The Folks in the Legal Section at Socotra House have been cranky since the Debate. There is a lot to talk about in the Campaign, the endless one we have been chatting about with some volume for the duration of this Administration, it seems. The Company was warned by the government, along with all other military retirees except the ones actually working for it, not to comment to foreign governments who they also may be working for.

We will leave that to the legal system which is under a lot of stress at the moment. The Intern who showed up at the Production meeting to monitor us for compliance while also contributing a mildly amusing commentary. She looked frazzled. We were naturally still wound up a bit from Day 2 of the DNC convention in Chicago, which had kicked off an animated discussion with the Salts.

Some of us had been in Vietnam during the 1968 Chicago Convention and they are still animated about returning to see it. Others, like Vic, had just registered for the Draft and were evaluating options for compliance even back then. Shirley lit up a Capri 100 cigarette, lightest in the Capri range. She prefers an ultra-light smoking experience when talking to us over coffee, since the cigar and Marlboro haze is too dense for her taste.

“You can mention who talked, and what general topics, but you can’t comment on whether you think it makes any sense. That is up to the media to tell us.”

“What about a restaurant or fashion review?” asked Splash. He seemed curious at the new restrictions on what used to be common observations on the antics of the people who claim to be governing us.

“That is fine,” she said primly. “But don’t post links for reservations or home delivery. That could be construed as an endorsement, and the Boss says we can’t have that.”

“OK,” said Section leader DeMille. “Do you want to start with a salon review, the restaurant thing or the remarks by the former President on Monday Night?”

There was general agreement on that, since Day One had some great moments. VP Harris made a surprise appearance to praise President Biden, who took a break from vacation in Delaware to make an unusual late night appearance before departing for California for another break. He seemed a little agitated, but it might have been the stimulation. He said the demonstrators outside who had broken through fences had a point, though we are prohibited from saying what that point might be.

There was some mild consternation. Talking about the salon would have run into an interesting side-issue that had us all distracted for a while. That was the remarkable performance of the World’s Most Prestigious Protective Organization, the Secret Service.

The news yesterday was about the Director who was forced to resign over the ineptitude of her agents had just been assigned Secret Service protection due to the publicity. That followed reports that during someone’s campaign appearance, the Service had plowed into the Four One Three hair salon, taped over the surveillance camera, used the rest rooms and disturbed the paying customers without asking permission or showing a warrant.

We support protecting people, of course. We just wonder at how procedures seem to have changed lately. Former President Obama had some similar remarks last night from the podium at the McCormick Center in Chicago. It was not exactly a replay of 1968, as some of the pundits had predicted.

Memories of that event had some of the old timers leaning forward over glasses of Monkey Shoulder Scotch. It instead was a sort 2008 recherché. Well, not exactly. The big real estate bubble caused by irrational loans to people who had no intention of paying them back- sort of like those student loan thingies- hadn’t popped yet. That only cost some of us a hundred grand on the homes we had to compete with our waitress to buy.

As Mr. Obama noted last night, it all worked out fine and he hoped we could do it again with joy. That brings us to the gastronomic part we are permitted to have opinions about.

The Bird in Hand is a place for fine outdoor dining in Manhattan’s West Harlem, way east of Chicago. It has been a huge success for the Manhattan Hells Kitchen neighborhood. Mayor Adams has been a customer and it was a featured stop for one of the campaigns. The menu is great, and au currant. The angry mob of around 50 protesters who stormed in last week were volunteers, apparently, and stunned the paying patrons who looked on in some amazement according to the video that played with the smoke bombs and the other stuff.

Other videos showed cops taking rabble-rousers into custody as a crowd circled the police. Whistles and horns sounding amid the clouds of smoke.

On Monday at the Convention, Mr. Biden delivered his farewell speech, though he still has some five months in office, according to what we are told. His available schedule shows about three appointments a week, though like the late-night appearance demonstrates, events can be accomodated with sufficient notification.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling fired up. I am feeling ready to go,” he said. “I am feeling hopeful, because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible.”

There were the chants of “Yes, we can” and “Yes, she can” as some of Obama’s 2008 magic was injected into Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. He and wife Michelle made an impressive appearance to demonstrate commitment to the woman who has yet to receive a convention vote. Like many of the speakers who preceded them, the Obamas embraced w a central talking point of the Harris campaign, “freedom.”

“We have a broader idea of freedom. We believe in the freedom to provide for your family if you are willing to work hard. The freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water and send your kids to school without worrying if they will come home,” he said. Apparently the Freedom will come by having someone in Washington tell us what to do to be free, but we get confused, so we take it for what it is. New times. Like the democracy where no one gets to vote before being told the correct answer.

Mr. Obama also mentioned Tim Walz, saying: “I love this guy. Tim is the kind of person who should be in politics.” He also paid tribute to Mr. Biden, saying that picking him to be his VP in 2008 was one of his best decisions. He did not address the decision to abruptly dump the President from the ticket, and we were relieved at that.

Patrons at culinary landmark Primanti Bros. in Moon, Pennsylvania were discomfited after they claimed they were forced to leave the premises before the prospective nominees arrived for a weekend campaign stop. They had been enjoying food, drinks and the Pittsburgh Pirates game on TV but were all forced out of the restaurant promptly at 4 p.m.

Primanti Brothers is known for its signature Pittsburgh-style sandwiches piled high with sliced meats and french fries – a Steel City custom. It was founded in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District in 1933, the chain is known as a go-to for delicious handcrafted sandwiches piled high with house-made coleslaw and perfectly seasoned fresh-cut fries. Sided with an ice-cold beer and a slice of the famous Primanti Pizza, the suitably dressed supporters who were bussed in to attend were delighted.

The Democratic National Convention is entering its third day in Chicago today. We will join you to chat about that, or at least the fine dining around it and the future of democracy along with restaurant recommendations in the Windy City!

Copyright 2024 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com