The Best President that Money Can Buy

Before we get too caught up in sentiment over Barack Obama being elected President of the United States, we need to keep two considerations in mind:

Point 1: Our President-elect won this campaign by promising a whole lot of goodies to a whole lot of people, and they will be demanding immediate returns from him. Will he live up to the unbelievably high expectations? I suspect that we will have some inkling of his priorities even before he is inaugurated. What will the Warriors against Wealth do when Senator Obama declares that he will have to delay his tax increases because of the faltering economy? What if he doesn’t bring the troops home from Iraq within his first year in office? How will the virulent anti-war left react then?

Many of the political pundits were declaring this morning that President Obama might keep Robert Gates as the Secretary of Defense. While that would be a smart move on his part, how would he reconcile that Bush hold-over with his base? I thought that Obama’s presidential campaign was entirely based on his opposition to the Iraq war and the policies of the Bush administration. Secretary Gates has turned that war around much to the chagrin of liberals, and he presided over the surge in 2007. Barack Obama opposed the surge at every opportunity, and he still has not even acknowledged the success of the surge. His supporters want change, and if this President-Elect chooses to retain Bob Gates at the Pentagon, he will anger and alienate his base.

Obama has talked at length about bipartisanship and how he will have both Democrats and Republicans in his cabinet, but the liberals that he represents have been deprived of power for far too long in their estimation, and they are thirsting for blood. I would also surmise that Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barney Frank are not interested at this point in working to build coalitions with Republicans. They have the keys to the cars now, and they are going to pummel their opponents with every legislative advantage that they now possess. And yes, these guys will do whatever they can to ensure that they stay in power. These are not the hapless Democrats of 1993, these are cutthroat, relentless, power-hungry politicians, and they will not be caught off-guard with another "Contract with America" Republican revolt.

Our President-Elect is a cutthroat politician himself, despite his lofty rhetoric, and I am profoundly concerned as to what he intends to do about freedom of the airwaves and stifling his opposition. But what is truly remarkable about his election is that for the first time in his adult life, Barack Obama will have to actually achieve results. He will have to make decisions as President; you can’t just vote "present" when you’re in the Oval Office. He is a blank slate, which renders him enormously popular thus far, but let’s see what happens when he actually signs legislation or sends our troops into Pakistan. One rule of politics still holds clear—the more that the voters learn about a candidate, the higher their negatives go. The Mainstream Media worked furiously to keep the American people uninformed about the true beliefs of Barack Obama, but once he starts amassing a record as President, I am sure that many Americans will be shaking their heads in disbelief at how this man could have been elected.

Point 2—In reneging on his promise to accept public financing for his campaign, Barack Obama has single-handedly destroyed the campaign-finance reform system for eternity. While the reforms are justifiably criticized for suppressing First Amendment freedoms, the legislators had laudable intentions in seeking to cleanse the system of big-money special interests. Well, Senator Obama had some big money in his steamroller campaign--$600 million! And don’t tell me that the majority of his donations were less than $200 each—as he has refused to release his list of donors, I am highly suspicious of the true identity of his contributors. It is still amazing what this man has been able to get away with! When the next presidential campaign heats up in a couple of years, no self-respecting Republican or Democrat will commit political suicide by agreeing to limit himself or herself to those measly funds.

It is a profound understatement to say that the Obama campaign has set a new standard for fundraising. I have heard all morning how the President-elect has shown honor, grace, and judgment in his race to the White House, when in fact he simply overwhelmed John McCain with a financial tsunami. Does anyone else find it disturbing that while most Americans are experiencing great hardship in this economic downturn, Barack Obama is breaking fundraising records at an exponential rate? At least John McCain played by the rules. But now, thanks to Obama—there are no rules! Candidates will focus only on getting as much money as they can now in any way possible. I believe I share the opinion of many Americans when I express my disgust at the obscene amounts of money it takes to run for office in this country, and Obama has made the problem much, much worse. His legacy will be that he was the best President money can buy.

But as someone who has idolized Martin Luther King, Jr., throughout my life, I am touched by the historical significance of Obama’s election, and it is a good thing that we will look beyond the color of one’s skin in choosing our leaders. I also know that when I see Barack Obama’s precious daughters, my heart just melts. This man is "Daddy" to these little girls, and that wins points with me.

I know there will be a lot of finger-pointing with the Republicans now, but I am warning them all that it would be a grave error for Sarah Palin to be blamed for McCain’s downfall. The economic disaster in September most likely sealed McCain’s fate, but it was McCain’s erratic and inconsistent response to the disaster that turned American voters irrevocably toward Obama. Sarah Palin was the only bright spot for John McCain’s campaign, and he was fortunate to do as well as he did in the battleground swing states. Now we are hearing about the behind-the–scenes hostilities from the McCain staff toward Sarah Palin. These staffers need to be flushed from the Republican Party immediately—they are the cancer on the GOP, not Sarah Palin.

The 2008 presidential election has been thoroughly exciting and exhausting, and I love this nation with all of my heart. I cherish our democratic process, and most of all, our peaceful transition of power. I listened to President Bush’s statement this morning regarding Obama’s election, and I continue to be amazed at what a class act and a gentleman this man is. I am convinced that history will judge him differently than the press corps, and I for one appreciate him keeping us safe here at home for over 7 years.

God bless you, President Bush and Laura, you have served your country well. My prayers are with you as well, President-elect Barack Obama. John McCain, thank you for your ultimate sacrifice for all of us Americans, and Sarah Palin, I will be in fervent prayer for you as you contemplate leading our party in 2012.

And God bless the United States of America…

Just 5 days

For the past 48 hours, I have had the distinct feeling that John McCain is going to win this election next Tuesday. Some might dismiss my beliefs as just wishful thinking on my part, but I would counter that my fervent prayers are being answered. My choice for President has nothing to do with race; Barack Obama is a dishonest, phony, Marxist political opportunist who doesn’t deserve to lead this blessed United States of America. And finally, Americans are understanding that we cannot risk the security of our nation on this empty suit. Watch the polls tighten even further over the weekend, and some of them may have McCain in the lead by Tuesday. Reality is settling in for voters now—just in the nick of time! I love this quote by, of all people, Marion Barry, who said this about Jesse Jackson: "He’s never run anything but his mouth." Works just as well with Barack Obama…

And about that infomercial last night—it looks like Obama is acting awfully presumptuous again. I was immediately reminded of his speech in Berlin over the summer, when John McCain hammered him successfully over his status as THE celebrity of the world. Obama just has this "cocky" air about him, and it is deeply unnerving to me. At the end of his tribute to himself last night, Obama told his multitude of thousands that his election would change the country and "change the world". Change the world? Who does this guy think he is? He is not the Messiah, and contrary to what some are positing, he is not the AntiChrist. But, most importantly, Barack Obama isn’t who he says he is either. He is a two-bit politician through and through—and he promised that he would be different! What a shyster…

We need to continue to pray concertedly for our nation in peril, as I firmly believe that America would be endangered if Obama is elected. Neither Obama nor Biden have a clue about the concerns of "real America"—first Joe Biden says that not wanting to pay taxes is unpatriotic, and today Obama says that those who are opposed to his tax hikes are "selfish". Keep it up, fellows, and McCain will win by a landslide! This election is literally a call-to-arms for all of those who support our country and seek God’s favor in all that we do. We Christians know that God is in control, and we pray because we believe that God changes things. If your country ever needed you before, she surely needs you now. This will be the most important election of our lifetime, and I will crawl through broken glass to vote for John McCain—I will bear no responsibility whatsoever for the election of a socialist Senator to the highest office of the land.

Where will you be on Election Day?

Joe The Plumber & The Final Debate

Well, Wednesday night’s presidential debate was a whole lot better than the previous two. This may be premature, but it looks like McCain may have found Obama’s kryptonite. God bless Joe the Plumber! How, after all of these months of campaigning, could Obama have slipped up like this? Wow, it looks like Christmas came early for John McCain… This is fantastic!

If you haven’t heard about the exchange between Barack Obama and Joe Wurzelbacher, also known as Joe the Plumber, last Sunday, here’s what happened: Obama was campaigning in Toledo, Ohio, and as he was shaking hands throughout a neighborhood, Joe approached the Senator with questions about his tax proposals. Joe told him that he wanted to buy the small plumbing business where he worked, and he added that this company will make over $250,000.00. He then asked Obama pointedly if he was going to pay more taxes if he is elected, and Obama responded yes.

Joe tried to explain to the Senator that he was a hard worker, pulling in 10 to 12 hours a day, and that he wants his share of the American Dream too. He will continue his work ethic if he does buy the business, Joe said, but it’s not fair for him to be taxed and taxed again for his success.

And Obama responded with this, "It’s not that I want to punish your success. I want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance for success too."

He continued: "My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody."

WHOOPS!

So now we know. We have presumed that Obama has leftist and Marxist leanings all along, but we didn’t think he would in effect put his income redistribution plans on a bumper sticker. There is no way that the Illinois Senator can deny his ultimate agenda now—stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Senator Obama, this ain’t the Sherwood Forest, and you ain’t Robin Hood. Your band of Merry Men can’t help you now—William Ayers, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Franklin Raines, and Tony Rezko are all gone. These "friends" of yours were important to you as you began your political ascendency in Chicago, but once these individuals became a liability to you in your presidential campaign, they were unceremoniously thrown under your campaign bus.

This Joe the Plumber development has stunned the Obama camp. When John McCain confronted Obama about Joe and the tax increases, Barack stumbled around, asserting that Joe the Plumber should have been given a tax cut 5 years ago. What is he insinuating? That because Joe wasn’t entitled to a tax cut in 2003, he deserves a tax increase now?

Now the mainstream media are digging for any information to discredit Joe the Plumber. So we are hearing now that Joe doesn’t even have a plumber’s license and that the business that he is planning to buy is not projected to earn a yearly profit of $250,000.00. The Obama Koolaid brigade, i.e. the mainstream media, just don’t get it. Joe the Plumber could have lied about everything he told Senator Obama; Joe is not the issue. The troubling aspect of the exchange between Obama and Joe the Plumber is Obama’s response that he wants to spread the wealth. Spreading the wealth is the issue! That’s what we are worried about—Obama’s plans to punish our economic progress. It is socialism, and after the shameless Washington bailout fiasco, we Americans have had about as much socialism as we can take. No way, No how, Nobama.

And Senator Obama, we need to get something else straight here, You speak of spreading THE wealth, when in fact you want to spread MY wealth, my neighbor’s wealth, and the wealth of any other American who is "unfairly" succeeding under your criteria of social justice. It’s not THE wealth, it’s OUR wealth, and we are passionately patriotic, despite what your running-mate believes. We just reject the notion that our hard-earned money should be further confiscated so that you can play Santa Claus to your constituents.

It’s worth reiterating—No way, No how, Nobama.

Clayton Thomas Ek!

Isn't this the best picture of Clayton & his T?! Classic... Clayton is the son of Jeff (my cousin) and Heather Ek. He will be 1 on November 28th!











Me and my precious Clayton--isn't he the cutest? Just like the other Ek boys--he has me wrapped around his little finger...



















Clayton and his Papa

McCain?!

Watching this election coverage is more depressing every day. I read one poll asking Americans who they trusted more with the economy, and Obama is leading McCain in that category by 15%. What in the world is happening to the American people? Do you feel like you are in some kind of alternate universe where down is up and left is right? Did someone drag me kicking and screaming through the looking glass while I was asleep?

I cannot understand how Obama is suddenly so credible with our economy—he has done nothing to inspire confidence in him over the past month. Granted, John McCain hasn’t acted presidential either, but I don’t know why Obama has such an advantage now. I am growing more skeptical of these polls at this point. The pollsters use differing samples in their surveys, and I have no doubt that these "representative" portions of the population can be manipulated to produce a desired result. Especially when the entire mainstream media are determined that Obama will win. The lopsided polls showing Obama leading by double digits have a psychological effect on voters in demonstrating the inevitability of an Obama presidency—and they are terrific marketing tools as well. Undecided voters may look at those polls and figure that they don’t want to be on the losing end of a Democratic landslide, and McCain supporters might decide it’s over anyway and forgo voting altogether.

In a little over 3 weeks, we will be facing a monumental choice. I am praying for a McCain victory, but if he does lose, I believe that he has no one to blame but himself. For the life of me, I will never understand why he would not attack Senator Obama’s relationship with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. That association is much more troubling than his ties with William Ayers, and his 20-year involvement in that church should be repugnant and inexplicable to every American.

McCain’s conduct during the bailout was exasperating and downright baffling. The Obama campaign was right, he was erratic. He should have stayed in Washington and skipped the debate like he pledged—now it smells like a cheap stunt. He should never have voted for the final bill either, especially with all of that pork piled on at the end. All throughout his campaign, he has vowed to veto earmarks—but he voted for this turkey? He would be in a much better position now politically if he had stuck to his maverick credentials and voted against the "rescue".

McCain’s backtracking at a campaign town hall event last week was thoroughly disheartening. When some questioners were begging him to fight and sharing their fears about Obama winning, he shook his head and mumbled something about us having nothing to be scared about if Obama is elected. Do what? We’re not supposed to fear this empty suit in the White House? Well, if that’s what he really thinks, let’s just end this right here. Evidently, McCain is starting to worry that the New York Times Editorial Board won’t be nice to him anymore if he continues to tell the truth about Obama. The New York and Washington D.C.-liberal elite "journalists" are writing columns decrying these hateful tactics of the "new" John McCain, and if only he would revert to the honorable man that they adored and emulated, all will be right with the world again.

Guess what, John? The mainstream media elitists are not rooting for you anymore. They never really loved you to begin with; they tolerated you in your efforts against George W. Bush, whom they passionately despised. But they have a new America’s sweetheart now, and they will stop at nothing to ensure the Messiah’s coronation. So when these pundits flatter you and advise you how to run your campaign, here’s a news flash: They want you to lose!

I hope that McCain will realize this sometime in the next 24 hours. If he doesn’t understand what is at stake in this election, if he chooses his honor over his country, then God help us all. We need a fighter in our President to tackle the evils in the world, and whatever faults the current President Bush may have had, we could count on him standing up in defense of our beloved country. Of course, we should be very frightened at the prospect of an Obama presidency, and this reaction has nothing to do with his race or his personal standing. His tax increases will devastate any chances for a rebound of our economy, his foreign policy naïvete will jeopardize our security as a superpower, his health care plan will penalize many Americans and small businesses for not participating—I could go on for days…But if John McCain does not have the stomach for this tough truth-telling, then we should have nominated someone who does.

Rush was right, my husband was right, my in-laws were right, Ann Coulter was right—conservatives just can’t trust McCain. I wish he would shut up about how proud he is for reaching across the aisle and working with the other side; that’s the last thing we want to hear. He even bragged at the last debate about working with Teddy Kennedy. Who is going to be impressed by that? Anyone outside of the far left? And as for him suggesting that Warren Buffett would be a good Treasury Secretary—has John forgotten whose side he is on?

I am so aggravated with the election turning in Obama’s direction, but McCain may still pull this one out. Don’t ask me how. Stephen Colbert says that McCain has a secret weapon--magic. The Senator has been counted out before, so I remain hopeful. He has had so many opportunities in this campaign to take the Messiah down for good, and I don’t know if he has any more chances now. That’s what is so discouraging—Obama is defeatable, but it seems like McCain isn’t able to do the defeating.

A crucial time for our nation

With both McCain’s polling numbers and the Dow Jones in a freefall with no bottom in sight, it is distressing for me to even watch the news anymore. For any of you Americans who do not vote, this is your wake-up call. This is a crucial time for our nation; our freedom, our security, and our way of life are all in jeopardy. You do not have the luxury of being indifferent at this point. Our fellow citizens are on the verge of electing a man who will do nothing less than destroy America as we know it, and we need to take action now. Here is the plan that we should follow: first, we need to be in fervent prayer--for our country, our leaders, the voters, Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain, and the members of the media who are telling the truth. We need to seek God’s favor for our country and beg Him not to turn his back on America. Please God, we true Americans are still your children, and those who would forsake you should not be rewarded. We know that America is a blessed nation because of our devotion to you, but we also know that we are subject to your judgment and your wrath. It is time for us to stand up and take our country back. America did not rise to its greatness on the basis of people like Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Christopher Dodd, and Harry Reid. The United States owes its ascendency to the blood, sweat, and tears of middle America; we will ensure that no matter what battles we fight or trials we face, America will triumph evermore.

Now politically, it isn’t hard to see what McCain needs to do. Don’t stop the attacks on Obama—HAMMER HIM WITH REVEREND WRIGHT, WILLIAM AYERS, THE BITTER COMMENTS, MICHELLE’S STATEMENTS ABOUT AMERICA, EVERYTHING! This is it, John, this is what you have got to do. This man has ties to dangerous radicals, and he only has problems with what they say when it becomes politically necessary to denounce these people. But McCain has got to show some credibility with the economy. He needs to hold a press conference immediately to announce that Mitt Romney will serve as Treasury Secretary in his Administration. Private business expertise = instant credibility with the crisis. It’s as simple as that. Vowing to throw the crooked Wall Street executives in jail would be a smart move as well.

I have been thinking all day how much better it would have been for Republicans if Mitt Romney were the nominee. I didn’t think too favorably of Mitt through the primaries, but he would be mopping the floor with Obama now. But if Romney were the nominee, we probably wouldn’t have Sarah Palin now, and she is the best thing to happen to American politics in my lifetime. She is one big reason why there might be something positive if McCain loses—Palin for President 2012!!

Read this article from the American Thinker site: What if Obama really doesn’t have America’s best interests at heart? What will we do then? What if is too late?

Please, God, bless the USA.

Sarah Palin!

No one was happier than I was about Governor Palin’s performance at the Vice-Presidential debate last week. Wow… This woman has some skills. And I absolutely love her! From the moment she stepped out on the stage in St. Louis, she demonstrated the cool confidence of a leader who knows her mandate. She is there for us—for those of us who pay our bills, go to church, raise our children, and love our country. We are the real Americans. We are the ones who would not hesitate to stand up and walk out of a church if a pastor uttered these hateful words, "No, not God bless America, God d---America". No, Senator Obama does not see America as we do, and his circle of friends shows exactly where his sentiments are. His own wife told us that after her husband started winning in the Democratic primaries, this was the first time in her adult life that she has been proud of her country. Oh really? And these people want to lead this proud and honorable nation? No way, no how, Nobama.

I am thrilled that Sarah is finally taking off the gloves and exposing the "real" Obama to the American people. I do believe that she is a rising political star, and if John McCain does lose on Election Day, I will take solace in the fact that Sarah Palin will automatically be the Republican frontrunner for 2012. The liberal media elite despise her, as she represents the antithesis of what they have espoused for over 40 years, and their mean-spirited, personal attacks on her are downright pathetic. It’s okay, you go ahead and slam her all over the New York Times—your attacks will only make her stronger. She has an inner strength and an abiding faith that will help her weather these storms; her God will see her through.

Did you see her getting heckled at a rally today? She kept getting rudely interrupted by some protester, and at one point, she turned around and confronted him directly, telling him that her son was over in Iraq fighting for his right to protest her. What a woman! She is destined for power. This lady has the guts, the instincts, and the smarts to govern our country; she has shown more leadership in this campaign than any of the other men running for national office. And we don’t elect a President based on his or her Trivial Pursuit scores. We want a President who believes that America is sacred and will act, first and foremost, in the best interests of the American people. She also understands that America is a blessed nation, and that we have been blessed by the Lord because of our Christian heritage. That is why we need to pray fervently for Sarah Palin. Let the joy of the Lord be her strength (Nehemiah 8:10)! God bless you, Sarah Palin--you go, girl!

Braves game, Part 2

Here are some more pictures from our family at the Braves game--and I have me & my wonderful husband first. His shirt says "Brutally Handsome", and mine says "Terminally Pretty", but nobody got it--it's from "Life in the Fast Lane"...





This is Heather & Jeffrey & a little bit of Clayton

Shyann and me--she is too cute








David, Janet, Sandy, & the back of Brittany's head

Chris, Lindsey, & the back of Brittany's head again!

This is Clayton--isn't he precious?!




My Don, Erica, Michael, Matt, & David, Janet, & Sandy sitting below them...

Our family at the Braves game

This is my favorite picture--Clayton's first Atlanta Braves game! He was chopping along with all of us...

My wonderful husband and me!

I know this is belated, but I didn’t have my blog on the weekend of August 16, so I am only posting this now. Just about everyone on my Mom’s side of the family who usually show up were there, but Johnny, Debbie, Kellye, Scott, and everybody else—we sure did miss you! It has been a tough year for all of us without Nanny, but most of us have made a concerted effort to be together any chance we get. Mom, my husband Don, and I drove to the game together, and luckily it wasn’t too hot. My aunt Sandy came with her boys and Erica, and you can always count on a good time with Sandy… It was so much fun to hang out with Matt and Michael, and Erica is the coolest! My aunt Janet and uncle David came too, and I have a ball with them—you never know what they’re going to do next…My niece Brittany was there too, and she is just growing up too fast! My cousin Jeffrey came with his wife Heather, their absolutely adorable son Clayton, and Heather’s precious sister Shyann. My cousin Chris came with his fiancee Lindsey—they are getting married in December of 2009.

I never knew how much fun it was to go to a game with a group of people—all the dancing, singing, and laughing at everybody else! And the Braves actually won—big time! They are just terrible this year, but they played terrific while we were there…

All in all, we had a great time. We are kind of a small family, and we may not have a lot, but we have each other, and we stick together!

Popular music today

I did turn 40 this year, and though I feel pretty good and look okay, I must now face the fact that I am just not as cool as I used to be. My precious 15-year-old niece Brittany (pictured here with our cousin Chris) has shown me in no uncertain terms that I am completely out of touch. I will readily admit that I cannot stand the popular music today. I don’t know why, but listening to the radio stations that play the "hits" gives me a terrible headache. Rap "music" (and I use the term "music" very lightly) is horrible, and at least the music I listened to growing up had melody and engaging lyrics. Or is that what all old people say? I just cannot equate The Gap Band with Ludacris.

I thought that I liked the new country music for a while, but all of the songs have the same themes, over and over again—a misspent youth, high school days, old rock & roll records (see Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts). What happened to the songs about Mama, prison, getting drunk, and trains? What happened to feel-good songs like "I Like It, I Love It" and "A Country Boy Can Survive"?

I am firmly convinced that all of the best music has already been made. I love ‘70s music most of all, especially the Eagles. I was born in 1968, so I grew up with the ‘70s music providing the soundtrack to my life. My Mom had a membership with the Columbia House record club back then, and we used to listen to our albums and our 8-track tapes for hours. Bread, The Carpenters, Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods, Helen Reddy, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Neil Sedaka, Andy Gibb, The Bee Gees—I could fill up a book with all of these phenomenal artists! The ‘70s also represent an innocent time for me, as this was before I started worrying about boyfriends and other grown-up things. For our culture as a whole, the ‘70s spawned an orgy of "free love" in conjunction with the Sexual Revolution. But oh how that changed when the ‘70s were over, when America was confronted with one of its greatest crises as the AIDS epidemic began.

I do love Southern-fried rock, classic rock, and classic country. ‘80s music is great too, but it’s pretty pathetic that the best new music on the pop scene today are those delightful tunes we hear in the freecreditreport.com commercials…

An opportunity with the bailout

Something wonderful just occurred to me about this so-called bailout. From what I can tell, if this bill passes, our government will be using "taxpayers'" money, i.e., our money, to buy all of these foreclosed properties to prevent the lenders from losing money on these deals. Well, if they are using my money to buy real estate, then I should have an ownership interest in at least some of these houses. Surely, these bad assets would include at least a few time-share condos or luxurious beach-front homes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and if I am writing the check for one of those abodes, then I should be entitled to inhabit there as well. So, I am going to head down there as soon as I can for an all-expenses-paid, oceanfront vacation. I will make myself right at home, and if anyone has a problem with that--well, you know, possession is 9/10ths of the law!

I knew there was a silver lining in this somewhere...

Tribute to Joe Scarborough

For all of you who are sick of the network TV morning follies, let me recommend one of the best shows on television: "Morning Joe" on MSNBC. It airs on weekdays from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m., and if you want a serious yet very entertaining look at politics and popular culture, this is your program. Joe Scarborough is the host, Mika Brzezinski is his co-host, and Willie Geist adds his special flair to the mix.

Joe was first elected to Congress in 1994 with the Republican takeover, and he served his district there through 2001. Since he left Washington, he has used his experience there to establish himself as a premier television analyst of the American political landscape. "Scarborough Country" was his first show on MSNBC, and it aired at 9 p.m. on weekday evenings. This program ran from April 2003 until June of 2007, when "Morning Joe" took hold of the slot formerly held by the notorious Don Imus. I was incensed when Imus was unjustly stripped of his morning show and his reputation by a bunch of hypocrites, but I am addicted to "Morning Joe" now. It’s gotten really bad—I even dread weekends now because I am bored silly with other shows!

Joe hails from the "Redneck Riviera" in the Pensacola Beach corner of Florida, and he has more common sense, patriotism, and heart than all of the politicians combined in Washington. Joe plays no favorites—he criticizes everyone! Republicans, Democrats, liberals, conservatives—when they fail to do their jobs or they betray the public trust, Joe will nail them.

There are no idiotic "stories" on where in the world is Joe Scarborough, no buffoon weatherman laughing uncontrollably and masquerading as a journalist, and no "fluff" segments on a cat who can predict the future. Just politics at its coolest. They have outstanding guests every single day, including Pat Buchanan, Mike Barnacle, David Gregory, Hillary Clinton, Tucker Carlson, and Harold Ford Jr., and although it would not be categorized as a hard-hitting show, the interviews are straightforward, probing, and fair. And with all of the criticism that MSNBC has received in recent months for its liberal slant and bias toward Obama, they had better do everything they can to keep Joe happy. As I have stated previously, if it weren’t for Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan, I would watch Fox News exclusively.

As much as I love watching "Morning Joe", I believe that America would be a lot better off if Joe were still in Congress or in an even higher position. With the utter lack of courage and leadership in Washington today, Joe would bring all of us together—because he is a uniter, not a divider. I know that his family obligations forced his retirement from Congress, and I understand. So for now, I will be content to enjoy every minute with him on morning television. God bless you, Joe, and Mika and Willie too!

Political points

About the debate Friday night, doesn't it seem like Obama is much more interested in talking about policy than actually governing? From what I can tell, every position he has ever held has merely been a stepping stone for him to something loftier. He has no major accomplishments to speak of, except his 2 memoirs, which has me greatly concerned about what he would pursue if he is elected.

And are you angry enough about the $700B bailout? Well, guess what else your elected officials did this weekend--Congress gives billions to auto industry!

This is way beyond outrageous! Again, every incumbent who is up for re-election and sits in Washington now should be thrown out of office this November... We should never forget how they have betrayed us! When you're in the voting booth a little over a month from now and you're unsure of what to do, just remember--anybody but the incumbent!

Dogs rule!

I am a hopeless yet unashamed pupaholic, and I will be posting lots of pictures of my babies on this site. We have 6 bona fide mutts, and they are absolutely our world. 3 boys and 3 girls--just like the Brady Bunch! They are Oreo, Snoopy, Capone, Roxie, Cici, and Sweetie--and they are spoiled rotten. The regal one in the bottom picture is Roxie, and she rules the roost. She loves screaming at her brothers and sisters and hogging all of the food to herself. But she's too cute to fuss at. The precious one in the top picture is my Baby Oreo; we have a special bond. The beautiful one in the middle picture is Sweetie, and it is unbelievable how truly sweet and loving she is. And yes, she loves to climb on my lap and lick my face!

My dogs are the lickingest puppies that we all have ever seen! I wish someone would tell us why... Can you believe that they all came from the same Mom? Their Mom, Princess, was the coolest I have ever known, and I loved her so much... But she was killed by a UPS driver on Halloween in 2006, and that was the worst day of my life. I still cannot even look at any pictures of her--losing her absolutely broke my heart. I am so thankful that we kept every one of her puppies--they were 1 1/2 years old when she died. Although nothing will ever take the terrible pain I feel every day about losing Princess, I am making sure her babies are safe, protected, and adored. I know she would appreciate that. And I believe in The Rainbow Bridge--I know I will see her again!

Why can't Keith Olbermann go back to ESPN??

I used to really enjoy Keith Olbermann when he was on Sportscenter. He was wickedly funny—for a home run, he would comment, "It’s deep and I don’t think it’s playable". And when describing a baseball play, he would explain: "That’s an E-6 for those of you scoring at home, or even if you’re by yourself…" He and Dan Patrick made a super team when they anchored, as they provided sharp, fair analysis with intelligence and two superb senses of humor.

But something has happened to Keith Olbermann. His Countdown show on MSNBC is undoubtedly the most vicious, partisan, ultra-liberal, extreme left program on television, and while I enjoyed his comedy on the show at first, he has deteriorated into a blustering, mean-spirited ideologue with no capacity for tolerance for other views. I am no supporter of the current President Bush, but Keith’s "Special Comments" are beyond the bounds of proper political discourse. Telling the leader of the free world to "Shut the hell up!" is not the way to win the argument, and it’s not as if there aren’t a ton of legitimate criticisms against this President. I am not comfortable with those over-the-top rants.

Who is the real Keith Olbermann? Has he always had these ultra-left philosophies but no political megaphone? He has had other programs since he left ESPN, and though I only saw him sporadically, I don’t recall any of those shows being so extremely left-wing. Is this an entirely new persona for him? He is nothing like the Keith Olbermann in his previous stints.

It looks like all of MSNBC is intent on moving sharply to the left, and I can hardly stand to watch that network. If it weren’t for Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan, I would watch Fox exclusively. I shudder to think what would happen to the nightly line-up if Obama loses on November 4th, but whether he wins or loses, one thing is for sure—The Messiah will eventually have to have a colonoscopy to remove Keith Olbermann from his comfortable resting place up Obama’s butt.

Okay, okay--the Sarah Palin interview with Katie Couric was concerning. Surely she can handle these questions better than this! She's not a dullard. This article captured my sentiments exactly:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTUzNTM3MDk0MmI3ZWM1N2ZkZDAwZTFmMjA5Nzk3MWM=

Cheryl's Guide to the Congressional Elections 2008

For several months now, I have known who I will support in the 2008 presidential election, but until yesterday, I hadn’t thought much about the congressional elections. In witnessing the debacle that is being heralded as the greatest economic crisis in a century, however, I know exactly who I will vote for in the other national election—anybody but the incumbent. While this proposed bailout may be absolutely necessary to protect our economy and system of credit, I am seething with rage at every one of those individuals who sat in their comfortable seats in Congress while Wall Street financiers went to Vegas with millions of dollars in mortgage money that has now disappeared. We trusted our representatives to look out for our interests, but instead they rewarded, protected, and ignored the high-risk, greedy schemes that were dooming these Wall Street firms. How can we trust any of these jokers again? And everyone is to blame—Republicans, Democrats, everyone. It is time for a carthartic revolt by the American voters. The only way to make sure that this doesn’t happen again is to hold these officials accountable for their reprehensible mismanagement of this crisis. They all have forfeited their right to represent us any further.

Do you want your vote to make a difference? Vote the bums out! Go non-incumbent!

Note: I know McCain has presided over this fiasco as well, but Senator Obama as an alternative is absolutely terrifying for me.

My BFFs

The 9-year-old on the left in the above photo and the 15-year-old riding on the back of the 4-wheeler are my 2 best girlfriends in the world! Aren't they beautiful? I love you Hannah and Brittany! You are so precious to me, and I miss you terribly!

My thoughts on Sarah Palin

From the moment she stepped into the national spotlight on August 29, 2008, I have felt such a kinship and a connection with Sarah Palin. She is so refreshingly real. I am profoundly inspired by strong, smart, self-reliant, and successful women, the tough kind who not afraid or ashamed of their independence and ambition. I myself come from a long-line of hard-headed women, as I learned everything I needed to know in life from my Mom, my Nanny, and my Mema. Being a woman carries both responsibilities and privileges, but most of all, you should never let a man define who you are. The critical importance of an education was drilled into me over and over again, and I learned the value of maximizing every ability and opportunity that I had.

We have persevered through some very trying times with a never-abiding faith in God, and it was more than understood that family came first. I was told at the age of 16 that I would never walk or use my fingers again, but did I lose myself in fear and discouragement? Not on your life! I got me a hot-pink wheelchair, my Mom bought a handicapped-equipped van, and I started 10th grade with my friends only 4 months after I broke my neck in a car accident.
I will also add that ever since I was 14 years old, I have rarely ever left my house without my makeup flawlessly applied and my hair coiffed. My appearance has always been a priority for me, and even after I was rendered a quadriplegic, I saw no reason why I couldn’t look great in my wheelchair too. What is truly unbelievable is that there is this glaring misconception that you can’t be beautiful and smart at the same time. I remember meeting with a vocational counselor when I was in rehabilitation and him telling me that I was going to have to stop worrying about my hair and makeup, or else I wouldn’t be going anywhere in life. Of course, that was before he reviewed my IQ results. Well, 24 years and a law degree later, I sure showed him.

I see these same values in Sarah Palin. She has persevered and she is soaring. She doesn’t consider a baby a punishment, and she believes that Trig, her son born with Down’s Syndrome, is a blessing. This is a lady who is selfless and worries not about her own convenience. She understands that life under any circumstances is precious, and that we are often faced with challenges in this world to make us stronger, better people.

And she is absolutely beautiful! Brains and beauty can be a formidable combination. She has a firm grasp of the issues at hand, and no matter what any pinhead on MSNBC says, Sarah cleaned house in her march to the Governor’s mansion in Alaska. She challenged and beat the GOP establishment in her home state, and those accomplishments show a determination and a drive that is so rare in politics today. She could have played along with the party machine up there and gotten a cushy, safe seat or appointment. Sarah Palin chose to make a difference. I am so proud to be a supporter of her!

The level of virulent rage directed at the governor is both appalling and perplexing. I am especially disappointed in the reaction of the so-called feminists to her nomination. First and foremost, there is nothing more feminine than having children and being a loving mother. This personal contempt exhibited by Maureen Dowd and her ilk goes way beyond politics. I am wondering now if these women are in many ways envious of Sarah—she has it all: beauty, intelligence, a happy marriage, children, and POWER. We have all heard of those studies showing that men don’t like smart women and that it is virtually impossible for a single woman over 35 to find a husband. Maybe Sarah Palin reminds them of what they are missing in their own lives. I don’t know what their motives are, but all of these attacks on her infuriate me.

No, Governor Palin is not perfect, but she is real—she is what this country needs. She is a fighter when she has to be, and I trust her instincts. We know this woman! In a recent article by the aforementioned Ms. Dowd, she reports of her trip to Alaska with the mainstream media’s scavenger hunt, and her description of her stop at Wal-Mart there was literally dripping with sarcasm and snobbery. I seriously doubt if she has ever lowered herself to mix with the common folks at Wal-Mart before. These elitist liberals just don’t get it.

The has-been comedic actress Sandra Bernhard said last week that if Sarah Palin dared set foot in Manhattan, a group of her big black brothers would be there to gang-rape her. Where is the media outrage at this statement? Why isn’t anyone calling for her head? Just imagine if someone in the entertainment industry told Senator Obama that if he dared to set foot in Alabama, that a bunch of Klansmen would be there to lynch him and hang him from the highest tree. I am certain that a comedienne who would level such a threat to Senator Obama would never work again. Ask Michael Richards or Don Imus.

In a little over a month, the people of this country will render the ultimate verdict. Regardless of the outcome, I am appreciative of the contribution that Sarah Palin has already made to our political process. We political women are not blind followers of NOW and NARAL—we are just as diverse as any other segment of the electorate, and more of us identify with Sarah Palin than Gloria Steinem or Maureen Dowd. I am pretty sure that I am not the only one who is cheering Governor Palin now, encouraging her with sentiments of "You go, girl!" as she campaigns.

That’s right, Sarah—You go, girl!.

The economy and real estate

I have been reading a lot on this economic crisis we are experiencing, and it is making me even more angry about the taxpayers paying for this mess. The problem is pretty simple, actually—too many people were getting mortgages from lenders who didn’t seem to care whether they paid it back or not. Because housing values were increasing at phenomenal rates, the banker didn’t worry about the buyer making payments. Even if the buyer defaulted, the bank would still make money on the foreclosure sale. I have handled hundreds of real estate transactions since 1996, so I have been on the frontlines of the subprime mortgage fiasco that has brought Wall Street to its knees. I remember many first-time homebuyers with suspect credit walking out of closings with several thousands of dollars in hand—with no investment at all on their part. Down payment required? No, that’s just too harsh… I even handled loans involving mobile homes with appraised values of over $125,000.00. We know mobile homes in the South, and if there is one that costs that much, it better also function as a motor home and a portable swimming pool. Needless to say, those trailers do not fetch that much at the forced sales on the courthouse steps.

Where will this all end? I have no idea, but I hope the changes don’t freeze lending altogether. That would truly be catastrophic. It burns me up that those of us who struggled to keep paying our mortgages are going have to pay for the ones who were reckless in their finances. That’s grossly unfair, and Washington may be looking at a taxpayer revolt as this progresses.

For starters

Well, I have officially entered the blogosphere! So why am I here? I definitely have a plethora of opinions, and I would love some intriguing conversation. I am excited about sharing my personal life, and I am a bona fide political junkie. This election season is amazing now, but I am nervous about the outcome. I'll get into more of that as I experiment with this blog, but right now, I will tell you that I am a 40-year-old blue-eyed blonde in a wheelchair, and I am a proud Christian. I have been married to the most wonderful man in the world for over 10 years, and we have 6 precious puppies who are spoiled rotten! My Mom is my hero, and I have practiced law for 12 years plus. I am proud to be from South Carolina, and I love the Atlanta Braves... But most importantly, I want to have a voice for smart, strong independent women who, while we love our men, refuse to let a man define who we are!