I Am Finally Done With Politics...I Think (Part 1)

On Election Day 1968 I gathered a gang of friends and we marched from Centennial Elementary School to my neighborhood polling place chanting “Humphrey Humphrey he’s our man Nixon belongs in the garbage can”, I was 9. In 1972 I volunteered for the McGovern campaign, I spent most of my time running errands and getting coffee but I was helping out. I have vivid memories of the “Come Home America” campaign ads that featured Shirley MacLaine, Paul Newman and others, I was 13.

In 1975 during his concession speech then Easton Mayor Fred Ashton made special mention of young Don Flad for his tireless efforts on behalf of the campaign, I was 16. Later that year I contacted the Jimmy Carter campaign and asked if I could lead the effort for him in Northampton County, I received a really nice letter telling me that they would prefer someone old enough to vote but they would ensure that I was included in the formation of the local committee. In 1976 I scheduled a debate between myself and Andy Daub, Chairman of the GOP, before the student body of Easton High School. A teacher’s strike prevented the debate from taking place.

In 1980 Jeff Parks & I traveled the county campaigning for Jimmy Carter with this kid making most of the speeches. During that summer I went to DC for a White House internship. Once they found out my campaign experience they upgraded my security clearance and used me to give VIP tours of the White House and ferry messages back and forth to the campaign and convention staff. I had high security and VIP passes to the Democratic Convention and was able to hang at Studio 54 for the after party on the final night of the convention. I escorted Chip Carter around the Lehigh Valley on campaign visits, Miss Lillian made a point of giving me a hug for all my efforts and I drove the ABC and NBC reporters back and forth from the airport as they followed the First Lady as she pressed the flesh in Lehigh Valley Mall. State Senator Jeannette Reibman ran a campaign ad about me when she ran for congress.

In 1984 Walter Mondale offered me a job with his campaign in New Hampshire. I was asked to attend Jesse Jackson’s rally at Lafayette College because they wanted some noted and respected party leaders at the event. I was given VIP seating and escorted in early to an evening with Geraldine Ferraro.

In 1992 I stood in front of the Stonewall bar in a tight t-shirt and boxer shorts to campaign for Bill Clinton. During the inauguration parade my seats were so good that I slammed in to singing icon Judy Collins because neither one of us were paying attention to where we were walking.

Former State Representative and State Party Chairman TJ Rooney called me the conscience of the Democratic Party. I organized some of the most successful fundraising dinners for the party. Candidates bragged about my support and resented me when I did not support them. I was a big fish in a little pond.

And, then I walked away from it and tried not to look back. I still helped out Bob Freeman from time to time and last year I dove back in head first to support John Callahan for Congress. In my euphoria I got myself elected to the County/City Democratic committees and ran a one day, well received; write in campaign for the State Senate. I thought that I was ready to jump back into the arena.

I was wrong. I actually dislike politics now more than I did when I walked away the first time.

End Part One…..

I Have Been Thinking

This and That

Understand sarcasm.

Embrace sarcasm.

Be sarcastic.

Have a sense of humor – there is a lot of stuff out there that we can laugh at.

Do not take yourself so serious – no one else does.

Sometimes it is OK to just say… “OK I can live with that”.

Stupidity should be painful.

Being wealthy and or successful is not wrong nor is it a crime.

If you abuse your position as a wealthy and or successful person it is wrong and should be a crime.

George Clooney, Cher, Jennifer Lopez, Christian Bale, Tyler Florence are stars – Rob Kardashian is a pampered rich kid and according to popular media a noted douche bag he is not a star.

Barack Obama rid the world of Osama Bin Laden, Kaddafi, Al-Alawki , nurtures the Arab spring and is ending the Iraq war. And the GOP thinks these are flaws?

We need more commentary from Joan Walsh and less commentary from Pat Buchannan.

If the media is so liberal why does Fox News control the agenda?

Rick Santorum is not a serious person.

Charlie Dent is really not an effective legislator: During the last congressional session he introduced a bill to strip the citizenship of the 2^nd most hated person in America; Anwar Al-Alawki. He could not get it to pass. The President took care of the issue for us and now Rep. Dent can go about doing what he does best…..”Be a nice guy”

I have more respect for Pat Toomey than I do Charlie Dent. I doubt that I can find anything that Sen. Toomey and I agree on but at least he stands for something.

There is nothing wrong with being a moderate. But, have core set of beliefs and do not moderate away from them.

If you do not vote in every single election you should not ever discuss issues of public policy with me. I don’t care what you think if you can’t take the time and effort to understand the issues and why voting is more than just a right it is an obligation.

Ron Paul used to be Ron Paul – now he is corrupted by the media.

The Senate of the United States is not a democratic institution.

More to follow

The President Called

If the President actually did call me for advice: I am in italics & POTUS is in red

Ring Ring

Hello

Donald Flad

Yes

Please hold for the President

Excuse me

The President is on the line and he would like to speak to you.

I stand up and straighten my shirt for some reason

Hello Donald, it’s Barack

Yes sir

I heard that you think I should call you because I am not living up to your expectations.

Well sir, I never said that

But that was your point

Well sir in fact I do have some advice.

I hear some muffed discussion (I think the President is covering the mouth piece but I hear a little)

“Not now Joe I’m talking to that Flad guy you like” “Yes, Joe I will tell him you said hello” “No, Joe I am not going to ask him about the money he and Jeff Parks owes you”

Sorry Donald you still there?

Yes sir – May I sit down?

Why are you standing?

I am speaking to you

I am not in the room so the standing up thing is not necessary

Thank you sir

Are you always this formal?

Well… I am speaking to the President of the United States.

I have ordered the Secret Service to keep the Vice President out of the office so you have my undivided attention.

If I were advising you about your Thursday speech; I would not make it.

Really why?

The Republicans have ruined Joint Sessions speeches with their “You lying” and tweeting that you hate your country during them. You might as well be speaking before a group of high school kids.

I have spoken to high school kids and believe me they are more attentive.

I would do this:

Fuck Congress – Go over their head – speak directly to the people.

Make the same speech over and over again for 24 hours and not always in a setting comfortable for you.

On the front steps of the New York Stock Exchange – Talk about jobs on the door step of those who claim to create them.

South Philly – These folks are Democrats but they have not always been supportive of black candidates

Nashville – one of the buckles in the Bible belt – the stars will be there to support you and you will reach the country western market – a quick side trip to Memphis and a BBQ shack along the Mississippi.

Kansas City and add some Harry Truman quotes

Omaha – Warren Buffet likes you and he wants you to succeed –ask him to introduce you before a lecture

Salt Lake City – You will get 13 votes in Utah but the Mormon’s are polite and respectful – stage a rally on the BYU campus – You are the President – They would not dare turn you down

Texas – Where is W building his library? Speak on that campus

Denver – You won’t fill the stadium again but remind them about the important part they played in your nomination

Arizona – Piss on John McCain

San Diego – Issa’s base and a pretty conservative town

Alaska – go there – Speak there – you will get a bigger crowd than the quitter and may be able to bring Murkowski over to our party if you play you cards right

Hawaii – you are home – fill the stadium after you spend 24 hours hanging out with the service members on base – bring them with you to the speech

Fly back to DC and walk your job creating bill up the steps of the capital and hand it to the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate

The President Should Call Me

DonaldFladjr Donald Flad Jr

I wonder if I can go all day without watching or reading current event/news/politics? I am worn the "F" out & disgusted

I tweeted this Thursday during a break at work.

When 5:00 rolled around I asked my guy to turn off Chris Matthews, we didn’t watch the local news and instead of watching Brian Williams we watched Curb Appeal. Thursday was so successful that I continued the little challenge into Friday and when that went well I tried into Saturday. I did watch a little CNN Saturday before work but there was so little actual news I don’t believe I cheated.

The only news I received was from my Twitter feed. If I depended on that for news I would think that Barack Obama would be King of the World and all the Republican candidates are off the wall crack pots. Well, half of that is true; Obama is not King of the World.

What caused my frustration and disgust? What made me turn my back on Chris, Brian, Anderson and Mika? Who made me avoid reading Arianna, Joan, Maureen, Frank and Tina?

Barack H. Obama.

Yes the man I have spent the last 3+ years defending, supporting, explaining, encouraging patience for and believing that he will make a difference.

I explained that he was following the rules set out by the constitution in his approach to overturning DADT & DOMA.

I defended the no drama Obama, not an angry black man approach to his opponents.

I supported his ramping up operations in Afghanistan and thought his approach to Libya was smart.

I justified his compromises on health care reform.

I knew he could not be the first President to allow the nation to default.

I accused his opponents of being racists and called out their hypocrisy when they criticized him for doing the same things his predecessor(s) have done.

And, I will continue to come to his defense but I am tired and this week after all the months of seemingly rudderless leadership, listless public appearances and cold and emotional appeals to national unity he had a chance to slam dunk the Republicans.

Eric Cantor, an earthquake and a hurricane gave the President and his party a chance to really win the week and begin to bring the debate back around to our terms. Democrats are the party that believes government can make a difference and improve people’s lives. FEMA was continuing to get high marks; Secretary Napolitano was all over the media and handling the various crises with professionalism and care. The King Memorial was opening and the media was discussing how far we have come, we were getting ready for the 10^th anniversary of 9-11 which was surely to bring the nation together for a brief moment and Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman under the guidance of Rush Limbaugh were stepping all over each other to be more extreme and people were beginning to the think that one of these loons may become President and getting a little concerned.

And, what did the smartest person in the room do? He started a pissing match by asking to have yet another speech to the nation scheduled at the same time as a Republican debate. He looked small, he looked petty and he looked like just any other grandstanding politician. On top of all that he lost the pissing match and once again had to back down.

Why? What was the point of this? What was the purpose? What were they thinking? Where is the person in the room who says “Snap out of it!”? I thought Bill Daley was supposed to solve all these problems and bring order, discipline and maturity to the inner workings of the White House. Apparently I was misinformed.

I am available Mr. President please call me, I am willing to trade in one dead end job for another.

I am tired and I am disgusted and I am not sure how much more enthusiastic support I can muster up.

But, I will continue to try but please Mr. President you have to meet me half way.

Jean

My neighbor and friend Jean died last week. She would have turned 93 this November. Despite being that age her death took us all by surprise. Just a few weeks ago she was walking the 2 ½ blocks to 7-11 to buy a pack of cigarettes. Just a week before her death she was down in the basement doing her laundry, tending to her garden, checking on the health of her younger neighbor Ann, who celebrated her 80^th birthday this spring, she was sorting and organizing all of our mail for us and she was ensuring the portico light was turned on.

Suddenly this fierce, funny and independent woman who loved the occasional vodka tonic took ill and within days died. Thursday morning she was talking her to her daughters and then she closed her eyes and let go. Jean died the way she wanted to at home and quietly. She had never been to the doctor’s or the hospital and she refused all care during her last days. The only medicine she had ever taken was a baby aspirin. There was no funeral and an obituary was not put in the paper, like I said she was fiercely independent and wanted to leave this world with no strings attached.

Every year Jean would ascend the 64 steps to our place for our annual holiday party an after dominating and charming the crowd she would announce it was time to leave all the men in attendance would vie for the opportunity to escort her back down the steps to her front door.

Jean would always gather our mail for us when we were on vacation, when we returned we would find it neatly placed in a little gift bag usually with a ribbon tied into a bow closing the bag. During our annual neighborhood yard sale she would get up early and spend the next few hours helping us drag stuff out and would invariably buy one or two things. We knew she did need the items but she just wanted be supportive of our efforts.

A couple of months ago I stopped Jean as she was about take her walk to 7-11 and offered her a ride. She said she enjoyed the walk, the exercise was good for her and she was going to do it until she could not longer. That’s pretty much how it worked out for her.

Jean was 2 years old when women were granted the right to vote. She was 21 when WW II started in Europe. She was 45 when JFK was assassinated and she was 90 when Barack Obama was elected President. Imagine the history Jean had witnessed throughout her life. Yet, I never heard her mention much about the past and she never really discussed the future either. She preferred to live in the present.

Our charming little building will never be the same without Jean Lillis and everyone who lives here benefited from having her live among us.

Mommy, They Are Just Like Me

I found this on-line at about 100 different websites, I am not sure who or what the original source is.

It gave me something to think about. I blog about tonight (I hope).

“Mommy, they are just like me.”

My oldest son is six years old and in love for the first time. He is in love with Blaine from Glee.

For those who don’t know Blaine is a boy…a gay boy, the boyfriend of one of the main characters, Kurt.

This isn’t a ‘he thinks Blaine is really cool’ kind of love. It is a mooning at a picture of Blaine’s face for a half hour followed by a wistful “He’s so pretty” kind of love.

He loves the episode where two boys kiss. My son will call people in from other parts of the house to make sure they don’t miss his ‘favorite part.’ He’s been known to rewind it and watch it over again…and force other to, as well, if he doesn’t think people have been paying enough attention.

This infatuation doesn’t bother me or his father. We live in a very hip-liberal neighborhood, many of our friends are gay, and idea of having a gay son isn’t something that bothers either of us. Our son is going to be who he is, and it is our job to love him. End of story.

He is also six. Six year olds get obsessed with all kinds of things. This might not mean anything at all. We always joke that he’s either gay, or we have the best blackmail material in the history of mankind when he’s a 16 year old straight boy. (Take that naked bath time pictures!)

Then the other day we were traveling across the state listening to the Warblers album (of course), and in the middle of Candles, my son pipes up from the back seat.

“Mommy, Kurt and Blaine are boyfriends.”

“Yes, they are,” I affirm.

“They don’t like kissing girls. They just kiss boys.”

“That’s true.”

“Mommy, they are just like me.”

“That’s great, baby. You know I love you no matter what?”

“I know…” I could hear him rolling his eyes at me.

When we got home I recapped this conversation to his Dad, and we stood simply looking into each other’s eyes for a moment. Then we smiled.

“So if at 16 he wants to make a big announcement at the dinner table, we can say ‘You told us when you were six. Pass the carrots’ and he’ll be disappointed we stole his big dramatic moment,” my husband says with a laugh and hugs me.

Only time will tell if my son is gay, but if he is I am glad he’s mine. I am glad he has been born into our family. A family full of people who will love and accept him. People who will never want him to change. With parents who will look forward to dancing at his wedding.

And I have to admit, Blaine would be a really cute son-in-law

Source http://bit.ly/mRzwhw

It Does Get Better

I am having a hard time falling asleep tonight so I have been surfing the web. I came across a series of “It Gets Better” YouTube postings. For those of you who do not know they are short(ish) video postings against bullying by and against young people.

Dan Savage started this campaign as a result of the rash of young people, mostly gay, who took their own lives because they could no longer deal with the hurt that was being thrust upon them by their peers. The videos are not really geared toward the bullies but to the recipients of the bullying.

These videos have become somewhat trendy but many are still are quit moving. The President, Vice President and Secretary of State have all produced videos as well as most of the rest of the cabinet and members of congress led by the Nancy Pelosi. Many of the elites of the entertainment and business worlds have joined in. Tonight I watched one produced by a few Orthodox Jewish young men that was both heart breaking and hopeful at the same time.

It is a simple message, things may be tough now but it won’t last forever and it will get better, you will graduate from high school, you will become an adult and you will leave all of that badness behind.

I am here to tell you that it does get better. I was a tall, gangly ok scrawny, red head with glasses, a silver front tooth, and the not very coordinated son of one of Easton’s greatest athletes. I stuttered, I wore glasses, I had ADD before anyone knew what it was, and I was obsessed with my church/religion and politics. I was more comfortable with my parent’s friends than I was with kids my own age.

I had a few friends and one in particular was oddly supportive and protective at the same time. For some reason this very athletic, handsome, graceful and well spoken kid liked me and was always there to back me up. We were quite a pair from the 4^th grade through high school he and his family we like a second family to me. I would stumble and trip, I would have panic attacks while trying to play football, I would try to debate him in class and in spite of the stutter he always allowed me to have my say. I am to this day very grateful for the friendship of both Donn and his family and I wish the years have not separated us.

But he or a few other “body guards” could not protect me. I was bullied, A lot. Hell, even the girls tried to beat me up a few times after getting off the 6^th grade bus. I just retreated to my books and left the world for a little while.

I am ashamed to say that I participated in some bullying myself. One of the boys I helped to bully once said to me “Why are you of all people doing this?” I just looked at him and shrugged. I of course knew that I was doing it for self protection; at least they weren’t coming after me. He of course knew this and was at times guilty of the same crime.

But, through it all something inside me forced me to push on, sure I thought about just chucking it all in, quite frankly I still do. Because this shit is hard, nothing ever came or comes easy for me, everyday is a struggle but I still have hope. My guy does what he can to help it getter better for me. I have friends, I have family and most importantly through it all like Bill Clinton “I still believe in a place called Hope”.

So, if you know of a young one getting the shit kicked out him just because he is not like all the other boys or if you know of girl who is just not quite fitting in, reach out, tell him his is great, tell her she is special. Tell them it does and it will Get Better.

If they need more information or if you do please check out the below websites.

http://www.thetrevorproject.org http://www.pointfoundation.org