The politics of distraction and why the "bad man" can't win

Obama has got to stop laughing off the attacks from the McCain/Palin camp as simply the "silly season" in politics. What we have right now is the politics of distraction. McCain/Palin NEED the politics of distraction so that voters won't discover just how aligned their politics are with the current administration.

And LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING ... George W. Bush has nearly destroyed this country. Obama had it right during his acceptance speech when he said "ENOUGH."

We've had ENOUGH of an administration that caters to special interests -- like oil companies, defense contractors, and all the others who have seen their profits go through the ROOF during this administration -- while hard working Americans suffer.

We've had ENOUGH of an administration that can bail out failing corporations but turned a blind eye to families losing their homes.

We've had ENOUGH of an administration that continues to lie to the American people -- lies that have resulted in the deaths of THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

We've had ENOUGH of an administration so filled with corruption it's getting harder and harder to find even a single person with integrity in ANY department of government.

The political HAS become PERSONAL.

Crime in my neighborhood is skyrocketing. We've had dozens of break-ins, armed robberies and cars stolen in JUST THE PAST FEW MONTHS! The robbers are getting so brazen they are breaking into houses while the owners are home! It's so disconcerting that I just had an alarm system installed. I RESENT feeling afraid in my own home!

To make matters worse, I talked with one of my neighbors last night and she shared a chilling story. I will call my neighbor Bea. Bea and her husband moved next door about three years ago. They are wonderful neighbors -- quiet, their house and yard always look nice, and they are always willing to offer help to anyone who needs it. Bea works as a nanny and sometimes cleans houses for additional income, her husband is a contractor.

Bea had just picked up her daughter from daycare and was driving home. It was a sunny afternoon and she had just been paid by her employer -- in cash. Bea stopped to get gas on the way and had just started filling her tank when a man approached. He jumped into her car, started the engine, and drove off -- with little Abby still in her car seat in the back.

Bea's heart stopped. She was screaming for him to take her purse, take the car, but PLEASE GIVE HER DAUGHTER BACK. The man either didn't hear her, or didn't care. In a split second he, the car, and little Abby were GONE.

Bea started running after her car, screaming at the man. Someone at the station called the police.

I can't even begin to know the horror my dear friend must have felt as she watched her daughter being so violently taken away.

As she was telling me this story my heart stopped. Abby is a beautiful little three year old girl. When I see the two of them together it's not at all uncommon for Abby to come running toward me, with her arms outstretched, wanting me to pick her up. She is so sweet and loving. All I could see was her face.

And then fear was replace by anger. I was angry at George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for their greed -- greed that created a climate where people feel desperate. Some so desperate they will do despicable things. I wanted Bush and Cheney, and all their cronies, in prison -- for a very long time.

This story has a happy ending. The carjacker ditched the car a few miles from the scene of the crime. He took Bea's purse -- with the $300 she had earned that week -- but he left our beautiful little Abby in the back seat.

Another driver saw the car, with the gasoline hose still attached, and called the police. Abby was back in her mothers arms within the hour, and Bea understands just how incredibly lucky she is. She can replace her $300 salary, she can replace all the contents of her purse ... the one thing that could NEVER have been replaced was Abby.

Abby is still traumatized by the incident. When she sees a man who matches the description of the carjacker she begins to cry and asks her parents "is the bad man going to hurt me?"

Now it's personal ... our little Abby is safe and sound at home with her parents. We were lucky -- and I'm using the universal "we" because Abby's safety is the responsibility of ALL OF US ... and WE simply can't let the bad man win ... again.

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