I'm sorry. It didn't have to be that way. I could have bucked it up and written a column for the Oct. 15 paper, but it just wasn't happening, so I took a vacation.

As punishment, I knew my moderate voice would most likely be replaced with Bill O'Reilly, as is the current managing editor's practice; but even that couldn't motivate me.

So, I hope you readers weren't too traumatized to see Bill O'Reilly's surly photo glancing back at you where my smiling face should have been. I promise to try and not to let it happen again; or at least, not very often.

The headline read, "Happy birthday, Fox News Channel." And O'Reilly wrote a glowing article praising the "news" network. I suspect his arm must have been sore as he especially patted himself on the back.

Fox News began on Oct. 7, 1996. At that time, Republicans had the majority of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and, in 2000, would "elect" a Republican president. With Fox News leading the charge, they have lost the Senate, the House and the executive office.

For once, I agree with Bill O'Reilly. Happy Birthday Fox News Channel. Keep up the good work and thank you.

* * *

Health insurance reform is still dominating the headlines (along with Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, et. al.). Much has been written about the public option. If the private insurance industry doesn't want the government involved, why don't they devise a way to insure those with pre-existing conditions?

Try to get insurance for someone that has had mental therapy of any kind. Good luck.

I am on high blood pressure medication. Could I get health insurance on my own? Gooder luck on that.

This week, I read a story about a young lady who had been slipped some drugs in a drink and date-raped. She woke up in a ditch. Her doctor prescribed her some drugs to deter the chances of her getting AIDS. Sometime later, she applied for health insurance. After seeing the charts and the drugs to prevent AIDS, she was denied. Rape. A pre-existing condition?

It's time. Fix it.

* * *

On a lighter note, it was the wife's 35th Hays High School reunion two weeks ago. I know some spouses avoid their significant other's reunions like I avoid Channel 50, but I enjoy attending these five-year events.

Some highlights of reunions are unplanned and not on the agenda. For those of you from around here, you may remember Chuck Faubion; one of those really, really good athletes. He grew up in Hays and moved away before he graduated. He now lives in Arizona. He noticed his boyhood home was "For Sale," and asked if I could arrange a tour for him and his two daughters. Since it was vacant, that was an easy task. One of his daughters arrived carrying a basketball.

Chuck gave his daughters the tour of the home (I was a mere prop) and stepped outside as he told them about the concrete his father poured for their basketball court. Chuck grabbed the basketball, set himself up about 15 feet from the goal and promptly sank five in a row; there was no iron involved.

After 35 years, some things change and some things don't.

Finally, as with most high school reunions, the locals don't seem to show up. The Class of '74 had folks fly in from California, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, Florida, Colorado, Texas and drive in from all over the Midwest. Too bad for the local classmates; they missed a great party.

* * *

If you have a moment on Friday, give my father a call or drop by and wish him a "Happy Birthday." He's 75 years young.

* * *

Some weeks ago, Florida's Congressman Alan Grayson said that if Obama ate a BLT, Republicans would condemn bacon (Good luck with that. Bacon is one of the perfect foods.)

I often say, if Obama would walk on water (and there are some that think he can), the Republicans would gripe that he left a wake.

For my ongoing series of "I wish I had said that," here is a note I received from Dan O'Brien from Evergreen, Colo. "If our president cured cancer on Monday, ended the recession on Tuesday, achieved world peace on Wednesday, brought an end to hunger and famine on Thursday, reversed global warming on Friday, saved the environment on Saturday, and shot a few hoops after church on Sunday, the "Rethugs" would still call him a slacker-commie. Nothing, and I mean, nothing, this man could ever do would earn a molecule of credit from those whose overriding passion is to destroy him, his presidency, and the country if, indeed, that was required to bring him down. While I'm not 100 percent thrilled with every decision President Obama has made, I am supremely proud of him and honored to call him my president."

I am too.

Glenn Staab, a lifelong Hays resident and former city commissioner, sells insurance and real estate and is the Democratic Party chairman for Ellis County. glenn_staab@yahoo.com