" Nice point, NB.

I heard a foreign correspondent say that all the kids wearing tee-shirts in many Muslim countries had taken off their Osama bin Laden shirts and now had Barack Obama shirts, which is a tide change in the battle against Anti-US extremists.

As one correspondent put it, "The RESET Button has been pressed."

America demonstrates that it can reinvent itself to adapt to challenging times when what ever was being done fails to work.

It's time for Americans to relish Winston Churchill's dictim, "Democracy is the worst possible form of government, until you examine the others."

Our example is more important than our military might.

~Ruff "

" thanks Ruff, his middle name caused him problems here, but it will cause others to listen out there that we need to hear us. "

" It's called 'Soft Power' and it is far more powerful than mere military strength.

Ideally, you have a strong military that nobody thinks can be beaten, but you never have to use.

Instead we got 'Bring Em On' and sure enough they figured out how to kill Americans in a armored personnel carrier with a copper salad bowl and some plastic explosive.

~Ruff "

" "In contrast to Obama's collegial style and that of his top campaign advisers, Emanuel is known as a foul-mouthed practitioner of brass-knuckled politics who relishes both conflict and publicity. He once mailed a dead fish to a political foe."

Oh yeah, this is really going to "unite" everyone! Interesting to see the candidate of "change" bringing in all the old guard Clinton crones... "

" Kevin--How do you know he didn't pick Emanuel to keep the Democrats in line?

And here we go, first decision and the partisanship starts already. "

" But napablogger Obama is at the top of the Democratic hiearchy, he's the messiah, and its a time of euphorea for them, why would he need an enforcer to 'keep the Democrats in line'?? "

" NB - kevin is predictable. I am sure many people think I am.

Now on to something interesting.

What worries me more about the next four years is Obama's trial balloon choices for Treasury Secretary.

We need a change from the 'Only Wall Street Weasels Need Apply' sign hung out for that post.

If the same foxes get to guard the henhouse we should expect more missing chickens.

Illargi says the current candidates give him a 'cold chill up his spine'.

Still haven't heard a darn thing about separating the investment, commercial and community banks yet.

Don't put your money back in the market until some Wall Street grifters are in prison and you see the separation of investment banking from the other types.

~Ruff "

" When people actually beleive they know it all they leave no room in their brains to learn something new or better because they actually think they all ready know it all..so Kevin go ahead and know it all, retard your growth and knowledge and rant and rave all you want..poor thing you really can not help yourself!! "

" Emanuel will be able to stand up to Pelosi and Reed. "

" That's wishful thinking that Obama will stand up to Pelosi and Reid....pure wishful thinking.....besides even if he stood up the chances of reversing his parties devastating policy failures are nil because they are Pelosi's nepotistic polices to begin with.... "

" My students were really excited about Obama's victory. They've been chanting Obama's name in the hallways since Tuesday. It's nice to see them excited.

I hope Obama can capitalize on all this good will. I know the right is not going to go down wimpering, but perhaps Obama can get enough breathing room to prove that he was worth electing. "

" Christmas sales are going to be bad this year. Normally the weak retailers die in January after their Christmas sales numbers come in.

This year the empty storefronts are multiplying before Christmas - a very bad sign.

An SF paper this morning had a front-page article about how the banks have taken all that Bush-Paulsen cash and stored it up for a bunch of reasons other than lending it out. It makes a specific point that banks are NOT lending to businesses like they were supposedly going to do.

A few days ago there was an article in several papers saying that the Wall Street Weasels were going to use some $40 billion for 'performance bonuses'. I'd like to get a bonus for stealing $700 billion, wouldn't you?

Mike Thompson?

Are you reading the papers? Are you going to do anything about this? Is anybody going to jail? That's right JAIL!

You'd better come back to the district after the lame duck session prepared to answer some questions, sir.

You voted for this mess, Mike, and I intend to follow up like a badger looking for dinner.

Finally, when can NVR 'bloggers' open a conversation under their pen name similar to the way an LTE works?

~Ruff "

" Ruff:
People can just send me the commentary idea, and I'll post it with the person's screen name as the author.
My email is

dross@napanews.com

We will publicize this more heavily in December, so this is the soft rollout of teh concept, starting today, thanks for the diea "

" okay glenroy...nepotistic policies?...(I know i am going to regret this) "

" and I think Emmanuel is a great choice for chief of staff...he knows both the white and the House of representatives.....Biden knows his way around the senate.

and Obama needs someone to be the bad guy and tell people no..and I think the Democrats will be his biggest problem..I think he picked the right guy.. "

" With a 75% margin of victory, I don't think Mike Thompson is too worried about being "badgered" by Ruff or anyone.

I too thought his malfeasance would produce at least SOME drop at the polls, but it appears his constituents are far more interested in the earmarks he brings home... "

" President elect Obama has turned the page of history, it is no longer 1968 Lips Jackson and many others while remaining vocal have been made irrelevant. While we all stand on the shoulders of those that have gone before and take succor in the visions of Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy this is a new policy maker a new communicator and a new visionary.

There is more hope for the future than fear with this new beginning. The failed policy wonks of the past 40 years must come to grips with a younger generation that does not see the world with the same myopic thread bear dogma. "

" Bill - What do you mean by "1968 Lips Jackson"?

~Ruff "

" Teacher-
On the other hand I have been called "racist" 50+ times since Tuesday for supporting McCain. Maybe the schools should do a special segment on what is racist and what is not... "

" I'm sorry if you were called a racist, Angelina. I don't think so and I would have stuck up for you. 12 year olds are not very mature as I'm sure you know.

I wish I could say that adults were more mature, but as you can read in these pages, they are not.

Keep the faith and be who you are, but maybe you can be open to the possibility that Obama may turn out to be an outstanding president (or at least not the complete disaster you fear). "

" If you are offeneded by my disrespect of Jackson that's your problem. It may be an awkward sentence lumping the past 40 years onto a single historical page but one of the earliest examples of Jacksons moving his mouth with out thinking came on the floor of the Democratic convention in 1972 when he was caught on camera flapping his jawat Mayor Daily when the mayor was already in the fold. Jackson has never leqarned to put a sock in it and has caused much more damage than real advancement of progressive agendas.

Since then he has made many vile racial blunders most notably about jews. He is irrelavant.

It is a new day and it is my hope that the new President will move not in the direction of the Clintons or Jacksons but into a pragmatic and progressive future where we are all truly a part of the whole. "

" I wonder who the schools would get to teach what is racist.? Far too many people do not know and worse do not care to know!
Having a grandchild of mixed race I known all too well about racist. We all practice racisum every time we mantion a persons race or identfy a person by their race or color.
President Elect Obama won the election because the msajoritey of Americans wanted a change and not 4 more years of the same old same old..personally I think McCain would have won it had it not been for his running mate. "

" Sound like the Bush administration has already opened the doors up to Obama's team in order to affect a smooth transition.

How's that for class? Anyone?

Obama's speech was moving. All I can have is hope, in the face of some pointed concerns. I hope he's as great as he seems. I hope the Republican teeth-gnashing is just unrealized fear-mongering. I hope he helps to restore our image in the world as the good guys that we really are--seems he's done a bit of that already.

I may have tears in my eyes when I get my tax bill or when officials come to confiscate my guns or send my sons off to war.

I like Obama, but I'm worried. I like that he wants to be measured and reasonable, but I'm concerned that his idea of reasonable will seem a bit oppressive. My husband and I have made some good choices and worked hard for what we have, and it seems like the rules are about to change--to what, I don't know. We aren't paid in dividends and capital gains--there's nowhere to "hide" our earnings. We are the middle class who are about to take it in the shorts--again. The harder we work, the more we will pay? What will we get? Better infrastructure, healthier citizens, more education? Or, greater inefficiencies and less freedom? I pray for the former. I want to wear one of those Obama tee-shirts.

The Republicans would do well to restore their image by leaving partisan bickering and smallness behind. Get behind intelligent regulation, watch over our taxes, and nurture business and jobs growth. Maintain US sovereignty. Work for the good of the country, not just the privileged. "

" "kevin" - You personally did not give your support to the Republican candidate because he was not your kind of 'conservative'. He was/is a Ron Paul conservative and ya'll folded your arms and let Mike Thompson win.

When voters are faced with Republicans who don't support their own candidate, they are going to vote for what they know, especially given the Republican's absolutely bungled showing at governance.

Even in your post above, you don't specify any specific cut of beef, but merely murmur about some vague 'malfeasance'.

So it comes out as ineffective and whiney.

;o)

I never thought I be giving advice to a Republican-enabler, but I am feeling pretty magnanimous right now.

I am going to give Mike Thompson a chance to explain himself and make amends, but I'll be looking for a Democratic primary challenger starting in about summer 2009 if the economy deteriorates further.

You think Republicans would like to hear me getting cranky, eh?

~Ruff "

" Bush's moves show a great deal of class....no disagreement from me on that.... "

" Angleina, I'm sorry that happened. All I can say is stand your ground and be who you are. Also keep in mind that middle school students aren't famous for their maturity and tolerance. "

" second time I have tried but yes, steph....Bush's moves have shown some real class "

" Nobody I know and associate or do Business with are excited. Nobody that owns a Business, Employs people or Pays Taxes are excited. Nobody who's not somewhat a Racist is excited. Don't know what world you're living in. In fact it's just the opposite!! These will be likely the worst 4 years in AMerican History. And the Fact that The misTeach and his cohorts have been filling our youths head with Liberalism and their Biased Opinion, is exactly why our graduates No little about Real America, Economics, History and Real Life and the main reason Pubic schools are failing and smart people are leaving for private schools and Home schooling. Good job Guys!!You've created to date the dumbest, Laziest and Give me, Give me, mixed up, anythig goes, Woe is me, unpatriotic mentality in our Next Generation of Youth. Or at least a very High percentage of kids. I know alot of Families, Parents & Teens who are our customers in the Average, Middle and Upper class that are of the same opinion.You've gotta be proud. "

" Yea, I saw the celebration in the Radical Muslim Terroist, Western Hating countries. Just like right after 9/11. And seriously, you don't think those OSAMABAMA t-shirts over there aren't covering up an explosive device. Now there's something we can be proud about, Get real!! "

" The list of Clintonista appointments grows - this is change? "