it is legitimate criticism or just snarky commentary by someone who wishes they
could string together more words than just “Bush sucks.”
Common Conservative:
And finally, to the fans of CommonConservative (and myself), I resolve that
The Selling of a Precedent
you continue to get enjoyment, entertainment, enlightenment, and other words
starting with “e” over the coming year.
by Thomas Lindaman
And that’s the Bottom Line.
Thomas Lindaman is the Publisher/Editor/Webmaster of CommonConservative.com
New Year’s Resolutions for
Other People
On behalf of everyone at CommonConservative.com, I’d like to wish you
all a Happy New Year. And along with that, I’d like to offer this year’s edition of
Long Island Progressive
New Year’s Resolutions for Other People.
By Vivian Viloria-Fisher, Deputy Presiding Officer
For those of you just joining us, the idea behind New Year’s Resolutions for Other
People stem from the fact that I can make great resolutions. Usually, mine revolve
Suffolk County Legislator, Fifth District
around the phrase, “I’ll never [action verb] this much [noun] ever again!” However,
when it comes to keeping them, I’m the Detroit Lions: if I’m lucky, good things
may happen for a short time. Instead of putting my resolution-making skills away,
I’m putting them to good use. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this year’s New Year’s
Long Island Progressive
Resolutions for Other People.
My dog, Ginger, and I took a walk this morning. As we headed for the new
To President Barack Obama, I resolve that you gain a sense of perspective
bike/ pedestrian path that runs along the proposed 25A by- pass, we waved to the
on your job. Judging from your first year in office, I’m concerned that you still
parents and kids waiting at the bus stop across the street. Ginger, never one to be
don’t have the gist of it. You’re the Commander In Chief, not the Playboy In
shy about such things, stopped to do what dogs do when they’re out for a walk. The
Chief. (That title belongs to Hugh Hefner, thank you very much.) If we are to
girls across the road reacted with an emphatic “ewww”. “That’s their excitement
judge your Presidency by what you do versus what you could have done, let’s
for this morning” called out their father. They watched with even greater disgust
just say you’d better hope that Rahm Emanuel is the one writing your historical
as I cleaned up after Ginger and went on my way. One block later, Ginger and I
record for posterity.
passed another bus stop, parent and child waiting, exchanging no greetings, since
To Vice President Joe Biden, I resolve that you find a nice quiet place where
they were sitting inside their SUV with windows rolled up and engine running.
you and your family can’t be disturbed by anything or anyone. Just a nice out-of-
We quickened our pace as we crossed the narrow road under the railroad trestle
the-way place where you can be alone, without the hustle and bustle of Washington
and turned into the path, where I made a deposit into the Town waste container and
life. Then, stay there for the next 3-7 years.
Ginger sniffed around for new aromas. Entering the Greenway is stepping into a
To Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, I resolve that you find your voice. On
place that is distinct from the rest of our daily lives. We look from side to side at
more than a couple of occasions over the past year, I got the impression that you
the variety of trees and shrubs that line our way. So many gnarly laurels surround
didn’t agree with the policies President Obama was putting forth, but instead of
us that I’ve wondered if that’s where the road from which the path extends got its
speaking up, you sat back and took it. Get your voice back and soon!
name, Gnarled Hollow Road. In early summer, after a very wet start, the quantity
To Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, I resolve that you both take a leadership
of mushrooms of different shape, color and size was extraordinary. The human
course. Watching the two of you bicker with your own party over the details
imprint on this path is also extraordinary. The design anticipated the rolling terrain
of legislation that you want passed, all the while spending money like drunken
of this North Shore neighborhood, the fast running water after a rainfall and the
sailors on shore leave (no disrespect intended towards inebriated Naval personnel
many road crossings that cyclists and walkers would meet. At every turn in the
by comparing them to these two dimwits), is pathetic, in one word. In two words:
road there is evidence of thoughtful planning: rip rap to stabilize drainage; zebra
really pathetic!
markings across roadways; audible and visible signals to drivers that travelers are
To MSNBC and CNN, I resolve that you spend a little less time sucking
crossing the roads; and warnings of steep grades.
up to President Obama and…oh, I don’t know…maybe cover a real news story
But the most enjoyable aspect of this path is the sense of community that it
once in a while? You guys spent more time covering the Balloon Boy story than
engenders. People say hello to one another, drivers stop to let walkers cross the
ACORN’s corruption, for the love of Pete! And it’s not all that hard to do, either.
road (although there is no stop sign), and even Ginger has become more social
Just look at most any blog, or better yet, watch Fox News and see how investiga-
with the dogs we meet.
tive reporting is done.
This road belies all the recent tirades about government staying out of our
To Sarah Palin, I resolve that you surround yourself with good, honest
lives. This project is the result of the efforts of a group of community members
political advisors you can trust. You have a lot of the goods to be President, but
who had a vision and with the support of our local assemblyman, Steve Eng-
you definitely need to work on your ability to think on your feet and articulate
lebright, and every other level of government, the vision has become a reality.
your message better. The Left thinks you’re a dumb hick. Don’t give them the
The concept was brought to the New York State Department of Transportation
ammunition to prove it.
where engineers spent years developing a design that would be suitable for the
To Leftists who are expressing disillusionment at President Obama’s in-
user, the neighbors and the physical characteristics of the area. After years of
consistencies, I resolve that learn your lesson that “hope” and “change” are poor
planning, meetings with different groups, raising funds (Thank you, Tim Bishop
substitutes for actual policies.
for that Federal help.) and finally cutting the ribbon we have a place for which
To John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Olympia Snowe, and the rest of the
most suburban folks yearn: somewhere to walk, run or bike without the fear of
moderate Republicans in the Senate, I resolve that you get a new medical proce-
being run over, meeting neighbors face to face and quietly enjoying the beauty
dure that should help you if you want to continue being Senators. It’s called an
of our neighborhood.
addaspinetome.
There is one addition that would make this a perfect green project. I would
To Media Matters, I resolve that you learn the difference between reporting
like to see this path exist not only as a recreational asset but as a means of
on what conservatives say and distorting what conservatives say. I know Daddy
transportation. My husband plans to bicycle to work when the completed path
Sor-bucks pays you to purposely mangle what people like Rush Limbaugh and
reaches its Port Jefferson destination. I would like to see the re-opening of the
Glenn Beck say, but you’ve opened yourself up to the same thing being done to
Setauket Rail Road Station to cyclists and pedestrians. No parking lot or ticket
you, like the time I saw your founder David Brock saying, “I like to kick puppies
window would be needed, just a platform and access. This would relieve some
off the top of tall buildings to hear their screams as they plummet to their deaths.”
of the heavy commuter traffic on Route 25A and provide an alternative for riders
(Okay, he was actually talking about something Bill O’Reilly said, but if you read
who are attempting to reduce their carbon footprints by leaving their cars home.
between the lines, you know I’m right!)
The number of homes in Setauket has grown significantly since the closure of the
To the people who believe global warming is man-made, I resolve that you
historic railroad station, and many of the residents must find their way to Stony
start up a snow removal service in Iowa so you can plow and shovel the inches
Brook for their commutes.
of “global warming” we tend to get in the winter.
Imagine this greenway serving the people of our community in a manner
To my critics, I resolve that you continue to hold my feet to the fire whenever
that will enhance their quality of life and will provide a model for the future of
you read something of mine that you don’t like. That way, I can determine whether
suburbia.

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