No matter what you think of the policies of President Bush, the way he has handled himself throughout this campaign has been nothing but classy. He has afforded a much better transition to Obama than he was given. He put in place months ago procedures to make the change much easier than it had been previously. President Bush understands far more than any of us the challenges the next leader of our country will face and he was determined to make sure that everything goes as smooth as possible. His invitation extended to the Obama family to come to the White House early was as sincere as it gets. His Rose Garden speech on Wednesday AM could not have been more gracious, despite Obama's consistent blasting of him. Thats how he always was towards Democrats, even though they never returned the courtesy. Something can be said for that.

Bush has constantly said that both sides kicking him while he was down during this campaign did not bother him. I doubt that is true; it had to hurt tremendously. But he never let it show, instead focusing on doing the best job he could until the end. He has handled the whole thing with dignity, like he has since Day One back in 2001. His knowledge of what we are truly up against seems to have led him to the conclusion that it was best that he stay above the fray. Bush's non-partisan passivity in the face of the attacks against him and his office was nothing short of stunning. Sometimes I feel like he should have fought back more, but for whatever reason he did not.

Bush had to face obstacles and situations which few presidents have ever seen and hopefully never will again. His success in protecting the country after September 11 returned us to a pre-9/11 times in regards to homeland security, and the irony is that it was to the detriment of the party even though it was clearly good for the country as a whole. He never seemed to care about his legacy, instead just trying to do what he thought was best. I hope that Obama will act in the same manner – country above politics. President Bush is a decent man and he did not deserve much of what he was subjected to, and certainly not that display we saw early Wednesday morning outside the White House.

Other news: Norm Coleman clings to a small lead (336 votes) over Al Franken in Minnesota. This race won't be decided for at least a few weeks with the pending recount. The good news for Coleman is that recounts typically add a few votes the tally of the candidate leading. The bad news is that many powerful people in Minnesota are determined to see him be defeated. This one very well could get ugly, along the lines of what happened in Washington State in 2004 in the race for Governor. This is a seat, I hate to say it, that the GOP might have to end up fighting for in court if things play out the way they are headed. We must hang on to this seat.

My Senate picks, so far, have been pretty good. Deep down I knew Sununu was going to lose in New Hampshire, but that was the only one I said I was half picking with my heart. It appears Ted Stevens will win in Alaska, but it is not yet determined. That was an upset I had called. In Georgia, whether or not it goes to a runoff, which also is still in the air but looks likely, Saxby Chambliss will be favored to win.

Coming down the pipeline in a potential Obama Administration.

Washington Times: From his sickbed, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has secretly been orchestrating meetings with lobbyists and lawmakers from both parties to craft legislation that would greet the new president with a plan to provide affordable medical coverage to all Americans, a measure he has called "the cause of my life."

Mr. Kennedy's goal, his aides say, is to introduce a universal health care bill as soon as the new Congress convenes next year and to push quickly for its passage – a much-accelerated timetable compared with the last time that a health care overhaul was on the agenda, at the start of the Clinton administration.

"He sets aside several hours each day. He's calling senators. He's working tirelessly," Mr. Pollack said. "He's making things happen."

Sigh. First of all, I don't think it is accurate to say this has been the "cause of his life," but whatever. Sorry, some might find this in bad taste, but if a United States Senator is not "working tirelessly" then they should step aside so someone who can will. That includes Ted Kennedy. Mr. Pollack makes it sound like he is some hero for doing his job while he is sick. Governor Patrick in Massachusetts could appoint one of a score of liberals who would vote the same way as Kennedy. Anyways.

This seems like a great idea. Our country is drowning in debt (President Bush as much to blame as anyone for refusal to veto anything) so why not take on what will be another huge entitlement. Right? And then for good measure, just jam it through Congress as soon as humanly possible just so Ted Kennedy can have a legacy bill in his name before he dies. Again, who cares, right? As long as as a senator gets a ruinous bill named after him everyone in DC can pat themselves on the back. I wouldn't be damn surprised in the least if the GOP just rolled over and said okay. Of course, they may not be in a position to do anything about it. Then we can all wait 7 months to see a dentist or 16 weeks for an MRI while some Obama appointed bureaucrat in some basement in DC decides if Uncle Sam will pick up the tab. I can also only assume that any bill Kennedy crafts will also guarantee "free" healthcare for illegals. Oh better not say that, it makes me a terrible person to question anything for the "greatest good."

I am so sick of this. Free this, free that. I don't have a lot of money. That is of my own choosing. If I wanted more money I could get a second job, though I don't know why I would want to work harder so other people can just live off me. I don't expect federal tax cuts when I don't pay federal income tax. It is government welfare. Period. I don't expect free health care. You know what I do? I send money to a company every month for health insurance that I have never used and hopefully never will. I pay all of my bills on time every month. I don't look to others or blame them because they have more than me. I suppose I could just not have health insurance and know that someone else will pay for my care if something happens like a lot of people do. All of this isn't free. The money has to come from somewhere. Don't people realize that? Or is it they just don't care?

Starting with the bailout, every day it seems we get closer and closer to government run everything. What is even going to be the motivation for anyone to do anything productive? "Free" money, "free" health insurance, bailouts for bad decisions, etc. I spent $6 tonight on a football game where I froze and had a miserable time. Can I get a refund from the federal government as some sort of "recreational spending bailout?" What ever happened to self-responsibility? All Hail Washington I guess. Time to go to bed before I write something I will regret.

It is likely that most incumbents are paying a price in the eyes of the public over the past couple weeks. These numbers from an ABC News poll released indicate that President Bush is taking a hit. His overall approval ratings have been hovering at 30% for a long time and those voters are considered by many to be the firewall base of the Republican Party. No matter what happens, it seems President Bush's numbers don't drop below that average overall. The President's 22% approval on the economy shows even the core of the President's support is crumbling. So the question becomes whether voters pin this problem on President Bush or the entire Republican Party? We'll see.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. -Winston Churchill

Our side has been dealt a bad hand at a bad time. I tried to think of a poker analogy. I can't. It is just bad. The Democratic Dow went up 777 points Monday. There is no use to sit around and complain and moan about it like I did earlier today or yesterday, however you want to look at it. That gets our party nowhere. Looking forward can be the only option after what transpired the last few days. Anyone who knows me in real life knows I can be a pessimist with the best of them. When it comes to politics the opposite is true. That said….

….we got played. Democrats lied and said they had a deal for a bill last week. This was said so McCain could not come in and take credit. There was no deal. Nancy Pelosi yesterday calls a vote that I think she has to know will go down to defeat, unless she is the dumbest person in the House (concession – this is possible). Republicans can be blamed. Yet George W. Bush can sit at his stupid cabinet meeting and talk about bi-partisanship and all that. After almost 8 years, he still can't figure out that the Democrats hate him – hate him – and don't want to work with him. They are in the business of winning elections and he is still in the business of trying to foster in the "new tone;" everything – everything – is politics with them. Bush's thinking should have gone out the window May 24, 2001 when the Democrats stole back the Senate, coaxing Jim Jeffords with a chairmanship. I guess that hint wasn't big enough for him. His refusal to ever fight back just kills me. Now the House won't even convene tomorrow or Wednesday because of the Jewish holiday. So what? If today were Christmas or Easter I would expect our elected representatives to get to work this morning. That isn't unreasonable. It is what they are paid for. Only the entire country and much of the world depends on what they do or don't do next. Being out of session until Thursday is outrageous even if they can't come to an agreement of some sort. McCain needs to pound this point home again and again and again.

Anyways, the candidate that gets ahead of this wins the issue. Even the candidate that explains why it is important could win. McCain has to come out fighting like hell, otherwise what is the point of having two parties? Why not let the MSM/Democrats run everything for eternity? Most of us don't even know what is going on financially, including me. We know the basics and that is it. Before McCain went to DC last week, there were only four Republicans on record supporting the language in the bill as it was. Four. McCain went back to Washington and their input in the bill for Monday's vote got around 60 more Republicans to commit for it. The Democratic majority either still couldn't pass it or didn't want to. McCain needs a resolution more than Obama. He couldn't have done something to get any of the 40% of his party who voted no? You can be the judge why the vote and events went why they did.

Funny (not really to me, actually) how a little more than two weeks ago Democrats were the ones worried. Two weeks later everything flips. All polls, state and national, taken before today are meaningless. Dynamics have changed. It can happen again, and there is no reason why McCain can't turn this into a winner for him. The situation doesn't have to remain a net negative for the GOP because the media and Obama/Axelrod say so. Someone has to take the lead. Congress has an abysmal approval rating that is sure to sink even more. Everyone hates this current Congress, and rightfully so. They have done next to nothing. President Bush is an unpopular lame duck. There are really only two people who can lead now and one of them has shown no inclination to do so. McCain has a huge leadership opportunity here (this is where the optimist part comes in). For him to have a chance to win a massive credit failure has to be avoided at all costs (and of course this helps all Americans and the average family would be grateful). That is the problem – not the stock market, based on my basic understanding. If such a failure happens, people will vote for whoever tells them what they want to hear. And only that same one candidate is really good at that. We’ll find out one way or another very shortly. But not until at least Thursday of course. Enjoy your two days of recess, Congress!!!!

Back to the reality of the Bush presidency. I listened to President Bush's speech in Cleveland yesterday. It was largely uneventful and left me asking why he hadn't done anything about energy over the past 8 years. One line in particular from Bush's speech jumped out at me: "But I think it makes sense for government to trust you with your money. See, I'd rather have you spending your money than the government spending your money." This is just a remarkable argument the President has been able to get away with for the past 8 years. He cuts taxes, doesn't pay the bills, and just continues to raise our national deficit. He cuts taxes and expands government.

This morning, President Bush signed the Housing Bill to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill signing was done in private with no media. The NY Times reports, "the bill raises the national debt ceiling to $10.6 trillion, an increase of $800 billion. The bill also creates significant liabilities and risks for taxpayers, that are virtually impossible to calculate."

Fiscal conservatives have to be so disappointed by the past 8 years. It is going to be the challenge of the next President to clean up this mess and try to balance our budget.

Today, Reuters is reporting that civilian deaths in Iraq for the March reached a level not seen since August 2007: A total of 923 civilians were killed in March, up 31 percent from February and the deadliest month since August 2007, according to data compiled by Iraq's interior, defense and health ministries and obtained by Reuters.

Senator McCain is making the effort to shore up his conservative credentials by getting cozy with President Bush on the war. The American people understand that John McCain is going to be four more years of the same policy on Iraq. 2008 is an election for change.

Ben's Take: Today, the United States of America stands on the edge of dealing the foreign terrorists in Iraq a major defeat. There will still be tough days ahead, but the progress during the last year has been remarkable. Even the most skeptical among us must admit as much. Iraq is now full of Arabs who are teaming up with Americans to help drive al Qaeda out of the country and deal them a crippling blow. Critics can no longer argue the war is unwinnable – we see that it is. However, it is a shame and a tragedy it took so long to turn things around. A little over a year or so ago, things were spiraling out of control. "The battle in Iraq has been longer and harder and more costly than we anticipated," Bush said today at the Pentagon. Indeed it has. This war never would have been approved by Congress or supported if people knew the struggles to come. However, now we are there.

I know why there is a debate. Passion is high on both sides of the issue. Was it worth it? Is it worth winning? Regardless of your answer to the first question, the answer to the second is clear. Leading Democrats know this as well. They talk like they want to end the conflict, but they know the long-term damage if they follow through on their rhetoric, which is why they never act. Next month, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will give a new report to Congress. I hope that unlike last time they came to Washington, they are not smeared and called liars before they even open their mouths.

Americans should be proud of what has been accomplished, and they should know the consequences of potential failure.