Obama is coming on stage now.  10:11pm EDT

The Des Moines Register has a live video feed up now:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/...

Update: CNN has it up now as well
http://www.cnn.com/...

Also on MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...

Beautiful backdrop with the Iowa State Capital behind the stage lit up.

I should also note that Des Moines is my hometown.  I really miss it!  My brother and his 8-month pregnant fiance are in the audience.  The campaign  gave them seating in the special needs section.

Good afternoon, kids.  

In today's Cleveland Plain Dealer, a short LTTE was published regarding Ferraro's recent comments on Barack Obama's candidacy.

Geraldine Ferraro was just pointing out the obvious
Thursday, March 13, 2008

What's the big deal over Geraldine Ferraro's remarks? She's absolutely right. If Barack Obama were not a black man, but a white man with identical credentials, he would not be where he is today.

If Hillary Clinton were not Bill Clinton's wife, she would not be where she is, either.

If George W. Bush weren't the son of former President Bush, he would probably not have been elected.

Why can't people tell the truth without being labeled racists or sexists by idiots like Al Sharpton and Gloria Steinem?

Of course, this is similiar to the premise Geraldine is floating around in the media.  But is it 'stating the obvious'?  Are all 3 statements on the candidates above equal in meaning or fairness?

Woah, had a bad night at my favorite local pub.

A bad encounter with the bartender when the subject of politics came up.  He said "No f'ing way he would ever vote for Obama".  His reasons:  Barack is named "Hussein" and his last name is "Obama", too much like "Osama".  

Wow.  Just wow.

I'm self employed, and I do internet ecommerce and webhosting solutions. A client of several years called me today.  She's a middle aged mom in California, raised Jewish but converted to Christianity in her teens.  

We've talked sparingly on politics many times.  She was a fan of James Dobson and the agenda of 'Focus on the Family' in those talks. I was amicable and softly supportive of her thoughts on those occasions.  (you kinda have to be in business when you touch on religion and politics)

But then today arrived with a phone call.

Before I get started, let me just say that this diary isn't meant as a 'poor me' gripe-fest.  Rather, it's just some meandering thoughts on this day we celebrate a famous Jew's birthday.  I thought I'd post these here, in a community I find much comfort in.

More below...

SEE UPDATE BELOW FOLD-  JUDGE HAS STAYED HIS THURSDAY ORDER- STOPS ANY NEW SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSES

From the Des Moines Register:

The couple — Tim McQuillan and Sean Fritz, both Iowa State University students — obtained a marriage license at the Polk County recorder’s office and got a judge to sign a waiver allowing them to marry today rather than wait three days, as is required by law.

They were married by the Rev. Mark Stringer of First Unitarian Church in Des Moines at 10:32 a.m. Before the ceremony, Stringer said, " Awesome. It's a long time coming."

After the ceremony, he said, "They are now official. The marriage license is the official document."

The couple is now headed to the Polk County Administration Building to file the marriage certificate.

http://www.dmregister.com/...

I really want to like John Edwards and I very much approve of many of his campaign positions, but one thing just keeps coming back to me that cripples him in my view.  

Of course, rarely will any of us find an 'ideal' presidential candidate to support.  Likely the closest I ever saw for me personally was Howard Dean.  Both Dean and Edwards talk a tough talk, but Dean had something Edwards lacks.  A sense of being genuine.

Where does John Edwards fall flat?  Join me below the fold.

Please forgive me in advance for how I author this diary.  I'm a bit tired, frustrated, and also angry.  

I was in Brookyln, NY this weekend visiting a family member and became involved accidentally.  

Imagine if you had an older loved one- a father, sister, mother, aunt, or grandfather, who suddenly began to deteriorate almost overnight physically and mentally.  Imagine if your doctor referred you to a neurology specialist and that doctor could find no definitive answer.  Imagine you ended up self-referring your loved one to SEVEN different neurologists before you had a clear diagnosis and solution!

This is what happened to my friend, we'll call her LM and her mother BM.  What follows, below the fold, is the story of a very close friend of mine and her attempt to obtain a proper diagnosis and treatment for her mother's condition.  

It's a rather timely story given the release of Michael Moore's documentary on the healthcare crisis we have in the USA.  My friend's mom has excellent health insurance, but even so, my friend's father has always feared hitting the lifetime maximum in payout.

So, what is NPH, and why should you care about the experiences of my friend and her mom?  Because it highlights how on-our-own we our in getting proper treatment even when we have solid insurance.  An abbreviated chronicle follows below.

Brigham Young University's "Alternative Commencement" is at 7:30pm tonight, MDT (9:30 EDT, 6:30 PDT).  There is a Live Stream (believe audio only) available on their main website page...

http://www.byualternativecommencemen...

Direct link to the feed,

http://streamctl.xmission.com/...

Backup,

http://stream.xmission.com/...

Let us all step away from the keyboard and take a few deep breaths for a minute.

Going on 2 1/2 years, Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse has provided free meals to physically-wounded recovering vets.  Not Capital Hilton, but Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse, a tenant on their property.

As noble of men both Marty O'Brien and Hal Koster are, it does NOT involve the Capital Hilton. Hilton is just the landlord and not a co-sponsor of a tenant's pet-project.

Hilton has the RIGHT to choose however they wish to assign/allocate/use their property.  Who are WE to damn them for not conceding to our will?

Big corporations have no heart.  They only answer to their shareholders and lust for profit.  Hilton Corp got stuck, but only for a moment, by the misconceptions of us.  Sure, they will toss a little bone here and there-- whatever it takes to shore up their image.  But big corporations don't "care" about anything but money--  nor do their shareholders.

To close, a hat-tip to Marty O'Brien and Hal Koster.  The good guys.