THANKSGIVING GREETINGS

The old Sunday School song "Count Your Blessings" is a good one for this weekend, especially in today's negative news climate. But leave it to the PETA people to try to steal some of our Thanksgiving joy: http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=39977

BACK IN THE USA

... after several days in the People's Republic of China. Always an amazing trip (my fifth), of course. Even more during these days of world economic jitters. More observations as my jet lag wears off.

WELCOME HOME: To the USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group, back in San Diego tomorrow morning after a job well done --- they've been deployed since May!

IMMIGRATION LAWS ON HOLD?

The "Obama's Aunt"story takes on a new twist with word that the Bush administration told immigration officials to stand down until the election was over: http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=39223

LAW AND ORDER

Senator Diane Feinstein is cracking down on... ticket scalpers (while murderers and rapists run free?): news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081111/ap_on_go_co/inauguration_tickets

EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Every President can use them... some more effectively than others. Now, as we've been discussing on the radio show for weeks... time to watch what the new President plans to do. Or UN-do. January 20, 2009 will likely be a day of loads of quick executive orders that may surprise some of Mr. Obama's biggest fans (and opponents). Here's more info:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081109/D94BKGR80.html

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE: Both sides have to admit this Onion News Network parody is pretty funny (and better than SNL). Check this video on what the biggest Obama devotees are now "experiencing": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_95F5e-Ac

WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON?

I can only imagine the eye-opening time the President-elect had yesterday. He received his first full-blown CIA briefing, and now he sees and knows everything the President does. Threats to our country, our way of life, are beyond what's regularly reported. And the world's thugs are already making threats to Obama,, doing some early tests of his resolve. Time will tell how he responds. But there's no doubt he now has a whole lot more to consider. He also needs our prayers to handle the issues properly.

Here's another concern: Cyber attacks. Both the Obama and McCain campaigns saw their computers hacked earlier this year... and even Defense Secretary Gates had his system compromised. The culprit? Looks like China: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2931c542-ac35-11dd-bf71-000077b07658.html

"TRUST... BUT VERIFY"

Ronald Reagan said it, and I believe it. Barack Obama wins the election and the pundits start pontificating. That's fine. I will not do the stereotypical thing and rail against fellow GOP'ers or conservatives, or go on the attack immediately vs. Obama-Biden. I want to believe that President-elect Obama means what he said in the big speech last night. It's a history-making event for our country, and does lift hearts to see we're moving beyond racism. Time will tell. His record shows the rhetoric doesn't match it. But maybe it's a new day in America. We can hope. We'll see what changes. And we'll continue to debate the issues.

IT COMES DOWN TO THIS

America at the polls. And let's pray that America votes wisely, based on issues - not personalities or spin. When it comes to expectations, here's a video that ought to cause concern: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI
Please.. do your homework on candidates and issues... then exercise your right as an American:
VOTE.

KATIE'S COZINESS

Contrast Ms. Couric's deep, probing follow-up questions with Gov. Palin vs. her queries for The One... watch the video here: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2008/11/03/suddenly-incurious-katie

THANKS, AL GORE

After all the adventures of 2000, we'll never have a "normal" election ever again.  If Obama wins, there will be questions of voter fraud, ACORN, stacking-the-deck with "early voting". If McCain wins, thousands of lawyers will be mobilized to claim the election was "stolen"... and it'll get much worse. The difference is this: If McCain loses a close one, he'd likely avoid a drawn-out legal challenge ala Gore, stepping aside to led Obama lead. I don't expect that to be the case if it's the other way around.  And speaking of early in-person voting: Stop it in the future. Election day should be,well, on election day. Other than the time-honored tradition of using absentee ballots, America should vote when it's the all-important day.  Both parties use early voting in ways that would make the Founding Fathers cringe.

GOTTA READ IT: Thomas Sowell's excellent article on "Ego and Mouth" (scroll down to link)

The next President?

MUST-READING FOR AMERICA

Thomas Sowell's latest regarding "Ego and Mouth". Crucial info, especially for those "undecideds" out there:
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/11/ego_and_mouth.html