As the fires burned in Southern California last night, and the smokey smell filled my office due to my proximity to the San Diego County Fire and the Santiago Canyon Fire, which burned its way through the "yard" of the company I work for (taking with it none of our big rigs and equipment, but torching my boss's RV sitting on the property), I sat here and watched the Republican Debate live on Fox News.
The morning came, and the fires had worsened. I stepped out of my house into a world of gray and brown skies, howling winds (reaching over 50 mph where I live, and up to 90 miles per hour in some of the nearby canyons).
Wildfires here in Southern California are fairly commonplace, but not like this. The worse fire ever that I know of happened a few years ago just south of me. It was called the Cedar Fire. This year's fires are much worse. The one in San Diego County, the big one known as the Witch Fire, has caused 250,000 people to be evacuated in a 100 mile radius, and there is the belief that this particular fire may burn all the way to the Pacific Ocean, leaving behind it a blackened path of devastation.
The strong Santa Ana winds are fueling these fires. Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a State of Emergency for seven counties in the Southern California area. The Witch Fire, the one that is burning in San Diego the worst, has burned homes as far north as Escondido, and they are evacuating people as far north as Fallbrook. Escondido is about 30 miles south from where I live, and Fallbrook is ten to fifteen minutes down the road. I am hoping and praying that it does not turn northward, blazing through Temecula and Murrieta.
And even as I write this now, the winds are howling, and the smell of burning vegetation is in the air.
My prayers go out to those firefighters and home owners in the fire zones, and those that have lost their homes. I remember a few years ago when a blaze came less than a mile from my house, and another time when a raging inferno in the Cleveland National Forest got within two blocks of my parent's house. It is a frightening thing, but beyond the home and valuables are the lives of those people. Getting out alive is the most important thing.
By God's Grace, only one person has lost their life during this year's commencement of firestorms. I pray that the one life lost will be the last one lost this year, and I pray for the family members of that person who died.
Also, last night, while not watching news on the fires, I turned my attention to the first Republican debate that actually seemed like the fires of conservatism burned within the candidates. The debate was held in Florida, and Andrea Shea King was there! Tonight on her radio show, The Andrea Shea King Show, she and I will discuss the debate (and I will probably talk a little more about the fires too).
Also, before the debate began Fox News had a room full of Florida Republicans and asked them a number of questions. One, based on comments by the people in this room, was "How many in this room thinks Hillary's a socialist?" Every hand in the room shot up.
Interestingly, the need to beat Hillary is what united the candidates last night. The only booing occurred whenever Hillary was mentioned, or Ron Paul opened his mouth. When asked about Hillary, Mike Huckabee said, "There is nothing funny about a Hillary Clinton Presidency. With Hillary Clinton as president taxes will be up, health care will be controlled by the U.S. Government, our sovereignty will be compromised, and the military loses its morale." He later commented, in a direct statement to Hillary (in case she was listening) for Hillary to ". . . take your lips off the backside of George Soros."
Mitt Romney asked the audience what they thought about a Hillary presidency and they all shouted "No!" He said, "I agree with them."
McCain, however, was the one that earned a standing ovation. When commenting on Hillary Clinton's earmark to last week's budget amendment for one million dollars for a Woodstock music museum to commemorate the 1969 festival, McCain said, "I wasn't there. I'm sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event. I was tied up at the time [apparently referring to his status as a Prisoner of War at the time]." Oh, and don't forget, this museum to the liberal hippies would be at the expense of taxpayers.
McCain also impressed with his comment that parodied Bush's comment about looking into the eyes of Putin (Russia's current president) and seeing his soul. McCain said that he has looked into Putin's eyes too, and saw three letters: KGB.
In the past, I have to say, I have been very careful about John McCain, primarily because of his past "maverick" moves, and the McCain–Feingold Act of which I felt was poorly written and provides too many restrictions in the wrong places. I have also been leery of him as well due to his criticisms of the Bush Administration regarding the war on terror. However, his comments, steadfast consistency, and reach for the conservatives may have moved me back in his direction. He hasn't won me over, but he has made me think twice about letting him go.
Huckabee, once again had a great showing, but was not given nearly enough air-time, and proved once again that as good as a candidate as he is for president, his best bet is probably for vice president.
And we mustn't forget, of all of those guys up there, nobody understands the military like McCain - who is a certified war hero.
Thompson did much better than before, but still failed to impress. Perhaps his past voting record and membership to the Council on Foreign Relations still spooks me.
Hunter, as much as I like him, had little effect, as did Tancredo.
Perhaps we need some of the conservative independents, like John Bootie, to get in on these debates. And how about Sarah Palin? When is she going to be added to the group as a possible factor in the election?
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If you missed last Friday's episode of CIR Radio, go and listen to it when you get the chance. MDConservative and I hit the issues pretty hard on the show. And, to many of the listeners surprise, I spoke a couple words of profanity. (you'll have to listen to find out what they were, and why I said them!) I shocked even myself - and don't worry, I don't plan to make such language a practice.
On Saturday I erroneously thought the date was the 21st when I introduced the show, but that was the only thing to go wrong on Political Pistachio Radio. My guest was Paul Ibbetson, Patriot Act Expert. If you missed it, listen. It was a fantastic show.
And as mentioned earlier, I will be on Andrea Shea King's show to discuss the Southern California fires, and last night's Republican Presidential Debate on Fox News Channel. The live feed begins at 9pm Eastern Time. You may listen to the archive anytime afterward.
Tomorrow and Wednesday are special shows for Political Pistachio. Both air at 10pm Eastern Time. On Tuesday my guest will be Max Lucado. On Wednesday, Jason Robertson. Max Lucado is a New York Times Best-Selling author, and America's leading inspirational author. He will be on Political Pistachio Radio to discuss his latest book, "3:16 - The Numbers of Hope." Jason Robertson is the author of "A Love Beyond Explaining." He is a Vietnam War orphan rescued from South Vietnam before it fell to the communists. Thirty years later he returned to Vietnam in search of his roots.
And don't forget on Saturday Political Pistachio Returns again with John from Cuba Companioni who as a child was exiled from Cuba for being a Christian. Tune in to hear his story at 7pm Eastern Time.
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