Election 2008: It takes all kinds

I met the most peculiar woman today at a grocery store. I was talking to her about the upcoming presidential election and, as crazy as this sounds, she left me speechless.

When I asked her who she thought was going to win, she didn't give me a straight answer. Instead, she proceeded to tell me that Barack Obama is, in fact, a Muslim and an unpatriotic one at that. She said that one time he was on videotape during the national anthem and (pause for dramatic effect) he didn't even mouth the words!

Before I had the opportunity to pencil her name into the Republican column, she told me that if McCain becomes president our country will be in Iraq forever — and that our boys will return home in every manner of maimed.

I was troubled about this woman and her mental health. How can she deal with the prospect of voting for either an anti-American Muslim or a warmonger?

(In her defense, she did call me an "all-American lookin' guy.")

My favorite reporter moment of the day came when I asked a gentleman named George about the election.

Here was his response:

“I don't think either of them should be president. I couldn't give a crap less one way or the other.”

I love printing stuff like that.

Colin Powell endorses Obama

This endorsement is worth listening to. Colin Powell is a great American and, as much as I discount most endorsements, this one is actually meaningful to me.

Pay close attention to his words regarding the direction of the Republican Party. I share his concern with some of the bigotry on the right with respect to Barack Obama.

He recognizes how the game (read politics) is played, but he is disgusted at what his party has become. I don't have a party, per se, but I agree.

Here goes:

I love a good roast

If you missed this last night, this is your chance to hear what may go down as one of the best political roasts of all-time. Where have you been all election, John?

If you haven't already, see this film: Dead Man Walking

I'm not a movie buff, per se, but I know a great one when I see it.

I recently watched, once again, one of my all-time favorite films, "Dead Man Walking," starring Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon.

The film, released in 1995, is adapted from the book of the same name, written by Sister Helen Prejean.

As if you couldn't guess, the film revolves around the hot-button issue of capital punishment.

The film closes with the confession of murderer and rapist, Matthew Poncelet, whom Prejean counseled in the last days and weeks of his life.

Throughout the film, Prejean struggles with her role as comforter to a man so many believed was sub-human:

Clyde Percy: How can you stand next to him?

Sister Helen Prejean: Mr. Percy, I'm just trying to follow the example of Jesus, who said that a person is not as bad as his worst deed.

Clyde Percy: This is not a person. This is an animal.

In the end, it becomes clear that revenge simply wasn' good enough for the families of the killer's victims. Poncelet, just before he was put to death, said he hoped that his death would bring relief to the families. It did not.

This is the case, in my opinion, because killing as punishment for killing makes us less human, appealing to baser instincts. Revenge doesn't right wrongs as much as it creates new ones.

Here is my favorite scene:

Prison guard: Tell me something sister, what is nun doing in a place like this. Shouldn't you be teaching children? Didn't you know what this man has done? How he killed them kids?

Sister Helen Prejean: What he was involved with was evil. I don't condone it. I just don't see the sense of killing people to say that killing people's wrong.

Prison guard: You know what the Bible say, 'An eye for an eye'.

Sister Helen Prejean: You know what else the Bible asks for death as a punishment? For adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, trespass upon sacred grounds, profane in a sabbath and contempt to parents.

Prison guard: I ain't gonna get no Bible quote from no nun cause I'm gonna lose.