Briilant, Typical, Typically Brilliant

Pres. Obama's speech made two fundemental philosophical points, one polictical, one religious. As a democracy we can move forward by identifying those areas of agreement and working on them. Whatever we feel about abortion almos t all of us would welcome better prenatal support, better options where adoption is in the picture, and better support for single woman who are parents and for their children. Those goals are supported by the vast majority of voters. There is enough to do here to occupy most of or energy and passion. He did not fudge the fundemnetal differences that exist amongst us, but encouraged a respectful debate. It is certainly easier to grant respect and earn respect when you have worked hand in hand with those you have a fundemental disagreement with. Many of us beleive in God. As our president has said, none of us can credibly claim we know the will of God to a certainty. But all of us who beleive can and should struggle to - do right as we are given the light to see what is right. While all of us must recognize we see as we can, and none of us can see the mind of God. Humility about what his will is for each of us is the sign of true acknowleddgement that God is above and beyond our poor ability to know and to understand.

The Dinner

It must be the combination of the dead pan delivery and the self deprecating 1000 watt smile which comes about 3 beats after the comment which makes me laugh out loud, I feel as though I am shearing an inside joke with the President of the United States. It is as though he is saying with that swmile, just between us, I wasn't serious just now, I was kidding, I can't help but laugh cause what I said was funny. He is such a likable human being and that just comes straight thru the screen.

sometimes the small things signify

This morning Pres. Obama, VP Biden and Sen. Arlen Spector held a joint news conference. In welcoming Sen Spector to the Democratic Party. Pres. Obama mentioned the significance to Sen Spector of the Senator's father. How his father had been a force driving Sen Spector to serve and achieve in the public arena. As the three were leaving the podium, an open mike caught the Senator thanking the President for mentioning the Senator's father. It is that kind of human sensitivity, caring and insite into the emotional construct of collegues which will greatly help the President move his agenda forward. The public also sees this. His personal "likability" is significantly greater than agreement with his policies, all the polls show. How completely different than a Pres. and VP who seemed to know very little about what others thought or felt, and did not care either. Is this a difference between Republicans and Democrats? Well Reagan was the last likable Republican, and Pres Clinton was famous for his ability to empathize. Maybe as the Rebpulican party becomes more and more rigid, racially homogenized, and separated from the real world it will also know and care little for what anyone feels, or thinks. If you beleive gay marriage is the end of our country. If you beleive the idea of free markets is more important to people than jobs and homes, if you beleive our place in the world is to bully allies and use the military against those we disagree with, perhaps the only people who will join you also do not know or care what anyone else thinks or feels.

if anyone read my original April 24

post please just acknowledge that as a comment

They still don't get it

Rebpulican concept of bipartisanship. Do most of what we would do if we were in power. they still do not realize the country has seen that cronycapitalism and the gutting of federal and state government regulatory and service work by contracting out to for profit companies only benefits the companies and those republicans who got campaign contributions and bribes. The people got weaker corrput regulatory actiion and degraded service. Ask anyolne you know who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Sorry Republicans the concept that the "Market knows best and is best for all when unregulated committed suicide. The idea that government services can be delivberied better and more efficiently by private contractors has died of incompetance and corruption.

wrong question

The media seems focused on the question, did torture provide information which prevented terrorist attacks. The sophistcated media asks, could whatever useful information gleaned during torture have really been found somewhere else. The improtant question, unasked so far, is are we going to bypass over 200 years of legal jurisprudence which is continually evolving to balance individual rights and group protections. Are we going to allow namesless, faceless people to determine that individuals can be tourtured. That is the only valid question. I hope someone askes it?

McCain's top adviser sees Republicans as I do

John McCain's top adviser from the presidential campaign urged fellow Republicans on Friday to warm up to gay rights and warned that the GOP risks becoming the "religious party" with its opposition to same-sex marriage. Said on Fox News Today