Don't Get Me Vex
By Dwight H. S. Day

Well I decided to write this column this month since it has been notably missing for the last two issues. I cannot seem to get a hold of my writer Ryan. He just jumped ship. He decided to officially become a family man so he deserves time off. Congrats!

Two months to go and then it will all be over. Not our lives (I hope) but the Presidential election. What a convention by the RNC! I must admit that the Republicans know how to put on a show. This was a show of "macho gun-slinging men riding in, playing good cop bad cop." And what was up with the Democratic Georgian Senator Zell Miller? Talking about angry southern white men! He wished he could challenge Chris Mathews to a duel. Ah Well! No matter how much of a democrat or independent you are you just have to agree that the convention in NY was slick, smooth and well structured. Can you find any more adjectives for the Republican Convention?

Nevertheless, I wouldn't write off Senator Kerry just yet (although by all fair accounts I believe he is cooked). He has been known to come back from behind. He has done it in his senate race and in the Democratic primary. But, there is just something missing from the Democratic candidate. I am not sure if he really has the taste of the Presidency as bad as the Republican incumbent. Kerry has to be hungry for the job and show the American people that he is.

And can we see the future of politics in this country? Can you imagine an election with Hillary versus Rudy? The next constitutional amendment that might very well become a reality is that of amending Article II, Section I, Clause 5, which currently does not allow citizens not naturally born in the U.S. to run for the office of the Presidency. Since the Republicans may want Arnold to run one day they have to remove this barrier.

On a serious note however, Americans have a serious choice this November. One the one hand, the choice is to stay on course with the current Commander in Chief in a war that he sees as necessary. An alternative choice is to change course and get a new commander in chief, one that is less focused on war and more focused on domestic issues. As Americans go to the polls they have to ask, Is the war in Iraq a distraction from the war on terror? Why haven't they heard about Hamas and Has Bulla? The reason to vote for the incumbent has become twisted as the republicans are more focused on the challenger. Is it because they do not have a record to run on?

"In 2003 our country invaded a country which was not in war with us, it was an unnecessary war, expended our capital, making the world less safer and causing the mass creation of more terrorists." No, these are not my words. These are words from a well-known staunch Republican, Pat Buchanan. And, yes I tend to agree.

On a lighter side, in such a serious state of affair, we have a Tennessee man who spent five days underwater. It turned out that he beat his own record for staying underwater with scuba gear after five days in a lake -- complete with recliner, a checkerboard, music and good friends to keep him company. After emerging from the lake, Jerry Hall cheerfully signed a pledge to his wife never to do it again. Hall, 39, of Bluff City, Tennessee, already is in the current edition of the Guinness World Book of Records for staying underwater with scuba gear for 71 hours, 39 minutes and 40 seconds. He surpassed his old record and didn't leave eastern Tennessee's Watauga Lake until he got to a record time of 120 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds. Well can't beat that. At least he missed the Republican Convention.

Hurricane Frances came ashore with winds topping 105 mph (169 kph) to batter the state of Florida. Don't forget it battered the Bahamas as well. It will leave millions in damages and we just have to wait and see what the devastation is. All this was happening while Medicare premiums went through the roof. Ok maybe not through the roof but the cost is expected to see a record rise. However, Florida's elderly population has more on their hands. Medicare premiums for doctor visits are going up a record $11.60 a month next year. The Bush administration says the increase reflects a strengthened Medicare, while Democrats complain that seniors are being unfairly socked.

Monthly payments for Part B of the government health care program for older and disabled Americans -- doctor visits and most other non-hospital expenses -- will jump to $78.20 from $66.60, a 17 percent increase, the administration said Friday.

The timing of the release -- the day following the Republican convention, just before the Labor Day weekend and with a hurricane bearing down on Florida and its nearly 3 million Medicare recipients -- also drew criticism Friday.

"This is a cynical attempt to bury bad news by leaking it out when you hope no one is watching," said Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, D-California. "This administration has had four years to improve Medicare and instead have made it worse. Today's news reflects the reality, not rhetoric, of this administration's bad record on Medicare."

Come on don't get me vexed. This is classic Republican behavior.

And the poor Russians! I can't even find the words to describe how awful that event was. Terrorism is not just limited to the U.S. or Israel/Palestine. It's a much broader problem with roots all over and for different reasons.

We wish all the best to former President Bill Clinton. We wish him a speedy recovery.

And as reality TV goes even wilder, we can expect an interesting Fall season with the Donald in "Apprentice 2", Fox's "The Next Great Champ," "Survivor: Vanuata," The Bachelor," and "Last Comic Standing."

In the meantime, Americans should think about electing me. Elect me and I will keep you safe. Ooops! I guess not. I have to wait until the constitution is amended. Well just think about electing the current President as he keeps the focus on the future and tries to cover the Iraq issue because he knows that is where he is most vulnerable. What has this administration done in the last four years? In short, it has mislead the nation into war in Iraq and deplete the Clinton surplus.