She danced with the likes of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.  She married Nico Charisse in Paris in 1939 and later divorced him in 1947.  In 1948 she married Tony Martin. 

We knew her as Cyd Charisse, although she was born Tula Ellice Finklea in 1922 in Amarillo, Texas. 

Cyd Charisse could dance anyting from a pas de deux to jazz.  Those of us of a certain age remember her to be tremendously talanted.  Ms. Charisse died Tuesday.  She was 86.

Yep, it’s election time.  More than that it’s a Presidential election year and the Republicans are worried about angry voters going to the polls in November.  They want the President to rethink his position on offshore drilling.  Can you say, “Flip-flop?”

“President Bush, reversing a longstanding position, will call on Congress on Wednesday to end a federal ban on offshore oil drilling, according to White House officials who say Mr. Bush now wants to work with states to determine where drilling should occur.”
[read whole story]

Tuesday hundreds of gay and lesbian couples wed on Tuesday, the first day that same-sex marriages were legal in California.  There was a steady and decidedly confident celebration that was a marked departure from a mad rush four years ago.

“The marriages began in many cities just after 8 a.m., with the early opening of a number of the state’s 58 county clerks’ offices. But unlike the scene in 2004, when San Francisco — and San Francisco alone — broke state law to wed thousands of same-sex couples (the marriages were later nullified by the courts), Tuesday’s ceremonies often had a sense of calm and permanence.”
[read whole story]

The flooded Midwest areas of our country are the 2008 version of New Orleans.  Millions of people have lost their homes, their towns and some have even lost their lives.  Now we can look once again to FEMA.  Will things work better in 2008 than they did in 2005?

“As the overflowing waters of tributaries began to recede in Iowa and Wisconsin this week, they had nowhere to go but here, into the legendary Mississippi, a river that was growing mightier by the hour. On Tuesday, in parts of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, all eyes turned to this river, which was expected to reach record levels in some areas, including this town, before cresting this week.”
[read whole story]

We all face the gas pumps and dread looking up at the price.  What will it be today?  How much did it go up from yesterday? 

One way drivers are cutting their bottom line at the pumps is by fueling up with regular or midgrade gasoline, even when their owner’s manuals recommend premium.

“Because the companies that supply his station are paid by the delivery, Mr. Vallera said, they want to deliver more often, so their trucks carry only the amount that has been ordered in advance, not any extra to top up a station’s storage tanks. If motorists show up in large numbers and use more than the predicted amount of regular gas, a station may run out before the next delivery, he said.”
[read whole story]

Move over Facebook and MySpace.  Here comes the newest version designed for professionals looking for networking connections rather than social ones.  LinkedIn is aimed at career-minded, white-collar workers.  It is far less exciting with pages heavy with text, much of it a flat blue.  There are few photos and absolutely no videos.”Now, in the midst of Silicon Valley’s recession-proof enthusiasm for community-oriented Web sites, the most boring of the social networks is finally grabbing the spotlight.”
[read whole story]

In response to the letter Michele Ianello sent out, Joanne L. Capone wrote this message back to her:

Hi Michele,

Thanks for the info.

However, Dan received the endorsement from the Committee in Amherst and I believe that should mean something.

He should have the use of the headquarters because he garnered the endorsement.  Your reason for stepping aside from the vote was for the sake of your family.  Now you claim it was really for other reasons.

I strongly believe that family should come first.  Dan has served Amherst Democrats for a long time.  He deserves the support because of his loyalty to the local party and his credentials.

You have time on your side to seek higher office at a later date. 

There are many people on the Committee who are uncomfortable with the current situation.  If you were to use the Headquarters, then each candidate for the office for both the Senate and Congress could make a claim for its use.  As the County stood down from making an endorsement…the Amherst endorsement should now take the lead. 

You originally asked for the Amherst endorsement.  Then you decided not to pursue it.  The speculation as to whether you would have won is now moot.  You controlled the decision….no one else.  It is troublesome to me that your public position to the Committee is at odds with what you now say occurred.  You were not forthright with us.

Dan worked hard to win the vote.  No one should now take that away from him in my opinion.

The membership should not be divided on this issue and the policy going forward should reflect that.  We do not need a civil war and hard feelings.  The individual who wins the primary would then be able to receive broad support.  You can base your operation in the areas you received an endorsement and Dan can do likewise.

Joanne 
 

Joanne L. Capone

Vice President
NYS Democrats for Life

Executive Director
Capone-DeSimone Institute for Peace and Social Justice

Executive Director
Western New York Political Consortium

A resolution introduced by Buffalo-area Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) recognizing the life and work of Buffalo native Tim Russert was approved unanimously (395-0) by the House of Representatives.  Congressman Higgins introduced the resolution, which included 89 cosponsors, on the House floor this afternoon.   

Below are Congressman Higgins’ remarks as prepared for delivery: 

Madam Speaker, last Friday the nation lost one of its premier political journalists, and my home neighborhood of South Buffalo lost a favorite son.   

There were many moving tributes to Tim Russert across the country this weekend from colleagues, friends, and viewers for whom he was such a trusted source of news over the years.   

In Buffalo, we began to remember Tim in our own way, as one of our greatest ambassadors, a kid from the neighborhood who never forgot his roots and continually made us proud.   

Tim Russert was born in Buffalo, on May 7, 1950.  He worked his way through Canisius High School and John Carroll University.   

He believed strongly in the value of a Jesuit education, and was a man of devoted and humble faith who called himself, “a respectful servant in the laity of the church.” 

After graduating from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Russert entered public service, working for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Governor Mario Cuomo.

In 1984 Tim began his celebrated career in journalism at NBC, where he stood out by, among other accomplishments, arranging the first live appearance on American television by Pope John Paul the Second. 

In 1991 NBC named Russert the moderator of Meet the Press, a landmark decision that would leave a lasting impact not only on the Sunday morning talk shows, but on all of political journalism.   

Tim served masterfully as anchor and political analyst.  He earned a reputation as a tenacious yet fair interviewer of his guests, who included just about every major candidate and officeholder.   

His preparation and performance on Meet the Press set a new standard for political journalists:  that they should ask – and demand answers to – the pressing questions of the day.  No one did it better than Tim.   

Russert was also an accomplished author, and his moving books “Big Russ and Me” and “Wisdom of our Fathers” became New York Times best sellers.  They also provided insight into the highest priority Tim put on his family.   

It has been noted in recent days that Tim Russert was proud of his Buffalo roots, never more evident than when he would use his NBC bully pulpit to cheer on the Bills before a big game.  To many people, Buffalo helped define who Tim was.   

Buffalo was important to Tim Russert.  What most people do not know is how important Tim Russert was to Buffalo.   

In many ways, he defined how we in Buffalo see ourselves – tough, smart, loyal, hard working and not easily fooled.  Tim Russert embodied these characteristics, and he never forgot that where he came from helped make him who he was. 

He will be missed. 

Shades of Mary Kay Letourneau?

“A missing 14-year-old student and his female teacher both have been found safe — he in a Hamburg mall, she found sleeping in her car in Springville.”

“A 14-year-old eighth-grade boy has not been seen since he left his South Buffalo school on Monday, and a suspended female teacher is also missing, according to South Buffalo Charter School officials who are continuing their search for the two. Nicholas G. DeJesus from West Seneca has been missing since he left the South Park Avenue school without permission Monday afternoon. Teacher Cara Dickey (photo), 28, of Clarence was escorted out of the school Monday morning after being disciplined by school officials. “No one at the school or from their families has heard from either one of them since midday yesterday,” one source close to the situation said today. “We don’t know where he is, where she is and whether they’re together.” School officials refused to say whether they suspect any kind of personal friendship between the two, other than the normal student-teacher relationship.”

PoliticsWNY.net

Time Warner TV cable service, as early as this August, will have competition from Verizon Communication for cable TV service.  Some people in Amherst will be able to buy this service as early as August.

The Village of Williamsville will be the only area which will not be wired to receive Verizon cable within 5 years.  The rest of Amherst will be connect in two to five years.

The Town of Amherst will receive 5% of Verizon’s gross cable revenue.  The 75 buildings owned by the town will get free cable.  No nursing home or hospitals will receive any free benefits.

There will not be extra benefits for the aged.  The service and price between the two companies will be compatable.  Verizon will not tape the Town meetings for broadcast.