Floodgater

Forgive me for being a bit behind on the news. I often read the newspaper before folding it up & putting it in my pocket so I can pick up after the dog. (Did I mention my dog thinks he’s George Bush? Every time he takes a crap, it ends up in the newspaper.)

In any case, an item on January 7th says the hip-hop retail chain Against All Odds is filing for bankruptcy. Am I the only one who finds that ironic? It’s like Going Out of Business having a strong fourth quarter.

This reminds me of how not to name things. Calling something “The New ____” gets old really quickly. At school, we had “The New VAX”. I don’t have to tell you it ain’t so new no more. (There was also a show, The New Gidget.)

Anyway, I’m fullly expecting Against All Odds to emerge from bankruptcy unscathed. And if they don’t, I’m always pulling for The Little Guy, which would be a nice name for a store that isn’t for Big & Tall.

Vince Micco was a Republican candidate for Congresss this past year. Somehow, my email address found its way onto his mailing list. Throughout the campaign season, I received emails asking me to volunteer in some way for his campaign. He was always considered a long-shot, so it’s not surprising he didn’t win.

What is suprising is the content of the email I received from Vince two days after the election, and continue to receive to this day. Here’s a sample:

I suppose the campaign had to end somewhere, but to turn your campaign list into a sales list is not exactly the best form for a political candidate. It gives me an idea of what type of congressman Vince would have made. A Democratic candidate from the previous election cycle kept the emails coming, but they were all of a political nature — mostly aimed at making this country a better place for all its citizens.

When Republicans lose, they crawl back into the exterminator- or used car- or whatever business they were in. When they win, they become advocates for that business, citizens (or bugs) be damned. Republicans are always for sale. I can only wonder what would have happened to Micco’s low-mortgage-rate business had he won, but I do know that he took the low road out of the campaign. Nobody opted-in to his silly mortgage mailing list. I’d continue to post his emails, but they’re all pretty much the same. Low rates in a low economy generated by his low friends should not be surprising. I’ll remember Vince and his friends when I think about the new low value of my home.