Bob Woodward's new book will likely offer some scary insight into President Bush's mind. According to this Reuters story, Bush "...prayed for divine guidance in launching the war." I suppose anyone would. What worries me is his next statement: "I am prepared to risk my presidency to do what I think is right," the Post quotes Bush as saying.

President Bush has often married his evangelical christianity to his political life. So have a lot of other politicians. However, his willingness to continue to use religious language in the middle of a war against an enemy motivated by a different kind of fundamentalism indicates a leader that is supremely disconnected from America the idea - America the beautiful secular republic, seat of liberty for the world. America, that's you and me, should not accept a president that spends our national treasure, international prestige and the lives of our young people on a "divinely" inspired mission. Please, we want facts.

Steve Erickson, of the LA Weekly, says it better than I ever could. Read his moving ode to our country. To me, this is what patriotism sounds like.

Welcome!

Back in January, I was listening to NPR and a story came on about a new reality show called, American Candidate. It would appear in the summer on Showtime. It featured a reputable advisory board. It would use the American Idol business model (35 million votes cast in the last Idol) to identify raw political talent from the masses.

The show would present a slate of "candidates" who would "campaign" over the course of the show and the viewers would "elect" a candidate. The winner gets some prize money and the opportunity to address the nation prime-time from the Washington Mall. When I heard the story I recognized an opportunity for all kinds of messages to reach a potentially unengaged audience. The implications for this kind of show are indeed, interesting to contemplate. I applied to participate. Why?

I believe articulate, progressive voices are in short supply in the mainstream media. My motivation for wanting to be an American Candidate is to build arguments for progressive causes. My idea is to participate in, and hopefully win, the contest then use the platform help defeat Bush

If you wish, please visit my American Candidate Homepage at:

http://www.americancandidate.com/candidate_homepage.php?id=187

You can support me by clicking in the lower left of the red square immediately to the right of my photo and by circulating this letter to as many people as you wish.

Thanks for reading this far, and by all means, tell me what you think.

In the spirit of adventure (and on to Democratic victory),

Chris Dykstra
American Candidate
Minneapolis, Minnesota