Posts Tagged ‘President Barack Obama’

MO. Guv. Nixon has requested that President Barack Obama declare an emergency for the state of Missouri due to unprecedented flooding along the Missouri River system.  Meanwhile, Nixon has ordered the Missouri National Guard “to coordinate efforts to protect Missourians and their property”. . .Ronald J. Levy will clock in at the St. Louis University
School of Public Health on July 31. He’ll ankle his berth as Mo. Dept. of Social Services director, but will be available to Nixon “to assist on special projects related to health care. . .in our town, a reliable KSDK source has it that Ray Vinson dropped $100,000 for two, half-hour infomercials on Channel 5.  Celeb endorsements cost the mortgage and car insurance maven another $400,000.

The columnist has made hundreds of New Year’s resolutions over the years – for himself and on behalf of many of you.  Some have taken: some have not.  For himself, the columnist vows better attention to health; more acceptance of the limits of medicine; greater patience with the pace of healing; and a more heartfelt gratitude to doctors, nurses, billing clerks, insurance companies, and (especially) to well-wishers.  He also vows greater attention to correct spelling, accurate timing, complete quoting, standard punctuation, organized note-taking, credible attribution, flattering photography, and graceful corrections.  Of course, that is an annual resolution, made with little real intention of doing anything about the habits of a lifetime gossipist. On your behalf, the columnist attributes (with no foundation and with relatively little malice) the following fantasy resolutions:

• From President Barack Obama: I’ll do my Christmas vacation next year with Claire, Joe, and their family in St. Louis, as long as Claire promises not to Tweet about it and Joe pays for the Pi.
• From Governor Jay Nixon:  I’ll ask Peter Kinder, who practically lives there, to tell Georganne the best places to eat, shop, and stay in St. Louis.
• From Archbishop Robert Carlson:  I’ll make more good news with Catholic Charities than bad.
• From SLU president the Rev. Larry Biondi:  I’ll commission a statue of a naked Rick Majerus for Bannister House if the Billikens make the NCAA Tournament.
• From Sen. Kit Bond:  I’ll use my final year to find jobs for all my staff.
• From County Executive Charlie Dooley:  I’ll ask the nice Greg Boyce for a couple of lumps of clean coal to put into a certain former staffer’s Christmas stocking.
• From Mayor Francis Slay:  I’ll give a Key to the City to Lady GaGa.
• From KMOV GM Alan Cohen:  I’ll do infomercials 24/7.
• From “Donnybrook” founder Martin Duggan:  I’ll start a blog. What’s a blog?
• From Emerson CEO David Farr and celebrated attorney Linda Martinez:  We had no idea we were named “man and woman of the year” by the Variety Club until we read it in Berger’s column. We hope he’ll be seated with us at the April 24th dinner.
• From Congressman Lacy Clay:  I’ll check “finally single”  on my Census form next year.
• From former GOP consultant Rod Jetton: I’ll use the hot air
• From the Robin  Carnahan campaign to fill a bouquet of green balloons.
• From Gateway Foundation donor M. Peter Fischer:  I think I’ll do another two blocks.
• From Build-A-Bear boss Maxine Clark:  I’ll stuff the first marketing person who suggests a children’s video on national health care reform, immigration, or gun control.
• From former Engineered Air’s Mike Shanahan:  Since that fancy country club in Naples, Fla., has blackballed me and sent me a check that bounced, I think I’ll remain at Old Warson.
• From the St. Louis Beacon’s Bob Duffy:  We now have our own space in the KETC-TV offices and hope we’ll open an Illinois bureau in Pontoon Beach.
• From television reporter Alex Fees:  Maybe I can get Donna Wilkinson to follow Steve Schankman on my “Conversations with. . .” in January on HEC-TV – if her stockings aren’t falling.
• From Congressman Russ Carnahan:  I’ll use my frequent flier miles to send mouthy Ed Martin on a long trip to country without the Internet.
• From Blues owner Dave Checketts:  I’ll play Ed Goltermann in goal for home games.
• From Gerard Craft:  I’ll open a Niche on every corner.
• From WashU chancellor Mark Wrighton:  I’ll get that Top 10 ranking back.
• From Chief Tim Fitch:  I’ll find a new badge for Floyd Warmann.
• From KSDK GM Lynn Beall:  I’ll retire or replace any face viewers might conceivably recognize.
• From Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom:  I’ll fire the coach if he blows our number one draft choice by actually winning another game.
• From Bob Baer:  I’ll ride the last Metro bus to Chesterfield if the County tax campaign fails in April.
• From would-be Rams owner Rush Limbaugh:  I’ll buy the Arch Rival Roller Girls instead.
• From north St. Louis developer Paul McKee:  I’ll mow all my yards and rake yours too.
• From entrepreneurs Mike and Steve Roberts: We’ll suggest changing the name of St. Louis City to Roberts St. Louis City.
• From Symphony music director David Robertson:  I’ll buy KFUO and program it with hip-hop, uh. . .classical music.
• From Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III:  I’ll change the name of Ballpark Village to Holliday Haven.
• From the Loop’s Joe Edwards:  I’ll open a successful venue on the actual Moon.
• From Lee CEO Mary Junck:  I’ll improve morale by signing a good contract with the Newspaper Guild.
• From AmerenUe officials:  I’ll use the phrase “a warm holiday glow” in our next filing with the Public Service Commission to soften them up on a nuclear power rate increase.
• From Art Museum honcho Brent Benjamin:  I’ll expand.
• From AB Inbev boss Carlos Britto: I’ll find out if Clydesdales go better with a little lime.
• From grocer Greg Dierberg:  I’ll open the most popular grocery in a decade and call it. . .Culinaria Too.
• From the Caseyville and Collinsville police:  Next time we hope we’ll get it right. (At Teezers Bar in Collinsville, a guy walked in with a silver handgun over the holidays and fired off a few rounds and marched out.  Police began looking for a 70 year-old man known to them and after much searching, they decided that the gunman they really needed to look for had the same name but was just 52.  Then, the Caseyville police gave their Collinsville counterparts an entirely different suspect’s name. The guy, who allegedly committed the explosive act, was none of the above: he had been hiding out all that time at Jessi’s Hideout in Collinsville.)
• From restaurateur Sam Kacar: I hope to open a third Trattoria Branica in Chesterfield Valley by mid-January and then focus on a fourth in the CWE or Webster Groves.
• From former airport director Dick Hrabko: I’m going to get those slots installed at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport.
• From Wind Capital exec Tom Carnahan:  I’ll use the hot air
• From the Roy Blunt campaign to generate electricity.
• From uber-flack Joan Quicksilver:  I’ll nominate Jerry Berger as Media Person of the Year.
• From affable CVC’s Kitty Ratcliffe:  I resolve I’ll ask for another convention center. (The woman has garnered kudos for signing such major confabs as the Church of God in Christ, that brought 40,000 here and has inked its convention for St. Louis in 2011 and 2012 – away From Memphis.
• From all of this column’s many sources: We’ll not turn a blind eye to any item that might amuse St. Louis in Jerry Berger’s website.

Caveat lector and Happy New Year!

St. Louis county prosecuting attorney Bob McCulloch said, “The true tiger is coming out,” after Bob’s wife, Carolyn, shook her head and added, “It’s so sad.’  Of his future aspirations, McCulloch confided, “I’m waiting for (Senator) Claire McCaskill to run for president and I’ll follow her.” St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom had another take on Woods. “He’s a young man and some young men are like that.” Chief Isom was with his wife, Ginnie, a rep with Merck & Co.  Judee and Rich Sauget huddled with AmerenUE’s Richard Marks, chatting about energy and Rich noted, “We’re looking to do green energy projects along Route 3 in Sauget ( Illinois) and we’ll be able to sell energy to AmerenUE and others off the grid.”  Meanwhile, Civic Progress’ Tom Irwin lauded the upcoming opportunity to put in place light rail between St. Louis and Chicago. “The bill should come up within 60 days and it will cost between $8-$9 billion, he said. ” Chicago really wants it.” GOP’s Mo. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder pointed out that he’ll run for governor and chuckled, “As President Obama goes, hopefully he’s helped our team a lot.”

Basketball Hall of Famer Meadowlark Lemon strode to his seat at Tony’s spry as a teenager with unquenchable enthusiasm and at peace with the world.  He spoke eloquently of his 22 years with the Harlem Globetrotters and of the year he shared a room with teammate Bob Gibson before Gibson turned to baseball.  Lemon, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, spoke of the mysterious amalgam that keeps him going at 77. “At 4:45 this morning, I worked out at the Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale,” he said.  The conversation turned to another athlete – Tiger Woods – and his recent misfortunes. He opined, “When Tiger and his wife’s moms were in the house, one of them should have done what (Olympic Gold Medalist) Charles Barkley‘s mom did. She would smack him against the head.”  Then, Lemon’s host Tom Spitzer added, “Any man, who says ‘I’m just human’ is guilty. An NBA analyst said Tiger will lose millions at venues, but he doesn’t care.” Spitzer is the affable former sports agent, who with Rich Sauget, owns the Gateway Grizzlies. On his opinion of President Obama, Lemon softly confided, “He’s good, but he’s surrounded by strange people. They’ll eventually be weeded out.”  Pleasant, gracious and relaxed , Lemon turned to his Lemon Ministries in Scottsdale, where he serves as minister  He preaches, “It’s all about joy. Avoid happiness.  Happiness is a whimp. When adversity comes in, happiness disappears. Joy comes from deep within the belly.”  Lemon was in town for the Albert Pujols fundraiser Saturday night and was joined over dinner by Howard Mallott, retired bossman of Schneithorst’s.

Fingerprinting employees at stock brokerage offices? “We fingerprint them and then send results to the FBI,” said Tricia Lindley, assistant for 28 years to soothsayer

Goldman

Al Goldman of Wells Fargo. “In fact, as a result of the procedure, three employees in another office had been, in the past, arrested for indecent exposure.” Goldman, veteran chief market strategist at the firm, who has been vaulted into national recognition as an authority on the stock market, gave his take over a few Bud Lights. “Since the market is at the magical number of 10,000 (on Thursday), it is due for a pause to refresh in the face of more damned problems both internationally and domestically,” he said. “In over the long term, the biggest problem is Iran. As for the rising price of gold, he explained, “While gold did nothing for the last 25 years and is now dynamite, I still prefer good common stocks. Get your buy-list together. I recommend technology, energy and pharmaceuticals. In a letter I sent out, I suggested not to buy right now.” Proudly proclaiming he’s been with the firm for 48 years beginning with A.G. Edwards, Goldman admitted, “You can’t learn about the market in a book, because everything changes every hour.” I asked Goldman, a living person, what about President Obama? The 75 year-old confessed he is not a fan of the President. “(George W.) Bush put America on top; not so with Obama,” with his words trailing off

Roddy

“My brother, Michael Roberts, is hoping to be named Ambassador to the Bahamas by President Obama“, confided Michael’s brother, Steve, during Friday’s city “Business Celebration Luncheon” at America’s Center. Then, he turned to the Roberts family’s communications and real estate empire, noting that a downtown Indigo Hotel is in the wings at 917 Locust and will offer 120 rooms. The Roberts freres are hoping that their bid – one of three – to offer Broadband services in Missouri will be accepted by the government. “The government would pay 80 percent of the $80 million needed through the Stimulus Act,” he said. “We want to raise the substandard quality of life for rural America,” said Roberts. “After all, we have towers in Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma, that are the second, privately-held towers in the United States.” The ballroom was filled with businesspeople, who came to meet and greet friends, rivals and the region’s politicos. On hand was Circuit Court Judge David Mason, who mentioned, that his docket was full and “in the midst of a major legal malpractice trial against attorney Dan Finney.” Ald. Joe Roddy learned from HOK exec David Chassin, that the architectural firm’s co-founder, Gyo Obata, had delivered a touching speech the night before at WashU before members of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Chassin said Obata spoke of how, during World War II, his parents were interred in a prison camp in California, because they were Japanese. They spent two weeks living on a racetrack.” Hosted by the St. Louis Development Corp. and Ellen Sherberg‘s St. Louis Business Journal, the luncheon drew an interesting comment on the sidelines from a convention center exec, when asked about former manager Bruce Sommers. “He’s teaching and also helping Mayor Slay on a project to bring the city and the county together,” he said. . . A quick-witted staffer of U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan was the first to respond to a request for “a doctor” from Sherberg, emcee of the event. Carnahan Tim Ogle isn’t a doctor, but he is a retired St. Louis firefighter. “Doc” Ogle’s diagnosis? He thought the stricken diner had the flu.

Joe Biden, who along with other members of President Obama’s team, has been no stranger to our town,will be here again next week in support of “a Carnahan candidacy.” Since the Vice President’s duties include presiding over the United States Senate, the columnist presumes that the supported Carnahan is Robin, a candidate to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Kit Bond. . . Is it a bad sign for President Obama’s economic recovery plans that bankers and brokers are already inviting clients to attend the Second Annual Distressed Commercial Real Estate Summit in November in New York? “Annual!” Hello!. . Skateboard Mag had an entire region to scout for a story that would be interesting to their ireverent readership. Is anyone surprised that they ended up featuring City Museum’s Bob Cassilly?. . .Two public officials, Francis Slay and Patty York, are still wondering how their names ended up in press announcements by the VIP KLife Foundation. . .-The most widely discussed speech delivered here was by Peter Fischer, recipient of the prestigious St. Louis Award. Fischer, whose Gateway Foundation is the driving force (and money) behind the City Garden, generally shuns the spotlight. He used his rare appearance to call for a serious rethinking of downtown’s Gateway Mall. . . Look for opponents of the city’s proposed anti-smoking ordinance to try to substitute their own watered -down version when the bill is heard at the Board of Aldermen on Friday. Should that happen, look for supporters to respond by stripping out the provision in the current bill that regulations will only go into effect when St. Louis county passes a weaker ban of its own and by removing any phasing-in period for small bars. . . Preservation Action, the national lobbyists for historic buildings, is lookng for a new prez. Michael Allen, former Landmarks Association staffer, who mobilized interest in the property acquisitions of a group of then-unnoticed corporations in north St. Louis. Another? David Richardson, the Husch Blackwell Sanders lawyer who sits on the St. Louis Prsservation Board.

Sex and the City

Jack Dorsey, the hometown inventor of Twitter and new resident of a trendy NYC nabe, left our town last week with a Key to the City, a bag full of Cardinal gear, and a nifty award from Webster U’s media savvy Dr. Benjamin Akande. Dorsey left behind a couple of gold nuggets: a tip-off to Mayor Slay, that Dorsey’s next business venture would be here in St. Louis and a “verified account” emblem for Slay’s personal Twitter page (@MayorSlay). The emblem protects Slay and other high-profile Twitters like Oprah (@Oprah) and Mayors Mike Bloomberg (@Mike Bloomberg) and Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) – from impersonators. . .The Big Apple was approaching gridlock as the columnist left it late last week. Streets were closed, claques of amateur photographers were blocking sidewalks, and some hotels were booked solid. A Joyce Meyer convention? Nope. Staging for near-simultaneous visits by Oprah, Libyan honcho Moammar Gadhafi and Prez Obama: local shootings for sequels to “Wall Street”, with Michael Douglas and Javier Bardem and “Sex in the City” with Kim Cattrall, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis were taxing even Manhattan’s aplomb. Not playing along: the posh Pierre Hotel, which nixed a stay by Gadhafi, and the mayor’s office, which politely discouraged an alternative plan for Gadhafi to pitch a tent. (Gadhafi will be staying at the Libyan mission while he preps for an address at the United Nations.)