Obama in Iraq

The news people say Obama is trying to strengthen his foreign policy credentials by going to the war zones.Here in America,the economy is more of an issue.Layoffs,rising food prices,higher unemployment mean more to the average man than foreign policy.Billions of dollars spent on foreign wars,and people in this country are struggling.The candidates seem to be ignoring the bread and butter issues.

$52 Million for Obama in June

News item from July 17:Obama raises $52 million in June,which is his second highest monthly total to date.Wow.I would guess by the election money totals have to be close to a billion.Money is the grease on which the ball bearings of politics ride.Inflation has rarely been mentioned in this race but that seems likely to change.Polls show that voters are more concerned about the comatose economy and crippling gas prices than about wars in Iraq and elsewhere.Why is so little said about Osama bin-Laden?Is he still being hunted,or did we stop searching?He must be approaching the all-time record for being public enemy No. 1 and still eluding capture.I remember a $25 million dollar in gold bounty offered for him.The situation of seeming stalemate in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq remind me of 1980 when President Carter could not get the hostages in Iran freed.

Voter in Swing State

I am a registered voter in what the pundits call a swing state,Pennsylvania.I will be making regular postings to this site to voice my opinions on the presidential campaign.I am an Independent.I have not decided which candidate I will cast my ballot for in November.I have an open mind toward both candidates.The magnitude of the issues each man faces is certainly gargantuan.Each one has my sympathy,as I cannot see how any one man can possibly tackle what is in store for the next President.In any case,one of them will tackle it.As the next President goes,all Americans will go.I do not think second guessing anyone who leads is a fair thing,but Americans can and will choose the man who will lead the nation to whatever is to come.Right now I think America is on a downward trajectory.Gas prices are killing everyone.Wages and jobs are stagnant,if not backpedaling.I am certainly worse off than I was 4 yrs. ago.I am cynical about any promise that there are quick fixes.If any easy,painless,or quick fixes exist,they would have been done.