A young King Juan Carlos helped steer Spain from a dictatorship to a modern democracy after he came to the throne some 32 years ago, and his achievements include defending the fledgling democracy in 1981 from an attempted coup Once popular and regarded as a man of the people, recent times have been more troubling for the king as political groups on both the left and right have called for an end to the Spanish monarchy

Every day, I am am bombarded by the ever-present drivel that we call "news" in this country By the time my head hits a wrinkled, unintentionally drool-stained pillow, my mind is awash in opinion, conjecture, and a range of commentary that is inexcusably vast

I am not on the inside of any presidential campaign, but I consider myself to be a good student of politics And as a writer, I have the luxury of going against the grain on campaigns and issues

Even though Barack Obama has only served in national office for three years, his ability to, as State Sen Donne Trotter, a Democrat, says, be "a quick read, a quick study" compensates for the lack of experience

On March 13, 2008 Rudy Giuliani pitched in for McCain who had to go vote in the senate Rudy headlined a $1000 a plate luncheon for McCain saying that he believed that the Republicans could win Pennsylvania