November 8, 2005

Hi:

    Sunday we went to the Christening for lil' Colin McGarvey. Some of us wondered why Colin didn't
make a peep during the actual baptism, and my theory is, like most of us, he was bored by the
ramblings of Kevin Ryan, the St. Mary's Deacon who performed the ceremony. Colin had the luxury of
passing out if he so chose, and he did.
    After that, we headed to International Dance Studio for the afterparty. Now, if you wondering why a
Dance Studio, let me tell you something: This is the best place to have a party if you have a whole bunch
of kids under 12 years old. A huge room with mirrors for walls. Kids love to run around and they love to
look at themselves while they're running around. It was pure genius.
    We ate like royalty and there was plenty of booze for those of us not driving. It was an overall fun
day.

WEEKLY MAIL NON-ENDORSEMENTS:

    First in New York, where we are not endorsing Freddy Ferrer for mayor. I'll admit, this is a bit of a
gutless choice. Ferrer, who you would think raises campaign money by returning his empties to C-Town,
was a former Bronx Borough President, and not a horrible one either. He seems very personable and I
can even buy into his rhetoric about how with his Hispanic heritage and middle class upbringing, that he
is more in touch with the average New Yorker than Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
    But to me, too often, Ferrer comes off as a bit of a clown. And yes, I know he doesn't have
Bloomberg's $$$, but he also hasn't laid out his plans for the city as well as he could, even with his lack
of funds. As Bloomy pointed out in their last debate, Ferrer is good at pointing out the problems, but not
so good offering up solutions. That's great if you're a talking head, or an Internet blogger (or a dope who
e-mails his friends) but not if you are running for office.
    Now, the New York Times supposedly said that Bloomberg has the chance to become one of the best
mayors in New York City history.
Hardly.
    Bloomberg raised taxes and fines, and cut services. In the beginning of his term, he came off as
condescending and arrogant. He ran in 2001 as a man from outside the political arena, who could come
up with solutions out of the ordinary. Instead he did what any schmuck could have done. You don't have
to be a genius to raise taxes and tolls, and fines.
    But where he succeeded was in the city schools. That's where he used his business sense and did the
right thing. He took control of the schools from the board of ed, and began targeting low performing
schools. The results are starting to show, very slowly maybe, but this is a monster that they said couldn't
be tamed. Bloomberg has managed to at least make progress there.
    And as I said before, he's had to face alot in his first four years. Terrorism, hurricanes, blizzards,
blackouts, near transit strikes (he bought himself a $700 bike in case the trains weren't running) and a
federal government that hasn't helped NY much, if at all. I can't say I particularly care for the man, but he
deserves some credit for staying tough under trying times.
    Does he deserve your vote? Well, like I said, you can decide that. I'm still up in the air. I still may go
for "The rent is too damn high" party.

    Now I can't vote in New Jersey, but I'd really be banging my head against the wall, because between
Jon Corzine and Doug Forrester, you have two candidates that suck. The one thing that they both seem
really good at is producing negative TV ads. I liked Forrester in the beginning because he seemed to be
more a family man than Corzine. But his campaign has been just as over-the-top with B.S. as Corzine's
has. Indeed, this has been one of the dirtiest campaigns ever.
    So unfortunately, the Garden State is looking at another 4 years of corruption and chaos coming out
of Trenton. They deserve better.

Paris is Burning:

    For the past 2 weeks, the suburbs of Paris have been engulfed in riots that are now getting into the
city limits. I wasn't paying much attention to them because, after all, its France.
    But when I heard what sparked these riots, it got me thinking. Two young Muslim men, being chased
by police, were electrocuted. So apparently, there is some unrest amongst the Muslim youth in France.
You don't say?
    Because sometimes to hear the French tell it, the only place in the world where Muslims get a raw deal,
is right here in the US. The French? Intolerant of people different from them? No way!
    And its not just the French either, its most of Europe, who are supposed to be so much more
enlightened and tolerant than us evil Americans. Isn't that what they said when the war in Iraq started?
That we weren't being tolerant of other religions?
    Or is it just that Europe wanted to protect its business interests in the Middle East, while giving its own
Middle Eastern citizens the proverbial shaft?
Just food for thought.

It doesn't matter who you vote for, just make sure you get out and do it Tuesday.


Happy very belated birthdays to Gary and Aidan Haley. I promise I won't forget next year.
Everyone else Have a Great Week
Wild Bill