HAPPY NEW YEAR.....2009

It seems like just yesterday that we were concerned about 2000 and now we are entering 2009. To all of our conservative friends Happy 2009 or at least the first 20 days! Seriously to everyone a very Happy and prosperous New Year !

Ken and Oliver

BLAGOJEVICH HAS CHUTZPAH

Hot Rod Blagojevich has to be the politician with the most chutzpah in the history of politics. Taking everyone by surprise especially since only 12 hours earlier he had announced he would NOT choose Obama's Senate successor, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich called a press conference and announced that former Illinois State Attorney General Roland Burris would be his selection to fill the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

Immediately the whole political world erupted once again with Blagojevich at the epicenter of the eruption. Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader announced that he would not allow Burris to join the Democrat Caucus because of the ,"shadow," that would be cast over any Blago pick. The question is whether Hapless Harry has the actual Constitutional authority to even back his statement.

According to the Constitution the 17th Amendment states that, "When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of elections to fill such vacancies: provided that the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. "

Illinois provides this appointment power to the Governor and though under investigation, Blagojevich IS still the Governor of the State. The Illinois Election Commission has also stated that the selection of Burris would not be certified. But again the question arises as to whether the Commission has the authority since there technically has been no election to certify.

Later in the day Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn quickly denounced Blago's pick and stated that he would be impeached and out of office. "The 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth is February 12th of next year, and I don't think Governor Blagojevich will be Governor at that time." This according to Quinn. What is it with these Illinois Democrats including Barack Obama trying to embrace Lincoln who was polar opposite politically ? Give me a break!

Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush stepped up the rhetoric by playing very blatantly the race card concerning the Burris announcement by Blago. Rush defeated Obama by a nearly two to one margin when Obama ran for the House several years ago. Rush stated that anyone, "shouldn't hang and lynch the appointee to punish the appointer." Further stating that there are currently 99 white Senators and that Burns would be the only , "African American, " Senator.

Rush has been making the rounds on the morning shows regurgitating the entire history of the civil rights movement, segregation and schools blocking entry of black children in Little Rock , Ark. in 1957. On the CBS morning show Rush stated in reference to the Senate, "I'm talking about George Wallace, Bull Connors and I'm sure that the US Senate don't want to see themselves placed in the same position." One of the most blatant uses of the race card in recent memory.

Blago's selection of Burris is also using race as a strategy for his defense. The selection of Burris who is very popular in the black community is an attempt by Blago to shore up support and possibly get a favorable juror or two when he goes to trial for his corruption charges.

This guy is not going away, to the dismay of Harry Reid and Senate Democrats, the Democrat party as a whole and especially Barack Obama as he prepares to take the oath of office. The shadow of the Blago problem is going to be a thorn in the side for Obama until this guy is removed from office and the trial is ended.

Ken Taylor

OBAMA, KENNEDY AND MEDIA HYPOCRISY

Two very telling stories have surfaced in the past few days as we bring to an end 2008, the year of the Democrats. Both stories are extensions of the major story of the year, the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President. Extensions because neither would have taken place had Obama not been elected.

Both stories also show once again the hypocrisy and liberal bias of the media and their obsessive infatuation or love affair with Obama and the long standing affair that the media has had with the Kennedy's.

The first deals with the President Elect and his Christmas vacation in Hawaii. Numerous pictures have surfaced that show Obama either swimming in the ocean or walking on the beach after a refreshing dip. In every picture the , "athleticism," and buffed look of Obama is shown with drooling articles or captions expressing the ,"fine," shape that the President Elect is in.

First let me stress that these pictures ARE NOT just happenstance or taken from hidden perches by , "Paparazzi," from the media hype concerning Obama. Presidents and President Elects are surrounded by the most highly sophisticated and strict security found in the world. Photographs of a President especially in a private situation like those seen of Obama on the beach are not just taken and released by reporters who have not received prior security checks and clearance to take the pictures.

Remember a picture taken in secret could just as easily be a potential assassin and no one would be aloud to be that close to any President without the Secret Service taking the photographer out. So these pictures were staged and allowed to be release with a prior agreement by the Obama people as PR for the President Elect.

I know this for a fact also because of an incident at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point when Clinton was President. A Marine stationed on the base tried to get a picture of Air Force One as it took off after a Clinton visit and the Secret Service pounced on the Marine and confiscated his camera for security reasons BEFORE the picture could be snapped. If they will do this to one of America's finest trying to get a picture of a plane carrying the President, do you actually think Paparazzi pictures on the beach of Obama would stand a chance ?

Stories surrounding the pictures drool over the buff look of Obama stating his work our regime since being elected and how is shows discipline and focus by a man who will take the same type of focus and stamina into the White House. Media hype praising their messiah for being in shape. The same media who has been condemning President Bush since he took office for , "excessive," exercising. Running way to much. Bicycling far more than necessary and generally over doing it from an exercise stand point. But with Obama it is a sign of ,"greatness," and character !

Give me a break! First Bush has been doing his exercise routine for years and he continued it in the White House. Obama just recently started his exercise regime and the pictures were allowed only to show the type of shape he is now in to create further media hype before he takes office.

Now on to Caroline Kennedy. She has become the front runner and the likely candidate to take the Junior Senator's seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton. With no prior political experience and little clue as to what a Senator does, her name and the payola owed by Obama for her endorsement and work for his campaign will most likely gain Kennedy the seat.

She has shown pitiful savvy politically speaking in interviews and she , "you know, " has no, "you know, " ability, "you know, " when it , "you know, " comes to ," you know," public, "you know, " speaking. She also dances around every questions because she has absolutely no clue concerning how to answer what she is asked.

Where the hypocrisy by the liberal media shows its ugly face is in how they are almost defending her especially the New York Times. If Sarah Palin had conducted an interview or press questioning even remotely like Caroline Kennedy she would have been fried like a chicken leg and condemned as an idiot. Palin conducted several interviews during the Presidential campaign and made a few gaffs that the press demonized.

The press lambasted Palin and Saturday Night Live lampooned her for, "you betcha," and ,"dog gonnit." But Carolina Kennedy using, "you know, " every other word scarcely receives a mention. Kennedy's total lack of political knowledge is also scarcely mentioned while the very politically successful and astute Palin was portrayed as raving lunatic.

The honeymoon for Barack Obama with the press may never end because of the love affair they have had and continue to have with the messiah. The Kennedy's have had this type of infatuation from the media since the days of ,"Camelot," and JFK which has allowed a considerable amount of garbage and controversy to receive little attention.

Scrutiny of a President by the press is something that has helped to keep balance in our system since the day George Washington first took office. Good, bad or indifferent, media scrutiny of a President has brought to light real or percieved scandals in out history which has brought a form of balance to our system, a balance that will not exist with Obama and a very liberal Congress. The hypocrisy and infatuation by the press over Barack Obama and the Kennedy name is going to allow a complete novice into the Senate. It has already aloud a novice to be elected President !

Ken Taylor

2008, THE YEAR THAT WAS - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY

Once again we approach the end of another year and once again taking a look back at the year has become the writing rage. Whether it is in entertainment, celebrity deaths, politics, you name it and someone is writing about 2008, the year that was. I even found one article written by one of the Gorwellion disciples that looked back on Global Warming , (sorry PC says Climate Change now), in 2008. Of course it followed the usual line of destruction despite evidence to the contrary.

Although the title of this post is, "2008, The Year That Was," this is not going to be an actual review of what all of us have already experienced but a look at the stories which brought surprise in the context of the whole year as opposed to headlines of the moment. 2008 did bring surprises that almost no one predicted.

The largest of these has to be the Presidential election. At the beginning of 2008 there were two candidates who led in the polls and had the prediction of nearly all analysts of easy wins both in the Republican and Democrat Primary races. What is most surprising is that both of the first of the year leaders failed to make it to the General Election in November with one actually dropping out very early.

As 2008 was ushered in Republicans found Rudi Giuliani in the lead and Democrats had Hillary. Both were considered the favorites by wide margins and looked to easily win the nomination of their respective parties. Then came the actual Primaries and the failure of Giuliani to campaign. As the early part of the year progressed the candidate whose nomination it was to lose did just that. Giuliani rolled over and basically quit campaigning.

He stopped making public appearances, he pulled out of several of the early States. In fact by the South Carolina Primary in early February the presumptive nominee had lost his lead and his following and began to drift into obscurity as the GOP began looking elsewhere for a candidate. Hillary on the other hand was all but running away with the nomination for the Democrats.

Then an unexpected endorsement began a series of endorsements and the Democrats turned their sights from Hillary the ,"destined," nominee to Barack Obama the unknown candidate. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg announced her endorsement of Obama in January. This did not have an immediate effect on the nomination but her placing the Kennedy name behind Obama and soon after followed by her Uncle Ted, started a series of high profile endorsements of Obama that caused the party to turn away from Hillary.

This combined with a general Clinton fatigue with Democrats pushed Obama to the front and after a considerable amount of party infighting the Summer brought Obama the nomination. On the GOP side of the coin with Rudi out of the picture a horse race began between McCain, Romney and Huckabee. Then surprisingly the candidate whose White House run was struggling to the point that he had to take a commercial airline flight to the New Hampshire Primary began pulling ahead and John McCain eventually came out on top.

The Conventions then took place and Obama picked a dud in Joe Biden as his running mate but still gained some ground until McCain shocked the world by picking conservative Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate which solidified a shaky base and gave McCain a strong lead going into the final weeks of the election. It looked as if nothing could derail McCain in his White House bid until Wall Street stepped in and the mortgage collapse.

At the beginning of 2008 the economy was strong and growing with unemployment still holding at record low levels. Yet underneath there was brewing a cancer in the financial markets that had taken years to build under close Democrat assistance with a little GOP on the side. The sub-prime mortgage market was building a bubble that was bound to burst and it did in mid September taking with it the economy and the candidacy of John McCain.

While the blame for the crisis that ensued stretched back as far as the Carter Presidency and especially with changes made during the later Clinton years, Democrats in Congress who had defended the risky lending practices forced by the Clinton changes to allow those who would not have been eligible to purchase homes to get in WAY over their heads, used the opportunity to blame the Bush administration which in turn bled over to the McCain campaign and assisted greatly in electing Barack Obama as the 44th President.

The crisis also sparked a surprising and ridiculous bailout spasm in Washington that has yet to find an end and is actually looking to expand as the Obama administration prepares to take the reigns and looking for ways to , "spark," the economy with stimulus that is destined to fail and bailouts that reward failed companies.

Of course the financial crisis was not the only cause that gave Obama the Presidency. McCain ran one of the weakest and poorly run Presidential campaigns in United States history. The one opportunity he had in overcoming the crisis was the popularity and hard hitting conservative style of Sarah Palin, but the campaign chose instead to hold her back and as a result finished second to a nearly flawless campaign run by Obama.

There were many other stories that made headlines in 2008 that are worthy of mentioning. The Hurricanes which destroyed the Texas Coast, Madoff's 50 billion dollar Ponzi scheme, the tremendous success of the surge in Iraq and the historic agreements to insure a secure and free Iraq. Michael Phelps and eights gold medals, the Balgoyevich scandal, and of course Obama picking Hillary as Secretary of State.

But none of these stories brought the surprise and the impact to 2008 and beyond as the election of the unknown Barack Obama to the Presidency and the financial crisis which spread from Wall Street to the entire world. Both will influence 2009 and future history for years to come which made ,"2008, The Year That Was !"

Ken Taylor

O HOLY NIGHT

Whatever your plans, wherever you are on this Christmas of 2008, take time to remember the Reason for this wonderful season.

From Ken and Oliver, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and God's richest blessing for each of you.

CHRISTMAS IS - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!''

So said Fred Holliwell, the nephew of Ebeneezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens," A Christmas Carol." Christmas is many things to many people. For some it is Santa Claus and toy building elves. For others it is a time to spend time with family and friends and for some a time to share, "Christmas spirits."

But amidst all of the festivities the one fact that must not be forgotten and cannot be denied is that Christmas regardless of ones spiritual beliefs or lack there of is a celebration of a precious birth. A birth, that though it did not take place in December of our calendar, still effects all of mankind to this very day. A birth that changed history and in Whose life all history finds its center.

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

So many years ago in Bethlehem this Child who was born, a Gift to all mankind in a lowly manger, who would grow to become the sacrifice that a just God required for the transgressions of man and in whose name forgiveness can be found. "And His name shall be called Jesus."

We in the United States have a particular reason to celebrate the birth of the Son of God for it is because of His birth, His death and His resurrection that this nation was born. The Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth in 1620 came to this land to find freedom to worship God as their hearts guided them and thus our Founding Fathers in their wisdom placed the freedom to worship according to ones heart and conscience as our first and foremost right in this Nation that we love.
From the very birth of our nation Christmas has been a celebration of the birth of the King of Kings and though the politically correct have been trying to eliminate Him from our present day Christmas the fact still remains that He is the Reason for the Season. Without His birth there would be no Christmas nor the need for the celebration. Though we are a melting pot of many religions and many nationalities the underlying truth still remains that the birth of The Christ is why Christmas exists.

Yet in our freedoms this does not force anyone to celebrate His birth as Christians do for many in their religious or non-religious beliefs do not recognize Him yet we all live in the freedom and liberty that His birth allowed which in-turn gave life to our nation in the search for religious freedom. So as you join with your families and friends this Christmas and you are among those who believe in the Son of God then give thanks to Him for His coming and all that we are, who we are as a nation and His many blessings bestowed.

If your beliefs are of another nature then take a moment to reflect on this great land that we live in and give thanks in your own way for this land of the free and home of the brave. May the blessings of Christmas be yours now and throughout the New Year. Thank you each one for being a part of this blog. Merry Christmas to each of you and as Tiny Tim observed, " God bless us, everyone!"

Ken Taylor

BIG 3 BLACKMAIL

17.4 billion dollars ! Bailout bucks for automakers has been but in place in the form of loans at the behest of President Bush in reaction to the announcement that Chrysler would be shutting down operations for one month beginning December 20 and extending through January 19.

While the announcement and one from Ford which suggested that they too would be closing until after the first of the year, was not portrayed as blackmail, with the swift reaction by the Bush administration in putting together a bailout package, the move by the two companies obviously worked in moving the government from rejecting any bailout by the Senate last Friday to supplying 17.4 billion dollars now.

It is normal operational procedures for automakers to shut down the week before and the week after Christmas. Chrysler's announcement extends that for more than two weeks while Ford was considering at least one if not two additional weeks of shutting down operations. GM has not made such an announcement but I am quite sure that if the bailout had not been pushed through, GM would have followed suit.

What makes this move by automakers so suspect in using the shut down as a form of corporate blackmail is the fact that there had not even been the suggestion that operations would be shut down until after the Senate rejected the bailout passed by the House and the President was hesitant to tap into the 700 billion dollar bailout slush fund passed in September for mortgage and banking interests.

Then came the announcement about shutting down operations and the White House worked around the clock from the moment of the announcement to create a package which includes 13.4 billion in low interest loans to GM and Chrysler in December and January with an additional 4 billion available in February. Ford has not shown interest in the short term loans as of this writing.

The loans call for the companies to show financial viability by March 31, 2009, but as with any other government money, if this deadline is not met, you can bet that there will be an extension followed by another and another and so on. In fact according to the White House the targets, "would be non-binding in the sense that negotiations can deviate from the quantitative targets...providing that the [company] reports the reasons for these deviations and makes the business case to achieve long-term viability in spite of the deviations."

In other words automakers can continue with business as usual as long as they can provide the government with excuses as to why they have not reached projected goals and financial viability. Which is EXACTLY what they have been doing for years and one of the major reasons that the ,"Big 3," find themselves in their current financial dilemma.

Once again companies are rewarded with tax payer money for failure without any real guarantees that the failure will not continue. The illusion that was created by automakers that bankruptcy was not an option because it would close operations and allow massive loss of jobs has been bought hook line and sinker by Washington.

Chapter 11 would have provided bankruptcy protection while allowing automakers to reorganize, replacing poor management and unwanted product with new management and pruduct that the public wants. Also the court would have reconstructed existing UAW contracts to allow better financial arrangements for the companies. Now the bailout bucks will protect the Unions and only delay the automakers from having to deal with financial viability.

You can be assured that when March, 2009 comes around and the companies have not improved their bottom line, the CEO's of GM, Ford and Chrysler will once again drive to Washington in their hybrid show cars and expect Congress to provide additional money. This time with a larger Democrat majority, the automakers will be greeted with open arms and open Congressional coffers asking automakers, "how much do you need! "

Ken Taylor

THE LIBERAL LIE CARTOON GALLERY AND YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up

The UN - "Global Warming is undeniable." Al Gore - "Global Warming more threatening than terrorism." Barack Obama - "Global Warming must be addressed to save the planet." God - "What Global Warming ?!?!? It's a natural cycle I created and it has been around since the beginning...that's why this was the coldest year since the thirties ! "



YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns fan Mike Meredith is a couch potato with a cause. Meredith has a motorized sofa — the "Go-Kouch" — that he usually rides around a municipal parking lot for tailgate parties before games.

But on Nov. 23, he decided to take the couch, a converted riding mower, the extra two blocks to the Browns' stadium for a game with Houston. Meredith said several police officers waved him through. One didn't, issuing him citations for driving an unregistered vehicle and having expired plates.

Meredith pleaded not guilty and will argue his case in court Tuesday. He has prepared a defense, walking the couch route and snapping pictures of every officer who gave him the go-ahead.

I understand that GM is looking at adopting this as one of their new clean energy vehicles. Low emissions, except when the user is eating baked beans. Comfort in all situations. And fuel efficiency because it uses only a 5 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine. Your bailout dollars at work ! - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up

Dinosaur companies go extinct when they refuse to adapt to changing times. You think that the, "Big 3," might look at the competition and realize that they need to adapt ? Why...when the government is so willing to keep giving them money for failure!

YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - MIRAMAR, Fla. — Police say a pizza delivery man fought back with the one weapon he had handy when a gun was pulled on him in a stickup: A large, hot pepperoni pizza. Delivery man Eric Lopez Devictoria, 40, flung the steaming pie at the gunman, buying time as he ran for safety, police said.

At least one shot was fired as Devictoria fled, but the deliveryman wasn't hurt and was able to quickly call police, according to authorities. Three teenage suspects were nabbed soon after Wednesday's run-in with the cheesy weapon, police said, adding they were charged with armed robbery.

I'll bet those teenage thugs have lost their taste for pizza. Hey maybe we've got a new idea for the next Marvel super hero. Pizza Man, able to fling hot pizza's from his Moped at a single toss. Pizza Man, nabbing crooks with a blow from his three cheese wonder. Pizza Man fighting for truth, justice and the pepperoni way. - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up

The biggest Ponzi scheme in history is Social Security. All Ponzi schemes eventually come back to roost on the perpetrator. Hmmm, Social Security is coming back to roost on the feds, like Madoff's scheme came back to get him.

YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - ANDERSON, Ind. — Police in Indiana say a woman set fire to her ex-boyfriend's clothing at a self-storage center and caused more than $100,000 in damage. Donna J. Duell was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the fire Wednesday night. She has been released from Madison County Jail after posting $20,000 bond Thursday.

Police say she first denied involvement but then admitted to setting the clothes on fire in an empty unit at Community Storage Lockers.Duell told police the former couple were involved in a "bitter domestic dispute."

"Bitter domestic dispute!?!?!" That is an understatement. This is one women no one wants to cross or there will literally be hell to pay! - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up

So the question is, "how much of the Chicago political landscape is Obama bringing to the White House ?" Only Blagojevich's hair dresser knows for sure !

Ken Taylor

OPEC STILL IN CONTROL

All across the Nation drivers, businesses and consumers have joined together in a sigh of relief as gas prices have dropped to lows not experienced since 2004. The price of a barrel of oil is hovering in the mid 40's and prices across the board are beginning to drop as companies who depend on transportation to deliver goods are also experiencing lower costs to deliver those goods.

So everyone is happy, right ? No ! There are greedy Middle East oil sheiks who hate the fact that the rest of the world is experiencing relief at the pump at their expense. Or at least as they see it, at their expense. So OPEC is meeting today to discuss decreasing out put by the largest amount in history. Before this conference is over OPEC oil production will most likely drop by 2 million barrels per day.

A 2 million barrel oil production decrease whose sole goal is to get the price of a barrel of oil back up to between 80 and 100 dollars per barrel which equates to about $2.50 at the pump. Which of course will have the usual effect of increasing business cost, consumer products and once again start digging into the pocket books of drivers as gas increases.

At current levels and cost per barrel the average price for unleaded regular is around $ 1.65. Here in South Carolina where I call home, I am paying between $1.49 and $ 1.54 per gallon depending on the traffic volume of the station where the gas is purchased. A far cry from the $4.00 a gallon experienced last summer and a blessed relief to the pocket book.

Congress allowed the off shore drilling ban to expire in September which made it possible for oil companies to explore and drill for oil off our shores. Now Nancy Pelosi is considering reinstating the ban as the Democrats bring a larger majority to Congress in January. Gas prices have dropped and the American people have stopped complaining about the price and the, "pain at the pumps," so Democrats see no reason to drill anymore.

Which brings us to the bottom line, OPEC is still in control. We are an oil based economy and even when world demand drops the price of oil as it has in the last several months causing the price at the pumps to follow, we in The United States still do not control our own destiny when it comes to oil and oil prices.

The move that OPEC is making is a prime example of how we as a country are still slaves to the oil producing countries and are helpless in controlling anything in which oil has an effect. These include, heating and cooling our homes, driving our vehicles, the purchase of consumer goods which depend on ground and air transportation, the price of a ticket on any airline, the cost of operating our military which depends on oil to defend this Nation. The list is almost endless because we are an oil based economy.

And OPEC still has control. The idea of alternative forms of energy is great. The prospect of creating jobs through those alternative choices is also a wonderful thought. But a thought is all that it is because the infrastructure and ability to produce and/or manufacture vehicles, etc. that use the alternatives does not exists or exists only in a limited way. Alternatives are the way of the future but oil is the here and now.

The only way to take control back from OPEC and other oil producing countries like Venezuela is for The United States to DRILL ! Until that happens we will continue to be a slave to OPEC and the oil producers for at least 20 to 30 more years until the alternatives can be produced in mass quantity to meet the energy needs of this country. Until then we will not control our destiny, our economy nor our own pocket books. Just because the price has dropped the urgency to drill has not diminished. It is not as much an issue of price as it is an issue of dependency and that is why OPEC still has control !

Ken Taylor

UPDATE: AFTER A FOUR HOUR MEETING OPEC AGREED TO A 2.2 MILLION BARREL DECREASE IN PRODUCTION

ROD BLAGOYEVIVH AND RAHM EMANUEL TALKED

After numerous denials by Barack Obama and members of his staff that there was NO contact between the Obama camp and Blago, the truth comes out that several conversations did take place concerning Obama's vacant Senate seat and the Illinois Governor.

Not necessarily by Obama himself but by his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. I have mentioned in earlier postings that conversations between a President Elect or his office are common when a Governor must fill a vacated Senate or House seat because of an election.

In fact I am sure that Obama and/or his staff have been in contact with New York concerning Hillary's soon to be vacant seat, which is why Caroline Kennedy has become the top candidate.

It is not uncommon for a seat to be filled as a political favor and to allow for the seat to be filled with a candidate who has similar political views as any President Elect.

So Obama's contention that neither he nor his staff had any contact with Blago was false from the very beginning now the revelation that conversations between Emanuel and Blago are part of the taped conversations in FBI custody as part of the investigation.

There has been no charge of wrong doing for either Obama or Emanuel concerning the conversations. But that fact that Obama and his staffers have repeatedly denied having contact with Blago concerning the Senate seat does raise questions and also questions Obama's contention that his administration was going to be transparent.

All Obama or anyone on his staff had to say was the truth, that they had talked with Blago about the seat , as everyone already knew was fact. Then nothing would be questioned and the fact that Emanuel is on the tapes would have been an after thought rather than a headline.

Transperancy is NOT telling the press one thing while a completely different action has taken place. Again no one in Obama's staff if under investigation but if that is the case then why did the President Elect and his staff feel it necessary to lie about conversations and contact with Blago ?

The fact that they denied what is now known as a flat out false statement leaves the air of guilt where there most likely is no guilt. If this is Obama's idea of transperancy then the next four years are going to be one lie right after another! If this is an example of how Obama handles a crisis then we are in BIG trouble!

Ken Taylor

BARACK OBAMA, A PRODUCT OF THE CHICAGO MACHINE - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY

There is an old saying that, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." The tree in this case is the Chicago political machine and last week we saw yet another example of the bad apples that fall from that corrupt tree in the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Balgojevich for his, "play for pay," scheme, selling political appointments for money and cash favors. Including Barack Obama's United States Senate seat.

The political corruption in Chicago has been a part of the landscape in the, " windy city," since the days of Al Capone who bought the city through extortion money. The players have changed since then many times but the net result has always been political corruption throughout the Chicago City and State political machines.

Blago is the second Illinois Governor in succession to face criminal prosecution for activities taking place while in office. His predecessor Republican George Ryan entered prison in 2007 after being convicted on corruption charges for taking payoffs. Two other Illinois Governors in recent history, Dan Walker who served until 1977 and Otto Kerner who served until 1968, both Democrats, also are on the ever expanding list of corrupt Illinois Governors.

Then there are the tales of Mayor Richard Daley, who headed the Chicago City Political Machine from 1955 until his death in 1976. Known as the, "Boss of Chicago," Daley strong armed Chicago politics for more than 20 years and rumors ran wild that he helped Joseph Kennedy steal the 1960 election for JFK by manipulating votes in Illinois. The State that put Kennedy over the top in the electoral vote in 1960. While no corruption charges plagued Daley it is well known that his political strength in Chicago protected him during his tenure from legal activity against him. He owned the City.

With the history of the endless corruption resulting from the Chicago political machine, one cannot help but wonder about another apple from that political tree that is now the premier politician in the Nation. That politician being Barack Obama. Does the saying, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," apply to the President Elect ?

While to this point Obama seems to have kept his head above the political fray in Chicago politics, there are still so many unknowns about him that one has to wonder what skeletons are in his political closet as a result of his being a product of the Chicago machine. Whether those skeletons involve him directly or the many who Obama is bringing to Washington as staff in his administration, the question arises as to how much of the Chicago political machine will influence the Executive Branch with Obama as President ?

While the direct involvement of the political power of Chicago may not provide that influence, those on Obama's staff who are also a product of that corrupt political machine will be giving advice to a President who himself is also a product of that same political atmosphere. An atmos-phere of corruption and scandal that is almost taken as a given in Chicago politics.

Another old saying about apples may also apply to Barack Obama. This one being, "one bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch." But for anyone who has had a bad apple in a bushel of good apples, if that bad apple is with good apples long enough it will spoil those that come in contact with it. Has Obama or those who he is bringing to Washington from the Chicago machine been associated with the political bad apples in Illinois long enough for the spoilage to rub off ?

Or are these political associations just another in the long line of questionable associations, (Ayers, Rezko, Wright), of Barack Obama that question his judgement and add to the mystery of the man who will soon be the leader of this Nation and the free World ? Even the press have finally acknowledged that little is known of this man and questions still abound about his past and his past associations.

Obama has stated for the record that there are two political persuasions in Chicago politics. One corrupt and dishonest and the other above board and working for the common good. He insists that he is a product of the latter rather than the former. But so did Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan and a host of other Chicago politicians who have since fallen to the corrupt Chicago machine.

Since Barack Obama will become the 44th President on January 20, one can only hope and pray that the corruption that has been apart of the Chicago political landscape for nearly a century stays in Illinois and does not reach to Washington through the Executive Branch and the products in the Obama administration from that landscape. Let us hope that this time the apple did fall FAR from the tree.

Ken Taylor

BLAGOJEVICH AND THE EVIL CURSE

As everyone knows by now Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is caught up in an investigation for selling government appointments, including Barack Obama's Senate seat, to the highest bidder.

Now the truth comes out that Blago was not corrupt but the victim of a curse on the Illinois Governors office. Three Governors including Blago's predecessor have faced criminal indictments as Governor since the seventies.

Remeber when corruption is found with Republicans, it is the result of those EVIL Rebublicans and the GOP is run through the media mill over it. But when it is a Democrat they are either victims or somehow the media just cannot remember that they are Democrats and always neglects to mention party affiliation.

Ken Taylor

BLOG OF THE MONTH - THE OKLAHOMA PATRIOT

The Blog of the Month for December is ,"The Oklahoma Patriot." Going by the name of, "Greywolfe," the blogger at The Oklahoma Patriot combines great conservative thought with insight and thought provoking postings that are well worth reading and adding The Oklahoma Patriot to your blogroll.

THE LIBERAL LIE CARTOON GALLERY AND YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up

The best unemployment news that this country could EVER receive is when ,"We the people," fire the ENTIRE Congress. Starting with Damascus Nancy and Halitosis Harry ! (Halitosis is the only smell word I could think of that started with an "H")



YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Santa Claus posed with a very large kitty on his lap — and now, unfortunately, he might need rabies shots. Jonathan Bebbington was playing the jolly old elf during a Santa Paws photo event at a PetsMart store when he was bitten Sunday on the wrist and hand. The event was to raise money for Penny Angel's Beagle Rescue group.


The cat and owner disappeared after the incident. At least one person thought it was a bobcat, said Joan Kerr, president of Penny Angel's. "It had absolutely huge paws, like 3 inches around," Kerr said. The cat, named "Benny," appeared terrified because dogs were nearby, Bebbington, 47, told The Press of Atlantic City.

"It had very powerful jaws and big teeth," he said, estimating the cat weighed about 30 pounds.The woman who brought it to the store told people there she bought the cat from a breeder in Wyoming for $1,500. "Her last words were, 'I have a permit and the cat has all his vaccines,' " Bebbington said. Unless the owner produces vaccination records, Bebbington will have to receive rabies shots starting Thursday as a precaution. He's already had a tetanus shot.

"You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I'm telling you that, Santa Clause got bit by a CAT!" Poor St. Nick! - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up



You know once he serves his prison sentence he and Obama could open up a used car lot and rip people off the Chicago way. At least it fits their personalities better.



YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - NEW YORK — A retired New York City man says he's spent $7,500 fighting a $115 parking ticket because he's got "nothing else to do." Former electrical hardware firm vice president Simon Belsky says he was erroneously ticketed two years ago. The 63-year-old says the ticket cites his van for blocking a Brooklyn fire hydrant even though the only hydrant on the street was down the block.

The November 2006 fine has ballooned from $115 to about $200 with penalties.
Belsky was in court last week and is due back Feb. 2. He says if he wins he'll file a civil suit against the city to recover the $7,500 he's spent on legal work. He says if any compensation is awarded he'll donate it to educational programs.

I would have paid the ticket and used the $7500.00 and gone on a nice vacation. The guy should run for Congress, he would work great on the bailoutmania! -YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up




" Step right up and get your bailout money here! We've got buck for cars, houses, banks and corrupted politicians. All paid for by the people of The United States whose money we LOVE to spend on stupid ideas! " Sincerely, your United States Congress.




YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - CARSON CITY, Nev. — A contract worker for a Nevada sheriff's department is accused of driving drunk to a jail to test a suspects blood alcohol content. Fifty-three-year-old Kathleen Cherry told a Carson City sheriff's deputy who smelled alcohol on her breath that she had one margarita before driving Friday night.

She's accused of failing field sobriety tests and registering a blood alcohol content over the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent. Cherry is a phlebotomist, trained to draw blood for lab tests. She was booked on a misdemeanor drunken driving charge, and her bail was set at more than $1,000.
She declined to comment.

I guess she didn't want the suspect to fail the test alone! - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up




I'll bet Bubba loves hearing all this stimulus talk. It must remind him of the good old days with the White House interns!


Ken Taylor

OBAMA REACTION TO BLAGO ARREST

"Saddened and sobered," and , "I had no contact." This was the rather weak reaction during a press conference from Barack Obama to the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's arrest for corruption in an on going investigation which culminated in the revelation that Blago was selling Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.

While the Federal Prosecuter Patrick Fitzgerald has not stated that Obama or anyone in his office was involved in the scandal,(he also has not stated that no one was NOT involed either), the fact that it took place in Illinois and with Obama's Senate seat is going to dog him until the case is over.

"Saddened and sobered," the initial reaction from Obama. Could this be a sobering revelation because of what he knew about the Illinois Governor throughout the three years that Balgo was under investigation for his pay for play scheme with government appointments ?

In taped conversation Blago stated that he didn't believe that Obama would be much help because rather than offer him anything all that Obama would do was thank him for his work.

But Obama's statement about,"having no contact," with Blago cannot be entirely true. The seat that Obama resigned from is a Senate seat from the State of Illinois and there would have been some form of contact after the election if for nothing else but to inform the Governor that the seat would be vacant and it was now up to him to fill it.

I am also sure as in other situations where a office holder was elected and the seat they were holding whether on a State or Federal level was vacated, the resigning office holder as President Elect would offer suggestions for their replacement.

This situation with Blago is politics as usual throughout the long history of Chicago politics and whether Obama was directly involved or not the fact that he was a part of the Chicago system does pose questions about his governing style and once again about his associations.

One cannot be involved in such a corrupt government as that in Illinois without knowing some of the corruption that is taking place. Though Obama has tried to distance himself from Chicago corruption he was not only a part of that corrupt system but many who are now taking posts in his administration have come from that same corruption plagued political climate.

The arrest of Governor Blagojevich adds fuel to the never ending fire concerning the mystery about Barack Obama and in those in whom he has been associated with throughout his politcal career.

Ken Taylor

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR HAS ,"FOR SALE," SIGN ON OBAMA'S SENATE SEAT

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris find themselves in federal custody today. Why you ask ? Well the official charges are refered to as ," federal corruption charges."

But what it actually boils down is this. The Governor of Illinois who has the responsibility to fill the vacated United States Senate seat left by Barack Obama upon his resignation after winning the 2008 Presidential election, has been trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich told those seeking the seat if you want to play then you are going to pay. Recorded conversations with the Governor in reference to Obama's Illinois Senate seat are stated as saying that Blagojevich said, "I want to make money," and , "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself."

Prosecutors also claim that Blagojevich sought appointment for himself as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.

This play for pay scheme with the Senate seat vacated by Obama is part of a three year investigation of the Governor in which he used his office in similar schemes to appoint positions within the state government as well.

Some in Obama's, "President Elect, "office in Chicago are concerned that Obama may have been recorded in some of the conversations that are part of the investigation since as Senator and during the campaign especially upon resigning the Senate seat, Obama had several conversations with the Governor. Obama nor anyone associated with the transition office or his campaign are mentioned as being involved with any of the allegations of Blagojevich.

The Governor was quoted as saying yesterday concerning the investigation, "I don't believe there's any cloud that hangs over me. I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me." Of course this was BEFORE his arrest at 6:15 AM Central time this morning.

What impact, if any, this developing situation will have on the Obama transition remains to be seen. But suffice it to say that once again the well known Democrat corruption in Chicago which extends back to Mayor Richard Daily and beyond is still alive and kicking in the city that the President Elect calls home.

Ken Taylor

BARACK'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY

Twas just days before Christmas and all through the land, liberals were celebrating the election of their man.

His name was Barack the libs favorite son, they just worshipped this guy and called him, "the one."

He hailed from Hawaii or Kenya or both, the left didn't care they just gave him their vote.

With change as his motto and no substance at all, this guy came from nowhere and they gave him the ball.


Now he has signs which say, "I'm Prez -Elect," he's picking and choosing from rivals to select,

those that work with him as he takes up the reigns, of an office in DC which can be a strain.

Nancy and Harry are up on the Hill, chuckling and dancing, which gives me a chill.

"We've got full control and we think it just swell, though the people who come here surely do smell."

"We'll push through our socialist plan every day, with our messiah, Barack leading the way !"


But wait just a minute, "the one," changed his plan, he's picking some people who differently stand.

He says to Bob Gates, " I want you to stay, since defense in now working we'll keep it that way."

The left is now fuming and feeling betrayed, but don't worry guys you'll still get your way.

You see he's got Hillary and Joe, Eric and Bill, they think as he does from the left with a shrill.

Don't forget Bubba with his wife now at State, he'll find blonds and brunettes to add to his slate.


Barack's in Chicago meeting the press, with his wife named Michelle finding an Inaugural dress.

He stands at his mike with a sign he made up, just telling his minions, "I'll give you a full cup."

"Filled with programs and goodies and government deals, paid for by those with more earnings, those heals !"

"I've got bailouts and credits and loads of green cash, whose mortgage is paid for by those we will tax."


"I'll talk to Iran, Hugo and Castro, we'll sit at a table they'll call me their Bro."

"The UN will be the foreign policy guide, and terrorist need no longer to hide."

"The courts will take over not guns, men and tanks, the troops will come home and give ME their thanks."

"Their mission will be left not finished and undone, but I'll still claim victory and tell you, I'VE won."

"The troops will complain about their relief, but who gives a rip I'm Commander in Chief !"


Barack will soon to Washington go, with plans and agendas taking him to an fro.

They'll dance and they'll sing on inauguration day, but surely our history might show him the way.

When he sees each great icon of George, Abraham and Tom, standing in awe in Washington town.

I pray that the influence these giants created, will give him a pause and he'll see he's overrated.


The greatness of men who have led us through time, may hopefully give Barack the wisdom of mind,

to see that our freedoms came not from the Gov, but from a an idea whose framing was made through strong love.

For a country where everyone achieves and believes, in making our way in this land of the free.

If this happens when Barack takes command, then maybe we'll have bright hope in our land.


If not then the struggle in keeping us free, will reside in the power of you and of me.

In making this guy who thinks Gov is the key, accountable and answerable to each who are free !

If we do then this Christmas of two thousand and eight, will be one in which we the people do great.

In keeping our land from the socialist bug, and fighting for freedom in this land that we love.

Telling this guy who thinks he's the light, Merry Christmas to all, and our country's still RIGHT!!


Ken Taylor

CHRISTMAS WITH TRANS - SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

Once again Christmas is upon us and the light shows are hitting the web. I am a fan of Trans - Siberian Orchestra and the above video has a little different twist as Trans - Siberian took a Mozart tune and brought a little Christmas spirit to it.

Then it was created into this fantastic light show. I learned today of one that has been created right here at home with Trans - Siberian music and an FM transmiter so that one can listen to the music through a car radio while viewing the light show.

Needless to say we will be taking in the lights some time this weekend! Enjoy this one and Merry Christmas to each and every one.

Ken Taylor

THE LIBERAL LIE CARTOON GALLERY AND YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up

Who could have predicted that Barack Obama was one to change his mind a lot ? Only everyone who actually PAID ATTENTION before voting !!!!!



YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - MIAMI — When a man sounding remarkably like President-elect Barack Obama called a Florida congresswoman Wednesday, she assumed it was a crank call. So Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hung up. But, the Miami Herald reports, this was no prank.


"I thought it was one of the radio stations in South Florida playing an incredible, elaborate, terrific prank on me," Ros-Lehtinen told the newspaper. "They got Fidel Castro to go along. They've gotten Hugo Chavez and others to fall for their tricks. I said, 'Oh, no, I won't be punked.'"

The call came about 1 p.m. Obama congratulated her on her re-election, saying he was looking forward to working with her as the ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, Ros-Lehtinen told the newspaper. The conversation lasted about a minute when she cut Obama off, telling him she wasn't falling for the hoax and that he was a better impersonator than the guy on Saturday Night Live, she said.


Then Rahm Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff, called the congresswoman to tell her it wasn't a joke. But she hung up on him, too. It took a call from Rep. Howard Berman, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, to persuade Ros-Lehtinen that Obama really did want to talk to her.

When the two finally talked, Ros-Lehtinen said she and Obama had a good conversation and she congratulated him for his victory despite how hard she campaigned for his opponent, Sen. John McCain. He didn't even blame her for mistaking him for a radio-station prank, she said. "He laughed a lot, saying in Chicago they do it all the time," Ros-Lehtinen said. "He said, 'I don't blame you for being skeptical.'"

Personally I can't really blame the Congresswomen, if Obama had called me I to would hang up......on purpose!!! - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up




Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, Bill Clinton tags along and becomes the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He will have a foreign affair with a blond in Germany. A foreign affair with a brunette in France. A foreign affair with a red head in Russia. A foreign affair with ........ well you get the picture!



YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — It may have seemed like a mirage: Two camels nibbling on a pine tree along a street in this desert metropolis on the Texas border. Police tried lassoing the animals, which lunged at the officers with snapping teeth as onlookers chuckled.


But in the end, officials say all it took was some juicy green leaves on a branch held by the caretaker to lure the camels back into captivity. Police spokesman Jaime Torres says the camels named Yull and Tobi escaped early Wednesday from the warehouse of a businessman, who had bought the animals for a planned amusement park. Mexico has seen a rash of escaped animals lately, including four tigers, a 500-pound lion and a five-ton elephant.

Man, even animals are crossing the border and becoming illegal aliens in The United States. - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up






The largest drag on the ,"Big 3," is the UAW. Yet CEO's and Pelosi say bankruptcy is not an option. Why ? Because a Judge would force a restructuring of the UAW contract. So in reality the bail out is NOT to protect the workers or the companies but the Unions and the butts of the CEO's and management who have run the auto industry into the ground. LET THEM GO BANKRUPT!


YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up - BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Christmas ornaments for sale at the Miller Park Zoo's gift shop are partly manufactured by reindeer. Honest! Staffers make decorations out of droppings from the zoo's two reindeer, Ealu and Rika. The droppings are dried, then clear-coated and either painted or rolled in glitter.


Zoo spokeswoman Susie Ohley has named the products "magical reindeer gem ornaments," and each comes with a label of authenticity. They cost $5 at the zoo gift shop. Staffer Katie Buydos, who makes jewelry as a hobby, donated wire and beads, saying, "Susie asked me to bring some creativity to the table."

Some folks are surprised at the size of the "gems," which are only about as big as marbles. "Reindeer are so big," zoo maintenance worker Sheldon Williams said. But the droppings are "just a big pile of small."

Sort of changes the idea of the Twelve Days of Christmas. "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me an ornament made of reindeer crap. " That my friends is one big stinker! - YoU cAn'T mAkE tHiS sTuFf Up

Hey libs, you got what you voted for. If you feel like, "an ass," you have know one to blame but yourself ! We tried to warn you!!!!

Ken Taylor

OBAMA RETURNS UN AMBASSADOR TO CABINET LEVEL - TROUBLE LIES AHEAD

Barack Obama announced Monday that Susan Rice would be taking the post as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Her significance as an Obama appointment is not a crucial as the status that Obama is going to give the post of UN Ambassador, returning it to Cabinet status. From a diplomatic view point this places the UN Ambassador on the same level as the Secretary of State, signaling that Obama will be placing emphasis on the UN.

Under President Bush the UN Ambassador was removed as a Cabinet position. A position it was first given by Bill Clinton the only other Administration to hold the UN Ambassador at Cabinet level. This in essence creates two cabinet level positions from the same Department. Both the Secretary of State and the UN Ambassador are part of the State Department.

With the UN Ambassador holding cabinet level in an Obama Administration emphasis on working closely with the UN in relation to United States Foreign Policy is obviously going to be a key to US diplomacy under Obama. A close association with the UN like this can only spell disaster for The United States.

First the corruption within the UN has made it an extremely weak organization throughout the world. Secondly the majority of the Nations who participate in the UN are Nations who have either dictatorial leaders like Hugo Chavez of Venezuela or militaristic governments with Generals who continually over throw their government with military coups in order to obtain power.

Both types of governments abuse their people and are on far less than friendly terms with The United States and condemn our actions using the UN as their platform. As a UN member we have already removed ourselves from the UN Human Rights Council because of the hypocrisy in allowing the worst human rights violators to either head or have a strong voice within the council and the UN position on human rights.

Now Barack Obama will allow this corrupt anti-American organization to have a voice in US foreign policy and our UN Ambassador the same level of power as the Secretary of State. Obama has long been an advocate of the UN even to the point of backing legislation that would cost American tax payers an additional 65 billion dollars per year to finance a UN poverty initiative. An initiative which has all the markings of the oil for food program that funnelled billions of dollars to the UN and Saddam Hussein while the Iraq was under UN sanctions before the war.

Former UN Ambassador John Bolton who as Ambassador was a strong critic of UN corruption considers the elevating of the position to cabinet level a bad idea. According to Bolton, "One, it overstates the role and importance the U.N. should have in U.S. foreign policy," Mr. Bolton said. "Second, you shouldn't have two secretaries in the same department."

As far as the appointment of Susan Rice as UN Ambassador, her credentials less than stellar but she does have one extreme blemish on her record while she was serving as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during the Clinton Administration. Rice played a major role in the decision to refuse the offer by the government of Sudan in turning over Usama bin Laden to the US.

Sudan was also willing to share intelligence information of Al Qaeda activities with the US through David Williams then Middle East and African Agent in Charge for the FBI. Rice assisted in the decision process which resulted in the White House also rejecting the intell offered by the Sudanese government.

Rice obviously has an appeasement mentality and along with Obama's policy of involving the UN in US foreign policy this appointment and elevation to cabinet level of the UN Ambassador sends a signal that as a Nation we will become subject to the UN and the anti-American attitude that permeates within this corrupt organization.

Ken Taylor

BILL CLINTON AS NEW YORK SENATOR......MAYBE

Now that Hillary Clinton has officially been announced and accepted the post as Barack Obama's Secretary of State, her Senate seat now becomes one of three that are open waiting to be filled by Governor's from three different states. Obama's seat in Illinois remains to be filled. Biden's seat in Delaware is also open and now Hillary's in New York.

Of course all three states have Democrat Governors so for those who were hoping that the GOP might pick up a Senate seat when the posts are filled.....well Iran will become a trusted ally before that would happen. The speculation for Illinois and Delaware is not making headlines but New York is.

The leading candidates are famous names with one standing out in the crowd much more than the others. Two of the top three come from a well known and liberal entrenched political family. Caroline Kennedy daughter of President John Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Junior are considered to be in the running.

The third top candidate poses a rather interesting situation. The Governor of New York is considering at the insistence of many in the National and State Democrat Party, asking Bill Clinton to take his wife's Senate seat for two years. The seat will come up in a special election during the 2010 election cycle. If Hillary were to complete her term the seat would not be eligible until 2012.

When Bill's office was asked for a comment concerning whether the former President would accept the seat rather than issuing a statement, his office deferred all questions to the Governor's office. Which could lead one to believe that Bubba is considering the possibility.

If he accepts the Senate seat he will become the third former President to serve in Congress after serving in the White House. Our sixth President John Quincy Adams served in the House for 18 years, elected from Massachusetts two years after losing his re-election bid for the Presidency.

The second and ironically the only other President in our history besides Bill Clinton who was impeached, our seventeenth Andrew Johnson served as Senator from Tennessee six years after leaving the White House. Johnson only served from March through July of the Senate term, passing away on July 31, 1875.

Clinton certainly knows his way around Washington and as a former President would bring a certain prestige with him to the Senate. But the question is will Bubba with his massive ego be willing to serve in the Senate when he travels the world now as a former President and receives millions of dollars in fees for speaking engagements ? Also would his ego be able to handle his wife being in a more powerful position than his ?

If she had won the Presidency he would have at least been part of the day to day activities in the White House and while not President himself would have been involved in the power of the office through his wife. But as a Senator with Hillary being Secretary of State ? I am not sure that huge Bubba ego would be able to handle the situation.

Of course this is all still in the speculative phase and any decision is waiting on the official resignation of Hillary as Junior Senator from New York. But it does open up some very interesting possibilities and if it happens whether Barack Obama would be able to hold the reigns of two Clinton's in high government positions.

Ken Taylor