I'm really getting tired of reading and hearing about how President-elect Obama ran a great campaign. He didn't. He hired people who are experts and THEY ran it! He had control over the message, true, but not the administration of the campaign itself.

There's a book out titled "Michelle" - it's a biography of Michelle Obama, and there are interesting parts involving campaigns and campaigning. Not just for president, but for the U.S. Senate. I'd recommend that people read it not only because it provides information on a great person (Michelle Obama) but also provides insight into Barack's political ambitions and those involved in running the campaign.

By the way, I'm thrilled that he got elected. But I never expected him to run the country, or even run his administration, just like he didn't run his campaign. Others will be doing that and it's those "others" that I worry about!

What a great gift idea! Does anyone think they'll be available for sale? It would be prefect to send to friends with my JOY TO THE WORLD, OBAMA WON! holiday cards---and my homemade cookies, of course.

One writer said he didn't want any taxpayer money going to unions. He fails to understand that it's the job of unions to get the best packages for their members. And it's the job of management to temper unreasonable demands. Unfortunately, management hasn't been doing it's job.

Here's the scenerio. Both sides go into union negotiations with inflated demands. Neither expects to get what it wants. But then it comes down to the serious stuff and the union threatens to strike. And here's where management screws up!

You see, management bonuses are based on production. If there's a strike, no production occurs. Thus, they don't get those huge bonuses. So management caves and gives the union much more than it expected. Then it happens again the next time contracts are negotiated, and the time after, and the time after that.

Who profits more in this scenerio? The top management!

Frankly, I think one answer is, if there's a bailout of any kind, for certain provisions to be set in place by law to protect all the workers (because they're the one who suffer in the long run---not the fat cats sitting in their luxurious offices).

1. Require that all auto industry employees be covered under some type of contract--even those in right-to-work states.

2. Require a collaborative of union and non-union representatives of the workers to negotiate those contracts. First of all, though, the UAW contracts would have to be renegotiated--downward to an acceptable level (with accompanying downward levels of executive salaries and benefits--including bonuses and perks!) Then the workers in right-to-work states would have contracts negotiated upward to reflect the wages of UAW members. From them on, combined contracts would be required BY LAW--with the only differences being cost-of-living adjustments by region.

3. With salaries being relatively equal in all states, the automakers might decide to move more of their operations offshore. Congress can - and should - make that illegal, at least while they're receiving federal bailout monies.

Why there is such hatred of unions baffles me! If we didn't have unions we would still have sweatshops in this country. Doesn't anyone understand this?

Don't blame the unions. It's management that's the problem. Union workers will build whatever types of cars needed, whether that be big SUVs or small electric cars. Unions aren't responsible for the PR campaigns that tempted people into buying bigger gas hogs even when the auto industry knew it should be downsizing cars and offering better gas mileage and alternative-fuels options. Union members aren't the ones getting the big perks given to top management who make the decisions.

Sadly, it appears that only the UAW is willing to make concessions now to help with a bailout. The heads of the big three still don't get it!

...Dan Walker wasn't sent to prison for anything he did while governor. It was a business deal well after he left office that sent him to prison. Like Blago (which we fondly called him when I lived there---not Hot Rod) Walker was no manager either as it involved state government or as it involved his personal business dealings later, but he wasn't corrupt like Blagojevich. The people of Illinois have been waiting for this indictment to occur for a long time now and it doesn't matter if we're Democrats or Republicans, disliking Blago is an equal-opportunity past time for Illinoians.

"...(the) belief that he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor, and a desire to remake his image in consideration of a possible run for President in 2016..."

Getting indicted is a way to remake someone's image to run for the highest office in this land?

Oops. Sorry. I meant "rational" (as in thinking in a sane manner) which is something that has been missing from most of the Blagojevich administration from the beginning. No one involved with state government in Illinois -- not as an employee, legitimate contractor, political junkie or even casual observer -- thought that the man was presidential material. He is/was a legend in his own mind and nothing more.

All day long, I've been picturing Rahm Emmanuel walking around with a steak knife in his hand, jabbing every object in sight trying to act out his fury as this ugly scenerio played out today in Chicago. Now I have to re-think that idea. In fact, maybe Rahm really did stick it to Blago! Hmm....