Probe the Bush Administration?

President Barack Obama, rightly, is reluctant to threaten the success of his agenda by supporting efforts to investigate the numerous allegations of illegal action by former President George W. Bush.

Republicans, of course, oppose the idea. Some Democrats, like the president, would rather take a positive outlook and avoid long, partisan-plagued battles in the halls of Congress or in the courts. Some would take a long step away from the confrontational tactics of President Bush and, earlier, of Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich toward a more nonpartisan era.

As leader of the Free World, President Obama is saddled with the responsibility of keeping the United States militarily strong and economically viable. It is not his role to take on the politically suicidal job of bringing former Bush Administration officials to justice for illegal activities.

Congress has both the power and authority to do just that -- and it should.

Those who want to see Congress investigate the Bush Administration are putting much of their hopes on Senate and House Judiciary committee Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and John Conyers, D-Mich.

Leahy and Conyers want the truth. It's their role, as Congressional leaders, to conduct investigations when things go wrong and to create legislation that will prevent such missteps in the future.

A few of the most pressing allegations that Congress would undoubtedly probe:
* Illegally invading the sovereign country of Iraq
* Obstructing justice in outing CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson
* Illegal detention of American and foreign captives
* Secretly authorizing torture and rendition
* Announcing his intention to violate the law with Signing Statements
* Misleading Americans in attempting to destroy Medicare
* Spying on Americans with court orders
* Directing telecommunications companies to create illegal database of private telephone numbers and emails.
* White House involvement in politically motivated hirings and firings in Bush's Justice Department.

Republicans already have made it clear they have no interest in bipartisanship. They have taken their role as the "loyal opposition" very seriously by attacking President Obama relentlessly on virtually every move he has taken during his first days and weeks in office.

The president's stimulus proposals have come under incessent attack, as has his appointments of Attorney General Eric Holder and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's decision to abandon his nomination as Health and Human Services secretary.

"Investigations are not a matter of payback or political revenge. It is our responsibility to examine what has occurred and to set an appropriate baseline of conduct for future administrations," Conyers said.

Remembering Shamus O'Brien

-------------------------Remembering Shamus O'Brien
The crowds were enormous. Friends and admirers and entire families arrived at Flynn Memorial Home in Yonkers, N.Y., afternoons and evenings for three days to pay tribute to Michael Joseph Hogan, better known as Shamus O'Brien (image left) the alias he used in the boxing ring throughout his long and illustrious career. He was a rugged, battle-scarred lightweight boxer lovingly hailed as the “Yonkers Favourite.”

He came from the Gold Coast of Ireland as a young lad to seek his fortune in America. He was my grandfather, but I knew him only casually from a few chance meetings long after his fighting days were over.

At his wake, I was a young man of 24 when I stood amazed to see the outpouring of love for this man, long after his days of glory. I watched, and greeted young and old as they paid their respects to my grandfather day after day at the memorial home.

Later, as I watched the mile-long funeral procession motor through Getty Square, I began to understand just how much impact this young Favorite Son had had on the people of Yonkers. In those early years after the turn of the 20th Century, prize fighting was to millions what radio was in the 1930s and 1940s, and what television became later to people everywhere.

I remember Shamus' eldest son, John Hogan, who followed the young fighter's exploit closely, telling me that it was Shamus’ wish to have the cortege meander through Getty Square before heading out to St. Joseph's Cemetery. It was a wish that opened my eyes to the depth of his love for the "City of Gracious Living" on the Hudson and its denizens.

It was through my uncle John that I learned my grandfather had died of pneumonia on April 13, 1959 at the age of 68. Shamus, who was born on Aug. 6, 1890, had entered St. John’s Riverside Hospital with heart disease and arteriosclerosis.

At that time, I was a first term student at New York University in Washington Square. It was only two months before my marriage to Ruth Dugdale of Darien, Connecticut. Uncle John took me along with him to the Yonkers Herald Statesman in Larkin Plaza where he told Shamus’ story to an obituary writer.

Based on available records, Michael "Shamus" Hogan was the son of Michael Hogan and Ellen (Meade) Hogan, one of five children. The family lived in a thatched cottage near the Atlantic Ocean in Dungarvan on the "Gold Coast" of Ireland. The area was once known as Wise's Point, or just "The Point."

As a boy in Dungarvan, Shamus was well-known in Gaelic football, emigrating from Ireland in 1906 when an uncle reportedly paid his passage on the RMS Umbria destined for New York

According to an article by Eddie Cantwell written for the Dungarvan Museum Society, Shamus became a household name, not only in Yonkers but also in Pennsylvania and many other venues around the United States. Many of his 400 bouts, an unusually large number in any fighter’s career, took place in and around the Harlem, N.Y.

Rugged in appearance, and good looking, Shamus "would hang around the street corners with his friends after work." He was "scrapping all the time" and he embraced the lifestyle of the time. After only a few years in the new world, undoubtedly catching many of the boxing matched that were held in those days around New York, he took part in a volunteer boxing exhibition staged for the prisoners at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, N.Y.

Shamus' career has an uncanny resemblance to the great champions of the world of boxing portrayed in a number of Hollywood biographical films. In many parts of the United States, he became a household name in boxing circles, but the great championships eluded him. He battled often against the best fighters in hundreds of matches in various weight classes.

While his career spanned nearly two decades, the Irish stalwart's record, given in one estimate as 24-44-12, failed to reflect his toughness and tenacity -- or even his potential. It's generally felt that his achievements could have been far greater had his career been managed better.

“Hogan’s life story could well be scripted for a film,” Cantwell said. "Indeed, his career bears quite a remarkable resemblance to some of the more popular boxing films of recent years.”

My fondest memories of my famous grandfather came on those occasions when, as a young boy “hanging around” Getty Square (image left, early 20th Century), Shamus and I would meet by chance. Getty Square, where Shamus was a familiar figure in the 1940s, was a bustling shopping area marked by three five-and-ten cent stores at a busy five-way intersection. Whenever he saw me, Shamus, with obvious delight, would take me into Nedick’s to buy me an orange-aid and a hot dog.

Shamus' appearance marked him as a prize fighter, his face revealing the scars of his trade, along with battered, cauliflower ears. He looked to be down on his luck, but even then I could see his eyes light up when he saw me. He'd shuffle in his pockets for coins that seemed to me to be his last dime. For me, these were memorable moments. I had had heard on the grapevine that he was staying at the time in a bunk at the Salvation Army – one of the many reasons that I have such a high regard for that truly charitable organization.

Michael "Shamus O'Brien" Hogan was married to Adelaide Searles (my grandmother) with whom he had eight children, John, Michael "Mitch", Edward,, William, Elena "Helen" Torpey (my mother), Mary "Mae" Dropauer, and two infant twins, Gilbert and Adelaide, who died in the tragic influenza outbreak of the early 1900s.



Shamus began his boxing career in the bare-knuckle days when boxing matches were fought “to the finish.” The great John L. Sullivan (image left) was perhaps the best known fighter of the bear-knuckle era. Prize fighters in those days frequently fought to “no decision,” and Shamus was no exception. Shamus often went up against the best fighters of his era – and he competed in a number of weight categories, although he was fundamentally a lightweight . His overall record, according to the best information available, was something like 24-44-12, but this didn't come close to reflecting his toughness or the many bouts he fought for which no record exists.

"Money was lost and fortunes made on the backs of combatants who fought until only one was left standing," said Mr. Cantwell of the Dungarvan Museum. "Many of Hogan's fights were fought at the Raven Athletics Club in New York City, where he had done his training."

My uncle John told me that Shamus could take a lot of punishment, but but getting him to go down was quite another thing. Shamus went up against the legendary middleweight champion Benny Leonard (image right) three times or more, at least once to a "no decision" on Feb. 11, 1916 in Syracuse, N.Y. He was KO'd by Leonard, however, only five weeks later on St. Patrick's Day in New York City. Bouts in those days were often extralegal, resulting in often incomplete record keeping and a major reason that fighters used an alias.

In his obituary, Shamus was reported to be a “trial horse” for up and coming young fighters. He developed into an opponent for champions, a tough contest for any of them. In addition to Benny Leonard, Shamus, at 135 pounds, fought any and all comers, including welterweight Mickey Walker (early In his career), middleweight Rocky Kansas, welterweight champ Pete Latzo, featherweight champ Johnny Dundee, Pinky Marshall, Jack Britton, George K. O’Chaney and negro champ Leo Johnson – all to the finish in “no decision” fights. Shamus was widely considered “a good fighter, win or lose .”

The 1911 boxing poster became available to me a few years ago after my daughter, Catherine, noticed it on the wall of Archie Moore's Restaurant (image left) at 188-1/2 Willow St., New Haven, Conn. The restaurant, which has been in business for more than a century, has no connection, surprisingly, with its namesake, the famous light middleweight.

Of course, I rushed to the restaurant for dinner, anxiously inquiring of the owner, Bob Fuchs, how the poster featuring my grandfather happened to be displayed in the dining room. As it turned out, the owner's grandfather, "Irish Paddy," was one of the fighters listed in the preliminary fights. (Note: In the poster (image below, right), Shamus is pictured on the left side of the poster, not on the right side, where his opponent, Yorkville lightweight champion Eddie Smith is shown.)

Much of Shamus’ training, according to my Uncle John, took place in upstate New York in the town of Newburgh, where Shamus had been a bartender in his later years. Earlier he was an iron worker and had been employed in construction.

After fighting in various locations around the country, he hung up his gloves in 1922, but not before returning to Ireland to win the lightweight title in his native country.

One copyrighted report in the New York Times of Jan. 3, 1912 reports on a tough contest between Shamus and Young Sam Langford of Mount Vernon, N.Y. The match was termed "one of the best bouts ever held" at the local sporting club. Shamus floored his opponent midway through the 10-rounder, but Sam, who was literally "saved by the bell" in the fifth round, came back strong. The fight ended in a draw.

Throughout the 1940s, I had lived with my grandmother, Adelaide Hogan, Shamus' estranged wife. I was sent me to live with "Nana" across town in south Yonkers after my parents, Joseph C. and Elena "Helen" Torpey, apparently found me too much to handle after I was left back in second grade for excessive truancy. By then, Shamus was no longer in the picture. It's a story I don't know, although I was told of one large purse won by Shamus that resulted in turmoil at home when my grandmother learned that Shamus, apparently in the excitement of the moment at ringside, had donated the entire amount to charity.

It was while I was living with "Nana" on Warburton Avenue in Yonkers that my uncle John came to the house one day to deliver the bad news: Nana's son, Bill Hogan, who had signed up for Navy after Pearl Harbor, was presumed lost when his ship, the U.S.S. Gregory, was reported to have been sunk near Guadalcanal on Sept. 5, 1943. Uncle John had brought with him a copy of the New York Daily News featuring a picture of the ship. It was somewhere near this time that Shamus knocked on our door persistently, but his an apparent attempt at reconciliation had been unceremoniously rebuffed.

Shamus was a communicant of St. Peter’s Church at the corner of Riverdale Avenue and Ludlow Street, across from Flynn Memorial. It happens that I was born on Ludlow Street in 1935 and graduated from St. Peter's School in 1950. Shamus was an honorary member of the National Sports Alliance, the Raven Athletic Club and the Billy Gray Association.

His father, Michael Hogan, died when Shamus was just 6 years old after his life boat crew attempted to rescue people who were drowning after their ship broke its anchor in a storm off the coast of Ireland in 1896. Only five of the 23-man crew, along two passengers, the captain's wife and daughter, survived. The story of the sinking of the ill-fated Moresby in Dungarvan Bay is recorded in the Website of the Waterford County Museum Michael was thrown overboard in the storm, was severely injured and dragged to shore. He succumbed to his injuries 17 days later.

After arriving in the United States from Ireland, the Hogans eventually settled on Moquette Row in Yonkers, where the giant Alexander Smith carpet factory, located on Nepperhan Avenue, housed some of its large number of employees. My father, Joseph Torpey, had been a weaver there in the 1930s and early 1940s. After World War II, when General Motors began building airplanes in Tarrytown, N.Y., my mother, Helen Torpey, worked as a riveter. She often proclaimed herself to be "Rosie the Riveter."

According to family members, Shamus was known by many as “friendly” and “outgoing.” It's clear he was "well liked." He nevertheless disappointed his family in Ireland, especially his mother, by his failure to visit or even contact them.

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Who Was This Guy Bing Crosby, Anyway?

Harry Lillis 'Bing' Crosby: May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977

It’s appropriate, I think, for my first contribution of original content to my first (and only) Blog to be devoted to Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby, the multi-talented entertainer whose contributions to the world of entertainment are legion.

Bing, who was born on May 3, 1903 in Tacoma, Wash., began his unparalleled career in the late ‘20s, became an icon in radio and movies in the ’30s and was on top of the world throughout the ‘40s, when he recorded the largest selling single of all time, “White Christmas,” starred in five of his seven “road” pictures with Bob Hope and won an Oscar for “Going My Way” (1944.)

But I don’t idolize Bing because he was extraordinarily successful for more than five decades. I am one of Bing’s many fans simply because I admire his melodic voice and his uncanny ability to bring a song to life. I admire his movies because his wonderful personality comes through unerringly and consistently, making each one of his dozens of movies great to watch despite some flimsy plots.

Bing has been gone since Oct. 14, 1977, when he died of a massive heart attack following a round of golf at the LaMoraleja Golf Course near Madrid, Spain.

It’s understandable that today’s younger generations know Bing Crosby, if at all, only through his Christmas songs, particularly “White Christmas.” But it is sad that his reputation was maligned so viciously by his first son, Gary, when Gary authored his book, Going My Own Way in 1983, which portrayed his father as strict and cold-hearted. That book followed on the heals of an extremely negative book that totally lacks credibility, Bing Crosby: The Hollow Man published in 1982 by Shepherd and Slatzer.

Gary Crosby, I think, is best described by his cousin, Howard Crosby, a business executive, who addressed him on the Bing Crosby Internet Museum when he said, “My cousin Gary was a liar and a drunk. Period.”

Howard is the son of Bing’s brother, Ted, one of seven children of Harry and Catherine (Harrigan) Crosby.

Just this week Howard said the following on the Internet Museum: “I think Bing was the favorite of lots of the other singers who came before him. Of all of them, Dean Martin may have said it best, at the time of Bing’s death. He said something like, 'From now on, every time a popular singer steps in front of a microphone, he will have to pass through the shadow of Bing Crosby.' ”

Bing, himself, had seven children, four with his first wife, Dixie -- Gary (born 1933, died 1995), twins (born 1934) Phillip (who died in 2004) and Dennis (who died in 1991), Lindsay (born 1938, died 1989), and three children with his second wife, Kathryn -- Harry Lillis Jr. (born 1958), Mary Frances (born 1959), and Nathaniel (born 1961).

Crosby picked up the nickname “Bing” as a boy when he was an avid reader of a comic, “The Bingville Bugle.” He also became known as the The Old Groaner, El Bingo, Le Bing and Der Bingle.

Just to mention a few amazing statistics about The Groaner: He charted 368 records from ’27 to ’62 under his own name and another 28 as a vocalist with numerous bandleaders – for a total of 396. For comparison, Paul Whiteman had 220, Frank Sinatra, 209) Elvis Presley, 149, Glenn Miller, 129, Nat “King” Cole, 118, Louis Armstrong, 85, the Beatles, 68.

You may have heard some of Bing’s 22 Gold Records: “SweetLeilani,” “New San Antonio Rose,” “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Sunday Monday or Always,” “Pistol Packin’ Mama” (with the Andrews Sisters, “Jingle Bells” (with the Andrews Sisters, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Swinging on a Star,” “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral,” “Don’t Fence Me In” (with the Andrews Sisters, “I Can’t Begin to Tell You,” “McNamara’s Band,” “South America Take It Away” (with the Andrews Sisters, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (with AlJolson),“Whiffenpoof Song,” “Now Is the Hour” (Maori Farewell Song), “Galway Bay,” “Dear Hearts and Gentle People,” “Play a Simple Melody” (with Gary Crosby, “Sam’s Song” (with Gary Crosby) and “True Love” (with Grace Kelly).

Maybe you’ll recognize a few of Bing’s Top 40 hits: “Out of Nowhere,” “Just One More Chance,” “ At Your Command,” “ Dinah (with the Mills Brothers),” “Please,” “Brother Can You Spare A Dime,” “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “Shadow Waltz,” “Little Dutch Mill,” “Love in Bloom,” “June in January,” “Soon,” “It’s Easy to Remember,” “Red Sails in the Sunset,” “Pennies from Heaven,” “Sweet Leilani,” “TooMarvelous for Words,” “The Moon Got in My Eyes,” “Remember Me,” “Bob White” (with Connie Boswell), “I’ve Got a Pocketful of Dreams,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (with Connie Boswell), “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby,” “Sierra Sue,” “Trade Winds,” “Only Forever,” “White Christmas,” “Moonlight Becomes You,} “Sunday Monday or Always,” “San Fernando Valley,” “I Love You” (Porter), “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Swinging on a Star,” “A Hot Time in the Town of Berlin” (with the Andrews Sisters), “Don’t Fence Me In” (with the Andrews Sisters), “It’s Been a Long Long Time,” “I Can’t Begin to Tell You,” “Now Is the Hour,” Far Away Places,” and “Play a Simple Melody” (with Gary Crosby.)

Bing Crosby captured the heart of America on radio, beginning in 1929 with his “Old Gold Presents Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra" from New York. He went on to broadcast from The Cocoanut Grove with Gus Arnheim in Los Angeles, with CBS in New York; he was the “Cremo Singer,” and subsequently had radio shows for Chesterfield, Woodbury Soap, Kraft, Philco and General Electric

On the silver screen, Bing was a Top 10 box office star from 1944 to 1949. After winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1944 for his portrayal of Father Chuck O’Malley in Going My Way, he won nomination as Best Actor for his performances in The Bells of St. Mary’s, 1945, and in The Country Girl, 1954.

While he played light comedy in many of his movies, including the seven “road” pictures with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, he also showed his dramatic acting ability in a number of films, such as Little Boy Lost, 1953, The Country Girl, 1955, Man On Fire, 1957, and Stagecoach, 1966; for his seven zany Road films in which he starred with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. In addition to his feature films, Bing appeared in a number of short comedies and made numerous cameos, and guest appearances. He was reluctant to get into television, but eventually had his own show, briefly, and then starred in several made-for-TV shows. The short-subject films he made with Mack Sennett, 1931-32, were classics and played a big role in bringing The Groaner to the attention of the public. The Sennett films were: “I Surrender Dear,” “One More Chance,” “Dream House,” “Billboard Girl,” “Sing Bing Sing,” and “Blue of the Night.”

Bing’s movies, starting with “King of Jazz” in 1930 and ending with “Stagecoach” in 1966, features many of his songs. Here’s some of my favorites:

The Big Broadcast, 1932, with Stuart Erwin, George Burns and Gracie Allen

Going Hollywood, 1933, with Marion Davies, Fifi D’Orsay, Ned Sparks, and Stuart Erwin.

We’re Not Dressing, 1934, with Carole Lombard, Leon Errol, Ethel Merman, and Ray Milland.

Mississippi, 1935, with W. C. Fields, and Joan Bennett

Rhythm on the Range, 1936, with Frances Farmer, Bob Burns, and Martha Raye.

Pennies from Heaven, 1936, with Madge Evans, Donald Meek, Edith Fellows, and Louis Armstrong.

Waikiki Wedding—1937 (black & white). A Paramount Picture directed by Frank Tuttle starring Bing Crosby, Shirley Ross, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, George Barbier, Leif Erikson, and Anthony Quinn. Songs include: “Sweet Leilani,” “Blue Hawaii,” “In a Little Hula Heaven,” and “Sweet Is the Word for You.”

East Side of Heaven—1939 (black & white). An Independent Production for Universal Pictures directed by David Butler starring Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, and Mischa Auer. Songs include: “Happy Birthday,” “Sing a Song of Sunbeams,” “Hang Your Heart on a Hickory Limb,” “That Sly Old Gentleman,” and “East Side of Heaven.”

Rhythm on the River, 1940, with Mary Martin, BasilRathbone, and Oscar Levant.

Birth of the Blues, 1941, with Mary Martin, Brian Donlevy, Carolyn Lee, and Jack Teagarden.

Holiday Inn, 1942, with Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, and Walter Abel.

Road to Morocco, 1942, with Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Anthony Quinn, and Dona Drake.

Star Spangled Rhythm, 1942, with Betty Hutton, Victor Moore, Eddie Bracken, and Walter Abel.

Going My Way, 1944, with Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh, Stanley Clements, Jean Heather, and Rise Stevens.

Here Come the Waves, 1944, with Betty Hutton, Sonny Tufts, Ann Doran, and Gwen Crawford.

The Bells of St. Mary’s, 1945, with Ingrid Bergman, Henry Travers, Dickie Tyler, and Joan Caroll.

Blue Skies, 1946, with Fred Astaire, Joan Caulfield, Billy de Wolfe, and Olga San Juan.

Welcome Stranger, 1947, with Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield, and Wanda Hendrix.

Emperor Waltz 1948, with Joan Fontaine, Roland Culver, and Richard Haydn.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, 1949, with Rhonda Fleming, William Bendix, and Sir CedricHardwicke.

Top o’ the Morning, 1949, with Barry Fitzgerald, Ann Blyth, and Hume Cronyn.

Riding High, 1950, with Coleen Gray, Raymond Walburn, William Demarest, Frances Gifford, and Charles Bickford.

Mr. Music, 1950, with Nancy Olsen, Charles Coburn, and Ruth Hussey.

Here Comes the Groom, 1951, with Jane Wyman, FranchotTone, and Alexis Smith.

Just for You, 1952, with Jane Wyman, Bob Arthur, Natalie Wood, Cora Witherspoon, and Ethel Barrymore.

Little Boy Lost, 1953, with Nicole Maurey, Claude Dauphin, and Christian Fourcade.

White Christmas, 1954, with Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, Dean Jagger, and Mary Wickes.

The Country Girl, 1954, with Grace Kelly, and William Holden.

Anything Goes, 1956, with Donald O’Connor, Zizi Jeanmaire, Mitzi Gaynor, and Phil Harris.

High Society, 1956, with Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Celeste Holm.

Robin and the Seven Hoods, 1964, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Falk, and Barbara Rush.

Stagecoach, 1966, with Ann Margret, Michael Connors, Alex Cord, Red Buttons, Van Heflin, Slim Pickens, and Stephanie Powers.

Bing began dabbling in television in 1948, but broke through the medium when he hosted The Edsel Show with such guests as Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Rosemary Clooney. He contracted with ABC-TV andbegan making a couple of “specials” a year. He starred in a situation comedy in 1964 for just one season.

He played host frequently on the Hollywood Palace variety shows from 1964 to 1970. In 1971 he starred in the TV movie Doctor Cook’s Garden. He made numerous newspaper and television advertisements, including those with Minute Maid and Shell.

Bing became a fixture on television in the 1960s and ‘70s when his Christmas “specials” soared to popularity. Many Bing fans in the United States probably don’t realize how popular Bing has been around the world. Der Bingle was cited by Yank Magazine as the entertainer who did most for morale of the troops during the World War II war effort. His popularity in the UK is unmatched.

Bing was an avid golfer, about a two handicapper, fisherman, hunter and horseman. He took his recreation seriously, as he did his profession -- despite his apparent easy manner of singing and acting. Lee J. Cobb and Bing turned down the role of Lt. Columbo on TV, and the part was won by Peter Falk. Bing had other plans.

Bing’s legacy has suffered over the years, however, despite great popularity and immense talent. Aside from Gary’s book, the publicity over his comments to Barbara Walters in her infamous 1977 interview with Bing added salt to the wound. For the uninitiated, Bing came from a devout Catholic family and took his religion seriously. When Walters asked him what he would do if one of his sons declared he was living with a girl without the benefit of marriage, Bing responded that he would never speak to him again. “Aloha on the steel guitar,” Bing said, memorably.

Most of Bing’s records, primarily 78 RPMs, and his movies, primarily filmed in black and white – although his “Holiday Inn” movie was just released in “colorized” format – are available on tapes and on CDs. Many clips can be found on youtube.com and on many sites on the Internet.

“Santa Cros” has been featured for the two weeks preceding Christmas on an exclusive channel on “Crosby Christmas Radio” on Sirius and XM satellite radio.

“The Crooner” is remembered every year around Christmas time because he was so prominent for so long during yuletide, but he’s remembered all year ‘round by his many fans, particularly those in the United States, England, Canada and Australia.

There a several important organizations that keep Bing’s legacy alive, including The International Club Crosby which puts out Bing Magazine three times a year and the Bing Crosby Internet Museum established and maintained by Steven Lewis since 1996. The ICC is the longest continuously active fan club in America. Other Crosby organizations include Bing’s Friends and Collectors and The Victorian Bing Crosby Society (Australia.)

For everything you ever wanted to know about Bing Crosby (and don’t be afraid to ask), Gary Giddens has put out what Crosby fans consider “the bible:” Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams -- the Early Years 1903-1940 published by Little, Brown in 2001.

The Crosby family has come under some criticism over the years, often from avid Bing fans, for not promoting Der Bingle's legacy more than they have, but there seems to be a renewed interest among several family members. A new Website bingcrosby.com has been created by the family, Bing's widow, Kathryn, has been performing a show of Bing remembrances at various locations, a chain of Bing Crosby Restaurants was started in California, and Bing's niece, Carolyn Schneider, has written her memories in a book, "Me And Uncle Bing" Things are looking up!

I am thankful for the wonderful resources of the Bing Crosby Internet Museum and its founder, Steven Lewis, for much of the information on this Blog. While my memories of Bing’s matchless voice and personality are vivid, my recall of dates, titles and details require this very reliable resource.

If you stop back at this Blog, you’ll likely see more about Bing Crosby in the days to come.

-- William F. ‘Bill’ Torpey

Did You Ever See a Dream Walking? (1933)

I'm Hummin'-I'm Whistlin'-I'm Singin' (1934)

Brother Can You Spare a Dime (1932)

Bing Crosby 'The Day You Came Along' (1933)

Bing Crosby 'Sweet Georgia Brown' (1932)

Bush Legacy, Obama Hope

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------John McCain and George W. Bush.

Contrary to what you hear the talking heads say on television, the legacy of George W. Bush will not be tied to the fate of the beleaguered country of Iraq or to the democratization of the Middle East.

Former President Bush illegally, and unnecessarily, invaded the sovereign country of Iraq in what he referred to as a “War on Terror.” Sadly, his actions were endorsed both by his Administration and Republicans in Congress as well as by many Americans who believed he had the national security of the country at heart. Disappointingly, Democrats in Congress voted for the war resolution, generally relying on the expression in that resolution that there would be diplomatic efforts by the President. President Bush chose to ignore the request of the weapons inspectors who found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

Even if Iraq were to become a model of democracy (a desirable but unlikely outcome), an objective observer of history would have to endorse the illegal invasion and occupation of a foreign country in order to assign credit to President Bush.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, image above left, defeated Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona by a decisive margin. It was a clear repudiation of the failed Bush Administration.

Obama, the 44th president of the United States, received 66,882,239 votes (53 percent of the popular vote) and 365 electoral votes to McCain’s 58,343,671 votes (46 percent of the popular vote) and 173 electoral votes. That’s an 8,538,559 majority of popular votes for Obama. The new President’s overwhelming victory also significantly increased Democratic majorities in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

President Obama inherits an economy in chaos on the heels of collapses in the real estate and mortgage markets, the banking meltdown and the stock market dive that combined to put the government into record deficits, business in a tailspin and consumers losing their homes and their savings. President Bush’s policies of deregulating business and industry, his efforts to privatize Social Security and virtually every industry, the uncontrolled spending and anti-labor attitude, not to mention a belligerent, aggressive stance in international relations had more than a little to do with the financial problems in the United States and the world today.

In the 110th Congress, the Senate was composed of 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans with two independents, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, both of whom caucused with the Democrats. In the new, 111th Congress, there are 57 Democrats with the same two independents caucusing with the Democrats and 41 Republicans.

The Democratic count includes Al Franken whose tentative victory in Minnesota is being challenged by Norm Coleman. In the 110th Congress, the House of Representatives was composed of 233 Democrats and 202 Republicans. In the 111th Congress, the new House will have 257 Democrats to 178 Republicans, a pickup of 34 seats for the Democrats.
The statements of President Bush speak for themselves.

If you were on the planet over the past eight years you are familiar with them. There are many of them, including many funny, foot-in-mouth quotes, but here’s just four that show the general flavor of his thinking:

*"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."

*“Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”

*“I'm the commander — see, I don't need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president.”

*“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.”

It would take volumes to hash over the most grievous faults of President Bush, so I’m offering here only the alleged high crimes and misdemeanors detailed by Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich in the articles of impeachment filed with Congress on June 9, 2008.

On June 9, 2008 U.S. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio put forward 35 articles of impeachment in a resolution against President George W. Bush detailing charges of high crimes and misdemeanors. The House buried the action by voting, 251-166, to send the articles to the House Judiciary Committee. Kucinich previously had introduced articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney that suffered the same fate.

Rep. Kucinich’s resolution of impeachment gives a comprehensive list of the allegations against President Bush. Here is an index of the articles of impeachment:

Article I
Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq.

Article II
Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression.

Article III
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War.

Article IV
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.

Article V
Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression.

Article VI
Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of HJRes 114.

Article VII
Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.

Article VIII
Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter.

Article IX
Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor

Article X
Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes

Article XI
Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq

Article XII
Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation's Natural Resources

Article XIIII
Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries

Article XIV
Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency

Article XV
Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq

Article XVI
Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors

Article XVII
Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives

Article XVIII
Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy

Article XIX
Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture

Article XX
Imprisoning Children

Article XXI
Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government

Article XXII
Creating Secret Laws

Article XXIII
Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act

Article XXIV
Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment

Article XXV
Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens

Article XXVI
Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements

Article XXVII
Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply

Article XXVIII
Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice

Article XXIX
Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Article XXX
Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare

Article XXXI
Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency

Article XXXII
Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change

Article XXXIII
Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.

Article XXXIV
Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001

Article XXXV
Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.


Here is the link that is the source of this outline. It provides a more detailed and comprehensive index of the charges: http://chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amomentoftruth.pdf

Here are some Barack Obama quotes from brainyquote.com:
* “Americans... still believe in an America where anything's possible - they just don't think their leaders do.”

* “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

* “I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.”

* “I don't take a dime of their [lobbyist] money, and when I am president, they won't find a job in my White House.”

* “I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.”

* “I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody.”

* “If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.”

* “It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.”

* “Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terrorism have reduced the pace of military transformation and have revealed our lack of preparation for defensive and stability operations. This Administration has overextended our military.”

* “The Bush Administration's failure to be consistently involved in helping Israel achieve peace with the Palestinians has been both wrong for our friendship with Israel, as well as badly damaging to our standing in the Arab world.”

* “There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

Can President Obama bring peace, security and the good old American dream back to America?

Let’s hope so.