Oil Takes Aim At Pensacola

So far we've escaped the fate of Louisiana, Mississippi, and now Alabama. Although we've seen scattered tar balls on Pensacola Beach and a very limited amount of oil enter Pensacola Bay, the impact here has been relatively minor compared to what has been happening to our west.

But in the last two days oil has entered Perdido Pass along the Alabama-Florida border and fouled the beaches of Orange Beach, Alabama. A sense of foreboding hangs in the air tonight over Pensacola as we wait to see what our fate will be here. At this point it looks like it could go either way. There appears to be no consensus as to whether or not oil will foul Pensacola Beach in the coming days. Large patches of oil are lingering precariously close to our coast at this very moment.

This is what deregulation, massive corporate lobbying, and lax enforcement of existing regulations looks like. It is black, sticky, and smelly. And after infiltrating Louisiana's wetlands it is now impacting the most pristine beaches in the United States. President Obama will be visiting Mississippi, Alabama, and here in Pensacola on Monday and Tuesday. I think his access is going to be limited here in Pensacola, but if I catch a glimpse I'll let you know. As of this moment, I'm sure if he's going to see our famous sugar-white beaches or a nasty mess. I'm hoping for the former.

Another Case of Domestic Terrorism In the U.S.

The terrorists are not just located in far-away middle eastern countries. They are also located here in the U.S. The person who murdered Dr. Tiller today in Kansas was sending a clear message to other doctors who perform abortions. If you perform LEGAL abortions in this country you are placing your life at great risk. That is terrorism and we need to fight it just as aggressively as we are fighting international terrorism. I must commend President Obama and Attorney General Holder for their swift actions in this case.

I live in the heart of probably the most notorious city for anti-abortion violence in the U.S. - Pensacola, Florida. I still remember the foggy night on Christmas eve 1984 when I was standing outside and speaking with a good friend after we left a party I attended at another friend's house. Suddenly the calm was shattered by an explosion and then by another much stronger explosion. I then drove home wondering what it was I had just heard. Little did I know that I was the first car to drive by the abortion clinic that was bombed that Christmas eve. Two other doctor's offices were also bombed. My friend and I are probably the only people to hear 2 out of the 3 bombings that night.

More Pensacola history: In 1993 Dr. David Gunn was shot and killed outside an abortion clinic. This was the first murder of an abortion doctor in the United States. In 1994 Dr. John Britton and clinic escort retired Air Force Lt. Colonel James Barrett were both shot and killed outside of another facility in Pensacola. Thankfully, all of the domestic terrorists were captured and convicted in these cases. Reverend Paul Hill, who committed the 1994 murders, was executed in 2003 - good riddance to that unrepentant, arrogant piece of trash who committed his terrorist acts in the name of God. The other terrorists were sent to prison and Michael Griffin, who committed the 1993 murder, is serving a life sentence.

There are no easy solutions to stopping this steady stream of domestic terrorism which has been occurring on U.S. soil for more than 25 years. But we must do what we can to protect the medical staff and escorts at these offices and clinics from a handful of insane, misguided fanatics.

Michelle Obama Rocks "Republican" Pensacola

Michelle Obama packed the Pensacola Civic Center! I couldn't believe the size and enthusiasm of the crowd. I can't tell you how Republican this area is. My county (Santa Rosa) located just outside of Pensacola, Florida voted approximately 80% for Bush in the past two elections. I voted immediately after the rally and encountered a lot of Obama voters. I'm getting a little more optimistic that Florida is possible for Obama this year.

Palin and Cheney Are Playing With My Head!

I don't know if the Republicans are messing with me or what, but I have been followed by Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin on two consecutive days. Yesterday while working on a project in New Orleans I got word that Dick Cheney was in town. And on my way back into Pensacola, Florida this morning I passed the Civic Center and saw CNN along with other news satellite trucks. I whip out my iPhone and see that Sarah Palin is coming to town today.

I'm thinking this is possibly part of the "domestic surveillance" program or an act of intimidation on the part of the Bush administration and the McCain campaign. Maybe they came across my blog and didn't like what they saw. I am curious how they knew about my blog though because I wasn't going to start promoting it until this coming weekend. Oh yeah, I forgot that they monitor everybody's internet habits, mail, phone calls, email, and reading list. It's all starting to make sense now.

It rained in New Orleans yesterday and it's raining here in Pensacola today. These two forces of darkness seem to bring dark clouds wherever they go. I'm tired and I plan to sleep through her campaign stop in Pensacola; that is if I don't get arrested for my free thinking and enthusiastic support of Barrack Obama. If this ends up being my last blog post, you guys please come looking for me in Guantanamo or in some secret foreign prison.