And when he said that he kept looking around like he expected us to side with him. Dude, welcome to America! We do enjoy the Freedom fo Speech but it doesn't mean we should act like braying jackasses or treat our spouses like servants.

Obama is a ray of light. He speaks well and has undeniable charisma. He doesn't have the political experience of the other two. The one time on TV I heard him speak, he impressed me with his eloquence but lost me when he brought religion into his speech.

Edwards is an intelligent speaker though not as eloquent as Obama. He was on one of those Sunday morning news shows and he laid out a plan for Iraq that was insightful. He gave details and reasons for actions. My problem with him is, simply, he doesn't have the Presidential Stature. Hillary and Barack have the composure. Edwards is more VP material.

Maybe an Obama/Edwards or Clinton/Edwards ticket would do it. What I'd like to see in any case is a candidate who doesn't drag religion into politics. Better would be a candidate who declares that religion shouldn't be a part of politics and acts accordingly. I'd like a candidate who recognizes that our Government is not beholden to Corporate America but to the Real America, the ordinary people who put them in power. I'd like a candidate with the intelligence to weigh decisions, not act from the gut like our current President. I'd like a candidate who can speak in complete sentences, without sound bites or pre-written material. I'd like a candidate who has the guts to admit mistakes and not slough off past errors as childish mistakes. I'd like a candidate who understands that our country, great as it is, doesn't rule the world nor should it try to - Diplomacy has to be a vital tool in the political kit.

I'd like a candidate, a President, who doesn't make me feel like I need to bathe after seeing him or her, someone for whom we don't have to apologize.

But as always, I get sidetracked so easily.

Bush is now provoking Iran with subtly threats of "Do as I say or face the consequences". This is the Bush family tactic, by the way, and while it works one way in business, it doesn't work quite the same way on the International political scene. If I were Iran and heard these types of threats I wouldn't be very scared. Considering that Bush has our military quagmired in Iraq and Afghanistan, and working in Somalia - they know we're spread too thin. They also know that America gets sick of war real fast and we're sick of it now. For us, it's a weakness and strength.

The Middle East is a mess and America in too many ways isn't far behind. Unless you're in the Oil Biz you may not be doing too well. What really hurts is that the billions wasted in Iraq could've have been well spent in the U.S.. If you are in the Oil Biz, you are daily blessing Saint Dubya. This past week saw yet another quarter of record oil profits.

Quiz question: What do Unocal, Exxon, Dubya Bush, Dick Cheney, and Iraq have in common?