From The Swamp - The World According to Greg | Let It Snow! (December 5, 2002)

Let It Snow!

The Strom Thurmond 100th Birthday Spectacular!!!

Well, so it did in fact snow, how about that! 7 glorious inches of the white stuff at last count, and even my old alma matter AU closed! Of course, it is somewhat annoying that us federal workers had to come in today, considering you had the police on the TV telling people not to go out, really someone should do some coordination there. Actually, what pisses me off the most is this whole "liberal leave" thing the federal government has. Someone from OPM (Office of Personnel Management, they decide if the gov't is open or closed) was on the radio saying it was important to open to do the "people's business." 3 questions later, he said his guess was that over 50% of employees would take leave today (in my office it was 70%, only 3 of us showed up). So with all these people missing, is the "people's business" really being done? I wish they would just say it as it is, look, making employees take a leave day means that the government doesn't have to pay for it! It's all about the money...fortunately I was able to come in late, and when I finally left home around 11:30, it was pretty easy going for the bus and Metro, it's actually worse downtown because the sidewalks were cleared, and now are sheets of ice instead of snow. Anyway, whatever you did today, whether you're a federal worker at work like me or relaxing at home, hope you enjoyed the snow! And for those of you who think DC is wintry, here's your FACT OF THE DAY. Only 10 storms in recorded history (1875-present) have dumped 12 inches of snow or more on DC. In Philadelphia, they've had at least 25 storms of that magnitude. Even in 1996, generally regarded as the largest snowstorm of the past 15 years, DC only got 17.1", while Philadelphia got 31". And that's only 125 miles! So remember, if you don't like snow, it can always be worse :)

Well, now it's time for the big event....

THE STROM THURMOND 100th BIRTHDAY SPECTACULAR!!!!

Yes, folks that's right, 100 years ago today, Strom Thurmond was born. The man who would later participate in the D-Day invasion, become Governor of South Carolina, run for President, and become the longest serving Senator in United States history (and only one elected in a write-in campaign) has reached the centennial mark. To celebrate, some links to the hundreds of stories out there about him today. Over the next few days we'll have some follow ups, such as the stories of the parties today and this evening in DC and SC, as well as the christening of the new C-17 "Spirit of Strom Thrumond" Air Force plane later this week.

To give some perspective, on this day 100 years ago...The US Senate approved Oklahoma's admission to the Union, and the Vatican convened a meeting on the petition of canonization for Joan of Arc.

Who else was born in 1902? Charles Lindbergh, Richard Daley (the first one), and Thomas Dewey among others...

Oh, Strom Thurmond...is old enough to be Bob Dole's father.

He has been a Senator for 1/5 of the time the United States has been in existence, and has been alive for almost 1/2 the time the nation has existed. He is the only politician in office today that at one point had Civil War veterans voting for him.

Strom Quote(s) of the day: "All of them" - when asked how many Presidential Inauguration's he had attended
"I love all of you...especially your wives." - In farewell speech in the Senate, November 2002

First, here's the front page of today's Columbia, SC The State, South Carolina's largest newspaper [Adobe required] -
http://www.thestateonline.com/pdf/strompage.pdf

Does Strom have that Kennedy "vigah"? -
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4669786.htm

Here's a background on his rise to political stardom as a GI running for Governor, and then for President as a Dixiecrat. (I like the line here about his gubernatorial election about him winning the primary: "This was before the two party system in South Carolina, so as winner of the Democratic Primary he became Governor." Wow...the times they are a 'changin.) -

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643351.htm

During World War II, Thurmond was too OLD for the draft (and in fact had served and been discharged already in the 20's), but enlisted anyway and participated in the D-Day invasion -

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643348.htm

Speaking of that governorship, here's Thurmond's inaugural address from 1947 -
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643511.htm

Here's some of the records Thurmond holds -
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643337.htm

Thurmond was always very popular in South Carolina, and is regarded as a model of constituent service. (To this day, he continues to call every family in the state of South Carolina when a family member dies, and sends greetings for new children and marriages.) -

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643339.htm
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4669817.htm

Here's a general article about the fastest growing demographic in the US: People 100 or older -
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4665418.htm

He has been married twice...both wives were Miss South Carolinas, and one was an intern in his office! -
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643362.htm

Some stories from those who know him -
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643354.htm
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4643358.htm

For other articles (there are dozens in that paper today) here's The State's website -
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/

Here's some of the festivities planned for today (Post has photo gallery too) -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10378-2002Dec4.html

Today is Strom Thurmond Day in South Carolina -
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20021205_111.html

New Jersey is paying tribute to Strom as well...NJ has had 35 governors since Thurmond was born. This site has a lot of then and now stuff, highly recommended -

http://www.politicsnj.com/thurmond120502.htm

CNN's celebration, with a photo gallery (have to go to the main page to get it though) -
http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/04/thurmond.birthday. reut/index.html

Interestingly...the "newspaper of Capitol Hill" Roll Call did not have a single article today about the Thurmond birthday. May they rot in Hell.

To conclude, the man in his own words, on his Senate website -
http://thurmond.senate.gov/

And an editorial cartoon -
http://www.thestateonline.com/ariail/ariail.gif

A few other items on this snow day:

Al Gore Watch: Richard Cohen seems to think Al Gore is the modern day Adlai Stevenson...a potential two time Presidential loser -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11338-2002Dec4.html

The "friendly" skies?: United Airlines had its stock de-listed today after it crashed over 50% on news of the Federal Government rejecting its loan guarantee application. BTW, this is a good thing, because United would have defaulted on the loan, and the government would have ended up owning it -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13247-2002Dec5.html

Another Anniversary: Today is the anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment, re-legalizing liquor in the United States and ending Prohibition -

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/1205.h tml

Christmas Gift Ideas: Buy your love one a talking George W. Bush doll! -
http://207.36.165.62/

Well, hope everyone enjoys the weather! Oh, remember to vote for the title, here are your current options (note we've eliminated one...you may re-cast if you voted for it, no need to vote again otherwise...unless you really want to.)

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Gregory S. Gadren