In hopes that this will get people to focus on McCain – and how to beat him, here are some thoughts about what scares me about the upcoming months ahead:

First, Bombing Iran could possibly be that October Surprise we all worry about. If it isn’t the U.S., it will certainly be by proxy – The Israeli Military, who will do the neo-con dirty work. And this could change the dynamics of the entire election.

Read this Link:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh

And lets not forget Iraq and Afghanistan continue to get worse.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/42580.html

Meanwhile, the economy is going to the tank, and even my upper-middle class relatives in the northern suburbs are feeling the strain from these gas prices. Food prices continue to go up as well.

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/28/news/local/18-food.txt

And the Republican nominee is oblivious to gas prices and how it affects ordinary Americans:

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/28/mccain-gas-prices-unaware/

Meanwhile, Supreme Court just opened up the door for more violence in the inner-cities of America with their recent pro NRA ruling. And you can be damn sure as the economy gets worse (and it will), the cities will become much more dangerous places, as innocent teenagers will continue to get murdered on a daily basis.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/blotter/chi-slayings-16-jun16,0,3191999.story?track=rss

But this is personal, as one of those young men was a former student of mine. He was a really good guy – popular, and this is just completely senseless. RIP Jonathan.

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1008928,061708swoope.article

My hope is that my nominee – Barack Obama, isn’t going to waffle on this issue. So far I’m not encouraged. He is from Chicago, and knows full well the tragedies Chicago Public School kids have been facing. But here is what he said about the 2nd amendment.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1029880,CST-EDT-carol29.article

Meanwhile, its impossible to make a sane argument that suggests McCain would be better. And I know that Obama is playing to the center for the GE – but, I am praying right now that he isn’t going to disappoint a huge section of us who really believe that he is different from the rest.

Well, enough with my rant. These are scary times, and I am truly worried about what the next several months are going to bring us.

Read Barack Obama's "Dreams From My Father", and you will understand what he is talking about.

His grandmother asked his grandfather for a ride to work. Something was bothering her. She explained a panhandler had bothered her, thats all. His Grandfather was upset with his Grandmother, didnt want to give her a ride. Obama couldnt understand what the big deal was. He offered to give her a ride. Then Obama's grandfather told him the truth,

"She's been bothered by men before. You know why she's so scared this time? Before you came in, she told me the fella was black...thats the real reason she was bothered, and I dont think thats right." (pg. 88)

Obama's response,

"The words were like a fist to my stomach, and I wobbled to regain my composure. In my steadiest voice, I told him that such an attitude bothered me, too. but assured him that Toot's fears would pass and that we should give her a ride in the meantime. Gramps slumped into a chair in the living room and said he was sorry he told me. Before my eyes, he grew small and old and very sad. I put my hand on his shoulder and told him that it was all right, I understood. We remained like that for several minutes, in painful silence... After they left, I sat on the edge of my bed and thought about my grandparents. They had poured all their lingering hopes into my success. Never had they given me reason to doubt their love; I doubted if they ever would. And yet I knew that men who might easily have been my brothers could still inspire their rawest fears." (page 89).

I hope this puts his comment into ontext. He is referring to a jarring incident in his family. But there is still much love there. And he is right to say that we as a country need to start having an adult conversation about this.