Opinion

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- There were several prominent public officials spotted at Friday's visit to the Woman's Club of New Smyrna Beach by Jill Biden, wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Spotted in the overflow crowd of nearly 300 on a steamy Friday afternoon was New Smyrna Beach City Manager John Hagood. Standing with the VIPs in the back room was New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett.

Among the contingent in the security detail was New Smyrna Beach police Sgt. Eugene Griffith.

Well its less than a week to election day so who are we going to choose?

Here it is the baseball game of politics the Democrats versus the Republicans. We are in the 7th inning and the Democrats are leading
3 to 1 in the top of the 8th.

The Democrats score 1 run the Democratic fans go wild making the score 4 to 1. Then it's the bottom of the 8th inning Republicans score 1 run
to make the score 4 to 2 as the fans twirl their white towels.

Can you imagine actively applying for a job every day for more than 700 days?

That is what John McCain and Barack Obama are doing. It has to be a tremendous stress and strain, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Just imagine traveling throughout the entire country day in and day out, making speeches, shaking hands, kissing babies, and eating on the run.

Imagine the amount of planning for all these appearances, the amount of supporters involved, the incredible million of dollars for publicity. It is amazing that a campaign can be organized and conducted so efficiently.

I wonder how many Americans realize that if George Bush had gotten his way with privatizing social security the Bush Administration would already have gambled away a large vestige of its citizens’ economic survival. The stock market would have gobbled it up in the last few weeks.

Unlike the unregulated profiteers being bailed out, the private citizen would be left to the mercy of whatever soup kitchen would keep him plodding along until he dropped dead from lack of everyday necessities.

PORT ORANGE -- State Rep. Dorothy L. Hukill, R-Port Orange, whose district includes Southeast Volusia, welcomed Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp to
Volusia County for the inaugural Volusia Economic Development Summit.

The Sept. 30 Summit, hosted by Hukill, brought together state and local policy makers, economic development experts, and community business leaders to explore ways to expand Volusia's economy.

Sarah Palin is the oiliest kind of care-taker of the environment, the antithesis of everything Hillary Clinton and her supporters stand for, and a total fraud in claiming any title to feminism or credentials for national office.

If you know anything about big-time gambling, you’ll be aware that a “shill” is somebody who plays for the house. A Republican shill is a woman who antes into the Hillary Clinton game while playing for John McCain.

John McCain has chosen a comparative unknown on the national scene as his running mate in Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Governor Palin has many commendable personal attributes but lacks experience in overall national governance and foreign affairs.

Barack Obama has chosen Joe Biden as his running mate. What a slap in the face for Hillary Clinton with all of her experience and voter support as she made an historic run for the Democratic presidential nomination with bigs wins in states like Pennsylvania and Texas.