...except win the Nobel Peace Prize!

Less than a week after Saturday Night Live satirically spoofed the president's record of accomplishment, painting a laughable picture of a zero sum total, it appears there is one accomplishment no one expected;

Why is everyone so upset? He hasn't done anything yet.

This is funny enough to share although admittedly tragic if it continues...

45,000 Die Yearly for a lack of health care....

that's one every 12 minutes...

read the following abstract from the Harvard Study:

Objectives. A 1993 study found a 25% higher risk of death among uninsured compared with privately insured adults. We analyzed the relationship between uninsurance and death with more recent data.

Methods. We conducted a survival analysis with data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We analyzed participants aged 17 to 64 years to determine whether uninsurance at the time of interview predicted death.

Results. Among all participants, 3.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]=2.5%, 3.7%) died. The hazard ratio for mortality among the uninsured compared with the insured, with adjustment for age and gender only, was 1.80 (95% CI=1.44, 2.26). After additional adjustment for race/ethnicity, income, education, self- and physician-rated health status, body mass index, leisure exercise, smoking, and regular alcohol use, the uninsured were more likely to die (hazard ratio=1.40; 95% CI=1.06, 1.84) than those with insurance.

Conclusions. Uninsurance is associated with mortality. The strength of that association appears similar to that from a study that evaluated data from the mid-1980s, despite changes in medical therapeutics and the demography of the uninsured since that time.

Health Insurance and Mortality in US Adults

Andrew P. Wilper 1*, Steffie Woolhandler 2, Karen E. Lasser 2, Danny McCormick 2, David H. Bor 2, David U. Himmelstein 2

1 University of Washington School of Medicine
2 Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School

We are literally locked in a life and death struggle... people without adequate health care cannot afford to live...literally.

These invisible numbers are our neighbors, our former classmates, our friends, and relatives... one day....maybe even ourselves. One every 12 minutes. My question is simple...to the right; not who will pay, not government fear mongering, not anti-Obama rhetoric, not liberal vs. conservative...I am asking a simple question...a human question...and here it is:

Is it okay for people to die in this country simply for a lack of adequate health care?

An Open letter to Congressman Michael McMahon

I would like to begin by thanking you for having the courage to hold the town hall meeting. I’m relatively sure it met your expectations. The purpose of this letter is to let you know where I stand, unlike many of those that attended last night’s town hall, I voted for you. I voted for you as my Congressman, and I voted for you as my councilman. I will be voting for you again in 200, and my vote is NOT conditional, short of a major moral disaster.

I am a Staten Islander. I have lived on the North Shore my entire life. I have personally been on EVERY side of this issue. As the son of a single parent, my mother went on welfare for a short period. When she got work, and joined the union, our health care got better too. When she changed jobs, and went to work with a less powerful union, we were practically no better off than when she was on welfare. I joined the service, and enjoyed the best health care our country has to offer (probably even better than the care you now receive). When I returned from the service, I went without any insurance for a considerable amount of time. Luckily, I was still healthy, and short of a simple bloody nose that wouldn’t stop, I didn’t need emergency health care. I ran my own business for 5 years with 6 employees…providing zero benefits. I worked as a consultant, where there were no benefits, even as I started a family. I now work for a company where I started out in the union, so I have seen that side, with the constant bargaining that ALWAYS results in increased costs, and fewer benefits. I am now a part of management, so I see the other side of the fence. I say all of this to let you know that I am familiar with EVERY SIDE of the issue you now face. I have kept up with most of the issues regarding the proposed health care legislation, and I have come to a conclusion.

I support health care reform. I support reform that includes a public option (knowing that I will help foot that bill). I support future reasonable tort reform. I support a plan that is deficit neutral. I support a plan that does NOT adversely affect the current care our seniors are receiving. I support a plan that may be PURCHASED by illegal aliens, similar to the way it is now. I support a plan that mandates coverage (however, with fines & without the threat of prison). I support a plan that covers every American. I support a plan that removes stipulations regarding pre-existing conditions.

And I hope you do too.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, I look forward to your affirmative vote for Health Care reform.

One of God's greatest gifts...

Ladies and Gentleman; one of God's greatest gifts bestowed upon man is the ability to think for himself. Please use the gift He gave you. Of late, I have heard just about every conceivable twist of the truth with regard to our government, their intentions for us, and the fear that is pervading what little racial/ethnic progress we have made over the years. If you have a stance on Health Care reform, taxation, or the current administration in power, by all means, voice YOUR opinion, stand on your soapbox and shout to the heavens. By all means, write your elected officials and let them know what YOUR position is. By all means, send money to organizations that support your views and have the means to spread YOUR opinion. BUT, it detracts from the value of your position when you include with your opinion extraneous, unecessary messages of hate and dissention. It is a pure fact that Health Care reform, for example, is going to be extremely expensive. That is a valid argument against reform. HOWEVER when the person who feels that way is displaying a swastika or shouting down informed debate, no one hears the valid message. It pains me when some of my "intelligent" friends use word for word conservative talking points or the latest scare rumor in their debate. There is sooo much that is both wrong and right with Health Care reform that the plans can be thoughtfully debated for days. Think for yourself, read what you can find, read the bills, but after you read, form YOUR opinion and be prepared to defend it.

How does the Religious "Right" contend with Hypocrisy

Many conservatives are ready and willing to invoke "their" god when it comes to matters of political discourse. Abortion, School Prayer, and vouchers (yes they relate here), bring out the love of god in a conservative faster than you can blink. But, just try mentioning immigration, and social programs that help the needy, and they suddenly develop spiritual amnesia. The God that I know, says to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. The God I know says to treat our neighbors as we would ourselves. Is it not the same God (god)? Why when challenged with what they profess to believe do they suddenly throw up their hands? Is it guilt? Is it shame? I think we all kniow that is not the case. Lastly, the God I know asks that He be served in spirit and in truth...and there is something to be said for His abjorration of lukewarm servants.

Limbaugh Blames Obama for Sanford's Affair

Oh you did read that correctly. In what can only be labeled weird but true, Rush Limbaugh took time on his radio show to lay the blame for Mark Sanford's Argentinian affair. Here is how it was covered by Keith Olbermann;



Now the first candidate to wrap a large part of his campaign and subsequent administration around "hope" is actually trying to destroy hope? Get real Rush, you are becoming less and less relavent and starting more and more to sound like a buffoon. The only thing hopeless in America is you.

She went too far, now she has to pay...

Those of us who are parents have been there. We know the pressure of a long day, and just as you are at your wits end, a fight breaks out between the kids. You say stop 7 or 8 hundred times to no avail. You look for something to throw or you threaten them with severe bodily harm to no avail. You threaten to put them out of the car, and that doesn't work either...but you pull over for added emphasis...still no luck? How about open the door...by now, most kids are quiet. For whatever reason, Madlyn Primoff, 45, a partner in a Manhattan law firm, took it a step further and really put them out. Her daughters aged 12 and 10 were left on the sidewalk 3 miles from home. The 12 year old ran after the car, so the mother let her in. The 10 yr old wasn't fast enough. The mother was arrested when she appeared at the police station to recover her 'lost' child.

This is not the first, nor will it be the last case of a parent losing control, and taking measures so drastic they defy logic. We have to keep things in perspective when dealing with our children, and remember that nothing they do, is worth endangering their lives. This woman learned that lesson the hard way, but it gives us an opportunity to reflect and cool off when we find ourselves approaching the breaking point. Now go hug the little curtain climbers, even if they were bad today!

Fear wins (again) over common sense.

The latest bruhaha to grip the Island is the cell tower scam at Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Huguenot. Parents are threatening to pull their children out, the school is installing steel gates over the windows (fire code anyone?), and local politicians are about to weigh in with the hope of gaining some political momentum. Hogwash! All of it. I worked in the nuclear power field, I wore a REM tag, It was read and measured evry month. I have produced (ok women, helped produce) five vibrant healthy children without a single defect (other than some attitude), so give it a rest...the amount of "radiation" emitted is negligible compared to other daily common sources. Watching TV is more dangerous. Once again fear reigns supreme on Staten Island, the stupidest comment ever was by some woman who was interviewed, when asked how she knows that the radiation amount is dangerous, she replied,"they can't prove that it isn't". Don't we realize that these towers are everywhere?What?!?! We are still doing things we already have proven are dangerous, but we keep doing it (smoking comes to mind). The latest 'cause celebre' will be taken up by whichever politician is closest to re-election and this will dominate the news but to no avail. Unless of course those same parents are willing to pay Sprint (and T-mobile coming soon) to break those contracts. I didn't think so.

Why?

LEADERSHIP
1. the position or function of a leader:
2. ability to lead: She displayed leadership potential.
3. an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction: They prospered under his leadership.
4. the leaders of a group: The union leadership agreed to arbitrate.

Synonyms: administration, authority, capacity, command, conduction, control, conveyance, direction, directorship, domination, foresight, hegemony, influence, initiative, management, power, preeminence, primacy, skill, superiority, sway

Personal Touch: In my opinion, the skill and ability to influence others, whether directly or indirectly, to perform at or above their potential.

INTEGRITY
1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished
3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition

Synonyms: candor, forthrightness, goodness, honesty, honorableness, incorruptibility, incorruption, principle, probity, purity, righteousness, sincerity, straightforwardness, virtue

Personal Touch: In my opinion, integrity means always doing the right thing, the same way, whether you are being watched or not. Strength is added to the term by preceding it with the word personal.

HONOR
1. honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.
2. a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one's family.
3. high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor.
4. such respect manifested: a memorial in honor of the dead.
5. high public esteem; fame; glory: He has earned his position of honor.

Synonyms: account, adoration, adulation, aggrandizement, apotheosis, approbation, attention, canonization, celebration, confidence, consideration, credit, deference, deification, dignity, distinction, elevation, esteem, exaltation, faith, fame, fealty, glorification, glory, greatness, high standing, homage, immortalization, laud, laurel, lionization, notice, obeisance, popularity, praise, prestige, rank, recognition, renown, reputation, repute, reverence, tribute, trust, veneration, worship, wreath

Personal Touch: In my opinion, honor can not be learned; it must be instilled, nurtured, and revered as an individual standard in order for it to have any value. It is an all or none prospect.


COURAGE
1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

Synonyms: adventuresomeness, adventurousness, audacity, backbone, bravery, bravura, daring, dash, dauntlessness, determination, endurance, enterprise, fearlessness, firmness, fortitude, gallantry, gameness, grit, guts, hardihood, heroism, intrepidity, lion-heartedness, mettle, nerve, pluck, power, prowess, pugnacity, rashness, recklessness, resolution, spirit, spunk, stoutheartedness, temerity, tenacity, valor, venturesomeness, élan

Personal Touch: In my opinion, this definition is not entirely correct. I believe fear is an integral part of courage, as courage cannot exist where there is no fear. Additionally more needs to be said about the differences between foolhardy courage and genuine bravery.

---

Forgive the length, but this post is not intended to be an English lesson, and I am well aware that most of us have a fair handle on what each of these words means. This minor civics lesson is a friendly reminder about how absent these words are from our daily vernacular. Worse still is their absence from our personal life toolboxes. How often do we see these words in genuine action? How many people do we know that regularly exhibit these qualities? How many of us have a list of friends that may describe us using these words?

It is important that these life qualities never be given in any self-description. A large part of the value of these qualitiess is gained by having another person use them to describe someone. When used in self-description not only do the words lose value, but one begins to question the user as well. Adding insult to injury, the user ends up appearing vain in the process, a quality that does not mix well with the others.

To the question at hand: why not? Why aren’t these qualities as sought after as they were in the past? Why aren’t they more regularly exhibited by the people we know that have the opportunity to exhibit them? Has our society changed so much, that these are no longer required? What makes someone with the position, power, and ability; strike these qualities from use? I make many posts here, most about current events, or something that bothers me or moves me to write. I am so moved today, but today is different, because today I have questions. The questions I have require thoughtful input from reasonable people. If you are up to the challenge, feel free to respond with your thoughts. Why?

Prosecution Gone WILD!

see http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/090326_NJ_Teen_Arrested_After_Posting_Nude_Pics for more...

In yet another case of impulsive prosecution, the Passaic County Sherriff has arrested and charged a 14 year old girl with distribution of child pornography. The victim in this case is the same 14 year old girl. Of course they don't publish her name....she is too young. But that leads me to my point, she is too young to have her name and face plastered all over the news, but not too young to go to jail for 17 years and be registered as a sex offender? Let's be clear, what she did was wrong, and I'm relatively sure a bunch of kids ran home to delete some of their pictuires after hearing the story, but thats it. Doesn't intent play into any of this? She is not some 50 year old man in a wife beater trolling the internet, or trying to meet youngsters at the mall. This is a kid doing the stupid, sometimes illegal, things that kids often do. Yes, make a big deal of it...yes scare the pants off..(bad analogoy)...., but to mark this child with a scarlet letter for the rest of her life is unnecessary, and over the top. I was happy to hear later in the day that the charges would not be filed.

I don't get, why they don't get it.

They didn't get it in 2006, they certainly didn't get it in 2008, and they still just don't get it. The American people want more from their leadership than lip service and ideology to a fault. They want plans, alternatives, and in the end; results! Its really not too much to ask for.

For whatever stubborn reason the conservative/republican party continues to this day to offer more of the same. Less than a hour after Obama completed his successfully informative news conference, one of the potential psuedo leaders of the Republican opposition puts out the call to his fellow republicans to oppose Obama if you don't agree.

"We are now in the position of being the loyal opposition," Jindal said at a Republican congressional fundraising dinner that only by coincidence fell on the same night as Obama's news conference. "The right question to ask is not if we want the president to fail or succeed, but whether we want America to succeed."..."the time for talking about the past is over," Jindal said




Well I'm not a politician, but how can you ever get anything done like that? Whatever happened to compromise? Whatever happened to offering alternative plans? It is hard to believe that they still don't get it, and by the way, they wont get it in 2012 either.

footnote: Adding insult to injury, Mr. Jindal, after the media entertained a short-lived debate about Obama's laughing during his 60 minutes interview, made a joking reference to his previous speech, and torture at GITMO...do these guys ever want to win?

'Fundamentaly sound' - exposed

There has been much ado about those two words of late, but before people go off cocked (or half-cocked), it is of the utmost importance that we review the context in which these statements were made. The words were used basically three times, first-during the presidential campaign by John McCain, second this past week by President Barack Obama, and most recently by economic adviser Christina Romer on Meet the Press. Lets break down all three so we can all be clear about what was said, apparently using this same phrase.

As Senator McCain was campaigning, during one of his famous town-hall meetings, in an attempt to diminish the value of the imploding economy, he stated that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong". Taken at face value, in the context of his speech, it is clear that he meant the basic principles that support our economy are in good shape. That statement of course, is not entirely true. While there very well may have been some portions (such as the resolve of the American people, the willfullness of the American worker, or the indominable American spirit) that were ok, the basic fundamentals, that is those blocks that are (were) on the bottom were crumbling at best.

President Obama used the same words, but in a slightly different context. His statement came in the form of an If/Then statement, specifically IF we pay attention to those underlying building blocks that support our economy that are currently strong, THEN "we'll get through this"...clearly, not the same statement. Obama's statement is conditional.

Now, Christina Romer - "The fundamentals are sound in the sense that the American workers are sound, we have a good capital stock, we have good technology," she said. "We know that - that temporarily we're in a mess, right? We've seen huge job loss, we've seen very large falls in GDP. So certainly in the short run we're in a - in a bad situation." She clearly laid out and explained her answer as she made the statement, not as some post furor damage control. AND she used at least one of the same concepts McCain used when he did try to clean up the egg he laid.

In truth, these two words used together in a sentence have become taboo, at best they are capable of giving anyone a false sense that things just aren't that bad. At worst, they show how detatched the utterer may be from the crux of the issue at hand. Either way, the three statements are NOT the same.

Our Borough President

just got body-checked by the NY Daily News


It appears as though he has been acting as a one-man stimulus package for some pricey friends. See - http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/03/15/2009-03-15_staten_island_borough_president_james_mo.html

Now I don't personally have the investigative power to raise the question, but the first thing I would look at is his end-run around competitive bidding...and why. $70,000 to one firm, in one year, for photography?!?! Correction, for Information Technology and video equipment (I hope it was at least a purchse, and if it was, where is it now?)

I don't deny that Staten Island is very lacking in the tourism department, and that the Island could use some promotion. However, most of the promotion is self-promotion. These photos are not going to tourist centers or information kiosks, they are being passed out at his events, events where there are likely very few tourists.

It is this type of shady dealings that highlight the need for reforms and transparency at every level of government. By the time these issues are brought to light, the money is long spent, and the memory of just how things went down dims. I have seen some factions on the blogs calling for the elimination of this position altogether, and this behavior backs up that desire. So the question I put to my fellow Islanders is simple...What do we need a Borough President for?

Cramer vs Stewart; win, lose, or draw?

Just wrapped up watching the, hopefully, final segment of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart in which he finally got Jim Cramer to come on the show. Jon let loose on Cramer in a no-holds-barred street brawl...and Cramer begged for more. The real winners here are the viewers of both shows. Stewart gains a little more in the respect and accountability department, while viewers of "Mad Money" will likely take Cramer's advice with some extra grains of salt going forward.

Jon Stewart not only lambasted Cramer for allowing the network to portray him as a financial guru, he let loose on the network (CNBC) as well. He called them to task to be more investigative and less schmoozy with the financial world. While he did not specifically blame them for any part of the financiial crisis, he did make it abundantly clear that if there was any network that could be in the position to know what was coming, it should have been CNBC. They either sat on the sidelines, or worse, at times, cheered them on as the powers that be raped and pilaged.

The sad part is that this one show will likely result in little if any changes. But in the meantime, kudos Jon, you represented the 'little guy', and you did it with fortitude and dignity.

Ahh St. Patrick's Day...what does it really mean?

Year after year, generation upon generation we continue to "religiously" (pun intended) celebrate holidays with little if no regard for their purpose or true meaning to our lives. Take the recent St. Patrick's Day festivities... we see the traditional trappings of a parade and "wearin' o' the green", sweaters, corned beef and cabbage specials, and shammrocks everywhere, but do participants really honor the day, or is it a good reason to get plastered and raise a glass (as if some of us even need a holiday for that). First some history...I promise to keep it short. St. Patrick's day is originally a Holy day of obligation for Catholics, usually observed on March 17th, except when it may interfere with Holy week days. The feast/celebration is so important that bishops have been known to lift meat restrictions implemented for Lent in order to allow the feast to occur. The holiday is to honor, of course, St Patrick. The patron saint of Ireland. Sounds like serious stuff so far... So what is with the drunkfest? and the hooliganism? What part of that honors the Saint? As my wife passed around the back of the parade route, she observed NYPD vehicles with coolers in the trunk (emergency water of course), a psot-parade tour of Forest avenue found bars with the majority of the patrons on the sidewalks and standing room only inside. Loud? yes, Drunk? certainly, Celebrating the patron Saint of Ireland? I didn't see it. Well as luck would have it, Staten Island experienced very few incidents as a direct result of this years revelry (past years were not as fortunate). But in Hoboken- well those guys know how to PARTY! Hoboken experienced 80 injures and police issued 376 siummonses, worse than last years numbers...but not as bad as 2006. I write all this just to make a simple request. If you are going to celebrate anything, know what it is you celebrate and why...maybe, just maybe...we'll begin to celebrate just a little bit differently.

The Girl Who SILENCED THE WORLD at the UN for 6 MINUTES

Truly a MUST SEE.

Florida Fiasco moves north to Staten Island?

There are far too many variables that come into play with paper ballots. They leave way too much room for corruption and disenfranchisement. What is the backup plan? What if they run out of ballots in “certain” places? How will they be transported and who will do the physical counting? Hanging chads, pregnant chads, write overs, stray marks….my head is spinning as I FORESEE visions of Florida. Staten Island is about to make national news again, not for election night violence this time…..

That was my statement, when I discovered we would be using paper ballots, now here is my personal experience.

I worked the night shift Monday, so I went to the polls as I returned from the city. As I approached the table, a middle-aged African American woman had just placed her ballot in the box, and had a broad smile on her face. That smile turned to fear as she read a poster of the proper instructions for filling out the ballot. She turned to the worker and stated, I put a circle around the candidate, thats what you told me to do, but it says here to fill in the box. The worker replied that it would be “ok”, and that her vote will be counted. She asked if she could have it back, or do it over, but the poll worker insisted it would be ok. As visions of High school days, and military days, where filling in scan forms was a recurring event, I remembered how many times people had to ask for another one. Just because they couldn’t seem to follow simple instructions. At that time, it was my thought that the voter goofed, and to be honest, was about to get what she deserved. I voted, properly of course, and went on about my day, supporting the candidate I just cast a vote for. I called my wife to tell her the story, and to remind her to fill out the ballot properly for whoever she was going to vote for, as if I didn’t know (wink), she laughed at me of course…she thinks she is smarter than I am. As the day progressed, I accompanied her to vote, somebody had to stay with the kids, in the car. She came out with THAT look on her face. She was mad as…well you know. She told me the same poll worker gave her the SAME INSTRUCTION, and it was now some 5 hours later, and countless voters (ok maybe not countless) have passed through this same table with this same worker and the same faulty information. My wife admonished the woman immediately. She insisted that she tell people the correct information, and that it was important for people to vote correctly. From my perspective, it is impossible to know whether those ballots were counted or not, but for a ONE DAY event, uyou would think that the BOE would give them a script of what to say, and that the workers wouldn’t make up their own rules as they go along.

Why the BOE Simply Can't be Trusted!

Bear with me as I lay out the time line....all will become apparent shortly. First the paper ballots, in an excerpt from the Advance, political writer Tom Wrobleski, posted the following as part of a news story;

BOE general counsel Steven Richman said that the ballots will be secured in locked boxes during voting.

here is the link: http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/123548131973930.xml&coll=1


















Now I'm no rocket scientist, but not only are these boxes NOT locked, they are totally unsecure, masking tape and folded tops leads me to wondering, with all that already has, and still possibly can go wrong, why such a shoddy system?

The Road to recovery

Do they think we’ve forgot?

Republicans of late have been breaking their necks to let everyone know what a terrible thing it is to spend the people’s money. They pretend to be worried about our standing in the world and our vulnerability to terror attacks. They are slowly remembering words like standards, patriotism, and values. If we lived in the forest for the last decade, one might be easily led to think that these have always been the good guys. We were there, and we remember.

We remember the Democrats being pressured into voting for the war. They believed the intelligence that the President allowed to be published. It painted an evil picture, and some Democrats were duped.

We remember the seemingly endless search for WMDs that never materialized. Cutaway views of portable chemical manufacturing trucks. Then the sorry explanation that while the entire country was locked down that Saddam somehow managed to sneak them out.

We remember saying no to bills that the President and his in control henchman pushed through anyway.

We remember begging and not understanding what the difficulty was to outfit a Humvee with armor, only to find out later that the Humvee should not have been sent in the first place.

We remember the promise of a quick war that would instantly break the resolve of the enemy, that the people would greet us as liberators.

We remember reflections on internment camps (GITMO), young inexperienced soldiers left unsupervised to torture and humiliate prisoners. (Abu Ghrabe)

We remember a lackadaisical attitude as thousands languished and died in New Orleans.

We remember how Oil contracts in Iraq were resolved before the effects of Katrina are fixed.

We remember how the opportunities to regulate the banking industry came and went.

We remember how you misled the country, how you let Bin Laden go, how you wasted this country’s resources.

We remember how you shredded the constitution, habeas corpus, and invaded the privacy of American citizens.

We remember, but here is what we will do about it; we forgive you, now lets work together. Work together because what is at stake today is so much more important than what has happened in the past.

$1,000,000 Challenge

Its relatively simple. Gather all the ingredients necessary to bake a cake, mix the batter and pour into a pan. Bake accordingly...and now the challenge...extract the two eggs you used to make the cake.

This impossibility is significant with regard to the upcoming election. On February 25th, campaign offices will close, consoling words will be passed around, and congratulatory/concession phone calls will be made. But throughout this process, during this cycle, feelings have been hurt, trusts have been torn, relationships have been damaged, households have been split (politically)...eggs have been broken, and there is no way possible to put the egg back in the shell.

Now in an ideal world, these transgressions would be carelessly forgiven as a part of the political process and things will return to the way they were, but we don't live in an ideal world. We live in a world where people have short memories, where bitterness is held on to longer than grandma's luggage, where payback is a...well you know. But the losers will not be the candidates that didn't make the cut, the losers will be the programs associated with their names. You might think that people would put high quality programs ahead of petty differences, but expect to see that programs associated with the losing side to suffer as a result of campaign passion.

My second challenge carries no prize. If you are the elected, forgive and move on beginning February 25th. Be the bigger person, show that you are more than the names you were called on a blog, or the person who was maligned during a forum. Actually there is a prize here as well. It is honor, a word seldom used anymore in the civilian world, and a word long overdue for greater use on Staten Island

What was he thinking?

Staten Island Election Night beating victim arrested for allegedly stealing car
by Staten Island Advance Thursday February 05, 2009, 10:56 AM
















Staten Island Advance/Michael Oates
Ali Kamara is led out of the 120th Precinct stationhouse this morning.


While Mr. Kamara's attack was the catalyst that launched the investigation into the Rosebank Krew, there are still other victims. Victims that would not have seen justice if not for Mr. Kamara.

We owe our thanks to him for that, and there will be no releasing of anyone...even if you vacate the assault charges against Kamara, there are still other victims.

Mr. kamara is deserving of the full weight of justice as well. If (when) he is found guilty, he should be given a sentence that is commensurate with the crime he committed and any previous criminal record he might have. He has seriously damaged any civil case he was considering ONLY because the jury will have less sympathy for him when considering any award. He does however still have a case, and with the guilty pleas, its a lock.

The racial insensitivity being displayed here is the same problem that started this entire ball rolling. It is the latest reason that Staten Island's NATIONAL name is forever linked with racial violence specifically associated with the election. Think people, think about what you say in front of your children, think about how your narrow views are no longer in line with the way the rest of the country is going. I live here, I love it here, and some people are turning what I love into a cesspool of hatred and intolerance. If you don't like other types of people from different walks of life- LEAVE! Staten Island will be better for your absence.

Tony Baker launches initiative to help fund the Staten Island Zoo

As a teacher and dean, I have witnessed you accomplish many things for our community. So this week, when I read with dismay that one of our great institutions, the Staten Island Zoo, was going to be experiencing severe budget cuts, I immediately thought of you. I am issuing a challenge to all our students, along with your schools, to adopt an exhibit at the Staten Island Zoo through a program I call “SI ZOO is MY ZOO.”

Staten Island has 119 schools in total (including public, private, parochial and institutions of higher learning), while the Staten Island Zoo has 150 exhibits. In order to make up the difference, I suggest our larger high schools and colleges/universities adopt an exhibit per class to make up the difference. Each exhibit adoption will be based on school population, with smaller schools adopting smaller and/or less expensive exhibits and larger schools adopting larger exhibits and/or more expensive exhibits.

I urge you to do what you do best and be creative in how you will raise the funds to assist your adopted exhibit. In order to begin the process, I have created a Facebook networking page: “SI ZOO is MY ZOO.” Our older students and student governments are invited to join, while our younger students should ask your parents, PTAs and school administrators to join.

I will work with you and the Staten Island Zoo to coordinate this project. Together we can make a difference.

Tony Baker Sr.
Port Richmond

To join the effort or submit fundraising ideas go to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45436042903

Keith Olbermann gives synopsis of the Bush years

8 years in 8 minutes...

Staten Island Advance

Staten Islander collects 2nd batch of signatures for Council race.

Rev. Tony Baker filed his petitions under the "Prepared to Lead, Ready to Serve" party.For Staten Island's Rev. Tony Baker, the devil is in the details.

Last week his campaign filed the threshold number of petition signatures to get him on the ballot in the Feb. 24 North Shore City Council special election.

Since it's a non-partisan race, the independent nominating petitions must include a made-up party name and logo. They got the name part down OK - "Prepared to Lead, Ready to Serve" - but forgot about the pesky logo, Rev. Baker acknowledged today. It was to have been the Liberty Bell.

Bottom line: He could have been bounced from the ballot despite having filed 1,796 petition signatures - 1,464 are needed - in advance of Thursday's midnight filing deadline.

While Rev. Baker said he was not officially notified of the problem by the Board of Elections, and an elections spokeswoman couldn't be reached today, his supporters hit the streets again over the last 48 hours to collect a second batch of petitions totaling 1,877 signatures, this time with his chosen Liberty Bell designation.

Better safe than sorry, said Rev. Baker, pastor of St. Philip's Baptist Church, Port Richmond.

"I have the support of almost 4,000 people on my petitions," said Rev. Baker. "Even if the Board of Elections wants to throw the others out, and that's up to them, I am on the ballot. If they want to disenfranchise almost 1,800 people who signed the first petitions, that is up to them."

Meanwhile, Tom Curitore of St. George said he filed in excess of the threshold number of signatures under the banner of the "North Shore First." That could not be independently confirmed with the board.

Curitore, a former borough Department of Transportation commissioner, joins Ken Mitchell, John Tabacco and Rev. Baker.

-- Reported by Judy L. Randall

How did he get here from there?

Tony Baker’s quest for the North Shore City council seat is a natural extension of not only his religious beliefs, but his passion for community as well. Since coming to the Island, he has been an advocate for fairness and a voice for the voiceless. His 20 years of military experience (Sergeant, 1st Class US Army), 30 years of marriage (of course to one woman), 29 years of fatherhood, 12 years as Pastor of St. Phillips, and 8 years teaching in Port Richmond High School, represent just the tip of the man who is Tony Baker. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he is certainly a man of action, far more substance than flash.

Not long after meeting him some five years ago, my initial impression proved true; he is a man who believes in what he says. Who does what he says he will do, and is a living example of what a man today should be. I have seen him stand up for the rights of others, put his own needs aside to help someone, and deal firmly and fairly with those at odds. His leadership has inspired others to do more.

Tony Baker has been a supporter of the existing Staten Island Democratic hierarchy, he supported them personally, as well as giving them all the opportunity to address the congregation with their views, and their plans. These include Matt Titone, C. Virginia Fields, Mike McMahon, Steve Harrison, Diane Savino, and even a surprise visit by Hillary Clinton. As supportive as he has been, when it came time to replace the outgoing Councilman, a man he considered his friend, he was asked not to run. Luckily that did not dissuade him. With the support of some of the democratic party, he has forged ahead, He was the first to put up a website (www.baker09.com) even before McMahon won the election, the first to officially announce his candidacy….but this isn’t a race of just firsts. This will be a race of who can get their supporters to the polls on February 24th (the Farmer’s Almanac says snowy, then turning milder for that week). Tony has enlisted the support of a variety of people from many walks, professionals, retirees, homemakers, some congregants, young and old, but all dedicated to sending Tony to the city council to be their voice.

Tony has been integral in bringing together Hispanic immigrants and African-Americans in the Port Richmond area to initiate a dialogue that continues today. That dialogue has reduced racial insensitivity and violence in the area. He helped ensure that residents of the former Markham Gardens get the right to return to the newly built homes that have replaced the public housing. As a member of the Board of Richmond University Medical Center, he has unique insight into the health care needs of Staten Island, a fight he vows to win. Tony Baker has worked closely with the District Attorney on anti-crime initiatives including most recently the most successful gun buy-back program New York City has ever had. These are just a small sample of his extensive accomplishments.

I support Tony Baker, not because of his race, not because of his religious beliefs, but because I believe he is truly prepared to lead and ready to serve. Staten Island’s North Shore is ready for change, I have lived on the North Shore my entire life in six different
neighborhoods. I have seen many changes in my 44 years, but I anxiously await the next change to take place. Elect Tony Baker for City Council 49th District.

I know the election is over, but this is too funny!

A new year with the same old Island politics

Kenny Mitchell took advantage of insider knowledge....plain and simple. His completing and submitting the required signatures by 0900 Monday, giving him the first column on the ballot, was a sneak attack, and in my opinion unfair to the other candidates. Was it illegal? no, unethical? yes. Why the fear? I believe, based on the size alone of his volunteer force, that he would likely have won the race to collect signatures anyway. I don't think any other candidate has 100 volunteers. His actions are indicative of typical Island politics and are why I feel a sweeping change is needed. This 'sneak attack' shows the kind of man he is, the kind of campaign he will run, and the type of councilman he would be if elected.