When I hear sobering headlines like “the economy is shrinking at fastest pace since 1980,” and “we are living in the lowest level of growth since 1980,” it’s down right frightening. Some in the media have accused the new Obama administration of waging a campaign of fear to get their stimulus package passed… but still, numbers don’t lie. Our economy is in bad shape.

But when I hear President Obama using words like “catastrophic” and make statements like “if we don’t act immediately… our nation will sink into a crisis, that at some point, will be much tougher to reverse,” it triggers the chronic optimist in me. Call me crazy, but no matter how bad life ever got growing up, my mother always consoled me that “the sun will still come up” tomorrow. And fortunately, she was right.

In 1980, I was ten. Unemployment was approaching 10%, inflation at 14%. Things were pretty bad. But the world didn’t cease to exist. The sun still came up, birds continued to sing and rainbows didn’t disappear.

And by the way, here are ten things that weren’t around then…

10. Artificial Hearts, Statins and Viagra

1. A Starbucks on every corner

Imagine life WITH the worst economy as today WITHOUT all of those things we encounter in our everyday lives… How in the world did we survive?!

The Senate passed an $838 billion Stimulus Package today. Seems like a lot of money, and I hope it works. But if it doesn’t, I bet the sun will still come up tomorrow.

Perhaps it is a sign of my own aging, but I could swear Hollywood has gotten lazy. What is the deal with the one-word titles?

Push. Taken. Defiance. Doubt… These are all titles of major block buster movies on the big screen right now.

Is it the ”Less is More” principle? If so, then in my case, it would be applied as “Less is More… Confusing!”

One recent afternoon, I was blessed with the rare opportunity of going to the movies by myself and seeing something other than a G-rated cartoon (if you have small kids chances are you know what I’m talking about here).

The opportunity presented itself with little to no advance warning as weekend schedules, birthday parties and kids can be subject to frequent change.  So needless to say, I found myself standing in the lobby of my neighborhood theater, looking up at the board and down at my watch.

“Defiance,” I thought I recalled, was that one with the James Bond guy who whose daughter is kidnapped — and subsequently extracts vengeance on the perpetrators. A perfect fit for a surprise movie outing — lots of action, sinister plots and little thought required!

I recalled wrong. It was the James Bond guy alright… but set in the Belarusian forest during Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe. It was a touching film and a true story. But to be quite honest, the entire thing takes place in the frigid winter woods of 1942 and it was 27 degrees and snowing in Washington that day. It was like walking out of seeing the film “Backdraft” to a lobby on fire.

“Taken” was the correct title of the film I thought I was seeing – and one might argue that it is telling enough so as not to be confusing. But I don’t want to have to decipher clever titles before shelling out my 10 bucks to be entertained.

In my opinion, Hollywood would do itself a favor in these tough economic times by protecting their customers from making similar mistakes:  Go the extra mile and make it clear.

Take for example, “Hotel for Dogs.” Now that’s a clear title. I understand what that movie is going to be about – dogs at a hotel. There’s no way  anyone would confuse it with a film about the struggle of two Jewish brothers in Belarus.

Or better yet, “The Curious Case for Benjamin Button.” They show Brad Pitt’s face so long during the time it takes for the voice on the trailer to read it that it’s probably impossible to erase the image burned into our subconscious.

In fairness, I will admit that some of my favorite films of all time have one-word titles: Casablanca, Harvey and Scarface.

But those are catchy names, not random nouns and verbs.

Now dismantled Shoe Monument in Tikrit

The bearing of one’s sole – or shoe throwing – specifically at figures of power seems to have successfully emerged as an effective means of global political expression.

I doubt President George W. Bush will soon forget having not one, but two shoes hurled at him (which he deftly dodged) by a furious Iraqi journalist last December 14th. The incident propelled the reporter into instant stardom – and a statue which has now been taken down was erected in his honor. The infamous flinger, Muntader al-Zaidi, is awaiting trial for the assault. Venezuelan Dictator Hugo Chavez called him “courageous!”

A few days later, the gals at Code Pink tossed shoes at an effigy of President Bush in front of the White House.

Since then, we have seen footwear flying around the planet. In Britain this week, a protester chucked his running shoe at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao while giving a speech at Cambridge University. He missed.

In Sweden, at Stockholm University, a female protester nailed Israeli Ambassador Benny Dagan in the chest with one of her of Manolos (okay, I’m on a roll here – they weren’t Blahniks as best I can tell from the grainy video on the web)!

And finally, here at home in Ithaca, New York, a man dressed in his 1950’s-era military uniform pulled shoes from a bag at last night’s Common Council Meeting hurtling them at Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson and Alderman J.R. Clairborne. Neither officials were struck thankfully, but the podiatric protester reportedly pulled a third shoe from his bag taunting the larger council with, “Who wants another one?!”

Now, a simple googling of this phenomenon produces numerous cultural and historical theories about the meaning and origins of the gesture. But one thing is pretty clear, the message is this: YOU are worse than the dirt and grime of the bottom of my shoe!

So what is the proper, politically correct response to your assailant?

Perhaps politicians should steal a line from International Man of Mystery Austin Powers who was struck by a shoe and responded with, “Who throws a shoe? Really. You fight like a woman!”

And what would Dr. Scholl have to say about this latest trend?

I imagine he’d say… DUCK!

It’s coming… Are YOU ready?!

Some two million plus folks are coming from all over the country to descend on the Nation’s Capital. Bridges are closing and authorities are telling people to plan to walk, wait and endure general hair-pulling lines at security check points.

But will it be worth the hassles?

You BETCHA! Afterall, this is not only one of the most historical inaugurations in history, but also a moment in time that I will enjoy telling my children and grandchildren about some day.

So how does one prepare to survive the headaches and chaos and truly enjoy this magnificent opportunity?

You have to get into… your ALOHA mode!

I’ll secretly confess that of all the balls that I am invited to attend as a reporter for FOX News, the Aloha Ball maybe the winner!

For starters, it’s 11 degrees outside today, so wearing my best Hawaiian shirt with my tuxedo and a lei may be a mental boost alone! But more than that, it’s a first-ever Aloha Ball that seeks to celebrate the music, food and culture that shaped President Elect Obama’s youth. (And the legendary George Clinton and the P Funk All Stars will be there!)

Event organizer Skip Kelly told me a few days ago, “Barack may have learned his sharp political elbows in Chicago… but you know that calm and cool demeanor that he possesses? That’s his ALOHA spirit.”

If you want to read more – or even attempt a last minute effort at attending this one, go to www.alohaball.org.

So bring on the snarling traffic, lost and confused masses, and general chaos… I’m ready – I’m in my Aloha State of Mind!

Mahalo!

So you’ve heard of Soccer Moms and Hockey Moms… but did you know there’s such a thing as a Nutcracker Dad?!

Well, there are AND I’m one of them!

I hope you had a happy holiday season – this was one of my highlights.

And quite special to me… with thanks to the Washington School of Ballet who invited me to document this unique category of Nutcracker Dads.

Happy New Year!!

Nutcracker Dads from Griff Jenkins on Vimeo.

There’s only one “Doughboy” left from WWI and his name is Frank W. Buckles.

At a spry 107 years old, he still has his faculties about him, his smile and his pride. He even told me in an interview this past summer on Capitol Hill where he was being honored that he does “a little farming now and then” out in West Virginia.

Buckles, who while as a civilian was imprisoned by the Japanese for over three years during WWII, talked to me about his duty as a soldier and patriot. But what really struck me was something he said to me at the end of the interview…

“I remember my grandfather telling me as a young boy about his grandfather’s stories of fighting in the American Revolution, ” he said.

I was awe-struck by the privilege I had that day of interviewing someone so closely tied to our Nation’s history – and beginnings.

In these challenging times of threats to our economic security and national well-being, I take comfort in the legacy of Frank W. Buckles, those who came before him, and certainly those who will come after him that have made the greatest of sacrifices in preserving our most precious gift: freedom.

And remember the most important two words you can share with every Service Member or Veteran who has served this great nation – today and forever: Thank You.

Happy Veteran’s Day, America!

In his quite funny latest HBO special, Chris Rock had this one-liner:

“John McCain is 72… When was the last time you hired a 72-year old for ANYTHING?!!”

Now, to be fair, John McCain has proven his toughness and even poked a little self-deprecating fun at himself on SNL several months ago claiming on the show that he had the “oldness” neccessary to be President…

Yet the question continues to be posed to me in private by people… Some as recent as yesterday, asking about the senator’s age as a factor in this election…

Well today, I saw this…

Ken Mink is a 73 year-old retiree, full-time college student and member of the Roane State Community College who’s still got game!

Before Oliver Stone’s new film “W.” opened, I had an opportunity to spend “An evening with Oliver Stone” at the New Yorker Festival discussing his new movie. It was moderated by New Yorker film critic David Denby ala James Lipton-style. A few questions were taken from the audience after 3 clips of the new film were shown. A clip from his film Nixon was shown first.

Read more and view video.

We are heading into a weekend with a real sense of anxiety…

A loss of confidence in our markets; a loss of confidence in our electoral process with all this voter fraud…

A loss of confidence in our politicians in Washington…

And a loss of confidence in our financial institutions…

I want to see a president not beaten down and battered by the partisan battles and the public criticism of the past eight years…

I want to hear him speak about the America that I know…

Let’s face it – France isn’t going to lead us out of this global crisis… Nor Germany or Spain or England… It isn’t Asia or the Middle East… and it surely isn’t Russia or China.

Or Central or South America or even Canada… It is the PROMISE of the United States of America — that unique thing that binds us together that will lead us out of this mess… and it is time to believe again.

She’s the nation who when faced w/ unprecedented odds, she stood the challenges of time…

Who when on Sept 11th, 2001, men and women, black and white, Latino and Asian and from all walks of life, came together as one nation, united as a people, to face the tyrannical destruction of those who would seek to undermine her greatness…

A nation who says we are stronger as ONE against any and all who doubt our resolve.

Who sees courage and loyalty and perseverance, dignity and honor as its core strength in times of strife…

Who believes in a just and almighty God to lead our efforts in selfless acts of humanity and determination that we preserve not only our nation and way of life, but also a culture of equality that has become a beacon of freedom for the world to see…

Though excesses may collapse our markets, as they did during the great depression, in the 80s and in the dotcom burst of 2000…

We shall survive this too with the sheer grit of this nation.

And we will continue to be the greatest force for good on Earth because at our most basic level, our undoubting courage for those who find themselves in the breach between good and evil, sick and poor, we find ourselves. It is who we are – and it is what unites us as a nation.

While we may have been the catalyst for what is becoming a global economic slowdown, it is the United States of America who will lead us out of the woods…

And I have faith still in this greatest experiment called democracy for which my grandchildren have not only hope but also that promise to those who are willing to work harder, strive farther and believe deeper in the most powerful economic system in our planets history.

That is what I believe… and our next and final debate might be a good time for Barack Obama and John McCain to set aside some partisan differences and find that common faith in our system.

Hopefully this evening’s presidential debate will shed some light on where the candidates really stand on the issues — namely, the economic crisis and the way forward. Here are five questions I have for the candidates (if I were in the audience at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.)

1. The Economy is stuck. Credit is frozen. Aside from the recent bailout bill that you both voted for, what are you going to do to solve this crisis and ensure it does not happen again?

2. Who will you appoint as your Treasury Secretary and who will you seek advice from as your administration takes on the economic woes ahead?

3. Explain to me specifically how YOU think we got into this crisis and tell me why you think it wasn’t avoided before we got to the “crisis” point?

4. Taxes and Truth. Honestly explain to me your plan to raise or cut taxes – income, corporate, cap gains, estate, AMT… lay it out plain and simple and explain how it helps me as a middle-class father of two young girls?

5. Everyone has someone in their past that they regret associating with at some point in their lives. Tell me someone in your past that you regret befriending and why that association does not reflect your judgement?

Get the popcorn ready. Let’s hope for answers and not boring fluff… the American people deserve more!