Obama, comes across as a roll-your-sleeves up kind of guy (no gold cufflinks for him on the campaign trail) yet is always hit hard when it comes to actual experience. McCain, has alienated a portion of the Republican Party and I am yet to be convinced that he can win them back. Of course, maybe I will just vote for Ralph Nader!

As I mention before, I do not particularly care for either candidate. McCain is not a true Republican and Obama doesn’t seem to have a clue. I may have to write in my own name this year!

Teddy Roosevelt, in 1902, made the first significant changes to the White House, adding on the West Wing. Plumbing was a major part of the plan. Toilets and bathroom faucets were installed as well as electrical wiring.

The next major reconstruction was done between 1948 and 1952 and cost more than $5.7 million. Extensive plumbing upgrades were added as it was found that the plumbing was highly unsanitary.

The Preamble of the Constitution states:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

(BTW, I can still sing this Preamble - thanks SchoolHouse Rock!)

The Preamble does not confer any specific rights to citizens of the United States, but some judges have interpreted it to mean what the founding fathers intended for the country. Although not considered law, the preamble has been used to make case rulings.

My Party’s Take - The Preamble to the Constitution is a nice introduction, but does not confer any right or establish any law.

I still haven’t come up with a name for the party yet, but am starting to flesh out what is important as a political party platform. To do that I am going to start with the Constitution of the United States. Isn’t that where it all started anyway? Follow subsequents posts to hash through the Constitution and see if the US has really lost track of its origins.

As soon as I come up with a party name, you know I will be purchasing Thermal labels to paste all over creation!

Staff Sgt. Jude Voss
1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne)

His courage illustrates a combat truth to these veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam: Soldiers arenʼt thinking about glory or ideals in the midst of a battle. They fight for the men to the left and right of them.

And that’s just what SSgt. Jude Voss did in September of 2006 when, without consideration to his safety, SSgt. Voss ran through enemy fire and the burning, smoking debris of a truck to rescue Sgt. 1st Class Greg Stube. Sgt. Stube was in a bad way. Uniform burning and legs busted, but because of the actions of SSgt. Voss he is alive today.

Because of his actions that day, SSgt. Voss was nominated for and received the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. “I did what everybody out there would do” Voss said. “I was just the closest guy.”

You can read SSgt. Voss’s story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Head over the RecallCorzineNow.com to download a petition!

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is about 6.57% and for a 15-year mortgage 6.14%. A one year ARM is the worst deal at about 7.22%. Even though there may be a lot of houses on the market, unless you find a great deal, it might not be the best time to buy a house.

Studies about drinking wine and health status have often touted that drinking one glass a wine a day may be healthy for you. What they forget to mention is that the study participants often have different lifestyles. If you eat fast food three times and day and then drink one glass a wine, you will not be seeing any benefits. It was found that people who drink wine daily are more likely to exercise more, smoke less, eat more fruits and vegetables, have a higher education and socio-economic status, eat less red meat, have normal cholesterol and drink less alcohol. Are they healthier because of wine intake or because of all the other healthy things that they do?

Even small amounts of alcohol can be a tumor promoter and can increase your risk of cancer. Alcohol is toxic to the liver and can even negate the healthy benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

For more information about wine intake, read this article by Dr. Andrew Weil and don’t always believe everything you hear on the news!