Live8 - Philadelphia - July 2, 2005.

Philly put on quite a show on July 2nd, and the city should be rightly proud of how well the concert went down that day. It was a perfect day to spend listening to good music, enjoying delicious food. Too bad the whole point of it was to make the audience feel guilty over African poverty.

Bob Geldolf and friends have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that people will gather in mass quantities to attend a free concert featuring the world's hottest musical acts. Uniting music lovers worldwide is not the answer, let alone, cure for third world poverty. The answer lies squarely in the hands of the citizens of these  nations.

In keeping with the Musical 4th theme, Elton John was presented with one of Pennsylvania's top accolades: the Philadelphia City of Brotherly Love Award for his work aimed towards a cure for HIV/AIDS.  Elton's award ceremony took the place of the annual Philadelphia Liberty Medal Award. The 2005 award recipient: Ukrainian President  Viktor Yushchenko was unable to leave the Ukraine to accept this award in Philadelphia on July 4th .The Liberty Medal presentation was pushed back till September 17th.  I had tickets to watch the presentation and was a bit disappointed that Viktor was a no show.  Outside the Constitution Center, directly across from the award ceremony,  the C.A.V.E. people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) were staging an anti-war protest using shoes to represent civilian casualities in Iraq. As I walked around this display, I asked "If peace is priceless, why are you counting its cost?"  Not surprisingly, I received no coherent answer to my simple question. This display only represented civilians in Iraq, not Afghanistan. Why is that? Again, I received no answer to a relatively simple question.

The summer rolled along, Casey Sheehan's 'mother' decided to spend her summer vacation hanging out at the President's ranch in Crawford, TX.  The meeting with the President demanded by this deranged activist  did not occur. Oh wait a minute..yes it did! I even have a picture of that event.  Looking closely at this picture, is that President Bush kissing the cheek of Casey Sheehan's 'mother'?  She looks happy to be in the company of the President, and her description of the meeting was most complimentary to the President.  Apparently she supported the WOT before she decided not to support the WOT. Talk about flip-flopping! I'd say it is safe to say she voted for Kerry in November 2004.

As Hurricane Katrina was brewing in the Carribean and Casey Sheehan's 'mother' was blowing out of steam, I was getting set for an adventure/vacation to Costa Rica. As I was treking through rainforests, hiking around volcanoes, exploring the Sarapiqui River, and spending quality time soaking in the Arenal Hot Springs. 

At times I felt like Eve in her Garden, eating fruit directly from a tree.  I mean that literally, not figuratively.  However, even in paradise, I managed to find a political opponent in the form of a German business executive who managed to calmly put forth his opinions without resorting to the standard line of Bush=Hitler.  In the end, we diplomatically agreed to disagree and spent the rest of the night on the dance floor!

I come home from paradise to find New Orleans is underwater and with sadness I read of the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist.  Liberals, being liberal, blamed President Bush for the ineptitude of the Mayor of NO and Governor of Louisiana. Kayne West proclaimed that "George Bush doesn't care about black people" during a televised hurricane relief fundraiser.  I'm waiting for Kayne to shout out "George Bush doesn't care about Miners" during a televised mining relief fundraiser. Oh...hold on... there isn't one planned. My bad.

The fall brought the nomination of Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court, the retirement of Justice O'Connor and the withdrawl of Harriet Miers as a Supreme Court nominee.  I plan on taping these hearings, hopefully they will be as entertaining as Condi's confirmation hearing.  I wonder if these hearings be nominated for an Academy Award?

For two weeks in November, my friends and I had the opportunity to participate in an English Immersion class sponsored by Pueblo Ingles in the beautiful mountain region of Gredos, located a few hours outside of Madrid.  Contrary to the popular liberal myth that all of europe ( i.e.THE WORLD) hates Americans. I found the Spaniards to be quite enamored with America and Americans, bearing us no ill-will. The only ones spouting the tired Bush=Hitler mantra were my fellow anglos.  I returned home with the knowledge that the US is NOT universally hated and a newly acquired love of dancing the Sevillana.  These memories will linger in my heart.

Christmas celebrations started early this year. Beginning with a wedding on the 3rd of December. The Bride was beautiful and the bridesmaids were simply breathtaking.  Despite the sad fact that I now have another liberal in the family, it was a fantabulous day!

The month became even brighter with the stunning turnout in the Iraqi elections. HELLO Democrats! Wake up and smell the Democracy! The people of Iraq have spoken and they chose freedom over the 'cut and run' option touted by our Democratic Leadership.  I sported a purple finger, did you?

The Christmas bling arrived when I scored tickets to ABC network's daytime talkshow, 'The View', during their "Twelve Days of Christmas" promotion. The audience received the gift of beauty, including an assortment of Elizabeth Arden 'Provactive' perfumes, products and gift certificates. 

At the close of the year: One question still remains which I hope will be answered in 2006:

Where are good liberals dead?

In the heart or in the head?