Patterson Tries To Put An End To The Madness of The State Senate

People always talk down about Governor Patterson. Personally I feel that he is receiving a lot of blame he doesn't deserve. Sure, he hasn't done a lot to right home about since taking over, but I don't believe he has done a lot wrong either. I see Governor Patterson as a victim of circumstance. He came to the job to be a Leiutenant Governor and nothing more. When Governor Spitzer resigned, David Patterson was forced into the job. He could have declined, however, if that occurred, the President of the Senate would take over. At the time, the President was a Republican. Thus, the Democratic Party forced Patterson to take the job. Will he run for reelection? Maybe, maybe not.

This is a man who should have been an inspiration to people. A man who was legally blind able to rise through the political ladder. Instead, he is commonly joked about in our state. He should, however be recognized for the move he made earlier this week.

I meant to write about my dislike for what has been happening in Albany since it started 16 days ago. Drum Corps and other things have kept me from that and for that I apologize. I think what is happening in Albany is incredibly embarrassing for our state. Sure the Republicans started it, but both sides deserve blame in this situation. We are seeing men we elected, not too mention our taxes pay, acting like children. In fact, I take that back. With the way they are arguing, bickering, locking eachother out, and turning the lights off on eachother, I can honestly say that I have seen better behaved Kindergarten classes.

Rather we like it or not, the only people losing from this are you and I. We, the citizens of New York state are being screwed by these childish senators. While these children fight, there are important bills that will effect you and I sitting on the table of the senate. Bills that effect our children's education, who we can marry, and how much we pay in taxes.

There are other officials who could step in on the situation. Take, for example, our assemblyman Gary Finch. He has been in the service of the state for years. Instead of working for us, however, he is writing letters to CBS trying to get Letterman thrown off the air. Then he tries to say he was "doing it for his constituents" without even asking them their thoughts. Guess what? Your constituents don't care about a late night talk show host! They care about seeing their wants looked into by their elected officials.

Enter Governor David Patterson. A few days ago, David Patterson passed legislation forcing the state senate to meet extra days now that the regular sesson is over. The children are finally being punished. Perhaps it will help. As of today's news it did nothing. There was still fighting and lights being turned off on eachother. On the otherhand, at elast both sides are meeting together. Perhaps soon we will see them figure out a way to represent us. Until then, we wait, and we read of the idiotic exploits of our state government. I know this will not clear Governor Patterson completely of his blame. At the same time, people should applaud him for trying to get some handle on the situation.

D-Day Memorial on Brink of Financial Ruin

Back in 2001, a National D-Day Memorial was dedicated in Bedford, Virginia.  The location was chosen after Bedford lost the most men in the D-Day landings.  Now, eight years after the dedication and on the eve of the sixty-fifth anniversary of Operation Overlord, the memorial sits close to bankruptcy.  

A recent AP report details some of the many problems for the memorial.  The donations have dried up in the rough economy and its best supporters, World War Two vets, are passing away in great numbers.  That coupled with a drop off in visitors due to the great distance between the location of the memorial and major cities is leading to the memorial's troubles.  According to the president of the memorial group, the only hope may be for the location to be taken over by the park service or a college.

Although I have never been, the design of the memorial sounds amazing.  Sculptures of soldiers in a reflecting pool are shown struggling up the beach while fountain jets in the pool go off at random representing enemy fire.  

It bothers me to think that such a wonderful monument can fall on such hard times.  The group in control of the memorial is currently courting the possibility of a partnership with the World War Two Memorial in Washington or Liberty University.  On Tuesday night at the premiere of a documentary about Bedford and its men at D-Day, congressmen attending were reminded of the troubles of the memorial.  Democratic Representative Tom Perriello of Virginia is planning to introduce a piece of legislation to transfer the memorial to the National Park Service.

I can only hope that this legislation works.  It would be a shame as well as disrespectful to the memories of those lost to see such a wonderful memorial close.