Senator McCain...

Some people seem quite at home in the US Senate, it is an exclusive 100 member club, many of the nation's wealthiest and most self satisfied families are there... McCain is there and there he will stay, past November and next year too... the conservative Christians are not coming on board his ship of politics, and suddenly his campaign takes on the feeling of deck chairs, music playing, and a boat with a big hole in it.
Finding electoral votes for McCain seemed difficult from the beginning, but somehow he floated above the rest of the Republican primary entries, so McCain floats but his campaign does not do as well. Votes have the limited role of picking electors who elect the President, the illusion of popular vote was shattered in the Bush era along with many other real freedoms, but votes must come from people, enthusiasm, and effort...the calling card of the Christian Conservatives ...who want a world of war for oil ...er uh...freedom, war against terror , war against sin- whatever that might mean if not taking lives...wasn't there a commandment? hmmm, and it seems, most of all war against rights for gay people. While McCain and these war things sound like a match made in a Washington summer before a fall election [I didn't want to say Hell..so this is quite close]; it looks more and more like we will continue to have Senator McCain.

The power of Definition-- the real power in the Universe?

There is a good chance that the so-called Big Bang occurred after gravity, matter, space, and time had all been in existence, so yet in some sense it - the rapid inflation of matter and energy- is still the beginning of the universe, so something unexpected is in this definition of the Universe; the power of defining things has reared its eternal head.

In politics defining things is all the game. The person who makes his or her definition stick with the voters may win the popular vote if he or she can managed to get them counted. What will be the definition of the political universe in 2008, will Iraq be a central system of Galaxies, or barely noticed dark matter unseen but accounting for so much of the equation. Will the dark energy of gasoline prices degrade the economy to the effect of fearfulness? Indignation? Will the general ideas of change face the checkbook of tax accounting and will the corporations and upper income types feel obliged to listen and nod? or will the word "tax" suck the life from a challenge to excellence once again, a national equivalent of vacuum energy.

What of the question of race will inexperience or vagueness become the watchword for the internal struggle of some minds on the incredibly silly question of skin color?

America paid money for painted stones called pet rocks, cringed at- then loved rock and roll, accepted the world oil shortages in the 1970's, elected Reagan twice, a Bush three times, turned Rap music into the melody of Madison Avenue and advertising; and believed that Saddam brought down the towers- so I now no longer put anything beyond the power of definition.

November Rising...

Election campaigns take on the aspect of a race, where speed to a finish line determines the winner, this looks like a race between a thoroughbred and a plow horse. It is hard to remember such polarity, Reagan was an older man who took on the role of youth and hope, Humphrey and Nixon was a contrast of old smile and old frown; Gore and Bush offered a contrast but people seemed not to notice how limited and un-leaderlike was Bush, nor the patient strength of Al Gore...the fog of Clinton was the perfect cover for Bush.

Perceptions matter so much-
McCain seems blurred and ill-defined while Obama has the benefit of a sharp focus, the public has a firm idea of the man as calm in crisis- a leader. Clinton may wind up being part of the Obama success, for there has been no real suspense for months but the press was able to use the daunting Clinton reputation to sell papers and kept Obama in the role of the man who needed to show something, to answer a call...and clearly, in historic proportions, he has answered every call.

And Now...
A nation now begins the process of turning its trust and confidence to Mr. Obama, and many Republicans may stay home by November, facing reality, but also the acceptance that the fundamentally more able candidate...the swifter horse...will win the race.

Historic Days, Mr. Obama and America

Senator Obama has made many historic moments on his path to the Presidency and today marks another as he clinches the nomination of the Democratic Party. Many might remember this period for the unique achievements of a Black American which no doubt stands in history, but the next four years bear significance too; and America has drifted as if leaderless for most of the past eight years.
The economy has deep problems, and significant strength; an unpopular war lacks a cogent exit strategy that would preserve some semblance of international order in the region; and the American middle class continues to watch its base erode and jobs and careers flow away from our borders. The environment has been largely treated by denial and clouding over issues of serious concern and deepening world impact. But leadership symbolic and factual is of great importance now and in the next four years of the Obama Presidency. The hopes and prayers of millions seeking change and improvement, greater urgency in moving towards our greater potential as a nation...will continue to lift his wings .