McCain Campaign Says Obama Is Playing the ‘Race Card’

McCain Campaign Says Obama Is Playing the ‘Race Card’

this is not a card
that either man has to play

for one is was played for him
when he came out of his mother's womb
with dark skin
for the other
it was been laid in the patchwork of a shameful
divisive history

and the more recent turns of the card
a fight against MLK in Arizona
Bill Clinton's rantings in South Carolina
Jesse Jackson's (un?)intentional whispers
and millions of people who admit
they will never vote for a black man
have taken the card out of both men's deck

it just that they now agree
that each of them see
the elephant in the room

Evangelicals warn against Romney on ticket

Evangelicals warn against Romney on ticket

it's really not about religion
and those who say it is
have many sins for which to seek forgiveness

his Jesus is different from theirs
but both messiahs would frown upon the demagoguery
the lowest common denominator
approach to twisting half-truths into
Messaging

the only thing that turns a warm smile
into a snake-oil selling grin
is the selling of snake-oil

5.4 earthquake rocks L.A. area

5.4 earthquake rocks L.A. area

twenty million people
sharing a common experience
the initial feeling of panic
thirty seconds of terror
followed by the sigh
the wipe of the brow
the knowledge that this time
we dodged the bullet
we are still living and
our lives have not changed

something big is coming
but not today

McCain Says Obama Plays Politics on Iraq

McCain Says Obama Plays Politics on Iraq

it is sad
to see a great man
take ignoble actions

standing eye to eye
two honorable adversaries
held their fire
until one man felt his future slide
and drew his wretched gun
to challenge his opponent's heart

and blew away his own integrity

McCain Keeps Up Attack on Obama’s War Stance

McCain Keeps Up Attack on Obama’s War Stance

every soldier knows
a promise to keep him home
is empty at best

at worst its a lie
but lies told repeatedly
can win elections

praising victory
in a deadly, crooked game
no one should have played

Obama Speaks to Germany on European Ties

Obama Speaks to Germany on European Ties

it wasn't about a race for president
this day on the Berlin stage
it was about a forgotten mission
a dream packed deep in the back of the closet
that promised we could be both strong and caring
that we could stop malcontents with weapons
while laying down our own

the messenger
who a few years ago
was the skinny guy with the funny name
showed that he was
an American leader
a world leader
without a single vote having been cast
not because of who he was
but what he said
and how it was heard

and for a moment
it seemed like it didn't matter
if he became president
as long as the country and the world
followed his lead

Novak cited after hitting pedestrian

Novak cited after hitting pedestrian

i didn't know I hit him
(the guy is sort of splayed over the windshield)
he's not dead - that's the main thing
(the car is speeding away)

how strange it must feel
to own the world
at least the part of the earth
you happen to be in
at any given time

dark
convertible
running over lives
failing to yield
the right of way