For someone like Obama who claims to be against old school politics as usual in Washington, his selection of a career senator, as his running mate smacks of desperation. Obama needs to show everyone that he has an adult' in his campaign who will advise him as to when the time is right to talk to the Iranians or put more air in our tires so we won't have to pump any more oil.

It comes as no surprise to see The Daily Item's editorial section recently filled with fawning plaudits for young Sen. Obama from its readers. The Daily Item has made it clear with its endorsement of the senator a few months ago who it is that it would like as the next president.

Obama would have cut and run in Iraq, along with his mentors, fellow Democrats, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, if he would have had his way, and we then would have lost our respect from friends (and enemies) in that area as well as thousands of lives going to utter waste.

Instead, because of McCain's backing of "the surge" response in Iraq, this nation is well on it's way to victory and a much-needed base of operations in the heart of the oil-rich Middle East right on the very borders of an implacable enemy with nuclear ambitions. A genocidal tyrant and his sons are in their graves, the people of Iraq are beginning to stand up for themselves and are even now granting oil contracts to countries like China as they take their place on a free world stage. Once our military feels we can move on, we'll deal with the Taliban and their ilk once and for all.

Wind farms and biofuels will only get us so far; we need oil and lots of it if we are to continue to thrive. Historians will be much kinder to Bush than those who currently sit in judgement of him.

Tom Charvat,

Selinsgrove