Diana—every time I see it I think ‘nightmare.’ And the world’s had enough of that. So here’s what Obama needs to do for a ‘sexy relaunch’ to ‘Shock and Awe’ the world and the GOP: He’s considering a world tour before the convention. That would be the most brilliant thing he could do. He is so popular in Europe it’s been said he could win there in a landslide. And of course US pop and film stars are super popular too. Put the tour together with an existing project like “Plant a Billion”—a project of Nature Conservancy—donate $1 to plant a tree in the Amazon. This would have the benefit of highlighting his environmental background and also raising a lot of money for a great cause. Hit the major capitals with a free concert before Obama is introduced by headliner supporters like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Stevie Wonder. Scarlett Johansson etc. The Boss did it for Kerry—maybe he’d do it again—and also others like Eric Clapton, Sting, Santana- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rRlBmJiz5k Paris. London. Berlin. Barcelona. Amsterdam. Rome. Zurich. Tokyo. Rio. Tanzania. Sydney. Indonesia. Locations where he is most popular—see poll: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/13/obama-the-preferred-candi_n_106… Would be big news while it happened. Have interviews in those countries with leaders perhaps on an environmental theme (Senator Obama was voted among the Top Six Illinois State Senators on the environment) and put together a convention mash-up of highlights before he’s introduced by Warren Buffett—-richest man in the world and a supporter—along with Oprah, Teddy and Caroline Kennedy, etc. It would be excellent for the campaign And for the world that’s endured so much under the current US administration—they deserve a treat.

Star— The Japanese government (for centuries a thin population because of their diets and beliefs) has instituted a new ‘waistline measurement’ law and an ambitious program to slim down the population. Even fast food has come to Japan. People ages 44-75 must have their waists measured to ensure in healthy ratios, if they are ‘non-compliant’ they must take classes to relearn health habits. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/13/MNLV118ISH.D… They call it “Metabo” and actually at first I thought it was a little weird….but then I having been host mother to many Japanese students and loving their culture I can understand……and also as it says in this NYT’s piece it’s like the ‘non’smoking’ campaigns and does help in the sense that enourages people as a nation to stick together re health issues…ie people trying to stop smoking etc. “Metabo” sounds better too….and puts the emphasis on health and going forward toward that. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?pagewanted=2&_r=…

“Skinny is so subjective” Skinny is definitely subjective, but it’s about health not skinny! As you said, Anne Marie is in a constant inner fight/struggle with herself. Why? Does she Does she have excellence/mastery in another area where others struggle?Managing money, work, relationships, school, etc. It she would examine her self-talk/knowledge level in areas where she produces good results…she might gain insight in the areas where she is achieving less than what is desired.

Gianna- Read “America’s Queen” (the first day it came out!) and loved it. So sorry about your daughter. I know exactly what you mean…so frustrating to try to help someone who you’re afraid for and they can’t be helped until they can see it. My friend’s daughter is a top-seeded state jr. tennis player and also an excellent equestrianne and she took that kind of focused, tenacious drive and has applied it to thinness that has become deadly. She’s been in $100,000 a month out-of-state programs to try to save her life. But it still comes down to mind set…and her mind is set very hard in her beliefs that no amount of theraphy has been able to dislodge. It is whatever her belief is that allows herself to come to the brink of death from starvation. Now she’s 18 and so her parents cannot intervene without her permission. “I really feel a person will stay stuck until they no longer get anything out of their behavior.” So true. Figuring out what our pay-offs are in our less than advantageous and even self-destructive behavior. It is next to impossible for even family members to know….no one can get inside another person’s heart and mind and know what things mean to them. Often we don’t have the insight to know ourselves. As Oprah says, “If I knew better, I would have done better.” Life is one big lesson in constantly waking up. Best of luck to your daughter…I know how scary it is from watching my friend’s situation for the entire extended family and friends.

Phyllis, The message of Tim Russert’s life is being driven home this Father’s Day weekend to a nation that sorely needs it. That is yet another gift of an ‘everyman’ who became one of the world’s 100 most influential people by doing the right thing to the best of his ability. Loved the poem and it reminded me of we’d be staying in freezing rustic cabins on ski trips it would be Dad who got up to build a fire in the pot-belly stove to ensure we were warm, and Dad who took care of Mom and us e kids when we all came down with a virulent flu one year, bringing us us 7-Ups “sip-it slowly’ and cold compresses. All those little things to be thankful for while people are alive to hear it.

Sorry to hear about your step-father, CA Rose. My son’s father crashed his plane when my son was 16 and that sudden loss of the future you imagine and take for granted and that person who is so alive and is cheated of their full experience is something that never leaves you. I’m so glad at least that they had a family vacation and celebration of their son’s Boston College graduation together in Italy. And that Tim and his father sent text messages constantly everyday. I love the Jesuits and so sent my son to Jesuit schools—you can spot that clear mind and reconciled and decent spirit, that dedication to truth a mile away. My mom and I were both quite upset too, especially that he missed this election that he was so jazzed about. Here’s a great personal recollection from a life-long family friend, a younger man who was so influenced by him. Loved that when he was overwhelmed in college competing with the better educated East-coast kids, Tim said, “What they have you can learn, what you have they’ll never understand.” Ha. Street smarts counts for a lot. He held ‘leaders’ accountable instead of becoming their lapdogs. Love him! He said, “Work hard, laugh often, keep your honor.” Hope a lot of media types will think about the ‘honor’ part. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-sims/tim-russert-a-different-t_b_107…

Here’s a collection of good short videos, including Tim Russert talking with his father, and speaking about his work on Meet the Press. Like Tim Russert, my son also went to Jesuit colleges including grad school in Paris where he interned with another great newsman, Jim Bitterman, at ABC News, Paris…who was terrific to my son. Feel so badly for Tim Russert’s family. But what a legacy…. one of the world’s 100 most influential people, incredible. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25148789#25153062

Has nothing at all to do with,“It’s not enough that I succeed, my friends must also fail” attitude, and everything to do with her war vote. She is on the VP short list….but I doubt very much that will happen. Obama won by the anti-war vote. Her OWN advisors knew that. This is a New York Times story from February 18, 2007: “One of the most important decisions that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made about her bid for the presidency came late last year when she ended a debate in her camp over whether she should repudiate her 2002 vote authorizing military action in Iraq…antiwar anger has festered, and yesterday morning Mrs. Clinton rolled out a new response to those demanding contrition: She said she was willing to lose support from voters rather than make an apology she did not believe in. “If the most important thing to any of you is choosing someone who did not cast that vote or has said his vote was a mistake, then there are others to choose from,” Mrs. Clinton told an audience in Dover, N.H., in a veiled reference to two rivals for the nomination, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. “Her decision not to apologize is regarded so seriously within her campaign that some advisers believe it will be remembered as a turning point in the race: either ultimately galvanizing voters against her (if she loses the nomination), or highlighting her resolve and her willingness to buck Democratic conventional wisdom (if she wins). “If progressives had power, we’d be able to turn this into unquestioned conventional wisdom about how voting for aggressive war dooms Democrats who want to be president. That wouldn’t be true, but one measure of power is the ability to create non-true but convenient conventional wisdom.”—Jonathan Schwarz It’s The War Stupid—London Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/21/itsthewarstupid

I double-checked….to run for VP must be natural born US citizen so that leaves Gov Arnold out.

Colin Powell could run as GOP VP, not for Obama’s VP. Obama’s most ardent activists are anti-Iraq war Demos, as is he, and they are not going to accept General Powell. A military person who was against the the illegal, unConstitutional, immoral invasion would be great

It takes money to win elections….and it takes influence to get the money. The #1 area of Obama’s money machine is California, the largest and richest state in the US, and the activist stars do have a lot of influence here, and in NY and other Blue States. Obama has raised the most money in election history, 94% it from donations of under $200. And while Obama is raising $2M a day, and is on track to raise $100M in June, while McCain has $100,000 in credit card debt. I guess we’ll see who can coherently talk about what when the candidates debate. This does not bode well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Can Arnold Schwarzenegger run as VP as a non-citizen? He can’t for prez so it would seem not for VP either.

Suzanne—You are so right. My mother and my son are both only children and both lost their fathers at age 15-16. My mother is 77 and has missed her father her entire life.

Maizie…Sounds like you won the “Dad” sweepstakes. He gave you tremendous, practical advice.

I’d never heard of her cancer until this link posted on the Tim Russert thread. Cancer is a horrible, ghastly, frightening thing to deal with and epidemic today. Her documentary could help save lives, demystify treatment, educate, and also bolster courage in people going through it. I’m extremely sorry to hear of her battle and certainly hope she pulls through for herself, her family, friends and fans. Poor woman. Best of luck.