On Meeting Charles Krauthammer

There are a handful of people that I aspire to meet or at least be in close proximity to in real life on my bucket list. You know, the list of things to do before we kick the bucket of life. I can now mark off one of those names - that of Charles Krauthammer, syndicated columnist, Fox News Contributor, and super intelligent man. Some days are just really, really good ones. Friday, Institute for Energy Research (IER) held its Third Annual IER Houston Luncheon.

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets. IER maintains that freely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy and environmental challenges and, as such, are critical to the well-being of individuals and society. Founded in 1989 from a predecessor organization, IER is a public foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is funded entirely by tax deductible contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. No financial support is sought for or accepted from government sources

I was given the opportunity to volunteer at this event. A Republican woman friend put me on the list and that opportunity also brought lunch and the keynote speech by Dr. Krauthammer. A group of ten women organized and worked the two registration tables and distributed books as gifts for the VIP reception guests. As Dr. Krauthammer entered the reception space, he stopped and chatted to three of us positioned in front of that door. He was gracious and in no hurry to rush on by us. He thanked us for working the event. I was surprised I maintained the ability to speak briefly. I also had the pleasure of getting to know his assistant, a terrific young man who is a student at Georgetown University.

Since its inception in Houston, Tx, in 1989, the Institute for Energy Research has become the premier source for sound energy research. As Washington DC's only free mraket think tank forcsed exclusively on the energy sector, IER concentrates on the threats to personal liberty and economic propertiy that undermine America's global position as a major energy producing nation. W believe that current energy and environmental regulations and laws limit the energy choices available to American consumers and increase costs for everybody.

Krauthammer was welcomed with a long, loud applause from those in attendance, after he was introduced. He stated that he was "happy to be anywhere where Juan Williams can't interrupt me." All of the Fox News Channel viewers enjoyed that remark. Noted in his introduction was the fact that Krauthammer was a speechwriter for Mondale, back in the day. "I was young once", he said in response to that little known fact being mentioned. He is also author of a widely respected study on bi-polar mental health issues. Krauthammer noted that a perfect storm in politics brought in the election of Barack Obama as President in 2008. The financial collapse just before the election, a weak campaign by the McCain camp, and the historic marker of America's first black President all came together for Obama. This election is very much different for him. Now he struggles with a failing agenda and record in office and also an economy that is the slowest to recover from a recession since the Great Depression. He spoke of unprecedented arrogance used by this president. His continual references to anyone of importance in introductions - such as "MY intelligence agency" after the raid on bin Laden, or "MY Secretary of Defense", all point to delusions of grandeur. It began immediately upon Obama clinching the Democratic Party nomination on June 4, 2008, when he stated that "history will remember this night when the earth began to heal and the waters receded." Who thinks like that, much less speaks in such terms about his own achievement to be his party's nominee? Krauthammer says Obama "reigns supreme in self-adoration". Couldn't have said it better myself.

 Others can be excited about meeting rock stars or entertainers. As a political junkie, Charles Krauthammer is at the top of my list of super stars. It is terrific to meet someone so well-respected and find him to be down to earth and friendly and most gracious to those around him.