QUESTION ABOUT NEWS REPORTING

Why did the Advertiser print the news of General Powell’s endorsement on page 3B—the Alabama Section--instead of Page One?

General Colin Powell

THANK YOU, GENERAL POWELL! He has always been a favorite of mine. I have the utmost respect for him and I KNOW that he would never endorse or vote for anyone based solely on race. Again, a lot of it goes back to Sarah Palin, and the fact remains: at this juncture in our lives, Sen. Obama is the best choice on so many levels.

I'm still waiting to see if the McCain Camp will refute many of the allegations in this week's Rolling Stone article.

They threw out so many inflammatory inferences about Sen. Obama. but let's be honest: Sen. McCain has his own demons and ghosts. All idols have feet of clay. But, when it comes to leading, to winning the support of our NATO alliances, the economy, education, and healthcare--to say nothing of taxes--Sen. Obama is clearly the better choice as far as I am concerned. Sen. McCain's wife is worth $100 million so, naturally, he is going to oppose more taxes on the very wealthy. And I appreciate his military service to this country, as I appreciate the service of every young kid who has been maimed, killed and still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. But those credentials alone do not give anyone the entitlement to lead this nation. And those of us who have decided to vote for Senator Obama have prayed to the same God and for as long, or longer, than have the Republicans. Contrary to public perception, the Republicans and Christian Coalition are not the only ones who are Christians and patriots.

October 16th Article in Rolling Stone on John McCain

Will there be a response from the McCain camp? Some of this I've read in his books and heard over the years.

Just as Sen. Obama has been urged to answer questions about Bill Ayers and Acorn, so should Sen. McCain answer the plethora of accusations in this article.

To read it in its entirety, log onto:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

Third and Final Debate

I thought Sen. Obama was on mission tonight; didn't get rattled, as did his opponent. I have always respected John McCain so much, but the last few weeks of the campaign have diminished him in my eyes. For one thing, he should remember that folks didn't take kindly to Al Gore's eye-rolling and looks of disdain in the debates with GW. I thought McCain came across condescending, temperamental, and sarcastic---characteristics surprising to me and characteristics that don't look "presidential."

Sen. Obama remained focused and so my choice for the last 18 months has not wavered. At one point in late summer, I waited to see who Sen. McCain would choose as a running mate and after the debacle of Sarah Palin to the ticket, that clinched it for me because it told me he made a hasty decision under pressure and God only knows, her "gee whiz," "golly Joe Six Pack," and winks aren't qualifications. The woman can't answer a question without a script, showed so much irresponsibility on the campaign trail with her inferences to Sen. Obama's being a terrorist, etc., hasn't a clue about foreign policy and thinks shooting endangered wolves from an airplane is okay.

Sen. McCain is a good man but being a war hero and a P.O.W. are not qualifications for the presidency. Like Bush, he has not focused on domestic issues until the economic crisis forced him to do so. Eisenhower was a great general but a mediocre president, and our own Jeremiah Denton, a P.O.W. for seven years, never succeeded as a U.S. Senator. Just like great ballplayers don't always make great coaches, an awe-inspiring, honorable service to one's country doesn't automatically make one a great president. Our nation is full of great warriors who sacrificed their lives and blood for us, but that doesn't mean they would be a choice for president on those credentials alone.

I have prayed and researched my choice since this race first started. Originally, I was leaning toward Joe Biden and was thrilled when he was put on the ticket with Sen. Obama. And I am so proud to live in a nation where finally a man who is the son of a Kenyan and a white woman from Kansas can not only run for president but more than likely be elected. We are God's people and we all should realize that Heaven has no back door. I truly believe he has the best economic policy, the best healthcare policy, the best ideas on education and the environment, and is a supporter of the Constitution, regardless of what his personal beliefs may be, and I think he has shown in interviews and in these three debates that he is capable of leading, that he is cool under fire, and that he will do everything he possibly can to prove his critics wrong and that is why I think he is the better choice.