A Sunday Night Laugh.

American History Revised.

Sarah Palin needs a history lesson. Here is her answer to a questionnaire during her run for Governor of Alaska.

Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

SP: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

As many American high schools students know,

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian Socialist, and the cousin of Socialist Utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850-1898).

Bellamy's original "Pledge of Allegiance" was published in the September 8th issue of the popular children's magazine The Youth's Companion as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, conceived by James B. Upham.

Bellamy's original Pledge read, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Not to mention that the words "under God" were added in 1954.  Founding fathers indeed.  I guess in Sarah Palin's word Dwight Eisenhower was one of our founding fathers.

But, I bet she NEVER fails to place her hand over her heart during the singing of the National Anthem or wear her flag pin, and we all know that is all that matters.  

Where Can I Get One Of These?

Don't you just love this McCain cap that Matt Yglesias picked up at Washinton National Airport?  I do.  I want one.

Geography Is Not Relevant To Knowledge And Experience.

Steve Benen, at Washinton Monthly, is right when he reminds us of Cindy McCain today repeating the stupid argument of one Fox news anchor.

This morning, Cindy McCain made the exact same argument, telling George Stephanopoulos, in response to a question about national security experience, "[R]emember, Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia. It's not as if she doesn't understand what's at stake here."

Has Palin ever been to Russia? No. Has she ever demonstrated any expertise on U.S. policy towards Russia? No. Does she have any background in international relations at any level? No.

But for Republicans, the fact that she's lived near Russia is somehow a qualification for national office.

It's Those Stubborn Facts Again.

What McCain's new running mate, Sarah Palin, has been saying since being introduced as VP nominee:

"I told Congress, thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere," Palin told the cheering McCain crowd, referring to Ketchikan's Gravina Island bridge.

And the truth is:

Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it.

The Alaska governor campaigned in 2006 on a build-the-bridge platform, telling Ketchikan residents she felt their pain when politicians called them "nowhere." They're still feeling pain today in Ketchikan, over Palin's subsequent decision to use the bridge funds for other projects -- and over the timing of her announcement, which they say came in a pre-dawn press release that seemed aimed at national news deadlines.

For more info on Sarah Palin, check out this local Alaskan blog.

Personal Note

After a busy week of watching the Democratic National Convention and commenting on bits and pieces of it, I planned to take a day or two away from the blog and politics.  

As you see, I haven't been too successful, but will be away most of today (Sunday). 

Have a happy and safe holiday.

Something Positive.

In case you missed it on Thursday night. Obama bio video from Denver.

Our New Super Heros Are Here To Save The Day.

First stop, the Gulf Coast.  Next stop, an abortion clinic near you. Then they close down the nearest gay bar.  Next, your library to remove "bad" books.  Then they will drill in your backyard.  After that, the sky is the limit.

Pray For The People Of The Gulf Coast.

Palin Rumor Control.

If the Internet can spread the Obama is a Muslim bull shit.  It can also spread this one.

Sarah's 4 month old son, Trig, is actually her grandson. Trig's real mom, suggests the internet underbelly, is Sarah's teenage daughter, Bristol.

"Comments from the left field" points out that Sarah never looked pregnant, and Bristol was taken out of school for 4 or 5 months because she got "mono," ...

(Not that I am intend on spreading a debunked rumor.)

McCain Flip Flops On What's Appropriate.

During Katrina, Bush and McCain celebrate while New Orleans floods.

What is not appropriate now was appropriate after Katrina.

"it just wouldn’t be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster, so we’re monitoring it from day to day and I’m saying a few prayers too.”

McCain Palin 08.

I couldn't resist.

A Proud Day For America.

Just think, we might soon see black men portrayed as wine snobs. (From The Onion News Network.)

What The Palin Pick Says About McCain.

From Time's Joe Klein,

"Ready on day one--to shoot from the hip."

The St. Paul Strip Clubs Should Do Better.

In a final dispatch from Denver, Mark Schmidt reports,

Across the street from the hotel where TAP staff stayed this week was a strip club called Shotgun Willie's. All week the sign out front said,

WELCOME, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

As I left this afternoon, it had been changed to,

THANKS FOR NOTHING, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

Naturally, the clubs in Minneapolis/St. Paul will be busier as will the men's room at the airport.

The Big Number.

85,000 in the stadium, 38,000,000 on TV.  That's huge. 

McCain's Obvious Tokenism.

Conservative commentator Ramesh Ponnuru has this say among other things.

Can anyone say with a straight face that Palin would have gotten picked if she were a man?

The McCain team just lost experience as an issue to beat up Obama.  Now, let's get to a debate on the issues.  McCain can't/won't do that.

Also, does it sound like McCain will appoint people based purely on politics rather than qualifications.  Think "Brownie" and Harriet Myers.  That is NOT the change we need.

(And, yes I know it's not the real Vogue cover.)

Is Our Children Learning?

Check out this Students for McCain Pen. 

I guess the answer is no.

Put Barney Smith Before Smith Barney.

In case you missed it, with all the other speeches last night, watch Barney Smith.  

Happy 72nd Birthday.

Today he's 72.  If elected, at the end of his first term, he'd be 76.

Posted Through Tears Of Joy.

I am speechless and can't believe tonight has happened.  What a night1  What potential this country can have again! Yes we can!

More tomorrow or over the weekend but for tonight, I just have to take it all in.

Bush - McCain.

“The same policies all over again? Hey, I believe in recycling, but that’s ridiculous.”

Al Gore

"We Are Better Than These Last Eight Years."

“Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit card bills you can’t afford to pay and tuition that is beyond your reach

“These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed presidency of George W. Bush.

“America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.”

Barack Obama

August 28, 2008

"I Have A Dream."

For those too young to have been alive in 1963.  And, a reminder to all of us of how far we have come. I am so proud to be alive to see what is happening in Denver tonight. 

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Jesus Face On A Moth.

A little religious news among all this political crap.

Well, maybe not serious religious news.

The Bounce We've Been Waiting For.

Here it is after two nights (most polling done before Bill and Joe) but, what goes up must come down, especially with the Twin City event for the Bush-McCain twins starting immediately after the DNC event.  Work harder!

McCain's Health Care Solution.

And, it's a good one, from McCain's health care advisor.

Mr. Goodman, who helped craft Sen. John McCain's health care policy, said anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance, albeit the government acts as the payer of last resort....“So I have a solution. And it will cost not one thin dime,” Mr. Goodman said. “The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American — even illegal aliens — as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care. “So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved.”

The Big Enthusiasm Gap.

All the GOP B.S. about the mile high stadium event tonight is just confirmation of the lack of enthusiasm for their candidate.  Don't discount this in the way this election will go. They are having trouble filling 10,000 seats for the McCain/VP rally on Saturday that is designed to steal Obama's thunder.

Just Like Batman And Robin.

John Kerry's Best Speech Ever.

In case you missed it, as the news networks didn't cover it, watch it here.

Define Honor.

McCain can't.  Read his book.

Hillary and Harriett.

My favorite rhetorical moment of the DNC so far has been Hillary Clinton's conclusion to her speech where she quotes Harriett Tubman. 

My mother was born before women could vote. But in this election my daughter got to vote for her mother for President.

This is the story of America. Of women and men who defy the odds and never give up.

How do we give this country back to them?

By following the example of a brave New Yorker , a woman who risked her life to shepherd slaves along the Underground Railroad.

And on that path to freedom, Harriett Tubman had one piece of advice.

If you hear the dogs, keep going.

If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.

If they're shouting after you, keep going.

Don't ever stop. Keep going.

My mother was born before women could vote. But in this election my
daughter got to vote for her mother for President.

This is the story of America. Of women and men who defy the odds and
never give up.

How do we give this country back to them?

By following the example of a brave New Yorker , a woman who risked
her life to shepherd slaves along the Underground Railroad.

And on that path to freedom, Harriett Tubman had one piece of advice.

If you hear the dogs, keep going.

If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.

If they're shouting after you, keep going.

Don't ever stop. Keep going.

If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.

Faced with the minor adversities in my life, I need to remember this more and follow this advise.  We all do.

Answered Prayer.

Looks like the answer to his prayer is NO! Here's the weather forecast for Denver for tonight.And, it looks like the GOP should call in Pat Robertson to deal with hurricane Gustav. Or is God punishing Bush and McCain?

From Hope To Hope.

"People around the world have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."

Barack Obama Is The Democratic Party Nominee.

In my gut, I've known this would happen since sometime in February after Obama won 12 straight caucuses and primaries BUT, I have NEVER been prouder to be a Democrat.  I have never been more proud to be an American. Maybe we are finally on a path to racial equality.

Now, it's on to November to achieve the victory.  

Bus Stop Ads For Minneapolis/St. Paul.

You Can't Do It My Friend.

McCain is so out of touch.  Watch him mock hard working Americans.

Another Test For Presidential Candidates.

If we need a Commander In Chief test do we also need an Alzheimer's Test?

Leahy told Vogel yesterday the media has given McCain a free pass on flubs including mixing up Middle East geography, Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and referring to Russia's relationship Czechoslovakia -- a country that hasn't existed for 15 years.

"It was the same way with Ronald Reagan in the last few years he was president," Leahy said, referring to the belief that Reagan experienced early signs of Alzheimer's disease late in his presidenc

Unity!

Kurt's Day 2 Diary, but he's been partying too much so his video diary, that he hopes to post later today should be more detailed.

An Apology From The '88 Democratic Candidate.

From Kevin Drum, a great quote from Michael Dukakis.

"Look, I owe the American people an apology. If I had beaten the old man you'd of never heard of the kid and you wouldn't be in this mess. So it's all my fault and I feel that very, very strongly. So this is an important election for us. Let me tell 'ya."

Two Nights, Two Women, Two Home Runs!!!

These two women hit it out of the park on two consecutive nights.  Now it's time for Bill, Joe, Al and Barack to do the same tomorrow and Thursday. 

Bush And His Sidekick.

A Famous Quote From A Kansas Girl.

The quote of the night from the Governor Kathleen Sibelius.

I’m sure you remember a girl from Kansas who said there’s no place like home. Well, in John McCain’s version, there’s no place like home. And a home. And home. And home.

More Reaction To Michelle.

Another brilliant analysis from an Andrew Sullivan blog reader.  Read it all, but here's the conclusion.

I'm a Republican. But the Obamas said and showed a better statement of family values Monday than anything the GOP has tried to force down America's collective throat for the last two decades.

A Continuing Arizona Tradition.

From the Governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano.

Barry Goldwater ran for president, and he lost. Mo Udall ran for President, and he lost. Bruce Babbitt ran for president, and he lost. For this election cycle, that's one Arizona tradition I'd like to see continued."

Our Idiotic Media Discourse.

Clinton Drama.

A question, does all the media continued pounding of the GOP incited story line, that the Clinton's won't fully support Obama and that all Hillary's women are anti-Obama, make the fact that Bill and Hillary come through for Barack have more impact. 

Expectations are for drama and if they support Obama in a big, dramatic fashion everyone wins.

More Like This.

Speech by Dennis Kucinich a few minutes ago.

"We Democrats are giving America a wake-up call.'' 

"Wake up, America. In 2001, the oil companies, the war contractors and the neo-con artists seized the economy and have added 4 trillion dollars of unproductive spending to the national debt. We now pay four times more for defense, three times more for gasoline and home heating oil and twice what we paid for health care. ..

"Borrowed money to bomb bridges in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, no money to rebuild bridges in America. Money to start a hot war with Iran. Now we have another cold war with Russia, while the American economy has become a game of Russian roulette.

"If there was an Olympics for misleading, mismanaging and misappropriating, this administration would take the gold. World records for violations of national and international laws. They want another four-year term to continue to alienate our allies, spend our children's inheritance and hollow out our economy.

"We can't afford another Republican administration. Wake up, America. The insurance companies took over health care. Wake up, America. The pharmaceutical companies took over drug pricing.

"Wake up, America. The speculators took over Wall Street. Wake up, America. They want to take your Social Security. Wake up, America. Multinational corporations took over our trade policies, factories are closing, good paying jobs lost.

"Wake up, America. We went into Iraq for oil. The oil companies want more. War against Iran will mean $10-a-gallon gasoline. The oil administration wants to drill more, into your wallet. Wake up, America. Weapons contractors want more. An Iran war will cost 5 to 10 trillion dollars.

"This administration can tap our phones. They can't tap our creative spirit. They can open our mail. They can't open economic opportunities. They can track our every move. They lost track of the economy while the cost of food, gasoline and electricity skyrockets. They skillfully played our post-9/11 fears and allowed the few to profit at the expense of the many. Every day we get the color orange, while the oil companies, the insurance companies, the speculators, the war contractors get the color green.

"Wake up, America. This is not a call for you to take a new direction from right to left. This is call for you to go from down to up. Up with the rights of workers. Up with wages. Up with fair trade. Up with creating millions of good paying jobs, rebuilding our bridges, ports and water systems. Up with creating millions of sustainable energy jobs to lower the cost of energy, lower carbon emissions and protect the environment.

"Up with health care for all. Up with education for all. Up with home ownership. Up with guaranteed retirement benefits. Up with peace. Up with prosperity.

"Up with the Democratic Party. Up with Obama-Biden.

"Wake up, America. Wake up, America. Wake up, America.''

An Obama Delegate's Blog--Day 2.

Kurt's take on Day 2.  

The Media Is Being Played.

Each night at 3AM, the McCain campaign releases a new ad using Hillary's words to bash Obama. And, the media pundits jump on them big time.  Now comes word of what I suspected.

According to a group that monitors political advertising across the country, only one of the three Hillary Clinton-themed ads attacking Sen. Barack Obama has been broadcast so far --- and that ad, featuring a Clinton delegate who now endorses McCain is only airing in Toledo, Ohio, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The monitoring firm says they are "basically video press releases."

I guess it's working as it's creating a media narrative.  Now, what will the Obama campaign do to compete with next weeks event for McCain?  I hope they fight back hard.

22 Million Tune In For Night One.

A good start and a good sign. Up from 18 million 4 years ago.

What True Christians Sound Like.

From Andrew Sullivan, last night's Democratic Convention benediction shows what a liberal Evangelical Christian sounds like. It was given by Donald Miller, 

"Father God,
This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.
We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.
We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.
Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.
Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.
Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.
Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.
Help us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.
Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.
We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.
Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.
A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.
Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.
Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.
Lastly, father, unify us.
Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.
And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.
God we know that you are good.
Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.
I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.
Let Him be our example.
Amen."

The Character of John McCain.

It's about time Democrats started hitting McCain on issues of his character. From the Politico we read that two senators are starting to hit him hard. Do we want him with his finger on the nuclear button?

“He has a huge anger problem,” Boxer said. “And he never hid that. ... I have seen it happen on the Senate floor many, many times. … He has exploded at me a couple times.”

Boxer said McCain has always apologized after the dust-ups. Nonetheless, she insinuated that McCain’s temperament makes him unfit for the White House.

“It’s all well and good to apologize,” Boxer added, “but if you are in charge of that black box, I worry about that.”

Durbin noted McCain’s temper is “well documented,” saying that he had been on the receiving end of it for what he considered “minor things.”

“I was in a confrontation with him … and he was quick to explode,” said Durbin. “It simmered for a long time.”

If you like the wars of George W. Bush, you will love the McCain Wars.

The Real Celebrity Candidate.

McCain was on The Tonight Show for the 13th time.  Who else has been on that many times? Pamela Anderson, Dr. Phil, Larry the Cable Guy, Simon Cowell, Jennifer Love Hewitt. Schwarzenegger has been on twelve times; Obama has been on once.

So who is the real "celebrity" in the presidential race?

And, what was his response to Leno's joke about 7 houses?  POW!

Hopefully, Our Next First Family.

A comment from a reader of Andrew Sullivan's blog says how effective Michelle was tonight.

I am a former military police officer and she made me cry.

Between the speech and the kids--HOMERUN! How great it is to live in a time when our first family could look like this.  Who would have thunk it?

“The work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on!”

Amen.

Caroline Kennedy's Tribute.

“I am here tonight to pay tribute to two men who have changed my life, and the life of this country – Barack Obama, and Edward M. Kennedy. Their stories are very different, but they share a commitment to the timeless American ideals of justice and fairness, service and sacrifice, faith and family. Leaders like them come along rarely. But once or twice in a lifetime, they come along just when we need them the most.

“I have never had someone inspire me the way people tell me my father inspired them – but I do now. And I know someone else who’s been inspired all over again by Senator Obama.

“In our family, he’ll always be known as Uncle Teddy. More than any senator of his generation, or perhaps any generation, Teddy has made life better for people in this country and around the world. For 46 years, he has been so much more than just a Senator for the people of Massachusetts, he’s been a Senator for all who believe in a dream that’s never died.”

Caroline Kennedy

August 25, 2008

The Material Girl v. The Material Candidate (with 7 houses and his wife's wealth).

Madonna has sparked another controversy by including Republican presidential hopeful John McCain in a video montage shown on her new tour that includes Adolf Hitler and Robert Mugabe.

"It's a disappointing and vulgar attack on John McCain, who has devoted his life to the cause of freedom and the fight against tyranny," McCain spokesperson Taylor Griffin told Usmagazine.com Monday.

"But, it's not surprising that Barack Obama and his fellow celebrities stick together," Griffin told Us.

Is McCain ever going to speak to the issues rather than superficial things like celebrity, etc.? Can't we get past caring what people like Madonna do and say?

A Delegate's Viewpoint From Denver.

Check out my friend, Kurt Bestor's website, for his take on his time in Denver as an Obama delegate, representing the state of Utah.  

As I drove with my wife from Salt Lake City to Denver, I listened via my XM Radio to the commentary on CNN, BBC, and (yikes) Fox News Channels. For the entire 7 hours (with the exception of 2.5 toilet stops and a moment of "Quarter-Pounder w/ Cheese bliss" in Laramie) I heard the parroting of right and left-wing politicos as they prognosticated that this Democratic Convention was going to be "fractured," "divisive," and a battle ground for the certain Armageddon between smug Obamaniacs (like myself) and still smarting Hillary-ites. The more I listened, the more nervous I got. What if they were right? What kind of bad election luck did this portend.

Well - no sooner had I stepped into the opening night New Orleans Jam-balaya! soirée sponsored by the DNC - then my fears vanished as quickly as the tasty jambalaya they were serving. Besides hearing Howard Dean's motivating opening speech and eating way too much shrimp and crawfish, we all got stuffed on some serious Delta blues and rip-roar-in' Zydeco featuring the Voice of the Wetlands All Star Band. This kickin' band was so get-down, swampy and funky that even the most caucasian member of the Utah Delegation was gettin' down with his or her bad self.

Catharsis, A New Parfum.

Monday Morning Sing Along.

Slicing And Dicing Election Demographics.

From The Onion, who else?  

Who will win the Dinty Moore Dads, the Corduroy Wearing Homosexuals, the Facebook Masturbators the Neck Tie Asians and the other 430 demographic groups.

Latest Poll Reveals 430 New Demographics That Will Decide Election

Our Serious Media Discourse.

Wow, isn't this important?  A full article about Joe Biden's hair plugs and comb over.

Naturally it's important, Biden wasn't a POW.

McCain: The Infallible POW.

A video of "The Infallible POW."

While the media is beginning to realize that McCain is overdoing the POW thing, his campaign has come to a different conclusion. 

They will be prepared to show McCain's "home" in Hanoi by using images of his cell. They claim they have not overused the POW element and insist they have "underused it."

Thought For The Day.

“The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you.”

Frederick Buechner

A Garden Wedding.

If you are not in California, you may not have seen this ad that is running during the Olympics to support "No on Prop 8" and to support equality for all in California marriage laws.

Headlines Around The Country.

Click on any image for a larger view.

POW. POW. POW. POW. POW...

Maureen Dowd takes on John McCain's POW excuse for every gaff and McCain himself uses it again in an interview with Katie Couric.

"I am grateful for the fact that I have a wonderful life," McCain said. "I spent some years without a kitchen table, without a chair, and I know what it's like to be blessed by the opportunities of this great nation...So the fact is that we have homes, and I'm grateful for it."

I guess I am not sure what being a POW 40 years ago has to do with one's qualifications to be President of the United States. 

This should be a McCain commercial.

74 Flip Flops And Counting.

Steve Benen has been keeping tracking of McCain's changing positions during the presidential campaign.

Why do McCain’s flip-flops matter? Because all available evidence suggests his reversals aren’t sincere, they’re cynically calculated for political gain. This isn’t indicative of an open mind; it’s actually indicative of a character flaw. And given the premise of McCain’s presidential campaign, it’s an area in desperate need of scrutiny.

Check out the entire list.

Handel, Mendelssohn & Beethoven.

I've been doing some pro bono work for a new community symphony in Corona California and tonight is their debut concert.  I've been told the hall is sold out, which bodes well for the future, and I am looking forward to an evening of Chinese food and music and NO thoughts of politics.

Read a story about the Corona Symphony Orchestra in today's Riverside Press Enterprise.

All in all, I think it will be a good start to this new symphony. The first full season of concerts will be announced shortly after Labor Day.

Obama Biden.

Photo Of The Day. Well, Maybe A Day In 1977.

I can remember dressing like that.  The turtle neck (or is it a dickie) under the shirt, the pants.  Wow, I am old! (I didn't have the two kids and blond wife though.)

Walk A Day In My Shoes.

Imagine Mitt Romney doing this. Go ahead John pick Mitt.

Bumper Sticker Of The Day.

Or now, "Two Guys, Two Houses--ObamaBiden08

Hat tip: Ellie.

Celebrating...

...10 years of freedom today.