Governor Palin

The coverage and out and out hostility that has greeted Sarah Palin has been disturbing.

Look, people are entitled to their opinions. No one is required to like the governor as far as I'm concerned. Some people don't agree with her stands. That's a valid argument.

But can I have the same courtesy?

Can I agree with Governor Palin's views without being dismissed as a hick or stupid? Can I disagree with Senator Obama's stands on things without being ignorant?

Can we respect the fact we disagree without acting like we're better than each other?

Or is that just me spinning more fiction?

Republicans acting stupidly?

I am getting real tired of the Republican Party telling conservatives, "you must support whoever we tell you to support, or else."

I left the party a while ago because whatever they were once, they are barely giving more than lip service to conservative values. Someone try to tell me that Rudy Giuliani is a conservative. Go ahead. Try.

People say a third party candidate can't win. The Republicans weren't always a major party. With that attitude, it's possible the Whigs would still be a party. And we wouldn't have gotten Abraham Lincoln.

I'm tired of the two major parties doing all they can to bar others from participating. I'm fed up with Republicans who are willing to jettison social conservative values as long as a candidate says he/she will cut their taxes.

I'm watching. And waiting. Let's see who the two parties try to shove down our throats.

Dobson vs. Thompson

Let me start this post by saying I like Dr. James Dobson. His books on marriage and raising kids are usually first rate. I remember buying "Parenting Isn't for Cowards" simply because I loved the title.

But Dr. Dobson was wrong, in my opinion, when he first implied that former Senator Fred Thompson wasn't a Christian, and on finding that he was a believer, then said pretty much he wasn't "evangelical" enough for most Christians.

Dobson's recent public remarks seem to show him leaning towards Newt Gingrich, though as far as I know Newt isn't an evangelical Christian either.

I understand that as head of Focus on the Family Dr. Dobson carries a lot of weight with people. And there are those who would say he has the pulse of the "evangelical Christians."

I have to disagree on this. I think Dr. Dobson stepped over a line when he publically suggested that the wrong kind of Christian (i.e., not a James Dobson kind of Christian) would fail to get Christian's votes.

I wish I could vote for someone who totally shared by beliefs. Sadly, no one like that ever seems to be running. So I try to vote for the person who I think will do the best job.

In my opinion, Dr. Dobson owes Fred Thompson a public apology. It would be the Christian thing to do.

John Edwards, his wife, cancer, and running for President

Today John Edwards announced that his wife Elizabeth's cancer had returned. (You may remember that Mrs. Edwards was diagnosed with cancer around the end of the 2004 presidential election). He also announced that he would continue his run for President.

I'm sure he's going to catch flak for this. He should make his wife the priority, etc. etc.. Some might even see his decision as cold.

I probably won't vote for Edwards. But I don't think he's a monster for continuing what he is doing.

What is he supposed to do? Bring his life to a screeching halt? I get the impression his wife doesn't want him to do that. She wants him to continue his avocation. And she will support him as much as he is able.

He stated that he will be with her when he needs to be. It seems to me he will put her before the campaign. That is right. But it doesn't mean he must abandon it entirely.

John Edwards will probably get criticized by me at some point. But not for this.

My prayers are with the Edwards family.