A political leader once commented that if she was to walk upon water her opponents would say it was because she couldn't swim.

Republican spin and much of the national media coverage of Barack Obama's week of world travels, meetings with national leaders, military commanders and troops as well as speeches to hundreds of thousands seemed like this. Barack Obama's great response overseas was considered bad news.

By the time the tour was over Obama himself was acting apologetic for having attracted a crowd of over 200,000 people in Germany. for 'acting like a President,' for his 'rock star' status.

Even more worrisome were statements from Obama's that sounded like they could have been spoken by McCain or Bush! In the quest for presidency is does no doubt sound like Obama is moving toward the center/right and McCain is moving towards the center/left.

The talk of both candidates for president is beginning to sound the same. Offshore oil drill and a woman's right to have an abortion are perhaps now the clearest sounding differences; although the differences are deep and extend far and wide.

But Obama talked of more troops for Afghanistan and he talked of taking at least 16 months to withdraw Combat Troops (so-called 'combat troops,only). Withdrawing only so-called combat troops means tens of thousands of U.S. troops would remain with the alleged reason of 'protecting our embassy,' and providing security and a few other jobs.

So does this mean permanent bases? It now certainly seems like a possibility although we'd call it by another name. Propaganda corrupts our words as much as our nation and our hearts.

Obama also talked strongly about how Iran needs to give up it's program for nuclear power because it was 'illegal.' When did nuclear power become illegal? Is it illegal for us and Europe?

This is the crux of the Iranian issue: Does a quest for nuclear power mean a quest for nuclear weapons? Is nuclear power what's illegal or are nuclear weapons the real threat?

We went through 50 years of a Cold War when us and our opponents had tens of thousands of nuclear weapons and now we must start a war because a nation may have plans for one?

Obama also didn't clarify or change his previous statements that Jerusalem should be the undivided capital of Israel, a prime time Zionist goal but also a prime bone of contention with Arabs, one that will not have a resolution without good faith negotiations.

On this point Obama's statements sounded frightfully like any other politician trying to avoid the issue. The status of Jerusalem, he said, is to be decided later by both parties involved.

Sounds good, but is it just a cover-up for Israel's constant expansion?

Judging from Obama joining the chorus of complaints about rocket attacks coming from Palestinian territories and failing to mention the embargo and blockades of Gaza and the slow starvation of over a million and a half people, policies of collective punishment and apartheid, etc. it seems Obama spoke of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a distinct prejudice for the Israeli points of view, as all American politicians appear obliged to do.

Not that this in any way changes our view that Barack Obama will be a far better President than John McCain, George Bush. To us, that is a no-brainer.

All the propaganda of war and politics is at play here. Now it's no longer a question of what the candidates are saying but of what do they really mean.

As that poster that caught my eye this week said: "What lies behind us and what lies before us is not as important as what lies right to our face."

Meanwhile....

A cause célèbre all this month has been this 'infamous' New Yorker magazine cover

All the more important, therefore, to keep our eyes focused on the goal. It shouldn't matter what anybody has to say anymore. Most of our minds are made up. Stay focused:

DEFEAT REPUBLICANS

Laissez les bon temps roulette

Sometimes it seems we are doom to be trying to celebrate the Mardi Gras in the middle of Katrina/FEMA disasters., or celebrate political victories when nothing has really changed.

The circus may never end, it may be an eternal go around and around .

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose

Free Speech is certainly alive and well and that's a good thing, perhaps one of the best and most necessary aspects of our democracy and culture.

Nobody every said it was suppose to be easy.