DNC Day 2

Hillary was terrific; gracious and funny. She made it clear to the PUMAS to get with the program. Warner was ok, but Schweitzer was hilarious. We may see more of him down the road.

OK, Barack, you're the quarterback

You got the job. Well done. Now it's up to the rest of us to give you time in the pocket and get open downfield. In my 30 years of voting there has never been a presidential primary like this one. Three great candidates in Obama, Clinton and Edwards, with Clinton and Obama making like Ali and Frazier.

Now it's game time. Our chances look good. The other side is out of ideas and out of gas. Led by a colorless old crank, bloated by kool-aid, the only option they have is dirty tricks. However, they are very good at dirty tricks and the media, who should be the referees, are in their corner. Not to mention the Democrats' storied ability to screw things up. We can't take anything for granted.

I initally had doubts about Obama's toughness, but I like what I'm seeing from him lately. This is going to be one hell of a season.

What part of "Health Care" do we not understand?

Elizabeth Edwards sunk a 3-pointer this week when she pointed out that both she and McCain would be rejected by his health plan for having pre-existing conditons. She has breast cancer and McCain was treated for skin cancer. McCain, as is typical for Republicans, wants to keep health care in the private sector. He wants to, (you know the lyrics, people, sing it with me) "let the market decide."

The problem with letting the market decide is that the market is concerned with making a profit, providing "care" is just the means to that end. As long as insurance providers make money by denying care, they will do so, with little or no remorse. The results of this is that we spend more on our health insurance than any other country, yet most of us our still one major illness or accident away from financial ruin. Single payer health insurance is not "socialism," it's compassion and common sense.

Incidentally, one notable policy difference between Hillary and Obama is on this subject, with Hillary's plan closer to the universal coverage we all need. If Obama wins the nomination and hopefully, the White House, Hillary could spearhead a drive towards universal care from the Senate. Her "Hillarycare" was sneered at in the past, but I think the American people, if not the politicians, are ready for it. At least it's about care, not profit and that's whare we need to start.