Obama Overseas: Déjà Vu

While John McCain shopped with voters, dodged criticism from the media for criticizing Barack Obama, and tries to make it known that he too is in the presidential race, Sen. Obama was standing before the masses in Berlin.

The scene of Thursday's gathering mirrored that of the March on Washington political rally back on August 28, 1963, or that of when President Ronald Reagan spoke in Berlin back on June 12, 1987. Saying he was speaking as a citizen, and not as a presidential candidate, Barack Obama came to deliver a speech of unity for the people of the world to take a stand against terrorism. But didn't we already come together for such a cause once before?

"People of the world - look at Berlin, where a wall came down, a continent came together, and history proved that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one.

...In this new world, such dangerous currents have swept along faster than our efforts to contain them. That is why we cannot afford to be divided. No one nation, no matter how large or powerful, can defeat such challenges alone.

...Yes, there have been differences between America and Europe. No doubt, there will be differences in the future. But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more - not less. Partnership and cooperation among nations is not a choice; it is the one way, the only way, to protect our common security and advance our common humanity.

That is why the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another.

The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down."

Unfortunately for Obama the majority of the crowd was most likely not American, and therefore can not cast their vote for him in the fall. By taking such a stand for peace as one who could be president certainly helps to boost not only Sen. Obama's image, but the image of America. But if the world is to come together and fight against those who would do us harm, is it because of Barack Obama? Would Europeans have rallied together if President Bush was to have made such a speech, or Sen. McCain? Does one join in unity for the better of humanity because one man made a speech on something we should've already been for? Was it really this speech to get such an obvious message out there? Did Sen. Obama just re-ignite the call to fight?

"People of Berlin - and people of the world - the scale of our challenge is great. The road ahead will be long. But I come before you to say that we are heirs to a struggle for freedom. We are a people of improbable hope. With an eye toward the future, with resolve in our hearts, let us remember this history, and answer our destiny, and remake the world once again."

Some say it's time for American forces to come home, and some say we have no right being over there, and President Bush as ruined America. But thanks to Sen. Obama's speech of coming together against terrorists, and doing away with nuclear weapons, make the American mind-set will change- hey, isn't Barack running for change? I don't know, sounds more like déjà vu.

Not Positive

In case you haven't noticed there's this door in Washington D.C. that President Bush is trying to open. Unfortunately for the president every time he's able to unlock the door, Congress is there to keep him from entering.

Today President Bush promised to lift the ban on offshore drilling. By making this move, the president has placed the pressure on a congress mostly made up of Democrats. "For years, my administration has been calling on Congress to expand domestic oil production," said Mr. Bush. "Unfortunately, Democrats on Capitol Hill have rejected virtually every proposal. And now Americans are paying at the pump." But though the president wishes to lift the ban, it takes the action of congress to completely do so. Apparently there are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by the first President Bush in 1990. Said the president, "When Congress lifts the legislative ban, I will lift the executive prohibition."

Now maybe you're sitting there reading this thinking how President Bush has failed the country again, but I would just like to point out the key word here, "Congress". Also, when you hear how Bush's approval rating continues to fall, ask yourself why that is, and then ask if the people who believe he's failed really know what they're talking about.

Sen. John McCain shares the same feelings as the president on this topic, while Sen. Obama wishes to help Americans with a second economic stimulus package so they can afford to pay the high gas prices. Both candidates also wish to develop alternate energy sources, but while it's a good idea, we're no where near that point.

According to Obama spokesman Bill Burton offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence. "It would be worthy of consideration, regardless of the risks," he said. "But most experts, even within the Bush administration, concede it would do neither. It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for thirty years." Thank you Mr. Positive, and when can we expect results from the Obama administration? Oh yeah, that's if he's elected, and that plan would still be a good decade or two away from completion.

Apparently even if Congress was to do their part is lifting the drilling ban, we wouldn't see results anytime soon, and when drilling operations finally got underway the results would be insignificant. But come on, isn't it better to try and so something than blaming the president for doing nothing? So thanks to the negativity on Capital Hill who knows what we can expect, because so far when it comes to gas, it's certainly not positive.

The iStill-Want

It's July 11 and I think we all know what that means...Stargate Atlantis returns for its fifth season tonight. While true, my favorite television programs is not what I want to write about.

You can look on your calendar and see that July 11 is just as important as July 10 - it's just an ordinary day. Historically speaking July 11 could be remembered as the day when the United States' first secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton, was killed by Vice President Aaron Burr in a duel. But it's more likely the people of today will remember July 11 as the day when the new iPhone was released.

Yes Steve Jobs flashed the Apple signal in the sky and Apple followers everywhere came out to answer the call. Standing in those Star Wars like lines, eager shoppers hoped to get their hands on their very own i-do it all but make dinner and lower gas prices- Phone. Speaking of gas prices, what's it at these days? The 8GB version goes for $199 and the 16GB version goes for $299.

But hey, who wants to buy a phone when there's a chance of glitches? Consumer Electronics editor Dan Costa of PC Magazine lists the reasons why you shouldn't buy one- good luck on being heard Dan. One of the things I found amusing from Dan's article was, "There are even lines of people waiting outside Apple Stores across the country, ...longer than any sane person should wait to buy a phone (A Nintendo Wii, on the other hand…). Cough.

The iPhone 3G, fantastic to look at? Yes. The phone made to be dominate over all? Yes. The phone that is expected to win Washington in the fall? Wait, sorry I'm getting my impressive to look at figures mixed up.

To the world, the iPhone, no matter the cost or bad press, continues to be the iStill-Want.

Get an Appointment with Dr. Pepper

First the lettuce and spinach, then the tomatoes, and now the peppers. From eating raw tomatoes, more than 1,000 people have become ill, leading to one of the worst foodborne outbreaks in at least a decade, and as stated above you can now add certain types of hot peppers to the list.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged that people at highest risk of severe illness from salmonella should not eat raw jalapeno and serrano peppers. The people who are more at risk are the elderly, those with weak immune systems, and infants.

Illnesses have been reported in 41 states, and it's possible that more than a thousand people have become ill. Cilantro is also under investigation because a significant number of people who got sick say they ate raw tomatoes, jalapenos and cilantro.

So what can you do? Basically just be cautious about what it is you're eating, and hopefully you can walk into Chili's without hesitating (ust a joke, nothing to fear). And if you must see a doctor, try to get an appointment with Dr. Pepper.

Jamie Got a Happy Ending

According to OK! magazine, 17-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears is doing just fine following the birth of her daughter a couple of weeks ago. Jamie goes on to talk about her family that was present for the special occasion and how she even looks forward to being a soccer mom- maybe she'd make the team. Lynne Spears, mother of Jamie and older sister Britney, told her young daughter to follow her instincts and she'll do fine raising the child.

   - These Encouraging Words Brought to You by St. Lynne Spears-

Let's just leave this post at glad Jamie got a happy ending.

Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Those words penned two-hundred and thirty-two years ago, marked the moment when little America made its declaration for independence. Here we are in 2008, and just look at how far we've come. Since my post on this day a year ago, I can turn on the television and see that we are still at war. Times remain tough for many, but I can't help but once again repeat what the echoes of past posts are saying, "at least we're safe, at least we have our freedom." Sure things may not be going great for many but we're a lot better of then others around the world. So on this 4th July, continue to remember our soldiers, and while they fight for our safety, soldiers of America's Revolution fought for your Independence.