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These are what I wondered--and concluded--as I sat uncomfortably through a "Christian" rock band’s free outdoor concert at the San Bernardino County Fair Grounds in Victorville, California with my daughter and grandson Sunday evening. I confess I had not attended a rock concert since my buddies and I went to the Avalon Ball Room in San Francisco in 1966 or so. It was "psychedelic" in those days, while Hawk Nelson was more wholesome but probably much louder.

"Theoretic politicians, who have patronized [pure democracy], have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions."

James Madison, The Federalist No. 10.

I watched Rev. Jeremiah Wright's speech and Q & A at the National Press Club Monday, and--no surprise--he's the same man as the one who was allegedly misrepresented in TV "sound bites." Many of us on the Republican side have been broad minded about the Obama candidacy because we, no less than our Democratic friends, would like to see the racial issue laid to rest, at least insofar as electing Presidents is concerned. It was a milestone for Kennedy in 1960 (although no Roman Catholic has been elected since--48 years).

When a student is expelled from school, it is usually an instance of someone wilfully disobeying school rules. But what if those in charge of the school are themselves disobeying the rules?

Barack Obama’s attempt to "get beyond race" in his quest for the presidency has run aground, at least temporarily, by the publicity over the racist remarks of his pastor of 20 years, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of the Trinity United Church of Chicago. Obama is paying the price of not only his association but his undeniable acquiescence in the rants of a man who literally sees the world in black and white.

The tributes to William Buckley, founder of post World War II conservatism in America, who died Wednesday at the age of 82, continue to roll in.

Hello, fellow citizens. I have nothing especially to say at this time except to introduce myself and to express my hope that we discuss the issues and candidates today intelligently, calmly and seriously. Every presidential election is critical, always the current one (!), because citizens must make the best decision possible. Politics matters, not only because it is inescapable but because it demands the best of us. The public good is the object, full deliberation the means.