Excerpt from Syracuse.com / The Post-Standard

I have vivid memories of September 11, 2001. As a third grader, I understood very little about the details of the situation, but I certainly knew enough to be afraid and saddened by the events. The losses were devastating, and to this day I grieve for the victims and their families.

However, we now find ourselves almost nine years into a war whose benefits remain questionable to me. The War in Afghanistan began when the United States stepped in to protect its citizens, to combat terrorism, and to capture bin Laden.

Read entire article here.

Contributed By: Holly Knott

Marcellus artist Holly Knott was selected to represent Congressman Jim Walsh’s 25th NY district this year to paint an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree. This year’s theme, which was to be kept a secret until the First Lady announced it this week, is a “Red, White and Blue Christmas.”

Holly received the 6″ diameter silvery ball in the mail back on September 1, and had 2 months to decorate it before mailing it back to the White House for display. She chose to honor the Finger Lakes’ apple orchards, wineries and the lakes themselves by painting the ornament with images of red apples, grapes and grape vines on fields, deep blue sky, a Finger Lake with deep blue water and white puffy clouds.

Holly Knott
315-673-9074

Contributed by Christine Briel

Here is the full victory speech from the night Barack Obama was officially our President Elect. Enjoy!

Contributed by Christine Briel

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS he won!!!! We voted for him!!!! Great things are possible!! What a historical moment and exciting time to be alive!

WoooWooooWooooWoooooWoooo

Contributed by Elisabeth Hurley

Lately we have been bombarded with news regarding voter registration fraud accusations. This is what I have learned:

Federal law requires states to check newly registered citizens against data bases of the Social Security Administration or the motor vehicle bureau. Mismatches are then flagged. Now, for instance, my name could be flagged if I register as Elisabeth Hurley but my motor vehicle registration shows up with my initial “M” for my middle name Maria. If my flagged name would show up on the type of list that was demanded by the Republican Party in Ohio and which that state’s Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner refused to agree to, I could be in trouble when casting my vote. As I see it, that list (with my name included) could be used by a partisan poll worker or supervisor to challenge my vote. With many more people challenged, long lines could result at the polls and many voters might again be discouraged to participate in the election.

Contributed by Cary Briel / Skaneateles

Contributed by Cary Briel / Skaneateles

The Jewish Alliance for Change, a pro-Obama group, is launching a series of three ads in swing states that use humor and celebrity narration to go after John McCain. An ad titled “Ain’t Funny — Vice President” features old-time movie and TV stars such as Carl Reiner, Danny Devito, and Jerry Stiller riffing on topics ranging from the price of gas (“it costs more than the car”) to health care and Sarah Palin. “He wants to put that girl who winks in the second position,” says Reiner, of Oceans 11, 12, and 13 fame, “Oh God, we are in trouble.”

Contributed by Cary Briel / Skaneateles

Colin Powell is right on the money in his statement today concerning the despicable nature of John McCain’s (and the RNC’s) attacks on Obama.  We need more men and women, who are fair and clear minded like Powell, speaking up for what’s right.

Here’s the transcript:

Q: Sir, what role did McCain’s negativity play in your decision?

POWELL: It troubled me. You know, we have two wars. We have economic problems. We have health problems. We have education problems. We have infrastructure problems. We have problems around the world with our allies. And so those are the problems the American people wanted to hear about, not about Mr. Ayers, not about who is a Muslim and who’s not a Muslim. Those kinds of images going out on al Jazeera are killing us around the world. And we have got to say to the world it doesn’t make any difference who you are or what you are. If you’re an American you’re an American.

Contributed by Peter Hurley

I picked up my phone the other day to find out whether my bank had been taken over by Gerbils Financial Planners and unintentionally overheard this international cell phone conversation between two aspiring ancients:

U: How are you Mr. President. It’s been some time since our last conversation.

W: I’m getting too old for this U, but me and the Mrs. are hanging in. I particularly want to thank you for that favor you did me. You know. Hiding in that cave in Perkistan. My guys couldn’t find a haystack in a needle, so we can keep on playing this game for twenty years.

U: And I have to thank you for fulfilling all my dreams. The U.S. economy is in the tank; civil liberties destroyed; the global financial system in tatters; Colombia and other countries ridiculing America, throwing off the yoke of American Imperialism. It’s the paradise I have always dreamed of. The world is screaming for the caliphate.

W: And don’t you dare get caught now. We need a bogeyman and you fill that bill beautifully. Me and McCain are already planning another fear campaign, because we’re gonna go for a trillion dollar defense budget after he’s elected. The generals tell me we need a large military base on Mars to prevent them UFO invasions.

Contributed by Cary Briel / Skaneateles