My father is the single greatest influence on who I am. Growing up he was like John Wayne, Superman, and King Kong all rolled up into one. He was the center of attention in crowded rooms, simultaneously the funniest, smartest and toughest guy wherever he went. I tried so hard to please him. Literally everything that I did, was for his approval. I wanted to be as funny as him, as smart, as tough, I even wanted a belly just like him (something I have accomplished unfortunately).
As time went by I would start to pressure myself so hard to please him that I didn't enjoy anything I did. I quit baseball when it became apparent that I'd never be as good as him, and I'll never forget how disappointed he was. But that one time disappointment was better than an entire season's worth of them, at least in my eyes. What if I did try out for baseball in high school, but only made the freshman team? My father was starting varsity for four years, how could he have been proud of that?
The point is that my father's oppinion of me is to this day one of the driving factors in how I live my life. No one can hurt me the way that he can, and because of that I find myself trying to distance myself from him. A petty disagreement with him can illicit tears to start flowing from my eyes, so I stay away. My father's capacity for causing deep pain within my very soul, from all the times he sided with my brother over me, to all the hurtful things he has said to try to motivate me, has always kept me from completely opening up to him.
But some of the happiest moments of my life came from the times when he and I were on the same page. When we transcended the father/son dynamic and were friends. The days at theme parks when he would cut in line and act like a child, the Eagles games that we shared together, the hiking trips, even the long car rides with just me and dad. Those were the greatest times for me. The following story is of one of those days, when me and dad were just out for some fun. Hope you enjoy.
-Nick
Dad had been on the road working for months, and my brother and I were excited to have the day with him. When he suggested the three of us go to the driving range to hit a couple of buckets of golf balls, the two of us jumped at the chance (despite the contempt we both felt for the game of golf). The drive to the driving range was especially cheerful, the three of us singing along to some Beatles tunes, my father telling us the meanings of the lyrics in between songs. It couldn't get much better.
When we finally got to the driving range, after about a twenty minute drive of singing and laughing, dad set the two of us up with buckets and clubs. After taking some time to instruct us on the proper way to strike the balls, he took his buckets to his range and started launching the balls. I stopped and watched in wonder how effortlessly everything came to my father. A natural athlete, he picked up every athletic endeavor he attempted with ease and grace. My brother and I were lucky to get our balls off the ground, but we were just happy to be there with the old man.
Half-way through his bucket my little brother had started to find his groove, and thankfully so had I. We were really starting to make good contact when I noticed a change come over my father. His skin turned red and his face shiny with sweat. Through pained eyes he yelled at my brother and I, "Get in the car!!!".
I immediately complied, but my brother wasn't so sympathetic, "I still have balls left!"
"Now," my father bellowed in a voice that left no room for argument.
As my brother and I hurried to the car, my father looked odd. He was trying to move as fast as he could, but he looked so stiff, as if he couldn't bend the joints beneath his waist. We got into the car and buckled up, my father hit the gas and was out of the driving range, speeding down the two-lane street that would take us home. When dad got the car into fifth gear and started hovering around the 80 mph mark, I finally had to ask, "D-Dad w-w-wwhats wrong?"
"Oh I gotta shit, please God let me make it home!", my father replied shaking back and forth almost in a trance.
My brother and I were relieved that it wasn't more serious and started to laugh as my father weaved in and out of traffic at break neck speed. All the way home my father continued his mantra, "please God let me make it, please God let me make it....."
As we approached the house, my brother started stating his need to pee, and taunting my father that he would beat him to the bathroom, my father gravely warned him, "Son, I love you, but don't even think about getting in my way!" The warning would have worked on me.
When we finally made it to the driveway my brother quickly lept out of the car and started to strut down the walkway to our house, my father fumbled with the car keys and dived out of the car. One clubbing forearm to my brother's skinny shoulder sent the boy flying out of the way. My father was at the front door to our house before my brother landed. I heard him let out the loudest string of profanities I had ever heard as he fumbled for the right key, finally letting out a triumphant yell when he got the door open. He made it to the bathroom and let out an almost orgasmic moan, I thought that was the end of it.
Ten minutes later as I sat on the couch watching television with my sore little brother, the bathroom door opened, followed by my father's voice, "Nick, come over here, you have to see this."
"No"
"C'mon son, you have to see this"
"I really don't want to dad, please I'll take your word for it."
"Get over here NOW!"
Well that tone convinced me, and I angrilly complied. When I got to the door of the bathroom, at first my mind couldn't comprehend what I was seeing. Why was my father's shirt off? How did shit get on the side of the toilet? How did shit get on the mirror next to the toilet? What was shit doing on the wall facing the toilet? Oh my God, what is shit doing on the ceiling?
My father started laughing as soon as he saw my befuddled reaction to what I was looking at. Then I started laughing. Apparently when my father sat down on the toilet his shirt was still hanging over his ass, when he let out his first wave of explosive diarrhea, he realized that his shirt was in the line of fire, and wondered to himself if had just shit on his shirt. To answer the question he quickly pulled his shirt over his head, the sound of splatters that filled the room answered his question. What he had managed to do, was to spread and splatter his bowel movement to every corner of the bathroom. Once he had explained how he did it, I left the area before vomiting, and excitedly called my brother in to see the devastation my father had left.
Later in the night, after my father had finished cleaning his mess, my mother came home. After recanting the story to her in full detail, my mother was nonplussed. Stonefaced her only reaction was, "You know Nick, I have never heard of anyone who shits themselves more than your father."
Nick Romano
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
misspent youth
MisspentYouth
It had to be sometime in '95 considering Kill didn't have his driver's license at the time, though I'm so unreliable with time that you need not worry too much about it. I was either 14 or 15 but probably not 13 or sixteen, thankfully the story in question does not rely on those details.
One lazy summer day, my friend Anthony decided to visit from Southwest Philly with his buddy Chris Seamon (who could forget that name), to join Kill and myself for a day of Golf at Ron Jaworski's Eagles Nest Golf Course.
Considering none of us were any good at so much as chip and putt, the predictable outcome of the day was us sucking pretty badly and getting bored, so we decided to have fun with the Golf carts. We raced, played chicken and eventually Anthony crashed his cart, fuckin' fuck up.
We were whisked into the club house by an employee of the course and read the proverbial riot act, while we were being reamed out the owner of the course, and former Eagles quarterback and present ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski made his way in. Anthony began to ignore the reaming that we were recieving and preceded to tell Jaworski that the Eagles sucked, fuckin' fuck up.
In the end the angry course employee asked us to supply our names and phone numbers, thinking quickly on my feet I supplied the name John Pazzetti. "Spell that.", ordered the frustrated course employee.
I hadn't planned on that, it was a good sounding fake name, but how the fuck do you spell it? "P-a-z-z-uh-e-t-t-um-i" I replied, proud of myself for getting through it, hopefully he won't ask me to spell it again.
Kill followed my lead with "Chris S-c-a-r-p-o-n-e", smartly he just spelled it out before being asked.
Even fuckin' fuck up himself Anthony was able to play along with "James M-a-s-s-a".
Chris Seamon, our ride and oldest among us was last, all he had to do was provide a fake name and we were scot free, his answer, "John S-m-i-t-h".
Nick Romano
It had to be sometime in '95 considering Kill didn't have his driver's license at the time, though I'm so unreliable with time that you need not worry too much about it. I was either 14 or 15 but probably not 13 or sixteen, thankfully the story in question does not rely on those details.
One lazy summer day, my friend Anthony decided to visit from Southwest Philly with his buddy Chris Seamon (who could forget that name), to join Kill and myself for a day of Golf at Ron Jaworski's Eagles Nest Golf Course.
Considering none of us were any good at so much as chip and putt, the predictable outcome of the day was us sucking pretty badly and getting bored, so we decided to have fun with the Golf carts. We raced, played chicken and eventually Anthony crashed his cart, fuckin' fuck up.
We were whisked into the club house by an employee of the course and read the proverbial riot act, while we were being reamed out the owner of the course, and former Eagles quarterback and present ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski made his way in. Anthony began to ignore the reaming that we were recieving and preceded to tell Jaworski that the Eagles sucked, fuckin' fuck up.
In the end the angry course employee asked us to supply our names and phone numbers, thinking quickly on my feet I supplied the name John Pazzetti. "Spell that.", ordered the frustrated course employee.
I hadn't planned on that, it was a good sounding fake name, but how the fuck do you spell it? "P-a-z-z-uh-e-t-t-um-i" I replied, proud of myself for getting through it, hopefully he won't ask me to spell it again.
Kill followed my lead with "Chris S-c-a-r-p-o-n-e", smartly he just spelled it out before being asked.
Even fuckin' fuck up himself Anthony was able to play along with "James M-a-s-s-a".
Chris Seamon, our ride and oldest among us was last, all he had to do was provide a fake name and we were scot free, his answer, "John S-m-i-t-h".
Nick Romano
Welcome Back
wrote this piece a couple years ago to try and deal with something that refuses to go away
welcome back....the price
Category: Writing and Poetry
I hear the footsteps of a child and I open my eyes
To find myself in a place I barely recognize
In a home where only spirits dare to roam
Panic strikes! I shouldn't be alone
The footsteps stop and the floorboards creek
A draft fills the room and I hear it speak
You were here before but you ran away
Turned your back and forgot this place
You've found you're way back and we're glad your here
Enjoy your stay...you have nothing to fear
I didn't believe the phantom voice
Stuck in this place I had no choice
The floorboards creek and the footsteps soften
Coming closer my way, in this place i had forgotten
The room is dark, moldy and stinking of my fear
The tick-tock of a clock that isn't there
A phantom faucet drips and I hear a newborn cry
I stand up out of the bed, even though I'd rather die
I open the door to the room, and enter a long and narrow hallway
The empty wooden floor creaks beneath my feet, i hear the child play
The newborn cries again, I turn to run away
Keep walking boy you aren't done
There's no escape you cannot run
Not this time, no never again
You belong to us, now be a man
The voice is true, it doesn't have to lie
And closer now the newborn cries
I'm coming to the door and I hear the faucet
The door opens, I try to stop it
Powerless I go into the room, so bright
Typical bathroom industrial and white
The dripping faucet starts to flow, the cries so loud inside my head
I look to the dripping sink, to find the crying baby laying dead
In a pool of blood rotting at the bone, the cries stop but my panic rises
A clusterfuck of emotion, please take me away, no more surprises
I lose my footing and fall, blackness overtakes me as i wish for death
I awake in a new room very much alive
Staring at boy of four or five
I'd never witnessed beauty like this boy
His eyes fill my heart with sorrow and joy
His hair brown and curly, his face a mirror of my own
I've been waiting for you here all alone
For you to come back, and see my face
To see the boy you abandoned without a trace
To face yourself within my eyes, to come back home
Son, you weren't here before, how could I have known
I'd take you away, if we could just escape
How did you ever come to this place?
I'll take you away, show you what its like to be alive
MISCARRIAGE OF TRUTH...LIES, LIES, LIES
You knew I was here and you stayed away
I've been here alone, learning games I'll never play
You've found you're way back for the treasures within
But now you have to face your sin
You'll never leave now, nowhere to run
Opened up your heart and its just begun
Cry the tears that were always there
Its the price you pay for the gifts in here
And the tears flow now, as I write these words
Finding my gift has brought with it this curse
To feel what has been pushed down so deep
And fear the dark and floorboard creaks
Nick Romano
welcome back....the price
Category: Writing and Poetry
I hear the footsteps of a child and I open my eyes
To find myself in a place I barely recognize
In a home where only spirits dare to roam
Panic strikes! I shouldn't be alone
The footsteps stop and the floorboards creek
A draft fills the room and I hear it speak
You were here before but you ran away
Turned your back and forgot this place
You've found you're way back and we're glad your here
Enjoy your stay...you have nothing to fear
I didn't believe the phantom voice
Stuck in this place I had no choice
The floorboards creek and the footsteps soften
Coming closer my way, in this place i had forgotten
The room is dark, moldy and stinking of my fear
The tick-tock of a clock that isn't there
A phantom faucet drips and I hear a newborn cry
I stand up out of the bed, even though I'd rather die
I open the door to the room, and enter a long and narrow hallway
The empty wooden floor creaks beneath my feet, i hear the child play
The newborn cries again, I turn to run away
Keep walking boy you aren't done
There's no escape you cannot run
Not this time, no never again
You belong to us, now be a man
The voice is true, it doesn't have to lie
And closer now the newborn cries
I'm coming to the door and I hear the faucet
The door opens, I try to stop it
Powerless I go into the room, so bright
Typical bathroom industrial and white
The dripping faucet starts to flow, the cries so loud inside my head
I look to the dripping sink, to find the crying baby laying dead
In a pool of blood rotting at the bone, the cries stop but my panic rises
A clusterfuck of emotion, please take me away, no more surprises
I lose my footing and fall, blackness overtakes me as i wish for death
I awake in a new room very much alive
Staring at boy of four or five
I'd never witnessed beauty like this boy
His eyes fill my heart with sorrow and joy
His hair brown and curly, his face a mirror of my own
I've been waiting for you here all alone
For you to come back, and see my face
To see the boy you abandoned without a trace
To face yourself within my eyes, to come back home
Son, you weren't here before, how could I have known
I'd take you away, if we could just escape
How did you ever come to this place?
I'll take you away, show you what its like to be alive
MISCARRIAGE OF TRUTH...LIES, LIES, LIES
You knew I was here and you stayed away
I've been here alone, learning games I'll never play
You've found you're way back for the treasures within
But now you have to face your sin
You'll never leave now, nowhere to run
Opened up your heart and its just begun
Cry the tears that were always there
Its the price you pay for the gifts in here
And the tears flow now, as I write these words
Finding my gift has brought with it this curse
To feel what has been pushed down so deep
And fear the dark and floorboard creaks
Nick Romano
Ali promises race and class war if Obama loses!
Fatimah Ali posted an op ed in the Philadelphia Daily News that quite simply went overboard. This is why some folks believe that liberalism is a mental disorder. Filled with lies and hyperbole this may rank as one of the most insane articles that I've ever read in my life. I've included the comments, because they make me proud. Fortunately people are paying attention out there and lies and hyperbole on this level will only work on the least informed among us.
I originally found this story on The Drudge Report. Let me know what you think.
-Nick
Posted on Tue, Sep. 2, 2008
Fatimah Ali: We need Obama, not 4 more years of George Bush
By Fatimah Ali Philadelphia Daily News
AMERICA is on the brink of a long, harsh and bitterly cold winter, with a looming recession that the GOP won't even admit to.
The policies of the current White House have brutalized our economy, yet the wealthiest think that everything is fine.
Rich Republicans just don't understand that millions are suffering. But many of their working class do, and they're beginning to abandon their own party.
When lifelong Republican Barney Smith told the Democratic convention that he'd vote for Barack Obama for president, he gave pause to even the most conservative members of his party.
Smith, like many disgruntled working-class Republicans, is ready to turn his back on his party because he's having such a hard time providing for his family. Like others, Smith fell victim to the loss of 3.2 million American jobs as factories closed or their work was outsourced to cheap labor markets overseas.
Poet Langston Hughes once wrote, "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly, Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams go, life is a barren field, frozen with snow."
Many wealthy folks live in a dream state and ignore people like Smith, whose tale of personal woe preceded Obama's acceptance speech.
He opposes John McCain because, he says, America can't afford another four years of failed GOP policies that have extended $200 billion in tax cuts to big corporations but not to the nation's 100 million families.
Our national debt has soared from $5.6 trillion to $9.6 trillion under Bush. The Republicans have overstayed their welcome and dragged us into a nightmare that must end soon, or this nation may be headed for chaos.
Obama tugged on the nation's heartstrings when he challenged McCain's tough talk and told the truth about the current policies.
Critics of the GOP believe that a four-year extension of the Bush administration will be disastrous. People are struggling, and the privileged are so out of touch they pretend it's OK that children go hungry.
Over the last eight years, we've lost 3.2 million jobs, and started a war that's cost trillions. The lies and deceit that got us into Iraq in the first place are just the tip of the iceberg and have ruined America's reputation across the globe.
Meanwhile, our economy continues to crumble, while crime, homelessness and poverty continue to soar.
Despite the fact that thousands of immigrants risk their safety to come here because this country may offer them better opportunities, the truth is that poverty lives right here in our own backyard.
Suffering is widespread as the gap between rich and poor widens. The Bush administration doesn't get it and neither does McCain. He is so out of touch that he hasn't a clue how many homes he owns, while the working class struggles to hold on to one.
The Democrats desperately need many more voters like Smith to cross party lines in order to secure the White House. Obama says electing him to the nation's highest office will not only help restore America's moral standing globally, but will lift the nation's low morale and improve our declining economy.
He promises to cut taxes for 95 percent of American workers and ease the burden for millions of families. And I believe him, although his critics say he's out of touch with the working class and blast him for not having a lineage that includes slavery.
But just because his ancestors never wore shackles, and he has paid off the student loans from his elite education doesn't mean he doesn't have compassion. Or that he doesn't understand the pain of those who live in dire poverty, who've lost their homes, who want yet can't afford college, and who lack health insurance.
His acceptance speech indicated that, unlike McCain, Obama gets it because hard times aren't so far behind him that his memory's been erased.
If McCain wins, look for a full-fledged race and class war, fueled by a deflated and depressed country, soaring crime, homelessness - and hopelessness!
Plenty of Americans would rather stay in their dream state than to recognize the poverty sweeping across the country, right here, right now.
Obama understands that people are suffering. Every week, prices go up at the supermarket, and people are unable to feed their families. It already is dark and stormy for millions, who can't even afford pencils, book bags and lunch money for their children.
But when Obama wins the White House, we may just see a revolution that can turn the tide and improve this nation for everyone, not just a select few.
And I expect him to keep his word.*
Fatimah Ali is a regular contributor. E-mail her at fameworksmedia@yahoo.com.
phillycom:http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/27755834.html
Posted by juliuseezar 07:29 AM, 09/02/2008
that would be great, maybe nancy pelosi's husbands government contract of 250 million dollars a year (Iraq war contract) and Jack murpha's brothers contract: 22 milion dollars ayear will be canceled when Obamam's elected.........NOT!
Posted by cwoulfe2000 07:33 AM, 09/02/2008
Who signed NAFTA
Posted by philly3t0 07:35 AM, 09/02/2008
What a bunch of nonsense. Obama is in touch with struggling people, how??? If we all got mansions with the help of convicted felons we would all be in better shape. We are not on a brink of recession, the GDP was strong in Q2, but don't let facts get in the way of your race baiting rhetoric. The housing crisis was a democrat debacle as they blocked all analysis of fannie mae and freddie mac because they are democrat organizations. How many sweet VIP mortgages did dem politicians get from countrywide?? A lot. Inflation-thank the democrats, high oil prices driving inflation, because we are reliant on foreign oil. You hide the fact dems are responsible because they won't let us drill in our own country- because they are in the pocket of environmentalists. BTW-no attacks in the US since we took the fight to the terrorists, your guy obama would still be negotiating. I'm praying for many more years of pro American policies.
Posted by wfs0868 08:08 AM, 09/02/2008
A full-fledged race and class war if Obama is not elected? A revolution that will turn the tide for everyone if Obama is elected? Please go to the dictionary and look up the definition of hyperbole.
Posted by fbpdplt 08:12 AM, 09/02/2008
This idiot is threatening us with race wars...if her poster child loses...Doesn't that sound typical!..Geez..she couldn't be a product of inner city violence could she...Heres a real American...vote my way or we'll kill you. Her patriotism is so touching..full of compassion
Posted by 0bamaFatigue 08:22 AM, 09/02/2008
Another reason I will never spend one dime on the biased partisan Democrat Inquirer and Daily News... may the layoffs continue. Even the 0bamassiah won't be able to save you.
Posted by littleonions 08:48 AM, 09/02/2008
There is a lot of hyperbole going around here. Pols in both parties have benefited from this administration's policies. But I agree that the threat of a "race war" is over the top and I am sure the author regrets writing it and maybe should do a follow-up column apologizing. With friends like these, Obama needs no enemies.
Posted by dpcoz 08:59 AM, 09/02/2008
LOL, McCain being 4 more years of Bush is just like saying that Obama's really a Muslim. You want 4 more years of an incompetent president? Vote for Obama, who's too extreme left political opinions are as bad as Bush's too far right opinions. Neither work in such a diverse country! Make your claims that he voted with bush 90% of the time - let's also remember in 2004 he was the democrats sweetheart as most of you were swooning over the potential of MCCain jumping sides and becoming Kerry's running mate! Liberals are worse than most think. Must be the media!!!
Posted by NJsux6569 09:19 AM, 09/02/2008
Will there be riots if Obama loses?
Posted by Nicher 09:24 AM, 09/02/2008
Sorry I'm late to the discussion. I just got out of the soup line, and man...it was around the block. See if you can spot all of the Democratic talking points in this story...Whoo boy!! I think she hit them all: The Republicans have "brutalized the economy" (which actually grew by 3.3% last quarter, still no sign of the long-promised recession)If the Republicans win, the race struggles will continue, but Obama can unite us all. This lady has seen (and bought into) too many movies. Remember when Clinton was in the White House, and a 5.5% unemployment rate was seen as good news? How amazing is it that 8 years later that same unemployment rate is the indicator of how far this country has fallen. Hypocrisy, thy name is Fatimah Ali.
Posted by Phils1208 09:42 AM, 09/02/2008
This may be one of the most ignorant articles I have ever read and I am considering stopping my print subscriptions. Taxing the hell out of the wealthy corporations will do nothing but drive more jobs overseas.Second, you have to remember the top 1% of wealthy people pay 27 times the national average in taxes. These people pay more than enough. Obama would bring in nothing but a semi-communist regime.
Posted by Delaware Vol 09:43 AM, 09/02/2008
Typical story from someone of your ilk!!! May you be the next person to be relieved (fired)of your job you hack!!!
Posted by m-1911 09:44 AM, 09/02/2008
Race baiting, class wafare are still alive in the Democratic party. I thought that Obama was the "candidate of change" I too would like Fatimah to tip us off where the riots will be. I hope they are not in Perkasie.
Posted by davenp35 09:44 AM, 09/02/2008
This is probably the most radical and overtly disgusting op-ed I have EVER read in my life!
Posted by boquin09 09:46 AM, 09/02/2008
As someone whose job it is to help manufacturing companies save money (and therefore jobs), America is losing factory jobs because unions (which are supported by Democrats) have destroyed American manufacturing. I'm sorry that the guy in this story lost his job, but his brethren were responsible, not Republicans.
that would be great, maybe nancy pelosi's husbands government contract of 250 million dollars a year (Iraq war contract) and Jack murpha's brothers contract: 22 milion dollars ayear will be canceled when Obamam's elected.........NOT!
Posted by cwoulfe2000 07:33 AM, 09/02/2008
Who signed NAFTA
Posted by philly3t0 07:35 AM, 09/02/2008
What a bunch of nonsense. Obama is in touch with struggling people, how??? If we all got mansions with the help of convicted felons we would all be in better shape. We are not on a brink of recession, the GDP was strong in Q2, but don't let facts get in the way of your race baiting rhetoric. The housing crisis was a democrat debacle as they blocked all analysis of fannie mae and freddie mac because they are democrat organizations. How many sweet VIP mortgages did dem politicians get from countrywide?? A lot. Inflation-thank the democrats, high oil prices driving inflation, because we are reliant on foreign oil. You hide the fact dems are responsible because they won't let us drill in our own country- because they are in the pocket of environmentalists. BTW-no attacks in the US since we took the fight to the terrorists, your guy obama would still be negotiating. I'm praying for many more years of pro American policies.
Posted by wfs0868 08:08 AM, 09/02/2008
A full-fledged race and class war if Obama is not elected? A revolution that will turn the tide for everyone if Obama is elected? Please go to the dictionary and look up the definition of hyperbole.
Posted by fbpdplt 08:12 AM, 09/02/2008
This idiot is threatening us with race wars...if her poster child loses...Doesn't that sound typical!..Geez..she couldn't be a product of inner city violence could she...Heres a real American...vote my way or we'll kill you. Her patriotism is so touching..full of compassion
Posted by 0bamaFatigue 08:22 AM, 09/02/2008
Another reason I will never spend one dime on the biased partisan Democrat Inquirer and Daily News... may the layoffs continue. Even the 0bamassiah won't be able to save you.
Posted by littleonions 08:48 AM, 09/02/2008
There is a lot of hyperbole going around here. Pols in both parties have benefited from this administration's policies. But I agree that the threat of a "race war" is over the top and I am sure the author regrets writing it and maybe should do a follow-up column apologizing. With friends like these, Obama needs no enemies.
Posted by dpcoz 08:59 AM, 09/02/2008
LOL, McCain being 4 more years of Bush is just like saying that Obama's really a Muslim. You want 4 more years of an incompetent president? Vote for Obama, who's too extreme left political opinions are as bad as Bush's too far right opinions. Neither work in such a diverse country! Make your claims that he voted with bush 90% of the time - let's also remember in 2004 he was the democrats sweetheart as most of you were swooning over the potential of MCCain jumping sides and becoming Kerry's running mate! Liberals are worse than most think. Must be the media!!!
Posted by NJsux6569 09:19 AM, 09/02/2008
Will there be riots if Obama loses?
Posted by Nicher 09:24 AM, 09/02/2008
Sorry I'm late to the discussion. I just got out of the soup line, and man...it was around the block. See if you can spot all of the Democratic talking points in this story...Whoo boy!! I think she hit them all: The Republicans have "brutalized the economy" (which actually grew by 3.3% last quarter, still no sign of the long-promised recession)If the Republicans win, the race struggles will continue, but Obama can unite us all. This lady has seen (and bought into) too many movies. Remember when Clinton was in the White House, and a 5.5% unemployment rate was seen as good news? How amazing is it that 8 years later that same unemployment rate is the indicator of how far this country has fallen. Hypocrisy, thy name is Fatimah Ali.
Posted by Phils1208 09:42 AM, 09/02/2008
This may be one of the most ignorant articles I have ever read and I am considering stopping my print subscriptions. Taxing the hell out of the wealthy corporations will do nothing but drive more jobs overseas.Second, you have to remember the top 1% of wealthy people pay 27 times the national average in taxes. These people pay more than enough. Obama would bring in nothing but a semi-communist regime.
Posted by Delaware Vol 09:43 AM, 09/02/2008
Typical story from someone of your ilk!!! May you be the next person to be relieved (fired)of your job you hack!!!
Posted by m-1911 09:44 AM, 09/02/2008
Race baiting, class wafare are still alive in the Democratic party. I thought that Obama was the "candidate of change" I too would like Fatimah to tip us off where the riots will be. I hope they are not in Perkasie.
Posted by davenp35 09:44 AM, 09/02/2008
This is probably the most radical and overtly disgusting op-ed I have EVER read in my life!
Posted by boquin09 09:46 AM, 09/02/2008
As someone whose job it is to help manufacturing companies save money (and therefore jobs), America is losing factory jobs because unions (which are supported by Democrats) have destroyed American manufacturing. I'm sorry that the guy in this story lost his job, but his brethren were responsible, not Republicans.
What If?
She came to me looking for strength, and I proved that I had none
What if I had tried a little harder
Tried to make it work
Instead of pretending to be the one
Nick Romano
What if I had tried a little harder
Tried to make it work
Instead of pretending to be the one
Nick Romano
Monday, September 1, 2008
Intervention
Intervention
So my old and former friend Anthony's(anthony's sad fuckin' story here) mom asked me to write a letter for Anthony's intervention. This intervention occurring three months after Anthony called me to try to make amends, three months after telling me that he had his priorities settled and that "being clean" was his top priority. I stopped taking his calls.
Fuck him, and fuck anyone else that calls addiction a "disease". The "disease" is being a careless spoiled brat, the side effect of said "disease" may be substance abuse....anyways, i'm an open book, so fuck it...I will post the letter that I wrote for Anthony's intervention for whomever chooses to read it. I know that it's not appropriate for an intervention, and i'm sure that it wasn't read.
I'm also aware that this letter was not written for a general audience. It's inside, from one old friend to another. But it does have value, and I think that if you have a loved one that has a problem, then you should see what it is like when you no longer love the addict...when an undying love is broken. I love the guy that Ant used to be, but he isn't that guy anymore, so I have stopped giving a fuck about him and his well being. He's either gonna get busy living, or get busy dying...but i'm tired of the whole thing.
Ant,
Eighteen years. Eighteen, going on nineteen years ago, you and I metin the school yard on the first day of school...we've been family ever since.
I am writing this letter for the benefit of your parents, I love them very much and I wish that you would have class enough to just leave them alone. I'm sure that many people will write letters detailing the wrongs that you have done to them, but ultimately those folks will try to spin the ending in some optimistic fashion...not this letter.
This letter is going to be brutal, I have nothing nice or optimistic to say to you, I do not believe that your addiction is a "disease"...I think that you're a self-centered spoiled brat. I think that you're a child. I think that you're a lazy asshole looking for short cuts. I think that you're dumb enough to think that you can get over on life. I think that you run away from responsibility. I do not think that you'll ever be worth anything, nor am I holding out hope that you will prove me wrong...because I know that you won't.
Why do I go against conventional wisdom and deny the "disease" justification that so many ex junkie drug counselors and liberal douche bag politicians like to give folks like you? Because I actually know you...your disease is being an asshole, a side effect of being an asshole was opiate dependance, but no one should pretend that the opiates have made you an asshole. Since I've met you, you have avoided responsability, passed off blame, run away from obligations, lied, cheated, stolen, manipulated, quit everything you've ever started and bullshitted everyone you've ever met...Can we blame opiates on all of your gambling losses? Can we blame opiates on the so-called friends that you've screwed over? No. The disease is you. You are a cancer, and the best thing for all of us that know you and who have loved you is for you to be cut the fuck out.
You've never cared about the consequences of your actions, you've never cared for other people's feelings and you've never put in an honest effort into living up to your responsibilities.
I sincerely hope that your parents are finally ready to wash their hands of you. They are good people and have never deserved to have such a rotten sociopath of a son in their lives. You've never given thought to your parent's health, their financial future, or their emotional well being. If you were an actual human, you'd just leave them alone.
Let's face facts, if the only thing that you had done was leave my brother as he was dying from heroin that you had purchased with him, i might be able to move on...but it's not just that. You've systematically lied to me for the last five years, you stole from my best friend's mother (ryan), you stole from my little brother, you acted disrespectfully in front of my parents (who the fuck are you to sit at the poker table with some fucking prostitute in front of my mother?), and you've effectively manipulated my heart felt love for you for your advantage.
As Joey lay in the hospital fighting for his life, I very nearly attacked my Uncle Tony for his suggestion that Joseph was with you....motherfucker, even then, with no reason to believe a word you said to me, I was about to physically attack a man that actually loved me and my family in defense of a child that only loves himself. That's the last time i'll ever believe anything that you say to me, that last lie....that last lie that could only work if my brother had died.
When your mother called me and asked me to write this, i knew immediately that this letter was going to be brutal...because i don't believe in interventions, I really don't give a fuck if this "helps" you because i can't believe that you can be helped...but let me tell you the truth about yourself and your future.
You are a sniveling, conniving, piece of shit and the best thing that you could ever fucking do in your life...the only thing that you could do to redeem yourself in anyway is to walk away from all of us that have had the misfortune of loving you. That includes Blake and Jessica. You do that child no fucking favors by being around him, you are a horrible example of what a man should be and that child should not be influenced by your piss poor example of "manhood". With any luck, Blake will grow up with a conscience, with honor, with respect for others, and with constraint...to summarize, hopefully he'll growup nothing like the sperm donor that he calls dad.
Whatever....whatever happens, i only give a fuck because of your family...after eighteen long years...i just don't have it in me to care about you any longer.
Later,
Nick
that's it for me party people...back to work
So my old and former friend Anthony's(anthony's sad fuckin' story here) mom asked me to write a letter for Anthony's intervention. This intervention occurring three months after Anthony called me to try to make amends, three months after telling me that he had his priorities settled and that "being clean" was his top priority. I stopped taking his calls.
Fuck him, and fuck anyone else that calls addiction a "disease". The "disease" is being a careless spoiled brat, the side effect of said "disease" may be substance abuse....anyways, i'm an open book, so fuck it...I will post the letter that I wrote for Anthony's intervention for whomever chooses to read it. I know that it's not appropriate for an intervention, and i'm sure that it wasn't read.
I'm also aware that this letter was not written for a general audience. It's inside, from one old friend to another. But it does have value, and I think that if you have a loved one that has a problem, then you should see what it is like when you no longer love the addict...when an undying love is broken. I love the guy that Ant used to be, but he isn't that guy anymore, so I have stopped giving a fuck about him and his well being. He's either gonna get busy living, or get busy dying...but i'm tired of the whole thing.
Ant,
Eighteen years. Eighteen, going on nineteen years ago, you and I metin the school yard on the first day of school...we've been family ever since.
I am writing this letter for the benefit of your parents, I love them very much and I wish that you would have class enough to just leave them alone. I'm sure that many people will write letters detailing the wrongs that you have done to them, but ultimately those folks will try to spin the ending in some optimistic fashion...not this letter.
This letter is going to be brutal, I have nothing nice or optimistic to say to you, I do not believe that your addiction is a "disease"...I think that you're a self-centered spoiled brat. I think that you're a child. I think that you're a lazy asshole looking for short cuts. I think that you're dumb enough to think that you can get over on life. I think that you run away from responsibility. I do not think that you'll ever be worth anything, nor am I holding out hope that you will prove me wrong...because I know that you won't.
Why do I go against conventional wisdom and deny the "disease" justification that so many ex junkie drug counselors and liberal douche bag politicians like to give folks like you? Because I actually know you...your disease is being an asshole, a side effect of being an asshole was opiate dependance, but no one should pretend that the opiates have made you an asshole. Since I've met you, you have avoided responsability, passed off blame, run away from obligations, lied, cheated, stolen, manipulated, quit everything you've ever started and bullshitted everyone you've ever met...Can we blame opiates on all of your gambling losses? Can we blame opiates on the so-called friends that you've screwed over? No. The disease is you. You are a cancer, and the best thing for all of us that know you and who have loved you is for you to be cut the fuck out.
You've never cared about the consequences of your actions, you've never cared for other people's feelings and you've never put in an honest effort into living up to your responsibilities.
I sincerely hope that your parents are finally ready to wash their hands of you. They are good people and have never deserved to have such a rotten sociopath of a son in their lives. You've never given thought to your parent's health, their financial future, or their emotional well being. If you were an actual human, you'd just leave them alone.
Let's face facts, if the only thing that you had done was leave my brother as he was dying from heroin that you had purchased with him, i might be able to move on...but it's not just that. You've systematically lied to me for the last five years, you stole from my best friend's mother (ryan), you stole from my little brother, you acted disrespectfully in front of my parents (who the fuck are you to sit at the poker table with some fucking prostitute in front of my mother?), and you've effectively manipulated my heart felt love for you for your advantage.
As Joey lay in the hospital fighting for his life, I very nearly attacked my Uncle Tony for his suggestion that Joseph was with you....motherfucker, even then, with no reason to believe a word you said to me, I was about to physically attack a man that actually loved me and my family in defense of a child that only loves himself. That's the last time i'll ever believe anything that you say to me, that last lie....that last lie that could only work if my brother had died.
When your mother called me and asked me to write this, i knew immediately that this letter was going to be brutal...because i don't believe in interventions, I really don't give a fuck if this "helps" you because i can't believe that you can be helped...but let me tell you the truth about yourself and your future.
You are a sniveling, conniving, piece of shit and the best thing that you could ever fucking do in your life...the only thing that you could do to redeem yourself in anyway is to walk away from all of us that have had the misfortune of loving you. That includes Blake and Jessica. You do that child no fucking favors by being around him, you are a horrible example of what a man should be and that child should not be influenced by your piss poor example of "manhood". With any luck, Blake will grow up with a conscience, with honor, with respect for others, and with constraint...to summarize, hopefully he'll growup nothing like the sperm donor that he calls dad.
Whatever....whatever happens, i only give a fuck because of your family...after eighteen long years...i just don't have it in me to care about you any longer.
Later,
Nick
that's it for me party people...back to work
Is it me?
Look, i'm well aware that having a popular poetry blog on myspace was not going to attract the young republicans in my friend's list. I was fine with having polite disagreements with my pinko commie poet loving myspace friends...but with the advent of Obama I've honestly started to question my sanity. I mean either they make sense and i'm nuts, or they're absolutely ridiculous...here is an unedited discussion between a myspace Obama supporter and yours truly.
So in the beginning I responded to a Nic-e's poem:
Blind By Choice
I read something today that made me laugh. A blog, from the blind...
I thought in this country? In this time?
You want to stay not smart?
You get off on lies found deep in your heart?
America's trust has been broken.An empty headed decision is a vote for McSame
With all the knowledge that's obvious... closed your eyes remain
Should you be a pathetic little boy?
Oil companies and lobbiest mindless toy?
Is it fear that has you turned inside out?
Your so-called morals make the mass shout!
CHANGE!!!
CHANGE!!!
NO MORE George W.McCain!!
Seriously, is it me? Here's my response for those of you that haven't fallen asleep:
this was brand new news talking about Obama's claims. You didn't offer me a single rational reason to agree with you at all Nic. You just said a bunch of oppinions. That's not how political discourse is supposed to happen friend. McCain's overall record shows more of a willingness to disagree with his party than Obama's 97% party line would. How is that a change. How will partisan politics unify? I'm not a republican, but i'm not ashamed of my vote for Bush.
Honestly, I don't know why in the hell I bother. I don't mind it when I talk to people who actually get it, but these zealots that have no understanding of what they're voting for drive me nuts. I promise this blog isn't going to just be about politics, but i'm sure that everyone regardless of their views knows the frustrations of trying to reason with unreasonable people.
Later Party People
So in the beginning I responded to a Nic-e's poem:
Blind By Choice
I read something today that made me laugh. A blog, from the blind...
I thought in this country? In this time?
You want to stay not smart?
You get off on lies found deep in your heart?
America's trust has been broken.An empty headed decision is a vote for McSame
With all the knowledge that's obvious... closed your eyes remain
Should you be a pathetic little boy?
Oil companies and lobbiest mindless toy?
Is it fear that has you turned inside out?
Your so-called morals make the mass shout!
CHANGE!!!
CHANGE!!!
NO MORE George W.McCain!!
Romano's Comment:"very well written, even if i don't agree with your political views, i still dig your writing" (Note: i didn't think this was well written...but he's usually much better, the blog he mentioned was mine, in which I mentioned how Obama had attacked free speech my blog is found here: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=36413456&blogID=428234028 )
His response to my comment was pretty cool:
From: Nic-eDate: Aug 31, 2008 8:44 PM
I totally respect you too. I don't believe this conversation can be had with just anyone. I am very happy that we can talk like this and still remain friends.You know I dig your writing as well. I believe we both want what's best for our country.Much Love,Nic
So seeing as how he was being reasonable, I figured that I'd refute his "McSame" arguments, which are actually McLame...hahahhaha...yeah, it wasn't that funny:
I checked out factcheck. org...here are the facts behind the 95% number....if you want to critisize mccain, i'm sure there are better ways, but this stuff just is misleading...and makes me think less of obama for confusing the issue intentionally.
Q. Is it true John McCain voted with George Bush 95 percent of the time?The Obama campaign keeps claiming McCain has voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time. Is this true? Is this significant?
A: Yes, it's true, according to Congressional Quarterly's assessment of McCain's voting record.Sen. Barack Obama has attempted to use the Arizona senator's voting record against him in statements like this:
Barack Obama (June 3): It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year.
The claim is true. According to Congressional Quarterly's Voting Studies, in 2007 McCain voted in line with the president's position 95 percent of the time – the highest percentage rate for McCain since Bush took office – and voted in line with his party 90 percent of the time.
However, McCain's support of President Bush's position has been as low as 77 percent (in 2005), and his support for his party's position has been as low as 67 percent (2001).Democrats are, of course, attempting to make the case that a vote for McCain is a vote to continue the policies of Bush, whose approval ratings are, to put it charitably, not a political asset for McCain.
Is 95% "Significant"?As for whether voting with Bush 95 percent of the time last year is "significant," that's a matter of opinion that we leave to readers to determine for themselves.When doing so, they may wish to consider that Obama's votes were in line with the president's position 40 percent of the time in 2007. That shouldn't be terribly surprising. Even the Senate's Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, voted with Bush 39 percent of the time last year, according to the way Congressional Quarterly rates the votes.
The McCain campaign points out that Obama told a local TV interviewer recently that "the only bills that I voted for, for the most part, since I've been in the Senate were introduced by Republicans with George Bush." Obama was actually wrong about that. In 2006 he voted alongside the president 49 percent of the time, and in 2005, the year before Democrats took control of the Senate, Obama voted with the president only 33 percent of the time. Also, Obama voted in line with fellow Senate Democrats 97 percent of the time in 2007 and 2005, and 96 percent of the time in 2006, according to CQ.
And so . . . So to sum up, McCain has indeed voted to support the unpopular Bush 95 percent of the time most recently, but less so in earlier years. And Obama has voted pretty close to 100 percent in line with fellow Democrats during his brief Senate career.- Emi Kolawole
So this is where things get interesting, his response in the face of facts and research was:
Again, McBush is an old fart with old ideas. It shows with his poor choice for VP... This is like watching "TALES OF THE CRYPT and Clueless!! He McCain is a very poor choice and we will be in BIG trouble as a nation under his lacking attempts toward leadership. This man has no interest in our future. His thought process and his peers have raped the progress. The record shows it... it's all in balck and white. Regardles of race or class... we are the furture of this great land. But in the hands of the blind we have less than nothing. McCain is blind.With a sicky old guy half out of his mind man in office, I would look for the worst. Just as I said when W. was elected then re-elected! Every Repub. I know is NOW ashamed of thier vote... Now today, we face the ignorance and fears of people who are determined to put this guy filled with poor judgement in office. This is most shameful. By the way, your attempt to educate me with old news or repub. versions of truth have already been researched years ago by myself and millions of others... including former republicans. Obama is not the source of this light and pure truth, all anyone has to do is.... OPEN THEIR EYES!!! Today your fables falls on deaf ears.Once agian, I will say... we respectfully disagree. No hard feelings.
Seriously, is it me? Here's my response for those of you that haven't fallen asleep:
this was brand new news talking about Obama's claims. You didn't offer me a single rational reason to agree with you at all Nic. You just said a bunch of oppinions. That's not how political discourse is supposed to happen friend. McCain's overall record shows more of a willingness to disagree with his party than Obama's 97% party line would. How is that a change. How will partisan politics unify? I'm not a republican, but i'm not ashamed of my vote for Bush.
Honestly, I don't know why in the hell I bother. I don't mind it when I talk to people who actually get it, but these zealots that have no understanding of what they're voting for drive me nuts. I promise this blog isn't going to just be about politics, but i'm sure that everyone regardless of their views knows the frustrations of trying to reason with unreasonable people.
Later Party People
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