To war or not to war......I don’t know if anyone cares, but I have changed my mind about this war in Iraq. No, I haven’t become a hawk, but I’ve decided that those people are out to kill us (they are incited by other countries whose deeds are then carried out by men with religious fanaticism and no jobs and nothing better to do than kill).

It’s a lot like Teresa Raia and Brian Gaston talking Mike Gibson into running against Eric Thode a couple of years ago. You knew he wasn’t going to win and those that incited him to do that were not his friends.

Say what you want about the free enterprise system, but we are too busy trying to make money that we don’t have time to make war. Oh, I know some of you are going to claim that we are making money off war (Halliburton) and we are really fighting for oil (Exxon, Halliburton again), but remember those terrorists attacked us.

Then provoked Israel. I don’t know where they got that bright idea. It’s like poking a stick at a snake. They know Israel is going to fight back and fight mean. After all, there’s not much point in fighting “nice.”

Taxes, taxes....I usually don’t talk about national issues in this space, but it’s pretty boring this time of the year. I was going over the front page yesterday with editor Jean Sandlin and we both agreed that higher taxes and lower taxes are pretty boring.

We already all know that most entities will reduce their tax rate a teensy-weensy bit to show they are “fiscally conservative,’ knowing full well they are gong to get a bunch more money because the Central Appraisal District increased everyone’s valuation, meaning you will pay more taxes even with a lower rate.

Thank goodness for ol’ Tom DeLay...... We can usually count on him for a headline this summer. I guess you probably know by now that Judge Antonin Scalia, one of the most conservative judges of the Supremes, acting as gatekeeper this session, passed on the Tom DeLay case and rejected Texas Republicans’ request to block an appeals court ruling saying DeLay’s name should remain on the ballot. Simply put, this means it’s Tom DeLay or no one for the Republicans in CD 22.

Accordingly, the Republicans have supposedly abandoned their attempt to replace him.

So yesterday, I heard from everybody from a local TV reporter looking for DeLay’s home number (I didn’t have it) to a Texas Monthly editor and a former State Representative who now lives in Louisiana.

The burning question to me was “Will DeLay campaign?” And “Could he possibly win?” My short answer to the first question was, “I don’t know.” And my short answer to the second question was, “Possibly. Wouldn’t surprise me.”

I can’t understand CD 22’s fascination with DeLay. I read a study recently that he voted 100 percent AGAINST middle class concerns. And since his district is comprised of a majority of middle class voters, it baffles me.

One thing is true of DeLay. You’ve probably heard the adage that “You may beat the rap, but you can’t beat the ride.” This refers to the cost of legal representation in both the criminal and civil cases. Supposedly, DeLay is $500,000 into his lawyers and if he continues to be on the ballot, he can raise campaign money which can be converted to a legal fund later, but it is public record and subject to the federal limits of $2,000 per individual. However, if he simply withdraws from the ballot without all the Republican machinations to name his replacement, he can raise money for his legal defense fund without limits and contributions are not subject to open records.

If he is not running, the question is who would contribute to the legal defense fund? There’s no future in it for contributors as he will not have any power to influence legislation except as a lobbyist.

So the long answer is that I don’t think DeLay will seriously run. I think since the Republicans can not name a replacement, he will stay on the ballot as long as possible in order to raise money, then at the last minute he will withdraw and keep his campaign funds for his legal defense.

Too bad Tom didn’t make any money like his top aides have already pled guilty to. He could tap that money to defend himself now.

I think it is time we start looking at Nick Lampson and see if we can possibly work with him in District 22. You know, it won’t kill us to vote for a Democrat. No body parts will fall off.

Babies are for the young.... God was very smart to give children to the young and strong. I am baby sitting with baby Jack this week (even as I am writing this, he is drooling into my keyboard. Why are babies fascinated with keyboards and even the youngest - Jack is 7 1/2 months - want to bang on it themselves?)

Jack did sleep a lot at first, but he is down to two naps a day (and short ones at that). Thank god for Norma who not only watches the babies, but works at the Star part-time. So today, she is at the Star and I have total lone responsibility for Jack. I told his mother before she left for a brief vacation (if you can call it a vacation with Carter) that she could try to keep from killing him when he was with her and I would try to keep from killing him when he was with me.

Actually, this is the first time I’ve had Jack without Carter around also. I’ve enjoyed our time alone to bond. He is the sweetest baby and already developing a distinct personality that we ignore so much because Carter is so demanding.

I’m teaching him to crawl from room to room following me because he is so heavy to pick up. It’s time that kid learned to fend for himself.

I’m also teaching him to not fall off my king size bed when we are napping. He now crawls to the edge and looks over, then turns and sits up right on the edge as I grab.

The reason I mention this is that I spend a lot of time lolling around on the bed with him trying to get him to take a nap. (See above.)

So if I survive Michael and Lisa’s river trip, I will have formed a bond with my youngest grandson that will serve us well when he reaches the terrible two’s as Carter is now.