Re-President Bush

For the most part I like to keep away from hot-button topics like politics, but it is the political season and so here goes...  

My vote will go to George W. Bush. I think he has faced an amazing array of difficulties with vision, strength, care for all Americans, and good leadership. His policies are based on values and principles that are rooted in American life.  

National Security - during the 90s American interests were attacked numerous times, including the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center but no effective actions were taken to truely combat terrorist networks. This changed after 9/11; President Bush rightly sees the need for an offensive multi-faceted battle against terrorist networks. John Kerry has yet to demonstrate an understanding of the situation and focuses on capturing or killing individuals, such as Bin Laden; this is a reactive in nature and just more of the same 90's approach which allowed terrorist networks to develop and strengthen.  

Iraq - We ARE in Iraq. Sometimes the political focus has been so backwards-looking (hindsight's great, ins't it!) that it has deflected from the reality.  Bush WILL have the determination to stand by our troops and bring about the right objectives for America and Iraq, for the war on terror, for the region, and for the safety of the world. Much good can come from this, but it takes a strong resolve despite the ups and down. The enemy has to first defeat the resolve of the enemy's country and leadership. That won't happen with Bush.

John Kerry is another story. Kerry will certainly make the situation a failure, another Vietnam. He can only see military action in terms of Vietnam and I don't believe for one minute that he'll have the resolve needed to bring this conflict to a success. Frankly I think he has defeat hard-wired into his resolve, and for this reason alone I can never vote for him for President.  

I feel that Bush has been good for America on domestic issues also despite daunting difficulties, including the attack on 9/11. I have the same concerns as most Americans about domestic needs, but feel that Bush is addressing the domestic needs. Kerry's 'big govt' approach would not even pass through Congress (thank God) which leaves us with no action.  

I trust Bush's values and character. I respect Kerry's service to America in Vietnam, but have deep concerns about his character and record since then, and even during this campaign.  

George Bush is the best choice for America and the world (but not the terrorists).  

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Life Battle

Today, for the first time in more than 2 months, I feel healthy.

I've been sick the past several weeks with bad asthma brought on by a minor component of seasonal allergies and a major component due to particulates and/or mold being stirred up at my workplace due to rennovations in the building. I hung in as long as possible, but ended up being out sick for a full week in mid-October.

I'm also getting the allergy shots, and perhaps I am less able to deal with the allergens at this time. Several factors may be in play.

During my time out, I found help from Fred Pescatore, M.D.'s book, The Allergy and Asthma Cure. I'm now following his 3-month nutritional program and have tapered off from Advair Diskus because I think it's been part of the problem. Dr. Pescatore writes this about the class of drugs that Advair belongs to: "There is now some concern that there is a relationship between use of these drugs and dying from asthma." [The component Serevent is the suspect drug, according to the Advair commercial I just saw.]

Both my regular doctor and allergist put me on the strongest Advair (up from mid-strength) in mid-September and the month after that was horrendeous. I felt I was heading towards 'dying from asthma'; twice I almost called 911 it was so bad.

The nutritional 3-month program tackles yeast overgrowth that can happen with people who, among other things, take steroids. Both my rescue inhaler and Advair are steroids. I've also had varied symptoms of yeast problems for a while now.

The program is similar to the Atkins diet, except I can't have anything containing sugar or yeast. It's challenging, but I'm hopeful that it can contribute to my overall wellness.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to add exercise in soon and to have the energy and focus for the job search which is still necessary to get out of my harmful work environment.