Politics: The Kerry v. Bush Race has started ... sigh ... this looks to be messy. The President's first ads use images of 9/11 and Ground Zero to promote him as a strong and resolute [too firmly resolute? you decide] leader in troubling times. They have gotten some criticism from fairly interested parties (you know, victim families and such) as tawdry politicizing of the tragedy. Two amusing aspects: the same group that pushes back the Republican NYC Convention to September says Kerry is the one politicizing the issue. Second, the fire fighters in the ads are from out of town. On a somewhat lighter subject, here's some alternatives to the currently proposed anti-gay marriage amendment.

To throw the President a bone, some ridiculed his State of the Union mention of steroids in sports. The issue is now a big issue in my local paper given some top baseball stars are accused of using the substance. And, baseball is our national past time. It's not a trivial issue, especially given his former connection to the Texas Rangers. The connection to illegal drug use in particular is also evident. I surely disagree on the particulars on how to deal with the issue, but, yes, he was right to bring it up. Oh, things like the environment might have been talked to as well ...