Suspicion

-Yeah..that's an Elvis song...(he did it in '62 before sound-alike Terry Stafford had the hit with it in '64) but its also how I feel about the outcome of this year's American Idol. I suspect that the better performer lost because his competitor's total was fueled by prejudice-laden supporters. I wrote about this a few weeks ago when the competition was starting to boil down...and my opinion is no different today. Adam Lambert, the San Diego glam-rocker, was beaten by Kris Allen and the conservative masses. I'm guessing they voted more against Adam than for the new Idol. Kris alluded to the possibility himself earlier in the week in an interview saying he hoped people would vote based on talent...and nothing else. We all know what that "nothing else" is. Allen also practically apologized after being named the Idol saying Lambert should have been standing where he was.

And I'll bet it wasn't even close. Why? You'll remember in past seasons Ryan Seacrest would open the show...and usually remind us several times...about how close the voting was. He'd say something like..."After X-million votes were cast, the winner was decided by less than y-thousand votes"..or something to that effect. Last night there was no mention of how close the voting was. If so, I apologize because I missed it. I'm thinking the AI producers were likely embarassed by the final tally...and didn't want to feed any post-announcement controversy that it might have created.

I think I can safely say that America...and the American Idol voting system...failed the test of whether or not our country is ready to accept, and put the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on, a performer who is obviously representative of an alternative lifestyle.

I'm not writing this to belittle Kris Allen or knock his talent in any way. In fact, if Adam were not more deserving, I would be totally thrilled with Kris as this year's Idol. He's head and shoulders more deserving than several previous winners. Heck, so is Danny Gokey who finished third. Both Kris and Adam have bright futures ahead in their own genre if managed correctly. But, both were in this year's competition...and the better man...the one some compared to a new Elvis...didn't win.

Suspicion torments my heart,
Suspicion keeps us apart,
Suspicion why torture me?

The View from Here

-Please come to the open house and pet adoption event at The Doggie Stylist at Bellson Animal Hospital in Columbia this Saturday. Life-partner Barb is hosting from Noon-4pm. Many available doggies and kitties from the Monroe County Humane Society. You need a pet don't you?

-The Cardinals are coming back to earth...like all baseball teams eventually do in a 162-game season. I'm starting to get a bit concerned about Adam Wainwright. We all know he's better than what we've seen. Gotta wonder about his arm health.

-Now that a family has been murdered in Columbia, Illinois, there's nowhere left in the world something like that couldn't happen.

-Ever tried Pritchard's rum, distilled in Kelso, Tennessee? Mighty good if you like rum with your Coke Zero.

-Good to see T.J. Oshie and David Backes making a difference for Team USA at the World Championships in Switzerland....and Chris Mason for Team Canada.

-No question about who was the best on this week's American Idol performance show. Adam Lambert hands down. Will he move on to next week as it should be? As they say, it's up to you America.

-So there's an offer...or is it two?...on the table for the Phoenix Coyotes. One is contingent on the team being moved to southern Ontario. The other would keep them in AZ. The Canadian offer is for much more $...but now there's a bankruptcy court involved and the NHL office...and...well it's going to get messy.

-Great news!! They found the 3-year-old boy who went missing in Madison County, MO. The parents must have been a mess. They have shoes I wouldn't want to have occupied.

-I've watched enough of the Ducks-Redwings series to know that if the Blues do indeed make a deal for former star Chris Pronger, it would be a very good thing.

-Son Stewart is getting a lot of great feedback from the producers and on-set people about his on-camera work for the movie he's shooting. The Eves has another week of shooting. Then editing. Probably early next year before it would hit the theaters.

-George Clooney. 48 years old today...and never been kissed. Yeah...right.

-Just watched an interview with Rick Ankiel on TV. He looks...rightfully so...very happy that he still has the use of his limbs. I haven't seen him so outgoing and "perky"?? before. But sometimes coming that close to tragedy is what it takes to make one realize how lucky they are.

-No matter how you slice it, the USA is the only place on this planet I'd want to call home. Oh we have our problems, but I'll take them because of all the good that comes in the bargain.