Brown Out, Cameron In

Well, the idea of Gordon Brown remaining at 10 Downing Street until September didn't sit well with his fellow Labourites.

There was also little progress in talks between Labour and the Liberal Democrats on the possibility of forming a governing alliance.

So earlier today, Brown went to the Queen and formally resigned his office and recommended that Conservative Party leader David Cameron be given the opportunity to form a new government.

For the first time in 13 years Britain has a Tory government. Or should I say a Tory led government.

We know that David Cameron is Prime Minister. But what role will the Liberal Democrats play? Will Liberal Democrat MPs get ministerial portfolios? Will Vince Cable become Chancellor of the Exchequer? How will the Tories proceed with electoral reform? Will they establish a commission? Will they hold a referendum? Or will they throw out first past the post and put Nick Clegg in charge of coming up with a proportional representation form of government?

One must also wonder what it all means for the Anglo-American alliance? Things were remarkably frosty between Obama and Brown. What makes it remarkable is that both men are socialists. Is there any reason to believe Obama will be any more respectful towards Cameron than he was to Brown? Obama is said to have called Cameron "a lightweight" after his notorious European visit during the 2008 election campaign. Well, I suppose it takes one to know one.

President Obama has apparently called Cameron to presumably offer his congratulations although no details of their conversation have been released by the White House at this time. Their first opportunity to meet face to face would be during the G-20 Summit next month in Toronto. Cameron did have a chance to meet with Obama during last year's G-20 Summit in London. One can only hope that Cameron won't have to chase Obama through the mens' bathrooms of Metro Convention Centre in the same manner Brown had to chase Obama through the kitchens of UN Headquarters in New York last September.

Not that releasing the Lockerbie Bomber didn't warrant some displeasure on the part of Obama but it should have been directed towards Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond and Scottish Minister of Justice Kenny MacAskill who were actually responsible for releasing Abdel Baset al Megrahi. It should be noted that the supposedly terminally ill Megrahi is alive and well and living in a luxury villa. The waters of Tripoli must have remarkable healing properties.

While Brown might have lasted longer as Prime Minister than Manny Acta lasted as manager of the Washington Nationals it appears that Acta will have the last laugh. Brown not only is no longer Prime Minister he will apparently also resign as a Member of Parliament for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (a constituency in Fife, Scotland). Acta is now managing the Cleveland Indians. O.K., so the Tribe is 8½ games behind the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
At least Acta has a job.

OECD Welcomes Israel

Bravo to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation & Development (OECD)!!!

It has just invited Israel to join its ranks. The OECD also extended invitations to Estonia and Slovenia.

At a time when Israel is being increasingly isolated in the international community with the help of the President Obama it takes tremendous political will for an international economic institution to stand firm and buck this trend. This development is most refreshing.

What's even better is that OECD member countries unanimously approved Israel's membership despite efforts by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to block Israel's entry into the OECD.

Established in Paris in 1961, the OECD consists of countries committed to democracy and market economies to promote economic growth, employment, a high standard of living, financial stability, increased international trade and economic development in other countries.

Zimbabwean Court Acquits Roy Bennett

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Roy Bennett has been acquitted of treason by a court in Zimbabwe.

Bennett was arrested in February 2009 only days after he had been appointed as Deputy Minister of Agriculture by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has been struggling to maintain a power sharing agreement with Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

Although the MDC is trying to keep Mugabe honest his thugs continue to confiscate white owned commercial farms. Here's an interview Bennett did following his release from jail. While Bennett might be in the clear at the moment he and other white farmers who have joined the MDC represent a threat to Mugabe. As long as anyone represents a threat to Mugabe they can never be entirely safe.

The situation is bleak but Zimbabweans are nothing if not a resourceful people. Recently, I finished reading a book called The Last Resort by Douglas Rogers documenting his parents travails in Zimbabwe over the past decade. I highly recommend it. Another good book on contemporary Zimbabwe is Peter Godwin's When A Crocodile Eats The Sun which I reviewed on the IC main page more than 2½ years ago.

Who Will Succeed Brown as Labour Party Leader?

Gordon Brown today announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party effective this September.

The Labour Party will have its annual conference in Manchester from September 26- 30. If Labour can make a deal with the Liberal Democrats as well as several of the smaller parties then Brown's successor would become Prime Minister.

But if the Tories can reach a deal with the Liberal Democrats then Labour and its new leader will become Her Majesty's Official Opposition.

Now as to who will succeed Brown is the £64,000 question. Here's a list of possible contenders. The Daily Mail believes the Miliband brothers - David and Ed - will have a go at it. A battle between Brown and Tony Blair by proxy if you will.

One possible longshot is Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham who was my old boss when I interned for Tessa Jowell back in 1995.

But right now the Liberal Democrats still have the keys to 10 Downing Street regardless of who is at the helm of Labour.

So Now Obama Doesn't Like iPods Anymore

While speaking before students at Hampton University yesterday, President Obama lamented about iPods and other technology:

And meanwhile, you’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don’t always rank that high on the truth meter. And with iPods and iPads; and Xboxes and PlayStations -- none of which I know how to work -- (laughter) -- information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation. So all of this is not only putting pressure on you; it’s putting new pressure on our country and on our democracy.

So how can our country and our democracy overcome this pressure? How does one turn the iPod into a tool of empowerment and a means of emancipation? Why by preloading President Obama's speeches into every iPod of course. You might recall that in April 2009, President Obama gave Queen Elizabeth II an iPod which contained audio of his speech before the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his 2009 Inauguration Address.

President Obama can be accused of many things. Modesty isn't one of them.

Kagan, The Supreme Court & Gay Marriage

Maggie Gallagher at NRO's The Corner argues that a vote for Elena Kagan is a vote for "marriage equality" or gay marriage.

That might very well be true. But couldn't Gallagher have said the same regardless of who President Obama appointed to the bench today?

Trouble at Brandeis

While speaking with my mother over the phone yesterday she told me about a row at Brandeis University in nearby Waltham, Massachusetts. (Isn't it amazing that I'm all of ten miles away from Brandeis and my mother in Northwestern Ontario knows more about than I do?)

Now to the row. Brandeis has invited Michael Oren, Israel's Ambassador to the United States to be its commencement speaker later this month. This has prompted an effort on campus to get Oren disinvited on the grounds he is "a rogue state apologist." What does that mean? Does it apply only to members of the Israeli government? Or does it apply to all Israeli citizens? Or does it apply simply to Israeli Jews?

At this point, I don't think Brandeis is going to disinvite him. Still, I think it's very troubling when Jews hate Israel. If what happened to Oren when he spoke at UC Irvine earlier this year happens at Brandeis then heaven help us all. If an Israeli diplomat isn't welcome at a Jewish university then where is he welcome?

Obama to Pick Kagan for Supreme Court

President Obama is set to announce Elena Kagan as his appointee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

If confirmed by the Senate she would replace John Paul Stevens who is set to retire next month. Currently, Kagan serves as the U.S. Solicitor General.

Under the circumstances I think Obama made the right pick. Yes, she's a liberal. But does anyone see Obama appointing Miguel Estrada to the bench? Besides how many other liberal justices are going to declare that they love the Federalist Society in public?

When Kagan was confirmed as Solicitor General in March 2009 by a 61-31 vote, six Republican Senators voted in her favor including Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. Barring any earth shattering development, I believe Kagan will be confirmed. Republicans have to pick and choose their fights and I don't think this is one of them. After all, if one is qualified to argue a case before the Supreme Court presumably one would also be qualified to sit on the Supreme Court.

Lena Horne, 1917-2010. R.I.P.

Singer and actress Lena Horne has died at the age of 92.

She was the first black performer who signed a contract with major studio (MGM). However, she was relegated to bit parts and would later concentrate on her nightclub act becoming one of the most popular singers in North America in a career that would last decades.

If you grew up in the 1970s and 1980s as I did you probably remember her for her appearances on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and The Cosby Show. Even well into her later years she retained an ageless beauty. She had such a warmth about her. Seeing and hearing her left me with a smile on my face. I found her appearances on TV reassuring.

She pretty much disappeared from public view about a decade ago. There have certainly been times this past decade when seeing Lena Horne would have been exactly what the doctor ordered. The world was a better place with her in it.

Dallas Braden Throws Perfect Game

Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon en route to a 4-0 victory.

Braden beat the best team in baseball by striking out six Rays for his fourth victory of the 2010 season.

Prior to today, Braden was best known for shouting at New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez last month for crossing the pitching mound during a game last month. A-Rod mocked Braden for berating him because he had "a handful of wins in his career."

Well, now Braden is only one of 19 pitchers in MLB history to have thrown a perfect game. For his part, A-Rod said "good for him" when asked about Braden's achievement. A-Rod added, "And better yet, he beat the Rays." And he helped put the Yankees into first place in the AL East.

As for Braden and A-Rod, I like the fact he shouted at him. Not because he's a Yankee but because it shows Braden is a competitor. I would love to see Braden in a Red Sox uniform.

It is the second time in less than a year the Rays have been on the wrong end a perfect game. Last July, Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox threw a perfect game against the Rays which featured a dramatic catch by centerfielder DeWayne Wise (who is now in the Phillies organization).

The only down note to this day is that Braden's mother wasn't around to see her son's achievement. She died of cancer while Braden was a senior in high school. Well, she couldn't have asked for a better tribute.

Forget Miranda! Use Common Sense!

In the wake of the Times Square bomb attempt, it is important to remember the purpose of the Supreme Court’s Miranda ruling which is to prevent some poor schnook from making statements incriminating himself inadvertently. By administering Miranda warnings, police are free to use a suspect’s statements against him in a subsequent criminal proceeding. This provides an incentive for police to administer such warnings. It is important to remember, however, that there is no requirement that police administer such warnings in every case. Police are free not to administer such warnings if they have no need to use a suspect’s statements against him in a subsequent criminal proceeding.

In the case of the Times Square bomber, the police had his car, the witness who sold him the car, all manor of physical evidence found in the car and his home, and evidence of intent to flee the country all before he was ever placed in custody. In the case of the Christmas Day bomber, police arrested him with bomb elements burning in his underwear and a plane full of people who witnessed him trying to explode a bomb. In both cases, there is no need for additional statements to convict these guys. Consequently, it is MUCH more important that we learn of their co-conspirators in these plots both inside and outside the U.S. in order to prevent future attacks rather than pile on additional evidence in the zeal to obtain a better criminal case.

The Attorney General suggested we need new laws for administering Miranda warnings. Hardly. We need the Attorney General and his Justice Department to exercise some common sense. Is it more important to advise a terror suspect to shut up and consult a lawyer in the hope of removing one would-be terrorist from the streets, especially when the other evidence against him is overwhelming, or is it more important that we talk to him under those circumstances to try and extract as much actionable intelligence as possible to prevent future attacks? What if one of these guys had a partner who got away? Wouldn’t it be nice to know who the partner was so he did not strike us too?

http://eyeonfreedom.com/

The Ageless Jamie Moyer & Phil Niekro

Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Jamie Moyer made history tonight becoming the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a complete game shutout.

The 47-year-old veteran gave up only two hits against the Atlanta Braves tonight. He struck out five batters and walked no one. Not bad for a father of eight children.

I saw Moyer's previous start on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball against the Mets. Although he won the game he gave up five runs on six hits.

Prior to Moyer's masterpiece, Phil Niekro had been the oldest pitcher to toss a shutout. Unfortunately, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com states Niekro did so on July 25, 1987 while a member of the Cleveland Indians against the Minnesota Twins.

Niekro did pitch that night but it was against the Texas Rangers and he lost the game 7-3 against fellow knuckleballer Charlie Hough. Niekro threw his shutout on October 6, 1985 for the New York Yankees against the Toronto Blue Jays. He surrendered only four hits against the Jays en route to an 8-0 victory.

I remember this game for five reasons.

1. It took place on the last day of the regular season.

2. It took place the day following the Blue Jays clinching their first AL East Division.

3. It was Niekro's 300th victory.

4. Niekro deliberately did not throw knuckleballs until the final hitter of the game (which if memory serves was Jeff Burroughs).

5. It took place on my sister's 9th birthday.

Needless to say, I have sent Zolecki an e-mail containing this information.

UPDATE: Zolecki replied, acknowledged the error and has corrected it.

Nick Clegg Holds All The Cards Despite Fewer Seats

With 649 out of 650 constituencies reporting here are the U.K. election results:

Conservatives - 306
Labour - 258
Liberal Democrats - 57
Democratic Unionist Party - 8
Scottish National Party - 6
Sinn Fein - 5
Plaid Cymru - 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party - 3
Green - 1
Alliance - 1

The Conservatives gained 100 seats but fell short of a majority government. They would have needed to win 326 seats. Now since the Sinn Fein MPs won't take their seats (not that it stopped them from claiming MPs expenses) the Tories could form a working majority with the Democratic Unionists, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. But it would be very, very fragile.

Despite the fact the Liberal Democrats have five fewer seats in this Parliament let's make no mistake. They are far more powerful now than they have ever been. The Liberal Democrats do have a leg up. Or should I say a Clegg up.

So David Cameron has no choice but to make an overture to Nick Clegg. The Liberal Democratic leader has become a kingmaker. What will be the price Cameron must pay? Vince Cable becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer? A referendum on proportional representation?

Or are we headed for another Labour-Liberal coalition?

Nick Clegg holds all the cards.

The Tories Need to Court Plaid Cymru & SNP

So here are the latest election results from across the pond:

Conservative - 285
Labour - 234
Liberal Democrat - 50
Democratic Unionist Party - 8
Scottish National Party - 6
Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) - 4
Plaid Cymru (Wales) - 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party (Northern Ireland) - 3
Green - 1
Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) - 1

As of this writing there are 54 more seats to be declared.

Despite the fact that the Tories have the largest number of seats they are very unlikely to win the 326 seats necessary to have a majority in the House of Commons.

This means the Tories will have form some kind of alliance with one or more of the smaller political parties. It wouldn't necessarily mean a coalition government but it could mean adopting some of their policies.

Frankly, at this stage of the game I think Labour has a better chance of forming an accord with the smaller parties than do the Tories.

Now at the moment the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats don't have enough combined seats to overcome the Tories. Despite Nick Clegg's debate performances the Lib Dems have a net loss of six seats. But nearly all of the other parties have social democratic inclinations. The only other smaller party listed that could be construed as conservative is the Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland.

However, if I were a Tory strategist I would focus my attention on the Scottish Nationalists and Plaid Cymru in Wales. Despite their social democratic leanings it must be remembered that their main competitors in the regional assemblies in Scotland and Wales is Labour. If the Tories can convince Plaid Cymru and the SNP they have no more love lost for Labour than they do then they have a fighting chance of heading up a new government. If they can't then Gordon Brown could stay in power despite losing more than 80 seats.

A Peculiar Feature of British Elections

An observation about the British elections.

When the results are announced in a constituency it is done by the local election returns officer with all the candidates in that constituency right behind or beside him or her. All the candidates also wear these silly ribbons to signify their political party. The process is known as a declaration.

In most cases there are at least half a dozen candidates. In addition, to the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrat there is the UK Independence Party, the British National Party, the Green Party and various other fringe parties. I haven't seen anyone from the Monster Raving Loony Party however.

But it's something I never saw in Canada and certainly doesn't happen in this country.

Updated results:

Conservatives - 243
Labour - 189
Liberal Democrat - 39
Scottish National Party - 6
Plaid Cymru - 3
Others - 17

The Conservatives need 326 seats for a majority government. They aren't likely to get it. But I don't think Labour and the Liberal Democrats can make a go of it either. So the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the parties in Northern Ireland (Democratic Unionist, Sinn Fein, Social Democratic & Labour Party) become very, very important here.

Let me make a prediction here. If Cameron is given a chance to form a government and cannot he will resign as leader of the Conservative Party.

Ex-Rolling Stone Wyman Rooting For The Tories

I am watching the BBC's coverage of the UK elections courtesy of C-SPAN.

For some reason the Beeb saw fit to include former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman as one of their panelists. No matter. He's rooting for the Tories.

Wyman said, "I grew up working class and Labour did nothing for us."

As of this writing:

Conservatives - 120
Labour - 107
Liberal Democrats - 19
Others - 24

So who will be the first to make a deal?

Thoughts on Tasers

I am not a big fan of tasers.

There are two reasons.

First, I don't think we fully comprehend the strength of tasers. They are intended only to stun. But there have been many instances when people have died after they have been administered.

Second, I don't think the proper protocols have been put in place as to when to and when not to use a taser. Case in point: that fan who ran out onto the field at Citizens Bank Park earlier this week. The Philadelphia PD are lucky the kid isn't dead. There was no reason to tase him. Clearly, it was just some dumb schmuck who ran out onto the field. He presented a threat to no one. All he did was delay the game momentarily. If the police officer had not used the taser the kid would have been tackled thirty seconds later anyway.

Now, you could have made a far more convincing case for using a taser on those two fans who attacked former Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago back in 2002. But then again the Royals rushed the field to his defense and the perpetrators were quickly subdued. So no taser was required.

If a taser has to be used I would rather it be used on someone behaving violently rather than merely running away. But I would just as soon see a recall and have the manufacturers turn down the voltage.

Robin Roberts, 1926-2010. R.I.P.

Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts has passed away of natural causes. He was 83.

Roberts pitched the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies where he won 20 games or more six consecutive seasons beginning in 1950 when the Phillies won the NL pennant. Affectionately known as the Whiz Kids they would be swept by the Yankees in that year's World Series.

While Roberts would never again reach the World Series he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball during the first half of the 1950s. His best season came in 1952 when he went 28-7 with a 2.59 ERA and 30 complete games. These days starting pitchers barely make 30 starts and save for Roy Halladay are lucky to complete one or two games a season. Roberts would finish runner in the NL MVP balloting that year to Hank Sauer of the Chicago Cubs.

Since winning those 28 games no National League pitcher has matched that figure. Denny McLain, of course, won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1968. But the only two NL pitchers to come close to Roberts were Sandy Koufax and Steve Carlton who both won 27 games in 1966 and 1972, respectively.

Yet Roberts period of dominance pretty much ended after 1955. In his last season with the Phillies in 1961 he went 1-10 with a 5.85 ERA (of course that was the year the Phillies lost 23 games in a row). But he would remain in the majors until 1966 pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. Those so-so remaining years are probably why he was not inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1976. Still, with 286 career wins he could not be denied indefinitely. Although try telling that to Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven and Tommy John with 283, 287 and 288 wins apiece and no plaques in Cooperstown between the three of them.

Until today, I did not know that Roberts had been a New York Yankee prior to the 1962 season but was released before he had a chance to pitch with them.

I remember watching Bob Costas interview Dick Allen last winter. He asked Allen who he thought was the greatest Phillie of all time. Without any hesitation Allen said, "Robin Roberts." This seemed to take Costas by surprise. I think Costas would have expected Allen to pick fellow slugger Mike Schmidt. Besides, Allen was teammates with Schmidt and not Roberts. Well, even if Roberts isn't the greatest Phillie ever he is certainly up there. Unfortunately, I don't have a link to the interview.

However, here is a nice piece that was done on Roberts just last summer.

Who Will Buy Newsweek?

With The Washington Post putting Newsweek up for sale it begs the question as to who will buy the magazine.

Rupert Murdoch obviously comes to mind but what about Glenn Beck?

Ernie Harwell, 1918-2010. R.I.P.

Ernie Harwell, the voice of the Detroit Tigers for more than four decades, has signed off. Harwell passed away this evening after a year long battle with cancer. He was 92.

Harwell began his broadcasting career in the Southern Association with the Atlanta Crackers in 1943. When Brooklyn Dodgers broadcaster Red Barber suddenly took ill in 1948, the Dodgers traded catcher Cliff Dapper to acquire Harwell's services.

In 1950, Harwell moved across town and to join the New York Giants broadcast team. He would broadcast the first live coast to coast game on TV on October 3, 1951 when Bobby Thomson hit the shot heard round the world off Ralph Branca. However, it was Russ Hodges call on the radio that everyone remembers. Harwell would often joke that his wife Lulu was the only one who saw him call Thomson's homerun.

When the St. Louis Browns moved east to become the Baltimore Orioles in 1954, the new club would hire Harwell as its first broadcaster where he would remain through the 1959 season.

But it is in Detroit where Harwell made his legend beginning in 1960. Harwell saw the Tigers through good times and bad. He was there when they won World Series in 1968 and 1984. He was there when Mark Fidrych took the world by storm in the summer of 1976. He was there when the Tigers enjoyed 12 straight winning seasons. He was there when the Tigers endured nearly a decade worth of last place finishes. He retained his sunny disposition even on the cloudiest of days.

When I think of Harwell I think of when the Tigers opted not to renew his contract following the 1991 season. I was living in Thunder Bay, Ontario at the time and we received our American TV stations from Detroit and boy did Harwell's firing touch a raw nerve. Replacing Harwell was like replacing Coca-Cola. It left a bad taste in peoples' mouths. Tigers President Bo Schembechler (who had been the long time head coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines) got the lion's share of the blame and would eventually resign.

Harwell was brought back into the Tiger fold by Mike Ilitch after he bought the team in 1992. He would call Tiger games on both radio and television until 2002. But even after his retirement, Harwell would be brought back on special occasions by FOX and ESPN to call games through 2007. He would have the opportunity to call an inning of Game 1 of the 2006 World Series between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1981, Harwell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He remains the only inductee into Cooperstown to have read a poem as part of his acceptance speech.

Until death did them part Harwell was married to Lulu for 68 years. He is also survived by four children.

Contessa Brewer Channels Evan Thomas

MSNBC's Contessa Brewer is rightly getting raked over the coals for being "frustrated" that Faisal Shahzad, the man apparently responsible for attempting to car bomb Times Square over last Saturday is a Muslim.

While appearing on Stephanie Miller's radio show today, Brewer said, "There was part of me that was hoping this was not going to be anybody with ties to any kind of Islamic country."

It comes as no surprise that such a sentiment would be expressed. Because the moment I heard about Brewer's frustration I was reminded of Evan Thomas' cringe last November following the Fort Hood Massacre. While appearing on the PBS program Inside Washington, Thomas, the assistant managing editor at Newsweek, said, "I cringe that he's a Muslim."

Frankly, Thomas and Brewer are two peas in a pod. Consider Thomas' reasoning:

But with that label attached to him, it will get the right wing going and it just -- I mean these things are tragic, but that makes it much worse.

Brewer is basically reading from the same script:

There are a lot of people who want to use terrorist intent to justify writing off people who believe in a certain way or come from certain countries or whose skin color is a certain way. I mean they use it as justification for really outdated bigotry.

Has it occurred to either Brewer or Thomas that conservatives have no quarrel with an individual religious beliefs, their country of origin or their skin color? If it hasn't then they obviously know little or nothing about conservatism in this country.

Conservatives are angry at Nidal Malik Hasan because he killed his fellow soldiers in the name of jihad. Conservatives are angry at Faisal Shahzad because he wanted to kill innocent civilians in one of the busiest places in the entire world in the name of jihad. Frankly, liberals should be angry at Hasan and Shahzad for the same reason. But the fact that Thomas can only cringe and that Brewer can only express frustration towards conservatives rather than express anger towards those who would kill their fellow human beings is very troubling indeed.

We Can Now Drink The Water in Boston

Earlier this morning, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has lifted the boil water edict he issued in Boston and surrounding communities on Saturday afternoon.

Aside from a temporary shortage of bottled water you would have hardly known we were under a state of emergency. Then again we're not in Tennessee.

I should note that at one point I had more bottled water in my fridge than was at either Stop N' Shop or CVS.

Given that this all came and went in less than 72 hours I think Governor Patrick's poll numbers will go up as I speculated here on Saturday.

But is the lab coat really necessary? Even Obama has other people wear them.

Lynn Redgrave, 1943-2010. R.I.P.

Actress Lynn Redgrave died yesterday after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 67.

She was, of course, part of the Redgrave acting dynasty and enjoyed an acting career that lasted nearly half a century. Redgrave would earn two Academy Award nominations more than three decades apart. She was nominated for Best Actress for the 1966 film Georgy Girl and in 1998 would receive a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Gods & Monsters. Redgrave also starred in the CBS TV series House Calls from 1979 to 1982.

But Redgrave did most of her work on the stage both in London and in New York. In 1992, she would co-write a play with her husband John Clark (with whom she would later divorce acrimoniously) called Shakespeare For My Father, a one woman play documenting her relationship with her father Sir Michael Redgrave.

When I think of Lynn Redgrave I think of when she spoke out against her older sister Vanessa Redgrave in 1991 for her stance on the Gulf War. At the time, the Redgraves were appearing together in Chekov's Three Sisters in London and Vanessa had been outspoken against the U.S. led incursion into Kuwait. On top of that, the elder Redgrave had blamed Israel for the conflict. It proved to be too much for Lynn who told New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams, "[We are] not one person, one voice. We are two separate people. I'm thinking of changing my name to add my husband John Clark's name. The waters are being muddied. I want them not to muddy me."

This is the second time death has hit the Redgrave family in a month. Redgrave's older brother Corin died suddenly on April 6th.

NYPD Stop Terrorist Attack in Times Square

The New York City Police Department have stopped a terrorist attack in Times Square.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., a horse mounted NYPD officer saw smoke coming from a car parked on Seventh Avenue at 45th Street. The bomb squad was dispatched and found an incendiary device with electrical components as well as three propane gas tasks and two gas cannisters. As the incendiary device was being defused the NYPD had the Herculean task of evacuating hundreds of thousands of people from Times Square.

There is obviously the question as to who is responsible for this act. Islamic terrorists? Eco-terrorists? A violent May Day protest? Well, whoever is responsible it is obvious there was an intent to maximize carnage and kill as many people as possible. If one is going to launch a terrorist attack on a Saturday evening in New York City then one would do it in Times Square.

Thanks to the swift actions of the NYPD a tragedy which could have been as monumental as the events of September 11, 2001 has been averted.

Unfortunately, it is only a matter of time before another attempt will be made and next time we might not be so fortunate. All we can do is keep our eyes and ears open.

State of Emergency Declared in Massachusetts

Earlier today, a water main broke in Weston (about 20 miles west of Boston) spilling an estimated 8 million gallons an hour into the Charles River. The break affects 36 communities in eastern Massachusetts comprising 2 million people including the City of Boston.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency and residents are being ordered to boil drinking water. A state of emergency has also been declared by Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

At the risk of being crass I've been thinking how this crisis will affect Patrick's chances at re-election in November. The shorter the duration of the crisis the better it will be for Patrick. While Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker and Democrat turned indepedent Tim Cahill snipe at each other Patrick can point to how he handled a crisis. But if it takes weeks for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to repair the water main then Patrick might be subject to a lot of heat.

Speaking of heat, temperatures are expected to hit 90 degrees tomorrow. It couldn't be a worse time for a water main to break. Let's hope things aren't compounded with power outages.

As for me I am fine at the moment. I have several bottles of water and other assorted beverages. I am fortunate because bottled water is in short supply as you can imagine. Under the circumstances, I am sorely tempted to head to Walden Pond tomorrow for a swim.