Befriending Saddam

This is a really interesting article about the FBI agent assigned to draw information from Saddam Hussein. He had only been in the FBI for five years when he was assigned to him. The agent was made to seem more important than he really was by, among other things, guards scurrying around to please him whenever he was on the scene. The agent believes Saddam saw him as having a direct line of communication to the President of the United States.

Here's my question: the Administration has used the "state secrets" excuse a billion times to avoid producing information in connection with lawsuits against it, on the grounds that disclosing the information would impair our ability to obtain information from terrorists and others. If that is the case, why is this FBI agent free to talk to 60 Minutes about how he engaged Saddam Hussein?

I wish he would tell us what he really thinks.

Who? "Roosh." The scary thing is: I think he is right.

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From the "How stupid does the Harris County DA think we are?" category: this story.

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Off to pack bag, work a few hours, then off to Atlanta for a meeting. Back tomorrow night!

Hodge and Podge

I've been trying to figure out what I feel about Heath Ledger's untimely death. The easy answer is sorrow for his daughter and Michelle Williams. A part of me feels tired, tired of young people with so much promise dying for no reason--at least, no reason that makes sense. Yet another part of me knows that, as with the death of River Phoenix, I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when I learned of this death. Simply put, I believe he was a great actor whose ultimate promise will now never be known, and by all accounts, he was a devoted father. What a loss.

Last night, I found myself turning to "The Station Agent." Perhaps it was the Michelle Williams connection (she plays a librarian in the movie), or perhaps not. Each movie I love, and I do love this movie, fills a particular need in me. "Jerry McGuire" is the movie I turn to when I'm feeling unappreciated in my career. "The West Wing" (admittedly, a TV series, not a movie) is for when I'm lonely or dreaming of a more stimulating career. "The Philadelphia Story" is simply comforting, transporting me to a time years ago when it was possible to have a romance with Cary Grant. It's funny . . . I never realized the consistency of those themes--of wishing for something better--until I wrote this paragraph just now.

Anyway, I'm not sure I have anything more uplifting to offer at the moment, just these thoughts.

In a rare act of diligence,

I have created a post of the NYC visit I experienced just one week ago . . . check it out!

An Honor

Stepping into my neighborhood coffee shop on Monday, I learned a special honor had been bestowed upon me in my absence: I was named "Customer of the Week":



The prize? A free venti non-fat latte every day this week. How great is that?!?

This is the most perfect video ever.

And not just because I loved the movie "Election":

I am posting from New York . . .

and no longer missing in action. Sorry for my absence from the blog . . . I have been working hard, closely following the primary campaign season and swamped with volunteer duties as well.

In fact, I'm in New York because I was called upon at the last minute to fill in for a colleague who could not make it to our organization's national board meeting here. I am exhausted by the heavy reading to prepare for the matters discussed, as well as the late nights and socializing. I also find myself feeling exhilarated by the inspirational people I have met. Due to the late notice of my trip, it was difficult to get plans in place with friends, but I'm determined to do something "New Yorky" before leaving town tonight and hope to get to spend time with them also. One thrill of the trip thus far was sitting at Dorothy Parker's "round table" at the Algonquin Hotel while out for drinks last night.

I hope to write more after I have slept a bit, and not to let too much time pass before that happens.

About that "new life" . . .

I've been thinking a lot since my return from New Hampshire late last night. Thinking about how to summon up the willpower and focus to make the changes needed in my life. Thinking about the kind of work that will make me happy. Thinking about how the proudest moment of 2007 for me was when a 22 year-old staffer for my candidate told me I would make an excellent political operative, based on my ability to connect with, charm and explain the issues to the voters I spent five days calling.

I need more time to think. But tomorrow I return to work and I have to really work hard to make up for my lack of productivity last year, while I was distracted by things I love so much more. I thought I would be ready and excited, but I'm not . . . a part of me wants to cry. Each of my parents spent many years working at jobs they did not love so that my brother and I could have good lives. I know I can do this, too, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life wishing I had done something that made me excited to get up every morning.

A friend of mine told me it has seemed for a while as if I am waiting for something to come along and change my life. Most of my major life changes so far have not happened at my own behest. I cannot quite see what lies around the bend, but more than anything else this year, I resolve to have the courage to go out find it, rather than waiting and hoping for it to come my way.