Presidential Debate Number 3

I finally was able to watch the tape of last week's Third Presidential Debate. Since this is now old news I will once again only make a brief comment. It seems clear to me that the Drive-By Media is really spinning this one. Senator John McCain was incredible and really had Obama on the defensive. Yes, Obama had some solid hits too, but it was clear that McCain was the victor!

Paying for the Sacrament

Last evening I attended a Voters' Assembly Meeting at my congregation. This was the typical meeting with reports and discussion on a number of issues related to the congregation. In general, the meeting was what you would expect at an LCMS Congregation.

At one point in the meeting we were asked to consider ranking our bill payment priorities. The old ranking system was not working well under our current cash-flow situation. The staff payroll was item number 9 on a list of 11. It has now been moved up to number 3, after their payroll taxes (1) and pension and benefit payments (2). This is a good thing!

Much to my surprise there was an item on the list termed - Divine Service Supplies. After a little conversation it became clear that we were talking primarily about the elements for the Blessed Sacrament. This is about item number 6 on the list! While I realize there is a cost for these items, I never really thought it would be something that we listed on a payment priority list!

Someone suggested it be moved up the list further for symbolic reasons. My suggestion that if it were being moved for symbolic reasons it should be first was chuckled at, but no action was taken. Then someone actually suggested that perhaps it was good to leave it down the list - as there may come a time when we can't afford the elements and then won't have the Sacrament. His rationale was that then people may pay attention to our budgetary issues!

Thankfully, the pastor said that wouldn't happen - he would stop and buy the stuff himself, if necessary. Nevertheless, the suggestion was serious and many people agreed with his rationale. While I suppose he has a point - I was livid that anyone would suggest turning Christ's gift into a budgetary club! Point or no point - the Blessed Sacrament is not something to be used to strong arm the people and should in my opinion not appear on a payment priority list at all!

Leave Grandma Alone

As readers of this blog you are all well aware of who I am supporting in the November Presidential Election. Thus, you also know that I am not a supporter of Senator Obama.
For just a moment I am going to support him today.

This morning I heard on the radio that Mr. Obama would be traveling to Hawaii to visit his seriously ill grandmother. I hope that the mere reporting of his travels is all that the press does with this story. His family should be left alone and this story should not be politicized by the media, the Republicans, or the Democrats.

All of us, whether we are major political figures or private citizens have family emergencies from time to time. All of us, deserve the same amount of respectful privacy when we must deal with them. Therefore I hope that we can offer this to Mr. Obama whether or not we support his bid for the White House.

WWSA - What Will Schieffer Ask?

Well folks the final debate of the 2008 Presidential Race is set for just a few hours from now. Senator Barack Hussein Obama (D-IL) will face off against his opponent, Senator John Sidney McCain III (R-AZ). I hope that this is a real sparring match and that McCain comes out swinging and victorious. Much of what happens comes down to the answer to the question that is the title of this post: What will Schieffer ask?

Bob Schieffer of CBS News' Face The Nation will serve as the moderator for tonight's debate. I can't help but wonder if he will ask the tough questions about Obama's relationship with known terrorists, his G D American Pastor, Acorn and voter fraud, or if he will play it safe and toss Obama easy questions and not give McCain a chance to really talk about these serious issues with his opponent. My guess is that he won't ask anything too hard. I wonder if Tim Russert would have? Perhaps.

What we really need is a fair and balanced moderator - perhaps someone from Fox News. We all know that won't happen. I'll be watching once again in taped delay - maybe not until the weekend. I hope you are watching too!

Second Presidential Debate

Well this post is really late. In just two days the third and final debate will take place. Once again I was on the road when this debate took place, as I will be this week. I did watch it in tape delay but had such a full week, I never posted about it.

All in all - I have little to say. I didn't think it was the greatest debate. Frankly, I thought a lot of the questions lacked the depth that is needed but what do we expect when we get a pack of Gallup selected undecided voters to ask the questions!

Oh well, maybe Wednesday will be better. Of course I might not see it until Saturday.

Vice - Presidential Debate

I know this post is late. I was on the road when the VP Debate between Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) the running mate of Senator John Sidney McCain III (R-AZ)and Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) the running mate of Senator Barack Hussein Obama (D-IL) debated here in St. Louis at Washington University last Thursday. I was able to watch the debate on tape.

Since the debate has been parsed by many already - I will not spend much time on that. At this point, I only desire to register my vote that Governor Palin was the victor. In my opinion she kicked the butt of Senator Joe Biden. She looked great too!