"CANDIDATES, STORMS, MURDERS, WARS AND
PARIS HILTON IS LOOSE AGAIN!"

Candidates get elected to office because they make promises in such convincing ways that voters cast enough ballots that give some candidates the chance to do what they promised they would do while campaigning. Municipal elections were held throughout Texas this week.

Garland,Texas elected it's first African-American Mayor in it's history. Nearby in Dallas, seven new council members and a new Mayor were sworn in in the Meyerson Symphony Hall on Monday morning. A relative newcomer to Dallas, Tom Leppert, who caught the winning touchdown pass in the election from Roger Staubach. The Dallas Cowboy Hall of Famer appeared in television spots calling for support of Leppert.

Leppert was ready to sing in the Meyerson on Monday echoing the promises he had repeated over and over during his challenge of three-term Council member Ed Oakley who lost when he got only 38% of the vote. Oakley would have been the first openly gay Mayor to be elected in a major U.S. City.

At the Meyerson, Mayor Leppert said he was: "Committed to doing what it takes to make Dallas safer again...without raising taxes."On Education Leppert said: "Our children deserve schools that will empower them to achieve their dreams." On Economic Development, he said: "Our competition is no longer Plano, Fort Worth or even Houston. It;s New York, Chicago and L.A....and London, Shanghai and Dubai." Leppert also stressed, the Trinity River District, Downtown Dallas and the Environment as programs getting his attention.Not unlike most all politicians, Tom Leppert made many promises. He is now in position to show his constituents how many of those he can bring to reality.

Most political candidates are masters at speaking without saying anything. This is particularly true of those who want to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. A few examples of what we mean. Just this week we heard Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton say: "If we set big goals and we work together to achieve them, we can restore the American dream today and for the next generation." And Mitt Romney a GOP hopeful said:" Americans can also overcome challenges and our abundant opportunities here at home."

Still another GOP candidate, Rudolph Giuliani said: "We are going to lay out a mission reform and change. We are going to lay out a mission of overcoming new challenges." and the latest possible GOP candidate, we feel the one to beat, Fred Dalton Thompson said:' Folks we're a bit down politically right now, but I think we're on the comeback trail, and it's going to start right here!"

These statements in and of themselves say nothing definitive. Whatever they said before or after these quotes might have been more informational but few candidates are known for much more than making numerous promises hoping that one or more of those promises will tickle the fancy of a would-be voter and get him aboard that candidates bandwagon.

Politicians could not grab the lead story spots in many newscasts this week. Storms were often the lead. Horrible forest fires in Tahoe, California have burned more than 250 homes, destroyed everything many people owned and cost several lives. As we write this, the fires are not yet under control.

When fires were not the lead, flooding was from Texas through the nations midsection. Violent thunderstorms and tornadoes claimed lives and demolished property from Texas to New England. Several lives were lost in the swirling waters.

If Fires and Storms did not grab the headlines sensational murders. A woman, 8-months pregnant, disappeared in Ohio leaving a small son behind. The little boy's father and reportedly the father of the unborn child carried by the missing woman, was arrested and charged with murder after her body was found during a massive three-day search.

More headlines came when a professional wrestler
reportedly smothered his wife on Friday, his seven-year old son on Saturday and took his own life by hanging himself Sunday.

Of course the war continues in the Middle East, Congress is wrestling with how they can pass a bill allowing 12-million illegal Mexicans to remain in America without calling it AMNESTY!

And there are those who have continued to flood the news reports about Paris Hilton being on the loose again! In the face of all that is going on around us, who really gives a big rat's rear about that!

That's my time and I do thank you for yours!