Unlike my friend above, we as a Nation have much to celebrate this Thanksgiving.  Our country is on a steady path to recovery from the worst economic disaster that it has experienced since the Great Depression.

We see the elements of recovery across the landscape from housing starts, Wall Street indices, increasing jobs for our people, a sense that there is sunshine that will follow our darkest night.

Our brave warriors are coming home.  Though not as fast as we would like, but they are coming home.

There appears to be a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and it is one that is led by a Muslim nation, Egypt.

We also avoided demagoguery in this last election and reaffirmed that we are a Nation of diverse people who are yearning to be free from oppression, not unlike the intrepid voyagers on the Mayflower in 1620.

There are many challenges in the coming months and years, but with the conviction that nothing can stop our Democracy and the ideals for which it stands

Go in Peace my friends,

Phil