We are in DEEP do-do.

I was pleasantly surprised with the opening two hour special this season, after almost giving up on the show completely last season. I felt the format of the show was counter-productive to making and introducing a new star. In seasons past we watched week after week as one wannabe star after another was reduced to mush. EVERYone was beat down and had every weakness exposed. Everyone “lost” every week and there was barely a winner. The show was more survival than it was a search for and a platform to display real talent.

Guy Fieri and Adam Gertler are the best talents to come out of the competition … and Adam didn’t even win! Otherwise, the series has produced a couple of real flops and has suffered some embarrassing moments. The gay duo was fun for a couple of episodes, but were mercifully ushered out the door. But the real mess hit during Season three and they almost killed the show for me.

Season Three was the season with the “JAG scandal” where he was forced to leave the show for possibly embellishing his resume, and the producers made the awful decision to bring back Amy Finley who didn’t really want to be there. With their man JAG out the door they were facing a finale show with only one contestant. I’m not sure why they didn’t want Rory Schepesi to win, and that may not have been the case, but it sure seemed it. Amy squeaked out a win and “starred” in a show that was as boring and forgettable as her performance in the NFNS competition. Rory had much more personality and it was a travesty she wasn’t the winner. But, as bad as that season was, Season 4 was not much better.

In season 4 it was obvious that the suits at FN were solidly in Aaron McCargo’s corner from the beginning. Escaping elimination a handful of times, he finally survived and was given “stardom” over fellow contestant Adam Gertler. I look at the way they still gave Adam a show… in fact quite a bit of air time… as an admission that they made a mistake. I watched the first Big Daddy show… or maybe it was the second… and it was simply AWFUL… Simply being the operable word. Although photogenic, McCargo is not a great cook. Maybe real beginners can find something useful from him but I’m not a fan at all. Still, he’s hanging on with a steady gig and even got a second show… which is even worse than the first one. But I digress, it was the McCargo win that almost killed my interest. It was so obvious that he was the network favorite even though he should have been eliminated a handful of times. Couple with the bad taste from the previous season’s decision to bring Amy back after she said she didn’t want to be there, well it was too much for me.

I watched most of Season 5, but the shine was definitely off the concept and the scheme was wearing on me. Every show was meant to tear down and criticize the wannabes leaving no time or inclination to develop an interest in any of the would be stars. The challenges were designed for failure not for showcasing talent and success. By the end of the past 2 seasons, we viewers were left with bad tastes for everyone after seeing weakness after weakness exposed. The least incompetent survived to be named the new “Star.” It was a losing recipe. If they want to build a fanbase, then everyone should win every week and only the very best move on. Instead they designed the challenges to test their mettle and put them all in untenable situations. The recipe was for more fraternity hazing than it was for showcasing talent.

It appears that they may have adjusted the show and might have taken a couple of my suggestions… that is, someone with influence may have actually made the same suggestions. First of all, they seemed more positive and constructive in the criticism in the first show of this season. There were a couple of winners and we actually felt like they won and didn’t merely survive. And two they have at least given lip service to my suggestion that they have a mentor figure to help the wannabes. Someone more in the role that Tim Gunn serves in Project Runway than in the role Chef Tom Collichio fills in Top Chef.

I thought… and think… that the would be stars would benefit from a true mentor that would help them through the challenges and NOT appear on the judging panel. So when the trailers hinted that this year’s group would have a mentor, I was thrilled to think that it would likely be Bobby Flay. That would have been a good choice. Instead, they gave us GeeAhda in the role… and she didn’t play it well. And poor Serena! GeeAhda has a history of treating female contestants poorly. Wolfgang Puck hit the nail on the head when he asked GeeAhda if the network had room for two Italian divas. Heck, in GeeAhda’s mind the network doesn’t have room for ANY more women. Yes, I’m saying she can be a bit catty, like one of the mean girls from Jr. High. But we’ll see if that trend continues, but Mentor??? That’s a stretch, but I’ll give it a chance, but let’s get back to the season opening and my first impressions of the wannabe stars.

Right off the bat I just loved Aria. As was plain to all the judges, the camera loves her and she has a genuineness that is appealing and compelling. A killer smile doesn’t hurt either. That same genuine characteristic was on display with Brad Sorenson too. One of the episodes’ best moments was Brad accepting praise from Wolfgang Puck for his Salmon that he put so much effort into. You’d have to be heartless to not feel good for him as he left the judges. He may not be as well-liked by the camera, but the potential is there. At any rate, the two of them are my early favorites, each standing much taller than all the others.

On the opposite end of my spectrum of likableness were DAS and Dzintra. DAS, AKA Fullovhisself, is not long for the show, and Ditzy Dzintra should have been shown the door after quitting on the first elimination challenge. Brianna was right in pointing out that most folks would have fought through a bit of pain. Oh, and Ditzy is not going to like watching the episode and hearing Bobby Flay say, “If I had dessert, I’d get something in my eye too.” None of us had the pain, but it was completely unfair to everyone who completed the challenge to keep her around. How can anyone be so bad to be kicked off when another wannabe quit and didn’t even compete? That was a bad move by Bobby, Bob and Susie. (BTW, Susie was looking pretty good!).

But speaking of Brianna… I almost put her in the extremely dislikable group, and if I hadn’t seen the whole show, I would have. She redeemed herself by showing a little seriousness and professionalism during the critique segment, which hinted that maybe she can be a serious contender… she has to get rid of the “ghetto sistah” act though. That act was way off-putting… she needs to show some competence. Another off-putting act was Herb’s “rah rah boot camp schtick,” but again, like Brianna, he redeemed himself during the critiques by showing a bit of humility and seriousness. While I tend to think both of them are real long-shots to win, I can’t write them off yet. There may be potential, as both certainly command attention, but can they channel the energy productively or will they play those cheesy roles they tried out in the premier?

Of the rest of the finalists, I also ike Aarti and Tom. Aarti needs to find some confidence and Tom needs to decide he has the talent to compete, but I think there’s potential and definitely some likability. I’d love to see a show with a lovable disheveled chef preparing great food and Tom could play that role beautifully. As for Aarti, I’ve been saying for a couple of years that the Network needs some talent with Indian cuisine… at least there is one on the Cooking Channel now… and Aarti might have the potential to fill that bill.

As for the rest, Doreen will probably be the next to go. She won’t be missed. I have a feeling that Ditzy will bounce back and survive, and Doreen seems to be the weakest cook of the lot. I’d have rather they kept Alexis, but he was clearly the bottom between he and Doreen. Its’ just too bad they gave Ditzy another shot. After quitting on the challenge she didn’t deserve to stay. AND not only did she give up, but she had the gall to bad mouth the dish that her teammates put together for her. It was just a classless performance from the very beginning. She ought to be extremely thankful that she is getting a chance to show that she’s not as thoughtless, gutless and selfish as she appeared in the opening.

That leaves Tim and Serena… as I mentioned, Serena has no chance in the world of winning as long as GeeAhda has influence, and Tim? Well, he was solidly average. He didn’t stand out either way, and although he may be able to cook he didn’t show any star potential… but it’s still early.

So, thank you Food Network. At least for now you’ve won me back. You have at least 2 folks who seem ready now for a show and maybe a couple more. And while NFNS could never dethrone Top Chef as the best cooking competition on TV, I look forward to an entertaining season and will be anxiously waiting for week 2’s episode.

Well, I’m all for supporting this project as the center for Peace and a place to bridge understanding that these Moslems tell us it will be. How wonderful.

However, I would forbid occupation of the completed facility until similar centers of Peace and understanding can be built in Mecca by Christians and Jews. Surely, if goodwill is at the heart of this act of Moslem outreach, that same goodwill will provide the opportunity for a Church and a Synagogue in Mecca to show Moslems how peace-loving Christians and Jews are. If, as Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf argued, [The Mosque would help] “’bridge and heal a divide’” among Muslims and other religious groups, then allowing Christians and Jews to build outreach centers in Mecca would further serve as a bridge to heal a divide.

Mayor Bloomberg is simply wrong to support this project. Those who support the project simply for “tolerance” and “understanding” are either naive or myopically politically correct. As presented, the project is insensitive, offensive and confrontational. It should not be accepted nor allowed. Of course, as I said, if Christian and Jewish outreach centers open in Mecca on the same day, I will support the Cordoba House completely.

Then it hit me, President Obama (pbuh) has even surpassed the OODA Loop. He and his Party have done the final Orientation, they have Observed ALL, they know what it right and have made the Decisions for all of us, they are the self-declared ELITE who will A-A-A-A-Act… A-A-A-A-Act…

The Sheepdogs are anxiously waiting for 2012.

America, for decades the world’s Sheepdog, has put the Sheep in control and the rest of the world is reacting predictably. No matter how good the sheep’s clothing looks or how vehemently the BHO regime proclaims itself as just another lamb, the fact remains, the American Spirit is one of the Sheepdog.

As a Sheepdog, America will never be universally liked by the Sheep of the world. An effective Sheepdog can be respected by everyone, but never loved… it’s the way of nature. Even though BHO has dressed America in Sheep’s clothing, the world still sees the Sheepdog… and has lost respect for, and confidence in, the cross-dressing Superpower. Today, the world has no confidence in America being a good friend, and more importantly the world has lost all confidence in America as protector of western liberal democracy… a role it played for just about the entire 20th Century. For the past century the American Sheepdog, standing watch over a thriving herd, has provided for both Allies and former enemies to allow them to recover from the devastation of two world wars and develop into modern liberal democracies. Seventy years of occupation have made Germany and Japan economic powers and centers of political freedom. But the Sheepdog, only doing what he sees as his duty, won’t ever be thanked by the Sheep, nor loved by those he helps.

So I read Mr. Cohen’s lament that,

“Times have changed. America’s power is diminished — relatively, for sure, but absolutely as well. As a superpower, America invaded Iraq. Saddam is dust. But that brief war is now in its eighth year.”

, and I answer with, “It doesn’t have to be this way.” We don’t have to be, and should NEVER be, a Sheepdog in Sheep’s clothing. If we recognize our role as Sheepdog, and act accordingly, we can maintain respect and influence… the error is expecting love and gratitude for enabling the progress of liberal democracy. That love will never come.

Without knowing it, Mr. Cohen has described the phenomenon well… from the Sheep’s perspective.

It suggests inevitability, as if America was the empire of Rome or Britain and also that the past is fated to be the future. That, though, does not have to be the case. We can spend less, tax more, abjure wars of choice, reform Congress and stop confusing the celebrity of the presidency with actual power.

Obama presiding over the unpresidable, the president overseeing the incomprehensible, the full panoply of meaningless power — Air Force One, Marine One, the limo, the motorcade, the briefcase with the nuclear launch codes — all amounting in this case to man railing against the sea, a somber lesson for us all. The spill goes on. The war goes on. The debt grows — and so, for too many of us, does denial.

Mr. Cohen sees the same situation I do, but he seems hopeless. “Oh woe is US… our problems are too big and even the great One cannot make a difference. Oh vast herd of Sheep, hear my bleat.” But the fact is, the spirit of America can’t tolerate hopelessness, more importantly it WON’T tolerate it.

Ignoring the bleating and wailing of the Sheep, self-sufficient Americans will tighten their belts, roll up their sleeves and get back to work building a bright future for the generations that will follow. The fact that the Sheepdogs of the country have been stirred to action gives me great optimism. It matters not that the “movement” isn’t homogeneous, nor monolithic, nor beholden to one creed. It doesn’t matter that there is not a recognized national leader, nor a big bureaucracy to manage the message. The movement that the BHO Administration has been kicking awake is beyond definition. It is the stirring of the American Spirit.

Individualism, personal responsibility, personal liberty, self-reliance and optimism are the principles uniting the awakening voices. Faith in our Constitution and a distrust of big government are the hallmarks of the movement. Beyond that it will be impossible to codify the movement and every effort to classify this collection of individuals will only be seen as another kick.

The President and his sycophantic media can deride the phenomenon and label those stirred to action as Teabaggers. But calling those who are unhappy with growing government and out of control spending and out of touch politicians vulgar names only serves as another kick in the ribs. With each verbal barb, with every mention of more government spending and bigger government, they are kicking the Sheepdog that had been asleep. The American spirit is waking up… a little late perhaps, but it’s begun to reassert itself.

So, Mr. Cohen, if joining Europe as a loved member is your desire, I’m afraid you are correct in your pessimism. But if you love the idea of America as the shining city on a hill; if you recognize that people all over the world dream of coming to America to escape government and economic tyranny; if you believe that America is truly a unique and exceptional place; then you are probably worried, but still confident that the American Spirit lives on. Mr. Cohen, instead of rending your clothing, just roll up your sleeves, tighten your belt and show us what you can do to help us climb out of this funk. And if you’re unable to muster the strength or courage to help, just get out of the way and let the doers do.

It can’t be soon enough, but in the near future America will toss off the Sheep’s clothing. As we’ve seen in every election since the 2008 General Election, the Sheepdog is awake… the American Spirit is rising and it doesn’t care that we’re not universally loved. Respect is the important word.

The Arab state… the second Arab state to be carved from the Mandate, was not to be. Unwilling to recognize Israel, unwilling to live side-by-side with Jews, the Arabs responded, not with joy and dancing, but with hatred and war.

Today, 62 years later, that same situation exists. The Arabs, full of hatred, refuse to recognize Israel and continue to wage war against Jews and their State. Israelis, continue to govern themselves, and continue to build a prosperous and FREEE nation. Israel deserves our respect and the Arabs deserve our scorn.

So on a day when two complimentary Independence Days could be celebrated, we only have one.

Am Isreal, Chai!