Now I don't want to get off on a rant here...

I Love Puppies

The Steele Campaign, while still on average 5.6% points behind Representative Ben Cardin, is gaining momentum in its push to November and a Republican Senate seat victory. With the endorsement by the son of Kweisi Mfume, former NAACP president, this is a major step for any Republican candidate.

Lt. Governor Steele’s major push towards his election has to be coming from the dog loving community. His latest TV ad clearly shows his love for puppies and what red (or blue) blooded American wouldn’t vote for a man who loves puppies?!

Now his opponent has Hillary Clinton campaigning for him, but perhaps he hasn’t spoken to Alan Lichtman (failed Democratic Senate candidate). While Lichtman did not have direct permission of Senator Clinton to post his billboard the caption, “2 Winners Lichtman 2006 – Clinton 2008”, doesn’t instill much confidence in victory.

Steele’s campaign sent out an email recently with these statements, “As you know, I am committed to changing the business-as-usual attitude in Washington, D.C...Hillary Clinton presents a stark contrast to the change-oriented vision of my campaign.” The change I hope he is advocating for is against the stalemates that exist that slow the process of change down. Either way I’ll take puppies & Steele over Clinton & Cardin any day.

Former ESPN “Journalist” Pontificates

10:31 of left-wing propaganda based on one inaccuracy after another and this passes for journalism on MSNBC. It would be humorous if it wasn’t so sad and people were actually influenced by and agreed with Keith Olbermann. Little Green Footballs has linked to the video of “Olbermann's Latest Crazy Rant” and of course the transcript is available as well.

I channeled surfed a bit last night catching the opening of Olbermann’s ‘Countdown’, which is usually about all I can stomach of his show. So it certainly isn’t surprising to see this come out of his very special comment. After I switched him off I came to Glenn Beck who was running through his “what I know and what I don’t know” segment. He said (paraphrasing), “What I know is that we should ignore the D or the R behind someone’s name this November and vote not for a party, but for an American. We should find out what we can about the candidates running and vote whether or not they will help America or not.”

On the surface of this statement I would completely agree and if only our political process took place in a vacuum this would be a grand idea. Being an idealist myself I can certainly sympathize with his sentiments as in every election, all things being equal, we should vote for the candidate that most reflects our views and would do the greatest good for our country. The only problem with that is currently our political climate is so polarized and the directions that each party wants to go are so divergent.

If Olbermann represents and buddies up to the King of Democrats like Clinton and shows his blatant disregard for even the smallest of facts to which set him off on this mistaken rant, then there is a pretty clear choice and division between the two parties. Some say that Fox is just as blatant for its right wing propaganda, but how does that explain the opening of the Grapevine last night where Fox reported that the very same “monkey posing as a newscaster” (Olbermann’s words) interviewed Secretary Rumsfeld challenging him with a very similar question of the government’s failures to adequately deal with Osama bin Laden?

So yes I would encourage all voters to be educated on the issues before our country and the stances of those running for political office this November. But don’t be fooled into thinking that all ideas are equally meritorious of our attention and don’t ignore the overall trend of a political party. Olbermann calls President Bush a coward and then asks in his conclusion if he is a true American; a possible conclusion if the facts were correct and merited equal attention to the mound of evidence to the contrary. Unfortunately for MSNBC, the Clinton’s and the DNC – a litany of complaints does not make for a policy nor does it move the country in a direction of peace.

True American? True Cowardice? The arbiter of truth will decide and history will reflect His decision.

Primary Election Today

Today is a primary election day in Maryland. Call me idealistic if you want, but I always feel a great sense of pride for my country when I vote. Whether it is a general election for President or a primary election for local government – it is important to play our role in the direction and the future of this country.

What if it never happened?

What would the world be like if September 11th, 2001 never happened? How would America look today? How would our political landscape be different? We know that the physical skyline of New York would feel less empty. We know that 3,000 people would have lived more life and impacted this world in incalculable ways. What issues would have shaped President Bush’s 1st term and would he have had a second? How would the changes in your life, in your heart, in your view of the world be reversed from their present course?

The sad fact of the matter is that we don’t have the luxury of erasing that day. We can’t bring back loved ones; we can’t change the course of history that we have been set upon. And we can’t lay the blame for the horrific acts of terrorism that occurred that morning at the feet of anyone except those who planed, carried out and financed the attack on our soil. They are our enemy and others with the same ideology of hate and death.

The President reminded us of this ideology as he spoke last night, “Since the horror of 9/11, we've learned a great deal about the enemy. We have learned that they are evil and kill without mercy -- but not without purpose…The war against this enemy is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century, and the calling of our generation.” The question for the American people is whether or not we will answer that call. Are we willing to see, “liberty triumph with sacrifice and determination”?

Our government, our President, our policies, our war on terror, our battlefront in Iraq is not what creates terrorists or terrorism. We are shining the light into the darkness of that world. “[O]n a bright September morning, it became clear that the calm we saw in the Middle East was only a mirage. Years of pursuing stability to promote peace had left us with neither. So we changed our policies, and committed America's influence in the world to advancing freedom and democracy as the great alternatives to repression and radicalism.” Our victories there not only create a future for those in that region, but also secure a peace for our own society’s advancement.

Criticizing the administration for their execution of the war on terror is one thing. Believing that Iraq is not a central front or that the President mislead the country into a war is to ignore the very words, actions and history of “a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent.” A call to set aside differences and unite in purpose is not an attempt to suppress democracy in the US nor is it a subversive attempt at totalitarianism at home. It is a plea to answer the calling of our generation and a reminder of what we continue to fight for and hold dear.

President Bush concluded his speech last night with these comments, “The attacks were meant to bring us to our knees, and they did, but not in the way the terrorists intended. Americans united in prayer, came to the aid of neighbors in need, and resolved that our enemies would not have the last word. The spirit of our people is the source of America's strength. And we go forward with trust in that spirit, confidence in our purpose, and faith in a loving God who made us to be free.”

So what if it never happened? What if we never had the opportunity to show the world what it means to be united in purpose? What if we never had the opportunity to extend the boundaries of the free democratic world to the Middle East? What if we never stood up and fought against evil in the world? What if we never got down on our knees and prayed for peace in the face of hatred? What if?