You never know what you’ll find on the trail. Heading down from the Palouse country of Eastern Washington, I happened on the grave of one Willie Keil, a fellow who had one of the longest and strangest journeys to final rest that I’ve ever heard tell. Young Willie died right before his father was to lead a wagon to the Promised Land. Reluctant to leave his son behind, he put young Willie in a coffin, covered him with whisky, and headed west with Willie at the head of the wagon train. Story goes that Willie saved the lives of the party several time when the group encountered Native Americans. They laid Willie to his grave near the town of Raymond, Washington on the way to a town called Menlo. Some years later, his father moved on with his people, leaving Willy alone in the end. He’s still there.

Partners, you may not be inclined to believe me. So here’s the best account of this most remarkable tale:

http://www.beacon-christian.org/WeidumKeilArticle.pdf

That same day, I heard about another journey about to take place, perhaps not as amazing as Willie’s, but resonant in the American West right now, where oil prices mean lost jobs and severe economic hardship. This circumstance has some folks heading back in the direction from whence their people came.

Came to know this tale when ordering up some food in a local diner. I asked the waitress how gas prices were affecting the area. Real bad. Lost jobs and housing foreclosures. She said that oil to heat her house had gone to $500 a month. She and her husband abandoned the house and moved to her folk’s place. Next month they’re driving to Montana where they’ve heard there are jobs. I’d imagine she’s in her mid-twenties.

Left a big tip. Wished her good luck. Headed to my 4x4, the one with the Obama 08 sticker on the back, and hit the trail. Didn’t see a single Obama sticker up in that neck of the woods. Talk up there is about how McCain is going to drill right away in Alaska and gas will get back to 2 dollars in a year. I wish I were making this part of my tale up, but I ain’t.

As I write this, a Maria Gomez piece with 30 recommends disappered while recomended posts of 15 appeared.

First time I really believe that TPM censures the posts.

Pat Buchanan has predicted that the US will attack Iran before November. Such a move would literally guarantee a Republican win in November. Many people have seen this kind of thing coming. What can be done to stop it? What steps can  people take to demand that congress take steps now to prevent this. This election is big. The Republicans will certainly not cede the country to the Left. 

A blogger on the PPP site (the polling group that gave Obama the lead in Pa. yesterday) had something interesting to say about Obama's TV campaign, though he wishes TV wasn't so effective. For Obama supporters, the message is keep sending money.

I live in Pennsylvania and I support Obama. But, it just seems that as soon as the advertisements started running on TV, the polls reflected the shift. The power of TV is undeniable but I would wish that the electorate were more sophisticated or that TV were less persuasive. Alas, welcome to American politics.

Hillary Clinton's words about Martin Luther King today were delivered with such phoniness, one wonders if she needs acting lessons. She never comes off as real, does she? I have no doubt that she was upset about King's death then, but I have a real doubt if she feels anything genuine today about that terrible time. It's a political moment only.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_031908.pdf

Although I've never heard of these poll, if you go through the site, it surely indicates that it can't be disregarded completely. Look at its record in some of the other races.

The PPP results are shown in comparison to other polls in other races.
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/10820

Though it may be far off the mark, there is a PPP Poll that has Obama ahead of Clinton in Pa.

http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/10820

The PPP poll a few hours has Obama ahead by two points in PA. This poll may be off the mark surely. But it is keeping with the trend to Obama in the state. I don't expect Obama to win the state, but a close finish of 5 points makes sense, and anything under 10 is an Obama "win." 

Affirmative action was never meant to go on forever. At some point, it has to be phased out. Obama is the kind of figure who can move America towards this end. As president, he would be living proof that an African American can achieve anything. He would be a role model for all minority children. And listening carefully to his words, it seems he's more than ready to speak against anti-social attitude

All the hoopla over personal attacks over shadowed Hillary Clinton's aggressive stance in Pennsylvania recently on the mortgage crisis. Calling for a 30 billion dollar fed fund to take on failing debt, it was the kind of concrete step that appeals to lower middle class voters, the ones who could give her a big margin of victory in the state.
Obama has had a plan in play for some time, but needs to state it again, and possibly outdo Clinton in this and other economic issues. Issues and solutions right now. 
Hillary's new public pronouncement was smart and timely. It shows democracy working. Voters need the candidates fighting over issues. People in need of help need the two democrats fighting over their votes by coming up with dramatic solutions. 
If we are to get something useful from the current personal struggle between Obama and Clinton, we should look to a competition of new ideas, ideas beyond their close positions of some months ago.
Beyond personalities, we need help. Serious help. If you're a homeowner about to lose your home, or a person about to lose your health insurance, the decision between these two may well go to the one with the most aggressive solution.
This is democracy at work.

Is Bill Clinton  sneaky and two-headed with his words? Well, it depends on what
the meaning of “is”…..is.

 Old Bill is a crafty lawyer who plays at sounding
like a good old boy. But he’s one “good old boy” quite good at getting what he
wants from words. It’s that hesitation in his voice as he sidesteps into
attacks-- be those the “Jesse Jackson” remarks or the more current “patriotism”
quip. Listen to the voice. Sense the sneakiness. The meaning of “is” is that he’ll
say most anything if he has some angle of deniability. Trust your gut here,
folks.

Not McCarthy. More nuanced, really. Guilt by sneaky association.