I tried to think and find an appropriate poem to place here today for the remembrance of what happened September 11, 2001 here in our great country. I couldn't find one that I liked well enough or said what I wanted to convey on a day such as this.
Then I remembered that great song, "God Bless America"; I listened to it once again and found that yes, it conveyed all that I wanted to convey on this day. The only person I know that does this song the best way is the great Kate Smith.
So, as you go about your day today, pause for a moment or two and remember those who died 7 years ago today in New York City, The Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and that lonely field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Also take a moment and remember our troops that are now serving in our war against terrorism and say a prayer for them and their safety.
May God truly Bless America!!!
Take it away Kate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCavKL2zdjM
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday, Tuesday
Well, here we are at the second Tuesday of September already. It is hard to believe how fast time is flying by as we have moved from the summer into the fall. It seems time is moving faster and faster as we have gone through the year. I guess part of that is because I have been busy.
I intended to write on here yesterday, titling it 'Monday, Monday' after the song from the Mamas and the Papas, but I didn't get it done. Thus the title for today's post, even though its not a song from the Mamas & the Papas.
We had storms come through here overnight that surprised me with their intensity. I knew that there was a cold front coming, but since it was at night, I figured it wouldn't be that bad. I was surprised when I saw on the late news the storms that were out there and headed this way! I heard the first thunder from a small storm before I fell asleep. The big boomers woke me up briefly when they came through later in the night, but I went right back to sleep. And it's so nice and cool today!
Had to take the dog to the Vet yesterday. When we got up Sunday morning she had a bit of a limp, but I thought she had perhaps laid on her leg wrong. Later in the day on Sunday however, the limp got worse and there was some swelling on the wrist of her right front leg. Yesterday morning, the limp wasn't as bad, nor was the swelling. So, I decided to watch her for a few days and see if things got better or worse. I went about my day yesterday, doing some "fall cleaning" and applying at yet another place for work (23rd application). By yesterday afternoon though, she is in very obvious discomfort and pain, crying a bit. So, I called the Vet and they saw us yesterday at 430pm.
He seemed to think she had some sort of soft tissue injury. He gave her a shot of cortisone and told me to have her take it easy for the next 7 -10 days. He said if after the 10 or so days, she was still limping and/or still in pain, to bring her back for x rays and such; but he felt sure it was just a small soft tissue problem. I was so thankful. She will be 10 yrs old next month and I was worried that it might have been something more serious. So, she has been resting quite a bit since our visit to the Vet. Still limping, but doesn't seem to be in as much pain.
I went to a Christian rock concert at my church Sunday night. They are a local band (my church is their home church) and are slowly branching out. The concert Sunday night was a CD release concert for the second CD; it's titled "Perspective". They were really excellent and I enjoyed the concert thoroughly. They are a loop band, which was different experience for me, and it was interesting to watch them work everything throughout the concert.
I was equally impressed with their heart for the Lord and their desire to share His word and message with the world. They are a good group of kids who were not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves and share some personal experiences. The groups name is STATION 2. If you would like to check them out and hear a bit of their music, you can find all of that on their website: www.station2music.com. Give them a listen!
Classes start at college two weeks from tomorrow. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. Am taking a full load, 14 hours each quarter this year to get everything done that I need to get done before transferring over to the school where I will actually get my degree. The actual class schedule is not that bad, but it will be a challenge keeping up with that full load. I need to get a backpack, notebooks, pens, and actual school books yet; in addition I need to get my parking sticker (which is expensive, I think) and my school ID. So, I have got quite a bit to do in the next 2 weeks before classes start. I had hoped to have a job by now to help offset some of these costs, but so far, nothing on that front.
I have been a little discouraged about finding a job. There is nothing worse than looking for work, I think. I have tried to do 2-3 or more applications/resumes a week, and am not getting any real bites at all. However, I am not alone in that. I have friends and family who are also looking for work; all of us looking for different kinds of jobs; all of us requiring different pay, benefits etc; and all of us are just not having much success in finding that job. I have tried to stay encouraged, knowing that God is in control. He knows what I need and I am really trying to be patient and trusting in Him to bring about the right job at the right time. My humanness wanted something two weeks ago, but evidently it wasn't in His timing. So, I am doing what I can in finding work and just trying to trust and rely on God to provide what I need at the time that He knows is right.
I will be back into a small group Bible study starting tomorrow evening. It's a group of just women, which is very different for me, but I think it will be a good experience. I have really missed my Beth Moore group, but see some of the ladies from time to time at church and its always good to see them. I don't know what my new group will be studying, but I am looking forward to it.
Our church is starting a series this Sunday on relationships and marriage. They are doing this to coincide with the release of the Christian movie about the same thing, called "FIREPROOF". In some ways I am looking forward to the series and the movie and in some ways not so much. It will be difficult to sit through at times, I am sure, because of what I am going through right now. But, I am also looking forward to whatever God would like for me to learn from or about etc., from this sermon series and movie. So, I am looking forward to it with a little nervousness. God will be there with me though and help me through it and to learn from it. He has been with me every step of the way these past 13 weeks and I know He will continue to walk with me; guide me; direct me; comfort me.
Well, I guess that's about it for this time. I hope that ya'll are doing well and living in the Word. Remember to pray for our country during the final days of this election season; its going to get very intense, I think. Also, if you would remember my cousin who is finishing up his tour overseas for continued protection and safety. We are anxious for him to come home and super anxious to see him!
Ya'll take care of one another. May the Lord Bless you and keep you.
I intended to write on here yesterday, titling it 'Monday, Monday' after the song from the Mamas and the Papas, but I didn't get it done. Thus the title for today's post, even though its not a song from the Mamas & the Papas.
We had storms come through here overnight that surprised me with their intensity. I knew that there was a cold front coming, but since it was at night, I figured it wouldn't be that bad. I was surprised when I saw on the late news the storms that were out there and headed this way! I heard the first thunder from a small storm before I fell asleep. The big boomers woke me up briefly when they came through later in the night, but I went right back to sleep. And it's so nice and cool today!
Had to take the dog to the Vet yesterday. When we got up Sunday morning she had a bit of a limp, but I thought she had perhaps laid on her leg wrong. Later in the day on Sunday however, the limp got worse and there was some swelling on the wrist of her right front leg. Yesterday morning, the limp wasn't as bad, nor was the swelling. So, I decided to watch her for a few days and see if things got better or worse. I went about my day yesterday, doing some "fall cleaning" and applying at yet another place for work (23rd application). By yesterday afternoon though, she is in very obvious discomfort and pain, crying a bit. So, I called the Vet and they saw us yesterday at 430pm.
He seemed to think she had some sort of soft tissue injury. He gave her a shot of cortisone and told me to have her take it easy for the next 7 -10 days. He said if after the 10 or so days, she was still limping and/or still in pain, to bring her back for x rays and such; but he felt sure it was just a small soft tissue problem. I was so thankful. She will be 10 yrs old next month and I was worried that it might have been something more serious. So, she has been resting quite a bit since our visit to the Vet. Still limping, but doesn't seem to be in as much pain.
I went to a Christian rock concert at my church Sunday night. They are a local band (my church is their home church) and are slowly branching out. The concert Sunday night was a CD release concert for the second CD; it's titled "Perspective". They were really excellent and I enjoyed the concert thoroughly. They are a loop band, which was different experience for me, and it was interesting to watch them work everything throughout the concert.
I was equally impressed with their heart for the Lord and their desire to share His word and message with the world. They are a good group of kids who were not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves and share some personal experiences. The groups name is STATION 2. If you would like to check them out and hear a bit of their music, you can find all of that on their website: www.station2music.com. Give them a listen!
Classes start at college two weeks from tomorrow. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. Am taking a full load, 14 hours each quarter this year to get everything done that I need to get done before transferring over to the school where I will actually get my degree. The actual class schedule is not that bad, but it will be a challenge keeping up with that full load. I need to get a backpack, notebooks, pens, and actual school books yet; in addition I need to get my parking sticker (which is expensive, I think) and my school ID. So, I have got quite a bit to do in the next 2 weeks before classes start. I had hoped to have a job by now to help offset some of these costs, but so far, nothing on that front.
I have been a little discouraged about finding a job. There is nothing worse than looking for work, I think. I have tried to do 2-3 or more applications/resumes a week, and am not getting any real bites at all. However, I am not alone in that. I have friends and family who are also looking for work; all of us looking for different kinds of jobs; all of us requiring different pay, benefits etc; and all of us are just not having much success in finding that job. I have tried to stay encouraged, knowing that God is in control. He knows what I need and I am really trying to be patient and trusting in Him to bring about the right job at the right time. My humanness wanted something two weeks ago, but evidently it wasn't in His timing. So, I am doing what I can in finding work and just trying to trust and rely on God to provide what I need at the time that He knows is right.
I will be back into a small group Bible study starting tomorrow evening. It's a group of just women, which is very different for me, but I think it will be a good experience. I have really missed my Beth Moore group, but see some of the ladies from time to time at church and its always good to see them. I don't know what my new group will be studying, but I am looking forward to it.
Our church is starting a series this Sunday on relationships and marriage. They are doing this to coincide with the release of the Christian movie about the same thing, called "FIREPROOF". In some ways I am looking forward to the series and the movie and in some ways not so much. It will be difficult to sit through at times, I am sure, because of what I am going through right now. But, I am also looking forward to whatever God would like for me to learn from or about etc., from this sermon series and movie. So, I am looking forward to it with a little nervousness. God will be there with me though and help me through it and to learn from it. He has been with me every step of the way these past 13 weeks and I know He will continue to walk with me; guide me; direct me; comfort me.
Well, I guess that's about it for this time. I hope that ya'll are doing well and living in the Word. Remember to pray for our country during the final days of this election season; its going to get very intense, I think. Also, if you would remember my cousin who is finishing up his tour overseas for continued protection and safety. We are anxious for him to come home and super anxious to see him!
Ya'll take care of one another. May the Lord Bless you and keep you.
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Unexamined Life by Linda Chavez
The Unexamined Life
By Linda Chavez
The biggest story to emerge from the Republican National Convention was the media's effort to destroy Gov. Sarah Palin. Members of the Fourth Estate behaved more like a Democratic fifth column this week than they did like honest reporters. Palin's stunningly effective speech Wednesday night showed they will not easily take her down -- but their malicious attacks on Gov. Palin's family prove that they will stop at nothing to achieve their aim. Since when is the private life of a 17-year-old fair game in a political campaign? Apparently only when that 17-year-old's mom is a Republican candidate.
Make no mistake -- the press outed Bristol Palin's pregnancy. Reporters descended on Alaska following vile and false accusations on Internet blogs that Gov. Palin faked her own pregnancy and that her daughter was actually baby Trig's mother. These lies weren't only spread by left-wing fanatics but by journalists like Andrew Sullivan, whose blog appears on Atlantic.com, the online version of what was once one of the most respected magazines in the country. As the rumors got uglier, the McCain campaign decided they had no choice but to reveal to the world intimate details about Gov. Palin's daughter. And the media stood by their decision to muckrake by arguing for the public's right to know.
If you don't think this reflects media bias, contrast this insatiable prying into Bristol Palin's life with the press's lack of curiosity about the behavior of another 17-year-old -- one whose story would seem to have more relevance to this year's presidential election.
In his memoir “Dreams from My Father," Barack Obama describes his troubled teenaged years. “Pot had helped, and booze, maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack though," he recalls, though he admits he came close to trying heroin at the urging of a friend who shot up in front of him. He was deterred by the image “of an air bubble, shiny and round like a pearl, rolling quietly through my vein and stopping my heart," he says. “Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man."
Obama's drug use went on for at least a few years, though he is noticeably vague in describing exactly when it began, how extensive it was, or when it ended. At least one of his friends was arrested for drug possession; another had a mental breakdown after one too many acid trips. But Obama has been reticent to reveal the extent of his illegal activities -- and the media haven't cared enough to pursue the question.
Past drug use by presidential candidates was considered a legitimate subject of inquiry for Bill Clinton (who, famously, “didn't inhale") and George W. Bush. News organizations devoted considerable investigative resources in 2000 to track down unsubstantiated rumors about Bush's alleged cocaine use -- and printed the accusation, even when there was no credible evidence that it was true. Yet those same news organizations treat Obama's admitted -- and apparently heavy -- youthful drug use as if it were off-limits.
What a candidate did as a young man -- even if it was illegal -- should not necessarily disqualify him from becoming president. But shouldn't we want to know a bit more than he's volunteered to date before we make a final judgment? Did Obama ever sell drugs to anyone? When was the last time he used cocaine? What other illegal drugs has he used? As an adult, has he been present when others were using illicit drugs?
Why is it reporters who were willing to pursue Bristol Palin, who isn't on the ballot, somehow think it is unseemly to ask Sen. Obama tough questions about his drug use? Oh, that was a long time ago, they'll argue. But a 1986 arrest for driving while impaired by Gov. Palin's husband -- not the candidate -- is somehow worthy of extensive front-page coverage?
The double standard is shocking -- but perhaps not to Sen. Obama. In his memoir, he gives the most telling explanation of how he has gotten away with avoiding discussions of his drug use. It was the same technique he used on his mother when she confronted him in his senior year of high school: “I had given her a reassuring smile and patted her hand and told her not to worry, I wouldn't do anything stupid. It was usually an effective tactic, another of those tricks I had learned: People were satisfied so long as you were courteous and smiled and made no sudden moves."
With two months left to Election Day, it will be a test of the media's integrity to see if they devote as much time delving into Sen. Obama's drug use as they did into Bristol Palin's sex life.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
By Linda Chavez
The biggest story to emerge from the Republican National Convention was the media's effort to destroy Gov. Sarah Palin. Members of the Fourth Estate behaved more like a Democratic fifth column this week than they did like honest reporters. Palin's stunningly effective speech Wednesday night showed they will not easily take her down -- but their malicious attacks on Gov. Palin's family prove that they will stop at nothing to achieve their aim. Since when is the private life of a 17-year-old fair game in a political campaign? Apparently only when that 17-year-old's mom is a Republican candidate.
Make no mistake -- the press outed Bristol Palin's pregnancy. Reporters descended on Alaska following vile and false accusations on Internet blogs that Gov. Palin faked her own pregnancy and that her daughter was actually baby Trig's mother. These lies weren't only spread by left-wing fanatics but by journalists like Andrew Sullivan, whose blog appears on Atlantic.com, the online version of what was once one of the most respected magazines in the country. As the rumors got uglier, the McCain campaign decided they had no choice but to reveal to the world intimate details about Gov. Palin's daughter. And the media stood by their decision to muckrake by arguing for the public's right to know.
If you don't think this reflects media bias, contrast this insatiable prying into Bristol Palin's life with the press's lack of curiosity about the behavior of another 17-year-old -- one whose story would seem to have more relevance to this year's presidential election.
In his memoir “Dreams from My Father," Barack Obama describes his troubled teenaged years. “Pot had helped, and booze, maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack though," he recalls, though he admits he came close to trying heroin at the urging of a friend who shot up in front of him. He was deterred by the image “of an air bubble, shiny and round like a pearl, rolling quietly through my vein and stopping my heart," he says. “Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man."
Obama's drug use went on for at least a few years, though he is noticeably vague in describing exactly when it began, how extensive it was, or when it ended. At least one of his friends was arrested for drug possession; another had a mental breakdown after one too many acid trips. But Obama has been reticent to reveal the extent of his illegal activities -- and the media haven't cared enough to pursue the question.
Past drug use by presidential candidates was considered a legitimate subject of inquiry for Bill Clinton (who, famously, “didn't inhale") and George W. Bush. News organizations devoted considerable investigative resources in 2000 to track down unsubstantiated rumors about Bush's alleged cocaine use -- and printed the accusation, even when there was no credible evidence that it was true. Yet those same news organizations treat Obama's admitted -- and apparently heavy -- youthful drug use as if it were off-limits.
What a candidate did as a young man -- even if it was illegal -- should not necessarily disqualify him from becoming president. But shouldn't we want to know a bit more than he's volunteered to date before we make a final judgment? Did Obama ever sell drugs to anyone? When was the last time he used cocaine? What other illegal drugs has he used? As an adult, has he been present when others were using illicit drugs?
Why is it reporters who were willing to pursue Bristol Palin, who isn't on the ballot, somehow think it is unseemly to ask Sen. Obama tough questions about his drug use? Oh, that was a long time ago, they'll argue. But a 1986 arrest for driving while impaired by Gov. Palin's husband -- not the candidate -- is somehow worthy of extensive front-page coverage?
The double standard is shocking -- but perhaps not to Sen. Obama. In his memoir, he gives the most telling explanation of how he has gotten away with avoiding discussions of his drug use. It was the same technique he used on his mother when she confronted him in his senior year of high school: “I had given her a reassuring smile and patted her hand and told her not to worry, I wouldn't do anything stupid. It was usually an effective tactic, another of those tricks I had learned: People were satisfied so long as you were courteous and smiled and made no sudden moves."
With two months left to Election Day, it will be a test of the media's integrity to see if they devote as much time delving into Sen. Obama's drug use as they did into Bristol Palin's sex life.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! HEAR YE!!
ALL OF YOU LIARS, LIBERALS, FEMINAZI'S AND OTHERS TO THE LEFT OF CENTER:
LAY OFF MY GIRL, SARAH!!!
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN SO MEAN AND JUST OTHERS OUTRIGHT LIARS!!!! YOU HAVE DRAGGED HER AND HER FAMILY THROUGH THE MUD THE PAST FEW DAYS AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU TO LAY OFF!!!
ESPECIALLY ABOUT HER DEAR DAUGHTER. IT IS HER FAMILY'S BUSINESS, NOT OURS. WE SHOULD STAND BY THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM AS THEIR FAMILIES ARE DOING. IF ANY OF YA'LL ARE SO PERFECT THAT YOU THINK NOTHING EVEN REMOTE TO THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, THEN SHAME ON YOU.
SARAH PALIN WILL SHOW THE WORLD TONIGHT WHAT A STRONG, CONSERVATIVE, MOTHER, WIFE, GOVERNOR LOOKS LIKE AND I APPLAUD HER!!! I SUPPORT HER AND JOHN McCAIN 100%.
SO, YOU LIARS, LIBERALS, FEMINAZI'S AND THOSE LEFT OF CENTER, JUST GO HOME! THIS ELECTION IS OVER AND WE WILL NOT BE DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD NOR STAND FOR IT IN OUR PARTY WHEN ATTACKED LIKE THIS!!!
LAY OFF MY GIRL, SARAH!!!
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN SO MEAN AND JUST OTHERS OUTRIGHT LIARS!!!! YOU HAVE DRAGGED HER AND HER FAMILY THROUGH THE MUD THE PAST FEW DAYS AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU TO LAY OFF!!!
ESPECIALLY ABOUT HER DEAR DAUGHTER. IT IS HER FAMILY'S BUSINESS, NOT OURS. WE SHOULD STAND BY THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM AS THEIR FAMILIES ARE DOING. IF ANY OF YA'LL ARE SO PERFECT THAT YOU THINK NOTHING EVEN REMOTE TO THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, THEN SHAME ON YOU.
SARAH PALIN WILL SHOW THE WORLD TONIGHT WHAT A STRONG, CONSERVATIVE, MOTHER, WIFE, GOVERNOR LOOKS LIKE AND I APPLAUD HER!!! I SUPPORT HER AND JOHN McCAIN 100%.
SO, YOU LIARS, LIBERALS, FEMINAZI'S AND THOSE LEFT OF CENTER, JUST GO HOME! THIS ELECTION IS OVER AND WE WILL NOT BE DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD NOR STAND FOR IT IN OUR PARTY WHEN ATTACKED LIKE THIS!!!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
It's A Girl!!!
It's a girl!
I was so surprised and happy yesterday when John McCain picked Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska to be his running mate!!!! I had to quickly do searches on her to find out more information about her, which apparently everyone else was also doing, because a lot of websites were down.
I watched the speech she gave yesterday in Dayton and thought, though she looked a little nervous (and who wouldn't be?), that she did a fantastic job! I liked her immediately. She is a woman who has been married to her high school sweetheart for 20 years (their anniversary was yesterday!), she has 5 children (the oldest is in the Army, about to be deployed to Iraq; her youngest born just this past April and has Downs Syndrome), she likes to hunt, fish, hike. She is a lifetime member of the NRA and very Pro-Life! She is pro government reform, pro cutting taxes, pro drilling in ANWR, pro Iraq war and she is not afraid to fight for what she believes in.
I am proud that she is a woman (although I have no political office aspirations of my own). I am proud that she is of my generation(5 yrs older than me). I am proud that she is from Alaska (never been, but always wanted to visit) and that she is a Washington outsider!!!
I was very surprised that she was McCain's choice, but glad that she was and that she accepted. Now, its time to get down to work and get this McCain-Palin ticket elected as the next President and Vice-President of the United States!
YOU GO GIRL!!!
I was so surprised and happy yesterday when John McCain picked Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska to be his running mate!!!! I had to quickly do searches on her to find out more information about her, which apparently everyone else was also doing, because a lot of websites were down.
I watched the speech she gave yesterday in Dayton and thought, though she looked a little nervous (and who wouldn't be?), that she did a fantastic job! I liked her immediately. She is a woman who has been married to her high school sweetheart for 20 years (their anniversary was yesterday!), she has 5 children (the oldest is in the Army, about to be deployed to Iraq; her youngest born just this past April and has Downs Syndrome), she likes to hunt, fish, hike. She is a lifetime member of the NRA and very Pro-Life! She is pro government reform, pro cutting taxes, pro drilling in ANWR, pro Iraq war and she is not afraid to fight for what she believes in.
I am proud that she is a woman (although I have no political office aspirations of my own). I am proud that she is of my generation(5 yrs older than me). I am proud that she is from Alaska (never been, but always wanted to visit) and that she is a Washington outsider!!!
I was very surprised that she was McCain's choice, but glad that she was and that she accepted. Now, its time to get down to work and get this McCain-Palin ticket elected as the next President and Vice-President of the United States!
YOU GO GIRL!!!
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Perfect Stanger by Charles Krauthammer
The Perfect Stranger
By Charles Krauthammer
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama is an immensely talented man whose talents have been largely devoted to crafting, and chronicling, his own life. Not things. Not ideas. Not institutions. But himself.
Nothing wrong or even terribly odd about that, except that he is laying claim to the job of crafting the coming history of the United States. A leap of such audacity isodd. The air of unease at the Democratic convention this week was not just a result of the Clinton psychodrama. The deeper anxiety was that the party was nominating a man of many gifts but precious few accomplishments -- bearing even fewer witnesses.
When John Kerry was introduced at his convention four years ago, an honor guard of a dozen mates from his Vietnam days surrounded him on the podium attesting to his character and readiness to lead. Such personal testimonials are the norm. The roster of fellow soldiers or fellow senators who could from personal experience vouch for John McCain is rather long. At a less partisan date in the calendar, that roster might even include Democrats Russ Feingold and Edward Kennedy, with whom John McCain has worked to fashion important legislation.
Eerily missing at the Democratic convention this year were people of stature who were seriously involved at some point in Obama's life standing up to say: I know Barack Obama. I've been with Barack Obama. We've toiled/endured together. You can trust him. I do.
Hillary Clinton could have said something like that. She and Obama had, after all, engaged in a historic, utterly compelling contest for the nomination. During her convention speech, you kept waiting for her to offer just one line of testimony: I have come to know this man, to admire this man, to see his character, his courage, his wisdom, his judgment. Whatever. Anything.
Instead, nothing. She of course endorsed him. But the endorsement was entirely programmatic: We're all Democrats. He's a Democrat. He believes what you believe. So we must elect him -- I am currently unavailable -- to get Democratic things done. God bless America.
Clinton's withholding the “I've come to know this man” was vindictive and supremely self-serving -- but jarring, too, because you realize that if she didn't do it, no one else would. Not because of any inherent deficiency in Obama's character. But simply as a reflection of a young life with a biography remarkably thin by the standard of presidential candidates.
Who was there to speak about the real Barack Obama? His wife. She could tell you about Barack the father, the husband, the family man in a winning and perfectly sincere way. But that only takes you so far. It doesn't take you to the public man, the national leader.
Who is to testify to that? Hillary's husband on night three did aver that Obama is “ready to lead." However, he offered not a shred of evidence, let alone personal experience with Obama. And although he pulled it off charmingly, everyone knew that, having been suggesting precisely the opposite for months, he meant not a word of it.
Obama's vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, naturally advertised his patron's virtues, such as the fact that he had “reached across party lines to ... keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists." But securing loose nukes is as bipartisan as motherhood and as uncontroversial as apple pie. The measure was so minimal that it passed by voice vote and received near zero media coverage.
Thought experiment. Assume John McCain had retired from politics. Would he have testified to Obama's political courage in reaching across the aisle to work with him on ethics reform, a collaboration Obama boasted about in the Saddleback debate? “In fact," reports the Annenberg Political Fact Check, “the two worked together for barely a week, after which McCain accused Obama of ‘partisan posturing'" -- and launched a volcanic missive charging him with double cross.
So where are the colleagues? The buddies? The political or spiritual soul mates? His most important spiritual adviser and mentor was Jeremiah Wright. But he's out. Then there's William Ayers, with whom he served on a board. He's out. Where are the others?
The oddity of this convention is that its central figure is the ultimate self-made man, a dazzling mysterious Gatsby. The palpable apprehension is that the anointed is a stranger -- a deeply engaging, elegant, brilliant stranger with whom the Democrats had a torrid affair. Having slowly woken up, they see the ring and wonder who exactly they married last night.
© 2008, The Washington Post Writers Group
Charles covers it all perfectly well. Obama is the perfect stranger. I don't trust perfect strangers, do you?
By Charles Krauthammer
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama is an immensely talented man whose talents have been largely devoted to crafting, and chronicling, his own life. Not things. Not ideas. Not institutions. But himself.
Nothing wrong or even terribly odd about that, except that he is laying claim to the job of crafting the coming history of the United States. A leap of such audacity isodd. The air of unease at the Democratic convention this week was not just a result of the Clinton psychodrama. The deeper anxiety was that the party was nominating a man of many gifts but precious few accomplishments -- bearing even fewer witnesses.
When John Kerry was introduced at his convention four years ago, an honor guard of a dozen mates from his Vietnam days surrounded him on the podium attesting to his character and readiness to lead. Such personal testimonials are the norm. The roster of fellow soldiers or fellow senators who could from personal experience vouch for John McCain is rather long. At a less partisan date in the calendar, that roster might even include Democrats Russ Feingold and Edward Kennedy, with whom John McCain has worked to fashion important legislation.
Eerily missing at the Democratic convention this year were people of stature who were seriously involved at some point in Obama's life standing up to say: I know Barack Obama. I've been with Barack Obama. We've toiled/endured together. You can trust him. I do.
Hillary Clinton could have said something like that. She and Obama had, after all, engaged in a historic, utterly compelling contest for the nomination. During her convention speech, you kept waiting for her to offer just one line of testimony: I have come to know this man, to admire this man, to see his character, his courage, his wisdom, his judgment. Whatever. Anything.
Instead, nothing. She of course endorsed him. But the endorsement was entirely programmatic: We're all Democrats. He's a Democrat. He believes what you believe. So we must elect him -- I am currently unavailable -- to get Democratic things done. God bless America.
Clinton's withholding the “I've come to know this man” was vindictive and supremely self-serving -- but jarring, too, because you realize that if she didn't do it, no one else would. Not because of any inherent deficiency in Obama's character. But simply as a reflection of a young life with a biography remarkably thin by the standard of presidential candidates.
Who was there to speak about the real Barack Obama? His wife. She could tell you about Barack the father, the husband, the family man in a winning and perfectly sincere way. But that only takes you so far. It doesn't take you to the public man, the national leader.
Who is to testify to that? Hillary's husband on night three did aver that Obama is “ready to lead." However, he offered not a shred of evidence, let alone personal experience with Obama. And although he pulled it off charmingly, everyone knew that, having been suggesting precisely the opposite for months, he meant not a word of it.
Obama's vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, naturally advertised his patron's virtues, such as the fact that he had “reached across party lines to ... keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists." But securing loose nukes is as bipartisan as motherhood and as uncontroversial as apple pie. The measure was so minimal that it passed by voice vote and received near zero media coverage.
Thought experiment. Assume John McCain had retired from politics. Would he have testified to Obama's political courage in reaching across the aisle to work with him on ethics reform, a collaboration Obama boasted about in the Saddleback debate? “In fact," reports the Annenberg Political Fact Check, “the two worked together for barely a week, after which McCain accused Obama of ‘partisan posturing'" -- and launched a volcanic missive charging him with double cross.
So where are the colleagues? The buddies? The political or spiritual soul mates? His most important spiritual adviser and mentor was Jeremiah Wright. But he's out. Then there's William Ayers, with whom he served on a board. He's out. Where are the others?
The oddity of this convention is that its central figure is the ultimate self-made man, a dazzling mysterious Gatsby. The palpable apprehension is that the anointed is a stranger -- a deeply engaging, elegant, brilliant stranger with whom the Democrats had a torrid affair. Having slowly woken up, they see the ring and wonder who exactly they married last night.
© 2008, The Washington Post Writers Group
Charles covers it all perfectly well. Obama is the perfect stranger. I don't trust perfect strangers, do you?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
2008 Election
So, here we are, 68 days til Election Day. I am and have been really worried about all aspects of this election. Local, State, and Federal. They are all vitally important this year. Possibly more important than they've ever been before.
So, I have been very vocal on this blog about this election, specifically the Presidential one. I am honestly concerned and worried like I have never been before about this one. There are so many ways that make it probably the most important thus far in my voting life (21 years). I have worked, prayed, blogged, spread the word any way I can.
But the last couple of Sundays at my church, we've been singing this song, "God of This City", and it smacks me like a ton of bricks. Yes, I need to pray, worry and work for what I believe in this election. BUT, no matter what happens, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. He is still the "God of this City", of this nation, of this world. I needed to be reminded of that. And maybe you need to be reminded too. So, here is the link for the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk
May God Bless this great country! May God Bless each of you as you make your decisions this fall for the elections.
Thanks ya'll. Have a great one.
PS. This doesn't mean I will stop campaigning, working towards what I believe is the best choice or being vocal about it on this blog. Just wanted to give some reassurance to ya'll. I know I needed to hear it.
So, I have been very vocal on this blog about this election, specifically the Presidential one. I am honestly concerned and worried like I have never been before about this one. There are so many ways that make it probably the most important thus far in my voting life (21 years). I have worked, prayed, blogged, spread the word any way I can.
But the last couple of Sundays at my church, we've been singing this song, "God of This City", and it smacks me like a ton of bricks. Yes, I need to pray, worry and work for what I believe in this election. BUT, no matter what happens, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. He is still the "God of this City", of this nation, of this world. I needed to be reminded of that. And maybe you need to be reminded too. So, here is the link for the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk
May God Bless this great country! May God Bless each of you as you make your decisions this fall for the elections.
Thanks ya'll. Have a great one.
PS. This doesn't mean I will stop campaigning, working towards what I believe is the best choice or being vocal about it on this blog. Just wanted to give some reassurance to ya'll. I know I needed to hear it.
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