Entertainers are often more entertaining when they do not intend to be than when they do. For example, I do not have any interest in the music of Madonna. I am interested in her as a cultural phenomenon. That is, I am interested in why other people like her and how she reacts to that and what that means about the heart of men and women.

You may know that Madonna's lastest fad is a religion of sorts. She embraced Kabbala, the mystical branch of Judaism. It is perfect for show business folks, for it is mysterious and you have to go someplace special to learn about it, and if you get special knowledge it makes you better than everyone else, which makes it perfect for show business people.

Most show business people, and many Americans of all stripes, embrace things by incorporating some small part of it into their lives. They may never read the book or learn the rules, but will calls themselves followers based on an article in a magazine saying some actor embraced it.

Madonna actually went to Israel and spent some time with a mystic rabbi. Now, she has adopted a new name to reflect her new identity. Her new name is Esther. That is very funny.

Why is it funny? Because Esther is not a Jewish name. It is a Persian name. Remember how the Jews were conquered by the Babylonians, then the Babylonians were conquered by the Persians? Well, you, as the "conqueree", often had to adopt a name in the culture in which you lived, even if your family called you by your Jewish name.

That is the case with the young woman in the Bible. Esther 1:7 says about Mordecai, "he was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother." The beautiful Jewish girl that won the heart of the Persian king was named Hadassah among the Jews. Her Persian name was Esther.

Maybe Madonna could record a song "Walk Like A Persian" or something, in honor of her new name and identity.

SET BACK FOR THE RELIGION OF PEACE. Remember the Muslims who attacked the U. S. S. Cole, blowing up a speedboat full of explosives? The attack, orchestrated by al Qaeda, killed 17 American sailors, including 3 Texans. A court in Yemen has convicted two of the terrorists and sentenced them to death by firing squad. Those Yemeni's know how to get it done, don't they? Jamal al-Badawi from Yemen and Abd al-Rahim al-Hashiri, from Saudi Arabia, were convicted and sentenced. After the verdict, al-Badawi said "All the Muslims of the world serve American interests".

The terrorists can be comforted by knowing that, somewhere in the world, those who share their desire to turn the world back to the 6th century sand pile of Arabia have won on another front. Saudi Arabia has banned camera phones. The already ban women from driving, so that is one place you can go and drive to work without dodging women talking on cell phones. They also make women cover from head to toe when going out. I wonder how much they go out, since they must walk or get their husband to drive them. If you had four wives, and none could drive, you could do a lot of driving. You'd have to talk on your cell phone to get anything done. So, in Saudi Arabia, you have to dodge men talking on cell phones if you drive to work. But, at least you know they aren't taking your picture from their cell phone.

EXPLOSIVE SITUATION. You can go here to see a live camera shot of Mt. St. Helens. Last time I went there, the picture was off. Hope that is not a bad sign.

REALLY SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. If you were an Old Testament prophet, you might have some new sermon material. Isn't it interesting that, as we approach election time, we have had hurricanes and, now, a volcano? Scientists say Mount Saint Helens is about to erupt again. About four times per minute, an earthquake of the 2.0 - 2.8 variety occurs. This can weaken the lava dome, the cork in the bottle so to speak. The Geological Survey raised the eruption advisory to Level 3, the second highest level. Matthew 24:7 said there would be famines and earthquakes, but it was not time yet.

APOLOGIA. Rudy Giuliani to President Bush: "I owe you an apology. I made a mistake during my (Republican National Convention) speech . . . I said that with 64 days to go, John Kerry could change his mind five or six times about what to do in Iraq. Well, he's already changed his mind four or five times and I'm going to be proven wrong again because I think we're looking more like eight or nine times."

FYI: The Pew Research Center shows the President leading 48-40. Among high school graduates, he leads 50-37. Smart People vote for Bush! He leads among Catholics 49-39.

How do young people vote? The Washington Post-ABC poll of 18-30 year olds show the President leading 53-41. They favor the President on Iraq 60-33, on terrorism 59-35, on America being more secure 60-31, and on being a leader 65-25.

Some Democrat candidates down line are distancing themselves from their presidential nominee. Even Tom Daschle, who obstructed the vote for judicial nominees. Daschle is running for his life against Thune, and is now running a commercial that shows him hugging the President.

So, who votes for the Democratic candidate for president? People over the age of 61 favor him. Blacks favor him. However, while 90% of Blacks favored Al Gore, Kerry pulls 73%.

Kerry is even losing the hair battle. He bragged that he and that guy that is supposedly running as his vice president that we never see had the best hair, but a recent survey found people preferred Bush's hair.

What's a limousine liberal to do?

WHO SAID THIS? "While our actions should be thoughtfully and carefully determined and structured, while we should always seek to use peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve serious problems before resorting to force, and while we should always seek to take significant international actions on a multilateral rather than a unilateral basis whenever that is possible, if in th final analysis we face what we truly believe to be a grave threat to the well-being of our Nation or whe entire woorld and it cannot be removed peacefully, we must have the courage to do what we believe is right and wise.

I believe this is such a situation, Mr. President. It is a time for resolve. Tomorrow we must make that clear to the Security Council and to the world."

Who said this? John Kerry gave this speech on the Senate floor on November 9, 1997 after Iraq made weapons inspectors leave the country. He was right then, and the President is right now.

(I know the sound of the other shoe dropping was not loud, but flip flops are light weight.)

ASSAULTING YOUR INTELLIGENCE. You gotta love it. John Kerry voted for the assault weapon ban. He criticized the President for letting it lapse. Then he tells Outdoor Life magazine his favorite gun is an Chinese assault rifle. This is tantamount to admitting to a federal crime, since he had it during the ban. I'm sure he doesn't think the law applies to rich liberals.

I can't decide if the guy is so brazen and arrogant he thinks no one will notice these contradictions, or if he is so stupid he can't keep track of his stories. Either way, it does not make good material for a president.

The good news today is MSNBC shows that, if the election were held today, the President would win by a sizeable electoral college margin.