While saluting him for what he has done, I remain sceptical---we'll see. In "turning the page" on the Iraq War, he also pledged to start drawing down our forces in Afghanistan in August 2011---a full year from now, with untold more American deaths and wounded troops in a war that we will not win. Later this week, another round of endless Washington "peace talks" will begin on the Mideast between the Israelis and Palestinians that will end as all the others have done since the Nixon years: Israel will do what it pleases. Of that, I have no doubt.***

That having been said, we must---all of us---hope for the best. I was glad to hear the President's talk tonight, a step in the right direction. That leaves us with two more on-going wars: the known one in Afghanistan and the secret one in Pakistan, plus the coming new front in Iran after Israel bombs it. Like you, I will be following all of this with great interest. Tomorrow, I will return to discussing jobs and Social Security.***

Yesterday, many television political commentators were having the same reaction that I did to the President's Iraq War speech, especially the part pertaining to his continuance of the war in Afghanistan: cautious optimism. The phrase "two years from now"---or until August 2012---has been used, which means two more full years of the war there. That in Iraq is now being called Operation New Dawn, and former Marine Col. Oliver North stated that one thing that the President didn't say last night is that 5,000 US Army Special Forces are remaining behind in Iraq, I assume to protect the other 45,000 non-combat forces. Militarily, that makes sense, but it also says what I believe: the war continues, just at a lower level and scale. Therefore, my campaign mantra rermains the same: End ALL the wars now!***

Chris Matthews on MSNBC just now echoed another theme of mine: we need to reestablish America's lost heavy industrial manufacturing base, in short, to start MAKING THINGS again. This is how we can and will put unemployed masses of Americans back to work again: producing steel to make bridges, buses, light rail cars, and the like.***

Another area of creating jobs is one that has grown unpopular over the years---the public sector---and yet, these are the very people whose jobs protect us, fire and police, street and sewer, and all manner of other Federal, State, and local government employees. These are the people who make our society function, and they also pay taxes, spend money at retail and other small businesses, and thus fund America's economic engine.***

Finally, in all the hysteria that we've heard over the last several years about Social Security, it's important to also note this outstanding fact: it is---and will remain---solvent until 2037. It is only after that date that the system will start paying out more than it takes in. The last time it was successfully reformed was in 1983, and I expect that another such reform can and will occur in 2011. Thus, we shouldn't panic by throwing out the baby with the bathwater, but get a grip on ourselves, and adopt meaningful reforms, some of which I've already outlined in this space previously.***

Today begins the final two-week sprint toward Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Sept. 14th. Some people have already voted for me via absentee ballots. Others of you will be using our new early voting system beginning this Friday, Sept. 3rd. To those of you who do, I respectfully ask for your vote. If I am your elected United States Senator, I will do my best to introduce and have passed all of the various types of legislation I've mentioned here in past entries to end the wars, reverse our economic and poltical  course, and establish a much-needed Marshall Plan to Rebuild America.***I'll have more tomorrow.

Good afternoon!

Blaine Taylor, Democratic Candidate for United States Senate, Primary Election Sept. 14th;