On the Mark

Mark Steyn, whose brilliant commentary is sorely missed during his leave, checks in with some customarily pithy comments on the continuing presidential campaign flaps. Check them out for a chuckle.

I can only hope that Steyn is working on another book--or two.

No Lipstick Needed

"Class is an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky. Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared. It is self-discipline and self-knowledge. It's the sure footedness that comes with having proved you can meet life."

~ Ann Landers

That quote is from one of the late Ann Landers' more well-known columns. It seems to me that it applies to the Republican presidential ticket.

John McCain actually took air time to congratulate Barack Obama at the conclusion of the Democratic convention.

That's classy.

And then, there's Barack Obama today:

"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a
piece of paper called change. It's still gonna stink. We've had enough of the
same old thing."

If that outburst was supposed to showcase his inspiring leadership skills, Obama sort of missed the bull's eye (or maybe I should say, moose's eye).

Write this down, Sen. Obama: Class never runs scared.

With or without lipstick.

Mary's Birthday

September 8 is the Catholic Church's traditional birthday observation for Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ. The roots of this feast day go deep into the misty nebula of early Church history. As is often the case in the Church's early years, there is not an overabundance of documentation. Yet the calendar reference has endured to this day.

For American Catholics, it is worth pausing to note her birthday in this vitally important year for our country. Mary, as the Immaculate Conception, is patron saint of the U.S.A.

I visited the Washington D.C. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as a pre-teen and vividly remember the sense of awe and wonder I felt looking up at the massive mosaic, Christ in Majesty. It's worth the time to visit this beautiful building next time you are in our nation's capital.

Yellow Journalism

Hmm, let's see...how many threatening associates have been swept under Barack Obama's political rug? Let me count the rogues:

Bill Ayers
Rev. Jeremiah Wright
Fr. Phleger
Tony Rezko
Louis Farrakhan

The left-leaning MSM steadfastly ignores these very relevant Obama connections. Obama is a friend of Bill Ayers, the American terrorist. For 20 years, he attended the church of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, anti-American preacher. He's associated with Fr. Phlegar, radical priest who ridiculed Hillary Clinton during his fifteen minutes of fame. He's a buddy of Tony Rezko, convicted felon and Obama campaign contributor. Obama also marched in the Million Man March with the oft-described anti-Semitic Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader.

Whenever mention is made of them, all of these legitimate, pertinent stories are immediately dropped like hot bricks by the Obama media. They are swept under the rug, ignored, unreported, downplayed and covered up. Nothing to see here, folks, let's keep moving.

So much for "vetting" the candidate.

But the news of Sarah Palin's pregnant 17-year-old daughter? Well! Pull out the verbal bullwhips, MSM, and let's flay this story until every drop of Palin blood has soaked the ground.

This shoddy display gives new meaning to the term "yellow journalism." To me, that no longer indicates sensationalism and half-truths in the news. Today's yellow journalism, appropriately enough, is cowardly. The media that so carefully protects their fabricated left-wing darling are afraid of Sarah Palin. These brutal, highly personal attacks upon Palin and her family are the result of pure panic. The more lurid and disgraceful the media attacks, the stronger the reek of their fear.

Yellow, jaundiced journalism has rarely worn an uglier face than it does today in its deliberate trashing of Sarah Palin and her family. And it appears there is no end in sight.

MSM is apparently terrified that Americans might actually make up their own minds about which ticket is better qualified to win the presidential election. Ironically, the old media labors under the illusion that voters pay all that much attention to them in the first place.

Playing Catch-Up

There has been so much happening since I checked out for my son’s wedding, it’s difficult to know where to begin. But one must start somewhere, so I’ll just plow right in.

Sarah Palin

What a great pick from Senator McCain. It’s going to be an uphill climb now for the Democrats to effectively claim this is “Bush’s third term.” Can you imagine G.W. Bush ever choosing Palin as a running mate? No? I can’t, either. Stand aside for John “Maverick” McCain, always dependable for a surprise. I’m grateful this seems a positive one for American conservatives.

MSM has been quick to report that Palin’s husband has an alcohol-related traffic violation from over 20 years ago. I now hear that there are some other traffic citations on his record. Oh, I must sit down, I’m shaking in fear.

Although I was planning to vote for McCain in any event, my decision was without enthusiasm. With the arrival of Sarah Palin on the Republican ticket, I am energized and looking forward to Election Day.

On a number of levels, Palin is a brilliant choice. No experience? I beg to differ. She’s known as a reformer within her own party, she’s run a budget, held executive office, sent a son to the military, supports the Second Amendment and understands energy issues from an oil-rich state’s perspective. Palin has certainly walked the right-to-life walk by bearing her Downs syndrome child and also by supporting her pregnant teenage daughter’s choice to carry her baby to term. Sarah Palin is a tough lady who has made tough choices. She’ll be a formidable opponent for the Democratic ticket.

Hurricane Gustav

First, the good news: everybody got it. This time, the residents of the Gulf states, the local and state leaders, the relief and defense agencies and the Feds were all extremely proactive in anticipating the potential disaster presented by Hurricane Gustav. This is in stark and pleasant contrast to the man-made disaster that followed Katrina in 2005.

Now, the bad news: I’m weary of watching constant weather maps and empty rain-drenched, windswept streets and listening to boring reporters trying to find enough drama in Gustav to fill the TV screen on a 24/7 basis. Let’s move on, shall we?

RNC Convention

The event is appropriately low-key, considering the preparations for Gustav. Far from being a negative, the readjustment of convention activities in deference to conditions on the Gulf Coast should prove to be a blessing in disguise. The competency and effectiveness of advance plans and unfolding logistics for Hurricane Gustav are a refreshing counterpoint to the unrelenting harangues and finger-pointing over Katrina.

Besides, conventions are largely one-sided puff pieces designed to showcase the candidates in the best possible light. It is the upcoming debates that will tell the true story of the candidates and their readiness to lead. I, for one, can’t wait.

Oops, forgot the Olympics--must have been a Freudian slip. I never was a fan of holding the Games in Beijing. Anyway, due to wedding events I missed almost all of the Olympics, which was a small loss to me.

In any event, it's good to be back.

Mahalo Nui Loa

There I am, the happy mom on the left, next to the proud groom and his beautiful bride. Thank you very much--mahalo nui loa--to all of our many well-wishers, online and off, who have so kindly shared my family's joy.

As I know from my previous two trips to the islands, one never does come all the way home from Hawaii. For now, Olympics and conventions just can't compete with the lingering afterglow. I'll get back to business in the next few days. At the moment, I'm still on Hawaii time...

Hawaiian Love Song

...for whither thou goest, I will go;

and where thou lodgest, I will lodge;

thy people shall be my people,

and thy God my God.

~ Book of Ruth 1:16

My son is getting married next Saturday, August 16. Because his bride was born and raised there, the festivities will take place in a magical beachside garden in beautiful Hawaii.

Much of Nicole's family, including her parents, still reside in Hawaii. Except for me, aka Mom, all of my son's family--including my now Bostonian daughter--live in the northeastern states, primarily New York. Most of my relatives have never been to Hawaii. But all of Matt's aunts and uncles, and many of his cousins, are making the substantial journey to the 50th state to celebrate this momentous occasion with us.

I see it kind of like Shangri-La meets Times Square. There could hardly be a starker contrast of cultures than our party mix of laid-back Hawaiian islanders and wound-up New Yorkers. Yet I have a feeling both families will have a similar approach to celebrating a wedding. Eat, drink, laugh, dance, have fun--what needs translating?

This is a huge milestone in our moving forward after Pete. So much has happened in our little San Diego family since Pete died. Kristine moved to the East coast last year for her job, Matt and I are both in the midst of career transitions, and now Matt is marrying his Nicole. Sometimes I feel as though I'm speeding away from Pete, watching him grow smaller in life's rear view mirror. The feeling is not as painful as it once was. I have learned that each of us needs to keep looking ahead if we are to be successful in traveling our own road.

People say, "Oh, he'll be there...he knows...he's watching" and similar remarks intended to comfort. I happen to believe they are right--he will be there. That doesn't change the fact that we will not be able to share a glance of pride or squeeze each other's hands as our son marries his island girl.

It's all right. I have learned how to do this. Pete's physical absence has woven itself into the new reality of myself and my children. He is our guardian spirit now, never forgotten, always present in our hearts, and we all take comfort in this new form our family relationship has taken.

As for eating, drinking, laughing, dancing, and having fun at Matt's wedding--well, let's look on the bright side. I'll just have to party for two.

No Sale

Today we have made history, now let us make progress
~ Nancy Pelosi, November 2006


Michelle Malkin blows the whistle on "San Fran Nan" Pelosi in this article.

Remember when Pelosi began as Speaker of the House? She was going to be sure her reign incorporated "integrity...civility...bipartisanship." Instead, she has shut down the Capitol, jetting off on vacation, spewing her high-heeled carbon footprint on the Republicans who have remained behind in Washington to work on the energy crisis.

Pelosi has had her day making history but has effectively squashed any glimmer of progress. Her political and personal goals, ambitions and agenda always trump any concern "the American people" might have as they endeavor to keep their cars on the road. She has made a dysfunctional, unmitigated mess of Congress and is completely unconcerned.

Anyone planning to buy Pelosi's new book should first check out that famous bridge in Brooklyn that's up for sale. The bridge would be a better deal.

Getting Energized

I'm trying to save the planet.
~ Nancy Pelosi

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi must have been in a serious hurry to “save the planet” during her five week vacation. She literally shut out the lights and cut the microphones as she left several Republican members of the House of Representatives behind in the darkened chamber. These legislators are taking a stand on the issue of oil drilling, forgoing their summer recess in favor of demanding relief for American citizens who are suffering high prices at the gas pump. Pelosi, of course, wants none of it.

If this remarkable protest session continues all week, as the Republicans have promised it will, perhaps the MSM will be coerced--or shamed--into giving the matter some measure of media coverage.

Pelosi doesn’t want a vote on oil drilling, because she knows she’ll lose. Most of the American electorate is very clear on this issue—drill fast, drill now, drill more, get us the oil quickly, and push the prices down. It’s simple, Yankee ingenuity-style action. But Pelosi has her far left-wing environmentalists to keep happy, and Barack Obama to protect, and she’s not going to budge. It’s “her” House, after all. She will decide if there will be a vote. There hasn’t been this degree of flagrant abuse of power since—well, Watergate.

The majority Democrats, led by the dug-in Pelosi, are stuck with a tuned-in electorate who understands the problem all too well. Pelosi doesn’t need to worry about gas prices, but most voters do. Her obstructionist tactics will backfire. All the children she frets about breathing “the planet’s” dirty air must also be transported to and from school and other activities each day. And these gasping children are ferried about primarily by parents (and voters) who can ill afford $4 per gallon gas.

Pelosi needs to do her primary job as a responsible American legislator first and worry about “the planet” later--preferably after she's tossed out as Speaker. We’ll be happier “citizens of the world” after we start drilling for more domestic oil.

Fueling the Mystery

Democrats are on vacation, paid
By donations U.S. voters made
Through every dollar that was taxed,
Congress rides on taxpayer backs.
As they cruise in their black sedans,
Driver up front, cell phone in hand,
They marvel that the price of gas is
Prompting angst among the masses:

“Of course the cost must go up and up,
Why don’t they just get a tune-up?
Stop complaining, keep tires inflated—
Driving to work is overrated!
Let them take the train, or take the bus.
Little folks don’t need a plane, like us.”

Incredulous at our discontent,
They’ll wonder where constituents went
When, come November, votes will score
For those who’ll drill, and drill some more.