Yes, Virginia, You Remain an Embarrassment to Our Nation

There a widespread, often repeated observation among grandparents that personalities and talents seem to skip generations. Perhaps this is just the wishful thinking of elderly people disappointed in how their children turned out, but in the case of my brother-in-law, Hank Palikowski and his son, Hank Jr., it definitely seems to possess some credence. Having… Continue reading Yes, Virginia, You Remain an Embarrassment to Our Nation

North Korea vs. Sony Pictures – Interview in a Quagmire

Despite the impending holidays, I still manged to get overbooked this week, which lead to Gretchen and me having to work nine and one half hours on a Saturday. The increasing urgency of various matters around the planet have made it nearly impossible for me to work a decent five day week anymore, but in… Continue reading North Korea vs. Sony Pictures – Interview in a Quagmire

Police Chief Mark Kessler – Unsafe At Any Caliber

The City Zen restaurant is located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, on Maryland Avenue here in Washington.  This means, of course, that the hotel guests come there to dine, and so it was that last night, as Cerise and I were enjoying our desserts of raspberry pavolova and tarte tatin, respectively, prior to departing for an… Continue reading Police Chief Mark Kessler – Unsafe At Any Caliber

Send in the Congressmen… Don’t Bother, Steve Stockman’s Here

Around eight-thirty Friday night at the Round Robin Bar in the Willard Hotel, I chanced upon Jefferson Jackson Beauregard Clay III, a key member of Representative Steve Stockman’s staff.  He was enjoying a specialty of the house – the branch water mint julep, and the one he was drinking might not have been his first… Continue reading Send in the Congressmen… Don’t Bother, Steve Stockman’s Here

DOJ Scandals Test Whether Eric Holder is a Quitter

Last night, Cerise and I attended a Ravel concert by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.  But before that, we had a dinner date at the Capitol Grille on Pennsylvania Avenue, where I awaited her arrival at a table for two.  Then, more or less out of nowhere, Hoffmann appeared.  He’s a successful… Continue reading DOJ Scandals Test Whether Eric Holder is a Quitter