He's found a way.

Maybe one reason I like Barack Obama is because he has two strikes against him. And he's still able to overcome. To succeed. I am expecting that on Tuesday he will be elected president of the USA. If he isn't, I will be disappointed. Chagrined. Despondent. Obama is considered to be black. Albeit, he had a white mother. But in the USA, it's always been a handicap to be black. Because this has been a white supremacy society. Blacks have been subjugated. Mistreated. Denied basic human and civil rights. The situation has improved in recent years. But not nearly enough. Far too many people will vote against Obama merely because he's black. Yes, some also will vote for him because he's black. Because they think it's about time. And it is. But I'm voting for Obama because I like his ideas. His make-up. His character. And the fact that he's found a way to hit a homerun with two strikes against him. --Jim Broede

I'd find a way to love something.

I don't mind being fanciful. I really like it. Maybe that's why I'm a writer. Because I can pick and choose what I write about. I can say virtually anything. Which means I'm allowed to think. To use my imagination. To write the way I want to write. No restraints really. Especially if I don't publish what I write. It really gives me a sense of freedom. Oh, people will take offense at some of what I write. But that's all right. And we can disagree with each other. That's fine, too. See, I'm in love. In so many ways. With life. With someone special. And not least, in love with words. With thoughts. With expression. So it's natural for me to write. In school I was taught to read. And to write. I had to do that to learn. To understand that I was alive. And functioning. I had to become literate to feel alive. And now I could be on a desert island. Alone. And still be able to communicate. As long as I could read and write. And think. Imaginatively. I guess that if I were on that desert island, I'd learn to love solitude. Yes, no matter what the situation. I'd find a way to love something. --Jim Broede

He ain't a maverick any more.

It's a good sign. Many Republicans are jumping on the bandwagon and supporting Barack Obama for president. I mean real politicians. Republican officeholders. Not the GOP's conservative base, of course. But you've gotta admire the moderate Republicans who'd rather vote for Obama than for John McCain. Meanwhile, I'd like McCain to do the right thing. By announcing that even he'll vote for Obama. Wouldn't that be startling? If that happens, I'd like to see Obama find a place for McCain in his cabinet. You know, some years ago McCain was being mentioned as a possibility for vice president -- on the Democratic ticket. As a means of making government work in a relatively non-partisan way. McCain used to be a maverick. So it wasn't outlandish to think of him as a running mate with a Democrat. Unfortunately, he ain't a maverick any more.--Jim Broede

Stupid.

I'm stupid. Too stupid to be president of the United States. And I know it. So when I choose someone to vote for, I'm not gonna vote for someone as stupid as me. I'll look for someone smarter. Far smarter. Exceptional. So that's why I'm voting for the Barack Obama-Joe Biden ticket. They have the smarts. The John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket won't get my vote. Because they are too much like me. Stupid. -- Jim Broede

The right man for the job.

I suspect that some people don't like Barack Obama because he's different. He's intelligent. Articulate. Kind. Calm. Cool. Collected. So much different than most of us. But that's exactly why I like him. He's superior. He's more intelligent than me. More articulate. More calm. More cool. More collected. That's why he's gonna make a good president. He's fair. He'll even work with Republicans to try to bring about much-needed change in America. I won't be surprised if he has Republicans in his cabinet. Obama is a positive guy. And he has an open mind. He associates with all kinds of people. He's even willing to sit down and talk to America's perceived enemies. In an effort to make them friends. Obama is a rare individual. Maybe it's the fact that he's got a rare combination of genes. Black and white. A link to several cultures. Different religions. Barack Obama represents what's good about America. A nice blend. A nice human being. Yes, fellow Americans, I think we have been blessed with just the right man for the job. --Jim Broede

A court jester could get elected.

I know an Italian who dislikes the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. I'm shown a video clip of Berlusconi singing. Badly. So bad, it's funny. But it's obvious that Berlusconi is having a good time. And he brags about sleeping three hours a night and making love for three hours. He's 72. And he's a billionaire. My Italian friend gets livid about Berlusconi. Suggesting that he's a disgrace to Italy. That he does harm. But still, I think he's funny. I really think he has a sense of humor. That maybe he's quite aware that at times he's making fun of himself. That he knows he's a buffoon. And so he intentionally acts like a buffoon. Knowingly. To exaggerate. For the sake of being funny. I think he has a good-natured side. He may not be the brightest guy in the world. He may be a bit earthy. But I think he has some charisma. Now, if I understood the Italian language, maybe I'd come to a different conclusion. Because I just see him in physical action. On videos. And often with translations. And unlike my friend, I can take Berlusconi with a grain of salt. Because I'm not Italian. He can do me no harm. I'm sort of getting an idea why so many Italians are attracted to this man. Enough to vote for him. To elect him three times. Italians aren't stupid. But some how, they find this man entertaining. Funny. And I think they find their government funny. Maybe even hilarious. I know that many Italians, too, are furious with Berlusconi. Like my friend. But there's no denying, he's a celebrity. Famous. Yes, maybe a laughingstock. Maybe a joke. I'm thinking that many nations elect their leaders based on personality. Not on issues. They just ask themselves, do I like this guy? Or don't I? If they like him, he gets their votes. That simple. They don't ask what does this guy stand for? The guy -- or a gal in the case of Sarah Palin -- can be a dunderhead. That doesn't matter. That's why democracies often get terrible leaders. But by golly, they're entertaining. We live in times when a court jester could get elected to the highest office in the land. --Jim Broede

The best way to combat fear.

I laugh at people who tell me that they are scared of Barack Obama. Because he might associate with a handful of people considered by conservatives as un-American or anti-American. Heck, the subversive tag could even apply to me. I'm on the political left. And I'm not even a Christian. Instead, I'm a free-thinker. So, I suppose if I go out on Halloween, people will run scared. Because I'm different. And I have a sense of humor, too. I think it's downright funny that I could scare anyone. Or for that matter, it's even more funny that Obama could scare a little old lady. The guy is brilliant. Kind. A genius. An idealist. And politically astute. Meanwhile, I try not to be scared of John McCain and Sarah Palin. I'm trying to see their funny sides. Sometimes, that's the best way to combat fear. Start laughing. --Jim Broede

It's merely that I'm curious.

In my days as a writer for newspapers, I associated with all kinds of people. To get to know what's on their minds. To write stories about 'em. And some were weird. But interesting. Even big-shot politicians. And criminals. People with way-out opinions and pursuits. My job gave me an opening to many kinds of personalities. I especially enjoyed writing about the civil rights movement in the South in the 1960s. And I even became active in the movement. Maybe that's how I came to my leftist leanings. To this day, I'm a liberal, and proud of it. I don't mind associating with all kinds of people. On the left. On the right. Radicals. You name it. Because people fascinate me. I like to understand what makes them tick. Maybe that's why I find it strange that Barack Obama should come under attack from John McCain and Sarah Palin for having associated with controversial figures such as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers. They're very interesting people. Worth knowing, I am sure. I'd like to know them. But that doesn't mean that I necessarily share their views on religion or politics. It's merely that I'm curious. --Jim Broede

So much I like about Italy.

There is so much I like about Italy. Not least being the students. Those taking to the streets in recent weeks to protest budget cuts for education. They've even gone on strike to try to bring about change. Very nice. Maybe Italy has a nice future. A new generation that will bring change and new priorities, new values. In the political, economic and social realms. Maybe they all aren't activists. But it seems that at the university level, they have begun to take education seriously. Another thing I like about Italy. The pace of living. I think it's slower and more leisurely than in America. Shops closing in the afternoon. I think Italians really like to be happy. And I think they have demonstrative personalities. And I like the way they talk. With their hands. One doesn't always have to understand the spoken language. One can read the hand gestures. Oh, I haven't seen that much of Italy. But enough to have a favorable impression. Enough to want to return again and again and again. --Jim Broede

Obama shared his toys.

John McCain is so full of crap that it's time to bring in a brigade of shovelers to clean things up. Now McCain is calling Barack Obama a socialist. "I don't know what's next," Obama said at an outdoor rally today. "By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten. I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich." --Jim Broede

And now, 57 years later.

Back in the 1950s, maybe we had our baseball priorities right. We played baseball during the day. Even the World Series. Even in 1951 when there was an historic play-off game for the National League championship between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. That day was treated as sort of a national holiday. I remember listening to the game. In high school. In my 10th grade social studies class. Actually, it was broadcast over the PA system to the entire school. I imagine people at work all over the country were listening. Because baseball was truly our national pastime. We loved the game. And we found time for it. Even in Wisconsin, where I lived, we focused on a play-off game between two New York teams. We were rivited to this national event. And wow, what a game. The Giants were losing, 4-2, in the bottom half of the ninth inning. Two runners on. And Bobby Thomson at the plate. And he hits a home run off Dodgers' pitcher Ralph Branca. And the Giants win, 5-4. Capping an historic comeback for a Giants team that trailed the Dodgers by 13 1/2 games on Aug. 13. I still remember the thrill of the moment. I had barely turned 16. And now, 57 years later, it's as if I'm still in that classroom. Listening to the game. --Jim Broede

And maybe I'm crazy, too.

If I were preoccupied with making money, with becoming monetarily rich, I'd be a Republican. No doubt about it. I think that's the basic tenet of Republicanism. Allow free rein. When it comes to making money. Little wonder that an overwhelming number of rich people are Republicans. But what surprises me is that so many in the middle class are Republicans, too. Maybe because they dream of becoming rich. Anyway, I hear Republicans telling me that in a free country everybody should have the opportunity to become rich. Filthy rich. Obscenely rich. I just can't buy into that. Because it allows for far too much exploitation. The rich often get rich by exploiting the poor and the middle classes. They dupe the rest of us. Into thinking it's pro-American to be a Republican. Because Republicans oppose higher taxes. Because they are patriots. And laissez-faire capitalists. And opponents of socialism. Except, of course, when it helps the rich. An example being the bailout of Wall Street. To a Republican, it's good to have an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. It happens, they tell us, because the rich are industrious. They know how to take care of themselves. They set a fine example for the rest of us. And if we are poor, it's because we deserve to be poor. We don't have enough ingenuity and moxie to become rich. So we settle for less. But sometimes, I think less is more. I'm happy and in love. In that sense, I'm richer than some millionaires and billionaires. And maybe I'm crazy, too. --Jim Broede

A new national pastime.

The game of baseball should be sacred. But it's being ruined. By the money-grubbers. By the media networks and baseball moguls out to make big profits. Used to be that the World Series was played in the afternoon. But in the past two or three decades, it's been mostly night baseball. Late into October. Even November. When the last traces of summer are already gone. So many of the games are played in inclement weather. Cold. Rainy. Maybe even snow. Baseball wasn't intended to be played in such hostile conditions. But it's being done. All for the sake of generating more money. Games that can be seen in prime time. Right now, it's affecting the quality of play. It's not real baseball. Monday night, the 5th game of the World Series was played in a driving rain. In cold temperatures. With a wind chill below freezing. Eventullly, the game had to be stopped in the 6th inning. Maybe it'll be completed Wednesday night. Maybe. Depending on the weather. But it'll be at night. When it's cold. Instead of during the day. When it'll be a little bit warmer, and more suitable for baseball. But there'll be a bigger viewing audience at nighttime. And more money for everyone. That's the bottom-line these days. Money. Money. Money. Profits. Profits. Profits. Even if it hurts the quality of the game once touted as our national pastime. Really, we have a new national pastime -- making money. --Jim Broede

...his own worst enemy.

Maybe John McCain spent too much time in the military. And maybe he got a warped mind while he spent 5 years as a POW in Vietnam. McCain thinks like a soldier. Attack. Attack. Attack. Identify your enemy. And attack him. Even kill him. Before he kills you. Yes, it seems to me, that McCain is treating his presidential opponent Barack Obama as his enemy. As America's enemy. Telling us that Obama cavorts with terrorists. That he's a socialist. That he's unready to be commander in chief. Attack. Attack. Attack. McCain doesn't tell us what he himself would do if elected president. Instead, he tries to tell us that Obama is unfit. That Obama can't be trusted. That, in a sense, Obama is the enemy. And that he has to be defeated for the good of the country. Yes, that's hogwash coming from McCain's mouth. And it's sad. McCain is conducting a political campaign as if it's a war. As if the enemy has to be defeated. Maybe it's time for McCain to wake up and recognize that Obama ain't the enemy. That John McCain is his own worst enemy. --Jim Broede

...if we elect Obama.

Yes, we do need some redistributing of wealth in the USA. John McCain says we don't. And Barack Obama says we do. That's a big difference between the two candidates for president. For too long, we've allowed the rich to get richer. And the poor to get poorer. We've more or less thinned out the middle class. Drifting either closer to rich or closer to poor. A widening gap between the rich and the poor. Rather than aiming for a happy medium. McCain says we don't have to redistribute the wealth. That the answer is to grow our economy and create more jobs. Yes, that's part of the answer. But it's not enough. We need higher taxes on the rich. And lower taxes on the poor and middle classes. The McCain-Bush approach hasn't worked. Look at what has happened in the past 8 years. Our economy has gone into the tank. And the gap between the rich and the poor has never been wider. We are becoming a nation of haves and have-nots. It ain't right. We need to focus on the common good. Not just on the good of the rich and the power elite. We need to redistribute the wealth. Really, there's no need to make the rich richer. They're already rich enough. But we sure as heck don't want to make the poor poorer. That's downright wrong. It's immoral. It's obscene. We need a new set of economic and political and social principles in America. We need to shake up the system. And we'll move more in that direction next Tuesday if we elect Obama. --Jim Broede

Yes, I'm feeling young again.

John McCain is representative of my generation. Mired in the old ways. The old thinking. We've botched so many things. Gotten ourselves into unnecessary and idiotic and immoral wars. Dragged the economy to the brink of disaster. Closed our minds to new ideas. Well, now we have Barack Obama. He's attracting young people. A new generation. With fresh ideas. New ways of thinking. More idealistic. Full of energy. And here I am. The same age as McCain. But I want no part of the McCain politics. I want to throw my lot in with the new and younger generation. Yes, I'm feeling young again. --Jim Broede

...too many old ways.

I wouldn't mind seeing a different form of government in the USA. Maybe a parliamentary type. So that we'd have multiple parties. Instead of only two. And we'd need coalitions to get things done. We'd have to find more ways to work together. To consider many points of view. For instance, if a Ralph Nadar party had only two or three representatives in Congress, at least they'd have a voice and some votes. Albeit, relatively few. Maybe a few Libertarians, too. And some socialists. And a Green party. All tossed together. Now we have Republicans and Democrats. That's so limiting. So stifling. We need a better mix. Problem is that our nation was founded in the 18th century. When world conditions were quite different. And we haven't fully adapted to the changes of the past 200-plus years. We're still trying to get by on archaic principles. We're inefficient because we are operating under a constitution that's out-dated. Oh, we've changed. With amendments. With different interpretations. But we're still mired down in too many old ways. --Jim Broede

They can afford higher taxes.

"The McCains own 13 cars, eight homes and access to a corporate jet, and Cindy had her Marie Antoinette moment at the convention," Maureen Dowd wrote in her Sunday column in the New York Times. "Vanity Fair calculated that her outfit cost $300,000, with three-carat diamond earrings worth $280,000, an Oscar de la Renta dress valued at $3,000, a Chanel white ceramic watch clocking in at $4,500 and a four-strand pearl necklace worth between $11,000 and $25,000."

Yes, this makes me better understand why John McCain disdains Barack Obama for wanting to spread the wealth by raising taxes a little bit on millionaires and billionaires. They can afford higher taxes. But some of 'em would rather spend their excesses on multiple homes and cars and jewelry. --Jim Broede

Jesus had a sense of humor.

I'm no Christian. Rather, I'm a free-thinker. I believe in god. But it's my own concept of god. I don't buy into organized and orthodox religions. I think Jesus was a great teacher. A great philosopher. I don't believe he was divine. Great, yes. Not divine. And I think it's nice to try to emulate him. If more of us did, we'd have a better world. The irony of it is that many atheists and agnostics come much closer to following Jesus' teaching than do many, many Christians. Some of the worst offenders are Christians. By the way, my god saves everyone. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, agnostics, atheists. You name it. Even Republicans. Personally, I think that if Jesus saw the state of modern-day Christianity, he'd laugh. Because I think Jesus had a sense of humor. --Jim Broede

The human condition: to fall short.

Yes, we are all too much like Johnny and Sarah. Untruthful. Liars. Sinners. Imperfect beings. The important thing is to admit it. To recognize it. Sometimes, I am prone to return insult with insult. I am pulled into the game. We all are. Nobody turns the other cheek. Not all the time. That's why we have wars. Why we have dirty, low-down politics. An exchange of insults. Why we call each other assholes. We are only polite to each other by degrees. And we show respect, only by degrees. We even love by degrees. We love conditionally. And that really isn't love. Not pure love. The human condition is to fall short. --Jim Broede

From a carpet to a canopy.

Leaves. Leaves. Everywhere on the ground. Some still on the trees. Also on the roof. I'm waiting for all of the leaves to fall. Then I'll go to the roof. And sweep 'em away. But I have to do it before the first snow. And that may be by Sunday. So, Saturday will be my day on the roof. It's a nice time of year. A colorful time. The leaves make a carpet. Mostly amber. But with specks of red and yellow and an occasional dot of green. Most people around here rake their leaves. And even burn 'em. Albeit, that's illegal. Didn't used to be. When I was a kid, burning was a common practice. Anyway, if the snow holds off until late November or December, I'll mow the leaves. Mulch them. Makes for good fertilzer. I have more trees than anyone else in the neighborhood. So I have more leaves. Doesn't bother me if on a windy day the leaves blow over to my neighbors. But then, maybe some days I get the neighbors' leaves. Leaves have a way of moving about. Oh, so many leafless trees in the winter. But when spring comes. And the leaves bud out. And the birds chirp. Nature gives me a welcome canopy of leaves. --Jim Broede

...rather be alive than dead.

I can't see across the lake today. I'm not sure if it's a mist or a fog. The air is still. A bit chilly. By Sunday, we're supposed to have our first snow. And a high of only 40 degrees. I'm in Minnesota. But hey, that's warm in some respects. Noticed the other day that the temperature in Fairbanks in Alaska plummeted to zero. The high was only 15. We'll have that sooner or later in Minnesota. Anyway, I like the change. To cooler weather. Nice. Because it makes me appreciate warmer weather, too. And the hottest of summer days makes me appreciate winter. I like contrast. And diversity, too, when it comes to people. All kinds of people. I'm fascinated by people. The different personalities. Different opinions. Different attitudes. That's how I come around to my beliefs. I listen. And then I form my own opinions. I've decided that life is good. Generally speaking. Life ain't perfect. But I'd rather be alive than dead. --Jim Broede

He was born to be a loverboy.

I have a cat that loves being a cat. Loves being himself. He exudes happiness. His name is Loverboy. And that's so appropriate. He likes his role in my household. Yes, to literally act like a loverboy cat. He has a playmate. Chenuska. They frequently cuddle. And play and romp together. But it's Loverboy who's the initiator. He exudes playfulness. And he comes up to me often. And treats me like a big cat. He'll even groom me with his sandpaper tongue. He follows me all over the house. I have no privacy. Even now, he's watching me from a cushion atop my desk. He sleeps with me. He wakes me in the morning by grooming my face. Loverboy came from an animal shelter. Several years ago. I thought Chenuska was a bit lonely. I was down to one cat. After having several for years and years. So I went to the local animal shelter. And announced that I wanted a 3-year-old neutered, declawed male cat. There was only one cat that fit that description. Loverboy had been at the shelter for 3 months. Nobody wanted him. I think he was waiting. For me. Over the years, I've had many, many cats. None more loveable than Loverboy. He tells me he's comfortable in his own skin. There's nothing he'd rather be than a cat. He was born to be a loverboy. --Jim Broede

Poor examples of human beings.

Freedom. That's a strange word. I'm not so sure that when we use the word, that it means to be free. For instance, when our nation was founded, the ruling elite were free to enslave people. Yes, to literally buy and sell people and force 'em to do the bidding of their 'owners.' Today, we still have the freedom to exploit people. To make huge and obscene profits off the labor of others. Yes, it's an every-man-for-himself mentality. We populate the world with millionaires and billionaires at the same time that we have hordes of people dying of starvation and malnutrition. A wide gap between the rich and the poor. In other words, our so-called 'freedom' comes at the expense of others. We sacrifice the common good for the good of certain elites. The 'haves' have more freedom than the 'have-nots.' That's the system. Political. Economic. Social. And we're told here in America that we have the best system in the world. That it may not be perfect. But that it's the best. Well, folks, it's far, far from perfect. It's downright bad. We could do a whole lot better. We could start by focusing more on the common good and less on what we call the good of the individual. Because what's really meant now is the good of certain individuals. The ruling elite. That's why a presidential candidate such as John McCain thinks it's bad to spread the wealth. To raise taxes on the rich to benefit the poor. McCain wants us to maintain the freedom for anyone to get rich, monetarily speaking. The problem with that is the fact that to get rich many of us sell our souls. Maybe, in a sense, that makes us poor. Poor examples of human beings. --Jim Broede

A nice mix.

I suspect that Barack Obama is a rare man shaped in an uplifting way because he's a black man. Because he had a white mother and a black father. Yes, a very nice blend. In many respects, he's black. But he's also equally white. However, it's customary in the USA to label anyone who has even a little bit of black in him, as black. Used to be that was always to put him in a class that was discriminated against. Still is, to a significant degree. But we white Americans are getting over our prejudice. Slowly. But surely. We're even capable of electing a 'black' man as our president. Or so it seems. We'll know for sure in two weeks. I think Obama is a very sensitive man. In part, because he's the product of a black-white union. A black-white upbringing. A nice blending. A nice merger. That's what we need in this nation. A nice mix. --Jim Broede

It'll make me proud...

I see signs that America may be waking up. No, I'm not encouraged by the yard signs in my neighborhood. For McCain-Palin. That scares me. Instead, I'm focused on the opinion polls. Which show Obama-Biden with strong support nationally, and especially in the so-called battleground states. And the election less than two weeks away. Oh, I've never pulled so hard for the ouster of a Republican Administration. I'm really an independent. I'm a liberal. But I don't belong to any political party. Of course, it's no secret that this time around, I'm gonna vote for Obama. He's the first major party candidate to turn me on in a long, long time. Since John F. Kennedy in 1960. Yes, I'm disillusioned with political parties. But still, I'm encouraged by what I'm hearing from Obama. Sounds like a decent man. A courteous man. A man of ideas. A man of fairness. Yes, very intelligent. Very articulate. And just think, for a black man to become president of the USA. It'll make me, a white man, proud to say I'm an American. --Jim Broede

...revered and respected again.

A 22-nation survey by the BBC found that voters abroad preferred Barack Obama to John McCain in every single country — by four to one over all. I read that in the New York Times today. Nearly half of those in the BBC poll said that the election of Obama, an African-American, would “fundamentally change” their perceptions of the United States. Isn't that nice? America may become revered and respected again. --Jim Broede

For that I am grateful.

If I weren't in love, I'd go crazy. That's my only salvation. Love. Yes, love diverts me from the annoying aspects of life. At the end of the day, when I reflect, before going to bed, I tell myself I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world. Because I am in love. With someone. And with life, generally. And it all comes down in the end to the good fortune of being in love. I could live under all sorts of hostile conditions and still be happy. As long as I have my love to fall back on. Love transcends everything. Politics. The economy. You name it. As long as I have love in my life, I'm all right. Love is my consolation. Really, it's my everything. Good health helps, too. To be able to feel good. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. And living one day at a time, too. That way I don't worry so much about the future. I savor the moment. Knowing I love. And am loved. Today. For that I am grateful. --Jim Broede

It's an insult. On all of us.

What we need in America and the world is a sense of overhaul. We have to find a way to get things right. So far, we've botched it. With the everyone-for-himself mentality. We've got to change that attitude. Here in America, we don't have democracy. We have a ruling elite. People with money call the shots, so to speak. A plutocracy instead of a democracy. Our Congress and the presidency are controlled by rich people and corporations. Look at the make-up of the Senate, for instance. Almost all of 'em are millionaires. They have rich contributors. Influenced more by lobbyists than by ordinary, middle class citizens. And most of us are oblivious of the workings of government. Of the manipulation. Because we are too busy with just making a living. And caring for our families. Our loved ones. We only take a cursory look at the issues during an election campaign. We hear sound bites. The stupid and misleading campaign commercials. Shallow presentations of the personalities. Oh, so many distortions. We're being lied to all the time. And the lying elite get away with it. Because we are either too lazy or too stupid or to overwhelmed with the other details of life to get it all straight. I'm beginning to think that democracy is a lost cause. Mainly because the masses of people are gullible or downright stupid or ill-informed. For proof of this, look at the way the current presidential campaign is being waged. It's an insult. On all of us. --Jim Broede

I wonder if he hates himself.

I treat some politicians with disrespect. But that doesn't particularly bother me. Because most politicians are disrespectful. I just give them a taste of their own medicine. Most politicians tear down and disparage their opponents. Showing them utter disrespect. I like Barack Obama because I think he's more respectful than most politicians. He's relatively kind to his opponent. But not totally. Because he's running against a sleazeball. There's no getting around it. John McCain hopes to win by maligning Obama. Grossly distorting his positions on issues. Sometimes, I wonder if McCain hates himself. If he did, I'd have more respect for him. --Jim Broede

Let's spread it around.

We Americans have to start thinking in broader terms. Rather than allowing the power elite to dictate to us. Our policymakers have us trained. And duped. Into thinking that the proper American way is to allow a free rein economy. In which it's all right for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. Instead of spreading the wealth around. Seems to me that greed predominates. Lots of millionaires and billionaires. But even more poor people. People who live hand to mouth. Many in this world die of starvation and malnutrition. While many of us live like privileged gluttons. We are not serving the common good. But we don't see it. Or we don't care. It's an everybody-for-himself mentality. I like the idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Precisely what Barack Obama proposes. Higher taxes on the people and businesses making more than $250,000 a year. And lower taxes for people in the lower and middle classes. Of course, John McCain and his Republican cronies say that's unfair. That the rich are already overtaxed. I don't buy that. The rich can afford to pay more. Because the less affluent often pay more with their lives. Take the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for instance. You don't find rich people in the armed forces. No, the poor and less educated young people generally go off to war. And pay with their lives. And who reaps the financial benefits of war? And who starts the wars? Yes, the rich and affluent and old politicians. They've got plenty of money to spare. Let's spread it around. --Jim Broede

It's sad. No more a maverick.

Believe me, John McCain is no maverick. He's sold his soul to cater to the Republican party line. He's sold out to the conservatives. To the base of the GOP. McCain used to have guts. A conscience. But now he's turned into a doddering old man. He's abandoned his principles. Maybe because he was willing to try anything to win the election. But he miscalculated. Badly. Thinking that the only way to win was to be something other than himself. Maybe he just turned himself over to his handlers. The Karl Rovians. It's sad to see McCain go down this way. Maybe he would have stood a chance. If only he had remained a maverick. --Jim Broede

It's time we got her un-elected.

Oh my, oh my. Now some of the McCainians and Bushies and neo-conservatives are telling us that some of us aren't real Americans. Maybe that includes me. After all, I'm not a super patriot. I'm not ready to declare America above all us. I'm a liberal. And a socialist-sympathizer. And I suppose, according to my congressional representative Michelle Bachmann, that makes me a communist. And very, very un-American. Bachmann has called for a probe in Congress. To separate the tried and true Americans (she's one of 'em) from the ones that can't be trusted, such as Barack Obama. Bachmann has been a guest on talk shows lately and she's a piece of work. Even out Sarah Palining Sarah Palin. That takes some doing. Palin, of course, tells us that the real Americans are mostly in the small towns off the beaten track rather than in big cities where liberals find their havens. Oh, yes, it's cleansing time. Just like it was in Nazi Germany. When it was decided to get rid of the Jews. Only now, we're gonna focus on the liberals and Muslims and Obama and his associates. Anyway, maybe I have reason to feel not too safe. I actually reside in Bachmann's district here in Minnesota. My neighbors helped to get her elected. Indeed, that's scary. Now it's time we got her un-elected. --Jim Broede

Rob the poor. Give to the rich.

Yes, I understand why John McCain doesn't want the wealth spread around. Because McCain is wealthy. When you own 7 or 8 homes -- well, that's a sign of wealth. Hard enough these days for the middle class to own one home, let alone multiple homes. McCain even has difficulty keeping track of all his homes. His money, too. It's like me. With books. I have so many books, I can't keep count. Impossible. Same thing with music CDs. Can't even listen to 'em all. It'd take me years and years to play all the music on those recordings. Anyway, I'm not afraid to share my books and CDs. I give 'em away all the time. I believe in sharing my riches. I'm even willing to give away some of my money. In taxes. And to charitable causes. I don't complain. If anything, I probably don't give away enough. I really have more than I need. Anyway, it's a laugh that McCain fancies himself as a defender of the middle class. Guys like Joe the Plumber. Joe doesn't know it, I guess. But McCain would screw him. McCain believes in giving more and more to the rich. Thinking the money will trickle down to benefit Joe. Eventually. Won't happen. Joe even has a lien against his property. Poor Joe. His dream may stay a dream. And maybe that's what he deserves. After all, Joe has been duped. Like so many of the middle class. He's gonna vote for McCain. And that means more of the same. Rob the middle class and give to the rich. --Jim Broede

...the best-functioning crappers.

Call it the Berlusconi effect, named after Italy's third-term gadfly president. That is my worst fear for the U.S. For my dear homeland. That a majority of Americans would vote against their own self-interest and ignore the real issues and elect a laughingstock. We've done it twice. With George Bush-Dick Cheney. So why not a third time? And elect Bush's surrogates? McCain-Palin. I tell my Italian friend to laugh off Berlusconi. Easy for me to say. Not living in Italy. I look at Italy, and I see Berlusconi as entertaining. And really, I suspect that's how many, many Americans see McCain-Palin. As entertaining. They don't think in terms of policy. They see interesting personalities. McCain. A war hero. Spent 5 years as a POW. A maverick. Who occasionally stands up to his fellow Republicans. He's the underdog. Written off in the primary elections. But then rallies at the end. And gets the nomination. And some Americans think it would be a great story if he rallies late in the general election campaign and wins the presidency. And then they'd have as a bonus this entertaining character -- a lame-headed slick chick who hunts caribou and moose and attends a church with a witch doctor -- just a heartbeat away from the presidency. Wow! Imagine such an administration. It'll be worth watching the entertaining news every night. Sure the economy will continue to tank. The gap will widen between the rich and poor. We'll still have 50 million people without health insurance. And instead of two wars, we'll start a costly third one. With Iran. That'll keep us glued to our television sets. But we can feel safe and comfortable in our abodes. Because we'll have a new member of the president's cabinet. Yes, Joe the Plumber, head of the Department of Plumbing. He'll guarantee that every American has a toilet that flushes. We'll be able to get rid of our crap. With the world's best functioning toilets. --Jim Broede

We're still waiting 5 years later.

Momentum can switch. I see it often in the sports world. Like the other day, Tampa Bay had a 3-1 game edge over Boston in the American league championship series. And with 2 outs in the 7th inning of the 5th game, Tampa Bay was leading by what seemed a comfortably safe 7-0. Only 7 outs to go for Tampa Bay to advance to the World Series. And then the bottom dropped out. Boston scored 4 runs in the 7th, 3 more in the 8th to tie the game, and then won it in the 9th, 8-7. Yes, a momentum change of amazing proportions. Of course, Tampa Bay had two more chances of wrapping up the series. Both games before the home crowd in Tampa. Well, last night, Tampa Bay lost, 4-2. And so the 7th and decisive game will be played tonight. And the momentum is with Boston. Just like that. With a snap of the fingers. And if Tampa Bay loses and doesn't make it to the World Series, fans there will lament. Oh, that 5th game. A 7-0 lead late in the game. And their team blows it. I'll pull for Tampa Bay. Because that's the decent thing to do. It's a young team. That came all the way from last place last season to first this season. It'd be a great story if Tampa went all the way to a world championship. But one never knows. The baseball gods can be cruel. Like in 2003, my Chicago Cubs looked like they were on the way to the World Series. They had a 3-1 games edge over the Florida Marlins. And the momentum suddenly turned. As it so often does in life. The Cubs lost the next 3 games. And Florida advanced. And we Cubs fans had to wait til next year, next season to go all the way. Five years later, we're still waiting. --Jim Broede

I wouldn't live in a castle.

I'm imagining today that I'm the king of the USA. Just for the fun of it. I'd pull our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. I'd reduce our defense budget to less than Sweden spends on defense. I'd bring about universal health care under a single payer system. I'd end corporate welfare. I'd raise taxes on the rich, mainly the millionaires and billionaires. I'd significantly narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. I'd undertake a massive program to improve the kingdom's infrastructure. I'd try to provide everyone the opportunity for a decent education. I'd expand the public parks. I'd be a big spender on the arts and cultural activities. I'd settle for a middle class income. I'd vacation in Italy. And I wouldn't live in a castle. --Jim Broede

Better than being a Republican.

You gotta give John McCain credit. When he's desperate, he'll try just about anything to turn around his sagging campaign for president. Mostly, by trying to discredit his opponent, Barack Obama. Instead of telling us what he (McCain) would do, McCain keeps trying to tell us what Obama would do. In terms meant to be negative. If truth be told, McCain would give us more George Bush. More Bush failed policies. The same policies that have America in deep doo-doo. Economically. This weekend, McCain has taken to labeling Obama a socialist. I suppose that's just a prelude to calling Obama a communist, ala the late Joe McCarthy. By the way, if anybody is a born-again socialist, it's George Bush, of all people. With the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. That's about as socialist as one can get. Only a staunch free-enterprise conservative capitalist like Bush could get away with such a proposal. And hey, guess who's backed it? McCain and Obama and a majority of Congress. They're all socialists. And some of the best programs we have in the USA -- Social Security and Medicare -- have socialist roots. Well, anyway, McCain's intent seems to be to turn voters against Obama by calling him a socialist. Being a liberal isn't enough any more, I guess. Anyway, I've been proudly proclaiming for years that I'm a liberal and a socialist sympathizer. I wear those labels proudly. Better than being a Republican. --Jim Broede

A nice break for Joe the Plumber.

Turns out that Joe the Plumber ain't even a plumber. And he ain't earning anywhere near the money that would bring him a tax increase. In fact, under Barack Obama's tax plan, Joe would get a sizeable tax cut. Despite what Joe thinks. And despite what John McCain purports. Joe confronted Obama in Ohio recently. He decried that Obama would strap him with more taxes. Joe found a sympathizer in McCain this past week. He more or less proclaimed poor Joe, poor Joe. Saying he epitomizes the taxpayer that would be hurt by tax-and-spend Democrats, such as Obama. That's not true. But McCain isn't known for letting the truth get in the way of his rhetoric. And Joe is bogus, too. He'd like to become a licensed plumber. And he'd like to buy a plumbing company and make more than $250,000 a year -- which would bring him an extra tax burden. And maybe rightly so if his business becomes increasingly profitable. But if he earns less than $250,000, he'd pay less in taxes than he'd pay at the current rate. But Joe won't vote for Obama because Joe is a rock-ribbed Republican. And that means Joe doesn't mind voting against his own best economic interest and lower taxes. Exactly why, I'm not sure. Maybe he thinks the Republicans are better on the social issues. Or maybe it's because Obama is black. Or possibly because Obama would bring the troops home from Iraq. It's really hard to say. Everybody is free to vote the way they want. For whatever reason. Or for no reason at all. Meanwhile, it's true that Obama would raise taxes on the relatively weathly. People and small businesses making more than $250,000 a year. The higher the income, the higher one's taxes would go. Millionaires and billionaires may be expected to pay substantially more. Obama assumes they can afford it. As for working people making less than $250,000, Obama wants to lower their taxes. In other words, to make it easier on the lower and middle classes at the expense of the rich. McCain says that's class warfare. But Obama doesn't see it that way. Nor do I. Yes, spreading the wealth is the right thing to do. That would be a nice break for the likes of Joe the Plumber. --Jim Broede

I like love stories.

I get all wrapped up in the upcoming presidential election here in the U.S. And I suppose that's good. But it also can be bad. In that in the end, I could be disappointed. But hey, I'm optimistic. I sense a good outcome. But the fact is, I can't really effect the outcome. I'm just a little pebble on the beach. What will happen, will happen. Whether I'm here or not. So, sometimes I wonder why I pay so much attention over events over which I have no control. Oh, I'm able to spout off. In my blog. In my writing. Really, my main focus should be on love. A loving relationship with another. Because that's more meaningful than anything. Doesn't matter, I suppose, whether McCain or Obama become president. That shouldn't have any effect on my loving relationship. We're still free to fall in love. And to cultivate the relationship. And to find happiness with each other. On a daily basis. That's the important thing in life. To have the freedom and the ability to fall in love. And to live reasonably happy. Under whatever political and economic system. One just makes the best of the situation. The important thing is that I'm able to profess and feel love. And say what's on my mind. About love. About a loving relationship. I choose to do that. Because it makes me happy. And content. And I just sit here and marvel at how nice it is to nurture a human, a loving relationship. Yes, I'm living an interesting story. A love story. Isn't it nice to be one of the two main characters in this love story? And the story keeps unfolding. Every day. Another page. Another chapter. Another twist. Yes, I like love stories. Especially this one. --Jim Broede

Can we live without our noses?

Our human concepts and values keep changing. Thank gawd. We Americans, for instance, used to think it was all right to have a slave economy. And that it was okay to deny women and blacks their civil rights until well into the 20th century. Think about it. At one time, feudalism prevailed on Earth. And kings ruled by divine right. But the nice thing is that eventually we saw the light. We change. And we do the right thing. Often, it's a very gradual process. A bit of enlightenment here and there. Some of us like living in a rut. We don't want to change. Because we like the world as it is. Usually, because it gives us some kind of advantage over others. The American capitalist system, for instance. It allows individuals to get rich. Very, very monetarily rich. And that creates a society in which the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. Yes, a big, big gap between the haves and the have-nots. And we've been taught that's perfectly all right. A good thing. That greed is good. That money trickles down from the top. And so everybody benefits. Of course, that's a crock of crap. But so many of us believe it. If we're told white is black and black is white often enough, we believe it. Like robots. We've been told that socialism is bad. Capitalism is good. We're told that Sarah Palin would be well-qualified to lead the free world if John McCain suddenly died in office. And we're told that Barack Obama cavorts with terrorists and that he's totally unfit to be president. That if he got elected, it would be one of the worst decisions we Americans ever made. Yes, so many of us believe almost everything we're told. We are gullible. If not downright stupid. We'd cut off our noses to spite our faces. --Jim Broede

Maybe the best we've ever had.

Mr. Cool. That's Barack Obama. I like that. Think about it. Have you ever seen Obama lose his cool? Lose his temper? Not even underneath. I look for signs. The way one smiles. Or doesn't smile. One's body movements. Obama is happy within himself. In his skin. Without being arrogant. He's at peace. And fair-minded. Not vindictive. He really would try to pull people together. Still, some people don't like him. Because he's cool. They like the hot-tempered. Because they are more entertaining. The bombastic political pundits, for instance. McCain. He ain't cool. He's an uptight fuddy-duddy. Ill-tempered. And Sarah Palin. Empty-headed. And mean-spirited. A remote control robot. Anyway, I know what I like. Obama is a breath of fresh air. He could be a great president. Maybe the best we've ever had. --Jim Broede

Glory, glory Hallelujah!

John McCain says it's class warfare. Because Democrats such as Barack Obama want a redistribution of wealth in the USA. Well, that's one war I can support. The rich are too rich. And the poor are too poor. So redistribution is the right thing to do. The gap between the rich and poor has been widening and widening under the American capitalist system. The no-conscience capitalists will foist their immoral ways on the masses as long as they can get away with it. Greed predominates. That's one reason why our economy is in a downspin at the moment. Think of it, folks, our economy at the founding of the nation was based in large part on slavery. And it still is to some degree. Only in more subtle ways. It's based on exploitation of the working class. The poor and middle classes. If that makes me sound like a socialist, so be it. Rise up, I say. Let's lower taxes on people making less than $250,000 and raise taxes on the rich, as Obama advocates. And if that's class warfare -- well, then glory, glory Hallelujah! Let's go marching off to war. --Jim Broede

Accomplishing the impossible.

Barack Obama speaks to me. He represents what is good about America. That he can capture the imaginations of a majority of American voters. And most likely, get himself elected president. Wow! That is some accomplishment. I once thought I'd never live to see a black president. Yes, live to see someone transcend the long-time underlying, deep racism in America. Oh, how proud I will be of my country if Obama makes it all the way to the White House. He will have accomplished what back in the 1960s would have seemed impossible. --Jim Broede

How to pick our leaders.

I'm thinking that in the world of politics, almost anything goes. Deceit. Lies. Character assassinations. Yes, even murder. It's one big free-for-all. Especially at the top level of politics. Because those at the top often got there because they are ruthless. And really good liars. Bull shooters, so to speak. They are people in love with power. And they love adulation. They experience euphoria at winning an election and getting into a position of power. One might say it's their orgasm. So beautiful. So sweet. I find that if there are any honest politicians, they are at the lower levels. At the local level. Maybe a mayor or city council member or a school board member. But the ones that keep going higher and higher to state and national office -- well, they have to be driven. By ambition. By ego. They have to be willing to play the game of politics. Willing to put on an act. Merely to corral support...and money...and votes. That's the nature of high level politics. I know it's sad. I know that the people who would be our best leaders don't want the job. Because they'd have to play politics. Some day, I'd like to see a nation that finds its leaders from those who refuse to seek the office. --Jim Broede

gawd forbid...a Republican.

I want you to know, folks, that I associate with Republicans. Even my daughter is a Republican. But that doesn't make me a Republican. I also know Christians, but that doesn't make me a Christian. And I've known felons, but that doesn't make me a criminal. Or I could have been acquainted with perceived political radicals, but that doesn't make me a communist. Yes, I don't want to be judged by the company I might keep. After all, I'm a curious fella. I like to associate with people who don't think like me. But I suppose that if I were running for president -- well, the likes of John McCain and Sarah Palin would take me to task. For not keeping proper company. They might label me a terrorist sympathizer or an advocate of liberation theology or a security risk or, gawd forbid, something even worse -- a Republican. --Jim Broede

Kind of scary, isn't it?

When I go walking in my neighborhood I see lawn signs for 'McCain-Palin.' Not any for 'Obama-Biden.' Maybe that's a bad omen. Or I just happen to live in a Republican neighborhood. Anyway, twice today, I stopped in two yards and asked, 'Why should I vote for McCain-Palin?'

One guy said, 'Because McCain is older. He's been around for a while.' That didn't seem reason enough for me. 'What about the issues?' I asked. The guy thought for a while. "I'll have to study the issues,' he finally said. I hope he does.

Another guy said, 'I'm gonna vote for McCain because he's the lesser of two evils.' I countered, "But aren't you scared? What if he dies in office and Palin becomes president?' He replied: 'Oh, well, our presidents are just figureheads. And she's pretty good to look at.'

Yes, folks, it's my neighborhood. Soon it will be Halloween. Kind of scary, isn't it? --Jim Broede

...as if I am in Italy.

Autumn has arrived in Minnesota. The colors are red and yellow and orange and amber. And when I walk, I hear the crunch of leaves beneath my feet. I also don a jacket or sweater. And overnight, the furnace turns on. But I'm still waiting for the first frost. That could be any day now. I'll have to bring in my 10-foot ficus tree and my 5-foot Norfolk pine. And one of these days, I'll be shoveling snow. It's good exercise. Anyway, summer was nice. But I like the change of seasons. I was at a chamber concert in a church in Venice this summer. The music was Vivaldi. The Seasons. And so, every time I listen to the music now, it's as if I am in Italy. --Jim Broede

...how petty things have become.

Bill Ayers was a domestic terrorist, of sorts, in the 1960s. Now he's a university professor. And in 1997 he was named Citizen of the Year in Chicago. I never met Ayers. But I'm assuming he's a pretty nice guy. And if he were my neighbor, I wouldn't mind knowing him. And socializing with him. And I'd like to talk to him about how he's changed over the years. Sounds to me like he's a pretty interesting guy.

But to listen to the rants of John McCain and Sarah Palin, that wouldn't be a good idea. I wouldn't be a patriotic American if I became a friend of Bill Ayers. That might make me a terrorist-sympathizer, according to them. Yes, that's the kind of reasoning I'm hearing in the current presidential campaign. Barack Obama has been taken to task by McCain and Palin for being Ayers' neighbor and serving with Ayers on the board of directors of a charitable organization.

Yes, that's how petty things have become. --Jim Broede

His dream will be our nightmare.

I think John McCain thinks of his life as a melodrama. He's the hero. The guy who spent 5 years as a prisoner of war. But had the grit and determination to survive. To feel he was being a patriotic American. And then he went on to participate in making America a better place. By serving in the U.S. Senate. And now running for president. What a story. What a hero. And through this all, McCain sees himself as a maverick. Someone willing to buck the system. Willing to castigate his fellow senators. Doesn't matter whether they are Republicans or Democrats. Because he fancies himself to be independent in so many, many ways. Yes, the maverick. McCain likes that image. He covets it. He's his own man, or so he thinks. And McCain likes the idea that he's often been counted out. By the sideline observers. By the media. He wasn't supposed to have had a chance to win the Republican nomination for president. But lo and behold, he came on strong at the end. And captured the nomination. Because he didn't give up. That's the picture he wants to paint of his life. And now he wants the grandest prize of all. He's trailing in the polls by 10 points with only 3 weeks to go to the election. And McCain is saying that's exactly where he wants to be. Behind. Counted out. So he can come on strong at the end. And then he'll be known not only as a maverick. But the comeback kid. But I see John McCain in a different light. A politician with a gigantic ego. One who avoids addressing the real issues. One who has launcehd a hateful, negative campaign against his opponent. One who has picked as his running mate someone who is totally incompetent. Yes, if John McCain achieves his dream, it'll be our nightmare. --Jim Broede

My sweet dream.

John McCain is unbelievable. That makes him a liar. And a slimeball. Oh, he'd like us to think he's a maverick. An independent guy. Even willing to cuss out members of his own Republican party. Probably because he has a hot temper. And he has a gigantic ego to boot. And that means he's about next to the last person I'd want as our president. The last would be his running mate, Sarah Palin. They're both vile people. No scruples. Instead of addressing issues, they castigate their opponent, Barack Obama. Suggesting he's untrustworthy. That he's a friend of terrorists. They even have their surrogates calling him Barack Hussein Obama. Yes, that's his real name. But they do it to foment racism. To arouse the rabble. A little bit reminiscent of Hitler. The nice thing about all this is that McCain and Palin are trailing in the polls. But hey, they ain't giving up. Any more than Hitler gave up. The Germans were dumbed down by all the rhetoric . Maybe it'll happen in America some day. That would be my worst nightmare. But I have a dream, too. A sweet dream. America sees the light. And Obama becomes our first black president. --Jim Broede

I believe...beyond a doubt.

Faith. That's an interesting word. Lots of people believe in god based on faith. I'm not sure that I have faith. But I still believe. I guess it's because I want to believe. That's different than faith. I want to believe because I'm a romantic. I believe that an element of romance runs through life here on Earth. Yes, I believe in romance. In love. And I think it's a romantic notion to believe in god. In a Creator. Some super natural force. A god of love, I guess. I know beyond a doubt that love and romance exist. Because I feel it. I know it's real. I'm living it. Daily. So, I'm assuming this force is god. Not the god one finds in organized and orthodox religions. My god doesn't even require that one believe in god. One can be a true believer or an agnostic or an atheist. Doesn't matter. All one has to do is believe in love. And I do. Beyond a doubt. --Jim Broede

Following my destiny.

I decided today to drift back. Into the past. Like 100 years. To 1908. Now that's unusual for me. Especially in the past year or so. I've really lived more in the today than ever before. Not getting too far behind or ahead of myself. Savoring the moment. But I decided to indulge myself. For a few minutes. To imagine what it was like a long, long time ago. My father wouldn't be born yet for another 2 years. And my mother wouldn't climb out of the womb for another 6 years. So many things had to happen. Before they would by happenstance meet. And marry. And give birth to me. It just as easily could have never happened. If just one little thing went awry. They'd perhaps never have met. And I'd never had tasted life. And love. But it turned out well. For me, at least. So, I pretty much believe in destiny. That I was supposed to live. I think that's a romantic notion. Even the fact that I met my Jeanne. And fell in love. And the fact that we had many good and happy and loving years together. And then Jeanne died almost 2 years ago. Of Alzheimer's. Just one of those things. We all die. Sooner or later. But oh, the thrill of being alive. I thought I'd never love again. Not deeply. Like I did with Jeanne. But one never knows. Life unfolds in strange and mysterious ways. The unexpected happens. Here I am. Happy as a lark. And in love. With life. With someone special. I don't know where it will all lead. I prefer living one day at a time. Not spending too much time living in the past. Or in the future. Just today. This moment. Oh, I occasionally glimpse back into time. And I wonder a little bit about the future. But I find that today is the best time of all. Because I'm living it. Following my destiny. --Jim Broede

...ain't the nature of politics.

I'd like to see a politician running for president run a completely clean campaign some day. It won't happen, I know. But he/she could start by admitting that the opponent is well-qualified. And is a good American. But that they disagree only on some issues. And on many things, they agree. And the opponents would tell what they like about each other. More so than what they dislike. In fact, they might even say they'd consider putting his/her opponent in his/her cabinet. In other words, to take advantage of the opponent's expertise. The idea is to get above the fray. At least to some extent. Like John McCain might be able to salvage his losing campaign by announcing that he's tired of being a Republican. He'd rather declare that he's an independent. And that he'd just as soon dump Sarah Palin from the ticket. Because he made a bad choice. But now he'd like to correct the error of his way. I might even consider voting for McCain under those circumstances. Although, I'm more likely to stick with Barack Obama. I like Obama, in part, because he's been considerably less negative than McCain and Palin. Of course, he's been negative, too. But maybe only 33 percent negative. Compared to almost 100 percent negative for McCain and Palin in recent weeks. I guess most -- if not all -- politicians just figure they can't win by being honest. And by being nice and respectful of one's opponent. That just ain't the nature of politics. --Jim Broede

We're all part of the building crew.

A loving relationship is built one brick at a time. One brick a day, in a sense. So that it has a solid foundation. It's built from the ground up. I've just awakened from a dream. It's very early. Before daybreak. Saturday. Oct. 11. I can't remember all of the details. Only this message is loud and clear. Somebody from the spirit world. From another dimension. Was talking to me in this dream. This was the message I was supposed to catch. Build brick by brick. Just the way I've been doing since Oct. 25, 2007. This is the right way. Enjoy the construction. Build. Build. Build. And at the end of the day, sit back. And love. Love the progress. Look at the edifice. It is like building a church. A cathedral. That is the essence of building a loving relationship. One builds love the same way one would build a cathedral. It's a lifetime pursuit. A lifetime endeavor. In a sense, one is supposed to lose track of time. Place the single brick in the foundation. One at a time. And enjoy it all. It takes some labor. Maybe like Sisyphus pushing his rock up the hill. Only one should admire the progress. Sisyphus' mistake was that he didn't stop each day. He should have pushed slowly. And at the end of the day, he should have wedged the rock so it wouldn't roll back down. Take it one foot at a time. Sort of like one brick at a time. And if the hill was one mile long -- well, then he should have taken 5,280 days to complete the task. One foot at a time. One day at a time. A loving relationship isn't built overnight. It's built over a long time. Over a lifetime. Over many, many years. Maybe that is what we are supposed to be doing with our lives. Building. Building. Building. One brick at a time. One foot at a time. One day at a time. We are to savor what we are doing. By doing it bit by bit by bit. Each brick is an act of love. Yes, I had a good feeling when I awakened. Well before daybreak. I was visited in that dream. By a guardian angel. By someone. Something. Perhaps by my conduit to the Creator. Or the Creator himself. Yes, the Creator must be building his creation like this. Making it possible for all of his creatures, his living, soulful beings, to be part of the construction crew. --Jim Broede

As an American, I expect better.

Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting. That's John McCain and Sarah Palin. They've tried to paint Barack Obama as a terrorist or a terrorist-sympathizer. They've tried to portray him as a foreigner. As unpatriotic. As unfit for the presidency. The campaign commercials are ungawdly awful. Mean-spirited. Reminiscent of the tactics of Adolph Hitler. Today, in Lakeville, Minnesota, McCain had to try to quell a partisan Republican crowd that hurled insults aimed at Obama. Little wonder there's such rage. That's exactly what McCain and Palin have been fomenting in their hateful commercials and stump speeches. Character assassination. McCain seemed to finally recognize that the hate had gone too far. He grabbed the microphone from a woman who unleashesd venom against Obama. Yes, McCain finally tried to do the right thing. He defended Obama and called him a decent person. But he was booed for it. Yes, McCain has lost control over some of his highly partisan and bigoted supporters. They have gone off the deep end. At one of the Palin rallies, there was a shout of, "Kill him (Obama)." Palin didn't intervene. Didn't try to quell the hate. Makes me wonder if she wants Obama dead. Yes, it's a disgusting way to run an election campaign. More like Nazi Germany. As an American, I expect better...but I ain't getting it. --Jim Broede

...the basic necessities.

I'm still going on the premise that from bad, eventually springs good. The demise of our capitalist economies. That'll bring bad times. So bad that we'll have to find better ways to manage our economies. So there isn't such a wide gap between the rich and poor. So that government eventually assumes the primary responsibility for seeing that the common good is served. I think that's the history of civilization. A constant effort to get things right. To get things fixed. And we do get 'em fixed to a significant degree. But then circumstances change. And we have to try something else. I think we'll have a revival of socialism. Many people won't like it to begin with. Because they've been taught and brainwashed to think of socialism as wrong. As evil. As bad. Maybe because it was applied in the wrong ways at the wrong times. But the time is coming when socialism will begin to make sense. To get us out of our bad times. Really, some of the finest programs in America are socialist in nature. Social security, for instance. And Medicare. We don't want to always admit it. But we need more programs like these. They are good. Because they serve the common good. They especially help the poor and the middle class. The rich always have money. They can buy the basic necessities and much more. But most of us aren't rich. We may not be poor. But we're all entitled to the basic necessities. --Jim Broede

Government has to intervene.

From a middle class perspective, we Americans aren't adjusting very well to the global economy. We're losing income. We're losing jobs. We're actually sinking. Deeper and deeper. Closer to just barely getting by. And that's due, in large part, to our government allowing the rich to get richer. At the expense of the lower and middle classes. The rich are allowed to move abroad with their businesses, to take advantage of cheaper labor. The result has been a loss of jobs in America. For instance, when I'm having computer problems, I call my provider for help. And someone with a strong foreign accent answers. Often, it's a guy or gal in India. That's where so many of the jobs have gone. That's been good for India. Because it's raising more and more people out of poverty and into a growing middle class. Just the opposite is happening in America. The middle class keeps shrinking. And the gap widens between the rich and the poor. So many nations that thrived economically before globalization aren't thriving any more. That is, unless you were rich to start with. Because you are likely to be getting even richer. You like globalization under the capitalist system. More opportunities to make more money, to become millionaires and billionaires. Well, this is where governments have to step in. To level the playing field. For the benefit of the lower and middle classes. To narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. It'll take more regulation. Maybe even the nationalization of some industries, such as banking and lending and health care. Yes, it's called socialism, long the bugaboo of capitalism. We need a new kind of society. One that puts more focus on the common good rather than on the individual good. Not everyone should have the right to make obscene profits. Because that exploits the masses, primarily the lower and middle classes. At least it does in America. If we leave the responsibility of serving the common good to private free enterprise capitalists -- believe me, it won't happen. Greed always wins under the capitalist system. So government has to intervene...and do the right thing. --Jim Broede

Life is wonderful.

What's news? I've spent most of my life in the news business. As a writer for newspapers. And I'm not sure that I know the answer to that question. In large part, I suppose, it was whatever I decided to write about. Sometimes in conjunction with my editors and publishers. But very, very often, I'm the guy that decided. Don't know that I always had good judgment. But I ended up writing about many things. Often, based on the degree of controversy or entertainment value. Maybe, too, decisions were based on what we thought people wanted to read. But one thing I know, often we used the grab-bag technique. We wrote about things that we had time to write about. I've written for daily newspapers. And weekly newspapers. Usually, the bigger the paper, the wider the spectrum. If it was a weekly, it was largely local news. On reflection, maybe my favorite was the weekly. I had more freedom. I'd be both writer and editor. And I had opportunity to delve into the underbelly of a community. Maybe it was a microcosm of America. I got to know the big fishes in the little pond. The mayor. The city council members. The schoool board members. The business leaders. Even the local gadflies. All kinds of characters. I even became a character, of sorts. Because I even wrote a weekly column. Called it Broede's Broodings. And after I went on to take a job as a writer for the capital city daily newspaper, I stayed in the small town and got elected to the school board. I took an active political and social role in my community. I was able to do that because I had built a reputation over several years as a writer for the local weekly. People got to know me, and how I think. I was in a high profile job. I wrote about local issues. And so, I was well-informed. I'm retired now. So maybe I don't stay as cognizant of community happenings. But I have more time to think. To reflect. For instance, about the state of the news media and the state of the economic, political and social systems in the USA. And the world, for that matter. I spent 5 weeks this summer in Europe. Mostly in Italy and Germany. And I read a lot. And I've cultivated a handful of relationships. With nice people. One in particular. Yes, I've fallen in love again, almost two years after my long-time love, Jeanne, died of Alzheimer's. I feel more alive than ever. And I've learned to live one day at a time. To savor life. Oh, so many precious moments. I think I used to race through life. Trying to do too many things. Spreading myself thin. Now I've slowed down. Set my priorities. Yes. Yes. Yes. I've never been more alive. Life is wonderful. --Jim Broede

Not for just the few.

Sweden did it in the early 1990s. Nationalized all of its banks and lending institutions. I wonder if that day is coming here in the USA. Sooner or later, I suppose. Ah, socialism. It's coming. To the banking industry. And in health care, too. We're going to learn some day that in government, we trust. In private enterprise capitalism, we don't trust. If properly run, government service can be more economical and more humane than private profiteering capitalism. We've got to do what's best for the billions of people in this world. Not for just the few. --Jim Broede

We're making strides.

I think there's an underlying racial hatred in America. Used to be, it was very much out in the open. In my lifetime. When I went south in the 1960s, there was segregation. Separate schools. Separate restaurants. Even separate drinking fountains. We've ushered in big changes since then. We've become a better society. Less racist. At least on the surface. But underneath in the belly of America, there's still an alarming streak of racism. And it's being aimed at Barack Obama. Some folks don't want him elected merely because he's black. Fortunately, it looks like he'll become our next president anyway. And that speaks well for America. But still, we have racists amongst us. Always will, I suppose. But we're making strides. --Jim Broede

One man yelled out, 'Kill him.'

Yes, Sarah Palin goes too far. Far too far. She says in her speeches that Barack Obama 'pals around' with terrorists. And calls him Barack Hussein Obama. But when you have no scruples and you're a lying politician, almost seems like anything goes. Palin incites the crowd. Maybe almost reminiscent of Hitler at times. One man in the throng even yelled out, 'Kill him.' --Jim Broede

I like America...but

I think of myself as a lover. Almost first and foremost some days. But no matter how hard I try, I can't fall in love with my country. Oh, I can fall in love with life. And with another. A special one. But hey, I find it inappropriate to fall in love with the United States of America. That's a little too abstract for me. I can't bring myself to declare 'America, uber alles.' Maybe it's that I think that would be dangerous. And even immoral. Not a good thing. I would even find it difficult to kill in defense of my nation. Because I think America too often does wrong. Acts like an imperial power. Oh, America does some good, too. And that makes me proud of my motherland or fatherland, or whatever we choose to call it. But I think of myself more as a citizen of the world and the universe and all of Creation -- more so than a citizen of the U.S. I like it that I am afforded freedom of speech. In some places on this Earth, I wouldn't have that right. And maybe I don't have full freedom of expression here and now, today. But still, it seems that I am free to say what I want to say to a reasonable degree. Yes, speech should be a basic human right. No matter where one lives. And I'm also free to fall in love. With someone. Someone precious. And to cultivate this love. And even to write love letters. And to tell everyone that I am truly in love with life. But I'm not in love with America. I like America...but that's different than being truly in love. --Jim Broede

Who's the real John McCain?

Listening to the presidential debate tonight, I got the feeling that maybe John McCain is getting tired of playing his role. That his handlers are trying to make him another Sarah Palin. To make him mean-spirited. And shallow. I sensed that McCain is trying to put up some resistance. And that he'd like to say, 'Hey, folks, I don't want to be a sonafabitch. And that's exactly what my advisors are trying to make me. I'd rather just retire and go back to Arizona and live the rest of my life in peace.' Anyway, if that's the thought on McCain's mind -- well, then I have new-found respect for him. But if he truly buys into the crap coming out of Palin's mouth, then he really is a sonafabitch. --Jim Broede

My most basic necessity -- love.

Don't worry. Be happy. That's my motto. I'm not lettting the sagging economy get me down. I am concerned. But I'm not gonna let it worry me. Not as long as I have my love to keep me warm. I say that with a smile. I'm trying to look at the bright side. Maybe we are seeing the demise of capitalism. At least as we have known it for so many, many years. I think we are becoming more aware of the haves and have-nots in this world. That's what capitalism has done. Created an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor. When the goal really should be to create a huge middle class. A happy medium. Capitalism encourages greed. A hoarding of wealth. I guess I believe in a comfortable life. Not an extravagant life. A life with some degree of leisure. And a society built on accomplishing the common good. By guaranteeing virtually everyone the basic necessities of life. And to some degree that's accomplished by taking from the rich and giving to the poor. But that's gonna take some doing. We'll have to recondition our thinking. First, we have to recognize that capitalism as it's now practiced doesn't work. It's unfair. Immoral. I think most people wouldn't mind allowing some people to get relatively rich. If only we had a society that provided the 'have-nots' with the basic necessities. Anyway, I know what's my most basic necessity -- love. --Jim Broede

...on the path to recovery.

Doesn't surprise me one bit that John McCain has launched a very negative campaign against Barack Obama. McCain, in so many respects, is unprincipled. A politician prepared to resort to smear tactics to try to win. Winning is everything. And McCain is desperate. It'll hurt his ego if he loses. And besides, McCain is an old man. As old as me. So maybe he figures it's now or never. Really, McCain should retire. From the Senate. From public office. I don't think his mind and body can take 4 years in the presidency. He won't make it. And that means his vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin, would become president. That would be a national disaster. The end of America as we know it. Time to flee to Canada.
Anyway, I think there's a good chance that Obama will win. The polls show him pulling ahead. And that makes me feel good about America. To know that Americans would repudiate McCain-Palin. But one can never be sure. After all, Americans elected George Bush twice. That has brought the nation to the verge of ruin. Maybe Obama and his administration can put America back on the path to recovery. --Jim Broede

Not what's best for the few.

I heard an interesting statistic on the radio today. Can't vouch yet for its accuracy. But I'll check it out. Seems hard to believe. But really, I suspect it's true. That the 1,000 richest people in the world have more than the poorest 2.5 billion people in the world. Yes, folks, that's a glaring example of the gap between the rich and the poor. It's obscene. It's immoral. It's a disgrace. Yes, another reason why we have to scrap capitalism. And find a better economic system. We're moving closer to a global economy. And I think a basic tenet that we need to keep in mind is doing the common good. Let's do what's good and best for mankind as a whole. Not what's best for a few. --Jim Broede

A nice ending to Mike's story.

Mike posted under 'musings' on the Alzheimer's message boards. To tell us he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He told everybody how he feels. And I think that took courage. Lots of courage. Mike is a well-educated man. A trial lawyer. He's taking deep breaths these days. He's gonna try to make the best of it. And I'm in his corner. We need more of his kind in this world.

Look at it this way, I told Mike. You could have dropped dead yesterday. Instead, you're very much alive. And still quite with it. Mentally. And physically. But you have no guarantee that you won't be dead tomorrow. So, live today. To the fullest. Savor the day. I'd also suggest that you remind yourself that you're in love. With life. And maybe with a few people near and dear to you. Love 'em more than ever. That might be the best way to live your remaining days. It might prompt those others, too, to love you more than ever. To appreciate you today. Think about your fate, too. What if the Creator gave you a choice? You could die suddenly of a stroke or heart attack or in a traffic accident or a plane crash. Or, instead, your life could be extended for several more years. And you'll fade away gradually. In a sense, you'll eventually lose your mind. But you'll still have some reasonably functioning time, maybe even years. Hard to say. I had my Jeanne for 13 years after the onset of Alzheimer's. She was functional to some degree right up to the end. I'm grateful for that. I think Jeanne chose to live as long as she did. Maybe because she loved life. But I know one thing. That time worked for me. I learned to love Jeanne more than ever. And maybe even someone around you will learn to love you more than ever, Mike. That would be a nice ending to your story. To your life. --Jim Broede

A sharp contrast to McCain.

John McCain is NOT a nice man. He is mean-spirited. And a stretcher of the truth. If not an outright liar. He knows he cannot win the presidency by addressing the issues. That would be a sure way for him to lose. So he has to come up with gimmicks. And by attacking his opponent, Barack Obama. Yes, disparaging Obama. Smearing his character. And distorting Obama's positions on the issues. Yes, negative campaigning. I felt sorry for McCain when similar tactics were used against him by George Bush in the 2000 election campaign. But now, McCain is out-bushing Bush. Yes, more evidence that if McCain gets elected, it'll be very much like having Bush in for a third term. Obama, meanwhile, seems like a nice and decent guy. A sharp (and pleasant) contrast to McCain. --Jim Broede

...one of the Stepford wives.

Interesting. How a politician is packaged these days. Take Sarah Palin, aka the Barracuda. The moose hunter. The Alaskan. A woman with glasses. Looks a little like a librarian. But when she opens her mouth, seems like she doesn't have much book learning. Actually, she sounds rather nonsensical. A bit like a programmed robot. But her mechanical brain has gone hay-wire. Maybe that's why she often sounds incoherent. But there's something likeable about her. Like a cute little puppy. Albeit, empty-headed. But still, she's being sold to us as a potentially sterling leader of the free world. A vice president of the United States. With a good chance that if elected, she'll some day become president. The first woman to hold the lofty office. Here, we once thought it'd be Hillary Clinton. Trained for the job as First Lady for 8 years. A feisty little woman with a real brain. Instead, it may be one of the Stepford wives that takes charge. --Jim Broede

Almost like being on vacation.

I'm thinking about taking a little winter vacation. In Europe. Probably Italy. But I'm not sure about it. Because the value of the American dollar keeps dropping. I mean it's worth only half of what it was a few years ago. A sign that our economy is sick. For lots of reasons. Not the least being that American-style capitalism ain't working. Anyway, I'm taking a wait-and-see approach about that vacation. Not planning or thinking too far ahead. I'm in a nice routine. Living one day at a time. I've been doing that for almost a year now. Ever since I fell in love. Yes, every day I have my love to get me by. And in that sense, every day is special. Bliss. Joy. Almost like being on vacation. --Jim Broede

...makes me feel stupid.

I have to admit, it bothers my conscience sometimes to hurl insults at people. But I'm not bothered so much when I insult Sarah Palin and John McCain. That's because they are masters at insult politics. So, it's just a whole lot of fun trying to out-insult the master insulters. It becomes a game. That's the way politics work. I know it's stupid. But seems to me that's a requirement if one wants to be a politician. One must be stupid. So, if I am to understand what makes a politician tick, I must try to be stupid. So I'm trying. And believe me, this makes me feel stupid. Very stupid. As stupid as I can become. But it makes me feel like a politician. At least for a moment. Until I decide to become a decent and intelligent human being again. --Jim

A reminder: I'm in love.

It's the 5th inning. The middle of the game. And the Cubs are losing 2-0. They've had scoring opportunities. But haven't cashed in. They can't get a clutch hit. A hit that drives in runs when they really need it. If they lose tonight, it's all over. We'll have to wait until next season. So, with what time is left, I'm gonna try to psych the Cubs to victory. To see if I can influence the baseball gods. Let's see what happens. I'm trying to create an aura. Good vibes, one might say. I've had bad feelings about the play-offs right from the beginning. Didn't feel optimistic. But hey, what if I try to think positively? Thinking. Thinking. Thinking. That maybe...no, not maybe...but rather that the Cubs WILL turn the tide. And gather momentum. And get into a winning groove. Because I'm gonna will it. Now and then, I'll go to the scoreboard and the play by play. To determine if the momentum is changing. Maybe this is something I can't influence. I can't control. Unless, of course, life is merely a dream. In which case, outcomes can be altered. I just have to will it. It's like my love relationship. I've willed it, so to speak. I believed it. Right from the beginning. I'm in love with someone. But with the Cubs I've had doubts. Because I think, I guess, that their fate is beyond my control. But with this love relationship, I have some degree of control. Especially, if I believe. All right. Now I am going to try to start to believe in the Cubs winning this game. I'm willing it. Maybe this will put my theory to a test. And maybe it's not going to be enough. Because maybe I don't believe strongly enough. It's like one can't walk on water unless one really believes one can do it. Beyond an iota of doubt. Well, it's not working. Just went to the scoreboard and play by play. And now the Cubs are losing 3-0, and Los Angeles has still another scoring threat going. I think the Cubs have lost faith. And maybe that's what I am doing, too. Neither one of us have adequate faith. The team or me. But that doesn't stop me from dreaming. That some how, some way, the Cubs will find a way to win. Because I am playing god. And I am trying to send the proper vibes to the players. To get so pissed that they say enough is enough. And they fight back. They become determined. As if it's almost a life and death situation. They have to win. And they must keep saying, 'I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.' Like in that little childhood story my mother would read to me titled, 'The Little Engine that Could.' Maybe tonight it's not enough for just me to believe. The players have to, too. Anyway, only 4 innings to go. And the Cubs haven't even scored a run yet. Not a good sign. But still, it isn't over until it's over.

It's now the bottom of the 6th inning. And the Cubs are still losing 3-0. So only 3 innings left to make a comeback. I want the comeback. I want the victory. But maybe I don't want it hard enough. I don't believe in the Cubs nearly as much as I believe in love. I guess I have my priorities. I can't have everything. If I have to choose, I'll choose love. But if I'm god, I want it all. I want everything. Only thing is, god ain't gonna allow that. God is telling me don't be a selfish ingrate.

The Cubs get 2 runners on in the 7th, and the tying run is at the plate. A fly to deep center. But it's caught. So much for that. Only 2 innings left, and we haven't scored a run yet. Looks bad. But we gotta have faith. We gotta believe. We're gonna pull this out yet. The baseball gods are gonna take us all the way to the World Series. In dramatic fashion. That's what I want. That's what I gotta believe.

Well, the Cubs get a run in the 8th inning, to cut the Los Angeles lead to 3-1. But the Cubs leave a runner stranded. And so it'll come down to the 9th inning. Do or die. Now's the time to believe. Time to turn the tide in this whole series. Here and now.

It's over. The Cubs go down in order in the 9th inning. There's joy in Los Angeles. And sadness in Chicago. Yes, the Cubs will have to wait another year. But still, I'm happy. It was a good season. In that the Cubs won more games than any team in the National League. They played good baseball. Except in the playoffs. Getting swept by Los Angeles. Anyway, I remind myself that I am in love. With life. With someone. Can't really ask for more than that. --Jim Broede

How we choose our leaders.

Sarah Palin is being held to an extremely low standard. Some conservatives, for instance, are just happy that she didn't make s complete idiot of herself in the vice presidential debate with Joe Biden. Doesn't matter that she acted like an imbecile or a moron. In fact, that's really better than they expected. On that basis, it's concluded by at least a handful of happy conservatives that Palin did all right. Better than expected. And so, they'll vote for the John McCain-Palin ticket. In other words, in their opinion, Palin is qualified to some day be president of the USA because she isn't an idiot. Only an imbecile or moron. Yes, folks, this is what America has come to. This is how we choose our leaders. --Jim Broede

America had gone to hell.

Oh, my gawd. I woke up this morning after a horrible nightmare within a nightmare. I'm still shaking. The John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket won the election. And McCain died. Yes. Palin became president. America had gone from George Bush to McCain to Palin. America had gone to hell. --Jim Broede

...in our search for the good life.

I want the good life. Without having to make money. Lots of money, that is. Just a tidy little sum. All I need are a few basics. A decent education. So that I can exercise my mind. Good health care. So I can exercise my body. A shelter. And it doesn't have to be fancy. A loving relationship, too. I don't have to be monitarily rich to be happy. The basics and a bit of leisure time. That's all it takes. I don't have to be a fat cat hauling in oodles of money on Wall Street, or on Main street, for that matter. So, that's what I want. And I suspect that many, many in the middle class would settle for essentially the same. As an American, I want the government to make this sort of existence possible. And that probably requires less of a gap between the rich and the poor. A better distribution of wealth. That can be achieved, in part, by higher taxes on the rich. By putting some limits on profits. Yes, it may require some amount of socialism blended with capitalism. Yes, I want a sense of decency and fairness to prevail in America and in the world. We don't have that under the present capitalist system. We're allowing too much exploitation. Too much extremism. Politically. Economically. Socially. Of course, what I am proposing may seem extreme. To the capitalist. But I guess that's the nature of change. I want change that some day will no longer seem extreme. I, for one, would have no difficulty adjusting to it. And I suspect that would go for most of us in our search for the good life. --Jim Broede

A guy can hope, can't he?

Maybe the state of America isn't so bad. Or not as bad as I imagined. After all, the opinion polls are swinging more and more in favor of Barack Obama. He actually might be elected president. Yes, a man with a brain that functions. Rather than a George Bush or something that might even be worse, a ticket comprised of John McCain and Sarah Palin. Of course, the election is still a month away. There's still no guarantee that America will come to its senses. But hey, a guy can hope, can't he? --Jim Broede

...and all is well in the universe.

Oh, it would be a nice story-line. The Chicago Cubs lose the first two games of a play-off series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. And in the process, they play lousy baseball. Errors galore. No hitting. Bad pitching. All this after the Cubs posted the best record in the National League during the regular season. Then the Cubs go on the road, to Los Angeles, and start a miracle comeback. They win the third game, the fourth game and finally the fifth game back in their home ballpark, Wrigley Field in Chicago. Cub fans go crazy. It's a wild celebration. Then the Cubs go on to the next round of the play-offs and make it all the way to the World Series. Again, more celebration. And the Cubs become known as a resilient team. Finally, shedding their reputation as merely loveable losers. Yes, they become loveable winners. For the first time since 1908. That's my dream...and all is well in the universe. --Jim Broede

...the art of inane politics.

Fellow Americans, I don't know why we put up with it. We let politicians do whatever they want. Take the vice presidential debate tonight. Between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. Palin was asked questions by the moderator. And she just more or less ignored many of 'em. Instead, she just spouted crap and cliches about other totally unrelated topics. Whatever she chose to talk about. And said she was just choosing to address the audience of TV viewers with what she wanted to say. Crap. Rehearsed crap. Her campaign's talking points. Guess that makes sense for Palin. Because when she's been asked questions in interviews in recent days, she's been flummoxed. Made a fool of herself with idiotic unintelligible answers. She still does that. Which goes to show that Palin knows how to be a fool in many, many ways. She's mastered the art of inane politics. --Jim Broede

She's a 'post turtle.'

A guy named Greg posted this story on a New York Times blog site today:

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, who’s hand was caught in the gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

The old rancher said, “Well, ya know, Palin is a Post Turtle.”

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a ‘post turtle’ was. The old rancher said, “When you’re driving down a country road you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a post turtle.”

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain. “You know she didn’t get up there by herself, she doesn’t belong up there, and she doesn’t know what to do while she’s up there, and you just wonder what kind of idiot put her up there to begin with.”

...plenty of fixing still to do.

I think the motivating force in life shouldn't necessarily be to get monetarily rich. In a capitalist society, such as we have in America, the idea is that everyone should have the opportunity to become filthy rich. Millionaires and billionaires. Because these money-grubbers will make other people prosperous, if not obscenely rich. Essentially, money is seen as the route to happiness. The rich are happy. The poor are unhappy. And as we have been told by our founding fathers, we all should be entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Well, I have a way to bring this about for a greater number of people. I want the rich to surrender much of their wealth to make the poor less poor. To assure the poor -- everyone, for that matter -- with the basic necessities of life. Yes, a decent living. Good and guaranteed health care. Adequate shelter. A job. Good pay. Education. Social security. Pensions. To pay for all this, we'll have to narrow the gap between the rich and poor. In a sense, we have to try to raise everyone to the middle class level, more or less. Yes, that may require a bit of socialism. Because we'll need the government to assure that everybody receives the basic necessities. Private and capitalist ventures aren't going to do it. At least not adequately. Or voluntarily. For proof of that, look at what the American capitalist system has wrought. Quite an economic crisis. And inequality. A climate in which the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. Some, of course, will say that many of the poor are lazy. They have opportunity to get rich and to provide for themselves. Why should government feel obligated to help them? Well, the fact is that government helps the rich. By giving them tax breaks. And by allowing them to exploit people. For the sake of ungawdly profit. Remember, folks, our nation was founded with an economic system based, in large part, on slavery. Yes, exploitation of a large segment of humankind. We still have immoral exploitation. In forms somewhat different than slavery. But still, it ain't right. We have plenty of fixing still to do. --Jim Broede

...winners in my heart.

Oh, my. My Chicago Cubs are off to a bad start in the play-offs. Losing the first game to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-2. We Cub fans generally expect the worst. But still, we have some degree of faith. We dream that the Cubs could even lose the first two games. And then come from behind in dramatic fashion and sweep the remaining three games. And advance to the second round and still make it to the World Series for the first time since 1945. And yes, to even win the World Series for the first time since 1908. We've had a good season. A winning season. For the second year in a row. Many sportwriters call the Cubs the best team in baseball. And many pick them to go all the way. But still, we all know that the Cubs are loveable losers. Ultimately, in the end, they finish on a losing note. The grand prize remains elusive. But still, they remain winners in my heart. --Jim Broede

What has America come to?

I'm beginning to believe in the impossible, I guess. After all, no way, did I ever believe that the Republicans could but up a presidential ticket worse than Bush-Cheney. Yep. The GOP has done it, folks. John McCain and Sarah Palin. I gotta think that's the worst presidential ticket ever nominated by a major political party in the United States of America. Please, someone, tell me it's all a hoax. An April Fool's joke. This can't be, can it? I keep reading newspapers and tuning in the TV news. Daily. Expecting a revelation that this is a put-on. A prank. A Monty Python skit. After all, I've even seen it on Saturday Night Live. I swear, the script was written by Sarah Palin. Yes, I muse, somebody is pulling my leg. But then I see the serious news reports. From respected journalists. So, yes, it's true. McCain and Palin are real people. Wanting to become the leaders of America. And they're actually going to get some votes. Impossible as it would seem. They are being taken seriously. They ain't joking. Our founding fathers must be turning in their graves. Wondering. Wondering. Wondering. What has America come to? --Jim Broede