"We're in a civil war. It's just a civil war without bullets."

I've just recovered from my 2 hours at the gym, had a nice hot soak in my big, comfy jetted tub....ahhhh....and feel ready to pontificate my knowledge and reactions about last night's debate and the economic mess we are in. Are you ready? I know you've been waiting on pins and needles...

For the past few days I've been looking over the political map of America. For the past what, 12 years now, we are a country divided. The heartland bleeds red and the far west and northeast coasts are always blue. I've known this since Clinton was first elected. I've watched it become even more divisive and pronounced during George W's campaigns. We are a country divided. I heard Kelsey Grammer on the Glenn Beck show today. He said it well when he said, (paraphrasing) "we are in a civil war. Not a war with bullets. But still, a civil war." Sadly, in these past 12 years the only thing that has brought us together is Osama Bin Laden, and even now, there are those who want to make what happened on 9/11 into a conspiracy planned and delivered by our own government. As I have looked over the map and recall my last year of living in LALA land I have had many thoughts of hoping/wanting the northeast and west coasts to secede the Union. Yes, I have entertained many thoughts of wanting them gone. Let them leave and form their own government, infrastructure, social or communist states and leave the rest of us the heck alone. There are so many people compressed into these areas (I think I heard an estimate of 10 million living in LA county while I was there) that they lose a sense of belonging to a community, a sense of what can I do to help rather than what can the government do for me? I saw too many examples of "me first, screw the other guy" while I was in LA to list. And if I can't do it for myself, well then by God the government better do it for me. These huge metropolises are so expensive to live in that it is hard to survive. So, live beyond my means, hey, it's okay, I can file bankruptcy. And now, if what Joe Biden said during his debate last night is true, a judge can pardon my inability to pay my mortgage, lower my interest rate, and even change the principle amount I owe on said mortgage, just so I don't lose my house. Never mind that I should never have been given a loan for such a large amount, or I was betting on being able to pay interest only, or maybe I just bought more home than I needed or could really afford. Doesn't matter, the government will fix it all for me. Thank you Joe. I will certainly keep this in mind if I decide I need a bigger more expensive house, or even if I decide I should spend my money on luxury items and not pay my mortgage. Why should I worry if I can just have a judge make my problem go away?

Which brings me to my next point. Who ends up paying the difference? The government? Oh, yes, they will do it with the 50% which I already pay on my income in taxes and if Biden is again correct, I'm sure it will go up to around 65%. Please, take my wealth and make a society of "fairness" as you proposed. Like you said, it's not a redistribution of wealth, it's just "fair." Say it ain't so Joe....I really need to know who that is fair to. Who in their right mind would want to continue to work hard to make more and provide for their family just to have the government take it away for the fairness of everyone? I haven't done the figures yet, but I can't help but wonder if I wouldn't actually keep more in my own pocket if I made just under the $250K amount you've stated instead of growing my business and having you take more and more in taxes. So, maybe I should reduce my work force and lay off some people, provide less services to the community I serve, and try to reduce my gross income. Oh, but wait. If I am to believe you the majority of small business owners already don't make over $250K a year so it won't affect them, so why am I even worried?

Joe represents the blue states very well. He is a true blue blooded Washington insider who knows how to talk the talk but not walk the walk. He can mesmerize the smartest of the dumb with his facts and figures, never mind that 1/2 of them are bold faced lies. He sounds knowledgeable and that, after all, is what the left is all about: perceived intelligence, elitism, and knowing how to make a pile of Ship High In Transit (look at the acronym) look like a filet mignon.

Palin on the other hand is a down to earth, my type of gal. She is genuine. She is likable. She may not know the ins and outs of Washington, but she knows dishonesty and greed. She is willing to take it on and conquer it for the little guy. She is a woman of principles. She is the heartland of America and that is why we love her. She wants to unite us, to make "I'm proud to be an American" mean something. And beyond being a patriot, she promises to change the way government is run. She promises to put it back in it's place of protecting freedoms, rights, liberties, and the pursuit of happiness. Not adding to the ever expanding monster that wants to control every aspect of your life. Not send it on its way to becoming a socialist state. A promise to make it smaller and allow you to get on with your life without it being in the way. Thank you Sarah Palin. Now, Joe, let's talk.

Your ability to talk out of both sides of your mouth is profound. You are like a snake charmer who bobs and weaves while hypnotizing his prey. Then, when they are so coo-coo for cocoa puffs that they don't know what to believe, you strike and immobilize them. You conquer and reign supreme over the snake who will a few years down the road wake up from the hypnosis and realize it's been screwed. Then watch out Barrack and Biden, because that viper is venomous and will find a way to strike back. I only hope and pray that it happens on Nov. 4th when McCain/Palin win the election, and not in 4 years in an effort to rid us of the ilk your administration imposed on us all.

(A P.S. for my California friends. Not everything about LA was bad and there were many good people there too, you know who you are. I Miss You All)