Acting change, huh?

Of the several key points in this article on Obama's actual "change" actions during his campaign, I appreciate the last:

Obama's decision to opt out of the public financing program followed his campaign's earlier derailment of another bold campaign proposal he had at one time supported: McCain's call for a series of town halls featuring the two candidates.

After declaring last month he would meet McCain "anywhere, anytime" to debate foreign policy — a risky proposition that had the potential to work to McCain's political advantage — Obama backtracked and would only offer one town hall and one extra debate in response to McCain's suggestion of 10.

In explaining the offer to the McCain campaign, Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, said in a statement that Obama's offer "would have been the most of any presidential campaign in the modern era — offering a broad range of formats — and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency."

He charged McCain's campaign "would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country."

Seems John McCain wants to have a real discussion - or 10 in fact. The Rhetorician would rather script one.

Mazomanie drama

With a name like Mazomanie, there's bound to be some controversy at some time.

Members of St. Barnabas Parish in Mazomanie say they are stunned to learn that the priests leading their Catholic community will no longer allow their daughters to be servers at Mass. From now on, only boys will be able to assist priests in the ancient religious rite.

The new policy was announced at a meeting with parents Tuesday by Rev. John Del Priore, who was assigned to the parish on June 1.

"It's an outrage," said Tammy Parks. "They said it was a good way for boys to be indoctrinated into being a priest."

Parents at St. Barnabas are so distressed that there is talk of having the boys boycott altar duty.

So the Priests are saying no to little girls now, and going back on the rule they already broke. But priests and little boys have already been in the news in a negative way on more than one sad occasion, and I think it speaks for itself. Perhaps a different tactic would work better to encourage young boys to enter the priesthood.

That's been the case at St. Aloysius for more than a year, and the furor that met the change in policy has evaporated, said Ann Cicero, a secretary for the parish whose sons serve as altar boys.

The commitment by parish boys to altar service is proof that it's right to reserve it for boys, she said. When girls were allowed to be servers, it became less popular among boys. Now that it's a thing for boys only, they revel in it.

Besides, having girls on the altar is misleading about what the church is about, she said.

"Women are not ordained," Cicero said.

The boys meet weekly with priests for training, spiritual growth and outings as the group, St. Michael Altar Guild, a practice that strengthens their ties to the church and parish community, she said. Girls, too, meet regularly and do things "more appropriate for girls."

Cicero said several young boys have begun to talk about vocations to the priesthood.

I'm sure it was because girls were serving at the altar that boys becamse less interested. They were probably relieved to have a Sunday off!

But in all seriousness, in an age where boys are beginning to fall second to girls in school academics and such, and more and more celebrities and officials are speaking out asking men to take a more active in the upbringing of their boys, I understand the need to draw boys into areas designated particularly for them. But what lesson does it teach to do so in a discriminatory way?

What exactly are we showing our young women about service? Or about committing to something- and then taking it back on a whim. If they convert away from Catholocism, but attend Seminary and dedicate their lives to the Lord, what difference does it make? Aren't priests to love them equally?

Sure, that's what she said.

The Space Between

The ad world

We all know MACs are cooler than PCs. Just look at the ads- and the spoofs all over youtube for that matter...

But PC is fighting BACK!

Now Crispin has been handed perhaps its biggest challenge to date: Microsoft. The tech giant stunned the ad world in March when it passed over safer choices like Fallon, JWT, and its agency of record, McCann Worldgroup, and awarded its new $300 million consumer-branding campaign to Crispin.

It was an act of courage or desperation, depending on whom you ask. Over the past couple of years, Microsoft's already problematic reputation in some circles -- as the soulless, power-hungry purveyor of lackluster products -- has suffered a series of self-inflicted wounds.... "Microsoft has really lost control of its image," says Rob Enderle, an influential advisory analyst for tech companies including Dell, HP, and Microsoft. And with its two most formidable competitors -- Apple and Google -- boasting their own consumer cults, that's the last thing Microsoft can afford to do.

Nothing is doing more to carve away at Microsoft's reputation -- and contribute to its loss of market share -- than the assault launched by Apple two years ago in the form of the "Mac vs. PC" spots featuring The Daily Show satirist John Hodgman. The ads became immediate pop-culture fixtures, spawning more than 1,000 video spoofs on YouTube and taking home last year's Grand Effie, the ad industry's highest honor for effectiveness. "Nobody messes with anyone in the tech industry the way Apple has messed with Microsoft," says Enderle. "It's the first time I've ever seen a major national campaign that disparages a competitor, and the competitor just sits back and takes it.

Countering that nebbishy, pocket-protected image now falls to Crispin. And Bogusky's team is revved up at the prospect. "There was a time," says Jeff Hicks, Crispin's CEO, "when it was Avis against Hertz, Coke against Pepsi, Visa against American Express. I think Microsoft is at the epicenter of the great brand challenge of the next decade -- or millennium."

Questions is, most ads get designed on MACs.

Will they be drawing up PC ads criticizing MACs on MACs?

Until I join the ad world... GO PC!

Obama's arrogance

CNN has a feature video on Obama's "professorial" vibe.

While Rove didn't exactly coin the terminology "Obama is arrogant," the bloggers have already attacked Obama for being his elitist attitude- citing his faux presidential seal or the Latin slogan.

Latin? Now that's blue collar for you.

Hey, this could be a genius move in the first steps to define people's perception of Obama, other than "hope and change" and from the Right side: his inexperience.

Will it stick?

Watch the video.

Still packin'

Girls like 'em big too!

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, for the first time in the nation's history, that individual Americans have the right to own guns for personal use, and struck down a strict gun control law in the nation's capital.

The landmark 5-4 ruling marked the first time in nearly 70 years that the high court has addressed whether the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, rather than a right tied to service in a state militia.

Two words: Yee Haw!

A plea

People~

If you have a problem with someone, please, PLEASE, strap on some balls and go tell that person to their face. Work it out.

Don't pull a disappearance, don't ignore them, don't let things boil up for weeks and not address issues until they blow up and you hurt someone.

I know I'm going to work on that too.

Thank you.

Gee, Russ, call that kettle black

The La Crosse Trib edit board weighed in on Obama rejecting public monies for his campaign.

The most exciting aspects of Barack Obama’s campaign are the idealism of his message (which has appealed to millions of young people) and the notion that he is different from most politicians.

Unfortunately, his decision to reject public financing and continue his wildly successful Internet fundraising effort calls into question both of those qualities

The Illinois Democrat has said the public financing system enacted in the wake of the Watergate scandals of the 1970s is “broken,” and that he needs to raise much more money to combat the expected Republican independently-financed smear campaign...

But that doesn’t justify Obama’s decision to become the first presidential candidate to reject public financing and the spending limits that go along with it.

My favorite is our own candidate McCain's partner in crime, Senator Feingold, and what he had to say.

Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold, who has worked very hard to reform campaign finance laws (italics mine), said of Obama’s rejection of public financing, “This is not a good decision. While the current public financing system for the presidential primaries is broken, the system for the general election is not. The entire system must be updated.” So get to work and fix it.

You are the one who's worked so very hard for campaign finance reform, after all.

It Ain't Me Babe

FIVE GUYS

There is now a Five Guys on State Street. Yes, I realize it has been there for two months or so, but I'm a little slow on the uptake.



Could this be the greatest day ever?!

Yeah dude, "I like burgers," too.

Indulgence

I do so enjoy watching paid programming in the late night/early morning hours for The Gazelle and Turbo Jam and NurtiSystem...

with a box of Famous Amos choco chip cookies and some bottled water in my lap.


Mmmmmm.

Dr. Dobson's Guns A-blazin'

Dr. Dobson, a favorite of many Focus on the Family and Christian radio listeners (rock on Life 102.5!), had some harsh words about Obama.

Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy - chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “a passage that is so radical that it’s doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application.”

“Folks haven’t been reading their Bibles,” Obama said.

Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament.

“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.

“… He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.”

As a person of faith, I don't understand the Bile completely, and Lord knows I haven't read the whole thing. (Sorry, Lord.) But Dr. Dobson is busting out some serious criticism, and I wonder how much impact it will really have in the faith community.

Joshua DuBois, director of religious affairs for Obama’s campaign, said in a statement that a full reading of Obama’s speech shows he is committed to reaching out to people of faith and standing up for families. “Obama is proud to have the support of millions of Americans of faith and looks forward to working across religious lines to bring our country together,” DuBois said.

Dobson reserved some of his harshest criticism for Obama’s argument that the religiously motivated must frame debates over issues like abortion not just in their own religion’s terms but in arguments accessible to all people.

He said Obama, who supports abortion rights, is trying to govern by the “lowest common denominator of morality,” labeling it “a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution.”

“Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?” Dobson said. “What he’s trying to say here is unless everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe.”

Perhaps that argument fits in with Obama's "sitting down with terrorists at the table of diplomacy" idea. He's a people pleaser. And didn't that kill the Democratic party to begin with?

They can't be all things to all people. So quit being afraid to offend people. Dobson sure isn't!

Observation

Why are the bumper stickers on facebook all about sex and perverted slogans?

Is there no morality filter even for our youth's minds?

Epuron

Genius ad. Genius.

Why do we do the things we do?

I'm a political volunteer. I don't have to be. Nor do any other volunteers have to do what they do.

I don't want to be thanked. I don't need thanks to keep me coming back.
But why do we do what we do? There is a special person I want to help too, and he asked me tonight why. This was my answer:

I do it because I'm part of the team and I believe in the team. I do it because I want our country to go in the right direction, though I may disagree sometimes with the path it takes - I still know who I want leading the way. I do it because if you're not passionate about something in life, what will drive you when you wake up? I do it because the liberal agenda has the power to crush the human spirit. I do it to love you well.

I'm not trying to make anyone feel inferior or pretend I'm so high and mighty. I just want to do my part, how I can, to do something I believe will impact a lot of lives in a more positive way. This is my way.

I hope I am not alone.

(for my heart)

Olympics

I finally caught some of the Olympic women's dive trials this afternoon.

Some of my favorite summer memories are watching the Summer Olympic games with my family. I particularly enjoy swimming (shout out to A-town native Tom Dolan!) and gymnastics.

Who can forget the Kerri Strug year?

I'm jazzed...



Countdown 8.08.08 begins!

Wisconsin Battleground

Hope and Change are coming to Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is evidently #10 of 18 on the top Obama-Targeted states list.

Obama is trying to become the first black president and race has proved a hurdle; he reminds voters he's of mixed race with pictures of his white Kansas mother and grandparents though none of his black Kenyan father. He also emphasizes his modest, middle-class upbringing, an attempt by the Harvard-educated senator to counter the notion that he's an elitist and to connect with working-class voters who largely preferred rival Hillary Rodham Clinton during the primaries. With a flag pin on his lapel, Obama tries to allay concerns about his patriotism as well.

The campaign chose to compete, at least for now, in 11 swing-voting states - Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - and seven others that have reliably voted for Republican presidential candidates in the past several elections - Alaska, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota and Virginia. Obama is spending an estimated $4 million for this first wave of ads.

With his newfound financing freedom, Obama intends to test his theory that his appeal allows him to make Democrats competitive in states the party typically ignores, particularly in the South and Mountain West, and thereby give Democrats a better chance to win the White House.

I still think he should pin a coke bottle cap to his chest.

eastmountainsouth

was it really

years ago

did you need me

hey, I'll never know

I'm sorry for clinging
I'm sorry for wanting more

my heart was there for you pounding down your door

maybe it was timing

maybe I was too much

running behind you
pushing my love

well, you weren't ready

and you said you thought I knew

but I was taken with your beauty
and lost inside of you

winter made a sound

maybe next time if you need me

I'll be around... I'll be around... hey I'll be around

yeah I'll be around

I never meant to swallow you

you never were my savior

maybe just my lover
maybe nothing more

now one more winter

has passed so silently

and I'm tired of longing
that you'll come back to me

winter made a sound

maybe next time

if you need me... yeah; you'll need me

and winter made a sound

I know, if you love me

I'll be around, I'll be around, I'll be around

I'll be around

now one more winter I know, now one more winter I

know

Unto them His grace He showeth...

Today, two of the most wonderful people, and parents, that I know laid their infant son in the ground.

We seek answers to the questions of "Why?" and "How?" And "God, where are you in this?"

I suppose all we can do is find mercy, grace, and solace in knowing:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!

What a privelege it is.

...and their sorrows all He knoweth...

Maybe I should have more faith

While the title of this post could apply to every area of my life, today it applies to the Packers and...(though the words are hard to squeak out) starting... quarterback...Aaron...Ro..Rodgers.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Pack fan above all, so losing Favre won't keep me away. Will I mourn, the first time I don't see our Brett run out of the tunnel in green and gold #4? Of course- what true child of the 80's who grew watching Favre as the staple of the Packers wouldn't?

So in reading John Clayton's article bestowing laudation upon Rodgers's throwing arm, I can't help but be pleasantly surprised, and still feel like I need to defend my baby.

Even with Jennings's, Driver's, and McCarthy's excitement and praise, Aaron's got a lot of living up to do come that first pre-season Sunday.

While you might feel as though you're missing something watching Packers minicamp without Favre, it's impossible not to notice how impressive Rodgers looks now that No. 12 runs the offense. He has a smooth, polished retreat from center. His feet are in good position for each throw out of three- and five-step drops.

And then you take notice. His right arm sets up naturally, and the ball comes out unnaturally fast. He doesn't possess an old Randy Johnson fastball, but, in baseball terms, his 6-2 body throws the fastball of a 6-5 pitcher. Sticking to baseball comparisons, Rodgers might not generate 99 or 100 mph on the radar gun, but he'd consistently hit 94 and 95, and sometimes 96.

"He has a cannon," wide receiver Greg Jennings said. "We call him the 'Human Jugs Machine.' He throws it like a Jugs machine every time.

And I would only caution Mr. Clayton in blaspheming the name of Favre.

The best evidence of how much Brett Favre's presence suffocated the attention of Packers outsiders resides in the right arm of Aaron Rodgers.

As it turns out, Rodgers has a very strong arm. He's had the strong arm since he's been in Green Bay. The football explodes off his hand on each throw in practice. Teammates have noticed it for years because they work with or against him in practice.

Thanks to the towering presence of No. 4, though, who knew?

Brett Favre did not drown out the presence of Rodgers on purpose. We've been preparing now for a few years to let go of the gunslinger, but it would help if Aaron didn't go down for the season after the first snap he plays.

We'll see if the arm can outweigh the injury prone. Bring it on!

Obama said WHAT?!

He said it:

"It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy," Obama told a fundraiser in Jacksonville, Florida. "We know what kind of campaign they're going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid.

"They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?"

He said he was also set for Republicans to say "he's got a feisty wife," in trying to attack his wife Michelle.

Did Obama really just say that? Senator Obama, I am a Republican and I am afraid of you. Not because of your feisty, "proud" wife, not because of your name, and certainly not because of your "blackness." I'm afraid of your inexperience, of your lackadaisical approach to the war on terror, that you were on top of the most-liberal Senators list in 2007, that you support abortion on demand, of the fact that you have no business being President or campaigning for president of the United States.

Don't flatter yourself, it's unattractive.

Finally, what divides us, Senator Obama?

"We know the strategy because they've already shown their cards. Ultimately I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn't moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us," he said.

The "old stuff" is echoing in your rhetoric right now.

Best get to a mirror.

update on freedom from

I thought this was fitting to my post last night.

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest yesterday, writes:

"Today we have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not really want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started.

"Jesus Christ is deeply offensive to the educated minds of today, to those who want Him to be their Friend, and who are unwilling to accept Him in any other way. Our Lord's primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people -the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father.

"If I am devoted solely to the cause of humanity, I will soon be exhausted and come to the point where my love will waver and stumble."

Again, it must be exhausting to be unconditionally loved by a God you refuse to acknowledge the existence of.

Living, "freedom from"

Calling the practice "an egregious violation of the Establishment Clause," church-state separation watchdog Freedom from Religion Foundation has sent a letter to Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch demanding that the body stop holding a prayer at the beginning of floor sessions. Freedom FROM religion, eh? Let's look at some definitions:

1. Freedom: #1)the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint
#2)exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

2. From: #1) used to express removal or separation, as in space, time, or order.
#2) used to express discrimination or distinction.

From these defintions, I see their goal has already been achieved. Isn't their existence as beings unassociated with any god or higher being, religion or faith, enough freedom in itself? For the from part, no one is being physically restrained or forced to go to church, no one is forced to spend time in space, time or proximity to religion or faith, and that is the definition of freedom and from. No one is in bondage to religion if they choose not to believe in it.

am I makin' any sense?

And yet still, our Wisconsin Freedom From Religion Foundation has to decided that June, of all months, is the time to tell Speaker Huebsch to

"cease and desist opening sessions with prayers/sermons by representatives or clergy."

They claim that using Christ and calling upon God at those times is meant to

"proselytize and advance the Christian faith to the Wisconsin general public."

Yes, and I'm sure that's why the democrats take part in prayer and opening invocations as well - to advance the Chritian faith, to force it upon unsuspecting Wisconsinites that have no minds of their own.

It must be exhausting to live completely against a God who loves you unconditionally, no matter how much you hate the idea of Him.

I find this completely ridiculous in a time of political change, in a time of war, and in a time of turmoil in our world. In the words of Thomas Jefferson,

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?"

They would crucify me for suggesting there is no freedom without God, but that is my belief. If our elected officials want to honor that, more power to them.

If your rep doesn't believe it, he or she can say their own damn prayer.

More drilling!

First McCain. Now President Bush. We need to chant "more drilling."

"Families across the country are looking to Washington for a response," Bush said.

Congressional Democrats were quick to reject the push for lifting the drilling moratorium, saying oil companies already have 68 million acres offshore waters under lease that are not being developed.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Bush's proposals "another page from (an)... energy policy that was literally written by the oil industry — give away more public resources."

Well Nancy, they're resources not being used while we watch prices climb higher and higher with no other way to stop it. Get on board for Americans.

Not Alex

Actually, lady, you don't get to decide if baby Alex goes to Iraq or joins the Army, Navy, Marines or National Guard. Your 18 year old grown up adult Alex will choose if he wants to serve his country honorably or allow the extremists to continue terrorizing our nation.

Under Barack Obama, who you cleary prefer, we still won't pull out of Iraq. And your baby still won't be in Kindergarten before he is gone. So save using your son as an emotional ploy for a political ad this time around.

Vote for stability in Iraq, and maybe in 18 years Alex won't have to fight there.

Not enough

I don't think 10 years is enough.

A Madison man with a long history of drunk driving should use his lengthy punishment for vehicular homicide while under the influence as a "turning point," a circuit court judge said during sentencing Monday.

Michael Fenolio, 29, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 15 years extended supervision for the drunk driving accident that killed motorcyclist Michael Jurgens, 50, on Madison's east side.

Jurgens was riding his motorcycle at the intersection of Cottage Grove and Sprecher roads on August 11, 2007 when Fenolio made a left turn that hit Jurgens and threw him from 40 feet the bike, killing him. It was later determined Fenolio was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.10.

The victim's family are better people than I:

It would be easier to take, I think, if the person who did it was sorry," Jurgens said. "Just after five DUIs, when do you learn? When do you say that's enough? You need to pray to god that you can turn it around."

Tiger Woods is so freakin' hot

I mean...on the golf course, he just can't miss today!

Do you think he would leave his beautiful Swedish model wife and baby for me?
It was just a thought...

Low blows

Perhaps Barb Lawton had to attack Van Hollen to increase her own self-esteem. To be a joke of a Lt. Gov. (and not likely to win election if Doyle takes a place in the possible Obama administration), and turn to make jokes about the other party's top elected official makes her one of the crowd, not a notch above.

But the best punchline of the state Democratic convention in Stevens Point was Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.

The mere mention of the state's highest-ranking Republican, whose office has been mired in controversy and who recently attracted embarrassing headlines about a proposal by members of his staff to provide Van Hollen with a state security detail at this summer's Republican National Convention in St. Paul, drew howls of laughter.

Yeah, I can see that. Hilarious...(NOT).

I hate it when leaders of their state party make a mockery of others at similar levels of office.

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton upped the ante when she took the stage at the Democratic convention with the theme music from the mock-spy film "The Pink Panther" booming.

The state's No. 2 official was surrounded by a "security detail" that warily eyed the crowd of Democratic delegates, who got the joke instantly and laughed uproariously.

Noting that Van Hollen's aides thought he would need taxpayer-funded protection to visit a neighboring state that has not traditionally been considered dangerous by Wisconsinites -- Lawton allowed as how she might need security when she visits "Lake Wobegon, Minnesota."

Lawton also got in the convention's best dig at McCain, who has suggested he will maintain the Bush administration's economic policies.

"We can't have four more years with a president that thinks the economy is a faith-based initiative," said the former Hillary Clinton co-chair who is now an enthusiastic backer of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

These are LOW BLOWS that have nothing to do with policy initiatives, nothing to do with their candidate Barack Obama, nothing to do with moving forward, nothing to do with accomplishing this "hope and change" they all bullshit about.

If we had a Democratic-led-Congress that could hold the line on spending, and a Democratic-led-Congress that did less Bush-bashing and more working for their constituents, you wouldn't be saying that. But it's your party, Barb.

Finally, it is these quotes I cannot believe:

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, referred to the current administration as the "most destructive, debilitating and demoralizing in memory, and perhaps even history."

Yeah Tammy, because you've been around for so much of history and you write the analysis. Shut your trap.

And:

They don't belong in Washington, they don't belong in our statehouses, they don't belong in our local governments for centuries to come for what they've done to our country," said Congressman Steve Kagen, D-Appleton.

This cad wants to be re-elected? You've basically just dismissed half the voting population in your district for even existing. Nice move, jackass.

I am angry. The press should not celebrate these quotes as intellectual or even humorous cookies of jest for us all to benefit from. They should reprimand the immaturity of a party so angry and desperate for power that they will say anything to get a crowd going, forgetting their own decency.

Vick, II, also a loser

Marcus Vick sure learned a lot from his dog-fighting winner of a brother.

Quarterback Marcus Vick, left, was busted for DUI early Friday morning and charged with eluding police. But according to reports, the NFL washout is living it up in a mansion with girlfriend/model Delicia Cordon.

Classy. He should buy her some pitbulls to add to their brood.

If anyone wants to question my judgment: Marcus Vick had several off-field problems at Virginia Tech and was ultimately kicked out of school. Older brother Michael Vick is currently serving a 23-month prison sentence for operating a dog fighting ring.

They have to make it about race

Retired Gen. Colin Powell, who became the country's first black secretary of state under President George W. Bush, said he will not necessarily vote for the Republican in this year's presidential race.

Of course, the title of the article is thus: "Black Conservatives Conflicted on Obama."

I think this has little to do with Obama being black.

"I will vote for the individual I think that brings the best set of tools to the problems of 21st-century America and the 21st-century world regardless of party, regardless of anything else other than the most qualified candidate," Powell said Thursday in Vancouver in comments reported by The Globe and Mail in Toronto.

The article continues about black Republicans having a hard time. I find it hard to believe they would vote solely on race. If they do, then I feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for individuals- of any party- who would base a decision to vote for someone on the color of their skin. For history's sake? Well to me, that takes us back a few steps, not forward. Electing a black President would be a first in history. It would remark that our nation has grown from a nation of slavery and division over superficial situations like skin color and risen to accept a man for his character over his appearance.

But haven't we taken that step when black men were given the right to vote? When we hung off their every word about dreams and equality and basic human decency? When they were elected to any public office?

If the reason behind voting for a candidate is due to the pigmentation of the man or woman's skin, history should not laude us, it should pity us. It should pity our lack of intellectual depth and our triviality. It would be the same if we were voting for a woman solely because of her gender. Or anything other than our belief in that person's character, ability to lead, sound policy initiatives, and experience.

But history will show us, either way.

Clinton Supporters- do they stand with McCain?

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin Democratic Party moved Friday to strip a woman of her position as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention after she told a newspaper she would vote for Republican Sen. John McCain for president in November.

State party members voted at their convention Friday night to challenge Debra Bartoshevich's status as a delegate to the Denver convention in late August, when Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is expected to get the party's presidential nomination.

Bartoshevich, of Waterford, supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign and was elected a Clinton delegate from the 1st Congressional District. She was certified as a national delegate by the party last month. Bartoschevich's reasoning lies in the experience factor. She is so bold as to desire to vote for Clinton at their convention and McCain in November. Do McCain's semi-liberal stances on other issues help sway her? Is it just Obama's lack of experience?

Additionally, the move is so personally hurtful to Democrats, it appears the political process means nothing to them.

Those comments prompted Democrats to support a complaint asking the national party's credentials committee to refuse to seat her at the convention. The resolution said Bartoshevich violated a Democratic National Committee rule requiring delegates to support the party's nominee and not any other candidate.

Maybe she shouldn't go to convention, but she shouldn't be attacked on the convention floor for underestimating this candidate they call "Barack and Roll." Yeah, roll into the river Styx...

"It's extremely important that we send a message that Democrats in the state of Wisconsin will never support somebody who supports John McCain for president," state party chairman Joe Wineke said to cheers among the hundreds of party activists.

Ouch, Joe is angry.

He said he was furious that Bartoshevich had given Republicans an opening to embarrass the Democrats.

So that's what he's upset about- he's embarrassed. He can't handle that someone is calling his candidate on the carpet, openly and honestly concerned for our nation because of Obama's lack of experience and the kool-aid that has drenched everyone's independent minds to chanting "Hope and Change!"

I bet more "democrats" than they realize may be Citizens for McCain. I understand that is likely to be behind the curtain the voting booth rather than at any county or state party gathering. Most cowards would never openly support a candidate from the opposing party even if they truly believed we'd be better off as a nation. Here's what I have to say to that: Grow some balls.

Thoughts on a Dem convention

I attended the WI Democratic convention today as a volunteer for The One Campaign to encourage folks to support the effort of ending poverty and AIDS.

Not exactly something people would oppose- but the herd mentality was in full force.
Sign the petition? What for? Ending poverty and AIDS. Sure! Who could refuse the effort? But all too often, the result was a discussion that blamed Bush and the GOP for not doing enough for others in the world. Uh huh.

Too often I heard President Bush's name in conversations around me, as I sat reading McCain's Faith of My Fathers. They can not let it go.

Look forward, folks. Your hatred won't change his legacy.

josh kelley

Why isn't there a good version on YouTube?

Walk Fast
You better walk fast
If you're gonna walk over me
Cause I won't be a part of your plan
If you're gonna make a dog out of me

Talk fast you better talk fast
Hope you got something good to say
All ears pretty momma won't hear
But you've gotta play fair today
Cause I don't wanna believe that it's over
it's over

Cause if you want me to love you
You better open up the door
And if you wanted to love me
You wouldn't leave me wanting more
Cause all I wanted was to love you
I wanted to love you
Don't you see me wanting more

Think twice you better think twice
If you're gonna make a fool out of me
Back down you better back down
Don't give me no third degree
Cause I don't wanna believe that it's
over it's really over, no

Cause if you want me to love you
You better open up the door
And if you wanted to love me
You wouldn't leave me wanting more
Cause all I wanted was to love you
I wanted to love you
Don't you see me wanting more

I never thought it would be easy
If this is it, then please release me, no
Before we let it get too late
Gotta find a better way
Before we let it get too late, little pretty
My pretty little thing

Cause if you want me to love you
You better open up the door
And if you wanted to love me
YOu wouldn't leave me wanting more
Cause all I wanted was to love you
I wanted to love you
Don't you see me wanting more

Don't you see me wanting more
Baby Don't you see me wanting more
We got to find a better way
Before we let it get too late
Got to find a better way
Got to find a better way

To go with my Jimmy Choo shoes

Dolce & Gabbana.

Don't mess.

Sheryl Crow

I'm not usually a Sheryl Crow fan, but for a few songs. However, Light in Your Eyes rotates in the playlist at my job, and I've recently noticed the lyrics.

Something is happening
Everything's different but everything is fine yeah
This is the good stuff
Yesterday's only what you leave behind
It's only in your mind

You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes

No use pretending
You never existed until you saw the light yeah
You're just beginning
You haven't missed it-it's all ahead of you
And you know what to do

You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes

Here comes the world and she is beautifully mysterious
She's got it all and you say "Give it to me"

Nobody's happy
That's not the world I know inside
Where everybody hides

You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes

You gotta talk to the One who loves you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes

Yeah, thank you thank you!
Yeah, everything great and small
Yeah, thank you thank youFor the light in your eyes
For the light in your eyes

Yeah, thank you thank you!
Yeah, everything great and small
Yeah, thank you thank you
For the light in your eyes
For the light in your eyes

Could this have a few religious undertones? Perhaps... If you get a chance, download it. Pretty upbeat, pretty good stuff.

Spike without facts

Spike Lee has a temper.

"First of all, the man is not my father and we’re not on a plantation either,” Lee angrily said, referring to Clint’s insistence that Lee “shut his face” over perceived racial inaccuracies in his WWII drama “Flags of our Fathers.”

What I find the most interesting is that a director like Lee, who would likely desire to uphold his own integrity, wouldn't care to check the facts. The question at hand is "Who raised the flag?" not "Were there black soldiers at Iwo Jima?"

And lastly, Lee is digging his own hole. Really, Spike? You want to make this about plantations and slave owners and slaves? You want to infer that Clint Eastwood is a white southern slave owner who tells you what to do, makes you work in the hot fields, denies you the right to vote, the right to land, the right to your own schedule - maybe even whips you and rapes your wife? Clint Eastwood's really been whipping you hard lately. And I'm pretty sure if you had done your research, you'd be hard pressed to find slave owners having said "shut your face" to their slaves.

Once again, I IMPLORE YOU, let's make reference to the EQUALITY that now exists. Let's embrace the progressive society where a black man can now be an accomplished film director or even run for President. Or else, shut your face.

the new face of cold-remedies

I've come up with a home-remedy, as my throat has hurt for a few days now, on and off.

Several Malibu-pineapple drinks. The juice is good for sickness. And the Malibu, well, that'll put me right to sleep!

Hillary supporters - where do you go?

One of my retail coworkers is/was a Hillary Clinton supporter. After watching the three-way Democratic debate back when Edwards was still in, she decided Obama didn't have a backbone. Everyone was attacking Hillary, and Obama had a)nothing to say, and b)no record to stand on.

Interesting.

When asked if she was going to vote for Obama, her response was, "well over McCain, yeah."

Yes, there is still one candidate with a backbone and record to stand on...just not the one she's voting for.

Food for thought.

Sometimes I wonder...

how Wal-Mart can attract the trashiest individuals all at the same time. And boy, were the specimen out today.

Sunday at Super Wal-Mart should be warning enough. Don't get me wrong, I love a supercenter.

However, I do not care for Floridian retirees holding up parking traffic waiting for the space someone is leaving that's only three spots closer to the door than the the next 10 open spaces. Walk, it's good for your heart!

I do not care for children on the rampage through the grocery aisles. Parents - if you can't keep them in line, leash them or leave them at home.

And I do not care for people with more than 20 items in the "20 items or less" line. Get in another line.

Yes, thank you for catering to my needs.

Human decency is gone

This tape of a hit and run in Hartford Connecticut may be the most disheartening sight I have seen in a long time.

This whole scene is in dire need of prayer.

Debate tactics

I do not have a problem with Democrats or liberal thinkers...until they open their mouths and say something dumb.

I will preface this with: I am not the most articulate debater, nor do I think of the best comebacks on the spot. This can be harmful to my position, so I often stay away from debate.

But when I was cornered last night amidst 5 liberal leaning-Obama supporters, they chose instead to take the route of personal attacks on Senator John and Cindy McCain, making fun of his age, her appearance, even his experience as a POW and how he can't raise his arms over his head. That is nothing to joke about.

And then to argue that our President, "Mr. Bush," as they call him, has "run our country into a f***ing debt... blah blah" to me is as far from an intellectual conversation as we can get. I don't talk about Obama or former President Clinton with profane language - simply out of respect.

Finally, to argue that Barack Obama is "walking the walk" based on the fact he told the DNC not to take any more lobbyist money, is simply naieve. I appreciate a guy who "walks his talk," but Obama's talk is simply "Hope and Change." I'll believe it when I see it. Hope and change are a tad hard to measure.

Less than 36 hours after claiming his party's presidential nomination, the Illinois senator said the Democratic National Committee will stop accepting campaign contributions from lobbyists and political action committees, just as Obama's campaign has done.

Yes, so the lobbyists can't write personal checks, but their wives can. Their family members can. It's total B.S. And oh boy, he's really the first person to say that.

If you want to have a debate about the political campaign of 2008, I'm game. But let's leave out the personal attacks and keep it intellectually stimulating.

God's little miracles

This little guy may have changed his mother's perspective on abortion. Or so I'd like to hope.

A mother who decided to abort her son because he may have inherited a life-threatening kidney condition is overjoyed that he survived the procedure.

Jodie Percival of Nottinghamshire, England, said she and her fiancee made the decision to abort baby Finley when she was eight weeks pregnant.

Percival's first son Thane died of multicystic dysplastic kidneys — which causes cysts to grow on the kidneys of an unborn baby — and her second child Lewis was born with serious kidney damage and currently has just one kidney, the Daily Mail reported.

"I was on the (birth control pill) when I became pregnant," Percival, 25, said. "Deciding to terminate at eight weeks was just utterly horrible but I couldn't cope with the anguish of losing another baby."

A short time after the abortion, Percival felt a fluttering in her stomach. She went to the doctor for a scan and discovered she was 19 weeks pregnant.

In November, Finley was born three weeks premature. He had minor kidney damage but is expected to lead a normal life.

She was on the pill, and got pregnant. Miracle 1. Baby Finley decided he wasn't going anywhere. Miracle 2. Baby Finley's kidney problems are minor, and he'll lead a normal life. Miracle 3.

Anyone believing elsewise - bring it on.

Here we go

They are watching our political contest across the ocean. At "Kenya Today", a reporter points out something I actually appreciate NOT hearing about:

Anyone watching Senator Barack Obama’s victory speech should have been struck by the most outstanding feature of the brilliant address: Not once did he talk about himself. He did not talk about the historic accomplishment of becoming the first black person, the first minority, to become a major-party presidential candidate.

He paid tribute to his grandmother and his wife and family; he thanked his campaign staff and the thousands of volunteers; he lauded the supporters who contributed to the biggest grassroots campaign fundraising in American history; he remembered the millions of Americans who supported the cause and made that great moment possible; (blah, blah, blah)...he was gracious in praise for his vanquished foes in the Democratic Party nomination contest, and particularly effusive in acknowledging his most serious rival, Hilary Clinton.

Yesterday when I heard Wolf Blitzer announce that Obama had nearly clinched the nomination, "WHAT A HISTORIC MOMENT, PEOPLE! HISTORIC!," I decided I was done with the whole issue.

I do not see a black man when I look at Barack Obama. I see an inexperienced joke of a Senator who will lead our country into a dangerous place if he is not defeated in this November's contest.

At least Obama himself is not talking about his skin color.

Pet Peeves

Why is there always one car on the beltline that sees the Sheriff sitting in the median, and SLAMS on the brake down to 20 miles an hour??

You don't have to stop for cops. Just go the speed limit.

Relax, it's funny

I'm sure I'll be ruthlessly chastised for this post, but I think VP Cheney should be allowed to make a joke.

WASHINGTON (June 2) - Vice President Dick Cheney threw a verbal insult at West Virginians on Monday, but quickly apologized.

Talking about his family roots and how he's distantly related to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, the vice president noted that he had Cheneys on both sides of his family.

"And we don't even live in West Virginia," Cheney quipped.

"You can say those things when you're not running for re-election."

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, quickly asked Cheney to apologize.

"I truly cannot believe that any vice president of the United States, regardless of their political affiliation, would make such a derogatory statement about my state or any state for that matter," he said.

What American born - and unAmerican born for that matter- doesn't know how to make fun of West Virginia? I grew up with a student who didn't even know West Virginia was a separate state. She thought it was part of Virginia! And we're FROM there?!

Cheney's right if you ask me, he doesn't need to worry about what other people think. Most of us would probably be surprised at how we can relate to the situation. My own great-great grandmother married into my great-great-grandfather's side. I believe it's similar in John McCain's family from his book. And Oh No, Barack Obama is related to a white guy? It's actually very humbling and quite humorous!

And to the governor who wanted to act all offended, look where you live! People have been poking fun at you for years! Grow a sense of humor.

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., blasted Cheney, saying that for a vice president to openly display "such contempt and astounding ignorance toward his own countrymen" was an insult to all Americans.

"Now that he or the administration he represents no longer needs their vote, Mr. Cheney apparently feels that he is now free to mock and belittle the people of West Virginia," Byrd said.

Get a grip Byrd. Contempt, ignorance, mock and belittle? Get over yourselves, you're from West Virginia. Go have a beer with some toothless married cousins!

South of the Mason-Dixon

As a native, VA politics never cease to intrigue me. With term limits and old-school candidates, they all just rotate turns.

RICHMOND, May 31 -- By a paper-thin margin, former Virginia governor James S. Gilmore III captured the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate on Saturday at a state party convention here that exposed some GOP doubts about Gilmore and highlighted the influence of social conservatives.

Gilmore defeated Del. Robert G. Marshall, a staunch opponent of abortion rights making his first bid for statewide office, by about 70 votes out of 10,378 cast. The margin was less than one percentage point.

The party will come together now against Governor Warner.

Division at the convention underscored one of the challenges Gilmore faces as he prepares to take on Warner, who has raised more than $8 million for his campaign.

But a Gilmore-Warner matchup is expected to be a slugfest. Each has vastly different opinions of the other's record and competing views on how to change Washington.

What political contest isn't a slugfest these days?

Gilmore pledged Saturday to oppose raising taxes and support cuts in spending if elected. He said he will push to put conservative judges on the federal bench, support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, protect the rights of gun owners and crack down on illegal immigration. Gilmore said he also wants to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in an effort to lower the price of gas.

Dick Leggitt, Gilmore's campaign manager, said, "We're going to base this campaign on an appeal to the working men and women of Virginia."

Well just be careful about Northern Virginia that wants to secede from the rest of the state....

"I reject the idea the people of Northern Virginia will vote liberal and wrong," Gilmore said. "If we stand for something, we will carry Northern Virginia."

Goodluck Jim.

Laura Bush and Jenna Hager on Ellen

Worth all 9 minutes.

Obama off the Wright path

Obama quit his church yesterday. Do we now say there is a godless candidate on the left?

"I'm not denouncing the church and I'm not interested in people who want me to denounce the church," he said, adding that the new pastor at Trinity and "the church have been suffering from the attention my campaign has focused on them."

Senator Obama said he and his wife had been discussing the issue since Rev Wright's appearance at a Press Club speech in Washington that reignited furore over remarks he made in various sermons at the church.

"I suspect we'll find another church home for our family," Senator Obama said.

He said it was clear that, since he was a presidential candidate, any remarks made at Trinity by any speaker "will be imputed to me, even if they conflict" with his stated views and values.

He said he had "no idea" how the resignation would affect his presidential campaign, "but I know it's the right thing to do for the church and our family".

I find it interesting there is no mention of Obama's faith or God or how the family does or will worship. Yeah leaving a church is sad (unless it's a crappy church) and maybe faith and God are not important to most readers, but I would imagine Obama would want to say more about his faith than "I suspect we'll find another church" (suspect?), and crediting his own campaign for the church's even-negative publicity.

Wouldn't he want to ease the minds of his supporters, that though he has left his church, he relies heavily on his faith, or maybe believes it doesn't matter where one worships - that it's not the most important thing as long as one does. Just a suggestion.

Oh yeah, I'm a Jesus freak so I guess it's only me.