Posted on 01/27/2008 6:57:51 AM PST by Mo1
Fixed.
:-)
As you can see by the pics Gran has so graciously posted for me, I kind of like the water, and for that there is no finer place in the world than here (maybe Hawaii and the Virgin Islands are better).
FOFLOL
OMG, nully. I didn’t know about this until just a few minutes ago when I read your thread. I’m so sorry to hear about DD’s accident but so relieved she is recovering so well.
It's All About Obama
By KARL ROVE, June 26, 2008
Many candidates have measured the Oval Office drapes prematurely. But Barack Obama is the first to redesign the presidential seal before the election.
His seal featured an eagle emblazoned with his logo, and included a Latin version of his campaign slogan. This was an attempt by Sen. Obama to make himself appear more presidential. But most people saw in the seal something else – chutzpah – and he's stopped using it. Such arrogance – even self-centeredness – have featured often in the Obama campaign.
Consider his treatment of Jeremiah Wright. After Rev. Wright repeated his anti-American slurs at the National Press Club, Mr. Obama said their relationship was forever changed – but not because of what he'd said about America. Instead, Mr. Obama complained, "I don't think he showed much concern for me."
Translation: Rev. Wright is an impediment to my ambitions. So, as it turns out, are some of Mr. Obama's previous pledges.
For example, Mr. Obama has said he "strongly supported public financing" and pledged to take federal funds for the fall, thereby limiting his spending to roughly $84 million. Now convinced he can raise more than $84 million, he reversed course last week, ditching the federal money and its limits. But by discarding his earlier pledge so easily, he raises doubts about whether his word can be trusted.
Last month he replied "anywhere, anytime" to John McCain's invitation to have joint town hall appearances. Last week he changed his mind. Fearing 10 impromptu town halls, Mr. Obama parried the invitation by offering two such events – one the night of July 4, when every ambulatory American is watching fireworks or munching hotdogs, and another in August. His spokesman then said, "Take it or leave it." So much for "anywhere, anytime."
My former White House colleague Yuval Levin pointed out that Mr. Obama, in his first national TV ad rolled out Friday, claims credit for having "extended health care for wounded troops," citing the 2008 defense authorization. That bill passed 91-3 – but Mr. Obama was one of only six senators who didn't show up to vote. This brazen claim underscores the candidate's thin résumé and, again, his chutzpah.
Mr. Obama has now also played the race card, twice suggesting in recent weeks that Republicans will draw attention to the fact that he's black. Who is unaware of that? Americans overwhelmingly find it a hopeful, optimistic sign that the country could elect an African-American president. But they rightly want to know what kind of leader he might be. They may well reject as cynical any maneuver to discourage close examination of him by suggesting any criticism is racially motivated.
The candidate's self-centeredness has been on display before. Having effectively sewed up the Democratic nomination, he could have agreed to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations (states Hillary Clinton had carried). While reducing his lead by 50 to 55 delegates, it would not have altered the outcome. But Mr. Obama supported cutting these battleground-state delegations in half. At a time when magnanimity was called for, the candidate decided he'd strut.
Mr. Obama's alpha-male attitude was evident even as he stumbled towards and over the primary finish line. First, his campaign announced in May it was talking to Patti Solis Doyle after Sen. Clinton fired her as campaign manager. This served only to pour salt in the Clintons' wounds.
Then, after the primaries ended June 3, Mr. Obama's campaign leaked word that Leon Panetta (a Clinton supporter who'd apparently angered the Clintons by persistent criticism of their performance) and Ms. Doyle would conduct its outreach to the Clinton camp. Ms. Doyle was named chief of staff to the as-yet-to-be-chosen vice presidential running mate. All this was pointless, but reveals a disposition certain to manifest itself in other ways.
Mr. McCain will be helped if he uses Mr. Obama's actions to paint his opponent as someone driven by an all-powerful instinct to look out only for himself. In a contest over who is willing to put principle above personal ambition and self-interest, John McCain, a war hero and a former POW, wins hands down. That may not be the most important issue to voters in electing a president, but it's something they will rightly take into account.
Mr. Rove is the former senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush.
Thanks
Obama's 'Presidential' Press Event
By DAVID VON DREHLE / CHICAGOIt's too soon to say that Barack Obama is measuring the White House drapes, but he did size up an East Room press conference today. In a hotel ballroom here he met the press with great formality and all the trappings:
• Formal podium (minus the faux-presidential seal he test-drove last week), gleaming American flags, reporters seated in tidy rows marked off by velvet ropes.• Opened with a formal statement on the need for economic opportunity and the virtues of his energy policy.
• Covered topics ranging from the Supreme Court to the Zimbabwean political crisis.
• The only thing missing was Helen Thomas ending things with the ritual "Thank you, Mr. President."
In this way, Obama tackled the news of the day. He denounced the Court's decision to limit the death penalty to crimes involving homicide. He straddled the gun control issue that is expected to dominate high court news on Thursday. He brushed off Ralph Nader's charge that his political rhetoric is too "white," saying sadly that, "Nader is trying to get attention. It's a shame." He endeavored to sail above an intra-party battle on electronic surveillance, called on the United Nations to intervene in Zimbabwe and welcomed a debate this fall on whether the Republicans have the right strategy to fight terrorism.
Whether he will ever get past this dress-rehearsal stage is a question for the autumn, but if he does, Americans may find themselves watching someone who wisecracks less than George W. Bush and rambles less than Bill Clinton. The Obama style occupies the zone where gravitas meets somnambulance.
Newsy answers — like the one in which he embraced the death penalty as a possible punishment for child rape — arrived in the same methodical, yet laconic tone he uses for boilerplate — like his explanation yet again why his about-face on public financing is not really a change at all.
Chesty answers — like his warning to Republicans not to "run the same playbook they ran in 2004" because the American people won't buy it — landed almost as pillowy as his deliberately vague replies (Bill Clinton is "a brilliant politician" and was "an outstanding President." In short, if the goal of any presidential news conference is to get out unscathed, Obama may have what it takes. Can he use the forum to inspire, to engage, to delight? "Thanks guys!" he called as he walked off, leaving the question unanswered.
.
Faux presidential style seal + faux presidential style press conference = Real Hubris
First, there is some indication that the Bush Doctrine maybe working on Axis of Evil member North Korea. Then, the Supreme Court ruling. Later, news that the Navy has had another successful test of our missle interception system. That makes 35 hits out of 43 attempts since 2001. Finally, this news:
"Two key military nominations were approved Thursday afternoon by the Senate Armed Services Committee.By voice vote, the committee approved Army Gen. David Petraeus to become the U.S. Central Command commander and approved Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno to receive a fourth star and to succeed Petraeus as the Multi-National Force — Iraq commander.
The U.S. Central Command post, which would make Petraeus responsible for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, was filled until March by Navy Adm. William Fallon, who resigned after a magazine article quoted him as having differences with President Bush about how to deal with Iran.
View out my window. The great Pacific Ocean. The hills are now brown!
This is the Pacific coastline at Shell Beach, CA.
This is a view of the Pacific Coastline looking south.This is Pismo Beach and Shell Beach CA areas.
This is the pond on our daughter's Round Hill VA farm..It is 3 ft deep and stocked with koi and bass. No Fishing Here!
Hi CG.
Must be an old picture, isn’t your sky as smoke brown as ours?
Hi, Nully,
Yes I took these last summer actually. I had just got my Nikon D80 for my birthday. These are some of my earlier efforts with that camera. Could not let Sharky get away with all the ocean pictures tee hee..no offense Sharky!
Hi, Nully,
Yes I took these last summer actually. I had just got my Nikon D80 for my birthday. These are some of my earlier efforts with that camera. Could not let Sharky get away with all the ocean pictures tee hee..no offense Sharky!
Nice view! I can never get enough of these nature pics. It’s so interesting to see the different landscapes from where you all live. So different but each with a beauty all it’s own.
That’s a great photo, Sundog. So serene. I gather you’re somewhere in Utah, is that correct?
Beautiful Pictures all of them. Looks like a beautiful day for a walk.
Alright, I’m jealous. :P
I always love riding through Utah on my road trips to Colorado. I pretty much sleep through Idaho and Wyoming - flat and boring. Utah is something not to be missed though. Amazing scenery. We always stop and take more pictures in Utah than anywhere else. No wonder your pics were familiar to me!
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