ONLINE EDITION FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2001

Opinion

They kissed with eyes closed, and missed.

Here it is, another Labor Day gone by, and with Christmas/Chanukah around the corner a new year can be discerned in the offing.

The summer's almost gone, much too soon; the year is waning swiftly, and much too soon; the years are speeding by so rapidly, much too soon.

Now for some local commentary. I see by the calendar that when this issue appears the results of the Democratic Primary will be known.

The Dems had in Tom DiNapoli and in Tom Suozzi an embarrassment of riches. The Nassau GOP had in Tom Gulotta an embarrassment, period.

The winning Democrat Tom will have a good chance of defeating the guy put up by the discredited, long time in power party, if sanity prevails.

We had a personal dilemma in the primary contest. We have known the Suozzi family for over 20 years, and we have worked with Tom DiNapoli for many years, so the only solution will be to await the outcome and to support the winning candidate.

And while we are speaking of insanity, let us offer our usual unbiased and objective views on the man in the White House, who apparently has spent 46 percent of his time since inaugurated on vacation.

Even those who voted for Bush II must admit things are out of kilter. George W. swore he wouldn't touch or harm Social Security but is about to snatch $8 billion or so from the retirement fund. I know, I know it has been done before by all parties, but George W. promised not to do it.

George W. sends out checks to taxpayers who did not really want them. These funds were to be used to reduce the national debt, and/or solidify Social Security, or Medicare/Medicaid. The surplus for the year is gone, or doubtful. Crazy.

Surprising his allies, George W. walks away from longtime treaties and commitments, Kyoto (pollution), and ABM (with Russia), leaving Putin scratching his head, saying something about the weak King who is controlled by his retinue.

Then the stock market goes down the drain in the past few weeks, really down, I regret to say, from firsthand experience. Unemployment is now highest in six years, and hundreds of thousands more are to be dismissed.

It was expected that Colin Powell and Vice President Dick Cheney would lead with foreign policy decisions but strangely it seems the president is listening to Ms. Candaleeza only, during her many visits to the White House or to see a movie or sport show with George W. Bush. The guys are not too happy.

So much for current events, but is this any way to run a country sanely?