The Fig File for 12.02.08

The Fig File for 12.02.08 by: Mike Figliola

The Fig File: Well, it’s official: Hillary Clinton gets the nod as  Secretary of State in the still forming Obama Administration. No real surprise there, it’s been blabbed about ad infinitum by anonymous sources close to Obama and Clinton as well as Top Aides to the former rivals. It dominated the bulk of the news in print and television media. And yes of course it’s even been mentioned here half a dozen times on everyone’s favorite morning pastime The  John Gambling Show. Some story huh? Like a bad MSNBC made for TV movie:  Bitter Democratic rivals fight tooth and nail to win over the hearts of their party members while wooing the working stiff into their corner. And in the end, after super delegates counted and recounted and endless sound bites in the media about Barack Obama this, Hillary Clinton that and of course the newest four letter cuss word BILL, there is a presumed victor standing amongst the political fray. But, as all heated rivalries go, it seems that one of the two just won’t back down and concede...not until the blonde in the pant suit does a 180, rears her head and endorses Barack Obama as President to her supporters. After a while, everyone cheers. Smiles all around. Hillary Clinton waves as she walks gingerly off the stage. Fade to black.

So, what was the payoff to walk away from a possible Presidential Nomination for the very calculated and keen Senator Hillary Clinton? That’s the part of the movie that intrigues me the most.

Could it be that while Senator Clinton was vowing to count and recount the Super delegates because as she put it, that everyone’s voice deserved to be heard and counted. And while Former President Bill Clinton continued his barrage of verbal slaps to Obama’s face on National television, the Democratic Party’s powers that be laid the smack down on the Clinton tandem and said something like ‘You can’t win this one Billary. So, let us unite the party and put Senator Obama forward as our nominee, and in return we will reward you a place of prominence in his cabinet. And if you don’t well,  you’re out - for good.”

Could it just so be that at the moment, Senator Clinton then had the Obama Messiah epiphany that the GOP has so wildly claimed was presented to the public - and right there, she too became a true believer in change we could believe in?

Of course that’s just a movie...right? All I know is the past is doomed to keep repeating itself with the same cast of characters in Washington in a maniacal revolving door; an endless parade of Clinton’s and Bush’s and Cheney’s and Emanuel’s and Daschle’s and Rumsfeld’s and Powell’s and the list goes on and on and on. Jeez, it’s like living in Twilight Zone the movie! Well, it's just a movie...right?  
   
Inside Studio Four: An Inside Look Into The John Gambling Show: Comedian Codey: Our good friend NJ Senate President Dick Codey joined the John Gambling Show today to discuss a slew of serious issues facing the Garden State: the economy, new tolls on the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway and the government bailouts. But one thing you count on every time the Senator and sometimes acting Governor (which he points out on a regular basis to me when he calls-in to the show) is three to four well rehearsed jokes. Now, he tests them out on me usually before he slips one into the show on John - and I will say, he is very funny. Next time he is on, listen for some good Codey jokes!

Odds and Ends: Nostalgia Trains: To celebrate the holiday season, The MTA is offering something more than fare increases. Customers using the 6 Avenue line between the Queens Plaza and Lower East Side 2 Avenue stations will be able to ride the “Nostalgia Train”, an old fashioned train car that features padded seats, ceiling fans above and is painted the old green and white color on the interior.

Here’s where you can catch the train - remember it’s only on Sundays! Good luck:

Queens Plaza and 2 Av.
Queens Plaza
23 St-Ely Av
Lexington Av/53 St
5 Av/53 St
47-50 Sts Rockefeller Center
42 St Bryant Park
34 St Herald Sq
23 St (6 Av)
14 St (6 Av)
W 4 St Wash Sq
B’way-Lafayette St
Lower East Side 2 Av