Barack Obama came to Central Ohio on 30 August 2008, and who would have thought that so many suburban Central Ohio honkies would stand in line (on a sunny, hot day in August) to see a black man who says that he wants to be president of the United States of America! I'm pleased to say that I was one of those honkies.

We arrived at Dublin Coffman High School a little after 3pm for an event that was scheduled for 7pm. Already the lines were long. By the time we got inside the stadium, more than 90 minutes later, the "home team" area had filled. Clearly, the promoters thought that they would fill only the home-team side. We sat in the "guest team" area, an entire football field width away from the activity. Thousands more stood on the field.

For an event that was expected to draw perhaps 5000 people, some 12,000 to 15,000 showed up. Fox "News" will undoubtedly report a far smaller count, but I was there and I did the math, conservatively. [The Columbus Dispatch and other legitimate news sources say attandance was in the range of 19,000 to 20,000. See Dispatch coverage.]

Bush, Cheney, Rove, and the other criminals who have been part of the wrecking crew for the past 8 years, will try to deflect the winds of change and continue the failed policies and programs of the past 8 years; but if the election is really FREE and FAIR, there's no doubt that the winds will win.

Choose hope, not fear, my friend. Eight is more than enough.