The Democratic Convention, A Week of Hope

I can't help it. I'm hopeful. It started with McCain's failure to remember how many houses he had. It grew with the appointment of Joe Biden for Vice President. And it is reaching a crescendo with the Democratic Convention this week.

Why can't everyone see what I see? The hypocrisy of the Republicans, the distortion, the smears. The attempts at diversion and failure to talk about the issues as opposed to Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton. The Democrats are real people, not images to fool the public every four years.

Still, I hope this time will be different. The people will throw off the yoke of Republican rule and a government run for the rich and other campaign contributors. The youth will rise up as one to vote in a charismatic, intelligent candidate whose motto for everyone is "Yes, we can."

It could really happen. I hope it does.

Rick Warren forum

Well, I must admit a small amount of gratification about the coming "debate" between Barack Obama and Rick Warren at Saddleback Church. As an evangelical Christian myself, and a committed Democrat, I see the Democratic Party fulfilling Jesus's model much better than the Republicans.

My Pastor frequently notes that Jesus mentioned poverty in the New Testament far more than heaven and hell. The problem with compassionate conservatism is that you have to say it in the first place. We all know liberals are compassionate, and I've been shocked at some of the callous statements and positions widely adopted by Republicans.

For example, if I were a minority, especially a Hispanic, I would flee the Republican Party post haste. They are reverting to the most prejudiced, nativist arguments in their zealous drive to deport illegal aliens, even if it means splitting up families.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the debate and am curious about the questions to be posed. For a long time, I've said the Christian religion is about more than just two issues. God bless you, Rick Warren, for recognizing that.

Opening Ceremony at Beijing Olympics

Since the political scene is quiet for the moment, and the Obama-McCain race has momentarily faded into the backgroud, here's some thoughts about the Olympics instead.

First of all, the opening ceremony last night was astounding. As a fireworks afficionado in the first place, I was stunned by the pyrotechnics display at the Olympics ceremony. And the videoscreen running around the top of the stadium was breathtaking. That's better than a widescreen plasma TV for sure!

I'm looking forward to taking a break from politics myself and rooting for the likes of Dara Torres and Shawn Johnson. Sports and politics have a lot of similiarities when you think about it. There's a clearcut winner and loser, and close only counts in horseshoes.

Perhaps, the bitterness and name calling in the Presidential race will subside now that noone is listening to it, at least for the next two weeks anyway.

Sick and tired of Republican tactics

I'm sick and tired of Republican tactics. They trot them out every four years, and just enough people are influenced that it works.

Don't they have any honor? Will they do anything to win an election? Apparently so. I just hope people catch on to them, and it produces a great big backlash.

Whether it's Willie Horton or windsurfing or Dukakis in a helmet...is this the way we really want to choose a President?

I'm sick to the stomach about these negative advertisements and am afraid, quite afraid, they might work.

Are we really going to choose a President by the person who has the most effective commercials? Will we miss out on the brave new frontier of an Obama administration and choose the tired, pay-back-the-rich and campaign contributors of another Republican administration?

I thought John McCain might be better than this. That he experienced the knife-in-the-back tactics of the Bush team in 2000 and would run a better campaign. But there he is feigning innocence and calling out OBAMA for playing the race card.

I remember a friend of mine who relayed quite a good joke. What would I be if I weren't a Democrat? The answer: Ashamed.