OBAMA; CANDIDATE OR ROCK STAR

Friends, I am sorry if this comes as a shock to anyone, but Barack Hussein Obama is not the Second Coming of Christ. Your man has done nothing to convince me that he will do a damn thing which he promises the nation. Promises, promises, is anyone satisfied with that?

Apparently his followers are so enchanted by his great smile, feel-good phrases which keep ringing in our memory, hyperbole, and charisma, that all this is enough for them to promise him their votes, and in many cases a great deal of money. A Chicken in every pot, a change of government and the end of everything we dislike in government -- god almighty, bring it on!

I'd hate to see your hopes dashed but even more would I dislike seeing them come to fruition. I don't trust the judgment of people who act like they are raving over a rock star. I'd almost rather vote for Bono (if he were eligible to run) -- after all, doesn't he care about noble causes and confer with world leaders? And Bono is rich enough to finance his own campaign.

Where is the real substance in his speeches and promises? If you would stop cheering and feeling good long enough to think about what you want, say, doing something about the power of big corporations in influencing how this country is run (hey,
Edwards had plenty to say about that, but it's too late now), or how he is going to finance health care for everyone, then maybe one could understand why you're so excited about your candidate.

As Barack's followers you are not too impressive in your constant repetition of slurs and expressions of downright hatred of Clinton. Maybe Mrs Obama is your role model there -- apparently advisers have toned her down lately because she started the campaign by being vicious about her husband's rival.

I happen to believe that we shouldn't be feeling so happy when listening to campaign speeches by any candidate. The excitement, the sense of being uplifted by joy, the confidence that things will change -- better to save it for a U2 concert.

Yes, even the hope and optimism are overdone for a political campaign. Do you have to be reminded that we are living in desperate times in which tragedy has struck and will strike many Americans, and the economy is looking rather grim?

Do you really want to give Obama the benefit of the doubt on such flimsy evidence as he offers?

Open Letter to Presidential Candidates

Dear Candidate:

I am thoughtfully providing you with a list of issues which I'd like you to address. If your answers satisfy me then I believe will show me and the rest of the country that you have the right stuff to lead the U. S. A.:

1. > Do not prattle about Family Values. We don't need any lying, cheating politicians teaching us about family values. Please overlook the statement about "lying, cheating" -- you may seem to have a clean record now but who knows what may turn up in the future? Anyway, even if you're pure of heart you probably don't even know anything about the subject. In today's world, what is a family? What is a value? If you are looking for the roar of the crowd and the blessing of the clergy by talking about "nuclear" families, traditional mom/dad/kids, forget it. My ears are deaf to you. Today any conglomeration of people which provides stability, nourishes the development of the individual, pays its own way and is law abiding, is acceptable. If there is a mom and a dad that's great. Hey, we do the best we can.

Furthermore I must ask, what is a value? If you are preaching God's Law, quoting from the Bible about what God doesn't care for, my ears are deaf to you. You should be talking about which values matter most not only to the American family but to America and all Americans, no matter what their creed. Here are only a few:

2. >A work ethic, the need to raise and educate children to be self-supporting;

3. >An understanding of cause and effect -- be prepared for the consequences of your actions;

4. >Put off doing what you want today until the time is right for you -- i.e. losers always seek instant gratification;

5. >Honor your god(s) all you want but don't render only unto him/her what you owe to your country -- your love, your taxes, your service, your life if necessary. You have the freedom of worship only as long as our country is free, get it? Our enemies are not the people who worship other gods or who dress differently, but those who insist that America is or should be a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or any other kind of country. Obey your country's laws and not only those of your religion, especially if they are illegal. That's right, they do not supersede criminal and civil law. Here's a good example: your religion may encourage infanticide -- what's a good defense in a court of law, that child sacrifice is for the good of the people?


6. >And please, Mr./Ms Candidate, tell us your plans, if you have any, for dealing with global warming*. If you don't have any idea then now is the time to hire some really smart non-political people to draft a plan to present to the American public. Otherwise I wish you'd change your mind about running for president.



That's all for now Mr/Ms Candidate. Rest assured that I think of anything else I will immediately communicate it to your campaign headquarters.


*http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/opinion/15krugman.html?em&ex
=1192766400&en=c5e1aa67f8266958&ei=5087%0A

I recommend this article, "Gore Derangement Syndrome" -- it includes a great explanation of why the Republicans hate Gore so much. It seems that anything and anyone trying to take measures against global warming is anathema to them.

Also, today an article, "Global Warming Starts to Divide G.O.P. contenders appeared here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/us/politics/17climate.html?th&emc=th