I Couldn't Have Said it Better

If you've wandered in and want to read a really good column about the selection of Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate, follow this link to a column by State Representative Mike Doogan. Spot on, Mike. http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/510703.html

Reality Check

But then it's back to politics as usual. I mean, Sarah Palin as VP? Give me a break. My two years of high school debate 40 years ago probably make me more qualified in foreign relations than she is. Good heavens, is the McCain campaign so desperate for Alaska's 3 electoral votes and the conservative Christian vote that he'll take along a 2-time mayor of a small town as the actual, honest-to-God vice-presidential candidate of the Republican Party of the United States of America? Holy cow.
Come to think of it, though, this takes care of one of the McCain campaign's financial problems. They can't afford to open a real office, let alone campaign up here, so they're betting that selecting our little governor as his running mate will sew up this battleground state. Talk about cynical. The Republican party must take us for a miserable bunch of rubes. Give 'em a pretty face and some "family values" (wait, doesn't she work full time out of the home - and with an INFANT? What kind of family value is that?) Sorry, folks, but this is huge incentive for me to hit the streets to spread the word for Obama.

Validation

So, it was a pretty big day for me. Wrote my first convention resolution, and got it passed, unanimously, by the 32nd Biennial Alaska AFL-CIO convention. I'm feeling very American at the moment; like, I made a difference. Of course, it's just a resolution, but they liked it; they really LIKED it. I may try it again....
Then watched Obama's acceptance speech and felt some hope for this campaign. He actually went after McCain some - not enough, but some.
There was a moment when I realized what an historic campaign this really is, and how important it is for the US. The Obama family had a few moments alone together on the stage and I looked at them and realized, fully, for the first time, that they are a black family. I hadn't really thought about it before, but there they were; the center of attention, beautiful and smart and successful and not white and headed for the White House, and I thought about how hopeful it is that it's happening in my lifetime. When I was born, segregation was still the law of the land in a lot of places, and racism has been the norm my entire life. It gives me real hope to see progress, and I try not to think about all those people who will not be able to vote for him just because of the color of his skin. I look, instead, to all the people who don't care, or don't notice, or are thrilled. And I decided to just enjoy the moment and worry about the backlash when it actually happens. It is just more special to know that he accepted the nomination on the 45th anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech; a speech that FX witnessed in person as a child. Nice brackets. Good day. Good night.

Here We Go

Okay, I finally registered for the blog a year ago; I guess it's time to actually post something.
This all came about because I didn't want to have to post anonymously on my daughter's blog any more. I'm not sure I really want to be this un-anonymous (0r is that onymous?).
I'm going to give this my best shot, though, especially since it might be easier than trying to keep a journal, a task at which I am completely random, at best.
My goals are modest - post a couple of times a month with an eye toward chatting with my new grandson. We'll see how it goes....