BTW, I just corrected about 16 incorrect spellings of Straus in this next article (I knew a Strauss long ago, so I'm biased toward that spelling):
Santos' Birthday Misadventure
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
Late Friday night, the President and his entourage left a Washington DNC gala on Air Force One. The plan was to take a red-eye trip to New York for President Santos' birthday celebration, hosted by New York Senator Michael Daschowitz. I had the privilege of being one of the few reporters on the airplane otherwise holding the top Democratic officials in the country.
To get you a feel of who was at the DNC gala and then traveled to the President's birthday celebration, here's a small list:
- President Matt Santos
- First Lady Helen Santos
- First children Peter and Miranda Santos
- DNC Chairman Josh Lyman
- White House Chief of Staff Nate Singer
- Ohio Senate candidate Hayden Straus
- California Senate candidate Sam Seaborn
- California Governor Kevin Clarkson
- Washington Governor Alex Nolan
- Illinois Senator George Montgomery
- Senior Political Advisor C.J. Cregg
- First Lady's Chief of Staff Donna Moss
- ... and several others
To think me, a little old reporter out of grad school, was allowed on Air Force One with the President and various Governors and Senators, is just amazing. The flight was to be six hours, leaving Washington at 12:00 AM PST and arriving in New York at 9:00 AM EST (due to time zone changes). That would leave the President little time to sleep for his birthday party at 2:00 PM, but I assume he wanted to get much of it on the plane. And he's the President, too important to sleep.
It was 12:30 when we were given the go-ahead to wander freely. The President and family were held pretty tight in his office in the upper cabin by the Secret Service, but I was free to converse with the other politicians and I was having a great conversation with Ohio senate candidate, and world-renown internet blogger, Hayden Straus, for future interview options. This was his second trip on Air Force One.
Communication was strictly prohibited from the plane, but at 1:15 we received word that a storm was brewing in New York City. I had checked online earlier that evening, and knew there was no storm anywhere near New York tonight. Straus said there was nothing to worry about, but I was nearly hyperventilating, expecting a Qumari or Anarchist attack or something to have occurred.
Things weren't looking good when the lights went dark and red emergency lights started flashing. I was out of the press office, so me, Straus and Senator George Montgomery were rushed into the Conference Room where the Secret Service Agent told us to stay put.
There we sat for about five hours. I now have good contacts with the Illinois Senator and possibly future Ohio Senator, and Straus and Montgomery got along very well. Straus said he always wanted to be a fighter pilot and was sure that some kick-a@@ stuff was happening out of the closed windows right now.
We were in a comfortable Conference/dining room right now, but not everyone had it so lucky. DNC Chair Josh Lyman was reportedly stuck with the President and Chief of Staff Nate Singer (I heard they don't get along) in the President's office. The First Lady was in the Main Galley with C.J. Cregg. The President's kids were with pregnant First Lady Chief of Staff Donna Moss and Kevin Clarkson in the President's Suite. Sam Seaborn and Alex Nolan were crammed into the Medical office, and everyone else were in the guest section or press section of the plane (the regular seats).
Everyone was released at, what my watch said, 6:30 AM, with no sleep. We were now over New York and were beginning our descent into Stewart International Airport. Thankfully I had Straus and Montgomery to stop me from undergoing a panic attack during what I later discovered was simply a security test (really?!). Long story short, I didn't make it to the Birthday gala, but I'm sure everyone who did was really tired.
Walken's image issues
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
Presidential candidate Glen Allen Walken has had serious image issues in the past few years. As Speaker he was seen as an overweight, but still manageable man. After retirement, he hit his peak weight around 2005, but started to slim down for his first presidential campaign. He continued the steady road until 2008 when a slimmer, leaner Walken ran and won for his old seat in Congress. He has backtracked quite a bit since late '09, and has constantly been called-out for his eating habits on the campaign trail.
But a presidential candidates eating habits are of no concern to the public. Walken has released his medical records, and he is far healthier than, say, Josiah Bartlet, and is not likely to have any health problems related to his weight anytime soon. So Walken, in order to fix his image issues, has hired top-of-the-line image consultant Viggo Monticelli.
Monticelli has helped royalty, the Italian President, politicians in Australia and even Canadian Prime Minister Cousin. Time will only tell if he can turn around the look and style of Glen Allen Walken, to compete with that of young Matt Santos.
Alexander given Key to the City
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
Yesterday, General Nicholas Alexander, was given the key to the City of Jacksonville by Mayor Martin Painter. Alexander is a Baldwin resident and famous for running for President in the Republican primary last year and as an independent candidate earlier this year. This is the first Key to the City given out by Mayor Painter.
Alexander, who has publicly retired from politics after his withdraw in favor of Tim Hall, accepted the Key but did not give a long speech. Many Alexander supporters, who drove miles to the ceremony in Jacksonville, were disappointed in Alexander's few words. He reiterated his support for a "new order" and thanked the Mayor for the Key and the recognition from the community he grew up in.
Lassiter in San Dimas "We must take back our State right now!"
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
While Senate opponent Sam Seaborn was up in Washington state and then New York City, ignoring his 53-district plan for a couple days, Richard Lassiter visited the southern California city of San Dimas, where he delivered a stirring speech in front of supporters, asking for the State of California to be delivered back to being a Republican stronghold and return to its social and fiscal conservative roots.
He railed against the policies of Gabe Tillman and Kevin Clarkson for causing the current California economic crisis, so much that you'd expect him to run for Governor. Lassiter's mother, former First Lady Libby Lassiter, was not present due to reported medical issues.
At least they get things right in the UK...
Just a quick bloggette to all my Taylor Reid supporters: In merry ol' England they don't elect their Prime Minister. They elect their MPs (like our Congressmen), who then go on to pick whomever they want as leader of the British government. Usually within the matter of a month ever few years.
Here in the US of A, we go through this tired and cliched two-year period every, oh about two years (Leo McGarry once said that only 18 months of governing is done at a time. We miss ya, old pal!). It's good fun for people like me who don't work for a living, but really, what's the point in deciding who should be President in such a convoluted and complex manner? We should be like the Brits and have a system where we simply elect people to elect our leader.
Actually, we do. It's called the Electoral College. So, uh, nevermind?