Thoughts on the occupation

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Outside the Track on Dec 15 

I’d like to take a moment to answer a very important question “whither Cordeiro?”

I guess the best way to answer that question is to borrow a line from the Book of Job and reply “going to and fro on the earth and walking up and down on it.” Over the past four months or so I’ve seen wide swaths of the fruited plain and been across this great nation from sea to shining sea. I’ve availed myself of every opportunity to violate the Obama freedom limitation doctrine and thus I’ve eaten as much as I wanted, driven my (rented) SUVs as much as I’ve wanted, and kept my various hotel rooms at a balmy 68 degrees – just because I can.

In doing so, I’ve also had the opportunity to see the “Occupy (Insert Metro Area Here)” movement from several different vantage points. I’ve seen the tent cities in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and St. Louis. From all my observations I have but one piece of advice for anyone desiring to see the “Occupy (Insert Metro Area Here)” cabal:

Never stand down wind of the encampment, or the protestors for that matter. Experience it for yourself if you must, but don’t complain you weren’t warned.
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Gobble Gobble VI

By Stephen Fountain, Editor

Filed Under Congress, Humor, Outside the Track on Nov 24 

It has been a great, and now time-honored privilege to take the occasion of Thanksgiving to award our own PoliticalDerby Big Turkey Award.

In the past we have honored a person or persons with this distinction. This year, we searched, wrestled and then performed a detailed statistical analysis to find a worthy candidate. You won’t be disappointed, as we discovered a host of individuals who fit the bill.

Our 6th Annual Big Turkey Award goes to The Debt Reduction Super-Committee in their endeavor to gobble up the nation’s debt. Patty Murray, Max Baucus and John Kerry we salute you! Jon Kyl, Rob Portman and Pat Toomey we salute you!

turkey

For Congress to abdicate its responsibility and put its faith in a supercommittee of twelve (go here for a complete list of committee members) was a bird brained idea from the beginning. The fact that the committee failed is just gravy for the goose.

It should be noted that this is now the 2nd time (Gobble Gobble) that John Kerry has appeared as at least a partial recipient of the Big Turkey Award. Mr. Kerry, we offer you a special Big Turkey salute! You are the gift that keeps on giving.

We at PoliticalDerby hope you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Fish Power

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Outside the Track on Oct 27 

One of the great modern debates is just how to generate the power necessary to run this nation. The United States is literally the Saudi Arabia of coal. Chances are the power you’re using to read this post began its life as some sort of dinosaur whose life was snuffed out and whose grave was subsequently plundered by a dirty stinking filthy coal mining conglomerate. It was then hauled by a sooty diesel locomotive to a power plant were the remains of said dinosaur were subsequently pulverized and burned.

Yeah, I used to run coal trains for a living. But I digress.

Today it seems everybody wants to get on the green bandwagon. We recycle. We buy hideously expensive hybrid vehicles. We celebrate Earth Day. So maybe you’ll understand why I found this photo exposé on the demolition of a Vancouver, Washington hydro electric dam to be so surprising.

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What happens when you’re not in your hotel room

By Scott A. Robinson, Editor

Filed Under General, Outside the Track on Oct 4 

We break momentarily from our normal politics to tell this tale.

It was a set up.

I’m in Philadelphia for an industry conference. This morning I was riding high. I had sat forth row in the center for Stuart Varney‘s keynote address, that by the way, was fantastic. I’ve long enjoyed Varney because he is so direct. I even tweeted some of his comments live during his speech (yeah, each word is a separate tweet).

Later, I somehow let David Kaiser talk me into lunch. When we pulled into Tony Luke’s rather than Geno’s or Pat’s, I should have known something was wrong.

I returned to the conference, attended a couple of dud sessions, then returned to my hotel room for the evening only to find this:

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Obama’s bracket

By Stephen Fountain, Editor

Filed Under Outside the Track on Mar 17 

Obama finished his bracket, have you? What’s your excuse? Fighting two wars? Saving or creating jobs? Join the fun with your very own politicalderby.com inspired bracket competition. Go here. The group: politicalderby.com. You need a password: changing hopes. Have fun, and check in with the President for pointers.

Politicalderby’s annual march madness

By Stephen Fountain, Editor

Filed Under Outside the Track on Mar 12 

Once again politicalderby.com is partnering with ESPN.com to bring you Mach madness. The rules are easy. Login to ESPN here and make your selection for which NCAA basketball teams will make it to the big dance on April 4th. Create a bracket and join our group:
politicalderby.com
You need a password: changing hopes

March 13th is selection Sunday when all the teams are announced. You have until tip off of the first game on Thursday, March 17th to complete your bracket. You know President Obama will be completing his bracket, so why won’t you? Don’t get left behind.

Update from the front

By Jason Wright, Editor

Filed Under Military, Outside the Track on Dec 22 

Below is another update from my cousin in Afghanistan. I’ve posted these from time-to-time and thought this week might be especially interesting. Let us all be grateful on Christmas morning that there are good men and women like Derek all around the world defending America, her people, and her allies.

I’m sure he’d appreciate a short encouraging note if you had the time.

A large group of squadron members are sitting in our new lounge, watching Christmas Vacation and reminiscing of the last time we put up as many lights as Chevy Chase for Christmas. I think it the second or third time since setting up the lounge a couple of days ago, but the movie never gets old. Or maybe it does, but it allows us to think of any quirky trait of our families, of any funny relationship we have back at home, and the corny things that make those relationships worth what they are to us.

We have received the daily gifts for the 12 days of Christmas, and they have been awesome. There is something there for all of us, and we are excited to get the remainder of the goodies over the next 3 days. The only disappointment was when we found out that the ‘coal’ was really lava rocks painted like coal, serving little/no purpose in our fire pit.

While many units here in theater are taking a small break, we are not slowing down a bit. No days off, no down time, no break from our Groundhog Day routine. But that is OK, as we would prefer to be engaged in what has us far from home at this time, and to have a mission to focus on instead of what we are missing at home with family and friends. What that means for each of you is that the call home on Christmas may not be exactly at the optimum time, or may not be of the desired length, but all should have a chance to call at some point. So please don’t tie up the lines ordering us any last minute gifts. They are not necessary.

Our new building is working out fine, although it is just like anytime you buy a house. You start to move in the furniture, and realize that it looked much bigger empty than filled with your stuff. The building has indoor plumbing most of the time, with the occasional water outage. But that is OK, we have a ‘cadillac’ close by, which is a portable shower/bathroom trailer for our camp. I used it for the first time today, and when I went inside, I could only think of Ocho or Gofur doing a Chris Farley impersonation from “Tommy Boy” when he was trying to change clothes in an airliner bathroom. Pretty small working space. But they are still better than the outhouses, which smell great during the summer. For the rest of our building, some rocket surgeon decided that white was a good color for the walls, doors, and, well everything. They are now an uneven brown color from all of the dust here. We are looking at how we can cover the brown up with some art work or something.

As the type of flying has slowed down recently, we have had the chance to go to other parts of the country, and it is a shame that a booming tourist industry has not taken hold here. Sapper and I flew north just as the sun was rising, and we could see 18-22 thousand-foot peaks off to the east, all snow-capped an ominous, but beautiful. We overflew an area of canyons and mountain lakes that resembled the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and the rough mountains of our own country, and it made us homesick. As we fly over some of these mountainous areas, we marvel at the agricultural fields at elevations above the state of Colorado, and wonder if those farmers struggling to eke out an existence even knew we were there, or if they just assumed we were just more Soviet Aircraft from the 80s. I’m sure none of them have ever seen the effects of electricity or a telephone, and I’d bet that despite the harsh living conditions, there is a level of happiness and simplicity that is envious. But I’ll keep my flush toilets, electric blankets, and the world wide web. I guess we have to find simplicity in other ways. Like dumb jokes, dark chocolate, and cigars for many.

We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas time, or whatever this holiday season means for you. We miss each of you, but look forward to roasting a pig in April, and not returning to this place for some time to come. But for now, we still have some unfinished business. Until next time.

What are your favorite speeches or documents of all-time?

By Jason Wright, Editor

Filed Under Outside the Track on Nov 16 

From an old college chum of mine. Can you help?

I’m hoping you and/or friends from PD may be able to help me. My colleagues and I are in the process of putting together a new revision of a book we published several years ago, called Foundations of Freedom. The book is a collection of great speeches, historical documents and other writings that are the essence of America and a tribute to this great nation. We are simply looking for suggestions of other documents or speeches to include in this next revision, so that it may fit the page count required by a few major retailers who wish to carry the book. Would you be willing to ask your readers and contributors on PD to post suggestions as to a speech that inspired them or a historical document they love? Perhaps something they would sit with their family at home one evening and teach their children about. Thanks in advance!

September 17, 1787

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Outside the Track on Sep 17 

constitution

Happy 223rd Birthday to the patriot’s dream that truly saw beyond the years.

Nine years through the looking glass

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Outside the Track on Sep 11 

Today will bring back many memories of an ordinary Tuesday morning in September nine years ago when an extremely well planned and executed act of war changed the course of world history – all in the space of 102 minutes. We saw the very best of America on a day that saw the first attack on the continental United States since the British invasion during the War of 1812.

Like most Americans I watched those events unfold on television. I was a geographic continent and a cultural world away from New York, Arlington, and Shanksville in my Los Angeles living room. I knew little and cared less about the fanatical ideology worshipped by the nineteen hijackers and those who cheered the destruction of Americans. I did understand that I was witnessing the Pearl Harbor of my generation.

Everyone has their most poignant memory of that day. One of the most difficult things I had to do on September 11, 2001 was explain to my then five-year-old son about the fact that there are evil people in the world. You see, I do a lot of professional travel. My son, even then, understood that his Dad spent a lot of time on planes. He had never before seen a plane crash and was understandably concerned when he saw a plane do something other than land safely on a runway.
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The clock is ticking

By Stephen Fountain, Editor

Filed Under Outside the Track on Sep 8 

Because even Obama needs to take an occasional break from politics (golf anyone?) we’ve launched our annual pigskin pick’em contest. Enroll at ESPN.com.

Our group name: PoliticalDerby.com
The password: Rangel 2012

The first game locks on Thursday, so enroll early and enroll often!

It’s annual pigskin time at PD

By Stephen Fountain, Editor

Filed Under Outside the Track on Sep 3 

Politicalderby.com in cooperation with ESPN.com is launching our 5th annual Pigskin Pick’em derby! Have we really been doing this that long !?! The rules are simple. Log in each week and make your selections on who will win each NFL game. As an added incentive, we are not even requiring you walk around with your birth certificate plastered to your forehead!

Games lock each week on Thursday and Sunday. The player with the most number of correct winning selections will take the lead. At the end of the season the player with the most correct selections earns bragging rights as the “world’s best community organizer.” Oh? That’s already taken? The winner will earn the right to proclaim “I’ve smoked less crack than Paris Hilton!”

So, go to ESPN.com and log into Pigskin Pick’em here.

Our group name: PoliticalDerby.com
The password: Rangel 2012

Let the games begin!

Maybe Wall Street is to blame after all…

By David Kaiser, Editor

Filed Under Humor, Outside the Track on Jul 27 

If they make decisions like bringing the cast from “Jersey Shore” to ring the opening bell, you have to wonder that maybe everything is their fault after all.

“Gorilla juiceheads” fist-pumped on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday morning as the cast of “Jersey Shore” kicked off trading in one of the more anticipated opening bell ceremonies in some time.

Traders on the increasingly quiet floor said it was one of the most crowded days in years as the deeply tanned cast of the MTV hit rang the bell and stayed to sign autographs amid a crush of onlookers and a flood of media.

Yikes.

The One’s vision for the “final frontier”

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Outside the Track on Jul 6 

Some 45 years ago, Star Trek (The Original Series) took to the American airwaves with stories from the USS Enterprise’s “five year mission”. The goals of this mission were repeated at the beginning of every show:

to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before

It seems like a fairly straightforward mission, even if the goal of finding scantily clad and green female aliens remained unstated. Millions of people, not just Americans, have long looked toward the stars and wondered what it would be like to travel and indeed live among them. Once upon a time, the stated goals of the National Aeronatics and Space Administration were much the same as the fictional television series. Not so anymore.
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Graduating to the Next Level

By Steve Feinstein

Filed Under Outside the Track on Jun 21 

It’s always fascinating when an event in so-called “real life” illustrates a long-held philosophy or point of view. Your first reaction is one of surprised, almost startled, amazement: Did that just happen? Did that person actually say that? Do they actually mean what they just said?

We were witness to such an occurrence a short time ago at a college graduation ceremony. An adult friend of ours went back for her Masters in Education after many years on the job. She deserves all the credit in the world, as not many of us could immerse ourselves back in the classroom routine—assigned reading, homework, projects, papers, deadlines, exams—once we became accustomed to being full-time working adults, answerable, mostly, only to ourselves.

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Tuesday, June 6, 1944

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Outside the Track on Jun 6 

June 6, 1944

You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love. – Ronald Reagan, June 6, 1984.

Flags and the flag draped coffin

By Jason Wright, Editor

Filed Under Outside the Track on May 31 

I’m not sure where she found it, but my wife passed this along to me this morning. Given the day, I thought you might appreciate it.

Happy Memorial Day.

###

Our founding fathers used GOD’s word and teachings to establish our Great Nation. It’s time to re-educated ourselves in our Nation’s history. Be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect our ‘GOD GIVEN’ rights and freedoms.

The Flag draped coffin has a deeper meaning than you might think. Here is how to understand the flag that is laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers.

Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to Correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but it has a much deeper meaning.

The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens
Trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen
Decatur, ‘Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.’

The 6th fold is for where people’s hearts lie. It is with their heart that
they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the
Shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been
through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons
and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the
Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are
uppermost reminding them of their nations motto, ‘In God We Trust.’

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the
Appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.

In the future, you’ll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Panera Bread goes nonprofit

By Contributor Archive

Filed Under Outside the Track on May 19 

Panera Bread recently opened a new location in Clayton, Missouri, an upscale suburb of St. Louis.  It doesn’t sound like news, but this Panera is different from the rest.  It’s nonprofit, meaning that they do not charge for their food.  Customers are asked to donate whatever they want, anything from a penny to the suggested retail price to $1,000 an item.  Their motto is “Take what you need, leave what’s fair.” 

This particular Panera location is called St. Louis Bread Co. Cares, the original name of the Panera chain, and is supported by the Panera Foundation.  The foundation will pay all costs, including food, salaries, equipment and rent.  If this goes well, they plan to begin opening others across the country within months and eventually have one in every community where they currently have Panera stores.

Will it work or will they be out of business within a week?  What kind of lessons can we (or our government) learn from their success or failure?

Bumper sticker expressions

By Contributor Archive

Filed Under Humor, Outside the Track on May 6 

A few weeks ago, while in the Capitol City, during our mothly trip to the big box retail gods (for one must render unto Walmart that which is Walmart’s and so on…), we saw a car covered front to back, side to side in bumper stickers. In fact there was not one inch of unstickerd space on this car. Sadly I did not have my camera, but it did look similar to this:

bumper sticker car

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To Late to Apologize: A Declaration

By Contributor Archive

Filed Under Humor, Outside the Track on Mar 13 

This video was brought to my attention and I thought it was worthy of a PD share. Enjoy.

A Declaration