Barack Obama has rejected John McCains request for going one on one in 10 town hall meetings. McCain proposed 10 joint town hall meetings so the American people would have an opportunity to compare the candidates, head to head, and see what each one is about.

The proposed town hall meetings, were to be in front of an open forum. Where regular citizens could ask random and unrehearsed questions. No rehearsed answers, no questions in advance. Just each candidate, candidly answering the questions with whatever information they have on hand.

These meetings would be a wonderful format for John McCain to show off his knowledge, quick wit, and sense of humor. Apparently Barack is afraid of going head to head with a senior citizen. Maybe all that smoking has slowed down Baracks wit.

Instead Barack has countered with an offer for 3 traditional debates. You know the kind where the candidates actually get the list of questions in advance. And then repeat their rehearsed canned answer.

Barack seems to excel at these debates. Barack Obama is also a great orator as long as he’s giving a prewritten rehearsed speech. I for one would prefer the town hall approach then maybe someone might ask what exact "change", is he referring to?

Obama did make one concession to McCain’s request. He did offer to have one televised town hall meeting, on the 4th of July. Never mind the fact that this would interrupt John McCains family BBQ, apparently this is a holiday John McCain celebrates. But hardly any voters would end up seeing the 4th of July debate.

I’m not sure what bothers me more about this.  The fact that Barack Obama is afraid of being outwitted by a 71 year old man. Or that Obama would rather hide behind a holiday which celebrates the Independence of our country.

Instead of donning his American flag pin and doing some flag waving, to celebrate the country, that has given him so many opportunities. Not to mention celebrating the country he wants to become president of. Barack Obama seems to be using an American holiday to hide from the American people he supposedly wants to represent.

An objective voter would put their prejudices aside and try to find out what each candidate is about. These are the undecided, the people who want to make an informed decision and vote for the best candidate. I have a feeling actions like Barack took today will help a few more undecided voters make a decision.

Twenty year old gymnast Alicia Sacramone will be competing in the Bank of America Visa Gymnastics Championship next week.

After years of being the baby on the team Alicia Sacramone at 20, is one of the elder members. Alicia Sacramone is also the reigning national champion on vault. The Olympic trials are June 19-22 in Philadelphia.

But currently Alica Sacramone is preparing for next weeks Visa Championships sponsored by Bank of America. Her schedule is also packed with appearances as a member of Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls and she is participating in the Bank of America’s Cheer program, which rallies support for Olympic hopefuls.

Sacramone came up short making the Olympic team in 2004 which she says only made her a stronger competitor. She also trained while attending an Ivy League school full time.

Alicia says that if she weren’t a gymnast she would probably be a dancer. When she was young she was offered an opportunity to audition for the Boston Ballet but turned it down to focus on her gymnastics.

Retiring at twenty? Alicia Sacramone says after this Olympic run she will be retiring from gymnastics  and focus on a career in the fashion and entertainment industry. Best of luck with the Olympics and your ripe old retirement at age twenty.

OK, this headline might be a little premature since the race doesn’t start for a couple of hours. But it could turn out to be very well true.

For those of you unfamiliar with horse racing. There are 3 horse races that comprise the triple crown. First we have the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness race. The winner of both of these races was the UPS sponsored. Big Brown.

If Big Brown manages to win tonight’s Belmont Stakes he would be the first triple crown winner since 1978 when Affirmed won the triple crown. Other triple crown winners include, Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed.

The Belmont Stakes is a horse race held yearly in Belmont New York. The Belmont Stakes is also called the "Run For The Carnations", because of the blanket of white carnations draped over the winners neck.

Big Brown is a 2-5 favorite to win tonight’s race. Even though he is recovering from a hoof injury. Go Big Brown and take the triple crown.
Update: Not this year Big Brown. Da Tara Wins Belmont Stakes. Big Brown won’t be making triple crown history this year.

Today at the National Building Museum in Washington DC, Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign and gave her support to the Democratic Nominee Barack Obama. Pundits say the Clinton machine knows how to campaign. Nevertheless Clinton was out campaigned by a junior Senator from Illinois.

Will Clinton help or hinder Obama as she jumps on the bandwagon and starts actively campaigning for him, for the good of the party. Or are there more political ambitions at stake? Is Clinton still trying to work the vice-president angle?

Is she supporting Obama so she can step into the number 2 spot. Some say, that with her 18 million votes and the delegates that she has, that it would make it possible, to force Obama to have her for Vice President, by having her delegates nominate her.

Normally it appears the vice presidential candidate  is chosen by the presidential candidate, and for the most part this does happen. But in actuality the VP candidate is nominated by the delegates as well.

Technically this could make it possible for Obama to be forced to have Clinton for a running mate. But, political aspirations aside. Displacing the Republican administration seems to be a common goal among both candidates.

So how can Clinton become VP and not weaken the party of Obama’s candidacy? Diplomacy of course. Hence the private meeting held at the so called neutral territory of Diane Feinstein’s home in Washington.

Was this private meeting just a meeting of the minds for the good of the party. Or was it more of a nudge to influence the choice for VP. Maybe you should accept my help and support before I use my power to force you to accept. Type of thing.

What went on? What will happen? Only time will tell. I enjoy politics and a good election strategy. This should be interesting to see how this all plays out. Stay tuned for the next installment of this political soap opera.

On Wednesday Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter called emergency services after discovering a dead body floating in the Potomac River. Apparently Lynda Carter was canoeing in the Potomac and saw the body of a woman floating face down in the river.

The victim was 47-year old Helen Johnstone, who was believed to be a hiker who slipped and fell into the river.

I can only imagine what an eerie scene this must of been. For those who have stood on the banks of the Potomac it is a very wide, deep fast moving brown river. I don’t think swimming would even be possible in the parts I’ve seen. And I can’t imagine who would want to.

Even the thought of canoeing or boating in that water seems unappealing. Let alone seeing one of my favorite stars of the 70’s canoeing by in that brown murky water.

It’s a tragic story that a woman just out enjoying nature could slip into that murky water and loose her life. And it’s just a bizarre twist that our favorite Wonder Woman just happened to be canoeing by. Just like when she was a youth in the Amazon.

It looks as though Hillary has the current lead in Indiana but it’s too soon to tell. Barrack Obama may have a chance at North Carolina but their polls just closed minutes ago. Not that it’s a predictor for who wins which state, but Hillary Clintons rally will be tonight in Indianapolis,IN, while Barack Obamas will be in Raleigh, NC.

Why do these states matter? Because every delegate counts and swaying the popular vote may sway the delegates. As of this morning (Tuesday), Obama had 1,745 delegates while Clinton has 1,608 delegates. A candidate needs at least 2,025 to win.

After Indiana and North Carolina there are only 217 delegates remaining with the last primaries held in; Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana, and South Dakota. So these last 2 big delegate states are crucial.

So who will Indiana choose? The polls seem to indicate that Clinton is favored by white, working-class voters, and rural voters. Clinton was also leading among white men in both states. In North Carolina where African-Americans make up one in 5 primary voters, Obama seemed to be getting 91% of the black vote.

Barack Obama also had a lead with college educated voters, while Clinton was favored by the non-college educated.

What does this all mean? It’s too soon to tell, but stay tuned for an update with the latest results.

Update #1 Barack Obama just won North Carolina. What this means and the results for Indiana coming up.

Final Update- Indiana Chose Hillary Clinton. I guess the next question is; Will the Democratic party do the same?