Matt - Well stated. I'll have some more on the pork in the Bailout bill later on today. Remember that those who lie get elected. Nadar is probably the most honest man in politics. Kucinich is another. Neither are close to the White House. Thanks for your comments.

"We are going to CHANGE the way business is done in Washington!" Barak Obama re: special interest lobbyists. "I will tell you their names...I will make them famous!" John McCain re: legislators who insert pork-barrel / "ear- mark" projects into legislative bills. I can barely hear myself think above the roars of the crowds as they (from separate camps) join in unison repeating the mantra: " We want CHANGE...we want CHANGE!" At least one of the candidates SEEMS more believable; that's all we really want...isn't it? With both presidential campaigns riding high on a wave of public anger and disgust over the irresponsible management of our country, the egregious behavior of our leaders, and the squandering of opportunities to improve our standing in the world community, it sure looked like business as usual when Congress ( Obama and McCain included, of course) voted to pay the $700 Billion (an early estimate) ransom to the hijackers of the US economy. I held up a finger (you might guess which one) and could not detect even the slightest change of direction in the political air. Strangely (?), I never heard the word "ear-mark" or is it "earmark"---I really am not sure...specifically mentioned, but I was relieved to learn that rum producers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands ($172 or is it $192 million ?.. I apologize,but the difference is lost on me) and NASCAR track owners ( $128 million) and others, are having their interests looked out for. Now, I don't have anything against rum producers, NASCAR track owners, or even the NASCAR fans that like to drink rum ( although, I suspect Budweiser is more likely the preferred intoxicant) while watching cars go round and round, but I really don't see the connection between emergency legislation (apparently, market analysis revealed "rescue plan" to be the most delightfully appealing term for this brand of medicine...you know, "a spoonful of sugar...") and special interest spending of this type. Instead of defying the special interests that dictate passage/failure of such important ( the recent hyperbole unmatched since that utilized to bamboozle the American public in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq) legislation; they stood up there, lobbyed and voted for this Trojan horse. As much as anyone, I want REAL change...change that includes not only leaders that will tell the American public the truth but an American public that wants to HEAR the truth. By not being engaged in current affairs and ever-vigilant of our leaders, we have gotten the government we deserved. We, the people, through our own "lack of oversight" have allowed the conditions in which the current scum has risen to the top. I want the next President of the United States ( be he black,white, yellow, purple, Tinky-Winky---whatever) to have the guts to us the truth. We can no longer afford to continue living in the "United States of Delusion", we must begin acting as responsible members of the world community, and we MUST begin drawing-down our imperial aspirations in order to save our republic. The well-worn path of militarism always leads to the same place...societal collapse.

This might be of interest RE: Asheville http://allotherpersons.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/factoid-black-mayors-of-cities-with-population-over-50000/ There is a comment about the black mayor of Asheville.

I so wish I could be there! Is anyone stepping up voter registration at the high schools? Offering transportation to the polls? Does anyone know?

HD - I think so. I hope so. Thanks for your comments.

He is our hope for the future.

J - We are all excited. WE need to give time and money. Not just to Obama but to other progressives as well. thanks for your comments.

I will not miss this opportunity to be a part of Asheville history. I feel it will be a day my family will always remember. I hope Sunday will be the day I saw our future president for the first time in person! Go Obama '08!!