REMEMBERING GREATNESS
Reading of the election difficulties of two long time US Senators, Richard Lugar of Indiana and Oren Hatch of Utah renewed a nagging thought. From where are the new "Lions" coming? Generally, and this is a purely subjective take, the quality of upper chamber, the US Senate, has been in steep decline over the last decade.
There was a time when men and women of conviction and deep political differences could legislate. There was a time when our Federal legislature was not mired in a morass of gridlock, petty interests, cheap hustles, and political gamesmanship above all else.
If you doubt that, then regard those times in our history when we recovered from war, helped Japan and Europe rebuild and re-tool, led the way in manufacturing, education, medical research, science, when the economy grew, and there was a sense of prosperity and hope. It took an obliging, motivating, visionary Senate and even House.
Here's a way to spend a few educational moments.
Some of the names will recall history lessons. Others will remind you of people of skill. Here's just a few names, from our era, to say nothing of the historic Henry Clays or William Jennings Bryans, etc.
Everett Dirksen, John Foster Dulles, Margret Chase Smith, Lyndon Johnson, Estes Kefauver, Barry Goldwater,
Mike Mansfield, Stu Symington, Alben Barkley, Clifford Case, Jacob Javits, William Promire, John Tower, Edward Kennedy, Abe Ribicoff, George McGovern, Birch Bayh, Edward Brooke,
Mark Hatfield, Harold Hughes, Robert Dole, Richard Schwieker, Robert Taft, Lowell Weicker, Hubert Humphrey, Sam Nunn, et al.
These people were not saints, nor necessarily towering luminaries, but they were legislators, capable of working, achieving compromise and serving the interest of the Republic and the Senate. Do you think some of the newly elected, or those circling to get in are of this calibre? Perhaps some are unless they come in as "true believers" in an ideology over the common good of all.
REMEMBERING A JAZZ GREAT
A CAMBRIA LOCAL
FOR JAZZ FANS
Our unique village said good bye to one of our unique
citizens, Red Holloway a jazz and blues legend. Here is a
five minute video with just a few of the highlights from
what was an extraordinary jazz and blues tribute Sunday
afternoon.
I shot this with a IPhone, so you are not going to see
a master production, but it will give you a taste.
I suggest you click the youtube icon and watch it in a larger format
LOCAL COLOR
And here in less than 30 seconds is a glimpse of
the famed Morro Rock-one of the Great Icons of the
central coast.
See you down the trail.
