Train Whistle

As a kid, I remember hearing the sound of the train in the distance.  The train would blow it's horn and I could hear the clickity clack of the wheels as they ran over the tracks.  I wanted to know who was riding in the passenger cars and where were they going.  Sometimes, if we were close to the tracks when a train would come by, the engineer would wave as they passed us.  Back then, there were conductors on the trains as well, so I'd get a second wave as the caboose passed as well.

I heard the trains in the distance tonight and for some reason, those old memories came back.  I know that almost all of the trains these days are carrying goods for delivery in some distant place.  But every now and then I know one of the trains is a passenger train.  I still wonder where the people are going and who they are.  And it makes me almost wish the slower days of the past could come back.  I think we all could learn from sitting on a passenger train for a few hours, away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, to contemplate the scenery and to just be.

Republican National Party Seeks to Overturn McCain-Feingold

The McCain-Feingold Act, enacted in 2002, limits soft money donations by restricting individuals donations to the parties to $28,500 per year and prohibits the parties from accepting donations from corporations and labor unions.  When it was first passed, it was believed that the Democrats had the most to lose.  However, it seems that the RNC is having a hard time keeping up with the Democrats these days and is sueing to have the legislation overturned.

President Obama and the Democrats have found a way to raise substantial sums of money through numerous donations made by average everyday people across the nation.  With their efforts, there is a perception that the Democratic party is once again the party of the people.  If the Republicans win this lawsuit, they could very well become the party of the wealthy and of corporations that they are often perceived to be.  Ironic how the tables have turned in such a short time.

With Focus on California, Northeast States May Pass Marriage Laws

Over the past few months, while the nation has focused on Prop 8 in California, three states have inched forward in a move toward equality.  Both Vermont and Maine have introduced legislation to legalize gay marriage and New Hampshire is holding public hearings on the possibility.  Each of these small steps forward will eventually lead to our equality throughout the entire nation.  Progress takes time.  But we are getting there.

Presidential Hypocrisy

I'm a fan of Obama.  I remember the speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  I listened in awe, knowing that I was listening to the man who would be our nation's first black president.  I never dreamed it would happen so soon, but I knew it would  He's intelligent, well read, and a quick learner.  But I think he missed one of the lessons some corporate executive learned over the last few months.  You see, the impression you leave is everything.  If you come to Washington asking for money, don't waste your travel money on a private corporate jet.  Yet it seems our President has just done what some auto executives did before him.  He fueled up Air Force One and took a long, 37 minute flight, from DC to Williamsburg, Virginia to ask some of the House Democrats to come through for him on the stimulus bill.  Not very different from what those auto execs did.

I realize our president doesn't have the luxury of choosing between his private jet and flying coach on US Airways.  But I think a little more discretion could have been used in making the decision to go on this flight.  Couldn't he have made the same appeal from Washington?  Was it really necessary to travel for this?  After all, it isn't inexpensive to fuel up one of those big jets, even for a short trip.  I believe President Obama is going to live up to expectations.  But in this case, he could have thought ahead just a little bit.

Please Don't Divorce Us

Ken Starr, who led the campaign to impeach President Bill Clinton, filed a legal brief last month -- on behalf of the "Yes on 8" campaign -- that would forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year before the passage of Prop 8.

Watch "Fidelity" and sign the letter to the state Supreme Court. Tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry. DEADLINE: Valentine's Day.

Courage Campaign