Open letter to General/Secretary Colin Powell

Dear Mr. Powell,

As a fellow Republican who has always trusted your leadership and strength, your instincts to place country before personality and your demonstrated ability to get the military and state departments missions successfully accomplished, I ask in all respect that you listen to me.

I understand via the media, those "Infallibles," that you plan to endorse Senator Obama this weekend.

Someone in our party has to ask the question. If this is true, why?

Is your alleged impending decision to support your fellow man of color who comes, frankly, from the other end of the political spectrum when it concerns freedom and democracy a return to an instinctual Colin Powell, a brother, rather than a father or a leader? Are you tired of the Uncle Tom routine? I thought you were bigger than that, Sir.

But I'm worried that you've changed your whole personal/political paradigm to fit a Democrat's world view. When and why did that happen? How, Sir, can you even contemplate supporting a man like Barack Obama who preaches precisely the opposite of what you have defended and even fought for?

You've seen little despots before, General. Your tours of duty while serving the United States with great honor must have encountered those who would use their cult of personality to obtain power. He doesn't remind you of one, even when you read the G2, the real dope?

Evidently not. I think you're blinded by your own bias. But then, who isn't? That's why we have political parties--to bring ideas together from disparate sources and people.

You know, General Powell, I would've voted for you almost blindly also because you represent a standard that is exemplary for kids. Now? Your ambivalence to the obvious hate speech and agitation of race music and hip hop versus the evident slights you might have felt you endured during the Bush administration must be difficult to deal with.

And I'm presumptuous to make such an assay of your life. But, I do wish to confront your involvement in Republican politics and your inability to support them. At least, Lieberman became an Independent, a fair outcome to his disagreements with the left wing of his party.

In the meantime, I respect your reputation and its accompanying honor. I certainly mean no disrespect to your freedom of choice, regardless of party. I only hope he will accept my "helpful" exhortation as a peer in the same political party to think long about your endorsement for president.

By the way, Senator Obama's stand on the issues is the reason I won't vote for him; not because he's a black man. It's sad that this point must be made over and over again.

Thank you for your service.


And thanks for the read.

Obama's first instinct: attack and destroy Joe the Plumber

It's great to be here in Miami. Florida is a must-win state on November 4th, and with your help, we're going to win Florida, and bring change to Washington, DC. We had a good debate this week. You may have noticed-- there was a lot of talk about Senator Obama's tax increases and Joe the Plumber. Last weekend, Senator Obama showed up in Joe's driveway to ask for his vote, and Joe asked Senator Obama a tough question. I'm glad he did; I think Senator Obama could use a few more tough questions.

The response from Senator Obama and his campaign yesterday was to attack Joe. People are digging through his personal life and he has TV crews camped out in front of his house. He didn't ask for Senator Obama to come to his house. He wasn't recruited or prompted by our campaign. He just asked a question. And Americans ought to be able to ask Senator Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks.

John McCain speech today at political rally.




So, let me get this straight. Ask a question of a political person who has come to your neighborhood to campaign and this is what you get? Pilloried and categorized, put down and indicted for what? For asking an uncomfortable question?

Here's the problem: the Obama campaign is simply too quick to jump on the "disagree-ers." That is a dangerous, ominous sign of a group of people who won't take criticism or questions from a common citizen. It's as if one should be aware of participating in debate lest they be called crazy people, like the average guy in Ohio who told McCain he was mad as hell or a neighbor, like Joe the Plumber.

It doesn't matter where he is in his career path. None of it matters. What matters is there appears to be an entire mechanism in place to destroy ordinary people.

As I recall, the Bush administration has also been labeled as a group who couldn't take criticism and wouldn't listen. At least, though, they left you alone if you dared to complain about them.

It's hardly a tactic our founders would have approved of. Actually, it's shockingly un-American.

Thanks for the read.

The Reform message is strong as McCain-Palin return to stump

Senator McCain looks rested and confident this morning.

Sure enough, he's on the stump--in Ohio--laying Obama out issue by issue--from Obama's silly laissez faire, casual attitude during last week's bail out talk to his inability to do away with his ideas to raise our taxes during this economic mess. As Senator McCain said about it, "he said he would suspend his plans for tax increases, etc."

McCain's new vigor and aggression is a relief after Friday's debate.

Sarah Palin, traveling with McCain, meanwhile has hit the stage like she owns it sounding like she has found her voice. She made a point of "announcing" that her job in the administration will be to lead America to energy independence. She told Ohioans and the rest of coal country that coal technology is the way of the future while reminding them Obama won't even consider clean coal technology.

Her demeanor is different somehow. I think she's been hammered on an anvil that either hardens or breaks the person. She's beginning to get a burnished look and a tiny patina of experience. As she defines herself, her public presentation is significantly improving.

John McCain's gamble to go back to Washington was a winner, as I predicted. We would've had an ACORN deal in the first or second draft of the bailout if John McCain hadn't brought the MSM cameras to the Halls of Congress and to the 100 or so Republicans (and some Democrats) who felt they were being overwhelmed and muscled. McCain gave them the exposure and leadership they needed at a time that was absolutely imperative.

Meanwhile, the Dems own the House. All they have to do to "save" all of us is pass the law. If it's life and death, why not just pass the darned thing? They caused this problem; now they get to take responsibility and Republicans who believe this is impractical and irresponsible policy shouldn't have to carry Barney Frank's water.

McCain is stomping on Obama now about his inaction and laid back attitude. As he said, "I, like my idol, Teddy Roosevelt, want to be in the middle of the fight. I don't phone it in."

Thanks for the read.

Obama's pals at NBC's Saturday Night Live

I don't know if we can overcome the popular myth makers who are taking so much trouble to try to destroy the Republican Party.

Our chances of winning the election might be slimming down as a result of the very effective anti Palin movement in the entertainment industry. Saturday Night Live, the children who make more money in one hour than my father ever did in his educated, experienced lifetime have been given the no-holds-barred okay from their corrupt management to go after Senator McCain and Governor Palin.

Last night's SNL was no exception. (I had to leave the room when my husband punched it in.) The vicious characterizations of Mrs. Palin and Senator McCain indicate a very odd arrangement that these out of touch entertainers have with the rest of us. They are unabashed in their belief they have the moral right to use their programming as pure propaganda. Fair? Not at all. Mean and ugly are more like it.

The rest of us just have sit and listen to it. You and I are pretty helpless considering our place in the media food chain. But that's free speech, isn't it?

Unless something happens to change the perception that we're bungling idiots, we're going to lose. Nevermind that the problems of the melt down in the banking and mortgage sectors of our economy are directed related to the policies and immorality of the Democratic Party as they placed people who didn't have money into homes.

Then the real idiocy--Democrats trying to run the country--will take center stage. If America can survive the Left's occupation of all three branches of our government (hopefully it will be a short reign), we can start again presenting our Republican principles to a more mature and experienced public.

If you think you're frustrated now with the government bail out and it accompanying politics and giveaways, just wait until Obama and Biden have lost us our security in addition. I just hope they don't get us all killed.

Meanwhile, I am angry this morning at my party. especially George Bush and, yes, at our candidates for allowing themselves to be defined by the sexists, ageists and racists in the media, especially on the entertainment side. Providing no effective defense against this barrage is their fault.

I'm afraid I've done all I can to help.

Thanks for the read.

McCain-Obama Debate anticlimactic

The more I see of Barack Obama, the more I realize how little he knows.

The more I see of John McCain, the more I realize how old he is. Last night was no exception. His lackluster performance on the economic issues might be based on a possibility of one or a combination of items.

First, he is struggling with presenting the fiscal conservative's POV for some reason. It's not because he doesn't understand the discipline; it's as if he has something under his hat, maybe a deal he's made with congressional Republicans to get this bail out thing into private hands, where it belongs...but just can't talk about it yet.

I expected more revelation from Senator McCain. He missed a few opportunities to drive home the point that conservatives make on daily basis that this plan is a terrible resolution and it smells like socialism. I wish he had been more forceful in that.

Secondly, I think he's tired. His lack of energy showed at the first part of the debate. Fortunately he picked up the tempo in passion and solutions as he used the best weapon in his arsenal--experience--when he talked about foreign policy.

I also wish McCain had used the antiBush message more effectively, which I presume is the real reason he went to Washington which is to show that the "McSame" message is wrong. Have you noticed the Obama campaign has stopped that message now? It no longer works.

My suggestion to Steve Schmidt, Rick Davis and Senator McCain is to put Palin out there to take up some of the slack. She's going to get her chops busted; that's part of it. But her principles and ideas are sound and she can be confident that she's representing a vast number of Americans. It's time to turn her loose and let it happen. No one can do this alone. This is not the time to hold her back.

How can Sarah campaign and study issues at the same time? I don't know. How does she raise five children and still run the state of Alaska?

Thanks for the read.

McCain's trip to Washington: reform writ large

Actually, that is the reform I want--someone to take Washington's business-as-usual, underhanded dealing that Americans have no say over and yank the whole "arrangement" out from under them, just as we've seen the past 72 hours from Senator McCain. Part of that arrangement evidently includes funding for ACORN and LaRaza.

To review, the very folks who brought us this mess (Schumer, Dodd, Frank, Pelosi, Reid) are now lying to us again. There was never a deal. I know that because the time line indicates a deal wasn't even close.

According to John Boehner of Ohio, who told the press he wouldn't be "rolled" by the White House, if there was a deal, it was their deal, not the House's. When I hear about the arrogance of the so-called powers that are really lame ducks foisting their version on the rest of us, I agreed with Boehner in that I won't rolled either by these hacks either.

Now, the major Dems are protecting themselves because of their presidential candidate's inability to navigate through Washington--which is why Obama stayed away. Obama is a teenager compared to these old pols; sure enough, Obama's presidential politics, as they called it, wasn't needed.

If there was ever a place and time for presidential politics it is in Washington, D.C. and it is right now. For Senator Obama to childishly insist upon holding the "debate" indicates one more time that he just doesn't set priorities for the country, only for himself in the context of winning the presidency. That debate could be held any time. It's interesting to watch him fight so hard for himself while allowing the rest of his party determine what's right for America. Leadership?

I predict Obama's indifference and laid back behavior will begin to haunt him when the reality of this bail out hits the American public. It is clear to me from talking, listening and watching that Americans do not want this bail out. Period. The folks in Washington are going to have to figure out something other than a deal that will cost each man, woman and child $10,000. Do the math, folks.

The other reason the major Dems are fighting so hard to embarrass the opposition is because they are covering up their party's major ethics problems within the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac connections to their respective campaigns which come in the form of houses, breaks and huge amounts of corrupt money.

I was hoping Senator McCain would really name names this time, as he promised in his reform speeches. I suppose that would be a tangential issue at this point, but I'd love to see Barney Frank and Chris Dodd in jail. Some day.

It seems the only person in the entire legislative and executive branches interested in taking a longer, more detailed look at this mess, along with asking some questions and not be bullied by Bush and the Dems is John McCain.

The Democrats' repeated effort to tell the rest of us there was a deal and that McCain screwed it up shows their disconnect from anyone's reform message whether it is Obama's naive change we can believe in or John McCain's true, demonstrated intentions to reform Washington and the way it does business.

If they call that interference, then so be it. That's part of his job description.

Thanks for the read.

Obama blinked and McCain wins this hand. It's the leadership, Stupid.

I have to laugh at the behavior of Barney Frank and Harry Reid. Oh, yes, and Nancy Pelosi and Charles Schumer, all of whom have assured the American public that "presidential politics" should not be infused into the melt down debate. That talking point spread fast from the Obama campaign yesterday, as they floundered and did everything BUT show leadership.

At first, Obama said, no, I can do it all. Let McCain go and have his meetings; the crisis is under control. Let's have that debate (as if the world will certainly end if they don't debate the very prescribed moment reserved by some committee somewhere last year). We're to look at the economy of Oxford, Mississippi while Rome burns? That's one of the arguments Obama uses, BTW. It will hurt people financially if we don't debate. (So, could we not debate on Monday, Tuesday, the next available date; WHAT is the big deal?)

Then the kid said later, Okay, I'll come to Washington...after Bush called and persuaded Obama.

(huge smirk)

Meanwhile, his Dem pals REFUSE to meet with McCain, Bush and even their own man! The very people who have stood squarely against regulation of the banking industry loan programs are the same who are "fixing" this mess. They clain one of their big concerns is oversight of all that money.

Speaking of foxes and chicken houses, isn't it rich that these folks are in charge and no one seems to mind, except the rest of us? Ah, Washington and its peculiarities.

Meanwhile, Obama continues his protestation that he can do all things at once, suggesting that McCain is an old fashioned, doddering idiot who can't think past one task. In my mind, I see nothing but arrogance and ignorance. He doesn't have a clue about Washington and how it works apparent today as his spokespeople fan out still talking about yesterday's "task gap" argument, still acting like the follower he really is.

Their man blinked.

Thanks for the read.

McCain takes control of his party; sticks Bush in the corner. Obama's not that concerned.

I've happy with the decision John McCain made this afternoon suspending his campaign in the interest of helping solve the financial crisis we're now in. He's grabbed the leadership role by divorcing himself from the Bush debacle in the most beneficial way possible.

Obviously, now that we know of Obama's indifference based on his ignorance, we will see exactly what the young man is made of. Not much, as it's turning out saying he's available if anyone needs him. Now that's leadership. "I'll be in the pool, while you guys work it out."

As has been said, "It's the economy, Stupid."

Thanks for the read.

Obama's Fifth Column: computer geeks

Most people in this day in age, unfortunately, don't even know what an information specialist (IS) is. Some do, because they are in corporations which use the nomenclature such as information systems expert, for example, of vague bucket words which attempt to describe what these people do in the company. They're computer geeks.

I know what some of these titles meant, at least some of them, when I was in corporate America, although there are new titles which sound as vague as the old ones. Information systems specialists were the guys who ran everyone's life by deciding whose computer system was going to be looked after that day. They were, as nerds, important and indispensable for the first time in their sorry little lives. They became proud of their nerddom because they felt emboldened by their numbers and a sudden status on the planet. Who knew?

So, when I see the sneering elitist ads which come from the Obamas about McCain's inability to use a computer, their metaphor to the average person's guns and Bibles, as well as their condescending attitude toward people who don't "get" computers, like many people, I worry.

I worry because these nerds have now become operators of huge systems and organizations which decide what kind of a day we're all going to have. No one should have that much power. In addition, some of these folks who can't carry on decent conversations due to their self-imposed isolation in front of a CRT, have become the "communications" experts.

This arcane tier in life must be extremely fascinating for them as too many of them are, as I said, important for the first time in their lives, and very young. The real problem, of course, is this Fifth Column is an arrogant bunch, as bereft of morality as seen in the hacktivism into Palin's email, and now Fox's Bill O'Reilly's account and website. They claim to be the watchers, if you will. Instead, they move in as if they're above the law and seem certainly smarter than you and me, smugly blaming the victim for being so open.

I'll remind our mostly inexperienced friends: there is a law against hacking email accounts. One fellow got ten years for hacking into his colleague's email, remember, not too long ago. It's like stealing mail out of a physical mailbox, a federal crime punishable in a nasty place like Leavenworth.

The geeks are laughing at us because most of us don't have intimate knowledge of computers and systems. They're right; we don't. Therefore, the rest of the world at an extreme disadvantage in fighting their dangerous tyranny. But we have to fight them and win.

The information specialists are actually the ones who bear watching and then prosecuting those who break the law. Many of the IS types seem to be watching each other. However, it's not enough; the bad guys are still winning.

Thanks for the read. And we'll see if I'm back online after this.

Obama, can we afford these bail outs?

I mean, 80 billion dollars here, 450 billion dollars there?

I'm stunned that we're seeing the three-month Treasury Bill falling to 50-year lows, as well as 450 point drops in the stock market. Meanwhile, I'm listening to the news waiting for some explanations from those in our government, not from pundits, that will give me some more understanding.

This is a dangerous place for both candidates.

But I think Palin is coming at this from the most pragmatic point of view, and the world's oldest one, frankly. We must have oversight because we cannot be trusted to oversee ourselves. What a fundamental and profound acknowledgment of man's inability to handle power, sex and money on his own. Every organization knows that!

Fish rots from the head down
I've always felt public trust was compromised permanently the day under oath Bill Clinton shook his finger at every American and lied through his teeth. It was at that moment those who entertained a shady side decided they could slip a little...after all, the prez does it...every one does it. When little boys asked their dads what sex really was, what the meaning of is is.

Everyone does it. That's what I've always heard.

It's not true. Everyone doesn't. Everyone shouldn't be asked to pay for the excesses of a bunch of spoiled boys and girls who can't handle themselves in public. BTW, what do you bet Senator Obama will ask for even more taxes to help pay for this latest bail out, which he wholeheartedly supports?

Thanks for the read.

Obama, Metrolink, Streisand Fund Raiser, Brolin, Stone, "W", Ike: What idiots

Bring it on, Babs. While you're at it, get your stepson, Josh Brolin, and roll him out so he can let everyone know about his new movie, "W," which sounds like an outrageous, covetous piece of envious crap from Oliver Stone about one of his peers, an inside joke--it's gotta be--because no one with a real soul would step on stage during this time of tragedy, drink champagne, eat a bunch of arugula and raise money for a penny ante Chicago politician.

Oh, I forgot, except in Hollywood...where it's all about the look of it.

Pray for the victims of both tragedies.

Thanks for the read.

Let's compare apples (Obama) and apples (McCain); not apples and oranges (Palin)

Want to know how to handle our Democrat friends who are talking trash about Governor Palin?

Keep the Democrats on the defensive about Obama's inexperience. Governor Palin has a thousand times more than he. Remember what counts are the comparisons between the two Presidential candidates.

It's tough for Dems to stay on track because they're so full of emotion. Don't let them put you on the defensive about Palin. Apples and oranges. Refuse to have the discussion, but if they insist, which they will--just have them look at the resumes and compare them.

Meanwhile, my thanks to a friend with the engineer's mind who compiled the following data. It's nice to have cheat sheets to fall back on.

2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS ISSUE JOHN McCAIN BARAK OBAMA Favors new drilling offshore US Yes No Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it Yes No Served in the US Armed Forces Yes No Amount of time served in the US Senate 22 YEARS 173 DAYS Will institute a socialized national health care plan No Yes Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy No Yes Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately No Yes Supports gun ownership rights Yes No Supports homosexual marriage No Yes Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase No Yes Voted against making English the official language No Yes Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals No Yes CAPITAL GAINS TAX MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax. OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales. (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.) DIVIDEND TAX MCCAIN 15% (no change) OBAMA 39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.') INCOME TAX MCCAIN (no changes) Single making 30K - tax $4,500 Single making 50K - tax $12,500 Single making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 60K- tax $9,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250 OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Under Obama, your taxes could almost double! INHERITANCE TAX MCCAIN - 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax) OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes. NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!! You can verify the above at the following web sites: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_different_visions_ on_taxes.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/ http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/

We can't afford an Obama administration.

But then, keeping this corrupt Chicago political machine going, now that they've gone global, takes lots and lots of the people's money. Or as they say in Chi-town, "So many voting suckers, so little time."

Maybe we need to work harder to get this message out. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the read.

Bill Clinton: Will the Old Lion forget their betrayal and make nice?

(Fox News story down below)

I have the feeling we will see a Bill Clinton who attempts to keep control while he delivers his "make nice" speech tonight.

But underneath I think what might happen is the old adrenaline will start flowing, as it does with rock stars who hear the masses cheering, and he will lose control. I don't think the old Bill would've; I think a post-quad bypass Bill might.

I watch for him to slap the wrists of those who betrayed him during this campaign, insulted his wife and forced him into a position of having to defend his honor regarding civil rights. Bill may be a philanderer, but I do think in all honesty he was always driven towards the African-American goal of equal opportunity. President Clinton's sense of having been betrayed must be horrific personally and politically. I can't imagine how I'd feel under similar circumstances.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bill Clinton finally lets them have it. He's not a team player sometimes. Tonight might be his night, not Barack's.

After all, the Old Lion has to teach the young lion upstart a lesson--in public.

As a fellow Leo (both Bill and Barack are also Leos), I can't wait. What a drama.

Thanks for the read.

Rick Warren's presentation is everything

Religious charlatans are not new. Americans have been preached at by some of the best showmen in the world. The practice started in the upper part of the northern hemisphere the day they stepped foot on a rock in Massachusetts and continues to this day. In fact, it started with Native American shamans.

I won't mention names because they know who they are.

When I first attended Rick Warren's Saddleback tent not far from where I lived in about 1998, I was impressed with its organization. I thought the staff did a great job--the parking challenge was horrendous, but I had been so hurt in other big evangelical churches with their spiffy pastors (even the word, pastor, is really too evangelical for this mainline Protestant) that I just couldn't bring myself to really listen critically to Rick Warren. I was pretty much done with all of them.

I had heard so many of these guys who just didn't get it as far as I was concerned.

Southern Baptist Convention
Who knew? Today, they have legitimacy.

Now that the president of the Baptists can flap on TV about their own personal go-to guy for God; perhaps, flap he should. This is not a criticim. This is a suggestion that you all listen and learn and judge by the fruits of his labor.

Something new, since I've been to Saddleback is they're out of the tent and into a nice church...with lots of parking and a staff to handle all of it. Their co-missions seems to keep rolilng on, one which is close to my heart.

Saddleback doctrine-wise is just like the first baptist church in any town; they believe the exact same thing about salvation--being born again through Christ--the part that everyone who isn't goes so nutty over.

Rick Warren is no charlatan from what I'm seeing these days. Like many other great unnamed preachers before him, he knows you get more with honey than you do with vinegar. His delivery is not new. From the sounds of him, he would be the first to say any "success" he has is because God placed him where he is. After all, he comes from a line of Southern Baptist preachers, so he probably knew his Bible very, very well before he presumed to stand behind the pulpit.

Add to his obvious ability to select capable people to surround himself with, Rick Warren is a true magnet of the typical Orange County upper level technocrats. They help him deliver the message with their expertise. That's what it takes, you know--people who know what they're doing. Where else but the OC?

Rick Warren, someone whom I thought once might be another circuit preacher with a bunch of weird, ego drivenideas, as I have found out is hardly a phony. His sincerity and lifestyle actions speak as loudly as his motivational sermons. He appeals to real men and women who need a church home or something like that and have a belief in something, maybe in Jesus, but for sure in something. He has them walking in the door in droves with their kids, stopping at the desk to sign up for their own purpose driven lives.

The other more persistent, some call less tolerant Christians, including those in his same brotherhood, who have turned people off by their "demeanor" in evangelizing might take a lesson from Pastor Warren. When churches stay relevant in people's busy lives by toning down the rhetoric and turning up the concern, attracting people to Christ and His Gospel becomes its own message.

How does that happen? Well, obviously the man has to smarter than the dog, as my mother used to say. Rick Warren, son and grandson of men of God, is a leader because he qualifies as one and first knows his Bible, doctrine and understands and lives his own faith. You can't teach it if you don't live it.

The rest, Saddleback, came later.

And now that Pastor Warren is participating in history with this evening's presidential forums with Obama and McCain, I expect he will maintain his equilibrium. I'll pray for God's guidance as Warren brings more souls to Christ. His way.

Thanks for the read.

Quit minimizing Obama's Elitist label, MSNBC. Then? You might get it.

For those of you who truly believe you're doing a bang up job there at what you do, don't read any farther. It'll just make you mad and I'd like to have you back some time.

Here's the problem as I see it
You're idolizing not analyzing. You're drowning in the wake of Obamania to the point that it is painful to watch you grasp for a life ring of reality. You're instead trying to grab onto something unreal.

Someone has to slap you out of it. Guess I'll give it a try.

Maybe you should think about your roles as journalists, not act like sycophants.

Think of your roles as public servants because as journalists that is what you are.

Think of your roles as truth tellers no matter where the truth leads you. Whether it is to the painful end or to the glorious heights, it is none of your concern because you are journalists, not results oriented individuals. It is by choice you have become journalists regardless of what it says on your business card, for most of you, anyway.

It is not in your best interest to decide how you feel about how anyone sees John McCain or Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or andrea hall from your point of view.

It is only in the best of interest of this democracy that you take the full observatory and objective (interesting words) from their point of view and then tell this democracy's people about it.

That is not happening and it's killing us. You are telling us from your point of view everything that is occurring in the world.

Why are you doing this?
Why are you consciously avoiding that which you know in your hearts is at the center of The Fourth Estate?

Have some of you been taken up by the emotion, by a repressed anger, by a sense of powerlessness that will soon be unfurled and thus ameliorated? Have you lost all of your center?

Is it about money and the industry's golden handcuffs? Do some of you have more dang money than you've ever seen in your life and you just don't want it to stop? Or your spouses won't let you? You're compromised?

Are some of you scared of what your friends will think if you don't tow the company line? Or are some of you just too damned lazy to do the work?

Or are some of you in over your head because your really don't know what the hell you're talking about. I'm seeing lots of historical error and data screw ups. Sorry, guys. I'm too old to miss them. (By the way, I've seen you old guys let them go by the wayside uncorrected. Stop that. You owe the country the correction. Journalism is also about instruction.)

Maybe some of you "pros" need to dive under and come up alongside and tread water awhile. Catch your breath. You've been riding in that wake a long, long time now, and it gets pretty bouncy especially when Obama tacks; some of you are turning blue.

Some of you have forgotten your roots. And you feel kinda guilty every time you cash that huge paycheck because you come from people who are not college educated most likely. I say that because statistics tell me you do. You're from blue collar families, you're very self conscious about that. You act guilty about having money.

Some of you don't handle that well. You make fools of yourselves over it, in fact and it's time you got over it. You overcompensate or miss the point or do something to show that you aren't ready for prime time. So what!

You're just so star struck and in love. With yourselves, where you are, where you want to be someday. Most of that comes from not being used to being where you are. It's fun being rich and on TV, getting face time and it's probably pretty easy to get used to it. Gosh, a person could become, well, an elitist, especially if she/he married well and moved in the right circles or had the right job.

Most of that comes from not remembering who you are.

What do I want?
Real analysis. Not your hopes and dreams. Leave those with your pals at the bar after hours. Use your youth, brains and energy to get into the scene to hear what the candidates are really saying and the people are really saying then report it without your hopes and dreams.

Here's the type of question you could be asking yourselves instead of what you can do to get people to understand how to like Obama better:

Why Berlin?
What was the pull? Was it the past? Who's past? Obama's or America's? Don't glorify him based on the melodrama of someone's idology?

I'm still pressing for that answer. Without a psychological profile in addition to a complete personal investigation of the man's past we can guess why Obama would choose such an odd venue. I don't get it. What is the attachment? There's so much news to cover with Obama.

There are overtired, retired and tired working men and women who vote right here in America. There's another story.

What's going on with this huge shift in African-American demographics vis a vie post race politics? That's a huge story you at MSNBC are actually afraid to discuss, it seems, openly. Dismissing Jesse Jackson's remarks so quickly was a mistake, especially when you had children talking about it.

Better pay attention. It's a long way and time until November. Seriously.

Hardball?

Why don't you analyze not idolize?

Thanks for the read.

The Old Lion , Bill Clinton, places a call to his pride

On speaker phone:

Uh, Hillary...hello, Darlin!


Hi, Bill. Is it really you?!


Yep. Is Chelsea there?


I sure am, Daddy. Right here.


Are you laughin yet, Bill? We're about to pee our pants here!


*riotous laughter in the background on both ends of the phone*


Are you kiddin' me?


*more riotous laughter*


We can't stop,Daddy. I wish we'd known how dumb he really is earlier! We could've taken him out!


*laughter*


Did you like how he acted in front of the Israelis? Bebe called and said he was an total dumbass. You know Bebe!


*Hillary lets loose with her crazy laugh*


"We're sorry we water board people. Gollll-ly, we're just dumb Americans trying to save your butts."


Or. Or, then in Berlin. "You Europeans are sure smart takin' down this wall and all. United they stand. DUHHH."


*they can't get enough*


Can't wait to see that little twerp squirm...like he's been elected already...never seen anything like it.


*throat clearing*


It ain't right, Hill. 'Least Jesse came back.
(beat)
Chelsea, Honey, you okay?



Yeah, I'm always good...fine, Dad.



Okay,Sweetie. I luv you. Well, you know to call when you need...Hey, honey, I got this beautiful little gold bracelet for ya next time I see ya, I'll give it...



I always do, Dad. Love ya.



*silence*



Hey, Bill.

Off speaker.

Yeah, Honey?



Tell Jesse thanks for bringin' our people back home.
(Beat)
You still think this thing is do-able?




It's a done deal, Baby. I mean, Madame President.




I knew you'd come through.
(Beat)
Thanks, Bill.
(Beat)
You always were the king of the lions.


Night, Hilliry.

Bill winces when he presses the off button.


The Old Lion licks that hurt place on his paw which is very close to being completely healed over, but not quite.

He figures he'll be needing it for the perimeter fights he has ahead of him this August.

Strangely he's no longer as concerned about the young lion.

He silently prays for forgiveness of his many, many sins and then for the stamina and energy to do what he needs for Hillary, for Chelsea, for his country--and for this funny little coalition he's built the last six or so weeks to just hold.

Just hold.Please God, just hold.

We live in fascinating times. Watch as these two people change history. But what do I know? I'm just a little girl from Kansas.

Thanks for the read.

Little Katie Couric is now Kate, thank you. Even Prince Obama calls her that.

Katie Couric deserves a big girl name after the way she grilled The Prince on his flip flopping over the success of the surge and his absolute inability to say he is wrong, a character flaw that is becoming more unattractive by the hour, by the way. The more the Americans see this intractability the more people say...eh, I'm not sure about a guy who can't say he's wrong.

His "elegance" I've heard mentioned--usually by other men--completely escapes me. In fact, as he bounds down the airliner steps, fists up, he looks like a Muhammad Ali fixing for a good donnybrook with the next man, woman or child who stands in his way. No, that's not elegance. The man is dancing to get out of the way.

I'm bothered that he will not put his arms at his side and walk like a gentleman. That's elegance. The bounce pisses me off.

The kid's been dancing all his life. He's a born salesman, as was his father and grandadday who could "sell the legs off a couch." That's what bouncers do: sell legs off of couches.

Meanwhile, Katie decided she wants her job. She already turned a few heads a couple of days ago when she mentioned she thought there was much more sexism than racism going on in our society; and then I thought she might be talking about the Democratic primaries.

It will be interesting to see if she'll follow through on her hard nosed questioning of Obama, especially as her ratings rise. That is, if her CBS management lets her.

She's probably an angry Clinton supporter. Maybe she could be the WH press secretary.

Go get him, Katie...er, Kate!

The only problem? Think about it.

Funny how life works. God sure does have a great sense of humor, doesn't she?

*smirk*

Thanks for the read.

Time to pull 'em out, President Bush. Enough already.

The Iraqi Prime Minister has the nerve to call on the U.S. to pull out our troops immediately, while Obama is in Afghanistan and again embarrassing the president of the United States.

It's tempting, very tempting to pull them out.

Immediately. That was al-Maliki's word today. Immediately. Urrgh.

Meanwhile, Christian Churches all over Iraq are closed and my fellow Christians are being persecuted and killed. I don't like that, President Bush. Not at all. And neither should any other American reading what I say today. Do you realize that a Christian cannot worship in Iraq today? No one speaks of it. Not one news outlet speaks of this atrocity.

Do you also realize that America will not receive any profit from the oil in Iraq? No one speaks of it.

I've had it. You other Americans should be fed up as well. This is the best it gets?

And they still hate my guts?

Sorry. This isn't good enough. I'm really, really, really tired of it all.

Pull the troops out. Let the chips fall where they may.
Do it while Prince Barack is still shooting hoops with the same men and women he put in jeopardy just eighteen months ago while the rest of the world was gaga with his charsma. Let's see how it all plays out for the charmer and the snakes he's with now.

Let's see how many night's sleep he gets later on once he realizes how many lives his magical mystery ego tour cost because of the pressure it put on the military to do other things. But that's later, after the election. He made that deal with his ego.

After all, he isn't in charge yet. Let's just move forward. Pre-emptive is the name of the game for Obama's campaign. You can't beat him. You have to beat him to it.

Of course, once we leave, the Israelis will destroy Iran, something everyone is aware of.

Something's very wrong with this administration, i.e., Jerusalem. Saudi Arabia. Talking to Iran, suddenly. Now this? There's nothing left now for me to feel bad about now. They have screwed up.

We need to get our people out, let Israel have it and begin in earnest alternative energy development AS WELL as copious off shore drilling (way off shore) and ANWAR . We can do this and quickly.

I'm sorry; I've lost my faith. Why would I want to lose one more American life for an Iraqi this afternoon after what al-Malaki has done to us?

Even Grandmas get the blues.

Thanks for the read.

The New Yorker Obama cartoon. My gosh, Barack. Lighten up!

The New Yorker's editor, David Remnick, who says they are a liberal publication, explains the cover is an attempt to lampoon the lies about Obama's background. He hopes to help the senator. He said so.

However, the man on the street said the most offensive thing was the American flag burning in the fireplace. LOL.

See, Barack, this isn't really about you. It's about America.

Chris Matthews and Company and other liberal cable news outlet programs are half nuts because they're afraid he'll be derailed by things like this. If he's got the right stuff, he'll make it.

Lincoln was made to look like an ape in some of the more yellow papers. But with this media, Obama going to need armor and Michelle's going to have to keep her mouth shut, I suppose

BTW, if I were the editor of the New Yorker, there's NO way I'd have published that cover. It's a terrible decision. Terrible. I fail to see the satire from the left's point of view, only from the right's. It's extremely offensive to Senator and Mrs. Obama.

Sorry, New Yorker staff, I think you need to look inside yourselves and ask what Messrs Conde and Nast would do. Oh, wait. They are Conde Nast. With liberal friends like you Senator Obama might ask who needs enemies?

Maybe they need to call their buds at Salon and meet for a drink. I think their white guilt and fear that they're not helping Obama enough has screwed them up; in other words, they've lost their judgment. I can't imagine any other reason someone who is a friend of Obama would run such a terrible cartoon and think this would help.

It only perpetuates every negative image from the absent flag pin to the Osama sound alike name to the AK47 to the Muslim thing. I guess it's their arrogance on parade that shocks me so. I mean, ask yourself this question.

Not that the idiom is the same (I can't think of a magazine editor right now) but would Ben Bradlee allow such a thing?

Okay, Henry Luce? Do you see where we are in America? Do you see where we're headed if we don't think of something fast? No judgment. Now the Lefties are eating their own.

Do you see how dumb these kids are? Huh?

Huh?

And they're running our newspapers! Thank the journalism schools run by the radicals of the 60s.

*sigh*

Thanks for dropping by for the dumbass barometer of the day.

And thanks for the read.

Good grief. Obama's becoming Ronald Reagan!

Suddenly, a rumbling of middle class black Americans has said bye bye to all their sisters and brothers in the hood and moved on up to the east side, which is what they've wanted to officially do for thirty years now, thank you.

Great God Almighty, they're free at last.
It is fascinating how many regular, real African-Americans, not entertainers or sports icons who make zillions of dollars a year and live outrageous life styles describe their approval of the way Barack is dealing with "black" issues lately in addition to describing Jesse Jackson and his type as bitter, old racists.

Until just recently, no one would dare say such a thing about Jackson and others like him, the civil rights movement's last sacred cows. Barack finally has given permission to slay them, put them down, and put the rest of us out of our misery with these fools who have made a living off of underclassing an entire generation of Americans. The civil rights movement no longer is represented by this man who has gone beyond MLK's dream.

I can see black commentators, political scientists, lawyers and educators are practically giddy with relief and pent up emotion. God bless them, they can finally say what they've been thinking for years now. This is wonderful news for all African-Americans. As this freedom grows, so will the thinking of the individuals, which of course is good for America and both political parties.

I'm also interested in the irony that it took an "inauthentic" Mutlatto man, educated in British and upperclass American private schools to get this group to give them permission to move on.

Of course, that's why Jesse wants to cut Barack's parts off and serve them to him and Michelle in their next Salads Nicoise. Finally, the day has come that Jesse's and Al's been worried about: someone's come along to make it okay for the 75 percent of those black men who aren't in jail and who support their families to say adios to those people who refuse get their lives together. See ya, sucker. Your problems are your problems, not mine.

Barack might be tired of apologizing for the behavior of the dysfunctional black community, supported dysfunction, fostered by crazy stuff, romanticized by inappropriate rap groups and self-appointed black bosses who have hurt people, not helped them. It looks like he's willing only to use their help and support if they fall into line behind him his way.

Interesting to see a formerly rather aggressive Obama rap bunch jump to attention and suddenly become respectable. He's sent the memo that says xnay on the victimhood and anger evidently; maybe the same one he sent to Reverend Wright.

Deep down we all like to feel respectable, I think. These young black gansta rap entrepreneurs see that nothing succeeds like success--and excess. They're going for the brass (diamond) ring while using Obama's commodity of optimism and change as their currency to make things better, and so far, it's working. Welcome to civil society, Boys! Now take that gd chip off our shoulder and get with the program.

What about the black comedians? Are they going to continue the hate whitey skits?

Now if Barack can just keep the festering underclass like that stupid woman in Denver from screwing it all up for him. Or if he can keep himself from uttering idiotic things like we all need to speak Spanish--very revealing--and he might want to move a bit further right and get off the universal health care kick.

But then, that is always the problem for those who govern. They will learn that it's not as easy as it looks. I believe I mentioned that when Pelosi and Company took over a couple a years ago. Their approval rating topped 9% last week, the lowest in history.

Yep, nothing succeeds like a nice lookin' suit, a Midwestern accent and a handshake that comes from the heart.

Promising the little dog for the kids will work too. Muslims hate dogs. That makes a lot of people in America feel better about Barack's middle name.

If the mean streets of the ghetto can get over this "betrayal," and if Hillary doesn't pull any funny stuff, he'll have a chance of being president.

Also, if Barack can convince the rest of us that he's strong enough and knows enough about "things" to keep those pesky terrorists away from my grandkids and the Middle East from exploding into nuclear war, my taxes down, the government off my back and give a break or two for small business, I'd be happy. Shoot, I'd probably vote for the kid, if I thought he'd actually do it.

But, I don't think in his heart or mind Barack is even close to doing what Ronald Reagan would do. Wasn't it just last month he was calling for the end of the war in Iraq?

All in all, though we're much, much closer together than the media would have us think, regardless of our politics. That the good news, brother.

Thanks for the read.