Gary Rust

Missouri (let alone the U.S.) is shaping up to be a highly competitive, hard to predict political race leading up to the election Nov. 4 (11 weeks from now).Recent Missouri polls show McCain up over Obama by an average of 6 points (+11 in one instance).

All week conservative leaders have been celebrating the 20th anniversary of Cape Girardeau native Rush Limbaugh's nationally syndicated radio show by calling in comments of praise. Rush initiated the first three-hour talk program on basically dead-at-the-time AM radio.

The next governor of Missouri will be elected Nov. 4, just 15 weeks from now. But it is just nine days until the Aug. 5 primary election, which will determine the final candidates in many area and statewide races.

Gov. Matt Blunt's recent news releases generate stories but not front-page headlines. After inheriting a $1.1 billion deficit budget when he came to office in 2005, Missouri has ended with a positive balance for the third year in a row obtained with no tax increases.

Something to think about: As reported elsewhere, congressional Republicans are bracing for huge losses in November. Democrats are projected to gain over a dozen House seats, lifting their edge to at least 50.

Last week in Jefferson City a most remarkable nonpartisan event was attended by 600 people. Over $500,000 was raised and was (to my knowledge) only reported in the Jefferson City daily newspaper in any significant manner (though it was also press released).

Going to the Olympics? The No. 1 killer in the world's biggest (and most toxic) market: Just as the speed and scale of China's rise as an economic power has no clear parallel in history, its pollution problem is rising just as quickly.

There were plenty of things to do in Cape Girardeau last weekend. In fact, there's plenty to do every weekend, including the newly announced longer hours and opening of the Glenn House, The Cape River Heritage Museum, the Red House Interpretive Center and Old St. Vincent's Church.

I spent part of last week in Washington, D.C., at a newspaper meeting and heard John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at three separate events.McCain was much stronger in person and in his delivery than I had expected.

Some of my best friends are lawyers. I have a son-in-law who's a lawyer. Etc., etc., etc.

The newspaper business is not only a good occupation because we have the capability of supporting our local communities, it's people, sports, education, businesses, marriages, births, awareness of death, hardships and triumphs.

Good news is worth knowing: Did you know? I didn't know. How could we?Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.

Here is a continuation of the best of my readings and e-mail:Kyoto follies: The reason Kyoto Protocol signatories are not reducing their emissions is that doing so is proving to be prohibitively costly.

Here are some more highlights from my reading and e-mails:Seven-step secret of success — how to get where you want to go:1. See your destination in your mind. "When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there.

I probably receive a minimum of seven e-mails a day directed to me by friends pertaining to politics or jokes. I also receive another 30 pertaining to business, and our company's filters screen out at least 90 more e-mails a day.