With his self-stated support from un-named foreign leaders, and endorsements from former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Spain's new prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Mr. Kerry's campaign has now had to come out with a statement that he neither seeks or will accept endorsements from foreign leaders.
That he "will not accept these endorsements" is one thing. I've no doubt that secretly the campaign is gleeful about these statements preferring Kerry over Bush. That he is receiving them is another issue and should make the American people wake up and take notice.
The implication of these "endorsements" is that in the eyes of these individuals Mr. Kerry as president will be far more willing to suspend the good of the American people for the will of foreign governments. Whether true or not, the expectation will certainly taint US - foreign relations under a Kerry presidency.
They will expect to receive concessions not in the interests of the US from Kerry, concessions that Bush will not give. That expectation will result in blackmail, of sorts, until Kerry finally, after an appropriate time of holding out, gives in. And you thought only terrorists used threats to elicit certain behavior in governments.
A George Bush government will not negotiate with terrorists and governments seeking to harm US interests, not unlike Ronald Reagan. John Kerry will set the table and spread before them the best we have. "Come and get it!"

The local thoroughbred industry is showing how well it's doing this week. The spring Ocala Breeders Sale (OBS) set a March record of $22.5 million and several record individual sales. While many folk are unaware, Ocala is one of the most prolific producers for the thoroughbred industry. Horse farms abound, nationally recognized training centers host some of the biggest names, both horses and trainers, in the nation.
Not only are they successful at what they do, but the farms are beautiful too. Here's a list of a few with websites:

Bonnie Heath Farm
Brambly Lane Farm
Double Diamond Farm
Dunhall Farm
Ed Batey Farm
Emerald Isle Farm
Farnsworth Farms
Hidden Point Farm
Irish Acres Farm
Lambholm Farm
Live Oak Stud
Lucern Farm
Marablue Farm
Masterpiece Morgans
Meadowbrook Farms
Ocala Stud Farm
Padua Stables

I could go on and on. In addition to the thoroughbreds, we have farms specializing in Arabian, quarterhorse, dressage, miniatures, draft horses and so on.
Makes for a great day or two on vacation. Many of the farms offer tours and trail riding. And it's fun just to go early in the morning when the mist is rising along with the sun, and watch the exercise jockeys ride the horses 'round the track.
What a way to start the day!

There may or may not be a connection, but it seems after a period of relative calm in Iraq there is an upswing of attacks on US military and civilian personnel. Just on Saturday, the 13th there were 6 lives lost, all soldiers with family.
Now the news reports the loss of 4 civilians with the Baptist church, working in relief missions. We mourn the loss, we also know that if the terrorist opposition perceives a weakness, as in Spain, they will be relentless until we cave in. We must not.
That said, I had to post the name of a member of my cousin's husband's unit on our site listing those killed in action in Iraq. It hit close to home posting Spc. Jocelyn L. Carrasquillo 1/120 with the NC Army National Guard. I'm sure no amount of words can console a grieving family. I'm sure few words can assure a wife whose husband is right there of his safe return. Our prayers are with you.

Daily it seems more apparent that Al Qaeda had a role in the Madrid bombings last Thursday. The timing of the bombings, just before the national elections, could not have been better. The influence of this disaster on the voter, turning them against the conservative government and putting the Socialist party in command of the government has played straight into Al Qaeda hands. A party that has consistently opposed Popular Party Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's support of the Iraq war.
Now the newly elected Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, is promising to bring home the Spanish troops deployed to Iraq and cease all support for the US led coalition unless the UN assumes control of the military operations there. In essence Zapatero is attempting to blackmail the US into acquiescing to his terrorist sympathizing demands.
For the United States this victory by Al Qaeda and the Spanish Socialists bodes ill for the coming elections. By swaying the vote in Spain and defeating the Popular Party, which was expected to handily defeat the Socialist, Al Qaeda may have "shot a missile over the bow" of the ship of state of George Bush.
If Osama's "party" finds a sympathetic political entity in what they consider an enemy state, he may again attempt to influence election outcomes through terrorism.
In the US, that "sympathetic" party is the Democrat Party. Like Spain's Socialists, our Democrats have consistently criticized the Bush led war against Al Qaeda and Iraq, in doing so implicitly offering sympathies to the Muslim terrorists. In the Muslim world the Democrats are viewed as united against George Bush and "his Iraqi" war.
Though some in the States may remain non-commital on the changes a Kerry administration would make in the prosecution of the Iraq war and terrorism in general, the Al Queda operatives may view John Kerry and his party as confederates in their plan to destroy the "Great Satan" and seek a November repeat their success in Spain.