The Book: Jimmy Carter's "A Remarkable Mother"

It didn’t seem to me that Jimmy Carter had much of a presence at the Democratic National Convention. Won’t he help the ticket in Georgia?

Never mind.

Year ago a librarian thrust one of his books at me urging me to read it. I had never read any of his books. To be nice I checked it out. I read it. I was impressed. Don’t ask me which of his many books it was: I have no recollection, only that I thought it was well written. Like this one, A Remarkable Mother which I think would have been better titled: An Astounding Mother!

It’s short but enlightening, a “fast read,” about Miss Lillian. Carter writes matter-of-factly with a great deal of humor about his mother who heavily influenced his life, as most strong-willed mothers impact the lives of their children. (Ask Scott McClellan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and the list goes on.)

If you have any memory of "Miss Lillian" (being of a certain age), it’s a great book, especially for independent women and “wannabe” independent women. It gives one hope that life and activity continue well past the sitting stage.

In the summer of 1976, the year Jimmy Carter was elected, we took a detour off Interstate 75 in Georgia, on our way to visit my parents in Florida, to stop by Plains. In what memory tells me was a converted, painted, remodeled barn adorned by American flags which served, I suppose, as Carter’s Plains headquarters, sat Miss Lillian who talked as animatedly to us as if we were old friends. Our three-year-old daughter sat on her knee.

Miss Lillian was an uncommon woman who joined the Peace Corps at age 68, who made a difference not only to family members but to hundreds of people in India where she was stationed. She was a breath of fresh air in stale Washington. How delightful to be able to find someone of her personality there now!

Many highlights of President Carter’s own life are intertwined throughout the book. It is painful to read that upon Carter's graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, his grandfather, “Jim Jack," didn’t recognize him and practically waved him away when Carter, in uniform, visited him in a drugstore in Richland, Georgia where his grandfather was passing the time of day with other “loafers.”

The deaths of Carter's sister, Ruth, and mother within one month of each other, from cancer, which also killed his father, were hard.

The cover is nicely designed, and the photographs add much to the book which remind me of another prolific author who also happens to be a politician who does his own work, too, I believe: Senator James Webb from Virginia.

This summer I saw Webb interviewed on (I think it was) Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” about his newest book, which may still be on the bestseller lists.

Sen. Webb remarked he had rather be writing than doing anything else. Then why in the world, I mused, is he in the U.S. Senate? I haven’t read any of his books: too manly for me, but where was I? Oh yes, Jimmy Carter’s mother.

A model for us baby-boomers who fear age, numbers, and reluctance to try all those things we want to do but instead, abandon dreams and cave in to society and expectations. Not Miss Lillian.

The Book: "White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters" by Robert Schlesinger

Here is another title for political aficionados, and although it's not well written, much of the information is new and well researched.

It is astounding how many "fly by the seat of your pants" speeches are written at one time or another for most presidents. The public personas of the men are, strangely to me, the private personas.

The title is terribly wrong for a reader who might spot it on the shelves or on the table at a book store, and likely consider it another in the innumerable books about
"ghosts in the White House." The cover is a jumbled mess.

When was the last time you read a non-fiction book which gave you cold chills? It happens in the section on JFK. His Berlin speech. Truly, incredible.

Another speech he delivered on civil rights was not ready until seconds before he went live on the air. Robert Kennedy and JFK both believed JFK would have to speak extemporaneously since Ted Sorenson, JFK's speechwriter, was still plowing away at the speech, only having received a few hours' notice that it was scheduled.

Not until late in President Eisenhower's term does the book really take off. (It begins with President Roosevelt.) I never knew quite the bore Eisenhower was. Did you know he had a stroke in office? Truman was a man of his own.

Increasingly, I have come to admire and respect LBJ. This book reinforces my impressions. He demanded speeches which captured headlines, and his speechwriters generally succeeded.

Jimmy Carter was quite the control freak, and his dull speeches reflect it.
Ronald Reagan is the "happy go lucky" guy you know. Bush I is the same guy you always liked, no matter what your political persuasions: One who shuns "I" and is quite emotional.

Bill Clinton was often unprepared but was successful ad-libbing many speeches. On the way to deliver a speech in Annapolis, he spilled coffee on his shirt and took a loaner shirt right off the back of a Secret Service agent. Accidents happen.

Was there an editor? It is doubtful that any editor had much time with this book since it is rushed and crammed. "Forth Worth" (p. 163), "he had been snuck" (p. 352), "upon which he had campaign" (p. 405).

The book opens closed doors and provides good background information on "modern-day" presidents, their staffs, their skills and resources. It gives a reader appreciation for the many talents employed in speech writing. Some readers will be surprised to learn that not all presidential speeches are thought out. Some must be "vetted" up to 20 times by agencies, eyes, and departments, input which often damages the finished product.

The book peters out towards the end with the advent and reign of Bush II, and it seems to close too quickly, as if Mr. Schlesinger was hurried, but, after all, the final subject is unattractive and chilling, and who wants to dwell on the devil?

The speeches prepared for reasons and justification to attack Iraq are sickening, but who in the Bush administration is counting deaths and injuries? Present official numbers are 4,146 American soldiers who have died, and 30,561 American soldiers, wounded. Estimated are 100,000 American soldiers wounded but only 1,252,595 Iraqi civilians killed as the result of our attack on Iraq. Who reads books in the Bush administration anyway?

On Vacation: The Washington Post and 99 Words: Continuing Failure of Iraq War Coverage

Letter sent to the Washington Post's Ombudsman, Deborah Howell, August 21, 2008


Dear Ms. Howell,

On a day when the New York Times carries four major stories on Iraq in its front section, when the Wall Street Journal carries a story about Iraq on p. 1 above the fold, when Yahoo News lists Iraq among its Top Five stories at midnight this morning, the Washington Post has three paragraphs about Iraq. Why is that?

Once again, I hope I am wrong and that I overlooked your Iraq story, but flipping the pages twice, I am unable to locate anything more than 99 words in two of your editions today.

Sincerely,

PatriciaDC

Cartoon Idea: Democratic VP Choices on Stage

Idea submitted on posting to New York Times August 22, 2008:

Setting: A stage of "Miss America" beauty contestants who are the Democratic VP contenders, standing in bathing suits and drawn proportionately (ht., weight, age, etc.); Obama in suit and tie is crowning the winner who is ? Contestants have their sashes crisscrossing their chests with

Bayh: "Mr. Indiana"
Hillary: "I AM Hillary"
Biden: "Mr. Foreign Policy"
Kaine: "Mr. Virginia" and "Mr. South"
Richardson: "Mr. Latino" and "Mr. West"
Nunn: "Mr. Georgia" and First Runner-Up, "Mr. South"

Who else?
Caption: "There S/He (finally) is..."

Rachel Maddow Extraordinaire

Comment sent today to the New York Times:

Stunning, isn't it, that a network would actually appoint a female with some brains without dyed blonde hair who doesn't wear transparent, tawdry clothes or gloss or jewelry or plunging necklines or flirt with colleagues or show leg or do any of those other things all the other females, the "fluff bunnies," do? Who has short, unsexy hair and wears monochromatic suits?

What are the networks coming to?

Egads! Might they think some of their viewers actually have brains who are uninterested in the sexual relationships of their announcers or the mumbo jumbo of Hollywood Vulgarities but, instead, are actually interested in content? Astonishing!

Buzh Bully Buzh

Is it not ironic that the World's Biggest Bully accuses another country of the same? Is this not a laughable offense?

Bear with me and insert different words where the Biggest Bully has directed verbiage at Russia:

Quoting from the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune, August 15, 2008 with editorial changes:

Buzh (Putin) , reminding Russia (the U.S.) that "the Cold War is over,'' called on Russian leaders (Buzh; no reason to cite "other leaders" in the U.S. since there are none in Congress) today to withdraw military forces from Georgia (Iraq).

Russia (the U.S.) has "damaged its credibility,'' Buzh (Putin) said, accusing the Russians (the U.S.) of "bullying'' their neighbors (countries which have oil).

"Unfortunately Russia has tended to view (my) spread of freedom and democracy as opposed to its interests.'' (Reader, can you imagine not supporting the practices of a bully? The audacity!)

Warning that Russia (the U.S.) stands to isolate itself from the modern world if it cannot respect the autonomy of free neighbors, Buzh (Putin) contends that the Russians (the U.S.) will face consequences for the invasion of Georgia (Iraq).

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, attempting to secure the framework of a cease fire. Rice will join Buzh at his ranch outside Crawford, Texas, on Saturday, to play the piano and lull Buzh to sleep for his afternoon nap after he has been thrashing about all day in the brush at his Texas ranch where he fled to recover from the hazardous duty of watching the Olympics for 15 days straight, frolicking with bikini-clad women on Beijing's sandy shores, among other responsibilities.

"She will bring me up to date on what she has seen and heard, in Georgia as well as Paris,'' said Buzh. "I mean France, she did not go to Paris." (Actual quote.)

Bullying: A Handbook for Educators and Parents by Ian Rivers, Neil Duncan, and Valerie Besaq was published last year by Praeger.

The bully learns it is possible to gain emotional, social or monetary benefit from the bullying , so their (sic) modus operandi may become habitual. They learn they can use dominance for their own purposes...(p. 29).

A lot of bullying...contains an element of fun and entertainment for the attackers. The public humiliation of their victim adds to their attacks... Boys who bully are often school leaders begging the question, why do they do it? "They are bullying, autocratic leaders rather than benign democratic ones." They lead and bully for their own purposes rather than for those of the group. (pp. 16-18).

Perpetrators of bullying are more likely to have been convicted of crimes in adulthood compared to peers and have a 1 in 4 chance of having a criminal record before age 30 (p. 136). Perpetrators often have parents who push them to excel beyond what is normal at the expense of others, if necessary (p. 19).

Characteristics of whom?

Failure of Iraq Coverage in Washington Post

Letter sent to the Washington Post August 14, 2008


Dear Editor,

I hope you are able to correct my oversight and tell me where among the WASHINGTON POST pages today is a story about Iraq. I am unable to find one, even a short paragraph in your "Around the World" summaries.

With 140,000 of our troops stationed in Iraq and a soldier's death reported last night on Yahoo, surely the POST has not abandoned Iraq to carry a story (on the front page) about ping pong in China or a long diatribe in the latest book attack on Barack Obama or a long story about a "religious center" in China for the Beijing athletes, has it?

With the POST continuing to ignore the seemingly ceaseless tragedy in Iraq, it is no wonder that our troops feel little, if any, support from home. "Why are we here?" must be a constant refrain heard in the barracks. Gone, and they are forgotten.

Sincerely,

Patriciadc

Major Mayor Fitness Fenty

The Washington Post carried a story today about Washington Mayor Fitness Fenty. The story is big enough that you might think Adrian Fenty committed a felony, but no, he had a serious biking accident. The story describes witnesses’ accounts of the accident and how Mayor Fenty’s injuries affect his appearance and persona and blah blah blah.

What’s wrong with his image? Why not protect it? I like a mayor (or any elected official, a President?) who’s physically fit and proud of it. I like an elected official to be always dressed up and looking reverential, like he is ready to make a speech or meet someone important, like, like, maybe, somebody like me? I like an official who tries to make a good impression, who cares about his appearance.

Mayor Fenty is always sharp and distinctive. His nicely fitting, tailored suit is consistently buttoned; and he wears a colorful tie. His shoes are polished, and he is cleanly shaven. Rather like Candidate Obama.

Is there something wrong with dressing presidential? Or acting like a president? (Well, most of them anyway.) Is there something wrong with showing respect not only for himself (or herself) but also for the audience?

Wearing a golf hat, sunglasses, and golf shirt shows you are headed for the golf course, not the the highest elected post in the world.

In April I canvassed for Barack Obama in York, Pennsylvania, a day Mayor Fenty also came to town to canvass. There we were in our “glad rags” and there was the Mayor, all fit and proper, suited up, bright tie, nice suit, warm and gracious, greeting us at the gathering spot for canvassers, in a church. He said a few words to the 30 or so volunteers and shook hands with us all.

What struck me in York was Mayor Fenty’s appearance and enthusiasm. Honestly, I can’t recall much of what he said since I was so taken by the moment. And him.

Take a look at other world leaders and ask yourself: Do I want this guy making major decisions which will affect my life and those about me? Or, do I want a golfing buddy?

Image is everything, dearie. And don’t you believe otherwise.