What Voters Really Need To Be Thinking About Now.

I know that we have many serious matters on our plate. As a country, we are burdened by war. The Middle-class has disappeared, gasoline prices are outrageous; the mortgage crisis is spreading faster than a wildfire, our dollar has weakened. Yes, we are in serious trouble. No doubt about it.

No matter, the Republicans will run just like the Democrats will. And we all need to sit back and go over what was done to Al Gore in 2000 and what was done to John Kerry in 2004. These two elections tell us just how dirty the Republicans are willing to play so they can win. Have voters of the Democratic party gotten it that our nominee needs to play dirty too?

I don't think so. My "I don't think so" stems from the placing of Barack Obama in the polls. There are some pretty naive voters out there that are missing the big picture. And while I understand their right to support the candidate of their choice (are you listening, Oprah?) I must remind them what we're up against - crooks and liars who will stop at nothing for victory.

Barack seems like a nice enough guy. I'd love to hang out with him someday. I'd love for him to have some slot on an international stage where he can contribute ideas to make America better. But sorry folks. Metaphorically speaking, Barack lacks the teeth to eat the Republican alive. He's too soft, too friendly, too new, not ready for prime time. Not ready to take on a machine that steals elections and corrupts true war heroes.

I have always admired and respected Bill Clinton. The same goes for Hillary, but all the nonsense about this issue and that issue don't matter, we have one issue that we need to focus on - beating the Republicans.

The person that can do this is Hillary Clinton. If Hillary Clinton is our nominee, then we have a good shot at the White House, and a good shot at saving America. So, voters, listen up, we have some great people on our side running for office, but if we underestimate the enemy again, we'll be in even bigger trouble.

If you want 4 more years of what the Republicans have given us, then go ahead and support Barack Obama, but if you want us to win, you'll make the smart choice, you'll support Hillary Clinton.

Barack Obama - you can't be serious.

Having watched this race from Day One, I have to admit that the popularity of Barack Obama amazes me, and not in a good way.

From the start, I do think the media picked him as their darling, and so he's been front and center daily. But the more they focus on him, the less I like him.

Don't misunderstand, I like Obama. I think that he does have a bright future, and I think that he means well for America, but -

After 6 years of massive corruption, incompetence and stupidity in the White House, are we ready to take a gamble on an inexperienced man like Obama?

Not me.

And who among us cannot see through the packaging of Obama, the "new" politics he speaks of but the old politics that he engages in? This kind of hypocrisy so early on turns me off.

Rather than try to make his inexperience a positive by spinning it into "new politics" is pretty silly in my book.

Inexperienced is inexperienced, period. It is not a positive. No matter how his team tries to sell it.

Can I go and apply for a job and get it because I have "new politics" over my competition that has REAL experience? Of course not. Are the American people THAT stupid to buy into this nonsense?

I'm afraid so, but then again, I think that no matter the hype and the media coverage, the American people will do the right thing.

During our darkest hour, we need more than hope, we need more than spin, we need an EXPERIENCED leader to clean this mess, and Barack Obama is not the person for the job.

"Hell Hath No Fury..."

You reap what your sow. What goes around comes around. Old sayings don't die for a reason.

I got to thinking last night about W. I got to thinking about how unloved he's become and how unloved he has been for a really long time. Then it hit me, what goes around, comes around.

I know that Republicans like to label us as unpatriotic traitors when we bash Bush and his policies. But let's go beyond the smokescreen, wipe away that lie, and expose the truth.

As Americans, Democrats are no less patriotic today than ever before. It is the culture of spin that the Republicans have created that attempts to label us. Nothing else.

I can speak for myself and I can explain why it is that I do not support Bush. We'll start with the year 2000, and we'll look at how he manipulated his way into office. While it is difficult to kill that old wound when Gore was robbed and the country was swindled, let me say that I am not over it. It was dishonest. It was unfair. It was unpatriotic. It made me angry.

But, it happened. I knew that I was not going to be a big Bush fan from that point on.

Then, 9/11 happened.

Suddenly, I understood that we were a country at war, and that I wanted to support my president.

Bush rose to the occasion and many said that he had found his voice during that time. I put my faith in him, and I trusted that he would protect America and get back at those people that did so much horror and harm. He had both of my ears when he spoke.

Many others were like me, ready to bury the hatchet over the 2000 election.

We went to Afghanistan and kicked ass. I was proud of that. It was what needed to be done.

Out of nowhere, there was some talk about Saddam Hussein and Iraq. You know what follows, fabricated intelligence, leaking of CIA agents, innocent dying in an illegitmate war, Bin laden never found - Bush and his team made us look like a joke around the world - the biggest, richest, most powerful country could not find/capture this one person! In fact, they let him get away at Tora Bora. So much for "Wanted Dead or Alive."

Katrina. More outrage, more lies, more excuses. More death. More destruction.

The list goes on. Simply put, Bush crushed my support and my faith. As many have said, from having our love and support after 9/11, somehow Bush managed to squander the good will of the people in favor of pleasing his elite pals.

I got the message -

My president did not love me.

My president did not love America.

My president did not honor our traditions and our laws.

My president was not patriotic.

My presdient was a liar.

My trust has been misued and abused. I had been lied to. My fellow Americans had been lied too. Our troops were dying side by side with Iraqi's. There was no apology for all this wrong. There was, instead, a stubborn demand sent out, mandating me to support lies, corruption, incompetence and disrespect. I could not do that. I cannot do that. I will not do that. No matter how many names you call me, it does not change that I am American. I am an American with the will and desire to love my president, but it's a two-way street, and you cannot have my love and support when you refuse to admit the ways in which you have hurt my country.

The polls show Bush's approval ratings being very low. I am not the only one feeling that my president has abandoned me. I am not the only one feeling that the president didn't want my love and support all along. He never cared, not then and not now.

Perhaps many think the relationship we have with our president is a public matter, but not really. If any person disregards you in the manner that he has disregarded the entire country, the end result would be the same. When you do your best to alienate many, you will have the support of a few.

In life, when we want to win someone back, we apologize for our mistakes. We apologize for our wrongs and try to make them right. At this point, I am realistic enough to know that this is NOT going to happen. My president does love me or this country enough to help us heal.

You know that other old saying, Hell hath no fury...

And I can't forgive you if you won't apologize.

The Revenge of Al Gore

He's won an Oscar, he's been nomiated for the Nobel Peace Prize, he's on the cover of Time. I can go on listing the many wonderful acheivements of former Vice-President, Al Gore.

Looking back at 2000, when The Supreme Court and Scalia elected Bush, Al has come a long way. But yet, something about the way he was played so dirty only makes his current hot streak all the more satisfying. Former VP cheated of his role as president makes a comeback to become the hottest candidate without even entering the race.

Here's what I think. Al Gore is due his turn. I know that we elect our leaders and "next in line," in theory, doesn't apply. But here, it does. Al Gore has served America for his entire lifetime. He has done so with integrity and class, unlike other candidates (read: Barack Obama, too "new" to win anything in my book). I support Hillary Clinton, but, if Al Gore were to run, I'd celebrate and support him faster than you can say "recount."

Our country is a mess. No one disputes that. We need a man with some of Gore's integrity and experience in charge. If we want to restore American to the respected superpower that it once was, we need to use logia and reason in '08. I am a Democrat, but let me say this, with Hillary, Edwards or Obama, it's a risk, and we can't afford to gamble this time.

Hillary, female, risky.

Obama, African-American, too fresh, risky.

Edwards, also inexperienced, risky.

Like I was saying, we need a sure bet. And that bet is Al Gore.

Should he enter the race, it blows everyone else out of the water - on both sides - Dem and Republican.

I think the American people want a chance to set things right, and with what happened in 2000, I think we'd see justice in '08. Al Gore deserves it. The American people want it.

The First Debate - Winners and Losers Among Democrats.

Like so many others eager to elect a new leader of the free world, I tuned into last night's debate on MSNBC. There were eight Democratic candidates on stage. I have to admit that since this race has started so early, I was glad to see the debate finally happening.

Overall, everyone did a nice job in my book. There were a few moments worthy of discussion. And the first I see as needing to be pointed out concerns John Edwards.

I like John Edwards. My money was on him last night, if not as the Democratic nominee, then at least as the winner of the debate. I thought he was going to doing very well considering his experience as a trial lawyer with Southern charm.

I was wrong.

I really don't care about his four-hundred-dollar haircut. I think he'd look just as good with a forty-dollar haircut. But, it's his money so he can do as he pleases. I had not heard that this haircut was paid for with campaign funds until I saw the debate. His admission that was a "mistake" was news to me.

I thought about it. As I've said, this race started early. But Edwards has made a few mistakes already. The first being that his staff leaked his announcement that he was running for an office a day early online. Kind of embarassing.

And now this haircut business. I think the haircut becomes an issue for Edwards only because he is the anti-poverty candidate. To preach helping the poor once you're elected is smart politics, but to compromise you're sincerity in spending THAT much on a haircut isn't all that bright.

On top of that, he said nothing special last night. I expected more/better from Edwards.

Hillary did very well last night. I saw nothing wrong with any of her answers last night. She held her place among her opponents and I was happy for her.

Obama, he was very rehearsed. I don't understand the hype surrounding this guy. He comes as smart, but not smart enough to fix the ills America faces right now. His tendency to talk "new politics" while enaging in old politics doesn't impress me.

For me, Biden was fresh last night. He was both charming and serious, and dare I say, presidential. Having the spotlight for a few minutes did him well. The "yes" moment was great. His answers were on the money. He was at ease and seemed to be having fun actually, while the others seemed too serious most of the time.

He took the most from last night's debate. We'll have to keep an out to see where it goes from here, and only time will tell if my statements about Biden are right.

What We REALLY Want To Hear From Candidates

In light of the manner in which serious matters were botched during Bush's time in office, we need a debate about competency. We want to hear that unqualified people will be immediately terminated and off the payroll. We want qualified people that can do a good job and provide valuable service to the American people. In short, we want to stop wasting tax-payer dollars paying large salaries to idiots who aren't worthy. Will any candidate come forward and demand that higher standards will be implemented and kept at all levels of Government?

Katrina, 9/11, The War in Iraq.

Billions of American dollars "missing" in Iraq.

Troops going without.

Afghanistan.

Bin laden still free.

Gas prices out of control.

Weak job market.

No health coverage.

Foley.

Hastert.

Cheney.

Rumsfeld.

Rice.

Bremer.

The above listed issues have resulted from the above listed individuals that were clearly NOT capable of their duties. Let's be clear. They do not deserve their titles or their paychecks. So why are they still on the payroll? Yes, Donald Rumsfeld is gone, but I think we all agree that he was there for far too long.

Part of being an American means having pride. But with these people making the news each day with another failure and another disaster makes my head spin.

Have our standards sunk so low that we no longer know the difference between a poor performance and a great one? Why are their so few brilliant people on our payroll? What ever happened to taking pride in one's position rather lying, spinning and blaming Bill Clinton?

I'd LOVE to see this debate happen. I'd LOVE to hear that someone else has noticed this revolting trend, and I'd LOVE if they promised to reverse it.

We are a country that loves to talk about our children. But are these the "heros" we want our kids to look up to? Lying incompetent unpatriotic people that got in because of who they knew, rather than because of what they could do.

I think we can do better than that.

An Open Letter To Senator Hillary Clinton

Dear Senator Clinton:

There are some of us out there who care about your positions beyond the war in Iraq. While I am personally tired of hearing about your vote to authorize the war and do not hold it against you, I am glad that you have properly addressed the matter. But let's be done with it. I know it isn't your fault that this question of your vote is repeatedly thrown at you. To me it is a non-issue, and your statement that you'd end the war in Iraq once elected is good enough for me.

So, this leaves us in a new place. A place where you can address other pressing matters regarding our country. And I am curious about how you'd take this country to a better place overall.

What would you do about the economy? About jobs, the quality of jobs and the quantity.

What about healthcare? How would remedy the crisis?

About our global image, it has been badly damaged thanks to Bush, what would you do to make things better?

About N.Korea, Iran and Iraq, what needs to be done? But this question ties into the war on terror, and therefore, what are your plans on dealing with nation-states we cannot trust to fight terror? Safe-havens are popping up again in Afghanistan, what is your remedy? And so we hear that Pakistan isn't exactly turning over terrorists, how do we deal with that?

Education, especially the costs of higher education, what else can we do to help more families see their kids go to college?

These are some of the things I'm curious about. It sure would be awesome if anyone out there gave you the opportunity to address these things rather than just go on about the past and the vote for the war in Iraq.