Tag Archives: Chris Christie

Music Musings- Vetrate di Chiesa by Ottorino Respighi

I wanted to start something new for the blog… A discussion and promotion of music that I enjoy. And it doesn’t always have to have a direct political connection.  

But the first in the series kinda does? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Upon hearing the news that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has picked State AG Jeffrey Chiesa to be the Interim United States Senator, one of my favorite musical works flooded the old noggin. BTW congratulations Garden Staters, you’ve got a Republican in the Senate… at least for a brief period. 
Vetrate di Chiesa (Church Windows) is an orchestral suite by Italian Composer Ottorino Respighi. He’s perhaps best known for his other orchestral work, the Pines of Rome. But this piece from 1926 is every bit at as exciting as his other works, or anything else in the era of Neo-Classicism. In fact, many would separate his work aside from the Neo-Classicist composers (Stravinsky, Satie, Hindemith) because of his careful study of older composers like Vivaldi and Marcello. It’s an on-going debate among Musicologists.

The second movement, Saint Michael the Archangel, is a particular favorite with its huge wind and string flourishes over a relentless brass phalanx. The sense of visual imagery created (you literally see the stirring of a thunder storm from the sounds) remind us just how masterful Repsighi’s orchestration abilities were. And this piece was in fact orchestrated, as it was originally based off of a piano etude he had composed years before in 1919. 

One more interesting fact… though Respighi himself was born in 1879 and died in 1936, his wife Elsa lived until 1996, reaching the tender age of 102. She was a tireless champion of the composer’s work.

Well anyway, check it out, and let me know what you think in the comments!!

Fox and Friends clearly FAILS with Governor Chris Christie

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is a very busy man this morning. He’s dealing with massive storm damage this morning, and the lives of many of his constituents that have been severly impacted or even lost. And of course… new information is coming in by the minute.

On an interview with Fox and Friends this morning, Governor Christie mostly discussed the damage and issues he was dealing with in the storm zone. But host Steve Doocy then chose to pivot to a differnt subject. He asked Christie about the possibility of Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney touring the damage zone. Here’s how the exchange went down…

Steve Doocy: Over the last couple of months you have appeared throughout the country Governor on behalf of Mitt Romney talking him up for President of the United States. I know the President [is] off the campaign trail today. Although, we hear that perhaps Mr. Romney may do some storm-related events. Is there any possibility that Governor Romney may go to New Jersey to tour some of the damage with you?

Gov. Christe: I have no idea, nor am I the least bit concerned or interested. I’ve got a job to do here in New Jersey that’s much bigger than Presidential politics, and I could care less about any of that stuff. I’ve got 2.4 million people out of power. I’ve got devastation on the shore. I’ve got floods in the northern part of my state. If you think right now that I give a damn about Presidential politics then you don’t know me.

Clearly Mr. Doocy’s question was insensitive and out-of-line, but it was also very terribly phrased. A “storm-related event”? Is Romney going to throw a campaign rally for the storm victims? Governor Christie’s interests lie with the people of New Jersey, and ensuring they have a strong recovery. But I guess Mr. Doocy didn’t get the message that Sandy was a REAL hurricane that affected millions of people’s lives. It doesn’t “jive” well with party politics.

Sandy’s say: Time for the Responder-In-Chief

Today, on Monday October 29th, most Americans are witnessing an event that could potentially change our nation’s history forever. In fact, it already has. As the East Coast waits with baited breath, Hurricane Sandy storm has already entered world history books as the largest tropical cyclone ever recorded. For the second time in 14 months, New York City has shut down it’s humongous public transportation system. But along with NYC, public transit has also shut down in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and across New Jersey, causing tens of millions of Americans to be locked in place. Again, like it or not… that’s historic folks.

But Sandy has also done something else that seemed virtually impossible before November 6th. It has effectively “ended” both Presidential campaigns. As President Obama and Governor Romney both know all too well, this is not the time keep trading barbs in front of the American People. Even after the storm moves through, Americans will most likely be dealing with a lot of challenges in its aftermath. Ask a Gulf Coast resident… Hurricanes never get resolved in just a few weeks. The ramifications, if severe, will last for years to come.

Ironically though, events of this magnitude often change the course of political history. Over the next several days, we’ll probably be seeing just as much (if not more) of Governor Chris Christie as we do either Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan. This will be a time that could truly put the New Jersey Governor, as the most prominent Republican in the wake of this storm, to the test, as well as sow important seeds for his future. And of course, President Obama’s role as “Responder-In-Chief” has never been more crucial.

Which brings me to the point that hasn’t been discussed much in this election season. The most important role of any “executive” public servant… Mayor, city manager, Governor or President, is actually Responder-In-Chief. Being President is much more about the things you cannot control, than the few things that you can. Once the campaign talk is over, the American people get a quick reminder of just how little political campaigns actually predict one’s effectiveness in a job. They then have to see the official in action.

In 2008, President Obama ran a very successful campaign. But when he took office, he became mired in the real world of America’s most pressing issues. He then had to transition from a guy with lots of big ideas, to a guy that could deliver real, tangible results. Some would argue that he hasn’t done that… and they would be WRONG. Against the very long odds of crippling divisiveness in Congress, he was able to accomplish steps that dug our economy out of recession, and put us back on track. Yes, still describe the nation’s jobs record as “lack-luster”. But as Mitt Romney said about his own jobs record in Massacusetts, “It takes a while to get things turned around.” That’s the role of a Responder. You don’t cause the situation you’re in, whatever it is, but you care enough to do something about it. Of course there’s irony that Mr. Romney said this about his record, but doesn’t care enough to extend President Obama the same courtesy. As all of the chatter has consumed the last year, Mr. Obama’s term (hopefully 1st term) in office ends in essentially the same way it began… responding to huge national challenges unseen by this generation. If anything, Sandy is that.

So now in what should have been the final week of an historic campaign, President Obama will get to do what he’s actually best at doing… be President.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by Huricane Sandy.