Ruminations

REHAB: Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) is being treated -- once-again -- for an undisclosed ailment. The Congressman, the son of the ailing Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, has been treated before for depression, alcoholism, and drug addiction. In a statement, Kennedy noted, "...he will do whatever it takes to preserve his health." Everything that is but resign his seat.



BUS TOSS: It seems that David Letterman was deemed expendable by the folks over at the National Organization of Women. (After all, Letterman is a cantankerous over the hill talk show host.) Too bad they lost their cred when they failed to support Jones, Broderick, and Wiley ten years ago when NOW had a shred of credibility.



DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME: Here's how a joke about statuatory rape is now being described: "... and the now oft-repeated joke about Palin’s daughter and Alex Rodriguez..." Given that description, how harmful could it be?



EMPATHY: If Mr. & Mrs. Obama want to dine in the Big Apple and in the City of Lights, go ahead. But in times like these, doesn't it strike one as being a bit out of touch?



INVITES: So much for any plan to invite both Rahm Emanuel and Jeremiah Wright to the same party. Seems the latter has a problem with the former's beliefs. A team of rivals indeed.



YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER AT WORK: Regular readers of this blog saw this happening from Day One.



DESPAIR & STATUS QUO: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wins in Iran. If this had been a real election than a simple circus, there'd be something to talk about.

Loose Ends

Hopefully, the final word on a host of issues:

Treasury Secretary Geithner. History will remember him as the tax cheat who became a Treasury Secretary. Unless he engineers a global and long stand recovery and expansion, he will, alas, be known primarily as a tax cheat. (BTW, we're not going to spend our way into a recovery, much less an expansion.) Why he didn't have the decency to resign is a mystery to me.

Caroline Kennedy. Reports indicate that the Kennedy clan is upset at how Governor David Paterson treated Caroline. In the words of the playground taunt, "So what are you going to do about it?" My thinking -- not much. Caroline was the last hope for a Kennedy in the Senate. Alas, Edward Moore Kennedy has an inoperable brain tumor and is not long for this world. His son Patrick, a representative from Rhode Island is better known for his substance abuse than his legislative prowess. Paterson will have his worries in '10 -- the Kennedys will be the least of them.

NYDN's Agenda. It was typical of the mediocre Mikes to blame, well, Paterson for Kennedy's shortcomings. The curious fact remains that it's the New York Times that is battling with the Harlem Congressman and not the populist left-wing rag. They sure give him a space to deny the allegations. It's one of those things that makes one go, "Hmmm."

Lastly, add Filip Bondy to the list of those who think fans should pay more so he can see an improved team play for free.