Metro trains in the US capital, originally uploaded by El_Enigma.

Leave it to a liberal to turn Metro’s tragic accident into a political vendetta. Nine people died and 80 were injured in Monday’s collision on the Red Line, a few stops north of where I work. When I expressed my condolences to those involved last night on Facebook, the last thing I expected was for someone to point a finger at me as the culprit.

Meet David Elliot. He’s the communications director for a left-wing organization called USAction. He was apparently so bothered by a 123-character tweet last month that it prompted this note to me:

Rob, last month were you not calling for cuts in Metro funding? I remember you specifically saying it would be a good deal to eliminate escallators (sic). I remember how incredibly cruel I thought that was. I wonder how you feel about funding now?

To be precise, what I said was this:

Metro should stop fixing escalators. Make people walk. It would save $$ and encourage weight loss. http://twitpic.com/58viu

David, the brilliant communicator that he is, found a way to connect broken escalators to yesterday’s accident.

Now, granted, I’m not shy about expressing my frustrations about Metro. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows that. However, I don’t recall ever advocating for an outright funding cut.

Nonetheless, David saw fit to exploit the tragedy and attack me personally. Even when I called him out for it — explaining that I’d rather see Metro spend money on employee training than escalators — he chose not to apologize but launch a new attack:

First off, training costs money, and you’re on record as opposing more money for mass transit — in fact, you wanted to cut money for escalators! Second, as the world now knows, the NTSB recommended as early as 2006 that one of the trains in question be phased out of operation. But we couldn’t do that, in part because of a lack of funding. You can accuse me, if you wish, of trying to “exploit” this awful event. I prefer to think of my position as advocating that government play a role in keeping us safe — and that takes tax dollars. I think today that a majority of Americans, and certainly a majority of Washington, D.C. residents and Red Line commuters would agree with me.

How ironic that David wants government to “play a role in keeping us safe” when it comes to Metro, but he advocates cutting our defense budget to make us more vulnerable to foreign enemies. But that’s another story.

Lastly, I want to emphasize again my condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the accident and the injured individuals who are recovering. Yesterday’s accident demonstrated a clear failure of Metro management to upgrade its fleet and take proper safety precautions, even though federal officials warned about the risks of inaction. It’s not my job as a customer to decide how Metro spends its money, but I reserve the right to share my opinion when I see fit.

As someone who has spent more than $15,000 (a conservative estimate) on Metro in the eight years I’ve lived in Washington, D.C., plus whatever local taxes my government pays into the system, I’m hardly the person to blame. Liberals like David Elliot might think it’s “cruel” to criticize Metro, but what’s really cruel is launching an ad hominem attack without the facts to back it up.

Uncle Ken at 2007 Boilermaker, originally uploaded by Rob Bluey.

For as long as I can remember, my Uncle Ken was always telling jokes. Christmas, Easter, birthday parties, graduations, weddings, even funerals. He had that rare natural talent to bring a smile to your face using humor no matter what the occasion.

That’s what I’ll miss most about him. Last Saturday, after a courageous battle against cancer, he died at the Abraham House in Utica, N.Y. A funeral for family and friends was held Friday. I wasn’t able to attend, but I’ve thought about him a lot this week.

Every year on Christmas Eve, it was Uncle Ken who gave the toast. With 40-some people gathered together at my great Aunt Mary’s house, we listened to his words carefully before the traditional Polish feast. More recently, he would spend every Sunday morning at Aunt Mary’s house for breakfast. Family was important to him, and no matter what the occasion, you could always count on seeing Uncle Ken there.

Uncle Ken was a frequent reader of my blog. You might have even read his comments without even knowing it. Under the username “BR/GL,” he critiqued my conservative views or complimented something I’d done. I asked him what the initials “BR/GL” meant one time I saw him during a visit back home. “Be right, go left,” he told me.

We disagreed often on the subject of politics. Our last correspondence came in November, a day after the presidential election. “The election results were good, and may even get better,” he wrote. But his purpose for writing wasn’t to brag about Obama’s victory. He met with his friend Jan Klotz of Ithaca that day and wanted to pass along his best wishes. A few years earlier, it was Uncle Ken who introduced me to Jan. We’ve corresponded since then, and even met up at a Bombers football game.

Uncle Ken’s job as Hamilton College’s financial aid director made it possible for thousands of students to get an education at the liberal arts college in Clinton, N.Y. I’ve met more than one Hamilton alumnus in Washington, D.C., who spoke highly of him when I mentioned our relation.

Uncle Ken was a people person. As his obituary says today, “If you knew Ken, you know he arrived in heaven eager to tell family and friends the latest joke, listen to some jazz, and then take them all to heaven’s version of Uncles or LBJs. He’ll save us all a seat.”

Please keep his wife, Pat, and son and daughter-in-law, Paul Kogut and Catherine Garypie, in your thoughts and prayers.

The same was true this week when I spotted a sale on Toro mowers. My old Bolens mower — it’s actually my brother-in-law’s mower on loan — has turned out to be nothing but trouble since the time I got it last July. First it needed a new blade, then the wheel broke. Last week it died halfway through, leaving my yard looking like an unkempt field.

Rather than sink any more money into it, I opted for an early Father’s Day gift. My new self-propelled Toro is fantastic. Just before it rained this afternoon, I had the yard looking presentable again. I love the self-propel lever, which is especially nice for the hilly parts of the yard.

Even though this model was on sale at Home Depot, I opted to buy it at my local hardware store instead. As I researched different models online, I noticed that Village Hardware was an official Toro dealer. Village Hardware is where I bought my Weber grill a couple of years ago when I couldn’t find what I wanted at Home Depot and Lowe’s. The selection and service was excellent. But could Village Hardware compete with Home Depot’s sale price on the Toro mower?

I decided to visit both stores today to find out. First we went to Home Depot, which had an abundant supply but no salesmen around to answer my questions. Rather than wait, we headed to Village Hardware in the Hollin Hall shopping plaza on Fort Hunt Road. I was impressed when the first thing I saw was the entire Toro selection outside. A salesman was able to answer my questions and explain the features on the different models. When I showed him the Home Depot ad and asked if he’d match the price, he agreed to do it. He then told me he’d assemble it, fill it with oil and gas, mail in the warranty card and load it in my trunk.

Rarely do I experience this level of customer service. I was so impressed I wrote a review on Yelp, something I’m planning to do on a more regular occurrence following my experience with Landmark Honda.

I’m sure I’ll be back to Home Depot very soon, but for I’m thankful that places like Village Hardware still exist. (Same goes for Jay-K back home in Upstate New York.)

 
Jack Kemp (Photo by Chas Geer), originally uploaded by Rob Bluey.
 

I was 17 years old when Jack Kemp was running for vice president on Bob Dole’s ticket in 1996. I was a senior in high school and getting my first real taste of a political campaign. Kemp’s addition to the ticket was an important factor — not only were his ties to Upstate New York significant, but he also represnted a sharp contrast to the stodgy Dole, who wasn’t exactly appealing to the teenage demographic.

That fall I volunteered for my first political campaign. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) was running for re-election against Democrat Bruce Hapanowicz, a race Boehlert would win in a blowout by a 64% to 26% margin. My job was stuffing envelopes — a small role that probably made only a marginal difference. Yet it was as important as anything I did at the time. I was too young to vote, so this was my contribution.

My excitement about politics — and the presidential race, in particular — coincided with my desire to become much more active in my school and community. That included writing hard-hitting editorials for my high school newspaper (some of which were censored by then-Principal Dave Langone) and campaigning for the school budget vote (which would repeatedly fail before eventually passing).

Looking back, it’s hard to say how much of an impact Jack Kemp had on me at the time. But one thing is clear: The ideas and enthusiasm he brought to the forefront were an inspiration to a young conservative whose political beliefs were still in their infancy.

While I remember previous presidential campaigns dating to George H.W. Bush’s victory in 1988 and his defeat in 1992, it was the Dole-Kemp campaign that had a lasting impact. For that, I am thankful to have been motivated by a wonderful man.

Benjamin Thomas Bluey, originally uploaded by Rob Bluey.

Benjamin Thomas Bluey was born at 5:39 a.m., weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz., and 21″ long.

Missy did an excellent job and looks great. She and Ben are resting comfortably.

Cape Coral (FL) High School Students, originally uploaded by Rob Bluey.

Charles Krauthammer is my favorite Washington Post columnist, and yesterday’s column on President Barack Obama’s overseas trip is an excellent piece worthy of your attention.

Krauthammer articulates why the United Nations is useless after it failed to produce any response to North Korea’s missile test. It reminded me of a debate my Heritage Foundation colleague Ted Bromund had with a group of students from Cape Coral (FL) High School. The students visited Washington, D.C., for a Model U.N. conference last month.

My cousin’s husband, Mr. Cook, told me the students wanted to see what life was like at a think tank, so I arranged a visit to Heritage. Actually, my colleague David Barnes did most of the arranging. He was a student of Bromund’s at Yale, so asked him to speak about foreign policy. Little did I know the student briefing would actually turn into a spirited debate about the United Nations itself.

Bromund’s presentation covered U.S.-U.K. relations, but when he closed with his thoughts on Model U.N. (and his dislike of simulations), the students could hardly be restrained. What was supposed to be a 30-minute presented ended up lasting 90 minutes.

I found the episode enjoyable for a couple of reasons:

1) The students were able to hear a viewpoint contrary to what they’re taught in school. Rather than politely listen, they challenged Bromund’s ideas. It was a great exchange of information. I hope the students walked out of the room with a better appreciation for an alternative viewpoint on the United Nations.

2) The energy and enthusiasm of the students was inspiring. I’ve lived in D.C. for nearly eight years, and this just isn’t typical. It also stood out in sharp contrast to another Heritage briefing with Ithaca College students a few weeks earlier. The Ithaca students asked good questions, but showed little passion. Not these high schoolers.

As I told the students in Mr. Cook’s students (pictured above outside Heritage), I hope they never lose that energy. It was inspiring for me to observe, and another reason I enjoy teaching.

That’s one reason it gives me great pleasure to judge the America’s Future Foundation College Blogger Contest. This year I was one of seven judges,  including Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online, Jonathan Adler of The Volokh Conspiracy, Radley Balko of The Agitator, Megan McArdle of The Atlantic, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit, and Jennifer Rubin of Commentary’s Contentions.

For the second year in a row, I was delighted to see such good work being done by college students on conservative and libertarian blogs. It was hard for me to narrow my selections to the top three, so I ultimately picked five that were worthy.

One blog in particular, however, stood out above the rest. The Arizona Desert Lamp, written by Evan Lisull and Connor Mendenhall, took first place in this year’s competition. It’s a well-deserved honor. The blog is a must-read for University of Arizona students, mixing solid reporting with hard-hitting commentary. It is updated frequently (multiple times on some days) and must rival the student newspaper for the depth of information. I don’t know how Evan and Connor find the time for classes.

Coming in a close second was the well-known Oregon Commentator, which also scored a second-place finish last year. Third place went to Ivy Sneakers, written by Max Rosett, a great writer who offers both humor with intelligent analysis of things happening at Yale and around the globe.

It would be a shame not to mention a few of the other finalists. Vandy Right, The New Republicans, The Claremont Conservative, and UNR Students for Liberty were near the top, according to the judges’ voting. I was particularly impressed with Charles Johnson’s work covering the Claremont Colleges. And Mike Warren and Katherine Miller do an admirable job covering both national politics and local news at Vanderbilt.

If every college had a blog as useful as the finalists in AFF’s competition, our country would be much better off. Conservative and libertarian students need these outlets to consume local coverage and provocative opinions — and provide their authors with an place to make their mark.

Ithaca College: The Towers, originally uploaded by aimeedars.

Ithaca College announced this week that it is closing the Tower Club restaurant, a unique place on campus located on the 14th floor of the East Tower, overlooking beautiful Cayuga Lake, the city of Ithaca and the rolling hills of Tompkins County.

The decision to close the Tower Club, which originally opened in the 1960s, came down to money, explained David Prunty, director of campus life services, to Ithaca College’s Intercom:

Our customer base has been declining steadily over the years, despite our best efforts to market the Tower Club as a dining destination. … While it is a wonderful facility to have available on campus, in this economic climate it just isn’t sustainable from a financial standpoint.

The Tower Club holds a special place in my memories of Ithaca College. It was where I first met my father-in-law (and my wife met my Dad) back in May 1998. Missy and I had been dating for three months at the time, and both of our fathers were in Ithaca to help us move home for the summer. We dined at the Tower Club for lunch on my unused “bonus bucks.”

Later on during my time at Ithaca College, the Tower Club was a regular meeting place with Student Body President Nick Tarant while I was serving as The Ithacan’s editor in chief.

After graduation, the Tower Club was where the Ithaca College Alumni Association Board of Directors often gathered with current students for networking events. That’s what made it so special — it was a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of campus life with stunning views of the Ithaca area.

Perhaps most disappointing about the Tower Club’s closing is that future generations of Ithaca College students won’t be able to experience a signature spot of campus for nearly 50 years.

Honda (My CR-V), originally uploaded by Prince Turtle.

Two weeks ago I told my salesman at Landmark Honda never to contact me again. I was frustrated and angry about my experience at the dealership. So when my caller ID showed “Landmark Honda” this afternoon, I contemplated whether to answer the phone. Something told me that I should.

On the other end was Joe Waldman, general manager of Landmark Honda. He was calling because he stumbled upon my recent blog posts when searching on Google. He wanted to talk about my bad experience and make amends.

We started by reviewing the facts. Waldman explained that Landmark Honda would honor corporate’s special offer of $239/month with $2,699 down, but wouldn’t cover my remaining lease payments. I countered that the reason I came to the dealership was a phone call from a Landmark salesman who said he wanted to deal. I told him my expectations from the start — that I had no incentive to turn the car in early and, therefore, wanted Landmark to cover my lease payments. Apparently, that wasn’t an option. Had I known that, I would have never gone in the first place.

I voiced my dissatisfaction with Landmark’s negative appraisal of my 2005 Accord, the lack of respect for a returning customer and repeated phone calls to my pregnant wife, despite her request to be left alone.

Waldman apologized. He obviously recognizes the significance of an unhappy customer. I give him credit for making the phone call. Although I’m still not sure I want to do business with Landmark Honda again, but I told Waldman I would give him a chance.

When August arrives, I’ll do my due diligence and search Northern Virginia Honda dealers for the best price on a Honda CR-V. I’ll also entertain Waldman’s offer. We’ve agreed to talk on Aug. 17. Stay tuned for what happens.