Impressions of an Election.............By David Mixner

-So far, Barack Obama has been endorsed by 231 newspapers with a combined circulation of 21 million people. McCain has a total of 102 newspapers with a circulation of 7 million people. Forty-Six of the papers that endorsed Bush in 2004 have switched to Obama. One of the more interesting endorsements for Obama was the Anchorage Daily News. You bet'cha. If you want to know how your newspaper endorsed, go to www.editorandpublisher.com .

-Tell me again, John McCain, why we should not tax corporations more? Exxon/ Mobil, just for this quarter, has reported an all time record profit of $14.3 billion dollars! So much for taking our hard earned money at the gas pump and putting it back into exploration.

-Astronaut Sally Ride (photograph) has endorsed Obama and says he is the best choice for the future of the space program.

-Matt Drudge continues to bring shame to his site The Drudge Report by endlessly printing every slimy unauthenticated rumor about Obama. His effort to pump up the Republicans with such trash is unbecoming. But not surprising.

-The latest CNN/Time battleground state polls continue to show we are heading in the right direction. They showed Obama leading in a number of states including:

Florida +4%
Virginia +9%
Pennsylvania +12%
North Carolina +6%
Nevada +7%
Ohio +4%

-In the 'just when you think it can't get any worse' department, incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole sank to new lows in the already acknowledged nadir known as Republican politics. She accused very religious challenger Kay Hagan of 'associating with Atheists" in a television spot! The Charlotte Observer called out Dole on her disgusting ad and said:

“This is indecent. It is the modern-day version of the “white hands” ad, a lie born of Dole's desperation in a race in which she has trailed for weeks. It is also a deliberate attempt by Dole's campaign not just to distort the truth, but to shatter Hagan's admirable record as an elder for more than a decade in Greensboro's First Presbyterian Church, as a Sunday School teacher and a volunteer in her church's fundraising campaigns, worship services and community service programs. It has no place in N.C. politics. Unless she admits this egregious, shameful mistake and acts appropriately, Elizabeth Dole has no place in N.C. politics, either.”

-Queerty.com carried the story of 109 year old Texan Amanda Jones whose father was a slave. Her life has spanned three centuries and has voted Democrat for seventy years. She proudly filled out her Absentee Ballot for Barack Obama this week. She announced it was her proudest vote ever in her long life.

-Speaking of the Lone Star State, a University of Texas poll showed that 23% of the voters of that state believe Barack Obama is a Muslim. Really. No kidding. No wonder they keep electing Republicans. Guess they have had too many head injuries in those Friday night football games.

-McCain has 177 lobbyists for Big Oil, Wall Street and other corporations running his campaign. No wonder his campaign thinks Obama's fair tax policy is "socialism".

-My political guru in Nevada, Dr. Jerry Cade, reports that Democrats out numbered Republicans in early voting in Clark County (Las Vegas) by 54% to 29%! In the Republican stronghold of Washoe County (Reno), Democrats have out numbered Republicans in early voting by 51% to 33%. Good news.

-Patrick Range McDonald sent a note about a rally in West Hollywood, California on Sunday at 4PM against Proposition 8. The huge rally will be at Santa Monica and Robertson Blvd. If you are in the Southland, please get your butt to it and while you are at it please give more money. We need $3 million more in three days to air a spot by Senator Dianne Feinstein against Proposition 8. Go to www.noonprop8.com and give one more check.

-"Keep on truckin' Scott Kleeb" is driving his pickup truck all over Nebraska. The Democrat, running for U.S. Senate, is having citizens sign his truck with missives detailing what they need from their government. The truck is covered with messages from the grassroots. (See Photograph).

-Alison Teal reports in "Hot Flashes from the Campaign Trail" that National Public Radio had a story of a factory worker in Missouri who voting early. As an old civil rights activist, I loved his quote which sounds like he might have gotten it from his preacher last Sunday:

 "Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Barack could run; Barack is running so children can fly."

-The Lady de Rothchild has taken her tiara and diamonds to New Hampshire to hold press conferences for John McCain. Once again the big Democratic contributor married to a billionaire is accusing Obama of being an elitist! I guess when you have that much inherited money, the notion of irony never enters your addled thought process. Even so, you have to admit that Lady de Rothchild seems to have lost all sense of what is elite and what is a noble struggle to create a magnificent life.

-The 'silver fox' President Clinton joined Barack Obama on stage for the first time last night at a huge, boisterous, and incredibly satisfying rally in Florida. If you missed the meeting of Democratic Titans, it is worth viewing. Just click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC-9PgJfJIw

-This will be my last Impressions of an Election column and next week after the election, I will begin my "Impressions by David Mixner" column. Lets hope I love covering this transition!

I leave you with this Obama canvasser who does it all on horseback in Missouri.

The Economist Endorses Obama

One of the world's most influential magazines, The Economist, announced their support of Barack Obama for President. You read the entire endorsement by clicking here. However, you see the tone of the endorsement in the excerpts that follow:

"That, however, was Senator McCain; the Candidate McCain of the past six months has too often seemed the victim of political sorcery, his good features magically inverted, his bad ones exaggerated. The fiscal conservative who once tackled Mr Bush over his unaffordable tax cuts now proposes not just to keep the cuts, but to deepen them. The man who denounced the religious right as “agents of intolerance” now embraces theocratic culture warriors. The campaigner against ethanol subsidies (who had a better record on global warming than most Democrats) came out in favour of a petrol-tax holiday. It has not all disappeared: his support for free trade has never wavered. Yet rather than heading towards the centre after he won the nomination, Mr McCain moved to the right.

Meanwhile his temperament, always perhaps his weak spot, has been found wanting. Sometimes the seat-of-the-pants method still works: his gut reaction over Georgia—to warn Russia off immediately—was the right one. Yet on the great issue of the campaign, the financial crisis, he has seemed all at sea, emitting panic and indecision. Mr McCain has never been particularly interested in economics, but, unlike Mr Obama, he has made little effort to catch up or to bring in good advisers (Doug Holtz-Eakin being the impressive exception).

The choice of Sarah Palin epitomised the sloppiness. It is not just that she is an unconvincing stand-in, nor even that she seems to have been chosen partly for her views on divisive social issues, notably abortion. Mr McCain made his most important appointment having met her just twice."

The Economist concludes by saying:

"So Mr Obama in that respect is a gamble. But the same goes for Mr McCain on at least as many counts, not least the possibility of President Palin. And this cannot be another election where the choice is based merely on fear. In terms of painting a brighter future for America and the world, Mr Obama has produced the more compelling and detailed portrait. He has campaigned with more style, intelligence and discipline than his opponent. Whether he can fulfil his immense potential remains to be seen. But Mr Obama deserves the presidency."

Final Days: Obama's Last Economic Ad - Pass It On!

The following ad from the Obama campaign captures the dramatic difference between the two candidates on the economic crisis and McCain's impetuous choice of Palin. It is really good and if you have time you should send it to your entire list of family and friends this weekend. This is just one more thing you can do to help propel Obama to victory!

Impressions of an Election.................by David Mixner

-The Brits are feeling a new pride in their Prime Minister. Ever since most of the world adopted Prime Minister Brown's economic "British Solution" and the markets calmed down, his ratings have dramatically improved in the British Isles. They discovered the powerful intellect and innovation that Brown brings in time of trouble.

-The citizens of Colorado aren't going to take a chance that the weather might stop them from voting on election day. Over 1.5 million ballots have been sent out to voters and already near 400,000 have returned ballots or voted early.

-You would think after forking over an astonishing $150,000 on clothes for Sarah Palin the RNC could have least spent it with some taste. Where are the gay men in the Republican Party that should have taken her shopping? It appears Karl Rove is the one that picked out the clothes. Trust me, for that amount of money she should be looking like Angelina Jolie.

-Jeffrey Ressner at Politico.com has a great piece on the crucial part that California played in raising money for Obama. He especially singled out Jeremy Bernard and Rufus Gifford saying:

"This professional fundraising couple has been the subject of glowing profiles in political and gay magazines, with website washingtonblade.com praising their “golden Rolodex.” Organizational wizards, the team constantly strategizes with the four California finance chairs (below) to split up territories, plan events, and target new donors."

-Appears that people are just over the Republicans and according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll, Americans want the Democrats to control Congress by 49% to 38%. Guess you can't run a country into the ground and expect to be rewarded.

-How sad that the California Sierra Club on their slate couldn't bring themselves to oppose Proposition 8. Think ridding the state of hate would do a lot to improve the environment. Don't you?

-The Minnesota Star Tribune has Al Franken leading incumbent Republican Norm Coleman by three points. While in the bluegrass state of Kentucky incumbent Republican McConnell is tied with his Democratic challenger. McConnell might be singing soon "My Old Kentucky Home".

-PBS has announced their election night team headed by Jim Lehrer. He will be assisted by Mark Shields, Stu Rothenberg, Amy Walterand David Brooks. Providing the historical prospective will be handsome and intelligent Michael Beschloss.

-Seems Obama isn't the only one that knows how to fundraise! The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has raised double what the Republicans have raised so far! Any committee that is led by Senator Chuck Schumer and has Tom Lopach working for them is bound to do well!

-The Houston Chronicle shed its Texas Republican credentials and endorsed Obama. Once again Palin was sited as a major reason for their endorsement. They said:

"Perhaps the worst mistake McCain made in his campaign for the White House was the choice of the inexperienced and inflammatory Palin as his vice-presidential running mate. Had he selected a moderate, experienced Republican lawmaker such as Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison with a strong appeal to independents, the Chronicle's choice for an endorsement would have been far more difficult."

-The Republican National Committee has hit a new all time low. They seriously have absolutely no conscience, values or principles left in the entire Committee. Their most recent disgusting product is a mailer that has in large letters "Terrorist" on the front and you open up to a picture of Obama and the worlds"Not Who You Think He Is!". There has to be a special place in hell for the people who put together this hate filled flyer!

-In the 'dare I believe this or even too good to be true' department, the latest Quinnipiac Poll numbers came out today for the big three states that McCain must carry. Hold your breath because the numbers are:

Florida: Obama 49 McCain 44
Ohio: Obama 52 McCain 38
Pennsylvania: Obama 53 McCain 40

-Our thoughts and prayers are with Barack Obama and his ailing maternal grandmother. We are sending lots of love their way.

Barack Obama: Indiana Ad

Impressions of an Election.........by David Mixner

-"kill'em them, gut'em them" Sarah Palin has told the press that they have to pay, get this, $15 million to get copies of her emails surrounding the controversies that are surfacing in Alaska. Oh, and by the way, she can't get them to you until after November 4. That should discourage anyone from vetting her!

-As only a Shakespearean bard can, Sir Ian McKellen (photograph) added a moment of class to American politics when he announced his opposition to Proposition 8. Sir Ian said,

"California's influence stretches across the world through the imagination of its citizens in films and through the internet. At the same time, its welcome to strangers has meant it has been home to those escaping oppression, many of whom have identified themselves as gay. For both reasons I feel involved in the outcome of voting over Proposition 8.

I think of Englishmen like the painter David Hockney and the writer Christopher Isherwood who emigrated to Los Angeles and Santa Monica where (far from home) they loved in the way they felt they were born to, with people of their own gender. I think of the gay novelist Armistead Maupin, a refugee from the Deep South who in San Francisco discovered his talent to amuse. These great men (and there are many women like them) deserve society's respect for their honesty and their determination to dream in the American way of being completely themselves, against all the odds."

-Holly Near, in the best tradition of Woody Guthrie, is heading to Ohio with "Sing Out The Vote"! She says, "We plan to use our 11 days to energize the weary activists in Ohio who are working so hard. We know how song works, we walk in that tradition." Over a dozen troubadours are traveling with Holly to the major cities to "Sing Out The Vote!". They are paying their own way and sleeping in people's home. Another good reason to volunteer for Obama.

-two more Republican newspapers that backed Bush in 2004, the Salt Lake Tribune and Kansas City Star, have endorsed Obama. Now get this, the main reason that they did so was because of the choice of Sarah Palin.

-what a weekend of numbers Obama has had! He announced that he raised a record breaking $150 million just in the month of September and now has 3.1 million contributors. The average contribution was less than $100 which is astounding. In addition, he had 100,000 people in St. Louis and 75,000 in Kansas City meaning that 175,000 people showed up in Missouri to see him.

-one very happy group of staffers are those that work for the Democratic Governors Association. They have raised more money to help elect Democratic governors than anytime in the organization's history. They raised one million dollars more than the Republicans!

-too bad our Canadian brother and sisters can't vote in this election. They favor Barack Obama over John McCain by 70% to 14%! But the record has to go to the Swiss who like Obama over McCain 83% to 7%.

-this is an indicator of this year's turn-out. Over 50% of Colorado voters have requested a ballot before election day! And, what was once solidly Republican, Arapahoe County in Colorado is now Democratic for the first time ever. Democrats have had a 26% increase in the county while Republicans have dropped 20%.

-my favorite Senate race continues to be Kay Hagan's incredible challenge to Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole. The latest Daily Kos pol has Hagan up by 4 points. And so far, five major newspaper have endorsed in this race and all of them urged voters to vote for Hagan. Guess Liddy Dole will have to find a new retirement plan.

-speaking of Daily Kos, his latest poll has Republican incumbent Wicker only up by 1 point in Mississippi over Democratic challenger Ronnie Musgrove. Daily Kos has done remarkable and professional polling throughout this election.

-author Marylouise Oates (photograph by Michael Oates Palmer) who wrote the fun "Second Home Book" has no problem understanding why John McCain is obsessed with "Joe the Plumber". She says, "After all, he has seven homes and everyone knows how valuable plumbers are to homeowners!"

-is it just me, or has Time Magazine's "The Page", written by Mark Halperin, become nothing more than a newsletter for McCain/ Palin? I expected more of him.

-the latest polls from battleground states have Obama up over McCain by 7 in Colorado, 5 in Nevada and an amazing 6 in Missouri.

-Obama/ Biden had their surrogates and staff on conference call making sure all of us know his strong commitment to fight HIV/AIDS in his administration. Waiting for that same call from McCain...oops, there won't be one on this issue.

-more on endorsements. The Denver Post has a great endorsement of Obama. They say:

"Republicans love to mock Obama's history as a community organizer. But here was a man with no money to offer, no patronage to dispense, no way to punish his opponents. All he could do was to work with people from all walks of life, liberals and conservatives, business people and the unemployed, and bring them together in common cause for a better community. Could there really be better preparation to reunite a worried and divided America to again pursue our 'more perfect union'?"

-on the first day of early voting in North Carolina over 100,000 voters showed up at the polls.

-campaigns can be a work of art and GQ Magazine proves that in their latest issue. It has a photographic portfolio of pictures from this year's campaign. Click here to see it.

-you have to love the St. Louis rally picture of 100,000 turning out for Obama.

Impressions of an Election........by David Mixner

- have you ever seen such a hate-filled campaign like that coming from John McCain? He is finished, no matter how you cut it. If elected, he would be unable to govern given the hate, division and anger he has created. If he loses, he will always be remembered for running one of the hateful campaigns in American history. Hey, John, is it really worth losing your heart and soul for power?

- my buddy, LGBT pioneer Dr. Jerry Cade, reports from Nevada that Obama is making great progress in that state. In this week's Reno-Gazette poll, Obama leads by 53% to 43%. Even more interesting is that in Nevada's second congressional district (in green at right), a district that went for Bush by 16% in 2004, Obama is virtually tied with McCain. Not good news for the McCain camp. Maybe they should start talking about the issues.

- we have a good chance to pick up a spectacular new Democratic senator in North Carolina. Kay Hagen has been running a flawless campaign against Republican Elizabeth Dole. What is amazing, despite spending only about 13% of her time in North Carolina while Senator, Dole is still hardly coming to North Carolina to campaign. She has refused all debates and is doing fundraising events at her Watergate home. A year ago she had a party for her staff on the North Carolina Outer Banks and charged the taxpayers. Come on, those Bob Dole Viagra ads must be bringing in enough money to pay for her own staff party.

- shoot'em and gut'em Governor Sarah Palin has spent way too much time at home. As Governor, she has spent 300 days, out of 20 months, working at home, with the State Capitol hundreds of miles away. But get this: she charges the state per diem to stay in her own home, and thus far has raked in $17,000 from taxpayer dollars. In addition, she conveniently left the $17,000 off her taxes! What is it about Alaskans and their homes? Maybe Senator Ted Stevens gave her some advice.

- don't mess with Senator John McCain at the craps tables in the Casinos! According to Michael Kinsley, on the Tina Brown "Daily Beast" , a hot new web site, McCain was at a gaming table in Puerto Rico when a woman next to him touched him to get his hands on the craps table. (Gambler's protocol.) McCain screamed at the woman not to touch him and shouted through the casino - didn't they know who he was? He continued this tirade for some time. Bet he wishes today they would forget who he is.

  - Florida must be in play for Obama since they just sent my good friend, Steven Hildebrand (National Deputy Campaign Manager - he is at left), along with get-out-the-vote specialist, Paul Tewes, to Florida, full time until election day. They are two of the best grass roots organizers in the country. This says a lot about what the Obama campaign polling is indicating.

- ok, here is a shocker. The National Rifle Association supports McCain.

- wonder why suddenly all the press is once again talking about race. The new TIME cover asks the question: will voters overcome their concerns about a black man because of the economy? Why is race being brought up this way in the last weeks and days of the campaign? There is no doubt in my mind that voters know Obama is black. Duh.

- Andy Towle, at Towleroad.com, brings disturbing news that the hot Cleveland Browns quarterback,   Brady Quinn, is supporting John McCain. Guess those multimillion dollar contracts made him a Republican and he probably loves those tax breaks that McCain will give the rich. My advice to my fellow gay men is to get a new fantasy quarterback! Quinn has just lost all right to that title.

- Nate Silver of 'fivethirtyeight.com' has an amazing track record of predicting political winners. His predictions are based on his sports site that projects winners in sporting events. His latest projection is that Obama wins with 346.8 electoral votes and with 52% of the popular vote to McCain's 47%. Interestingly, he projects the new Senate will be 56 Democrats, 42 Republicans. Could be a good year, couldn't it?

- according to Rasmussen.com, Obama has the lead in every state that John Kerry carried, is leading McCain in four states that Bush carried, and is tied with McCain in five states that Bush won. Boy that hate filled stuff really works for McCain, doesn't it?

- according to the latest Strategic Vision Poll, Obama continues his amazing lead in Pennsylvania at 54% to McCain at 40%.

- Taegan Goddard also has a Strategic Vision Poll. It shows the Georgia incumbent, Republican Senator Saxby leading Democrat Jim Martin by only a few points.  Could be the famous "Obama Effect"!

- hey, gang, it is push come to shove time. Have you volunteered to help out on election week and day? Have you made another contribution to Obama? Don't wait for them to ask for money. Send it now by clicking here. We don't have a day or a dollar to spare!

- want to see some raw emotion and a powerful moment on video? The New Yorker has a video of  Donna  Brazile at their recent symposium. You must click here to see it. I just adore Donna Brazile and this makes me love her all the more. Thanks, Donna, for letting it all hang out.

- the recent New York Times editorial, called the "Politics of Attack", blasts the McCain/Palin ticket for running one of the worst campaigns in the history of the Republic! It ends by saying,

"In a way, we should not be surprised that Mr. McCain has stooped so low, since the debate showed once again that he has little else to talk about. He long ago abandoned his signature issues of immigration reform and global warming; his talk of 'victory' in Iraq has little to offer a war-weary nation; and his Reagan inspire ideology of starving government and shredding regulation lies in tatters on Wall Street."

"But surely, Mr. McCain and his team can come up with a better answer to that problem than inciting more division, anger and hatred."

- have American corporate executives lost all good sense? Just before they went under, Lehman Brothers approved millions in golden parachutes but they seem modest by AIG executives. These AIG winners, AFTER they had been bailed out by OUR money, decided they were stressed and needed a retreat. Again I say, at OUR expense, they went to a spa and spent $400,000 talking, dining well and getting spa treatments. Hell, I am stressed by the economy, too. Where is my trip, Uncle Sam?

- want to create your own Cabinet for the next Obama or McCain administration? You can go to CQ Politics, by clicking here, and participate in making the next Presidential cabinet. Eric Holder is first choice for Attorney General, so far, with 62% of the vote. Surprisingly, Governor Bill Richardson is first choice for Secretary of State while usual favorite, Richard Holbrooke, is third with only 12% of the vote.

- with all the anger in this election, take a look at this Obama ad and remember why we are supporting him. Peace.

Impressions of an Election

-Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole apparently doesn't get home sick. Turns out the senator doesn't have a great desire to visit her own home state. Dole only spent a grand total of 13 days in North Carolina in 2006 and 20 days in 2005! Ironically, Dole has one of the easiest commutes of any Senator, many of whom go home every weekend. Guess there is nothing in North Carolina that interests her which is maybe why her challenger State Senator Kay Hagen is leading in the polls by seven points!

-Speaking of home, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell might go back to his to the tune of Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home". According to Taegan Goddard who reports on a Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll, McConnell's race for re-election is dead even. This battle illustrates the progress Democrats have been making this year since McConnell's challenger, Bruce Lunsford, was given no chance of winning earlier in the year.

-From MSNBC.com "First Read", Domenico Montanaro posts about Newsweek's Howard Fineman getting two of the nations best strategists to give advice to Biden and Palin for the upcoming debate. For the Democratic side he quotes Bob Shrum:

"You don't ever assume your guy knows enough, but in Joe's case, the problem is that he knows so much. You want to work carefully on honing his answers in practice sessions. It's four steps: an assertion, two supporting points and then the finish. Biden also should have a good feel in advance for Palin's answers. She's so new to all this that they have given her a set of lines: 'Surge is working,' 'John McCain is a maverick.' You practice the comebacks.”

-This weekend saw an ever-increasing chorus of opposition to Proposition 8 in California. This hateful initiative would repeal marriage equality granted by the California Supreme Court. Those speaking out included Google and the New York Times. Now if only certain major donors would step up to the plate and give more. This is a historic race not only for the LGBT community but also for anyone who believes in human rights. Now is the time to do all you can to defeat this horrible ballot measure.

-Where is Kenny Rogers singing "The Gambler" when we need him? In a major story in the Sunday New York Times we find out that not only is Senator McCain surrounded by people from the gaming industry but also that he is a big time gambler himself. Now, I want to know if he owes any of the Casino owners for any losses! Can't you see Vito Corleone attempting to collect on bad gaming debts in the White House?

-In the 'come on you can do better than that' department, how disappointing to watch former President Bill Clinton on "Meet the Press" use stronger words of praise for McCain than Obama. We know there is no love lost between the two but, if nothing else, the former President owes his Party's candidate so much more than faint praise. If not for the Democratic Party then certainly for his country.

-At least one world leader refused to be a prop for Sarah 'who needs whales' Palin. Newly elected Paraguay President Fernando Lugo refused to meet with the Alaska mom. Guess you can't see Paraguay from Alaska.

-Disturbing news out of Austria. Seems this nation just can't seem to shake its past with extremists from the right. In the recent elections the very far right coalition of the Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria took 29% of the vote to place a close second. This is the highest percentage of the vote so far for these parties.

-Electoral-vote.com is predicting that the new United States Senate will be composed of 58 Democrats and 42 Republicans. Not sure how they counted the turn-coat Senator from Connecticut.

-We have grown used to massive crowds greeting Obama and they have ceased to be major news unless they top 100,000. But this weekend in Fredericksburg, Virginia over 26,000 people stood in the pouring rain to listen to Obama and Biden. The candidate himself was soaked to the bone yet no one in the crowd left until he was done. The pictures below from the The Free Lance-Star capture the moment:

Economic Crisis: Ship of Fools

Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does.

With massive support from Republicans in the House of Representatives, the package to salvage what little is left of the American economy failed. The news of this action has sent the stock market into the predicted tailspin - down a dizzying and an unprecedented 777 points - leaving everyone in this country anxious and perplexed. People are calling each other in a frantic attempt to figure out what is happening and how it will impact their lives. American citizens who have for years lived with a basic sense of economic security are now knowing real economic fear.

Every single member of Congress had been told repeatedly the consequences of a 'no' vote on this 'bail out' package. They all were aware of what would happen if they ignored the warnings. Nevertheless, the mostly Republican-led effect to vote "no" won the day. May the American people remember their names on election day as citizens scramble to find credit or save their homes.

Amazingly, the reasons given by some of the Republicans were simply astounding. They claimed they didn't like a so-called partisan speech by Speaker Pelosi - who posited that the Bush Administration was ultimately responsible for the financial nightmare - and voted "No".

What???

Like petulant children, they pitched a fit and put the country at risk because they didn't like her speech. They are now attempting to blame her for the defeat of the package. I am not a fan of name calling, but these representatives are simply idiots...total fools. These members have no right to serve in the United States Congress if they can't ignore a speech and vote to save our economy. The Republicans in Congress have become no better than a ship of fools.

And speaking of fools, lets not forget Senator McCain who grandly flew into Washington and left claiming he had put it all together. This desperate man did so much damage with his patently political stunt and it may be one of the key reasons this package failed. He couldn't deliver even the members of his own party whose leadership has agreed to the compromise. How outrageous.

We can only hope that over the next several days members of the Republican Party will come to their senses and think of the country. After all, it is their eight years of being in power that have brought us to this point. Pelosi was right. They broke it, so for God's sake, they at least need help to fix it.

There might be only one answer for you personally if you are feeling powerless in all of this. You must vote on Nov 4th for change. And you know who to select on the ballot for that.

Turkey Hollow Almanac: Nature's Beauty and the Economy

There are times that I am just so very grateful being able to live here in Turkey Hollow. This week is certainly one of them.

As the world seems to be losing its bearings, McCain appears unstable, Palin is just plain stupid, Wall Street is coming unraveled and the wars continue in the Middle East, I have the luxury of being in such a beautiful place filled with wildlife. If I chose, the world's craziness can be put very far away as I look out my window. Nature is such a healing force and I am in the middle of it. The Hollow is a very special place.

We are having Fall early this year and the leaves already are contributing to an amazing array of colors on the hills. Some have begun to fall to the ground and stirred by the gentle winds they look like tear drops from the trees. Ironically, even some of the wildflowers are poking up again in the backyard for an apparent second round of beauty. The dense vegetation in the woods is beginning to disappear until next Spring and as a result you can look far into the forest and see the deer wind their way to the backyard. Single file they walk carefully over the fallen limbs and jog faster as they approach my house. I just love watching them as they travel to outside my office window.

Riding to and from town along the Willowemoc River is like one beautiful picture after another. You go around a bend on the small two lane road and suddenly your breath is taken away by another snapshot of colorful trees, majestic sky and winding river. If you are lucky, a Gray Heron will wade into rushing water; a timid deer will take a drink from the banks. The other day mist and clouds filled the lush green valleys up here and it was magical. One has to just stop the car and observe quietly and realize the magnitude of the gift that has been given.

The residents love it up here but even the beauty of the Hollow can't remove their apprehensions about this winter. Over and over again, whether it is in the check out lane of the super market or the local "Flo"-like waitress at the diner, they are living in fear about heating their houses this coming season. They know as things stand now they cannot afford the cost of fuel this winter. One even talked to me about heating just the rooms of the youngest children since the older ones know to bundle up before bed. Let me put this in perspective for you: Since I have lived in Turkey Hollow, I have seen nights where the wind chill has gone down to -30 degrees! In the face of such conditions, folks keep asking their government - which is apparently broke -if there will be assistance for heat. Answers are not forthcoming. And the silence breeds fear. Fear about feeding the family, fear about heating the home and fear about the solvency of the local bank.

So as much as I want to tune-out into the beauty of nature, the complexities of the world these days even compete with God's splendor. I get my moments of peace here in the valley but they are becoming fewer and fewer.

The good news is that come November we still have the right to vote. And vote I will!

Photograph taken by Steven Guy in Turkey Hollow