Usual Suspects Casablanca

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These last 8 years have been pretty painful for my spirit(s). I was worried there wasn't a ghost of a chance that things would change, that Americans were asleep and not alert to the problems that were piling up. That all changed in the early morning hours of November 5, 2008 here in Casablanca. Finally my side has won, and I'm pretty happy about it. It's taken awhile, and I think this time it's going to work, but as I learned in all my fights in support of the underdog it's up to us to support the ideals and values of our President-elect. By the way, really enjoyed the Obama family chili con carne, beats caviar any day. Here's looking at you Mr. President!

To the tsk tsks of passer-bys over the last year who said, "Just watch, Americans will never elect a black President," I always replied, "Never, but never doubt the basic goodness of the American people." We all are rightfully proud today.

I went back to the US for the first time in over six years last month. My son Kyle and his fiance Sarah got married in Dallas on October 18 and I added visits to New York, Seattle and Portland to see friends and family. Although six years is a long time, I do have the lifeline of email, phone and occasional visitors to stay current with people...and politics. Kyle and Sarah were here in Casablanca during the 2004 election and I tearfully told them the morning after Kerry's "defeat" (I still think he won Ohio) I wouldn't set foot in the US until January 20, 2009. They convinced me of their October choice with the warning that George Bush would be retired in Dallas in January of 2009. So I went and of course had a wonderful time. I found people more mellow, humbled of course by the battering they were taking from the financial crisis, and galvanized by the possibility that Barack Obama could become the next President of the US. The bad economy is forcing some to come to grips wit...( Read more )

I'm going to have a longer piece wrapping up the last days before the election and my first trip to the US in 6 years to share in the joy of my son Kyle's marriage to Sarah, but just had one of those amazing "bar moments" I had to write up while it's still fresh in my mind. In fact the people are still here. We have a regular group of Casablanca regulars built around 3 brothers who come to the bar frequently, tend to stay throughout an evening, their friends, spouses and sometimes children passing through at intervals. Tonight they were in and because we have a new night barman I wanting to make sure they were well taken care of I offered some chicken tandoori and chili con carne, and asked where the Dr. was, the original client who's led all the others to Rick's. "Oh he just went out to do a Cesarean, he'll be right back." And sure enough, just as the plates were placed on the bar, there he was, all smiles, with the words, "Une jolie fille" (a beautiful little girl)! And that i...( Read more )

when matched up with Obama-Biden! Tonight I held an event in our Lounge Bar for Democrats Abroad and anyone interested in the US Election. I showed the DVD I recorded of the last night of the Dem Convention - it's hard to believe it was only 8 days ago. We interrupted the usual screening of "Casablanca" and as we watched Barack Obama's acceptance speech I was again struck by how wonderful and uplifting the Democratic Convention was. Granted, it was a lot more pleasant watching him speak at 8:30pm rather than 3am. As he spoke, I loved looking at the emotions of the audience, and their diversity was a totally positive and prideful moment in American history. Barack took us to "the Mountaintop", then several days later McSame picked a sidekick that brought the electorate crashing down to earth. Quite bizarre tales yet to come out of Alaska, I suspect. Maybe this is what it took to bring many of the undecideds back to their senses. I hope so, the stakes this time are way higher t...( Read more )

We all remember August 29, 2005 as the date that Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf and left the City of New Orleans destroyed. More compelling than the physical damage, which was appalling and scandalous, were the desperate, poignant personal tragedies that the ensuing days revealed. Also unmasked was the insensitivity and utter cluelessness of President George Bush, who chose instead to share a birthday cake with his torchbearer, John McCain, on the tarmac of Phoenix Airport. We've seen shots of Bush playing the guitar in San Diego earlier in the day, but the most revealing photos are in Phoenix, with the cake and the broadly smiling McCain. When disaster struck George Bush fiddled while New Orleans drowned and deemed it a bigger priority to eat cake with John McCain. Bush's absence from New Orleans, his failure to engage in the disaster, the lack of responsibility laid bare for all of us to see his lack of leadership. Let's not forget who joined him on that day.

Prisoner of Wankers, that is...Last night I had everything set up to record highlights of Day 1 in the Democratic Convention. I had no choice for live coverage - CNN was it. Worse, it was the middle of the night. I came up from the restaurant at 1:30am and settled in. I knew I'd have to watch everything so I could record only the key speeches. Next week I'll host a Democrats Abroad and Republicans Abroad for Obama Campaign launch and show highlights of the Convention. I will be sure to tell my guests how I suffered through 2 1/2 hours of coverage for an hour of substance. David Gergen was by far the worst, and furthest off base with his criticism of the Dems' program as lacking in bite, not defining the contrasts with McCain, not negative enough! I know if they had followed this line he would have tut-tutted that this is no way to open a convention. Wolf and all the other sheep chimed in with their chorus of agreement. Donna Brazile looked pained at their stupid chatter as s...( Read more )

I turned off my TV after the 2004 election was called for George Bush, and have not watched since then. I followed US media coverage along with news on blogs and online sources and thought that kept my outrage levels up sufficiently. BUT NO. Just to be prepared for the Democratic Convention I had my satellite system recalibrated so as not to miss the coverage, especially Barack Obama's acceptance speech. Last night I happened to turn on CNN just as George Bush was making a "statement" following a briefing at CIA HQ on the Georgia situation. I was horrified. I have not watched him live since the debates with John Kerry - and I thought it was impossible to go downhill from those performances. He appears older and even more vacuous than 4 years ago, and now seems unable to complete whole sentences (or thoughts). I switched immediately to BBC. This morning, I tried CNN again. Larry King interviewing Georgian President President Saakashvili. I thought, how odd, but then remember...( Read more )

It's been inspiring and uplifting to follow Barack Obama's magnificent week abroad and to see him gain the admiration and respect of those with whom he came in contact. The US Military, from troops to Generals, leaders in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Gaza, Germany, France and the UK and the 200,000+ who greeted him in the center of Berlin all saw the potential for CHANGE in America that will come with his election as President. It cannot come too soon. The Bush Administration continues, and will continue until 19 January 2009, I'm afraid, to use the government against its citizens, to take the law in its own hands, and to abuse and bend laws and regulations in order to maintain fear and vulnerability. Three petty government sanctions during the private part of Obama's visit sent shivers down my spine. First, Secretary Rice's cable instructing Embassies they were prohibited from aiding, physically or financially with arrangements for Senator Obama. That the campaig...( Read more )

Like all Obama supporters I was elated when our candidate reached the magic number and secured the delegates necessary for the nomination. At Rick’s there was a free beer or wine for Americans supporting Obama on the day he clinched the nomination. I’d followed the primary campaign season selectively through blogs and online news sites, feeling a great sense of solidarity among the net community. But then my mind immediately started to focus on the election. Even though I’m in Casablanca I do have a not too shabby little vehicle at my disposal for hosting events in support of Barack Obama as President of the United States. I am planning, in conjunction with Democrats Abroad, “First Tuesdays at Rick’s” beginning the first Tuesday in July and leading up to Election Day. First Tuesdays will be open to Americans and Moroccans alike, a time to share the excitement of the campaign and the future it portends. Mentally I’ve moved from online to the front line – my front line is a small...( Read more )