All the time we talk about one political candidate or political party needing a game changing event, well right now we need to face the facts, America needs a game changer. I might just have an idea that could be, I emphasize could be, a game changer. Next Friday, September 26 Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain have a date. Instead of having the usual date that a Presidential debate encompasses, I believe they should do something different. Both Obama and McCain have campaigned on being bi-partisan and for the American people. Well right now the economic situation in this country calls for the American people to put ahead of personal political ambition as well as a bi-partisan solution. My suggestion, my challenge to Senator Obama and Senator McCain is to exhibit some of that bi-partisan leadership and instead of the usual Presidential debate, why not debate an Economic Package that will be introduced in Congress. Why not use that time to put together an Economic Package that focuses on creating jobs, strengthening confindence in the Markets, not raising taxes on anyone, and a true Energy policy that focuses on Energy independence. Both of these guys want to be the leader of this country, then they need to take the lead in a horrible Economic situation and quit their dumb bickering on who is to blame. Now is not the time to point fingers, now is the time focus on solving the problem. The quarterback of a football team does not stand on the sideline criticizing and blaming his defense for giving up a touchdown, he goes out onto the field and works as hard as he can to get a touchdown for his team. Barack Obama and John McCain need to quit criticizing each other and get out on that field and pick up their fellow Americans who made errors in judgement and work as hard as they can on scoring a touchdown. The start to this, I believe, is to use their date next Friday to debate and negotiate an Economic package that works for the American people and then turn around and tell every member of Congress that they are going to vote for it and yes tell the President he is going to sign it without objection. Its just a thought.

I remember the day as if it just happened today. I was a Senior in high school and as I was walking from a secondary building to the main building for my next class where there was a buzz about something that had happened in New York. As I walked into English class a fellow classmate told me that a bomb exploded at the World Trade Center. Naturally we all became curious as to what was happening. However, my English teacher struggled to find a website or clear television channel to try and see if we could understand what was unfolding in New York City. My fellow classmates and I sat through a 50 minute class without any knowledge of what was happening. Then, in what was my fourth class of the day, the Assistant Principal walked into my class and told us that the World Trade Center towers stood no more, that a plane had struck the Pentagon, and there was rumor of a fourth plane crashing in Western Pennsylvania. Now there came the questions. What was happening? How could this have happened? Who is responsible for this? All the wondering, the questioning, and the confusion that took place that day. But then a new day September 12, 2001 dawned. Consequently there was no longer the question what was happening, but what could I do to help? No longer was there how could this have happened, but how could I be of assistance? No longer was there who is responsible,but who is it that needs comforting? On September 12, 2001 we were no longer British or French. We were no longer black or white. We were no longer upper class, middle class, or lower class. We were no longer Democrat, Republican, or Independent. We were no longer male or female. On the day after, we all stood up as one, as one family, as one force. September 12, 2001 we all stood up as the United States of America. However, seven years later, I fear that we have forgotten both those days. The fact is we are a team, a team that when we work together can achieve anything. A team that when we work selflessly, not for our own gain, can solve every challenge facing us this day. View America as a puzzle. A puzzle is made of pieces shaped and designed differently so when put together they form a clear, undeniable picture. Each and every American is shaped and designed differently, so when we come together a clear, undeniable picture of strength, character, perserverance, and democracy forms; a picture of the red, white, and blue is seen; a picture of the stars and stripes is presented, The United States of America becomes that shining City on a hill.

The main talking point, a weak one in my opinion, for Obama and the Democrats is that John McCain represents a third Bush term. First of all, John McCain is John McCain and George Bush is George Bush. Answer me this are Democrats are hiding some scientific discovery somewhere proving that two different men born from two different parents and grew up in two different backgrounds are going to make the same exact decisions on the same exact issues under the same exact circumstances? Are the Democrats able to look into the future and see what a John McCain Presidency is going to look like? During the first six years of his Presidency George Bush allowed his party to spend and spend while John McCain railed against it then and is railing against it now, vowing to not let out of control spending from either party. Just from the simple fact John McCain has experience in the Armed Forces gives better credibility and judgement in military situations than President Bush and the good example of this is McCain's push for the surge in Iraq to fix Bush's failed military policy in Iraq in the beginning. John McCain will push for more Accountability and Transperancy than what President Bush has imposed, in addition McCain looks to be more open to other points of view and not stick with the decision he initially wants i.e. his VP selection of Sarah Palin over Joe Lieberman. Then there are the people that John McCain is going to surround himself with. There is going to be Mark Salter, not Karl Rove. There is going to be Sarah Palin, not Dick Cheney. Say what you will about being similar on policy; the fact is with a different decision making process, different people advising him, different circumstances, and a different view of the country and the world, John McCain as President will be very different than George Bush. After all, if John McCain representing a third Bush term is such the horrible, crippling thing the Obama and the Democrats are making it out to be, then why is John McCain averaging around 47% in the polls and George Bush is around 32% job approval? Would not conventional wisdom suggest that McCain be getting the same amount of support as George Bush's job approval rating if he truly did represent a Bush third term?