Jay Kersting's Blog

Many people were very impressed with Barack Obama following his speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.  I was not, I was skeptical.  That is just being honest.

The more I heard from him late 2007 and early this year, the more interested I became in what he was trying to do.  Details were sketchy and I figured that when those came out I may become a bit turned off by his policy positions.  But I was willing to give him a shot.

Well, he beat me to that by turning in to a typical old school politician who told lies and distortions regarding the positions of John McCain.  (I was further outraged by the response to his comments being "OK, that is just politics" repeated to me.)

Anyhow, I accepted that he is just another politcian.  And then I looked at what he "believes" in.  Apparently, it is leaving me with change.  But the good news is that it is change that I can believe in.  I think that is because it says "In God We Trust" on it.  (Sort of hurts him with athiests, I guess.)

Now the more I see, I am even wondering if he is even his own man.

I am seeing a lot of Clinton Administration retreads (not even re-caps) hanging around and advising him.  Then yesterday he made comments to ABC News praising the prosecution of the terrorists of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.  How effective it was. 

The McCain campaign jumped on this, and I think justifiably so. 

Back during the Clinton Administration, terrorism was treated as a criminal justice not military issue.  With 20/20 hindsight, we can criticize that, but let's be fair.  I think that we need to realize that was the way it was viewed and treated by those in power.  Ignorance of the seriousness of our enemies led to that position and I think that was an honest approach to things.

BUT, to think that way in 2008 is irresponsible and ignorant of the world that exists today.  

Now, I will admit that McCain's folks have gone a bit far when they implied that Obama's position, combined with the recent Supreme Court ruling, would have our soldiers reading the Miranda warning to captured enemy combatants.

The blame for that possibility lies with the Surpreme Court.  But the criticism of Obama is valid.

You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.  When you are facing an enemy that wants you DEAD and they do not mind being killed in the process, putting them in prison is not scary.  That is why the OLD approach, the one used until 8:48am on 11 September 2001, cannot be revived.

But this is just one issue.  Seeing Al Gore hugging Barack Obama and putting the blame of Chinese lead toys on the Bush Administration during the same speech was damned ridiculous.  (Which President approved giving permanent Most Favored Nation status to China?  Just curious.)  But the more I see Gore and other Clinton era retreads hanging around Obama, the less I think he is in control of his own situation.

Has he become Charley McCarthy?  Lambchop?

If so, who is Edgar Bergen or Shari Lewis?

If the answer you come up with is Howard Scream....or worse yet...George Soros....be afraid.  Be very afraid.

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Nice to see that all elected officials here in Missouri are unified around a beer.

OK, OK, to be specific, they are unified in their fear and opposition to InBev buying Anheuser-Busch. 

I think they have a right to be concerned, but this has gone from concern to "Chicken Little" behavior.

I want more details on the deal and InBev's plans.  I am not expresssing any fears over this.  Not until I know more, but the sky is falling for everyone who holds an elected position.  It is a bit crazy right now.

Don't misunderstand my point here.  I understand the fact that A-B is an American institution and all that goes with it.  BUT, this is something that still has to be hashed out.  And ultimately, it is the decision of A-B's board of directors. 

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Speaking of crazy, the latest UProar in the Missouri Gubernatorial race is over Viagra.

Sarah Steelman is running an ad that is critical of Kenny Hulshof not voting to kill government funding of Viagra.

OK. 

Insert your own jokes on this one.

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Have a GREAT Wednesday.