It’s finally time for the first Caucus States to let us know what they think, but will the weather affect the outcome?

I am a bit of a fanatic about looking at weather sites, especially if there’s a storm on the way. We have some snow in the area, so I was visiting weather.com, and noticed that they have set up a couple of pages for those of you in the Caucus states, and those of us who are curious about what kind of weather you’ll be dealing with.

The first Caucus is in Iowa on January 3rd for both the Republican and Democratic parties. Want to see Iowa webcams? Click here. Then click here for a listing of Iowa Cities, and click on the city to view the weather report for that city.

Then on January 5th, there’s the Wyoming caucuses for the Republican party. Go here for the Wyoming webcams, and here for a list of Wyoming Cities, click the city name for the weather report.

I’ll be watching to see what all of you in those States decide, wishing I lived there to be a part!

Unless you never watch the news, you know that today a notable life was lost. Benazir Bhutto was a beautiful woman, inside and out. I have been impressed by her each time I’ve heard her interviewed.

She knew that she was risking her life each time she went into the public, and desired more protection from the government than perhaps she received, but this did not stop her from her passion for her nation, Pakistan, and her people. In one interview I read she states that she knew that assassination was a possibility, and had prepared her family in case it became a reality. She loved her Pakistan enough to leave her life in exile, and return.

She knew something that we all want to forget, but never should, we live in a dangerous world in which terrorism is a way of life, we have felt it in our Nation, but in a small way by comparison to so many other Nations, and we must do all we can to elect and support leaders that realize that it is only a matter of time before terrorism strike our homeland again.

I won’t even go into the various ways the politicians took advantage of the opportunity to promote themselves…some with sincerity and valid insights.

For this post, I just want to say that one woman living in a small home in Northern New Jersey was moved today as I watched and listened to the news…I did finally have to turn it off, as it is my birthday and life had to move on, but it’s 11 pm as I type this, so you know that it’s still with me.

Praying for those in Pakistan and other nations who want to live as a democracy.

Christmas Day has come to a close, I’m ready to go to bed, but just had to check in and see what the President and his Scottish Terrier, Barney have been up to.

President Bush called 10 different troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world Christmas Eve. He also extended wishes to leaders of various Nations. The President spent Christmas at Camp David.

These are all wonderful things, but my favorite fun treat from Whitehouse.gov is the Presidential dog, Barney. This year, the Barney video (there is quite a collection of them now at the White House website) features Barney in the National Parks. He is as cute as ever and full of his usual mischief.

Head on over to any of the live links, and click on the little Barney image in the upper right….1/5/07 Update…I went to the site, and it’s hard to find the Barney link now that the holidays are over, but I found it, click here! Barney and Miss Beazley are always sure to bring a smile to your face.

And while you’re there, catch up on all our busy President has been trying to accomplish.

One of my favorite political blogs to haunt is fairly new, but loaded with GREAT information, “Citizen Jane Politics, A Modern Girls’ Guide to Picking the Leaders of the Free World”.

During my stop today, I realized I was shortsighted in just including the Huckabee Christmas ad in my previous post, CJ balances me out by including the rest of the Candidate’s Christmas Ads!

Stop by and enjoy!

Actually, Christmas never went anywhere, and neither has Christ, people have moved away from Christmas and Christ *until up from Iowa there arose so much chatter, and everyone listened to see what was the matter*! Mike Huckabee decided to boldly proclaim his feelings about Christmas, saying Merry Christmas, and much more!

NOW, some of the other Candidates are SUDDENLY saying Merry Christmas!!! For me, this is just wonderful. By being bold and unashamed of what he believes, Mike Huckabee has moved WAAAAY over to the right, and is pulling some of those hanging out in the center over with him, at least when it comes to saying Merry Christmas. Why? Because it’s obvious that people are LISTENING, and like what they HEAR, including this blogger.

Now, lest we get caught up in the political aspect of this alone, let me just say that you can say “Merry Christmas” all you want, what is really important is knowing what is so special about the One who’s birth we celebrate on Christmas…it’s a matter of life and death…and that ain’t politics, it’s Truth.

Hillary Clinton has been laughing a lot lately…I mean you really have arrived when your laugh is the subject of the news. Is it a sincere laugh? A sarcastic laugh? Is it pleasant to listen too, or an annoying cackle?

I guess it depends upon what brings on the laugh. Most of the laughing that I have seen comes after someone questions her on a controversial issue related to her campaign, something she has said, something that has been said about her…sort of a nervous, irritating, “laughing it off” type thing. I am sure that Hillary is going to be happy to get out of conservative Iowa and back to her liberal stomping grounds.

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Allan Keyes has come out of the background today to the surprise of many, but I have to say that when I was searching websites for complete listings of the Presidential Candidates when starting this blog, I did find one that listed Alan Keyes. So he is listed among the candidates along the right, as is his website, but he is NOT listed in the poll, as I just wasn’t sure if he would ever come out of hiding. Was he hiding? Why has he entered the arena so late? I don’t have the answers, but it does keep things interesting.

My husband and I watched the debate on CSPAN tonight, and Paul said that this was not a comfortable format for Alan, he is a public speaker, and not able to show his eloquence in the short snippets they were allowing during the debate…and he shows his feelings, so you could clearly see his negative feelings about the whole thing. I was upset by the fact that he seemed to have to say something negative about the others on the stage with him on a number of occasions while he was speaking, even though the facts he was presenting were good, things that I agree with. But those negative feelings weaved in with the truth he was speaking shed a negative light on Alan for me today. It was also hard to see him feeling sorry for himself because he wasn’t called on as much as he thought he should be at the beginning. Whining never goes over well with me. All that said, I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, and keep and eye out or whether he shows himself again, and how he handles himself in the future. He has good intentions, and is a brilliant man.

Many years back, my husband had the opportunity to go and hear Alan Keyes speak, and came home completely enthralled, and constantly reminds me of this whenever I get frustrated with the things Keyes says in situations where he is not making a speech. He really is an eloquent man, and a man of strong conviction, and is not afraid to speak his mind. Whether he is electable, I don’t know, but if his words fall on ears that need to hear what he has to say, and a thought or heart is turned, it is worth it.

One day I’ll have to get Paul to scan the photo he has of his greeting and shaking hands with Alan Keyes after his speech.