Son,

We are in a time of flux. This is a difficult time for statisticians. The Media Pundits are dissecting the election statistics, trying to make sense of demographics and results. Some say Obama is about generational issues. Clinton is about gender. Edwards about populism. Huckabee about evangelism. This is not a time when these statistics are predictors - they are merely interesting after-the-fact notes.

The assumption by pundits that they can predict based on demographics is flawed. Flawed because this election is not about the selfishness of demographic affiliation - it is about rescuing the future of America. It is about the Demographic of Justice, of Domestic Tranquility, of Common Defense, of General Welfare, and the Blessings of Liberty.

Son,

We in this country are on the verge of a recession.  I see two realities in this prediction - one is an academic understanding of economics - the other is the real human disaster of poverty and despair.  I’ll speak first to economics - it is important to understand some basic principles.

A recession is generally regarded as two consecutive quarters of negative Gross Domestic Product.  That means that we as a nation produce less each quarter.   The formula is as follows:

GDP = consumption + investment + (government spending) + (exports ? imports), or, GDP = C + I + G + (X-M)

Son,

Leadership is not personal.  Leadership is not about what I do at home in the evening, when no one is watching.  Leadership is about what one does when everyone is watching.

I really don’t care about the televangelist who privately has a couple of mistresses on the side.  Who cares - what is the message that he publicly promotes?  What is his impact?  Who care if JFK had girl friends?  Did he manage the Cuban Missile Crisis or not?  Who cares what Bill Clinton did on cold winter nights when the Republicans had the Government shut down?

Son,

When Benizir Bhutto was assassinated the entire world reacted. When the planes struck on 9/11 our government reacted. We Americans are again afraid. The moment we heard of the assassination all of us took two steps to the political right. Decisions made out of fear are not generally good decisions. But fear cannot be denied.

Joe Biden is the most qualified foreign policy expert of the candidates. He speaks with detailed knowledge and understanding - but is that enough? People have said that he is running for Secretary of State. His response, “I am running for President - but would you elect someone who is not qualified to be Secretary of State.” Point taken.