminate Inclination Of Voters.
--Republicans Say They Will remain Firm On Back Tax Cuts For “All” (As In Every Person) Americans.
--Positive August Retail Data Has Stock Futures Gaining.
--Clinton, Mitchell Says Peace Talks Moving In right Direction; But No Evidence Of Progress Reported.
--Lady Gaga Holds Press Conference To declare “I Am Not A Piece Of Meat”; Majority Of Americans Respond “Who Cares”.
--Apparent “Miraculous” Healing Of Massachusetts Jack Sullivan Has Cardinal Newman On Fast track For Beatification.

I think all of these guys who shave their heads are loosing their individuality. When you see a group of them it is much like looking into the window of a newborn nursery at the hospital. All the baldies look pretty much the same. But cute.

Is the incessant chanting at Meadowlands of “J-E-T-S, J-E-T-S an attempt by New Yorkers to tell the rest of the world that they know how to spell?

A reader reports that Buckwheat of “Our Gang Comedy” fame has become a Muslim and changed his name to Kareem of Wheat.

Another reader reminds us that “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed those who are dumber.”

The stat of the Day Department:
Yesterday was the first time since the season of 1915 when two New York baseball teams finished the 9 innings on the same day scoreless.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 93 continues. –I saw eyes peering at our somber march into Jack Wiley’s office. If Izzy was trying to be inconspicuous, it wasn’t working. I noticed Sarah/Maggie’s number one man Bill Claxton looking up from a phone conversation in surprise. And then speaking quickly into the receiver. Was he talking to her.? I felt a little pang at the thought. At the end of elegant corridor the oversized, hand carved wooden door opened. (I thought only government buildings could afford doors like that.) Jack Wiley, an imposing Jack Wiley but not the smiling Jack Wiley stood in the opening. Isabelle went up to him and gave him a small hug. And yet, it wasn’t a business hug. Jack spent a little too long kissing her cheek in return, and then looked up and came to me…very much the businessman. “Hi Kent.” Shook my hand and ushered the three of us quickly into his office. An older looking guy dressed like a prep school graduate was sitting in a leather chair at the corner of a very expensive rug just to the right of the large Chippendale style desk. Or, maybe it was real. Jack turned to Jason and me and introduced Jeff Symington. It was obvious that Izzy already knew him. Izzy has been busier than I ever would imagine, I thought.
“Kent,” started Jack mechanically, “This isn’t going well.” Your incredibly convoluted plan apparently created questions in the minds of observers. And, you haven’t been able to control them. Now,” he looked over at Jason, “we have to take an action I never would have wanted to take. We have to get rid of observers.” I stayed silent. He’s talking of Sarah. Maybe Henry, Sally. Paul Durham. His head lowered as he said, “I really liked Maggie Durham.”

Of course you have to wonder about people who come up with the stats that more and more support actions by organizations and government. A new fact says that Americans are washing their hands more in public restrooms – 85% today versus 77% last year – and that only 7% of women don’t wash as compared to 23% for men. But, who is standing in public wash rooms watching you? That’s the eerie part of this stat. it will really become weird if the next survey says that men only use two squares of toilet paper compared to the women’s three. Big brother is everywhere these days.

It didn’t tale media long to begin scaring the public about gas lines that might be under their sub-divisions. It’s not that natural gas safety isn’t critically important, it’s just that media should take a couple of breaths before they go berserk with scare headlines and news clips. Just another reason to believe that for every news producer there is a brother-in-law lawyer somewhere ready to file a suit.

Quiz Answer: Everybody should know that Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and Jack Kennedy were assassinated. But did you know right away that Andrew Johnson, Chester a Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson were their successors? The two rumored assassinations were Zachary Taylor and Warren Harding.

When Boehner made his tax compromise comments Sunday, all I could think of was the wishy-washy republican congress of the mid 2000’s. Everybody was looking for real change and all they did was jump into bed with the Dems. Political incest produces some deformed bills.