CNN BLOWS THE GOP DEBATE AT REAGAN LIBRARY

The remaining republican candidates gathered in Simi Valley, at the Ronald Reagan Library, for the last GOP debate, before "Super Tuesday." With so much at stake for the country, not to mention the four remaining candidates (McCain, Romney, Huckabee, and Ron Paul), the last debate should have been a full hour and a half of evenly distributed time between candidates, dominated with hard hitting questions, and an even flow of information for America. Anderson Cooper, CNN's moderator of the evening, ultimately should have been slipping in questions and weaving in candidates subtle differences, exacerbating where each candidate stood, on the heavy issues of the day (immigration, health care, education, and the Iraq War for starters). However, that was far from the case on Wednesday night.

Anderson Cooper and CNN blew an opportunity to show America and the world that they were there for the business at hand. Cooper came off a simp and a shill of the democratic party (during the debate). "Mr. AC 360" asked few questions regarding any policy, how they would actual institute the "change" (which has so freely been the "catch word" of both parties during the political campaigns), and most important he let Mitt Romney dominate the majority of time. During the debate, Romney was more of a moderator than Cooper, or any of the heralded "City of Angels Beat Writers" attending the debate. Romney, when not directly engaged with McCain (as per Cooper's questioning, "Do you actually support a time table to get out of Iraq?"), refused to divulge anything new, sticking to the main Romney talking points. Romney actually was given, or took, around 27% more speaking time than McCain (the presumed front runner), with Paul and Huckabee struggling to get any words in at all. When congressman Paul and Governor Huckabee did have the chance to opine, it was usually from a backhanded comment from Romney (to try and clear the record), a question about McCain and/or Romney, or else it was just Paul reciting more of his "Constitutional synopsis'", that never gets over the top (or else he never gets the chance to speak his whole point).

After the debate was over, CNN still found more ways to kill the debate, rather than try and achieve some success. Bringing on Bill Bennett, Amy Holmes, David Gergen, and Roland Martin (just to name four contributors) to speak on what was supposed to be a GOP evening and debate (after showing a brief McCain/Romney spat), the attention immediately switched to democratic politics, the debate tomorrow night, and then a switch in the contributors. Claire McCaskill and Stephanie Tubbs Jones began stumping for Clinton and Obama, respectively. CNN's team of broadcaster's roaming all over, like an old 90's cell phone, then went to an electoral map. As if the performance to this point was not bad enough, the "CNN TEAM" acted like a "live focus group" (what they called "dial testing") was the equivalent of the invention of the wheel. However, where the same thing is used on Fox and MSNBC after debates, CNN failed again, because there were no people to poll and ask live (why the "line was up, or down during a candidates answer"), just a feeble line moving across the screen and another pundit to explain "for the dial testers." After a brief discussion of the "dial testing," the majority of points, data, and commentary was minuscule and useless. CNN made Frank Luntz (Fox News) look like he has the charisma of J.F.K., himself, by comparison to the "dial testing results." The guests, aside from Bill Bennett, had little input into the Republican outcome, where things may go between candidates and even less of a prognosis of things to come. CNN, Cooper, and all of the pundits of the evening failed most, when they had to fill one hour and twenty minutes (before Larry King's "Tribute to Reagan").

In that eighty minutes, CNN spent a total of Eighteen minutes of actual talk, footage, and polling about the republican party, candidates, possible outcomes, and the debate, overall. After the lethargic and unenthusiastic reports on the hour and a half (joke) GOP debate, there was enough time left for CNN to shove their agenda, or just poor ethics, down the America's throat for forty-one minutes (after taking out the 19 minutes of commercials). Therefore, what kind of information did they decide to fill forty-one minutes of time with? They spent over three quarters of theair time, after the debate, on tomorrow night's democratic debate and who would obtain John Edward's delegates.

On a night at the Ronald Reagan Library, the last GOP debate before 23 states vote for perspective nominees, "The Best Political Team on Television," decided; they would have a more than sub-par debate (with "No Rules", as Cooper stated at the beginning of the night), analysis and recap of the debate for roughly nineteen minutes (out of a possible eighty full minutes, minus commercials), and then have the gumption to hammer out all possible prospects and prognosis' for the democratic debate, for a full forty-one minutes. With a captive audience, CNN was the only broadcasting station to have the GOP and democratic debates, they actually showed in just a three hour span why Fox News consistently hammers the competition and always leads in the ratings. Tonight was a brutal and completely biased affair, from one end to the next.

John McCain Wins; Rudi Out and Hillary Declares Victory?

After the dust settled and the last piece of confetti fell, the McCain camp has Romney against the ropes and ready to throw the knockout punch. After John McCain finished, the "winner take all delegates" in Florida Republican Primary, with a win at 36% he had a more than warm welcome at his headquarters. However, the blood was all over the floor. Rudi was supposed to win in a landslide, Romney was the economies savior, and Huckabee has been from 1% of a joke to front-runner in an Iowa minute, but it is now it is McCain standing tall, as the solid front-runner in the Republican Party.

The Democrats have their own set of wonders and problems. The Democratic National Party declared that Michigan and Florida would be stripped of all delegates, making both primaries window dressings, also stating that democratic candidates could not roll across either state showboating their similar visions for the country. Barrack Obama won over the "Clintonian Machine" in South Carolina (receiving 23% of the white vote, in the first southern primary) and also received the John Kerry and [more importantly] "The Kennedy's" endorsement, he spent Tuesday night in "Memorial Hall," in Kansas City, Missouri looking to shore up some Democratic votes. The "Show Me State" air waves were filled with Obama "official commercials," narrated by Democratic flip flopper extraordinare Claire McKaskill, Tuesday night. Not to be out done, the Clintons made both headlines and speeches just after the South Carolina Obama win. First, Bill Clinton comes out and compares Obama to Jesse Jackson, stating, "Well Jesse Jackson won the South Carolina Primary in 1984 and in 1988." Obviously, "Bubba" Clinton had not learned his lesson, or else Hillary has not been in the same room to smack him over the head yet, but the American people are not thrilled with Clinton trying to reduce Obama to "just another black candidate." Then within minutes of the polls closing in Florida, Hillary Clinton landed in Florida and had a celebration, of sorts, declaring victory in a state that has no delegates. Hillary stepping in to claim zero delegates, was a classic political move to put her face into the camera, give a handful of interviews on cable news channels, and to overall make the ten o'clock news shift and morning papers, for the people who do not follow politics closely. Finally, there is John Edwards, who pulls in another third place, gets no delegates, and is planning on staying in the race until the end. However, he did cancel two stops on his "presidential tour," before the democratic debate later in the week, for a large speech on poverty in "Katrina Struck" New Orleans.

Aside from, the "Audacity of Cloak" Clintons, Obama's "Show Me" stop, and the nonexistent John Edwards on Tuesday night, the real story came from the Republican side of the tape. Even though John McCain won, Mitt Romney declared another "silver" and to "continue the fight, because there is a lot of time left." Before the Republican debates this Wednesday night will be Rudi Guiliani and Mike Huckabee. Rudi put all of his eggs into the Florida basket, which was really the only play, because of his lack of real conservative credentials and overall sketchy past. By Guiliani being steadfast in Florida, during the Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and South Carolina Primaries he was able to stay out of the spotlight, hopefully America would just be looking at the credentials of his 9/11 role and "Mayor of the Century" title, without putting his family, liberal social constitutions, and maybe in the meantime some of the republican candidates would either drop out (like Fred Thompson did), or else they would have beat each other up enough for him to still be the front runner. However, that did not happen and Rudi now cannot lose, be criticized, or have any more bad press than he has already received, or his "legacy" will be taking a massive hit. Therefore, he will wait until the correct moment, and go in head long for John McCain. This will not only save face for the former mayor, but will also allow him to go back onto the speaking circuit and become a presidential prognosticator for the next eight months on Fox and around the country. Although that still leaves Mike Huckabee, the "little Arkansas Governor that could," still in the mix and vowing to stick it out till the end. His quote after his 14%, fourth place finish in Florida (which he received no electoral votes) was, "this is just one inning, and we are going to play thru the ninth inning of the game." Why would Mike Huckabee keep on trucking? Simple, he still has the third most delegates, just behind Romney, and if he does have a decent showing in the southern part of the country and in the always overlooked "fly over country" (Missouri, Arkansas, etc.), then two things could happen. First, McCain, Romney and Huckabee can go into the Republican Convention with a deadlock, or not a clear cut winner. The second option could be that Huckabee can hand over his electoral votes to McCain and possibly receive a vice presidential nomination in the process (like in the Franklin Delanor Roosevelt election), or at least get a cushy cabinet seat if McCain wins the general.

After California's debate today, at the Ronald Reagan Library, you can bet that there will be fireworks to say the least. There is not any love loss at all between John McCain and Mitt Romney. Huckabee and McCain should paddy cake themselves through the evening, as neither will want to show the other up. Although, Ron Paul is still in the house and will be throwing as many wrenches into the political debate, as he possibly can, the other three remaining will just roll with the punches and basically ignore the shots over the deck. On Thursday though, the democratic debate should also have it's moments, as well. Being that Barrack snubbed Hillary at the Presidential Address to the Nation, turning his back on her from one to two feet away, and making sure that the press knew that he would not even consider a VP spot on her ticket, "If she was to win." Hillary cannot afford to be to strident and also can't be to passive either, at the debate. Therefore, no matter what pant suit Hillary chooses to wear and how forceful the Obama camp comes out to play, on Thursday, even though the campaigns are basically identical in their theory on the way the country should be going, there will definitely be fireworks before and after the debate. After all, it is crunch time now, with less than one week for both the republicans and the democrats to make their push, for their parties nod and possibly their shot at the White House.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, OR DEMOCRAT PREVIEW, GOING INTO "SUPER TUESDAY?"

Overwhelmingly, most people across the nation thought and commented on how President Bush finished his last "State of the Union Address" and came across with flying colors. Which is odd, as his approval rating is anywhere from 26% to 33% approval rating, depending on what pole a person looks at?

However, the real story is not what President Bush said, in his fifty minute speech. The real story is how the people of the American Congress and Senate filed into the Hall. "Super Tuesday," where the American voters will go the polls and decide which candidate (both democrat and republican) could be their actual candidate for the general election, is just about one week away. The real story, that is not being spoken about in the media, is Barrack Obama and Hillary "Billary" Clinton filing into the hall and who they had behind and by their side, tonight.

Barrack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois breaks the plain of the door and directly behind him, non other than Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Both Hillary Clinton and Obama had been jockeying for position, to get the "Kennedy Family" endorsement, as they are the foundation and are steadfastly the ultimate Democrat family. However, today the Kennedy's endorsed Democratic Candidate for President, Barrack Obama. After democrats (including Ted Kennedy) scorning Bill Clinton for his antics, the Clinton "Machine" passive aggressively playing the race card, and Hillary inevitably losing the South Carolina primary last Saturday, the Kennedy's then came out today and stuck the dagger into the heart of Hillary Clinton, with an endorsement for Obama.

The endorsement was a big stick in the arm for the Obama campaign, but the words the Kennedy's spoke at the podium were the actual dagger putting Hillary on the defensive, if not her campaign on possible "life support." Ted Kennedy Booming at the microphone for over 20 minutes, on how Obama's campaign stating comments like: "I feel change in the air. What about you?" and "With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentationand distortion. With Barack Obama wewill close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay," Kennedy said. Then, Barrack Obama was introduced by Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president, who said Obama "offers that same sense of hope and inspiration" as did her father. Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, son of the senator, also offered his support. With these comments from the majority of the Kennedy family, in person and on the stage with Obama, it brings a sense of nostalgia of the John F. Kennedy days to older voters and also brings validity to Obama with both white independent voters and democratic voters. Therefore, was there any surprise that Ted Kennedy and John Kerry were walking right behind, the "junior senator/presidential candidate" Barrack Obama, tonight? I highly doubt it, because there is cabinet space and power to be had, if Obama becomes president.

The fun did not stop there either, because the republican candidates who were all in Florida preparing for Tuesday's Florida vote, that only leaves Hillary Clinton to come into the address (as John Edwards does not have any position, at present, but was a former senator). When the doors opened up wide, Hillary boomed into the room. Yet, earlier in the day, the Clintons actually played down the South Carolina loss, Bill's antics, and that they are still in the lead with the electoral votes across the country to date. When Hillary, ensconced in a scarlet pant suit entered the room, directly behind her (former presidential candidate) Joe Biden and Chris Dodd. As stated before, places in a cabinet to be had and points to be won, and what better way for Hillary to accomplish that, then to have two former Presidential and outspoken candidates by her side.

Politics is a contact sport, but even though both Clinton and Obama were just two feet apart in the aisle tonight, there were no kind words to be had. They sat just four senators apart and neither made eye contact and/or spoke a word to each other, neither did any of their "subordinates," or eye candy aisle toy senators. The next week will be ugly, with a capitol "U," period. However, tonight was a decent serving, upon watching what was supposed to be President Bush's farewell address, between the lines their was more democratic politics in just the aisle, then anything that Mr. Bush said at the podium. U-G-L-Y!

BARACK OBAMA/MIKE BLOOMBERG: THE ULTIMATE CHANGE TICKET FOR DEMS

Barack Obama is the marble in the slingshot of America speak and voting power. The platform of change, the philosophy of American people dispensing of status quo Washington politics, and the overall timing of an American Nation at it's breaking point on issues of health care, immigration, the economy, and foreign policy are the fork in the slingshot. While Obama's win in Iowa against the "Clintonian Machine," gave him the viability of a winner is the rubber being pulled back to launch. However, Barack Obama the biracial, always up for any topic, and a gifted charismatic speaker, a cross between John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., is the platinum marble ready to be launched, only after America gives him their overall support a mere group of days away. When that marble is launched from America's Slingshot, only God and time knows where and when he will land. Barack Obama may be the next President of the United States, but he will be the Democratic Nominee without a doubt.

The phenom from Illinois has made a splash by a combination of passionate speeches, a promise of American change, and bringing out groups of independents, Republicans, and the always cagey (Hard to get out to vote) group of younger voters. This is a classic campaign of improbability, against an almost inevitable comer to the thrown Ms. Clinton, of change over what was called "inexperience," and all the while with a clean and respectful campaign. The clean cut, family man's "holiday commercial," was a beautiful insight into his whole campaign. There was an attractive well spoken man, with his strong and equal wife, two adorable kids with speaking parts, a traditional Christmas Tree, and the last all inclusive statement (made by the youngest of the girls) "Happy Holidays." If there was one commercial, television spot that was an insight into the Obama campaign, this was the one. It showed that the country was in for change, with a possible first black president, a traditional side with a full family, yet an all encompassing message.

However, once the Democratic Nominee is chosen, how will Barack continue to pound the "changing of America" dichotomy home? There is no better way, then to have a vice president candidate that is an independent billionaire, who could run as President himself, does not want to take the chance of losing, needs to shore up some more overall foreign policy experience, and could follow in the footsteps of Obama after his term is over. In steps Mike Bloomberg, the now Mayor of New York, would not only fill in a perfect void, but would also be a perfect fit for the Democratic Nominee who has only been a one term senator and does have some experience flaws. Bloomberg would bring not only an "independent" credibility to Obama's ticket, but he also has the billionaire funds and overall swagger of a vice president now. A Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, or even a solid Richard Luger would be qualified and solid running mates for Obama. However, for the "Audacity of Hope" candidate, what would be more of a shocker, could shore up more independent voters in the "red states," and once again would bring endless funds to a candidate that is already white hot with a good portion of the American people?

With the emergence of Dick Cheney, being the most powerful VP in history and actually making the office a credible source of power and influence, Bloomberg would not have to be a lame duck (i.e., Al Gore, VP Bush, or any other vice president before Cheney). For the first time in America's history, there would basically be two Presidents in the Oval Office, both of whom would compliment each other and possibly could bring back the balance to the country. Whether or not Obama has the foresight to see this and make a bold decision in this direction, or whether Bloomberg would even take a second seat to anyone, is yet to be seen. However, Obama with any other Democrat in the mix of politics would have the possibility of having his "change message" tarnished. If Obama were to pick another "independent" like Joe Lieberman (which may actually be a running mate of Huckabee, but more of McCain), then he would be subjected to more of the "same old Washington" baggage and overflow. For all Americans who long for "American Change" in Washington and through the fabric of America, there is a possibility with Barack Obama, but a Barack Obama/Mike Bloomberg ticket looms with not only change, but that is a true "change in politics."

THE GOP: A McCAIN/HUCKABEE TICKET MAKES SENSE FOR REPUBLICANS

After the blowout win, in the Christian clad plains of Iowa, Mike Huckabee has some solid momentum going into the New Hampshire, Michigan, and South Carolina primaries. However, the "Amen Corner" of the political world, that could slingshot Obama, Huckabee, McCain, into the mainstream, could also be the undoing of any of the candidates campaigns. Where Huckabee and McCain have gained ground over the past month, they are also in dire need of cold hard cash, to continue into the "Super Tuesday, February 5," when the majority of the primaries happen.

However, the Republican Candidates and Primaries are a completely different field, than the Democratic Parties situation. Hillary Clinton and Obama are the only candidates that have a chance of getting the nod to the White House, from Democrats. However, the Republicans have up to five candidates that are in the hunt (theoretically) and the first four primaries could be won by three, or four candidates. The Iowa "Cinderella Story" Primary/Caucus Winner Mike Huckabee, John McCain who was left for dead and penniless four months ago, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and finally Mitt Romney are all still alive and in the preverbal hunt. However, this election is not like other election cycles, psychology, and statistics before them.

Coming out of Iowa, where Huckabee won a resounding victory over Mitt Romney, there is only a five day turn around for a vote in New Hampshire. Where Iowa Christians propelled Huckabee to the thirteen point win in Iowa, a vast different and more independent crowd lurks in New Hampshire where Huckabee will not be a winner, in that states games. However, Huckabee with the momentum, press, and media attention from Iowa will be a factor in taking votes away from other candidates, namely Romney who is faultering (due to over the top negative ads and a perception of flip flops). Where Mitt Romney looked like a clear cut favorite a mere three weeks ago, now McCain has had a big push and is in a (within the room for error) tie with Romney. If Huckabee cuts away just one-fifth of the Romney voters and some independents go with Obama, this would give McCain a victory in New Hampshire and Huckabee a possible second, or third. Which would leave Mitt Romney, who many pundits thought would win Iowa, cruise through New Hampshire, make the turn to Michigan (where he has roots), and making it a two man race against Rudy, with Thompson being the "true conservative third choice." Six weeks, a $10 million in advertising (mostly negative), and a label of being a flip flopper has all but taken Mitt Romney out of the race, unless he can give a blistering performance in this weekends debates. Personally, I don't think that a five day campaign with Joseph Smith, himself, would save Romney at this point.

So, where does that leave the other four candidates? On Saturday, there is a double debate, with the Republicans and Dems. in New Hampshire, and in the Republican Debate the Murdoch/Fox Team whittled the field down to just the "competitive and who could be elected," leaving Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter, and others out. However, McCain, Thompson, Guiliani, Huckabee, and Romney will be front and center. Look for Romney to go straight at McCain and Huckabee on everything from immigration to foreign policy experience. Thompson and Giuliani have basically put all of their eggs in the overall "Super Tuesday" basket and in Florida. Giuliani, has not put any money, advertising, or time into the first four states, because his "Quasi-Republican" stance on issues will not gain any traction in the first four states. He has set up his shop in Florida, setting his future sights on the rest of the country. Thompson is an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, in this whole campaign. His lackluster attitudes on everything is being perceived by the majority of the country,as just plain lackadaisical. Which only retained him a fourth in Iowa, but who knows whether people will view him as someone who is there because he can be, or because he just wants to "give it a shot," like he said on "MSNBC" eight months ago.

There is a very strong shot that Obama could use Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina (where a mostly black constituancy will be a lock) to slingshot his way to the Democratic ticket. Mike Huckabee and his pal Chuck Norris, will not be able to establish this type of steam, because of the landscape. Huckabee, although likable, not into the mainstream Capitol Hill Gang, perceived as a cornerstone of the Evangelical Base, and is a mean base player in his band ('Capitol Offense'), but it would be a miracle to continue thru states like New York, California, and the other "non-fly over states." Plus, he does not have an "Oprah Factor". However, John McCain is up to snuff, where Huckabee lacks. As of right now, the two men (Huckabee and McCain) are not shooting blasts over each others bows and are keeping to their neutral corners, focusing all of their rhetoric toward Romney and Giuliani. If Romney and Thompson are out of the picture after South Carolina, McCain, Huckabee, and Rudy are left for the fight. This leaves a huge hole for Republicans who want a Reaganite, someone who is socially AND fiscally responsible, in the Republican way. However, there is not an actual Reagan figure in the party. Therefore, this is where both Huckabee and McCain come in. Both are low on funds, but where they lack in the funding, they more than make up for it in the like ability department, McCain has experience, and put together they are the perfect candidate.

New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, should eliminate all of the candidates, at least in actual chances to win, but three. Romney will be out in the next 3 weeks, at least in the sense of not having the voting power and situation to make that last push. Thompson has never really made any effort in becoming a President, he will go back to his acting and possibly hocking some verbiage on the college circuit, for his trophy wife's rings, bracelets, and $10,000 a weekend vacations. Guiliani may actually be in the game, but when everything shakes out, there will be a clear and clean cut decision for Republicans: A two time divorcee, pro-abortion, antigun man, with a shaky set of past friends and people in his past (hello, Bernard Kerick, NYC Chief of Police under indictment), or a McCain/Huckabee ticket that the President and Vice President would actually compliment each other, if elected (where Huckabee lacks in Foreign Policy experience, McCain is soaked in it. Where McCain lacks with the "Christian Right," Huckabee is as snug as a bug in a rug with them. [look at the 70% he electorate he got in Iowa]). It is also worth mentioning that McCains health is in decline and he has not been well for a long while, so with Huckabee being in the "second seat", it would not be a bad place to be (not that Mike Huckabee, or anyone should root, for bad health and/or death of anyone).

WHERE ARE ALL THE MODERATE MUSLIMS?

Maybe, around the time of a season, where people are "supposed to get along and do unto others," there should be an extensive look at all of the people around. I would love to know where are all of the "Moderate Muslims" that seem to have cooler heads, a thought process, and are willing to stand up and scream from the rooftops, "STOP HIGH JACKING OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS!"

Like in the Sudan, where the lady is teaching class. Asks a whole class what to name a "class Teddy Bear"? In a country, where the number one name is Mohammed, why is it a surprise that elementary school kids would name a bear that? It is comparable to naming a hamster in an elementary school, John, or Mary. Instead of having some kind of understanding and a complete thought process, the Muslim community goes out and originally wants the lady/teacher to be put to death (by stoning, or beheaded)? Then, as a show of "good will, or calming of heads" they decide that 200 lashes would be a just punishment? Finally, deciding on, even after huge (mostly hostile and male) protests all over Sudan, that 12 days in jail would suffice.

How about the 400-600,000 young, or adolescent girls, that are mutilated and raped throughout Darfur, every year? Not the people that are being starved, made into refugees, or are just having their limbs lopped off with machetes and long blades. Just the women that are being beaten, having their genitals mutilated and systematically raped, in order for there to be a complete genocide thru the most crude and sexual ways, to breed the Sudan out. In order for the extreme Muslim men, or those who believe in the Wahabiist Muslim tradition, over the Sunni and Shiite Muslim traditions. Where are the "Moderate Muslims" with this system of belief completely changing an entire country?

How about a little closer to home, since the "Moderate Muslims" can't, or will not, speak out and define their religion for their world. In Virginia, there is a school that is funded by Saudi Arabia. It has been accused of actually teaching hate throughout the grades, and all of it's text books are littered with Anti-Christian and Anti-Jewish rhetoric. When asked for the text books from the Saudi run school, by several different groups (in order to check the content), it actually took the United States State Department, after two years of asking for the books, to obtain them to be checked out. However, sanitized the text books from the Muslim school are, or are not, is really irrelevant. Simply, because in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East, elementary students are taught math by adding up 2+1=3, with visual aides of actual pictures of two hand grenades, plus one hand grenade, will equal a one. However, the "one" is actually not a hand grenade, but a single Jewish Star of David. Is this how the "Moderate Muslims" want their other Muslims children of the world and the United States, to be taught in this extreme measure?
Where are the heads of the "Moderate Muslims" in this world? Why is it that if someone draws a cartoon, names a Teddy Bear Mohammed, or decides that a woman is not going to wear a burqa over her complete face, that there needs to be a decisive penalty for the people (mostly women)? Where are the "Moderate Muslims" on the constant extermination of the population of the Darfur people, by the Janjaweed? Where is the "Moderate Muslim envoy" to the countries outside the United States, to the European Countries, and finally to the Middle East in order to save a generation of Muslim children and parents to come back to the fray of the Quaran (Koran)? There is not any solid and mobilized "Moderate Muslim Leaders" of any salt for any length of time, utilizing their "pulpits and overall muster" to give the other Muslims around the world an actual chance to come into the world of the twenty-first century, without the barbaric and tortured practices of the past.

For full disclosure, I am actually a Christian Man. I have a Theology Minor and I just care about the people of the world. I am not chastising, but only hoping for the best for our world.

Peace and God Bless,
MIKE D.

WHY IS THERE LESS INNER PEACE & UNDERSTANDING

I would have to think that in this season, brimming with a message of peace and good will, I was thinking about one topic; Is the peace that we can have now, in our hearts/minds/souls, better now (in "New Testament, AD times), than when people were around in the past ("Old Testament, BC times)?

One thing that I am sure of and thankful for is that it is much better now, in the peace category, then it was back in later times. Whether a person is fighting in a war now, fighting cancer, having monetary troubles, or any of the countless and numerous problems that all people face throughout the world, they still can find that "inner peace" at any time.

However, back in the "Post Christ Era," there was a constant bewilderment, wondering and speculating on whether, or not "inner peace" was a deserved, a committed, and/or a multitude of other options that God may, or may not grant regular people. In a time when most people were dependent on the Pharisees and scribes for any kind of knowledge, due to a general lack of knowledge, learning, and mostly people not having time to get the things needed for intellect, due to having to live.

Bottom line: If there was not a direct revelation from God, or another depiction of what was right from a scribe/Pharisees/another of the literate of the cast system spelling out whatever a person wished to know (allowing for corruption, manipulation, and human error), then man was left to wonder and wander thru life, without any peace, or direction. There was not any "knowing" that they were living a clean and fulfilled life, for sure. However, after Jesus came onto the scene things became massively different. After his teachings, discipleship, miracles and later crucifixion for his fulfillment of not only prophecy (prophecies that stemmed hundreds of years before his birth, then later fulfilled them all, in a perfect fashion), but also to die for our sins on the cross.

What I am thankful for and why the present times, after Christ are constantly and consistently filled with peace, stems from a simple portion after Christ's crucifixion. After Christ was dead and put into the tomb, the disciples were beyond scared. They were all in one room, doors locked and probably every stick of furniture against the door, for the fear that the Roman soldiers would find them, torture, and finally crucify them. (In a side note that I find funny, after walking with the Lord for years, seeing all of the miracles, and even the fact of Christ raising a man from the dead [Lazarus], these same apostles were toiling and in a frantic state of mind. Showing that as great as any one man is, he/she is still only a man, flawed and filled with doubt at any time.) Anyway, while the apostles were ringing their hands and in fighting amongst themselves, what happens? Christ appears in the middle of the room. Out of every word in the language that He could say, Jesus says "Peace" (or "Peace be with you brothers," depending on the text you may read).

This is why today and every day after is so much better for all of us, because rather than having to wonder and/or have a direct revelation from God himself, or wonder about another Pharisees interpretation on what to do and what is right. Today, we have a direct line to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. At any time, any place, there is always a time that a person can speak directly to the Lord, and know that Jesus came for our sins, for our salvation, and for us to live in a constant kinship to the Lord of Lords. At no other time, before Jesus was this ever possible. Therefore, in this time of Christmas, with troops overseas at war, people without homes, death all around the globe, and a lot more things that seem negative in the world, rather than having a positive tint. The lens the we all should choose is to say, believe, and utilize the "Peace be with you," that Christ gave all of his children from the day that he sacrificed himself, for us all.
So, this Christmas, "Peace be with you and with myself, no matter what is going on in our lives," as only Christ could say it best.

God Bless,
MIKE D.

NCAA BOWL GAMES & THE NATIONAL CHUMPIONSHIP

Anyone who is interested in the college sports scene, especially during the college football season, has season what a junk festival this bowl season has been. Not counting the statistics, preseason rankings, or the final ranking and/pairings for the bowl games themselves, the scores of the bowls (Starting from December 21 thru January 2) are proof enough. Thirteen of the twenty-seven bowl games, were blowouts, or decided by more than ten points (six of thirteen of these games coming in the real "Bowl Season"), and seven of the thirteen traditional bowl games were decided by more than 12 points (six games by more than 17 points, and were done by midway thru the third quarter, with only half the stadium not heading for thier cars).

Is there any interest, other than the students and alumni of the schools, in a bowl season that has teams who are paraded into the national spotlight, by the "powers that be," only to be in a situation which is the equivalent to "Daniel in the Lions Den"? The bowl games that are now doubled from the original 1980s lineup of the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl games are now filled with: Oregon 56-21 over South Florida in the (Sun Bowl), Fresno State 40-28 over a 7 win Georgia Tech team (Humanitarian Bowl), Oklahoma State 49-33 over Indiana who were both 7-6 on the season (Insight Bowl), Missouri 38-7 over Arkansas (Cotton Bowl), USC 49-17 over Illinois (Rose Bowl), Georgia 41-10 over a completely outmatched and timid Hawaii team (Sugar Bowl), and the final blowout a West Virginia 48-28 over Oklahoma. However in all of these games, other than the scores, lack of a true look into the college football scene, is the fact that Missouri had to play an Arkansas team, that Kansas should have played. Missouri beat KU in the Big 12 North decider game and only had two loses on the season, both to Oklahoma (once in the regular season and once in the Big 12 Championship game).

However, KU is playing in the orange bowl against a motivated (by both the football god's, a bowl game, but also for the tragedy on their campus earlier this year, with the grave shootings on there campus, by a disillusioned and psychotic student). How KU snuck into this game alone, is beyond any explanation, but it is another example how college football's, end of the season gala, is a sham.

If the scores can be put aside, as well as the ludicrous picks of who plays who, it all boils down to money in the end. That should be where everyone looks to for the injustices and outright manipulation of a system that is as outdated as Major League Baseball's Drug Policies. Hawaii, before this year, had a regular budget for recruiting of (roughly) $50,000 a year, which has not allowed their coaches to go into the contiguous 48 states to recruit a hard and sometimes impossible shot at the top 200 high school prospects, and other hopeful student athletes. However, after there ascendance into the "bowl elite," with their "Hiesman Trophy Candidate" Cole Brennin at the healm, they play in the 'WAC' which is not comparable to an SEC schedule, which is why they got WAC'ed, they now have between $500,000 and $1.5 million for recruiting purposes, depending on how the money from the bowl game roles down the line, to "THE PROGRAM." When the money is into the millions of dollars, for just a bowl appearance, there is not any wonder why the predominant emphasis is on men's sports, where the money is coming into the school, rather than from gaining funds from women's sports, the non-traditional/popular sporting events, and/or students using their work study time calling alumni for donations, back to their glory days at their 'Good Ol' School.'

Is there a remedy for the blowouts, the bad pairings on a whim and thru pressure from "the powers that be," and finally just the bad football? Is there going to be a time when the Herschel Walker's Georgia Bulldogs versus the Steve Young BYU teams, in just the 5-6 Bowl Games total? The answer is simple, there is not just a Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, or Fiesta Bowl. They are now the "TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL," the "ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL," and the "AT&T COTTON BOWL," the sponsors of these games have injected so many millions of dollars into the advertising and overall dominance of these games that there is not any chance of real parody anymore. The picks for the games are based on speculation not record. All that has to be seen for pure proof of this is the following: look to the Missouri 12-2 vs. Arkansas 8-5 Cotton Bowl (final score 38-7 MU), Hawaii 12-2 vs. Georgia (who should have been playing for the national championship) was destroyed 41-10 by Georgia, and finally (but probably not over, because there are three to five bowls games left) West Virginia 11-2 vs. Oklahoma 11-3 killed the "Boomer Sooner" 48-28. These bowl games are not about teams anymore, but are about the millions and millions that is brought into the schools that are playing in them. PERIOD!

There will never be a playoff in college football (which their should be a two to three tiered playoff to determine an actual national champion), because of three major factors. The first one is the fact that bowl games, as a whole, are in the nation's fabric as a tradition that would be not possible to eliminate altogether. The second reason is that there are to many hands in the preverbal pot, in who attends and plays in what bowl game, how the pairings are made, and then the overall power of the alumni and sportswriters/elites to place their stamp of approval on the overall process. A complete and no questions asked playoff system, would take to much power away from the "bowl machine." It would also prove that the RPI, computer generated ratings (or the third, third, third way to pick bowl games), and the actual things done to "remake" the bowl game system, that was put in place about 5 years ago, would have been a complete failure. Most people do not like to admit that the ideas and systems that were put in place, are/were actually wrong. However, the last and most important reason why there will not be a major overhaul into the bowl system and look deep into making a tiered playoff system in its place (or together), is MONEY! Money is the thing driving the whole bowl machine. All a person has to do is look at the "Chic-fil-A Bowl, the Petro Independence Bowl, and every other Bowl Game [except for the Rose Bowl, the grandfather of all bowl games), and see that sponsors and money are the main reason the elites and "deciders" will not push for any playoff system anytime soon.

I personally do not have any idea how the last two bowl games will turn out, but after last years blow out of Ohio State, in the "National Championship Game" (not to take anything away from LSU). Low and behold, it was not Georgia, Oklahoma, West Virginia, MU, KU, USC, (who had injuries, team gel problems, and two tough losses at the beginning of the season), to play LSU for the title game, but once again it is Ohio State. Ohio State is 11-1 and the only team in the country with just one loss. However, looking at their game tapes, the way they won against hobbled teams, and then squeaking out at least two games on "off calls and weird situations," the millions of fans that will, or won't sit and watch the "National Chumpionship Game" once again will be left with doubts. The doubts that every fan will have, every year, until there is two major schools who go undefeated, but even then in the crazy world of the NCAA Division 1 Football season, there will ALWAYS be questions. Until, the fans and the players get what they deserve, a National tiered playoff system, period!