Fair is Fair

Republicans have had and will in the future have no problem bringing up Rev. Wright in an effort to damage Obama's candidacy.  Now we find out that Sarah Palin's church and personal religious statements are less than conventional, to say the least.  For all that talk of the "liberal media" there sure hasn't been much talk on Palin's religious views even though that "liberal media" had no problem talking about Rev. Wright non-stop, so why is Palin's similar situation off limits?  It shouldn't be, and kudos to Rachel Maddow for bringing it up on her inaugural show tonight --- more shows and networks need to take notice.

It's not that religion should play any role in politics, because it should not, in any way.  The problem is that it appears Sarah Palin thinks religion does have a role, a huge role at that, to play in politics, and scarier still, in policy decisions.  The governor as recently as June of this year has stated that the Iraq War is God's will and that members of her congregation should pray for her oil pipeline proposal to succeed.  

Then, of course, there is the pastor who visited her church who claimed that the Jews being killed in Israel are being killed as a punishment from God since Jews do not believe Jesus is the Messiah.  And what about her church teaching that one can "pray away the gays".  Or how about the idea that the rapture is ever approaching, and that, get this, Alaska is the promised refuge during that supposed great time of peril.  

Please, give me a break.  This is not just religious right wacky (although Palin has that covered with her stances on abortion and creationism), this is frightening, radical thinking.  And the idea that one candidate can have their church's dirty laundry, a church which they didn't even attend consistently, aired for weeks straight and another candidate, who is, by the way, on record as being in church on days when that harsh rhetoric was spewed, can get the proverbial "get-out-of-jail-free card" throws out any claims of "objective journalism".  Fair is fair, or at least should be, but that is not how the media is acting.  Hopefully, they will pick up this story and make Sarah Palin answer those same tough questions that Barack Obama had to.  

Joe Biden Meets the Press

Senator Joe Biden, Vice Presidential nominee for the Democratic party, appeared on Meet the Press yesterday.  Moderator Tom Brokaw started the program off and showed his Republican colors immediately by talking about the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin. 

 

Brokaw then questioned Senator Biden about the surge in Iraq and the full situation there and tried to get Senator Biden to admit the surge was working.  Biden proved to be an expert on foreign affairs and pointed out how Sen. Obama and his original position is turning out to have been the correct one concerning the Iraq War and the surge.  Senator Biden pointed out John McCain had no plan concerning Iraq on withdrawal or how to end the war there.  In short, Biden made Brokaw look like the ill informed reporter he has become.  As a matter of fact, Brokaw had a problem reading his own notes on the questions he wanted to ask --- Tim never had that problem. 

 

Mr. Brokaw then asked about the divisive issue Republicans turn to election after election: abortion.  Senator Biden was sharp as a tact on the issue.  He pointed out his belief and said religion is a private matter and would not try to influence other people belief's on the issue.  Biden also said he does not talk about his religion while campaigning.  The Senator from Delaware made the best response on the issue of abortion I have ever heard from a politician.  To people with common sense and those who wish to return to sanity, it should be the final word concerning abortion. 

 

This was a unfortunately a probable preview of what Tom Brokaw will be like when he moderates one of the Presidential debates.  He will more than likely show his Republican colors there, too.  Hopefully I'm wrong, but after being a journalist for many years, it's a sad fact that Brokaw can not bring himself to be objective.  

Hurricane Evacuation: A Personal Perspective

As a native of a state that sits on the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Gustav caused my family to evacuate 250 plus miles into eastern Alabama and the panhandle of Florida.  This was our third evacuation including Ivan, Katrina, and Gustav.

 

Leaving is a little strange for me since during my teen years and early adulthood we rode the storms out at home.  As a teen it was actually fun --- no school for a couple of days; after the storm passed we played in the water on the streets and actually swam in the ditches that were deep enough.  We did not worry much as teenagers, as we let the adults do the worrying and, for that matter, the work.  When we lost power we did everything inside by candle light, which at the time, was pretty exciting.  I hate to say it, but we actually had fun during those storms.

 

Since I am now a parent and grandparent I know now, mine must not have enjoyed all the work and the un knows.  I say that because now it is not as enjoyable to me --- board up the house windows; make all the preparations; leave town; come back after the storm; clean up, and that's if you even still have a house.  Once you come back, you have to deal with power shortages; not many stores open; phones not working, etc.  I think I definitely liked it more when I was a teenager.

 

Growing up, we had no TV to show the track of the storm and all the possibilities of where it would finally hit like we have today.  All we had was a radio report saying the storm will land tomorrow at such and such a time and location.  Also storms were not named so it was hard to keep track of what storm they were talking about when two were out there. 

 

The upside of being a parent and grandparent is that I am able to pass along my experiences to my children and grandchildren on how to prepare for the storms and the precautions that should be taken.  I hope I can make a difference for them because their safety and well being is the most important thing to me.  I would rather be overly cautious and safe than take a gamble with the unknown.