Convergence of Relevant Stuff

Civil Forum with Rick Warren Pastor of Saddleback Church

Barack Obama . Warren asked who were the three wisest people in your life? Obama said  his wife Michelle, his grandmother,who was a grounded, common sense woman.  He also said he would not restrict himself to three people. He mention Sam Nunn, Dick Luger, a Republican. Ted Kennedy, most prominently . Obama said in his administration  he would have a table that represented many different viewpoints.   The great moral failure in his life?  He had difficult youth, raised by a single Mom, experimented with drugs and drank. Obama said he was  self centered, and had an inner focus on himself. He said everything was about him. He later realized it was not all about me. America’s  greatest moral failure in this  lifetime is that we don’t abide by our principals to  help others in need as much as we should.  He said the Bible says “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do not do for me”.  We do not provide avenues of opportunities for people to get into the middle class. We must do more to help.

When asked what is the most significant position that he held ten years ago where he changed his mind?  Obama said a good example would be the issue of welfare reform.  Obama felt that Clinton’s bill signings on welfare reform would have disastrous results.  It worked better than a lot of people anticipated.  So Obama said it opened his eyes and he saw the benefit in the program.

Warren asked what is the most gut wrenching decision you ever had to make?  Deciding to  go against the war in Iraq. Obama said there was not enough evidence of weapons of mass distruction.  Obama felt that we would need to look at these questions. What would a post Iraq , post war,  look like?  What about the young kids who we are asking to give their lives? When  you put kids 19 and 20 years old in harms way, there is a an obligation to get things right before we put our young soldiers life on the line.

Christianity- What does your faith in Jesus Christ mean to you?  Obama said I believe  that Jesus Christ died for my sins and I am redeemed through him.  I do not walk alone. Those sins that I have are washed way. I have an obligation to give back to society through deeds. McCain said he was saved and forgiven.

The question was asked what do you do about evil.  John McCain said, defeat it. Barack Obama said that evil does exist. We will not be able to totally erase evil from the world in it’s many forms. John McCain approached many questions and answered with a  military reference. He answered the question about evil and said the he would find Bin Laden and bring him to justice. Obama sees evil as being significantly broader than John McCain.

John McCain came off, more combative and direct. Not must room to change in him.  McCain’s sole focus was to use the bully stick  and showed a willingness to  use American Troops at the drop of a hat.  McCain’s answers were simplistic at best.  He was not forthcoming on the details of his failed first marriage, when asked about him Moral failures. Again he stuck close  to the  simplistic one word answers. So we know one thing about McCain; he is stubborn, He is not willing to listen to opposing views and he is a war hawk. He stated his hero was Theodore Rooselvelt. He led the United States to victory in the Spanish – American War (Ninety-Day War) and later became the 26th American President. McCain said that Theodore Rooselvelt was his hero (“Walk Softly, but Carry a Big SticK”).   Read up on Rooselvelt and you get a great read on McCain. The question was asked who would you not pick as  a Supreme Court Justice? Obama said  that he would have not pick  Clarence Thomas because of his lack of experience, He also mention Justice Scalia, both taught in law school at the University of Chicago. McCain mentioned Justices Ginsberg, Fryer, Sutter and Stevens.  The problem is John McCain voted for everyone of those justices. A bit of the  flip flop.  He was speaking to win over the evangelicals.

A lot is shaping up these days and it is newsworthy to note that the ad Paris Hilton authored and put up on funnyordie.com is hilarious. It goes without saying that the media edited the life out of the video, editing out the introduction which made a less than subtle reference to McCain’s age. Alls fair in love and war and certainly in politics, given the willingness of candidates from either side to hit way below the belt.

This is a time honored Republican tactic; play on people’s fear and the votes will be yours.  Except this time; McCain has opened himself up to defensive ad campaigns from the likes of Paris Hilton, who McCain parodied in his ad attacking Obama. Certainly more thought should have gone into the use of this tactic. But with Republican zealots advising him, McCain simply made a mistake. He should bite the bullet and return to a wholesome campaign. Instead he has chosen to attack Obama, below the belt, mocking him in nearly every ad. This will come back to haunt him.

It already, has, who says that Paris Hilton is done. She can do sequels to the advertisement and carry this on all the way through to the election; and McCain certainly has no one else to blame, but himself. When he brought in other innocent people, it resulted in attacks on him. The surprise is out of the bag now. McCain has opened himself up to attacks from nearly all sides. You never know who you offend when you  venture off the issues and personally attack a candidate. It is a hard lesson to learn. But McCain will learn it.

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Check out the Video of the ad, by Paris Hilton, of the wrinkly, white haired guy. It is extremely funny. Here’s the link: Pay special attention to the beginning of the video, it was edited by nearly every news organization known to man.

To view the video scroll down to the VodPodPod on the bottom right side of this blog.

The title says volumes about the motives, tactics, and beliefs of John McCain. He resorted to what some would view as trivia and perhaps childish actions by comparing Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. It seems Republicans start to feel awfully insecure while the entire world seems to fawn over Obama.

So instead of taking his ball and leaving the playground, McCain decides to taunt Obama; playground style. But how do you dare attack the world’s biggest celebrity? It want be so easy for the “Maverick”. Though he’s known as a gambler, McCain may not hold the winning hand this time.

By attacking Obama he risked being seen as a whiner at best and misguided by his judgment and strategy at worst. He needs to concentrate on defining issues that separate him from Obama. Not trying to “swift boat” Obama. This is a strategy by McCain that we all knew was coming.

But like a skilled counter puncher Obama always counters with a punch of his own; particularly with his own ad countering McCain. This one will certainly go 15 rounds; does McCain have the temperament to go the distance? John McCain—Same old politics, Same failed policy.

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The Brett Favre situation continues and I believe the Packers or more at fault than Favre. Trade him, keep him or release him. If they really feel the Brett Favre’s best years are behind him, then cut ties with him. Don’t let the situation linger. There are many strong opinions on all sides of this issue. So anyone reporting on it is in a no win situation, as there are many passionate Favre and Packer supporters, who take issue with either side.

With that said; I believe Favre could definitely help the Packers as their starting quarterback, however the Packers are ready to pull the pull the plug on Favre and go with Rogers. But as said before there are passionate fans that are letting the world know where they stand on the Brett Favre situation. There is no shortage of Green Bay Packer sites and the Favre story is literally all over the internet.

The lure of Favre coming back has always been a great scenario to consider and this certainly is the case this year. The problem is the Packers have moved on with their plans and appear ready to stick by them; and grow their team in a different direction for the future. No one can fault them for that. And for that matter the passionate desire that Favre has to continue to play football foremost for the Packers and if not possible; for any available team, is unquestioned.

There in lies the problem; how do both sides work this situation out monetarily and contractually for the Packers; and emotionally for Favre?

You have got to love the Huffington Post. It is Arriana Huffington’s creation that has skyrocketed as a critically acclaimed blog. It is a refreshing approach to modern day journalism. This is a refreshing approach to blogging that has brought to an information point, a number of journalism professionals to further the concept of the professional grassroots blogging.

People now turn to the Huff Post for breaking news stories and quite frankly a different view and approach of reporting the news. The concept of the guest blogger is in itself cutting edge and a welcome way to approach Journalism. The Huff Post’s Big News Pages- highlights some of the biggest news of the day.

The Huffington Post is a blog that is talked about  all over the Internet for it impact and the focus of the it’s content. It is in a word revolutionizing the concept of citizen blogging or professional citizen blogging. It you have not already checked out The Huffington Post; and who hasn’t? Then check it out today, the link is below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/