A Toss Salad Life

My life has been much like a tossed salad recently . You know , a little of this and a little of that ? Talking to relatives in the States , doing nothing much around the Condo , reading Obama's book , " Dreams From my Father" . Doing the laundry . Just a all round exciting life in the fast lane here !

As I read Obama's book about his childhood , I think how a multi racial inheritance influenced his way of thinking and wonder would he have been different if he had been all white or all black. Of course the answer to that is yes but it is something to contemplate anyway ? That leads me to think about my own children and their multi ethnic back ground . One child has definite feelings of having a handy cap for such a mix . Another doesn't care one way or another , and the 3rd one is 50 /50 on the situation . So , you see it is purely a personal thing .I occasionally read or hear of other people that are mixed race , religion, or nationality; of their coming to terms with their uniqueness , sometimes for the good and sadly to say , sometimes for the worse . I always thought that Moe and I were giving our  children a rich heritage of cultures , races, and languages to draw from as they grew older .Maybe that was what Obama's parents were thinking as well ?As I read more of the book , I am finding it harder and more difficult to reconcile his auto biographical details to the man I see on TV , a world leader . One man is so contained and the other is so open and vulnerable.

The weather has been wonderful for us here in Tripoli finally ! Cool days and even colder nights with spectacular sunsets seen from our balcony in the evenings . Clouds that roil in from the north over the sea bring delight to the eye .

I am basking in my solitary  leisure , doing nothing much but daydreaming .My friends have decided that enough is enough and have tried to tempt me from my den by useing my weakness , my love of good food , lol . One calls to say she has chesse stuffed hot dogs imported from Malta . Another calls to say she has a special surprise for me ...home made rasberry cheese cake with a peacan crust , a whole cup full .I have to admit , these things do tempt me , but I am enjoying the peace of my home too much to venture out .Sheilia called me the other day to ask did I need her and I had to moan that yes I did , in the worst way , but not yet.I have become a hermit .Soon , I will leave this zone of tranquility , sally forth to see these good and caring friends of mine ,enjoy their fellowship , worship in the love we share as friends , but not yet .Soon .Life is so good .Wishing you well and happiness , OTE

Painting by Mark Adam Webster ... " Grey Matter"

A Question and A Statement

I am not going to talk about the pros or cons of the infamous " Shoe Throwing Incident " that happened to President Bush during his most recent visit to Iraq this past week end . I have one question and one comment .

Where was his security detail when this happened ? If the man had possessed a gun Bush would have been dead . I thought the Secret Service was supposed to be top notch when it came to protecting the President . If I was President Elect Obama I would hope they improve a lot before taking office because I read somewhere Obama has the highest threats made against his life so far than any other President . Let's hope they get better at their job before President Elect Obama takes office in January 2009 .

Now the statement .... did you notice how well President Bush was at ducking those shoes ? I mean the man had a perfect throwing aim at President Bush right ? This leads me to wonder , how did President Bush get so good at ducking things being thrown at him ? Makes you wonder what President Bush and Mrs. Bush do in their spare time huh ? LOL ! I have furnished the video below in case you are one of the few people on the planet that hasn't seen it yet .

WE THE PEOPLE

For the very first time in America's 232 years as a nation The Constitution Of The United States ,We The People , means all the people. Barack Obama, a American man born of a white American mother and a black African immigrant father is what America stands for , an America for all people no matter their race , their religion , or their political beliefs .This is truly a moment in time and history that will be talked about , taught in schools around the world for possibly century's to come. One could almost believe anything is possible , if only the HOPE it represents could be frozen and sealed in amber for all time .

President elect Obama said in his now famous Chicago , Illinois Grant Park speech , " If there is anyone out there that still doubts America is a place where all things are possible ,who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time ; who still questions the power of our democracy , tonight is your answer ."

It will not be smooth sailing for Obama in the future even with a majority of Democrats in the Senate and Congress to back him up in the changes he wishes to in act for the American people .He stated that , " Even as we celebrate tonight , we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest if our lifetime - two wars , a planet in peril ,the worst financial crisis in a century , " he said . " There is a new energy to harness and new jobs to be created , new schools to build , and threats to meet and for us to lead , alliances to repair ."

He also said in the same speech , as reported by The Associated Press :

"We may not get there in one year or even one term , But America , I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there ." And to those Americans that didn't vote for him , he said , " I will be your president , too . "

On January 20, 2009 Barack Obama will be sworn is as Americas 44th president on the steps of the US Capital building in Washington D.C. He , who will be the first African American to be elected as president, at the young age of only 47 years old , will be standing on steps built by slaves in the 1860's when there was still slavery in America . He will live in the White House that was also built by slaves . Everything comes full circle .

Amazement at what has transpired in this election is astounding .History that your children , their children , and their children's children will study and discuss for ages to come has happened in your life time . May God grant him wise advisers , wisdom , patients , and the ability to see into the future for the betterment of mankind by his acts in office as the President of the United States .

Here are the videos of President elect Obama's speech given last night in Chicago , Illinois Grant Park .

Polls , Reality Checks , Burn Out

I stayed up until 3 A.M. Tripoli time last night or early this morning depending on how you look at it , to watch the last presidential debate in real time. It was what I had been waiting for ... actual answers to questions , the issues discussed , where the candidates stood on them , and the separation of fact from fiction .CBS's Morey Shaffer did a great job as moderator keeping the debate mostly in line and on schedule . The latest poll from today seems to suggest that Obama is a head to date . The Electoral College has Obama up by 109 electoral votes over McCain so far with 94 States still up for grabs . Having said all this .... I am having presidential debate burn out . How about you ? That sounds so unpatriotic . Only 19 more days until the American people elect a new president .

Presidential Quiz & The Debates

After watching the second of the debates between Obama and McCain the other night I thought you might want to take a crack at learning who you agree with most .. so far . This is a quiz provided by ABC News network on line . I think you will be surprised by who you pick . It isn't long , is easy to do and totally private .

Just for chuckles and grins ... check out this article from the Yahoo news room on how the Electoral College stacks up its votes pre debate on Tuesday Oct. 7 , 2008 . Feeling a little blue ? Now look at the same Electoral College map after the debate . Thanks once again to the folks at Real Clear Politics for the latest poll after the debate on how McCain and Obama stand ... so far .

I don't know about you but I was disappointed that even in the Town Hall Meeting atmosphere of concise questions asked by the audience and viewers , the two presidential candidates still skirted the issues by vague answers . I was expecting , for some wild reason , that they would take this vital opportunity to let the voters hear what their policies and ideas are in more of a concert answer . I grew frustrated with the bickering and wanted to just shout at them to shut up a minute and answer the questions they had been asked . They were worse than small children arguing over who is right and who is wrong ! I half way expected to hear one or the other start to yell " I'm telling !" I am hoping next weeks debate isn't more of the same . I think the American people and the world is really invested in this election and it's out come. They have the right to the straight facts from these two men, not this election rhetoric we have been hearing so far .

Who Is Ahead Now

Well it looks like Sarah "Who" Palin just might pull the rabbit out of the magic hat for Senator McCain . The very latest polls show a narrow margin with McCain ahead of Senator Obama .

I heard a news commentator say that Rush Limbaugh was so excited about her nomination as running mate for McCain that he was quoted as saying ," Hot damn ! Guns , babies , and Jesus what more does America want ?" I am not saying this is TRUE but it does make you ask yourself is this really all the American voters think about ?

They say that Senator Obama isn't qualified because of his lack of foreign policy experience but he does have Senator Joe Biden who is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US senate .This is the balance the Democratic ticket needs . Sarah "WHO" Palin doesn't bring experience of this caliber to the Republican party at all . What if she does happened to become the president through default of McCain's demise , will she really be able to lead the US through the hard times ahead for that nation ?

1st Of September In Libya

Today is the national day of Libya , the 1st of September .It will be celebrated much as the 4th of July is in America by Libyans in Libya .There will be speeches ,parades , fireworks , celebrations in all the towns , cities , and villages alike .This day is also called El Fatah in homage to Gaddafi's military coup in 1969 , September 1st .

On a different note .......I would like to ask you to please keep all those that are in the path of Hurricane Gustav in your prayers these next few days .

Curiouser and Curiouser

Well , I guess the race for president of the USA is truly on now that McCain has picked his running mate , Sarah Palin . Obama chose Joe Biden as his vise presidential running mate . It gets interesting now that both presidential candidates are stirring the pot with these two added ingredients . There was only one poll so far today after McCain made his announcement . The state of Idaho says McCain is a head , but in general , Obama is ahead .... so far . The burning question is what will Obama and McCain do in the days ahead to try to turn the tide of voters their way before Nov. 8 , 2008 ? As Alice said , "Curiouser and curiouser " ! These are very clever men with great advisers . Keep your eyes glued to all their actions and ears open for the real words spoken by them .