What’s so special about September 22nd, 2008?

         This year, September 22 is going to be a ratings high point for the ABC network.  Two seperate events will help to make that happen.  One is that Bill Clinton will be making an appearance on “The View” to promote his outreach program that intends to bring world leaders together to bring about new solutions for correcting some of the biggest issues that we face such as hunger/starvation and AIDS as well as other humanitarian problems.  The View is a program that is often controversial…but focussing on a program that has the potential to help humanitarian efforts around the globe is something most people can get behind and help support.

          The other event is the first night of the season premiere of Dancing With The Stars…it will be a three night event.  This season has created alot of buzz before it ever even began rehearsals.  Some of the celebrities have strong followings of their own…so, i think you will find that viewership of this season will dramatically increase and set records.  Who is on this season you may ask? 

           Two couples will be eliminated in the first week alone…who will be the first to leave?  Hmmmmm…The celebrities include:  Lance Bass, singer of N’Sync fame, Toni Braxton, singer, Brooke Burke, actress and entrenpeneur, Rocco Dispirito, celebrity chef, Maurice Greene, Olympic sprinter, Cloris Leachman, actress, Cody Linley, actor from Hannah Montanna, Susan Lucci, actress and entrenpeneur, Misty May Treanor, Olympic volleyball champion, Ted McGinley, actor, Jeffrey Ross, comedian, Warren Sapp, retired NFL player, Kim Kardashian, reality television star.  So, will you be watching either of these events?

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DemoPublicans

        It may just be a bit presumptious to say so…but, i think that there are so many people who are dissatisfied with both the Republican and Democratic parties that we are going to see something that i tagged as a DemoPublican.  That is to say, that people’s value systems lie somewhere in the middle of these two parties that have become so out of touch with their constituents.  Alot of conversations that take a political turn tend to reflect the consensus that people are unhappy with the choices.  The reasons for that statement are varied.  Some don’t like the personality, or the past mistakes, or the perceived lack of experience…on and on.  That is not new to this particular election..that is always the case to a certain degree; people pick the person with who they consider will do the country the least amount of harm and promote the most positive changes possible.

         In this particularily historic Presidential election; people have  been trying to come to terms with issues that have plagued our country and tried to find the alignment within the party that they most closely associate themselves with.  That has become harder and harder to do with the economic reality that faces our nation; not to mention, constantly changing boundaries relating to levels of personal privacy as it has been invaded on the pretext of safeguarding our country in matters of national security.  Add into that mish-mash the polarization of voters applying personal religious belief systems towards determining which candidate to vote for.  Many people are conflicted on that issue; which candidate’s actions most closely reflect their own belief systems. 

          There are so many issues that have not even begun to be addressed by the candidates that it is a little worrisome.  Issues that demand addressing include things such as joblessness, homelessness, health care, education reform, addressing issues that impact the banking systems, transportation systems, homeland security, terrorism, how to provide and manage energy costs and concerns, etc.  These are the issues that people care about and base their votes on…not which celebrity gives them a personal endorsement or what music the candidate listens to; come on…get real and deal with the things that matter!

         Underneath those issues, runs a very heated debate about who should have been the Democratic nominee; experience or the lack of is important.  When Florida and Michigan delegate votes were discounted…this changed the course of the competition between Sen. Barack Obama.  There has been a strong battle between supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama.  The split has been protracted and continues today…going into the Democratic National Convention this weekend.  Even some of the speakers have privately expressed unhappiness with the process; such as Bill Clinton, former President of the United States.  He says after the election he will speak his piece; of that, i have no doubt.  Sen. Hillary Clinton…now, I can’t even imagine how much pressure she is under.  She wanted to be in the place that Sen. Barack Obama is now standing; barring that…she, i am sure would have been happy to be his running mate…that did not happen. 

           How difficult it must be to stand up there and promote unity in the party when i am sure….that has to be the last thing she wants to do is encourage support for Mr. Obama.  Add into the drama, all of the “celebrity” endorsements that Sen. Obama is getting and it is turning into a bit of a 3 ring circus.  Today there was a report on a CNN research poll that said since picking Sen. Joe Biden… the run for the Presidency has become tied at 47% between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama…compared to percentages that showed Sen. Obama in the lead with 51%, just last month.

         Everyone has an opinion on how this will play out.  Some attempts have been made calling for unity in the Democratic party…but, there is great unhappiness still under the surface.  Those that thought Sen. Hillary Clinton should have been the front runner, then fully expected Sen. Barack Obama should give her due consideration for the position of his running mate.  When it became obvious that she was passed over; and, he chose Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate those who felt slighted have pledged to vote for Sen. Obama’s competitor Sen. John McCain. 

           The Republican party has to get out their position on the issues as well.  We dont need to see a few months of showboating by either of the candidates…we need to get down to the nitty gritty and quit wasting everyone’s time on surface nonsense.

          There is much work to do on both the Republican and the Democratic side to convince voters that the person that they choose to cast their vote for is deserving and capable.  In the meantime, DemoPublicans are going to be the deciding factor in this election…God help us all to make the correct choice, without compromising the things that are most important.

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Memories For Sale-Cheap…Clinton, Flowers, Jones

      I am a little bit surprised by the timing of the announcement, as it seems to me that these ladies would have gotten more mileage out of launching their website during the high point of Hillary’s historic campaign.   There is a new website that is offering to tell you all sorts of memories of Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones.   They are putting on video, memories of their times with Bill Clinton.  Their website is offering an opportunity for paying customers to listen to what they want us to know about the Clintons; and, their memories of their times together, for a cheap, bargain price of 1 dollar and 99 cents. 

         What is a shame, is that what should be, upon self-reflection, a time of acknowledging a personal low, in the area of accomplishments and deeds; instead, has become a celebration of those sorrowful experiences with financial perks.

        The sheer marketing genius of selling cheap memories for a cheap price is astounding.  Sad but true, there is always a market for such things that exploit the sensational aspects of life.  I am sure there will be no lack of paying customers…but like most things of this nature; it won’t last, and then what?  Isn’t it time to move on?

         Now, I realize that over the years that both Paula and Gennifer have tried other venues to get their thoughts, feelings and points across…but, let’s reflect a little here on the various ways they have expressed their rejection, humiliation, sadness, anger, and low self-esteem, in my opinion.  

            Let’s see… there was a dramatic  (sexual harassment) lawsuit in 1994 by Paula Jones against Bill, there have been media- driven news announcements, television shows, interviews, a book that was written by Gennifer Flowers about her alleged 12 year affair with Bill, musical tours, speaking engagements, nude photos in men’s magazines, boxing matches, offering up recorded conversations to the highest bidder, and last but not least, financial settlements.

         I guess…in my opinion…the circumstances of each woman’s relationship with Bill Clinton was sad enough in it’s very roots.  But the full growth, of each of their sordid stories, has been nurtured and fertilized by their need to have us all feed off of the fruit, of their in your face, here, is what happened to me situations. 

          I am afraid that this whole thing leaves a bad taste.  After all, by charging for your memories of those times…you have validated Bill’s low opinion of you…women he could use (or attempt to use for his own pleasure) and then discard when it no longer suited his needs.  Then, when confronted, he denied his connections to you…he devalued your worth as women.  Now, all of those who said that you had little class will feel justified in their opinions.  Once again, there will be ridicule instead of people understanding your version of past events.

          By capitalizing financially; and, seeking attention, for more fame and publicity….it seems that you’ve succeeded in taken self-destruction to a whole new level by willing jumping into the pool of degradation, after having been coaxed into it by Bill Clinton; and, his political foes and cronies over the years.

          Paula Jones has allegedly said that this website is a way of getting their words out there without someone else’s interpetations or corrections.  However, i think it has only opened them both up to more media attention and public opinion….therefore, more criticism.  It is at times like this, that your mother’s wisdom is best heeded; if you don’t have anything nice to say…it is better to say nothing at all.   Let’s just end this with the thought, that it is always best to respect yourself; so that others, will afford you the same courtesy. 

         

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Backstabbing,Manipulation,Scandal-New Episode of Desperate Housewives?

       Backstabbing, betrayal, lies, manipulation, scandal; is this a new episode of Desperate Housewives?  No, it is the political process of choosing a democratic front runner.  In the un-precedented, history making presidental election to come… no matter who  finally becomes the front runner for the Democratic party; it will have been controversial, to say the least.

        Whether Sen. Barack Obama becomes the first african american Democratic nominee or Sen. Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to get the nod…it is history making.  The problem is, of course, that by competing against each other for the position; they are being accused of ripping the primary process apart, by not allowing the Democrats to unite behind one, or the other, of them. 

         Today a high ranking man, in this process, Joe Andrew, the former chair of the Indiana Democratic Party is supposedly going to announce that he is throwing the weight of his support behind Sen. Barack Obama in an effort to induce other superdelegates to unite behind his campaign.  He feels that this primary process is dividing the Democrats; to the point where, it is giving the Republicans the edge for John McCain.  This is where some feel that betrayal is taking place, since it was president Bill Clinton who appointed Joe Andrew as the youngest chair to the Democratic National Committee back in 1999.

         Betrayal and judgement have also been at the top of the news headlines when it comes to the candidates as well.  Sen. Barack Obama’s judgement has been called into question because of his relationship with his long time pastor Rev. Wright.  The Reverend has become a weighted stone for Sen. Obama’s candidacy, because of some of his viewpoints regarding race and political hot topics.  Some have even questioned the Reverend’s motivations for speaking such controversial statements during this process.  Does he want Obama to win…and if he does…why has he been saying such contemptible things, causing Sen. Obama to distance himself?  The political Judas syndrome has kicked into high gear.

         Sen. Hillary Clinton was thrust into the glare of the media recently because of statements she made regarding her memories of certain events.  Her credibility was called into question, when some of those statements were proven to differ from video clips and other people’s memories of the same events.

         Dirty laundry has been aired though out this process by behind the scenes manipulations, untruths, personal betrayals, backstabbing, and race and gender discussions.  All in all, a typical day in the life of a politician; however, the cost to this country in the event of the wrong person becoming president of the United States, should be enough reason to clean it all up and get down to the business of choosing the best person for the job.  It is an awesome priviledge and responsibility to do the choosing!

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Rude Attack on Chelsea Clinton

         I don’t know about you…but, i think it was rude of the person who asked Chelsea Clinton whether she felt that the whole issue of Monica Lewinski hurts her mother’s credibility. 

          How many of us are, or would like to be, responsible for publicly critiquing our family member’s choices in life?  We as children, adult or not, are NOT responsible for accounting for our parent’s successes or failures.   It wasn’t a question that was appropriately asked of the right person.  Why not ask it of Bill Clinton or Hillary herself?

          If the person asking the question truly believes that the scandal of years past hurts the credibility of Senator Clinton, then so be it; ask the question of Senator Clinton or her husband.  I believe it crosses the line of appropriate behavior.

           I am not taking sides in the issue of who should; or, who should not be the democratic candidate running for president.  What i am saying is that it wasn’t a valid question for Chelsea to be asked.

            First of all, no matter how Chelsea truly processes that whole painful part of her family history and the history of our country in regards to how she lives her day to day life …i think the fact that she is out there supporting her mother says what she thinks about whether her mother is credible. 

            Say what you will about whether Senator Clinton should or should not drop out of the race…but, i think that Chelsea handled herself gracefully in the way that she responded to the questioner. 

          She took a large uncomfortable pause and then said…”I don’t think that that is any of your business”…and then proceeded to say…”I also don’t think that should be the last question”.  That, is grace under pressure.  I am sure should would have much rather let that person have it verbally…but she rose above it.

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