A Mighty Wind

For those who grew up east of the Rockies, Southern California's often long summers can be a real drag upon one's psyche. Especially in the inland areas that are away from the coast, temperatures into the nineties can hang on well into October. Whereas a week or two after Labor Day, the season changes dramatically in the northern and eastern climes, the scent of autumn does not truly appear until Halloween hits.

With the late autumn comes clearer skies that finally allow inland residents an opportunity to gaze at the magnificent mountains that ring the area but are virtually invisible during the hotter months. But just as one is ready to go outdoors for a hike or a job or a stroll, the mighty Santa Ana winds roar their ugly head bringing with them renewed warmth and the inevitable canyon fires.

As this is being written, the winds have finally subsided but as has been witnessed by the entire nation, many areas of the "Southland" have been devastated by the annual conflagrations. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by the roaring flames. The fire is an equal opportunity engine in that it hits both million dollar homes as well as entire mobile home parks.

The sad thing is that so much could be avoided if the loose housing restrictions were tightened. Almost always the destruction occurs in the fringe areas; the places where suburbia ends and nature starts. Due to the infinite freeways and a car culture that takes advantage of them, Californians love to live in those semi-rural spots that are still within a decent commuting time of their jobs. This desire for a piece of natural living within a sprawling megaplex feeds the horrors of the yearly burns.

Nature will always take its course. Fires are a natural part of the rhythms of life there. Innocent residents are caught in a world that they should never be allowed to be a part of. Their personal losses are tragic but wholly avoidable. There is so much within the urban and suburban core that can be built upon, that one must wonder how builders and city planners can sleep at night knowing that the homes they sold and allowed to be built were knowingly put in areas that are always in danger of fire and the fierceness of those Santa Anas that sweep down upon lonely mountain passes that should never have large populations.

Comparisons

Was having a conversation with some conservative leaning folk the other day when the following words came out of my mouth: "You know, many of us Democrats would have to say that in the long line of things, perhaps Reagan and the first Bush were not that bad after all."

Now for a fierce partisan like myself that was a lot to say. I went home and began to ponder what exactly prompted such talk. It took a bit of mind crunching before I realized that I was comparing these former presidents to the one we currently have and the one that still might be coming. Yes, in looking at men such as Nixon, Reagan, and Pappa Bush, one would have to say that compared to the second Bush and the still out there Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, these men indeed were centrists and deep thinkers.

No one can doubt that many of the policies put forth by Nixon would be considered slightly left of center in what was up to last week, a nation tilting more and more to the extreme right. Reagan's folksy charm and surprisingly realistic grasp on events and Bush's often cautious tones are characteristics that most Americans wished would have guided George W. Over eight years, given opportunities to shine in some incredibly tense situations, Bush failed again and again to come to grips with what needed to be done. His lack of intellectual curiosity and his penchant for retiring to sleep early every evening (only to wake up and spend hours exercising) kept him from doing much, if anything, with the short eight years he was in office.

Now, conservative eyes and true believers' hearts have turned northward where Sarah Palin is holding court with as many reporters that want to interview her. The reins that the McCain handlers had put on her, have been broken and "aw shucks", its time for the potential 2012 Republican standard bearer to get in her licks. Even "Where in the world is Matt Lauer" has gone up to see her and she will appear Wednesday night on Larry King.

As Bush's failures made one see former leaders in a new light, the folksy cousin of "Joe the Plumber", is so low in the experience, training, and (I dare to say) intelligent quotient, that if Palin gets anywhere close to Washington DC, one would have to wonder if W. also would come under a new scrutiny. His laziness not withstanding, at least his family pedigree and his Yale education are things that Palin lacks.

There can almost never be a doubt that the Obama girls will not find themselves teenage moms. And just like the Bush twins, Chelsea Clinton, and countless other White House children, they are ticketed for fine four year colleges. The presidency is imbibed with a symbolism that those who hold the office, should to the best of their abilities, example the best America has to offer. Already Palin child number one is off to war (yes, a noble effort, but shouldn't he have gone as an officer?), and child number two is pregnant.

It would be hard to believe that there could be a worse leader than George W. Bush, but trust me, if ever the nightmare becomes a reality, Sarah Palin would be a disaster from which our nation would never, ever recover from.

Oh, but lets finish on a positive note. 2012 is four years away and if Obama does even a fourth of what he promised, he will have a second term and a fifty-two year old former Alaska beauty queen might not be that fresh face Americans will looking for almost a decade from now. Like Joe the Plumber, she could become a laughing footnote in our history.

It's A Beautiful Day

My first thought was to be sarcastic. To say some goodbyes and good riddances to McCain, his wife, Palin, her family, Bush, Dana Perino, and so many talking right wing heads. To put it in their faces after all those inane anti-Obama comments that so many of them spewed out during the last months of the campaign.

But, no, now is not the time to dwell on the negative. Now is not the time for retribution. Nor is it the time to dance on the corpses of those who were utterly defeated. They know what they did wrong and they see the results that Americans brought forth on this past Tuesday.

So, all of us should take a moment of quiet reflection and have a period of grace and gratitude. By a large margin, our citizens voted for their dreams, aspirations, and hopes over fear and hatred. How amazing is it that states like Virginia, (North Carolina), Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, and on the list goes, turned from red to blue. People from all racial backgrounds, age groups, and religious affiliations, came together to say enough to years of bitterness and extreme partisanship.

Obama is young and yes most likely a bit too inexperienced at this moment. But he has shown an incredible ability to learn and adapt during the trying presidential race. He surrounded himself with incredibly sharp political aides who put together this winning coalition. Now, we should rest assured that he will do the same as he fills in his cabinet and top leaders. He has already signaled a willingness to choose the "best and brightest" regardless of political party.

Obama is a once in a generation leader as John F. Kennedy was. One could only imagine the hope for a new dawn way back in 1960 when the young Kennedy defeated Nixon. Finally after so many decades, we too living in a new millennium, have the opportunity to watch a young leader take the reins of government and point us to an era that although will be full of disappointment and failure, will ultimately try to point our nation on a path of justice, equality, and a brighter life for all.

It is indeed a beautiful day!!