JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE AND SECRET SUPERHERO

You have to love John Kerry no matter what your political preference is. John Kerry is not an ordinary politician. When there is trouble on the floor of the United Nations Kerry turns into JK Man. JK man is strong like the Hulk, quick, not totally set on his positions like Superman, and in possession of a masculine square jaw. Kerry is not really going through despair in terms of negotiations for the end of Iran's nuclear program, he is simply letting think he is slightly desperate.

JK Man shall surface and use his super strength, Batman like deduction powers, Martian Manhunter Musculature, Green Lantern imagination, and Aquaman uselessness in order to try and craft a second failed bid for president in the year 2016. Iran shall be very surprised by the great JK Man and they shall end their program out of fear. The wrath of JK Man shall prevail!

THE KENNEDY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: YOUTH

As I sit and watch the second part of PBS' JFK: American Experience I sit and wonder if during those years youth was considered the best way for government. In just a few days it will be the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination and rather than focus on the negative I would like to pose this question:

• Did Kennedy's youth represent new hope for the US or was it simply the start of an aggressive and somewhat reckless period? 

It seems like Kennedy's fearless nature led him to make mistakes such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, which seemed to empower Fidel Castro and embarrass the US. Kennedy was a symbol of hope in the 1960's and somehow that hope diminished for Kennedy as he realized that his advisors were not always looking out for the interests of the US. Kennedy was also faced with problems such as civil rights unrest brought about by segregation and inequality. 

The Kennedy white house came at a time when change was begging to take place, in a revolutionary manner. Kennedy's youth was one part of the equation, a positive part, but his inexperience was the negative counter. Yes, Kennedy did want to put us in space and he wanted to stand down on talks of nuclear war but his desires seemed to clash with the status quo. 

We made it to space, we did not engage in a nuclear holocaust and yet we were still a target. Kennedy was not necessarily as authoritative as his predecessor Eisenhower, nor as devious as Nixon, the man that would eventually take the White House in 68.' The start of the revolutionary period of the US came from an uncertainty on how to deal with communism and having a weaker foreign policy. With youth and inexperience the military ended up with a deeper level of involvement than necessary in Vietnam. 

Perhaps if Kennedy had not been killed there would have been an early pull out of Vietnam and there wouldn't have been such a massive loss of human life. Kennedy never had the opportunity to realize his dreams for an open system of government that showcased great American resolve and courage. Camelot was only 34 months of a lifetime and yet that spectrum was unique because of youth, aggressiveness, and inexperience. There will never be another Camelot and perhaps that's not a bad thing, then again it would be nice to see that hope once more.

CUT THE JACKASS A BREAK

I'm sure you are wondering who the jackass is, it's Tom Cruise. I'm not a fan of Tom Cruise but I don't think it's fair to accuse him of saying something derogatory about the troops. It was stated in TMZ that he said something to the effect that making a film was as tough as being a soldier in Afghanistan. I don't think it's true, in fact I think it's total BS. I think that Tom Cruise has become a target primarily because he is a blind follower of scientology. We live in a free country, let him be a jackass, it's his right.

I don't think it's fair to accuse a person of making idiotic statements like that, this is the guy the did Born on the Fourth of July after all. I am not fond of Cruise but you have to give the guy some sort of break. I can't imagine what it's like to be considered a complete douche and on top of that have comments like that attributed to me. It was stated in CNN's site that the comments that were made by Cruise were taken out of context and re worded.

Let's not focus on so much negativity and crap and let's let jackasses be that without making their existence worst.

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING?

I usually try to stay away from certain issues only because hot buttons tend to create animosity and I'm not all about that. Having said that let me ask: Who in the fuck does Charles Rangel think he is? Who in the fuck does Sheila Jackson Lee think she is? Why won't all these fucking republican and democrat whores shut the fuck up about one another and stop politicizing everything just so they can make a point.

A woman with postpartum depression and an apparent bi polar disorder ends up going of the deep end and that's the fault of republicans? What the hell? Is there nothing sacred anymore? The woman got shot because she was seen as some sort of threat and suddenly the big thing answer is " This was a cause of the lack of the republican action." I think politicizing someone's mental illness is the lowest form of shit.

I have a better idea, how about democrats and republicans stop pimping our economy like a garden variety whore and do their jobs. Miriam Carey was a mentally unstable person and as a result of her problems she ended up making a mistake that would cost her her life and almost cost her her 18 month old's life. Please, don't use this as yet another manner of finger pointing, all of do need to shut the hell up and do your job.

CAN WE REALLY CALL THEM LEADERS?

I don't care if you are a democrat or a republican because we live in a free country. I'm bound by our constitution and the freedom of speech, choice, and so on, to respect your ideals. I don't have a side but I do have an observation about both sides. If you are a republican or a democrat and feel sensitive then please stop reading now.

I turn my TV on and all I hear is republicans blaming democrats and vice versa. Every politician with high hopes is getting their name out there in hopes that either the mid term elections or 2016 will be their breakout period. Let's not talk about sides, let's treat this in a more general manner so we can better appraise what's happening.

We put our futures in the hands of men and women that, although well educated, are as flawed as we are. These men and women reach a point where their nature is to assume that they as singular beings know better than every one of their constituents. While most of the time these men and women are well educated, that doesn't mean that they are beyond our reproach or better than us. While society needs a specific order and manner of law, that law and that order needs to be established with the interests of the people in mind.

It's true that 300 million Americans cannot individually agree on anything, other than their right to disagree. I think that one thing we can agree on is the fact that our "leaders" can't step outside of their fragile egos and do what's right. The root of this battle is Obamacare, whether you are for it or against it is irrelevant, at the moment anyway.

You have elected officials hurting the economy, the country's standing, and the well being of the average citizen because " they know what's best." The truth is that whatever our founding fathers spoke of ,when they banded together against an imperialist empire, has evaporated. Today the government does not stand for the cause of its citizens, it simply stands for whatever keeps key figures in power.

Republicans want to be seen as the guardians of value, the keepers of America's coffers. To house republicans it is vital to strike out against Obama's signature law. On the flip side, Democrats want to be  seen as the merry thieves of Sherwood Forrest. What we have are a couple of groups shooting toward opposite extremes and not giving a care about how badly this is stressing the middle. The government did not need to close over this disagreement and that's an undeniable truth, regardless of political proclivity.

It doesn't matter if you agree with the healthcare law or not, this is a game of hide and seek with the economy. I'm not saying that republicans needed to cave, nor that democrats needed to cave. I am stating that both sides should have agreed to serious talks with regards to keeping the government open and not holding the population hostage. The big concern now is the debt celling and how that particular issue will be affected, truthfully that's not really as big an issue though.

I think the bigger issue is the question of how we can make our "leaders" act less like gangsters at a mob pow wow and more like leaders. Until these "leaders" can change their tune, America will continue to look like a day care full of children with discipline problems.

THE MYSTERY OF NICK BEEF

The long lingering mystery of Nick Beef has finally been solved. The mysterious dead man is actually some jackass that decided to buy the burial plot next to Lee Harvey Oswald's because it meant something to his history. I think it's ridiculous to do something like that in order to observe personal history. If I were Nick I would have purchased a paper or some sort of commemorative coin. This guy bought the grave next to Oswald's for a total of $167.50, in 1975, and put his stage name on there. Mr. Beef doesn't have any plans of being buried next to Oswald.

I think this is some morbid way to get attention, I don't care that he witnessed Kennedy's assassination in 1963. To me the sad thing is that he seems to identify with Oswald in some way, even if he won't admit it. If this "performer" attached importance to the actual event he would likely just write about it or talk about his early memory of that day. I think this is something of a tasteless way to get attention for yourself.

Can you imagine going to a party and meeting this guy? Hi I'm Nick Beef, alive in New York, dead in Texas, terrible lover to al my exes. To me this is ridiculous but we do live in a free country so to each their own.

WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER TODAY

Today is not just another important day, it's the most important day in the history of the US. July 4th is not a day for stepping out in ridiculous garb and scream while chewing on a corn dog. The 4th of July is a day that defines democracy, sacrifice, and real courage. Our founding fathers used their intelligence to craft a document that would take the 13 colonies and turn them into a singularly united power. No longer would the colonies fall under royal rule and have to live for the wishes of the queen. The revolutionary war was a way to say no more, the ultimate conflict for true democracy.

The democracy that we enjoy today was laid out nearly two and a half centuries ago. While many battles have been fought over that period, the ideal of democracy faced greatest jeopardy long ago. Today we fail to remember that history because it's long since passed, we weren't there, the books sometimes tell a different story. Our founding fathers were not gun toting morons, they were not perfect figures, but they agreed that we should all have the right to think as we wished.

Today is always a beautiful day, a day of unity of celebration for all. Everyone remember to celebrate that this country was built on the principle of hard work and sacrifice, from luxury to life, it's who we are. Symbols in this country are a beacon to what made it great then and what makes it great now. Celebrate your freedom, the sacrifice, and not just your day off.

THE BOSTON TRAGEDY

So here we are again, a normal day and another attack in our back yard. This time the attack happened during a joyous occasion that was supposed to make the news for a million reasons non of which included death and injury. The number of deaths and injuries in this bombing pales in comparison to the deaths and injuries in the World Trade Center attacks of 9/11, but it was still a horrible tragedy. Let's break it down briefly and see what it all means.

Two young guys with a belief that the world should be Islam are the presumed guilty. A building came down and we are reminded that there is no longer a safe place and that we are no longer allowed to feel any sort of peace or levity. It was interesting how the venue for this attack was a marathon. The message here was clear and that message is that there is no finish line to cross. Do we blame someone? Do we blame a set of beliefs?

Once the guilty parties have paid for their crimes we are still left asking questions that can never be answered. The ideas and theories are now coming out of the woodwork like they did in 9/11. An aunt of the two suspects said this was "staged" and her angel nephews were framed. These events will cause that rift and idea that all immigrants are bad and that Islam is terrorism. There will be misunderstandings and insecurity, a clear example that the actions of a few misguided fools are enough to judge entire populations.

The ultimate statement is that terrorism no longer has a stereotypical face. Terrorism is no longer limited to an organized group but it could be anyone with a belief so extreme and ardent that that they are willing to kill, injure and die for their so called cause. Yes here we are again and once more the result is confusion, a universal question, and no possible justice or answers. We are living in a world that is no longer easily defined.

This tragedy can never be undone and the people deeply affected can never forget what happened. We as a nation are reminded of dark moments that serve as a definition to our history. The biggest reminder this tragedy is giving us is the reminder that we are a beacon of hope and the defining standard. We as a nation enjoy freedom, opportunity, choice, and many other advantages. While we are not a perfect nation it's our allowance to be imperfect that makes us function the way we do.

WAVING OFF THAT PART OF MY CHILDHOOD

With the death of Margaret Thatcher I realized that I just waved bye bye to a part of my childhood. I was a child during the 80's when Reagan was POTUS, Thatcher was Prime Minister and Gorbachev was lead Soviet guy. I can't really say I had much of a grip on the world political climate of the times because I was more interested in cartoons and toys than anything else but I always had an admiration for Margaret Thatcher.

I looked at margaret Thatcher as that quietly, passively dominant and overbearing aunt that you hated and admired at the same time. Mrs. Thatcher reminded me of an aunt my mother had who dressed in similar fashion and had an equally arrogant and superior air about herself. What I think made Thatcher fascinating was the fact that she was a woman in a male dominated scene. It doesn't matter if you agreed with her politics or not she made her way up the ladder during a time when women were very rarely in power positions.

Thatcher's career spanned 31 years from 1959 to 1990 and she was considered a close ally to the US during the final years of the Cold War. Thatcher's strength and resolve made her a true legend and put her in the same category as Sir Winston Churchill. There will always be differing opinions but the fact is that her career will stand out as a major part of an incredible legacy.

NORTH KOREA

Every time I look at a picture of Kim Jong Un he reminds me of a child that looks blankly into the heavens after being told that he cannot have an ice cream cone because of his pre disposition to diabetes. I read recently that North Korea has made it clear that they won't hesitate to launch one of their 1950's missiles if or when necessary. The problem with North Korea as I see it is that they are a lot like a dog that looks nice but you know he will bite you if you go near its tail.

I think North Korea is a serious threat just by virtue of the fact that they are so vocal about kicking ass on a nuclear world wide scale but I also believe that Kim Jong Un is not really the power behind the throne. King Jong Un is an example of a kid that was cast into an incredibly difficult situation by a zealous father trying to create a legacy in the same manner that a constipated man tries to create acceptable stool samples. Kim Jong Un looks more comfortable watching a game with Dennis Rodman than standing in front of a bunch of Generals in his unflattering outfit that I am assuming was designed by his father at some point during the great polyester shortage of 1979.

I think the real tragedy here is that this kid is lost in a world where bad decisions are encouraged as a WWDD or What would dad do?  I wonder how a 30 year old man is capable of really truly leading a nation when his only real qualification is being the owner's kid. I assume that things will only get dimmer and dimmer and that eventually one of his "uncles" will sit him on a rocket and watch him fly straight into the sun.

WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES

After the terrorist attacks of September 11th the level of high alert everyone is on has become justified because the truth is that airplanes are now a huge source of concern for everyone trying to avoid terrorism. So why if you are traveling out of a US airport would you say that you have dynamite in your luggage?

A Guatemalan man was taken into custody after making the dynamite remark in jest. Part of the Miami International Airport's concourse J was evacuated while an Avianca flight was delayed for over an hour. The funny part is that the man was a 63 year old. You would think that a man that old would be a little wiser and a lot more serious but stupidity is not limited to youth always.

The man is in custody or was, I am not truly certain, and Miami International is back to normal. Interesting that now older people are acting like fools and setting examples of what not to do. Interesting times that we are living in people, interesting indeed!

WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO JEB IN 2016

So now the big early star of the Republican party seems to be Jeb Bush. I happen to think that given the vocal and highly questionable figures currently in the party's national scene Bush seems to be a perfect choice. Jeb Bush is for the most part reserved and has an approachable manner that really draws people in. Over his eight year tenure as Florida Governor Bush was very effective and stood out as a powerful figure in what was a chaotic national scene. While it seemed like his brother would take the spotlight and eventually he would Jeb would slowly emerge as a figure of a different sort.

Bush was very strong as Governor and he made many improvements while in office. Bush may well find himself short in trying to answer for his role in leading his brother to office and the start of eight tumultuous years in the American national scene. The truth is that it takes one act to completely overshadow everything you did that was good and effective.

For all his approvals for higher education in the state of Florida, funding for libraries, and environmental projects Bush is still largely remembered as a key figure in the election of his brother. If Jeb Bush decides to run in 2016 the only factors that may work for him are a thoroughly ineffective second term for Obama and either Biden or a weaker democrat running against him. Outside of those two scenarios Bush would face a very hard climb up the ladder to the White House.

1963 AND ALL THIS COUNTRY COULD BE

In this generation of Social Media and true homogenization or making every trend truly uniform in nature and condensing the fat content of distance and disconnect it seems history has also gone away.
On a sunny November day in Dallas exactly 49 years ago John F. Kennedy was gunned down and seemingly so was the hope and innocence of ideals that America clung to so tightly. I am not declaring political allegiance of any sort so if you are a zealous republican or ardent democrat please take the politics somewhere else.

From 1961 to 1963 for nearly three years the JFK administration was a beacon for this country. Every major leader was fascinated by the youth, good taste, and lively nature of the Kennedy administration. It was not always easy for JFK as he faced obstacle after obstacle with the growing conflict in Vietnam, the Bay of Pigs invasion and mounting tensions with Russia. Kennedy was also a maverick of sorts as he challenged the CIA almost directly, made it clear he wanted an audit of the FED and on top of that would not play ball with controlling figures such as J. Edgar Hoover. Kennedy was the man that wanted progress and at the same time a democracy where secrets were not on tab for the people he served.

Kennedy was a throwback to the days when leaders would openly address the people they served. With his multiple imperfections and serious flaws Kennedy was someone that gave this country a breath of fresh air. Kennedy was not stiff like Richard Nixon or old like the venerated Eisenhower. There was something special about seeing the Kennedy children run to greet their father as he exited Marine One. The Kennedy administration made this country something vital. With youthful figures like Robert McNamara, Pierre Salinger, and Robert Kennedy there was something special.

The only older figure in that administration was LBJ and he represented the stability and the experience of over 26 years in Washington. The US was ready to put a man in the moon and everything seemed on track, the US had hope. A bullet  on that sunny November day took that hope away and opened up a wound that this country has yet to heal from.

The US Presidency is more a form of business than a symbol of real power and change. Special interests plagues this country and basically secrets are what's behind every major decision that spurs any change negative or positive. There are no longer convertible Cadillacs or Lincolns and there is no longer that feel that our leader is someone we can approach. Truthfully November the 22nd 1963 was not the day Kennedy died but the day hope seemed to die.

It's fair to wonder how this country would be today if Kennedy had not been shot. Kennedy would have been re-elected in a fairly close election in 1964 and likely would have stopped sending troops to Vietnam and looked for a way to settle that conflict early. Kennedy would have marveled at the success of the Space Program and would have backed Martin Luther King with great fervor en route to great success in achieving equal rights for all Americans. There would have been turmoil but maybe less depletion of resources as a result of an easier out from Vietnam. Now in retrospect this is all a speculative matter but still that glimmer of hope that has faded is a great reflection of a wonderful time that was far too short.

And so for I hope I close with:

It's true! It's true! The crown has made it clear.
The climate must be perfect all the year.

A law was made a distant moon ago here:
July and August cannot be too hot.
And there's a legal limit to the snow here
In Camelot.
The winter is forbidden till December
And exits March the second on the dot.
By order, summer lingers through September
In Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit bizarre,
But in Camelot, Camelot
That's how conditions are.
The rain may never fall till after sundown.
By eight, the morning fog must disappear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

Camelot! Camelot!
I know it gives a person pause,
But in Camelot, Camelot
Those are the legal laws.
The snow may never slush upon the hillside.
By nine p.m. the moonlight must appear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

OH NO SELENA GOMEZ HAS STREP THROAT! PLEASE LET US SAVE HER AS THAT WILL SOLVE CURRENT WORLD CRISES.........

Everyone I need you to please do some kind of spiritual ritual to save our favorite Wizard of Waverly Place from the clutches of the deadly disease known as strep throat. Yes you heard right everyone the head Beiber Fever carrier is now deathly ill with her throat itching as millions of bacteria are killing her precious vocal chords. We need to save her as the fate of the whole world depends on it.

Sorry after further research it turns out strep throat does not really kill people and she is not really the important to the fate of the free world. I still say we form a hand holding movement to show this brave lite doodle how important she really is to all of us. Anyone with me? Bueller? Bueller?  I guess I don't have the backing.

Really these are the news that are trending today and everyone wonders why there is such a generational disconnect. When I was in middle school we were taught to discuss relevant current events and learn to back up our opinions with well researched facts. If a kid shows up with this current event today he is superstar correspondent today.

This is what's wrong people!

DON'T PREACH WITH ONE HAND AND STEAL WITH THE OTHER

I have never considered myself a follower or a member of anyone's flock because I am an individual. I believe spirituality is an independent choice. What we as people chose to believe in is our right and our own very personal choice. What I have a major problem with is serious hypocrisy.

Everyone loves to believe in miracles and that's cool I respect that but there is something to be said for being so blind to reality that the horizon is nothing but pretty flowers with little pots of goody gold at the end of the rainbow. The fact is we always seem to follow one charismatic figure and drink a form of Kool Aid that takes away our ability to understand when hypocrisy and lies are afoot. Jim Jones was very charismatic and we all know the outcome there. So you may question me and ask where I see the hypocrisy. Let me answer your question and put your soul at ease.

I have read the bible enough times to know that Jesus did not have a Cadillac, a motorcycle, or an airplane. The fact is that according to the bible Jesus did not really have shoes while going from place to place. I am not actually trying to praise Jesus or thump bibles or beliefs like so many people try to do through mediums. I am simply stating that I don't understand why these charismatic electronic pastors seem to have a bigger cash position and better bottom line than even the wealthiest Americans. There is this vow of poverty that seems to be as well observed as obscure 1800's unamended rules.

The fact is that while Benny Hinn traveled first class in the Concord people starved and died waiting for their miracle. While Kenneth Copeland collects planes in his estate people hope that his words will materialize and lose it all providing for his needs. While Jim Bakker and his late wife Tammy Faye gave their dogs shelter that included central AC units people gave the tithe while at times going to bed without power, or some necessary utility. So they preach the word in 10,000 suits and million dollar homes while Gebus oh wait I mean Jesus wore tattered clothing and no shoes. Believe what you chose because you can and you have the right. Understand that what you do believe is not always exactly what you are told and the reality versus the actuality are completely separate hemispheres altogether.

PEACE BE WITH YOU!!!!!

WHY DEALERS ARE SO FUCKING PATHETIC

There is nothing in this world more pathetic to me than a drug dealer. To me a drug dealer is the lowest form of life second only to pedophiles. I write this because I can and I feel like it. It's your choice to stop reading now or continue on. Frankly I hate the "player" wannabe idiots in the drug trade because truthfully their ignorance is beyond reproach.

Let me start with an experience I had in the bathroom of a very nice rooftop club. I was in the bathroom and as I got to the sink to wash my hands I saw this kid who seemed well to do trying to deal a little something to another patron because his tab was more than he could afford. I am glad I was not drunk because I would have likely laughed out loud at the pitiful situation. I left the bathroom quickly and decided to turn a blind eye because frankly I am no one's savior.

To me these little street shit punks that think they are special and tough are a joke. I myself do not come from the street nor do I pretend to have gangster credibility but frankly I don't need it. The truth of the matter is it does not matter who you are or the level you are in you will get caught. Pablo Escobar the glorified errand boy of the Ochoa Family went like a ton of bricks on an incline and he actually declared war on the government of Colombia and built his own prison. The fact is that the gaudy watches and chains mean very little when you are headed nowhere rapidly.

I hate to hear the bullshit about "I had no other choice" when you see how many people come from the worst environments and go on to successful and productive lives.  There is a choice between being practical and a good person and being a total idiot. Unfortunately the glorification of gangster figures in film has not helped the problem as there are millions of Tony Montana wannabes in this country alone.

The fact is that people create and glorify ideals that don't have room in society but nevertheless are jammed in anyway. Yes there are issues like environment, personality, behavior, and psychological profiles but none of that changes the fact that drug dealers and the people around them are simply pathetic.

LET'S DRINK THE MOONSHINE!!!!!!

Okay so now elections are over we have a POTUS and we have either a month of live or another eternity. What to do? I have compiled a top ten list of things we can all do to enjoy life.

1. Kiss an angry senior citizen's troubles away (ladies mainly)
2. Turn congress into a mass urinal ( explanation to follow) 
3. Create a march for the purpose of getting virgins past 30 laid
4. Elect Jesse Ventura to a senate seat in any state
5. Erect a monument to Ralph Nader and Matthew Lesko 
6. Organize a society for the perennially stubborn 
7. Legalize hookah bars, wait those are legal
8. Let's all make a prostitute bill of rights
9. Raise the voting age to 85 
10. DRINK THE MOONSHINE

The truth of the matter is that life is fun if you want it to be. What you think is best may be best and it may will be something totally different. Life will not always go the way we want it to but we were given the ability to adapt and that's what we should all do, adapt. I am aware that these words will likely fall on def ears but hey we lose nothing by trying. 

KEEP IT IN THE HOLSTER GENERAL

We live in a world where stepping in it is something that happens way too often. Case and point is the General Petraeus sex scandal currently captivating the nation. When a man wants to use his "hose" in a manner that really should be question given his marital status and position he should think twice. This was not a case of  Petraeus the factory foreman but Petraeus the CIA Director.

This to me is a clear example of someone not knowing how to "keep it in the holster" or taking it out without stepping on it. The good General pretty much allowed his libido to compromise private information that could well be considered a violation in terms of national security matters. Petraeus was drilling (pun intended) the woman that wrote his biography.

I wonder why with all his money and power Petraeus did not just consider the possibility of a hooker. I hear that there is this one girl in Colombia that does this great thing that is known in Washington authority circles as "La Paella Frita." Seriously Petraeus be smart next time and keep it in the holster.

WHAT MAKES FOR A DIVIDE MAKES FOR A DEBATE

Now that the elections are over and we have chosen our leader there is an interesting discussion to be had. The numbers coming in on election night were so tight it was nearly impossible to tell who was going to win. At one point Romney held a comfortable lead in electoral votes but it was early enough to where Obama could still and would eventually pass him. The end result was a commanding electoral lead for Obama. Then there is the popular vote which for a long time was in Romney's side.

It is clearly understood that the popular vote does not determine the winner of the election. The popular vote does register a pulse in the American landscape and as of yesterday Obama only had a 1.7% lead over Romney. The interesting question now is what did America really want on election night? Truthfully their was no overwhelming winner and a lot of questions were raised.

Yes Obama won almost every state he won last time with the exception of two states that Romney recovered for the Republican party. If you study the margin of victory that Obama had in some of those states it was almost non existent and the difference was made by the size of counties voting. Traditionally democratic counties voted as such and gave Obama a greater boost to carry the states he carried. So once more when you look at the map it's fair to question if there was a clear and overwhelming winner according to what we want as a nation.

It's also fair to ask if we are being overly influenced by negative attack adds that seem to run almost non stop for a specific period of time. I would love to see how the election would turn out if instead candidates were left to expose their various points in televised town hall style meetings where they could in turn talk to the people. Yes the candidates do that already and they do state what they feel is wrong but in this case it would not be an add but rather an exposure in which they could establish a specific point and try to carry it consistently. I know that won't happen but it would be no less interesting. How did FDR campaign after all? The FDR fireside chats were like destination radio for depression era America.

America is divided but the truth is that if you take a sampling of people and question them about policy a good percentage will not know the difference between a Romney proposition or an Obama proposition. This is not a statement that chastises either as being overly liberal or conservative but rather exposes the fact that not many people can really recite a budget proposal or medical reform proposal. The truth is that the venom that comes out of people and what divides the country comes from misunderstanding, assumption and prejudice in some ways.

WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE

This particular blog is about mental illness and the complexity of it. I am not an expert nor can I claim to be one even though my mother is a Psychologist. I can't say that my coursework on basic Psych allows me a vast understanding of mental illness outside of basic knowledge such as Oedipal and Jocasta complexes. I was compelled to write about this because of the news of the sentencing of  Jared Lee Loughner who not too long ago was the central figure in a massacre that resulted in many gravely injured and in the shooting  and critical wounding of US Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. 

To my understanding Jared Lee Loughner is a schizophrenic under severe drug treatment at least after the attack. To me this is a human tragedy of the very worst kind not just because of the loss of six people, and the wounding of thirteen including Giffords. To me it was also a tragedy because this is the type of event that puts such a stigma on mental illness that it prevents people who suffer from it to be seen as productive. I understand that in case of schizophrenia it's very hard to be productive but it is far from impossible.

By definition schizophrenia is " a disease that makes it hard to think clearly, understand the difference between real and fake and act normally in social situations." Often times environmental factors do play a role in the development of such a problem. In the case of Loughner it seems that usage of alcohol as well as hallucinogens and his inability to cope with rejection really led to his explosion. Then there are Loughner's issues with female figures in positions of power. 

To me Loughner is a psychopath that took one too many drugs and decided to try and carry out his will. My biggest problem with this whole situation is that I have seen people diagnosed with schizophrenia try and lead normal lives yes under heavy psychotropic medications and yes sometimes under a degree of supervision. I feel that it is unfair to characterize mental illness as a dark spot on the basis of one isolated incident. 

I am not saying that this is happening now after this ruling but I can hear the sounds of ignorance and widespread stupidity coming a mile away. Let's call it as it is and draw the line where it needs to be drawn. Loughner was an asshole with a huge frustration that revolved around a real distaste for women in general among other things. I don't think it was his illness that pulled the trigger it was his nature.