They have never asked me to be a member of their focus group.

****What a wonderful morning of dealing with three different levels of our communications provider. They said no way and I said make a way and we finally outlasted their patience. When I finally did actually get a technician on site, he said my understanding of the problem reflected that I had way too much information and had perhaps talked to way too many of their people. To that I say: "Amen brother, Amen, to all of the above!" But as John Denver put it, "Ain't it good to be back home again!" Better late than never or is it better never in my case, whatever!

Good Monday afternoon to one and all, it's June 7, 2010 and it should go better this week since we now have Monday back where it belongs as the second day of the new week. Uh-huh, that is correct folks, it is Sunday that marks the beginning of a brand new week, not Monday. That's why it is so important to get the week started off right by meeting with other believers down at the meeting place because the writer of Hebrews said we should do this even more consistently as we see The Day approaching. (See Hebrews 10:25) That 'The Day' deal has to do with the culmination of all things as foretold in The Scriptures. I heard a radio commentator say in passing the other day that with what is going on in Israel we either have Armageddon right around the corner or a world even more messed up than we could imagine. How about all of the above? Looking at press coverage last week one would think the most high profile news story was the announced break up of Al and Tipper Gore's marriage. I suppose the current administration would welcome almost any distraction at this point. Guess whose fault it is that the Gore's have gone their separate ways? According to one liberal commentator, it is none other than President George W. Bush. Her reasoning? Since, in her opinion, Bush along with the Supreme Court, stole the 2000 election, thus depriving the Gore's of their victory, then this was the likely beginning of the end for their fairy tale love story. Sometimes you don't need to stick your finger down your throat to start gagging!

I suppose at this time the focus groups are telling the White House their best bet is to continue to blame Bush and Cheney for everything and to keep pouring and piling it on British Petroleum (BP). Therefore, the Attorney General of the United States last week came out and told everyone their response to the oil spill is to initiate criminal and civil investigations into the incident and bring charges against anyone where they are warranted. We now know that the investigators begged the administration not to go public with this announcement since in their opinion it could very well hinder their efforts. Okay, stay with me for a minute here. If the people conducting the investigations thought it a very bad plan to do this, why in the world, would they do it? It has to be those nameless, faceless focus group folks again. Political expediency. The American people are not quite as stupid as these folks think we are. Suing BP is something that was going to happen from now until the cows come home and this was a given from day one. But, I suppose the focus group still thinks people will be impressed with this muscle approach against this company. By the way, investors are fleeing BP in droves. Their future is uncertain at this time. They may not survive and may not deserve to survive but if all our government has to offer in this disaster is destroying the company they say they are going to make pay, that, my friend, is pitiful, at least it is from my vantage point.

About the only surveys I am asked to participate in that have to do with politics are those sent out by the Republican Party which are really nothing more than fund raisers disguised as a focus group kind of activity. They, obviously, are not so clever either since I saw that one coming just from examining the envelope. I would say to those currently calling the shots at the White House that with Gallup, who always leans as much positive as possible, saying the President's approval rating is down from a high of 68% to the current 46%, they might want to consider a new set of advisers or a new approach to focus grouping. Here's a novel approach. Why not listen to the American people, the so-called silent majority, who labors each day, if they still have a job, and do their best to work hard and play by the rules? What's wrong with for the people and by the people? And, one last thing. Surely the time has come when anything and everything, and I do mean everything that happens by time alone should no longer be blamed on the previous administration. I cannot for the life of me see how blaming and suing will ever equate to the leadership needed to help right our ship of state, and we are taking on water folks. That's it for today and remember we all have the right to agree, disagree, or not to have any opinion at all, because that's what our freedom of expression provides. May God bless our great nation and may God bless those who exercise its authority and power, that they will do their duty knowing they must eventually answer to God. Amen. ....More later.