Proud to be an American

Every 4th of July in St. Louis they play "I'm proud to be an American" while my cousins and I watch the fireworks underneath the "Gateway to the West" (aka the St. Louis arch) alongside the Mississippi River.


Really how much more American can you get than that scene? It's right out of a novel, except it's better because it's real.

I've seen propaganda videos using this song to support the war in Iraq and though it makes sense to use this song- it makes me sort of sad. I don't look at this song for political reasons, it's a corny patriotic song that my cousins and I belt loudly out once a year.

In short, to me this song unites people, brings us (my family) together with the hundreds of others standing along the Mississippi to watch the Fair St. Louis- I just never thought it'd be used to divide.

Looking at the lyrics it was clearly chosen for a reason.

*Fireworks by: Eric Zimmermann
*Arch pulled from here

Looking ahead

Looking at my own pole, I don't think I realized how soon around the corner the election actually is happening. I mean, I feel like it's been election season since last summer. Just 12 days until Americans will get to "make a difference" by casting their ballots.

Tell me what you think of the American voting system? Do you agree with the electoral college? First past the post?

If any state screws up counting votes this year, which state do you think it will be?

Which state do you think will be the closest?

What state do you live in and which way do you think it will swing...red or blue?

What they think

"I'm voting for John McCain for several reasons. First I know who he is and what he stands for. He answers questions directly. Secondly, there's no better commander in chief than a former POW who currently has two sons stationed in Iraq. Thirdly, he isn't going to raise corporate taxes that will send American jobs overseas. And lastly, he wrote a nice letter to my son --- what a way to get a mom's vote!" - NANCY, DALLAS, TX

And just for fun, here's what my 7 year old brother and 4 year old sister have to say...

"I am for Obama and my Pink Bear is for McCain." - LILY

"I support John McCain because he is a Republican and a brave soldier. Also, I do not like that Obama tells parents to turn off TV and video games." - REED

Endorsement, baseball and skit...

Colin Powell, perhaps one of the most esteemed men to work for our government in the last two decades, endorsed Obama. Donations soar.

Sox lost to Tampa Bay, leaving Tampa to play the Phillies in the World Series. Below is a photo of the Mike Timlin with his son packing up his locker.



Palin made her own appearence on SNL. See Fox News coverage HERE. Watch Sarah rock out to Amy Poehler rapping about Alaska.












*Powell picture from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Amy McConnell Schaarsmith
*Red Sox photo from the Boston Globe, Suzanne Keiter
*Palin picture grabbed from NBC Dallas affiliate

Always Amazed

How about that game?

Seriously, talk about waiting until the last minute. Boston Red Sox come back.

"The seven-run deficit was the largest overcome in a postseason game since Game 4 of 1929 World Series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In that one, the Philadelphia Athletics trailed by eight before a 10-run seventh inning powered them past the Chicago Cubs 10-8." - AP

Debate

From taxes to terrorists, last night's debate was by far the best.


My favorite part would probably have to be the overkill of "Joe the Plumber," mainly because though the catch phrase sounds like just that, another catch phrase, Joe is a real man who Obama spoke with on Sunday.

Maybe Palin really is the bulldog. If she's not going to correct people from calling Obama a terrorist during rallies, but McCain will. Well, to me that just looks like she's doing the dirty work.

Attack ads- they both got angry with each other over the issue. Personally, I think attacking someone's policy is different than attacking his person. So calling a man "a liar" or "a terrorist" is different than saying, hey, this policy won't work.

I watched the debate with a friend last night who said she thinks she's going to vote for Obama. Her logic was as follows. "If Obama dies, Biden knows stuff. If McCain dies, Palin's an idiot."

More commentary on the debate later today...

*Debate picture: Dharapak/Getty pulled from the New York Daily News
*Obama/Joe picture: Hong/AP pulled from the New York Daily News

Debate Tonight

Don't miss the third presidential debate on tonight at 9 p.m. It will most likely be more of the same repeated over again. McCain will try to re spark some of the former energy that has recently faded.

A New York Times poll suggests that McCain's attacks might be hurting him more than helping him. Ignoring the fact that the majority of people who voted on the New York Times poll were probably liberal in the first place- it's hard to see how his attack ads wouldn't be looked down upon.

It reminds me of the 2006 race for Governor in Massachusetts when Kerry Healey (former Lieutenant Governor under Mitt Romney) kept launching attack ads against Deval Patrick. At the time everyone I spoke with couldn't stand her ads, and several of my friends decided to vote for Patrick simply because of this.

And, as we all know now, Patrick won the election.



Advertising is key if, and only if, it's done correctly. Otherwise you're spending millions to shoot yourself in the foot...

Don't miss tonight's THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

*AP photo, pulled from foxnews.com