here was a comment made just a few days ago by Sen. Hillary Clinton which goes to the nub of the thinking of many who are appalled by the Bush administration. The candidate, who appears to have a lock on a second term, representing New York, said, "I predict to you that this administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country." But that wasn't the quote which riled the GOP, it was her statement likening the Republican-dominated House of Representatives to a "plantation." To quote the former first lady, she said, "when you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what I'm talking about...." She feels that it has been run in a way so that nobody with a contrary view has had a chance to present legislation, to make an argument, to be heard.
Edwin Chen, writing for the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Her partisan attacks keep the Democratic Party's base energized and her liberal supporters reasonably happy, even as she works in the Senate to burnish an image as a centrist, which would keep her in a presidential campaign."
Perhaps she will seek the presidency and possibly select first term Illinois Senator, Barack Obama as a running mate. He happens to be the only African American in the Senate and he was the first to be on ABC's Good Morning America to support and explain his colleague's comments. Sen. Obama said that the Republican Party has been "shutting out Democrats and people who are not willing to pay to play in conference committees - the various negotiations on legislation."

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I'm in a strange situation this morning. Yesterday afternoon a good friend of mine died as the result of a massive stroke. He was in a coma from which he could not be revived. There was nothing that I found in any of 9 morning newspapers today which noted the fact of his passing. He spent his life acting, with enormous success. He was a major name in Hollywood for years. In his heyday he was one of the most sought-after actors. In his later life this extremely talented and energetic of screen performers, mellowed and lived a very good, long life with his wife. By the weekend he will be eulogized and his career probed in the newspapers. Until then I shall not mention his name - I leave that to others. Alana, my wife, and I send our condolences to his loving wife and family. He will be sorely missed by those of us who knew him well and loved him.

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