Our currency may be the wrong place to have this phrase memorialized especially when you consider that money is a necessary evil in society and the quest for it is not the end all goal of our temporary existence on this planet.   Perhaps this hallowed phrase belongs tattooed on each of our foreheads instead of imprinted on the bills in our pockets.

It occurs to me that only those who do not truly believe in prayer, guidance from above, or divine inspiration will, out of some personal emptiness, belittle those who do.   They cannot comprehend how we could somehow place trust in some superior being or spirit that might help guide us as we stumble through this life.   

Those who believe in God all too often are discredited by the media elites.  Perhaps we belong in the closet and this part of our lives should be hidden from public viewing, not mentioned, and never condoned.   It is amazing that an individual’s sexual identity is celebrated when outed from the closet, but one’s spiritual identity is to be buried deep and never revealed. 

We saw this attack on Governor Mike Huckabee when he was marginalized as the candidate of the Christian right.  We are seeing it again in how Governor Palin is being portrayed by the snoots on television.   

I for one respect people who have found comfort in their personal belief in the Almighty.  It demonstrates to me that they are humble in ego, open to truth, willing to seek correctness in decision making.    This is strength and if we are to be strong collectively we should have leaders grounded in some sense of morality and not just the words that are easily mouthed for the cameras during a campaign.

It is saddening that there are so many in the media who do not get this and find it cause for ridicule.   Why are these folks so empty?   Why are the elevated to become opinion leaders in our society?   Why do we assist in their elevation by continually rewarding them with our attention that contributes to their readership and ratings?   Is it not time that we stop enabling them to be the way they are.   I, for one, am sick of being discriminated against by the Charlie Gibsons of the world.   Enough already. 

Perhaps the most difficult thing this year is that I am not excited about either Presidential candidate.   My preferred candidates erupted in the primaries and the selection we now have is less than stellar.    While I was included to support McCain in 2000, his behavior having lost to Bush was questionable and most notably siding with the Democrats on pivotal questions regarding procedures that stood in the way of judicial confirmations.

McCain is no Reagan, but he definitely is to the right of Obama and the more we learn about the silver tongued Senator from Illinois who won his race by default the more troubled I become.   They say professional politicians can talk their way out of anything and perhaps Obama can talk his way out of his leftist leanings and give America the chickens we need to put in our pots, assuming we can be bought off that cheaply in these difficult and trying times.

Sarah Palin has energized me, not because she is pure or perfect, but because she is real.  This upstart of a motivated mom who took on political corruption and cronyism and threw the rascals out remains under attack by those who cannot believe someone of this lineage could be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.   In spirit and spunk, she’s a Republican Harry Truman, grounded in small town common sense and an understanding of right and wrong.

Most television pundits on both sides of the aisle, including O’Reilly, just don’t get it.  Dick Morris does.  This woman is here to stay, win or lose, and the threat she poses to the entrenched patronization of women by the effete left is extremely serious.  Sarah Palin didn’t marry someone who carried her as his partner into her position like Senator Clinton has.  Sara Palin took the Moose by the antlers and got there herself.

Sara is the hero of American women and her selection by John McCain will permanently transform American politics in a way most women in America have longed for.   ABC’s Charlie Gibson, sitting aloof and asking questions looking down his snout at this lady Governor, may believe he scored a triumph when the Gov didn’t know what the Bush doctrine was.   But the term “Bush doctrine” is not a term used by common Americans, it is a term used by Washington insiders and that is certainly not what Sarah Palin represents.

So the race continues and our Sarah keeps on trucking’ and everyday women from all walks of life are rooting for her, saying “You go girl!

The better choice.

In the not too distant past the neighborhood hardware store was the savior of many anxious homeowners lost in a weekend project only to find that something has gone awry by some essential part or gizmo that has failed.    These failures are catastrophic in that projects that have been procrastinated upon are now started but not completed and a cherished tee time is inflexible.

Countless weekend warriors would descend upon their village hardware store clutching some nameless gizmo seeking a quick replacement so they can claim some minor home improvement accomplishment to their spouse before disappearing onto the front nine. But the supposed progress of American society today has consolidated local hardware stores into two competing big box chains ostensibly to make life better for us all.

Our once trusty hardware expert who owned the local store has now retired to some warm climate and while his children waste their inheritance at the Indian casino our downsized neighbors now don uniforms and walk the aisles of the two warring chains: Home Depot and Lowes.

As one who frequents and patronizes both on a regular basis I have had to put them both to the test recently and memorialize my experiences here as a public service.   First, allow me to admit that the default hardware chain for reasons I cannot articulate is Home Depot.   I have been under the impression that if you needed some obscure item you had a better chance of finding it at Home Depot than at Lowes.

So it is no wonder that when the nozzle on my pressure washer died I would immediately head to the Depot seeking a replacement only to find countless options, all similar, but none identical to what was required.   The normally helpful salesman was alone and occupied giving a lawn cutting primer to a middle aged woman in her virgin search for a power mower.   I waited patiently as he took her on a tour of every machine in the store, explaining each one in such detail that even the most patient observer would be tempted to scream “just buy the one on the right already”!

To improve my chances of attracting service I strategically parked myself on the seat of the most expensive riding mower in the store, hoping that a capitalist motive would divert his attention from a potential $200 sale to a $2500 purchase.   It didn’t work.  In fact, this woman was now asking questions about leaf blowers and the two retreated to the privacy of the next aisle where heaven knows what was going on.

My question was a simple one:  Which stinking nozzle should I buy since none of the items carried the exact same model number as the one I needed?    The option of guessing became very real but the though of a return trip to correct in incorrect choice loomed in my head.   In the interest of energy conservation, the wait continued.

It was then that I decided to call Lowes.  So, sitting atop the Rolls Royce of riding mowers with trusty cell phone in hand, the automated attendant at the Lowes across the street ultimately guided me to some guy named Bob.   It was then that I learned that Bob was my savior and had the exact part I needed.  So, off I went as some kid waved and said “Have a nice day.  Thanks for shopping Home Depot.”

Do not think this has been an isolated instance.  Just this past weekend my ti-ki torches went dry on the patio and the mosquitoes were attacking.  With guest about to arrive I made an emergency run to the depot in search of the citronella oil that had been on display all summer.   When I arrived at the store the display had been replaced by Halloween scarecrows (it was just after Labor Day weekend).   The salesman told me the oil was in the garden center.   So off I ran, only to find nothing and be directed back to where I had come.   Finally the store manager told me they got rid of the oil for the season was over and they needed to make way for the Christmas stuff.

Excuse me, it’s a beautiful weekend, the bugs are out, people are having barbeques and are not in immediate need of Halloween decorations, let alone fake Christmas trees.  Can I just have some citronella oil, PLEEEASSE!!!

Where did I ultimately find it?   Let’s just say the final score is Lowes 2, Home Depot 0. 

Governor Palin represents everything the left hates: morality, dedication, independence, principles, and honesty.    The attack will come first from women on the left who have long proclaimed themselves the spokespeople for American females, the majority of which do not share their penchant for nastiness.   Sit back and get ready to watch the political cat fight of the century!

It’s amazing how threatened these liberal women are of Sarah Palin.   The intolerance shown a fellow female pioneer positioned to break the glass ceiling in ways so coveted by the likes of Geraldine Ferrarro and Hilary Clinton is revealing.   It really has never been about women breaking the barriers to advancement.   Their actions now show that it has always been about the advance of the extreme left into positions of power where their intolerance toward those not of their ilk can be a meaningful force for change.

Listen as they put down a working mom’s ability to comprehend the big issues of the day.   These sexist judgmentalists now question whether Sarah should stay home and take care of her children.   The displeasure evident on their faces belies a general rejection of the choices affecting life that have been made by Palin family members.   Even the union of two young people in a loving relationship deeper than inconsequential sex is something incomprehensible to these ladies of the left.   Perhaps they might be more tolerant if it were a same sex union.

To these women Sarah is stupid for not being like them.   One can only wonder if news that one’s pregnancy will result in a Downs Syndrome child is cause for them to put an end to it.  Or how should one regard the inconvenience of a pregnancy prior to completion of ones education.   Oh no, do not let anything get in the way of the “me”.   C’mon girls make your choice and don’t make a wrong one.

Isn’t it amazing how a political movement that proclaims itself the champion of tolerance and of those with no advocate is so willing to discriminate against women not in lock step with their agendas or intolerant of the challenge a special needs child poses or a young couple in love who may grow up a little faster than others by starting their family prematurly.

Sarah Palin represents diversity to these women and they can’t stand it.   Her strength in standing up to political bosses, career politicians, and big oil companies is to be overlooked and ignored because to them, she is a threat to their new American order and the changed definition of what an American woman is to be.   When you get used to standing up to people, your backbone grows strong and prepares you well for the challenges of international relations.

As the heat continues to rise in the political kitchen of this year’s election, there can be no doubt that the hotter it gets the stronger she will be and the hypocrisy of her critics will be exposed in a way that will cause a rising of the silent majority of American moms who want their daughters to emulate a strong woman who stands up for herself, the truth, justice, and her convictions.    What a great role model for us all.

Sure she urged everyone to get on the Obama bandwagon and elect a Democrat, but the speech was about her and not the man she was supposed to be promoting.  There was not one word about Obama’s quest from being a “nobody” just a few short years ago to being the first “nobody” in my lifetime to have an even shot at being elected President this fall.   This fact is perhaps even more historic than him being half black.

All I could keep saying to myself is how bad the Clintons are and how weak Obama was for allowing the convention to be hijacked in this way.   Reports that they have not even seen President Clinton’s remarks to be made tonight in prime time underscore how out of control this convention truly is.    If you can’t get a handle on your own nominating convention, how the heck are you going to get your arms around the massive federal government bureaucracy should you win?

Great speeches are great speeches and that is about it.   Certainly Obama will deliver a great one Thursday night and the Obamamaniacs will pine and swoon as if they have had a chance to be in the presence of the Almighty.    Nobody has done it better, except perhaps Reagan.   

There is no doubt that Hillary would have been the better choice as a running mate and there is considerable angst among her more ardent supporters that she wasn’t even considered.  Correction: she was certainly considered, but rejected.   How many times must this woman be scorned by Obama?

The way the Obama campaign is being handled reminds me of a fourth of July rocket that launched with great flair only to fizzle as the crowds watch with great disappointment.   What many Republicans feared would be an Armageddon election is now turning out to be another polarized slugfest between two camps representing an even divide in our populace.   

The question unasked of Senator Clinton and her husband is if they believe Obama will win.   Considering her speech was more about her journey than the nominee’s, the only conclusion to be reached is that the Clinton campaign has not ended, perhaps sidetracked for a cycle, but not over.   This new phase of Hillary’s quest for the Oval Office was summed up by her reference to Harriett Tubman’s great advice to not stop but keep going.