The Resolute Desk

This is a marketing video, but it has some very interesting history of the Resolute Desk that now occupies the Oval Office. Who knew that the door on the desk that John John was famously pictured climbing through was originally installed to hide FDR's leg braces.

Sen. Percy & the Georgetown Waterfront

Sen. Charles Percy died this morning, just days after the opening of the final section of the Georgetown Waterfront Park. Going back to the 1970's, Percy was one of the primary promoters of the creation of the park.

Percy was a Republican senator back in the day when the term liberal Republican was not an oxymoron. I also I remember him fondly, because I wrote a paper about him in college that I got an A on.

Here is a photo of the plaque honoring him in the park, as well as a photo I took of the fountain at dusk tonight.





Georgetown Waterfront Park - 2011

Samuel Pepys & the Debt

Under the category of some things never really change, a quote from Samuel Pepys' Diary of February 26, 1666. At this time England was at war with the Dutch and the a French. Pepys was responsible for "victualing" the Navy, and Parliament was not very agreeable to actually appropriating funds to do this. So here was the situation:

went into the Parke, and meeting Sir Ph. Warwick took a turne with him in the Pell Mall, talking of the melancholy posture of affairs, where every body is snarling one at another, and all things put together looke ominously. This new Act too putting us out of a power of raising money. So that he fears as I do, but is fearfull of enlarging in that discourse of an ill condition in every thing, and the State and all.

The good news is that England survived this, and almost 350 years later still survives. So there may be hope yet.

Ai Weiwei released from prison

After several months in a Chinese prison, the artist Ai Weiwei has been released.

JFK's Inauguration

John F. Kennedy became President 50 year ago today. Here is his inaugural address.

Sheila Bair

The most competent person in the federal government:

JFK Elected President

Today is the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's election to the Presidency. Here is his statement on Nov. 9 1960 acknowledging the election.

White House in Pictures

From the White House blog, a post with photographs that represent the last year in pictures.

Pete Souza's Ten Favorites

Campaigning on Federal Hill

Photographs from the rally for Gov. O'Malley today on Federal Hill. Main event was Bill Clinton, with numerous supporting characters.

Note: Once the slide show opens, if you click at the top where it says "Show Info" the descriptions should appear with the photographs.

Campaigning on Federal Hill - 10/21/10

Tea Party & the Founding Fathers

An article by the Ron Chernow discussing the fallacy of the tea party's claims to be following the intentions of the Founding Fathers. I might add that certain members of the Supreme Court also try to ride this horse. Additionally the tea partiers and said Justices—despite their supposed love of history—seem to have forgotten that the Constitution was substantially amended after the Civil War.

The Founding Fathers Versus the Tea Party

Lonely Voice in the Wilderness

Not that I want to do a series of blog post on things that I am upset about, but I have to wonder if Orrin Hatch can say this, why do Obama and the rest of the democrats have such a problem with this.

Groundbreaking for UB Law Center

Some photographs from the ground breaking ceremony for the new John and Frances Angelos Law Center at the University of Baltimore.

UB Law Center Ground Breaking

The Scandal Survivor Flowchart

Click on the link below to see the rest of the scandal survivor flowchart on Slate.

A flow chart illustrates when your political scandal costs you your job.

Senator Byrd Recites

Senator Byrd was known for his love of poetry. There is not as much video of this as I thought there might be, but here are a couple recitations.

I have post some video of Senator Byrd singing and playing fiddle on my music blog.

"Touch of the Master's Hand" by Myra Welch



"The Little Chap That Follows Me" unknown author

Obama's Speech

I think Obama could have done a lot more last year to see that Health Care reform passed, and he is now lucky that he has Nancy Pelosi save the day for him. That being said, I think the speech he gave today to the Democratic Caucus was probably his best speech ever.

Here is the speech in three parts.

The Demon Pass

The House has apparently decide to pass the health care bill with two votes, instead of using the "Deem and Pass" option, which would have passed both bills with one vote. I have to wonder how much of the uproar over this has to do with the fact that when you hear anyone talk about this it sounds like the Democrats want to use the "Demon Pass" for health care. Makes it sound like Nancy Pelosi has been possessed by the Devil.

Whose on the $50

I am appalled by the idea that Grant should be replaced on the $50 bill by anyone, let alone Reagan. I just happened to be reading Grant's memoirs right now, so maybe that makes me more upset than I otherwise would be.

Reagan already has an airport and the largest building in the Federal Triangle named after him. Isn't that enough?

Here is a very good op-ed from The New York Times on this subject.

Who’s Buried in the History Books?

Hillbilly Palm Pilot

I don't know what this says about Sarah Palin, but at least we should not have to listen to anymore snide remarks from her about Obama's use of a teleprompter. Even if she doesn't want to use a teleprompter, maybe someone could explain index cards to her.

Complacent Administration

This is the best assessment of Barack Obama that I have seen so far.

Barack Obama’s former mentor criticises ‘complacent Administration’