McConnell: Economy Will Take a Bath

McConnell-Pet Shampoo, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader in the Senate, is blaming the government for spending tax money on dog and cat shampoo and a $325,000 robotic squirrel, while at the same time trying to end the Bush tax cuts. Yet a Westie puts him in his place, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: Election lessons, digested

By: Daisy

Like my lunch of microwaved chicken and rice, I feel that I have digested the historic results of Election Day sufficiently enough to share my canine perspective.
One month ago, the drama of the past year reached its climax, with voters lining up at the polls and viewers staying up long into the night, tracking the election results as intently as I track squirrels on the bike path. What lessons can we take from how Americans voted?

Barack ... Back for Seconds

Thanksgiving 2012 Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

President Obama has returned for a second term and on the eve of Thanksgiving, his plate is full with pressing issues. Read more, and hear what a Westie has to say, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Terrier: Pawprints on Election Day

By: Daisy

This morning, as I watched my human friend Laura walk across Massachusetts Avenue in North Cambridge to vote on Election Day, I began wailing from the back seat of our Toyota Corolla. And while my other human friend, Rich, patiently waited behind the wheel for Laura to return, I couldn't stop crying.
You see, I wanted to be in that polling place, too, casting my vote in the elections I've blogged about for almost 10 months. Yet until some forward-thinking human introduces a Constitutional amendment that would extend the franchise to dogs, the only way to make my Westie voice heard is by blogging. So here are my thoughts on the final day of Campaign 2012.

Mitt: Eye on Storm, Foot in Mouth

Sandy-Squirrels Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

There goes Mitt Romney, doing something inappropriate again. This time his campaign wants to tour areas damaged by Hurricane Sandy for political capital. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (who refused him), President Obama and a Westie set a better, bipartisan example in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Loosey-Goosey Foreign Policy

Canada-Mexico Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

If you look at the transcript of Monday's presidential debate on foreign policy, two countries were noticeably absent from the discussion: Canada and Mexico, which happen to be the US' only next-door neighbors. Where's the love? That's what a Canada goose and a Chihuahua ask Barack and Mitt in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Terrier: Romney squirrels away support

By: Daisy

Normally, when I see a photo of a squirrel, I start thinking of dinner. But one particular squirrel has made me wonder if he is out to lunch.
The squirrel in question is named Gnocchi. He is a South Carolina gray squirrel who lives in the city of Summerville. And about one week ago, he made a prediction that made me lose my lunch: That Mitt Romney would win the presidential campaign over Barack Obama.
"His owner Serena Ash set up two bowls of walnuts, each with a picture of the presidential contender," the Summerville Patch reported. "Whichever bowl he ate the most nuts out of was the winner."
This left me thinking about two things. First, how come my human companions Rich and Laura never leave me two bowls side-by-side? And second, I suspect this test was far from impartial ... that certain squirrel-like qualities of Mitt made him Gnocchi's pick from the beginning.

Cats & Dogs: Did Obama do well in debate?

(Welcome to the first installment of Cats & Dogs, an ongoing political debate between Daisy the dog and Pancho the cat.)

By: Daisy and Pancho

DAISY: Good afternoon, everyone! Today my good friend Pancho and I are discussing the performance of Democratic President Obama in his first debate with GOP challenger Mitt Romney in Denver last Wednesday. Pancho, am I the only one who thinks the president did a good job?

PANCHO: Yes, you are! Mitt came out swinging his sword like Puss in Boots, and Obama had no counterstroke. My fellow felines know that to win a catfight, you need to get your swipes in. I don't understand why Obama didn't dig out the claws about Mitt's many weak points: his dismissal of the "47 percent" who don't pay taxes, his own reluctance to pay taxes ...

DAISY: And what I consider the cardinal sin: His driving with his dog atop the family station wagon on a cross-country trip back in the early 1980s. But where you see this as too much Mr. Nice Guy, I see it as taking the high road. And isn't this a good thing? Haven't we had enough of negative campaigning?

Conservatives Get Catty

Republicats Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Two Republican candidates -- presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and incumbent Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown -- have shown a bit of a cat-like side in their recent, respective debate performances. It's up to a Westie to analyze in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Warren Can't Fall Back From Attacks

Warren-Winter Coat, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Staffers for Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) have made crass taunts to his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren, including tomahawk gestures and war whoops, to mock her claims of Native American heritage. Warren gets some advice on what to expect from Brown in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: Brown-Warren is 'Walker-Whisperer' battle

By: Daisy

I hope everyone -- Democrats, Republicans and independents -- had an enjoyable, relaxing summer! I certainly did. Whether it was enjoying fried clams and watching my distant relatives, the seals, on Cape Cod, or just chasing squirrels on the North Cambridge bike path, the summer was sweet, as always.
Now it's back to the campaign trail for the fall, and the Senate race in my home state of Massachusetts heated up like a mug of apple cider last Thursday, as Republican Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth Warren exchanged views in the first of four campaign debates.
From a canine perspective, I would say that this debate revealed two distinct campaign personalities: the Dog Walker (Brown) versus the Dog Whisperer (Warren).

Class Warfare and Squirrel Hunting

Mitt-47 Percent Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

A new statistic has joined the political lexicon: the "47 percent" who pay no income taxes, according to Mitt Romney, who apparently belongs to the other 53 percent. Well, a Westie is ready to tackle his logic, as well as a juicy squirrel, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Surprise Guests at RNC, US Open

Scott Brown-US Open, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

What a surprising week it's been in our national pastimes (sports and politics). First the US Open tennis tournament gets unexpectedly interrupted by a squirrel. Then Sen. Scott Brown tries to pull off an upstaging act of his own at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Read more about it in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Akin Needs a Muzzle

Akin-Muzzle Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Rep. Todd Akin, the Missouri GOP Senate candidate who made controversial comments about "legitimate rape," gets his comeuppance from a Westie in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Ryan Uses His Noodle

Paul Ryan-Catfish Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Rep. Paul Ryan, whom Mitt Romney has picked as his GOP running mate, has an unusual hobby: He likes to catch catfish by noodling. What is noodling, you ask? Well, let the Congressman demonstrate -- and make a few political parallels -- in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: It's no stretch to compare politics, Olympics

 By: Daisy

My profile picture suggests that I am a sedentary dog, and in some ways this is true. I do enjoy a nice lounge on my doggy bed, on the sofa, or on a patch of grass or clover. And yet I have my active side too. Not only do I like to get in my daily exercise, but I can't help feeling the imprint of the frenetic physical activity humans have been putting themselves through in two arenas: athletic and political.
Athletic, in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London ... and political, on the campaign trail for president and also for senator in my home state of Massachusetts. And I ask my human readers: Which Olympic activities line up best with which candidates? Here are my answers:

Red Planet, White Terrier

Westie on Mars-Color, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

NASA has successfully brought its rover "Curiosity" to Mars, accomplishing the feat Monday night. A Westie envisions setting some milestones of her own on the Red Planet in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: Liz shouldn't seek 'Shelter from the Storm'

 By: Daisy

What a scary noise the thunder caused in Eastern Massachusetts Tuesday afternoon and evening! I got so nervous that I panted throughout the thunderclaps and scratched at the bedroom door trying to escape the wrath of Mother Nature. My human friend Rich tried to calm me down by playing the radio (it was our local Cambridge station, 740-AM) in an effort to drown out the thunder. But in fact, it was only when I started thinking about a second storm -- political campaigns -- that my sides stopped heaving and I quieted down somewhat.
You see, campaigns are a bit of a maelstrom too, and in our Massachusetts Senate race we have two candidates who are a study in contrasts in how to deal with the storm. On the one hand (or paw, in my case) we have the Republican incumbent, Scott Brown (grr!), who is unafraid to go out and "get his feet wet." Meanwhile, the candidate I'm rooting for, Democratic hopeful Elizabeth Warren, is staying indoors, playing it conservative.
Evidence backs me up here. Tuesday afternoon, my human companions Rich and Laura went to Bartley's burger joint in Harvard Square. If you haven't been, it has a reputation for mouthwatering hamburgers. (The best I can hope for, alas, is a doggie bag.) What's more, they are named after celebrities -- Harvard alum and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ... Boston Celtics player Kevin Garnett ... even Lady Gaga. (I think I howl better than her!) And of course, Brown and Warren.
Yet not only did Bartley's honor Brown with a burger, it also displayed two of his campaign signs! Can you imagine a restaurant in liberal Harvard Square doing that with another Republican, say, George W. Bush? You'd be more likely to see me hanging around with the squirrels in the backyard instead of chasing them. Yet Brown earned this star treatment honestly. He showed up at Bartley's in April to chow down on his namesake burger -- it contains bacon (yum!), American cheese (tasty!), grilled onions (mmm!), jalapenos (think I'll pass) and French fries (double yum!). He also said he'd frequented the restaurant during his undergrad days at nearby Tufts.
I haven't been able to find a similar story about Warren going to Bartley's ... even though she LIVES IN CAMBRIDGE AND TEACHES AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL. Maybe she doesn't like the ingredients of her burger -- red peppers, onions, feta cheese and Dijon mustard. Or, in fairness, maybe she didn't like the crude remarks of restaurant owner Billy Bartley -- a man who described himself as a fan of hers. Well, if he's such a fan, I would like to know why he said, in reference to a back-and-forth between her and Brown about our centerfold senator, "The thought of her taking her clothes off made me throw up a little in my mouth."
The Bartley's example, though, shows that Brown is taking the lead in getting out and connecting with people. And there are other examples I could bring up. Sunday, he was there to greet two Massachusetts residents, the Rev. Michel Louis and Lissa Alphonse, who were held in captivity by a Bedouin in Egypt for three days earlier this month.
Liz, politics is a particularly rough storm, worse than anything that happened last night. If given the choice, I may want to stay inside with the lights on and the music turned up. But you can't do that if you want to win this Senate race.

Daisy is a 10-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column appears regularly.

Koch is Mitt's 'Iron Chef'

Mitt-David Koch Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney traveled to billionaire David Koch's home in the Hamptons for a fundraiser on Sunday. Romney reportedly stuck around for dinner -- corn fritters, chicken and arugula salad, and dessert (cupcakes and ice cream). A source told the New York Post that this was “a simple meal to make sure the most money raised goes to the campaign.” Um, with the admission price fifty grand a head, simplicity doesn't seem to have been on the menu. Read a terrier's take in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Mitt's Lake Winnipesaukee Strategy

Mitt-Winni Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is taking a little vacation time up on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire ... and using that time to consider which bait the voters will swallow. Read more in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Terrier: Ruling keeps health care rolling

By: Daisy

If there is one thing that a Westie like me is good at doing, it is rolling on the ground. As soon as I see a nice, cool clover patch, like the ones on the North Cambridge bike path, I put my front shoulders on the green stuff, twist my body left and right, and get a nice, satisfying backrub. Ahhhhh!
Well, there was a lot of rolling done at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, today, after its justices upheld President Obama's health-care law and its "individual mandate" that Americans either purchase health insurance, or pay Uncle Sam a fine. And there are three "twists and turns" that would get a 10.0 score from yours truly.

Terrier: Pilgrim's lack of progress on nuclear energy

By: Daisy

This morning, I had a nice walk with my human friend Rich along the Alewife Brook in Cambridge and Somerville. Along the brook, I enjoyed sniffing the dirt and plants (including thistle that evoked my ancestral Scotland). In fact, I got so enthusiastic that a friendly woman passer-by in a New York Mets cap remarked that there must be "something interesting" in all that vegetation!
Well, these simple yet enjoyable experiences -- sniffing some soil, exploring a brook -- could be in jeopardy for my fellow canines and their human companions farther south in Massachusetts. It's all because of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth.
Pilgrim has presented a problem for Massachusetts since 1972 -- 40 years ago. (That is 30 years older than me, at least in human years. Don't ask what it is in dog years.) Well, that 40-year span was the length of Pilgrim's original license, which was set to expire today, June 8. It was re-licensed for 20 more years last month, and a courageous band of patriots is trying to make sure its corporate owner Entergy listens to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and runs things more responsibly.

Barry, Mitt Debate Tick Tactics

Tick Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has unveiled a new ad showing how decisively he'd act on "Day One." Yet is decisiveness always the best move over, say, the deliberateness of President Obama? The candidates debate which is better vis-a-vis a hitherto unexplored campaign issue -- just in time for tick season -- in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Persian Pit Bull Puzzle

Persian Pit Bull 2, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

The US is pondering how to approach Iran and its nuclear lab near the holy city of Qom. Is the answer negotiation ... or a preemptive strike? A helpful Westie has the answer in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: Warren must put problems in rear-view mirror

By: Daisy

Several weeks ago, my human friends Rich and Laura went food-shopping at the Trader Joe's near Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Mass. While returning to the car in the parking lot, they were surprised to see, in a neighboring car, another Westie, a 6-year-old named Ziggy, lying comfortably in an unusual position -- in the space above the back-seat area, screened by the rear window.

At least Ziggy wasn't strapped atop the car like Mitt Romney once did to the family Irish setter Seamus in 1983. And yet Romney, by finally being forthright on the issue, seems to have placed it in the rear-view mirror of his presidential campaign. This is an important lesson for another candidate with some background problems -- Massachusetts Democratic Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren.

Gardner 'Ground Game' Fizzles

Gardner Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

A team of beagles, bloodhounds and ferrets (plus one Westie) searches for the masterpieces stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"! Based on a true story.

Through a Glass Sharply

Political Pets-Counterterrorism, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

President Obama learns some valuable counterterrorism advice from an unlikely source in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Terrier: Warren can't be 'Late to the Plate'

By: Daisy

A Daily Kos blogger has an amusing, albeit apparently fake, headline on a post from Monday: "Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren's dog, Otis, comes out publicly against forced high-speed canine car roof incarceration." You can see a cute photo here -- also, apparently, not from the Massachusetts Senate candidate's website.
Too bad Warren (and Otis) didn't actually do this. For it shows a weakness of the Democratic candidate thus far: She is not quick enough to the draw ... and her opponent, Republican Sen. Scott Brown, is a master of aggressive tactics.

Will Brown "Pick Up" Doggie Vote?

Brown-Pickup, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) spoke at Bunker Hill Community College earlier this week, touting his ties with President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Does Brown have another trick up his sleeve in his reelection bid? Read more in the latest edition of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Newt's lasting imprint! Plus, a charity appeal

By: Daisy

It looks like former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will end his presidential campaign on Tuesday, according to media reports.
Some of my human readers will ask whether Gingrich achieved anything by staying in the race so long. He wasn't even Mitt Romney's biggest challenger -- that was former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who dropped out two weeks ago. All Newt got out of overstaying his welcome was a second-place finish in Delaware yesterday -- one of five primaries in play, all of which Mitt swept.
Well, I would point out (not literally -- my paws aren't made for pointing) that Gingrich's campaign was significant for two reasons, both of which could be used by President Obama as promising venues to battle Romney in the general election.

Campaigns going to the dogs

By: Daisy
We dogs have dominated the news headlines this week, from the presidential campaign to the Massachusetts Senate race. Time to pick up my pen (metaphorically speaking -- I can't pick up a pen with a paw) and start addressing all the doggy details!
Romney camp dishes out sneak attack
First, I wasn't happy that Mitt Romney's henchmen launched an unfair dog-related attack on President Obama. Admittedly the details made me wince (as much as a dog can wince, anyway). It turns out, from Obama's autobiography "Dreams From My Father," that when he was six years old, his stepfather served him dog meat while they were in Indonesia.
The Romney camp is making much ado over this. And I must say, it makes me feel rather queasy. Yet I should also point out that this happened when Obama was SIX YEARS OLD ... just a kid who hardly could have been expected to politely turn down the, ahem, meal. Today, our now 50-year-old president is a thoughtful pet owner who takes his Portuguese water dog Bo in limo rides and on Christmas shopping trips.
Romney, on the other paw (oops, I mean hand), was in his mid-thirties when he strapped Seamus atop the family station wagon on a cross-country drive in 1983. So I don't think his supporters are right when they say Obama's doggy no-no was as bad as Romney's.

Mass. Tells Moose Hunters: Vamoose!

Moose-Quabbin Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Recently the state of Massachusetts opted not to allow moose hunting in the Quabbin Reservoir, which has a dog and moose delighted, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!
Thanks to my muse for her help with this cartoon.

We don't need Mitt's "outside-the-car" policies

By: Daisy

This week, the human world was abuzz with the news that Mitt Romney has all but clinched the Republican nomination for President of the United States after the departure of former Sen. Rick Santorum. So I thought I'd touch on the differences between Mitt and the Democratic incumbent, President Obama, in a key aspect: The way they drive with their dogs.
Mitt, as we are likely aware, drove with his Irish setter Seamus in a crate atop the family station wagon during a 12-hour trip from Boston to Ontario in 1983. President Obama, meanwhile, sits with his Portuguese water dog Bo safely inside his armored limousine, as shown in a photo tweeted by adviser David Axelrod this year.
These examples have profound implications for America.

Doggie Dilemma is 'Ticket' to Budget Solution

Budget-Golf Tickets, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

It was the ultimate conundrum: A man in Seattle got four passes to the Masters golf tournament, only to have his Swiss mountain dog Sierra eat all four. (The Masters gave him new tickets.) Does this offer President Obama a solution to the budget impasse with GOP Rep. Paul Ryan? Read more in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

GOP alpha dog Mitt will lead us astray

By: Daisy

If there's one canine concept you humans love to use, it's the idea of an "Alpha Dog."
This means a mover and shaker who can take charge, seize the initiative and lead the pack. Am I an Alpha Dog? Do you even need to ask? My human friend Rich once admitted to a passer-by on the bike path after I had gently indicated which way I wanted to go: "She sets the pace."
Well, you humans might not know that there are two kinds of alpha dogs ... good ones, and bad ones. I got to know both types through my experiences with the kindly folks at Westie Rescue. I met benevolent "Earth Mother" Westies who tried to make sure each member of the pack got treated fairly ... and Machiavellian Westies who got into barking battles with me and wolfed down my food before I could get to it.
This week, one of the Republicans who wants to be president, Mitt Romney, has been trying very hard to act like an alpha dog. My question is, does he want to be a good alpha or a bad one? Alas, I think I know the answer.

One Health Care Plan, Sunny Side Up!

Obamacare Sunbeam, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

President Obama's health care plan is currently under review by the Supreme Court, and one terrier issues a favorable ruling in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Mitt loses game of 'Fetch A Sketch'

By: Daisy

For dogs, and for presidential candidates, life can't be all fun and games.
On Saturday I went to Singing Beach in the town of Manchester-by-the-Sea with my human friends Rich and Laura. I enjoyed pressing my paws into the soft sand, getting in a little beach running, and navigating the rocks reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands that are the ancestral turf of us Westies. While on the rocks, I noticed some of the other dogs on the beach were playing "fetch" with their human companions ... even splashing into the water to pursue whatever stick or doggy toy got tossed into the sea.
Well, last Wednesday, one of Mitt Romney's advisers, Eric Fehrnstrom, made reference to another type of toy -- the Etch A Sketch, which kids use for drawing. (You can see a photo of it here.) This is how Fehrnstrom described the difference between the primary season and the general election campaign:

Everything changes ... It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again.

Now, in general, I'm not one for toys. I don't play with squeaky rubber bones ... I don't chase tennis balls ... and when Rich has tried to get me to fetch a stick, well, I just look quizzically at it. (I do know one doggy trick -- how to "shake hands.") I would add, with all modesty, that this shows I possess a certain degree of maturity. At the beach, for instance, while other dogs played fetch, I attended to more serious issues, patrolling the rocks and making sure no bigger canines came too close to Rich, Laura and myself (although it was nice to say hi to a friendly Tibetan terrier about my size).
Being a leader is a little like me standing on that rock; you have to look out for everyone else. And while it does help to show you have a lighthearted side, leadership certainly does not mean treating issues like toys you can just "shake up," but rather as serious subjects.
Mitt and his staff learned these lessons the hard way after losing the Louisiana primary to former Sen. Rick Santorum on Saturday. About 20 percent of voters reported the Etch A Sketch comment influenced their decision ... and that 20 percent largely supported Santorum. Even though Louisiana is the land of Mardi Gras madness, its residents surely remember how bad Republicans are when they act irresponsibly, like former President George W. Bush when he fumbled the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
So it is time for Mitt to put away the toys and act like a grownup. Playing "Fetch A Sketch" is a game that he can only lose.

PS - Thank you to Laura for suggesting the name for this column.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column appears regularly.

Terrier's thoughts on green energy

By: Daisy

Walking through the historic Malcolm Preserve in the town of Carlisle, Mass., with my human friend Rich today, my thoughts turned to the issue of alternative energy.
"Green" energy such as solar, wind and water power is a hot topic. And why not? Gas prices are up; they stood at $3.80 per gallon of unleaded when I sat in the back seat of Rich's Corolla and watched the gas-station attendant fill up the tank yesterday. And the environment is down; all these motor vehicles spew harmful fumes into the air my sensitive canine nostrils breathe.
So it was nice to get a breath of fresh air in the Malcolm Preserve. (It was hot, so I panted out much of that air while hiking.) I sniffed fallen tree branches; navigated moss-covered stones across a brook; and exchanged greetings with a friendly black Lab mix named R.J. (I admit, we got there by car.) And I wondered, wouldn't it be nice if the same natural forces that power our environment could also fuel our economy?
It is good that Sen. John Kerry and Energy Secretary Steven Chu held a summit on this very topic at the Museum of Science in Boston Monday ... and good that the Massachusetts Legislature wants state utilities to use more renewable energy. As a dog who's affected by the sun and wind (and sometimes water) each day, I want to add my own thoughts on green energy.
SOLAR POWER
The morning sun causes me to get up from my doggie bed and stretch ... and it is not a stretch to say solar power is taking root here. A company called SunCatalytix, which got started at MIT and which Kerry and Chu visited Monday, is using sunlight and water to create what the Boston Herald calls "affordable solar energy." Yet I wonder just how powerful solar energy really is. It tends to have a de-energizing effect on me. After our hike on a sunny morning, I had to take one nap when we looped back to the parking area ... and another when we got back home.
WIND POWER
Massachusetts already has lots of wind turbines. I can see them from the car window on Route 93 ... and from the heights of Mount Wachusett. (I usually look for more interesting subjects, like birds or squirrels.) We could have wind turbines on Nantucket Sound through the Cape Wind project, and more tax credits for wind-energy providers thanks to Sens. Kerry and Scott Brown. I myself can attest to the might of wind power, as a mere breeze on my second nap today was enough to ruffle the fur on my shaggy winter coat.
WATER POWER
It is awe-inspiring to see the waterfalls of western Massachusetts with my human friends Rich and Laura. In the wilds of Bear's Den, New Salem, we watch torrents of water splash into a pool with a mighty roar ... while I stand sentinel for any actual bears that might prowl these woods. (Beware my fierce Westie bark.) Farther north, near the New Hampshire border, are Doane's Falls, which power past what look like relics of an old mill. So in a sense, water power would borrow a page from the past to create a cleaner future.
NUCLEAR POWER?
I must add that under no circumstances will I support nuclear power. We have the terrible reminder of the Fukushima tragedy in Japan, just over one year ago, to remind us of the dangers of nuclear energy.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column appears regularly.

Santorum Takes Heat on Global Warming Remarks

Santorum-Puerto Rico, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

So you're Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum. You've made the following remarks on global warming: "The dangers of carbon dioxide? Tell that to a plant, how dangerous carbon dioxide is." Well, what about the plants in the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico, the island whose Sunday primary Santorum is looking to win? Read more in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Warren's pet strategy must go 'Beyond the Pond'

By: Daisy

Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic candidate for Senate in my home state of Massachusetts, has opened up a promising new front in her campaign against Republican incumbent Scott Brown. But it needs a little tweaking.
First, some background: On March 1, Brown scored kudos from one of my favorite organizations, the Humane Society, when it awarded him its Legislator of the Year for working on two bills: one protecting marine mammals in the Bay State (like the grey seals I've seen at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod) and the other prohibiting mistreatment of horses. Even though I'm a Progressive Pooch, my sense of fairness prompts me to commend Brown.
Well, one week later, Warren tweeted a photo of her Golden Retriever, Otis, at Fresh Pond, Cambridge, to show that she, too, cares about animals. (Thank you to the source who informed me about these developments!) As I mentioned, this is a promising first step ... but it needs some thought for future steps.
You see, yesterday I myself went to Fresh Pond with my human friend, Rich. It was a beautiful early-spring day and the pond looked like a perfect place for me to romp. The sight of a Golden Retriever (was it Otis?) playing on the grass led me to utter a plaintive "can-I-join-him" howl from the back seat of Rich's Corolla. When we disembarked, I was treated to the sight of three V-shaped squadrons of geese above us (yum!), and when I got onto the grass, two dogs rushed up to me for a sniff, one on each side. One was a German Shepherd at least twice my size!
Up to this point, all was OK. I was ready to give Professor Warren an A-plus for her choice of a dog walk. We dogs like visiting places of natural beauty -- not to mention areas where we can mingle with each other.
The trouble was, Fresh Pond is too much Cambridge ... at the expense of everywhere else. All around the two parking lots were signs reading: "RESERVED PARKING, CAMBRIDGE RESIDENT PERMIT PARKING, NO VISITOR PASSES! OR CAMBRIDGE WATER DEPT. PERMIT PARKING, VIOLATORS SUBJECT TO FINE/TOW." You might as well have put up a "BEWARE OF DOG" sign and a mean-looking Rottweiler to scare away the out-of-towners.
Don't get me wrong. I like the idea of Warren taking Otis out for some nature and socialization. Yet I feel she is sticking too much to familiar territory and not taking the extra steps that would increase her visibility. We all remember how that doomed the last Democratic Senate hopeful, Attorney General Martha Coakley, who sneered at Brown for doing voter outreach at Fenway Park.
To Warren, I would suggest that the next time Otis wants to go for a walk, take him somewhere different, where you can connect with voters outside Cambridge. If you like bodies of water, why not try Spy Pond in nearby Arlington ... the Mystic Lakes in Medford ... or Castle Island in South Boston? You might even venture to parts of the state that tend to get overshadowed by the east -- places like Central and Western Massachusetts. Surely the Worcester area must have some prime dog-walking areas ... and as for Western Mass., well, this is one of my favorite parts of the state, with my fond Westie Rescue memories out in Palmer before my move to Cambridge. I should also note that these regions actually have municipalities named "Warren" (Central Mass.) and "Otis" (Western Mass.). Check 'em out, Liz!
So, to recap: Professor Warren, you took a good first step with Otis in your neighborhood. Now it's time to take the next step by thinking outside the box ... or in this case, beyond the pond.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs regularly.

Holder 'Shepherds' USA Into Despotism

Holder-Shepherd Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

So now it's OK to use "targeted killings" against American citizens in the War on Terror? That's what Attorney General Eric Holder said in a speech at Northwestern University this week. Time to raise a howl of protest, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: MA embraces Mitt, rejects revolutionary spirit

By: Daisy

Lately, I must confess, I've been a bit snappish. I have growled at my human friend, Rich, for daring to try to dislodge me from my sunny perch atop the bed (I think it was probably unintentional) ... and I have stuck my paws in the ground and refused to budge -- even slipped out of my leash -- when he has tried to redirect me on our morning walks on the North Cambridge bike path.
I believe this frustration is a sign of a deeper malaise: That Massachusetts, the so-called Cradle of Liberty, has dared to vote for its former governor, Mitt Romney, in the Republican presidential primary, one of 10 contests in play yesterday on "Super Tuesday."
Have Bay State Republicans forgotten their revolutionary roots? It was only last weekend -- on two occasions, actually -- that I got to scamper across the North Bridge in Concord, where, on April 19, 1775, a brave band of patriots fired "the shot heard 'round the world" against the tyrannic government of King George III of England.
While at the time I was more interested in frolicking in the snow and gazing at the birds near the Concord River, I am now saddened by how far Republicans have strayed from their state's revolutionary heritage. Their forebears rebelled against a tyrant king and Parliament ... yet the Republicans of today embraced an even bigger tyrant, a man who outrageously drove cross-country with his Irish setter Seamus in a crate atop the family station wagon in 1983. Talk about "Intolerable Acts"!
What is even more intolerable is that not only did the Bay State GOP vote for Romney, it did so by an overwhelming margin. Romney earned over two-thirds of the primary vote -- more than 70 percent -- and thus got all of the 41 Massachusetts delegates in play. Truly, Massachusetts Republicans acted like a dog that licked the hand of a bad master. After all, the New York Times reported, Romney "chose not to seek a second term as governor, announcing that decision more than a year before he left office and spending much of that final year outside the state." And the Boston Globe noted that the last time Romney ran for president, in 2008, "he regularly made Massachusetts the punch line in his remarks because of its liberal social culture. He told the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2007 that Massachusetts was 'sort of San Francisco East, Nancy Pelosi style.'"
Sigh ... I guess it's not like there were much better alternatives out there. This Republican contest is sort of like the lesser of four evils. But it did pain me to see Romney voting at a senior center in Belmont, right down the road from revolutionary Concord ... and celebrating his win at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, across the Charles River from my home in Cambridge.
And I leave you with this, faithful readers: If cars had existed in 1775 ... and Paul Revere had one on his famous "Midnight Ride" before the Battles of Lexington and Concord ... and his little doggie wanted to come along ... don't you think Paul, unlike Mitt, would have found a way to put the dog in the car and not on top of it?

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs regularly.

Weasel Words in Wolverine State

Wolverine Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

So let's get this straight. The winner of the GOP Michigan primary is Mitt Romney -- a man who opined against the auto bailouts on op-ed pages. And the second-place finisher is Rick Santorum -- who publicly opposed those bailouts of GM and Chrysler during last week's Arizona debate. (He also pretended to back those bailouts while courting Michigan Democrats' support!) Looks like Michigan Wolverines have some competition in their weaselly ways, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Should dogs court the cat vote?

By: Daisy

When two groups fight like cats and dogs, the wisest thing for them to do is keep their distance -- unless you're Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
Facing a tight battle with his rival, Mitt Romney, in the Michigan primary Tuesday, Santorum reached out to the opposing side: Democrats! From an automated phone call to Wolverine State voters:

"Romney supported the bailouts for his Wall Street billionaire buddies, but opposed the auto bailouts. That was a slap in the face to every Michigan worker and we’re not going to let Romney get away with it. On Tuesday, join Democrats who are going to send a loud message to Massachusetts' Mitt Romney by voting for Rick Santorum for president."

Romney won the primary, but Santorum‘s gamble paid off. First, Michigan lets Democrats vote in its Republican primary. (I see this as akin to letting cats enter dog shows, but anyway…) Second, Democrats voted for Santorum over Romney, 53 percent to 18 percent. And thirdly, it seems Santorum wants to repeat this strategy in future primaries.
Romney reacted to Santorum’s Michigan ploy like a cornered cat. He yowled about "the dirty tricks of a desperate campaign." I agree. Whether it’s cats and dogs, or Democrats and Republicans, two sides with a history of bitter relations usually clash more than they cooperate … and those who try to reach out the to the other side deserve suspicion.
Take the orange cat I saw yesterday on the North Cambridge bike path. I took one step forward -- and the feline hissed and swatted the air with one paw. Moments later, the kitty darted across the bike path and through a fence. Although I am a peaceful Westie, I understand that this cat acted aggressively because in the past, my fellow dogs must have barked at it ... run after it … maybe even chased it up a tree.
Now take those bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler in 2008 and 2009 that Santorum’s campaign call supported. (We associate them with President Obama, but some also occurred under George W. Bush.) Santorum sang a different tune in the Arizona presidential debate last Wednesday:

"I in principle oppose government coming in and bailing out a sector of the economy or an industry with government dollars and with government manipulation of that market … Which is exactly what happened twice -- in 2008 and 2009."

I hope Democrats who voted Santorum on Tuesday slunk home with their tails between their legs. As for Santorum, if you’re going to court the other side, try to find some true common ground instead of pretending to back a policy you don’t really support. Otherwise you’ll look as silly as -- well, as a dog trying to approach a cat and getting hissed at as a result.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs weekly.

Santorum is GOP 'Yogi'

Santorum-Yoga, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Recently, a "doga" session was held in Boston for people and their dogs, to benefit the Animal Rescue League, with one yoga expert calling canines well-suited for yoga.
Well, judging from ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's performance in the 20th GOP presidential debate, in Arizona on Wednesday, it looks like he's also good at stretching (that is, stretching the truth on No Child Left Behind). Read more in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: Romney, Gingrich must defend backyards

By: Daisy

This morning, when my ears detected an intrusive cat near my house, I went into DEFCON-4, barking from my perch atop the bed and then jumping onto the floor to continue my vocal barrage. The feline withdrew in defeat with a "Meow."
Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich face "home invasions" of their own ... in their native Michigan and Georgia, respectively. And if they want any credibility with voters (a tough sell in itself), they must win their home-state primaries next Tuesday.
In Michigan, it's ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum on the prowl. The Detroit Free Press reports Romney holds a slim lead over Santorum in two polls -- and Santorum leads Romney in a third.
Meanwhile, Romney himself is encroaching upon Gingrich territory in Georgia. The Savannah Morning News reports Gingrich's lead has shrunk from double digits to just two points over Romney and three points over Santorum, based on a Monday poll.
Why does a mere Westie like myself know enough to defend the homestead, while an ex-governor like Romney and a former House Speaker like Gingrich don't get this? It shows these guys' policies are as unpalatable to their home states as Alpo is to my taste buds.
In Romney's case, he strayed too far afield, saying he opposed President Obama's bailouts of GM and Chrysler. And this from someone who grew up in metro Detroit!
Meanwhile, Georgians are so peeved with Gingrich that they might throw him to the wolves. Of the 11 "Super Tuesday" primaries, the Peachtree State is the only one where Gingrich leads, and not by much. He should show it more love, like singing his own version of "Georgia On My Mind" on YouTube. If he doesn't, Georgia primary voters will have Romney or Santorum on their mind.
I'm sure Romney and Gingrich want to bask in the sunbeam of their home on primary day, just like I'm doing right now. But you can't do it unless you ward off intruders first.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs weekly.

Pit Bull Out of Persia

Iran Pit Bull, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

In last month's Republican presidential debate in Tampa, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas said: "We're blockading (Iran). Can you imagine what we would do if somebody blockaded the Gulf of Meixco? That would be an act of war. So the act of war has already been committed and this is a retaliation."
Hmm ... Paul and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sound like a pair of pit-bull owners, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Upon reflection, Mitt NYC protest deserves more kudos

By: Daisy

Maybe I was so focused on rooting for my fellow Westies at the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) dog show in New York City Tuesday that I got a little too hot under my collar at the anti-Mitt Romney demonstrators outside.
Led by the "Dogs Against Romney" advocacy group, 12 courageous people and several dogs (including a bull terrier and a pug) stood outside the show at Madison Square Garden for about a half-hour to call attention to Romney's putting his Irish setter atop the family station wagon on a cross-country trip in 1983.
In my Tuesday column, I didn't give the protestors much love, saying they should go where Romney is (check Arizona or Michigan, as both have GOP presidential primaries approaching) and not disrupt the venerable dog show. Well, the protestors didn't entirely get some love from passers-by either. The AP reported that one man yelled out "Dogs don't vote!" (No, but our human companions do.) Yet the group did get respect from the American Kennel Club.
"The AKC promotes responsible dog ownership," spokeswoman Lisa Peterson told the AP. "Putting a dog in a crate for car travel is the first step toward responsible dog ownership ... The second step would be to put that crate in a car."
So to "Dogs Against Romney," I say, good work yesterday. Even though a Peke won best in show and no Westies placed in the top four for best of breed, I feel hopeful for the future.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column runs weekly (and sometimes more, when she has a chance to reflect).

WKC Mitt protest misses the mark

By: Daisy

Let me begin by saying I'm no fan of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Anyone who puts his dog in a crate on the roof of their car on a cross-country drive -- as Mitt reportedly did in 1983 with the family Irish setter, Seamus -- well, Mitt, "you ain't no friend of mine," as Elvis Presley sang in "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog."
But the "Dogs Against Romney" protest planned for noontime today in New York City has picked the wrong location: The Westminster Kennel Club dog show. "Dogs Against Romney" is an advocacy group that says it doesn't endorse any particular presidential candidate ... but it also says today's protest will "serve to complement" the work of another group, "Pet Lovers for Obama." Well, these groups are barking up the wrong tree.
Today, when attention should be focused on who is best in show (I'm rooting for my fellow Westies, natch) the crowd at Madison Square Garden will see the distracting presence of demonstrators. Worse yet, these demonstrators are protesting a cause that has NOTHING TO DO with the dog show.
From the "Dogs Against Romney" website:

The protest is sponsored by Dogs Against Romney - and will seek to focus more public attention on the fact that Romney forced his dog to ride for 12-hours on the roof of his car - and even coldly hosed the dog down with water after he became ill and frightened, soiling himself - before driving for hours more - all while Romney's luggage rode inside the car.

Yikes! Yet from my cozy sunbeam atop the comforter on my bed in Massachusetts, let me offer the following objective observations to my human friends:
First, you might have some company on the barricades out on Seventh Avenue. PETA has protested the WKC show in the past, for a different and more relevant reason. "PETA's beagle brigade made sure that everyone heard the ugly truth about doggie beauty pageants and the dog-breeding industry," writer Lindsay Pollard-Post noted last year. "They kill shelter dogs' chances."
And second, while you're howling at the moon (or the sun, in this case), your quarry is getting away. It looks like Mitt is NOWHERE NEAR NYC. On Monday he tweeted he was soaking up the sun in Arizona. "Great event yesterday in Mesa," his campaign tweeted, "and look forward to being back for more campaigning & the CNN debate."
So I will sum up by telling "Dogs Against Romney" that if they really want to hound Mitt, they should go after the candidate ... and leave the show dogs alone.

Daisy is a 9-year-old West Highland white terrier living in Cambridge, Mass. Her column appears weekly.