The big 2-0-0.

Today marks the 200^th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. As you know, Mr. Lincoln is my favorite President in American history. Sometimes I wonder how the history of our country would be different if Lincoln had not been assassinated. If Lincoln's reconstruction plan had been put into effect, how would the racial climate in this country have differed in the years and decades after the Civil War (or War Between the States if you're from the South) from what we know happened from the history books? Good questions all, and ones for which we'll never know the answer.

Oh, yeah. This guy was born 200 years ago today too. I only mention him because if I don't, American Guy probably will (make some remark about it, like he's done before.)

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Left work early today, I did. Not feeling too great, I am. Fever, chills and all that. I feel a nap coming on. Perhaps I'll fall asleep to a good movie.

Like Ahhhhnold, though, I'll be back.

And so I am. Back that is. K wasn't too happy with me when I informed her that I won't be taking V and M this weekend, due to my bout with feverish symptoms today.

I might not go to work tomorrow, depending on how I feel in the morning. The problem there is that, while I have the sick-time available to me, there's so much I won't get done that will be staring me in the face come Monday.

No, I don't get President's Day off, either. Wish I did.

Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States.

Has a nice ring to it, does it not?

Now I can take the bumper sticker off of my car that promotes today as King George's last day. But that will have to wait until tomorrow because the Jag is in the shop, as the saying goes.

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I think that Inauguration Day should be made into a National holiday, where businesses and government offices must close. I would have liked to watch today's festivities live, but instead had to settle for a clandestine, choppy Internet feed on my work computer. I'm going to find the video on-line again and watch the swearing in and inauguration speech again - uninterrupted.

I would have loved to have been there freezing my butt off standing on the Capitol Mall listening to everything going on - and enjoying the celebration.

However, now we must take care of some unfinished business!

In honor of Sir Deer-in-the-Headlights, his not-so majesty King George, leaving office at noon today, I'd like to present him with a choice of his very own Presidential seal:

Choice #1

OR

Choice #2

What do you think? They're both real nice but personally, I like #2 best!

Now let's leave the real Presidential Seal to a man who was not controversially elected by Hanging Chads, Supreme Court votes or Ohio recounts. To a man who I believe, some 25 years from now, history will judge as one of our best Presidents.



Did you notice that indeed Obama said "So Help Me God." at the end of his taking of the oath of office? I sure did.

On Presidential Debates

Before the debate last night, the analysts on CNN said that the town hall style debate format works for John McCain.

I disagree.

This format worked for Bill Clinton. It would have worked for Ronald Reagan, too. It also worked for John Edwards in the early part of the primary season, when I met him at a town hall style gathering last December.

Those men, despite what you might think of their terms as President, or even as a candidate, had interesting personalities. McCain does not.

It worked better for Obama as the debate went on.

One thing I disliked about last night's debate was that we heard nothing new - from either candidate. That's okay if you're ahead in the polls, as Obama is. To use a baseball analogy, McCain needed a home-run last night but didn't get one. Instead he took a fastball to the head and groggily walked down to first base before being removed from the game because of dizziness.

What I noticed about McCain during the debate was that he really looks like the shriveled up old man that he is, especially next to the taller and younger Obama. This makes me even scared-er of him actually winning the election next month, if you know what I mean.

If you don't, it means that Palin would literally a lack of a heartbeat away from arguably the most powerful job in the world.

Plus, doesn't the taller candidate usually win elections?

My parents, the ever loyal, registered Independent but always vote for Republicans no matter what, thought Palin held her own against Joe Biden in the debate last week. Were we watching the same debate?? They've even suggested that there is a possibility that some stuck in the 1860's person might venture to assassinate Mr. Obama because of the color of his skin, should he become President. That would be tragic and sad to be sure. If it did happen, I'd sleep alot better knowing that Biden would assume the office instead of Mrs. Alaska Yokel.

One more presidential debate to go.

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I got my Obama-Biden car magnet in the mail today. This is the item that prompted me to donate my first $15 to any Presidential campaign ever, and it looks cool. Problem is, it's too big to fit on the back trunk of my current vehicle, mainly because of its circular shape doesn't fit with the rectangular shape of my trunk. I thought about sticking it to the side of my car and had it there for a few minutes before I removed it. Since it's only a magnet, I'm afraid someone might steal it.

Throwing my weight around

With the Iowa Caucuses tonight, the New Hampshire Primary next Tuesday, the Nevada and South Carolina Primaries fast approaching on the 19^th and 26^th respectively, and with Super Tuesday looming just about a month away the "Get King George the Heck Out of The White House" countdown has officially begun.

Since that's the case, it's time for this blog, "So Let it Be Written, So Let it Be Done" to officially endorse its 2008 candidate for the office of President of the United States of America:



Your humble correspondent actually went to a town meeting style session in Derry, New Hampshire for John Edwards on December 8, 2007 and actually got to meet and shake the hand of this Presidential candidate. As a bonus, the fabulous V got to meet and shake hands with Edwards, too. Quite a deal for a 10 year old future voter.

I had never been to one of these speak, meet and greet sessions before but thought that I'd take advantage of New Hampshire's importance in the Presidential Election process this time. The gathering was small, with less than 200 seats set up in semi-circle formation. All told I'd say there were, including media and standing room only attendees, probably 400-500 people crammed into that tiny Middle School cafeteria. V and I were there early and scored front row seats, just to the right of where Mr. Edwards spoke. Don't I look good in the pictures?




We were given handy little booklets with Edwards' positions on the various issues facing our country as well as some free buttons, stickers and a sign. So far, I like what I've heard and read from this candidate more so than all the others. Though I'd have to say that Barack Obama ranks a close 2^nd so far, though I think he'd make for a better VP this time around.

I'm not thrilled with Hillary, even though I voted for her husband both times he ran. America, for all her bragging about equal rights, etc., etc., is not ready for a female President. Sorry, ladies but it ain't happening.

None of the Republican candidates have done or said anything to warrant my attention, either. Romney won't get elected because a) he's from Massachusetts [damn Ohioans always messing things up!] and b) he's a Mormon. Sorry Mitt, by and large this is a Christian country. If you were a Christian, you might have had a chance.

McCain has run too many times and failed to even get the Republican nod once, so why let him have it this time? John, you're too old and out of touch with the majority of voters. Plus, we've had an over 70 Republican President once upon a time...

Giuliani had his 15 minutes of fame in the aftermath of 9/11 and in his 15 second cameo in the film "Anger Management." Thanks for playing, Rudy. Good of you to come.

Huckabee? Don't really know much about him aside from his being a former Baptist minister and Governor of Arkansas. Isn't there a statute of limitations on former Arkansas Governors running for President or something?) Still, if he wins Iowa and has a decent showing in New Hampshire, then this will be the elephant to take seriously.

Finally, I really don't think the elephants have a chance in November anyway, no matter who runs. Not after the country stupidly electing Dubya twice, as if the first time weren't bad enough. Eight years of Republicans screwing things up is enough. Let's let a Democrat have a whirl at messing things up. At least if a donkey gets elected, he'll have the benefit of a donkey controlled House, for a while at least. What a plus.

Certainly can't get any worse, can it?