Thank You Colin Powell

It seems as if each day brings another round of bad news for Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain. First there was the relentless drumbeat of conservative intellectuals concerned about the selection of Sarah Palin, a hopelessly unprepared candidate for Vice President. Next came the economic meltdown that showed McCain at his erratic best. And now this. Colin Powell. Former National Security Advisor. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Former Army General. Purple Heart recepient. Bronze Star recepient. Former Secretary of State. Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. Colin Powell believes an Obama Administration will be better for America, and the world, than an administration headed by John McCain. And one of the reasons cited was a concern for McCain's judgement, partially based on the selection of Sarah Palin. I find it hard to believe that Powell, even though he too [along with most of the political world]was wrong on Iraq, would put his country and the lives of millions of people at risk if he did not feel Obama was up to the job. Colin Powell, one of the most respected men in America, has endorsed Barack Obama for President. Today, a long day of travel for me on my way to Mexico City and then Oaxaca, is a good day!

A Few Debate Questions

I found this article today in the New York Daily News. It is written by Richard Cohen. Other than a few jabs at Sarah Palin, I found it pretty tough on both candidates. Which means you'll never hear any of these questions at the final debate. So, without further ado, enjoy! With the final presidential debate scheduled for Wednesday and the previous two having revealed absolutely nothing about the candidates, I have taken it upon myself to suggest some questions for CBS' Bob Schieffer, who will do the moderating chores. I assure you that the candidates have not seen the questions in advance nor, when the time comes, will they want to answer them. I flipped a coin and Senator Obama goes first. Senator Obama, you are sooooooooo cool. Can you tell us, please, the last time you lost your temper and what about? You have two minutes. Senator McCain, I'd like to ask you why you've attacked Senator Obama for associating with the former domestic terrorist, Bill Ayers, even though you have befriended G. Gordon Liddy, who was jailed for what amounts to subversion of the Constitution. Liddy also once told his radio listeners to deal with ATF agents by shooting them -- "a head shot," he recommended. What's the difference between Liddy and Ayers? Take as much time as you want. Senator Obama, did you ever tell Bill Ayers to his face that what he did was wrong? Senator McCain, I have a question regarding Sarah Palin: How could you? Senator Obama, in 2007, your former church and its then-minister honored the Reverend Louis Farrakhan, an anti-Semite. Why didn't you say something in protest? Have you ever heard the Latin dictum "Qui tacet consentire videtur," silence is consent? Senator McCain, what lessons should we have learned from the Iraq War? Should it have been fought? Should we have stuck to Afghanistan? What are our limits as a great power? Senator Obama. Sir, if your plan for troop withdrawal in Iraq had been adopted, the U.S. troops would now be almost out of the country. That being the case, what do you think we'd have there now? Civil war? A peaceful country? An Islamic republic next door in Jordan? Senator McCain, do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if history will forgive you for Sarah Palin? Senator Obama, do you ever wake up in the middle of night for anything? Senator McCain, with the situation in Afghanistan worsening, why don't we switch our troops right away from Iraq, which didn't attack us, to the country from where Osama bin Laden and his Taliban supporters did? Senator Obama, given the problems facing our country -- a worldwide financial crisis, a looming recession, the prospect of nukes in Iran and North Korea, and Pakistan, which already has nukes, coming apart -- isn't it reckless of you to think that, at your young age with your limited experience, you can manage it all? Senator McCain, virtually the same question to you. But in your case, given your age, isn't this all too much for you? Senator Obama, have you ever been in therapy? If so, how did it make you feel? Senator McCain, in May, you allowed a restricted number of reporters to review your medical records for a limited amount of time. Some people think you're hiding something. Are you? If not, why not make all the records public? Senator Obama, we all know that lobbyists are not the problem in Washington; it's the incessant need of politicians to raise campaign funds. Yet you broke your pledge to accept public financing for your campaign. By doing that, didn't you contribute to this problem? And a follow-up, if I might: If you broke your word on this, how can we be sure you won't break your word again? Senator McCain, reportedly, you have been told to avoid looking at Senator Obama during debates because he infuriates you and you could lose your temper. Is this because of Obama's age or his manner or something else entirely? Senator Obama, what's a credit-default swap? Senator McCain, can you explain short-selling? Senator Obama, is Senator McCain right? Senator McCain, you are 72 and have had skin cancer several times. Given that -- not to mention the usual exigencies of life -- how could you pick a running mate who is so dismally qualified for the presidency? And please, for the sake of your own reputation, not to mention your mortal soul, don't say anything about the Alaska National Guard. Senator Obama and Senator McCain, you both favor NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia. Please tell us how you would explain to an American soldier why he or she would have to fight for either country. Please explain why defending Georgia is in our national interest. Sorry about the odd font sizes. Blogger really struggles when you cut and past from other sources. At least it does when I do it! If you have a hint on how to fix this, put it in the comments. Thanks!

Open Wide

Yesterday I went to the doctor. It was my first visit to a doctor since returning to Las Vegas last year. Since I am your typical kind of guy, I saw no need to go unless I had some kind of health issue. Which I finally admitted I had. One of my ears has been feeling like it was full of water for about 10 days. I kept hoping it would just go away but all of that was for naught. So after waiting too long, and with the reality of a flight on the near horizon, I decided to get an appointment. After all, your ear exploding on a plane is not a good thing for the guy sitting next to you. So I go in and almost immediately, after filling out 20 forms that all basically say the same thing, yes I'll pay and no you're not at fault for anything, the assistant starts me on the routine. You all know what I mean. Get on the scale. Let's check your height. And then my arm starts getting squeezed by some new fangled type of Boa Constrictor blood pressure thingamabob. I wasn't even aware she had put it on. All while asking me a thousand questions. Next up was the electronic thermometer and then a little gizmo to check the oxygen level in my blood. She said mine was good and I did not need a tank to breath. I was glad to be paying $95.00 to learn that. Here I thought you could figure that out pretty easily. And just like that I was alone, waiting for the doctor. When she came in she repeated all of the thousand questions I had already answered, and added a few. Ever smoke? Drink? Use drugs? Drive your car off a cliff? All no. Good she said. After that, she turned to my ears. Finally. This was after all why I was here. Just for this moment. So she could put her ear light inside my head, tell me what was wrong, and write me a prescription that would cost $97.50. After looking inside, she said nothing. I was wondering if this was good or bad when she asked me the question. The question every guy fears. "When was your last prostate check up." Confidently I told her five years ago and I felt safe. After all I was here for my ears. And then she said "Well let's check it out." Instant anxiety set in. After all we had just started dating. About 20 minutes ago. I don't even think you should kiss on the first date and here she was telling me to drop my drawers so she could look up my can. I was there for an ear infection! Well, the bottom line [no pun intended] was that I was good down there but needed the gold plated Cadillac inhaler for my ears. Thankfully she had a free coupon for one in her office. So it was not all bad. I just wished I knew ahead of time when she said open wide, she was not going to be looking at my throat.

Take a Hike!

I spend a lot of my time in the city. In the U.S., places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Portland. In Mexico, places like Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Ensenada. All of these areas are to some extent urban and have all of the problems that are inherent in city life. Overcrowding, homelessness, grime, and concrete. Lots of it. So occaisionally I need to get out and see the world as God has made it. Here's a few pictures taken the last couple of weeks as my wife Chelle and I have taken time to unwind and reconnect after a long summer apart.. The first few are from Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. This is a spectacular place. You can camp there only from May through September, but it is an easy day trip from either Zion or Bryce National Park and well worth the visit. The second batch was from my first visit to Lake Tahoe. I know it can get crowded there, but a short hike will get you into some pretty amazing places... and you can be totally alone. Enjoy! Cedar Breaks National Monument Lake Tahoe

And They Both Promised a Positive Campaign!

I've had it. I am sick of politics as usual. I am tired of our Presidential candidates telling me what is wrong with the other guy. But this disgust is not limited to the candidates themselves. We have in America an entire legion of partisans on both the right and left whose prime directive also seems to be the destruction of the other, rather than the lifting up of your own candidate. Sensing that he is losing on the issue of the economy, John McCain, a candidate who was a victim of some pretty sleazy tricks in 2000 when he ran against GW Bush, is now himself jumping on the Sleaze Talk Express. Understand what this means. The Washington Post, quoting an unnamed GOP strategist, is reporting that the McCain campaign has made the decision to question Obama's character and associations. This is on the heels of Rick Davis', McCain Campaign manager probably being the most honest person in American politics this year with this gem of a quote, "This election is not about issues... This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates." At least they are honest about it. Obama and his sleazy attack ad on McCain's computer abilities is one of the lowest things I have ever seen. Hey Barack, he doesn't use a computer because he is in constant pain from being tortured for five years! This stuff is horrible. And yet as much as the American people cringe and recoil when it is done, for some idiotic reason, it works. It works when GOP partisans cannot watch a debate and see that Sarah Palin, nice as she is, is not qualified to be President, a judgement that must be made of every VP candidate. It works when Democratic partisans cannot see that Obama's inability to see the political ramifications of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments might be a harbinger of his ability to grasp a growing crisis before it is too late. It works when neither party can be honest and say that both of their candidates were playing politics with the recent so-called Wall Street Bailout. Doesn't anybody get it? I want the candidates to tell me where they stand. Not their opponent. When you choose to denigrate your opponent and not trust me enough to figure it out on my own, you insult me. And my intelligence. Barack, I do not care what you have to say about John McCain. And Mr. McCain, my friend, I do not care what you have to say about Barack Obama. Please, please, please, tell me where you stand on the issues, and trust me enough to figure it out. And tell your partisan supporters to do the same! Now just in case you can't figure out how to do this, here's a simple guide. If your opponents name is in your advertising, you ain't doin' it. Both of you are pretty fond of saying that the American people are smart folks. Why don't you treat us as such?